France... Anywhere, but Paris please?

I'd also like to vouch for Burgundy. Spent 8 months there as a language assistant last year (in Chalon-sur-saône, a town off the wine route of about 60,000 people), and it is a beautiful region. It's very different from Paris, it's got more of a small city/small village feel, and even Dijon (the main city in the region) doesn't feel too big. I agree that Beaune is a good base for exploring the region, and sounds like exactly what you are looking for. I believe market day in Beaune is Saturday, in Chalon it was Friday and Sunday mornings, so don't miss markets for a quintessential French experience! Also do tons of wine tasting, and try talking to the locals - the people in Burgundy are among the nicest and most welcoming people I've ever met!

Bon voyage!

Gigondas.

How small are you talking about? Do you want something where you are pretty much isolated from activities, or do you want smaller towns that are still close to sights like Bayeux?

Go to Beaune, just between Lyon and Dijon.
It's the center of Burgundy. Easy to reach both by fast train or driving straight on the highway.

I love the little town of Sablet in the Cotes du Rhone region. It is just south of Vaison la Romaine, and north of Gigondas, Chataneuf du Pape, Avignon, Orange, etc. With a car it is a lovely place convenient to a lot. Vineyards are everywhere.

The town is lovely. I would recommend renting a home for your time--there are lots of them available through websites, like gites.com. Everything you could need from a wine cave, grocery store, boucheris, bakery to a hair salon is right there within walking distance. On Thursday, the fish truck pulls into town and he sets up and sells great fish--this vendor is a supplier for Patricia Wells and she writes about him in her cook books.

It also has a great restaurant, Les Abeille, which moved from Gigondas to this location. You can even walk the trail from Sablet to Segurat or rent a bike, as the land is flat and easy to ride.

Samantha, I would check out where Rick's new tour called Villages and Vineyards of Eastern France goes. We spent a night in Semur-En-Auxois on our last trip, and really liked it. We drove through so many quaint villages. The French countryside is a totally different experience from Paris. We also spent 2 nights in Colmar, but it's not really small or quiet. It's a fairly touristy place (although we did really enjoy it, and it has what Rick says is his favorite small museum.)

You are looking for what is called "la France profonde." I found it in Burgundy, but you might find it anywhere in the provinces.

Going rural has many rewards, but you will need wheels to see the sights. If you are fit, these can be on a bicycle.

Beaune makes a good base for visiting Burgundy, but there are many other small towns and even villages with tremendous charm. Burgundy has a fabulous cuisine and a fabled wine scene.

The best way to locate where & how is to read a few guidebooks. Based on what you've said, I would check out nature-oriented guides even if that's not really your thing. I mean that you might find some inspiration in Lonely Planet's cycling guide to France even if you don't ride. (Fodors had a book of hikes, too.) Public libraries are good sources for this sort of thing; it's the hotel-and-restaurant info that goes out of date quickly.

Good luck in your quest, have a wonderful time!

A few years ago I drove from Paris South to Golden Coast via Loire Valley. I didn't take the highways and it was a great idea. I could see a lot of small town along the Valley, I stopped at a few wineries, even went shopping.
How far and how are you going to travel?
The second cooleast town I ever been to after Paris was Grimaud, in South.

Burgundy...this is why we return year after year.... it's a feeling we cannot explain. We love Burgundy.. always stay in tiny Montreal... stay in a gite there, shop, cook our own food, go to the vineyards, drive the backroads by the Burgundy canal, have picnics, go to festivals in the Morvan forest, take walks, eat in our tiny favorite restaurant in Chateauneuf, go to the market in Louhans. Montreal is 2-3 hours south of Paris, easy to get to.Send me a PM if you are interested in accomodations. We also went to the Brionnais part of Burgundy which is west of the A6. Stayed in a wonderful chateau being refurbished by 4 people. It is close to St. Julien de Civry. Marvelous grounds, wonderful people, and the food was to die for. All from the area.. cooked fresh, you can go to the market with them.

The beautiful area surrounding St. Remy is wonderful. Day trips to Avignon, Vancluse, Rouission(sp), Sur de la sur, LaBaux, etc. St. Remy has a wonderful market and is within walking distance of the hospital Van Gogh was. Small enough to be special, yet all the wonderful restaurants and shopping you expect in France. Within a few miles we happened upon an old limestone quarry that had an incredible presentation of music and images of Venice shown on the walls of the caves... it was outstanding and in the middle of the countryside!I am a photographer and you can look at some of the images I took in those towns at
terrykathrynlawrence.com. Lots of vineyards and beautiful countrside to drive through and not too far from Marsailles for flights, or the train from Avignon to Paris is easy enough to fly in and out of.

1. "small town, personal feel. I'd like to visit, vinyards and quiet, sleepy little towns, picnics and amazing slow food".

There is an abundance of places like this all over France (except for vineyards, which you will only find in the wine-producing regions, obviously. But there are many of those in any case).

1. "but have NO idea where or how to locate this feeling I'm looking for?"

As others have pointed out, having a vehicle is probably the best way as it will allow you to explore freely; and that's how you'll come across what you're looking for, I can pretty much guarantee it.

Not sure how many days. I would spend a couple days in Ambois and tour some of the castles. And St Emillion for some wine.