Off The Beaten Path: 10 Places In France The Locals Love

France offers so many ‘big name’ locations that it is often hard to avoid being drawn to them. The big cities of Paris and Lyon, as well as the southern cities of Marseille and Nice are very popular destinations, and in the south the smaller towns and resorts of Cannes, Antibes, Avignon, Nimes, St Tropez and Biarritz are still names to conjure with.

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But there are many great places for visitors that are less-known to foreign tourists, but that the French, who overwhelmingly holiday at home, just love. Here are just ten of them:

1. The Franche-Comté

This eastern region of France is little-visited by tourists, but with a beautiful, verdant landscape and both the Vosges and Jura mountains at its borders, it is a real gem. With hiking and walking on offer in the countryside, and world-class museums and heritage in the towns, there is something for everyone here. The beautiful regional capital of Besançon has elegant streets and quaint quaysides, all dominated by its eighteenth-century Citadel. The former-capital of Dole is also well worth a visit, with winding streets and medieval charm. Even if only a little, learn to speak French, because even in August, you are unlikely to encounter English-speaking tourists in the Franche-Comté, and you will really feel like you are experiencing France like a native.

2. Eze

On the Côte d'Azur, between the exclusive resorts of Nice and Monaco, you’ll find the village of Eze. Below is a sandy, usually deserted, beach, but climb up the winding road and you will discover this ancient cliff-top village with beautiful views over the Mediterranean. Some 1,400 feet above sea level, the center of the village is made up of the remains of a twelfth-century castle, now home to boutiques selling artisan-made craft items. With a Michelin-starred restaurant and two renowned perfumeries, Eze also offers real southern French chic – but without the crowds! This little village is a truly unique destination which is well worth the steep climb.

3. Deauville

This seaside resort in Normandy has all the glamor of the resorts of the south, but is much less-known amongst foreign tourists. The weather may be less reliable than in the south, but Deauville more than makes up for it with its effortless elegance. Long a millionaires’ playground (the five star hotels, casinos, racecourse and polo tournaments are testament to that), its annual film festival draws big stars to the town each September. But Deauville still offers great restaurants, shops and a beautiful sandy beach to those of more modest means, including the many French holidaymakers who come here. Those looking for something less glitzy can cross the bridge to neighboring Trouville – an old fishing town with charming cobbled streets and good value restaurants.

4. Côte d'Opale

The Côte d'Opale, the stretch of northern coastline from Calais to the Bay of Somme, has a number of resorts that are highly popular with the French – and for good reason. The dramatic, wind-swept cliff-top areas of Cap Blanc Nez and Cap Gris Nez offer breathtaking views over the Channel towards England, while the chic town of Le Touquet offers boutiques, restaurants and a fabulous beach. Golf, gambling and some very high-end hotels are also on offer in this stylish resort. The city of Boulogne has a characterful walled old town, with buildings dating back to the eleventh century, while there is shopping galore in the city center. The town of Le Crotoy, at the southern extreme of the Côte d'Opale, has a south-facing beach overlooked by the imposing hotel of Les Tourelles (once owned by the Guerlain perfume dynasty), which is a favorite with French holidaymakers.

5. Campsites – All Over France!

When the French holiday at home, they often don’t bother with hotels and love to stay at campsites instead. With some of the best in Europe, this is a more comfortable option than it first sounds! Typical seaside sites, like Camping de l'Océan, on the Côte d'Argent, are often situated in beautiful forested areas and offer great facilities and leisure activities. But high-end campsites, like Les Ormes in the Lot-et-Garonne département, offer a luxury experience that outstrips many hotels, and this is a type of campsite that is becoming more and more popular. Go camping in France and you’ll be holidaying just like the French!

6. Parisian Parks

Paris isn’t all inner-city rush and noise – the locals know that ‘Paris’ also means some beautiful, restful outside spaces. While the Jardin des Tuileries, in the central 1st arrondissement, and Le Jardin du Luxembourg, in the 6th, are quite well-known, the English-style Bois de Vincennes and the Romantic Parc des Buttes Chaumont, both to the east of the city, are less well-known to the tourists. The western Bois de Boulogne, two and a half times the size of Central Park, is large enough to get lost in, and Montparnasse’s Parc André Citroën offers a uniquely modern garden, showing a passion for innovation that is just as Parisian as the city’s nineteenth-century splendor. Seek out a Parisian park and take it easy like the locals do.

7. Île de Ré and Île d'Oléron

These islands off the coast of La Rochelle are little oases of calm away from the city it neighbors. Just 5km wide, Île de Ré is the smaller of the two islands, and it boasts the historic, fortified port of Saint-Martin, with quayside seafood restaurants and charming boutiques. The largest town on the island, La Flotte, centers around a marina and has a popular food market going back to medieval times. The whole island can be explored by bicycle, and the ruined twelfth-century Abbaye des Châteliers makes an atmospheric destination. The larger Île d'Oléron offers great beaches, horse riding and surfing, as well as ancient forts and Romanesque churches. Both islands are thinly-populated and are much more popular with French than foreign tourists, offering a really authentic experience.

8. The Unknown Côte d'Azur

The Côte d'Azur can be crowded and expensive, particularly the world-famous resorts of Nice, Antibes, Saint-Tropez and Cannes. But the locals know the places where you can get away from the crowds and discover some real southern-French magic. For example, the ancient town of Fréjus, with its Roman roots and twelfth-century cathedral, is about as far from southern-style glitz as you can get, but it has Provençal charm in spades. The nearby beach resort of St Aygulf offers excellent beaches and a small town center offering all the amenities you need. Forget the famous resorts and hunt out the less ‘prestigious’ places on the French Riviera, and you’ll not only spend less but have a fighting chance at getting a spot on the beach!

9. Toulouse

Toulouse may be in top five biggest cities in France, but this southern city often gets overlooked in favor of its beach-boasting Provençal neighbors. But with excellent weather and an elegant city center, it is a great place to visit and very popular with the French. With Roman origins and the largest Romanesque church in Europe, as well as great gastronomy, visit Toulouse and you’ll see a different side to French city life.

10. Côte d'Argent

Situated on the French Atlantic coast, this area offers everything the Mediterranean coast has but with a much smaller price tag and less people! While Biarritz has long been known outside France as a highly exclusive resort, the neighboring fishing port of Saint-Jean-de-Luz is just as chic but much less famous. The city of Bayonne has history galore and a distinctly Spanish flavor, and is a big hit with the holidaying French. Head west rather than to the French Riviera and you’ll find a region the French treasure, but foreign tourists are yet to really discover.

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An award winning former journalist, Purna Virji is a keen traveler and voracious reader. She also writes for Pimsleur Approach, retailers of language learning courses including Learn Italian and Learn French."