Why Visit France Again? 9 Hidden Wine and Culture Regions Worth Rediscovering
France is a country most travellers believe they know. They’ve admired the elegance of Paris, toured France’s iconic wine regions like Bordeaux, and perhaps sailed along the Seine or ventured south to admire the natural beauty of the French Riviera. But for those who have already experienced its icons, the true allure lies in returning - not for repetition, but for rediscovery.
Beyond the guidebook staples, France reveals its more intimate self: in the hush of a forested footpath in the Jura, a quiet atelier in a Provençal hill town, or a truffle hunt guided by generations of knowledge. These are not attractions, they are encounters: with place, with tradition, with a pace of life that invites presence.
A trip to France should be about rediscovery, not repetition—not just the icons, but the soul beneath them. For wine lovers, aesthetes, and seekers of meaning, France offers something far deeper. For the Cultured Explorer, it’s a country that rewards curiosity and depth - with rich layers of craft, culture, and connection that most travellers never reach. For travelers seeking both cultural depth and exceptional tastings, these are the best vineyards and wineries to visit in France.
At Into the Vineyard, we craft wine tours of France that transcend the expected and show how seamless planning is the new luxury. Think private access to family-owned domaines, slow travel through lesser-known regions, or bespoke itineraries built around your passions - be it art, cuisine, walking, or wine. Each experience is seamlessly orchestrated, deeply immersive, and personally meaningful. This is part of the new face of luxury travel—where meaning, ease, and presence matter more than prestige.
This guide highlights some of France’s most enriching and lesser-known regions—perfect for travelers who’ve seen the classics and now crave deeper stories, quieter luxury, and journeys that feel entirely their own.
Let’s begin where authenticity still reigns quietly: in the Jura.
1. The Jura: A Quiet Frontier for Wine and Walking
Tucked between Burgundy and Switzerland, the Jura region remains blissfully overlooked by mainstream tourism - making it ideal for those who crave solitude, substance, and scenery. Known for its idiosyncratic wines (think vin jaune and oxidative Savagnin), the Jura is also a walker’s paradise, with forested trails that wind past waterfalls, hilltop chapels, and medieval towns untouched by time.
There are endless reasons to travel to France but, for the cultured explorer, this is France at its most authentic: humble but complex, layered with history and tradition. Visit family-run domaines, enjoy vertical tastings of rare bottles, or hike between vineyards where time moves at a gentler pace.
Come here for: Private introductions to winemakers, guided nature walks with a focus on terroir, and seamless transfers between towns often missed by larger tours.
Started planning your trip? Check out our sample France travel itinerary for some extra inspiration.
2. The Dordogne: River Valleys and Renaissance Living
The Dordogne offers a sensory richness rarely matched - misty river bends, ochre-hued villages, and markets brimming with black truffles, walnuts, and duck confit. Here, the rhythm of daily life feels centuries old, and yet the region is alive with artistic and culinary innovation.
Perfect for travellers drawn to craftsmanship, food heritage, and gently active holidays, the Dordogne rewards those who linger. Explore ancient cave paintings at Lascaux, paddle past clifftop castles, and visit nearby hilltop villages that have stood watch over the Dordogne’s rivers for centuries.
Come here for: Custom slow-travel itineraries with private river excursions, chef-led truffle hunts, and accommodation in elegant manor houses surrounded by vines and forest.
3. Occitanie’s Cathar Country: Ruins, Rituals, and Rural Roads
For those intrigued by spiritual history and dramatic landscapes, southwestern France’s Cathar region, stretching through Aude and Ariège, is rich with meaning and mystery. Craggy hilltop castles rise from limestone outcrops, linked by winding roads through pine forests and wildflower meadows.
This is France’s soul-stirring, elemental side. Hike from one ruined stronghold to another, explore medieval bastide towns, or attend a local wine festival that fuses regional pride with a deep reverence for the past.
Come here for: Thematic journeys through Cathar country with curated stops at historical sites, tastings of little-known Languedoc wines, and storytelling guides who bring forgotten narratives to life.
“Into the Vineyard took care of every detail - our guides were knowledgeable, the tastings were intimate, and the châteaux were beyond anything we would’ve found ourselves.” – M. Davidson, Burgundy 2023
4. The Cévennes: Wild Nature and Slow Time
A world away from Provence’s polished villages lies the Cévennes - a rugged, pine-scented region where granite hills meet chestnut forests and tiny hamlets cling to the folds of quiet valleys. Recognized by UNESCO for its living agricultural traditions, the Cévennes is one of France’s last true wilderness areas—where terraced hillsides, shepherds' trails, and stone hamlets tell stories of resilience and deep-rooted rural life.
It’s perfect for those who travel for reflection and reconnection. Walk ancient shepherds’ paths, forage with local guides, or stay in restored stone mas-style farmhouses where meals are made from what’s grown just metres away. There’s no rush here, just time to breathe, taste, and notice.
Come here for: Immersive eco-stays, guided walks through wildflower-strewn trails, and access to producers who still make honey, cheese, and charcuterie the old way.
5. Corsica’s Cap Corse: France’s Untamed Coastline
Corsica often surprises even seasoned Francophiles. Its northern tip, Cap Corse’s wine villages and Mediterranean coastline are among the island’s most captivating—steep cliffs, olive groves, and sleepy hamlets perched above turquoise coves.The region feels almost untouched, shaped as much by its maritime history as its Mediterranean flair.
