What is your favorite small town in France?
Apr 6th, 2004, 09:23 AM
#1
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What is your favorite small town in France?
A variation of this question has been asked before I'm sure, but if you have a minute please post your favorite small town in France and you favorite place to stay in that town (if the town is big enough to have a hotel). Don't "over think it" - it does not matter how big the town or village is, or what part of the country it is in, or if it has 10 museums or none, etc. If you have time and want to tell me why you love a certain place - great! Thank you in advance.
Apr 6th, 2004, 09:49 AM
#2
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I like Uzes, in the Gard. To me, it has the perfect balance of touristy to non-touristy. Enough shops, galleries, sites, interesting architecture, gardens, restaurants to hold my interest, yet not overwhelm me with the sense that the town was created for me and others like me (unlike, say, Carcassonne, which I hated). Uzes has a life of its own. And a most lovely central square.
Unfortunately, we learned recently that our favorite place to stay has been sold. The owner has moved to the Corbieres.
Apr 6th, 2004, 10:00 AM
#3
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Mine is Mejannes Le Clap, in the gard region..Is less than 25 KM from Uzes,close to Nimes, Pont du Gard..and various small villages or small town.
The village is on a hill,very picturesque...
Is pretty popular in France as a Camp Sportif..
So many things to do there if you like open spaces and sports..
I am fortunate that I dont need a hotel when I go there, my little sister lives in the village..
The village is on a hill,very picturesque...
Is pretty popular in France as a Camp Sportif..
So many things to do there if you like open spaces and sports..
I am fortunate that I dont need a hotel when I go there, my little sister lives in the village..
Apr 6th, 2004, 01:04 PM
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Can I name two?
The first would be Dieulefit, a charming little town in the Drôme. The area is known for its pottery, and there are several shops offering the potters'wares--not to mention two very good patesseries, an excellent gift shop, and a fine boules court. I wouldn't stay in Dieulefit, however, but would drive over to the village perché of Le Poët-Laval and stay at the small hotel-restaurant Les Hospitaliers.
The second would be Valbonne, between Grasse and Biot in Provnce. It's centrally located for sightseeing, has a charming town square bordered by interesting buildings (one is a Maison Bleu), and has nice small hotels. There are also a number of art galleries. I like the town for its local feel. In Valbonne I would stay at the newish Bastide de Valbonne, just outside the town itself.
I could also name towns in Brittany and Burgundy but am trying to restrain myself.
The first would be Dieulefit, a charming little town in the Drôme. The area is known for its pottery, and there are several shops offering the potters'wares--not to mention two very good patesseries, an excellent gift shop, and a fine boules court. I wouldn't stay in Dieulefit, however, but would drive over to the village perché of Le Poët-Laval and stay at the small hotel-restaurant Les Hospitaliers.
The second would be Valbonne, between Grasse and Biot in Provnce. It's centrally located for sightseeing, has a charming town square bordered by interesting buildings (one is a Maison Bleu), and has nice small hotels. There are also a number of art galleries. I like the town for its local feel. In Valbonne I would stay at the newish Bastide de Valbonne, just outside the town itself.
I could also name towns in Brittany and Burgundy but am trying to restrain myself.
Apr 6th, 2004, 03:17 PM
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I asked my DH and he said Beynac (in the Dordogne) and I had to agree. The whole experience was magical with the hot air baloons overhead, the sunsets on the river, the castle above us on the cliff, the cuisine...
A close second was a magical day spent along the river at Malicorne (Loire region) with gorgeous flowers everywhere and the pretty renaissance chateau in the background. A tour bus failed to show and we ended up being the only ones on the tour of the pottery atelier. I was impressed that they still had the potter come and throw clay and make a pot anyway, just for 2 of us.
A close second was a magical day spent along the river at Malicorne (Loire region) with gorgeous flowers everywhere and the pretty renaissance chateau in the background. A tour bus failed to show and we ended up being the only ones on the tour of the pottery atelier. I was impressed that they still had the potter come and throw clay and make a pot anyway, just for 2 of us.
