''Les Plus Beaux Villages de France'' (meaning “the most beautiful villages of France”) is an independent association created in 1982 for the promotion of the tourist appeal of small rural villages with a rich cultural heritage. As of September 2016, it numbers 156 member villages (independent ''communes'' or part of a '' communauté de communes'').
Membership requires meeting certain selection criteria and offers a strategy for development and promotion to tourists. The three initial selection criteria are the rural nature of the village (a population of less than 2,000 inhabitants), the presence of at least two national heritage sites ( ''sites classés'' or ''monuments historiques'') and local support in the form of a vote by the council. Each village must pay an annual fee to the association and the mayor must sign the association's Quality Charter. If the village fails to meet the requirements of the charter it may be excluded.
The association claims membership can bring a rise of between 10 and 50% in visitor numbers.
The southern
departments
Department may refer to:
* Departmentalization, division of a larger organization into parts with specific responsibility
Government and military
*Department (administrative division), a geographical and administrative division within a country, ...
of the
Dordogne
Dordogne ( , or ; ; oc, Dordonha ) is a large rural department in Southwestern France, with its prefecture in Périgueux. Located in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region roughly half-way between the Loire Valley and the Pyrenees, it is named ...
and
Aveyron
Aveyron (; oc, Avairon; ) is a department in the region of Occitania, Southern France. It was named after the river Aveyron. Its inhabitants are known as ''Aveyronnais'' (masculine) or ''Aveyronnaises'' (feminine) in French. The inhabitan ...
have the most number of member villages, with ten in each. They are followed by
Vaucluse
Vaucluse (; oc, Vauclusa, label= Provençal or ) is a department in the southeastern French region of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur. It had a population of 561,469 as of 2019.Lot, with six.
Following the success of the French certification, similar associations have been formed in
Wallonia
Wallonia (; french: Wallonie ), or ; nl, Wallonië ; wa, Waloneye or officially the Walloon Region (french: link=no, Région wallonne),; nl, link=no, Waals gewest; wa, link=no, Redjon walone is one of the three regions of Belgium—al ...
(''
Les Plus Beaux Villages de Wallonie
''Les Plus Beaux Villages de Wallonie'' ( French; in English: "The Most Beautiful Villages of Wallonia") is a non-profit organisation formed in 1994 to promote, protect and develop a number of villages in Wallonia, Belgium.
The association is in ...
''),
Quebec
Quebec ( ; )According to the Canadian government, ''Québec'' (with the acute accent) is the official name in Canadian French and ''Quebec'' (without the accent) is the province's official name in Canadian English is one of the thirte ...
The idea of an association to gather the most beautiful villages of France was born in Collonges-la-Rouge, Corrèze in 1981. Charles Ceyrac, mayor of the village, was inspired by a ''
Reader's Digest
''Reader's Digest'' is an American general-interest family magazine, published ten times a year. Formerly based in Chappaqua, New York, it is now headquartered in midtown Manhattan. The magazine was founded in 1922 by DeWitt Wallace and his wif ...
'' book entitled ''Les Plus Beaux Villages de France'' which included pictures of Collonges. He decided to launch an association that would unite villages to give them a public face and revitalise their economies. He wrote to the mayors of one hundred villages included in the book, advising them of his plans. Sixty-six mayors responded and the association was officially founded on 6 March 1982 at
Salers
Salers (, ) is a commune in the Cantal department in south-central France.
It is famous for the Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée
An appellation is a legally defined and protected geographical indication primarily used to identify wher ...
, Cantal.
Charles Ceyrac remained the president of the association until 1996, when he was succeeded by Maurice Chabert, mayor of Gordes, Vaucluse, who is the current president. The association is still situated in Collonges-la-Rouge.
The association and its
certification
Certification is the provision by an independent body of written assurance (a certificate) that the product, service or system in question meets specific requirements. It is the formal attestation or confirmation of certain characteristics of a ...
have been very successful. Many competing certifications exist in France, differentiated by their targets (e.g. level of population), stringency of criteria and the cost of membership.
The association has four employees and an annual budget of €479,000. An application, as well as each six-yearly review, requires evaluation by the Quality Committee at the cost of €800 plus €0.50 per inhabitant. Each member village contributes an annual fee calculated at the rate of three euros per inhabitant.
Since 2000, the president of the association has had a seat on the ''Conseil national du tourisme'' (National Tourist Board).Décret n°2000–96 du 2 février 2000 modifiant le décret n°86–201 du 11 février 1986 portant création du Conseil national du tourisme /ref>
Since 7 July 2012, ''Les Plus Beaux Villages de France'' has been part of the international association ''Les Plus Beaux Villages de la Terre'' ("The Most Beautiful Villages of the World").
