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Like all popular sports, observing the crowds is handsomely subsidized by the municipal government in Paris. Investment, for the most part, comes in the form of green, wrought iron chairs in the city's parks. Wherever you see these thrones of public inspection - handily made in both reclined and coupled models, in addition to the standard, individual upright - you know you've entered prime judging territory. The Jardin des Tuileries, which connects the Louvre to the foot of the Champs-Élysées, offers a nice mix of passers-by: locals running, as well as tourists running on fumes after an afternoon in the world's largest museum.
Jardin des Tuileries, 113 Rue de Rivoli, Paris, France

Fouquet's, like all historic restaurants of its breed, is as much (if not more) about who you are going to see during your meal as it is about what you are going to eat. On any old day of the year, the crowd inside is colorful enough to keep you occupied for three courses, and amusement is guaranteed thanks to people streaming past on the capital's busiest shopping street. However, on one night every February, the crowd at Fouquet's is of particularly high quality, as it hosts the post- César Awards dinner, and along with it the A-list stars of French cinema.

Restaurant Le Fouquet's Paris, 99 Avenue des Champs-Élysées, Paris, France, +01 40 69 60 50

Centre Pompidou

It's hard to believe that the Centre Pompidou wasn't built with the express intention of offering Parisians a place to contemplate the nature of life. With its vast entrance plaza, external staircases and glass walls, it's an ideal spot for staring at strangers outside the window, and at the contemporary art found on the walls (and sometimes floor). Turn your back on the windows and crowd contemplation takes on a thrilling auditory dimension. Is there anything more rewarding than eavesdropping in on a conversation during which some pompous buffoon delivers his deep and meaningful analysis of abstract art?

Centre Pompidou, Place Georges-Pompidou, Paris, France, +01 44 78 12 33

Place des Vosges

There are perhaps two neighborhoods in Paris that can compete for the title of the best place to go people-watching and the Marais is one of them. Certainly, if you're a gay man, or someone who enjoys looking at gay men, then this is the place to be. One of the most beautiful and well-appointed public squares to practice the national sport is the Place des Vosges. As you can see from the image below, some participants find themselves on the brink of complete physical exhaustion.
Place des Vosges, Paris, France

Fondation Café

One of the infamous paradoxes of the world's culinary capital is that a good cup of coffee is incredibly hard to come by. The espresso tends to be on the bitter, grainy side and the kind of fancy hybrid beverages one finds in New York, London, or Sydney are just not on the menu (unless you go to Starbucks). That being said, a few newly opened coffee spots, like Fondation Café, have entered the coffee (and subsequently people-watching) market. If flavor however isn't an issue, then any Parisian coffee shop should do - just be sure to brush up on the local coffee etiquette before you go.
Fondation Café, 16 Rue Dupetit-Thouars, Paris, France

Opened six years ago now, Ralph Lauren's flagship store in Paris has done a lot more than expand the brand's already weighty prestige among French buyers. It has given them a new and much-needed place to rest their feet and feast their eyes in between luxury shopping sessions along the glamorous Boulevard Saint-Germain. For many, the focal point of this 13,000-square-foot converted mansion is Ralph's, the gourmet American restaurant in the building's courtyard. The menu is simple - salads and burgers - but the people-watching is rich (literally and figuratively).
Ralph's, 173 Boulevard Saint-Germain, Paris, France, +01 44 77 76 00

Café de Flore

Not so long ago, the Café de Flore was where the world's cultural elite came to brush shoulders. Writers, philosophers, and artists like Pablo Picasso frequented the place on the regular, while Simone de Beauvoir even penned her WWII novel The Blood of Others at one of its tables (the heating in her apartment had been shut off due to the war). The café and its main rival, Les Deux Magots further down the boulevard, still attract a stylish bunch and Saint-Germain as an area is one of our top two picks.

Café de Flore, 172 Boulevard Saint-Germain, Paris, France, +01 45 48 55 26

One of the oldest roads in Paris, the Rue Lepic snakes its way up the hillside of Montmartre and, over the years, became home to no shortage of famous names, like Van Gogh and the writer Louis-Ferdinand Céline. Near the foot of the road is the Café des 2 Moulins, a key location in , the popular French film that cast more than its fair share of eccentric folk deserving of an arched eyebrow.

