Does France have the most beautiful towns and villages in the world?

[KostasKouvalis]

Eguisheim

Menton

Belle Île

Conques

Les Anses d'Arlet

I think so, yes

No, I know countries that have towns that are even beautifuler

[Julie4]

As a French journalist wrote


"France is not in Europe; it is Europe itself. France combines all the physical, geological, botanical, and climatic characteristics of Europe. It is, as the geographer Vidal de La Blache wrote over a century ago, the only country that is simultaneously of the North and the South, the East and the West:



"While the peasant of Roussillon and Provence battles against African drought, the Breton lives in the moist air that bathes England, shaping his crops and tastes accordingly. 'If it rains every day, it's too much; if it rains only every other day, it's not enough,' he says. And like the Englishman, he suffers when the dry winds from the east set in. But inland, the climate of our plains can be regarded as the average climate of Europe."


France is the garden of Europe. Through the Rhône Valley, France opens up to Italy; through the Moselle and Rhine valleys, we are in Germany. Roussillon is Spanish, Provence is a composite heap of Greek cities and Roman municipalities; Lorraine is a miniature of the Germanic Empire, where French and Germans are intimately mixed. Toulouse is a half-successful Rome; at the Capitol, the city's archives were kept in an iron cupboard, like the Roman flames. Normandy is another England; nestled in the heart of the Deux-Sèvres plateau, called Little Holland, La Rochelle thought itself an Amsterdam of which Coligny would have been the William of Orange, before Richelieu besieged and defeated it; the flat country of northern France is the same as that of Ypres, Ghent, and Bruges. The Breton language is of the Celtic family, like Irish Gaelic. And as for the Basque, who has seen, Michelet says, all nations pass before him, he no longer even cares to know from when he dates."


But honestly it's hard to answer this question because there are so many beautiful places around the world. The answer will depend on individual preferences.

[KostasKouvalis]

Yes, I agree. And that's kind of what I was trying to tell Laly. And you didn't even mention Corsica. I think France is the most diverse country in Europe. The UK might the only other strong contender, in terms of people and modern immigration. But in terms of historic influence, I think France. Because like you said, it's like every region of Europe in one place. And you also have strong cultural influence from Africa.
If only you had volcanoes, I think you would be the most interesting country in Europe.

However, if you count your overseas departments, then France is one of the most geographically interesting countries on earth. And culturally too.

[electromagnetic]

They’re beautiful but there are many places equally if not more beautiful as well. Cities in England, Türkiye, the Netherlands, Switzerland too.

[KostasKouvalis]

The other ones I can make an argument for, but I don't know how Turkey got in there.

[electromagnetic]

😆 Cities like Amasra, Sinop, and Mardin are quite beautiful.
Not the big fancy cities everyone goes to, Istanbul, Antalya..

[KostasKouvalis]

Are you Turkish?

Yes, the Black Sea region is very underrated and has some beautiful scenery and towns, but lacks ancient ruins.

I liked Antalya, but I went during COVID when there were almost no tourists

[electromagnetic]

I’m not Turkish. I just travel a lot.

[KostasKouvalis]

Me too

[Bricealan]

I would go back to Paris in a heartbeat... I also was enamored with Italy, but I think France is the best of all

[Bricealan]

P. S. I missed going to Normandy, since it was a Day Trip, and late in my vacation, I did not have time to go there

[KostasKouvalis]

You actually liked Paris?
France I've been dying to revisit, but I have no desire to revisit Italy any time soon. The country is probably the most interesting in Europe, but it's so disorganized and many parts of Italy have shitty people.
Maybe Puglia and the Aeolean Islands some day, but I'm in no rush.

[KostasKouvalis]

I definitely will not go back to Rome though.

[Bricealan]

@KostasKouvalis I really enjoyed Rome, and spent a lot of time there. Went through the Coliseum, and thoroughly enjoyed it. That said, I can't wait to see Germany. Next trip is Norway, Finland, Sweden. We were going to do it this trip, but my brother felt it was too much for him in one trip.

[12karen]

I think that the word "the most... in the world", is so Français and it's not true

Yeah it's pretty but the most beautiful in the world, no, there's better

[KostasKouvalis]

Where might that be?

[12karen]

London, Finland

[KostasKouvalis]

London on its own not really, but I can make an argument for England or the UK. But Finland? Really? Finnish architecture is so boring. It's very Russian influenced and they have no medieval history

[thegreenyogi]

They are very picturesque although I agree with other gagers. They're not the most beautiful in the whole wide world.

[KostasKouvalis]

Who's do you think are then?

[laly520]

its beautiful but not the most beautiful in the world

[KostasKouvalis]

Who do you think has the most beautiful?

[laly520]

I would say germany especially its small green towns

[KostasKouvalis]

France has German towns too. I think architecture in France is varied

[laly520]

it feels way different in Germany
I personally was able to connect with the entire environment in a day n found a lot of peace within nature not to mention being around people also made it easier for me to enjoy my time in there despite usually taking me a while to adapt, overall, I felt very calm
unlike my time in France, Germany seemed comparatively quieter n more safe

[LaurenM1997]

France is on my bucket list cause of these pics looks so beautiful

[Anonymous]

Czech Republic, Romania, Poland, Bulgaria, Hungary, Croatia, Austria, France is probably the lowest on this list of beautiful towns and villages, and much nicer people.

[KostasKouvalis]

No way are those nationalities friendlier than French.

The only one of those that's a strong contender is the Czech Republic, but architecture in France is much more varied.
I've been many times to Poland, and only the German towns/cities are pretty.
Croatian towns are pretty, but they all look more or less the same. Again, France has variety. I'll give you Austria too, but I don't know how the other ones got in there

[Jennz6]

Other towns and villages

[maj1nall]

Our Europe is great as always

[KostasKouvalis]

"Our Europe"? Aren't you Turkish?

[maj1nall]

Yes, francophone. Type the Turkish Y-DNA map in Europe into Google. and how many percent of me are you Turkish? Say it. I'm waiting for your reply

[maj1nall]

Half of Europe is of Turkish origin. You are assimilated people. Even Sweden's first history professor says "we are Turks". Someone has to tell the truth to the Europeans.