A reward they should not be proud of… Every year, Landscapes of France organizes a participatory competition to elect the four ugliest places in France following their inaction in the face of the invasion of advertising panels in a place in the town. Created in 1992, this association “approved within the national framework under the Environmental Code, independent of economic and political powers” points the finger at certain cities in order to make them aware that they should rehabilitate and revalorize their urban and non-urban landscapes. In 2022, Moussac (Gard), Villard-de-Lans (Isère), Aubière (Puy-de-Dôme) and Saint-Paul (Reunion) were designated. “This is not a ranking of the ugliest cities, but here are four places in France, in four communes of France, which, for us, represent a bit of ugly France”specified the association before revealing its ranking, in its press release.
Four municipalities pinned
In 2023, four new places have been designated by members of Paysages de France. To start with there commercial zone from Pré-Droué to Chavelot (Vosges). “We border on excess with these banners to be banned”it is specified. The Ménec alignments in Carnac (Morbihan), received the Obélix 2.0 prize. “We are treated to a beautiful, very straight alignment, with perfectly identical menhirs, without any vegetation to hide them. Thank you!”, we can still read. The entrance to the town of Honfleur (Calvados) also did not find favor in their eyes. “Tarpaulins, panels, banners, totems, flags, take your pick, all the brands on sale!”, it is commented. Finally, the Place des Vosges (Paris) was singled out for having installed gigantic advertising banners on historic monuments. On its website, the association specified: “The mayors of the four municipalities concerned were informed a few days ago. However, our association is in no way aiming to stigmatize this or that municipality. The mayor can use his police power to enforce the environmental code or local advertising regulations, by refusing the installation of monumental advertisements or by systematically taking into account the landscape..