
The 14 prettiest villages in France
From Normandy to Provence, these are the winners of ‘France’s Favourite Village’ 2020 – add them to your travel list now
Now that more countries are opening back up to international tourism again, our minds have turned to where we’re going to explore next. And the chocolate-box villages of France are a strong contender. But where to start?
It could be Hunspach, which has just been named the nation’s favourite village. The tiny town in the Alsace region won its new title as part of annual French TV show ‘Le Village Préféré des Français’. Tourism is expected to rise by 30 per cent in the town, thanks to its new crown. Luckily, for those looking to skip the crowds, another 13 delightful French villages appear on the competition shortlist – and they’re all among the most beautiful places to visit in France.
Here’s the full rundown of the best villages in France in 2020, as voted by the public, so you can start planning your picture-perfect road trip. Bon voyage!
The 14 best villages in France


1. Hunspach, Alsace
It’s easy to see why Hunspach was voted number one: the settlement near the German border is all historic timbered-houses, neat shutters and technicolour flower boxes. Some of the homes even have ‘a special feature: curved glass panes, which allow residents to see without being seen,’ according to Le Parisien.


2. Les Anses-d'Arlet, Martinique
This totally tropical village in the Caribbean island of Martinique, which is a French territory, came second in the competition.


3. Ménerbes, Provence
This historic, hilltop town in the region of Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur came in third place.


4. Pont-Aven, Brittany


5. Pierrefonds, Oise


6. Batz-sur-Mer, Loire-Atlantique


7. Trôo, Loire Valley


8. Montpeyroux, Auvergne


9. Montfort-l'Amaury, Île-de-France


10. Chablis, Yonne


11. Aubeterre-sur-Dronne, Charente


12. Saint-Bertrand-de-Comminges, Haute-Garonne


13. Giverny, Normandy


14. Cargèse, Corsica
Now discover France’s best beaches
The 10 best beaches in France
From the sparkling seas and secret coves of Corsica to the French Riviera’s glitzy bays and the endless dunes of Normandy, France has some of the world’s most stunning coastlines. Here’s our pick of the bunch.