10 ideal destinations for a romantic weekend in France

In Charente-Maritime, the island of Ré is a perfect destination for a romantic weekend. There are indeed superb beaches where it is good to stroll and swim in the sunny days, as well as picturesque villages with white houses and green shutters. Here there are no big infrastructures, just small streets to walk hand in hand. A trip to Saint-Martin-de-Ré is an opportunity to grab an ice cream on the port, before climbing the steps of the Baleines lighthouse and enjoying an incredible panorama of the island. An escape for two by bike is also the opportunity to marvel at the preserved landscapes of the nature reserve of Lilleau des Niges. We end the day with a seafood platter and a glass of white wine. For a rejuvenating calm, choose the back season!

In the Loire Valley, the romanticism operates immediately. And you only have to take a walk along the royal river at sunrise or sunset to realize it. For a romantic weekend, the ideal is to spend a night or two in a castle. At the Château de Brou, near Chinon, or at the Château de Rochecotte, near Saumur. To live a memorable moment with your partner, there is nothing like climbing aboard a hot air balloon and flying over the green landscapes of the Garden of France. We take advantage of this opportunity to admire the patrimony from above, with a special focus on the castle of Chenonceau, and to taste a good glass of Loire wine. In the state forests of Loches or Orleans, autumn is a season for beautiful romantic walks with the leaves of the trees changing color.

With their colorful and half-timbered facades, the Alsatian villages offer an idyllic setting for a romantic getaway. Kaysersberg is one of them. To make the most of it, you can put your suitcases in a guest room, before going to discover the jewels of the village: picturesque lanes, a fortified bridge over the Weiss, the church of the Invention of the Holy Cross of Kaysersberg and many other jewels of the heritage. The ascent to the castle reveals a nice surprise once you reach the top, that of an unobstructed view of the village that blends into the green vineyards. The latter offer beautiful and romantic walks: on foot on the Schlossberg wine path, or by bike on a portion of the Alsace Wine Route. The opportunity to toast to love at a local producer.

With the nickname of "Venice of the Alps", Annecy can only inspire and fascinate lovers. It offers an enchanting setting for a romantic weekend. In the old town, the colorful buildings along the canals give it a timeless charm. Annecy also has a "Pont des Amours" between the Europe gardens and the Esplanade du Pâquier. The perfect place to exchange a kiss. The lake with its translucent waters is a call for endless walks or bike rides, without forgetting to plan a boat ride on nice days. And then, what could be more romantic than to escape for a few moments in the surrounding mountains? We stop at the most beautiful viewpoints to embrace each other and take in the sights.

In the heart of the Alpes-Maritimes, between Nice and Menton, Èze is clearly one of the most beautiful places on the French Riviera. This village located on a rocky promontory dominates the Mediterranean and reveals breathtaking views. For lovers, it is a pure pleasure to lose oneself in the steep streets of the old town, with its ochre facades, its abundant vegetation and its old signs. You can also take advantage of the opportunity to have lunch or dinner in one of the restaurants and enjoy the Provencal gastronomy. Another place lends itself very well to a romantic stroll in the town: the Jardin Exotique. You will discover plants from all continents with an exceptional view of the Riviera.

Fly to Corsica for a weekend? A very good idea to enjoy a stay under the sign of romanticism. We start by having a coffee in the morning on the marina, with the sound of boats and other boats lapping on the waters. We then leave to conquer the heritage, by walking with two the streets of the citadel, and by stopping to contemplate the cathedral Saint-Jean-Baptiste and the barracks Sampiero. With its mild climate over a large part of the year, a stay in Calvi is always conducive to bucolic walks. They lead to the lighthouse of Revellata, which offers the feeling of being alone in the world. Without forgetting the heavenly cove of Sainte-Restitude and the forest of Bonifatu, where the suspended footbridges contribute to the magic of the setting.

It's hard to talk about a romantic getaway in France without mentioning the French capital, city of love par excellence! The Monceau park, the Luxembourg gardens or the Ile de la Cité breathe romance. Without forgetting Montmartre and its village atmosphere in the city. In the evening, you have the choice between taking your better half to the Garnier Opera House, or having dinner on a barge on the Seine. The next day, in the morning, we plan a brunch in the Marais, before enjoying a last walk along the Seine and crossing one of the most beautiful bridges in Paris, the Pont des Arts.

In Giverny, the master of impressionism Claude Monet said that the light is like nowhere else. The visit of the house and gardens of the painter is inevitably the key moment of this romantic weekend, especially when you pass by the water lilies pond. Giverny is also a superb village where it is good to stroll, whatever the season. We pass to see the church Sainte-Radegonde, the old hotel Baudy, where many American painters stayed, then we take time to enter the art galleries. We finish of course by the Impressionist museum, because the history of this movement and the colors of the paintings also tint the stay with romanticism.

For a romantic weekend, we can imagine ourselves in a charming village surrounded by a grandiose nature. In the Hérault, Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert shines in the middle of the reliefs. We take the time to walk through the medieval streets, to enter the craftsmen's stores, then to stop at the foot of one of the many fountains to embrace. The visit of theabbey of Gellone, a UNESCO world heritage site, is another highlight of this weekend under the sign of love. It is a masterpiece of Languedoc Romanesque art. Around the village, the Hérault gorges invite you to get lost in the heart of these sumptuous landscapes. The Devil's Bridge, dating from the 11th century, is the ideal meeting point to take a selfie.

Located in the Dordogne department, La Roque-Gageac is classified among the Most Beautiful Villages of France. The atmosphere is as romantic as one could wish when observing the golden houses with their lauze roofs reflected in the waters of the river. The small church of Notre-Dame, the castle of La Malartrie, the fortified manor of La Tarde, all these elements of the heritage appeal to the eyes of lovers. The romantic stroll continues with a tour on the impressive cliff which shelters the vestiges of a fortress built in the 12th century. The panorama on the Dordogne Valley is then majestic. And because La Roque-Gageanc never ceases to surprise, the town also has a superb exotic garden with palm trees, banana trees, bamboo, cactus and other fig trees.