Photo by Anthony Lanneretonne
Welcome to our monthly series: MFCH Staff Favorites!
Every month, the members of the My French Country Home team will share a recommendation for their favorite thing in France right now.
No two summers in France look the same. It’s the Atlantic swell rolling into a Basque bay and the lavender-thick heat of a Provençal afternoon. It’s an island off the Brittany coast where the seafood is impossibly fresh and the pace of life even slower. It’s a cliff-top citadel in Corsica, a sprawling market in Nice, a boat ride from Marseille. It’s a poolside afternoon in the center of Paris.
These are the places we return to year after year: the markets we know by heart, the beaches we’d rather keep a secret, and the spots that feel, even in high season, like they’re still ours. Here are the destinations we escape to for our summer in France.
Use the code TravelWithMFCH for $10 off any of the mentioned itineraries!
Saint-Jean-de-Luz
Recommended by Nicola, MFCH Magazine Writer & Editor
Ever since I discovered the Pays Basque region a few years ago, I have returned every summer — and I am still finding new things to love. My base is Saint-Jean-de-Luz, a charming Atlantic town on the southwestern coast that draws people who want it all: sea and mountains, great food, beautiful architecture and easy day trips across the Spanish border to cultural and food meccas like San Sebastián or Bilbao. Smaller and more laid-back than neighboring Biarritz, Saint Jean de Luz attracts a family-oriented crowd that is predominantly French, with a sprinkling of other Europeans — relaxed, unpretentious and less frantic than, say, the Côte d’Azur in high summer. The beach is a definite draw for sun worshippers and surfers alike. But so are the hiking, biking and horse trails, not to mention the charming inland villages surrounded by vineyards, sheep farms and cherry orchards.
Summer always gets off to a festive start with the Fête de Saint Jean in late June, featuring bonfires, traditional music and costumes, delicious street food and dancing — a celebration beloved by locals, but still very welcoming to the uninitiated visitor. While you will hear a smattering of English among the tourists, most travelers here come from France and continental Europe, which only adds to its charm.
It must be said that the weather can sometimes be unpredictable — it rains more on the Atlantic coast than on the Mediterranean. That might be a summer dealbreaker for some, but it is also precisely why the landscape stays so wonderfully, lushly green. I’ve witnessed many a dramatic summer thunder shower, followed by glorious rainbows and heart-stopping sunsets — sometimes all within a matter of hours.
Provence
Recommended by Sharon, MFCH Founder & Editor-in-Chief
We are blessed to enjoy the company of family and friends during the summer break, and invariably we head down to Provence. Having ourselves lived in Provence for years, it’s a region we know well, and it works perfectly for long summer holidays filled with laughter, music, good food, great wine and those we love the most.
We cook together using the fresh produce from the markets, and we enjoy lunches and dinners at local restaurants and catch up with friends in the region. It’s a privileged moment when we all take a break from our busy schedules and concentrate on this precious time together.
Provence offers beautiful countryside, small stone villages with great farmers markets, tiny cafés and spectacular restaurants. It is also a great place for me to indulge my love of antiquing. Alone or accompanied, I head out each weekend to hit the fairs at Villeneuve les Avignons, Carpentras or other local markets and bring home my haul for all to admire and comment upon.
All of Sharon’s tips on where to shop for antiques are in our Itinerary to Antiquing in Provence
Nice
Recommended by Sarah, MFCH Subscription Box & Boutique Manager
For the past ten years, I have been lucky enough to spend every August in Nice, and it has become a second home to me. I pack as little as possible, leave Paris behind, and settle into a rhythm that feels completely natural the moment I arrive. The sun every day, life simplified, and worries left at the door.
Certain things have become rituals over the years. The Cours Saleya market, where I lose track of time among the stalls, picking up fresh produce for the day — don’t be afraid to ask questions or try something new! From there, the Promenade des Anglais leads me to La Vela, my favorite beach club, where I could happily spend an entire day. The staff are kind, the food is delicious, and the water is a shade of blue that puts me in awe every time.
For eating, I never miss Lou Pantail for traditional Niçois dishes done properly, the kind of food you find yourself thinking about long after the meal, and Kiosque Tintin in the Libération neighborhood for a pan bagnat and pissaladière, two classics you simply cannot leave Nice without trying.
