France's best village revealed and the residents are desperate for tourists to visit
With tourists being sprayed with water pistols in Barcelona, cruise passengers hit with a hefty tourist tax in Santorini and overcrowding in some of the UK's prettiest villages, you might be struggling to pick a summer getaway.
But luckily there's one gorgeous European village where tourists will be welcomed with open arms.
Saint-Antoine-l'Abbaye, a medieval commune in southeastern France, was just named the country's favourite village.
And rather than worrying about the potential crowds the win could bring to Saint-Antoine-l'Abbaye, the village's mayor has described it as a 'great honour'.
Mayor Maryline Longis told The Times: 'We haven't got the problem of overtourism and it won't happen here.
'This is a great honour and we're perfectly well able to handle more tourism. It will help our restaurants, hotels and shops.'
She even claimed that the village will remain 'calm and untroubled' even if lots of tourists arrive.
So, what makes Saint-Antoine-l'Abbaye France's best village?
Stephane Bern, a royal commentator who presented the award, described it as 'prosperous and well-run'.
Located between Grenoble and Valence, the village is named after Saint Anthony the Great, whose bones are kept in the Abbey.
A Gothic building, the 900-year-old abbey is known for its stunning architecture and as a pilgrimage site for people walking the Santiago de Compostela route.
Tourists can discover more about the abbey's history at its museum which has a 4.3 star rating on Tripadvisor.
But the village's pretty streets and market squares are also well-worth exploring. Tourists will find stone houses towards the upper part of the village which the historic centre has independent shops.
Those who visit in August should try to coincide their visit the La Medievale festival, a medieval-themed celebration.
The village is taken back in time to the 13th century during the event with costumed performers lining the streets.
How to get to Saint-Antoine-L'Abbaye
The nearest airport to Saint-Antoine-L'Abbaye is Grenoble-Isere Airport which is 14 miles from the village.
British tourists can fly direct to Grenoble from the UK on several airlines including easyJet and Wizz Air.
It can also be easily reached from Lyon Airport with easyJet and BA among the airlines offering direct flights from the UK.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Guardian
39 minutes ago
- The Guardian
Tell us about a favourite island in Europe – you could win a holiday voucher
There's something endlessly appealing about an island holiday – a chance to escape the rest of the world and kickback in beautiful surrounds. We'd love to hear about your favourite under-the-radar discoveries in the UK and Europe. Whether it was a wild island in an remote Norwegian archipelago or a lesser-known sun-drenched Croatian isle, tell us about where you went and why you loved it for the chance to win a holiday voucher. The best tip of the week, chosen by Tom Hall of Lonely Planet wins a £200 voucher to stay at a Coolstays property – the company has more than 3,000 worldwide. The best tips will appear in the Guardian Travel section and website. Keep your tip to about 100 words If you have a relevant photo, do send it in – but it's your words we will be judging for the competition. We're sorry, but for legal reasons you must be a UK resident to enter this competition. The competition closes on Monday 14 July at 10am BST Have a look at our past winners and other tips Read the terms and conditions here You can send in your best tip by filling in the form below. Please note, the maximum file size is 5.7 MB. First name only if you prefer This competition is only open to UK-based readers If you're having trouble using the form click here. Read terms of service here and privacy policy here.
