Saint-Véran is widely known as the highest village in France. The reality, however, is more nuanced. Several ski resorts — inhabited year-round and technically constituting communes — sit at higher altitudes, displacing Saint-Véran to second or even third place depending on the criteria used. If you are looking for charm and authenticity, Saint-Véran remains the highest historic village in France. For a factual ranking by town hall altitude, Tignes leads. Here are our complete rankings.
⛰️ Key facts:
- Tignes has the highest town hall in France at 2,100 m — technically the highest commune.
- At 2,025 m, Saint-Véran is the highest historic village in France — the most authentic and most visited of the high-altitude villages.
- Year-round inhabited places reach even higher: Val Thorens at 2,300 m has permanent residents.
- The communes with the highest summit points are Chamonix and Saint-Gervais — both include the Mont Blanc summit at 4,807 m.
- At 1,326 m, Briançon is the highest town in France (population over 5,000), followed by Chamonix and Embrun.
The 15 highest villages in France — by town hall altitude
We have ranked every Alpine and Pyrenean commune by the altitude of its town hall (mairie) — the standard administrative measure. All 15 highest communes are in the Alps. Note that Val Thorens — whose actual resort sits at 2,300 m — does not appear here because its town hall is located at 1,400 m in the valley below.
- Tignes (Savoie) — 2,100 m
- Saint-Véran (Hautes-Alpes) — 2,025 m
- Montgenèvre (Hautes-Alpes) — 1,850 m
- Val d’Isère (Savoie) — 1,820 m
- Bonneval-sur-Arc (Savoie) — 1,800 m
- Molines-en-Queyras (Hautes-Alpes) — 1,760 m
- Bessans (Savoie) — 1,740 m
- Chamrousse (Isère) — 1,720 m
- Vars (Hautes-Alpes) — 1,650 m
- Ceillac (Hautes-Alpes) — 1,650 m
- Les Angles (Pyrénées-Orientales) — 1,650 m
- Les Deux Alpes (Isère) — 1,650 m
- Villard-Reymond (Isère) — 1,640 m
- Cervières (Hautes-Alpes) — 1,640 m
- Villar-d’Arène (Hautes-Alpes) — 1,640 m
The top five — a closer look
Tignes (Savoie) — 2,100 m
Nestled in the Tarentaise valley, Tignes is an iconic ski resort that combines modern infrastructure with genuine local life. Its altitude makes it one of the most snow-reliable resorts in Europe, typically open from November to May.
Saint-Véran (Hautes-Alpes) — 2,025 m
Known as the highest permanently inhabited village in Europe, Saint-Véran fascinates with its traditional timber and stone architecture. Set in the preserved Queyras park, it attracts visitors seeking authenticity — with a Michelin-starred restaurant adding unexpected comfort.
Montgenèvre (Hautes-Alpes) — 1,850 m
On the Italian border above Briançon, Montgenèvre has preserved a genuine mountain village character while developing as a ski resort, with direct link to the Via Lattea domain in Italy.
Val d’Isère (Savoie) — 1,820 m
Renowned for its exceptional ski domain, Val d’Isère is also a village where traditional architecture and luxury coexist — attracting serious skiers and families year-round.
Bonneval-sur-Arc (Savoie) — 1,800 m
One of the “Plus Beaux Villages de France”, Bonneval-sur-Arc is a perfectly preserved stone-built village at the foot of the Vanoise glaciers — no cars in the centre, completely unspoiled.
The 15 highest ski resorts in France — by resort altitude
If we consider ski resorts as inhabited places (most have year-round residents), the rankings shift significantly. Val Thorens — Europe’s highest ski resort — leads at 2,300 m. See our full guide to the highest ski resorts in the French Alps.
- Val Thorens (Savoie) — 2,300 m
- Tignes (Savoie) — 2,100 m
- Saint-Véran (Hautes-Alpes) — 2,040 m
- Isola 2000 (Alpes-Maritimes) — 2,000 m
- Risoul (Hautes-Alpes) — 1,870 m
- Alpe d’Huez (Isère) — 1,860 m
- Montgenèvre (Hautes-Alpes) — 1,850 m
- Val d’Isère (Savoie) — 1,850 m
- La Rosière (Savoie) — 1,850 m
- Piau-Engaly (Hautes-Pyrénées) — 1,850 m
- Gavarnie-Gèdre (Hautes-Pyrénées) — 1,840 m
- Orcières-Merlette (Hautes-Alpes) — 1,830 m
- Sainte-Anne-la-Condamine (Alpes-de-Haute-Provence) — 1,830 m
- Avoriaz (Haute-Savoie) — 1,800 m
- Valmeinier (Savoie) — 1,800 m
The 15 highest communes in France — by highest summit
This ranking uses the highest point within each commune’s territory. The result is dominated by the Mont Blanc massif (the summit is shared between Saint-Gervais and Chamonix), followed by the Écrins and Vanoise ranges — France’s highest mountain groups.
- Saint-Gervais-les-Bains (74) — 4,807 m (Mont Blanc summit)
- Chamonix-Mont-Blanc (74) — 4,807 m (Mont Blanc summit)
- Les Houches (74) — 4,280 m
- Pelvoux (05) — 4,099 m
- Saint-Christophe-en-Oisans (38) — 4,008 m
- La Grave (05) — 3,976 m
- Villar-d’Arène (05) — 3,883 m
- Les Contamines-Montjoie (74) — 3,880 m
- Champagny-en-Vanoise (73) — 3,855 m
- Termignon (73) — 3,855 m
- Bourg-Saint-Maurice (73) — 3,823 m
- Pralognan-la-Vanoise (73) — 3,786 m
- Peisey-Nancroix (73) — 3,779 m
- Villaroger (73) — 3,779 m
- Bessans (73) — 3,754 m
The highest towns in France — population over 5,000
Briançon is consistently cited as the highest town in France — and our ranking confirms it. As well as being a town of over 10,000 inhabitants, it is a UNESCO World Heritage listed Vauban fortification and the second city of the Hautes-Alpes department.
- Briançon (10,748 inhabitants) — 1,326 m
- Chamonix-Mont-Blanc (8,673 inhabitants) — 1,035 m
- Saint-Flour (6,391 inhabitants) — 880 m
- Embrun (6,387 inhabitants) — 871 m
- Yssingeaux (7,415 inhabitants) — 860 m
- Pontarlier (18,067 inhabitants) — 830 m
- Bourg-Saint-Maurice (7,228 inhabitants) — 830 m
- Saint-Gervais-les-Bains (5,678 inhabitants) — 815 m
- Cruseilles (5,058 inhabitants) — 783 m
- Morteau (6,953 inhabitants) — 760 m
- Gap (40,600 inhabitants) — 754 m
- Mende (12,464 inhabitants) — 723 m
- Fillière (9,812 inhabitants) — 700 m
- Gérardmer (7,581 inhabitants) — 680 m
- Passy (10,852 inhabitants) — 660 m
Rankings based on combined verified internal data. Some communes may be missing.
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