Famous for its incredible cuisine, architectural wealth, and, of course, that untranslatable joie de vivre, France should be on the bucket list of every culture buff.
However, between the surging crowds and the eye-watering prices, we’d understand if you’ve not been keen on visiting.
As much as tourists love to flock to the one spot, it doesn’t necessarily have to be a bustling Paris, an overpriced Nice, or even the jam-packed pastel towns of Provence if it’s an immersion in French culture you seek––in fact, that’s where you’re less likely to find it.
Recently voted one of the most beautiful towns in France, Villeneuve is a medieval gem that’s been successfully kept hidden from the crowds, but it won’t be for long.
Villeneuve-d’Aveyron Is One Of France’s Most Beautiful Towns!
A small village in France’s southernmost region of Occitanie, with under 2,000 residents, Villeneuve-d’Aveyron has officially been inscribed into the list of ‘Most Beautiful Villages in France‘, or in the original, Les plus beaux villages de France.
If you’re familiar with Mexico’s nationwide ‘Magical Town‘ distinction or Britain’s ‘Areas of Outstanding Beauty’, this is effectively the French equivalent to those awarding historical settlements in the country that have made significant efforts to preserve their architectural ensemble.
Villeneuve is a perfectly preserved example of a medieval countryside town nestled in the Occitan hinterland. Its labyrinthine streets are flanked by Bastide-era stone houses, all leading to picturesque courtyards, storied taverns, or that towering central church.
Though this is a recent nomination on the ‘Most Beautiful Villages’ association’s part, Villeneuve had actually first applied for the label as far back as 1998––yep, this has been a whole 26 years in the making, but as they say, sooner rather than later.
As the 176-town-strong welcomes Villeneuve into the family–that includes tourist-packed villages like Gordes and Les Baux-de-Provence—it’s time we find out what makes this once-overlooked town so special.
Why Is Villeneuve So Special?
Villeneuve is famous for its Place des Conques, a postcard-perfect square bordered by arcades and vaulted passageways.
It’s also guarded by a series of medieval gates, two of the most ornate being the Great Door and Cardalhac Door.
The town’s main attraction, however, is undoubtedly its Church of the Holy Sepulcher––not to be confused with the one in Jerusalem––built in the Romanesque-Gothic style, and maintained exactly as it was when it was built in the year 1073 AD.
As you can see, Villeneuve may be tiny, but it suffers from no shortage of historical landmarks, with a monumental Soubirane Tower, offering breathtaking views of the village below, and a beautifully-frescoed, 11th-century church of Toulongergues being two other examples.
In sum, it’s storybook material, and somewhere, the passing of time has essentially come to a halt.
True French Culture
Unlike other larger settlements in France, Villeneuve-d’Aveyron has remained staunchly French in character, and it’s the closest you can get to experiencing ‘Old World’ France prior to the effects of globalization.
Locals are very much proud of their ancient heritage, so much so that, in summer, they hold a ‘medieval festival‘ every Sunday to celebrate their centuries-old traditions, and good luck trying to find your usual Chinese, Indian, or Turkish takeout:
French cuisine reigns supreme, and if you’re looking for a not-so-expensive, yet exceptional place to eat, make sure you swing by Les Arcades, housed in the arcaded galleries of Place des Conques––from soup à l’oignon to andouillette sausages, your French faves are all here in one place.
And the best part is, there are no tour groups around, pesky Instagrammers, nor obnoxious tourists!
How To Get To Villeneuve
Villeneuve has preserved its charm, while much of France fell victim to the spoils of the modern world, because of its remoteness and longer distance from larger urban centers where multiculturalism is the prevailing order.
The closest major commune to Villeneuve-d’Aveyron is Montauban, roughly an hour away driving, while Toulouse is 1h47.
By far, the easiest, and most convenient way to reach this Most Beautiful Village of France is driving, but if you don’t have a car at your disposal, you can take a nonstop train from Paris (Gare d’Austerlitz), or Bordeaux to Montauban, priced $58 – $80.
From there, you can board local inter-municipal buses or regional trains that will get you closer to Villeneuve, as seen on the official map, but in all honesty, renting a car is best for both optimizing time, and making the journey as pleasant as can be.
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