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''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 A ''communauté de communes'' (, "community of communes") is a federation of municipalities (communes) in France. It forms a framework within which local tasks are carried out together. It is the least-integrated form of ''intercommunalité'' (in ...
''). 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 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 af ...
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 inhabitants ...
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 Lot or LOT or The Lot or ''similar'' may refer to: Common meanings Areas * Land lot, an area of land * Parking lot, for automobiles *Backlot, in movie production Sets of items *Lot number, in batch production *Lot, a set of goods for sale togethe ...
, 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—alo ...
(''
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 ins ...
''),
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 thirtee ...
('' Les Plus Beaux Villages du Québec''), Italy ('' I Borghi più belli d’Italia''), Japan ('' 日本で最も美しい村」連合 Nihon de mottomo utsukushii mura rengō''), Spain ('' Los pueblos más bonitos de España''), Russia ( Самые красивые деревни России), and Switzerland and Liechtenstein ( Les plus beaux villages de Suisse).


History

The idea of an association to gather the most beautiful villages of France was born in
Collonges-la-Rouge Collonges-la-Rouge (, literally ''Collonges the Red''; oc, Colonjas) is a commune in the Corrèze department in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region of France. History The monks of Charroux Abbey founded a priory in the 8th century which attracted ...
, 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 wi ...
'' 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 (AOC) cheeses Cantal and Salers. It is also famous for the Salers breed of cattle that originated in this com ...
,
Cantal Cantal (; oc, Cantal or ) is a department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of France, with its prefecture in Aurillac. Its other principal towns are Saint-Flour (the episcopal see) and Mauriac; its residents are known as Cantalians (fren ...
. Charles Ceyrac remained the president of the association until 1996, when he was succeeded by Maurice Chabert, mayor of
Gordes Gordes (; oc, Gòrda) is a commune in the Vaucluse département in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in southeastern France. The residents are known as ''Gordiens.'' The nearest big city is Avignon; smaller cities nearby include Cavaill ...
, 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 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 the ...
. 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 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 to ...
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 building ...
, 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 low ...
**
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 o ...
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 th ...
**
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 Vosge ...
pop. 1572 ** Hunawihr 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 af ...
**
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 Fr ...
**
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 nor ...
** Domme **
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 **
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 ...
**
Saint-Amand-de-Coly Saint-Amand-de-Coly (; Limousin: ''Sench Amand de Còli'') is a former commune in the Dordogne department in Nouvelle-Aquitaine in southwestern France. On 1 January 2019, it was merged into the new commune Coly-Saint-Amand. The village is a me ...
**
Saint-Jean-de-Côle Saint-Jean-de-Côle (, literally ''Saint-Jean of Côle''; Limousin: ''Sent Joan de Còla'') is a commune in the Dordogne department in Nouvelle-Aquitaine in southwestern France. Geography The Côle flows south-southwest through the middle of th ...
** Saint-Léon-sur-Vézère *
Lot-et-Garonne Lot-et-Garonne (, oc, Òlt e Garona) is a department in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region of Southwestern France. Named after the rivers Lot and Garonne, it had a population of 331,271 in 2019.Monflanquin Monflanquin (; Languedocien: ''Montflanquin'') is a commune in the Lot-et-Garonne department in south-western France. Built in 1256 as a military bastide town on a strategic north-south route, it changed hands several times during the Hundred Y ...
**Pujols-le-Haut (commune of Pujols) *
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 ...
** Ainhoa **
La Bastide-Clairence La Bastide-Clairence (; ) is a commune in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region of south-western France. The inhabitants of the commune are known as ''Bastidots'' or ''Bastidotes''. The village is a member of th ...
**
Navarrenx Navarrenx (; oc, Navarrencs, ; eu, Nabarrengose, eu, label=Zuberoan dialect, Zuberoan, Nabarrenkoxe) is a town and communes of France, commune in the departments of France, French department of Pyrénées-Atlantiques (Béarn) and the region of ...
**
Sare Sare may refer to: People * Bakary Saré (born 1990), Burkinabé football player * Clyde W. Sare (1936–2015), American politician and businessman * Haig Sare (born 1982), Australian rugby union player * Hamit Şare (born 1982), Turkish alpine sk ...


