From Monday, June 1, Airbnb and the Heritage Foundation invite the French to vote to support the project of their choice among 12 emblematic rural sites spread across France.
This initiative, with Airbnb as a sponsor, aims to restore the heritage of communes with less than 20,000 inhabitants that hold significant historical, architectural, or cultural interest, in order to turn them into drivers of economic and tourist development:
This initiative, with Airbnb as a sponsor, aims to restore the heritage of communes with less than 20,000 inhabitants that hold significant historical, architectural, or cultural interest, in order to turn them into drivers of economic and tourist development:
- The Pionsat Castle (Puy-de-Dôme)
- The Cachat refreshment stand in Evian-les-Bains (Haute-Savoie)
- The La Mure Market Hall (Isère)
- The Châtelet of the Château de Vitré (Ille-et-Vilaine)
- Capu Neru Tower in Coti-Chiavari (South Corsica)
- The Governor’s Stables and the King’s Bastion in Rocroi (Ardennes)
- The Lewarde Mining History Center (Nord)
- The Daubigny Museum in Auvers-sur-Oise (Val-d’Oise)
- The Medieval Castle of Château-sur-Epte (Eure)
- The Suspension Bridge of Tonnay-Charente (Charente-Maritime)
- Saint-Pierre Church of Collonges-la-Rouge (Corrèze)
- Marsillargues Castle (Hérault)
The three communes that receive the most votes will benefit from substantial financial support to accelerate restoration work: €150,000 for first prize, €125,000 for second, and €100,000 for third.
How to vote?
The general public has a voting window from June 1 to June 28, 2026, at midnight to express their vote and back their favorite site.
To participate, all you need to do is log on to the official website of the Heritage Foundation. The winners will then be announced during July 2026.
Alexandre Giuglaris, General Manager of the Heritage Foundation, states: “Heritage is a cause that brings people together. Through this Grand Prix, the Heritage Foundation invites everyone to support the heritage site that matters most to them. By voting, you contribute concretely to safeguarding the treasures of our rural landscapes.”
To participate, all you need to do is log on to the official website of the Heritage Foundation. The winners will then be announced during July 2026.
Alexandre Giuglaris, General Manager of the Heritage Foundation, states: “Heritage is a cause that brings people together. Through this Grand Prix, the Heritage Foundation invites everyone to support the heritage site that matters most to them. By voting, you contribute concretely to safeguarding the treasures of our rural landscapes.”
A Real Impact for France’s Rural Areas
This competition is part of a broader program: since 2022, 215 projects located in rural zones across France have already benefited from support through this partnership.
Demonstrating the local roots of the initiative, nearly 90% of these projects are in towns with fewer than 3,500 inhabitants, and about 75% of them aim to ultimately welcome the public.
Demonstrating the local roots of the initiative, nearly 90% of these projects are in towns with fewer than 3,500 inhabitants, and about 75% of them aim to ultimately welcome the public.