Principles
The association was set up to help villages promoting their touristic potentials. It specifically targets villages that are sometimes neglected by wider regional or national touristic strategies. The association believes in improving life in
French
French (french: français(e), link=no) may refer to:
* Something of, from, or related to France
** French language, which originated in France, and its various dialects and accents
** French people, a nation and ethnic group identified with Franc ...
countryside and it places an emphasis on bringing back economical activities to villages. Most of the labelled villages are in regions that greatly suffer from
rural flight
Rural flight (or rural exodus) is the migratory pattern of peoples from rural areas into urban areas. It is urbanization seen from the rural perspective.
In industrializing economies like Britain in the eighteenth century or East Asia in th ...
. Many villages can be considered dead when most of their houses are either in ruins or transformed into holiday properties by foreigners or French people living in other regions. The association does not promote or encourage open-air museums and other museum-villages.
One of the major principles of the association is the protection of the historical and cultural heritage. Labelled villages must show a real strategy to preserve and promote their heritage. The association encourages
environmentally friendly
Environment friendly processes, or environmental-friendly processes (also referred to as eco-friendly, nature-friendly, and green), are sustainability and marketing terms referring to goods and services, laws, guidelines and policies that cl ...
tourism, for instance by encouraging tailor-made breaks rather than mere passing trade.
Criteria
The association asks candidate municipalities to fill out an application form for the
village
A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet but smaller than a town (although the word is often used to describe both hamlets and smaller towns), with a population typically ranging from a few hundred ...
or hamlet they wish to see receive the label. The locality must have a rural character with no more than 2,000 inhabitants and it must include two national heritage sites and their protection perimeter. The municipality must show real interest and the local council must have deliberated on the application.
After the form is returned to the association, it sends experts to evaluate the application. They create a record of pictures and documents about the locality and consider its appearance (
architecture
Architecture is the art and technique of designing and building, as distinguished from the skills associated with construction. It is both the process and the product of sketching, conceiving, planning, designing, and constructing buildings ...
, urbanism, facilities for welcoming tourists,
environment
Environment most often refers to:
__NOTOC__
* Natural environment, all living and non-living things occurring naturally
* Biophysical environment, the physical and biological factors along with their chemical interactions that affect an organism or ...
quality). The dossier is then given to a commission who decides if the village receives the label or not. If it is successful, the municipality must sign a quality charter.
List
Alsace
*
Bas-Rhin
Bas-Rhin (; Alsatian: ''Unterelsàss'', ' or '; traditional german: links=no, Niederrhein; en, Lower Rhine) is a department in Alsace which is a part of the Grand Est super-region of France. The name means 'Lower Rhine', referring to its lo ...
**
Hunspach
Hunspach is a commune in the Bas-Rhin department in Grand Est in north-eastern France. In 2020 it was voted the «Village préféré des Français» (France's favourite village).
Geography
The commune lies a short distance to the south of Wiss ...
pop. 684
**
Mittelbergheim
Mittelbergheim is a commune in the Bas-Rhin department in Alsace in north-eastern France.
The village is a member of the ''Les Plus Beaux Villages de France'' ("The most beautiful villages of France") association.
Its vineyards produce one ...
pop. 605
*
Haut-Rhin
Haut-Rhin (, ; Alsatian: ''Owerelsàss'' or '; german: Oberelsass, ) is a department in the Grand Est region of France, bordering both Germany and Switzerland. It is named after the river Rhine. Its name means '' Upper Rhine''. Haut-Rhin is t ...
**
Eguisheim
Eguisheim (; german: Egisheim; Alsatian: ''Egsa'') is a commune in the Haut-Rhin department in Grand Est in north-eastern France. It lies in the historical region of Alsace (german: Elsass). The village lies on the edge of the Ballons des Vo ...
pop. 1572
**
Hunawihr
Hunawihr (; german: Hunaweier) is a commune in the Haut-Rhin department in Grand Est in north-eastern France.
The village is a member of the ''Les Plus Beaux Villages de France'' ("The most beautiful villages of France") association.
See als ...
pop. 611
**
Riquewihr
Riquewihr (; Alsatian: ; german: Reichenweier ) is a commune in the Haut-Rhin department in Grand Est in north-eastern France.
A popular tourist attraction for its historical architecture, Riquewihr is also known for the Riesling and other win ...
pop. 1300
Aquitaine
*
Dordogne
Dordogne ( , or ; ; oc, Dordonha ) is a large rural department in Southwestern France, with its prefecture in Périgueux. Located in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region roughly half-way between the Loire Valley and the Pyrenees, it is named ...
**
Belvès
Belvès (; Languedocien dialect, Languedocien: ''Belvés'') is a former Communes of France, commune in the Dordogne Departments of France, department in southwestern France. On 1 January 2016, it was merged into the new commune Pays-de-Belvès.
