If you’re looking beyond the city lights of Paris and want to enjoy rural France, this guide shows you top destinations and how to manage your travel funds smartly.
Why Choose the Countryside?
The French countryside (« la campagne ») offers a quieter, picture-postcard experience: rolling hills, vineyards, historic villages, and regional culture rather than tourist crowds.
Each region has its own flavour: from vineyards of Bordeaux, to Alpine villages, to lavender fields of Provence.
Top Destinations
The article lists 15 exemplary places that offer great countryside experiences, including:
- Nancy: in the Alsace-Lorraine region, with art-nouveau architecture and easy countryside access.
- Arles: in Provence, known for its Van Gogh heritage and rural charm.
- Bordeaux: a great base for exploring vineyards and the rural southwest.
- Annecy and Chamonix: offering Alpine scenery and countryside villages.
- Dijon: rich in gastronomy, and a gateway to countryside living.
Costs & Planning
The article highlights that living or travelling in French countryside areas can differ considerably in cost compared to big cities.
It’s also worth budgeting for transport (renting a car may help), lodging in smaller towns, and factoring in how you’ll pay and manage currency.
How dogpay Can Help
While dogpay is not referenced in the original article, here’s how such a cross-currency/fund-management instrument can benefit your countryside travel:
- Pre-fund or convert ahead: If you’re travelling from a non-Euro country (e.g., USD, GBP) and heading into rural France, you might convert some funds ahead of time using dogpay so you’re less exposed to bad rates or cash-only vendors.
- Managing payments in multiple locations: You may stay in smaller towns or farms where card acceptance or favourable rates are less reliable—having digital access to funds (via dogpay) gives added flexibility.
- Currency control: If you hold several currencies or plan to move funds around (for example travel deposit, local services, transport), dogpay gives you more control over when you convert, possibly reducing hidden conversion costs.
