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DISCOVER FRANCE

France’s top 14 favourite villages for 2024

Discover 14 of France's best hidden gems, according to French people, as the country votes for the winner in the popular TV show 'Le Village Préféré des Français'

Published: 20 February 2024 11:03 CET
France's top 14 favourite villages for 2024
The village of Collioure with snow-capped Mount Canigou in the background, in southern France on February 20, 2020. (Photo by Raymond ROIG / AFP)

Every year, France votes for it’s favourite village through a popular TV show called Le Village Préféré des Français (France’s favourite village), which airs on France 3.

The programme has been running since 2012 and continues to get over 2.6 million viewers each year.

The final 14 list includes one village from each French region (plus one from France’s overseas territories). Voting will close on March 8th with the winner announced over the summer. The winning village usually benefits from an increase in tourism.

READ MORE: Vineyards, mountains and islands – how to plan a car-free trip to France

For viewers, it’s a way to discover some of France’s hidden treasures. The list of contenders is carefully selected and must tick the boxes of several criteria, including rich cultural traditions, beautiful nature or culinary specialities.

Here are the candidates for 2024;

Cléron – located in the Doubs département in Burgundy

Home to just 300 inhabitants, Cléron is known for its castle, which dates back to the 13th century. 

Cléron is also located near the Valbois ravine, a nature reserve. Limestone cliffs stretch above the valley, where a stream runs through.

The town is also known for the cows’ milk cheese Édel de Cléron.

L’Ile-Tudy – Finistère département in Brittany

Formerly a fishing village, the l’Île Tudy is one of the region’s most popular seaside resorts. It is known for its large sandy beaches.

The estuary of the Pont-l’Abbé river is found near the town, making it a great spot to see rare birds and seashells.

Collioure – Pyrénées-Orientales in Occitanie

In the town of Collioure, you can see the Mediterranean on one side, and the foothills of the Albères massif on the other.

Home to many towers, castles and forts, the town was once a summer residence for the Kings of Majorca. These days, you can enjoy the narrow streets, colourful houses, small port, and pebble beach.

Collioure is also known for anchovies and red wine.

Saint-Dyé-sur-Loire – Loir-et-Cher in Centre-Val-de-Loire

Along the banks of the Loire river, Saint-Dyé-sur-Loire village has long been regarded as a gateway to the châteaux of the Loire Valley.

It dates back to the 6th century, and it was called the ‘Port of Chambord’ during the Renaissance when it was used to transport building materials to the now famous Château de Chambord.

Plenty of important figures in French history, including Molière and La Fontaine, have spent time in the village over the years.

Thomery – Seine-et-Marne in the Paris region (Île-de-France)

A small town of 3,500 inhabitants, Thomery is found between Moret and Fontainebleau, about an hour south of Paris.

Sitting on a hillside on the edge of the forest, Thomery historically produced the Chasselas Dorée grape, which was very popular at the end of the 19th century. It’s traditionally grown against a wall and there are 250km of walls, with some still growing vines alongside them.

It is also not far from the Atelier Rosa Bonheur, the famous painter of the 1850s who moved her studio to the Château de By.

Mers-les-Bains – Somme in Hauts-de-France

This village in northern France is known for its chalk cliffs, pebble beach and colourful houses. It is a sister town to two other seaside resorts in the area – Eu and Le Téport.

Historically, Mers-les-Bains was a small fishing village, but it became a popular seaside resort in 1860 after a rail line was opened between Paris and Le Tréport. 

The town also has its own particular tradition –  locals dress up in their best period costumes for the Belle Époque Bather’s Festival.

Monthermé – Ardennes in Grand-Est

Dating back to the Middle Ages, the town has been rebuilt several times and survived many wars. Its 15th century church still stands, as does the nearby Laval Dieu Abbey, where local monks have spent years cultivating medicinal plants to offer to local inhabitants.

Monthermé is along the Meuse river, which loops around the city. The town hosts many artisans, and it is especially known for glassmakers. 

In terms of food and drink, visitors can enjoy local craft beer.

Aregno – Haute-Corse (northern Corsica)

Found in upper Corsica, the old hillside village of Aregno has been populated since at least Roman times. It finally became French in the 18th century, but throughout its long history it has been known for producing almonds and oranges.

Visitors can enjoy can find both the seaside and mountains in accessible distance, as well as the 15th century Trinity Church.