Apr 6th, 2004, 04:05 PM
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I'm not sure I can pick a favorite, but my immediate reaction is Azay le Rideau. We stay at the Hotel de Biencourt in the pedestrian area. There are two car parks nearby.
We like the quiet little town. We love the chateau, and the proximity to the marvels of the Loire is perfect. We even have a favorite little restaurant there.
We like the quiet little town. We love the chateau, and the proximity to the marvels of the Loire is perfect. We even have a favorite little restaurant there.
Apr 6th, 2004, 04:24 PM
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I can't possibly have one favorite, but we love Lagrasse in the Corbières. One of the plus beaux villages, among the vineyards, some lovely little restaurants, old castle, huge plane trees and not touristy. Just a neat spot.
Apr 6th, 2004, 04:40 PM
#12
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Wow! Thank you all so much. I appreciate you taking the time to share a favorite place (or 2!) You comments are really helping me sort out my random thoughts/guesses/scribbles/maps/sticky notes . . .
Feel free to add to the list!
Feel free to add to the list!
Apr 6th, 2004, 06:23 PM
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Really ThinGorjus? Angouleme?
That really makes me wonder. Last December on the train trip from Cognac to Paris I had to take a local to Angouleme. There I switched to a TGV to head on to Paris. I thought Angouleme looked like a fascinating city from the train. Beautiful along the bluffs of the Charante, big enough to be interesting to walk around, but small enough to be special.
OK, until I make it to Angouleme my favorite is Saumur.
It's on the Loire far enough west to miss a lot of the tourists. The fairy tale castle overlooking the town is gorgeous. I love the look of the Hotel Anne d'Anjou:
www.hotel-anneanjou.com
Unfortunately I couldn't afford to stay there. I stayed on the island in the Hotel Loire:
www.loire-hotel.fr
It had gorgeous views across the Loire towards the castle.
That really makes me wonder. Last December on the train trip from Cognac to Paris I had to take a local to Angouleme. There I switched to a TGV to head on to Paris. I thought Angouleme looked like a fascinating city from the train. Beautiful along the bluffs of the Charante, big enough to be interesting to walk around, but small enough to be special.
OK, until I make it to Angouleme my favorite is Saumur.
It's on the Loire far enough west to miss a lot of the tourists. The fairy tale castle overlooking the town is gorgeous. I love the look of the Hotel Anne d'Anjou:
www.hotel-anneanjou.com
Unfortunately I couldn't afford to stay there. I stayed on the island in the Hotel Loire:
www.loire-hotel.fr
It had gorgeous views across the Loire towards the castle.
Apr 6th, 2004, 06:36 PM
#14
Indy, Angouleme has a comic centre where you can see the original drawings and old magazines.The last week end in January there is an international comic strip festival. there's a paper making museum, arts museum, and archéologique.
There are luncheon boat cruises.
There are luncheon boat cruises.
Apr 6th, 2004, 08:28 PM
#17
Went there the first time before it became widely known, but even with more visitors I think its combination of history, form, location, the walls, just the antiquity of the place, makes Aigues Mortes my fave. Simply a wonderful off-off season visit. In the Camargue.
Apr 6th, 2004, 08:32 PM
#18
Aigues-mortes is wonderful. We stayed there within the walls at the "Hotel des Templiers" and ate one of the nights at the "Camargue" restaurant and were entertained by gypsies.
Apr 6th, 2004, 09:47 PM
#19
Speaking of Camargue gypsies, Cigalechanta, we have friends who make a point of traveling to Stes. Maries for the Gypsy pilgrimage whenever they can. (I confess I think it's a bit of cultural voyeurism myself) but I certainly feel like Stes. Maries qualifies as one of the <i>weirdest</i> small towns in France.
Apr 6th, 2004, 11:12 PM
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Nice to see my favorite Pacific Northwest poster here. We are heading to Provence in the Fall and plan to visit St Maries..and perhaps Aigues Mortes. Do you have any suggestions for dining places(it will be a dy trip)..btw..where did your son decide to get engaged and we'll be in Portland in early August and Seattle surrounds at Thanksgiving.
