More than one hundred torchbearers took it in turns to carry the Olympic Torch through the department, including sporting personalities and members of the general public. Thomas Chinours, French youth shooting champion, lit the Olympic Cauldron at the beginning of the evening in front of a large crowd. Olympic Membership - Free Live Stream Sports & Original Series - join now! đŸ„‡ Olympic Torch Relay | Stage 13 - Dordogne | Olympic Games Paris 2024Watch the highlights of the 13th stage of the Olympic Torch Relay for the Olympic Games Paris 2024 that took place in Dordogne A visit to this department is guaranteed to awaken all the senses in an enchanting landscape with its narrow streets with a medieval atmosphere and its half-timbered houses overlooked the Dronne River from this atypical 12th century fortified town This circuit is classed as one of the ten most beautiful trails in the Périgord area the Olympic Torch headed to Sarlat-la-Canéda as well as the ramparts dating back to the Middle Ages in Nontron which boasts a tradition of cutlery making The Olympic Torch illuminated the reconstitution of the famous prehistoric site at Montignac-Lascaux the capital of the Périgord and a Gallo-Roman city renowned for its heritage boasting 53 buildings listed as protected historical monuments notably the Saint Front Romanesque cathedral built in the 12th century and listed as a UNESCO world heritage site which is part of the remains of a Gallo- Roman temple and the Périgord Museum of Art and Archaeology the first museum created in the Dordogne in the 19th century were also given pride of place on Wednesday 22nd May with the greatest number of podiums totalling 128 medals an essential venue in France’s historical heritage where the day’s collective relay took place making for an exceptional setting at the crossroads of these two worlds a young swordsman heavily involved in his club as a fencer and referee as well as devoted to passing on his passion carried the Olympic Torch alongside 23 other members of the French Fencing Federation who began this sport at a very young age at his grandfather’s club in Bergerac before setting up his own departmental club in 2012 a discipline which has received the backing of the French Fencing Federation a club member who has gained self-confidence thanks to taking part in fencing All the weapons used in the sport were represented whose aim is to stage choreographed fights presented in competition By carrying the Olympic Torch in Périgueux once again contributed to the brilliance of this discipline The two times team world champion was part of the first women’s epee team in 1987 in a discipline in which women had previously been prevented from participating a member of the association called “Vaincre la Mucoviscidose” (conquering cystic fibrosis) kicked off the stage in Dordogne this thirty- something has battled against this illness that mainly affects the lungs an association in support of children suffering from Cockayne’s syndrome it was the turn of Anne-Sophie Bobovnikoff which promotes the values of adapted sport under the motto ‘to each his or her own challenge’ Annie Rubellin had the honour of carrying the Olympic Torch in Lascaux She has been involved for many years as a volunteer with the Emmaüs charity that helps the underprivileged and is the chairwoman of the local branch in Brive Other personalities from the world of sport and athletes joined these everyday heroes a team foil Olympic champion at the Syndey Games and individual foil Olympic champion at the Athens Games the former professional cyclist with 130 titles and victories a former member of the French women’s rugby union team and current selector and coach of the women’s national team an international middle- and long-distance runner Thomas Chinours lit the Olympic Cauldron in Place Tourny in Périgueux who has recently joined the CREPS sports centre of excellence in Talence has set his sights on qualifying for the Los Angeles Olympic Games the Olympic Torch Relay will head to the Gironde department offering a wonderful opportunity to discover the attractions of this region world-renowned for its wine-growing treasures The Olympic Torch will set off from Saint-Émilion before heading for the racecourse in Le Bouscat The day will continue along a route between Mérignac and Pessac and then return to Libourne and the Plage des Dagueys beach The population of Dordogne has slightly increased in the past eight years with the commune of Fleurac having grown the most A new report by national statistics bureau INSEE there were 416,325 people living in the department In real terms there were 2,595 more people living in Dordogne by 2022 than there were in 2021 This rise marks a departure from the previous trend in which the population had been dropping since 2015 The increased numbers come from people moving into the department The death rate is higher than the birth rate among those already living in the department Dordogne is still the area of France with the most Britons as residents Read also: Dordogne still area of France after Paris with most Britons  The most recent INSEE report found that the communes gaining the most inhabitants are:  Fleurac (in the PĂ©rigord Noir region): Up 30% in six years, from 246 to 320 between 2016 and 2022 Saint-LĂ©on-d'Issigeac, and Saint-Pierre-de-Frugie: Up 23%  Nastringues, and Saint-Cyr-les-Champagnes: 22% The communes losing the most inhabitants were: Orliac: Down 26%, from 61 to 45 between 2016 and 2022 Similarly, the four prefecture and sub-prefecture communes saw a drop in residents.  PĂ©rigueux: Drop of 0.12%, with 29,876 inhabitants in 2022, compared to 29,912 in 2016 Bergerac: 1.5% drop from 27,269 to 26,852 Sarlat-la-CanĂ©da: Drop of 1.7%, from 8,946 to 8,786 Nontron: Drop of 1.1%, from 3,085 to 3,049. Older people make up the majority of inhabitants in Dordogne. The report shows that those aged 60 to 74 represent the greatest proportion of people in the department, making up 23.6% of the population (with 97,691 people of this age in 2021). After this, the second-most common age group is 45-59 (86,010 people). The least common age group is people aged 15 to 29, at just 12.5%, with 51,834 people in 2021. Similarly, the largest percentage are retired, with 37.4% retired in the department. Most of the households in the department are couples with children, the figures show, with 144,934 households coming under this banner. 43,365 women live alone, compared to 32,700 men. The largest percentage of people (44.7%) are married, 4.8% are PACSed, 12% live in a couple, 9% are widowed, 7.4% are divorced, and 22.1% are single. Police are reported to be concentrating on people likely to wish direct ill of Karen Carter who was fatally stabbed on April 29 Karen Carter, 65, was stabbed at her home on April 29 Go to Home PageSubscribeAdvertiser disclosureSearch The Points Guy But any good Francophile knows that the "Hexagone," as France is called because of its shape Alpine skiing and rugged Atlantic coast .. there's pretty much no box that a trip to France can't tick It's no wonder France is one of the most popular destinations in the world With 96 departments (similar to states) on the mainland and five overseas travelers tend to stick to predictable places considering all the varied regions — not to mention foods — that visitors can experience Next time you find yourself with some free time in France and a desire to get out of Paris for some peace and quiet go beyond the famous cities and typical tourist traps to check out some of the below spots instead Why visit: Visitors who make a beeline to the touristy Ile de Re miss out on its charming neighbor which is about twice as large and similarly crisscrossed with cycling paths and dotted with no-frills seafood shacks and oyster farms It's also fringed with golden beaches lined with towering pines with far more space for everyone to spread out and enjoy The Marennes-Oleron oysters grown out at sea finish their maturation in the island's basins and have a delicate iodized taste that's celebrated among the finest in all of France They're best slurped at rustic oyster huts perched around the island called cabanes (Le Cabane de Batifou and Chez Mamelou are among the local favorites to seek out) How to get there: Fly into Bordeaux-Merignac Airport (BOD) and drive roughly 2 1/2 hours northwest or fly into Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) and drive roughly six hours southwest the train from the Gare Montparnasse in Paris takes roughly five hours to reach St-Pierre-d'Oleron sledding and a ski area with varied terrain that's ideal for intermediate skiers in part because it lacks hordes of people like more famous resort areas in the French Alps What to eat: During your visit, sip the traditional herbal liqueur called genepi. It's made from local flowers of the artemisia plant. Also fortify yourself for more outdoor fun the following day by enjoying hearty helpings of Savoyard fondue made with local Haute-Savoie cheese, raclette (slabs of cheese you grill) and the heavy potato dish called tartiflette at warm and inviting spots like La Grolle Where to stay: Right on the slopes with an on-site sauna and sleds for the taking, the rustic wood-paneled inn called La Ferme is as cozy as it gets Rates start at a reasonable $132 per night How to get there: Drive two hours east from Lyon-Saint Exupery Airport (LYS) or just over an hour south from Geneva Airport (GVA) in Switzerland to reach La Clusaz The trip takes roughly three hours by train from Lyon's Part-Dieu train station (there is no direct train connection from Geneva) Why visit: Far less trammeled and much more laid-back than wine regions in the Loire Valley and Bordeaux southwest France's Dordogne dishes up postcard-worthy medieval villages and serious gastronomy at every bend in the rue Make your home base the spectacularly intact medieval town of Sarlat-la-Caneda (Sarlat and spend Wednesdays and Saturdays shopping for local mushrooms Perigord fruits and nuts (and much more) at the excellent open-air market the city is famous for is nearby when you fancy a swim or some kayaking The regional cuisine is legendary for things like foie gras Where to stay: There are no points hotels in Sarlat, but there are plenty of charming inns and bed-and-breakfasts. Try Plaza Madeleine Hotel & Spa right at the entrance to Sarlat's medieval city How to get there: Drive 5 1/2 hours (approximately 350 miles) south of CDG to reach Sarlat-la-Caneda the town is less than 2 1/2 hours (130 miles) east of Bordeaux by car or two hours and 45 minutes by train from Bordeaux What to eat: Brittany is the place to sip cider and eat crepes, the region's signature dish, and St-Malo's Creperie Le Tournesol turns out some amazing ones (as well as galettes which are similar to crepes but made with buckwheat flour) The region is also known for fresh seafood like oysters and bouchot mussels plus the delicious salt-meadow lamb raised here Where to stay: Two Accor properties in town include Mercure St Malo Front de Mer Hotel (where rates start at $200 per night) and the Mercure Saint Malo Balmoral (where rates start at $204 per night) while the latter is within walking distance of the main railway station How to get there: Trains from Paris' Montparnasse station take less than three hours to reach St-Malo Driving is another easy way to get here from Paris which is roughly four hours (255 miles) east one of France's best (and that's saying a lot) covered markets Narbonne's own beach and nearby Gruissan beckon with wide stretches of golden sand What to eat: It's all about the fruits de mer (seafood) at La Cambuse du Saunier a rustic little waterfront restaurant set along the salt lagoons in the Salin de Gruissan (where you can hit the on-site boutique for sachets of salt to bring home) oysters and shrimp comprise heaping seafood towers you can nibble on throughout the course of a sunny afternoon Rates at the latter start at $132 per night How to get there: Trains run regularly from Paris' Gare de Lyon station with the shortest connection taking just over 4 1/2 hours (driving takes closer to eight hours) Trains from Toulouse take just over an hour What to eat: Juicy cuts of the special French breed of Aubrac cattle, raised in the open air surrounded by the flowering fields of the plateau, are often the menu specialty. Le Suquet one of the town's most exceptional restaurants How to get there: Since there's no train station in Laguiole It takes roughly six hours to drive here from Paris Why visit: Roughly an hour east of the D-Day beaches in Normandy, the cute little town of Cambremer is the place to base yourself for exploring the pastoral countryside along the 25-mile Route du Cidre The tourist trail runs through a landscape of wood-timbered estates and apple orchards and winds past scenic Pays d'Auge towns like Beuvron-en-Auge which is home to a cider festival every October What to eat: In addition to sipping Pays d'Auge Cambremer cider don't miss the local Calvados liquor (apple and pear brandy) and the region's fabulous Belle-Mere and Pont-l'Eveque cheeses Where to stay: Small inns abound along the Route du Cidre, like Domaine les Marroniers, which has a three-room gite (or farmhouse) that you can rent and a facade that dates to the 16th century How to get there: The train from Paris' Gare St-Lazare takes less than 2 1/2 hours It takes roughly the same amount of time to drive and you'll probably want a car to explore the area take over the town and its lively riverfront The latter celebrates not only the region's iconic eau de vie but also Charente's famed pineau wine and terroir specialties like cagouilles (local snails) Where to eat: Start with a cognac cocktail for an aperitif at the elegant white stone house occupied by La Maison then enjoy moderately priced prix-fixe lunch and dinner menus that blend Asian South American and Mediterranean inspirations Where to stay: Rest your head within a restored 19th-century cognac cellar at the high-end boutique property Hotel Chais Monnet & Spa, right in the center of town. Make a dinner reservation at the on-site Michelin-starred restaurant, Les Foudres then end your night at the buzzy rooftop bar How to get there: The high-speed train (TGV) from Paris' Montparnasse to Angouleme takes just under two hours transfer to a local train to Cognac for the last 30-minute leg it takes roughly five hours to drive here from Paris Where to eat: The summer months bring pop-up stalls selling crepes, cocktails and ice cream to the lakefront. For something fancier, book a table overlooking Lake Geneva at Hotel Royal's La Veranda restaurant for elegant seasonal dishes like chilled pea soup with mint asparagus from the Rhone Valley and seabream tartare Where to stay: Part of the Evian Resort, Hotel Ermitage is an excellent family pick as it has a kids club for all ages and babysitters on request How to get there: The fastest train from Paris leaves from the Gare de Lyon and takes about 4 1/2 hours to reach Evian-les-Bains (the drive is a little more than 5 1/2 hours) You can also fly into Geneva and drive one hour east Why visit: Take a break from the busy coastal crowds in Cannes for a foray into this medieval hilltop village just a short drive inland and up into the hills Straddling a rocky outcropping between the mountains and the sparkling Mediterranean Mougins is where Picasso spent the last years of his life it is possible to visit sites like Hotel Vaste Horizon where the artist stayed in 1936 when he first discovered the village More than 30 galleries dot the narrow stone streets today and artists come from far and wide to settle in and feel inspired Where to eat: Legendary chef Roger VergĂ© was the original chef at L'Amandier which remains a local institution thanks to transporting views overlooking the surrounding countryside and superb risottos and locally caught fish Where to stay: Sip a local rosĂ© on a terrace overlooking the hillsides of Grasse and step out to restaurants in the heart of the village when you stay at boutique newcomer La Reserve, with villas, three-bedroom suites and traditional hotel rooms on offer. Rates start at $315 per night. How to get there: Fast trains from Paris' Gare de Lyon to Cannes take about six hours. You can drive to Mougins from Cannes or Grasse in about 25 minutes. The Points Guy believes that credit cards can transform lives helping you leverage everyday spending for cash back or travel experiences that might otherwise be out of reach That’s why we publish a variety of editorial content and card comparisons: to help you find a great card to turn your goals into reality Copyright © 2025 The Points Guy, LLC. All rights reserved. A Red Ventures company. Published: Nov 9, 2024written by Gabriel Kirellos If you’re tired of hearing about Paris or the French Riviera every time France comes up I will tell you about a part of the Land of Lights that doesn’t always make it onto your Instagram feed and it’s hiding some of the most captivating corners in the southwest Sure, you’ve probably heard of Bordeaux’s wines or maybe even Lourdes with its legendary pilgrimage site But the real gems are hidden in the historic towns where ancient architecture and vibrant local markets invite you to slow down and soak in the authentic French experience Ready for something a little off the beaten path Here’s your ticket to 10 historic towns in Southwest France that bring the charm This captivating medieval town is located in the heart of the Dordogne region in France Originating around a Benedictine abbey in the 9th century This allowed the town to become a significant center of commerce and culture cobblestone streets lined with impeccably restored stone buildings that’ll take you back to 14th-century France A must-see is the Saint-Sacerdos Cathedral, a blend of Romanesque and Gothic styles This cathedral reflects centuries of architectural evolution the Lanterne des Morts (Lantern of the Dead) stands as a unique 12th-century monument with intriguing shell-shaped architecture it is surrounded by traditional 16th and 17th-century houses and hosts vibrant markets where local delicacies like foie gras and truffles are abundant Sarlat’s commitment to preserving its heritage has earned it a place on France’s Tentative List for future UNESCO World Heritage nomination This makes the town a perfect place to visit for both history enthusiasts and cultural travelers You can find this town in the Bordeaux wine region of France Saint-Émilion is a UNESCO World Heritage site celebrated for its rich history and exceptional wines Its origins date back to the 8th century when a Breton monk named Émilion settled in a hermitage carved into the limestone He attracted followers and established a monastic community You can explore the remarkable Monolithic Church The town’s medieval architecture is evident in its narrow cobblestone streets and historic buildings including the King’s Tower and the Collegiate Church Saint-Émilion is renowned for its prestigious wineries and wine cellars Established as Divona Cadurcorum during the Roman era Cahors was a significant center of commerce and culture You can find this town in the Lot Valley of southwestern France and visiting it offers a journey through time stands as a testament to medieval engineering and is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site This iconic site showcases a blend of Romanesque and Gothic architecture through its impressive domes and intricate carvings Strolling through the old town reveals narrow streets lined with half-timbered houses and hidden courtyards exemplifies the Renaissance influence in the region Cahors is also renowned for its Malbec wines offering numerous vineyards and cellars where visitors can indulge in tastings provide a sensory experience with local produce Perched dramatically on a limestone cliff in southwestern France Rocamadour is a medieval village renowned for its historical significance and breathtaking vistas it swiftly became a pivotal pilgrimage site Devotees were flocking to its revered Sanctuary of the Black Madonna One of the most interesting things you’ll enjoy doing in Rocamadour is ascending the Grand Escalier a staircase of 216 steps traditionally climbed by pilgrims on their knees leading to the sacred complex of chapels and the Basilica of Saint-Sauveur and quaint cafĂ©s lining the narrow and winding streets of the village which provides you with a unique medieval ambiance In 1858, Bernadette Soubirous reported 18 apparitions of the Virgin Mary at the Grotto of Massabielle This was what made Lourdes one of the world’s most important pilgrimage sites this famous town in southwestern France provides you with the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes and also the Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary and participation in the nightly candlelit processions Lourdes offers attractions like the ChĂąteau Fort a medieval fortress housing the Pyrenean Museum The latter offers panoramic views of the town and surrounding mountains As the ancient capital of the Celtiberian tribe of Ausci Auch evolved into a significant center during Roman Gaul you’ll be embarking on a journey through time The town is located in the heart of Gascony and one of its most notable historic sites includes the Sainte-Marie Cathedral a masterpiece of Gothic and Renaissance architecture found in the town center Its intricate stained-glass windows and meticulously carved choir stalls are particularly noteworthy the Monumental Staircase descends to the lower town Wandering through Auch’s narrow streets will allow you to witness half-timbered houses and hidden courtyards that showcase the medieval heritage of the town The rich history of this unique French area is further showcased in the MusĂ©e des AmĂ©riques – Auch which houses France’s second-largest collection of pre-Columbian art outside Paris offering local specialties like foie gras and Armagnac Brossac’s history dates back to ancient times, with evidence of human presence from the Neolithic era Nestled in the Charente department of southwestern France this picturesque village provides you with a tranquil retreat as you’ll be surrounded by rolling hills and lush landscapes A notable historical site near Brossac is the Villa Gallo-Romaine de la Coue d’Auzenat The village itself is characterized by traditional stone houses and a serene atmosphere that reflects its rich heritage The Étang Vallier Resort features a leisure lake ideal for swimming The surrounding countryside is perfect for hiking and exploring the natural beauty of the region they provide a taste of Charente’s culinary delights If you’re looking for an authentic French countryside experience Brossac is a great destination combining historical significance with natural beauty and recreational opportunities Also located in the Charente-Maritime department of southwestern France, this town’s origins trace back to the medieval period, with the ChĂąteau de Jonzac standing as a testament to its rich past. This 15th-century castle, perched on a rocky promontory overlooking the Seugne River, has withstood numerous historical events, including the Hundred Years’ War You’ll get the chance to explore the castle’s impressive architecture and enjoy panoramic views of the surrounding area The town center features narrow streets lined with traditional stone houses leading to the Église Saint-Gervais-Saint-Protais a Romanesque church dating back to the 12th century Jonzac is also renowned for its thermal springs making it a popular destination for wellness tourism The Les Antilles de Jonzac is a tropical-themed aquatic center that offers a variety of relaxation and recreational facilities The town hosts vibrant markets where visitors can sample local specialties such as cognac and regional cheeses The Charente department is actually home to plenty of interesting historic towns and villages that I personally had the unique chance of visiting celebrated as one of the “Plus Beaux Villages de France“ (Most Beautiful Villages of France) The village’s history dates back to Roman times with its name derived from “Alba Terra,“ meaning “white land,“ referencing the local limestone cliffs Aubeterre is renowned for its Église Saint-Jean a monolithic church carved directly into the cliffside during the 12th century This subterranean church features a 20-meter-high nave and is among the largest of its kind in Europe The streets are lined with white stone houses adorned with wooden balconies and vibrant flowers is a lively hub with cafĂ©s and artisan shops which will allow you to learn about the local culture I recommend that you explore the Église Saint-Jacques notable for its intricate Romanesque façade and enjoy recreational activities along the Dronne River is renowned for its striking Lac Bleu de Guizengeard formed in a former kaolin (white clay) quarry is celebrated for its vibrant turquoise waters a result of the mineral composition and absence of aquatic life The village itself offers a peaceful retreat characterized by its rural charm and proximity to natural landscapes Visitors can explore the surrounding forests This will allow them to enjoy hiking trails while marveling at the scenic views of the lake and its unique geological features While Guizengeard may not have a bustling town center its allure lies in the serene environment and the captivating beauty of the Lac Bleu making it a noteworthy destination for nature enthusiasts and those seeking tranquility Gabriel is a travel writer and editor with 5 years of experience having authored more than 400 articles on historic sites from medieval castles in France to ancient temples in Asia offering readers in-depth cultural insights With personal travels to over 35 countries he combines firsthand exploration with historical research Gabi is a digital nomad traveling across Europe throughout 2024-25 to bring authentic storytelling to his followers Latest UpdatesCountries Why Join?IL MagazineFree Daily E-LetterVideoOur ExpertsTestimonialsFAQsTopics Sarlat-Le-Caneda, France: Joy in a Medieval TownUpdated Dec 28, 2019By Ron Engeldinger It’s impossible to escape the geese in Sarlat-le-Caneda Images of these plump birds adorn shop windows and products of all kinds are decorated with the likeness of the animals that have been adopted as the unofficial mascot of the area this town with a population of about 11,000 is in the center of the Dordogne region of southern France Sarlat offers big-city convenience and activities packaged in a small-town setting that make it a delightful location to visit and a wonderful place to call home Narrow streets occasionally interrupted by quiet squares meander through the historical center bringing to mind the romantic images of small-town France and rivers quietly winding through forested valleys draw visitors to the area around Sarlat There’s more to Sarlat than the medieval architecture and quiet lanes though Visiting the caves and grottoes or exploring one of the many nearby castles provides a glimpse into the past lives of the region's inhabitants and Holiday Music Festival showcase the cultural side of Sarlat The Cultural Center offers exhibitions and performances throughout the year the town bustles with the sights and aromas of the region as market day fills the Place de la LibertĂ© Tables overflowing with sweet strawberries in the spring give way to succulent melons and juicy tomatoes in the summer or a sample of local cheese are complemented by artisans selling their creations the cuisine is as outstanding as the setting The area is famous for truffles and their delicate yet musky flavor accents many local dishes are favorites in many of Sarlat's restaurants For a romantic splurge in an elegant setting the Auberge de Mirandol offers four-course fixed-price menu options ranging from $20 to $40 The duck breast with truffle sauce served accompanied by blissful Sarladaise potatoes (delicately pureed potatoes with a hint of truffle sautĂ©ed in duck fat) epitomizes the flavors of the region Sarlat is far enough from large cities to provide a quiet small-town life but it is also situated within easy reach of the major cities of southwest France Bordeaux and Toulouse are each about two hours away by car Although Sarlat has been a popular destination for French and British tourists for many years it accommodates multitudes of visitors without sacrificing its charm there are many small family-run accommodations for around $100 per night and apartment rentals there are even more affordable be sure to check out the following destinations that may just surprise and delight From world-renowned fashion houses and a culinary scene worth savouring to iconic landmarks rich history and natural wonders that will leave any visitor in awe it’s safe to say that France is filled with a diverse range of sights and experiences to entice any traveller And when it comes to choosing a destination in this vast country to base yourself this isn’t always a simple choice with its selection of trendy beachside havens and stunning landscapes promising outdoor adventures galore Though the more popular spots are certainly worth a visit those who have visited before or wish to add the many enticing aspects of this country to their travel list may be seeking some lesser known gems that are worth checking out when visiting If you find yourself fortunate enough to be on the French Riviera then be sure to pay a visit to Gorges du Verdon it’s a striking natural attraction in Provence features dramatic cliffs and vibrant turquoise waters and is a haven for outdoor enthusiasts and adventurers while the scenic drives along the rim offer breath-taking views for those seeking a more relaxed experience White water rapids and hiking trails along with the village of Moustiers-Sainte-Marie with its 12th-century Notre Dame de Beauvoir Chapel within Verdon Natural Regional Park make this a spectacular spot to add to your itinerary Known for its golden sandstone buildings and narrow cobblestone streets visitors to