by As Paris prepares to host the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2024, it’s safe to say that the eyes of the world will be on France this year. In July and August, some of the capital’s most iconic monuments will host sporting events from dressage to break dancing. This is a great opportunity to explore Paris a little differently (more on that below), but you could also choose to steer clear of the usual tourist hubs and one – at least a little – off the beaten path.
Visit a traditional village wine festival in Burgundy, or try fine dining in the French cow country. Explore the arts in Occitanie, or the weekend as Paris in a sleepy corner of Normandy. In addition, throughout the year, there are opportunities to follow the Olympic Flame on its journey across the country; or head south to experience the new route of the Tour de France, which will finish in Nice this year.
Then there are lots of new train routes, from small local lines to new and improved sleeper services, as well as more cycle routes and infrastructure than ever before – so even if you’re not. en voituremany of France’s hidden corners are more accessible than ever. Allons-y!
Le Perche, Normandy
Don’t tell the Parisians I told you about this one. Le Perche natural park, in the southeast corner of Normandy has been the best kept secret in the capital for some years now.Bobos” (bourgeois bohemians) aware. And many of those hip folks have bought homes here around which a vibrant food and cultural scene has begun to mature—albeit still nestled in sleepy, verdant surroundings.
Sven Chariter, formerly a chef with a star in Paris, runs Oiseau Oiseau with his wife Marianne, a traditional restaurant together in Préaux-du-Perche, recognized by the Michelin Guide for its quality. In Saint-Cyr La Rosière you’ll find Après l’école, a café/bar, antiques market and cultural venue rolled into one, housed in a former village schoolhouse. The area is particularly famous for its second-hand shops and fairs in charming villages such as Bellême and La Perrière. There are also local food markets more or less every day of the week in one of the villages. Above all, Parisians appreciate the area for its bucolic charm. Consider going for a long walk or bike ride, where there are over 100 former manors and stately homes.
Where to stay and when to go
Book a weekend at Maison Ceronne, a hip converted farmhouse designed as the perfect weekend getaway for urbanites. Think clean design, a cozy spa and pool, a hearty restaurant serving seasonal fare and even a cinema and karaoke facilities. When to go? Le Perche has something to offer at any time of the year.
Bourgogne-Franche-Comte, Burgundy
If you are a wine lover, you may already be familiar with the attractions of the Burgundy area. There will be many excuses this year to enjoy the rich culture of the vine. The last week of January marks the 80th anniversary of the Saint-Vincent Tournante, a very happy wine festival that rotates location to a different Burgundian village each year (anyone doing Dry January need not apply ). This year it will be hosted in the neighboring villages of Chambolle-Musigny and Morey-Saint-Denis, which sit amidst fantastic hiking terrain, with walking paths and rolling vines all the way up to Dijon.
In nearby Chenôve you will find the medieval wine press of the Dukes of Burgundy. Wine lovers will also be in heaven at the Beaune Hospice Auction, a prestigious wine sale and celebration held in November; in 2021 the one-day auction achieved a record sales total of over 29 million euros.
Jura
Head a little further east in the region and you’ll come to Jura, the relatively small wine-growing area surrounding the mountains of the same name that spill across the Swiss border. Winegrowers like Pierre Overnoy were producing natural wines here long before the phrase “pet nat” was a catch in Clapton’s hipster eye.
La Percée du Vin Jaune is a traveling festival celebrating yellow wine that takes place each year in a different Jura village, again long before the current trend for orange wines. In 2024, the action will take place in Arbois, in the hometown of Louis Pasteur, the scientist whose heads allowed, among many other things, for a longer life and easier export of French wine. In winter, the mountains are grateful for cross-country skiing; he enjoys hiking and water sports on the lakes in the summer, fueled by the local Comté cheese, nature.
Where to stay and when to go
Telegraph Travel expert Mary Lussiana recommends Hotel Montrachet, a 4-star hotel in Puligny-Montrachet. Visit Burgundy in the last week of January for the Saint-Vincent Tournante; La Percée du Vin Jaune is on the first weekend of February. Spring and early summer are a great time for walking and hiking; Autumn is the season of wine harvest.