**
Beynac-et-Cazenac
Beynac-et-Cazenac (; oc, Bainac e Casenac) is a village located in the Dordogne department in southwestern France.
The medieval Château de Beynac is located in the commune.
The village is classified as one of ''Les plus beaux villages de Fra ...
**
Castelnaud-la-Chapelle
Castelnaud-la-Chapelle (; oc, Castelnòu e La Capèla) is a commune in the Dordogne department in Nouvelle-Aquitaine in southwestern France.
The Château de Castelnaud-la-Chapelle is located in the commune.
Geography
The river Céou flows nort ...
La Roque-Gageac
La Roque-Gageac (; oc, La Ròca de Gajac) is a commune in the Dordogne department in Nouvelle-Aquitaine, southwestern France.
Perched above the river Dordogne, the village is a member of the ''Les Plus Beaux Villages de France'' ("The most beau ...
**
Limeuil
Limeuil (; oc, Limuèlh) is a commune in the Dordogne department in Nouvelle-Aquitaine in southwestern France.
Limeuil village is located at the confluence of the Dordogne and Vézère rivers. Historically this location at the meeting of the ...
**
Monpazier
Monpazier (; oc, Montpasièr) is a commune in the Dordogne department in Nouvelle-Aquitaine, southwest France, located 40 kilometres from Bergerac Airport. It is a member of the ''Les Plus Beaux Villages de France'' ("The most beautiful villages ...
Pujols
José Alberto Pujols Alcántara () (); born January 16, 1980) is a Dominican-American former professional baseball first baseman, designated hitter and third baseman who played 22 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB). Nicknamed "The Machin ...
)
*
Pyrénées-Atlantiques
Pyrénées-Atlantiques (; Gascon Occitan: ''Pirenèus Atlantics''; eu, Pirinio Atlantiarrak or ) is a department in the southwest corner of France and of the region of Nouvelle-Aquitaine. Named after the Pyrenees mountain range and the Atlant ...
Navarrenx
Navarrenx (; oc, Navarrencs, ; eu, Nabarrengose, eu, label=Zuberoan, Nabarrenkoxe) is a town and commune in the French department of Pyrénées-Atlantiques (Béarn) and the region of Nouvelle-Aquitaine.
The demonym is Navarre. Since 2014, the ...
Allier
Allier ( , , ; oc, Alèir) is a department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region that borders Cher to the west, Nièvre to the north, Saône-et-Loire and Loire to the east, Puy-de-Dôme to the south, and Creuse to the south-west. Named after ...
Salers
Salers (, ) is a commune in the Cantal department in south-central France.
It is famous for the Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée
An appellation is a legally defined and protected geographical indication primarily used to identify wher ...
Haute-Loire
Haute-Loire (; oc, Naut Léger or ''Naut Leir''; English: Upper Loire) is a landlocked department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of south-central France. Named after the Loire River, it is surrounded by the departments of Loire, Ardèche, ...
Blesle
Blesle (; oc, Bleila) is a commune in the Haute-Loire department in south-central France.
Population
See also
*Communes of the Haute-Loire department
The following is a list of the 257 communes of the Haute-Loire department of France.
...
**
Lavaudieu
Lavaudieu () is a commune in the Haute-Loire department in south-central France.
Geography
The village lies on the right bank of the Senouire, which flows west through the commune.
Population
Sights
* Romanesque Lavaudieu Abbey, otherwise L ...
Puy-de-Dôme
Puy-de-Dôme (; oc, label= Auvergnat, lo Puèi de Doma or ''lo Puèi Domat'') is a department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region in the centre of France. In 2019, it had a population of 662,152.Montpeyroux
** Saint-Floret
** Saint-Saturnin
** Usson
Finistère
Finistère (, ; br, Penn-ar-Bed ) is a department of France in the extreme west of Brittany. In 2019, it had a population of 915,090.
**
Le Faou
Le Faou () is a commune in the Finistère department of Brittany in north-western France.
Population
Inhabitants of Le Faou are called in French ''Faouistes''.
Events
The commune contains the village of Rumengol, location of a major religious ...
Locronan
Locronan (; br, Lokorn) is a commune in the Finistère department of Brittany in north-western France, with a population of 800.
Locronan is a member of the ''Les Plus Beaux Villages de France'' ("The most beautiful villages of France") associa ...
*
Ille-et-Vilaine
Ille-et-Vilaine (; br, Il-ha-Gwilen) is a department of France, located in the region of Brittany in the northwest of the country. It is named after the two rivers of the Ille and the Vilaine. It had a population of 1,079,498 in 2019.
**
Saint-Suliac
Saint-Suliac (; ; Gallo: ''Saent-Suliau'') is a commune in the Ille-et-Vilaine department in Brittany in northwestern France.
