France beyond Paris: Destinations off the beaten path

Yet another tourist steps on your toe below the Arc de Triomphe. Sweat pools on your brow as you traipse up the steps to the Sacré-Cœur. Pressure builds as you get your glimpse of the Mona Lisa, before giving others their turn.

Cut to the sound of a shutter gently clicking in the silent square of a French village you’ve barely heard of. No one to dodge, nothing to rush for, and not a tourist line in sight. Only cobbled streets to meander, people to watch, and time to relish the slow pace. 

Whether it’s the quiet streets, the generations-old local restaurants, or the chance to see how locals really live, it’s no surprise that travelers are choosing house sitting as a slower way to travel, away from overrun tourist hot spots. 

The rise of the conscious traveler

Travelers are leaving the bucket list behind, and are moving toward experiences that support local economies, feel more authentic, and allow them to truly live like a local.

It’s a shift we’ve witnessed first-hand at TrustedHousesitters, with many of our members joining to explore the world differently. Gabby, a house and pet sitter from Devon, UK, told us about the slow but deliberate switch she made from traditional travel to house sitting. 

Gabby has been particularly taken by a small French commune in southeastern France, called Valbonne. Her first trip—a four-week house sit in a villa caring for a fourteen-year-old dog named Laika—saw Gabby scoping runs through the village, joining local clubs, attending pottery classes, taking a day trip to the arty village of Saint Paul de Vence, and heading off for a spontaneous day of skiing.

“My pottery teacher was great, and somewhere between shaping lopsided pots, we just really got along. When I came back for my second sit, she got in touch, we went for coffee, and just like that I now have a real, local French friend. Someone I would never have met had I been staying in a hotel in Nice, or rushing between tourist spots. That for me, is the magic of slowing down.”

Hooked on the authentic travel experience house sitting opened the door to, Gabby returned to the region, just 3 months after, to a 10-day sit, a five-minute walk from Valbonne. In return for taking care of a Maine Coon cat named Wu and ten chickens, Gabby enjoyed fresh eggs every day, and slow mornings spent at the local markets.

“Instead of eating out every night at tourist restaurants, I headed to the Friday morning market, picking up fresh produce including local cheeses, and then cooking at home with it. You're not grabbing convenient meals, you're shopping where the locals shop, and cooking what's in season. That in itself tells you so much about a place.”

The experiences unlocked by house and pet sitting have allowed Gabby to truly settle into local life. Rather than ticking landmarks off a list and surviving heavy crowds, she’s traveling slower, understanding the places she visits more deeply, and staying in homes already owned—and lived in—by locals.

“For me, slow travel is about finding somewhere that genuinely feels like home rather than a destination. I want to settle in, get to know the locals, and build a real sense of place within the culture. There's a warmth and a groundedness to house sitting which you simply can't replicate in a hotel room.”

Along with the niche locations Gabby is now able to settle into through house and pet sitting, she’s also on the road to making countless connections (both furry and human), which make every stay feel more like home.

“I often travel solo, and that can sometimes feel a little lonely. Having a pet to come home to changes that, there's a warmth and a companionship to it.”

France beyond Paris, Nice, and Cannes

Valbonne is just one of 35,000 communes in France—far beyond the tourist paths heavily trodden in Paris, Nice, and Cannes. And by house sitting, travelers settle in, get to know places properly, and discover parts of the country that traditional tourists never get to see. Below, let’s explore more of the hidden destinations France has to offer, beyond the places that were once on your bucket list.

Valbonne, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur 

Despite its close proximity to Cannes, Antibes, and Nice, Valbonne has held onto its medieval charm and small village feel. The 16th-century square is lined with plane trees, stone house fronts with pastel shutters, and vine-covered porches. Throughout the streets are boutique shops, ancient mills, and charming cafes. Every August, the town features a parade known as Fete de la Saint Roch, with live music and traditional Provençal dancing.

“There were locals selling things they'd actually made themselves, from ceramics to the produce, fresh pesto spread onto bread being offered out by some local stalls, and the rich scent of local cheeses, alongside jars of honey. I spotted the biggest and most vibrant tomatoes I think I've ever seen, and a stall laid out with olives in every colour imaginable.”

