cigalechanta

ttt. I love this thread . Everyone's idea is not the same nor should it be dismissed. I love certain places becaus friends live nearby. They may not excite the average tourists.

tuleppy

I hope I did not offend anyone on my statement about the french not being friendly. I just always hear this from people and I wanted to get more opinions on it. I apologize if I was offensive to anyone. I am so excited to go to France and I personally feel that there are going to be nice people and jerks anywhere you go in the world. I appreciate all of your advice on everything.....thank you!!

parisnow

Try to search Association des plus beaux villages de france or www.villagesdefrance.free.fr the website translates into English. It is an association that each village has to meet certain criteria each year to remain on the list. Most are beautiful medival villages throughout France. I've been to all four corners of France and each region has something wonderful to offer. Also you may want to search the thread entitled French are getting a bad rap regarding your concerns about the French.

parisnow

Travel tip- You are a GUEST in their country-Act how you would expect a guest to act in your house. Treat others how you would want to be treated. Before you get upset, two sides to every story--try and be devils advocate to yourself before you judge the situation.

tuleppy

Parisnow, thank you for the great website regarding the villages of France! Great information, I appreciate it!!

tuleppy

topping

grimmy

Collioure near the Spanish border

Beynac in the Dordogne region

Beaune in Burgundy as well as nearby Chateauneuf-en-auxois.

StRemy-de-Provence

Lavande

As in any country, the French give as good as they get! I have always had great experiences with the French people but I also have treated them with the respect they deserve and have tried, often with mistakes, to converse in their language and to respect their traditions and values. I have found that the Parisians - like most city dwellers - have less time for tourists but isn't that true of most urbanites? I don't think that some New Yorkers, Washingtonians, or Los Angelinos are perhaps as receptive to tourists as their suburban or country neighbors might be - and that comes from a resident of one of the aforementioned cities! However, I've been embraced by the French and, as a result, spend most of the time wishing that I were there! Long live the French people!!

enroute

Favorite towns:

Off the beaten path: Manosque, view from top of the hill, Moustiers-Ste. Marie perched in the middle of a rock over Gorge du Verdon - breathtaking, Oraison with my favorite olive mill, and a chocolate artisan boutique.

Caracssonne, Montpellier

Artsy but touristy, still one of my favs: St Paul de Vence

too many to name...

As to the attitude, give the French the modicum of respect, (e.g. addressing them in minimal French before you enquire whether they speak English) and you will find them very friendly and helpful. I have yet to find an exception.

-e

Powell

St. Remy de Provence; dine outdoors at La Source; visit Glanum and Roman ruins; wednesday market day.
Paris-Marais district--dine at Le Pamphlet.
Paris-Musee Marmatton-wonderful paintings in this little mansion.
Normandy: American Cemetery - if you are American it can not fail to bring a tear to your eye.
Lourmarin - for lunch

So, so many.

LadyOLeisure

We totally enjoyed a picnic one afternoon on the bank of the Vézère at St-Léon-sur-Vézère. It was just us and, some distance away also picnicing, a Field Trip of French school children.

Later on the same trip we enjoyed the old section of Lyon with the fascinating "passages"

jmw44

I really love Dambach-la-Ville in Alsace. J.

Peteralan

Favourite town ..lovely Strasbourg. Favourite market Uzes ( foodstuffs on Saturdays and flowers on Sundays ). Have fun!

artlover

I'm not as familiar with France as many other Fodorites--am planning another trip myself, so this caught my eye...but some of the smaller towns I've been to and loved are Mougin, especially the view of the entire village from the top floor of the Picasso Photo Gallery (worth a trip in itself), the hilltop village of Gourdon, Villefranche-sur-Mer, and for "arty", Picasso's Museum in Antibes (there's a wonderful market there too) and Monet's house in Giverny (the area is really nice all around it too.)

I'm looking forward to hearing what other people have to add as well.

(P.S. I LOVE the French, and really, have had great experiences with the people there.)

adeben

The French are quite formal, even with each other. It's always 'Bonjour, Madame.....Monsieur'...or whatever. This formality can appear to be a trifle cold to people more accustomed to a 'Hailfellow! Well met!' style. However courtesy is much valued, and the French have always been courteous (and helpful) to me..(and vice versa!)
I have visited many of the towns mentioned in previous posts, and would add that many towns in Alsace fall into the picture postcard category: Berheim is a particular favourite.
The only dissent I would voice is in regard to Aigues Mortes: I liked its look from a distance, but, up close, it was a genuine over-commercialised tourist-trap, rivalled only by Carcassonne, another dud.

tuleppy

I think we want to stay in the Provence area. What are your favorites things to do, see, restaurants, hotels, markets etc. etc......

Langcraft

Dear Tuleppy:

If I had to choose a favorite town, area, village in France, I'd have to go with my sentimental favorite; the area encompassing Auch and Toulouse which are Gers and Haute-Garonne respectively. Delightful villages, ruined chateaux, wine, and rib sticking Southwestern food gives this region my vote. I also love the Ariege, south of Toulouse in and around Foix. It seems that Americans hardly ever go there which is fine by me. Foix is in the heart of the Pyrenees, about 3 hrs east of Perpignan and 1 hr or so from Spain and Andorra.. All these regions have a serpendipitous appeal. In and around Toulouse, abiut 1 hr north in Lamagdaleine ( 5 miles NE of Cahors) is Claude Marco. Fabulous One Michelin star rated restaurants with 4 rooms next to a swimming pool, among some vineyards. Some of the finest meals I ever had were at Claude Marco. In Auch, I like Hotel de France ( chef Roland Garreau), another one star Michelin chef. His restaurant is located in a 17th century coach house right across from the Cathedrale Ste. Marie, one of the prettiest churches in the SW of France..

Regards.
Luis

Langcraft

Clarification:

Oops.. I meant to say that Perpignan is a 3 hr drive east of Foix..

Regards..
Luis

aj

I don't know about favorite but we really enjoyed the sunsets in Nice. Paris is still number one though.

klondike

Too many to mention them all...but here's a few:
Areas: La Dordogne, La Bretagne, La Charente
Cities: Paris, La Rochelle, Saintes, Quimper
Towns: Malicorne, Loches, Bourdeilles, Lutzelbourg, Jarnac, Noyers, Vitré
Villages: Pleyben, Pons, Crecy, Ploumanach
Ruins: Abbaye at Pointe St. Matthieu
Farm: St. Hyppolite 2 km outside of Liseiux, working dairy cooperative that can be visited (don't miss out on the creme de Calvados they sell... OMG! to die for)

Off the beaten paths are best found on your own. That's the joy of it.