Tourism: and the ten most sought-after medium-sized cities are...

Less than 100,000 inhabitants, but much more research on the internet.

Some medium-sized cities are particularly popular destinations for the French.

This is evidenced by their success with holidaymakers.

To discover

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After its ranking of the most searched small French towns, the travel comparator Likibu analyzed the number of Google searches carried out over the last twelve months with the queries “What to do”, “What to see”, “What to visit” for cities less than 100,000 inhabitants of France.

In short, it identified searches related to weekends and holidays.

Of the ten most sought-after cities, only two are not located on the coast.

So the French would like the beach?

Hard to believe...

Read alsoWhat are the closest beaches to Paris?

10. Les Sables d'Olonne

Les Sables d'Olonne (Vendée).

The seaside resort narrowly enters the ranking for its openness to the sea. bios48 / Adobe Stock

Starting and finishing point of the Vendée Globe, the seaside resort of Les Sables-d'Olonne also appeals for its water sports: sailing, paddleboarding, kitesurfing, jet-skiing, kayaking or towed buoys.

Bordered by salt marshes that can be explored during bike rides, the city also has a zoo and an ornithological park.

Read alsoNight surfing, iodized hiking and arty abbey: five reasons to drop anchor in Les Sables d'Olonne

9. Sete

Sète (Hérault), Languedoc's little Venice, boasts a town center full of colour.

Picturereflex / Adobe Stock

Comfortably housed between the Mediterranean and the Etang de Thau, Sète boasts a colorful town center and squares adorned with welcoming terraces.

Stronghold of Georges Brassens, it houses a museum dedicated to poet-singer.

After a swim, the summit of Mont Saint-Clair offers an exceptional panorama of Provence.

Read alsoSète, an unusual stopover in the Mediterranean

8. Valves

In Vannes (Morbihan), French gardens line the ramparts.

daliu / Adobe Stock

Half-timbered houses, medieval ramparts, cobbled streets and peaceful port... Vannes benefits from an exceptional heritage in the heart of the Gulf of Morbihan.

This jewel of Brittany can also be visited for its French gardens, its creperies and its fascinating museums, such as the La Cohue Fine Arts Museum.

Read alsoFrom Vannes to Locmariaquer and Port-Crouesty, charming weekend in Morbihan

7. Colmar

Colmar (Haut-Rhin) and its colorful half-timbered houses.

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The oldest city in Alsace seduces for its half-timbered buildings including the emblematic Adolph, Pfister and Têtes houses, but also for its charming districts: Little Venice, the Tanners district and the Quai de la Poissonnerie.

Read alsoTwo days in Colmar, 48 hours between culture and gastronomy

6. Bayonne

A few kilometers from the ocean, Bayonne is the gateway to the Basque Country.

Its half-timbering and the narrowness of its streets give it incredible charm.

Regis Guichenducq

Its famous festivals which, at the end of July, bring together crowds of locals and tourists dressed in red and white.

Fireworks, concerts and parades punctuate the week.

The opportunity, also, to visit the Basque museum, the Sainte-Marie de Bayonne cathedral or the chocolate workshop.

Read alsoDestination Bayonne, for its chocolate... and its street art

5.Biarritz

The large beach and the Hôtel du Palais, the famous 5-star hotel in Biarritz.

saiko3p / stock.adobe.com

Never far from Bayonne, Biarritz is much more than a haven for surfers.

The seaside resort shines on the Basque coast for its beaches, its rock of the Virgin, its lighthouse and its Atalaye plateau, from where you can enjoy an impressive view of the waves.

Read also48 hours in Biarritz, the city where surfing and bistronomy mingle

4. Narbonne

The Palace Museum of the Archbishops, one of the marvels to discover in Narbonne.

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Former capital of the Gauls, Narbonne enjoys its rich ancient and medieval past.

An archaeological museum and the chapel of the Pénitents Bleus, but also the Gilles Aycelin dungeon or the former palace of the archbishops.

Without forgetting its beach and its pretty marina.

Read alsoDestination Narbonne, for its historic heart and its coastline

3. Saint Malo

Panoramic view of Saint-Malo.

s4svisuals / stock.adobe.com

Medieval city surrounded by thick granite walls, Saint-Malo is a pearl on the Emerald Coast.

The historic center of the city has splendid buildings such as the residence of the Corsair, the Saint-Vincent cathedral, and the island of Grand Bé which cannot be reached at low tide.

Read alsoTwo days in Saint-Malo, for the charm and sweetness of the sea air

2. Avignon

On the banks of the Rhône, between Alpilles, Luberon and Mont Ventoux, Avignon sits majestically.

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The city of the Popes bustles during its prestigious theater festival every year.

But it vibrates all year round with these visitors who come to admire these extraordinary monuments: the famous Avignon bridge, the Notre-Dame des Doms cathedral and, of course, the Popes' palace.

Read alsoWeekend in Avignon, divine theater for a getaway

1. La Rochelle

The entrance to the old port of La Rochelle, guarded by the Saint-Nicolas and La Chaîne towers.

Charles Lima / stock.adobe.com

With its harbor guarded by two monumental towers, La Rochelle can compete for the title of the most beautiful port in France.

After climbing the medieval towers of Saint-Nicolas, the chain and the Lantern, you have to go through the aquarium, the natural history museum and the halls of the city of Charente-Maritime.

Read also48 hours in La Rochelle, in the maritime city at the time of the Grand Pavois