‘france’s favourite village’: see 14 contenders for this year’s vote

Voting for France’s favourite village is now open in the annual Village préféré des Français competition run by France 3. Voting opened on February 20 and is set to end at midnight on March

10. You can vote online or by calling 32 45 (within France). Calls cost €0.80 + your operator’s normal call cost. The winner, and the full programme, will be shown on TV, animated by

presenter Stéphane Bern. Last year’s winner was Bergheim (Haut-Rhin, Grand Est), a 2,300-inhabitant village, which became the fourth village in Alsace to win the prize in recent years after

Eguisheim (2013), Kaysersberg (2017) and Hunspach (2020). PHOTOS: 14 VILLAGES VIE TO BE FRENCH FAVOURITE: WHICH GETS YOUR VOTE? Here is the full shortlist of 14 villages (in no targeted

order). LAVOÛTE-CHILHAC, AUVERGNE-RHÔNE-ALPES This Haute-Loire village has the river Allier running through it and has a historic priory building in the centre. _France TV_ said: “The

terraces and winegrowers' houses on the rocky slopes overlook the mediaeval bridge in the form of a humpback with four arches. Classified as a historic monument, [the bridge] has been

the only way to link the two districts of the village since its construction.” DRUYES-LES-BELLES-FONTAINE, BOURGOGNE-FRANCHE-COMTÉ This village impressed judges with its chateau fort that

overlooks it, with history that goes back to the Middle Ages. There are monuments along the river (Druyes basin), including a Roman church and windmill. It is also the hometown of Jean

Bertin, inventor of the aerotrain, and Jean-Roch Coignet, Napoleon's famous soldier. PONTRIEUX, BRETAGNE This village close to Saint-Brieuc has houses built in wood and stone and also

has a fountain dating back to the 18th century. There is also a marina. _France TV_ said: “This small characterful town invites you to float along the river Trieux in a boat, to observe the

50 washhouses in bloom, which adorn the back gardens of the town.” BEAULIEU-LÈS-LOCHES, CENTRE-VAL DE LOIRE The small streets of this Indre-et-Loire village lead to “architectural treasures”

like the large bell tower of the Saint-Pierre-Saint-Paul abbey church, or the Carroir des Templiers. _France TV_ said: "Beaulieu-lès-Loches is like a stroll back in time…[and] rich in

outdoor activities.” LUMIO, CORSICA This village in the north of the island takes its name from ‘lume’, which means ‘light’ in Corsican. Overlooking the bay of Calvi, it has pink granite

houses and narrow streets and is close to the historical 15th century village of Occi. _France TV_ said: “This village offers an extraordinary panorama on numerous chapels and squares, as

well as on the port of Lumio. Between the architecture and the beauty of the landscape, there is plenty to marvel at.” HATTONCHÂTEL, GRAND EST Hattonchâtel is a historical, mediaeval

village, located only 33km from Verdun in Meuse. It was destroyed by order of Richelieu in 1634, and also suffered significant damage during World War One. However, it has an American

patron, which has enabled it to preserve much of its history, including its fortress, church, and cloister, which has stained glass windows by the artist Jacques Grüber. _France TV_ said:

“The commune also offers splendid views.” ESQUELBECQ, HAUTS-DE-FRANCE Located 20km south of Dunkirk, and on the Yser river, Esquelbecq is a ‘typically Flemish village’ in Nord. Since 2007,

Esquelbecq has also been awarded the ‘village du livre’ label, and its many bookshops and booksellers regularly organise book nights and markets. Its castle was rebuilt in the 17th century

and has distinctive yellow and red bricks that are characteristic of Flanders architecture. France TV said that the village is “perfectly maintained and bordered by a garden adorned with

centuries-old oak trees and a moat, which is the jewel of the town”. FLAGY, ÎLE-DE-FRANCE This village is full of character, and includes a restored 13th-century mill, the Notre-Dame de

