France is an old country, steeped in history and strewn with beautiful stones, made of pretty villages and modern metropolises, dotted with laughing countryside and centuries-old forests. Told that way, it looks rather pretty. Except that sometimes it goes off the rails. The beautiful residences and splendid castles are sometimes neglected, certain industrial sites and factories which were in full swing in the middle of the last century are neglected and become wastelands which delight graffiti artists and urban exploration enthusiasts. But even more than the abandoned castles and factories, now known to everyone and widely documented on the internet, what surprised me was that entire villages could be abandoned: wars, epidemics, isolation, natural disasters or dam projects: every time, there is a reason for entire villages to be abandoned, and these are so many interesting stories to tell… Discover our list of the 5 ghost towns to visit in France.
Of all the abandoned places in France, Goussainville is the most unlikely. Barely 20km from the centre of Paris sits the once thriving village of Goussainville. The town was largely abandoned after Charles de Gaulle airport was built nearby. Constant noise from overhead planes proved too infuriating for the villagers and, following a tragic air crash in 1973. Interestingly, the entire village isn’t abandoned. There are still residents in the region and even a few stores. One of these stores is a charming second-hand bookstore. Walking in feels like stepping into the pages of a 1970s novel…
This French commune was famously taken under fire by the German occupiers in 1944 during World War II. The mass execution, probably in retaliation, carried out in this village completely wiped out its population, except for the six people who survived the massacre. After this destruction, it was decided not to restore the village, and to leave everything as it is, including the doctor’s car in the middle of the square. A visit to the museum and a stroll through the destroyed village leave an indelible impression.
Situated in the Hérault region of France, the area is filled with Mediterranean beaches and quirky architecture. The department also happens to be home to Celles, an abandoned French town. All of the buildings in the town apart from the church and town hall are in ruins. The town was forced purchased and subsequently abandoned by the French government in order to make way for a new dam in the area. The old village is now abandoned and falling down on the banks of Lac du Salagou.
Of all the abandoned French towns on this list, Brovès may well be the most tragic. Brovès is a tragic example of a deserted village where the residents wished to remain but were driven out against their will. The village is situated in the French region of Provence and is entirely in ruin. For the inhabitants of Brovès, Pentecost Monday is sacred. This is the only day the army allows them to return to their old village. They had to leave it in 1974, when the site was transformed into military land. They now meet once a year to return to their former place of life.
Situated high in the alps, the village of Poil sits high in the mountains and was happily inhabited until the mid 18th-Century. A lack of prospects in the surrounding area led villagers to abandon the town in their droves. Up until this point, Le Poil had been home to around 300 residents. By the early 1930s, so many villagers had left, that the few remaining ones left too. In the 1970s, a French explorer and wealthy businessman, Philippe Cougnot, stumbled upon the settlement. He started a project that saw the town being turned into a hiking/ holiday destination. ‘The Friends of le Poil’ society are still around today, maintaining the properties under their care and holding annual events at the site of the once forgotten village.
If you wish to visit one of these villages, or many others (cause, yes, there are more than 5 ghost towns to visit in France), do not hesitate to ask us directly while planning your trip.