Ideal for travellers who love the idea of active days and indulgent evenings, Cap Corse blends wild beauty with artisanal charm. Hike panoramic coastal trails, taste Sciaccarellu wines at windswept vineyards, or sail to remote coves with a private skipper.
Come here for: Off-grid luxury, private tastings in Corsica’s smallest appellations, and rugged coastline that rewards slow, thoughtful exploration.
6. Provençal Hill Towns: Craft, Colour, and Quiet Luxury
Beyond the markets and lavender fields lies a quieter side of Provence, where cobbled lanes lead to silversmiths’ workshops, and 12th-century chapels host intimate concerts beneath vaulted stone. Hill towns like Bonnieux, Saignon, and Moustiers-Sainte-Marie offer rich cultural immersion without the fanfare.
Perfect for aesthetes and creatives, this is Provence for those who want to experience art and craft as living traditions. Learn to make ceramics with a local artisan, explore ateliers carved into cliffside caves, or enjoy an apéro on a shaded terrace as church bells echo across the valley.
Come here for: Curated studio visits, heritage-inspired workshops, and restful stays in design-led maisons that blend charm with refinement.
“Every moment was seamless. From sipping rosé in Provence to a private tour in Burgundy, it felt like the trip was built just for us.” – The Hawkins Family, Provence 2022
7. Gascony: Timeless Traditions and Culinary Depth
In Gascony, time slows to the rhythm of the land. Often described as how Provence felt fifty years ago (we would still call it one of the best hidden gems in France) this southwest region is rich with foie gras farms, Armagnac distilleries, and sunflower-dotted fields - but without the crowds. It’s a place where food is still made by hand, and meals are considered a daily ritual.
For the Cultured Explorer, Gascony offers deep sensory rewards: Cassoulet simmering on a wood stove, market stalls laden with prunes and duck, and aged red wine decanted at sunset—Gascony’s depth is found in the details. It’s ideal for travellers who favour authenticity over polish and substance over spectacle.
If you're wondering how to balance these kinds of sensory experiences, here’s a guide on how to plan a wine country trip that blends culture, cuisine, and connection.
Come here for: Private Armagnac tastings, cooking experiences in farmhouse kitchens, and access to estates that rarely open to the public.
8. Lyon: France’s Cultural Capital Beyond Paris
For those who love the rhythm of a great city (but without the crowd and cliché) Lyon delivers. Often called France’s gastronomic heart, it’s also a UNESCO World Heritage site, with Renaissance architecture, contemporary art museums, and an underground network of secret passageways called traboules.
Lyon suits travellers who seek urban immersion without overwhelm. Spend mornings wandering through silk-weavers’ workshops, afternoons with a private guide in the Croix-Rousse, and evenings dining in family-run bouchons where tradition is proudly alive.
Come here for: Seamless cultural discovery, behind-the-scenes tastings with chefs and makers, and a city break rich in texture and depth.
“We explored parts of France we never would’ve known to visit. It was a side of the country that felt completely our own.” – J. Reilly, Custom France Itinerary 2024
9. The Vercors Massif: Wellness in the Wild
For an alpine escape without the pomp of the Alps, the Vercors Massif offers raw beauty and restorative calm. One of the most immersive experiences in France, carved with gorges and covered in spruce forests, the region is home to hidden monasteries, thermal waters, and small alpine farms producing Saint-Marcellin cheese and mountain honey.
It’s ideal for wellness-minded travellers - those who crave nature’s quiet as much as a massage under the pines or a wine-fuelled picnic at altitude. Days can be active or entirely restful, guided by the rhythm of the landscape.
Come here for: Mindful itineraries blending hiking, spa rituals, and mountain gastronomy - all without sacrificing comfort or privacy.
Discover the France You Didn’t Know You Were Missing
For travellers who’ve already admired the classics and are looking for a new adventure holiday, France still has more to offer - much more. From Alpine silence in the French Alps to riverside elegance in the Loire Valley, the country’s tapestry is one of diversity, depth, and delight—something you’ll discover more fully through seasonal wine touring in France. It’s a destination not just for seeing, but for sensing, for experiencing with intention, curiosity, and delight.
These hidden dimensions of France aren’t reserved for the few - they’re simply missed by the many. With the right curation, they’re entirely within reach.
At Into the Vineyard, we design journeys that go beyond wine. We craft immersive, custom itineraries that blend cultural discovery, personal passions, and seamless logistics - because the best adventures don’t just happen. They’re made.
Our approach is rooted in immersive, place-rooted wine travel—where every journey reflects the rhythm, history, and flavor of the region.
Why France Should Be Your Next Travel Destination
Why is France the most visited country in the world? Perhaps it’s because it offers not only beauty but depth—because it invites travelers to connect, not consume. Why do people love France? The reasons are personal, but they often begin with a sense of wonder that deepens with every region explored. For those who have already strolled the boulevards of Paris or sipped Grand Cru in Bordeaux, the next chapter isn’t about repetition—it’s about rediscovery. Beyond the icons lies a richer, quieter France, where culture is lived rather than displayed and where each region invites you into its own distinct rhythm.
From the misty river bends of the Dordogne to the wildflower-strewn paths of the Cévennes, this is a country best explored not broadly, but deeply. It's a place for the Cultured Explorer—for those who travel not just to see, but to feel, taste, listen, and connect.
At Into the Vineyard, we believe that luxury lies in meaning, not in excess. That the best travel experiences are those that feel effortless, personal, and profoundly rooted in place. Let us guide you to the France you didn’t know you were missing—and help you experience it in a way that’s entirely your own.
Start planning your next journey with us today. Let France surprise you—again.