Canal Saint-Martin

The streets along the length of the Canal Saint-Martin are a vibrant place to shop, eat, and drink. During the warmer months, almost every inch of the canal bank is taken up by people picnicking, while on especially hot and sunny days, don't be surprised to find people with questionable judgment leaping off the bridges and into the murky water. Technically, it's illegal to swim in the canal but plans are in the works to create an open-air swimming pool here in 2017.
Canal Saint-Martin, Paris, France

Centquatre

The final spot on our list is just a few minutes walk from the canal. This cultural center, a converted municipal mortician from the 19th century (fun, right?), is at the heart of a rapidly regenerating neighborhood. Here, the national pastime takes on a distinctly more creative form. Dancers, acrobats, jugglers, musicians, and performers of just about every kind use the open public spaces to rehearse their routines. All you have to do is sit back and take it all in.
CENTQUATRE, 5 Rue Curial, Paris, France, +01 53 35 50 00

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The 10 Best Places To People Watch In Paris

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Like all popular sports, observing the crowds is handsomely subsidized by the municipal government in Paris. Investment, for the most part, comes in the form of green, wrought iron chairs in the city's parks. Wherever you see these thrones of public inspection - handily made in both reclined and coupled models, in addition to the standard, individual upright - you know you've entered prime judging territory.

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How close were they?

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Atomic physicist Niels Bohr is famously quoted as saying, "Prediction is very difficult, especially if it's about the future." Yet despite years of getting things wrong, magazines love think pieces on where we'll be in several decades, even centuries in time. It gives us comfort to think great things await us, even though we're long overdue for the personal jetpack and, based on an Isaac Asimov interview in Omni Magazine that blew my teenage mind, interchangeable genitals.

And yet it's Asimov who apparently owned the only set of postcards of En L'An 2000, a set of 87 (or so) collectible artist cards that first appeared as inserts in cigar boxes in 1899, right in time for the 1900 World Exhibition in Paris. Translated as "France in the 21st Century," the cards feature Jean-Marc Côté and other illustrators' interpretations of the way we'd be living...well, 15 years ago.

The history of the card's production is very convoluted, with the original commissioning company going out of business before they could be distributed, and whether that company was a toy manufacturer or a cigarette company, nobody seems to know. And were the ideas given to the artists, or did they come up with them on their own? We don't know.

One of the first things that stands out scanning through these prints, now hosted at The Public Domain Review, is a complete absence of space travel, despite Jules Verne having written From the Earth to the Moon in 1865 (which would influence Georges Méliès' A Voyage to the Moon in 1902). However, the underwater world spawned many a flight of fancy, including a whale-drawn bus, a croquet party at the bottom of the ocean, and large fish being raced like thoroughbred horses.

There's a few inventions we can say came true. The "Advance Sentinel in a Helicopter" has been documenting traffic and car chases for decades now, fed right into our televisions. A lot of farm work is now automated. And "Electric Scrubbing" is now called a Roomba.

For a card-by-card examination of these future visions, one should hunt out Isaac Asimov's 1986 Futuredays: A Nineteenth Century Vision of the Year 2000, which can be found for very cheap on Amazon right now. (Or see the nice gallery of images at The Public Domain Review.) And who knows? Maybe next year, your order will come to your door by drone. Just a prediction.

via Paleofuture
Related Content: Isaac Asimov's 1964 Predictions About What the World Will Look 50 Years Later - in 2014 Arthur C. Clarke Predicts the Future in 1964 ... And Kind of Nails It In 1900, Ladies' Home Journal Publishes 28 Predictions for the Year 2000 Ted Mills is a freelance writer on the arts who currently hosts the FunkZone Podcast. You can also follow him on Twitter at @tedmills, read his other arts writing at tedmills.com and/or watch his films here.

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How French Artists in 1899 Envisioned Life in the Year 2000: Drawing the Future

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Atomic physicist Niels Bohr is famously quoted as saying, "Prediction is very difficult, especially if it's about the future." Yet despite years of getting things wrong, magazines love think pieces on where we'll be in several decades, even centuries in time.

