Tourism & Spirituality in FRANCE
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TOURISM & SPIRITUALITY IN FRANCE SALES MANUAL 2017 4 ITINERARIES TO DISCOVER THE HIGH PLACES OF SPIRITUALITY IN FRANCE CONT ENTS SPIRITUAL TOURISM, A WELL ESTABLISHED TREND 04 THE WAY OF SAINT-JACQUES DE Compostelle 05 NORTH-WEST 06 ALENÇON 10 LISIEUX 11 Abbeys OF Normandy 12 MONT SAINT-MICHEL 13 SAINTE-ANNE-D’Auray 14 HOSTELLERIE BON PASTEUR (ACCOMMODATION) 15 tours 16 Chartres 17 FIAP - PARIS (ACCOMMODATION) 18 NORTH-EAST 20 THE Guebwiller REGION & BasiliCA OF THIERENBACH 24 VÉZelay 25 NEVERS 26 Paray-LE-MONIAL 27 Comfort HÔTEL Paray-LE-MONIAL (ACCOMMODATION) 28 SOUTH-EAST 30 History AND spirituality IN ISÈRE 34 Notre-DAME DE LA SALETTE 35 ARS-SUR-FORMANS 36 LE PUY-EN-Velay 37 MENDE 38 avignon, CITY OF THE POPES 39 SAINT MAXIMIN & PLAN D’AUPS SAINTE Baume 40 CotignaC 41 Ouest CorsiCA 42 SOUTH-WEST 44 ROCAMADOUR 47 LOURDES 48 LOURDES HÔTELS serviCES 49 HÔTEL IBIS LOURDES CENTRE GARE (ACCOMMODATION) 50 HÔTEL PARADIS LOURDES (ACCOMMODATION) 51 HÔTELS Vinuales, LOURDES (ACCOMMODATION) 52 HÔTEL Astrid LOURDES (ACCOMMODATION) 53 GRAND HÔTEL MODERNE, LOURDES (ACCOMMODATION) 54 INCOMING AGENCIES 55 BLB tourisme 56 BIPEL INCOMING 57 lumen TERRA 58 transglobe INCOMING 59 SEH UNITED HOTELIERS (ACCOMMODATION) 60 TOURISM & SPIRITUALITY IN FRANCE - SALES MANUAL 01 Mont Saint-Michel GREAT-BRITAIN NETHERLANDS BELGIUM Channel GERMANY ABBEYS OF NORMANDY LISIEUX MONT SAINT-MICHEL ALENÇON PARIS SAINTE north-west CHARTRES anne d’AURAY VÉZELAY ANGERS TOURS GUEBWILLER north-east NEVERS PARAY-LE-MONIAL SWITZERLAND Atlantic ocean ARS-SUR-FORMANS SOUTH- LE PUY- ROCAMADOUR EN-VELAY east ISÈRE NOTRE-DAME SOUTH- MENDE DE LA SALETTE west PALACE OF THE COTIGNAC LOURDES POPES, AVIGNON SAINT-MAXIMIN SPAIN OUEST CORSICA Mediterranean Sea CLUSTER TOURISM & SPIRITUALITY OF ATOUT FRANCE Cluster Tourism and Spirituality of Atout France contributes to the implementation of the Strategy “Destination France 2010-2020 ” and the policy of promotion of Atout France. This cluster is comprised of professionals, representative of the French offer of spirituality. Palais des Papes, Avignon GERMANY RENDEZ-VOUS IN THE MOST IMPORTANT SPIRITUAL SITES IN FRANCE With 50,000 religious buildings, among which 10,000 are listed as Protected Historical Monuments and some are even listed as UNESCO World Heritage sites (Chartres, Mont Saint Michel, Rocamadour, Vézelay), France has the widest range of spiritual sites open to the general public of any country in Europe. With something for everyone, from pilgrims to walkers, visitors and even lovers of Romanesque art, France has 163 shrines, ITALY from the most famous cathedral to the smallest chapel... and no less than 4 routes along the Way of Saint-Jacques de Compostelle. Whether you are looking for the meaning of life, searching for spiritual values, need to recharge your batteries or simply out to learn more about French heritage, whatever you might think, spiritual tourism in France is perfect for everyone. +INFO WWW.FRANCE.FR TOURISM & SPIRITUALITY IN FRANCE - SALES MANUAL 03 SPIRITUAL TOURISM Presentation Cathedral of Notre-Dame de Paris KEY FIGURES • 50 000 religious sites (monasteries, abbeys, cathedrals, churches, synagogues, mosques, etc.…) that are part of French heritage. SPIRITUAL dampened demand for trips to the Holy Land and consequently European • 10 000 of them are protected historical TOURISM, destinations reap the benefits”, observes monuments and open to the public. A WELL “Route des Hommes” a travel agency in ESTABLISHED Paris specialized in organizing spiritual tours. • France has163 shrines. • Religious tourism, long considered as niche, Attracting the highest number of TREND visitors, Notre-Dame de Paris and is a rapidly expanding business. Sacré-Coeur de Montmartre, with 13 At the Bishops’ Conference in March million and 10.5 million annual visitors Today, shrines are increasing access points 2012, Géraldine Ballot, President of the respectively. Association of Shrine Towns in France and customized proposals to be able to confirmed that “there is definitely a strong respond to diverse expectations. They are • Each year, millions of people visit the upward trend in spiritual tourism”.1 An developing their multimedia products, to sanctuaire marial de Lourdes, and 3.5 enthusiasm which far exceeds religious inform and guide visitors. “We observe that million go to Mont Saint-Michel (one practice. shrines are the first point of exposure for third visit the Abbey). many people; they come as visitors, it is up • At Puy-en-Velay, a Marian shrine and “The number of ‘non-believer’ visitors has to us to help them leave as pilgrims if they the starting point for the Saint Jac ques increased considerably. They love historical wish” assures Father André Fournier, rector