Beautiful French Villages

mpprh · Post by **mpprh** » Tue 09 Feb 2010 22:47

Roger O · Post by **Roger O** » Wed 10 Feb 2010 11:16

If I really had the budget and free choice, there's no doubt which of the list I would choose!!
http://www.les-plus-beaux-villages-de-f ... alazie.jpg

(Don't think they have SKY there? Shrug!!!!)

admiral · Post by **admiral** » Wed 10 Feb 2010 11:25

Hi Last time I was in Villefranche-de-Conflent, I noticed a jeep tour to the
Fort Libéria, is it possible to walk to the Fort Libéria

blackduff · Post by **blackduff** » Wed 10 Feb 2010 12:01

admiral wrote:Hi Last time I was in Villefranche-de-Conflent, I noticed a jeep tour to the
Fort Libéria, is it possible to walk to the Fort Libéria

Yes, it's a lot of steps though. Even walking down is a chore.

Blackduff

carol sheridan · Post by **carol sheridan** » Wed 10 Feb 2010 18:33

I have lived in Aude, PO, Lot, Dordogne and Haute Garonne and in each area I have looked up the list of Les Plus Beaux Villages and made a point of visiting each one. I think my favourite might be Collenges le Rouge, but none has disappointed. How I long to be back in France searching out those wonderful little villages.

thumbelina · Post by **thumbelina** » Wed 10 Feb 2010 18:35

carol sheridan wrote:I have lived in Aude, PO, Lot, Dordogne and Haute Garonne and in each area I have looked up the list of Les Plus Beaux Villages and made a point of visiting each one. I think my favourite might be Collenges le Rouge, but none has disappointed. How I long to be back in France searching out those wonderful little villages.

I love Collenge too, Carol!

The one which did, in reality, disappoint me, is Carcassonne!

I found it too Disney theme park ish for my taste

collioure_bee · Post by **collioure_bee** » Wed 10 Feb 2010 19:53

admiral wrote:Hi Last time I was in Villefranche-de-Conflent, I noticed a jeep tour to the
Fort Libéria, is it possible to walk to the Fort Libéria

Tke the jeep up (but be prepared for scary ride lol) and walk down, it is an experience I promise. Villefranche is much nicer than Carcassonne thumbs, agree with you about the touristy thing there.

No Collioure but MOSSET???????? Mosset for goodness sake?????? Who chose this?

I note Sournia is not there!

Marguerite & Steve · Post by **Marguerite & Steve** » Wed 10 Feb 2010 21:50

...I have only been around the Abbey, and we thoroughly enjoyed it there, beautiful place.

Eamon Avis · Post by **Eamon Avis** » Wed 10 Feb 2010 21:53

Roger O wrote:Response to click on thread
Le site Web a refusé d’afficher cette page Web
...so I guess we'll never know!

The link works OK on my computer Roger. Anyway, the web page (which is not dated although these things won't change much from year to year) is headed:
The French Government has listed the following as The Most Beautiful Villages in France chosen for their history and exceptional setting.

Village and Region
Ainhoa Basque
Angles-Sur L'Anglin Poitou-Charentes
Apremont-sur -Allier Centre
Autoire Midi-Pyrenees
Baluzuc Rhone Alpes
Bargeme Provence
Bonneval Sur Arc Rhone Alpes
Bonnieux Provence
Bruniquel And Penne Midi-Pyrenees
Collonges-Sur -Rouge Limousin
Conques Midi-Pyrenees
Entrevaux Provence
Eze-Village Provence
Flavigny-Sur -Ozerain Burgogne
Gerberoy Picardie
Gordes Provence Herisson Auvergne
La Couvertoirade Midi-Pyrenees
La Roque-Gageac,Beynac Domme Aquitane
La Roque-Sur -Ceze Languedoc- Rousillon
Lagrasse Languedoc- Rousillon
Le Poet-Laval Rhone Alpes
Les Beaux de Provence Provence
Locronan Bretagne
Lods Mouthier-Haute Pierre Franche Comte
Montpazier Aquitane
Mont St Michel Normandy
Noyers-sur Serien Burgogne
Peillon Provence
Perouges Rhone Alpes
Riquewihir and Humawihr Alsace
Rochefort -en Terre Bretagne
Saint Bertrand-de-Comminges Midi Pyrenees
Saint Cirq-Lapopie Midi Pyrenees
Saint Emillion Aquitane
Saint Guihem Le Desert Languedoc Rousillon
Saint Montan Rhone Alpes
Saint -Veran and Nevache Provence
Salers Auvergne
Sant'Antuninu Corse
Sauveterre-de-rouergue Midi- Pyrenees
Turenne Limousin
Vezelay Burgogne
Villefranche-Le-Conflent Languedoc Rousillon

Sorry if I've spelt some of them incorrectly but I've just got back home after battling around the M25 and I'm feeling frazzled! Now dreaming about Villefranche.

mpprh · Post by **mpprh** » Wed 10 Feb 2010 22:23

thumbelina wrote: The one which did, in reality, disappoint me, is Carcassonne!