Daily Mail
2 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Las Vegas sees fall in tourists as 'ridiculous prices' hit
Las Vegas 's high prices could be putting off potential tourists, according to new visitor figures. Tourist numbers have fallen every month this year with 6.5 per cent fewer visitors than in 2024, according to the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority. International arrivals at Harry Reid Airport were 8.7 per cent lower in May than the same month in 2024. It is thought that Sin City's soaring prices could be to blame for its falling visitor numbers. A visitor recently shared her shock after she was charged $26/£19.11 for a bottle of Fiji water from the minibar in her room at the Aria Resort & Casino. And a British magician was also left outraged after he was billed $74.31/£54.63 for two drinks at Sphere in Las Vegas. Anthony Curtis, publisher of the Las Vegas Advisor website, told The Times: 'On the Strip, people get taken for a ride. 'Once they get here they're like, "I've had enough of this crap, I'm tired of being treated like this. I'm tired of having to pay these ridiculous prices".' The Vegas expert explained that many casinos have 'turned their back on the middle market' in order to focus on more affluent tourists. A 2024 study found that the average income of Las Vegas holidaymakers is now $93,000/£68,365, with many budget travellers priced out of the gambling capital. In a Reddit post, a person who recently visited Vegas describes the city as 'amazing' but 'absurdly priced'. The user writes: 'Walking around the different themed casinos was like a fever dream. Sadly I felt like a spectator instead of a participant. I have honestly never been to a place that was more absurdly priced.' They claim they had to spend $30/£22 on a glass of house wine and were charged $50/£36 for two bottles of water from the minibar. On another Reddit thread, a user says Las Vegas is 'extortionately expensive'. They wrote: 'I live in a very high cost of living area. 'Vegas is extortionately expensive. Shows. Restaurants. Everything is far more expensive in Vegas than here.' Meanwhile, another commenter says: 'I used to love going Vegas, but the last few times I had sticker shock on everything. 'It doesn't feel like a relaxing, exciting vacation when you're price gouged up to your ears and come home feeling robbed.' However, another traveller claims it is still possible to enjoy Vegas on a budget. They said: 'People come to Vegas expecting champagne on a beer budget. 'You can have an amazing time in Vegas on any budget, but if your budget is on the lower end, then you may have to forego some experiences and types of restaurants.' And another user writes: 'Yes Vegas is expensive, but it's a high end destination in a tourist area and you're getting some of the best food and service in the world.'
Daily Mail
3 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Ryanair passengers urged to use simple cardboard trick when packing to avoid being stung with extra fares
As the summer holiday season kicks off, sun-seekers across the UK are dusting off their suitcases as they gear up for the ultimate getaway. But with the cost of living still climbing, holidaymakers are turning to smart strategies to cut costs - like skipping unexpected checked baggage fees. One popular hack to dodge extra charges is by travelling with just a single carry-on bag. Ryanair allows passengers to bring one small cabin bag for free as long as it fits under the seat in front. However, the budget airline recently revealed it's expanding the size allowance of passengers' complimentary 'personal' bag by 20 per cent per cent due to new EU regulations. The current limit of 40cm x 25cm x 20cm will soon expand to 40cm x 30cm x 20cm, giving passengers a bit more space to pack smarter. But packing expert Tom Schott, from Schott Packaging, has a word of warning: more space doesn't mean more stuff. Speaking to the Irish Mirror, he said: 'The new dimension is a game-changer, but only if you use it wisely. The mistake is to simply cram more in. The real victory for passengers is using that volume to pack with structure. A well-packed bag is a compliant bag.' Tom suggests placing a snug-fitting piece of cardboard inside your bag to create a firm frame. He says this helps maintain shape, maximises usable space, and avoids the telltale bulges that might draw unwanted attention from gate staff. The expert also recommends using sealable bags to organise items, protect fragile goods and save space. Another tip is to use a small, sturdy box in the centre of your bag, cushioned by clothing, to create a safe zone for chargers, adapters, and toiletries - which, in turn, minimises the risk of damage or leaks. Tom's final word of advice is to lay everything out in a 40cm x 30cm area before packing, as it provides a 'real-world view of what fits.' He added: 'These aren't just clever tricks, but core principles of efficient packing. By applying them, you can confidently pack that extra outfit and still breeze through the boarding gate.' Meanwhile, a new travel hack for those looking to avoid splashing out on cabin baggage fees when flying is going viral online. And all that's needed is a common travel accessory. In a video on TikTok, Nina Edwine (@nina_edwine) shared her ingenious trick to stuff an empty neck pillow with items that would otherwise force her to pay for additional baggage. And despite the small size of the travel pillow, Nina was able to pack in 10 items of clothing, including a bra, tops and a dress. The video, captioned 'rat technique to avoid paying €50 for cabin baggage', has already been viewed 2.6 million times on TikTok. The tactic has been dubbed both 'genius' and 'legendary' by those users of the video-sharing app.