Pitié church, and the Guermery farm, which has a spring flowing on its land. Close to the Fontainebleau forest, _France TV_ said that “Flagy is a haven of calm, culture and greenery in the

heart of Seine-et-Marne", while still being less than 100km away from Paris. The Orvanne, a tributary of the Loing, borders the village. BEAUMONT-EN-AUGE, NORMANDY Beaumont-en-Auge, in

the Pays d’Auge, is "considered one of the most beautiful villages in Normandy". It has colourful half-timbered houses and homes in stone, brick and slate which "give it a

warm atmosphere", _France TV_ said. It also has the church of Saint-Sauveur, a museum, and a historical washhouse, as well as a statue in honour of one of the village’s favourite sons:

Pierre Simon Laplace, an early 19th century astronomer. BELVÈS, NOUVELLE-AQUITAINE South of Dordogne, this village in the heart of Périgord Noir is “like a postcard” and offers “a

magnificent panorama of the Nauze valley", said _France TV_. The village was besieged many times during the 100 Years War and religious conflicts. It has a historical church, no fewer

than seven bell towers, and a medieval hall made of wood. The castle has a dungeon, while the village hotel has a renaissance façade. There are also troglodyte dwellings, which make the town

“a historical and architectural jewel”, the production company said. BELCASTEL, OCCITANIE With the Aveyron running at the foot of the village under a Romanesque bridge, Belcastel also has a

castle perched above it, looking over stone houses with slate roofs. There is also the 15th century church of Sainte Marie-Madeleine, and an ancient fountain. LASSAY-LES-CHÂTEAUX, PAYS DE

LA LOIRE Named for the Lassay stream that runs alongside it, this Mayenne village has no fewer than three castles, including a 15th century fortified structure that is the only one in France

to have retained its original eight towers. “The former Benedictine convent, the Bois-Thibault castle and the rose garden with its 300 fragrances, add to the charm of the village,"

said _France TV._ It also said that the village’s first resident, the hermit Fraimbault, inspired the famous character Lancelot du Lac, who is a prominent knight in the legend of King

Arthur. SAINTES-MARIES-DE-LA-MER, PROVENCE-ALPES-CÔTE D’AZUR Found in the Camargue nature park, in Bouches-du-Rhône, this village sits on the Mediterranean coast, and welcomes more than

10,000 tourists and travellers each year. The village has a rich heritage, including an imposing fortified church, and remarkable Provençal farmhouses, states _France TV_. It added that “the

architecture and the buildings of the village delight the eyes [but] the landscapes that surround them are amazing”. ENTRE-DEUX, LA RÉUNION, OVERSEAS TERRITORY The village of Entre-Deux is

located in the southern part of Reunion Island, between two rivers, where "traditional Creole architecture is present everywhere", _France TV_ said. Its distinctive ‘Pavillon’ has

a four-sided roof and ‘reclining wooden hut’, in the style of the village pioneers’ construction methods. Entre-Deux is also famous for its local crafts, including weaving with choka leaves.

WINNING IS ‘A DOUBLE-EDGED SWORD’ Last year, village authorities said that winning the contest can bring recognition and a tourism boost but can also cause issues due to an immediate spike

in visitors to a place that is not designed for it. Mayor Elisabeth Schneider told _France 3_: “We didn’t apply. They called us to tell us that they had selected our village to represent the

region, because they thought it was very beautiful and well maintained.” The mayor did not immediately say yes to the idea as she was aware that taking part in the competition (especially

winning) can be a double-edged sword. She consulted local residents and shopkeepers and spoke to leaders in other villages that had been part of the competition in previous years. She said:

“Some of the feedback was very positive, others more mixed. We eventually decided to go for it.” RELATED ARTICLES FRANCE’S FAVOURITE VILLAGE ANNOUNCED… BUT IT NOW FEARS THE CROWDS LOCALS

CLASH OVER WIN AS CROWDS FLOCK TO FRANCE'S FAVOURITE VILLAGE