Some of France’s most photographed and famous villages belong to the association known as Les Plus Beaux Villages de France (the Most Beautiful Villages in France). Think Gordes, Menerbes, Domme, Riquewihr and Saint-Guilhelm-le-Desert to name just a few.
Equally as worthy of a visit, though, are the other members of this exclusive association and one such village that I discovered recently was Peyre in the Aveyron department of France.
With a visit to the impressive Millau Viaduct on my itinerary, I stumbled across some information about the village of Peyre whilst Googling where to get the best views of the world’s highest viaduct.
Just seven kilometres from Millau (and a similar distance from the Viaduct’s information centre), Peyre is a tiny hamlet built into a sheer rock face.
It’s a sleepy little village that was probably forgotten until the Viaduct was built. It now offers some of the best views from below the massive bridge but has plenty of other charms, too.
Sandy-coloured buildings cling to the steep cliff face just as they have done for hundreds of years, keeping a watchful eye over the pretty River Tarn below.
Narrow, cobbled alleys wind their way through the sleepy hamlet. There’s no huge influx of tourists here. We visited on a weekday during June and saw only a dozen or so other visitors – perhaps we were just lucky.
Apart from the odd B&B or café, there’s little commerce in Peyre – and that’s one of its charms. We enjoyed a coffee on the terrace of La Callade du Tarn – with fantastic views of the Millau Viaduct.
Need to know about Peyre
- Peyre is situated 7 kilometres from Millau on the D96.
- The Millau Viaduct crosses the A75 Motorway from Paris to the south of France.
Must-see in Peyre
- The Church of Saint Christophe is built into the rock face. In front is an open square which looks straight out to the Viaduct and the river below.
- There’s also an authentic cave near the church with fresh drinking water.
- The views of the River Tarn and the Millau Viaduct are wonderful.
Where to eat in Peyre
For the best view in town, enjoy lunch or just a coffee at La Callade du Tarn. Madame also offers B&B and can arrange evening meals.
You can read more about Les Plus Beaux Villages de France and some of the other beautiful villages I have visited here.