#1 Saint-Quentin-en-Tourmont
Two hours from Paris, a village of 300 residents guards the gateway to one of Europe's largest bird sanctuaries. At the park observatories of the Parc du Marquenterre, visitors can spot white spoonbills and gray herons. On the nearby dunes, golden-coated Henson horses graze freely before carrying riders for a gallop along the beaches of the Baie de Somme. Out here, nature sets the pace.