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Inspiring Life & Travel in France

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Inspiring Life & Travel in France

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Les Plus Beaux Villages de France

There’s a new obsession running around in my head: “Visit as many of France’s ‘Les Plus Beaux Villages‘ as I possibly can.”

So far, I’ve seen only 13 out of some 156 “authentic” Les Plus Beaux Villages. I have a lot of traveling to do.

Les Plus Beaux Villages

156 communities in France are distinguished as beaux villages. Most are in the Dordogne and Aveyron departments. Vaucluse and Lot are next with seven and six beaux villages, respectively.

Most Beautiful Villages in France

The designation “Les Plus Beaux Villages de France” was borrowed from the Reader’s Digest book of the same name. Charles Ceyrac, mayor of Collonges-la-Rouge, one of the villages featured in the book, believed his village and others could be revitalized economically if they joined together and promoted themselves as the most beautiful villages in France.

The criteria for the title were based on (1) the character and population of a village: rural with no more than 2,000 inhabitants; (2) two national heritage sites; and (3) the local council of the municipality must have voted on the application.

In 1981, mayors from 66 villages joined Collonges to form the association.

So far, these are Les Plus Beaux Villages I’ve visited. Click on the highlighted villages to learn and see more. Enjoy!

Balazuc

Beynac-et-Cazenac

Brousse-le-Chateau

Castlenaud-la-Chapelle

Couvertoirade, La

Domme

Eguisheim

Garde-Adhemar, La

Gordes

Goudon

Lagrasse

La Roque-Gageac

Les Baux-de-Provence

Lourmarin

Lussan

Minerve

Monpazier

Montreal

Menerbes

Moustiers-Saint-Marie

Najac

Poet-Laval, Le

Riquewihr

Roque-Gageac

Toque-sur-Céze

Roussillon

Saint-Enimie

Saint-Jean-de-Côle

Séguret

Yes, I have a lot of traveling to do.

If you have thoughts on the Beaux Villages I shouldn’t miss, please leave a comment. Let’s all go!

Day trip from Uzes to the Cevennes

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