Les Plus Beaux Villages de France 2024

The Most Beautiful Villages in France

Les Plus Beaux Villages de France isn’t just some tourist slogan—it’s an elite, officially awarded badge of honor. To even get in the running, a village has to jump through hoops.

Everyone likes to call their village “beautiful,” but in France, this is serious business.

Who awards this title and what does it mean?

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.

How many villages are considered Les Plus Beaux Villages de France?

To date in 2024, according to their official website there were 181 total “Les Plus Beaux Villages” across various regions of France.

The Occitanie and Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur regions currently claim the largest share of Plus Beaux Villages. Regions such as Nouvelle-Aquitaine, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, and Bourgogne-Franche-Comté have been stepping up their efforts to enhance their local identities and attract visitors as well.