2021 PRESS KIT © Bestjobers After months of uncertainty, we’re delighted to be welcoming back travellers

in search of nature, culture Here, we’re offering holidaymakers a fresh start, a more authentic and action-packed and, of course, gastronomy. road map to explore away from the Northern crowds. This is your opportunity to uncover France Repeated lockdowns have the country’s hidden treasures, whether awakened in most of us an by gliding along the verdant network of canals, chasing the waves on the crystalline coastline or wending your way along the Normandy awareness of the fragility vast lattice of cycle routes. Get out of your Champagne of our environment and a comfort zone with a spot of ‘forest bathing’ Alsace in the green fold of France’s four new natural Brittany Eastern France Vosges desire to embrace a more regional parks, scale the highest peaks, Massif venture into UNESCO-listed reserves and Atlantic sustainable and responsible Loire Valley unwind in award-winning gardens. Its natural Burgundy Loire Valley approach to . assets aside, France has no shortage of historic and cultural landmarks to discover and rediscover. Countless monuments and

Jura flagship museums have taken this enforced 2-3 Mountains time-out to rethink their design or reimagine Auvergne their exhibitions promising a thrilling new Valley take and many surprises for first-time and returning visitors alike, all in a Covid-safe

Ardèche environment, of course. Meanwhile, a host of new or refurbished attractions, from the Southern Proust Museum in Normandy and the Cité des Vins et des Climats in Burgundy to the

Côte d’Azur Bourse de Commerce – Pinault Collection Canal du Midi and the Hôtel de la Marine in Paris, are now Basque Country back on track to welcome the eager public. Which brings us neatly to France’s calling card: its gastronomy. Foodies will get to Pyrenees

Occitanie chomp their merry way around the Hexagon thanks to the launch of a scrumptious gourmet route: the Vélos & Fromages cycle trail. Get ready to experience a side of France you’ve never seen before. Contents Key figures Tourism in France before Covid-19 Key figures p.5 Sustainable tourism p.6 Highlights 2021 p.8 22 reasons to visit france in 2022 p.40 MILLION We are Rugby: Join the scrum 90 78% at the Rugby World Cup 2023 p.41 INTERNATIONAL TOURIST EUROPEAN ARRIVALS CLIENTS Websites and contacts p.42 Partners’ logos p.43 NUMBER #1 TOURIST DESTINATION WORLDWIDE

BILLION €57 439,7 MILLIONS p.10-19 IN REVENUE EUROPEAN Nature OVERNIGHT STAYS Admire its beauty 4-5

Highlights 2021 p.12 The classics 2021 p.16 Interview p.18 Where to stay p.19 A new tourism push across Goals p.20-29 Based on shared ambitions and values Culture Inform and Share simple pleasures reassure Highlights 2021 p.22 The classics 2021 p.26 Interview p.28 Where to stay p.29 Inspire 13 10 regional European tourist target p.29-38 boards markets Encourage people Art de vivre to book Make lasting memories 1 One central Private theme: €10M Highlights 2021 p.32 partners Sustainable budget The classics 2021 p.36 tourism Interview p.38 Where to stay p.39 Sustainable accommodation A total of 191 hotels, B&Bs and guesthouses across the country have been awarded 4/ the EU Ecolabel for environmental excellence to date. A further 644 are members of the Clef Verte (Green Key), the very first international network of environmentally- friendly tourism facilities. Additionally, 40 establishments have been recognised for their Sustainable sustainable credentials by the Green Globe association. No fewer than 280 rentals hold Gîtes Panda status while 320 holiday lets across the country are Ecogîte-certified. tourism © AD04 Teddy Verneuil Must-try produce Experience the wonders 5/ and local specialities of France’s unspoilt forests France isn’t nicknamed the “land of a thousand cheeses” for nothing. Every last corner of the country is brimming with homegrown produce and and nature reserves, Sustainable its art de la table is the envy of the world. From the 10 reasons to to 10 reasons France explore red label and ‘Organic Agriculture’ stamp to the discover its wealth of 6/ gastronomy AOP and AOC appellations, countless designations An increasing number of restaurateurs are ensure the protection and guarantee the origin and historic treasures and now adopting a more sustainable approach traceability of its cheeses, renowned wines and to gastronomy by reducing food miles other gourmet staples. cultural heritage and and waste and serving up locally-sourced, seasonal and authentic fare. In a bid to recognise their efforts, the Michelin Guide delve into its authentic launched a new Sustainable Gastronomy label in 2020, singling out eateries with The rural heartland savoir-faire outstanding environmental practices. France’s rolling countryside, its spellbinding Around 50 restaurants have been awarded 7/ landscapes and slower pace of life have the green-dining accolade to date. always held a near magnetic attraction for tourists in search of authenticity. Thanks to such initiatives as ‘Accueil Paysan’ and ‘Bienvenue à la ferme’, holidaymakers can Protected now get a taste of the simple life, hop on a 6-7 Picture-perfect whistle-stop tour of local farms and meet natural habitats towns and villages the gatekeepers of ancestral traditions and 1/ Since the launch of its very first national park in Isère, the Parc 8/ savoir-faire. de la Bérarde, in 1913, France has embarked on a twin mission The Hexagon’s quaint towns and villages to safeguard and revive its natural habitats and biodiversity are the perfect antidote to mass tourism; a and boost local economies through sustainable tourism. Today, chance to discover picturesque nooks away the country counts 11 national parks spanning 60,000km2, from the madding crowd. The best way to 54 natural regional parks and nine natural marine parks as well start your exploration is by checking out the as 47 ‘Grands Sites’ welcoming around 32 million visitors each various labels and designations signposting Green cities year. France’s historic villages and most France counts some of the most eco- remarkable towns. The ‘Plus Beaux Villages 9/ friendly cities in the world, chief among Tourism Sustainable de France’ association counts 159 member them Nantes, which was voted European UNESCO-listed villages and aims to promote and protect the Green Capital in 2013. Following hot on country’s most enchanting hamlets. A total its heels, and Grenoble recently of 107 unmissable towns and villages have reached the finals of the 2022 European 2/ savoir-faire been recognised as ‘Plus Beaux Détours de Green Capital Award. While narrowly France’s wealth of natural wonders is second only to its cultural heritage, France’ thanks to their unique character, host missed out on a place in the shortlist, its history and traditions. No fewer than 23 French celebrations, crafts and of attractions and charming accommodation. commitment to sustainability and green- customs – among them alpinism, Britanny’s Fest-noz dance or the Finally, the ‘Petites Cités de Caractère’ label living track record have been recognised perfume-making techniques of Grasse – take pride of place on UNESCO’s champions outstanding rural towns paving time and again over the years. Not only Intangible Cultural Heritage List. the way for sustainable tourism. was Lyon named French Diversity Capital in 2019, it holds the coveted title of European Smart City. Slow tourism 3/ A boon for eco-tourists and lovers of the great outdoors, France is criss-crossed by no fewer than 369 GR (Sentier de Grande Randonnée) hiking trails, including Accessible tourism for all From ‘Destinations pour tous’ to ‘Tourisme & Handicap’, a growing number of nationwide the iconic Chemin de Saint-Jacques-de-Compostelle and the tour du Mont Blanc campaigns and labels strive to improve accessibility for and cater to the less-able-bodied. No fewer trek. The playground of seasoned cyclists, the Hexagon is also bisected by nine 10/ than 5,536 tourist attractions, hotels and B&Bs across the country are now wheelchair-friendly (out of 15) trans-European cycle routes; chief among them the Vélodyssée, including 337 in Charente-Maritime alone and 205 in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques. Loire à Vélo and Viarhôna. Highlights Just addwater

