In the Nord-Pas-de-Calais area of northern France there is a small village which proudly bears the name of Misery. Home to approximately 137 people it looks a pleasant enough place and not too miserable. For the French inhabitants its name would have a slightly different meaning, but still negative - in French misère does have a sense of misery about it, but also means poverty or destitution. So in Victor Hugo's 1862 classic Les Misérables, the characters are generally poverty stricken (although I don't remember a lot of laughs in the book either). For more of the best place names in France, including the villages of Anus, Stains and Dole - click here.

Source: The Local December 24, 2019 06:56 UTC