Less than 700 people live in one of the most beautiful villages in the world: how to get to the "paradise"

France has a unique flavor and is famous for its incredibly beautiful small towns. To experience the true atmosphere of the country, it is worth moving a little further from Paris. Idyllic villages with medieval buildings and impressive cathedrals seem to transport you to another era.

Despite this, France is famous for its hospitality and a very developed and high-quality service sector. So there will definitely be no problems finding accommodation or a place to eat. The network talked about Moustiers-Sainte-Marie, one of the most beautiful villages in the world with less than 700 people.

Moustiers-Sainte-Marie is a tiny village about two hours' drive from Nice and Marseille in southern France in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region.

The municipality is located at a distance of about 640 km southeast of Paris, 95 km northeast of Marseille, 28 km south of Dinh-le-Bains.

Moustiers-Sainte-Marie is described by tourism experts as one of the most beautiful villages in the world, tucked away among the mountains.

The settlement, built on a limestone cliff, has been a center of trade in ceramics, especially faience, for centuries, and a natural spring flowing from the cliff creates a waterfall that provided the population with clean drinking water.

Moustiers-Sainte-Marie is located at the western entrance to the Gorges du Verdon.

At dusk, as the sun hits the southern cliff on a clear day, a diffused pink light glows throughout the village.

Above the town, a gold-painted star hangs on a 225-meter-long chain suspended between two rocks. According to legend, its origin is associated with the tenth-century Provencal poet Frederic Mistral. The original star and chain have been replaced several times since then. The current star is about 50 years old.

Another legend says that during the Crusades, the knight Boson de Blacas was captured by the Saracens. He vowed to hang a star over his village if he could return.

Despite its small size, the village has many notable buildings. Among them:

• Archaeological Museum, founded in 1930;
• The parish church of Notre Dame, a historical monument;
• Church of the Ascension of the Virgin Mary;
• Chapel of Notre Dame de Beauvoir;
• Chapel of the Clastres (XIII-XIV centuries);
• Ruins of the monastery of St. Martin d'Urbe.

Moustiers-Sainte-Marie is a quiet place where time seems to have frozen. Traveling in Provence, you should definitely visit one of the most beautiful settlements in the world. 

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