Hi, we like some historical main turistics sites....BUT we mostly enjoy places with a very lively old town with full of locals shops ( not the typical "souvenir" shops) but locals designers, local art, local jewelry designers and things like that... in France...
If you please can mention what you know or you have been that much that criteria...
I will see which ones are close to my next itinerary ...and the rest I will save them for my next trips :-))
Thank you!
One such place that is historically conspicuous I would suggest is Nancy in Lorraine. Another place is Fontainebleau.
Palace Stanislaus in Nancy perfectly fits that niche. It's an excellent place to enjoy a drink and watch the world go by. There are local jewelry, glass, and art galleries on the surrounding streets. One of my favorite cheese shops, multiple good bookstores, antique shops, etc. I like to go there on weekends just for lunch and do some shopping. Picked up a much appreciated dragonfly pin (Art Deco) for my sister's Christmas present, my companion bought some art glass just last month. It's mostly level, easy to walk, good gardens and other tourist stuff. If you have any interest in Art Deco or art glass this city should already be on your list.
We really enjoyed Uzes. They had lively market days, a good size historic center with lots of shops (I bought a dress), cool medieval garden "museum," good local restaurants. Had day trips to Nimes and Pont du Gard and wineries, too.
A town with a beautiful town center is Chartres. It's a popular travel destination because of the pilgrim cathedral. The old town is the definition of charm. And the town has at least two other gorgeous churches that few ever mention.
Another town with a charming town center is Bayeux in the Normandy region.
And Chartres has the stunning evening illumination shows all over town and especially at the Cathedral. WE stayed in the Parvis hotel right at the cathedral and it is a very old quirky building.
FWIW. an old quaint medieval town is going to have a tourist economy and not meet the fantasy of shops for locals.
While not claiming superiority over other suggestions, trust me on this, Rouen.
Thank you so much!! Im looking at all the suggestions
What you all think about Lyon, Annecy or Dijon??
Im looking for a place to stop 1 or 2 nights between Marseilles and Paris
I appreciated
Lyon, hands down, would be my choice among those three. It's got an order of magnitude (at least) more things to see and do as a tourist (or as a resident).
Annecy is overrated, in my opinion, but it has its fans. It's fine for a short visit. Dijon isn't bad and has its good points, but Lyon is France's second city (slightly smaller population city proper than Marseille but bigger metropolitan area population owing to France's largest suburb, Villeurbanne, which is pretty much a continuation of Lyon, along with Vénissieux and other adjacent towns. Dijon and Annecy much smaller.
Plus, Lyon has been a transportation hub for millennia (it was the capital of Gaule during the Roman Empire), and has extremely good links to other cities and nations.