Auvergne

*
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 afte ...
** Charroux *
Cantal Cantal (; oc, Cantal or ) is a department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of France, with its prefecture in Aurillac. Its other principal towns are Saint-Flour (the episcopal see) and Mauriac; its residents are known as Cantalians (fren ...
**
Salers Salers (, ) is a commune in the Cantal department in south-central France. It is famous for the Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée (AOC) cheeses Cantal and Salers. It is also famous for the Salers breed of cattle that originated in this com ...
** Tournemire *
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 ...
** Arlempdes **
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. Th ...
**
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 La ...
** Pradelles *
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-Floret (; oc, Sent Floret) is a commune in the Puy-de-Dôme department in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes in central France. History Saint-Floret is a place of passage on the Way of St. James, a leading Catholic pilgrimage route originated in the ...
** Saint-Saturnin ** Usson


Brittany

* Côtes d'Armor ** Moncontour *
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 ...
** Île-de-Sein **
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-Vila ...
*
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 coastli ...
**
Rochefort-en-Terre Rochefort-en-Terre (; ) is a commune in the Morbihan department of Brittany in north-western France. Rochefort-en-Terre is a designated “Petite Cité de Caractère”. The medieval chateau located in the town was the home of American painter ...


Burgundy

*
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 Flavigny-sur-Ozerain () is a commune in the French department of Côte-d'Or, in Bourgogne-Franche-Comté. The village was awarded membership in ''Les Plus Beaux Villages de France'' ("France's most beautiful villages"). Geography The medieva ...
*
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 ...
**
Semur-en-Brionnais Semur-en-Brionnais () is a commune in the Saône-et-Loire department in the region of Bourgogne-Franche-Comté in eastern France. Sights * The oldest castle in Burgundy, Château Saint Hugues, dating from 9th century. * The collegiale Saint Hi ...
*
Yonne Yonne () is a department in the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region in France. It is named after the river Yonne, which flows through it, in the country's north-central part. One of Bourgogne-Franche-Comté's eight constituent departments, it is lo ...
** Noyers **
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 are de ...


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 ...
** Apremont-sur-Allier * Indre **
Gargilesse-Dampierre Gargilesse-Dampierre () is a commune in the Indre department in central France. It is classified as one of "The most beautiful villages of France" and is situated near the confluence of the Gargilesse stream and the river Creuse. The 19th centu ...
** Saint-Benoît-du-Sault *
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 ...
**
Crissay-sur-Manse Crissay-sur-Manse () is a commune in the Indre-et-Loire department in central France. It is one of the 'most beautiful villages of France' (an official category).Montrésor * Loir-et-Cher ** Lavardin *
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.< ...
** Yèvre-le-Châtel (in Yèvre-la-Ville)


Champagne-Ardenne

No village labelled


Corsica

*
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 ...
** Piana *
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 ...
**
Sant'Antonino Sant'Antonino is a Municipalities of Switzerland, municipality in the district of Bellinzona (district), Bellinzona in the Cantons of Switzerland, canton of Ticino in Switzerland. History Sant'Antonino is first mentioned in 1219 as ''Sancto Ant ...


Franche-Comté

*
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 *
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. See also *Communes of the Haute-Saône department The following is a list of the 539 communes in the French department of Hau ...
* Jura **
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


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.
**
La Roche-Guyon La Roche-Guyon () is a commune in the Val-d'Oise department in Île-de-France in northern France. It is located in the . The commune grew around the Château de La Roche-Guyon, upon which historically it depended for its existence. The comm ...
**
Barbizon Barbizon () is a commune (town) in the Seine-et-Marne department in north-central France. It is located near the Fontainebleau Forest. Demographics The inhabitants are called ''Barbizonais''. Art history The Barbizon school of painters is nam ...


Languedoc-Roussillon

* Aude **
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 **
La Roque-sur-Cèze La Roque-sur-Cèze (; Occitan: ''La Ròca de Céser'') is a commune in the Gard department in the Occitanie region of Southern France. In 2016, it had a population of 187. Population See also *Communes of the Gard department This is a li ...
*
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 Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert ( or ; oc, Sant Guilhèm dau Desèrt) is a commune in the Hérault department in the Occitanie region in southern France. Situated where the Gellone river's narrow valley meets the steep-sided gorge of the river Hérau ...
*
Lozère Lozère (; oc, Losera ) is a landlocked department in the region of Occitanie in Southern France, located near the Massif Central, bounded to the northeast by Haute-Loire, to the east by Ardèche, to the south by Gard, to the west by Aveyron, ...
**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 *Commune ...
) **
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 co ...
* Pyrénées-Orientales ** Castelnou ** Eus ** Évol (commune of Olette-Évol) **
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. Population See also *Communes of the Pyrén� ...
**
Villefranche-de-Conflent Villefranche-de-Conflent (; ca, Vilafranca de Conflent) is historically a town in the Conflent region of Catalonia, and now a commune in the Pyrénées-Orientales department in southern France. Geography Villefranche-de-Conflent is located in ...


