France is dotted with villages that look like they belong in a fairy tale. The French government recognises 166 of them as Les Plus Beaux Villages de France. These are the most beautiful villages in the country. The designation started in 1982. To qualify, a village must have fewer than 2,000 residents and at least 2 protected heritage sites. Each village on this list has preserved its authentic character. Stone houses cluster around medieval squares. Narrow streets wind past fountains and ancient churches. These are not museum pieces. People still live and work here. This guide covers five of the most beautiful villages in France.

Riquewihr: A 700-Year-Old Alsatian Gem 70 Kilometres from Strasbourg

Riquewihr sits in the Alsace wine region, 70 kilometres from Strasbourg. The village was first mentioned in 1049. Its current layout dates from the 14th century. The Dolder Tower was built in 1291 as a fortified gate. It now houses a museum of local history. Entry costs 4.50 euros (as of 2026). The village escaped destruction in both world wars. It survived largely intact despite the surrounding devastation. The houses date from the 15th to 18th centuries. Their half-timbered facades are painted in pastel shades of pink, blue, and yellow. Riquewihr sits at the centre of the Alsace wine route. The surrounding vineyards cover 300 hectares. A wine tasting at the Maison Trimbach, founded in 1626, costs 8 euros for 5 wines. The village receives 1.5 million visitors per year.

Saint-Cirq-Lapopie: A 400-Metre Cliff Village Overlooking the Lot River

Saint-Cirq-Lapopie perches on a limestone cliff 400 metres above the Lot River. The village was a stronghold of the powerful Lapopie family in the 13th century. Three fortified gates controlled access. The Church of Saint-Cirq and Sainte-Juliette was built in the 16th century. Its bell tower rises 25 metres. The village has 5 artisan workshops, including a wood-turner who has worked here since 1978. The Musée Rignault displays 20th-century art in a 13th-century house. Entry costs 5 euros (as of 2026). The village covers just 8 hectares. Nearly 400,000 visitors come each year. The best approach is from the river. A canoe rental costs 20 euros for a half day. The village was named France’s favourite village in a 2012 television poll.

Gordes: A 1,000-Year-Old Hilltop Village in the Luberon

Gordes rises from the Luberon hills like a natural extension of the rock. The village has been inhabited since Roman times. The current castle was built in the 12th century and rebuilt in 1525. The castle houses the Musée Pol Mara, featuring 250 works by the Belgian artist. Entry costs 6 euros (as of 2026). The village church dates from the 14th century. Gordes is built from local dry stone. The stone gives the village its characteristic golden-grey colour. The village has 40 kilometres of dry-stone walls in the surrounding countryside. The nearby Abbaye de Sénanque was founded in 1148. It is still home to 12 Cistercian monks. Lavender fields surround the abbey. The best time to see them in bloom is late June to mid-July. Entry to the abbey costs 7.50 euros.

Conques: A 1,100-Year-Old Abbey Village on the Santiago de Compostela Route

Conques has been a pilgrimage stop since the 9th century. The Abbey Church of Sainte-Foy was built between 1050 and 1120. The tympanum over the main entrance depicts the Last Judgement. It contains 124 figures carved from local limestone. The church’s spire rises 68 metres. The treasury holds 127 relics, including a golden reliquary statue of Sainte-Foy from the 10th century. It is set with 50 precious stones. Entry to the treasury costs 5 euros (as of 2026). The village sits at the confluence of the Dourdou and Ouche rivers. The streets are paved with granite stones laid in the 12th century. Conques receives 600,000 visitors annually. The village has 10 restaurants and 8 hotels. A pilgrim menu costs 15 euros. The village hosts a medieval music festival every August.

Eguisheim: A 1,200-Year-Old Circular Village in the Alsace Wine Region

Eguisheim was founded in 800 AD by Eberhard, Count of Eguisheim. The village is built in concentric circles around a central castle. The castle was built in 720 and rebuilt in the 13th century. The village streets form 3 concentric rings. The outermost ring is 1.2 kilometres in circumference. The Church of Saints Peter and Paul was built in 1889. Its spire rises 78 metres. Eguisheim produces 5 of Alsace’s 7 grape varieties. The village has 28 independent winemakers. A tasting at a local winery costs 5 to 10 euros (as of 2026). The village has won the title of France’s Favourite Village twice, in 2013 and 2017. The houses are decorated with storks’ nests. Over 20 stork pairs nest on the rooftops each year.

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