There's no denying the allure of the major cities like Paris, Lyon and Marseille but if you really want to discover and experience French culture, you'll find it in the villages - large and small.
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1. La Roque-sur-Cèze, Languedoc-Roussillon
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A charming village of stone dominated by the remains of an ancient castle and Romanesque chapel. Expect cobbled streets and views of the Sautadet waterfalls.
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2. Eze, Côte D'Azur
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It might lack the glitz of Cannes and St Tropez but the ancient village of Eze has fabulous views over St Jean-Cap Ferrat.
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3. Gargilesse-Dampierre, Indre
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A favorite destination of George Sand (writer and lover of Chopin).
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4. Barfleur, Manche Normandy
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The grey granite buildings of this fishing port spread along a spit that juts out into the English Channel (or Le Manche as the french call it.)
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5. Rochefort-en-Terre, Morbihan
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Half-timbered housei s, gothic monuments, Renaissance hotels, and 19th Century’s architecture cohabit happily in this Brittany village.
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6. La Grave, Haute-Alps
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A popular destination for walkers in summer and snow sports fans in winter.
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7. Apremont-sur-Allier, Berry
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This village is overlooked by its castle which is, interestingly, surrounded by a flower garden inspired by Vita Sackville-West’s landscaped garden in Sissinghurst, England.
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8. Eguisheim, Alsace
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A typical Alsatian village in the heart of the region's wine area.
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9. Semur-en-Auxois, CÔTE D'or
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An inspiration for artists who can often be seen sketching and painting the citadel.
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10. Saint-Cirq-Lapopie, Lot
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Overlooking the River Lot, the village is a terrific showcase of medieval architecture.
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11. Yvoire, Haute-Savoie
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It's easy to see why the village is known as "the Pearl of Lake Geneva".
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12. Parfondeval, Aisne
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Set in an agricultural area, this Picardy village is a picture-perfect pastoral scene.
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13. Saint-Benoît-du-Sault, Indre
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As well as being picturesque itself, the village offers views of the lovely Portefeuille Valley.
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14. Saint-Véran, Hautes-Alpes
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In the heart of the "Parc Naturel Régional du Queyras" Nature Park, at a height of 2042 m, Saint-Véran prides itself on being the highest inhabited village in Europe
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15. Noyers, Yonne
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Visitors love to wander the narrow streets with their half-timberethe squares that once flourished with trade.
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16. Beynac-et-Cazenac, Aquitaine
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With its impressive castle and homes built on the cliffs along the Dordogne River, this gem is listed among the 'Most Beautiful Villages of France'.
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17. Charroux, Auvergne
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This pretty fortified village's claim to fame is its mustard.
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18. Seillans, VAr
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Everything a Provencal village should be and famoulsy where painter Max Ernst spent his last years.
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19. Baume-les-Messieurs, Jura
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The village sits in a deep gorge where three valleys meet.
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20. Roussillon, Vaucluse
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The ocher cliffs are the perfect foil for a palette of flaming colors and the village's narrow streets.
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21. Flavigny-sur-Ozerain, Côte D'or
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This Burgundian village is built around a Benedictine abbey that was founded in the 8th Century.
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22. Monpazier, Dordogne
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With no less than 32 listed buildings, Monpazier is regarded as the prime example of a "bastide" (fortified village) among the 300 in South-western France.
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23. Sainte-Eulalie-d’Olt, Aveyron
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In the narrow streets paved with stones from the Lot, the houses date from the 15th to 18th centuries and are lovingly bedecked with flowers.
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24. Rodemack, Moselle
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The village is surrounded by 700 m of ramparts dating from the 15th century.
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25. Sixt-Fer-à-Cheval, Rhône-Alpes
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Nestled in the Alps, the village's beauty is enhanced by the proximity to the Cascade de Rouget waterfall.
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26. Piana, Corsica
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With its traditional stone houses and a church that dominates the village, Piana has lots of narrow streets to explore.
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27. Hell Bourg, Réunion
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Not all charming French villages are in Mainland France or even Europe. This one is on Réunion island, an overseas dependency.
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