One of the best views of the village, which cascades down the valley, is taken on the opposite side of it. Brouage is a fortified village in the Charente-Maritime hidden within ramparts and turrets that seem to rise from the surrounding salt marshlands. The association and its certification have been very successful. And to sample some regional cuisine, you must have lunch at the Hotel du Port and sample their filets de perche, their perch fillets, in an unbelievable butter and lemon sauce. As a result of the compact footprint, Ansouis delivers photo-ops at every turn. Villages de France Le site des Villages de France vous fait découvrir région par région tous les Villages pittoresques, de charme ou de caractère, avec cartes et fiches descriptives. Main attractions in the village include Gordes Castle, which was originally built in 1031, and Gordes Church. You’ll also find little ‘artisan’ studios including the bright pottery of Atelier Buisson Kessler, or reworked old linen by KOT by TG. This is a line of fortifications along many of France’s borders designed to protect the country from the menace of Fascism in the 1930s. This includes artists such as Marc Chagall and Vasarely Victor, musicians, sculptors and even French Presidents. At the time, it was one of the region’s most important abbeys. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. It’s now owned by the French government. Since 2000, the president of the association has had a seat on the Conseil national du tourisme (National Tourist Board).[5]. I didn’t even know this list existed but just reading about these villages makes me want to visit. However, officially there are exactly 159 Plus Beaux Villages de France – 159 most beautiful villages of all.But how can there be such a precise figure? En une douce harmonie de pierres calcaires. A risk definitely worth taking! I love French villages and I hope to see more of them. This perilously located village sits on a rocky ridge at just under 800m altitude while being practically on the sea. Don’t miss the panorama from Notre-Dame-de-Clausis chapel. The children eagerly unlocked the heavy wooden door, and a magical playground of old stones, evocative ruins and breathtaking views opened up before our eyes. L’hôtel Carmejane, privé, est à lui seul un résumé de l’histoire de Ménerbes. Take a look at my series on Far-Flung France for an explanation. The village of Ménerbes is located in the Luberon, a beautiful area of immense natural and cultural heritage in the Vaucluse department. With a superb selection of restaurants, including the excellent Le Moulin de Lourmarin, which always has a fabulous ‘market day’ lunch menu, it is a delightful place to experience the best of Provence. The half-timbered houses, cobblestone streets, and storefronts looked too perfect to be real! The rather amusingly named Ars-en-Ré is a pretty harbour village on the island of Ré off the Atlantic coast in the Charente-Maritime. There are many dwellings that are literally carved into the rock face as well as a lovely riverside promenade with great restaurants and bars – our favourite is the restaurant ‘La Belle Etoile’. The medieval village of Conques is tucked away in a deep valley in Aveyron, France. Don’t miss the weekly market held on Tuesdays where local produce, artworks and beautiful Provencal fabrics take centre stage. Beynac-et-Cazenac has been inhabited since the Bronze ages. Lourmarin suggested by Julie at Vaucluse Dreamer. 16 nov. 2020 à 13:00
[1], One of the major principles of the association is the protection of the historical and cultural heritage. Confused? There’s still so much of France I need to see! With a backdrop like this, it’s no surprise at all that Hell Bourg is classed as one of the most beautiful villages in France. A gabarre is a traditional flat-bottomed boat that was previously used to transport goods along the river towards Bordeaux. Usson suggested by Richard at Deep Heart of France. 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. Culture Trip stands with Black Lives Matter. The association was set up to help villages promoting their touristic potentials. Your taste buds will be singing for days. Some of these villages are well known, while others are well and truly off the beaten track and unlikely to be visited by anyone other than locals if they weren’t part of the association. Follow the river and explore the impressive Gorges d’Ardèche. I stayed there overnight. This is not a subjective opinion, it’s the number of villages that belong to an actual association. Conques suggested by Alison at Dreamer at Heart. The Alsace wine route would also be fun. You might feel a sense of déjà-vu when you visit Barfleur in the Manche department. Head inside to admire the contemporary stained glass windows by painter Pierre Soulages and then perch yourself, maybe with an ice cream, and stare in awe at the tympanum which still has traces of colour on the carved figures. Thanks for hosting this collab! More Lou Messugo articles, features and guest posts…, Copyright © 2020 Lou Messugo | Website by GiteWise | Log in, Wild Swimming in Rivers on the Côte d’Azur. Thanks for sharing this great list for my future travel inspiration. Nestled between the Dordogne river and limestone cliffs, the village enjoys a very special location and attracts many visitors to the area. They are followed by Vaucluse, with seven, and Lot, with six. The idea of an association to gather the most beautiful villages of France was born in Collonges-la-Rouge, Corrèze in 1981. As you can imagine it offers incredible sweeping views along the coast. Beynac-et-Cazenac has beautiful old streets and buildings and visiting it is a great thing to do in the Dordogne with kids. What a strategic location Saint-Cirq-Lapopie held for centuries. Pour évoquer ces deux richesses du terroir, une seule adresse : la Maison de la truffe et du vin. Aménagée dans l’hôtel d’Astier de Montfaucon, datant des XVIIe et XVIIIe siècles. Its elegant and carefully restored Chateau (often housing art exhibitions) is always worth a visit as is the village, with its narrow lanes, beautiful buildings and excellent shops. The tower of L’Eglise de Saint-Cirq-Lapopie rises high over the town and the chateau ruins situated on high provide sweeping views of the lush Lot Valley. It specifically targets villages that are sometimes neglected by wider regional or national touristic strategies. Gordes is also a fabulous village to base yourself for further exploration of the region due to its proximity to other attractions including Roussillon, Fontaine de Vaucluse and Avignon. Ce lieu a traversé les temps et fait partie d’un des villages qui fut libéré par les américains en Juin 1944. Le village est conquis par ruse par les protestants. An enchanting feature of the village is its street/square names such as “Place du Grenier à Sel” recalling its agricultural past. In the summer there’s also a Tuesday morning market. Cette belle église en pierre blanche est inscrite aux monuments historiques. The bustling weekly market is held on the quayside on Saturday mornings. Even better than the quaint streets of Hell Bourg though, is the incredible scenery that surrounds it. The town originally made its fortune in salt trading during the 1500s and then became a stronghold of Cardinal de Richelieu during the siege of La Rochelle in 1628, where the Huguenots were defeated. The collection of the most beautiful villages in France –, © Alberto Fernandez Fernandez / WikiCommons. Owing to its strategic location Ste-Agnès has some interesting fortifications including a medieval castle and more recent 20th century defences making up part of the Maginot Line. Leaving aside that question and despite its overwhelming number of visitors, Les Baux is possibly one of my favourite places in the PACA region. It literally clings perilously to a cliff over-looking the Loup river gorge. While there are several great restaurants to eat at in Riquewihr, one of the most delicious places to pop into is the Pains d’Epices Fortwenger shop, filled to the brim with all things Gingerbread, a popular shop you’ll find in several main villages in the region. It’s where the woman known popularly as “Queen Margot” (Marguerite de Valois) lived in exile from the royal court in Paris. Locronan has more proof that it belongs to France’s most beautiful villages, other than the official title. Do make a point of walking up the stairs (there are lots of them) to the hillside chapel Notre-Dame de Beauvoir, classified a historic monument in 1921. The Ardèche region in France is known for its dramatic landscape and so it’s unsurprising that villages like Balazuc exist. Extend your visit by stopping for a drink or meal at la Taverne Provençale which offers the best views from its terrace. Dès le XIe siècle, le village est une place forte, grâce à son emplacement stratégique sur un éperon rocheux. There are many shops selling traditional Breton biscuits, little cafés and créperies.