Animation of national networks and brands

Most Beautiful Villages of France

 The Rhône has only one “Most Beautiful Villages of France”, Val d'Oingt located in the Golden Stones of Beaujolais.

The “Most Beautiful Villages of France” label, was founded in Salers in the Cantal region in 1982, at the initiative of Charles Ceyrac, Mayor of Collonges-la-Rouge and 66 other mayors, with the aim of protecting and promoting the remarkable heritage of exceptional towns and villages, thus offering them an alternative to rural depopulation. Today, the network has 178 towns distributed in 14 regions et 70 departmentsAvoiding the pitfalls of the soulless museum-village or, conversely, those of the "amusement park", reconciling villages with the future, with a reasoned and passionate ambition.

How to become ““Most Beautiful Villages of France”:

  • To attest to a maximum population of 2,000 inhabitants within the village
  • To possess, within the village territory, at least two protected areas designated as Historical Monuments, sites or remarkable heritage sites,
  • Demonstrate a collective motivation for the application project by producing a resolution from the Municipal Council.
  • To respond favorably to the 30 criteria of the reference framework based on heritage and architectural qualities, taking into account real efforts in enhancement, protection of natural heritage, reception and development.

Official website – The Most Beautiful Villages of France

Download the quality charter

The village of Oingt, typical of its golden stone buildings, is a listed historical site. CD69 – Julien BOURREAU

Small Towns of Character

Small Towns of Character Rhône are respectively Ternand in the Beaujolais and riverie in the Monts du Lyonnais. Other municipalities could be supported in 2025 and 2026 for potential certification.

The concept of Small Cities of Character® It was created in the mid-70s to promote atypical municipalities, both rural in their location and limited population, and urban in their history and heritage.

These cities, once administrative, political, religious, commercial, and military centers, have often seen their urban functions diminish following the administrative and industrial revolutions in France. They have lost a large part of their urban functions and found themselves without the population and financial resources to maintain this heritage.

The Small Towns of Character project® is to unite the various stakeholders around a common goal: Preserving heritage as a lever for territorial development.

Official website – Small towns of character

Download the quality charter

  • Beautiful stone building where the Riverie town hall is located on the right and a view of the Monts du Lyonnais opposite.riverie
  • CD69 – Julien Bourreau

Most beautiful detours in France

This network was created in 1988, at the initiative of the town of Loches, with 32 small towns in order to offer a coherent tourist offer to discover the diversity of the French territory, particularly outside the most frequented areas.

These are small tourist towns where you can always be sure to find interesting heritage, a distinctive artisanal and gastronomic identity, quality accommodation and hospitality… and where it's pleasant to stroll around.

Today the association has 108 Commons, distributed throughout all regions of France and in 72 departments et Saint-Symphorien-sur-Coise wears the colors of the Rhône.

More than just a label, the "Most Beautiful Detours" brand should be considered a protected designation of origin, striving to guarantee to visitors that the detour is worthwhile. All participating towns adhere to a specific set of criteria and are subject to periodic evaluation audits.

Official website – The Most Beautiful Detours of France

15th-century collegiate church in St Symphorien sur Coise, a listed village Julien Bourreau