Most beautiful villages of France

A total of about 155 villages across mainland France and two in Corsica have been awarded the prestigious 'most beautiful villages of France' award. The villages are listed below by region and there is a map showing all the 'beautiful villages of France' to help you find those near your destination.

Selected French villages to explore...



We have visited and have detailed information pages and a photo gallery for many of the villages shown - see individual places below. Remember: there are of course numerous villages that are very attractive but not classified!

Map showing the classified most beautiful villages in France

On the map showing all the villages you can see that although they are widely dispersed across France, there is also a significant amount of 'clustering' - with certain areas having more than their fair share of 'Most beautiful villages of France' - the Dordogne and Luberon areas in particular.

Most Beautiful Villages of France by department

ALSACE - Most beautiful villages of France

Bas-Rhin:

• HUNSPACH - 10 km S of Wissembourg; 20 km NE of Haguenau Hunspach
• MITTELBERGHEIM - 8 km S of Obernai; 2 km NE of Andlau Mittelbergheim

Haut-Rhin:

• HUNAWIHR - 10 km NW of Colmar; 2 km S of Ribeauville. 2 km NE of Riquewihr (see below) Hunawihr
• RIQUEWIHR - 12 km NW of Colmar; 6 km SW of Ribeauville. 2 km SW of Hunawihr (see above) Riquewihr
• EGUISHEIM Eguisheim
  
  

AQUITAINE - Most beautiful villages of France

Dordogne:

• BELVES - 20 km SW of Sarlat-la-Canéda Belves
• BEYNAC-ET-CAZENAC - On the Dordogne, 8 km SW of Sarlat-la-Canéda Beynac
• DOMME - On the Dordogne, 8 km SW of Sarlat-la-Canéda Domme
• LIMEUIL - 30 km W of Sarlat-la-Canéda; 5 km SW of La Bugue. 15 km NW of Belves Limeuil
• MONPAZIER - 15km S of Domme Monpazier
• ROQUE-GAGEAC - 8 km S of Sarlat-la-Canéda La Roque-Gageac
• SAINT-JEAN-DE-COLE - 15 km NE of Brantôme Saint-Jean-de-Cole
• SAINT-AMAND-DE-COLY- (Dordogne) - St-Amand-de-Coly
• SAINT-LEON-SUR-VEZERE - In the Vézère Valley near Lascaux caves; 40 km SE of Périgueux Saint Leon sur Vezere

Lot-et-Garonne:

• MONFLANQUIN  - 15 km N of Villeneuve-sur-Lot Monflanquin
• PUJOLS-LE-HAUT - 2 km S of Villeneuve-sur-Lot; 25 km N of Agen. Pujols

Atlantic Pyrenees (Pyrénées-Atlantiques: )

• AINHOA - 20km S of Biarritz, on Spanish border Ainhoa
• BASTIDE-CLAIRENCE - 20km SE of Biarritz La-Bastide-Clairence
• SARE - 14km S of St Jean de Luz Sare

AUVERGNE - Most beautiful villages of France

Allier:

• CHARROUX - 20km NW of Vichy Charroux
• SALERS - 42 km N Aurillac Salers
• TOURNEMIRE - 15 km N of Aurillac Tournemire

Haute-Loire:

• ARLEMPDES - 20 km S of Le Puy-en-Velay Arlempdes
• BLESLE - 15 km W of Brioude Blesle
• LAVAUDIEU - 7 km SE of Brioude Lavaudieu
• PRADELLES - 30 km S of Le Puy-en-Velay Pradelles

Puy-de-Dôme:

• MONTPEYROUX - 15 km SE of Clermont-Ferrand Montpeyroux
• SAINT-FLORET - 25 km S of Clermont-Ferrand Saint-Floret
• SAINT-SATURNIN - 15 km S of Clermont-Ferrand Saint-Saturnin
• USSON - 7 km SE of Issoire Usson
  
  

BURGUNDY (BOURGOGNE) - Most beautiful villages of France

Côte-d'Or:

• CHATEAUNEUF-EN-AUXOIS - 30 km SW of Dijon Chateauneuf-en-Auxois
• FLAVIGNY-SUR-OZERAIN - 20 km SE of Montbard Flavigny

Saône-et-Loire:

• SEMUR-EN-BRIONNAIS - 25 km N of Roanne Semur-en-Brionnais

Yonne:

• NOYERS-SUR-SEREIN - 30 km SE of Auxerre Noyers
• VEZELAY - 40 km S of Auxerre Vezelay
  
  

BRITTANY (BRETAGNE) - Most beautiful villages of France

Finistère:

• LE FAOU - 25 km SE of Brest Le Faou
• ILE-DE-SEIN - Small island W of Audierne Ile-de-Sein
• LOCRONAN - 15 km NW of Quimper Locronan

Ille-et-Vilaine:

• SAINT-SULIAC - 7 km S of St Malo

Morbihan:

• ROCHEFORT-EN-TERRE - 30 km east of Vannes Rochefort-en-Terre

CENTRE - Most beautiful villages of France

Cher:

• APREMONT-SUR-ALLIER - 15 km SW of Nevers Apremont-sur-Allier

Indre:

• GARGILESSE-DAMPIERRE - 10 km SE of Argenton-sur-Creuse - see Gargilesse-Dampierre
• SAINT-BENOIT-DU-SAULT - 20 km SW of Argenton-sur-Creuse St-Benoit-du-Sault

Indre-et-Loire:

• CANDES-SAINT-MARTIN - 10 km SE of Saumur Candes-Saint-Martin
• CRISSAY-SUR-MANSE - 30 km SW of Tours Crissay-sur-Manse
• MONTRESOR - 20 km E of Loches Montresor

Loir-et-Cher:

• LAVARDIN  - 20 km SW of Vendome Lavardin

Loiret:

YEVRE-LE-CHATEL  - 40 km NE of orleans Yevre-le-Chatel

 

CORSICA - Most beautiful villages of France

Corse-du-Sud:

• PIANA - Corsica 12km from Porto Piana

Haute-Corse:

• SANT'ANTONINO - Corsica Sant'Antonino
  
  

FRANCHE-COMTE - Most beautiful villages of France

Doubs:

• LODS - 30 km SE of Besançon Lods

Haute-Saône:

• PESMES - 30 km W of Besançon - see Pesmes

Jura:

• BAUME-LES-MESSIEURS - 8 km NE of Lons-le-Saunier Baume-les-Messieurs
• CHATEAU-CHALON - 10 km SW of Poligny Chateau-Chalon
  
  

ILE-DE-FRANCE - Most beautiful villages of France

Val-d'Oise:

• LA-ROCHE-GUYON (LA) - 10 km E of Vernon La-Roche-Guyon
  
  

LANGUEDOC-ROUSSILLON - Most beautiful villages

Aude:

• LAGRASSE - 30 km SE of Carcassonne Lagrasse

Gard:

• LA ROQUE-SUR-CEZE - northern Gard department - La Roque-sur-Ceze
• AIGUEZE - (north-east Gard) - south-east of the gorges de l'Ardeche Aigueze

Hérault:

• MINERVE - 25 km NW of Narbonne Minerve
• OLARGUES - 40 km NW of Béziers Olargues
• SAINT-GUILHEM-LE-DESERT - 20 km E of Lodève St Guilhem

Lozère:

• LA GARDE-GUERIN - Cevennes national park area, 40 km N of Alès La Garde Guerin
• SAINTE-ENIMIE - 20 km SW of Mende St Enimie

Pyrénées-Orientales:

• CASTELNOU - 20 km SW of Perpignan Castelnou
• EUS - 40 km W of Perpignan. 10 km NE of Villefranche-de-Conflent Eus
• MOSSET - NW of Eus Mosset
• VILLEFRANCHE-DE-CONFLENT - 50 km W of Perpignan. 10 km SW of Eus Villefranche-de-Conflent
  
  

LIMOUSIN - Most beautiful villages of France

Corrèze:

• COLLONGES-LA-ROUGE - 15 km SE of Brive-la-Gaillarde Collonges-la-Rouge
• CUREMONTE - 25 km SE of Brive-la-Gaillarde Curemonte
• SAINT-ROBERT - 20 km NW of Brive-la-Gaillarde
• SEGUR-LE-CHATEAU - 20 km W of Uzerche Ségur-le-Chateau
• TREIGNAC - 30 km N of Tulle Treignac
• TURENNE - 12 km SE of Brive-la-Gaillarde Turenne

Haute-Vienne:

• MORTEMART - 10 km SW of Bellac
  
  

LORRAINE - Most beautiful villages of France

Moselle:

• RODEMACK - 15 km NE of Thionville - see Rodemack
• SAINT-QUIRIN - 50 km W of Strasbourg - see Saint-Quirin
  
  

MIDI-PYRENEES - Most beautiful villages of France

Ariège:

• CAMON - 10 km SE of Mirepoix Camon
• SAINT-LIZIER - 2 km N of St Girons Saint-Lizier

Aveyron:

• BELCASTEL - 20 km W of Rodez Belcastel
• BROUSSE-LE-CHATEAU - 10 km N of St Sernin-sur-Rance Brousse-le-Chateau
• CONQUES - 30 km E of Figeac Conques
• LA COUVERTOIRADE - 20 km N of Lodève La Couvertoirade
• ESTAING - 25 km N of Rodez Estaing
• NAJAC - 20 km S of Villefranche de-Rouergue Najac
• SAINT-COME-D'OLT - 25 km NE of Rodez Saint Come d'Olt
• SAINTE-EULALIE-D'OLT - 30 km NE of Rodez Saint Eulalie d'Olt
• SAUVETERRE-DE-ROUERGUE - 25 km SW of Rodez Sauveterre-de-Rouergue

Garonne (Haute):

• SAINT-BERTRAND-DE-COMMINGES - 50 km SE of Tarbes St-Bertrand-de-Comminges

Gers:

• FOURCES - 10 km north of Montréal Fources
• LARRESSINGLE - 6kw west of Condom Larressingle
• LAVARDENS - 20 km west of Fleurance Lavardens
• MONTREAL-DU-GERS - 15 km W of Condom Montreal-du-Gers
• SARRANT - 40 km NW of Toulouse - see Sarrant

Lot:

• AUTOIRE - 15 km NE of Gramat Autoire
• CARDAILLAC - 8 km N of Figeac - see Cardaillac
• CARENNAC - 20 km E of Souillac Carennac
• LACAPELLE-MARIVAL - 15 km NW of Figeac
• LOUBRESSAC - 15 km NE of Gramat Loubressac
• SAINT-CIRQ-LAPOPIE - 20 km E of Cahors St Cirq Lapopie

Tarn:

• CASTELNAU-DE-MONTMIRAL - 25 km W of Albi - see Castelnau-de-Montmiral
• LAUTREC - 15 km NW of Castres - see Lautrec
• PUYCELSI-GRESIGNE - 30 km E of Montauban

Tarn-et-Garonne:

• AUVILLAR - 30 km SE of Agen Auvillar
• BRUNIQUEL - 25 km E of Montauban Bruniquel
• LAUZERTE - 15 km N of Moissac Lauzerte
  
  

NORMANDY (NORMANDIE Basse) - Most beautiful villages of France

Calvados:

• BEUVRON-EN-AUGE - 25 km E of Caen Beuvron-en-Auge

Manche:

• BARFLEUR - 25 km E of Cherbourg, on the coast Barfleur

Orne

• SAINT-CENERI-LE-GEREI - 10 km SW of Alençon Saint-Ceneri-le-Gerei
  
  

NORMANDIE (Haute) - Most beautiful villages of France

Eure:

• LE BEC-HELLOUIN - 30 kilometres south-west of Rouen, see Le Bec-Hellouin
• LYONS-LA-FORET - 30 km E of Rouen Lyons la Foret
  
  

PAYS-DE-LA-LOIRE - Most beautiful villages of France

Maine-et-Loire:

• MONTSOREAU - 10 km SE of Saumur Montsoreau

Mayenne

• SAINTE-SUZANNE - SE of Evron Sainte-Suzanne

Vendée:

• VOUVANT - 12 km N of Fontenay-le-Comte Vouvant
  
  

PICARDY (PICARDIE) - Most beautiful villages of France

Aisne:

• PARFONDEVAL - 20 km SE of Vervins Parfondeval

Oise:

• GERBEROY - 20 km NW of Beauvais Gerberoy
  

POITOU-CHARENTES - Most beautiful villages of France

Charente:

• AUBETERRE-SUR-DRONNE - 40 km S of Angoulême Aubeterre-sur-Dronne

Charente-Maritime:

• ARS-EN-RE - 30 km W of La Rochelle (on Ile-de-Ré) Ars-en-Ré
• LA FLOTTE-EN-RE - 12 km W of La Rochelle (on Ile-de-Ré) La Flotte-en-Ré
• MORNAC-SUR-SEUDRE - 10 km N of Royan
• TALMONT-SUR-GIRONDE - 15 km SE of Royan Talmont-sur-Gironde

Deux-Sèvres:

• COULON - 10 km W of Niort Coulon

Vienne:

ANGLES-SUR-L'ANGLIN - 40 km NE of Potiers Angles sur l'Anglin Angles-sur-l'Anglin

PROVENCE-ALPES-COTE D'AZUR - Most beautiful villages

Alpes-de-Haute-Provence:

• MOUSTIERS-SAINTE-MARIE - near the Gorges du Verdon Moustiers

Alpes-Maritimes:

• COARAZE - 20km N of Nice Coaraze
• GOURDON - 12km NE of Grasse Gourdon
• SAINTE-AGNES - 10km NE of Menton Sainte-Agnes

Bouches-du-Rhône:

• LES BAUX-DE-PROVENCE - 20 km S of Avignon Baux-de-Provence

Hautes-Alpes:

• LA GRAVE - 40km NW of Briancon La Grave
• SAINT-VERAN - 50 km SE of Briancon

Var:

• BARGEME - 30km S of Castellane Bargeme
• GASSIN - 10 km S of St Tropez Gassin
• SEILLANS - 35 km W of Graisse Seillans
• TOURTOUR - 20 km W of Draguignan Tourtour

Vaucluse:

• ANSOUIS - 21km N of Aix-en-Provence Ansouis
• GORDES - 38 km E of Avignon Gordes
• LOURMARIN - 20 km S of Apt Lourmarin
• MENERBES - 12 km E of Cavaillon Menerbes
• ROUSSILLON - 12 km W of Apt Roussillon
• SEGURET - 15 km NE of Orange Seguret
• VENASQUE - 12 km SW of Carpentras Venasque
  
  

RHONE-ALPES - Most beautiful villages of France

Ain:

• PEROUGES - 30 km NE of Lyon Perouges

Ardèche:

• BALAZUC - 10 km S of Aubenas Balazuc
• VOGUE - 15 km S of Aubenas Vogué

Drôme:

• LA GARDE-ADHEMAR - 30 km N of Orange La Garde-Adhemar
• MIRMANDE - 15 km NE of Montélimar Mirmande
• MONTBRUN-LES-BAINS - 10 km N of Sault Montbrun-les-Bains
• LE POET-LAVAL - 20 km E of Montélimar Le Poet-Laval

Isere:

• SAINT-ANTOINE-L'ABBAYE - south-west of Grenoble Saint-Antoine-l'Abbaye

Loire:

• SAINTE-CROIX-EN-JAREZ - 20 km SW of Viennesainte-croix-en-jarez Sainte-Croix-en-Jarez

Rhone:

• OINGT - 20 km from Lyon - Oingt

Savoie:

• BONNEVAL-SUR-ARC - 10 km S of Val-d'Isère Bonneval

Haute-Savoie:

• SIXT-FER-A-CHEVAL - 15 km E of Cluses Sixt-Fer-à-Cheval
• YVOIRE - Lac Léman; 10 km W of Thonon-les-Bains Yvoire

Note re. photos of villages - we also have photo galleries for many of the beautiful villages in France listed - see individual details.

Beautiful villages in other countries in Europe