Population
Inhabitants of Saint-Suliac are called ''Suliaçais'' in French.
See also
*Communes of the Ille-et-Vi ...
*
Morbihan
Morbihan ( , ; br, Mor-Bihan ) is a department in the administrative region of Brittany, situated in the northwest of France. It is named after the Morbihan (''small sea'' in Breton), the enclosed sea that is the principal feature of the coastl ...
Côte-d'Or
Côte-d'Or (; literally, "Golden Slope") is a département in the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region of Northeastern France. In 2019, it had a population of 534,124.
** Châteauneuf-en-Auxois
** Flavigny-sur-Ozerain
*
Saône-et-Loire
Saône-et-Loire (; Arpitan: ''Sona-et-Lêre'') is a department in the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region in France. It is named after the rivers Saône and Loire, between which it lies, in the country's central-eastern part.
Saône-et-Loire is Bo ...
Vézelay
Vézelay () is a commune in the department of Yonne in the north-central French region of Bourgogne-Franche-Comté. It is a defensible hill town famous for Vézelay Abbey. The town and its 11th-century Romanesque Basilica of St Magdalene ar ...
Centre
*
Cher
Cher (; born Cherilyn Sarkisian; May 20, 1946) is an American singer, actress and television personality. Often referred to by the media as the Honorific nicknames in popular music, "Goddess of Pop", she has been described as embodying female ...
Indre
Indre (; oc, Endre) is a landlocked department in central France named after the river Indre. The inhabitants of the department are known as the ''Indriens'' (masculine; ) and ''Indriennes'' (feminine; ). Indre is part of the current administ ...
Saint-Benoît-du-Sault
Saint-Benoît-du-Sault (; oc, Sent Benet de Saul) is a commune in the Indre department in central France.
It is a medieval village, perched in a curve on a rocky butte overlooking the Portefeuille River in the former province of Berry.
In 19 ...
*
Indre-et-Loire
Indre-et-Loire () is a department in west-central France named after the Indre River and Loire River. In 2019, it had a population of 610,079.Candes-Saint-Martin
Candes-Saint-Martin () is a commune in the Indre-et-Loire department, central France. It overlooks the confluence of the Vienne and Loire rivers from a steep hill on the left bank of the Loire, and marks the boundary between the modern department ...
Loir-et-Cher
Loir-et-Cher (, ) is a department in the Centre-Val de Loire region of France. Its name is originated from two rivers which cross it, the Loir in its northern part and the Cher in its southern part. Its prefecture is Blois. The INSEE and La P ...
Loiret
Loiret (; ) is a department in the Centre-Val de Loire region of north-central France. It takes its name from the river Loiret, which is contained wholly within the department. In 2019, Loiret had a population of 680,434.< ...
Corse-du-Sud
Corse-du-Sud (; co, link=no, Corsica suttana , or ; en, Southern Corsica) is (as of 2019) an administrative department of France, consisting of the southern part of the island of Corsica. The corresponding departmental territorial collect ...
Haute-Corse
Haute-Corse (; co, Corsica suprana , or ; en, Upper Corsica) is (as of 2022) an administrative department of France, consisting of the northern part of the island of Corsica. The corresponding departmental territorial collectivity merged wi ...
Doubs
Doubs (, ; ; frp, Dubs) is a department in the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region in Eastern France. Named after the river Doubs, it had a population of 543,974 in 2019.Lods
Lods () is a commune in the Doubs département in the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region in eastern France.
Geography
Lods is located southeast of Ornans in the valley of the Loue River.
History
It is first documented in 1189, and there are ...
*
Haute-Saône
Haute-Saône (; Arpitan: ''Hiôta-Sona''; English: Upper Saône) is a department in the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region of northeastern France. Named after the river Saône, it had a population of 235,313 in 2019.Pesmes
Pesmes () is a commune in the Haute-Saône department in the region of Bourgogne-Franche-Comté in eastern France
France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of O ...
Baume-les-Messieurs
Baume-les-Messieurs () is a commune in the Jura department in the region of Bourgogne-Franche-Comté in eastern France.
The village lies within the most extensive of the steephead valleys of the Jura escarpment, the ''Reculée de Baume''. ...
**
Château-Chalon
Château-Chalon () is a commune in the Jura department, Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, eastern France.
The commune is perched on a cliff in the first fold of the Jura mountains. It is reached from the west by a road with numerous hairpin curves. I ...
Île-de-France
*
Val-d'Oise
Val-d'Oise (, "Vale of the Oise") is a department in the Île-de-France region, Northern France. It was created in 1968 following the split of the Seine-et-Oise department. In 2019, Val-d'Oise had a population of 1,249,674. ...
