It's easy to see that tourism is changing. The French are literally going green, and it's not just a fad. Instead of far-flung, expensive destinations, they're showing a clear preference for rural, bucolic vacations in the provinces. Here's an overview of our favorite countryside destinations.
Where to go on a family vacation in the countryside?
The Dordogne department will delight the whole family. The cradle of prehistory, the département boasts some major sites: Les Eyzies, famous for its many caves and its National Prehistory Museum, and above all Lascaux IV, an almost complete replica of the Lascaux cave with its magnificent cave paintings. It's also the land of a thousand and one castles. Many fortresses are perched on rocky outcrops, such as Beynac and Castelnaud, while others dominate the countryside, such as Hautefort and Les Milandes. Brantôme-en-Périgord, the "Green Venice of Périgord", Sarlat and its town houses and Domme are also worth a visit. But above all, it's all about nature. Hiking is possible on 200 km of GR trails, on the Route de Saint-Jacques-de-Compostelle or on footpaths open to mountain bikes. Thanks to its rivers and streams, the département offers a wealth of water sports activities, notably on the Vézère, Dordogne and Dronne rivers. Périgord is also a land of gourmet delights. Truffles, strawberries, ceps, walnuts, foie gras and Bergerac wines make it a gastronomic mecca.
Auvergne, one of our 16 destinations for family vacations in France, is renowned for its Chaîne des Puys, its spas and its gastronomy. This natural treasure, unique in Europe, with its 80 volcanoes, is an ideal setting for outdoor activities: hiking, cycling, white-water sports, skiing, snowshoeing and tobogganing in winter. Families can enjoy unforgettable and unusual experiences in the region's many parks and museums: discover volcanoes from a new angle at Vulcania, learn all about the famous Clermont-Ferrand name at Aventure Michelin, spend a relaxing day at Le Pal, or immerse yourself in the world of rugby at the ASM Experience, a unique museum. Auvergne is also a paradise for gourmets. Let yourself be tempted by a saint-nectaire or a salers, a saint-pourçain or a côtes-d'auvergne, not forgetting the lentille du Puy and many other delicacies! To be enjoyed with the whole family, of course...
Discover our Top 13 of the most beautiful walks to do in Auvergne, as well as our article What to do in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes? Les 19 incontournables.
Where to go on vacation in the countryside with a baby?
Open your eyes to the sunrise over the mountains; plunge into a lake for a dip; glide down the river in a canoe or paddle; walk through the forest to pick a few mushrooms or, quite simply, breathe in the fresh country air as you take your baby for a walk... Aveyron offers many opportunities to reconnect with nature : a major preoccupation in these troubled times, when we no longer board a plane without thinking twice. An immense territory, with majestic landscapes worthy of the most beautiful postcards from the ends of the earth, the département is indeed a generous playground for lovers of wide open spaces.
TheAisne, located in north-eastern France between the Belgian border and the Île-de-France region, is bordered to the east by the Ardennes and the Marne. Its landscape, although not very rugged, features hills, forests, valleys and ponds. The diversity of its landscapes is a real tourist attraction. Along the Route des Châteaux, you'll discover some of the finest parks and gardens in the Aisne. At Puisieux-en-Retz and Puisieux-et-Clanlieu, the tree-lined gardens surrounding an 18th-century château are mainly composed of lawns and rose bushes. The region's abbeys, such as Longpont and Vauclair, also boast remarkable parks and gardens. Vauclair boasts a botanical garden of medicinal plants and a century-old apple orchard. And everywhere you turn, you'll find yourself immersed in the countryside, where, it has to be said, the weather is just right for baby, even in midsummer!
Where to go on a romantic countryside vacation?
In the center-east of the country, burgundy is a renowned wine-growing region with a rich architectural heritage, including prestigious religious buildings. Visitors come from far and wide for its wine route: 65 km and 32 Grands Crus with prestigious names from Nuits-Saint-Georges to Vosnes-Romanée. Majestic châteaux dot the landscape, some of them converted into luxury hotels. Some prefer to lodge in the trees, in a floating chalet, a caravan, a yurt, a tepee or a safari tent... to take full advantage of Burgundy's natural beauty! While there are plenty of towns and cultural sights to visit, the countryside is everywhere, and is sure to please couples on the move. And after a day out in the fresh air, you're sure to enjoy a glass of wine at one of Burgundy's famous restaurants!
Straddling two départements (Alpes-de-Haute-Provence and Vaucluse), the Lubéron is a little gem. This tiny piece of land exudes exceptionality, a harmonious landscape where grand mas are scattered among rows of vines, lavender and cherry trees, sometimes overlooked by hilltop villages (Bonnieux, Lacoste...). A landscape where small roads criss-cross the hills and forests. The villages and towns of Apt, Lourmarin, Manosque, Cavaillon, Roussillon and its sentier des ocres... have all retained their soul and their colors. There are no buildings here, just dry-stone houses (don't miss the village of bories), plane trees and hackberry bushes under which you can taste the fruits of the gourmet delights of the many talented local producers. So take a break... And enjoy a truly unique romantic getaway by visiting some of the region's most some of the region's most beautiful villages !
Situated in the heart of Gascony, the Gers boasts rolling, luminous landscapes. The land of d'Artagnan and the musketeers, on the pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela, offers a rich heritage and gastronomic delights. Unesco World Heritage sites include Auch Cathedral, with its beautiful carved wooden stalls and remarkable 16th-century stained-glass windows, and the Saint-Pierre collegiate church in La Romieu, also known as "the village of cats". The Gers also boasts thirteen bastide towns and six of France's most beautiful villages. It's also home to foie gras, tasty free-range poultry, tender, juicy Gascony beef, Lectoure melon and apple croustade. In short, there's more than enough to satisfy couples out for a stroll, who would like to round off their day with a good meal together.
