[originaltext] Twelve towns—from a French colonial village in Missouri to a to

Twelve towns—from a French colonial village in Missouri to a town on the Florida Panhandle—have been honored this year by the National Trust for Historic Preservation for their commitment to historic preservation and community revitalization.
  Ste. Genevieve was recognized as having "the most significant collection of French colonial architecture in the US," according to the preservation group.
  Ownership of the territory was alternately French, Spanish and American,but the French traditions and architecture persisted no matter who was in charge. The town boasts more than 150 structures built before 1825, including the 1785 Bolduc House, the 1792 Amoureaux House, the 1818 Felix Valle State Historic Site and the 1806 Guibourd-Valle House, with its Norman-style trusses. Visitors can also tour the historic Memorial Cemetery, where many of Ste. Genevieve’s distinguished early inhabitants are buried. Ste. Genevieve is surrounded by a state park, wildlife refuge and national forest. Accommodations include a motel and variety of bed-and-breakfast inns, restaurants and wineries. Its unique architecture, winding streets and bucolic setting make it a great getaway.