Where’s the fairest of them all?

I find myself drawn to les plus beaux villages de France — the most beautiful villages in France. A town with this designation almost always guarantees that a stop here will be worth the occasional little detour.

Saint-Jean-de-Côle, un plus beau village de France, is located in the
Dordogne (24), about 40 km north of Périgueux. A medieval bridge
crosses the Côle river at the edge of the village.

Auvillar, un plus beau village de France, is known for its circular
covered market embellished with Tuscan columns. Auvillar is
located in the Tarn-et-Garonne (82), about 35 km southeast of Agen.

Located at the confluence of the Dordogne and Vezere rivers,
Limeuil, un plus beau village de France, is known for its panoramic
gardens. Limeuil is located about 40 km east of Bergerac
in the Dordogne (24).

Parc des cedres in Belvès, un plus beau village de France, is a shady
spot on a hot day. Belvès is located in the Périgord Noir part of the |
Dordogne (24), about 55 km east of Bergerac.

Since I’ve been in France, I have checked out Les Plux Beaux Villages website and have longed for a way to carry that information with me. So when I heard that there was a new guidebook, the first English-language edition of “Most Beautiful Villages of France,” I immediately ordered a copy.

The book profiles each of the 153 most picturesque villages and includes road maps, history, attractions, specialties and recommendations for restaurants and accommodations. It isn’t too surprising that most of France’s most beautiful villages are located here in the southwest. I’ve been lucky enough to stumble across more than a dozen of them, but there are plenty more to discover.

Even on an overcast day, the view from Beynac-et-Cazenac,
un plus beau village de France, is stunning. Beynac is
located in the Dordogne (24), about 65 km east of Bergerac.

Seillans, un plus beau village de France, is a quintessential
Provençal village. It is located in the Var (83), about 65 km
west of Nice.

Located on an estuary about 110 km north of Bordeaux in the
Charente-Maritime (17), Talmont-sur-Gironde is un plus beau village de France.

At the heart of Monflanquin is its Place des Arcades, featuring a broad
colonnade supported by stone pillars. Monflanquin, un plus beau village de
France, is located in the Lot-et-Garonne (47), about 50 km south of Bergerac.

The organization Les Plus Beaux Villages de France was founded in 1981 by Charles Ceyrac, mayor of the village Collonges-la-Rouge in Corréze. Ceyrac came across a book with this title, and transformed the idea into a nationwide association with this aim: preserve and enhance the heritage of exceptional locations in order to increase their reputation and aid their economic development.

Villages who wish to become members must meet three criteria: a population of no more than 2,000; two protected sites, monuments or historical landmarks; and proof of community support for membership. If the village’s application is accepted, then the members of the association visit and assess the applicant on its patrimonial, architectural, urban and environmental attributes. The Quality Commission then decides whether to give the village a thumbs up or thumbs down. On average, one in five applications is successful.

Upon receiving the designation, each beautiful village commits to maintain, protect and promote the characteristics that make it special. In turn, visitors to un plus beau village can expect to find excellence there.

Salers, un plus beau village de France, is located in the mountains
of the Cantal (15) in the Massif Central region about 100 km east
of Brive-la-Gaillarde. When you think of Salers, think of cheese
from the area’s own breed of cows.

Perched on cliffs above the Lot river, Saint-Cirq-Lapopie is un plus beau
village de France. It is located about 30 km east of Cahors in the Lot (46).

Monpazier, un plus beau village de France, is an excellent example of a
medieval fortified town. Monpazier is located about 50 km southeast of
Bergerac in the Dordogne (24).

Fourcès, un plus beau village de France, is located in the Gers (32),
about 50 km southwest of Agen. It is known for its unique circular-shaped
bastide.

Combine a visit to Forcès with a stop in Laressingle, a miniature Carcassonne
located in the Gers (32). Laressingle, un plus beau village de France,
is located about 50 km southwest of Agen.

The premiere English-language edition of “The Official Guide to the Most Beautiful Villages of France” can be ordered online at the les-plus-beaux-villages-de-france.org website. My copy arrived within a week after I ordered it last month, and it has been poured over several times since then. I’m already scoping out my next beau village visit: Collonges-la-Rouge, the village where it all began.

Cover of the first English-language edition of ‘The Official
Guide to the Most Beautiful Villages of France’

Inside pages of ‘The Official Guide to the Most Beautiful Villages of France’

Domme offers a breathtaking view of the Dordogne Valley,
templar graffiti, and the largest accessible cave in the Perigord Noir.
Domme, un plus beau village de France, is located in the
Dordogne (24), about 75 km east of Bergerac.

Note: This post contains a sampling of the designated villages I have visited, and all the photographs are mine. You can read more about most of these places by perusing the Away to Live archive.