The world’s most beautiful village is just two hours from the UK – with classic car tours & fairytale lavender fields
THE world’s most beautiful village is just a short flight from the UK – and is home to some amazing sights and unique tours.
Europe is home to some pretty special places, one of which has been put forward as the most attractive small town on the planet.
That’s according to Travel + Leisure, who listed Gordes in France as the pick of the bunch in their list of the best looking villages in the world last year.
It sits atop a cliff overlooking the Luberon Valley in the South of France and has all the quaint hallmarks of a fairytale town, including castles, caves and monuments.
Meanwhile, tour operators take visitors around in classic French cars to show them its best attributes in the most authentic way imaginable.
Travel + Leisure compared the village to ones seen in storybooks and said: “Gordes tends to be swarming with tourists during the summer months.
“But can you really blame visitors for wanting to soak in the magic of one of the most beautiful villages in France, if not the world?
“Perched high on a cliff above the valley, it’s a must-see destination with cobbled lanes, churches, and a monastery punctuated by lavender fields that look like they’ve been plucked from the pages of a storybook.”
Arguably the standout of the town’s attractions is the Château de Gordes, which dates all the way back as far as the 11th century.
Having been used as a fortress, a home and a school, today the castle houses art and history exhibitions and provides stunning views over the rest of the countryside to visitors.
It’s far from the only building that guests in Gordes visit, with Saint Firmin Church another favourite.
The 18th century building is described as looking “like a fortress on top of the rock” by the Gordes Village website, who say it gives the village a “citadel-like appearance”.
Not all of the tourist hotspots are out on display like the castle and the church however, with The Cellars of Saint Firmin Palace more of a place to hide during the summer.
The site is made up of cellars across seven different levels and contains a chapel, storage rooms, cisterns, a bread oven, an oil mill and other subterranean mysteries.
The cellars were rediscovered by a family around sixty years ago and are now a museum – and a great place to cool off in the shade on a summer’s day.
Other attractions include the Abbey of Notre-Dame de Sénanque
a 12th century abbey surrounded by vivid lavender fields.
Everything you need to know about visiting France
- Brits need to have a passport with at least three months left on it.
- No visas are needed for anyone staying up to 90 days within an 180-day period but you need to make sure your passport is stamped on entry and exit.
- You may also need to show proof of accommodation and funds, around €120 a day.
- The country uses the euro with with around €10 working out to £8.55.
- France is one hour ahead of the UK
- Direct flights to France from the UK take between 1-4 hours depending on the destination
- Or you can travel by train with Eurostar, with destinations including Paris or Lille.
It’s home to a community of Cistercian monks who spend their time praying and making honey, vegetables and lavender.
Part of the building is open to the public, who can get a glimpse of how the monks live. It’s one of many attractions in the village to have won a TripAdvisor traveller’s choice award last year.
Another unique place to visit is the Terrace Theatre – found in the middle of terraced slopes, carved into place by local farmers.
In the warm summer months, people put on theatrical and musical performances at the small theatre.
For anyone looking for a fun and typically French way to explore the town, a Citroen 2CV tour might be the best option.
The small French cars, owned by companies like Airelles, offer a unique and classic way to take in the local countryside.
Their website reads: “Set off on an adventure on board an iconic Citroen 2CV, a unique and memorable trip during which you can discover all the Luberon valley’s secrets.
“Explore the Notre-Dame de Sénaque Abbey, Bories village and all the region’s exceptional landscapes.”
One TripAdvisor reviewer described the tour as “a beautiful and amazing experience”.
Getting to Gordes from the UK is very simple, with flights to its nearest airport Marseille taking around two hours from London.
They can be booked from around £44 return with Ryanair.
Meanwhile, a night for two in the town will cost around £62.
Meanwhile, this is one of the most attractive looking villages in the UK.
And this UK village has been made a Unesco heritage site.