The most beautiful villages in the South of France
France doesn’t just have big, modern and beautiful cities. One of its main tourist attributes are its towns. Hence, when touring this country, it is best to take the route through the south of France, where you can see a series of small towns that will make anyone travel back in time.
To make a list of the most beautiful villages in France would be very extensive, as they are all characterized by their natural beauties, attractive architecture, historical places, artistic monuments and an immense cultural baggage.
Most beautiful villages in France
Based on the opinion of many who have enjoyed this wonderful experience first-hand, we are going to list what could be considered the most beautiful villages in the south of France.
1. Conques: This site is charming and you can see it from a viewpoint. Its architecture will make you feel like you are in the middle ages. In addition, it has a Romanesque church that is visited each year by some 500,000 tourists.
2. Belcastel: A very small town, with only 48 inhabitants, with stone houses, a castle, a church and a stone bridge from the 15th century. Since 1974, its reconstruction was carried out and it is completely finished.
3. La Couvertoirade: It is known as one of the Templar towns. Its walled border, the stone houses and its church are surprising. Also, if you visit the place, you can see the remains of a castle.
4. Najac: It is one of the towns in France that surprises because it is made up of a single street of medieval houses, which takes you to the ruins of a castle, from where you have a general view of the town.
5. Cordes sur Ciel: Also Medieval, located on a hill, Cordes draws attention for its covered market and half-timbered stone houses.
6. Santa Eulalia de Cernon: This is another Templar town, with a wall built in the 15th century and a Romanesque church.
7. Montjoi: This site is located on a rocky hill. It is also walled and is made up of multiple stone houses that are connected through a beautiful cobblestone floor.
8. Lauzerte: Another beautiful town to see in the south of France, located on a hill, with white houses that stretch around its central square.
9. Beynac: Small town with stone houses, located in an area known as the Valley of the Castles.
10. La Roque Gageac: Located at the foot of a rocky gorge, with stone houses arranged in a small space, facing the Dordogne River.
11. Collioure : Located on the Mediterranean coast, it is a coastal town surrounded by a fortification, with very colorful houses.
12. Terrasson – Lavilledieu: Arranged on a hill, around the church of Sant Sour, it is a town with stone houses and beautiful wooden facades.
French towns are definitely considered some of the most attractive and touristic in Europe. In fact, there are many that are grouped in an association that includes more than 150 villages, called the Most Beautiful Villages of France. If you are interested in visiting this magical area, you should know that it is recommended to cover this route in the south of France in at least 5 days. It’s also wise to include cold-weather clothing, a jacket, a raincoat, a thermal shirt, and thick-soled shoes or boots.
French Pyrenees
Now, if you consider doing routes by car through France, you have the possibility of visiting the beautiful villages of the French Pyrenees. To do this, you do not have to go very far, just cross the border and be enchanted by a variety of charming little towns, which you will observe as you advance along winding roads in the midst of a colossal natural view.
On this tour you will see towns where the rural mixes with the urban logic, with rustic natural stone bridges, churches built between the 12th and 18th centuries, large fortifications, small houses, mansions with red roofs and colorful facades. Some towns that from afar seem desolate, but when we get closer we see their essence in the daily routine and productive activity.
To start this tour you can visit the Pont d’Espagne, entrance to the National Park of the High Pyrenees, the oldest in France. You arrive at Lake Gaube, with crystal clear waters surrounded by mountains, and then continue visiting spectacular points and beautiful towns, which invite you to carry out activities such as the following:
| Lourdes | A tour full of history, religion and architecture, because there you will not only have the opportunity to see the Sanctuary of the Virgin of Lourdes, but also a castle from the 14th century. |
| Cauterets | This town offers various leisure alternatives, from a gondola ride to reach a ski resort, to enjoying the gastronomic, commercial and relaxation proposals typical of the area. |
| Pont d’Espagne | It offers an impressive natural landscape, where Gaube Lake stands out, which you can enjoy either on a chairlift ride or touring the area on foot. |
| Les Bains du Rocher | A place that invites you to relax in its therapeutic spas, while enjoying the mountain panorama that surrounds you. |
| Port du Tourmalet | For lovers of cycling and all its variants, this mountain pass turns out to be the convenient route to enter between its narrow road and majestic landscape. |
| Luz-Saint-Saveur | A town recognized for the practice of bungee jumping on a bridge of great historical value, since it was a gift from Napoleon III and its jazz festival is in the month of July. |
| Cirque de Gavarnie | Outdoor activities are conducive to this place, as it is made up of 30,000 hectares of impressive landscapes, a product of the glaciers that existed there in the past. |
French Basque Country
Also on the border, so that you have no excuse, we will make some recommendations for the French Basque Country, a territory of France with approximately 260,000 inhabitants, located in the region of New Aquitaine, made up of three provinces: Labort, Lower Navarra and Sola.
In this area you will meet charming towns such as Ainhoa, a small town with brightly colored houses; Espelette, noted for being a great producer of peppers; Saint Jean Pied de Port, picturesque and quiet; Sare, famous for its caves; Monte Larrún, Biarritz and Saint Jean de Luz are just some of these unforgettable towns.
After the small review carried out, we recommend that in your itinerary you do not forget to also consider visiting the most beautiful cities in France, to enjoy their places of interest.
As a final piece of advice, to go sightseeing in France in a motorhome, for example, it might be useful to have a small microwave oven on hand whose purchase opinions are positive; This will make it easier to enjoy your food at a comfortable temperature.
