Photos: The 25 most beautiful villages in France, according to latest Times ranking

What do the villages of Venasque, Ainhoa, Eguisheim, and Sant’Antonino have in common? They are among the 25 villages in France to be ranked as the country’s most beautiful, in a new list by The Times.

The newspaper used the latest edition of Les Plus Beaux Villages de France (The Most Beautiful Villages of France) - the official guide published by the rural village association of the same name - as its starting point. 

The edition includes 180 of the most beautiful villages in the country, all with fewer than 2,000 residents, and at least two protected monuments or sites each. It uses 32 criteria by which it judges the villages.

Read also: Photos: The 14 villages vying to be France’s favourite in 2025 
Read more: Two villages awarded exclusive label of 'the most beautiful in France' 

British newspaper The Times has now gone further, and chosen its top 25 from this list of 180. 

Among its extra criteria included ease of travel from the UK (by plane, ferry, or train), and ease of travel between each village in similar regions, in case travellers wish to visit more than one in a day.

The newspaper also celebrates the fact that “there are no big-name hotels in these villages, so you’ll be staying in family-run B&Bs and centuries-old guesthouses”. 

Read also: MAP: France’s most welcoming towns and villages 

Here is the final list.

1. Ainhoa, Nouvelle-Aquitaine

With just one street, this medieval Pays Basque bastide has been a stopover point for pilgrims on the Santiago de Compostela route, as well as 17th century merchants. 

2. Rochefort en Terre, Brittany

Just north of Nantes, this historic village was one on a strategic trade route. Today, its sites include a medieval castle, ornate mansions, and the La Tour du Lion, a family-run inn housed in a 16th-century former pharmacy.

3. St Benoît du Sault, Centre-Val de Loire

This fortified village is built on a granite spur, and has the steep, narrow streets to prove it. It also has a 14th-century belfry, a Benedictine priory, and 15th and 16th-century houses.

4. Polignac, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes

This village - named after the Polignac family - has a rich history, and its views were once apparently praised by the King of France. The 11th century fortress was developed from a temple to Apollo, or so legend would have it. 

5. Olargues, Occitanie

Explore vineyards, olive groves, and historic 12th-century architecture in this village, which is located at the foot of Mont Caroux in the Haut-Languedoc nature park. It also has one of Europe’s largest medieval bridges.

6. Ansouis, Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur

This hilltop village is found north of Aix-en-Provence, and has a 1,000-year-old castle, with views of the Grand Luberon and the River Durance. Laid out like a fan, the village is perfectly placed for sun-lovers.

7. Baume les Messieurs, Bourgogne-Franche-Comté

Located between Lyon and Dijon, this River Seille valley village is centered around its historic abbey, which was once home to the Cluny Order. It also has a waterfall; Cascade des Tufs.

8. Domme, Dordogne

A gem above the Dordogne valley, this bastide village has well-preserved medieval architecture and beautiful river views.

9. Eguisheim, Grand Est

A landmark wine-growing site in Alsace, this picturesque village surrounds a castle, and has colourful, half-timbered buildings, along with flower-lined streets.

10. Gerberoy, Hauts-de-France

With many examples of Normandy-Picardy architecture, including half-timbered houses, Gerberoy is also well-known for its Italian-style gardens, planted by the post-impressionist painter Henri Le Sidaner.

11. Lyons la Forêt, Normandy

Located among Normandy’s largest forest, this village has flower gardens, half-timbered houses, and Gallo-Roman origins. There are also historic water mills on the River Lieure, an 18th century covered marketplace, and medieval landmarks like the church of St Denis.

12. Montsoreau, Pays de la Loire

This village is centered around a 15th-century castle, the first Renaissance building in France. It also has white ‘tufa-stone’ (a type of limestone) homes, and is located near the royal abbey of Fontevraud.

13. Piana, Corsica

One of two Corsican villages on the list, Piana is located at the entrance to the UNESCO-listed Calanques de Piana (pictured). With a history dating back to the late Middle Ages, it also has a bell tower inspired by one in Portofino, Italy.

14. La Roche Guyon, Île-de-France

Built into a bend in the River Seine, this village blends Île-de-France and Normandy architecture. It also has a rare example of ‘boves’: cliffside shelters used for centuries by animals and farmers.

15. Yèvre le Châtel, Centre-Val de Loire

Within 90 minutes’ driving distance of Paris, this medieval village has a 13th-century fortress and high ramparts, as well as beautiful floral arrangements.

16. Venasque, Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur

A favourite for wine-lovers due to its location among vineyards, Venasque’s history dates back to Neolithic and Roman times, and still has medieval fortifications from the 13th century.

17. Turenne, Nouvelle-Aquitaine

South of Limoges, this village still has impressive turreted mansions and white-façade houses from its past as the seat of a powerful viscountcy.

18. Sant’Antonino, Corsica

One of Corsica’s oldest villages, this site has stone houses that once formed a protective wall against invaders. With buildings that date back to the ninth century, it is also only a few minutes’ drive from the beach.

19. Sainte Croix en Jarez, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes

Just southwest of Lyon, this village is close to the Pilat natural regional park. It was built around a former Carthusian monastery, with the clock tower, cloisters, and grand staircase still standing.

20. St Suliac, Brittany

Just south of the famous fortified town of St Malo, this village has views of the Rance estuary, and is spread across a maze of streets lined with fishermen’s houses and historic sites - and even the remnants of a Viking camp.

21. Blangy le Château, Normandy

Found among seven hills and two rivers, this village has medieval timber-framed houses and an 11th-century chateau.

22. Rodemack, Grand Est

Sometimes compared to “a little Carcassonne”, this medieval village is close to both Luxembourg and Germany, and has fortifications dating back to the 10th century. It also has restored historical sites, including the village’s old wash house.

23. Prats de Mollo la Preste, Occitanie

Prats de Mollo la Preste has the rugged appeal of a fortified town, alongside vibrant Catalan influences and a history dating back to 982. Also known for its thermal waters (in which Napoleon III once bathed) and forest.

24. Lods, Bourgogne-Franche-Comté

A beautiful example of the legacy of local winegrowers and their homes, which still surround the 18th-century church in this riverside village. There is also a 16th-century museum and historical trail.

25. Sainte Suzanne, Pays de la Loire

This medieval village (also known as Sainte Suzanne-et-Chammes) is above the Erve valley and was renamed for Sainte Suzanne after the Crusades. It proudly once withstood William the Conqueror and a 15th-century siege. Nowadays, it is better known for its panoramic views.