Camargue, South of France
One of the things that makes France so attractive as a travel destination is the huge diversity of its geography and terrain. The Camargue, the stretch of low land between Arles and the Mediterranean, is a fine example of this. Bisected by the Rhône, this pocket of Le Sud is one of the largest river deltas in Europe and the largest wetlands in France. It is a paradise for bird enthusiasts, with more than 400 species, including various raptors, cormorants and the famous pink flamingo. You will also find Camargue bulls and the mysterious white Camargue horses, which roam freely throughout the area.
Production is plentiful here, from wine to tomatoes to rice, and in recent years international foodies have flocked to the Camar Gualainn countryside for La Chassagnette, an exquisite Michelin-starred restaurant with its own market garden, owned by Maja Hoffman, the man behind cultural additions. in Arles as the Luma Foundation designed by Gehry. In the midst of all this regeneration, residents speak fearfully of rising tide levels, wondering how many more generations this unique land will still be here in this form. Visit it while you still can.
Where to stay and when to go
The south of France meets Route 66 at Les Cabanettes, a restored former motel sure to please lovers of the Medieval aesthetic. For maximum exploration, try spring or autumn as summer down here is very hot; that being said, the annual Arles Rencontres photography festival every summer is a great excuse to come here; cool off on the area’s rugged beaches.
Nimes and Arrond, Occitanie
Not far from the Camargue, but a very different vibe, we are now going to Nîmes, the Occitanie city known for its magnificent Roman architecture, including the impressive amphitheater which (rightly or wrongly) still hosts bull events. In the autumn of 2023, the Maison Carré (square house), a Roman temple from the second century AD, became a Unesco World Heritage site, recognized for being exceptionally well preserved.
Only for 2024, the Tour de France route will be adapted to avoid Paris (busy with the Olympics) and instead finish in Nice, taking in parts of the south of France including this city. Be there in July during the last week of the Tour which starts with a race from Gruissan to Nîmes. This summer is also the 30th anniversary of the Jeudis de Nîmes, a weekly outdoor entertainment across the city’s sites. For art lovers, there is the first ever edition of the Contemporaine de Nimes, a youth contemporary art festival, which will take place between April 5 and June 23, linked to the Carré d’art contemporary art museum. The surrounding area is now more accessible than before for those without cars thanks to the Occitanie Rail Tour route, which connects various spots throughout the region from Nîmes in the east to Lourdes in the west (€10 per day for each route).
Where to stay and when to go
According to Telegraph writer Anthony Peregrine: “For posh, it should be the five-star L’Imperator (doubles from £311); for historic character, the Margaret-Hotel Chouleur (doubles from £137) and for budget, L’Amphitheater (doubles from £79). Visit in the spring for the Contemporaine and in the summer for the Tour de France and summer festivals.
Le Grand Paris, Ile-de-France
There is no lack of publicity in Paris, it is true, but this Olympic year offers the opportunity to do it differently. The Olympic Village will be located in Saint-Denis, the sometimes-maligned suburb north of Paris. The cluster of close suburbs that make up this part of “la petite couronne” now more accessible than ever thanks to the new Line 14 Metro. There is no shortage of cultural and artistic activity in the area, from the antique markets of Saint-Ouen, the urban farm zone in Saint-Denis or the canal-side bars of Pantin, known as the “Brooklyn of Paris”. With high hotel prices in the city center and a lot happening this way, it’s the perfect time to discover ‘le Grand Paris’.
Indeed, there have been some exciting developments across the Paris region. Another option: combine your city tour with a stay at a bucolic boutique hotel, like the food-oriented Le Doyenné in Essonne east of Paris, Le Barn in Rambouillet past Versailles or the magnificent Chateau de Rosa Bonheur with its magical guest rooms and artistic heritage in Tomery, Fontainebleau.
Where to stay and when to go
Try the cool Mob Hotel in Saint-Ouen right at the historic flea market. There is plenty to do in Le Grand Paris at any time of the year, but of course summer is the time for all the Olympic festivities. Spring is a great time to visit the nearby countryside.