Where to go for a relaxing vacation in the countryside?
The Jura is amulti-faceted territory, thanks to its geography and human activity. It's sure to whet the appetite of the curious, as this corner of France abounds in curiosities (on this subject, read our article What to visit in the Jura? The 15 most beautiful places). Between the Comtoise plain, a veritable ocean of greenery, and the Revermont with its renowned vineyards, you're transported to the plateaus, several of which rise to an altitude of 1,300m. These areas are intersected by small valleys and valleys through which flow superb rivers such as the Ain, Doubs and Loue. All along these meanders, as elsewhere, belvederes offer breathtaking views. Water again, with its many lakes, all surrounded by forests that, depending on altitude, are made up of deciduous or coniferous trees. This unspoilt nature, which must be respected, offers the possibility of outdoor activities covering a wide range of disciplines. But also spaces for moments of pure relaxation in the fresh air. In short, an ideal destination for those who want to get away from it all. Discover our Top 11 of the best walks in the Jura.
In south-eastern France, the Ardèche region and its villages offer a wealth of flavours, colors, outdoor activities and a multitude of places to get active, cultivate and relax. One of our top 15 destinations to visit with the whole family, the Ardèche is synonymous with thyme and lavender, idleness in the sun and conviviality around a local table, hiking in the mountains and swimming in the rivers. On the program: ecotourism and slow food, organic addresses and local bistros. Mountaineering or whitewater rafting, hiking or caving, yoga or bread-making, the choice is yours. There are no freeways or TGVs here, just green tourism based on wilderness and landscapes from the beginning of the world. Following the river banks, overlooking the gorges, crossing the garrigue, discovering prehistoric caves under the earth, you'll appreciate the intimacy and history of the Ardèche. And let's not forget the gourmet addresses, auberges, bistrots de pays and fine Ardeche restaurants. Enjoy your getaway!
Where to go for a cheap vacation in the countryside?
Arather inexpensive destination off the beaten tourist track, the Doubs may well surprise you. Its infinite forests, scented with spruce, a precious and abundant species in the region, like to be contemplated at leisure in the reflection of mountain lakes, pure and peaceful mirrors. Traditional, the Doubs likes to roll on its almost ancestral achievements: the making of Comté cheese, with its incomparable fruity taste of mountain pastures, its watchmaking as fine and precise as that of its Swiss neighbor, and other authentic crafts. The Doubs is also known for its generous gastronomy. The delicacy of its Mont d'Or in a beechwood casket, the dark, earthy taste of its morels in sauce on a slice of golden bread, the delicate aroma of its Morteau sausage, are all reasons to indulge. In winter, the Doubs is a harsh land with snow-covered mountains, but in summer, its cool waters soothe tired but happy walkers in the heart of the Doubs countryside.
If you don't want to spend a fortune, you can also head for theEure, just an hour from the capital and at the top of our top 10 list of countryside spots accessible by train. The Eure has the discreet charm of those départements brimming with architectural, historical and tourist treasures, to be discovered at the turn of villages and crossroads. Eure's cuisine is based on Norman produce: milk, cheese, cream and, of course, apples and their derivatives, cider and calvados. The region also has a strong tradition of livestock farming, so it's not hard to find excellent meats, especially beef. The Eure is no slouch when it comes to cheese production. And, everywhere, good places to set down your suitcase or treat yourself to a delicious meal are ideal for rounding off a day out in the Normandy countryside.
Where to go on vacation in the countryside on a farm?
Ariège, thePyrenean department bordering Spain and Andorra, welcomes you with its traditions, authenticity and unspoilt nature. Around 40% of its surface area is part of the Parc naturel régional des Pyrénées ariégeoises, home to rich mountain biodiversity. This lively mountain region, where sheep, cows and Mérens horses transhumance in summer, offers breathtaking scenery: from the rolling green hills of the piedmont to the rocky peaks over 3,000 meters high, including several passes used by the Tour de France. Ariège never fails to charm its visitors, who don't hesitate to experience the department for themselves by spending a few days on a local farm. For Ariège offers a gourmet heritage with hearty dishes such as aigo bullido, an egg soup, azinat, a kind of potée, duck and goose confit, foie gras, and garbure, a confit and cabbage soup. Enjoy your meal!
The Lot regiondraws its character from the limestone plateaux carved out by the Lot, Dordogne and Célé valleys. Boasting some of the most beautiful villages in France (Carennac, Loubressac, Autoire, Saint-Cirq-Lapopie, Capdenac-le-Haut and Cardaillac), its major sites, a preserved environment and exceptional natural areas, the region is a must-see in Occitanie. In addition to Rocamadour, one of our 17 top destinations to visit in France this year, Gourdon, Cahors, Figeac Saint-Céré or Puy-l'Évêque, man and nature have left their mark in the Pech Merle cave, the Padirac chasm, the Lacave cave, the Merveilles cave or the Presque cave. The rural architecture here is typical, with low dry-stone walls, cazelles, gariottes and washhouses... A land of excellent local produce and gastronomy, the Lot awakens the taste buds with truffles, foie gras, Quercy farm lamb, Quercy melon, rocamadour, saffron and Cahors and Malbec wines. And of course, it's the ideal place to spend your vacations, hopping from farm to farm...
Tempted? Take a look at our train fares and book now!