Deshaies – Guadeloupe – one of France’s overseas territories

A small fishing village surrounded by forest, Deshaies is found on the northwest coast of the Caribbean island of Guadeloupe. 

Notable for its many Caribbean-style wooden houses, the town is a popular stopping point for cruise ships.

Visitors enjoy the village botanical garden, as well as the former Coluche estate, which is known for its garden filled with rare plants and beautiful parrots.

Ry – Seine-Maritime in Normandy

About 20km east of Rouen in the Crevon valley, Ry was the administrative centre of the area during the Revolution (from 1790 until 1801).

The French author Gustave Flaubert apparently used the charming village as inspiration for his famous novel Madame Bovary. Tourists can visit the 12th century Saint-Sulpice church.

The town is also known as a stopping point along the GR 25 hiking trail, which passes directly through it.

READ MORE: Hiking in France: The GR footpaths explained

Villeréal – Lot-et-Garonne in Nouvelle-Aquitaine

This south-western French town has already been recognised by the label ‘Les Plus Beaux Villages de France’. 

It was founded in 1269 by Alphonse de Poitiers, who fortified the town. During the Hundred Years War, it was occupied by the British, and in subsequent centuries it saw more destruction during the wars of religion.

However, much of its iconic architecture from the Middle Ages remains in place, including its unique 14th century market hall which is still in use.

Sallertaine – Vendée in Pays de la Loire

Built on a limestone islet, Sallertaine is known for its surrounding salt marshes.

The village is home to a little over 3,000 people, and it is has also already been given an award – the ‘Ville & Métiers d’art’ status, for its narrow streets and status as a village of artisans.

Sallertaine has a 12th century Romanesque church, as well as over 25 craft workshops, including for pottery, leather-work, embroidery, sewing and jewellery.

Gassin – Var in Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur

Overlooking the Gulf of Saint-Tropez at 200m above sea level, Gassin is known for its beautiful views and pastel-coloured walls.

It is home to L’Androuno, one of the world’s most narrow streets, as well as several nearby wineries, gardens, and a golf course.

Member comments

  1. Deshaies (De’hay) is the place where they film ‘Death in Paradise’. This may or may not affect your wish to visit the place. My wife and I have been going to Guada for more than 15 years. We don’t much like Deshaies as it is now but YMMV.

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TOURISM

Stay away! How Europe’s most popular spots are fighting overtourism

Tourist hotspots around Europe are on a crusade to deal with surging visitor numbers. Is it the end of mass tourism in Europe?

Published: 25 April 2024 12:59 CEST
Stay away! How Europe's most popular spots are fighting overtourism

On Thursday April 25th Venice introduced a new €5 tourist charge for day-trippers as the city battles against mass tourism. But it’s not the only part of Europe that appears to have had enough of tourists.

Cities, towns, picturesque villages, national parks and World Heritage sites across Europe are taking measures to prevent overtourism.

Those moves are not without controversy.

Barcelona

Nestled on the coast of the Mediterranean, Barcelona is the capital of the Catalonia region, home to famed Gaudi architectural gems and one of Spain’s top football clubs.

Ada Colau, the leftist former housing rights activist who was mayor of the city between 2015 and June 2023, cracked down on illegal Airbnb rentals that were accused of pricing locals out of the property market.

The city also limited the entrance of tour groups in the historic La Boquería market, especially during peak shopping times.

And throughout the centre organised groups must be limited to a maximum of 20 people and guides are not allowed to use loudspeakers.

Tourist walk up and down Las Ramblas alley in Barcelona on April 13, 2024. – From the Balearic Islands to the Canary Islands, Barcelona and Malaga, anti-mass tourism movements are multiplying in Spain. (Photo by PAU BARRENA / AFP)

In 2023 tourist numbers registering in hotels, homes and hostels were down 6.9 percent compared with 2019 figures, according to the City Council.

However, Barcelona hasn’t completely rid itself of the problems caused by mass tourism, nor have other popular spots in Spain such as Málaga and the Canary Islands, where the spike in Airbnb-style holiday lets causing a rental crisis and other consequences of overtourism have angered locals. 

READ ALSO:

Venice

In Venice, one of the world’s top tourist destinations, 3.2 million visitors stayed overnight in the historic centre in 2022 — dwarfing the resident population of just 50,000.