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Over 100 years ago, a French banker named Albert Kahn undertook a massive photography project that became known as The Archives of the Planet. Sending photographers to every continent, Kahn aimed to collect colour snapshots from all corners of the Earth using a brand new technology known as the Autochrome Lumiere. Over 72,000 colour images were taken over the course of the project, but the following series focuses on the vibrant and iconic daily life of Paris, from nearly a century in the past.

Kahn commissioned four photographers to collect images set specifically in cosmopolitan Paris: Leon Gimpel, Stephane Passet, Georges Chevalier, and Auguste Leon. They utilized pioneering technology that employed colour filters made from microscopic grains of dyed potato starch. The artists began documenting the city in 1914, just days before the outbreak of World War I. The images collected portray the everyday struggle of real life, juxtaposed with a joie de vivre characteristic of Parisians, in a city on the brink of devastation brought on by a war that would alter the world.

This collection showcases an amazing, colourful time period, with historical scenes that are as familiar as they are foreign, not to mention a nostalgic depiction of humanity.

via: [ PetaPixel]

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Photos Taken 100 Years Ago Capture Rare Look at Paris in Color

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Over 100 years ago, a French banker named Albert Kahn undertook a massive photography project that became known as The Archives of the Planet. Sending photographers to every continent, Kahn aimed to collect colour snapshots from all corners of the Earth using a brand new technology known as the Autochrome Lumiere.

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Discovery Channel Construyendo La Ciudad

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Paris 3D: Through the Ages - Dassault Systèmes

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Paris 3D: Through the Ages - Dassault Systèmes. Want to experience it live? Download FREE iPad app at https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/paris-3d-saga/id563504935?mt=8 or experience it online at http://paris.3ds.com/ Don't forget to subscribe: https://goo.gl/bDS7oS Dassault Systemes official website: http://www.3ds.com/ Follow us! Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DassaultSystemes Twitter: https://twitter.com/Dassault3DS Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/dassaultsystemes

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1. The word "France" comes from the Franks, a Germanic people whose name in itself is derived from the Frankish "frank", meaning "free".

2. France spans twelve different time zones - more than any other country in the world - thanks to its overseas territories, which are dotted round the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian oceans, as well as the South American continent.

3. The two oldest cities in France are Marseille and Beziers, both built by the Greeks in the sixth century BC.

4. In France, eggs are brown, but in most other countries, they tend to be white. This is because French farmers use different breeds of hen.

5. France has the highest number of Nobel Prize In Literature winners of any country, with 15 (followed by the United States with 11, and the UK with 10).

6. Until 2012, there was only one "STOP" sign in the entire city of Paris. It was located at the exit of a building materials yard in the 16th arrondissement. Today, this stop sign is no longer there.

7. Thought France abolished monarchy with the revolution? Actually, there are several kings in France, if you take into account its overseas territories . Indeed, one such territory, Wallis and Futuna in the South Pacific, has three kings. These monarchs are paid for by the French state and they have authority over their respective territories.

8. The French army is the only army in Europe that still has carrier pigeons within its ranks. Kept at Mount Valerien near Paris, these pigeons are intended to be used for communication during major disasters.

9. Per-person, France is by far the most nuclear-powered country in the world, with 58 reactors for its 66 million inhabitants. Next comes Japan (54 reactors for 127 million ), and the United States (104 reactors for 319 million inhabitants).

10. France was the first country to introduce a public transport system. In the 1660s, "five-floor carriages" were a system of horse-drawn carriages circulating at a fixed time and on lines linking various neighborhoods of Paris. The concept was developed by Blaise Pascal.

11. Until World War II, France was on the same time zone as London. After occupying the country in 1940, Germany forced France to conform with Berlin time, and this change has never been canceled.

12. In France, traders are under no obligation to give change to their customers. According to the law, it is the customer who has to pay with the exact money.

13. In 1940, France and the United Kingdom briefly considered merging into one nation to face the German invasion. The project included common citizenship and a single parliament .

