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The stunning south of France region with more 'Most Beautiful Villages' than anywhere else - and it's cheaper than Cannes READ MORE: I've lived in France for years and explored every corner of the country. This is why it's time to ditch overrated Paris... and the incredible places you should visit instead By ERIN DEBORAH WAKS, TRAVEL WRITER Published: 14:11 BST, 25 October 2025 | Updated: 14:15 BST, 25 October 2025 ‘Des tripoux, de l’aligot et des farçous, s’il vous plaît.’ Confused? 'Bundles of sheep tripe, cheesy mashed potatoes and small fritters' aren’t quite what most expect when heading to the south of France. But there's a corner of the world, where it might be precisely what you’re ordering - and is certainly miles off a croissant, baguette with Brie and coffee. Rest assured, though, despite being surprisingly delicious, this unique dish is not the only thing the Aveyron has to offer. This green spot in the French countryside is often passed over for more ‘Instagrammable’ holiday spots such as Nice and Cannes. True, it doesn’t have the same coast lines, luxury beach clubs and celebrity status. Yet it makes up for what it lacks in unparalleled scenery, hiking trails, imposing medieval castles and quality food - at great prices. It also stands out as having the highest number of Les Plus Beaux Villages de France (The Most Beautiful Villages in France) — with a total of 11. First and foremost, the Aveyron is known for its abundance of castles and chocolate box villages - including Estaing Despite being surprisingly delicious, the food is not the only thing the Aveyron has to offer Stationed in the tiny town of Belcastel right in the heart of the Aveyron, a department in southern France not far from Toulouse, I worked as an intern for several months. I got the opportunity to explore the surrounding area and learn for myself the best way to get around - and it's really pretty simple. You can fly to Rodez - the region’s biggest city - and explore from there. Flights from London Stansted start from just £24.99. You’ll also need a car - that’s almost essential here. Once you’ve hired one or driven yours over, it’s super easy to get around. You might even find the journeys themselves to be a part of the charm. First and foremost, the Aveyron is known for its abundance of castles and chocolate box villages - many of which you can visit. Conques, with its fairytale roots, is unmissable. In the 1992 Disney cartoon Beauty and the Beast, Belle’s hometown, the fictional village of Villeneuve looks a lot like Conques. In the 2017 film version, the production designer took the inspiration for the village directly from Conques. Each tiny house in the town could quite literally be Belle’s own. This green spot in the French countryside is often passed over for more ‘Instagrammable’ holiday spots such as Nice and Cannes If you want to discover ancient castles, I’d wager nowhere in France is better than this Brit who moved to France shocked how the UK's 'health-and-safety obsession has gone into overdrive' The Golinhac to Conques hike, around 21km, will take you through small towns including Les Albusquiès, Campagnac, Le Soulié, Espeyrac, Sénergues, Fontromieu and La Vernhe. Estaing and Espalion (between which there is a 12.6km hike) and Najac are great options to explore, too. And the Three Waterfalls Loop is a circular trail that covers 8.2 km, taking approximately two to three hours to complete with an elevation gain of 245 metres. It’s based near Salles-la-Source in the Aveyron. Whether or not hiking is your thing, if you want to discover ancient castles, I’d wager nowhere in France is better than this. In Belcastel, the oldest part of the Château de Belcastel dates back to the 9th century. Plus, the town is home to a Michelin-starred restaurant, Le Vieux Pont. If you’re willing to head just outside of the Aveyron to the northern Lot region in Occitania, you might just stumble upon the quietest holiday spot I’ve ever visited. Unlike in many other parts of France, you’d be hard-pressed to find a soul here who can speak a word of English. Loubressac, a tiny village of lanes and pale medieval stone buildings, is so quiet you can stroll around almost uninterrupted. It also stands out as having the highest number of Les Plus Beaux Villages de France (The Most Beautiful Villages in France) — with a total of 11 Stationed in the tiny town of Belcastel right in the heart of the Aveyron, a department in southern France not far from Toulouse, I worked as an intern for several months Like the image of a 20th-century French town from a film depicting ‘rural life,’ its views of the countryside will make you want to hike for miles. Or, if you’re anything like me, you might prefer to prop yourself up in a great spot with a book. I’d recommend Restaurant La Table 354 or Bar Salon Le 1799. L’Atelier has cheap - and typically French - breakfast, food and drinks options too. With €3.50 (£3) beers and €8.50 (£7.40) cheese boards, what more could you need to accompany your French countryside stay? But if you'd rather stay well within the Aveyron region itself, there's certainly no shortage of peaceful towns to explore. Sauveterre-de-Rouergue's streets date back to 1281, so it's like walking back in time if you stroll through the town. It's also known for its artisans and artistic roots. And, perhaps one of the most typical Aveyronnais villages, Villeneuve retains - like much of this region - its quaint yet quiet medieval charm. Share or comment on this article: The stunning south of France region with more 'Most Beautiful Villages' than anywhere else - and it's cheaper than Cannes Add comment
