France: Aix-en-Provence

Score: 80

"The whole city nestled below Cezanne's Mont St. Victoire is culturally significant—especially for artists from around the world."

"The success of the French conservation and tourism-development model here is that the city works primarily for the local resident and almost peripherally for the tourist. Although one of the most popular destinations, there is no sense of being outnumbered by tourists."

"Infrastructure has been extremely well inserted so that state-of-the-art facilities blend seamlessly with the old."

"The market is lovely and really feels like a classic upscale Provencale market. The historic buildings are well maintained. The city provides ample underground parking so Aix still can feel like a pedestrian town. You can get lost exploring the back streets, and barely sense that this is a major tourist destination. It has always been a noble town, and still feels like one."

"Despite huge human pressures, in particular difficulties with car traffic and seasonal tourism invasions, it remains in good shape."

France: Dijon and Bourgogne region

Score: 80

"This region has preserved its unique French qualities befitting a premier wine destination. Some intrusion of inappropriate retail and food outlets is evident in historic Dijon and some of the wine routes at peak times are overcrowded with visitors and a little overdeveloped with visitor facilities. But on the whole, the quality of the cuisine, ambience, and landscape appeal overcome these minor irritations."

France: Fortified Carcassonne

Score: 63

"A small fortified tourist ghetto located in a broader average industrial town."

"Walls are well maintained and the site is spectacular from afar, but inside it is mass tourism and crowded narrow streets."

"Carcassonne, although picturesque, is largely a theme-park medieval destination that is poorly integrated with the modern town. Due to the lack of integration with the actual community, the old town lacks authenticity and culture identity."

"A 19th-century romanticized contrivance. It should long remain so."

France: Lyon historic areas

Score: 77

"A pleasure to amble around: surprising little alleyways, courtyards, and corners to explore. Excellent cuisine. Modern Lyon is fast encroaching however, presumably by local demand (modern flashy shops). Plenty of hotels, but tourism here is non-invasive; Lyon is a large town getting on with its life. Traveler doesn't get the feeling of being one of millions of tourists."

"One of the most impressive destinations in France. An authentic destination almost unspoiled and likely to remain so."

"Remarkable for the quality of its integration within a very dynamic town, itself famous for the quality of its business and recreational amenities."