14. In France, trains run on the left - except in the eastern border region of Alsace-Moselle. Why? Because the area was German territory when the railway was constructed.

15. With 11 million km², France has the second largest maritime surface area after the United States. As some requests of France have not yet been validated by the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf, the marine territory could even extend to an additional 1 million km².

16. France has the most powerful radar ship in the world. Called Monge, it was designed to be able to monitor the course of nuclear missiles. Its most impressive achievement to date: detecting a monkey wrench which had been lost in space by an American astronaut.

17. A number of French departments have changed names over the years. For example, Loire-Inférieure became Loire-Atlantique in 1957; Basses-Pyrénées became Pyrénées-Atlantiques in 1969; Côtes-du-Nord became Côtes-d Armor in 1990. In many cases these changes were made because the original names had taken on derogatory connotations.

18. France boasts more roundabouts than any other country. 30,000 in fact - which represents over half of all the roundabouts in the world.

19. The French municipality with the shortest name is Y, in the Somme department. Its inhabitants are known as Ypsilons.

20. France is McDonald's most profitable market outside the US, with more than 1,000 restaurants spread throughout the country.

21. In France, there are six municipalities that have a mayor despite having zero inhabitants . These villages were destroyed during World War II, but their mayors are responsible for assuring their maintenance.

22. France's longest border? Taking into account its overseas territories, it's actually Brazil, which runs alongside Guyana for 730km.

23. Alsace-Moselle, which maintains its own local legislation, is the only French region where December 26 is a public holiday.

24. Alsace-Moselle is also the only French territory where religious education is mandatory. This is because it was still German territory when the law regarding separation of Church and State was passed in 1905.

25. The most populous French department is Nord, with around 2.6m inhabitants.

26. And the least populated is Lozère, with around 80,000.

27. The oldest known construction in France is The Cairn of Barnenez, in Finistère, a 75m-long megalithic monument dating from the fifth millennium BC.

28. In France, there is a law which prohibits people from calling their pigs Napoleon.

29. In 2011, after a small concert, a piano stayed a few days at Montparnasse station waiting to be packed up again. Passersby began to play it. The whole thing proved so popular, SNCF decided to place pianos in other stations.

30. Today, there are about a hundred train station pianos spread across France.

31. In France, until 2012, it was theoretically illegal for a woman to wear trousers without official authorization.

32. In France, the guillotine was last used in 1977. Officially, it remained the mode of execution for people sentenced to death until the abolition of the death penalty in 1981.

33. Paris is home to the densest subway in the world, with 245 stations on 14 lines within an area of less than 90 km2.

34. France is the largest country in the European Union in terms of surface area.

35. French municipalities with snigger-incuding names include Chatte (French for pussy), Gland, Vulvoz, and Anus.

36. There are several "versions" of the French flag. The flag with a bright blue and bright red is common, but there is a version with a darker blue, which is usually displayed by town halls and public buildings.

37. There is also a specific version reserved for TV appearances by the head of state, with a much narrower white part, so that the face of the president should not be surrounded by white when seen in close-up.

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Flag_of_France_(shade_comparison).svg?uselang=fr

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Drapeau_France_T%C3%A9l%C3%A9vision.svg?uselang=fr

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37 Fun Facts About France You Really Ought To Know

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1. The word "France" comes from the Franks, a Germanic people whose name in itself is derived from the Frankish "frank", meaning "free". 2. France spans twelve different time zones - more than any other country in the world - thanks to its overseas territories, which are dotted round the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian oceans, as well as the South American continent.

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Paris est un escargot. Certes, Paris ne mange pas de salade, mais c'est un escargot quand même. Un escargot... d'arrondissements.

Un arrondissement, c'est une division administrative, avec à sa tête un maire élu. À Paris, il y en a 20, numérotés de 1... à 20 qui forment une spirale qui part du centre, un escargot. Situons ensemble dans ce dédale quelques lieux connus de tous. Le musée du Louvre se trouve dans le 1er arrondissement, la tour Eiffel dans le 7 ème, les Champs-Elysées sont dans le 8 ème, et le Sacré-Coeur dans le 18 ème. Mais, pour les Parisiens, les arrondissements ne sont pas uniquement des zones administratives ou géographiques. Ce sont des univers. Chaque numéro d'arrondissement évoque à tout Parisien quelques clichés bien définis.