musee-subaquatique.com sea life inreal time. offering a fascinating portholeinto Mediterranean will even befitted withacamera andsensors installations, Résilience by artist Thierry Trivès, shelter andhabitat for marine life. Oneofthese providingdoubles upasan“artificial reef”, deep, ismadefrom pH-neutral cement and eight ofwhichhave already beeninstalled 5m disruption to theocean floor, each2martwork, protect marineecosystems. To causeminimum raise awareness ofenvironmental issues and sculpture park,thissunken museumwillaimto plage desCatalans. More thananunderwater sculptures anchored to theseabed100moff submerged galleryandgoggle, for free, at its10 will getto plungeinto theMuséesubaquatique’s From thissummer, bathers, snorkellers anddivers waves inMarseille. France’s first underwater museumisset to make 2021 © G.Deschamps-CRT Occitanie art Mecca new contemporary de Commerce, Paris’s The Bourse François Pinault.Spread across 7,700m contemporary artcollection ofbusinessman new flagshipmuseumshowcases the extensive venue by Japanesearchitect Tadao Ando, Paris’s painstakingly converted into astate-of-the-art Housed intheformer stock exchange, Collection is now officiallyopen tothepublic. Good news: theBoursedeCommerce –Pinault 3,000m pinaultcollection.com/en the Halles’glass canopy andtheTour Saint-Jacques. top landmarks,including Saint-Eustache Church, to mentionParis’s seaofrooftops andsome ofits eye-popping views ofthemuseum’s rotunda, not Bras. From this loftyvantage point,they willenjoy starred father-son team MichelandSébastien café, LaHalleauxgrains, helmedby Michelin- for abite at thecapital’s hottest new restaurant- visitors are invited to headonupto thetop floor After marvelling at thefinancier’s collection, will alsohost events, takeovers andperformances. loans. Goingforward, the contemporary artcentre four decades,aswell ascommissioned works and gathered by thekeen artcollector over thepast exhibitions featuring someofthefinest pieces Bourse offers themeddisplays andmonographic 2 ofdedicated galleries,thebreathtaking

© Wallis - Msm-3455 2 , including , including

at Fontevraud Abbey Modern arttakeover fontevraud.fr/en connections between theseworks. insatiable quest whichledthemto make fascinating lovingly assembled over more than60years but to the attention notonlyto thebreadth ofthecollection they complex, setintheroyal abbey’s former stables, draws keep theCligmansfront andcentre, thesprawling art of themuseum,whichopened onMay 19. Keen to ethnographic artefacts allfeature amongthe highlights well asauniquearray ofnon-European ancientand André Derain, 88glassworks by Maurice Marinot,as 36 originalillustrations for Petronius’s Le Satyricon by by Rodin, Degassculptures, 300drawings including a setofpaintingsby EugèneCarrière, abust signed by CamilleCorot, aself-portrait by -Lautrec, flagship modernartmuseum.A rare domestic scene the Lionheart,isnow hometo Pays delaLoire’s new resting place ofEleanorAquitaine andRichard the medieval monastic complex, whichisthefinal by private collectors MartineandLéon Cligman, Following thedonation ofsome900masterpieces art. of now Fontevraud Abbey hasitssightssetonthehistory It’s madeanindeliblemarkonthehistory ofFrance – war memorial Normandy’s first British © Louis Brunet normandymemorialtrust.org to coincide withthe80thanniversary oftheD-Day Landings. inauguration ofthisambitiouscomplex isearmarked for 2024 and theHomeFront inBritainbutby French civilianstoo. The light onthekey role played notonlyby theResistance inFrance to defeat theNazis,D-Day preparations andsheddingfresh create aninteractive education centre chartingtheAllies’efforts major remembrance project. Plansare now well underway to towns andvillages.The memorialisonlyphaseoneoftheTrust’s civilians wholost theirlives duringtheliberation ofNormandy’s Normandy. Alsohonoured willbethetens ofthousandsFrench soldiers whomadetheultimate sacrifice duringtheBattle of kind intheregion, itwillpay tribute to the22,442Commonwealth will beunveiled by theendofyear. The first memorialofits remembrance site spearheadedby theNormandyMemorialTrust commanding views oftheD-Day Landingareas, thisunique Perched onagentlyslopinghillsideabove GoldBeachwith over. The wait for thenew BritishNormandyMemorialisnearly

de Lumières at theBassins the spotlight Digital artin bassins-lumieres.com/en/home colour andsound.Afeast for theeyes. walls andshimmeringwater pools, inanexplosion of burst from itsframe andglideacross theBassins’ Thanks to themagicoftechnology, eachartwork will projected onto every last inchofitsconcrete shell. drenched coastline through some500paintings enduring fascination withtheMediterranean’s sun- art centre willquite literally bringto lightartists’ former submarinebase-turned-world’s largest digital From to Pointillism viaFauvism, the Around theMediterranean’. round two with‘Monet,Renoir, Chagall:Journeys Bassins deLumières inBordeaux isbackfor After thesuccess ofitssell-outKlimt show, the © BridgemanImages © Lefevre FineArtLtd., London © akg-images Photo © NormandyMemorialTrust

Highlights 2021 8-9 Nature Admire its beauty the great outdoors? exploration. Ready to venture into natural wonders are ripe for breathtaking landscapesand and cycling routes, France’s vast network of coastal paths with wildlife andrare flora to its UNESCO-listed reserves teeming From itsnational parksand © Teddy Verneuil

