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Four Magical Places in France That Few Tourists Know About
Wild horses. Oyster farms. Fondue with a view. These lesser-known spots in France are pure magic.
Despite its array of storybook towns, international travelers often stick to France’s tried-and-true favorites: Paris, Bordeaux, and the Côte d’Azur. However, the following four regions, though well-known to the French and a few savvy Brits, remain blissfully free of crowds. With new five-star hotels and improved train routes enhancing accessibility, they might not stay that way for long. Book now before everyone else catches on.
The Cote d’Azur Alternative: Arcachon
Arcachon, just an hour from Bordeaux, is often called the Hamptons of France, with its wealth and beachy vibe. Cap Ferret, on the other hand, could be likened to Montauk. The chicest place to stay here is Hôtel des Dunes, which reopened in 2023. Owner Karine Tiphagne refurbished the 1969 hotel next to Cap Ferret’s famous lighthouse, drawing inspiration from beach communities like Montauk, Southern California, and Hawaii’s Waimea Bay.
The 11 rooms and two suites feature cheery yellow-and-white tile wainscoting and are just steps from hammocks and a footpath leading to the beach. Cap Ferret’s peninsula offers a windswept oceanside perfect for kitesurfing and a quieter lagoon side ideal for sailing. The hotel’s chefs can pack picnic baskets for beach outings, or guests can take a flat-bottomed pinnace boat to local oyster-farming villages for fresh bivalves and wine.
The B Side of Provence: Camargue
About 135 miles from the lavender fields of Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, the UNESCO-designated saline wetlands of Camargue are a vision in pink, home to flamingos and wild white horses. While traditionally a day trip from Montpellier, Marseilles, or Arles, the June 2023 opening of Les Bains Gardians provides a luxurious stay. This new hotel features 48 rooms in standalone straw-roofed cottages, or cabanes de gardians, with antique furnishings and gauzy mosquito netting.
Guests can ride tame horses from the onsite stables on remote beaches or take a horse-drawn carriage through the fishing village of Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer. The hotel also offers horse therapy classes, a hamman, sauna, whirlpool baths, and a pool overlooking a flamingo-filled pond.
The Alpine Sleeper Hit: Saint-Nicholas de Véroce
In the Mont Blanc ski region, 40 minutes from Chamonix, lies the village of Saint-Nicholas de Véroce, home to the Armancette hotel. This luxury chalet opened for its first full year in 2022 and retains historic charm, with 17 rooms featuring velvet chairs, wood-beamed ceilings, and fine linens. Guests can access nearby trails for skiing in winter and biking, paragliding, and hiking in summer.
Dining at the hotel includes Alpine cheeses at Le Bistrot du Mont Joly and an eight-course tasting menu at La Table d’Armante by chef Fabien Laprée. The region is also accessible from Paris via the overnight Paris-Moutiers Belmond train route.
Chateau Country: Dordogne
Dordogne, 125 miles east of Bordeaux, is like a village from “Chocolat” or “Beauty and the Beast.” The region boasts new luxurious accommodations, such as Domaine de Rochebois, a 40-bedroom chateau with a golf course, gardens, a brewery, and a spa run by Parisian beauty line Nuxe. Nearby, the medieval town of Sarlat-le-Canéda is home to Le Petit Manoir, a 15th-century manor house turned inn with nine rooms and suites.
Visitors can explore historic castles like Château de Castelnaud and Château Jardins des Milandes, the former home of iconic entertainer Joséphine Baker.
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