Ten of the best villages in France
Carolyn Boyd, a food and travel writer specialising on France, picks out her ten favourite French villages for visitors and prospective second home owners alike.

Best for walkers — Conques
The Santiago de Compostela pilgrimage route takes in many idyllic villages, but Conques, on the path that leads from Le Puy-en-Velay, is a particular highlight. Cobbled lanes meander between peach and ochre timber-frame cottages and its crowning glory is the 11th-century Sainte-Foy abbey. Look up above its entrance to admire its incredible tympanum, which depicts the Last Judgement of Christ.
Inside, the stained-glass windows by artist Pierre Soulages were added in 1990 and complement the Romanesque architecture with their modern design. The Abbey, with its enchanting cloisters, is also home to one of Europe’s greatest medieval gold artworks, a collection of reliquaries known as The Treasure of Conques. Find places to stay in Conques Find property for sale in the Occitaine
Best for island escape — Ars-en-Ré
Only two of the enchanting villages on the Ile de Ré hold the prestigious title of Plus Beaux Villages de France: La Flotte and Ars-en-Ré. The latter is the more polished of the two and at its heart is a sun-drenched square and the Saint-Etienne church, with its distinctive black-and-white spire that served as a landmark for sailors.
Best for wine — Ménerbes
Although many wine villages hold acclaim for prestigious vintages, Ménerbes holds sway for its simple pleasures: sipping a local rosé wine on the terrasse of the Café du Progrès in the late afternoon after wandering the sun-drenched lanes and exploring the surrounding vineyards.
Among the most enjoyable to visit is the Domaine de la Citadelle, which not only produces excellent wine, but also has the quirky allure of the Corkscrew Museum with its extraordinary collection of 1,000 tire-bouchons in almost every conceivable shape, age, size and place of origin. Find places to stay in Ménerbes Find property for sale in Ménerbes
Best for gastronomy — Grignan
You can’t miss Grignan for its sheer majesty. Surrounded by fields of lavender, its rambling pile of terracotta-roofed houses is crowned by a Renaissance château at the top. Wander its rosemary-scented lanes to the panoramic terraces and take in views of cherry orchards, olive groves and vineyards that thrive in the gentle climate.
At the hotel Le Clair de la Plume’s Michelin-starred restaurant, chef Julien Allano serves a superb menu of the Drôme department’s abundant produce, including olives from Nyons, Saint-Marcellin cheese and Montélimar nougat. Find places to stay in Grignan Find property for sale in Grignan
Exquisite houses, the beauty of Nature, and how to get the most from your life, straight to your inbox.
Best for a sweet tooth — Flavigny-sur-Ozerain
Flavigny-sur-Ozerain is set on a hill in the gently undulating countryside north-east of Dijon. With its impressive stone gates and tranquil lanes lined with flower-bedecked houses; it's little wonder that this village was used as a backdrop for many of the scenes in the film of Joanne Harris’s book, Chocolat, in 2000. It's still the place to go if you love French confectionery, being the home of the little white aniseed imperials that are sold in pretty tins everywhere across the country.
Aniseed was first brought to the region by the Romans (Julius Caesar fought Vercingetorix on the same hill), but the sweets were made by the monks of the Abbaye de Flavigny, who founded the abbey in the 8th century. The sweets’ workshops are based in and around the Abbey, which is also a joy to explore for its Carolingian crypt. Find places to stay in Flavigny-sur-Ozerain
Best for colour — Roussillon
Of all the dramatic landscapes to be explored across France, the ochre peaks around Roussillon are among the most striking. This village in Provence’s Vaucluse department is set on one of the world’s largest ochre deposits and visitors can walk around the quarries, dominated by incredible red-hued cliffs.
Roussillon itself is a triumph of yellow and orange houses, making it a spectacular sight in the early evening light. Take a stroll around the narrow streets to admire its galleries and historic buildings, before heading to the top of the village for exceptional views of the Monts de Vaucluse and surrounding countryside. Find places to stay in Rousillon Find property for sale in Roussillon
Best for its château — Montsoreau
Follow the River Loire west from Tours and there’s no missing Montsoreau’s Renaissance château presiding over the village, looking every bit as elegant as the more famous ones in Saumur and Amboise.
Built on the site of an 11th-century castle, the current château — now home to a contemporary-arts museum — dates from 1450 and was built by John II of Chambes, private adviser to Charles VII, but it found fame in the 19th century, when Alexandre Dumas published his novel The Lady of Monsoreau in 1846.