À l'ouest, il y a les riches. Si le 7 ème, le 8 ème et le 15 ème arrondissements sont bien lotis, c'est le 16 ème qui est l'archétype de l'arrondissement bourgeois, avec ses beaux immeubles et ses rues calmes où se côtoient des vieilles dames aux caniches toilettés et des hommes d'affaires pressés. On dit d'ailleurs, pour décrire une personne chic, guindée, qu'elle " fait très 16 ème ".

Comme dans la plupart des grandes villes européennes, les arrondissements les plus pauvres, eux, se trouvent au nord-est de la ville. Dans nos latitudes, les vents soufflant principalement d'ouest en est, la répartition de la population se serait rapidement opérée lors de l'industrialisation du 19e siècle. À l'ouest, la bourgeoisie protégée des fumées, à l'est, les ouvriers sous la fumée.

Ainsi, on trouve toujours les Parisiens les plus populaires ainsi que beaucoup d'immigrés du Maghreb, d'Asie ou d'Afrique noire dans les 18Le 13 ème, 19 ème ? Pour le Parisien, c'est Chinatown. Il vous parlera des supermarchés asiatiques, des restaurants exotiques et du fameux défilé du nouvel an chinois. ème et 20 ème arrondissements.

Le 11 ème, lui, est le lieu branché par excellence : magasins bio, réparateurs de vélo et ateliers d'artistes attirent des populations jeunes et créatives. Inutile de vous dire que, dans tous ces arrondissements, on trouve aussi des gens normaux qui résistent à tous ces clichés... Paris n'a pas toujours été un escargot. Lorsque les arrondissements sont créés en 1795, la ville est plus petite et il n'y en a que 12, numérotés de gauche à droite et répartis en deux lignes séparées par la Seine.

En 1860, alors que le préfet Haussmann dirige d'immenses travaux dans Paris, la ville s'agrandit en annexant les communes limitrophes. Il faut alors créer de nouveaux arrondissements : on redécoupe, on recompose. Un premier schéma attribue le numéro 13 à l'actuel 16 ème, mais cela ne plaît pas du tout à ses habitants riches et influents. Pourquoi ? Parce qu'à l'époque existe une expression : " se marier à la mairie du 13 ème arrondissement ". Comme le 13 ème arrondissement n'existe pas encore, ça veut dire ironiquement " vivre ensemble sans être marié ", donc en concubinage. Impensable pour la bonne société de l'ouest d'être associée à cette idée si inconvenante.

On adopte finalement une disposition en spirale et on attribue le numéro 13 à un arrondissement plus populaire. Cette disposition n'a pas changé depuis 1860, même si l'on surnomme parfois certaines villes le " 21 ème arrondissement ", Deauville par exemple, station balnéaire normande à 1h30 de Paris, où l'on trouve le week-end presque plus de Parisiens que de Deauvillais. Mais en réalité, l'escargot va-t-il s'agrandir encore ?

Le Grand Paris, encore au stade d'ébauche, viserait à créer une vaste métropole en reliant Paris et ses banlieues. Et ça serait pour quand, ce grand projet ? Dans les années 2020. Eh oui, c'est lent, un escargot.

Texte : Séverine Bavon
Image : Elsa Perry

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Paris est un escargot. Certes, Paris ne mange pas de salade, mais c'est un escargot quand même. Un escargot... d'arrondissements. Un arrondissement, c'est une division administrative, avec à sa tête un maire élu. À Paris, il y en a 20, numérotés de 1... à 20 qui forment une spirale qui part du centre, un escargot.

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A good collection of virtual tours

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Sign in now to see your channels and recommendations!

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What would you want to see first

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Which one is your favorite? Mine is Etretat

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Reading time: 8 minutes

Are you wondering what are some great places to visit aside from the City of Lights? Most of the time, we correlate Paris with France. When we speak of France, the "Eiffel Tower", "Notre Dame" and Parisians almost always come up in conversations, but how will you really know France by looking at only one of its faces, right?

