14 Charming Small Towns in France for Beautiful Beaches, Scenic Vineyards, and Medieval Castles

"When it comes to visiting France, Paris gets most of the attention, but don't overlook the country's gorgeous small towns. In these quaint destinations, many accessible by train, you can exchange the bustle of the city for wide-open beaches, mountain trails, medieval castles, and sprawling vineyards. From the French-German border to the Mediterranean coast to the mountainous intersection of France, Italy, and Switzerland, these small towns and villages (all home to less than 15,000 people) offer a slower pace and warm French hospitality."

"Sandwiched between Marseille and Toulon in Provence lies the tiny town of Cassis, which often gets overlooked for other glitzier South of France coastal destinations (here's looking at you, Saint-Tropez). But what some people miss is a beautiful fishing port that's lined with steep, limestone cliffs and carpeted with pebbly beaches. The town itself showcases a palette of pastel-colored buildings and a great selection of sidewalk cafes that are ideal for people-watching."

Many small French towns, each with fewer than 15,000 residents, provide accessible alternatives to Paris and urban bustle. Trains connect quaint destinations offering beaches, mountain trails, medieval castles, and sprawling vineyards across regions from the French-German border to the Mediterranean and Alpine borderlands. Cassis presents a pastel-hued fishing port with steep limestone cliffs, pebbly beaches, and lively sidewalk cafés. Saint-Jean-de-Luz evokes Basque Spain with a working harbor, surf beaches like Plage de Lafitenia, and the 17th-century Fort de Socoa. Near Colmar, Eguisheim offers half-timbered streets, medieval castles, and access to the Alsace Wine Route. These towns favor a slower pace and warm hospitality.

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