France is full of places that are so charming and historic they belong in a fairytale. Here are 15 of the most magical villages and towns in France to explore next time you’re there.
From the Eiffel Town and lavender fields to fresh croissants and award-winning wine, France is known and adored for many things. However, the best way to see this country in all its historic, romantic, and aesthetic glory is by visiting its fairytale towns and villages.
With their castles, half-timbered homes, and quaint cobbled streets, these storybook destinations transport you back in time. These hidden gems lay around every corner, but a few are so magical they deserve special attention. Without further ado, here are 15 fairytale towns in France to explore next time you’re there.
1. Kaysersberg
Kaysersberg is a picture-perfect medieval town located along the famous Alsace Wine Route. Colorful gingerbread houses with timber frames line quaint cobbled streets, a river spanned by age-old stone bridges flows through the center, and forested hills surround it – one of which boasts an 800-year-old castle.
There’s no denying it: Kaysersberg is a remarkable place. It’s also only 30 minutes away from Colmar, which is another popular French location plucked from the pages of a fairytale.
2. Pérouges
Few places on Earth are as quintessentially medieval as Pérouges. Perched on a small hilltop above the Dombes Plateau in eastern France, this peaceful walled town boasts ivy-covered stone buildings with mullioned windows overlooking pedestrianized cobbled lanes. Aside from exploring on foot and enjoying the atmosphere, don’t miss Place du Tilleul – a delightful town square with a 13th-century inn, an ancient lime tree, and local stores selling artisanal wares.
3. Eguisheim
Laden with character and charm, Eguisheim famously unfolds in concentric circles around the castle at its core.
Another medieval town located in Alsace, north-eastern France, it enjoys the usual architectural ensemble of narrow cobblestone streets, pretty squares and courtyards, and half-timbered homes. In summer, you’ll see their windowsills ablaze with color from thousands of flowers.
4. Rocamadour
Dramatic. Striking. Unforgettable. Those are just a few superlatives that apply to Rocamadour. A world-famous pilgrimage location and UNESCO World Heritage Site, this medieval town resembles something from Game of Thrones.
It sits on the side of a cliff in the verdant Alzou Valley in Dordogne. Throw in a series of precariously positioned chapels that date to the Middle Ages, and it’s small wonder Rocamadour is one of France’s most iconic destinations.
5. Mont Saint-Michel
Mont Saint-Michel is one of the most iconic sights in France. Located on an island over half a mile off the Normandy coast, this breathtaking fortified abbey and the medieval village below have been a place of pilgrimage for over 1,000 years. Its unique tidal location, remarkable aesthetic, and storied history make it a must-see attraction.
6. Carcassonne
Carcassonne is historical with a capital “H.” A fort has sat on this hill in southern France for thousands of years, but the location has been inhabited even longer. The Romans built the first walls in roughly the 1st century BC, which transformed over eons into the hulking battlements you can explore today.
A medieval marvel, its finely cobbled streets, massive ramparts, and 52 towers defy belief both in terms of scale and historic appeal.
7. Cassis
Tucked away in coastal Provence, Cassis delights with a charming, sun-kissed harbor full of traditional fishing boats and colorful buildings. There’s an impressive 8th-century clifftop castle (Chateau de Cassis) overlooking the scene and an old town where a maze of ancient streets weaves past cafes, boutique stores, and other architectural delights.
If that isn’t enough to entice you, Cassis is also a gateway to Calanques National Park. This stunning stretch of coast is famous for its Calanques – narrow inlets dwarfed on either side by steep limestone cliffs rising from pristine turquoise waters.
8. Najac
It’s easy to understand how Najac earned its reputation as one of France’s most beautiful villages. It sits on a hillside in Aveyron below an imposing 11th-century castle that dominates the landscape.
The medieval town developed around this royal fortress and boasts period landmarks and architecture that transport you back in time. Chief among them is a stone fountain, Fontaine des Consuls, dating to 1344, and the 13th/14th-century Gothic church of Saint Jean l’Evangéliste.
9. Gordes
Photography enthusiasts adore Gordes. Its cobbled streets and golden-hued buildings line a hilltop in Provence’s Luberon region, offering brilliant panoramic views of the surrounding countryside.
Highlights include its 1000-year-old castle, the beautiful Saint Firmin Church, vibrant village markets, a thriving arts scene, and the stunning 12th-century Abbaye de Sénanque located just outside the village.
10. Conques-en-Rouergue
This beautiful French village is off-the-beaten-track and absolutely gorgeous. Conques is home to only a few hundred people, so it’s tiny. Yet what it lacks in size, it makes up for in storybook charm.
The star attraction is an 8th-century Abbey that turned Conques into a major pilgrimage destination in the Middle Ages (not to mention a UNESCO World Heritage Site more recently). However, you'll find as much joy in exploring its maze of cobbled streets, sipping espressos in atmospheric squares, and gazing wide-eyed at the half-timbered homes.
11. Bonifacio
Welcome to the oldest town in Corsica – a spectacular French island in the Mediterranean Sea, close to Italy’s west coast. The first thing you’ll notice about ancient Bonifacio is its dramatic location. Perched atop overhanging limestone cliffs with azure waters below, this storied medieval town boasts a unique setting and epic coastal views.
The next thing you’ll see is the Vielle Ville (Old Town), which resides within a mighty 9th-century citadel. Its fortified walls, narrow streets, and historic buildings are saturated with storybook charm.
12. Annecy
Annecy is an alpine wonderland on the border of Switzerland and Italy. Flanked by mountains and nestled on the banks of its eponymous lake, the scenery is magnificent.
However, the real magic happens in the Old Town. There, a network of cobbled streets and narrow canals meanders past medieval castles and fortified palaces from the 1100s. Combine this with world-class restaurants, vibrant farmer’s markets, and waterfront bars/cafes, and Annecy’s hard to beat.
13. Moustiers Sainte-Marie
Moustiers Sainte-Marie, otherwise known as Moustiers, is a small town dramatically located at the foot of two steep and rocky spurs. While people have inhabited caves in this area for tens of thousands of years, the town “only” dates to the 5th century.
Everything feels old and magical (don’t miss the Chapelle Notre Dame de Beauvoir), the views are excellent, and you’re close to infamous attractions, like the lavender fields and Verdon Gorge.
14. Dinan
Dinan is a riverfront town in Brittany, northwest France, with a long history and proud Breton culture. Its storied past is evident in its layout and well-preserved architecture.
Almost two miles of ramparts enclose a medieval center full of half-timbered houses and narrow cobbled streets. Stroll along Dinan’s city walls, explore the riverfront harbor, and enjoy another French town that feels stuck in a timewarp.
15. Riquewihr
If you love wine, beautiful scenery, and historic settings, visit Riquewihr. This medieval fortified town sits on the famed Alsace Wine route and is surrounded by rolling green hills.
Its old town could easily be a movie set. Cobblestone streets zigzag between tightly packed, half-timbered houses with colorful facades and shuttered windows. Stroll these storied streets, sip local wine in quaint town squares, visit the Dolder Tower (a 13th-century defensive gateway), and soak up the atmosphere in another stunning Alsatian destination.