10-11 Spotlight on La Vélomaritime, France’s new a ride on the wild side

regional parks Saddle up for a journey to remember along the shiny new Vélomaritime cycling route. Inaugurated in June, the sprawling coastal path unspools over Calling all nature lovers: France has unveiled four 1,500km of wave-lapped shoreline from Brittany to , new regional parks. From Mont-Ventoux’s hair-pin opening up a vast network of wild trails and previously bends and the dunes-speckled Baie de Somme inaccessible scenery to keen pedal-pushers. Fringed with dramatic to the ribbons of walking paths winding through capes, clusters of dunes, cliffs and a smattering of monuments Corbières-Fenouillèdes and the Doubs Horloger’s and other architectural treasures − not to mention a volley of mountainous terrain, these protected havens are restaurants to carbo-load along the way − the Vélomaritime is sure ripe for discovery – and adventure. to hit the spot with outdoorsy types, history buffs and foodies Stretching around the highest peak in , alike. Peppered along the attraction-rich route, between Roscoff le Parc naturel régional du Mont-Ventoux is a and Dunkirk, are no fewer than five Grands Sites de France, chief Mecca for cycling enthusiasts. Buffeted by the among them the Baie of Somme, the twin Cap Gris-Nez and mistral, Mont-Ventoux stands at a dizzying Highlights Highlights 2021 1,912m © Emmanuel Berthier Cap Blanc-Nez and the wind-knocking cliffs of Étretat; three of and is a treasure trove of rare flora and blink- France’s ‘Plus Beaux Villages’; four national monuments; and and-you’ll-miss-it fauna. Positively brimming three iconic UNESCO-listed sites including Mont-Saint-Michel. with wildlife, the Parc naturel régional Baie de A breathtaking route in more ways than one, it also clocks up a Somme Picardie Maritime’s sweeping coastline is mighty 50 lighthouses. Ready, steady, get pedalling. a sanctuary for colonies of grey seals. Nestled in lavelomaritime.com the eastern Pyrenees, the Parc naturel régional Chase the waves Corbières-Fenouillèdes is a biodiversity hotspot, home to an impressive 16 species of birds of prey in Brittany © PIRIOU-Jacqueline such as eagles and vultures. As if this weren’t © Somme Tourisme quite enough, the nature reserve is dotted with a With its vast swathes of sandy beaches, consistent handful of Cathar castles. The new playground of swell and steady stream of barrelling waves, thrillseekers, the Parc naturel régional du Doubs Brittany is a surfer’s paradise. Horloger spans 100,000 hectares, 40 per cent of The gateway to the Quiberon Peninsula, the it woodland, up in the Jura. Its mountain passes, sprawling plage de Kerhillio is the stomping ground gentle slopes and twin rivers are just the ticket of seasoned pros. From surfers and windsurfers to 12-13 for a range of activities, from skiing and hiking to kite surfers and bodyboarders, keen wave-chasers King of cycling and canoeing. flock to its wind-lashed shores year-round for their adrenaline fix. But there’s ample opportunity for the forest(s) novices to cut their teeth too. A stone’s throw from

Brest, the dunes of the Pays des Abers’ blend of Nature breakers and gentle waves offers thrills and spills Inaugurated at the tail end of 2019, the Parc for all abilities. While veterans make a beeline national de forêts en Champagne et Bourgogne for the more challenging dunes of Tréompan in is one France’s best-kept secrets – but not for Ploudalmézeau, beginners can ease themselves into much longer. It takes a village a range of water sports and tame the waves at their Straddling the Haute-Marne and Côte-d’Or, this own pace amid the Sainte-Marguerite dunes’ shallow green oasis is not only the country’s newest Ready to play peekaboo with a pod of seals, fly a lagoon in Landéda. national park but one of the largest areas of kite and go horseback riding in the Bay of Authie? protected lowland forest in Europe, no less. The There’s no shortage of adventures to keep little ones numbers speak for themselves: 241,000 hectares © Kevin Wimez busy – and buzzing – in Berck-sur-Mer. On a mission criss-crossed by 2,000km of hiking trails, 700km to fend off half-term boredom, during every school of meandering rivers and babbling brooks and break the seaside resort’s My Holiday Village initiative a whopping 50 million trees – 80 per cent of offers a jam-packed bill of thrills and spills. From which have stood here since before the French water sports and nature hikes to cultural activities, Revolution. This ancient woodland is also the there’s something for every taste, age and ability. refuge of more than 3,000 rare and endangered The only question is: where to begin? Kick off your species including black storks and wildcats. half-term adventures with a wander (or canter – Culture vultures won’t be disappointed, with horse riding is available for kids aged 10 and over) a volley of historical monuments – churches, round the Bay of Authie’s unspoilt sand dunes and abbeys and even châteaux – to discover at every see the colonies of grey seals and rich birdlife. A turn. And there are many more surprises in store jaunt to the home of the International Kite Festival for open-minded wanderers, starting with a spot and Championships would not be complete without of ‘forest bathing’. Book a session and venture a coaching session in the volatile art of cerf-volant. through the woods where an expert will show you Following in the footsteps of legends, kiddywinks as how to harness the restorative power of trees and young as six will learn how to unspool their string, nail be at one with the natural world. that first lift-off and brace against oncoming gusts Nature like seasoned pros. forets-parcnational.fr © BOURGOGNE-FRANCHE-COMTÉ TOURISME monvillagevacances.ellohaweb.com © Anaïs - AdobeStock Shake off Auvergne’s sleeping giants

your troubles Awaken your sense of adventure in the land of sleeping giants. A UNESCO-listed natural wonder of epic scale, the Chaîne des Puys – Limagne fault tectonic arena in the heart of Auvergne counts in the Alps no fewer than 80 dormant volcanoes spread across just 45km. From the Puy Pariou’s plunging crater to the Puy des Gouttes’ undulating rockscape, the wind-buffeted chain is the playground of hikers, cyclists and paragliders. Not quite ready to break a sweat up (or down) these snoozing

Ready to give ice-floating a shake? Born in Finland and designed to wash city-frazzled denizens’ behemoths? Hop aboard the Panoramique des Dômes electric cog train, sit back and let this sea of stress away, this pastime gives new meaning volcanic cones as well as the outlines of Clermont-Ferrand and the Massif du Sancy unfold before to ‘chilling out’. Now available for the first time your eyes as you wind your way up the Puy de Dôme, the Chaîne des Puys’ highest summit. For the in France in the Haute Maurienne-Vanoise, this lowdown on Auvergne’s millennia-old pyramids, drop by Vulcania, the only theme park dedicated seemingly bonkers ‘therapy’ involves drifting on to volcanos. Get to grips with the science with fun activities and displays and enjoy a blow-by- the lac de Val-Cenis Sollières-Sardières (in waters blow account of the chain’s fascinating past through explosions-packed 3D films. The park’s new of around 5°C!) in a wetsuit filled with air, while earthquake-themed roller-coaster is sure to rock your world. gazing at the surrounding snow-capped mountains. vulcania.com/en/ The cold quickly works its soothing magic on both

Highlights Highlights 2021 body and mind, filling participants with a sense of overwhelming calm. sensationsvanoise.com

