10 Best Towns to Visit in Western France 2026 🇫🇷 (And Why Locals Love Them)

10 French Towns Tourists Always Miss 🇫🇷 (Why Locals Love Them). Underrated Towns in France. This France travel video features Saint-Jean-de-Luz, Arcachon, Quimper, Locronan, and Rochefort-en-Terre, alongside other hidden gems in Brittany and the Basque Coast. Whether you’re looking for historic villages, stunning coastal towns, or unique cultural experiences, this guide has it all.
Explore the charming streets of Quimper, take in the ocean views from Arcachon, or step back in time in Locronan’s medieval center. If you’re searching for underrated destinations in France beyond Paris consider visiting the scenic harbors of Saint-Jean-de-Luz.

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in this latest episode I get to show you some of the most beautiful towns and Coastal Escapes in Western France from the medieval streets Frozen in time to the quieter more Seaside spots that the locals love now whether you’re into history the beaches simply just looking for somewhere new to explore in this video I’m pretty sure these are the places you’ll definitely want on your list [Music] so we start this video in N A Charming Riverside Town known for its Rich history and its picturesque medieval streets once the seat of the elb family the town’s Renaissance chatow also once home to King Henry IV still stands as a reminder of its Royal past now what I like about this particular place is you can wander along the Treeline banks of the River Stone Bridges and half timbered houses create that postcard worthy view at every turn the old town is kind of perfect for one of those slow afternoons plenty of quaint cafes traditional markets the quiet Alleyways so being surrounded by the beautiful countryside and Vineyards this town feels feels like a peaceful escape and not so far away from [Music] Bordeaux number two larell so this is a port city on France’s Atlantic Coast that you should try and visit if it’s possible it has pictures streets of the Oldtown and every corner reveal feels something unique the historic Center is kind of compact and easy to explore filled with those arcaded walkways and my advice is to kind of look out for those lunch deals on the outside of the restaurants but don’t miss the iconic Old Port flanked by two medieval Towers which offer some really nice views of the harbor it’s smaller and a little bit cleaner better and the Mars Port but it’s also home to beautifully preserved fortifications perfect for those leely walks and I think this is quite a gem in France and for me I like this place more than I did [Music] marsill number three is donon now if you ever visit Britany this particular town has beautiful Charming half- timbered houses now this town sits alongside the river and it’s how you would visualize a Brother’s Grim fairy tale slightly dark and steeped in history with a lot of hidden mysteries now as I mentioned the town stands along the river it has medieval walls dating back to the 11th century and the location surviv several attacks from the English therefore today many of the buildings you see date back several hundred years and one of the most picturesque streets Rudy jeuel transport you from the top of the town to the port area along the river and it’s actually one of the best places to visit in Britany I mean my French is just you know I got an A when I was 13 years old so if you are impressed by by my French pronunciations you’re welcome [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] and just a 2our and 20 minute drive from dinner you will find another interesting destination with its perfectly preserved Granite houses and cobbled streets lucon feels like stepping into a medieval painting it’s ranked among the most beautiful Villages of France this small Breton Town owes much of its charm to its Rich history as a center of sail cloth production now I’m pretty sure no one really cares about sailcloth production now for me the highlight is the main Square framed by Renaissance Era buildings and the impressive Church sets the scene for a leisurely walk and just a short drive from the coast lonon is an absolute true Gem of Britany and it kind of draws you in far away from those crazy crowds [Music] now about 20 minutes from Lucano you’ll reach kimp one of Britney’s most Charming small cities so it’s worth combining both trips it’s the kind of place where you can easily spend a few hours just wandering the Old Town the historic censers full of Timber framed houses very narrow lanes and little squares lined with the typical cafes that you’ll find a good idea would be to check out the San Quant Cathedral it’s massive and really impressive up close but Kim is also known for its traditional pottery so if you’re into local crafts you might find quite a number of shops selling hand painted Ceramics but honestly it’s just a nice place to slow down grab a and soak up some classic Breton atmosphere [Music] now IL dur of the coast of West France should actually be high up on your list of potential destinations it’s a quaint Island reached by a bridge from the mainland and has all the charm and that wonderful laid-back French vibe that you definitely won’t receive in [Music] Paris so it’s extremely accessible like I said with the bridge linking it to lar shell and it’s actually not surprising that it’s quite a favorite amongst the French families so the the island is highly seasonal often full with parisians during their summer holidays so the sum of visitors are in the millions and the vast majority arrive in July and August so I highly recommend that you try to visit in September but a good idea would be to if it’s possible is if you want to H French style for a whole month spending long lazy days at the beach or cycling around oyster Shacks to Oyster Shacks so I think this is quite a perfect location for those long lazy French holidays [Music] number seven is aashan one of those places that feels me just for those slow summer days it’s famous for its beaches and the huge dun Europe’s tallest sand June climbing it it’s a bit of a workout but the views of the ocean and the forest are definitely worth it [Music] but down in town There’s a mix of Villas and the seaside promades now this is great to walk around go in and out of shops just basically explore what the place is like and there are plenty of places where you can grab oysters because they’re quite a big deal here not sure why it’s kind of gross but then if you’ve got time hopping on a boat across the bay is a great way to see the area from the water but you might be surprised when you walk around in [Music] town which kind of brings me to number eight look at fur across the bay from aashan this place has a totally different vibe quieter way more laidback it’s the kind of place parisians escape to or people from Bordeaux you’ve got Pine forests endless beaches facing the Atlantic and little oyster Villages where you can sit right by the water with a plate of fresh oysters it’s a big thing but I I I can’t get that down there’s even a little Lighthouse where you can climb from views over the whole Bay kind of like IL it’s perfect if you’re after that lowkey Coastal Escape number nine is all about the beach this Ro Plage is one of those Atlantic Coast spots that’s as I mentioned all all about the beach long stretches of sand proper waves and that laidback surf Town Vibe now it’s a kind of place where you could easily spend the whole day doing nothing but swimming or surfing or simply just sitting watching the sunset now there are surf schools everywhere so if you want to give that a try please do so or you can just stick to the beach relax the nearby cafes for drinks with a SE view it’s as simple as that [Music] [Music] and we cap off this video with sanjan Delo a beautiful little Seaside town in the French Basque country now this is perfect for a laidback getaway it sits right on the Atlantic with a long Sandy Beach colorful fishing boats in the harbor and a very Lively town full of the typical restaurants and shops now you’ll notice the b style houses with their red and green shutters giving it that unique character it’s also got a bit of History so whether you’re into Seafood strolling along the Waterfront or soaking up the atmosphere this is a great spot for a holiday and it has a different feel from the places like arashan kimp or loan while those towns have their own flavor and charm sanjan Duo stands out with its Basque culture [Music] [Music]