Les Petites Cités de Caractère and Les Plus Beaux Villages de France

There two useful lists of French towns and villages which might possibly help you with finding a perfect place to buy property in France: they're 'Les Petites Cités de Caractère' and 'Les Plus Beaux Villages de France'. Of course, all the locations on these two lists are property hot-spots, and you will pay a premium to live there, but you will certainly reap wonderful rewards in terms of lifestyle, character, vibrancy, and beauty. I have listed all the qualifying members of these two associations below - I hope you find them useful as a signpost to the very best of beautiful France.

Les Petites Cités de Caractère

The first list is called 'Petites Cités de Caractère'. Here that you will find a wonderful collection of the eponymous 'characterful little cities'.

The role of the Association which compiles the Petites Cités de Caractère list is to safeguard at-risk heritage in historic municipalities which may struggle with funding due to their rural locations and small populations, to put preservation at the forefront of their local planning and municipal policies, and to provide a central resource for the promotion of heritage tourism.

At the time of posting (December 2023), there were 236 cities on the list, including all those which have already been ratified, and a handful whose applications are still in the process of being checked and approved.

You'll find the Petites Cités de Caractère list below in alphabetical order.

Les Plus Beaux Villages de France

The other list is 'Les Plus Beaux Villages de France' - the 'most beautiful villages in France'. The goal of the Association is similar to that of the Petites Cités: that their members should unite to protect and promote the outstanding heritage of their villages, including tourism initiatives and events.

For villages to join the Association, they must have a maximum population of 2,000 (within the village, not the commune). They must pass the inspections of the Quality and Labeling Commission, and sign up to the organisation's Quality, Heritage and Environmental Charter. Currently 176 villages have been ratified to join the Association. Some of them are tiny, so if you are looking for peace and tranquility, and you are not so worried about facilities, this is a great list to explore.

You'll find the Plus Beaux Villages de France list below, (after the Petites Cités list). As before they are all in alphabetical order.