de Compostelle TRAIL - at least 62 of Mont Saint-Michel. sites, far removed from the consumerist different nationalities were counted in pressures of daily life ideal for meetings the cathedral in 2016. and exchanges”.1 The popularity of the Way of Saint- Jacques de Compostelle is proof enough. • The four routes that lead to the Society is increasingly concerned with the The four routes that lead to the Spanish Spanish shrine allow visitors to pass idea of relaxation and recuperation which shrine allow visitors to pass through France through France enjoying the hike, and brings with it the constant search for new on foot enjoying the hike, and the route the route dotted with religious buildings places. “The geopolitical situation in the dotted with religious buildings (71 of them - 71 of them have UNESCO World 2 3 Middle East, especially in Israel, has have UNESCO World Heritage status). Heritage status . 1. Géraldine Ballot, President of the Shrine Cities Association : Bishops’ Conference, March 2012 - 2. Sources : Le figaro.fr, by Isabelle de Foucaud 2012, La Tribune and AFP 09/03/2012 -3. For all figures : ‘‘La Vie ’’ Joséphine Bataille 09/07/2012 http://www.lavie.fr/religion/spiritualite/le-tourisme-spirituel-l-autre-facon-de-visiterlafrance- 09-07-2012-29152_22.php ‘‘ le Figaro ’’ Isabelle de Foucaud 2012 04 SALES MANUAL - TOURISM & SPIRITUALITY IN FRANCE SPIRITUAL TOURISM SPIRITUAL TOURISM Presentation Presentation THE WAY OF SAINT- JACQUES DE COMPOSTELLE Where the Compostelle routes in France are concerned, 71 monuments as well as 7 parts of the routes haven been officially granted UNESCO World Heritage status since 1998 as “Routes of Saint-Jacques- de-Compostelle in France”. Since the 11th century, this pilgrimage developed and became one of the most important pilgrimages. While the Spanish shrine is the destination, the 4 historical routes pass through a large part of French territory and the more inspired pilgrims or motivated hikers continue to walk in ever increasing numbers on the routes leading to the tomb of Saint-Jacques at Compostelle in Spain. Today, this expedition could involve several tens of thousands of toughened hikers per year. Many more walk in stages and advance from year to year enjoying a state of mind, unspoiled landscapes and a number of historical sites and monuments. THE 4 ROUTES OF SAINT- from the Saint Jacques Tower in Paris to The main route passes through Bourges and JACQUES DE COMPOSTELLE meet Tours, Poitiers and Bordeaux, via Orléans Châteauroux. It is also possible to descend or Chartres according to certain variants. further south by going towards Nevers. Inscribed in the UNESCO World Heritage Key milestones: the Basilica of Saint- Martin, list and European Cultural Itineraries, Notre-Dame, Chartres, Saint- Hilaire church… these pilgrimage routes are known for their spiritual significance and exceptional La Via Lemovicensis heritage. The starting point for the Limousin road is Vézelay in Burgundy. The main route La Via Podiensis (GR 65) passes through Bourges and Châteauroux. The Puy-en-Velay road is perhaps the It is also possible to descend further south most approved route by hikers. It is famous by going towards Nevers. for its array of remarkable buildings and Key milestones: Saint-Marie-Madeleine sites while passing through the Haute- de Vézelay Basilica, St Etienne Cathedral in Loire, Lozère, Aveyron, Périgord, Gers Limoges… regions and especially the Basque Country. Key milestones: Notre-Dame du Puy La Via Tolosana (GR 653) Cathedral, Conques abbey, Figeac, Cahors, The via Tolosana is the southern-most Rocamadour shrine… road as it begins in Arles and passes by Montpellier and Toulouse. La Via Turonensis Key milestones: Church of Sainte Trophime, Further to the north, the Tours route starts Arles, Basilica of Saint- Sernin,Toulouse 04 SALES MANUAL - TOURISM & SPIRITUALITY IN FRANCE TOURISM & SPIRITUALITY IN FRANCE - SALES MANUAL 05 NORTH-WEST Itinerary ALENÇON // LISIEUX // Abbeys OF Normandy // MONT SAINT-MICHEL // SAINTE-ANNE-D’Auray // ANGERS // tours // Chartres // FIAP - Paris north-west rom the Champs-Elysées to the Sacré Coeur Basilica via the Louvre, from Notre- Dame de Paris Cathedral to the Eiffel Tower, Paris City of Light, art and culture are Fto be found at every street corner … Heading west, Normandy, a region where there is something for everyone : lovers of impressionism, culture, nature, gastronomy, it has everything. Welcome to Lisieux, Mont Saint-Michel and Alençon. Cross the Normandy region for another magnificent region surrounded by little towns full of character, myths and legends, gastronomy and festivities … Sainte-Anne-d’Auray is in Brittany! On the way back, less than 100 km from Paris, Chartres, situated just outside the Châteaux of the Loire valley, internationally known for