© F. Cormon - Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Tourisme The Basque 14-15 coastal path

gains new ground Nature

Good news for keen ramblers: the Basque Dive into coastal path will soon connect Donostia to Anglet, thanks to a 15km extension. Talaia, as it is Corsican known locally, currently unfolds over 54km from San Sebastián to Bidart, taking in a mosaic of sandy beaches, wild coves and wave-lapped cliffs history along the way. This new 15km stretch to the north of the Basque country will see the iconic hiking A dream come true for wreck divers, Corsica’s trail link up the beaches of Erretegia in Bidart and seabed is an eerie underwater museum teeming La Barre in Anglet via the sun-drenched seaside with shipwrecks, crashed aircraft and remarkably resort of Biarritz, allowing veteran ramblers to preserved WWII debris ripe for exploration. Start walk from Donostia Bay to the Adour river for the your hunt for the Isle of Beauty’s sunken relics off very first time. the coast of Calvi, where a B-17 bomber shot down by German fighters in 1944 now lies 28m below the surface. Then track down the colossal skeleton of the Alcione on the east coast, widely regarded as one of the most impressive wrecks in the Mediterranean. Submerged 35m deep, this torpedoed Italian petrol freighter now serves as a refuge for an array of fish and exceptional sea life. Finally, take a 30m plunge in the Gulf of Sagone to survey the wreckage of the Canadair. Keep your eyes peeled for the giant lobster which has taken up residence in its fuselage. Nature

© Jürgen Wackenhut © Rachid Faradi The classics Nature 2021 the CanalduMidi Anchors aweigh on © C.Deschamps-CRT Occitanie throughout thejourney. mosaic ofever-changing scenery unspools standing sentinelover thewaterway, a plane trees, umbrella pinesandcypresses Corbières andMinervois andtherows of of Lauragais to thesun-soaked foothills of trip trulymagical.From thecereal fields Natural wonders aboundtoo makingeach its daisy-chain oflocks(65andcounting). city ofCarcassonne andbrace yourself for canal-bridge at Béziers, swing by thefortified Malpas tunnel,keep your eyes peeledfor the Cruise down itsplacidwaters, marvel at the world-renowned attractions alongtheway. taking inaroster ofarchitectural gemsand to theÉtangdeThau ontheMediterranean, stretches 240km from thecityofToulouse Recognised by UNESCO since 1996,it to thisday. remarkable feat ofengineeringanddesign as itwas originallyknown –ishailedasa Canal duMidi–orroyal duLanguedoc by Pierre-Paul Riquetinthe17thcentury, the of Europe’s oldest waterways. Dreamed up Prepare to cast offandsailgentlydown one The Loire Valley by bike Monet’s gardens at Giverny © D. Darrault -CRT Centre-Val deLoire © E.Tessier Normandy Tourism loirebybike.co.uk the river. meadows andislandsnestling inthearmsof dwellings andlimestone manorsto water of natural andman-made gems,from cave Loire inAnjouoffer anever-ending parade Sully-sur-Loire intheLoiret to Chalonnes-sur- most stunning stretch, the300kmlinking purpose-built cycle lanes.Handsdown its picturesque country roads, towpaths and gastronomy, thisvast trail alternates between vineyard-studded villages andworld-class historic châteaux andaward-winning gardens, The gateway to theUNESCO-listed region’s la Loire). de Loire) andSaint-Brévin-les-Pins (Pays de river for 900kmbetween Cuffy (Centre-Val cycle routes, LaLoire àVélo hugstheiconic One ofFrance’s most popularandlengthiest fondation-monet.com/en of Impressionism. vividly captured theimagination ofthefather beauty oftheworld-famous gardens that so the Japanesebridgeandrevel inthetimeless around theiconic lily-studded pond,cross of thisblossoming wonderland, meander aficionados. Guided by theheadyscents the headsofgenerations offlâneurs and art ever-changing colour palette, have turned planted walkways, bloom-dusted arbourand fragrant roses insummer, Giverny’s vibrant Carpeted withtulipsinspringandflush most remarkable andevocative paintings. dreamscape inspired someoftheartist’s the leafyheartofNormandy, thisfloral Monet at Giverny. Nestled intheEure, in Step into thebeguilingworld ofClaude TOP 3 : -  -  -  département Explore theEure Visit Giverny gardens and studio Discover Monet’s home

Nature 16-17 Where to stay If a tree rejects them, the rods split apart. If the tree accepts them, the rods move forward or cross over. The key is then to treat a tree as you would another human – with care and consideration. You can touch it with one or two hands (after first asking permission), embrace Eco-friendly it, lean against it. Some people don’t feel anything, they are just at peace. Those who are electrosensitive might feel a strong surge of retreat energy. They may even feel light-headed, dizzy, or feel their heart pounding in their chest. Then there is the healing side of forest therapy. Pas-de-Calais’s newest eco-retreat, Natureza, is poised to welcome Trees release essential oils called terpenes nature-starved holidaymakers this summer. and chemicals called phytoncides, which have From the ‘hobbit hole’ and cabins to the ‘love nest’ tree-house an anti-microbial effect on human bodies, accessible via a rope bridge, every accommodation dotted around the six-hectare park in Roeux will be equipped with a kitchen, bathroom and

Interview boosting the immune system. These help to lower cortisol (the stress hormone) and trigger energy-efficient heating, showing that sustainability and luxury are far © Florence Guérin the production of melatonin and serotonin. from mutually exclusive. As per the domaine’s stringent low-miles policy, Colours are also very important. Green is all meals (delivered right to your front door) will be sourced locally. fantastic: it’s a blend of blue, which is soothing, Just picture yourself waking up to the gentle tweets of birds and ducks’ and yellow, which is invigorating. quacks, carp-fishing from the comfort of your terrace or gazing at the Fancy sunset from your own mini-spa… pas-de-calais-tourisme.com/en a spot © Pas-de-Calais Tourisme of forest bathing?

Born in , forest therapy is becoming increasingly popular Cliffhanger 18-19 with city-frazzled denizens keen to unwind and reconnect

with nature. We head to the new Parc national de forêts en Fancy getting some shuteye hanging off the Tarn or Dourbie Gorge? Champagne et Bourgogne to meet ‘forest bathing’ pioneer Climb a via ferrata, abseil down the rockface to your portaledge, have Florence Guérin and discover the manifold benefits of dinner with your feet dangling over the void, gaze at the breathtaking Nature (in more ways than one) landscape and watch griffon vultures soar by harnessing the healing power of trees. before drifting off to sleep with your head in the stars. millau-viaduc-tourisme.fr

What are the benefits of forest therapy? Are certain types of trees better Forest therapy is an alternative medicine that suited to healing or preventing is both preventative and healing. It can, for © Millau Viaduc tourisme example, reduce blood pressure and help to specific conditions or issues? Generally speaking, coniferous trees are more alleviate stress. Trees are also highly effective invigorating while deciduous trees are more in preventing breakdowns and can help us deal soothing. Beeches are very useful to boost with many life events such as redundancy, grief, confidence and help people to tap into their or divorce. Forest therapy can also help with Creature comforts inner strength. But beeches are the teenagers anything from team building to boosting one’s of the forest; they’re very moody and tend to confidence. in Sarthe reject people. Oaks are the grandfathers of the forest: they are comforting, reassuring and How does ‘forest bathing’ work? connections work almost every time. The brainchild of English expats, Loire Valley Llamas invites First there is the energy side of it. I give people animal lovers to bed down within sniffing distance of a woolly copper energy rods and ask them to pick a tree. herd. It’s up to them to determine what they want Whether you opt for the glamping option – a luxury tent overlooking from the tree and what they are willing to give the llama farm – or a cosy stay in the coveted Llama Lodge, a former back to the tree – it’s a very intimate exchange. wine press complete with shower and kitchenette, you’re guaranteed a wild time. Guests will have a chance to take the pack animals for a walk and little ones will even get to moonlight as wranglers for the day, muck in, feed the herd and receive a llama farmer certificate for their hard graft. © Loire Valley Llamas bourgogne-tourisme.com/sit/florence-guerin-sylvotherapie loirevalleyllamas.com © akg-images Photo © Lefevre Fine Art Ltd., London © Bridgeman Images

