Les Plus Beaux Villages de France: This is an official designation for France’s most beautiful villages, established in 1982 to promote and preserve rural heritage.
Number of Villages: As of 2024, there are around 164 villages that have earned this title.
Diverse Regions: The villages are spread across various regions in France, including Provence, Normandy, and Brittany, showcasing distinct architectural styles and landscapes.
Cultural Heritage: Each village is known for its unique cultural heritage, often featuring historical monuments, traditional crafts, and local cuisine.
Villages and Nature: Many designated villages are located in scenic areas, offering breathtaking views of vineyards, mountains, and rivers, often part of national parks.
Tourism Impact: The designation attracts numerous tourists annually, boosting the local economy while also raising awareness about the importance of preserving rural environments.
Selection Criteria: Villages are evaluated based on criteria such as architectural quality, beauty of the site, and the presence of historical sites.
Signage and Promotion: Villages that attain this status receive a distinctive logo and signage to promote their beauty and heritage to visitors.
Examples of Villages: Notable villages include Gordes in Provence, Riquewihr in Alsace, and Saint-Cirq-Lapopie in Occitanie.
Culinary Delights: Many of these villages are renowned for their culinary specialties, often featuring local ingredients and traditional recipes.
Art and Festivals: Several villages host annual festivals, art exhibitions, and craft fairs, celebrating local culture and encouraging community participation.
Preservation Efforts: The "Les Plus Beaux Villages de France" association focuses on conservation efforts to maintain the architectural and historical integrity of the villages.
Accessibility: While some villages are well-connected and popular among tourists, others offer a more remote and tranquil experience, accessible through scenic drives or hiking trails.
Influence on Literature and Art: Many of these villages have inspired famous artists and writers, contributing to their romanticized portrayal in French culture.
- Anecdotal Stories: Each village often has its own unique anecdotes or legends, adding character and charm to its historical narrative.
Happy places that taste of fairy tale and tradition. Here are the villages that have won the title of “Plus beau village de France”…
A trip to France always has something poetic and romantic about it. This country in some ways very similar to Italy finds its beauty in its cities of art, magnificence in its capital city Paris, its beautiful nature in the majestic mountains and chic rivieras, finds its essence in the small villages. Like a jigsaw puzzle in France, the villages build a perfect picture that fascinates all who travel alone or in pairs, with friends and family. Each village or hamlet in France is a cradle of traditions, of flavors, is a perfect destination for a relaxing and sometimes magical trip. From Normadia to Brittany, here are some of the most beautiful villages in the France that are worth the trip…
Colmar: the picturesque, colorful and splendid little Venice of Alsace
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It can be found in Alsace and its charm is truly irresistible. Colmar, is the ideal destination for those who want to make a relaxing vacation, but also for those who are looking for a romantic destination where they can leave themselves pamper yourself with the beauty of the village and its traditions. This small village of medieval layout which looks like something out of one of the Brothers Grimm’s fairy tales, has typical Alsatian houses bordering a river, which gives it the nickname of the little Venice. Here the past is steeped in every street, the flavors are authentic, the wines delicious since Colmar has its origin precisely from a rural winegrowing community. A curiosity? Those who like photos at Colmar will find the perfect setting to bring home images of a truly stellar trip to France.
Veules-les-Roses: the Normandy hamlet has the smallest river in France.
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It’s lovely, so lovely that it’s part of the France’s most beautiful villages from 2017. It has a special charm thanks to its waterfront, fine sandy beach, low tide, and river Veules France’s smallest. This village is just as one imagines typical French villages with cobblestone streets, mills that follow the motion of the water. Veules-les-Roses is one of the oldest villages in the Pays de Caux, a typical holiday destination that has fascinated so many artists even Victor Hugo himself.
Saint-Suliac: the labyrinthine village of Brittany.
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It is one of the most beautiful villages in France is located in the Rance Valley and is the classic village that enchants and excites with its beauty. This small village is the ideal destination for a walking tour, step by step through the narrow streets that create a real labyrinth you catch the flavor of a magical, fairy tale atmosphere. The arched doorways, architraved windows and thatched houses make this truly unique fishing village of Brittany. Its small harbor is home to numerous little places and cafes that seem tailor-made for a peaceful break. If you want to experience more, take a walk on the path that leads up to the Mount Garrot, the panoramic view of the river and the ancient Viking camp on the outskirts of Saint-Suliac will leave you speechless.
Châteauneuf: the typical French village whose symbol is a majestic castle
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There are not a few villages in France that can be recognized even from a distance by an imposing castle. This is also true for Châteauneuf which won the title of one of the “Plus beau village de France” precisely because of its grandiose construction. This small village in Burgundy has a typical medieval layout, and traces of its origins can still be seen with a walk through the streets where you will encounter historic houses, wash houses and quaint gardens. The castle which makes it famous was originally a simple keep that expanded over time to become a splendid testimony to Burgundian military architecture.
Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port: the French village on the Camino de Santiago
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It is located in the Basque Country on the border with Spain and is also for many the starting point of the Path on the French side but it is not only an important place on the pilgrimage route, but one of the most beautiful villages on the French side of the Basque Country. Capital of the ancient province of the Lower Navarre, Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port manages to fascinate everyone with its pink sandstone walls, its cobbled lanes lined with old houses, its old bridge over the Nive River, and its picturesque facades by the water’s edge. It is a village that smells of relaxation, with picturesque views. Where to enjoy the most beautiful views? It is worth climbing up to the entrance of the citadel to enjoy a wonderful view of part of the lush Basque Country.
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