Luxury Travel to Historic Cities: Our Favorite Medieval Towns in France
We absolutely love planning trips inspired by specific periods, art movements, or architectural styles. In winter, there鈥檚 something magical about bundling up and wandering through towns steeped in medieval history and architecture. While medieval heritage can be found across Europe (some of our favorites include Assisi, Santiago de Compostela, Rhodes, and Bruges), in this blog post we are highlighting French medieval towns, celebrated for their unique blends of art, architecture, and rich history. As the birthplace of Gothic architecture, France offers a wide range of ways to experience medieval design, from soaring cathedrals to hilltop villages.
Mont Saint Michel, Normandy
Mont Saint Michel is one of our favorite locations in the world and a must-see for anyone who appreciates history and architecture. While you听can听visit as a day trip from Paris (), the nearly 4-hour journey each way makes it much more suitable for a weekend or overnight getaway. We recommend booking a room at the luxury hotel听听and then driving about 45 minutes to Mont Saint Michel.听The Benedictine abbey has drawn pilgrims since the 8th century and is a听.听It鈥檚 an incredible and otherworldly site to approach as it rises from the landscape; it is absolutely unforgettable.听.听Stop in for a bite to eat at the historic听听(open since 1879) or dine at听听at the base of the island.
Saint-脡milion, Bordeaux Region
For those who equally appreciate fine wines and incredible architecture, Saint-脡milion is a wonderful choice. The town is located at the crossroads of Bordeaux, Saintonge, and听P茅rigord, and was made a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999. The beautiful stone paths, ancient cloisters, historic chateaus, and the best vineyards make this a rich and unique trip. Book a room at听to enjoy luxury amenities inside a historic building with dining by Michelin-starred听chef Yannick All茅no. While you鈥檙e in town, don鈥檛 miss out on the speciality听macaroons听(not traditional French macarons like you might think of from听Ladur茅e,听for example) made from the same recipe since the 1600s, passed down from nuns in the area; these treats are made from ground almonds, sugar, and fresh egg whites.
Amiens, Hauts-de-France (Picardy)
Amiens, just a little over two hours from Paris, is home to France鈥檚 largest Gothic Cathedral. The church was built between听1220 and 1270 and is stunning. If you visit in December (or in the summer months), you might catch a special evening where they light the exterior with colored lights to resemble the original painted听fa莽ade听– that鈥檚 an incredible way to see the architecture. Regardless of when you visit, the church is a spectacular example of the High Gothic period and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Much of the town is set along the water, making it especially picturesque; don鈥檛 miss
The Hortillonnages,听a series of floating gardens and markets accessible only by boat.听While in the area, enjoy the region鈥檚 hearty and delicious foods, including听Ficelle Picarde. We love the听; it is right in town and offers luxury services, including a spa.
V茅zelay, Burgundy
With a history that dates back to听2300 to 2200 BC, the town is rich in history from ancient times to medieval to renaissance to present day. The town features a stunning 11th-century Romanesque Basilica of St Magdalene; both the town and the basilica are designated UNESCO World Heritage Sites. While in town, visit the听听– it鈥檚 a collection of works collection donated to the town of V茅zelay by Christian Zervos (1889-1970), including pieces by Picasso, Laurens, Calder, Mir贸, and Matisse. If you want to stay right in town, choose听, a lovely historic hotel. However, if you鈥檝e rented a car or are willing to stay just outside the area (15-minute drive), we suggest booking a room at听, an award-winning luxury chateau overlooking the rolling green grounds of the area.
Annecy, Haute-Savoie
Often referred to as the 鈥淰enice of the Alps,鈥� Annecy is set along the
Thiou River and is ripe with incredibly well-preserved historic architecture, as well as stunning views. Stay at听, a听Relais & Ch芒teaux Hotel boasting a 3听Michelin-starred听restaurant. Don鈥檛 miss the听, an incredibly restored castle which now is home to a fascinating museum.
Chartres, Centre-Val de Loire
The list would not be complete without mentioning Chartres, home to the famed Chartres Cathedral. The cathedral is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and has the largest collection of medieval stained glass in the world, and it is exceptionally preserved. Stay in town at the luxury boutique听hotel听. Visit before January 4 to view听, a special event the city puts on that lights up various historic landmarks around the area, including the cathedral. It is a magical time to visit.
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