If you're looking for a taste of the 'real' France this summer, avoid crowded seaside resorts and stuffy cities and head instead for the picturesque country villages of the Provence and Périgord regions.
Village life is close to the hearts of many French people, with much of the country's finest cuisine inspired by provincial flavours. Many holidaymakers are now eschewing more traditional tourist destinations for a quieter pace of life on their trips across the channel.
Les Plus Beaux Villages de France, a non profit organisation devoted to promoting the rich cultural and historical heritage of the country's beautiful rural villages, has teamed up with online tour operator ComeToFrance to offer a selection of package trips that'll really whet your appetite.Their 'Fragrance of Provence' package includes two days in Gourdon, Provence, where you'll discover the traditional flower harvesting and perfume making techniques of France's fragrance capital Grasse, as well as learning about traditional sweet-making methods and even joining a cooking lesson yourself.
There's also an opportunity to explore the quaint stone village of Gordes, which is perched high on the rocks of the Vaucluse, where you can wander the ancient arcades and cobbled streets, visit the village's 12th century abbey and learn about the local ochre trade.
For more inspiring village breaks, check out www.cometofrance.com