If you’re dreaming of the south of France or planning a trip, skip the tourist trail and go here ins

If you’re dreaming of the south of France or planning a trip, skip the tourist trail and go here instead👇

Number one: Château Mercüès. Perched on a cliff above the Lot river, this 13th-century bishop’s castle is now one of the most extraordinary hotels in the southwest. Even if you don’t stay, book a wine tasting and perhaps lunch; it was one of the best lunches I’ve ever had. The views over the valley are breathtaking, and it’s one of those places that makes you feel like you’ve genuinely stepped into another century.

Number two: Bergerac. Most people know the name from Cyrano, but far fewer actually go. The old town along the Dordogne is charming, the Wednesday market is wonderful, and the surrounding wine country is world-class without the crowds or the prices of better-known regions. It has the feel of a real French town that happens to be beautiful, not a town built for tourists.

Number three: Issigeac. A tiny medieval bastide village that almost nobody outside the southwest has heard of. On Sunday mornings, there’s a market that fills the whole village with local cheese, wine, bread, flowers, and antiques. The streets are so perfectly preserved it feels like a film set, except it’s just how it is, the kind of place you stumble on in France and can’t quite believe exists.

Number four: Château des Milandes. This one is personal to me. It was the home of Joséphine Baker, the American-born entertainer who left everything behind to build a life in France. She adopted twelve children from twelve different countries and called them her Rainbow Tribe. She eventually lost the château but never lost her spirit. As a woman who also followed a crazy dream to France, this place means something different to me. There’s a restaurant for lunch and a birds-of-prey demonstration three times a day.

Those are my four. I’d love to know what’s on your list for southwest France!

Drop your favorites in the comments. 💬

Full château life on YouTube, link in bio! 🏰

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