Petites Cités de Caractère® of France

193 small towns with a remarkable heritage,
and wishing to make this heritage the foundation of their development project.

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The cpncept

The concept of Petites Cités de Caractère®, created in 1975 in Brittany, was born of a desire to create a network of communities, each having its own interesting or unusual history and which wishing to protect that history. Through a national charter established in 2009 the movement Petites Cités de Caractère® took upon itself the task of maintaining, restoring, safeguarding and publicising that heritage, thereby contributing to the economic development of the region. In accordance with the demanding terms of the Charter there is a commitment by participants to optimise on their past in innovative ways by welcoming visitors and staging public events open to all. Many small towns have in their past been important administrative, religious, military or commercial centers and still have their monuments, gardens, buildings and museums which bear witness to their history.
Throughout the year Petites Cités de Caractère® welcome you share their local celebrations and events as well as those of a National or European nature such as la Fête du Goût for the gourmet’s, les Journées des Métiers d’Art for the craftsmen, les Rendez-vous aux Jardins for the horticulturalists or les Journées du Patrimoine for the historians. All are lively and informative and you are invited. The doors are open so make the time to come and visit and to enjoy another view of life.

Map

Discover our Petites Cités de Caractère®
all over France.

Carte de france

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