Revealed: France’s best towns for quality of life in 2026
Biarritz has topped the latest Villes et Villages où il fait bon vivre ranking again, praised for its lifestyle and setting between sea and mountains.
Biarritz has once again been named the French town where life is best, according to the latest ranking by the association Villes et Villages où il fait bon vivre.
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The annual study, which assesses towns on factors such as healthcare, transport, education, green space, leisure and overall wellbeing, placed the Basque coast resort top for the second year running.
Locals cite its unique mix of sea and mountains as a major draw.
Annecy climbed to second place, praised for its alpine setting and lakeside lifestyle, while Angers ranked third, followed by Bayonne and Rodez, a small town in Aveyron known for its relaxed pace of life and historic centre.
In the Paris region, Boulogne-Billancourt was the highest-ranked large town, coming 20th overall, with residents highlighting its services, safety and family-friendly feel.
For villages with fewer than 2,000 inhabitants, Épron in Normandy took first place, ahead of Guéthary in south-west France.
The ranking is based on 197 criteria drawn from official data, but does not take the cost of living into account.