Are you planning some spring and summer days out in France but would like to find a way to avoid the crowds? Try some of these great alternatives to the busiest tourist hotspots, for beauty and culture without the crush.
The high season for French tourism is considered to be from July 14 to August 20, and some of the country’s most stunning villages in Aveyron, Lot and Dordogne are always on the must-see list.
But with limited space and infrastructure, these small towns can soon become overrun, turning a pleasant day out into a stressful scramble for car parking spaces and long waits outside restaurants.
For a calmer and more original experience, has helpfully compiled some recommended alternatives in the same area, but further off the beaten track. Do you have any to add?
Escape the throng and try Meyssac. Just 2km away, it has very similar streets and traditional red houses, with almost as many restaurants, and (bonus) locals who are not yet fed up with visitors.
Rocamadour is stunning, but residents cling to sanity just as the houses cling to rocksBelt944/Shutterstock
Leoks / Pack-Shot / Shutterstock Rocamadour (above) is stunning, but residents cling to sanity just as the houses cling to rocks
Rocamadour holds near-legendary status in this part of France (Lot), with its impressive peaks, history, and chateau. It attracts a massive 1 million to 1.3 million visitors per year, most of them in summer.
Such is its popularity that some restaurants have even opted for self-service, to avoid the staff from having to suffer tired (and grumpy) tourists who underestimate the challenging terrain. Residents even reportedly pray to keep visitors away.
Instead, try Alvignac. Just 7 km away, this former spa town has almost as much history, with an art deco building, church, and chateau (although this is not open to the public). There are a few restaurants, but most importantly: far, far fewer people.
Like Sarlat? Try Souillac
SOUILLAC
Sarlat is classically French, but Souillac (above) has far fewer visitorsMilaCroft/Shutterstock
But this means crowds. Midweek and on Saturday, traffic can take two hours to get to the otherwise-picturesque village, and parking is near-impossible.
Escape to Souillac. Around 27 km away from Sarlat and far less busy, it still has serious charm: its abbey (Sainte-Marie, pictured above, right) is one of the oldest and most beautiful in the region, plus the Dordogne river runs straight through town, so you can even take a dip on the warmest days.
Conques (above) is iconic but has many nearby villages that are just as charmingStephen Bridger/Shutterstock
As one of the main stopping points along the French part of the Santiago de Compostela pilgrimage route (which crosses from France to Spain later via Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, Orisson, and Roncesvalles), many of Conques’ 600,000 visitors at least come on foot rather than car.
However, with its rich heritage, greenery, and narrow streets, it still gets crowded in summer.
Instead, you may prefer to explore Muret-le-Château. One of many charming villages around Conques, it is just 2km away and full of its own history, but far more peaceful and calm.