There are thousands of beautiful villages and small towns in the country, and each region has its own special qualities. Travelling around some of the small towns in France means travel between hilltops, rocky coastal towns and breathtaking scenery while enjoying the local lifestyles of the people.

What's Inside? Click For Quick Navigation 1. Ars-en-Ré 2. Piana 3. Bonneval-sur-arc 4. Annecy 5. Colmar 6. Dinan 7. Locronan​8. Saint Veran 9. Perouges​10. Domfront 11. Kaysersberg 12. Lourmarin​13. Gaillac​14. Eguisheim 15. Etretat Conclusion/ Disclaimer Quick Recap of this Article:

1. Ars-en-Ré

Source: tmagazine

A charming town of bicycles! This is how most people describe Ars-en-Ré. With its white-washed houses and traditional green shutters, hollyhocks, salt pans, and relaxing but sleepy beach town, it is a pleasure to explore this tiny seafarer village.

The center of the village is around an open central square with its trademark Church spire. During summer the clock tower is open to the public. It is a good place to unwind with a relaxing view of the town and the sea. This tiny village on the island of Ré has been drawing sailors and traders for centuries, but modern travelers also succumb to the seaside beauty and valor of this place.

Région/Area: Charente-Maritime

How to get here: To get here, you can take a train from Montparnasse to La Rochelle, and then you will have to get another train or a bus from La Rochelle to Ars-en-Re.

Travel Duration: approx. 6 hrs.

2. Piana

Source: my-art.com

Similar to Ars-en-Ré, Piana is also made up of traditional white-washed stone houses and churches. A town in Corsica, which is also known as the Island of Beauty and listed as a Unesco World Heritage site, Piana is a picturesque setting with the Gulf of Porto below it. Piana has several boutiques, bars and restaurants to choose from.

Some of its main attraction are:

the 18th century Italian-style church of Saint-Marie. It contains a 17th century painting of Saint Hugo of Lincoln and a wooden statue of the Assumption.

the lovely town is only one reason why people visit this place

the scenery along the road from Piana to Porto which is known as the Calanches de Piana.

Région/Area: Corse-du-sud

How to get here: Take a train from Paris (Saint Michel) to Antony Ratp, and then from Antony Ratp, take another train to Paris Orly. From Paris Orly you can get a Calvi plane. The travel time is around one hour and thirty five minutes. When you land at Calvi, you can take a taxi to Piana.

Travel duration: approx. 3 hours and 40 min.

3. Bonneval-sur-arc

Source: snow-forecast

If you are looking for a combination of skiing, hiking and a provincial way of life, Bonneval is a good place to visit. It is below the Col de l'lseran, one of the highest mountains in Europe, so it is recommended for sports enthusiasts and nature lovers.

Bonneval is quite different during summer and winter. During summer, it is a great place for family picnics and outdoor activities. During winter, it turns into a ski resort. It might be a smaller and less known ski area, but it maintains its good reputation for the quality of its snow, plus less crowd mean more space and freedom for you to move and have fun with your friends.

Région/Area: Savoie

How to get here: Take a train from Paris Gare de Lyon to Modane, and take a bus from Modane straight to Bonneval Sur Arc.

Travel duration: Approx. 6 hours and 24 min.

4. Annecy

Source: barefootblonde

Sometimes referred to as "Little Venice", Annecy is best for romantic couples.

Annecy's main attractions include:

Le Palais de l'Isle (a historical 12th century castle built right in the middle of one of its canals which is now classified as a Historical Monument and a local history museum)

the dark blue waters of the Annecy lake

the colorful Rue Saint Claire

the diverse vegetation of the European Gardens

the Pont des Amours (Lover's Bridge).

Région/Area: : Haute-Savoie

How to get here: Take a train from Paris Gare de Lyon to Annecy .

Travel duration: approx. 3 hrs. and 44 min.

5. Colmar

Source: frenchmoments

Colmar is well-known as the Alsatian wine capital. It is a colorful town and is considered as one of France's "Little Venices". Colmar is full of brightly-colored houses, bright flower-lined canals, and a fairytale-like atmosphere. You can take a canoe trip through the canals of Colmar.