Aude
Aude (; ) is a department in Southern France, located in the Occitanie region and named after the river Aude. The departmental council also calls it " Cathar Country" (French: ''Pays cathare'') after a group of religious dissidents active ...
**
Lagrasse
Lagrasse (; oc, La Grassa) is a commune in the Aude department in the Occitanie region of Southern France. In 2016, it had a population of 560. Lagrasse is part of the Les Plus Beaux Villages de France ("The most beautiful villages of France") ...
*
Gard
Gard () is a department in Southern France, located in the region of Occitanie. It had a population of 748,437 as of 2019;Aiguèze
Aiguèze (; oc, Aiguesa) is a commune in the Gard department in the Occitanie region of Southern France. In 2016, it had a population of 217. Since 2005, Aiguèze has been a member of ''Les Plus Beaux Villages de France'' ("The most beautiful v ...
Hérault
Hérault (; oc, Erau, ) is a department of the region of Occitania, Southern France. Named after the Hérault River, its prefecture is Montpellier. It had a population of 1,175,623 in 2019.Minerve
** Olargues
** Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert
* Lozère
**La Garde-Guérin (commune of
Prévenchères
Prévenchères (; oc, Prevenchièiras) is a commune in the Lozère department in southern France.
Geography
The village lies on the left bank of the Chassezac, which flows southeastward through the western part of the commune.
See also
*Commun ...
)
**
Sainte-Enimie
Sainte-Enimie (; oc, Santa Enimia) is a former commune in the Lozère department in southern France. On 1 January 2017, it was merged into the new commune Gorges du Tarn Causses. It was founded in the 7th century by Énimie, who started a con ...
*
Pyrénées-Orientales
Pyrénées-Orientales (; ca, Pirineus Orientals ; oc, Pirenèus Orientals ; ), also known as Northern Catalonia, is a department of the region of Occitania, Southern France, adjacent to the northern Spanish frontier and the Mediterranean Sea ...
**
Castelnou
Castelnou is a municipality located in the province of Teruel, Aragon, Spain. According to the 2004 census (INE
INE, Ine or ine may refer to:
Institutions
* Institut für Nukleare Entsorgung, a German nuclear research center
* Instituto N ...
**
Eus
Eus ( in both French and Catalan) is a commune in the Pyrénées-Orientales department in southern France.
Geography Localization
Eus is located in the canton of Les Pyrénées catalanes and in the arrondissement of Prades.
Population ...
Mosset
Mosset () is a commune in the Pyrénées-Orientales department in southern France.
Geography
Mosset is located in the canton of Les Pyrénées catalanes and in the arrondissement of Prades
The arrondissement of Prades is an arrondissement of ...
Corrèze
Corrèze (; oc, Corresa) is a department in France, named after the river Corrèze which runs through it. Although its prefecture is Tulle, its most populated city is Brive-la-Gaillarde. Corrèze is located in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine regio ...
Treignac
Treignac (; oc, Trainhac) is a commune in the Corrèze department in central France. Treignac, designated one of the 'most beautiful villages of France', is a most typically French town retaining much of its medieval character, situated on th ...
Haute-Vienne
Haute-Vienne (; oc, Nauta Vinhana, ; English: Upper Vienne) is a department in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region in southwest-central France. Named after the Vienne River, it is one of the twelve departments that together constitute Nouvelle-Aquitai ...
Moselle
The Moselle ( , ; german: Mosel ; lb, Musel ) is a river that rises in the Vosges mountains and flows through north-eastern France and Luxembourg to western Germany. It is a left bank tributary of the Rhine, which it joins at Koblenz. A ...
**
Rodemack
Rodemack (; German: ''Rodemachern''; Lorraine Franconian: ''Ruedemaacher''/''Roudemaacher'') is a commune in the Moselle department in Grand Est in northeastern France.
Localities of the commune: ''Esing'', ''Faulbach'', ''Semming''.
Personali ...
Manche
Manche (, ) is a coastal French département in Normandy, on the English Channel, which is known as ''La Manche'', literally "the sleeve", in French. It had a population of 495,045 in 2019.Barfleur
*
Orne
Orne (; nrf, Ôrne or ) is a département in the northwest of France, named after the river Orne. It had a population of 279,942 in 2019.Saint-Céneri-le-Gérei
Saint-Lizier
Saint-Lizier (; oc, Sent Líser) is a commune in the Ariège department in southwestern France, situated on the river Salat.
History
Saint-Lizier has a rich history stretching back to pre Gallo-Roman times. In 72 BC, Pompey, returning from ...
*
Aveyron
Aveyron (; oc, Avairon; ) is a department in the region of Occitania, Southern France. It was named after the river Aveyron. Its inhabitants are known as ''Aveyronnais'' (masculine) or ''Aveyronnaises'' (feminine) in French. The inhabitan ...
