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 label “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 by their heritage, their art of living and their exceptional location. A recent study by the car rental company Avis highlighted, among this selection of the Most Beautiful Villages in France, the most secret town in the south of France. To do this, the study created a ranking of the 10 least sought-after villages in the south of France accredited with this label, thanks to open data from more than 750,000 searches on Google and more than 200,000 reviews on Tripadvisor.
The research revealed that both the most isolated and charming village in the south of France would be Le Malzieu-Ville, a small 13th-century walled medieval town, located in the least populated department of Lozère. from France in the Occitanie region. This village located in the Truyère valley in the heart of the Margeride natural region joined the circle of Most Beautiful Villages in France in 2021 and has no more than 800 inhabitants. But what is so original about it? Malzieu-Ville is a stopover of choice for history and nature enthusiasts.
We let ourselves be enchanted, along its cobbled streets, by the charm of its magnificently restored fortified towers, ramparts and medieval gates… Nestled on the banks of the Truyère in the heart of the legendary region of Gévaudan, this charming medieval city is nicknamed “The Pearl of the Valley”. It is home to many treasures such as the Clock Tower, the Saint-Hippolyte-Le-Malzieu collegiate church, the Bodon Tower and the museum of the former Ursuline convent.
Upon entering the village, we understand that its history is closely linked to The Beast of Gévaudan which raged in the 18th century. Indeed, the small city was the scene of hunts and beatings by the royal troops who came from Paris to track down the ferocious beast and numerous sculptures by Louis Castel visible at the entrance and at the foot of the ramparts bear witness to this. At the tops of the city’s two towers, you can enjoy a 360° panorama with a breathtaking view of the roofs of Malzieu-Ville and its surroundings… Finally, the city is renowned for the dynamism of its local life, between its artisan markets, its gourmet hikes, its “Days of the Beast” or even its votive festival in summer. During the Ascension Bridge, you will come across troubadours, knights and princesses in a festive 13th century atmosphere orchestrated by the Medievals of Malzieu.
Classified as a Green Station in 1971 for the quality of its landscapes, the city perched at an altitude of 860 meters 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 can indulge in walks far from the crowds, on foot, by mountain bike, or even on horseback, from the La Cavale du Malzieu equestrian center. The Fairy Gate, the Gorges de la Truyère with its Via Ferrata, the Cirque de Paladines, the Lajo peat bogs, Mont Mouchet are all natural attractions not to be missed in the surrounding area. An ideal destination to live with family or friends, Le Malzieu-Ville will amaze you during an off-the-beaten-track getaway in the south of France.
