Talmont-sur-Gironde

Founded in 1284 by Edward I of England, Duke of Aquitaine, this tiny hamlet on a promontory above the Gironde estuary in Charente-Maritime holds the 12th-century church of Sainte-Radegonde — its silhouette rising above the water beside a clifftop cemetery. The old bastide streets, lined with low whitewashed houses and pink roof tiles, carry the Les Plus Beaux Villages de France label. A compact fishing port historically known for sturgeon and caviar, it sits in wine-growing country with scenic viewpoints over the estuary and a handful of cafés for its size.

• Population89
• Nearest water0.1 km
• Nearest mountain41.4 km
• UNESCO within 50 km2