The Most Beautiful Villages of France (40th Anniversary Edition)

Discover the 158 most picturesque villages to visit in France in the newest edition of this illustrated travel guide.

From Vézelay with its UNESCO listed Sainte-Madeleine basilica, to Piana’s dramatic cliffs in Corsica, and from Ménerbes’s Provençal charm to Olargues’s origins dating back to prehistory, this illustrated guide unveils the beauty of rural France, providing complete visitor information for these exceptionally preserved destinations. Carefully selected each year, the featured French villages are replete with historical, architectural, and natural riches.

A brief history of each village is accompanied by recommendations for monuments, museums, places to visit, accommodation options ranging from hotels to campsites, restaurants, markets, artisanal products and local specialties. Details on leisure activities encompass festivals, events, and excursions that encourage visitors to explore the surrounding area on foot, by canoe, or on horseback.

This fully updated new edition includes a supplement on the history of more than twenty sweet gourmet regional specialties. In addition to an overview map of France, each village is featured on an easy-to-read detail road map, accompanied by indications for the best way to arrive by car, train, and airplane. Suggestions for neighboring villages that should not be missed simplify itinerary planning. Cross references and an index by region complete this practical, authoritative, and accessible illustrated guide.

About the Author

Les Plus Beaux Villages de France, founded in 1982, protects and promotes the heritage of villages rigorously selected for their patrimonial wealth and architectural quality. It pioneered an international federation of the Most Beautiful Villages of the World, which is committed to sustainable development and the preservation of historical and cultural heritage in Belgium, Quebec, Italy, and Japan.