French heritage villages Saint-Cirq-Lapopie and La Canourgue recognized

Several historic French villages are receiving recognition for their architectural and landscape heritage. Saint-Cirq-Lapopie, located in the Lot department of the Occitanie region, is noted for its medieval architecture and panoramic views over the Lot gorges. The village features stone houses and slate roofs that reflect its 13th-century defensive origins.

In the Lozère region, La Canourgue, often called the ‘Little Venice of Lozère’ due to the Urugne river canals, has been officially classified as a Remarkable Heritage Site (Site patrimonial remarquable). This designation, overseen by the Ministry of Culture, requires a rigorous management plan to protect the town’s medieval layout, including its 15th and 16th-century half-timbered houses and the Saint-Martin collegiate church.