Sète, France

Only small ships and yachts can access the harbor of Sète, which is one reason this enchanting French port has retained its many charms. The birthplace of numerous artists, including poet Paul Valéry and singer-songwriter Georges Brassens, Sète has a rich artistic heritage and its museums pay tribute. Colorfully painted façades line the town’s canals, which include the northeastern entrance to the Canal du Midi, a UNESCO World Heritage site linking the Mediterranean and Atlantic through southern France. Several other UNESCO sites nearby compete for attention. To the east are the Roman monuments of Arles, a town that famously inspired Van Gogh, and to the west lie the massive, painstakingly restored fortifications, towers and castle of Carcassonne. Renowned for both its historic quarter and the modern Antigone district designed by architect Ricardo Bofill, the city of Montpellier also merits a drive up the coast.