the town will feel like they’re taking a step back in time From wandering around bustling markets filled with regional specialties such as truffles and foie gras to exploring ancient caves and prehistoric sites in the region Sarlat is ideal for food enthusiasts and history-lovers alike is the perfect spot for enjoying local cuisine at an open-air cafĂ© Colmar enchants visitors with its colourful half-timbered houses Often referred to as ‘little Venice,’ the city exudes a romantic charm that draws visitors year-round thanks to its half-timbered medieval and early Renaissance buildings Colmar is not just visually stunning; it’s also a paradise for food and wine lovers The region is known for its excellent wines such as Reisling and Gewurztraminer which pair perfectly with the local Alsatian cuisine Art enthusiasts will appreciate the town’s museums Normandy is synonymous with World War II being the site of the pivotal D-Day landings making it ideal for history buffs and those seeking to experience France’s wartime legacy and museums dedicated to the war’s events The northern region is also known for its picturesque countryside and the stunning Mont Saint-Michel a medieval abbey rising dramatically from the sea while the city of Rouen holds the Cathedrale Notre-Dame de Roeun – the spot where Joan of Arc was executed a family-friendly travel service offering stays at some of the best campsites across the country making them ideal for both short getaways and extended holidays You can expect to find accommodation that suits your style with outside space to enjoy and self-catering facilities Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker warm evening light and a bounty of autumnal produce — there’s no better time to explore this picturesque swathe of southwest France This article was adapted from National Geographic Traveller (UK).The Dordogne is one of France’s best destinations for autumn The forested banks of the eponymous river turn a riot of colour at this time of year and the lanes of its golden-stone villages are bathed in rich for local markets abound with produce: glossy vegetables This corner of southwest France is best experienced on a four- or five-day road trip starting in Bergerac and ending in Brive-la-Gaillarde following the Dordogne as it loops past vineyards immaculate gardens and mysterious subterranean caves along the way The valley continues into the Lot department [ED: do we need to explain what departments are?] where its banks have been home to walnut groves for a millennium this humble nut is particularly celebrated in the town of Martel where the most delicious reward at the end of a day’s exploring is a glass of vin de noix (walnut wine) sipped on a restaurant terrace in the evening sun Toast the start of a trip with a glass of local wine at the turreted Chateau de Monbazillac honey-noted Monbazillac dessert wine develops its sweetness thanks to so-called ‘noble rot’ a type of fungus that has been deliberately cultivated because it causes the grapes to shrivel like raisins The chateau’s new Pavillon des ArĂŽmes gives visitors the chance to taste under the guidance of wine experts The Dordogne is pocked with extraordinary caves from the exquisite replica of the cave paintings at Lascaux IV to the Rouffignac’s ‘Cave of the 100 mammoths’ and allows visitors to descend into the vast underground cavern known as the ‘Cathedral of Crystal’ in a gently rotating basket (like that of a hot-air balloon) you’ll have a 360-degree view of the awe-inspiring and beautifully lit stalactites and stalagmites but those who prefer to keep their feet on solid ground can take it all in from designated pathways The Gouffre de Promeyssac allows visitors to descend into the vast underground cavern known as the ‘Cathedral of Crystal’ in a gently rotating basket (like that of a hot-air balloon).Photograph by Getty Images3. Les Jardins de MarqueyssacIf nature is to thank for the caves then the Jardins de Marqueyssac are all down to human creativity At the Jardins Suspendus (‘overhanging gardens’) of Marqueyssac there are an incredible 150,000 boxwoods hand-clipped into myriad domes and spheres set in the grounds of a small 19th-century chateau which has an incredible view of the Dordogne Valley from its 630ft-high balcony Time your visit with one of the evening events which sees the topiary illuminated by candlelight A short drive away — at the heart of the Dordogne — is the medieval town of Sarlat-la-CanĂ©da where superb markets are held each week on Wednesdays and Saturdays Food-lovers will revel in the local produce available; in autumn such as gateaux de noix (walnut cakes) and fragrant bottles of walnut oil as well as the voluminous pumpkins and other fresh vegetables brocante (second-hand goods) and clothes are also on offer Trace the Dordogne east to the awe-inspiring pilgrimage site of Rocamadour whose tiny houses and monastic buildings are pinned to a cliff overlooking the River Alzou steep lanes and dramatic geography make it a true sight to behold too; follow in the footsteps of pilgrims and visit the Chapelle Notre-Dame and its statue of the Black Madonna drive or walk to the other side of the gorge to see the village in panorama as well as its celebrated plum aperitif La Vieille Prune Walnuts are harvested in October and it’s done tree by tree; a clamp is attached around the trunk and attached to a tractor which revs its engine on full throttle to shake the tree and release the nuts Published in the October 2022 issue of National Geographic Traveller (UK) Essential digital access to quality FT journalism on any device Complete digital access to quality FT journalism with expert analysis from industry leaders Complete digital access to quality analysis and expert insights complemented with our award-winning Weekend Print edition Terms & Conditions apply Discover all the plans currently available in your country See why over a million readers pay to read the Financial Times wine and idyllic lifestyle of this region’s villages have always appealed to Brits – and with Brexit looming they’re settling in record numbers – but that has not dimmed its thoroughly French allure Sarlat-la-CanĂ©da is the perfect base for exploring the grandiose hilltop chĂąteaux that look down on the Dordogne river and the Unesco-listed prehistoric sites along the VĂ©zĂšre valley. Its narrow streets are lined with lavish sandstone mansions, perfectly preserved since the middle ages and Renaissance. Don’t miss taking a ride up the 14th-century bell tower, where renowned architect and Sarlat local Jean Nouvel has designed a panoramic glass lift offering 360-degree views. a towering mass of ruins above ancient cave dwellings including an extravagant perfumed rose garden inhabited 55,000 years ago by Neanderthals which is frankly just as impressive a recreation of the original caves Read moreSarlat is surrounded by great-value traditional fermes auberges (farm inns). At La Table du Chaffour Nicole and Jean-Marie Verlhiac grow vegetables and use only their own produce for the hearty three-course €15 menu tradition or the six-dish €29 menu gastronomique In the hills above ChĂąteau Montfort is the no-frills Pech de Malet hotel whose sunny terrace has awe-inspiring vistas over the Dordogne valley accompanied by a €6.80 plate of irresistible pommes sarladaises thinly sliced potatoes sautĂ©ed with garlic Bistro des GlycinesRestaurants around the caves of Les Eyzies tend to be aimed mostly at tourists, but just outside the village, talented chef Pascal Lombard has opened the casual Bistrot Les Glycines Pascal’s young team prepare a €17 three-course lunch menu with creative dishes such as salmon rillettes topped with edible flowers and root vegetables A tour of Lascaux takes around half a day, and rather than looking for food in the nearby villager of Montigny, visitors can choose between the brasserie, snacking and cafe options at the centre’s excellent Cafe Lascaux with prices ranging from a €9 salad to the €15.90 set lunch Read moreTo splash out for a night in a romantic setting, two addresses stand out: the monumental 13th-century ChĂąteau de Puymartin (doubles from €150 B&B) has two stately rooms with antique furniture, while the more ornate ChĂąteau de Monrecour (doubles from €120 room-only) has recently become a 10-room hotel with hot-air balloons taking off from the gardens from time to time On the road to Lascaux are two very different B&Bs: the chic Maison de Marquay (doubles from €90 B&B) in the middle of a tiny village, where owner GĂ©rard Lerchundi prepares a gourmet €33 dinner each night; and the rustic Pech Mortier (€55 B&B) in the countryside by Marcillac-Saint-Quentin discovering little-known reds such as PĂ©charmant and the luscious Monbazillac dessert wine Enoy your picnic in the gardens of the Renaissance ChĂąteau de Monbazillac but skip its touristy tasting sessions and head instead to the equally imposing ChĂąteau de BĂ©lingard to try its fruity €5.90 Bergerac Blanc You may well bump into the estate’s garrulous owner who will tell you how wine has been made here since the days of the Celts plus a spoonful of caviar and a glass of bubbly PĂ©rigueux is the capital of the Dordogne and is dominated by the swirling domes and turrets of its white Saint Front cathedral the present building looks similar to the Sacre-Coeur in Paris – not surprising because it was restyled in the 19th century by the same architect Sur le pont 
 the Barris Bridge and Saint Front cathedral Photograph: AlamyThe same distinctive white stone is even more conspicuous in another of the Dordogne’s jewels almost entirely encircled by a meander of the Dronne river BrantĂŽme’s massive Benedictine abbey was founded in AD769 by the emperor Charlemagne and behind it are some much older troglodyte caves Hire a kayak (€10) or paddleboard (€12) (brantomecanoe.com) for a couple of hours to do a lazy tour of the city or take the whole day and paddle seven kilometres upriver to Bourdeilles, where a fortified chateau (€8.70) houses an enormous collection of antique furniture and tapestries which might be sea bream with sun-dried tomatoes or date-encrusted roast lamb In Monbazillac, the welcoming Maison Vari is owned by a local vigneron (wine maker) ChĂąteau Vari wines can be tasted for free at the bar or there are tables in the garden of this friendly cafe-wine bar for indulging in generous €10 plates of charcuterie and local cheeses with a chilled bottle of organic €12 Bergerac blanc or rosĂ© In PĂ©rigueux, head straight for the town’s historic covered market on Place du Coderc. It was already a foodie paradise but now it boasts the Bistrot de la Halle a minuscule diner where a glass of wine is the perfect accompaniment to freshly shucked oysters or a hamburger au foie gras BrantĂŽme caters for all budgets, from the Michelin-starred Moulin de l’Abbaye, to the cheap-and-cheerful Co’ThĂ©-CafĂ© sit out on the river bank at Comme Ă  la Maison (13 quai Bertin where owner Sarah Nicolas serves a €16 three-course lunch with seasonal make guests feel they’re part of the family and run cellar tours with tastings of their wines – and there’s a family swimming pool surrounded by vines Rather than looking for a place to stay in busy PĂ©rigueux, carry on to BrantĂŽme, where Sandrine Laby has a cosy four-room B&B, Au Nid des ThĂ©s (€90 B&B) where she serves home-baked cakes and a choice of 30 teas Breakfast at Au Nid des ThĂ©sTake the lovely 10km drive south-west along the Dronne to medieval Bourdeilles, crossing an ancient stone bridge to enter the village. Here, the venerable Hostellerie les Griffons (doubles from €95 this 16th-century auberge has 10 rustic-beamed rooms For a more outdoorsy experience, carry on to the north of the Dordogne, where ParenthĂšses Imaginaires (cabins sleeping 2 minimum two nights) is a sprawling campsite with a lake and thick forest Dynamic young owner Francoise has created an eco-glamping resort with romantic lakeside wooden chalets and areas for tents and vehicles (pitches from €20 for two nights) Ryanair flies to Bergerac from Liverpool, Stansted and East Midlands; Flybe flies from Birmingham, Southampton, Exeter and Edinburgh. Bordeaux is 90 minutes from Bergerac by car. Travelling by train (from London to Bordeaux, changing in Paris) costs from around ÂŁ170 return on Eurostar Bergerac is 530 miles from Calais and 360 miles from Caen The average high temperature in Bergerac ranges from 20C to 28C between May and October Discover how Paris 2024 became the most media-covered Olympic Games in history See how the Olympic Games’ communications team supported by Wiztrust’s tailored PR platform overcame complex challenges-from synchronizing teams and managing thousands of journalists to ensuring top-level security Learn how innovative digital tools and expert support enabled Paris 2024 to achieve record-breaking visibility and flawless brand protection Download the full Paris 2024 Success Case now and get inspired by the strategies behind this record-breaking achievement For further information and other cases please visit Wiztrust.com protect your company and its directors from disinformation and adopt the “trust mark” of the market leaders plan campaigns targeting your audiences through all channels (e-mail social media) and organise your activities and events improve results by exploiting your data's true depth Discover the best way to manage your PR & Marketing efficiently: Wiztrust is THE integrated communication platform for corporate professionals Prioritise your activities thanks to a clearer view on your assets Manage your communication thanks to a collaborative platform for you and your team Certify your corporate communication thanks to our blockchain-backed technology Save your team and yourself some precious time Learn more about Wiztrust in our case study Are you planning some spring and summer days out in France but would like to find a way to avoid the crowds Try some of these great alternatives to the busiest tourist hotspots The high season for French tourism is considered to be from July 14 to August 20 and some of the country’s most stunning villages in Aveyron Lot and Dordogne are always on the must-see list turning a pleasant day out into a stressful scramble for car parking spaces and long waits outside restaurants.  