For the essential places to visit here, check out our a 5-day Itinerary for Nice & the Côte d’Azur
Marseille
Recommended by Maddy, MFCH Magazine Writer & Editor
It’s not officially summer in my books until there’s a trip to Marseille in the diary. Often called the Paris of the South thanks to its Haussmannian architecture and cosmopolitan atmosphere, Marseille comes into its own in summer, when its strikingly blue skies, sparkling Mediterranean Sea and exceptional food scene make it hard to rival as a holiday destination.
What I love most is the balance it offers between adventure and leisure. Mornings can be spent hiking the white limestone cliffs of the Calanques (the neighboring national park), while afternoons are spent swimming in sheltered coves, taking the boat from the Old Port out to the Frioul Islands, or simply exploring the interesting selection of independent interior design boutiques, clothing shops and ateliers, before settling in for a memorable meal.
For the places Maddy returns to again and again, see her 4-day Marseille itinerary.
Belle-Île-en-Mer
Recommended by Jessy, MFCH Customer Service Coordinator
Once home to silent film star and avant-guard socialite Sarah Bernhardt, and playground to the likes of Jaques Prévert, Belle-Ile-en-Mer is my favorite seaside town in Brittany. The island is small and picturesque, rocky, and colorful. Seemingly created just for slow, simple living, it’s the perfect escape from any noise on the mainland.
On Saturday mornings, farmers, fishermen, and artists gather in the center square, selling fresh shellfish, produce, and silk scarves. I always recommend perusing and picking something for dinner before stopping in at the closest boulangerie for a Kouign Amann — a buttery Britannic specialty.
Weekends here are best spent walking along the rocky coastline. Below are small sandy beaches which can be enjoyed before returning to town for a glass of wine on a terrace overlooking the Atlantic.
Bonifacio, Corsica
Recommended by Alizée, MFCH Travel and Tour Manager
If I had to choose one place for a summer holiday in France, Bonifacio would be very high on my list. I’ve been going there since I was little, and it’s truly a place I never seem to get tired of. What I love most is how simple everything feels. The water is incredibly clear, the beaches are beautiful, and most days revolve around swimming, lunches by the sea, and wandering through the old town in the evening. There isn’t really much to do, which is exactly the point.
Bonifacio itself is spectacular, sitting on top of white limestone cliffs overlooking the Mediterranean, but for me it’s the atmosphere that keeps me coming back. It feels relaxed, unpretentious, and very connected to nature. I also love how close Sardinia is. On a clear day you can see it from the cliffs, and it’s easy to hop across for the day.
Whenever people ask me where I would spend a quiet summer in France, Bonifacio is always one of the first places that comes to mind.
Paris
Recommended by Olivia, MFCH Brand Strategist, Writer, & Editor
This may seem counterintuitive, but Paris is one of the best places to spend a quiet Euro-summer. Since most Parisians migrate south in July and August, the city is far more peaceful than typical “hot” summer destinations.
I spent a full August in Paris for the first time last year and was pleasantly surprised by how many public activities the city organizes. One of the most beloved summer staples is “Paris Plages,” where stretches along the Seine are transformed into the kinds of spaces you’d expect to find on the coast: beach volleyball in front of Hôtel de Ville, lounge chairs and umbrellas along the riverwalk, and designated swimming spots in parts of the canal. There are also free outdoor film screenings at Parc de la Villette every weekend, and public dancing to salsa and rock music outside the péniches in the Marais.
Beyond the free activities, one of my favorite ways to beat the heat is to reserve a day pass at a hotel with an outdoor pool — like the Hoxton or the Molitor — followed by dinner at one of the city’s fabulous rooftop restaurants.
To make the most of your time in Paris, check out our neighborhood-specific itineraries to Le Marais, Saint-Germain-des-Près, and Montmartre or check out destinations outside of the city with our Favorite Day Trips from Paris and our Paris, Normandy, Loire 11-day Itinerary.
Bring the energy of Summer in France to you with our MFCH August Bon Voyage Box! Whether you are boarding a flight this summer or simply dreaming of cobblestone streets and sun-bleached coastlines from your own home, this Box was made for you. Reserve yours here.
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