Do you need to recharge your batteries without going too far away? It’s possible! Here are the top places to go relax alone, as a couple or with your family in France for 4-5 days.🧳
Le Perche (in Normandy)
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A place of character between forest, hill and bocage where manors rub shoulders with old farmhouses.
The ideal place for a breath of fresh air and a lot of greenery a few kilometers from Paris.
This countryside where harmony reigns also benefits from the “Regional Natural Park” qualification to preserve this exceptional heritage where traditions are still alive.
Here, you will be sure to spend a relaxing stay at the rhythm of nature.
Our selection of nice accommodations for a stay in the area:
- The Cerrone House, with its magnificent black marble outdoor pool and its modern and artistic decoration (from €165/night)
- The Country Lodge, entirely made of raw wood and looking like a chalet (from €260 for a 4 pers cabin).
- The Perche campsite nestled in an area of wild greenery (from €305/7d in a mobile home)
Honfleur (Normandy)
A small seaside town in Normandy known for its colorful harbor and its picturesque little streets, Honfleur is the ideal place to get lost for a few days.
A few minutes from Deauville and only 2 hours from Paris, this city is the perfect compromise for a relaxing weekend.
There are many spa hotels nearby and you can enjoy all the 100% Norman little shops and restaurants.
Our selection of nice accommodations for a stay in the area:
- Sowell Residence le Port where you can admire the beach from the pool (from €719/7d)
- La Ferme Saint Siméon, with its spa, its flowery domain, its calm and its almost hidden location in the countryside (from €435/night)
- La Cour Sainte Catherine (guest house) is full of charm and its courtyard is filled with hydrangeas (from €162/night)
The Sioule Valley (Allier)
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Located between Vichy and Montluçon, the Sioule Valley is a real wilderness area that deserves a visit.
There are castles, churches and also (and this is not nothing) the most beautiful village of France: Charroux. A small paved village where time seems to have stopped.
If you decide to make this little trip with your family, you will be able to enjoy many leisure parks of all kinds (website in French).
For couples: you can stroll in many parks and bucolic gardens (website in French).
Our selection of nice accommodations for a stay in the area:
- The Château Saint Jean hotel and spa, its flowered courtyard, its spa, its well-stocked breakfast (from €354/night)
- Le Grenier à Sel hotel, its facade and especially its magnificent flowered garden (from €163/night)
- The Domaine de Maevag campsite for a night in a chalet in the middle of a green park (from €540/7d)
Les Landes
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Between sea and forest it is the ideal place to recharge your batteries.
Mainly composed of maritime pines, which cover more than 65% of the department, this small piece of south-western France is one of the few remaining wild places in France.
The weather is often mild and sunny making it perfect for long strolls (Website in French).
Most of the small villages around are quiet and full of history (great for learning more about the many traditions of the country) (Website in French).
Our selection of nice accommodations for a stay in the area:
- Le Chêne du Lac campsite with its large sandy beach (from €440/7d)
- Les Échasses Golf and Surf Eco Lodge, ultra-design cabins nestled in the middle of a natural domain with a magnificent stretch of water (from €329/night)
- La Villa de l’Etang Blanc, its garden, its pond and above all its cosy decoration (from €122/night)
The Luberon
The Luberon massif is a low mountainous massif that stretches from east to west between the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence and the Vaucluse departments.
It is said that people were already talking about this piece of nature before the Christian era.
And when you cross the numerous picturesque villages that populate it, you can see that time has marked the land, leaving behind many a peaceful corner.
It is here that we find the Provençal Colorado (perfect for our Instagrammer friends who will be able to pretend to be on a trip to the USA while saving money).
Our selection of nice accommodations for a stay in the area:
- La Clé des Champs and Spa, quiet, rejuvenating, charming and modern (from €166/night)
- Coquillade Provence Resort and Spa for an ultra relaxing and luxurious weekend with a huge outdoor pool (from €635/night)
- Les Tonneaux du Nid’Oiselet for a night in a real converted barrel (from €95/night)
Camargue
Located on the Mediterranean Sea, in the Bouches-du-Rhône and Gard departments, and formed by the Rhone delta, the Camargue is known for its wild and natural aspect. There are many wild horses and pink flamingos.
The best weekends in the Camargue are spent between Easter and All Saints’ Day. This is the time of year when the climate is the most pleasant.
Whether you choose to rest by the sea, on the edge of a pond or inland, you can only fall in love with this corner of paradise.
