Email: Grandad’s 75th birthday. Loves travel, photography. (Portugal)
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From a fairytale fortress in the Loire to a clifftop stronghold in Provence, charming historic villages in France.
Locronan, Brittany
A hemp-weaving village named after Saint Ronan. A striking Gothic church. Chapelle du Pénity houses Saint Ronan’s tomb. Great views from Locronan mountain, Nevet Woods.
Rochefort-en-Terre, Brittany
12th century church, medieval castle, 19th century chateau & 17th century mansions. Gorgeous.
Saint-Céneri-le-Gérei, Normandy
On the Sarthe river in the Mancelles Alps, founded by Saint Céneri, a 17th century monastery. A lovely 15th century chapel. Charmed famous painters like Camille Corot & Eugène Boudin.
Montrésor, Loire Valley
An impressive Renaissance castle. The church of Saint Jean-Baptiste houses an Annunciation by Philippe de Champaigne. Sculptures by Pierre Vaneau & Dutch paintings.
Pesmes, Burgundy
On the Ognon river, 17th-century castle reflected in calm waters. Winemaker houses line the stone streets, 13th century church of Saint-Hilaire.
Château-Chalon, Jura
Overlooking vineyards in Seille valley, Château Chalon grew around a Benedictine abbey. Romanesque church of Saint-Pierre. Maison de la Haute-Seille houses an interactive museum on wines.
Riquewihr, Alsace
A striking village near Strasbourg. Musée du Dolder, a 13th-century tower. Maison de Vigneron with old winemaking equipment. Grands Crus wine trail.
Domme, Dordogne
On a cliff at Dordogne, beautiful bastides (fortified village). Place de la Halle tunnels. 13th century Maison du Batteur de Monnaie, Belvedere de la Barre. Château de Monfort, La Roque-Gageac village, Jardins de Marqueyssac are amazing attractions.
Estaing, Languedoc
On the banks of River Lot, dominated by a 11th century castle. Romanesque, gothic & renaissance styles.
Saint-Antoine-l’Abbaye, Rhone Valley
Abbey of Saint-Antoine. Houses the relics of Saint Anthony of Egypt.
Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, Pyrenees
A popular stop on the Camino de Santiago. 17th century citadel, 13th century ramparts, Rue d’Espagne, lined with artisans, gothic Nôtre-Dame du Bout du Pont.
La Romieu, Gers
Church of Saint Pierre. Les Jardins de Coursiana, a beautiful botanical garden.
Auvillar, Tarn-et-Garonne
A former Benedictine priory, the church of Saint-Pierre has a baroque altar. Known for pottery, collection of earthenware at Musée de la Faïence.
Bruniquel, Tarn-et-Garonne
Flower filled village has old stone buildings & steep cobbled paths to central Place de L’Horloge. 13th century Maison Belaygue & Maison Payrol built by monks.
Lautrec, Tarn
Painter Toulouse-Lautrec’s family. 14th century Eglise Collégiale Saint-Rémy, a Benedictine convent. 17th century La Salette windmill, botanical trails.
Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert, Languedoc
Romanesque architecture. Place de la Liberté, 18th century market & fountains. Les Fenestrettes, a mule trail along Gellone valley.
Gordes, Provence
On a hilltop in Monts de Vaucluse. Holm oaks, wheat fields & vines. Inspired artists like André Lhote & Marc Chagall. 12th century Abbaye de Sénanque, Moulin des Bouillons, Musée du Vitrail.
Moustiers-Sainte-Marie, Provençal Alps
On the Adou river, beautiful. Musée de la Faïence, stone bridges. Walking trails in the gorges of Lac de Sainte-Croix.
Seillans, Provence
A maze of cobbled alleys, vaulted passageways & squares with fountains. 11th century church of Saint-Léger. Génie de la Bastille by surrealist artist Max Ernst. 13th-century Maison Waldberg, vineyards at Chapel of Nôtre Dame de l’Ormeau.
Sainte-Agnès, Côte d‘Azur
Views over the Mediterranean, peaks of Mercantour national park. Alleys & higgledy-piggledy houses, an authentic charm. 16th century Nôtre-Dame-des-Neige, a striking gilded altar.