On Thursday April 25th, it started charging day trippers for entry. Day visitors will have to buy a €5 ticket, monitored by inspectors carrying out spot checks at key points across the UNESCO world heritage site.

ourists take selfies with the Grand Canal

Venice begins on April 25, charging day trippers for entry, a world first aimed at easing pressure on the Italian city drowning under the weight of mass tourism. Photo by MARCO BERTORELLO / AFP

In 2021, it banned huge cruise ships from Venice lagoon over concerns about the environmental impact of the huge liners on the city.

Venice has also introduced a tax for overnight visitors.

Sites in France

France too is worried about over-tourism – or rather that fact that so many of the country’s millions of tourists per year visit just a few sites – Paris, Mont-Saint-Michel and the Calanques national park near Marseille.

A publicity campaign has been urging visitors to consider heading to other sites, or to visit out of the high season – this winter the Paris Metro was plastered with posters urging people to visit Mon-Saint-Michel in the winter, when it is less crowded.

his long exposure picture tourists walking in the crowded main street of Le Mont-Saint-Michel, northwestern France, on July 25, 2023. Photo by Damien MEYER / AFP

There are more pro-active measures too, with several sites introducing a cap on visitor numbers. The Calanques, the islands of Bréhat and Porquerolles and several sites on the island of Corsica have all introduced annual quotes for tourists during the summer season, and all visits must now be booked in advance.

Other sites don’t have a formal quota but some are only open to pre-booked visitors, while for other popular sites it’s simply a book idea to book in advance to avoid being turned away. Anyone considering a visit to a tourist hotspot such as the Eiffel Tower, Louvre museum or Versailles palace during the summer is strongly advised to reserve their tickets in advance.

READ ALSO What places in France do I need to book a visit in advance? 

Amsterdam

Amsterdam has long been trying to clean up a reputation for rowdy stag parties, drugs and sex that has been partly blamed on an influx of around 20 million visitors a year.

In 2023 it launched an online campaign aimed at discouraging young British men from travelling to Amsterdam to get high or very drunk, telling them in typically blunt Dutch fashion to “stay away” or risk arrest.

Amsterdam also announced last week a ban on new hotels and that it would halve the number of river cruise ships in the city within five years.

It also decided last year to ban smoking cannabis on the streets of the red-light district.

Hallstatt and Salzburg in Austria

The tiny village of Hallstatt, a hamlet just 750 people strong not far from Salzburg and bearing a striking resemblance to the fictional kingdom of Arendelle from Disney’s Frozen – last year caused furore when its residents erected a fence at its famous vista to deter selfie-seekers. After a social media backlash, the village – which is also a UNESCO heritage site – removed the fence, but signs remind visitors to enjoy the site quietly.

Residents were also protesting in favour of tourism curbs in the village, which gets as many as 10,000 visitors a day in high season. They want to limit the numbers and ban tour buses in the town after 5:00 p.m.

Not far from Hallstatt, the city made famous by classical music, Hollywood classics and Christmas songs, Salzburg, has also complained about massive tourism and the danger of being “overrun by mass tourists and day trippers”. 

The city’s tourism boss Christine Schönhuber said: “We only want those who stay overnight”. The western Austrian city is yet to take any concrete measures, but it has floated ideas such as closing some streets to cars and putting restrictions on souvenir shops. The city is also considering closing the bus terminal at the city’s Mirabellplatz to day tripping companies – allowing only those transporting overnight guests.

Iseltwald, Switzerland

The quaint Swiss village of Iseltwald has been forced to limit the number of tourists after fans of a South Korean Netflix hit show flocked to the region in droves sparking a backlash from locals.

Iseltwald is often referred to as the pearl of Lake Brienz, and rightfully so. The fishing village is located on the left bank of the river and is one of the smallest communities in the canton of Bern – and locals would like to keep it that way.

A picture taken on June 2, 2023 shows the village of Iseltwald at the shore of Lake Brienz, in the Swiss Alps. Photo by Fabrice COFFRINI / AFP

Dubrovnik

Croatia’s medieval walled city of Dubrovnik is one of Europe’s most overcrowded cities, with the flow of tourists sometimes making it impossible to walk inside the historic Old Town.

The jewel of the Adriatic has seen a huge surge in visitor numbers since scenes from the series “Game of Thrones” were filmed on its ramparts in 2011.

In 2023, the town of 41,000 people received 1.2 million tourists, below 2019’s record of 1.4 million.

In 2019 local authorities limited the number of cruise ship arrivals to two per day, with no more than 4,000 passengers each at a time.

They also launched an app that uses machine learning and weather forecasts to predict when the Old Town, a UNESCO world heritage site, will be busiest.

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