Travelling off the beaten track offers many advantages: discovering more authentic destinations, avoiding crowds, paying less, practicing slow tourism... To help you along the way, we've put together a list of the most beautiful little-known destinations to discover in France.
1. Ornans and the Loue Valley, Burgundy-Franche-Comté
Ornans is one of the most beautiful and little-known destinations to discover in France, so much so that it has been awarded the "Petite Cité e Caractère" label. This village of 4,000 inhabitants is so rich in heritage, with beautiful churches and houses perched high above the Loue River, that it has been dubbed the Little Venice of the Comtos. It is also the birthplace of the famous painter Gustave Courbet, to whom it dedicates a museum. The beautiful Loue valley also offers some of the finest hiking in Franche-Comté, as well as other outdoor activities such as fishing and cycling.
The article to read: to organize your stay in Ornans, discover the best things to do in Burgundy-Franche-Comté.
2. Marais Poitevin, Pays de la Loire, France
The Marais Poitevin represents some 100,000 hectares of wetlands, the second largest area of its kind in France after the Camargue. However, the Camargue is quite a busy region, so the Marais Poitevin represents a good alternative to mass tourism. The region can be explored on foot, by bike or, even better, by boat. In all cases, binoculars are essential, as many birds live here. In addition to its natural attractions, the region also boasts a number of beautiful towns and villages.
3. Drôme provençale, in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
While Provence attracts crowds with its lavender fields, stone villages and Mediterranean landscapes, the Drôme provençale offers all these advantages without the mass tourism, making it an excellent dupe destination. In fact, it's the part of the Drôme located to the south of the département that has been given the label "provençale" because of its resemblance to Provence, be it climatic, natural or cultural. In addition to its beautiful landscapes, the region boasts some very fine towns, such as Montélimar.
The article to read: to help you organize your stay, read our article on the Drôme provençale and our article What to do and see in Montélimar The 13 must-sees.
4. Sud-Charente, in Nouvelle-Aquitaine
The southern Charente region boasts some of the most beautiful villages in France, and tourists have yet to spread the word. These small historic villages with their stone houses and churches are little-known destinations in France, perfect for basing yourself and exploring the region. This eco-friendly destination offers a wide range of outdoor activities, including cycling, hiking, caving in one of the many caves or canoeing on the Dronne or another river. As for gastronomy, don't miss out on a cognac tasting session.
5. The Alpilles, PACA region
Far from the tourist towns of the Bouches-du-Rhône, the Alpilles offer a much wilder and more authentic counterpart to the department. This low-altitude massif rises to 496 m and forms a sublime natural park, where you'll need to respect a few eco-responsible travel rules. In addition to its natural wealth, the region is home to some of the most beautiful villages in the South of France, including Saint-Rémy-de-Provence and Les Baux-de-Provence. You can also enjoy the flavors of the land, washed down with local olive oil and wine from the region's vineyards.
6. The plateau of a thousand ponds, in Burgundy-Franche-Comté
The Plateau des Mille Étangs, in Haute-Saône, is aptly named: this plain is pierced by hundreds of bodies of water, the result of the retreat of a glacier 12,000 years ago. One of France's lesser-known destinations, this region is made up of ponds, of course, but also peat bogs, marshes, hills and forests. This ecological richness is home to numerous plant and animal species, including the kingfisher and the carnivorous Droséra à feuilles rondes. To preserve this precious yet fragile environment, we recommend that you take steps to reduce your ecological footprint.
7. Caps et Marais d'Opale Regional Nature Park, Hauts-de-France
The Parc Naturel Régional des Caps et Marais d'Opale, in the Pas-de-Calais region of France, is brimming with landscapes, each more beautiful than the last. In particular, it is home to the two Capes, Cap Blanc-Nez and Cap Gris-Nez, a Grand Site de France. This tourist and ecological label is perhaps the most prestigious of all, as it is awarded by the government to sites of exceptional ecological interest offering tourist facilities without compromising the fragility of the environment. The rest of the park is made up of stunning white cliffs, dunes, lakes, marshes and valleys. It's a destination that can be reached without a plane, as the stations of Boulogne, Calais and Saint-Omer are served by the TGV.
The article to read : to organize your stay, read our full article on what to do on the Côte d'Opale.
8. The Monts d'Arrée, Brittany
While the Breton coastline and its beautiful historic towns are very popular, the Monts d'Arrée are one of France's lesser-known destinations. And yet, these low-lying mountains (385 m at their highest point!) form a lunar landscape that would be a shame to miss. Their reliefs are covered with a sparse vegetation of heather and gorse, crossed by numerous hiking trails. The famous Sentier des Douaniers, or GR® 34, a cult long-distance hiking trail, passes close by, but the smaller paths of the Monts d'Arrée are much less frequented.
9. Cévennes National Park, Occitanie, France
The Cévennes National Park is the only one in France to cover a mid-mountain region. Its relief, carpeted with Mediterranean flora, offers landscapes of cliffs, pine forests, moors and gorges, surrounded by charming little villages. The ideal way to discover the region is by hiking one of the many trails. One of the most popular is the Chemin de Stevenson, a 12-day journey made in the 19th century by a Scottish writer whose only companion was a donkey.
10. The Tarn, in Occitania
The Tarn is one of France's little-known destinations for historical heritage enthusiasts. The department boasts the superb UNESCO-listed episcopal city ofAlbi, as well as medieval villages such as Gaillac, famous for its abbey. Food lovers will also be delighted to try local specialities such as cassoulet, foie gras, charcuterie from the Monts de Lacaune and duck, not forgetting the wines. Last but not least, lovers of natural landscapes will be delighted to get away from the villages and discover gorges, rivers, valleys and cliffs.
The article to read: find out more in our full article on the best things to do in the Tarn, as well as in our article What to do, what to visit in Albi? The 13 must-sees.
11. Creuse, in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region
What better way to discover an off-the-beaten-track destination than in France's second least populated département? Rural and authentic, Creuse is sure to seduce you with its heritage treasures, such as the Château de Villemonteix, the Château de Boussac or the Cité Internationale de la Tapisserie d'Aubusson, which protects an art form listed as an intangible World Heritage Site by Unesco. The region also boasts a number of interesting towns, including the village of Masgot, sculpted by a 19th-century stonemason, and the medieval town of La Souterraine.
