32 College Towns That Feel Like a European Vacation Without Leaving the U.S.

15. Middlebury, Vermont – A Slice of Rural France

Tucked into Vermont’s rolling countryside, Middlebury is a storybook New England town that channels the rustic elegance of rural France. As home to Middlebury College, this charming town is steeped in intellectual and cultural life, much like the small university towns of France’s Provence or Normandy.Middlebury’s historic stone buildings, centuries-old bridges, and charming market squares make it feel as if you've stepped into a French village. Sidewalk cafés, artisan cheese shops, and French-inspired bakeries line the town’s picturesque streets, while farm-to-table dining mirrors the slow-food culture of the French countryside. Middlebury also boasts a thriving arts scene, with galleries, bookshops, and live performances reminiscent of Avignon’s cultural atmosphere.