For a calmer and more original experience, Le Figaro has helpfully compiled some recommended alternatives in the same area Read more: These are the French villages most searched on Google  Meyssac has similar red-bricked buildings to Collonges-la-Rouge (above) Collonges-la-Rouge is a beautiful brick village in CorrĂšze but with just 500 full-time residents its single main street no match for the 700,000 tourists who descend every year to sample the many ice cream parlours and leather shops (despite leather not being a particularly CorrĂ©zien specialty) it has very similar streets and traditional red houses and (bonus) locals who are not yet fed up with visitors Read more: MAP: France’s most welcoming towns and villages Leoks / Pack-Shot / Shutterstock Rocamadour (above) is stunning but residents cling to sanity just as the houses cling to rocks Rocamadour holds near-legendary status in this part of France (Lot) It attracts a massive 1 million to 1.3 million visitors per year Such is its popularity that some restaurants have even opted for self-service to avoid the staff from having to suffer tired (and grumpy) tourists who underestimate the challenging terrain Residents even reportedly pray to keep visitors away this former spa town has almost as much history and chateau (although this is not open to the public) If you thought Rocamadour was busy with 1 million visitors spare a thought for Sarlat-la-CanĂ©da (Dordogne) which attracts more than two million tourists annually traffic can take two hours to get to the otherwise-picturesque village Around 27 km away from Sarlat and far less busy it still has serious charm: its abbey (Sainte-Marie right) is one of the oldest and most beautiful in the region plus the Dordogne river runs straight through town so you can even take a dip on the warmest days It’s easy to see why this village is so popular perched as it is on a cliff overlooking the River Lot and made cool by surrealist poet AndrĂ© Breton And despite the steep streets and car park 20 minutes’ walk from the centre Stay cool by visiting Marcilhac-sur-CĂ©lĂ© instead the village is built around historic religious buildings on limestone cliffs Read more: Two more villages awarded prestigious ‘most beautiful in France’ title As one of the main stopping points along the French part of the Santiago de Compostela pilgrimage route (which crosses from France to Spain later via Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port many of Conques’ 600,000 visitors at least come on foot rather than car you may prefer to explore Muret-le-ChĂąteau One of many charming villages around Conques it is just 2km away and full of its own history Read more: SEE: The medieval 'bastide' villages of south-west France Do you have any suggestions for great alternatives to too-busy villages in France Explore the rich history and artistic allure of this medieval hideaway From medieval gems to winemaking favourites these villages offer a glimpse of rural life The tourist site has a collection of 13 gĂźtes and a swimming pool pearl brooches and jewel-encrusted bracelets and hair clips has been discovered buried under a dry stone wall belonging to the commune in Dordogne The president of the PĂ©rigord Pierre SĂšche (PPS) association which runs dry stone walling induction courses was demolishing an old wall in the commune of Saint-AndrĂ©-d’Allas you first dig right down to the foundations," said Jean-Marc Audit “I was doing this with a mechanical digger - but when I got out to have a look appeared to have lain under the wall for some time so the law stipulates that it belongs 50/50 to the finder and the landowner," said Mr Audit both he and the commune have agreed not to sell it which has declared the find to the prefecture and the gendarmerie says it is keen to discover the history of the jewels “We are appealing to local residents to tell us any stories they may have heard about them,” it said Mr Audit is concerned that the discovery could ultimately work against him and his association if treasure hunters descend on the commune’s 100km of dry stone walls “We don't want people with shovels making holes all around the walls.” he has not disclosed exactly where he made the find If you find a stash of money or items when out in France it should be declared to either the gendarmerie or local police within 24 hours The gendarmerie will check if the discovery is suspicious they will hand the case over to the local authorities who will look for the owner of the item or money If you do not declare valuable items or money you find you could face a €1,500 fine or one year in prison the items will be returned to you – however you cannot sell them until another three years have passed you are only the “usufructuary” of the money and must give it or objects back if the owner comes forward If the case closes without the original owner being found – or three years go by – those who discovered the ‘treasure’ are now the rightful owners In situations where the treasure is found on land belonging to someone else Please press and hold the button until it turns completely green If you believe this is an error, please contact our support team 147.45.197.102 : 493d369b-b0bb-4b50-8c4d-baabe0a0 Please whitelist confidentials.com to continue to our site and enjoy an Ad-Light experience My quest was of a more earthly nature – to discover if French food really is a shadow of its former self have stolen much of its culinary thunder in recent years while Italian produce fills everyone’s  larders So valuable was walnut oil in medieval times it was used as currency It certainly has sublime terroir on its side yet as it turned out the most interesting meal of the trip was served in a dull street in Brive-la-Gaillarde – what counts as a big city in this agricultural region its airport the gateway to places more immediately touristique Martel is half an hour’s drive south, a harmonious melange of pale stone and red tiles, restaurants and cafes clustering around the rustically timbered 18th century market halle. Facing it is our introduction to the local cuisine, a bistrot called Le Petit Moulin Chef/patron Adrien Castagne’s mission is to celebrate local products Even the wine we taste is from his own family vineyard – an organic Cahors It’s softened by Merlot but is mostly Malbec a reminder the grape existed long before Argentina monopolised it Across the cobbled square sits the turreted Maison Fabri thus speeding Richard The Lionheart to the throne of England and the rest is history Hard to credit mellow Martel with such a turbulent past but it’s the reason the Dordogne features so many castles on crags.  Even the CitĂ© RĂ©ligieuse of Rocamadour is a cliffhanging fortified site scaled by 216 calf-stretching steps called the ‘Grand Escalier’ Hard to credit that medieval pilgrims used to mount it on their hands and knees Today’s funicular cut into the hillside was sorely tempting Rocamadour is not a place to seek out Michelin-starred dining. For that drive 20 minutes north west to the Pont de l’Ouysse alongside a ruined bridge (hence the name) over tributary of the Dordogne River From my room terrace I looked on the perched castle of Belcastel to the sound of the rippling stream Both here in the river valley and further north in the Perigord Noir So valuable was the oil in medieval times it was used as currency its health-giving properties have been equally treasured and in 2002 it was granted AOC (Appellation d'Origine ContrĂŽlĂ©e) status protecting its authenticity and quality.  It’s the traditional mills, strung out along the Route de la Noix and serviced by some 40 sq km of orchards, that really benefit. We popped in on the tiny Moulin de Maneyrol where young Charlie Le Gallo presses award-winning artisanal oils after crushing with traditional grindstones Elsewhere, around Sarlat, the walnut products, (like the foie gras too) are manufactured on a more industrial scale. I enjoyed walnut cakes and breads but walnut wines and liqueurs weren’t really for me – even from the celebrated Distillerie Denoix in their historic Brive premises Yet stray beyond the Place de la LibertĂ© and surrounding lanes and Sarlat still charms Behind the Bishop’s Palace you’ll find the curious Its lawn was a perfect spot for my baguette of torched foie gras and a local craft beer It is amazing how quickly you can be out of the city was just a few miles away but felt quite remote It runs along the lines of Italian agriturismos with everyone sharing dishes in a canteen-style courtyard I was hoping for a real taste of the terroir but it felt disappointing Definitely not  a fan of gĂ©siers de canard (duck gizzards) in my salad A dip then on the Dordogne culinary spreadsheet It is so beautifully preserved because its original raison d’etre was scuppered by the 1880s phylloxera vive bug epidemic and it all fell into a long sleep until the Sixties when forward-looking souls rescued it from further dilapidation Among those saviours is Camille Breuil. Her restaurant Le Cantou is in a house at the heart of the hamlet that once belonged to her paternal great grandparents Her own parents opened an inn here in 1961 just as tourism was starting to develop; she took over in 1985 and steered it towards gourmet dining After perhaps the bets foie gras starter of the trip my main of lamb sweetbreads was divine on a vine-shaded terrace straight from ‘French Idyll I resisted the chance to take advantage of Camille’s other forte – a chic hat shop on site of this landscape dotted with Chateaux – Fayrac Beynac and Castelnaud (whose owners restored Marqueyssac) The region does deal in the spectacular but it dances to a quieter beat in towns such as Terrasson-Lavilledieu with its Romanesque stone bridge across the VĂ©zĂšre or villages such as Curemonte with its niche drinks offerings – ‘straw’ wine and dandelion liqueur best sipped on the ridge with a view of the picture-perfect hamlet.  If that was a clincher for traditions being upheld our dinner destination was proof that open-minded chefs exist too to take advantage.  Maybe Nicolas Eche would baulk at a ‘fusion’ tag but the menu at his bistrot En Cuisine is not afraid to add exotic spice to its market-driven raw materials and yet also here are French classics The wine list supports regional wines that often go under the radar in the UK A red PĂ©charmant Les Hauts de Corbiac was the perfect accompaniment to both my Limousin beef carpacccio with herring eggs and Neil Sowerby flew from Stansted to Aeroport Brive-la-Gaillarde with Ryanair Neil Sowerby explores the cultural riches of Brits' favourite island Hotel has become a standout in the city since opening just over a year ago Harley Young shares her highlights after spending a long weekend in the coastal city Lily Wallen sees things fall apart in suburbia In a shocking revelation that challenged the perceptions of corruption in developed nations French-American entrepreneur Dom Einhorn has embarked on a hunger strike to protest what he described as systemic corruption within France’s legal and political systems Einhorn, the founder and CEO of Masters of Trivia, a prominent trivia and quiz platform drawing attention to a case that has left him in legal limbo for nearly three years The CEO’s ordeal began in February 2022 when his home and offices in Sarlat-la-CanĂ©da a small town in France’s Dordogne region reportedly based solely on rumours and conducted without credible evidence or a formal investigation which marked the beginning of a legal battle that has since devastated Einhorn’s businesses and personal life The entrepreneur had returned to France in 2018 after a successful 25-year career in the United States He launched Uniqorn a technology incubator designed to foster innovation and economic growth in the region The venture attracted entrepreneurs from over 20 countries but allegedly became a threat to powerful local officials including a mayor who was accused of orchestrating a campaign against Einhorn Einhorn has been caught in what he described as a corrupt legal system with his businesses systematically dismantled including nearly one million euros in cash Despite multiple court rulings in his favour including an April 2024 order to return his assets the French judicial system has continuously delayed progress on his case Einhorn’s legal team argued that his situation is not unique claiming that thousands of other entrepreneurs in France face similar circumstances They painted a picture of a system that protects powerful interests while crushing those who dare to challenge the status quo The hunger strike is a desperate measure to raise international awareness about the corruption he alleged to exist within France’s legal and political systems Einhorn is calling for an independent investigation led by a European or American authority The case has potential diplomatic and economic repercussions for France as a country that prides itself as being a leader in human rights and an attractive destination for foreign investors France risks significant long-term fallout if corruption continues unchecked particularly when it affects foreign investors and dual citizens like Einhorn Einhorn’s wife, Mia Nguyen-Einhorn, has launched a GoFundMe campaign to help cover the substantial legal fees accumulated over the past three years Supporters were encouraged to share Einhorn’s story and raise awareness about the issue This case is being cited as a reminder that corruption is not confined to developing nations but can thrive even in countries perceived as bastions of democracy and rule of law It also highlights the need for global solidarity in addressing corruption which knows no borders and requiring unified efforts from people and institutions worldwide his story challenges us to recognise that the fight against corruption is universal and that systemic injustices can exist even in the most unexpected places The outcome of his protest may have far-reaching implications for how corruption is perceived and combated in developed nations like France © 2025 Leadership Media Group - All Rights Reserved © 2025 Leadership Media Group - All Rights Reserved You’ve read one of your four complimentary articles for this month To have complete access to the thousands of philosophy articles on this site Etienne de la Boétie is probably best known in the English-speaking world through a footnote in his friend Michel de Montaigne’s essay ‘On Friendship’ [see last issue for Montaigne’s Brief Life though Montaigne compares him to Socrates as a beautiful soul behind an ugly face Yet he is arguably the most influential French political theorist of the sixteenth century La Boétie was born in 1530 at Sarlat-la-Canéda in Guienne in south-west France We know he studied law at the University of Orléans which was the most prestigious law school in France On graduating in 1553 he secured a position as a magistrate in the Parlement of Bordeaux The Parlements were the superior law courts of France Their members enjoyed all the privileges of nobility and were known as the noblesse de robe (as opposed to the noblesse d’épée They considered themselves the repositories of the fundamental law of the realm – for instance the right to ‘verify’ royal edicts The Parlements were the only government institutions with any independence from the throne As a group of educated men of independent means the Parlements represented the sole focus of political debate outside the royal court About this time La Boétie married Marguerite de Carle a widow with two young children whose brother was President of the Bordeaux Parlement The latter was also a member of the Parlement and he claimed to have become interested in La Boétie after reading some of his unpublished works La Boétie was a mildly prolific writer He wrote poems in