I found it too Disney theme park ish for my taste

This one is not a disneyesque rebuild from the 1800's, it is real from the 1100's. Even launched some of the crusades :

Not as pretty as Carcassonne, though ?

There are many "real" medieval villages about worth seeing.

Peter

Rose · Post by **Rose** » Wed 10 Feb 2010 23:11

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

This is a great thread because it has given me so many ideas of places to visit.

I have just received an e-mail from a friend who is bringing a large group of people over for a holiday of 5 days. He wanted to know which places to visit. I put him onto rbg's wine tours and he has booked one of those. Where would you send people in the PO for day trips?

PS Their average age is 65.

nickiwynne · Post by **nickiwynne** » Thu 11 Feb 2010 08:15

Day trip to Spain?
Empuries/LEscala for the amazing Greek and Roman ruins on the coast, then Figueres for Dali museum.
Nicki

thumbelina · Post by **thumbelina** » Thu 11 Feb 2010 09:18

and whilst in Spain could throw in Cadaques and the Dali museum in Figueres.

In the Vallespir, Prats de Mollo is lovely, the Catalan fabric factory in St Laurent is great (as is the exhibition on the Retirada if someone can translate!), Gorges de la Fou at Corsavy and then the Museum of modern art in Ceret.

A great day out is to do a tour along the Agly valley then cut across from Axat up to Mont Louis then back down the Tet valley.

Santiago · Post by **Santiago** » Thu 11 Feb 2010 09:36

Forbidden website for me too.

Collioure, despite the hype, always impresses visitors. It ticks all the boxes.

The Vauban fortresses are all intereting.

Peyrepertuse is amazing but only suitable for the firm-of-foot.

Eamon Avis · Post by **Eamon Avis** » Thu 11 Feb 2010 11:21

[quote="Santiago"]Forbidden website for me too.

You lot must be being monitored...

I second your day out Thumbers. I love the little road between Axat and Mont-Louis.

Rose · Post by **Rose** » Thu 11 Feb 2010 15:46

Thanks for your suggestions. I haven't been to Prats de Mollo so will go there next time I am over.

thumbelina · Post by **thumbelina** » Thu 11 Feb 2010 15:51

Wear good shoes if you plan to visit the Fort!

carol sheridan · Post by **carol sheridan** » Thu 11 Feb 2010 16:49

I wonder if any of you can set me right - I am sure I once drove over a very bumpy unmade track quite a way up to the summit of Canigou, leaving behind a little village, and driving down the other side on a single track road. I could never find it again, and I began to wonder if I had imagined the whole thing. I was in my little Nissan Micra, not a 4 x4, but I was in the habit of driving over unmade roads, well off the map. There were some army vehicles parked up there. I know my memory is getting a bit dodgy, but I remember clearly being a bit nervous in case I met something coming up the track, as there were no passing places and I am not very good at reversing for long distances because of arthritis.

Although they are not in the list of the most beautiful villages, I loved the villages of the Alberes, Laval, Sorede, Laroque - so many beautiful walks up into the mountains. I agree that Carcassonne is just too touristy, especially once you have taken your first four lots of visitors. On one occasion I was daft enough to take my family on July 14th! The restaurants are pricey and not very good, in my experience.
I like Aigues-Mortes, out of season, and I love Vernet les Bains.
I don't know how anyone could get bored in France, if you can afford the time and the petrol -I could happily spend the rest of my life just exploring the towns and villages and getting lost when I went way off the beaten track.

thumbelina · Post by **thumbelina** » Thu 11 Feb 2010 16:57

Sounds to me a bit like the road up from Villerach to the Refuge des Cortalets and then down towards Fillols, Carol.

http://maps.google.fr/maps?f=q&hl=fr&ge ... urce=embed

carol sheridan · Post by **carol sheridan** » Fri 12 Feb 2010 21:20

Thank you so much for letting me know I am not starting to imagine things! It was a lovely, if slightly anxious, drive.
I hope you all realise how very lucky you are to live in such a beautiful part of France.
I also drove twice up from Corsavy (one of my favourite villages), past the Tour de Batere, over a very difficult unmade track, ending up at La Bastide. It was probably quite silly of me, as my mobile phone did not work in the mountains and I was quite alone. I like to live dangerously.

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Beautiful French Villages