It will not come as much of a surprise but I often have “travel” on the brain. This is a first in a series of posts on “New Places I Would Love To Visit” and I chose France for my first one. The top 10 countries most popular with tourists based on 2019 arrivals are: #1 France, #2 Spain, and #3 United States. France has so much to offer whether it is wonderful historic architecture, ancient villages, fabulous beaches, amazing cuisine and wine, and unique culture. France has captivated me for years, but I seem to gravitate toward either Paris (no surprise!) or the Cote d’Azur. Even with all my trips there are so many places I have yet to see. Come with me as we explore my “must visit” list of French towns. The cliff hanging sacred village of Rocamadour, pictured above, is on my list. The Dordogne Valley looks gorgeous, and I can’t wait to spend some time exploring the region!

A map of the Dordogne Valley.

Rocamadour’s main street is bustling with visitors. The ancient citadel is high on the hill.

The tiny Dordogne village of La Roque-Gageac looks charming. The large chateau on the left is available for rent and sleeps 16. It looks amazing so click on this link: VRBO. I notice some 2024 dates still available. It would be really fun with a large group!

Beynac-et-Cazenac is calling me!

Inside the village of Beynac-et-Cazenac with the chateau high above.

Arial view of ancient Collonges-la-Rouge, one of the most visited towns in the Department of Nouvelle-Aquitaine.

A tiny lane in Collonges-la-Rouge.

Sarlat-la-Canéda is a must on my soon to visit list! It is very popular, especially for its gastronomic delights.

Sarlat-la-Canéda, in the Aquitaine, is a must!

Brittany is another area I would love to visit someday.

This is Fougères in the Brittany region. It looks fascinating!

The castle ramparts in Fougères.

The Château de Fougères is one of the biggest medieval castles in France.

The town of Josselin looks beautiful town. The Château de Josselin is a medieval fortress and one of Brittany’s Renaissance highlights. It is still owned today by its original founders, the Rohan family.

An ancient area in Josselin.

Rochefort-en-Terre is a beautiful Brittany village especially when blooming with flowers

This the Place du Puits in Rochefort-en-Terre.

Mont Saint-Michel in Normandy is definitely on my travel list.

My friend Philippe has been pushing me to visit Saint-Jean-de-Luz on the French Basque coast for years. It is famous as a seaside resort and is known for distinctive architecture, a beautiful sandy bay, with quality of the light and the cuisine.

The buildings on the seafront are very unique in style.

The beach looks very inviting!

I can almost taste a beautiful freshly caught grilled Loup de Mer!

I first discovered picturesque Collioure while watching a TV mystery. See the link for “Murder In” on the MHZ Choice streaming service. MHZ is truly one of the best value services for mystery buffs. They feature English subtitled shows from over 30 countries!

I love seaside villages and Collioure looks perfect for a summer adventure! It is very close for side trips to Spain as well.

Albi, in southern France, looks fascinating for a short visit. It is a city with a rich medieval and Renaissance past. Toulouse-Lautrec was born here and there is a large museum dedicated to his works. The Ste-Cecile cathedral is the largest brick building in the world and classified by UNESCO.

There are so many beautiful and enchanting places I would love to visit. I’ll share these places with you soon. We’ll visit Japan, California, Italy, England, Spain, and more. Stay tuned!