Most Beautiful Villages of France
There are 161 villages in France rated as a Plus Beaux Village (as of 2013). The ratings are awarded by the Plus Beaux Villages de France association. The basic requirements to be considered by the association are: population under 2000, at least two village sites or buildings classified as "protected", and the municipality requests that the village be considered. As you can see, these requirements could exclude some otherwise lovely places.
Villages | Most Beautiful Villages | Most Beautiful Detours | World Heritage | SW Area Map | SE Area Map |
Here are the Plus Beaux Villages de France located in Provence and the South of France.
Aiguèze
Fortified Medieval village on the cliff-top overlooking the Ardèche. (northwest of Avignon)
Ansouis
Ancient perched village north of Aix-en-Provence, with medieval chateau.
Bargème
The highest village in the Var, with the ruins of a medieval fortress and near the Route Napoleon.
Les Baux-de-Provence
A very picturesque village with a royal history and high fortified ruins, sitting in the beautiful Alpilles mountains south of Avignon. Several museums; the Cathédral d'Images picture palace in a cave; olive oil mills.
Coaraze
Picturesque perched village in the hills north of Nice.
La Couvertoirade
Medieval village, founded by the Templiers in the 14th century.
Eus
Perched medieval village in the Têt river valley 40 km SW of Perpignan.
Gassin
Lovely little village perched in the hills near Saint Tropez.
Gordes
Beautiful old village perched on the edge of the Plateau de Vaucluse cliffs, 12th-c castle; Borie stone village, nearby Senanque Abbey and lavender fields.
Gourdon
One of the most picturesque of all the perched villages, with a château originated as a Saracen fortress in the 9th-12th centuries
Lagrasse
Medieval fortified village with an ancient but active Abbey, between Carcassonne and Narbonne.
Lourmarin
A popular little town in the Vaucluse department, with a Medieval castle
Lussan
(2016 Plus Beaux Villages)
Ménerbes
A beautiful stone village perched along the top of a long ridge overlooking vineyards, occupied since neolithic times
Minerve
A lovely perched village in the Cathar region, NW of Narbonne; one of the Most Beautiful Villages of France.
Montclus Gard
A tiny Medieval village perched beside an isolated part of the Cèze river. (northwest of Avignon)
Moustiers-Sainte-Marie
A lovely medieval village in a gorgeous setting, near the Gorges de Verdon, known for its faïence pottery. The 12th-century Notre-Dame church with its 4-level Italianate bell tower. Many gift and pottery shops, and excellent dining choices.
La Roque-Gageac
A very picturesqe village on the bank of the Dordogne, with some houses built into the cliff, between Périgueux and Cahors.
La Roque-sur-Cèze
Very picturesque village perched on a rocky peak, in the woods beside the Cèze river. (northwest of Avignon)
Roussillon
This ocre-red village by the Plateau de Vauluse is one of the Plus Beaux Villages de France.
Sainte Agnes
A little village perched on the flank of a mountain, high above the Mediterranean north of Menton.
Sainte Enimie
A beautiful Medieval village at the top of the gorgeous Tarn Gorges directly beside the river, with kayaking, hiking, shops, restaurants.
Saint Guilhem-le-Désert
Very picturesque village and abbey tucked together in a little valley beside the Hérault river, 40 km NW of Montpellier.
Saint Véran
A beautiful perched village with house-barns and ancient sundials, in the Queyras mountains SE of Briançon.
Séguret
A picturesque little village overlooking the Côte de Rhône vineyards in the Vaucluse,
Seillans
A very ancient village nestled back against the base of a forested mountain.
Tourtour
A tiny village in the central Var, called Pontus Tortorii in the 4th century.
Venasque
Medieval walled village with some lovely fountains, in the Vaucluse 35 km east of Avignon.
Villefranche-de-Conflent
Picturesque medieval village in the French Pyrenées, one of the "Most Beautiful Villages of France", and site of the Fort Liberia by Vauban.
After 25 years online, I've decided to remove all Ads from my one-man web Provence Beyond. If the content is enjoyable or useful to you, I would really appreciate your support.