The French villages you should visit this year

We would find it tough to choose just one French village as our favourite but the French public have managed! The winner of the title of ‘France’s favourite village’ this year isn’t necessarily the one you would expect but it is definitely worth a visit

We’d struggle to pick just one French village as our favourite when there are so many lovely ones to choose from, but it does help to have a list of options. Every year since 2012, viewers of the television programme Le village préféré des Français are asked to choose their favourite from a shortlist of villages (one from each region), based on which one best represents the “the charm, authenticity and beauty of the built environment”. The votes have been counted and these are France’s favourites for 2017 and all of them should be on your ‘must-visit list’ this year. Do you agree? Discover all 13 villages on this year’s shortlist and vote for your favourite in our poll

1. Kaysersberg, Haut-Rhin, Grand-Est

With its pretty pastel-coloured houses and quaint cobbled streets, it’s easy to see why the chocolate-box village of Kaysersberg was crowned as this year’s village préféré des Français. The Alsace Wine Route passes through the village, so why not stop off and raise a toast to its success. It’s a must for the Christmas markets too.

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2. Saint-Valéry-sur-Somme, Somme, Hauts-de-France

Take a stroll around the medieval ramparts and through the narrow lanes lined with brightly painted fishermen’s cottages, and you’ll see why the pretty coastal village of Saint-Valéry-sur-Somme secured second place. The views across the Baie de Somme are pretty spectacular too.

3. La Roque-Gageac, Dordogne, Nouvelle-Aquitaine

You’d be forgiven for thinking that time has stood still in the traditional village of La Roque-Gageac, nestled on the edge of the Dordogne river and backed by steep cliffs. Voted into third place by the viewers, picture-perfect La Roque-Gageac is also one of Dordogne’s plus beaux villages.

And here’s a reminder of the previous winners…

Rochefort-en-Terre, Morbihan, Brittany

Brittany stole the show for the second year in a row when picturesque Rochefort-en-Terre was chosen as France’s favourite village in 2016. It also belongs to the Plus Beaux Villages association and is a designated Petite Cité de Caractère.

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Ploumanac’h, Côtes-d’Armor, Brittany

Brittany secured its first victory in 2015 when the port of Ploumanac’h won the title of France’s favourite village. Located on the famous Pink Granite Coast, Ploumanac’h is one of the best places to see the unusual, rose-pink rock formations.

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