Latin and French (Montaigne included twenty-nine of his sonnets in his Essays); he translated from Plutarch and the Italian poet Ariosto; but his most important work of this period was the Discours de la Servitude Volontaire (Discourse on Voluntary Servitude) There is uncertainty as to the date of writing and the nature of this work Montaigne originally claimed that La Boétie was eighteen when he wrote it but in the final edition of the Essays he changed this to sixteen some internal references in the Discourse seem to date the text to about 1552 Montaigne hints that it may have been a rhetorical exercise a defence of a hypothetical position; but he then undermines this idea by asserting that La Boétie would never assert a view in which he did not believe In this short work La Boétie addresses an important political puzzle: why do human beings submit to the rule of tyrants He argues that freedom and the desire for it are the natural states of humanity and that even under tyranny freedom is easily regained: I do not want you to push him or topple him like a huge colossus with the base taken away collapse under his own weight and break up.” So why do people submit voluntarily to a tyrant La Boétie distinguishes three kinds of kings: those elected by the people; those who rule by right of conquest; and hereditary monarchs but in practice he only considers the last case He says that hereditary monarchs consider their subjects to be hereditary slaves and that their subjects often accept this status because it is customary (This very much was the case in sixteenth century France.) However he also recognises that self-interest can lead to collaboration with a tyrant He describes how half a dozen self-interested cronies gather round a king then six hundred more attach themselves to the cronies thousands of people exercise power on behalf of the dictator none of these people are friends of the tyrant: the tyrant has no friends (he cites a number of Roman emperors who were assassinated by those closest to them) One might expect a work of this nature to end with a defence of liberty c’est une chose sainte” – “Friendship is a sacred name and concludes by arguing that the effect of tyranny is to corrupt human relationships: “There can be no friendship where there is cruelty where there is injustice; and among the wicked not a company; they do not love each other but they fear each other; they are not friends La Boétie’s political thinking appears to have been republican in nature He makes a positive comparison between the Republic of Venice (“a handful of people living so freely that the most wicked among them would not wish to be king of all”) and the Ottoman tyranny; and Montaigne remarked that he would rather have been born at Venice than at Sarlat In 1560 La Boétie was sent to Paris by his Parlement His official mission was to discuss his colleagues’ salaries; his real job was to raise the question of relations between Catholics and Protestants in south-western France This was the major political issue of the day confused by the weakness of the French monarchy France was suffering from three ineffectual Valois kings all under the thumb of their mother Catherine de Medici despised by the nobility as an Italian bourgeoise and lacking the skill in political manipulation which should have been her family inheritance Three factions of the noblesse d’épée were jockeying for influence at the royal court when La Boétie arrived there This surely confirmed him in his view about how tyranny operated La Boétie met and became the friend of Michel de l’Hôpital L’Hôpital sought peace between Catholics and Protestants But in January 1562 the government issued an edict granting limited toleration to Protestantism It did however provoke La Boétie’s second great work the Mémoire touchant l’édit de janvier 1562 – Reflections on the Edict of January 1562 There is some dispute as to whether the Mémoire contributed to the debate leading up to the Edict a recent editor of the Mémoire (Gallimard contrasts the ‘fireball’ of the Discours with the Mémoire’s ‘cold light of this burnt-out star’ this is to overlook the different natures of the texts The Discours is a youthful private theoretical work: the Mémoire is a mature public document addressing a problem of practical politics In it Le Boétie considers the question Machiavelli asked: How can the state secure the obedience of its members La Boétie effectively starts in the Mémoire where he left off in the Discours He says that in a state with two religions (in this case meaning Catholic and Protestant) The result “is almost universal hate and malevolence between the king’s subjects but everywhere produces sad results… It divides citizens He blames the corruption of the Church; Luther and Calvin would not have begun their reforming action if the Catholic church had not been corrupt Although aware of the doctrinal differences between Catholic and Protestant La Boétie considers them relatively unimportant; out of 100,000 Protestants He considers three options to remedy the division in the country going over entirely to the new (Protestant) church although he acknowledges that it has worked in England He points out that it has not worked in Germany where there was still conflict between the different forms of Christianity La Boétie recognises that different religions coexist successfully in the Ottoman Empire but he doubts that different forms of the same religion can live together peacefully in a single state He also warns that the enemies of France will take advantage of her religious divisions So his solution is to insist on adherence to the Catholic Church – but not as it currently existed By this he means those who have committed violence in the name of religion must be punished This he proposes to entrust to the Parlements The monarchy had attempted repression intermittently through the noblesse d’épée La Boétie observes that repression only works if combined with justice – in which He is in favour of severe exemplary justice so that it becomes so attractive to those repelled by its abuses that they return to it willingly La Boétie sets out a programme of reform which would effectively have transformed the Catholic Church into what reformers such as Martin Luther (who had originally been a Catholic monk) had wanted He echoes those reformers by continually citing the example of the early church La Boétie has no confidence in the church to reform itself ‘protector of the Gallican church’ which will appoint a coadjutor for each bishop to ensure that it happens As a final nail in the coffin of corruption the Church will lose its right to raise revenue directly Instead the state will raise the money to fund its needs and in the case of absentee priests that money will be administered by the public authorities La Boétie set out a programme for a national church nominally Catholic but under state control He acknowledged that some aspects of his programme would require the approval of the Pope but was confident that the Pope would cooperate La Boétie died on August 18th 1563 from an intestinal illness Montaigne recorded his last days in an eloquent letter La Boétie bequeathed his library to Montaigne Now begins La Boétie’s curious afterlife Montaigne published La Boétie’s other works in 1571 but omitted the Discours and the Mémoire By now the wars of religion had started and both texts were controversial we would probably regard La Boétie as a minor Renaissance humanist the Discours was circulating in manuscript Both these versions were published in the Protestant interest It is one of the numerous ironies of La Boétie scholarship that the best manuscript of the Discours who drafted a text called Against La Boétie La Boétie’s influence seems to have crossed the Channel Cassius uses the image of the Colossus to describe the tyrant Caesar that we are underlings.” This might have come straight out of the Discours Then La Boétie more or less disappears for over a century and in 1727 the Discours is reprinted in an edition of Montaigne’s Essays It also reappears in a couple of editions in the 1790s; but the idea that the citizen might refuse the demands of the state was probably as obnoxious to Robespierre’s French Republic as it had been to the ancien régime the thoughts which La Boétie had articulated became attractive to anarchists including Thoreau The rediscovery of the Mémoire in 1917 should have brought about a reassessment of La Boétie while the text of the Mémoire is only readily available as an appendix to the Gontarbert edition of the Discours I suggest that only in reading the two texts together is it possible to understand the idealistic thought of La Boétie Both are based on the Renaissance humanist idea that man (excuse the anachronism) is master of his fate and of his institutions Martin Jenkins is a Quaker and a retired community worker The Discours is available in English in Atkinson and Sices’s edition (2012) The commentary is mostly good but contains a few errors and the English version is often more of a paraphrase than a translation More articles from this issue Democracy Now Ethics in Government 9/11 and World Trade Center Philosopher-Kings In The Kingdom of Ends On Being Politically Incorrect Hens, Ducks, & Human Rights In China Democracy & the Unreasonable: Lessons from Rawls Policy & Reality Into the Cauldron! Karl Popper (1902-1994) political philosophy This site uses cookies to recognize users and allow us to analyse site usage. By continuing to browse the site with cookies enabled in your browser, you consent to the use of cookies in accordance with our privacy policy. X Your #1 resource for a global lifestyle since 1979 It’s not surprising that France is the world’s favorite tourist destination receiving approximately 80 million foreign visitors each year and all the modern comforts you enjoy at home are among your top priorities Below are five of the best cities and towns in France for good-value living Filled with beautiful 18th-century buildings painted peachy yellows, orange, and pinks, and graced with not just one, but two wide rivers, Lyon located in the RhĂŽne-Alps region of southeastern France This is likely because Lyon has numerous generous squares not to mention two enormous hills that provide amazing vistas that can reach as far as the Alps on a clear day Lyon also has all the advantages and liveliness of a big city and an extensive transportation system to deliver you to them all especially when compared to those of Paris one-bedroom apartment in Lyon’s center is likely to cost you $910 per month while a two-bedroom apartment in one of the city’s “chic” neighborhoods will set you back just under $1,400 per month Lyon is probably best known for being the gastronomic capital of France Millions visit here every year in search of the best meal of their life it’s easy to find a marvelous three-course meal in Lyon for about $30 or even less The only problem is that you often stagger away from the table swearing that you’ll never eat again be sure to eat traditional food in a bouchon A bouchon is a tavern-style restaurant that once served the silk workers that populated the city in the 16th and 17th centuries While the city has many excellent bouchons the Comptoir Abel has the reputation of being the most authentic Located on the warm, sunny, southern coast of France, Montpellier is in the Languedoc Roussillon region happily nestled between the CĂ©vennes mountain range and the Mediterranean Sea The city is France’s eighth largest and fastest-growing Home to the first and most famous medical school in France Montpellier is known as a university town and embodies all the liveliness and energy you’d expect the city’s wide boulevards are peppered with cafĂ©s and play host to a range of annual cultural events from flamenco exhibitions to international film festivals Art lovers will treasure the city’s numerous galleries and museums known for its impressive collection of 17th- to 19th-century European art Montpellier is home to several universities including one of the world’s oldest medical schools (founded in 1220) where both Nostradamus and Rabelais once studied offering more than 90 miles of bike paths throughout the city and even six miles of bike paths that lead directly to the beach considering the city’s broad range of amenities and its location near the sea,” says Barbara Diggs “I saw local real estate agents listing unfurnished one-bedroom apartments renting for $765 to $1,060 a month and two-bedrooms starting at $1,100.” Sarlat offers big-city convenience and activities that makes it a delightful location to visit and a wonderful place to call home Narrow streets occasionally interrupted by quiet squares meander through the historical center bringing to mind the romantic images of small-town France and rivers quietly winding through forested valleys The local cuisine is as outstanding as the setting and foie gras are favorites in many of Sarlat’s restaurants While prices have increased in recent years and cheap restorable structures are harder to come by village homes can be found in the $200,000 to $350,000 range while renting a two-bedroom apartment is likely to cost you $565 a month Sarlat is far enough from large cities to provide a quiet but it is also situated within easy reach of the major cities of southwest France Learn more about France and other countries in our daily postcard e-letter Simply enter your email address below and we’ll send you a FREE REPORT: A Taste of France: All the Ingredients for the Good Life Paris might be the crown jewel of France, but the city of Bordeaux is a glittering diamond in its own right in the famous wine-growing region of southwest France has experienced a dramatic renaissance in recent years much of the city has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site And Bordeaux is a wine lover's paradise with everything from world-famous estates to small cellars barely known outside of France Bordeaux is close to over a dozen gorgeous sandy beaches Beaches around these parts tend toward the naturally wild side Hourtin Lakeside Beach is a natural clear-water lake that happens to be the largest freshwater lake in France The weather in Bordeaux tends to be pleasantly mild getting neither particularly hot in summers nor particularly cold in winter reach only about 70 F (although the highs are about 79 F) “Bordeaux offers good value for money compared to Paris,” says Barbara Diggs “It's a nice alternative to the high prices of the capital The real savings kick is if you’re there long-term You can find furnished properties of 700 square feet to rent in the center of the city for around $1,800 to $1,900 a month It'll be less the further you are away from the pretty center.” If you are looking for a retirement option that really delivers, consider Pau—a beautiful French city of 80,000 a few miles from the Spanish border Gorgeous old villas and mansions line the streets taking in spectacular views of the snow-capped Pyrenees In summer the average temperature