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Famous for its incredible cuisine, architectural wealth andthat is of course untranslatable joie de vivreFrance should be in troubleket list for every culture lover.
But between the growing crowds and the eye-watering prices, we can understand if you’re reluctant to visit.
As much as tourists love to visit the An If you’re looking for an immersion in French culture, it doesn’t necessarily have to be bustling Paris, overpriced Nice or even the crowded pastel towns of Provence – in fact, that’s where you are fewer probably find.
Recently voted one of the most beautiful towns in France, Villeneuve is a medieval gem that has been successfully hidden from the crowds, but it won’t be long.
Villeneuve-d’Aveyron is one of the most beautiful cities in France!
Villeneuve-d’Aveyron, a small village in the southernmost region of France, Occitanie, with fewer than 2,000 inhabitants, has been officially included in 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 national ‘Magic City’ award or the UK’s ‘Areas of Outstanding Beauty’, this is essentially the French equivalent of the awards given to historic settlements in the country that significant efforts to preserve their architectural ensemble.
Villeneuve is a perfectly preserved example of one medieval rural town located in the Occitan hinterland. The labyrinthine streets are flanked by the Bastide era stone houses, all leading to picturesque courtyards, legendary taverns or that towering central church.
Although this is a recent nomination from the ‘Most Beautiful Villages’ association, Villeneuve had first signed up for the label back in 1998 – yes, this happened a whole 26 years in the makingbut as they say, sooner rather than later.
As the town of 176 residents welcomes Villeneuve into the family – which also includes tourist-filled villages like Gordes and Les Baux-de-Provence – it’s time we discover what makes this once overlooked town so special.
Why is Villeneuve so special?
Villeneuve is known for its Place des Conques, a postcard-like square bordered by arcades and vaulted passageways.
It is also guarded by a series of medieval gates, two of the most ornate being the Great Door and the Cardalhac Door.
However, the city’s main attraction is undoubtedly the Church of the Holy Sepulcher (not to be confused with the one in Jerusalem).built in Romanesque-Gothic styleand maintained exactly as it was when it was built in the year 1073 AD.
As you can see, Villeneuve may be small, but it does bother him there is no shortage of historical monumentswith a monumental Soubirane Tower, which offers breathtaking views of the village below, and a beautifully decorated, 11th-century Church of Toulongergues are two other examples.
In short, it’s storybook material, and somewhere the passage of time has effectively come to a standstill.
Real French culture
Unlike other larger settlements in France, Villeneuve-d’Aveyron has retained a staunchly French character, and it is the closest you can get to experiencing France from the ‘Old World’ before the consequences of globalization.
The locals are very proud of their ancient heritage, so much so that in the summer they have a ‘medieval festival‘ every Sunday to celebrate their age-old traditions, and good luck finding your usual Chinese, Indian or Turkish takeaway:
French cuisine rules supremeand if you’re looking for a not-so-expensive, but exceptional place to eat, make sure you drop by Les Arcades, housed in the arcaded galleries of Place des Conques. soup à l’oignon Unpleasant andouillette sausages, your French favorites are all here in one place.
And the best thing is: there are no tour groups, annoying Instagrammers, nor unpleasant tourists!
How to get to Villeneuve?
Villeneuve has retained its charm while much of France has fallen victim to the spoils of the modern world, due to its remoteness and greater distance from larger urban centers where multiculturalism is the predominant order.
The nearest major local authority to Villeneuve-d’Aveyron lies Montauban, about an hour’s drivewhile Toulouse is 1h47.
By far the easiest and most convenient way to reach this Most Beautiful Village in France is by car, but if you don’t have a car, you can take a direct train from Paris (Gare d’Austerlitz), or Bordeaux to Montauban, priced $58-$80.
From there you can board local intermunicipal buses or regional trains that will take you closer to Villeneuve, as shown on the official mapbut honestly, renting a car is best to both optimize time and make the trip as pleasant as possible.
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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
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