The Most Beautiful Villages of France

Discover the 158 most picturesque villages to visit in France, along with a dozen itineraries for walks along on the surrounding pilgrimage trails, in this fully updated illustrated travel guide.

From the medieval fortress of Montrésor in the Loire Valley to the lavender fields that surround the hilltop village of Gordes in the Luberon, this illustrated guide unveils the beauty of rural France, providing complete visitor’s information for these exceptionally preserved destinations.

Carefully selected each year, the French villages featured in this official guide are replete with historical, architectural, and natural riches. A brief history of each village is accompanied by recommendations for monuments, museums, and other places to visit, accommodation options ranging from hotels to campsites, restaurants, markets, artisanal produce 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.

An eight-page supplement in this fully-updated new edition includes walking itineraries on the pilgrimage trails that traverse the picturesque villages. The book includes an overview map of France, and each village is featured on an easy-to read road map, accompanied by indications for the best way to arrive by road, train, and airplane. Suggestions for neighboring villages that should not be missed, along with their proximity, simplifies itinerary planning. Cross references and an index by region complete this practical, authoritative, and accessible illustrated guide.