W
ith Paris less than five hours by train from any French destination you can think of, there is an endless number of small towns to discover. Immerse yourself in culture and history, see the chateaux that you learned about in your history class or the homes of the artists you learned about in art history. Visit the vineyard where your favorite French wine is created or the beaches where the soldiers arrived to on D-Day. The entire country has a story to tell; here are three of our favorite places to visit.
SAINT-ÉMILION
Surrounded by vineyards as far as the eye can see is the little medieval town of Saint-Émilion. Located just 35 minutes from Bordeaux by train, Saint-Émilion is a must visit. Upon arrival, the smell of wine penetrates the air. From the station, the town is a 20-minute walk—a steep one so bring comfortable shoes—through beautiful vineyards and past gorgeous chateaux, many of which you can stay in. The view from the Tour du Roy is worth the 118 steps up its narrow, dark staircase. On every small street there is at least one wine shop that ships internationally and, of course, you can taste however many you like free of charge. These small wine stores or the vineyards themselves are the best places to do your wine shopping. Avoid tourist traps like the Maison du Vin where you will have to pay 15 euros for a wine tasting and will be persuaded to buy a bottle with it. There are many restaurants to accompany all the wine: one of the best options is Chai Pascal. The interior is cozy and the owner is a winemaker herself. The menu is full of classic French dishes and there is a different special each night.
Beyond Paris three of our favorite small french town destinations
WRITTEN AND PHOTOGRAPHED BY EUGENIE STALL
