This village is the hidden gem of the south of France, it is an ideal destination in spring

This village is the ideal destination for a secret getaway in the south of France.

Many villages of character are scattered across the four corners of France, but only 176 of them are awarded the & ;quot;Most beautiful village in France" (PBVF), by the association of the same name. The selection criteria are based on gems of less than 2,000 inhabitants, with at least two sites listed as historic monuments, dazzling for their heritage, their art of living and their exceptional location. A recent study by the lessor of cars Avis has highlighted, among this séselection of the Most Beautiful Villages in France, the towné nbsp;from the most secret south of France. To do this, the study established a ranking of the 10 least sought-after villages in the south of France accredited by this label, thanks to open data from over 750,000 searches on Google and over 200,000 reviews on Tripadvisor .

The research revealed that the  village à the time is more isolated and the most charming place in the south of France would be Le Malzieu-Ville, a small town in the heart of France. medieval fortified town from the 13th century, located in the department of la ;Lozère, the least populated department; of France from the Occitanie region. This village located in the Truyère valley in the heart of the natural region of Margeride  joined the circle of Most Beautiful Villages in France in 2021 and has no more than 800 inhabitants. But what is so original ? Le Malzieu-Ville is a stopover of choice for history and nature enthusiasts .

Fountain and statue of the Virgin Mary à Le Malzieu-Ville. © Jorge Alves – stock.adobe.com

We let ourselves be enchanted, along its cobbled streets, by the charm of its fortified towers, ramparts and medieval gates. beautifully restored vales… Nestled on the banks of the Truyère in the heart of the legendary Pays de Gé vaudan, this charming city The medieval valley is nicknamed “The Pearl of the Valley”. It is home to many treasures such as& nbsp;the Clock Tower, the Saint-Hippolyte-Le-Malzieu collegiate church, the Bodon Tower or even the museum ;e of the former Ursuline convent.

As soon as you enter the village, you understand that its history is intimately linked to the Beast of Gévaudan which lived in the 18th century. In fact, the small cityé was the scene of hunts and beatings by the royal troops who came from Paris to hunt down the ferocious beast and numerous sculptures of  Louis Castel visible à the entrance and at the foot of the ramparts are witnesses to this. At the tops of the city's two towers, you can enjoy a breathtaking panorama. 360° with a breathtaking view of the roofs of Malzieu-Ville and its surroundings… Finally, the cityé is renowned for the dynamism of its local life, between its artisanal markets, its gourmet hikes, its “Days of the B&ecirc ;te" or its votive festival in the summer. During the Ascension Bridge, you will come across troubadours, knights and princesses in a festive atmosphere of the 13th century orchestrated by the Medievals of Malzieu .

Classified as a Green Station in 1971 for the quality of the of its landscapes, the city&eac; perched at 860 meters above sea level is located in the heart of the largest granite massif in Europe: The Monts de la Margeride, made up of rivers, peat bogs, moors and forests, rocky chaos… Through these large, preserved spaces, we will indulge in nature. walks away from the crowds, on foot, by mountain bike, or even on foot. horse riding, from the La Cavale du Malzieu equestrian center. The Fairy Gate, the Truyère Gorges with its Via Ferrata, the Cirque de Paladines, the Tourbiè Egrave;res de Lajo, Mont Mouchet are all natural attractions nearby. not to be missed in the surrounding area. Ideal destination within walking distance live with family or friends, Malzieu-Ville will amaze you during an off-the-beaten-track getaway in the south of France.