The world’s most beautiful village has cobbled streets, gorgeous views and historic buildings but there’s a nearby town that impressed a little bit more
France is full of ridiculously pretty places, but on a recent holiday I realised that our Airbnb was just an hour from the village of Gordes – which happens to regularly be crowned the most beautiful village in the world. Therefore, a trip to the charming hilltop spot roughly an hour from Marseilles was instantly added to the itinerary, and I set off to find out of it lives to the hype.
Our day out was off to a strong start, with a gorgeous scenic drive through the valleys of Provence, with lush green countryside and impressive cliff faces. It was on the drive that we got a first glimpse of Gordes, as we arrived along the winding road on the opposite side of the valley.
It was instantly obvious as to why Gordes is hailed as so picture-perfect; the cliffside village has some charming medieval buildings that are nestled into the scenery, and it genuinely looked like something straight out of a storybook. I immediately had high hopes; after all, if it was so breathtaking before we’d even reached it, I couldn’t wait to explore a bit further.
Unfortunately, I think most of its charm is from the viewing platform. Now, Gordes is actually very pretty with its cobbled streets, cute shops, little cafés and hidden artwork. However, its reputation may have been its undoing, as it was absolutely rammed with tourists. Granted we realised we’d arrived on a market day, but there were people everywhere.
Parking was a nightmare, and we got lucky when we managed to nab a space, but people were arguing and blocking other cars just to try and park in the designated zones. The market was so busy it was near-impossible to get close to the stalls, and even trying to find quieter streets felt like a mission. It made it difficult to appreciate the beauty of the village.
One bizarre factor was that the gorgeous buildings have been covered up with huge posters of cats. There’s no real explanation as to why, but there are just these big posters that are randomly placed throughout the town, which to me took away a lot of the charm. Overall, I left thinking Gordes was pretty, but overhyped.
A few days later, another day out took me to Les Baux-de-Provence, and this is the place that I think deserves the ‘world’s most beautiful’ accolade. From the moment we arrived, it felt like we’d stepped into a fairytale.
Disney fans, you truly feel like you’ve stepped into Belle’s village from Beauty and the Beast – and the fact there’s a citadel adds plenty of that wow factor. Just like Gordes, it’s hailed as one of France’s most beautiful villages and I won’t be arguing with that title at all.
Dating back to the Middle Ages, Les Baux-de-Provence is packed with those cobbled streets and medieval buildings I’d wanted to see in Gordes, only this time there were fewer tourists meaning more time to amble along and enjoy the view. There are plenty of quirky shops and eateries (if you only try one snack, make it the lavender ice cream which was a very pleasant surprise!).
For those who love a scenic backdrop, the platforms that look out to the Alpilles mountains are a must, and the large spaces mean you’re not jostling to get to the barriers from which to enjoy the views. Like Gordes, parking was a bit hit and miss but it felt a little less chaotic than Gordes, and we were able to find a space fairly easily.
Ultimately, both Gordes and Les Baux-de-Provence are well worth visiting, but if you’re heading to Provence and only have time for one, I’d definitely opt for the latter of the two.
Want to visit yourself? We flew to Marseille airport with easyJet, from which it’s about an hour’s drive to either village, with plenty more quintessentially French towns to explore along both routes.