Les Petites Cités de Caractère List

Airvault, Deux-Sèvres
Allègre, Haute-Loire
Ambialet, Tarn
Ambronay, Ain
Apremont, Vendée
Arçais, Deux-Sèvres
Artonne, Puy-de-Dôme
Asnières-sur-Vègre, Sarthe
Aubeterre-sur-Dronne, Charente
Aubigné-sur-Layon, Maine-et-Loire
Aubigny-sur-Nère, Cher
Auzon, Haute-Loire
Aÿ, Marne
Bagnoles de l'Orne Normandie, Orne
Bar-sur-Seine, Aube
Batz-sur-mer, Loire Atlantique
Baugé, Maine-et-Loire
Bazouges-la-Pérouse, Ille-et-Vilaine
Beaulieu-lès-Loches, Indre-et-Loire
Bécherel, Ille-et-Vilaine
Béhuard, Maine-et-Loire
Bellème, Orne
Bénévent-l'Abbaye, Creuse
Besse-et-Saint-Anastaise, Puy-de-Dôme
Billy, Allier
Blaison-Gohier, Maine-et-Loire
Bourbon-l'Archambault, Allier
Bourganeuf, Creuse
Bourmont, Haute-Marne
Bouxwiller, Alsace
Bram, Aude
Brantôme, Dordogne
Bricquebec, Manche
Brûlon, Sarthe
Celles-sur-Belle, Deux-Sèvres
Chailland, Mayenne
Chalencon, Ardèche
Champeix, Puy-de-Dôme
Chanaz, Savoie
Charlieu, Loire
Charroux, Vienne
Châteaugiron, Ille-et-Vilaine
Château-Larcher, Vienne
Château-Renard, Loiret
Châteauvillain, Haute-Marne
Châtelaudren, Côtes-d'Armor
Châteldon, Puy-de-Dôme
Châtillon-sur-Saône, Vosges
Chauriat, Puy-de-Dôme
Chef-Boutonne, Deux-Sèvres
Chênehutte-Trèves-Cunault, Maine-et-Loire
Chilhac, Haute-Loire
Collioure, Pyrénées-Orientales
Cologne, Gers
Combourg, Ille-et-Vilaine
Combret-sur-Rance, Aveyron
Confolens, Charente
Cormicy, Marne
Coulon, Deux-Sèvres
Coux, Ardèche
Crémieu, Isère
Denée, Maine-et-Loire
Dol-de-Bretagne, Ille-et-Vilaine
Domfront, Orne
Drevant, Cher
Ébreuil, Allier
Écouché, Orne
Épernon, Eure-et-Loir
Ervy-le-Châtel, Aube
Essoyes, Aube
Excideuil, Dordogne
Eymoutiers, Haute-Vienne
Faymoreau, Vendée
Ferrières-en-Gâtinais, Loiret
Foussais-Payré, Vendée
Fresnay-sur-Sarthe, Sarthe
Garde-Colombe, Hautes-Alpes
Guémené-sur-Scorff, Morbihan
Guerlesquin, Finistère
Guingamp, Côtes-d'Armor
Hérisson, Allier
Hombourg-Haut, Moselle
Ille-sur-Têt, Pyrénées-Orientales
Illiers-Combray, Eure-et-Loir
Ingrandes - Le Fresne sur Loire, Maine-et-Loire
Joinville, Haute-Marne
Josselin, Morbihan
Jugon-les-Lacs, Côtes-d'Armor
La Ferté-Vidame, Eure-et-Loir
La Guerche-de-Bretagne, Ille-et-Vilaine
La Malène, Lozère
La Mothe-Saint-Héray, Deux-Sèvres
La Perrière, Orne
La Roche-Bernard, Morbihan
La Roche-Derrien, Côtes-d'Armor
La Sauvetat, Puy-de-Dôme
Labastide d'Armagnac, Landes
Lacaze, Tarn
Laroquebrou, Cantal
Lassay-les-Châteaux, Mayenne
Le Broc, Puy-de-Dôme
Le Conquet, Finistère
Le Coudray-Macouard, Maine-et-Loire
Le Croisic, Loire Atlantique
Le Crozet, Loire
Le Dorat, Haute-Vienne
Le Faou, Finistère
Le Lude, Sarthe
Le Monastier-sur-Gazeille, Haute-Loire
Le Puy-Notre-Dame, Maine-et-Loire
Le Quesnoy, Nord
Le Sap, Orne
Le Thoureil, Maine-et-Loire
Léhon, Côtes-d'Armor
Les Riceys, Aube
Levroux, Indre
L'Île-Rousse, Haute-Corse
Lisle-sur-Tarn, Tarn
Locronan, Finistère
Lombez, Gers