is 68 F to 86 F while in winter you can expect around 54 F it’s easy to see why European nobility flocked to the city for vacations in the 19th and early 20th centuries Its location lends itself to the best of both worlds—the nearest ski resorts are only 45 minutes’ drive and you can be at an Atlantic beach in an hour Pau is second to only Paris when it comes to hosting stages of the Tour de France The city is known for its interest in sports and boasts the first 18-hole golf course created in Europe It has a Victorian-style clubhouse with a distinctly British atmosphere It would not be France without a local wine which is produced in only 25 towns and villages The moelleux (sweet) white wine is the most famous Pau has an excellent hospital and other health centers an airport with connecting flights around the world and the TGV (Train Grand Vitesse) trains that run to places like Paris “You will find that property prices are very reasonable when compared to the States but by French standards are higher than those of cities of similar size,” says Stewart Richmond buy-to-let apartments—especially one-room studios—are popular investments If you want to buy a full-time retirement home expect to pay around $240 per square foot but you can buy apartments for under $18 a square foot.” Moving to France Will Be the Best Move You’ve Ever Made An Overview of Traditions and Culture in France Some Fun and Interesting Facts about France France is a land of easy living and beautiful landscapes stretching from the Normandy seacoast to the sun-splashed beaches of the Cote d’Azur With so much beauty and a sophisticated culture that’s been exported the world over it’s easy to think that France is a luxurious paradise accessible only to those with very deep pockets While securing an elegant apartment with Eiffel Tower views is certainly on the pricey side the country is much more affordable than many North Americans could ever imagine with property taxes coming in at one-tenth of what you could expect to pay back home While inflation has touched some products at the supermarket eating out is incredibly cheap—especially considering the quality of the products and how far your euro will take you With a culture highly focused on eating well you’ll find a wealth of restaurants to choose from helping keep costs down as each establishment competes to offer the best value for money you can get out the door with the dish of the day for €14 ($15.30) Keep in mind that while a welcome addition tipping is not a standard custom in France Although these numbers might be enticing enough to think about making the leap to la belle France the real stand-out in the savings department is the French healthcare system you’ll never pay more for a doctor’s visit whether you go to a clinic in the center of Paris or to your favorite village practitioner in the south of France the €25 ($27) you’ll spend on the doctor’s appointment will be reimbursed at 70% - leaving your out-of-pocket charge at around $9 These fees have not increased in the last 10+ years with no sign of changes in the future as France is a social welfare state concerned with making sure all citizens have access to low-cost quality healthcare To give you an idea of how much you might spend in a month here are average costs for running an apartment or modest townhouse for two people: Housing prices vary greatly throughout France, and some very interesting deals are to be made in areas that combine attractive climates, established expat communities and a wealth of social and cultural activities for active retirees For example, at the time of writing, the average price for a one-bedroom rental in Paris is €1392 ($1528) and that same one bedroom comes in at just €579 ($635) in the city of Pau in southwestern France Paris and the French Riviera are the highest-priced housing markets in France although you can still find lower-budget options away from the seacoast in the southern countryside looking for housing 30-40 minutes away from the seacoast can produce a significant decrease in price Two-bedroom village homes in the expat hub of Cotignac about 45 minutes from the nearest beach town Standalone homes with sizable gardens can be had for €340,000 ($373,267) with a large selection of apartments outside the city center which can be easily accessed via public transportation head to southwestern France and concentrate your search in the Dordogne the Dordogne is a tried-and-true expat favorite more and more Americans have decided to retire in this land of 1001 castles 1500-foot village home rentals can be rented for €800 ($878) a month If you’d like to buy a house with the same square footage nearby villages will be considerably cheaper one-bath homes for under $210,000 throughout the Dordogne you can get your hands on a two-bedroom fixer-upper for around $170,000 or less Since both the south of France and the Dordogne combine a high standard of living with relatively temperate climates many expats find themselves drawn to these corners of the country the Normandy and Brittany regions both have low-cost housing markets depending on specific needs and tastes and where you choose to do your shopping and IntermarchĂ© - offer client fidelity programs where shoppers can receive weekly discounts and cashback incentives that run throughout the year a percentage (5-10%) off of the chain’s generic brand (organic items included) the Carrefour supermarket runs many “themed” cashback offers for every €50 you spend on wine and spirits you’ll be credited €10 on your fidelity card it can be on beauty and hygiene products or electronics – €10 back for every €50 spent Card members also get “surprise” incentives throughout the year You may leave the checkout lane with a €10-€15 cashback coupon to use anywhere in the store during your next shopping trip the real savings on groceries come from discount supermarkets like Lidl and Aldi Lidl is wildly popular in France and easily slices 10-15% off your grocery bill Lidl has its own loyalty program with an easy-to-use phone application that lets you check discounts before hitting the aisles only those seeking Michelin-star experiences will see a significant hit to their pocketbooks Your average French restaurant is a huge value proposition due to the price and quality of products Since good cuisine is integrated into the heart and soul of French culture establishments work hard to give customers the best meals at reasonable prices
 or risk seeing their clientele move to the next quality bistro down the street France hasn’t experienced a significant inflation hit to its lunch and dinner menus – although prices have increased somewhat in recent years You can count on having a three-course gourmet lunch for $31 per person (drinks are extra) in cities and towns throughout the country so many restaurants offer lower lunch menu specials during the week with prices higher at dinnertime and on the weekends which could include a starter / main dish or a main dish/dessert for as low as $20 per person This is simple bistro fare like a salad of crudities plus a pork filet and potatoes as the main dish or a slice of quiche Lorraine with a bit of leafy greens and a crĂšme brĂ»lĂ©e for dessert Many expats who move to France prefer to leave their cars at home which is an excellent idea in larger cities – and in many smaller towns where €6.90 ($7.60) will get you 10 rides on the city’s public transportation system – buses or even boat-shuttles in the coastal cities An unlimited monthly travel pass starts at €35 ($38) The OuiGo trains offer very cheap tickets: a one-way from Marseille to Paris is €16 ($17.57) so you’ll be at your destination with little or no stops in between While the standard SNCF trains have a dining car OuiGo passengers will need to bring their own lunch/dinner on board Expats can easily buy a new or used car on arrival in France Due to the high cost of shipping a car to France with the added obligation to have it standardized to European norms Gas usage will depend on how much traveling you do it takes around €50-€60 ($55-$66) to fill the tank of a compact car Car insurance and maintenance are around €68 ($75) per month You’ll find utility costs low as compared to the US France has one of the lowest electricity rates in Europe Most French choose the company EDF as their provider with a base-rate contract that charges customers the same price for electricity at every hour of the day Average rates per year are from €870 ($955) to €950 ($1,043) annually—a bill of €72.50 ($79.60) to €79 ($86.70) per month Not every home or apartment is equipped with gas One-third of French households use natural gas for heating You’ll be charged for the amount of gas consumed with the average natural gas bill coming in at around €850 ($933) per year While water in France is controlled by several private companies the infrastructure is controlled by local suppliers You’ll be charged by cubic meter and billed every six months or once a year Average water bills are €30-€40 ($33-$43.90) per month but the easiest way to meet your Internet and mobile phone needs is to sign up for a bundled service Operators like the company Free offer a grouped service of high-speed Internet plus mobile phone service and a cable TV box for €34.99 ($38.41) a month The only thing you’ll need to enter the French healthcare system as an expat is a long-stay visa You can enroll after three months of living in the country and France must be your primary residence for six months of the year you’re entitled to receive 70% to 80% off healthcare prices and an appointment with a specialist is €50 These costs are when you are not enrolled in French healthcare—i.e. a visiting tourist would pay €25 to see a doctor when on vacation in France Once enrolled in the healthcare after the three months entry point a visit to the doctor would cost you around $9 as 70% of doctor’s visits are reimbursed directly to your bank account an appointment with a specialist would be about $16.50 you’ll be reimbursed 80% for treatment the first month and 100% for each month thereafter All surgical expenses are reimbursed at 100% Enrollees pay a low yearly fee based on the income they are able to declare to the French government and social security income can not be included in the calculation (due to a tax treaty with the US) many retirees are paying minimal amounts into the healthcare system a couple declaring $37,000 of active income would pay approximately $1800 a year for French healthcare Renters' and homeowners’ insurance are two different fees to consider when moving to France Securing rental insurance before you fill out a rental application can make you a more attractive prospect for a potential landlord Insurance is based on the monthly rental amount and the average price is €216 ($237) a year You can also set up homeowner’s insurance via your bank - the average yearly amount is around €372 ($408) a year maintenance fees can be charged to renters and homeowners living in apartment buildings Referred to as “les charges,” you will see this amount often listed as a monthly sum in a rental announcement or referred to at the time of purchase Depending on the amenities of the building fees - if applicable – the charge can range from roughly €20 ($22) to up to €100 ($110) or more a month France is a captivating country and the most diverse land in all of Europe Sharing a border with eight different neighbors discovering all her treasures could last a lifetime While such a fascinating and culinarily delightful place might seem out of the grasp of an average retiree la belle France is actually one of Western Europe’s top retirement gems—hiding in plain sight While retirees might be attracted to the high standard of living and excellent infrastructure the real draw remains the access to affordable quality healthcare and a cost of living that is well-below current standards in the United States France Deep DivesBeachfront Property in France A natural disaster - catastrophe naturelle - has been recognised in five Dordogne communes and 24 areas in Nord following floods and droughts occurring this and last year If the government declares a catastrophe naturelle for an area in its official legal publication people whose property has been damaged by the event must make a claim within 10 calendar days from publication of the decree Natural disaster coverage is a compulsory component of standard multi-risk house insurance and so companies will be compelled to cover any damage directly linked to the event as long as a claim is made within the deadline Indirect costs – such as the cost of rehousing and loss of earnings – are not covered unless mentioned in the insurance contract You can normally open a claim by telephone Supporting documents can be sent after the 10-day deadline as long as the process has already been initiated Claimants will need to provide a description of the damage a list of lost or damaged items and where possible proof of ownership and value such as bills and photographs There is no extension of the 10-day deadline for second-home owners but some second-home insurance policies will allow for an expert to visit your property and assess the damage if you were away when the natural disaster occurred Vitrac and Sarlat-la-CanĂ©da are subject to catastrophe naturelle measures after the flooding and mudslides which affected the area between September 8 and 10 A decree was published in Le Journal officiel on September 26 storm damage caused between September 8 and 9 was particularly severe with repair works on the RD704 road still in progress Residents and second-home owners can find out more about what they need to do by calling Lilian Gilet from the town’s mairie on 05 53 31 53 08 Several other departments affected by these extreme weather conditions are detailed in this Journal officiel decree 18 communes in Nord department were affected by ground movements linked to drought For weather events taking place between April 1 and September 30: a further six towns suffered floods and mudslides following heavy rain These weather conditions caused considerable damage to homes and businesses Decrees were published in Le Journal officiel on September 26 and 28 a natural disaster has not been recognised in Halluin after the town was affected by heavy rains on June 4 Many communes located around France have been affected by ground movements linked to drought occurring in: A decree was published in Le Journal officiel on September 28 France floods: what affected households need to do Recent power cut in Spain and Portugal is warning to holidaymakers to ensure they are prepared for worst-case scenario The resort is set to remain open to the public and not only to professionals Storms from the weekend will persist across some areas and lots of history surround this beautiful area I visited the area and stayed at Le Manoir de la Malartrie Take a boat ride from Beynac down the Dordogne River for the most scenic views She visits the local markets every day to prepare the