Conques
Conques (; Languedocien: ''Concas'') is a former commune in the Aveyron department in Southern France, in the Occitania region. On 1 January 2016, it was merged into the new commune of Conques-en-Rouergue.
Geography
The village is located a ...
Najac
Najac () is a commune in the Aveyron department in southern France. Najac station has rail connections to Toulouse, Figeac and Aurillac.
Najac village is set along a ridge above a bend in the river Aveyron. In the earlier part of the last ...
Comprégnac
Comprégnac (; oc, Comprenhac) is a commune in the Aveyron department in southern France.
The village of Peyre is part of the commune of Comprégnac. It belongs to The most beautiful villages of France association.
Population
See also
...
Sauveterre-de-Rouergue
Sauveterre-de-Rouergue (, literally ''Sauveterre of Rouergue''; oc, Sauvatèrra) is a commune in the Aveyron department in southern France. It is one of the Les Plus Beaux Villages de France (most beautiful villages of France).
Population
...
*
Haute-Garonne
Haute-Garonne (; oc, Nauta Garona, ; en, Upper Garonne) is a department in the Occitanie region of Southwestern France. Named after the river Garonne, which flows through the department. Its prefecture and main city is Toulouse, the country' ...
**
Saint-Bertrand-de-Comminges
Saint-Bertrand-de-Comminges (, literally ''Saint-Bertrand of Comminges''; Gascon: ''Sent Bertran de Comenge'') is a commune (municipality) and former episcopal see in the Haute-Garonne department in southwestern France. It is a member of the ' ...
*
Gers
Gers (; oc, Gers or , ) is a department in the region of Occitania, Southwestern France. Named after the Gers River, its inhabitants are called the ''Gersois'' and ''Gersoises'' in French. In 2019, it had a population of 191,377.
**
Fourcès
Fourcès is a commune in the Gers department in the Occitanie region in southwestern France known for its circular square.
Geography
Fourcès lies near Castelnau-d'Auzan and Montréal.
The Auzoue flows north through the middle of the commune ...
**
Larressingle
Larressingle (; oc, Larressingla) is a commune in the Gers department in southwestern France.
Geography
Population
Sights
* Château de Larressingle (c. 1250 – c. 1550), ruins
*Walls
*Port of Artigue
*Castle
*Church of St. Sigismund
*Si ...
Autoire
Autoire (; Languedocien: ''Altoire'') is a commune in the Lot department in southwestern France.
Population
See also
*Communes of the Lot department
The following is a list of the 313 communes
An intentional community is a voluntary re ...
Lautrec
Lautrec (; oc, Lautrèc) is a commune in the Tarn department in southern France.
Demography
Remarkable sites
Lautrec is listed among "The Most Beautiful Villages of France" as well as a "Remarkable Site for Taste" thanks to its renowne ...
Auvillar
Auvillar (; oc, Autvilar) is a commune in the department of Tarn-et-Garonne and the Occitanie region, situated at the edge of the Lomagne region on the banks of the Garonne river. Since 1994, Auvillar has been voted one of the "most beautiful vi ...
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Bruniquel
Bruniquel (; Languedocien: ''Borniquèl'') is a commune in the Tarn-et-Garonne department in the Occitanie region in southern France.
Geography
The tiny fortified village of 561 inhabitants is at an altitude of by the river Aveyron. The river ...
Maine-et-Loire
Maine-et-Loire () is a department in the Loire Valley in the Pays de la Loire region in Western France. It is named after the two rivers, Maine and the Loire. It borders Mayenne and Sarthe to the north, Loire-Atlantique to the west, Indre-et ...
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Montsoreau
Montsoreau () is a commune of the Loire Valley in the Maine-et-Loire department in western France on the Loire, from the Atlantic coast and from Paris. The village is listed among '' The Most Beautiful Villages of France'' (french: Les Plus Be ...
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Mayenne
Mayenne () is a landlocked department in northwest France named after the river Mayenne. Mayenne is part of the administrative region of Pays de la Loire and is surrounded by the departments of Manche, Orne, Sarthe, Maine-et-Loire, and I ...
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Sainte-Suzanne, Mayenne
Sainte-Suzanne () is a former commune in the Mayenne department in north-western France. On 1 January 2016, it was merged into the new commune of Sainte-Suzanne-et-Chammes.Vendée
Vendée (; br, Vande) is a department in the Pays de la Loire region in Western France, on the Atlantic coast. In 2019, it had a population of 685,442.
Aisne
Aisne ( , ; ; pcd, Ainne) is a French department in the Hauts-de-France region of northern France. It is named after the river Aisne. In 2019, it had a population of 531,345.Parfondeval
* Oise
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Gerberoy
Gerberoy () is a commune in the Oise department in northern France, in the old ''pays'' of Beauvaisis.