Strap in: 2021 promises to be a year to remember. From Normandy to Occitanie via Grand Est, countless museums, 20-21 landmarks and art centres are getting ready to (re)launch and unveil shiny new concepts and a host of digital exhibitions and VR tours. Share simple pleasures Share Culture Verdun Citadel In the footsteps gets an of Proust

upgrade Delve into Marcel Proust’s Belle Époque at the new Villa du Temps retrouvé (Villa of Time found) Freshly kitted out for the 21st century, the in Normandy. Housed in Cabourg’s historic Villa Bon Abri, this impressive centre, billed as a ‘home-museum’,

Underground Citadel of Verdun paints an even more poignant picture of WWI’s longest and explores the acclaimed author’s lifelong bond with the bloodiest stalemate. coastal town where he spent his summers between A brand-new augmented-reality exhibition, 1907 and 1914 and penned part of his In Search of Lost complete with interactive displays, evocative Time series. A truly unique concept, the Villa du Temps soundscapes and extended wagon rides, now retrouvé goes one further by using the author and his offers a vivid insight into the secret complex’s oeuvre as a starting point to chart the boom of the Côte decisive logistical role during the Battle of Verdun. Fleurie at the turn of the century. Taking a leaf out of his A subterranean city of epic scale, it housed not book(s), the exhibits sweep visitors on a multisensory only a web of war rooms and offices but immense journey back to the heyday of the seaside resort that

Highlights Highlights 2021 dormitories for the troops, powder and ammunition © Villa du Temps retrouvé so fired up his imagination. Guided by the novelist’s depots to supply the front, a chapel, an infirmary timeless words and the heady bouquet of the bespoke and a bakery providing between 30,000 and scent commissioned by the museum, have a nosey 40,000 rations per day. Some 1,500 men worked The Hôtel de la Marine round the rooms, make yourself comfortable in the and lived in the citadel while up to 4,000 passed antique furnishings on loan from the Mobilier national, through its galleries. It’s also within its tunnels that revealed tickle the piano’s keys and listen to music before the selection of the Unknown Soldier took place in wandering through the gardens and indulging your November 1920. sweet tooth at the tearoom. The Hôtel de la Marine is gearing up to open to the villadutempsretrouve.com/en/ citadelle-souterraine-verdun.fr/en public for the first time in 200 years. Designed in the © Anne Schwab-Nodée 18th century by Ange-Jacques Gabriel to house the royal furniture collection, the place de la Concorde’s most iconic, and elusive, monument went on to become the naval ministry’s headquarter. With the ‘confidant’ (a connected headset available in eight languages) as their guide, visitors will get a choice of two tours: a 45-minute recce of the state rooms 22-23 The Cité du Vitrail complete with a pit-stop on the loggia overlooking the world-famous place de la Concorde; or a more comprehensive 90-minute visit offering unlimited reborn access to temporary exhibitions and taking in the

sumptuously refurbished apartments. Throughout, the Culture After a major three-year renovation, the new magic of binaural audio technology and augmented and improved Cité du Vitrail in Troyes is set reality will bring to life centuries of history and © A. Tézenas - CMN to reopen its doors in September. Housed in intrigue, from the execution of Louis XVI to the the 18th-century Hôtel-Dieu-le-Comte, which addition of the Luxor obelisk on the square. was founded by none other than the Count of A dragon in the city hotel-de-la-marine.paris Champagne, Henry I the Liberal, the sprawling complex is the only museum in France dedicated Ever since it first prowled along the seafront, the to stained glass. Its goal is simple: to introduce Dragon of Calais has become the coastal resort’s the public to the little-known art through a varied hottest ticket. Made out of wood and steel panels, the and exhaustive collection of windows and unique mighty 25m animatronic fire-breather has all the spine- masterpieces spanning centuries, genres and chilling hallmarks of the creature of legends: plumes of nations. From the ancient to the contemporary, smoke rise from its scaly skeleton; it can bat its eyelids, the secular to the religious, the figurative to prick its ears, bare its fanged maw and flick its tongue; the abstract, the traditional to the avant-garde, it can lie down... and gallop at a speed of 4km per every style and defining period in the artform is hour. For a unique perspective, climb up its tail to the duly represented in an engaging and accessible covered panoramic platform on its winged back 10m way. This new 3,000m2 space will offer a mix of above ground and enjoy a hair-raising ride along the permanent and temporary exhibitions as well as seafront. The handiwork of the Compagnie La Machine, a range of workshops and a packed bill of events. the hefty 72-tonne dragon will soon be joined by a Don’t miss the crown jewel of the museum’s fantastical menagerie of Komodo monitors and steel- collection: a 12th-century stained-glass window clad reptiles, starting this year with a 4m-long iguana. from Troyes depicting the Transfiguration of Each larger-than-life animatron will be allocated its Christ. Unearthed by chance after vanishing at own nest and given free rein to roam Calais’s top the start of the 20th century, it was bought at historical sites and tourist attractions, including the auction by the Aube département in 2018. forts of Risban and Nieulay, the Saint-Pierre Quarter Culture and the Dombunker. cite-vitrail.fr © Christophe Deschanel © Pas-de-Calais Tourisme compagniedudragon.com/en/ © CCJ L. Damelet Dig into Roman history Vauban’s legacy in the at Narbo Via southern French Alps

It’s almost time to unearth the secrets of Hailed as two of Vauban’s finest works, UNESCO-listed Briançon and the fortifications of Mont-Dauphin are

Narbonne’s Roman past at the new Narbo Via Museum. While sadly devoid of monuments dating sure to blow military history buffs away. Perched on back to Antiquity, Narbonne has no shortage of a rocky outcrop 1,326m above sea level and hemmed vestiges bearing witness to its legacy as Narbo in by zigzagging layers of ramparts, these impressive Martius, the very first Roman colony in and Alpine villages were built in 1692 and embody the the richest outside . At long last the southern inimitable technique and signature approach of Louis city’s remarkable collection of around 10,000 XIV’s go-to engineer. For a complete overview of lapidary works, mosaics and other archaeological Briançon’s intricate defence system, stroll along the finds will go on display at Narbo Via, a state-of- upper wall path and gaze at the individual forts, each the-art 2,800m2 exhibition space designed by contrasting with the gentle landscape around them.

