The race is divided into 21 stages, or "etapes", and being a town at the start or finish of an etape is a great honour and much sought after.
Tonnerre - a two-hour train ride south of Paris - is one such town.
It will become a "ville-etape" for the first time on 16 July, when the 211km (131-mile) 12th stage to Vittel begins there.
Tonnerre, sleepy but picturesque, will see its population of 6,500 more than double as the "caravan" - the travelling circus that accompanies the Tour de France - moves in.
The riders, technicians, support personnel, organisers, sponsors and journalists make up around 4,500 alone.
Add to that thousands of spectators arriving to cram up against the metal barriers lining the streets.
Meanwhile, millions more will watch on television as Tonnerre enjoys its five minutes of fame, with captivating aerial shots relayed round the world.
The benefits of being a ville-etape are - at first glance - easy to see, though the longer-term economic rewards are more difficult to calculate.
Aside from the income from visitors on the day, the hope is that tourism will grow in the days and months that follow.
Tonnerre does not lack attractions, such as the intriguing Fosse Dionne - a wide natural well more than 300m (900 ft) deep whose source remains a mystery despite numerous diving expeditions.
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