You can also visit:

Unterlinden Museum repository

The house of Bartholdi (the creator of Statue of Liberty)

The house of a local artist best known as Hansi (whose artworks are almost everywhere in Colmar)

The eighth century's Germanic-French religious architectural landmarks in the town, like: Eglise St.-Martin, Water Tower, Maison Adolph, etc...

Unterlinden Museum repository

Unterlinden Museum repository

Région/Area: Haute-Rhin

How to get here: Take a train from Paris Est to Colmar.

Travel duration: approx. 3 hours.

6. Dinan

Source: photos.creafrance.org

The prettiest town in Brittany! This is the title Dinan holds until now. A medieval town on a hilltop overseeing the river of Rance, Dinan is surrounded with long ramparts or walls, Tudor type houses, port, cobbled streets, art galleries, and shops. Dinan is a well-preserved place with most of its old buildings, some of which were built during the 13th century, and most of its magnificent ramparts still in place.

Some of its major attractions:

The best time to visit Dinan is July when they are celebrating the Fête des Remparts.

Région/Area: Côtes-d'Armor

How to get here: Take a train from Paris Montparnasse going to Rennes. From Rennes take another train to Dol de Bretagne and then another train going to Dinan.

Travel duration: approx. 3 hrs and 40 min.​

7. Locronan

Source: pixdaus

Another pride of Brittany, Locronan is hailed as one of the Plus Beaux Villages in France (most beautiful villages of France).

The Locronan pilgrimages, for instance, hold a high importance in the land of Brittany. They call this pilgrimage "Tromenie", which occurs every six years between the second and third Sundays of July. This pilgrimage festival includes a large procession and participants who carry the banners of participating parishes.

Locronan prides itself on its remarkable grand houses built way back in the 18th century, as well as its local museum covering the history of its weaving industry and arts.

Région/Area: Finistère

How to get here: You can take a train from Paris Montparnasse to Quimper, then take the line 37 bus from Quimper to Locronan.

Travel duration: approx. 5 hours.

​8. Saint Veran
Source: panoramio
Saint Veran is the most elevated commune in France, and the third in whole Europe. It is located in the heart of the "Parc Naturel Regional du Queyras" Nature Park in Southern Alps. Upon entering Saint Veran, you will see its traditional hamlets, fountains, wooden chapels, sundials, etc...

Places to visit in Saint Veran are:

Région/Area: Hautes-Alpes

How to get here: Take a train from Paris Gare de Lyon to Valence TGV, the from Valence TGV to Montdauphin-Guill. Reaching Montdauphin-Guill, you can get a taxi to Saint Veran.

Travel duration: approx. 6 hrs and 46 min.

9. Perouges

Source: sylveryfox.deviantart.com

Perouges is a medieval walled town in the northeast of Lyon. The town of Perouges is so romantic, homey and old-fashioned that it is often used in many films. Some of the films created here are The Bride (1985) and The Hour of the Pig (1993). Indeed, Perouges has preserved its medieval landscape.

Going here during April and June will give you a bonus with its spring festival during April and various musical events ranging from Baroque to jazz every June.

​Région/Area: Ain

How to get here: Take a train from Paris Gare de Lyon to Lyon Part Dieu, then a train from Lyon Part Dieu straight to Meximieux-Perouges

Travel duration: approx. 2 hours and 44 minutes.

​10. Domfront

Source: ajpn

Hiking, horseback riding, cycling, sightseeing...., these are only some of the activities that you can do while in Domfront.

You can start your day by visiting some of its historical sites:

The ruins of the Chateau de Domfront

The mansion of the Saucers

The 11th century roman style church of the Notre Dame

A trekking in the Andaines Forest

A trip to Bagnoles de l'Orne.

The theme park in the Colmont Gorron

Charles Leander Museum

Région/Area: Orne

How to get here: Take a train from Paris Montparnasse Vaugirard to Flers, then there is a bus from Flers to Domfront.

Travel duration: approx.4 hours.

