Medieval Towns in France

One of the loveliest things about our 6 month adventure in France is the sheer number of beautiful little medieval towns that we’ve had the pleasure of visiting and taking pictures of. We’ve also had the bonus of seeing these places during the autumn and winter – there were very few tourists in each place.

Galan, Pyrenees

The first thing we usually notice when we pull up to places like this is the relaxed atmosphere. No one seems to be in a hurry, not even the tourists. Small cafes, as in the rest of France, can be found in every nook and cranny. We so often see crooked buildings that lean so far over the street they almost convince you that they’re about to topple over.

Noyers, Burgundy

Often, just when you think you’ve fully explored the village, you turn a corner and find something new and interesting.

We lived in the old town of Arcy-Sur-Cure for 6 weeks recently and manage to get a flavour of the lifestyle and general attitude of the locals. The one phrase we heard repeatedly was ‘If you need anything at all, just let me know”. People seem so eager to help. And, one of the most charming aspects of smaller towns, not just medieval towns, is how everyone you pass greets you and easily gives a smile away – a trait less common in larger towns and cities.

Although always charming, sometimes these old French towns have a truly magical impact. Beynac, the setting for the movie Chocolat and my favourite of all of our destinations, sits on top of a hill overlooking a wide valley. The castle sits highest of all and is a magnificent sight both up-close and from a distance.

Beynac

One of the things that Rachel and I say almost every time we’re exploring a small village is that we can’t believe that people live in such places. They just don’t seem real. One late afternoon in the small town of Belves in the Dordogne region, we were sipping coffee and watching people coming home from work, possibly from some nearby city, parking their cars and stroll into a building that wouldn’t be out of place in a Harry Potter film. Then we followed a narrow street, thinking it was mainly a tourist attraction, and we were shocked to find out it was an actual street that people lived in. You can see the place I’m referring to in the below photo.

One of the most striking impacts that seeing such a huge variety of places has had on us, is the way in which our realities are forced to change so often. From city life to ancient villages, we’ve immersed ourselves in both in the last 6 months and we’re slowly sampling the range of options before we make any long term decisions. I would, however, love to have small holiday home in one of these wonderful medieval towns. It would be fantastic to have that magical retreat to turn to when it’s time to take a break.

Journey with us from place to place, language to language, photo to photo