Mougins, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur

Mougins perfectly balances the tranquil charm of a French village, with winding cobbled streets, art galleries, and 11th-century architecture. Locals enjoy sweeping views over the Bay of Cannes, without actually having to go there.

“Mougins is lovely, a hilltop village with incredible food.” - Gabby, pet sitter

Biot, Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur

A village nestled between Cannes and Nice, Biot is known for its winding streets and ochre-colored lanes filled with jewelry makers, ceramists, and glassblowers. The day moves to its own rhythm, art studios and galleries open up in the morning, filled with work by local artisans. The evening is slowly welcomed as locals enjoy an apéritif on the cobblestone squares, or from their very own terrace gardens.

Grasse, French Riviera

Grasse feels almost Tuscan, with terracotta-hued townhouses that reach up to seven stories high, and dark, narrow cobbled alleys below. Despite its small size, Grasse is known as the “perfume capital of the world”, having grown jasmine and roses for its booming industry since the 16th century.

“Far quieter than Nice or Cannes, Grasse will give you a much more authentic taste of Provence than any tourist hotspot could.” - Gabby, pet sitter

Uzès, Occitanie

Some places seem to exist outside of time, and Uzès is one of them. Its twice-weekly market has filled the Place aux Herbes since the mid-1200s. Locals still gather, catch up with neighbors, and pick up honey, asparagus, specialty cheeses, and gariguette strawberries.

Maussane-les-Alpilles, Provence

A commune in the Bouches-du-Rhône department, Maussane-les-Alpilles is one of the leading olive oil producers in France. Beyond its 10th-century ruins of Château des Baux and 19th-century washhouses, the place is quietly charming, brought to life by painters in the square.

Tourrettes-sur-Loup, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur 

Known as the “Village of Violets” earned by its fragrant winter blooms, Tourrettes-sur-Loup’s fortified streets are home to a way of life that’s changed little over centuries. At the local market that takes place on Wednesday mornings, locals stop by for honey, lavender and goat’s cheese. The ancient stone houses are fronted by art galleries and artisan workshops where painters, potters and weavers continue their centuries-long crafts.

Sarlat-la-Canéda, Nouvelle-Aquitaine

In France's Dordogne department, Sarlat is a time capsule preserved by its charming Medieval and Renaissance architecture that gives the place its ancient feel. The twice-weekly market held in the heart of the town keeps old traditions alive and often sells black truffles, walnuts, Bergerac wines, and other seasonal products.

Eymet, Nouvelle-Aquitaine 

Like many regions in southwest France, Eymet is not only inhabited by French locals, but also UK expats after a long history between the two countries. The town contrasts its classic French bastide layout (a planned Medieval town), 13th-century square, and Thursday market selling regional fruits, cheeses and bread, with classic English tearooms that make the place feel eclectic and quirky.

Gorron, Mayenne

This rural market town sits just south of the Normandy border, with a humble population of under 3,000 people. Despite its small size, the town is home to a sports-loving community with a breadth of facilities, as well as a weekly market selling cider and apple-based spirits made from harvests at local orchards.

Domfront, Normandy

Perched on the hilltops of Normandy, Domfront’s vantage point treats locals to panoramic views over the Varenne river valley. The maze of cobbled streets are home to centuries of history, half-timbered houses, and residences of nobles from years gone by.

Discover the world, beyond the tourist track 

If you’d prefer to skip high-season crowds, tourist lines, and cookie-cutter hotels, you'll fit right in here. Join a community of travelers already quietly exploring off the beaten path—staying in unique homes, caring for beloved pets, and discovering the world differently. 

“Find somewhere you haven't heard of before. Somewhere nobody around you is talking about, somewhere that isn't all over your social media feed. Just go and explore it with an open mind. You will thank yourself for it.”

To start traveling with purpose, click below.

Useful resources

• 12 best countries for nomadic house sitters
• A solo female traveler's guide to France
• Sustainable travel and tourism: Tips for responsible travel
• Alpaca adventures: Silvi and Lucas’s Hawaiian house sit
• Overtourism is real: A conversation with our Head of ESG