Our selection of nice accommodations for a stay in the area:
- The Arl Hotel and its rainbow decoration (from €61/night)
- The Lodge l’Arbre Perché (Website in French), all in wood, its private spa, its large terrace, its 3 rooms and its view on the treetops (from €635/night)
- A night in a bohemian caravan (from €89/night)
Sologne
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A natural forest region, the Sologne is covered with vast forests of oak, hornbeam and chestnut trees, as well as ponds. It is also crossed by the royal river: the Loire.
The surrounding calm and the thick forests attract those who are looking for a source of comfort while the prestigious and ancient buildings amaze those who have an explorer’s soul.
It is in the heart of this preserved nature that lives one of the most beautiful populations of deer in France (the ideal destination if you come with your small tribe).
Our selection of nice accommodations for a stay in the area:
- Le Prieuré de Boulogne, with its castle-like appearance and vast domain (from €145/night)
- L’Orée des Chênes also called “Relais Silence”, the perfect place to relax (from €90/night)
- Le Château les Muids located in the heart of a 33-hectare park; this place will bring you calm and serenity (from €88/night)
The Ardèche
Beyond its very touristy gorges, the Ardèche is a peaceful territory with a wild nature.
From perched villages to sheepfolds, from prehistoric caves to waterfalls, from exceptional viewpoints to forest massifs, this territory reveals a multitude of facets, each more peaceful than the other.
Our selection of nice accommodations for a stay in the area:
- The Prehistoric Lodge located at the entrance of the natural reserve of the Gorges de l’Ardèche offers you the possibility to choose between several dwellings nestled in the greenery of the domain (from €137/night)
- Le Silex, the troglodyte hotel dug in the stone (from €138/night)
- Le Carré d’Alethius and its ultra cozy terrace (from €92/night)
Calvi
Located on the northwest coast of Corsica, Calvi is above all a medieval city full of history. The big plus is that it overlooks the marina: the ideal place to relax with a breathtaking view.
The Mediterranean climate of this corner of paradise will allow you to enjoy both winter and summer.
You will be able to enjoy the magnificent beach of the Pinède accessible during summer via the trinighellu, the little train of the beaches.
The beach is lined with seaside establishments where you can eat “feet in the water”.
Our selection of nice accommodations for a stay in the area:
Camping de la Pinède with its famous beach is only 500m away, you can choose between a caravan, a tepee, a giant tent or a mobile home (from €413/7d)
The Casa Bianca Hotel, with its refined decoration, its incredible terrace and its breathtaking view of the mountains (from €83/night)
The luxurious and modern Hotel Spa Kasano with its incredible outdoor pool (from €207/night)
The Molene Archipelago
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Between Le Conquet and Ushant Island, the Iroise Sea is composed of about twenty islands and islets making up the Molène Archipelago.
Rich in preserved nature, this archipelago is home to a colony of bottle nose dolphins and grey seals (ideal for children).
This corner of paradise is also full of flowery lanes and wild creeks (very Instagrammable) which will be perfect for relaxing walks.
Our selection of nice accommodations for a stay in the area:
- Les Refuges de Mer (bebsite in French): cabins located on an islet next to Molène to spend a night cut off from everything (€18/night and per person)
- The Hostellerie Pointe St-Mathieu and its breathtaking view on the sea (from €140/night)
- Domaine de Kerzuat (bed and breakfast): an old renovated stone farmhouse with indoor pool and jacuzzi (from €81)
The Lac Blanc (Chamonix)
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Jewel of the Chamonix valley, the Lac Blanc is a high-altitude lake located in the Aiguilles Rouges nature reserve.
Don’t panic, whether you are an experienced hiker or just a Sunday walker, this place is easily accessible (either by a two-hour walk or by cable car).
Once up there you can enjoy the superb panorama of the Mont Blanc range that the site offers.
The place will instantly disconnect you from the urban tumult.
Our selection of nice accommodations for a stay in the area:
- Heliopic Hotel and Spa for its luxurious decoration and magnificent spa (from €165/night)
- Fontaine du Mont Blanc Hotel and Spa for its pool, spa, and garden (from €123/night)
- In a 19th century building located at an altitude of 1913 meters in the Mont Blanc mountain range, the Refuge du Montenvers is accessible only by train from the Montenvers-Mer de Glace station; it is perfect for adventurers (from €217/night)
I aim to share my tips and recommendations for the beautiful country of France. My goal is to help you plan your next adventure, whether it’s a weekend getaway or a once-in-a-lifetime trip. From finding the best hotels and restaurants, to discovering unique activities and sights, I’ve got you covered!
