Photos: have you visited Saint-Antoine-l'Abbaye, France’s favourite village 2025?

A historic hidden-gem in Isère (Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes), home to a 900-year-old Abbey church, has been crowned France’s favourite village, 2025.

Saint-Antoine-l'Abbaye, located midway between Grenoble and Valence, was announced as the winner of France 3 television contest Le Village Préféré des Français during last night’s (July 2) programme, 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. 

Read also: Photos: See France’s new ‘favourite village’ 2024 - have you visited?

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!”

Visiting Saint-Antoine-l'Abbaye 

Saint-Antoine-l'Abbaye, which is already classed as one of the Plus beaux Villages de France, gets its name from a 1095 Gothic Abbey 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 (the Santiago de Compostella way), with many pilgrims stopping off in the village during their journey.

“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.

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 this month from July 23 - 27),

• The village’s popular medieval festival (held on August 2 - 3 this year) sees artists, actors and musicians gathering to transport visitors back in time.

This new 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. 

“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 last night’s 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.