Saint-Cirq-Lapopie is a village of 222 inhabitants located in the Midi-Pyrenees region of central France.
This medieval village on top of the rocky flank of the Lot valley, is considered one of the most beautiful villages in France. Featuring a collection of cobbled streets, stone facades of Gothic houses, steep roofs of tiles, gardens that occupy each space, Saint-Cirq-Lapopie is definitely a place of great charm and appeal.
Saint-Cirq-Lapopie, with its flowers alleys craft shops and galleries of its great historical architectural heritage interest, is very popular and attracts many tourists and is ideal for a pleasant journey.
In France, there are 156 small municipalities (with less than 2,000 inhabitants) that are part of this particular list, including those that are considered the most beautiful villages in France "Les Plus Beaux Villages de France".
These are of course small centers that have a particular architectural and environmental heritage and I suggest you consult this list if you are on holiday in France.
It is always a pleasant surprise to visit these small but very pleasant residential centers.
Even in Italy, there is a similar initiative called "The most beautiful villages" that has established a list of small historic centers considered more beautiful, better preserved and also welcoming.
The inclusion in these lists is very important to make known these small local areas full of history and charm, but they are very far from the usual tourist flows that affect the great art cities like Rome, Venice or Florence.
Yet these small historical centers, in Italy as in France or in other countries, are increasingly interested in responsible and evolved tourism and constitute real jewels in what we like to define as a large widespread museum that characterizes the cultural and architectural heritage of each country.
Thanks for the attention.
All photo are mine.