meals at the manoir creating a luxurious and modern interior while preserving the original architectural details It's easy to see why as you enjoy meals and cocktails at the gardens Ouafaa prepared a Moroccan feast for us with fresh ingredients from the Sarlat farmer’s market up-to-the-minute voice in all things travel CondĂ© Nast Traveler is the global citizen’s bible and muse We understand that time is the greatest luxury which is why CondĂ© Nast Traveler mines its network of experts and influencers so that you never waste a meal or a hotel stay wherever you are in the world Annual weekend celebration of French heritage will be open to visit on the Journées du Patrimoine - a European wide event inspired by by France’s Journées Portes Ouvertes which started in 1984 European Heritage Days (EHD) are an annual event in France where members of the public are encouraged to immerse themselves in their local history and culture and galleries all open their doors to the public for a weekend of celebration and the event has become increasingly popular over the years SeeLesArcs.com is a SeeTheWorld destination Best in Travel is here! Discover 2025’s destinations The 30 best countries, cities and regions to visit in 2025 Plan your trip with Elsewhere, by Lonely Planet See where a Lonely Planet Membership takes you Subscribe to our weekly newsletters to get the latest travel news, expert advice, and insider recommendations Explore the world with our detailed, insightful guidebooks Stay ahead of the curve with our guidebooks Uncover exciting new ways to explore iconic destinations Every month, we release new books into the wild Search Search Close search menu Explore Best in Travel 2024 Africa Close menu Countries Antarctica Antarctica Close menu Regions Asia Asia Close menu Countries Australia & the Pacific Australia & the Pacific Close menu Countries The Caribbean The Caribbean Close menu Countries Central America Central America Close menu Countries Europe Europe Close menu Countries Middle East Middle East Close menu Countries North America North America Close menu Countries South America South America Close menu Countries Fête du Citron a popular citrus festival attracts hundreds of thousands to the city of Menton France every February © gianliguori / Getty sun-baked olive groves tended by third-generation farmers; ancient truffle estates vineyards and oyster farms mirroring the beauty of each season.. The smorgasbord of romantic accolades bestowed upon la belle France is dizzying Attending a food festival is a golden ticket to tasting seasonal produce meeting local producers and artisans and really getting under the skin of France’s grass-roots food culture Almost every French specialty has its own dedicated fête (festival) Here's a highlight from Lonely Planet’s new book, Eat France, which celebrates the vibrant culinary scene of one of the world's greatest foodie destinations from Paris to Corsica From the communal tables in a vineyard to the world's most incredible display of citrus get ready for the gourmand tour of a lifetime First-time France: where to go and what to do Fête de la TruffeFeast on prized black truffles at this two-day truffle fest in Sarlat-la-Canéda in the Dordogne. Provence’s black truffle harvest is celebrated with a truffle fair in Aups France’s 10 best natural wonders Fête du CitronGorge on Menton lemons and admire monumental sculptures and floats crafted from the fruit at the seaside town’s Lemon Festival.Les OursinadesAficionados of the oursin (sea urchin) scoff bucketloads of its lurid-orange innards in the fishing port of Carry-le-Rouet on the Côte Bleue Best things to do with kids in France Foire au JambonThe country’s finest cured ham has been celebrated with gusto at Bayonne’s famous ham fair in Pays Basque since 1462 Fête de la Coquille St-JacquesLuxurious scallops fished in Brittany’s Baie de St-Brieuc are plentiful at this two-day festival closing the strictly regulated scallop-fishing season Saint-Quay-Portrieux and Erquy take turns to host 14 places to go to enjoy the best of France Fête de la CeriseSun-baked Céret in Roussillon celebrates its cherry harvest with two days of markets Or head to the cherry-rich Basque village of Itxassou France's 10 best cycling routes Foire à l’AilHeady scents fill the honey-colored town of Uzès in Languedoc during its garlic fair France has its first-ever Michelin-starred vegan restaurant Fêtes de l’HuîtreSummer-long, seafaring towns around the Bassin de Thau on the Atlantic Coast toast the iconic Bouzigues oyster with tastings raucous oyster feasts around communal tables and visits to local oyster farms Top experiences in France's national parks Route du Champagne en FêteFree tastings in the cellars of more than 20 top Champagne houses are a highlight of this weekend festival celebrating the world’s most famous bubbles The 7 best day trips from Paris: add a new dimension to your city break 20 of the best free things to do in Paris: explore France's capital on the cheap Fête de la ChâtaignePick, eat and fill up on sweet chestnuts native to forests around Collobrières in the Massif des Maures in Provence Le Retour des AlpagesThe return of cattle from alpine summer pastures has been reason to party since the Middle Ages. Annecy celebrates with traditional music flower-festooned cows and street stalls plying local Savoy cheese Fête du PimentA formal blessing of the town’s chili peppers and ennoblement of a chevalier du piment (a knight of the pimiento) are highlights of this chili-pepper fair in Espelette, Pays Basque Prepare your palate: new French food and wine museum to open in Dijon this is a three-day extravaganza with tastings France’s 10 most stunning road trips Marché de NoëlMug of vin chaud (mulled wine) in hand, mooch around fairy-light-covered stalls selling crafts and spicy bredele (biscuits) at Strasbourg’s month-long Christmas Market The best time to go to France You might also like:The 12 best beaches in FranceThe 10 best parks in ParisGourmet on the go: the best street food in Paris The TimesLate afternoon and we’ve halted our paddling along the Dordogne to gape at the fairytale ChĂąteau de la Treyne The chĂąteau is an impressive sight for canoeists who are heading downstream in their droves on this sunny summer day my son and I whip out our phones for that perfect Insta-shot then walk smugly across the bridge to the chĂąteau Talk about a unique way to return from a day out past stunning limestone cliffs and the occasional anglers casting their rods We find the perfect islet for a picnic and munch contentedly Ours is a gentle few hours on the water from Saint-Sozy in the Lot but you can paddle for six and a half hours or even make a short break of it camping en route on the river bank and passing villages precariously perched on the cliffsides But why camp when you can paddle to a chĂąteau instead Our room in this majestic 14th-century edifice comes with a terrace overlooking the river the perfect spot to watch the river traffic while sipping a sundowner Then it’s time to head to the hotel’s Michelin-starred restaurant We’re expecting great things because La Treyne is run by the president of the foodie group Relais & ChĂąteaux We’re not disappointed — with blue lobster salad followed by roast saddle of lamb with kaffir lime and strawberry sable If you’re going to the Dordogne valley in the summer it seems to me that the best way to experience it is on the water we will head out on the traditional barges called gabarres When we’re not on the water there’s plenty to explore on land This bucolic valley is stuffed with absurdly picturesque villages clinging to the cliffs prehistoric caves and medieval castles (the region was part of the battleground between France and England during the 100 Years’ War) as well as some impressive gardens One evening we head to the hanging gardens of Marqueyssac where we weave our way through the 150,000 beautiful boxwoods Follow the path to the belvedere and you’ll get panoramic views of the Dordogne valley We reluctantly give the ridiculously picturesque cliffside village of Rocamadour in the Lot a miss this time and concentrate our forays on land to the Dordogne department I’m keen to show my son the pretty market town of Sarlat with its sandstone mansions even in the evening it’s heaving with people and heavy in the heat; after a superb meal of duck leg with pommes sarladais and local rocamadour cheese Nearby Beynac also broils in the summer sun Richard the Lionheart and Simon de Montfort strode through its corridors Luc Besson’s Joan of Arc movie was filmed here and from its 150m cliffside location it commands magnificent views of the “valley of the five chĂąteaux” and the river below The chĂąteaux views from the water are also impressive would need to secure right of passage from the powerful lords of Beynac the boats are rammed with a different cargo — tourists — although if you catch the last gabarre of the day Gabarre-dodging is something that I become quite efficient at the next day my first attempt at stand-up during paddleboarding; I avoid the boats’ wake as much as possible or drop to my knees whenever a gabarre is in sight paddleboarding isn’t nearly as hard as it sounds shooting the rapids (and sniggering as the show-off in our group gets a drenching because he doesn’t follow instructions to kneel) including the scenic one we’ve just done on the gabarre we go with the flow on the 8km stretch downriver from CĂ©nac near the bastide town of Domme with its fortified walls and cave system used to shelter inhabitants during the 100 Years’ War This part of the river means we can paddle to La Roque-Gageac the huddle of medieval stone between the Dordogne and the cliffs From our boards it’s easy to make out the troglodyte fort where medieval engineers built defensive positions in the overhanging limestone cliffs sweltering in the sun to look out from its lofty heights HĂŽtel Meysset, SarlatOn the outskirts of Sarlat is this shuttered white hotel, with modern motel-style rooms within and a restaurant on the terrace overlooking two valleys. Doubles cost from €65 (ÂŁ58) a night (hotel-meysset.com) ChĂąteau de la Treyne, LacaveIt’s in the Lot department, but it’s on the Dordogne. Each of the 17 rooms in this elegant hotel is different, perhaps with a fourposter, or a wardrobe in the wall. Doubles are from €300 a night, dinner from €72 (www.chateaudelatreyne.com) Celebrate Valentine’s Day in the Land of Amour self-promotes itself as the Village of Love And the medieval troubadours of Languedoc penned some of the earliest love songs and its sophisticated cuisine all converge The only way to understand is to experience it yourself Snowy mountains cradle this charming, canal-laced hamlet just four hours from Paris via the TGV Begonias and petunias overflow from window baskets and iron balconies and ancient buildings harbor intimate restaurants and luxury inns blue waters considered Europe’s cleanest keeping an eye out for the Pont des Amours (Lover’s Bridge); legend says if you share a kiss there Extend the lakefront romance aboard a dinner cruise, or find an intimate corner in Le Clos des Sens, a Michelin two-star overlooking the lake; the chestnut-shaded terrace is divine. Round out your fairytale getaway with a night at L’Impérial Palace where balconies overlook the lake and couple massages are offered at the nearby spa Cobblestone streets, half-timbered houses, shimmering canals, arching bridges, and geraniums everywhere you look … some say this little Alsatian town is Europe’s most beautiful You’ll be tempted to stroll hand in hand admiring the scenery and stopping for an espresso here lots of wine (it sits on the Alsatian wine route) and a slow-moving boat tour aboard a flat-bottomed boat through picturesque Little Venice Le Maréchal occupies a quartet of centuries-old Alsatian houses where elegant rooms decked out with antique furniture hide behind the half-timbered façade whether by candlelight or on the waterside terrace The architectural symmetry and elegant detail of  Château de Chenonceau in the Loire Valley is heart-stopping And there’s nothing more romantic than rowing beneath its graceful five-arch galerie de bal on the River Cher (boats can be rented onshore) or strolling through the flowery gardens considering its one-time owner King Henry II presented the château to the love of his life Chenonceaux (spelled with an “x”) makes for an unassuming but picturesque base Auberge du Bon Laboureur just a stone’s throw from the castle serves gastronomic cuisine—in good weather linger over tantalizing courses in the tree-shaded courtyard Once a separate village near Paris, this romantic hilltop quartier has kept its independent feel, with cobbled alleyways, tiny squares, and pocket gardens (even a small vineyard!). Here, too, on the nondescript Square Jehan-Rictus, you’ll come across an enormous wall “I Love You” has been written more than a thousand times Among Montmartre’s plethora of intimate restaurants and inns, rustic Seb’on has white-brick walls, handwritten chalkboard menus, and flower-filled watering cans. And Hôtel Particulier occupying a 19th-century mansion with a lush walled garden feels like your very own secret pied à terre It doesn’t get much more romantic than Èze a hilltop village perched high above the French Riviera with ancient stone houses clinging to the top of a green mountain peak other than romantic hidey-holes: cobbled terraces plus a fair share of dreamy restaurants and luxuriant hotels—all with panoramic views you can always tour the nearby villages and beaches One of the best spots to enjoy the views over a sumptuous dinner is Château de la Chèvre d’Or, with its pair of Michelin stars; the outdoor terrace in warmer months is blissful for an apéritif or after-dinner drink. The chateau offers an opulent overnight, though there’s also Château Eza another ornate storybook castle infused with medieval character (and breathtaking views bien sûr); the room with the Jacuzzi tub next to a roaring fire is simply indulgent Huddled on a cove along the English Channel, Honfleur’s medieval half-timbered buildings edge cobbled lanes with flowers spilling forth from windows and doorways It’s no coincidence that Impressionism was born here as artists led by Charles Monet strove to capture the dazzling play of light and water in this picturesque realm then linger over a cocktail along the ancient harbor its half-timbered buildings and luxury yachts reflected in the still waters An 18th-century Norman country house, Le Manoir des Impressionistes is located about a mile out of town with fab views over the sea (perfect for sunset watching) The guest rooms have French antique furniture The small restaurant is a gourmet experience from the apéritif in the garden to sinful desserts made with local apples Romance dangles from nearly every leaf and bloom of this lavender-scented, olive-tree-dotted landscape in the south of France–from the glorious fields of red poppies to the sunny blue-sky days and starry nights so elatedly