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THE MUCH-COVETED AWARD IS ONLY GIVEN TO PLACES WITH FEWER THAN 2,000 RESIDENTS AND AT LEAST TWO PROTECTED OR HISTORIC SITES Two more villages have been granted the prestigious label of ‘the

most beautiful in France’ by the association that manages the award, which is only granted to places with fewer than 2,000 residents and at least two protected or historic sites. The

Association des Plus Beaux Villages de France awards the ‘Plus Beaux Villages de France’ accolade to new rural villages every year.  Villages must have fewer than 2,000 residents, and have

at least two protected sites or monuments, such as one classed as an official Monument historique in order to apply. Inclusion on the prestigious list can be a boon for tourism - and house

prices - and bring recognition to the local authorities for their efforts in restoring and maintaining the common spaces, gardens, and protected sites. This year, the association committee

met in Barfleur (Manche) on June 21-22 to decide the new entrants. The team chose two new villages to add. They are:  FONTEVRAUD-L'ABBAYE (MAINE-ET-LOIRE, PAYS DE LA LOIRE)

Fontevraud-l'Abbaye is located around 15km from the town of Saumur, and is best-known for its royal abbey, which was founded in 1101. The site was converted into a prison from 1804 to

1963, and has been a museum of modern art since 2021.  It “still shines with exceptional beauty and history”, the committee said. It added that it recognised the “considerable efforts made

by the municipality to enhance public spaces since its first application [for the list] in 2010”.  Fontevraud-l'Abbaye is only the second village in Maine-et-Loire to be awarded the

‘most beautiful’ label, and the fourth in the Pays de la Loire region. BLANGY-LE-CHÂTEAU (CALVADOS, NORMANDY) Blangy-le-Château is sometimes called the ‘Little Rome of Calvados’, and is a

historical gem, with timber-framed and brick houses that are typical of the Pays d'Auge. It is located between Pont-l'Evêque and Lisieux. The castle from the village’s name was

destroyed during the Hundred Years' War - only a few ruins remain today - but the historic village was left untouched during World War Two.  Blangy-le-Château is also the second village

to be listed in its department (after Beuvron-en-Auge), and is the seventh in villages in Normandy to be awarded the label. COMMITTEE CRITERIA The committee considers 32 criteria to decide

its ‘most beautiful’ villages. These include considerations about the heritage, architecture, and the environment - as well as the quality of the public spaces. However, while many of the

sites are relatively ‘remote’ and tucked away in the countryside, the association also considers their transport networks (e.g. bus or train stations), so that travellers are able to visit

them without necessarily needing to undertake long car journeys. It comes after the association last added two new villages to the list in September 2023. These were Entrevaux

(Alpes-de-Haute-Provence), and Saorge (Alpes-Maritimes).  Read also: Two more villages awarded prestigious ‘most beautiful in France’ title  The two latest bring the number of ‘beautiful

villages’ in France to 178 in total, across 14 regions and 70 departments. With 49 the region of Occitanie has the most villages on the list. To be win the Plus Beaux Villages de France

label, applicant villages must pass three selection stages. Only 25% of villages that apply reach the final stages. These villages must be approved by at least two-thirds of voting members

to be admitted to the scheme. The label is also not awarded forever. Each village given the accolade is revisited every six to nine years to check that it still deserves the title. This

year, the commission renewed the accolade for 17 villages, as well as the two new additions.