Since its creation, the project supported by the association “Les Plus Beaux Villages de Wallonie” has been committed to promoting architectural and natural heritage. Reflecting a rich and diversified traditional architecture and bearing a strong territorial identity, our characterful villages constitute true gateways to the discovery of Wallonia’s cultural and natural heritage. Through multiple actions and activities, our beautiful villages contribute to the development of responsible local tourism.
Les Plus Beaux Villages de Wallonie (The Most Beautiful Villages of Wallonia) stems from a long history of passion founded on the meeting between heart and stone. Synonymous with quality, friendliness and sharing since its creation in 1994, the association now oversees a network of 32 label-bearing villages.
With the help from the residents, public authorities and local associations, it boosts activities and projects that are as diverse as they are innovative. Whether through one-off events or long-term actions, these support the element that gives all these places of emotion a unique character: a remarkable and authentic rural heritage.
Of course, it is a heritage that each village displays via as many components as there are buildings, the landscape, and the traditions and local tastes, which could not live without the heart and pride of the villagers and passionate people.
The Most Beautiful Villages of Wallonia is another way to discover Wallonia more intimately and subtly.
Les Plus Beaux Villages de Wallonie ASBL is recognised as an association with a regional tourist vocation and as a House of Town Planning for its missions to raise awareness of town and country planning and carries out its projects based on a very specific organisation and operation:
Composition of the team “The Most Beautiful Villages of Wallonia”:
Former collaborator(s): Mark ROSSIGNOL
Since its creation, the project supported by the association “Les Plus Beaux Villages de Wallonie” has been committed to promoting architectural and natural heritage and is part of the development of gentle and responsible tourism.
Reflecting a rich and diversified traditional architecture and bearing a strong territorial identity, our characterful villages constitute true gateways to the discovery of Wallonia’s cultural and natural heritage. Through multiple actions and activities, our most beautiful villages contribute to the development of sustainable and local tourism, which creates employment and highlights our history, our culture, and our local produce.
Our objectives:
– Build a network of the “Most Beautiful Villages”, revitalise and increase the renown of this network with actions that help promote rural tourism of Wallonia, integrated into a more global process of promotion of sustainable and local tourism.
Draw up a sustainable development policy based on recognising and protecting the architectural and landscape heritage of the villages in the network and promoting products linked to the regional identity (local products, local crafts, local history, etc.).
– To make the general public more aware of the touristic, cultural and architectural riches of Wallonia by leading a policy of products and events (walks, rallies, audio guides, etc.).
– Encourage the label-bearing villages of their Municipality to develop a welcoming policy that reconciles the comforts of the residents and the visitors (e.g. creation of a parking facility, development of a friendly space, management of the welcoming signage, etc.), thus giving the “Most Beautiful Villages” an added value which leads them to a brand image essential to their reputation and development.
The Most Beautiful Villages of Wallonia is authenticity within reach!
Today, the association comprises 32 characterful villages selected and labelled for their remarkable rural and landscape heritage. Every one of them is unique in its genre: whether the cobblestones of a stronghold, narrow alleyways, castles, castle-farms and chapels, every little corner of these villages are preserved and pampered by the inhabitants to keep the centuries of stories that can be read in their stones and nature intact.
See our Beautiful Villages on the map.