depicted by van Gogh Spend your days biking through this archetypal countryside gathering picnic supplies in local markets and slowing down to the pace of the season For an isolated Provençal experience, look no farther than La Bastide de Voulonne this plane-shaded 18th-century farmhouse has been refurbished to perfection (and modern comforts) lingering dinner for two in the dining room (designed around the old bread oven) or on the terrace; the masterful menu focuses on the freshest local produce around Audrey Hepburn and Cary Grant fell in love in the movie Charade in this winter wonderland of a town with its medieval heart deep in the French Alps Take a horse-drawn sleigh to the lifts and spend the day on the slopes; some runs have majestic views of Mont Blanc Then warm up along the village’s cobbled streets or find a hidden bistro or café and canoodle the night away Watch the snow fall from the picture windows of your luxurious mountain retreat at Les Fermes de Marie a cluster of perfectly appointed rustic chalets just outside Megève  Cozy guest rooms harbor Savoie antiques An enormous log fire sets the scene for romance in the gourmet restaurant Agathe S Et si on consacrait nos prochaines escapades à la découverte de notre beau pays La France n’a pas fini de nous surprendre elle qui regorge de pépites qui ne demandent qu’à être vues cap sur nos 5 villages médiévaux préférés On vous livre nos 5 préférés à vous de choisir où vous irez  Classé parmi les plus beaux villages de France Collonge-la-Rouge doit son nom au grès rouge utilisé pour construire les bâtiments celle que l’on surnomme la « cité aux 25 tours » accueille chaque année de nombreux touristes et pèlerins venus d’ici et d’ailleurs Une publication partagée par IGers Corrèze officiel (@igerscorreze) À quelques pas de Lyon se trouve une petite ville médiévale merveilleusement préservée La légende dit que si vous tendez l’oreille Pérouges vous contera les nombreux secrets d’histoire qu’elle renferme bien précieusement depuis des siècles… Une publication partagée par Pérouges - Cité Médiévale (@visitperouges) Lieu de pèlerinage emblématique Rocamadour se hisse également parmi les cités médiévales françaises incontournables cette ville ne ressemble à aucune autre et mérite amplement le détour Son architecture lui a d’ailleurs valu d’être classée au Patrimoine Mondial de l’UNESCO Une publication partagée par Les incontournables (@dordogneperigord) Cette cité fortifiée compte au total 3 km de remparts Carcassonne vous fera voyager instantanément au Moyen Âge À mesure que vous visiterez ses ruelles et vous enfoncerez dans sa cité laissez-vous imprégner par l’histoire du lieu et cette atmosphère unique Une publication partagée par TT Lefebvre (@titlefebvre) Capitale historique du Périgord Noir Sarlat-la-Canéda est une petite ville située entre la vallée de la Dordogne et la vallée de la Vézère On s’y rend pour découvrir ses 66 monuments classés (oui ainsi que pour goûter à la délicieuse gastronomie locale On dit d’ailleurs que la ville est connue pour avoir la plus forte densité de monuments historiques classés ou inscrits au monde  Une publication partagée par Sarlat Tourisme (@sarlattourisme) Deux jardins prĂšs de Nice classĂ©s parmi les 150 plus beaux du monde Voici les plus belles plages de la CĂŽte d'Azur selon Le Guide Vert Michelin 15 plages françaises pour se sentir aux CaraĂŻbes Last Updated on 26th June 2024 by Sophie Nadeau Bordeaux is located in southwest France and is famed for its rich red wines gorgeous architecture which rivals that of Paris Thanks to its status as one of the most important cities in the Aquitaine region it also makes for a great base from which to explore the wider area If you love wine, food and good weather, then Bordeaux is the place for you The beautiful city is filled with history and culture and is a foodie’s paradise there’s so much to be explored beyond its borders so dedicating at least a day or two to seeing the surrounding countryside (and especially the vineyards) is a must Before you go, you’ll want to know about these amazing day trips from Bordeaux that are easy to make, and will only heighten your experience of this enchanting region of France. If it’s your first time in the city, be sure to check out our suggestions for how to spend one day in Bordeaux and the best hidden gems of Bordeaux the southwest corner of France doesn’t necessarily have the best transportation links and so renting your own car is the best way to get to some of the more off the beaten path places listed here This charming little medieval village is located in the heart of Bordeaux’s wine area covered in vines that hold years of history and bordered by rivers and luscious green slopes this is one of the best day trips you can make from Bordeaux The honey hue of limestone houses and vast stretches of tumbling vineyards make Saint Émilion one of the most picturesque villages of the region so much so that the whole area was listed as a World Heritage Site in 1999 While wine enthusiasts won’t need an introduction to this spot some of the vineyards in Saint Émilion date back to the prehistoric period where to this day the town continues its tradition and still produces delicious world renowned wine The village also uses traditional fermenting methods to create the sparkling wine you can try some of this unique wine when visiting the 13th century cloister Cordeliers Cloister- truly a magical experience While this village is of course a wine lovers paradise there are also lots of other things to love about Saint Émilion Home to the largest underground church in Europe the Monolithic church of Saint Émilion is an 11th century structure that has been intricately carved entirely out of a limestone cliff this quaint little village boasts a huge culinary scene From classic south-west cuisine to fine dining experiences in the vineyards There’s a lot to love about Saint Émilion so here are a few suggestions for your trip: this Atlantic coastal gem boasts of an exceptional array of natural landscapes and breath taking panoramic views This beautiful seaside town of Arcachon can be visited all year round and is in fact evenly divided into four areas named after the different seasons the towns of Cap Ferret and Andernos les Bains are just as charming and each have their own personalities The Bay of Arachon is well known for its oyster farming You can taste some of the freshest oysters in France at the popular covered food market One reason alone to visit is to see the Dune du Pilat it’s the tallest sand dune in Europe The soft golden sands stretch nearly 3km long you won’t be disappointed by the stunning views at the top The medieval town of Sainte Foy la Grande sits on the south bank of the Dordogne river it makes for the perfect place to explore for a day Every Saturday morning the Sainte-Foy-la-Grande market (one of the best of the region) takes place The market truly is is the best place to indulge in all the authentic regional delights The town still has lots of its original half-timbered medieval houses wandering through the cobbled streets can leave you feeling as though you’re back in time Visit the The Abbey Church of Sainte-Foy where you can see the relic that holds the important remains of Saint Foy Or visit the local history museum Pays Foyen and learn more about the towns cultural heritage these elements make Sainte Foy la Grande perfect for water excursions or for simply dipping in your toes on a hot summers day It’s pretty easy to reach Sainte Foy la Grande with public transportation as you just need to catch a train from Bordeaux’s Saint Jean station and the journey takes around an hour and a half The beautiful historical town Saint Macaire is the perfect time warp destination with its narrow cobbled streets and old buildings making it a must-see for those fascinated by history and architecture Wandering around you can find yourself in the popular main square Place du Mercadio (Market Square) but one of the best places to soak up the town’s history is Iglesia de San Salvador (Church of St Saviour) where the walls are adorned with beautiful murals There’s also the remains of a Romanesque cloister to see To celebrate the town’s medieval history and heritage JournĂ©e Medievale (Medieval Day)is a wonderful festival open to the public exhibitors and a medieval banquet to enchant those attending And what better place to enjoy traditional French cuisine and the finest wine There are two simple ways to reach St Macaire You can take a direct train in just under forty five minutes or alternatively drive there in under an hour One of the most picturesque spots of the region Sarlat-la-Caneda is yet another one of the mesmerising towns situated in the Dordogne Valley along the river this town is filled with well-preserved medieval architecture and even has a vibrant market every Saturday morning The beautiful national monument of the town is Sarlat Cathedral a Romanesque building that dates back to the 14th century and it has an array of beautiful stone carvings on its exterior If you get a chance to experience the warming glow of an evening in this quaint little town you can sit at one of the many terrace bistros sipping on fine wine and tucking into delicious regional cuisine just a short drive from the town you can this historical treasure the ChĂąteau de Marqueyssac and its gardens Visiting this magical 17th century gem is the perfect way to spend the afternoon exploring the maze-like Italian inspired gardens with stunning views of the Dordogne Valley Sarlat is a bit further away from Bordeaux at a few hours drive and so I would recommend visiting this destination as an overnight stay so that you don’t spend too much of your day on public transportation Much less known than that of the other towns in the region Libourne is a delightful harbour town where history Home to one of the oldest continual town markets located on Place Abel Surchamp This beautiful open-air market is where chefs come to stock up on amazing local produce the market is so popular that it opens three times a week on There are plenty of river cruises available where you can breathe in the fresh air of the region and relax into the historical surroundings Sip wine like royalty at the mesmerising ChĂąteau de La Dauphine a regal wine producing chateau that will leave you feeling fancy for the rest of the afternoon There are two easy ways to get to Libourne; you can take a direct TER train which takes around half an hour or drive which also takes around half an hour Nestled between hills of wooded slopes lies a city full of art and history that will charm you with its winding cobbled streets and half-timbered houses Flourishing during medieval times as a royal town La RĂ©ole was the second largest city in the region after Bordeaux The history of the town revolves around its Benedictine priory church the monastery was founded in the 7th or 8th century and is of great cultural importance to the town’s heritage museums and historical monuments to explore while strolling through the cobbled streets of La RĂ©ole You can also walk across Pont du Rouergue a suspension bridge that offers wonderful views this charming medieval town is rich with culture and worth the visit There are direct trains to the town from Bordeaux or alternatively you can drive Gujan-Mestras is surrounded by emerald green forests pretty beaches and it is the oyster capital Taking a stroll along the coastal paths and breathing in the fresh sea air is one of the best things to do in Gujan-Mestras You can visit the waterside museum Maison de l’Huitre that showcases the history and culture of marine mollusks or simply sit at Port Larros and admire the sunset Gujan-Mestras is abundant with visitor attractions to keep you busy all day The Parc de la Coccinelle is a farmyard where visitors can pet and feed the local farm animals Aqualand Bassin d’Arcachon is a water park The small city of AngoulĂȘme is known as the “balcony of the southwest” as it overlooks a meander of the Charente River its also surprisingly the home to the International Comics Festival The comic festival animates the city of AngoulĂȘme every year at the end of January welcoming nearly 6000 comic professionals from all over the world Wandering through the city you can play a game of treasure hunt spotting all the wonderful comic murals painted on various buildings You can also visit the MusĂ©e de la Bande DessinĂ©e where you can see a rotating exhibition of French and American comics and dive further into the history of the 9th art and its importance to the culture of AngoulĂȘme there are numerous historical buildings that are worth visiting when in AngoulĂȘme which was formerly a castle stands tall in the heart of the town with more than 70 sculptures intricately carved on its facade it’s a must-see piece of Romanesque architecture There are direct TGV trains to AngoulĂȘme though these should be booked ahead of time in order to get a good ticket price luxury and chateaus…Margaux is exactly that This small village is situated north of Bordeaux and Chateau Margaux is considered one of the highest regarded wine regions in the world This grand and imposing building has vast vineyards where visitors can enjoy exploring the history of wine production while sipping on the best French wine If you fancy a day trip away from built up landscapes and crowds of people then look no further than the beautiful untamed coastline of golden sand and wild waves This beautiful west facing beach is the perfect spot for surfers With the wind curling the water into waves of all sizes You can also enjoy a stroll through the wooded landscape that’s not far from the beach this makes for the perfect day of immersing yourself in the outdoors and enjoying the warm climate the beach day wouldn’t be complete without a refreshing aperitif Soak up the sunshine with an Aperol spritz in hand or wait until later and watch the sky turned candy coloured as the sun sets over the horizon Unfortunately there is no easy transport links to reach Biscarrosse Beach and so you’ll have to drive Enjoyed reading about the best day trips from Bordeaux When she’s not curled up on the sofa with her newest knitting project (and Rico her cat!) you can find her out and about on long walks Currently living in the magical city of Edinburgh she looks forward to travelling and seeing more of the world and website in this browser for the next time I comment Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed. I started this site back in 2015 with one mission in mind: I wanted to create useful travel guides with a historical and cultural focus Today it has blossomed into my full time job and together with a small team of writers (including my husband and sister) we craft articles to help you travel better throughout Europe © 2015- 2025 Sophie Nadeau. Nadeau Pasquier LTD. All Rights Reserved. solosophie participates in various affiliate marketing programs. solosophie is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Privacy Policy