Since 1982, a not-for-profit association called Les Plus Beaux Villages de France has been highlighting the rich rural heritage of France.

Their approval, illustrated by a prestigious label, aims to celebrate the remarkable character of selected municipalities, while fighting rural depopulation.

To earn the accolade 'Plus Beau Village de France' municipalities must have a population of fewer than 2,000 inhabitants and at least two heritage sites.

The council must also be able to demonstrate their commitment to local architecture and the preservation of natural heritage, as well as offering leisure activities and accommodation.

Each labelled village is re-evaluated every six to nine years.

The elements that contribute to the choosing a village are multiple:

• Architecture: a village with traditional buildings, well preserved and aesthetically pleasing.
• Environment: the presence of natural landscapes such as mountains, hills, rivers, lakes or forests.
• Heritage: historic buildings, monuments, castles or churches.
• Ambiance: the general atmosphere, picturesque streets, and lively squares.
• Culture: preserving traditions, a vibrant local community offering a variety of events.
• Conservation: villages preserving traditional character and authenticity.
• Gastronomy: the presence of restaurants, local markets and culinary specialties.
• Creative activities: the presence of art galleries, artist studios etc.

The current list of Les Plus Beaux Villages de France by region is shown below.

Occitanie

Belcastel

• Brousse-le-Château

• Conques

• Estaing

• La Couvertoirade

• Najac

• Peyre

• Saint-Côme-d’Olt

• Sainte-Eulalie-d’Olt

• Sauveterre-de-Rouergue

• Autoire

• Capdenac-le-Haut

• Cardaillac

• Carennac

• Loubressac

• Martel

• Rocamadour

• Saint-Cirq-Lapopie

• Fourcès

• La Romieu

• Larresingle

• Lavardens

• Montréal

• Sarrant

• Castelnou

• Eus

• Evol

• Prats-de-Mollo-la-Preste

• Villefranche-de-Conflent

• Auvillar

• Bruniquel

• Lauzerte

• Puycelsi

• Castelnau-de-Montmiral

• Cordes-sur-Ciel

• Lautrec

• Monestiés

• Aiguèze

• La Roque-sur-Cèz

• Lussan

• Monclus

• Olargues

• Minerve

• Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert

• La Garde-Guérin

• La Malzie-Ville

• Sainte-Enimie

• Camon

• Lagrasse

• Saint-Bertrand-de-Comminges.

Nouvelle-Aquitaine

Mortemart

• Angles-sur-l'Anglin

• Ségur-le-Château

• Saint-Jean-de-Côle

• Saint-Robert

• Saint-Amand-de-Coly

• Turenne

• Collonges-la-Rouge

• Saint-Léon-sur-Vézère

• Aubeterre-sur-Dronne

• Curemonte

• Beaulieu-sur-Dordogne

• Limeuil

• Beynac-et-Cazenac

• La Roque-Gageac

• Castelnaud-la-Chapelle

• Domme

• Belvès

• Monpazier

• Villeréal

• Monflanquin

• Talmont-sur-Gironde

• Brouage

• Mornac-sur-Seurdre

• Tournon-d'Agenais

• Penne-D'agenais

• Pujols-le-Haut

• La Flotte

• Ars-en-Ré

• Navarrenx

• La Bastide-Clairence

• Ainhoa

• Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port

• Sare.

Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes

Saint-Antoine-l'Abbaye

• Pérouges

• Sainte-croix-en-Jarez

• Oingt

• Châtillon-en-Diois

• Mirmande

• Le Poët-Laval

• Yvoire

• Grignan

• Polignac

• Vogüé

• La Garde-Adhémar

• Bonneval-sur-Arc

• Arlempdes

-Balazuc

• Pradelles

• Montbrun-les-Bains

• Lavaudieu

• Lavoûte-Chilac

• Usson

• Montpeyroux

• Blesle

• Charroux

• Salers

• Tournemire.

Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur

Moustiers-Sainte-Marie

• Tourtour

• Ansouis

• Cotignac

• Bargème

• Lourmarin

• Roussillon

• Gordes

• Entrevaux

• Seillans

• Ménerbes

• Venasque

• Séguret

• Gourdon

• Le Castellet

• Gassin

• Les baux-de-Provence

• Saint-Véran

• Coaraze

• La Grave

• Sainte-Agnès

• Saorge.

Bourgogne-Franche-Comté

Châteauneuf

• Pesmes

• Château-Chalon

• Baume-les-Messieurs

• Flavigny-sur-Ozerain

• Lods

• Noyers

• Vézelay

• Semur-en-Brionnais.

Centre-Val de Loire

Montrésor

• Lavardin

• Sancerre

• Yèvre-le-Châtel

• Crissay-sur-Manse

• Gargilesse-Dampierre

• Apremont-sur-Allier

Saint-Benoît-du-Sauly

• Candes-Saint-Martin.

Grand Est

Saint-Quirin

• Rodemack

• Mittelbergheim

• Riquewihr

• Hunawihr

• Bergheim

• Eguisheim

• Hunspach.

Normandy

Le Bec-Hellouin

• Beuvron-en-Auge

• Lyons-la-Forêt

• Veules-les-Roses

• Saint-Céneri-le-Gérei

• Barfleur.

Brittany

Moncontour

• Rochefort-en-Terre

• Saint-Suliac

• Locronan.

Pays de la Loire

Monsoreau

• Sainte-Suzanne

• Vouvant.

Hauts-de-France

Gerberoy

• Parfondeval.

Ile-de-France

La Roche-Guyon.