Highlights Highlights 2021 Foster+Partners. The new Roman history centre © Valentin Pacaut_The Explorers ville-briancon.fr will be split into four areas centred around specific themes: urbanism in Narbonne, the archaeological digs carried out around the Capitole, navigation techniques and the excavations currently under way in the ancient port. Some 800 remnants of funerary The best artists’ homes monuments will also be displayed on a large modular wall. to visit around Paris narbovia.fr From Vincent Van Gogh and Auguste Rodin to Rosa Bonheur, some of the world’s greatest artists sought solace and inspiration in the verdant fold of the Île- de-France region.

Auberge Ravoux

Van Gogh spent his final days at the Auberge Ravoux 24-25 Da Vinci in Auvers-sur-Oise before taking his own life in July 1890. Within the confines of the modest chambre n°5 the artist enjoyed a period of unprecedented at Clos Lucé creativity, painting more than 70 works in just over

two months. Take a peek at the attic room where he Culture © Yannbee - Wikimedia Commons The Château du Clos Lucé in will breathed his last before paying your respects at the soon unveil Leonardo da Vinci, Painter and village cemetery where he is buried alongside his Architect, a new immersive space dedicated to brother Theo. the Renaissance master. Housed in a converted Château de By maisondevangogh.fr/index-en textile factory amid the grounds of the château The scents of violet and turpentine waft softly where the legendary inventor spent the last three through the air, a hat and ankle boots are plopped years of his life, the 500m2 complex will serve as casually here and there, a half-finished canvas lingers the rather quirky backdrop for a “digital mural”. in a corner: one almost expects Rosa Bonheur to waltz The ground floor will host an exhibition featuring right back into her atelier at the Château de By in 17 of the painter’s artworks projected onto the Thomery and pick up where she left off. Kept virtually walls and ceiling. ‘Displayed’ for the very first time untouched since the death of the acclaimed painter in a single space, these masterpieces will plunge and staunch feminist on May 25, 1899, Bonheur’s visitors headfirst into Da Vinci’s pictorial world. workshop – and home – offer an intimate glimpse into Upstairs, an array of life-size models, 3D movies © Fondation du Patrimoine her life and creative process. and projections and interactive display tables chateau-rosa-bonheur.fr/en-gb will shed light on his passion for architecture, mathematics, and geometry. A spine-tingling video game will allow thrill-seekers to fly one of Da Vinci’s most iconic machines and soar over the Villa des Brillants imaginary Royal Palace of Romorantin. Rodin sought refuge from the hubbub of the capital vinci-closluce.com/en at the Villa des Brilliants in Meudon, where he lived until his death in 1917. This home-turned-museum now houses more than 300 sculptures, including a bronze cast of the iconic ‘Thinker’ leaning protectively over the

Culture artist’s tomb in the garden. © Château du Clos Lucé – Parc Leonardo da Vinci, Arc-en-Scène, Drôle de Trame 4 meudon.musee-rodin.fr/en © Ibex73 - Wikimedia Commons The classics Culture 2021 in theLoire Valley Back to thefuture © MaxCoquard -Bestjobers forteressechinon.fr/en/ en.chateaudeblois.fr the impregnable citadelandsetthespiritsfree. decipher thesecret messages sprinkledacross Your mission, shouldyou chooseto accept it: Knights Templar rumoured to hauntitshalls. of Chinonto release thetrapped soulsofthe This caseclosed,make for theRoyal Fortress captive at thepalace, from awindow in1619. escape ofMariede’Medici,whowas held where you’ll betransported backto themadcap sleuthing skillsat theChâteau royal deBlois, your riddle-solvingspree? First, test outyour greatest mysteries. Sowhere shouldyou start of theiroften chequered past andcrack their would-be detectives to relive key episodes these historic landmarks,escapegamesinvite and thrillingway to discover, andrediscover, the hotnew trend ofescapegames.Afun monuments are now leadingthecharge in of theirtime. True to form, theseiconic Valley châteaux have always beenahead thinkers, artists andscientists, theLoire virtual incubators for ahost ofvisionaries, From theirinnovative designto their role as Carnac, landofmystery Marie Antoinette’s secret retreat © Loic-KERSUZAN © Ibex73 -Wikimedia Commons menhirs-carnac.fr/en/ giants. be amazed by Carnac’s inscrutablegranite into theancientdolmensandyou too will countless megaliths, past tumuli andsqueeze burial space. Wind your way through the believed they served assomekindofsacred has quite puttheirfingeronthetruth,itis origin andsignificance abound. While noone petrified Roman army? Theories abouttheir Or maybe, according to onewildlegend,a to themoonorsun? Anagricultural calendar? Religious monuments? Atemple ofworship the world over to thisday. standing stones still puzzlesarchaeologists coastline, thisdensecollection of3,000 around 6,000 BCalongBrittany’s rugged of Carnac’smysterious alignments? Erected Ready to unlockthemillennia-old secrets en.chateauversailles.fr refurbished façade was unveiled last spring. spectacular royal chapel,whosefreshly- After your visit, besure to stop by the renovated andfurnishedQueen’s House. (in smallgroups only)to theimpeccably stilts anddairybefore moseying onover windmill, lighthouse, washhouse raised on timbered cottages, stroll past theornamental artificial lake studded withcharminghalf- the enchantingretreat, wander round the the young queen’s daintyfootsteps through out anidealisedversion offarm life. Follow in her longingfor asimplerexistence –playing intrigues. Within itsidyllicfold, shefulfilled the pryingeyes oftheCourt andallits short years, MarieAntoinette’s refuge from domaine duPetit Trianon was, for afew 1786, thismodel villagenestled amidthe best-kept secrets. Builtbetween 1783 and remains oneoftheChâteau deVersailles’s glory in2018, theHameaudelaReine centuries before beingrestored to itsformer Left to rack andruinfor closeto two

Culture 26-27 Where to stay history, art and entertainment, horse riding (which is in the town’s DNA), art de vivre and youth respectively. The building itself is part of the very fabric of the project. A large chapel has been transformed into an auditorium and every room, whether it be © Lodges de Coucouzac the former dining hall or cloister, has been turned into a library, covered with books from floor to ceiling. Visitors will be able to read wherever they are, watch a film, work on their Cheval Blanc takes laptop. up residence at Les Franciscaines’ inaugural exhibition, ‘On the Roads to Paradise’, the Samaritaine promises to launch the centre on the Interview cultural scene with quite the bang. I wanted to create a high-impact exhibition with universal appeal. The exhibition will Finally restored to its former glory © B. Collier explore the theme of paradise through after an epic 15-year renovation, Design Islamic, Jewish and Christian artworks. Paris’s iconic department store, These will range from 8th-century Christian La Samaritaine, will unveil its new illuminations to a short film by Bill Viola. shopping concept and stylish your own in-house hotel, Cheval Blanc, this summer. Designed by acclaimed architect Peter Marino, this no-holds- barred luxury retreat will embrace exhibition at and celebrate the 19th-century landmark’s Art Deco aesthetic and Happy offer 72 rooms with spectacular Les Franciscaines views over the banks of the Seine.

