Weekend Wishlist: 9 must-have items our fashion and beauty team are coveting for spring<\/a>![](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/0_GettyImages-1215765128.jpg\")
The Grotto of Maria Magdalena in France, Plan D’Aups, the massif St.Baum, holy fragrance, famous place among religious believers<\/p>\nAups<\/strong><\/p>\nIn the heart of the Verdon Natural Park lies Aups, a charming Proven\u00e7al town that’s the perfect mix of rustic beauty and local flair. During the week, the streets come alive with vibrant markets where you can browse everything from fresh cheeses and olives to colourful fabrics and handmade crafts.<\/p>\n
One of Aups\u2019 top selling points is its proximity to the Lac de Sainte-Croix. A completely manmade lake, it\u2019s surrounded by several stunning villages, including Les Salles-sur-Verdon and Aiguines. For those who love the outdoors, you can rent kayaks, paddle through the Gorges du Verdon, or take a scenic hike along the dramatic cliffs.<\/p>\n
![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/0_GettyImages-144960009.jpg\")
The city of Rabastens, located in the South West of France in the Tarn Department <\/p>\n
Rabastens<\/strong><\/p>\nIf you\u2019re looking for a sunny escape without the crowds of Toulouse, hop on a quick 30-minute train ride to Rabastens. This charming riverside town stay warm well into September. Rabastens\u2019 crown jewel is the Notre-Dame du Bourg, a beautifully preserved Gothic church dating back to medieval times now recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.<\/p>\n
After soaking up the history, head to the banks of the river, where you can kayak, paddleboard, or simply relax without the throngs of tourists.<\/p>\n
Eguisheim<\/strong><\/p>\nTucked away in northeastern France, near the German and Swiss borders, Eguisheim feels like stepping straight into a storybook and is centred around its medieval castle.<\/p>\n
The village is said to have inspired the classic Beauty and the Beast, and it\u2019s not hard to see why.<\/p>\n
Wine lovers will also be in heaven here: Eguisheim is a stop on the famous Alsace Wine Route, where visitors can sip their way through a series of pretty vineyards and family-run wineries.<\/p>\n
![](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/0_GettyImages-95887070.jpg\")
View over grape vines to the village of Chambery, Champagne region.<\/p>\n
Chamb\u00e9ry<\/strong><\/p>\nOften overlooked in favour of its glitzier Alpine neighbours, Chamb\u00e9ry is a historic city. It\u2019s even been dubbed France\u2019s \u2018Italian town,\u2019 as it was under Italian rule between the 13th and 16th centuries. The town\u2019s most iconic landmark is the Fontaine des \u00c9l\u00e9phants, a towering fountain built in the 19th century to honour a local general.<\/p>\n
In winter, Chamb\u00e9ry is a gateway to nearby ski resorts, while summer brings opportunities to swim, sail or relax by the stunning Lac du Bourget, France\u2019s largest natural lake.<\/p>\n
Bonelles<\/strong><\/p>\nFor a peaceful break not far from Paris, head to Bonelles in the Yvelines d\u00e9partement of \u00cele-de-France. Expect endless countryside walks, charming village caf\u00e9s, and an authentic, unspoilt feel that’s becoming increasingly rare just an hour away from the capital.<\/p>\n
When travel writer Jon Fellowes visited, he expected pretty scenery and good wine but was blown away by the artisan culture and welcoming community spirit.<\/p>\n
READ MORE: ‘My skin looks plump and my under-eyes have more life’\u2013 L’Occitane wonder cream gets \u00a320 saving<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Now is the time to escape the crowds and discover France\u2019s hidden gems, from fairytale villages to serene…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":55220,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5309],"tags":[10612,29305,29304,2000,299,36,29306,28931,10611,8792,10610],"class_list":{"0":"post-55219","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-france","8":"tag-and-cultural-organization","9":"tag-beauty-and-the-beast","10":"tag-eiffel-tower","11":"tag-eu","12":"tag-europe","13":"tag-france","14":"tag-jewellery","15":"tag-nice","16":"tag-scientific","17":"tag-skiing","18":"tag-united-nations-educational"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@uk\/114410949635404824","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/55219","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=55219"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/55219\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/55220"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=55219"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=55219"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=55219"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
![\"But](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/0_GettyImages-1216800530.jpg\")
But beyond the famous landmarks and buzzing tourist hotspots, France hides some truly magical corners<\/p>\n