Limousin

*
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 region, ...
**
Collonges-la-Rouge Collonges-la-Rouge (, literally ''Collonges the Red''; oc, Colonjas) is a commune in the Corrèze department in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region of France. History The monks of Charroux Abbey founded a priory in the 8th century which attracted ...
**
Curemonte Curemonte (; Limousin: ''Curamonta'') is a commune in the Corrèze department in central France. It is a medieval village characterised by its three castles. In a fortified position on a ridge overlooking a valley on both its eastern and wester ...
** Saint-Robert **
Ségur-le-Château Ségur-le-Château (; oc, Segur lo Chasteu) is a commune in the department of Corrèze in central France. History The viscounts of Limoges, also called the viscounts of Ségur created a small principality, whose last heir was Henry IV. Ség ...
** Treignac **
Turenne Henri de La Tour d'Auvergne, vicomte de Turenne (11 September 161127 July 1675), commonly known as Turenne , was a French general and one of only six Marshals to have been promoted Marshal General of France. The most illustrious member of the ...
*
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 ...
**
Mortemart Mortemart (; oc, Mòrtamar) is a Communes of France, commune in the Haute-Vienne Departments of France, department in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine Regions of France, region in west-central France. See also *Communes of the Haute-Vienne department Ref ...


Lorraine

* Moselle **
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''. Persona ...
pop. 804 **
Saint-Quirin Saint-Quirin (; ) is a commune in the Moselle department in Grand Est in north-eastern France. See also * Communes of the Moselle department The following is a list of the 725 communes of the Moselle department of France. The communes co ...
pop. 873


Lower Normandy

*
Calvados Calvados (, , ) is a brandy from Normandy in France, made from apples or pears, or from apples with pears. History In France Apple orchards and brewers are mentioned as far back as the 8th century by Charlemagne. The first known record of Nor ...
** Beuvron-en-Auge *
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 Barfleur () is a commune and fishing village in Manche, Normandy, northwestern France. History During the Middle Ages, Barfleur was one of the chief ports of embarkation for England. * 1066: A large medallion fixed to a rock in the harbour ...
*
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-Céneri-le-Gérei () is a commune in the Orne department in north-western France. It lies on the river Sarthe from Alençon, the chef-lieu of the department, and some west of Paris. History The place is named for Serenicus (or ''Generi ...