glampers A five-star haunt with all the bells 28-29 and whistles, and then some, it will feature a Dior spa, a 30m swimming As Deauville prepares to unveil Les Franciscaines, the first Nestled between fields and pool, a gourmet restaurant helmed cultural centre of its kind in the world, town mayor Philippe vineyards in Lagorce, Ardèche, by Michelin-starred chef Arnaud the Lodges de Coucouzac are 2 Augier gives us an exclusive preview of the trailblazing Donckele and a 650m terrasse. © Pierre-Olivier Deschamps, Culture sure to convert even the most Agence Vu pour la Samaritaine chevalblanc.com/en museum, performance space and media library hybrid reticent of campers to the joys of dedicated to the seaside resort’s rich history and heritage. glamping and the great outdoors. Inspired by the African savanna, these spacious safari lodges and wooden stilts cabins are the perfect blend of comfort and Contactless escapism. The covered terraces What sparked the idea of transforming What is the cultural centre’s most are also just the ticket to enjoy stays in Lyon a former convent into a cultural hub? unique feature? an aperitif. Located five minutes I really wanted to create a permanent and We’ve designed completely new software, from the Ardèche Gorge, the multipurpose cultural space; a place where which doesn’t exist anywhere else in the Domaine de Coucouzac is also the Quite the draw post-pandemic, visitors would be actively creating their own world, that allows visitors to create their ideal base from which to explore MiHotel offers contactless stays at its journey, not passively looking at a painting or own bespoke exhibition. All the museum and the region’s volley of attractions three outposts in Lyon. The concept picking up a book from the library. media library’s artworks have been digitalised. and sights, chief among them the is simple: you won’t come across This means that visitors will be able to access Grotte Chauvet 2, and make the a single soul, not even staff. The Tell us more about the concept behind this large archive by theme on one of the most of its stunning landscape boutique hotel chain has even done and natural assets, both above and Les Franciscaines. dozen or so interactive touch tables available away with communal areas to prevent around the centre. Once they’ve picked a below ground. From potholing and It’s a truly unique ‘living’ space, unlike anywhere chance encounters with fellow guests. theme, the relevant works will not only appear climbing to hiking, there will be else in the world. This 6,500m2 monument now You’ll receive your front-door and on the table but on large screens dotted something to suit every taste and houses a museum dedicated to the work of room entry codes by text or email. around all the communal areas. Anyone ability. painter André Hambourg, a media library and Everything else, from check-in to room walking around the centre will be able to themed spaces shining a light on the town’s campingdecoucouzac.fr service, will be dealt with through the enjoy this exhibition and the works displayed past and cultural heritage. There are five of MiHotel app. A ‘digital concierge’ will on the screen. It will be spectacular. these spaces centred around the themes of be a phone call away for the duration of your stay. lesfranciscaines.fr/en © MiHotel mihotel.fr It’s time to chomp your merry way around France. We’ve cooked up the ultimate scoffing spree for seasoned foodies. On the menu: 30-31 exclusive previews of the newest and scrummiest gastro-themed museums, a round-up of Paris’s finest food courts, unmissable vineyard tours and once-in-a- lifetime gourmet experiences. Ready, steady, dig into the Hexagon’s mouth-watering terroir.

© Atout France Make lasting memories lasting Make Art de vivre Vineyard tours with Val Comté us in

Ready to quaff your way through Pays de la Loire’s Get ready to sniff out the secrets of France’s finest vineyards and hit your daily step count in favourite cheese at the new Maison du Comté. one fell swoop? Head off the beaten track with Val Located in Poligny, aka the capital of Comté, the of Les Vignes Selon Val for a whistle-stop walking 3,000m2 museum-cheesemonger hybrid has been

tour of the Coteaux de Layon’s private estates welcoming lovers of the pongy stuff since May 19. – with a potted history of the Layon Valley, the Amateurs and seasoned scarfers alike are invited to lowdown on its coveted appellations and, of course, nose around the multisensory displays for a step- a tasting thrown in for good measure. Ramblers will by-step breakdown of the production and refining get a choice of six hikes, ranging between 4km and processes before a pitstop at the Comté bar for a 8km, looping round the vineyards of Savennières, cheeky tasting and a visit to the eye-popping cheese Rablay-sur-Layon, Beaulieu and Saint-Aubin-de- wheel-shaped shop. Luigné. Cheers! Walks start from 28€ per person. maison-du-comte.com lesvignesselonval.com

Highlights Highlights 2021 © Cigc_image_et_associes

Say cheese © Valérie Aubergeon

Gut- and glute-busting in equal measure, the new Vélos & Fromages cycle route takes turophiles on a bumper chomping spree around France. Lending a whole new meaning to food miles, this sprawling

gourmet trail spans 6,800km across 45 departments 32-33 with 87 scrummy itineraries to munch your way Three cheers for the through. On the menu: one-on-ones with artisans, meet- and-greets with cheesemongers, a whistle-stop tour of Cité des Vins the country’s finest markets, visits to dairy farms and cellars, workshops and unlimited tastings. © J. Damase - La Vélo Francette® The countdown to the launch of the Cité des Vins departements.fr/velo-fromages-france-plateau/

et des Climats de Bourgogne has begun. Art de vivre Due to be unveiled in 2022, this new interpretation centre dedicated to the region’s rich winemaking heritage and UNESCO-listed vineyards will be split across three sites − Chablis, Mâcon and Champagne Beaune − each with its own identity and character. © Phileas Masslab Designed to quench the thirst of novices and uncorked connoisseurs alike, each outpost will pop the cork on Burgundy’s winegrowing tradition by sweeping Champagne’s sparkling new Mecca, Pressoria, is on visitors on a heady journey through its vineyard- track to open this summer, and oenophiles the world studded landscape and diverse terroirs. Guided over are already fizzing with anticipation. Housed by immersive projections, interactive displays and in the legendary Maison Pommery’s former pressing touchscreens, feel your way through the vines, complex in Aÿ-Champagne, the new interpretation get to grips with the vinification process, master centre will plunge visitors at the heart of the region’s the delicate art of tasting, learn about the finest UNESCO-listed vineyards. Kitted out for the 21st estates and most coveted vintages and watch as its century, the state-of-the-art venue will use the latest protected climats spill their ancestral secrets. technology to bring the production cycle of champagne cite-vins-bourgogne.fr to life and awaken the senses. As they fleet between touchscreens, interactive tables and immersive displays, visitors will feel the change of the seasons and experience first-hand the key stages of winemaking and the harvest. They will then get to sample the fruit of all this painstaking labour at the champagne bar, whose 2