11. Kaysersberg

Source: wikimedia

Kaysersberg, a.k.a the Mountain of the Emperor, attracts visitors because of its classic Alsace wine trail, so expect barrels of outstanding wines!

​Upon entering the town, you will find the high fortress that dominates the city, which serves as a reminder of both its strategic and historic significance. Moreover, similar to some other towns in France, Kaysersberg is made up of old Medieval type houses, half-timbered houses, cobblestoned streets and of course, various Medieval churches. Don't forget to take a stroll along its 16th century fortified bridge which offers a beautiful view of the river..

Région/Area: Haut-Rhin

How to get here: Take a train from Paris Est to Colmar, and another 5 min train from Colmar to Logelbach. From Logelbach, take the Line 145 bus to Kaysersberg.

Travel duration: approx. 5 hours

12. Lourmarin​

Source: livingginafairytale.tumblr.com

Lourmarin is poetry in motion. It has numerous cafes, restaurants, boutiques, and ivy-covered streets full of a lavender scent which will give you an exquisite taste of its locality.

The town's main attraction:

The 15th century Renaissance castle

Various Catholic and Protestant Churches

The view of the Proches Bastides.

Just 20 minutes drive from the village is the Durance River and then 40 minutes from it is the city of Aix-en-Provence if you are looking for a shift in environment.

​Région/Area: Vaucluse

How to get here: Take a train from Paris Gare de Lyon to Avignon Center then another train to Cavaillon. In Cavaillon, get the Line 8 bus to Lourmarin.

Travel duration: 6 hours and 45 min.

13. Gaillac

Source: bordeaux-undiscovered

Gaillac will offer you a warm welcome of wines and vineyards, as you stroll around its charming little streets. Gaillac is full of chateaux, dovecotes and umbrella pines. Gaillac has been a major producer of wines from white, to red, and rosé. Gaillac's other attractions:

Abbaye Saint-Michel XIII

Palmata 13th round

Peter's Church, Abbey Museum

Castle Foucaud (château de Foucaud)

Région/Area: Tarn

How to get here: Take a train from Paris to Toulousse- Matabiau, and another train to Gaillac.

​Travel duration: approx. 6 hours and 41 min.

​14. Eguisheim

Source: wikimedia

Eguisheim is very unique with its concentric layout of streets unlike other towns and villages in France.

​It is a magnet for tourists and visitors because of its flower-filled villages and colorful houses, which give it a fairy tale ambiance. As part of the Alsatian Wine Route, Eguisheim is also a producer of great wines. This is evident with its vineyards, cellars and wine bars all around the city.

Région/Area: Haut-Rhin

​How to get here: You can take a train from Paris EST to Colmar and then get a bus from Colmar to Eguisheim.

​Travel duration: approx. 4 hours

15. Etretat

Source: hqwallbase

Last but not least, one of the most popular tourist spots in Upper Normandy.

Etretat offers:

Etretat is best known for its three natural arches and the pointed needle. It attracts tourists and even celebrities because of its peaceful scenery.

Région/Area: Seine-Maritime

How to get here: Take a train from Paris St. Lazare to Le Havre, and then take the Line 24 bus from Le Havre to Etretat.

Travel duration: approx. 3 hours and 31 min.​

Conclusion/ Disclaimer

With thousands of small towns and villages in France, I cannot include every town in one article; therefore, I tried my best to choose some of the best places I think are worth visiting. Each region and department also has a unique character of its own.

What's your favorite village?

Quick Recap of this Article:

France has so many beautiful lesser-known little towns that are worthy of a visit.

Whether you're in the mood for sleepy beach towns, colorful villages, or icy slopes, there is a perfect French town for you.

Before you travel to the beautiful French destinations mentioned above, get your copy of the most complete French Phrasebook. It has everything you need to travel in France with confidence.

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15 Of The Most Beautiful and Charming Small Towns in France

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Reading time: 8 minutes Are you wondering what are some great places to visit aside from the City of Lights? Most of the time, we correlate Paris with France. When we speak of France, the "Eiffel Tower", "Notre Dame" and Parisians almost always come up in conversations, but how will you really know France by looking at only one of its faces, right?