10 More Hidden Gems in France

One of my favorite things to do while traveling in France is to explore smaller towns. They are often less crowded than the big cities, full of charm and picturesque streets, and it’s often easier to have interactions with the locals. The most popular article on my site is 10 Hidden Gems in the South of France, so I thought I’d share another list of lesser-known places to add to your France bucket list. FYI, I’m calling these places “hidden gems” because they are probably off the radar for most tourists, but they are definitely not secrets for locals and those who know France well. Many of the towns on this list are also in Occitanie, which is a region in southern France where I lived for two years. If you’ve been following the blog for a while, you many even recognize some of these locations!

1. Gruissan

The Aude department of France is where nature and gastronomy combine. Think wine, seafood, and sea salt! Nestled between Mediterranean lagoons, the town of Gruissan is a great day trip from Montpellier or Perpignan. Here you can cycle along the seaside, hike amongst grape vines, or swim in the sea. While in Gruissan, be sure to look out for flamingos and pink salt marshes. You can even visit the stop at le Salin de Gruissan store and pick up some flavored sea salts or salted caramels for a gift or souvenir.

2. Lunéville

The Lorraine region of France is known for its history, but it usually isn’t at the top of people’s lists of places to visit in France. However, this region is not far from Paris and has some beautiful, underrated, and less tourist-filled cities. One such town is Lunéville, accessible by regional train from Nancy. Lunéville is known for its castle, but you can also roam around the Versailles-eque gardens for free! The colorful buildings in this town are also delightful and evoke the architecture of southwestern France.

3. Provins

Fortresses, rose gardens, and ice cream all encapsulate the magical medieval town of Provins. There are towers to climb, ramparts to explore, and even underground galleries to discover. Have a savory crepe for lunch known as a galette, then sample the town’s specialty of rose ice cream. If you didn’t get enough roses for dessert, head to the expansive rose garden called la Roseraie. For 7€ you can admire over 300 rose varieties in the 3.5-hectare grounds. If you’re a monthly Navigo pass holder, you can get here for free on the P Transillien train, otherwise, roundtrip tickets are only around 10 € from Paris.

4. Sète

France loves nicknaming their charming towns with canals after Venice, and the nautical town of Sète is known as the “Venice of Languedoc.” In just a day, you can visit the free maritime museum, try local seafood like the octopus pie known as tielle sétois, check out the views of the port from the lighthouse, and go on a canal cruise. If you visit in the summer you may even get to watch a water jousting match!

5. Belfort

Our next city on the list of 10 More Hidden Gems in France is Belfort, which is close to the French-Swiss border in the Franche-Comté region (where the delicious comté cheese is from). Be sure to check out the iconic Lion de Belfort, designed by Bartholdi who also designed the Statue of Liberty. The highlight of this town is definitely the Citadel, where you can learn about the history and experience the free views of the mountains and city below.

6. Cahors

The southwest French town of Cahors is home to one of the most stunning bridges I’ve ever seen. It’s an ideal day trip from Toulouse, but would also be a great place to stay on a tour of beautiful villages in the Lot department. This hidden gem is known for its Malbec wine, scenic streets, and river views. Cahors is truly a fine example of where French history, gastronomy, culture, and beauty meet.

7. Argèles-sur-Mer

Everyone knows about la Côte d’Azur, famed for being a celebrity hotspot, but my favorite coast in the South of France is la Côte Vermeille . Not only does Argèles have those charming South of France streets filled with pastel buildings and flowers, but it also has a wide variety of outdoor activities. You can’t go wrong with a day at the beach, but because this town is at the foot of the Pyrenees, there are some stunning scenic hikes.

8. Mulhouse

If you research where to visit in the Alsace region of France, Strasbourg, Colmar, Riquewihr, Eguisheim, Ribeauvillé, and Kayserberg will certainly come up. I would absolutely recommend these places and a few are even on my bucket list. The city of Mulhouse is not as well praised as some of the other places probably because it’s more industrial and less charming. However, the Christmas market in Mulhouse is actually one of the best I have ever visited, partially due to the mulled rosé wine I savored.

Aine, who is a fellow English teacher and American content creator in France is based in Mulhouse and shares lots of ideas on her blog and instagram for what to do in the area. So even if it isn’t around Christmas time, I now know that there is plenty to do there and the local restaurants have several mouthwatering dishes to try.

9. Semur-en-Auxois

Semur-en-Auxois is located in the Burgundy region of France and is one of the most stunning medieval towns I’ve had the pleasure of visiting. If you were to open a dictionary and look up the word “charming,” a description of this town would be under it. It was constructed upon a pink granite bluff surrounded by a river. Honestly it’s worth the visit even if you just walk around to admire the half-timbered houses, stone bridges, and ancient towers. There is no train that goes here, so I would recommend going by car or taking a bus from Dijon.

10. La Côte Bleue

La Côte Bleue is a lesser-known section of the rocky inlets known as Calanques near Marseille in Provence. They are accessible by a regional train with breathtaking views. Once in the small villages of the Blue Coast, you can hike, swim at a secluded beach, and even dine on some fresh seafood. It might be more crowded in the summer, but outside of peak season, it is still lovely and sunny and possibly warm enough for a quick dip in the Mediterranean!

Thank you so much for reading my list of 10 More Hidden Gems in France and be sure to follow the blog for more France content!

À la prochaine,

Camden