Midi-Pyrénées

* Ariège ** Camon **
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 inhabitants ...
** Belcastel ** Brousse-le-Château ** Conques **
La Couvertoirade La Couvertoirade (; oc, La Cobertoirada) is a commune in the Aveyron department in southern France. Geography La Couvertoirade is located on the Larzac plateau. History and sites of interest This well-preserved fortified town was owned by t ...
** Estaing **
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 ...
** Peyre (commune of Comprégnac) ** Saint-Côme-d'Olt ** Sainte-Eulalie-d'Olt ** Sauveterre-de-Rouergue *
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's ...
**
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 **
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 commu ...
**
Larressingle Larressingle (; oc, Larressingla) is a commune in the Gers department in southwestern France. Geography Population Sights * Château de Larressingle The Château de Larressingle is a ruined castle in the '' commune'' of Larressingle in ...
** Montréal-du-Gers **
Sarrant Sarrant () is a commune in the Gers department in southwestern France. Geography History The Philip IV of France (1268 –1314), better known as the Fair or Iron King, set up a charter of customs, which protected the inhabitants and set th ...
*
Lot Lot or LOT or The Lot or ''similar'' may refer to: Common meanings Areas * Land lot, an area of land * Parking lot, for automobiles *Backlot, in movie production Sets of items *Lot number, in batch production *Lot, a set of goods for sale togethe ...
** Autoire **
Capdenac Capdenac () is a commune in the Lot department in south-western France. It has been inhabited since prehistoric times. At one time Capdenac was thought to be identifiable as the Gaulish settlement of Uxellodunum which was besieged by Julius Cae ...
**
Cardaillac Cardaillac (; oc, Cardalhac) is a commune in the Lot department in south-western France. It is located northwest of Figeac. The village is located on the edge of the Limargue—a rich agricultural region—and Ségala, a poor rye-and ...
**
Carennac Carennac () is a commune in the Lot department in south-western France in the historical region of Quercy. The village lies in the fertile valley of the Dordogne under the arid plateau locally named 'le Causse'. Its landmarks include a medieval ...
**
Loubressac Loubressac (; oc, Laubreçac) is a commune in the Lot department in south-western France. The 1973 movie '' Quelques messieurs trop tranquilles'', directed by Georges Lautner, is set in Loubressac. Loubressac is the location of the Roman Cath ...
** Saint-Cirq-Lapopie * Tarn **
Castelnau-de-Montmiral Castelnau-de-Montmiral (; oc, Castèlnòu de Montmiralh) is a commune in the Tarn department in southern France. Demography Geography The Vère flows westward through the commune. History While traces of activities dating back to the B ...
**
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 renowned ...
**
Monestiés Monestiés (, meaning ''monastery'') is a commune in the Tarn department in southern France. It is a member of the ''Les Plus Beaux Villages de France'' ("The Most Beautiful Villages of France") association. Geography The commune is traversed ...
** Puycelci-Grésigne *
Tarn-et-Garonne Tarn-et-Garonne (; oc, Tarn e Garona ) is a department in the Occitania region in Southern France. It is traversed by the rivers Tarn and Garonne, from which it takes its name. The area was originally part of the former provinces of Quercy and ...
** Auvillar **
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 V ...
**
Lauzerte Lauzerte (; Languedocien: ''Lausèrta'') is a commune in the Tarn-et-Garonne department in the Occitanie region in southern France. Etymology of the name: Two interpretations include the possible Latin root of “Villaserta” and more likely, ...


Nord-Pas-de-Calais

Cassel


Pays de la Loire

*
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-e ...
**
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 ...
*
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 Ill ...
**
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.
**
Vouvant Vouvant () is a commune in the department of Vendée, in the Pays de la Loire region in western France. Vouvant is labelled as ''Les Plus Beaux Villages de France'' (since 1988), ''Petite cité de caractère'', and the village has obtained two f ...


Picardy

*
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 Oise ( ; ; pcd, Oése) is a department in the north of France. It is named after the river Oise. Inhabitants of the department are called ''Oisiens'' () or ''Isariens'', after the Latin name for the river, Isara. It had a population of 829,419 ...
**
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

*
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 ...
** Aubeterre-sur-Dronne *
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 ...
**
Ars-en-Ré Ars-en-Ré () is a commune on the Île de Ré in the western French department of Charente-Maritime, in Nouvelle-Aquitaine. Formerly called just ''Ars'', the commune changed to its current name on 8 March 1962. The inhabitants of the commune ar ...
** La Flotte-en-Ré **
Mornac-sur-Seudre Mornac-sur-Seudre (, literally ''Mornac on Seudre'') is a commune in the Charente-Maritime department in southwestern France. Population See also *Communes of the Charente-Maritime department The following is a list of the 463 communes ...
** Talmont-sur-Gironde *
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.
** Coulon *
Vienne Vienne (; Poitevin-Saintongeais: ''Viéne'') is a landlocked department in the French region of Nouvelle-Aquitaine. It takes its name from the river Vienne. It had a population of 438,435 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-sur ...


Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur

* Alpes-de-Haute-Provence **
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 considere ...
*
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, it ...
**
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 cl ...
** Gourdon ** Sainte-Agnès *
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 ...
**
Les Baux-de-Provence Les Baux-de-Provence (; oc, label=Provençal dialect, Provençal, Lei Bauç de Provença), commonly called Baux, is a Communes of France, commune in the Bouches-du-Rhône Departments of France, department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur Regio ...
*
Hautes-Alpes Hautes-Alpes (; oc, Auts Aups; en, Upper Alps) is a department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region of Southeastern France. It is located in the heart of the French Alps, after which it is named. Hautes-Alpes had a population of 141,220 ...
** La Grave-la-Meije **
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 ...
*
Var Var or VAR may refer to: Places * Var (department), a department of France * Var (river), France * Vār, Iran, village in West Azerbaijan Province, Iran * Var, Iran (disambiguation), other places in Iran * Vár, a village in Obreja commune, Ca ...
**
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 ...
**
Gassin Gassin () is a commune in the Var department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in southeastern France. It is located very near to the holiday destination of Saint-Tropez. Perched high up on a rock, it is less than from the sea. Many Tro ...
**
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 ...
**
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. Geograph ...
*
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 Gordes (; oc, Gòrda) is a commune in the Vaucluse département in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in southeastern France. The residents are known as ''Gordiens.'' The nearest big city is Avignon; smaller cities nearby include Cavaill ...
**
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, ...
**
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 ...
** Roussillon **
Séguret Séguret (; oc, Seguret) is a commune in the Vaucluse department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in southeastern France. See also *Communes of the Vaucluse department The following is a list of the 151 communes of the Vaucluse de ...
**
Venasque Venasque (; oc, Venasca; la, Vindasca) is a commune in the Vaucluse department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in southeastern France. The area has many tourist attractions, such as the nearby Mount Vaucluse, a park with several tenn ...


Rhône-Alpes

*
Ain Ain (, ; frp, En) is a department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region in Eastern France. Named after the Ain river, it is bordered by the Saône and Rhône rivers. Ain is located on the country's eastern edge, on the Swiss border, where ...
**
Pérouges Pérouges () is a commune in the Ain department in eastern France.Commune de Pérouges ...
* Ardèche ** Balazuc **
Vogüé Vogüé (; oc, Vogüer) is a commune in the Ardèche department in southern France. Geography Vogüé is located along the banks of the river Ardèche. Population See also *Communes of the Ardèche department The following is a list o ...
*
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.
**
Grignan Grignan (; oc, Grinhan) is a commune in the Drôme department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region in southeastern France. It has a Renaissance castle and is mentioned in the letters that Madame de Sévigné wrote to her daughter, Madame de Gr ...
**
La Garde-Adhémar La Garde-Adhémar (; oc, La Garda d'Aimar) is a commune in the Drôme department in southeastern France. Population See also *Communes of the Drôme department The following is a list of the 363 communes of the Drôme department of Fra ...
** Mirmande **
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 ...
**
Le Poët-Laval Le Poët-Laval is a rural commune in the Drôme department of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of southeastern France. Population See also *Communes of the Drôme department The following is a list of the 363 communes of the Drôme depa ...
*
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 ...
**
Sixt-Fer-à-Cheval Sixt-Fer-à-Cheval (; frp, Hi) is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department within the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region in southeastern France. It is located at the end of the Giffre Valley. Sixt-Fer-à-Cheval is one of Les Plus Beaux Villages de ...
** Yvoire *
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 Rhône ...
**
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 ...
*
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 ...
**
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 of ...
**
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 geography, regions, otherwise referred to as zones, lands or territories, are areas that ...


Upper Normandy

* Eure **
Le Bec-Hellouin Le Bec-Hellouin () is a commune in the department of Eure in the Normandy region in northern France. It is best known for Bec Abbey and has recently been voted one of the " most beautiful villages of France". The current mayor is Pascal Finet w ...
** Lyons-la-Forêt


Overseas departments and territories of France

*
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 ...
**
Hell-Bourg Hell-Bourg is a small village in the Salazie commune (administrative division) of the French overseas department of Réunion. It is the main community in the island's Cirque de Salazie, and is named for the respected former admiral and island ...
(commune of
Salazie Salazie () is a volcanic caldera and commune (administrative division) in the department and region of Réunion. The first settlement of the area took place in 1829 after a cyclone had devastated the nearby coast, and the municipality of Sal ...
)


See also

*
Tourism in France Tourism in France directly contributed 79.8 billion euros to gross domestic product (GDP) in 2013, 30% of which comes from international visitors and 70% from domestic tourism spending. The total contribution of travel and tourism represents 9.7 ...
*
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 H ...


References


External links


Website of the association (French)
{{DEFAULTSORT:Plus Beaux Villages de France, Les Tourism in France 1982 establishments in France Organizations established in 1982 Lists of most beautiful villages