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Why we’ll never be doing a ‘Top 10’ list of the Most Beautiful Villages in France ;-)
"Top 10 most beautiful towns in France", "Our 10 most beautiful beaches in Brittany", "Top 20 most beautiful countries in the world"… As the warmer weather arrives, they spring up all over the web, promising perfect holidays where only the very best experiences await you: destination ‘top lists’! Because trends aren’t always meant to be followed, we’ll explain why we’ll never be compiling a top 10 (or 20!) of the Most Beautiful Villages in France!
Because when it comes to our villages, one size does not fit all
We’re all about rigour…
Since 1991, a rigorous selection process has been used to assess all candidate villages – and to regularly reassess those already listed – according to the same objective criteria. The quality of heritage, architecture, town planning, the environment and efforts to enhance these aspects… are scrutinised using no fewer than around thirty indicators ranging from protected sites and monuments to the uniformity of rooftops and the management of parking. How, then, can one compare a village in the Basque Country with one in Normandy, Brittany or even Alsace? Rather than stirring up regional sensitivities (honestly, who wants to upset the Basques, the Normans, the Bretons or the Alsatians?!?), we have opted for an absolute standard instead of top 10 (or 20!) lists and subjective comparisons: “The Most Beautiful Villages of France” – that’s it!
Because everyone has their own top 10 of the most beautiful villages in France (and their ‘favourite village’)
… Share your favourites!
Haven’t you ever been disappointed by a place that had been highly recommended to you? Of course you have! And that’s only natural: what one person finds beautiful isn’t necessarily what another does (tastes and colours, and so on…). Some people have their own preferences (seaside villages, hilltop villages, fortified villages, flower-filled villages…), whilst others like to be surprised without any preconceptions. And besides, falling in love with a place isn’t just about pure aesthetics: what makes us ‘fall for’ a place is also the atmosphere, the welcome, the people we meet, and the joy of a discovery shared with loved ones… As you’ll have realised: whilst our network must be as objective as possible in its selection of villages, it’s up to you, the visitors, to draw up your own top 10 of the Most Beautiful Villages of France, entirely based on your own subjective preferences! Indeed, it is to everyone’s personal taste – and local pride! – that Stéphane Bern appeals in his programme “Le Village Préféré des Français” and that’s what makes it such a success!
Because we don’t have to all go off to the same place together...
… or do the same things at the same time!
We all want our holidays to be a success, and by choosing from a selection of the 10 or 20 most beautiful destinations, we naturally minimise the risk of disappointment. But by trying too hard to avoid unpleasant surprises, we risk not only missing out on the good ones but also all ending up in the same 10 or 20 ‘most beautiful places’ in France or elsewhere… And when it comes to our ‘Most Beautiful Villages of France’, that can mean a lot of people crammed into a small area! There’s no competition or ranking in our selection, but rather themed suggestions to encourage you to discover these villages in a different light (artisan crafts in Provence, villages and roses, centred on wine…) or ‘different’ villages (less well-known, less crowded), such as our “10 (!) villages off the beaten track” !
Because there’s more to life than just traffic ;-)
Ideas and content matter too!
On the web, ‘top 10’ lists boost search engine rankings and drive traffic, but when you click through, the ‘top’ sometimes turns out to be a let-down: a photo and just a few words…? ‘Oh no, that’s a bit short, young man!’ (as Cyrano used to say). The Most Beautiful Villages of France are 180 unique destinations that we’d love to showcase to you in detail! There’s so much to say and show: the history and landscapes, the must-see attractions, the local crafts and produce, our partners’ top recommendations, a historical anecdote or a little-known fact…! They also offer endless holiday ideas, for a getaway close to home, a romantic weekend or a well-deserved holiday! And let’s be honest: we’ve still got plenty, plenty more to tell you about Les Plus Beaux Villages de France and – who knows? – perhaps soon about some new villages too… So, rather than getting all philosophical, let’s get back to it!
