More Les Plus Beaux Villages de France, and One That Should Be

In 1982 an association called Les Plus Beaux Villages de France was formed to increase tourism in small villages in France. Villages with less than 2,000 residents and with historical elements are eligible to apply for the distinction. There are currently 174 such villages around France. We have visited quite a few in our travels and always seek them out whenever we’re exploring a new area. Here are links to a few previous posts if you’re interested in reading more:

Saint-Suliac, Brittany, France

Moustiers-Sainte-Marie, France

Gordes, France

Here are a few we have recently visited.

In July, we stopped in Hunawhir, a picturesque town situated among the vineyards of Alsace. Established in the 6th century by Hunon, a Frank Lord, it was named after his wife, Huna, who, according to legend, was benevolent and kind. The main focal point of the village is the church, St. Jacques de Majeur.

The current church was built in the 15th century and sits on the foundation of the older church dating back to the 10th century.

Hunawhir is located on the wine route in Alsace and has only about 500 residents. The village with its wine-grower’s cottages, narrow streets and lovely views is a delightful place to wander.

Last week, on our road trip to the South of France, we visited Angles-sur-l’Anglin in Nouvelle Aquitaine. The main highlight of this delightful town are the ruins of the 11th century Château d’Angles-sur-l’Anglin built for the Bishop of Poitiers.

Situated high above the River Anglin, it was strategically placed to keep watch over the river and surrounding area.

It received a much needed facelift in the 15th century after the Hundred Year’s War however, by the 18th century it was in ruins. In 1923 the Société des Antiquaires de l’Ouest worked to have it classified as a National Historical Monument, which was achieved a few years later.

The village itself is comprised of upper and lower sections with narrow streets and alleyways which are enticing places to wander.

Saint Savin is a beautiful town also located in Nouvelle Aquitaine. In my humble opinion, it should have Les Plus Beaux Villages de France distinction, but for whatever reason, does not. It is located along the River Gartempe and has a stunningly beautiful abbey that dates back to the 11th century.

The Romanesque Abbey de Saint Savin has amazingly well preserved murals from the 11th and 12th centuries. When churches were built in that time the interiors were painted in earth tones, and were actually quite colorful. The interior of this abbey has been restored to look similar to its original colors.

The abbey suffered much destruction during the Hundred Year’s War, but by the 17th century, a group of monks worked to restore it to its original glory. The abbey became a National Historic Monument in 1896, and is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

As always, I enjoy wandering through the town and taking photos.

As you can tell from the photo, the abbey is quite large and at one end is Le Céresus, one of the best restaurants we’ve enjoyed in France. Chef Paul is from the area and focuses on locally sourced ingredients for his creations.

We were presented with this little taste sensation with our wine,

then we shared the fois gras with shiitake cream and buckwheat tiles.

For our main courses, I had scallops with creamy parsnips and theTravelsketcher had steak tartar.

Everything was exquisitely presented, and amazingly delicious. The restaurant is beautifully decorated as well.

Most of Les Plus Beaux Villages de France don’t have train stations, so it’s best to rent a car to access them.

What do you think of these villages? Do you have a favorite? As always, I would love to hear from you with your thoughts and comments.

We’re currently on a month long road trip through the South of France. Nouvelle Aquitaine was our first stop midway to visit friends and fellow expats from Seattle. We spent last weekend in Carcassonne, which was thrilling to see. We’re currently in Arles, and are looking forward to meeting up with friends from Mukilteo later next week. I’ll share more on all of these destinations in the coming weeks.

Wishing you grand adventures,

Tricia