Saint-Antoine-l'Abbaye, located midway between Grenoble and Valence, is classed as one of the Plus beaux Villages de France, and was crowned France’s favourite village, 2025.
This historic hidden-gem in Isère (Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes), is home to a 900-year-old Gothic Abbey and is a popular stop for pilgrims on the Chemin de Saint Jacques (the Santiago de Compostella way).
The village was originally called La-Motte-Saint-Didier but was renamed after Saint-Antoine (c. 250-355, known as Anthony the Great to English speakers), an Egyptian Christian monk who lived an ascetic life in the desert and is deemed the father of Christian monasticism.
His relics are said to have been brought back from the Holy Land by Jocelin de Châteauneuf, a lord from the Dauphiné region, to the village in the 11th Century.
The village's 1095 Gothic Abbey was constructed at the edge of the town centre. It was listed as a Monument Historique in 1840 and is located on the Chemin de Saint Jacques, with many pilgrims stopping off in the village during their journey.
Visit the village's 900-year-old AbbeyAntonin Albert/Shutterstock
“While the Abbey is the jewel of Saint-Antoine's architectural heritage, it should not overshadow the intrinsic beauty of the medieval town and the interest of its various ‘neighbourhoods’,” states the Plus beaux Villages de France website.
Medieval buildings are dotted throughout the town centrePierre Jean Durieu/Shutterstock
Elegant stone houses line Grande Rue in the upper part of the village, while the historic centre holds market squares and half-timbered shops.
Pebbles are cemented into the narrow pavements and walls, creating the effect of mini cobblestones or mosaics - an echo of the iconic Palais Idéal du Facteur Cheval, which is just a 30-minute drive away.
The village also hosts a range of annual festivals, including:
A free song festival known as Pig'halles (held in June),
The 38th edition of the Textes en l'air festival, devoted to contemporary theatre (held in July),
The village’s popular medieval festival (held in August) sees artists, actors and musicians gathering to transport visitors back in time.
Streets are decorated with blooming flowerbeds in the spring and summerMike Workman/Shutterstock
France’s favourite village 2025
The village was announced as the 2025 winner of France 3 television contest Le Village Préféré des Français, presented by Stéphane Bern.
This is the first time that a village located in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region has won the competition since it first began in 2012.
Each year, the public can vote for their favourite from a shortlist of 14 villages featuring one village for each region of mainland France, and one to represent the French overseas territories.
President of the Isère Department, Jean-Pierre Barbier, shared his sentiments on social media: “How proud we are of our beautiful department and all those who have supported this adventure. Long live Saint-Antoine-l'Abbaye, long live Isère!”
Saint-Antoine-l'Abbaye is the first village in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region to have won Le Village Préféré des Français contestlemaret pierrick/Shutterstock
This title is sure to attract an influx of visitors and tourists to Saint-Antoine-l'Abbaye, as has been the case with previous contest winners.
Mayor Maryline Longis said she has “anticipated” developing better car parks and signage to improve ease of movement around the village.
The village is open to visitors all year roundPierre Jean Durieu/Shutterstock
“I do not expect to see 3,000 visitors in a day - it will be a steady flow during the summer period,” she said in an interview with local media, Le Mémo de l'Isère, following the announcement.
“We are very emotional... the village is magnificent and I believe that it simply deserved [to win]," added Ms Longis, surrounded by residents who had gathered in the village hall to celebrate the occasion.