The village around it is small, with only 500 inhabitants, and has attractive tuffeau stone architecture, riverside restaurants and antiques shops (www.ville-montsoreau.fr). Find places to stay in Montsoreau Find property for sale near Montosreau
Best for mountains — Bonneval-sur-Arc
Whether you’re a winter skier or a summer hiker, the village of Bonneval-sur-Arc, in the Haute Maurienne Vanoise area of the Alps, will captivate you as much for its tiny stone dwellings with heavy slate roofs as for the beauty of its surroundings. The lanes aren’t accessible by car, so explore on foot or, in winter, on skis.
Best for views — Vézelay
As you walk through the centre of Vézelay, up the gentle incline towards the Saint Mary-Magdalene Basilica, past enticing boutiques and laid-back cafés, you’re following the footsteps of pilgrims over the centuries. The reward is the chance to enjoy the incredible view from the top, over the gentle rolling hills and vineyards of the Morvan regional park.
For reverence of a more spiritual kind, enter the Basilica to hear the sisters of the Jerusalem Monastic community practice their four-part harmonies. On the summer solstice, the daylight shines through the southern windows to cast a series of perfectly aligned circles along the centre of the nave floor. Find places to stay in Vézelay Find property for sale near Vézelay
Best for flowers — Gerberoy
Gerberoy is tucked away in a shallow valley amid the golden plains of Picardy. Its cobbled streets are lined with fine brick and timber-frame houses brimming with flowers. Roses, wisteria, hydrangeas and holly- hocks add to the colours of shutters painted in reds, blues and green.
Gerberoy’s beauty owes much to Henri Le Sidaner, the artist who moved there in 1901 and turned a neglected orchard into extraordinary gardens, complete with an Italian terrace, rose garden and pergola. The village also has a few artisan studios selling art and pottery and a handful of restaurants, including l’Atelier Gourmand, with tables in its sunny walled garden. Find places to stay near Gerberoy Find property for sale near Gerberoy
Best bucket list destinations for life after lockdown, as picked by our Travel Editor
Travel has been on hold for most of 2020, but as the world begins to look to the future it's
Where to ski, what to do and where to stay in Les 3 Vallées
Les 3 Vallées is unarguably one of the greatest ski areas in the world. Kate Green, Mark Hedges and Hugh
Credit: Aman Le Mélézin
Where to ski, sleep and spa in Courchevel when money is absolutely no object
Emma Earnshaw visited Aman Le Melezin in Courchevel and was blown away by the attention to detail, not to mention
-
Crown yourself quizmaster: Country Life Quiz of the Day Kings and Queens special, July 14, 2025
Today's Quiz of the Day tests your knowledge on all things British Kings and Queens.
By Country Life Published
-
Don't judge a plant by its smell: Why 'the little stinkers of the natural world' are just doing their job
Reminiscent of love and with an unmistakable odour of death, the little stinkers of the natural world might incite repulsion, but they are only doing their job, pleads Ian Morton
By Ian Morton Published
-
19 charming homes for sale, from picture-perfect cottages to beachside retreats, as seen in Country Life
This week's selection of some of the best homes to come to the market via Country Life this week.
By Toby Keel Published
-
Tim Burton is selling the house he shared with Helena Bonham-Carter, a sublime home on the Thames that comes with three private islands
Mill House in Sutton Courtenay, Oxfordshire, might just be the perfect English country home.
By Rosie Paterson Last updated
-
A spectacular tower for sale that's a blend of Victorian folly, architectural marvel and 21st century family home
Hadlow Tower has space, and a back story of love, jealousy and intrigue.
By Toby Keel Published
-
A spectacular, light-filled home on the Isle of Wight where you can see the water from practically every window
Penny Churchill takes a look at the grand and impressive Fishbourne Quay House.
By Penny Churchill Last updated
-
The former stables — and recording studio for the Pet Shop Boys — transformed with a magical blend of city and country aesthetic, now seeking a new owner
In the heart of Clerkenwell, what was once a Victorian industrial unit is now a beautiful home.
By Toby Keel Last updated
-
The Good Life 2025? A development promising 'Britain's greenest homes' blends zero carbon, organic allotments and a touch of luxury in the Kent countryside
Hartdene Barns, sitting on a disused dairy farm in Kent, is a vision of what sustainable living one day mean for all of us.
By Annunciata Elwes Published
-
Breathtaking views and gardens that run down to the water's edge at this delightful home in Cornwall
The Garden House in Polruan sums up the appeal of waterside living. Penny Churchill steps inside.
By Penny Churchill Published
-
A 500-acre estate that spent 11 centuries in the same family, for sale for only the second time in its history
In the beautiful hills of north Wales the Garthewin estate has come up for sale, including a great country house once restored by the architect who created Portmeirion. Penny Churchill takes a closer look.
By Penny Churchill Published