Toponymy
''Gerboredum'' 11th Century. Germanic masculine name ''Gerbold'' and Old North French ''roy'' 'ford' (Celtic ''rito-'', Old Welsh ' ...
Poitou-Charentes
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Charente
Charente (; Saintongese: ''Chérente''; oc, Charanta ) is a department in the administrative region of Nouvelle-Aquitaine, south western France. It is named after the river Charente, the most important and longest river in the department, an ...
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Aubeterre-sur-Dronne
Aubeterre-sur-Dronne (, literally ''Aubeterre on Dronne''; oc, Aubaterra or ''Aubaterra de Drona''), commonly referred to as Aubeterre, is a commune in the Charente department in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region of Southwestern France. In 2017, it ...
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Charente-Maritime
Charente-Maritime () is a department in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region on the southwestern coast of France. Named after the river Charente, its prefecture is La Rochelle. As of 2019, it had a population of 651,358 with an area of 6,864 square kil ...
Talmont-sur-Gironde
Talmont-sur-Gironde (, literally ''Talmont on Gironde'') is a commune in the Charente-Maritime department in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region in southwestern France.
Geography
The village lies about south of Royan, on a small promontory which d ...
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Deux-Sèvres
Deux-Sèvres () is a French department. ''Deux-Sèvres'' literally means "two Sèvres": the Sèvre Nantaise and the Sèvre Niortaise are two rivers which have their sources in the department. It had a population of 374,878 in 2019.
Angles-sur-l'Anglin
Angles-sur-l'Anglin (, literally ''Angles on the Anglin'') is a commune in the Vienne department in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region in western France. It has been selected as one of the most beautiful villages of France.
The Château d'Angles-s ...
Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
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Alpes-de-Haute-Provence
Alpes-de-Haute-Provence or sometimes abbreviated as AHP (; oc, Aups d'Auta Provença; ) is a department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region of France, bordering Alpes-Maritimes and Italy to the east, Var to the south, Vaucluse to the w ...
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Moustiers-Sainte-Marie
Moustiers-Sainte-Marie (; oc, Mostiers Santa Maria), or simply Moustiers, is a commune in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region of Southeastern France. In 2017, it had a population of 709. It considered ...
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Alpes-Maritimes
Alpes-Maritimes (; oc, Aups Maritims; it, Alpi Marittime, "Maritime Alps") is a department of France located in the country's southeast corner, on the Italian border and Mediterranean coast. Part of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region, ...
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Coaraze
Coaraze (; oc, Coarasa) is a commune in the Alpes-Maritimes department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in southeastern France.
Geography
Coaraze is a small village in the Nice hinterland, in the valley of the River Paillon. The ...
Bouches-du-Rhône
Bouches-du-Rhône ( , , ; oc, Bocas de Ròse ; "Mouths of the Rhône") is a department in Southern France. It borders Vaucluse to the north, Gard to the west and Var to the east. The Mediterranean Sea lies to the south. Its prefecture and ...
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Les Baux-de-Provence
Les Baux-de-Provence (; oc, label= Provençal, Lei Bauç de Provença), commonly called Baux, is a commune in the Bouches-du-Rhône department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region of Southern France. It is located in the Alpilles mountai ...
Saint-Véran
Saint-Véran (; oc, Sent Veran �sã vˈʀã is a commune in the Hautes-Alpes department in southeastern France in the Queyras Regional Natural Park.
Geography
Saint-Véran, located in the French Alps, is the most elevated commune in France an ...
Bargème
Bargème (; oc, Bargema) is a commune in the Var department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in southeastern France.
See also
*Communes of the Var department
The following is a list of the 153 communes of the Var department of Fra ...
Seillans
Seillans (; oc, Selhan) is a commune in the Var department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in southeastern France.
It is a ''ville perché'' (perched hill-top village) overlooking the plain between the southern Alps and the Esterel, w ...
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Tourtour
Tourtour (; oc, Tortor) is a commune in the Var department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in southeastern France. It is a member of ''Les Plus Beaux Villages de France'' ("The most beautiful villages of France") association.
Geography ...
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Vaucluse
Vaucluse (; oc, Vauclusa, label= Provençal or ) is a department in the southeastern French region of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur. It had a population of 561,469 as of 2019.Ansouis
Ansouis (; oc, Ansoís) is a commune in the Vaucluse department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in southeastern France.Gordes
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Lourmarin
Lourmarin (; oc, Lormarin) is a commune in the Vaucluse department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in southeastern France. Its inhabitants are called ''Lourmarinois''.
Geography
Lourmarin is located in the French region of Provence, a ...
