French villages that are not too far from Switzerland

We will be travelling to Switzerland in late August (though we fly in and out of Milan). We have thirteen days excluding the travel days. I am very tempted to include a little bit of France in the trip. I have read about Annecy and will definitely try to stay 1 or 2 nights there. I was wondering if we could add more.

3 years ago we visited the Luberon in Provence and fell in the love with the villages, the nature, the markets, the food everything. My favourite village was probably Loumarin. I am saying this just to give an idea of what we like. Would you recommend any village or small towns which are similarly charming and would not take us too much out of the way? (We don't need to do day trips, we can stay overnight if we deem it worthwhile). I am trying my best not to give in to the temptation to go back to the Luberon, but hoping your recommendations will direct us somewhere we can enjoy as much. :)

All will depend on your itinerary through Switzerland. According to it, you may prefer to go to
Haute Savoie (Chamonix, Lake Geneva area, Annecy),
Alsace,
French Jura.
Will you travel by public transport or by car?

Thanks! Still trying to decide on the car/public transport. OK will write again with a little more info on the places we want to visit in Switzerland.

Were thinking of basing ourselves in Lucerne, the Bernese Oberland and somewhere in the Lake Geneva area in Switzerland. Not really interested in the cities in the North so maybe Alsace is not for us. Interested in knowing more about French Jura though. Any villages/ small towns that are particularly charming with really good food? Also, since we will be spending like in the Swiss Alps, I am wondering if Chamonix would feel like more of the same? Or is it a different vibe? Thanks

That gives something like
Milan Malpensa airport - bus - Lugano - train Bellinzona (castles) - train - Lucerne - train - Interlaken - Golden Pass panoramic train - Montreux - French Lake Geneva area/Chamonix Valley - Aosta or Brig - MXP.
The French Alps will be very touristy in August (school holidays). You may check Yvoire (Lake Geneva), Thonon, Evian, Annecy, Aix-les-Bains, St. Gervais-les-Bains, or any village in the Alps
http://www.france-voyage.com/tourism/haute-savoie-departement.htm
In the Jura, may be Morez, Pontarlier or Lons-le-Saunier (a bit far away).
There are a lot of untouristy small medieval towns in Western Switzerland too: Orbe, Aubonne, Romont, Avenches, Murten, Nyon......

Thanks! This really helps.

Thanks! I am proceeding with roughly this plan. Can you advise as to how can I add a little bit of Zermatt in this itinerary? One night or may be just a few hours? TIA

This use of the word "village" really gets me after awhile. It appears that it is used by a lot of English speakers for something that the rest of us call "medium sized cities." Villages generally have a population of less than 3000 and have no train service, for example. Chamonix and Annecy are excellent cities to visit.

Although I did not go at the time of year that corresponds to your trip, I made reports about both of these cities not too long ago:

Annecy in November

Chamonix in September

"Milan Malpensa airport - bus - Lugano - train - Bellinzona (castles) - train - Lucerne - train - Interlaken - Golden Pass panoramic train - Montreux - French Lake Geneva area/Chamonix Valley" - MARTIGNY - VISP - ZERMATT - VISP - Brig - MXP"

Thank you so much. Much appreciated!

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