Longny-au-Perche, Orne
Luché-Pringé, Sarthe
Lupiac, Gers
Lusignan, Vienne
Luynes, Indre-et-Loire
Maincy, Marne
Malestroit, Morbihan
Mallièvre, Vendée
Mamers, Sarthe
Marcolès, Cantal
Martres Tolosane, Haute-Garonne
Marville, Meuse
Mauléon, Deux-Sèvres
Melle, Deux-Sèvres
Menet, Cantal
Moncontour-de-Bretagne, Côtes-d'Armor
Mondoubleau, Loir-et-Cher
Montaigut-le-Blanc, Puy-de-Dôme
Montfort-sur-Meu, Ille-et-Vilaine
Montmirail, Sarthe
Montreuil-Bellay, Maine-et-Loire
Montrichard Val de Cher, Loir-et-Cher
Montsalvy, Cantal
Montsaugeon, Haute-Marne
Montsoreau, Maine-et-Loire
Monts-sur-Guesnes, Vienne
Mortagne-au-Perche, Orne
Mortagne-sur-Sèvre, Vendée
Mouchamps, Vendée
Mouzon, Ardennes
Murat, Cantal
Mussy-sur-Seine, Aube
Nanteuil-en-Vallée, Charente
Nieul-sur-l'Autise, Vendée
Noirmoutier-en-l'Île, Vendée
Nonette puis Nonette-Orsonnette, Puy-de-Dôme
Oiron (Plaines-et-Vallées), Deux-Sèvres
Parcé-sur-Sarthe, Sarthe
Parné-sur-Roc, Mayenne
Peyreleau, Aveyron
Piriac-sur-Mer, Loire Atlantique
Pleaux, Cantal
Plombières-les-Bains, Vosges
Pont-Croix, Finistère
Pontrieux, Côtes-d'Armor
Pont-Scorff, Morbihan
Port-Louis, Morbihan
Pouancé, Maine-et-Loire
Pouzauges, Vendée
Quintin, Côtes-d'Armor
Richelieu, Indre-et-Loire
Riverie, Rhône
Rochecorbon, Indre-et-Loire
Rochefort-en-Terre, Morbihan
Rocroi, Ardennes
Roscoff, Finistère
Saint-Aubin-du-Cormier, Ille-et-Vilaine
Saint-Aulaye, Dordogne
Saint-Benoît-sur-Loire, Loiret
Saint-Bonnet-le-Château, Loire
Saint-Calais, Sarthe
Saint-Céneri-le-Gérei, Orne
Saint-Chef, Isère
Saint-Cyprien, Dordogne
Saint-Denis-d'Anjou, Mayenne
Saint-Dyé-sur-Loire, Loir-et-Cher
Sainte-Ménehould, Marne
Sainte-Sévère-sur-Indre, Indre
Sainte-Suzanne, Mayenne
Saint-Fargeau, Yonne
Saint-Florent-le-Vieil, Maine-et-Loire
Saint-Floret, Puy-de-Dôme
Saint-Geniez-d’Olt-et-d’Aubrac, Aveyron
Saint-Léonard-des-Bois, Sarthe
Saint-Lizier, Ariège
Saint-Loup-Lamairé, Deux-Sèvres
Saint-Mihiel, Meuse
Saint-Pal-de-Chalencon, Haute-Loire
Saint-Paulien, Haute-Loire
Saint-Pierre-sur-Erve, Mayenne
Saint-Saturnin, Puy-de-Dôme
Saint-Sauvant, Charente-Maritime
Saint-Savinien-sur-Charente, Charente-Maritime
Saint-Urcize, Cantal
Saint-Vincent-de-Barrès, Ardèche
Sancerre, Cher
Saulges, Mayenne
Sauveterre-de-Béarn, Pyrénées-Atlantiques
Sauxillanges, Puy-de-Dôme
Savennières, Maine-et-Loire
Sées, Orne
Senones, Vosges
Serres, Hautes-Alpes
Sévérac-le-Château, Aveyron
Sézanne, Marne
Sillé-le-Guillaume, Sarthe
Sommières, Gard
Ternand, Rhône
Thiron-Gardais, Eure-et-Loir
Tonnerre, Yonne
Touques, Calvados
Tréguier, Côtes-d'Armor
Treignac, Corrèze
Trôo, Loir-et-Cher
Turquant, Maine-et-Loire
Tusson, Charente
Vaison-la-Romaine, Vaucluse
Vénéjan, Gard
Verteuil-sur-Charente, Charente
Vertus, Marne
Vic-le-Comte, Puy-de-Dôme
Vic-sur-Seille, Moselle
Vignory, Haute-Marne
Villebois-Lavalette, Charente
Villecomtal, Aveyron
Vouvant, Vendée