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Ménerbes
Ménerbes (; oc, Menèrba) is a commune in the Vaucluse department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region of Southeastern France. The walled village on a hilltop in the Luberon mountains, foothills of the French Alps, constitutes the main s ...
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Roussillon
Roussillon ( , , ; ca, Rosselló ; oc, Rosselhon ) is a historical province of France that largely corresponded to the County of Roussillon and part of the County of Cerdagne of the former Principality of Catalonia. It is part of the ...
Ardèche
Ardèche (; oc, Ardecha; frp, Ardecha) is a department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of Southeastern France. It is named after the river Ardèche and had a population of 328,278 as of 2019.Balazuc
Balazuc (; oc, Balasuc) is a commune in the Ardèche department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of southern France.
The village has been labelled a "Village of Character" by the Departmental Committee of Tourism. It is a member of Les Plus ...
Drôme
Drôme (; Occitan: ''Droma''; Arpitan: ''Drôma'') is the southernmost department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of Southeastern France. Named after the river Drôme, it had a population of 516,762 as of 2019.
La Garde-Adhémar
La Garde-Adhémar (; oc, La Garda d'Aimar) is a Communes of France, commune in the Drôme Departments of France, department in southeastern France.
Population
See also
*Communes of the Drôme department
References
Communes of Dr ...
Montbrun-les-Bains
Montbrun-les-Bains (; oc, Montbrun) is a commune in the Drôme department in southeastern France.
The commune is well known for its spa treatments for managing respiratory disease and other medical disorders. The village is also very popular wi ...
Haute-Savoie
Haute-Savoie (; Arpitan: ''Savouè d'Amont'' or ''Hiôta-Savouè''; en, Upper Savoy) or '; it, Alta Savoia. is a department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of Southeastern France, bordering both Switzerland and Italy. Its prefecture is Ann ...
Isère
Isère ( , ; frp, Isera; oc, Isèra, ) is a landlocked department in the southeastern French region of Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes. Named after the river Isère, it had a population of 1,271,166 in 2019.Saint-Antoine-l'Abbaye
Saint-Antoine-l'Abbaye (), also Saint-Antoine-en-Viennois, is a commune in the Isère department in southeastern France. On 31 December 2015, the former commune of Dionay was merged into Saint-Antoine-l'Abbaye.Loire
The Loire (, also ; ; oc, Léger, ; la, Liger) is the longest river in France and the 171st longest in the world. With a length of , it drains , more than a fifth of France's land, while its average discharge is only half that of the Rhôn ...
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Sainte-Croix-en-Jarez
Sainte-Croix-en-Jarez () is a commune in the Loire department in central France.
Population
See also
*Communes of the Loire department
The following is a list of the 323 communes of the Loire department of France.
The communes cooperate ...
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Rhône
The Rhône ( , ; wae, Rotten ; frp, Rôno ; oc, Ròse ) is a major river in France and Switzerland, rising in the Alps and flowing west and south through Lake Geneva and southeastern France before discharging into the Mediterranean Sea. At Ar ...
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Oingt
Oingt () is a former commune in the Rhône department of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region in eastern France. On 1 January 2017, Le Bois-d'Oingt, Oingt and Saint-Laurent-d'Oingt merged becoming one commune of Val d'Oingt.Savoie
Savoie (; Arpitan: ''Savouè'' or ''Savouè-d'Avâl''; English: ''Savoy'' ) is a department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, Southeastern France. Located in the French Alps, its prefecture is Chambéry. In 2019, Savoie had a population ...
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Bonneval-sur-Arc
Bonneval-sur-Arc (, literally ''Bonneval on Arc''; frp, Bônavâl-sus-Arc) is a commune in the Savoie department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.
Climate
Bonneval-sur-Arc features an alpine climate due to its hi ...
Upper Normandy
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Eure
Eure () is a department in Normandy in Northwestern France, named after the river Eure. Its prefecture is Évreux. In 2019, Eure had a population of 599,507.Le Bec-Hellouin
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Lyons-la-Forêt
Lyons-la-Forêt () is a commune of the Eure department, Normandy, in northwest France. Lyons-la-Forêt has distinctive historical geography, and architecture, and contemporary culture, as a consequence of the Forest of Lyons, and its bocage, and ...
Overseas departments and territories of France
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Réunion
Réunion (; french: La Réunion, ; previously ''Île Bourbon''; rcf, label= Reunionese Creole, La Rényon) is an island in the Indian Ocean that is an overseas department and region of France. It is located approximately east of the island o ...
French Towns and Lands of Art and History Since 1985, the French Ministry of Culture and Communication has pursued a policy of preserving and promoting France's heritage. Historic towns and districts have been designated ''Villes et Pays d'Art et d'Histoire'' ("Towns and Lands of Art and ...