section_path: Western and Southern Europe/France
section_name: France
paragraph_text: France
  
  The Insee classifies French communes into four groups according to population density:
  
  A commune in Group 3 or 4 is considered as a village (commune rurale).
  
  An independent association named Les Plus Beaux Villages de France (affiliated to the international association The Most Beautiful Villages in the World), was created in 1982 to promote assets of small and picturesque French villages of quality heritage. As of July 2023, 172 villages in France have been listed in "The Most Beautiful Villages of France".