Les Plus Beaux Villages de France List

Aiguèze, Gard
Ainhoa, Pyrénées-Atlantiques
Angles-sur-l’Anglin, Vienne
Ansouis, Vaucluse
Apremont-sur-Allier, Cher
Arlempdes, Haute-Loire
Ars-en-Ré, Charente-Maritime
Aubeterre-sur-Dronne, Charente
Autoire, Lot
Auvillar, Tarn-et-Garonne
Balazuc, Ardèche
Barfleur, Manche
Bargème, Var
Baume-les-Messieurs, Jura
Beaulieu-sur-Dordogne, Corrèze
Belcastel, Aveyron
Bergheim, Haut-Rhin
Beuvron-en-Auge, Calvados
Beynac-et-Cazenac, Dordogne
Blesle, Haute-Loire
Bonneval-sur-Arc, Savoie
Brousse-le-Château, Aveyron
Bruniquel, Tarn-et-Garonne
Camon, Ariège
Candes-Saint-Martin, Indre-et-Loire
Capdenac, Lot
Cardaillac, Lot
Carennac, Lot
Castelnau-de-Montmiral, Tarn
Castelnaud-la-Chapelle, Dordogne
Castelnou, Pyrénées-Orientales
Charroux, Allier
Château-Chalon, Jura
Châteauneuf, Côte-d'Or
Châtillon-en-Diois, Drôme
Coaraze, Alpes-Maritimes
Collonges-la-Rouge, Corrèze
Conques, Aveyron
Cordes-sur-Ciel, Tarn
Cotignac, Var
Crissay-sur-Manse, Indre-et-Loire
Curemonte, Corrèze
Domme, Dordogne
Eguisheim, Haut-Rhin
Entrevaux, Alpes-de-Haute-Provence
Estaing, Aveyron
Eus, Pyrénées-Orientales
Flavigny-sur-Ozerain, Côte-d'Or
Fourcès, Gers
Gargilesse-Dampierre, Indre
Gassin, Var
Gerberoy, Oise
Gordes, Vaucluse
Gorges du Tarn Causses, Lozère
Gourdon, Alpes-Maritimes
Grignan, Drôme
Hiers-Brouage, Charente-Maritime
Hunawihr, Haut-Rhin
Hunspach, Bas-Rhin
La Bastide-Clairence, Pyrénées-Atlantiques
La Couvertoirade, Aveyron
La Flotte, Charente-Maritime
La Garde-Adhémar, Drôme
La Grave, Hautes-Alpes
La Roche-Guyon, Val-d'Oise
La Romieu, Gers
La Roque-Gageac, Dordogne
La Roque-sur-Cèze, Gard
Lagrasse, Aude
Larressingle, Gers
Lautrec, Tarn
Lauzerte, Tarn-et-Garonne
Lavardens, Gers
Lavardin, Loir-et-Cher
Lavaudieu, Haute-Loire
Lavoûte-Chilhac, Haute-Loire
Le Bec-Hellouin, Eure
Le Castellet, Var
Le Malzieu-Ville, Lozère
Le Poët-Laval, Drôme
Les Baux-de-Provence, Bouches-du-Rhône
Limeuil, Dordogne
Locronan, Finistère
Lods, Doubs
Loubressac, Lot
Lourmarin, Vaucluse
Lussan, Gard
Lyons-la-Forêt, Eure
Martel, Lot
Ménerbes, Vaucluse
Minerve, Hérault
Mirmande, Drôme
Mittelbergheim, Bas-Rhin
Moncontour, Côtes-d'Armor
Monestiés, Tarn
Monflanquin, Lot-et-Garonne
Monpazier, Dordogne
Montbrun-les-Bains, Drôme
Montclus, Gard
Montpeyroux, Puy-de-Dôme
Montréal, Gers
Montrésor, Indre-et-Loire
Montsoreau, Maine-et-Loire
Mornac-sur-Seudre, Charente-Maritime
Mortemart, Haute-Vienne
Moustiers-Sainte-Marie, Alpes-de-Haute-Provence
Najac, Aveyron
Navarrenx, Pyrénées-Atlantiques
Noyers, Yonne
Oingt, Rhône
Olargues, Hérault
Olette, Pyrénées-Orientales
Parfondeval, Aisne
Pays de Belvès, Dordogne
Penne-d’Agenais, Lot-et-Garonne
Pérouges, Ain
Pesmes, Haute-Saône
Peyre, Comprégnac, Aveyron
Piana, Corse-du-Sud
Polignac, Haute-Loire
Pradelles, Haute-Loire
Prats-de-Mollo-la-Preste, Pyrénées-Orientales
Prévenchères, Lozère
Pujols, Lot-et-Garonne
Puycelsi, Tarn
Riquewihr, Haut-Rhin
Rocamadour, Lot
Rochefort-en-Terre, Morbihan
Rodemack, Moselle
Roussillon, Vaucluse
Saint-Amand-de-Coly, Dordogne
Saint-Antoine-l'Abbaye, Isère
Saint-Benoît-du-Sault, Indre
Saint-Bertrand-de-Comminges, Haute-Garonne
Saint-Céneri-le-Gérei, Orne
Saint-Cirq-Lapopie, Lot
Saint-Côme-d’Olt, Aveyron
Sainte-Agnès, Alpes-Maritimes
Sainte-Croix-en-Jarez, Loire
Sainte-Eulalie-d’Olt, Aveyron
Sainte-Suzanne, Mayenne
Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert, Hérault
Saint-Jean-de-Côle, Dordogne
Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, Pyrénées-Atlantiques
Saint-Léon-sur-Vézère, Dordogne
Saint-Quirin, Moselle
Saint-Robert, Corrèze
Saint-Suliac, Ille-et-Vilaine
Saint-Véran, Hautes-Alpes
Salazie, Réunion
Salers, Cantal
Sancerre, Cher
Sant’Antonino, Haute-Corse
Saorge, Alpes-Maritimes
Sare, Pyrénées-Atlantiques
Sarrant, Gers
Sauveterre-de-Rouergue, Aveyron
Séguret, Vaucluse
Ségur-le-Château, Corrèze
Seillans, Var
Semur-en-Brionnais, Saône-et-Loire
Talmont-sur-Gironde, Charente-Maritime
Tournemire, Cantal
Tournon-d’Agenais, Lot-et-Garonne
Tourtour, Var
Turenne, Corrèze
Usson, Puy-de-Dôme
Venasque, Vaucluse
Veules-les-Roses, Seine-Maritime
Vézelay, Yonne
Villefranche-de-Conflent, Pyrénées-Orientales
Villeréal, Lot-et-Garonne
Vogüé, Ardèche
Vouvant, Vendée
Yèvre-la-Ville, Loiret
Yvoire, Haute-Savoie

I hope you found these two lists useful!