A geologist, a storyteller, and a café owner along the Route Napoléon, between Golfe-Juan and Grenoble; a dancer, a monoi oil producer, and a scuba diving instructor in the Marquesas Islands, one of the five archipelagos that make up French Polynesia: The show does not have a host but local “ambassadors” who guide us through their region. Why this choice?

Vincent Dupouy: We wanted to get as close as possible to the people, everyday people, with this idea: When someone lives in a region, they know places that aren’t necessarily the most famous, that aren’t necessarily in travel guides, but to which they have a special attachment. These people introduce us to their own world: a hidden beach, a secret spot in the woods, a castle they love for personal, family, or sentimental reasons...

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Could you please walk us through a typical shoot?

It all starts with an investigative period, which lasts about a month, during which we identify locations and local ambassadors. We look for people who are well established in their region, capable of taking us by the hand and acting as our guides. The filming crew then goes on location, usually for twelve days. We’re fortunate to be able to spend time with people who open their doors to us, play along, and are excited to show us their region. It’s an incredible luxury. Even if we have to hike for three hours to reach a viewpoint they believe to be the most beautiful in the area, we don’t think twice!

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In each region, you touch on heritage, flora and fauna, architecture, geology, history, and even cuisine. How do you choose the subjects you include?

The region we visit dictates the themes. In some areas – like along the Loire River or the Dordogne – we focus more on built heritage, as it’s hard not to mention all the castles and chateaux, while in other places, like La Réunion, nature plays a bigger role as the island has many hiking trails. We always try to strike a balance between heritage, gastronomy, art, sports, and nature: These lenses allow us to tell many stories about a place. Each episode is a patchwork!

This reminds me of my childhood vacations. In the Vanoise massif or in the Bigouden Country of Brittany, my parents liked to combine relaxation, local markets and specialties, outdoor activities and cultural visits...

Exactly! When I watch an episode and at the end I think, “I want to vacation there,” it means the show accomplished its mission. I remember an episode about Le Havre, a city that’s not known for being the most attractive in France. I started the editing process with many prejudices, but I left the room absolutely charmed. Two weeks later, I was there for a weekend getaway with my wife and kids!

In season 8, you finally dedicated an episode to your home region, the Arcachon Basin. Did it feel like a homecoming?

I learned a lot during that shoot, but today I’m more proud to film an episode on the Burgundy Canal or the country roads of Eure-et-Loir than about the region where I grew up. We try to show places that are not in the guides. It’s harder to do this in touristy areas like Arcachon or the French Riviera than in less-traveled regions like Creuse or Poitou. These rural and sparsely populated areas are incredibly fascinating to viewers, and it doesn’t surprise me at all. Our most-watched episode across all seasons is about “Creuse, from Aubusson to the Valley of the Painters.” We totaled 1.2 million viewers, which is ten times more than the population of the département!

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The big absentee from your show is the French capital...

It’s true that we never filmed an episode in Paris, and we only did one on the entire Ile-de-France region. It’s on our agenda, but with only 52 minutes, we’ll have to make some drastic choices to stand out from the guides and blogs. Maybe we’ll focus on the Petite Ceinture, a green promenade that goes around the city, or Belle Epoque Paris?

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You have long passed the 100-location mark! Do you ever feel like you have covered all of France?

Not at all! When I watch a finished episode, there is always one or two sequences that make me say: “That’s exactly what we’re looking for!” To give you an example, I recently watched an episode following the philosopher Michel de Montaigne who, in 1581, left Italy and traveled across France to take up his post as mayor of Bordeaux. In Limousin, we filmed a baker who lives alone on an island in the middle of an artificial lake. He works with ancient flours and a 200-year-old wood-fired oven, making bread for hikers who pass by. An incredible character in an incredible place! This unexpected encounter – just one of the many we’ve had since the show started – makes me think that we still have a lot to discover.

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The show has also changed format over the past ten years, giving you more freedom...

Exactly. Previously, we focused on one specific geographical area: Ardèche, Corsica, Haut-Rhin, Jura... Now, we shine a light on itineraries and broader themes. For example, in season 11 [coming to TV5MONDEplus on December 4], we explored The French Riviera through three corniches, three coastal roads that tell different stories about the area. We also visited La Réunion with a focus on pirates, and in season 10, we traveled through Provence in the footsteps of Marcel Pagnol (around Aubagne) and Jean Giono (around Manosque). We are currently shooting season 12, which will air in France next summer. Among other topics, we will follow the Impressionists from Paris to Deauville, visit the Belle Epoque seaside resorts of Loire-Atlantique, and travel along the Burgundy Canal, which links the Seine and Rhône rivers.

This new direction has completely changed the game. It has allowed us to return to certain regions, to visit them with a fresh perspective. Things have evolved as well. Cities no longer showcase a medieval castle the way they did ten years ago. New lighting technologies, for example, have emerged. Yes, we now have more than 100 locations, but I don’t think that’s a problem. We could easily visit 140 or 150!

Is there a place you would dream of showing?

We visit at least one overseas region each season, and we’ve never been to French Guiana. I would love to go! Saint Pierre and Miquelon would be equally amazing. And in Metropolitan France, I would like to find a way to follow the Pyrenean peaks from the Mediterranean to the Atlantic.

What advice would you give American visitors who want to fully experience France?

The Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, and Versailles are, of course, must-sees. I live in Paris and I recently visited Versailles with some friends coming from Switzerland. I hadn’t been in two or three years. It’s magical, a unique experience. But I would also recommend “slow tourism.” Take a few days to explore a Breton port, a citadel in Lot-et-Garonne, or a little village in the Luberon. This is where you get to see people living at the rhythm of France. And because I’m from the Southwest, I encourage everyone to visit the Basque Country!

Are you working on other programs that we could discover on TV5MONDEplus?

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I also produce Château ! on the Loire Valley. In each 13-minute episode, the host and musician André Manoukian meets with owners, guides, and experts to showcase these castles and estates in a unique, musical way.

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My production company, Morgane, is also behind Laissez-vous guider, a history show hosted by Stéphane Bern and Lorànt Deutsch, with topics like Paris during the Belle Epoque and the wonders of the French Renaissance.

Has your view of France changed since producing Les 100 lieux qu’il faut voir?

There is so much to do and see in this country! With the Covid-19 pandemic, the French traveled less far and focused more on local trips. It’s also in line with the current trend to fly less. Everywhere we go, we are welcomed so warmly. Our ambassadors are proud to show us their region, their heritage, their crafts, their culinary traditions, their regional tales, their musical instruments, castles, and churches. I encourage everyone to do the same: Take the time to stop in a village, visit a monument, and ask the passionate people who take care of them – they know all the stories and make the best guides. It’s definitely worth it!

Les 100 lieux qu’il faut voir (Seasons 5 through 11) are currently available to stream on TV5MONDEplus!

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