Art de vivre 700m raised terrace will afford breathtaking views over Aÿ-Champagne’s feted vineyards. © BIVB Correia Architectes, Emmanuel Correia tourisme-hautvillers.com/en/ A food court Blooming tasty

for every taste ’s sweetest spot, Confiserie Florian has been turning the Riviera’s fragrant flowers and From exclusive tasting bars in department stores sun-ripened fruit into moreish confectionery since 1949. From crystallised rose petals and to old-school market halls and hip canteens in converted hangars, Paris has a food court sugar-coated verbena leaves to jasmine-flower jam, to suit every palate. So where should you start the sweet-maker’s signature edible blooms – and your scoffing spree? Make a beeline for La Felicità, irresistible chocolate-drizzled candied oranges one of the largest food halls in Europe. Located in – are sure to satisfy every craving. Keen to share Station F, the 13th arrondissement’s larger-than- its ancestral savoir-faire, Confiserie Florian runs life start-up campus, this “mega restaurant” spans behind-the-scenes guided tours of its workshop (in 4,500m2, can accommodate 1,000 diners at any five languages), giving gourmands a flavour of the one time and comprises five kitchens, a bakery, production process all year round. Guests will get to three bars and a Caffètteria. Still peckish? Mosey sink their teeth into the delicate art of glazing fruit

Highlights Highlights 2021 on over to Ground Control. Housed in the Halle and transforming dainty petals into scrumptious Charolais, gourmets’ new go-to destination is far treats. more than your run-of-the-mill food court. As well confiserieflorian.com as six restaurants/counters and a plane-turned-wine bar, Ground Control features art galleries, a packed bill of DJ sets and offers gardening workshops. Finally, head to Eataly in the Marais to stock up on panettone and pandoro. The capital’s answer to a © CRT Côte d’Azur France/Yann SAVALLE traditional Piedmontese market, this food hall-deli combo is packed to the rafters with hard-to-come- © Nathalie Baetens by Italian goodies, fresh fruit and vegetables and boasts one of the city’s best-stocked wine cellars. Have your choux and eat it too 34-35

A taste of the past The ultimate comfort food, Choucroute is a fixture of dinner tables come winter, and of Alsatian in the Loire Valley gastronomy generally. Yet, unbeknown to many, this heart-warming dish, or its ancestor anyway, hails not from Alsace but from . Legend has it that From vinegar to poires tapées (beaten pears), sauerkraut was invented by the builders of the Great

the Loire Valley’s centuries-old specialities, Art de vivre Wall, who buried cabbage under the snow to preserve ancestral recipes and enduring classics will take it, where it fermented. The Huns eventually introduced you back in time. Let’s tuck in. fermented cabbage to Alsace in the 5th century. Like so many staples, Orléans owes its famous The locals wasted no time in jazzing it up with some condiment to a stroke of (bad) luck, when wine charcuterie and Choucroute as we know it was born. transported by boat along the Loire and unloaded Ready to sample the goods, over and over again? Head on its quays was found to have turned, sparking to the Bas-Rhin and scarf your way along the Route de the idea of transforming the spoiled cuvées into la Choucroute. vinegar. By the 18th century, some 300 producers were plying their trade in the town. Today, the Maison Martin-Pouret is Orléans’ last-surviving maître vinaigrier, single-handedly keeping its vinegar-making tradition alive. Ready for something sweet? You can’t beat a plateful of poires, or pommes, tapées. Dried in a limestone oven before being flattened with a mallet, they can be enjoyed plain or soaked in wine or syrup. Head to the Troglo des Pommes Tapées in Turquant for some fruit- pounding action and a cheeky tasting.

Art de vivre © Danielle Bonardelle © Marion Sauvebois The classics Art de vivre 2021 of anis The sweet taste anis-flavigny.com Johnny Depp. movie Chocolat, starring Juliette Binoche and in 2000lentitspicturesque backdrop to the pootle round thevillageofFlavigny, which favourite sweetie. While you’re there, have a the airanddiscover thehistory ofFrance’s in theheadybotanicalscent wafting through turned-confectionery andmuseum,breathe year. Mosey on over to theformer abbey- pearls are soldinmore than30countries each Today some250millionaniseed-flavoured station inthecountry withhis“bonbonbon”. from 80to 250tons, supplyingevery petrol taking over, hisson bumped upproduction metro’s newfangled vending machines.Upon confectioner to stock his sweets intheParis now iconic oval tinbox andwas thefirst A marketing whizz, hedreamed uptheAnis’ a cottage industry into aninternational brand. the enterprise in1923, turningwhat was then Flavigny. JeanTroubat eventually took over Éon, sweetened thedealwithsomeAnisde treaty in1763, Louis XV’s spy, theKnightof George III,KingofEngland,to signapeace According to French lore, keen to persuade of illustrious devotees, notleast Louis XIV. garnered quite thecultfollowing andlegions Over thecenturies, thesemoreish bonbons as early1591. welcome giftto visitingPopes andbishops the Abbaye deFlavigny-sur-Ozerain asa being produced by Benedictinemonksat show thesesugar-coated drops were among France’s oldest sweets? Records Did you know that AnisdeFlavigny are © ArianeFORNIA /Itinera Magica Corsica onaplate In thetyre tracks oftheOnionJohnnies © A.Lamoureux © JPC-PROD Adobe Stock from cakes to gateaux. up arange ofsweets andbreakfast treats, and oh-somoreish flavour isused to zhuzh protected status: chestnut flour. Itssubtle a coveted double-whammy AOC andAOP round secret weapon andproud holderof desserts. Andlet’s notforget itsstaple, all- cheesecake andoneofitsmost decadent beignets andfiadone, Corsica’s answer to local specialities,chiefamongthembrocciu in 1998,itisthecentrepiece ofcountless star cheese. Awarded AOC designation goat’s milk–istheMediterranean island’s little round numbermadefrom ewe’s or with discerning turophiles, brocciu –a sure know theirway around apig.Afavourite lonzu (smoked cured porkfillet), Corsicans sausage) andcoppa (dry-cured pork)to home inthelandofpork:from figatellu (pork visit. Seasonedcarnivores willfeel rightat to setyour tastebuds aflutter on your next terroir andindulgentgastronomy are sure a meat lover, theIsleofBeauty’s bountiful indeed. Whether you’re apuddingaddictor desserts, Corsica’s larder iswell-stocked From charcuterie andcheeseto sinful roscoff.fr l’oignon rosé heldat thetailendofAugust. Channel success story at theannualFête de honouring itsstar vegetable anditscross- et del’OignoninRoscoff. Jointhe town in farmers lives onat theMaisondesJohnnies tradition alive, butthelegacy ofthesesavvy a handfulofdie-hard sellersstill keep the became known as“Johnnies”. Today only the Breton equivalent ofJohn,andthusthey Many ofthemwere calledYann andYannick, shoulders ordraped over theirhandlebars. British isles,onionstrings slungacross their sellers were wending theirway round the year. Three decades later, more than200 the onion-hawking bandwagon thefollowing an army ofwould-be Johnniesjumpedon locals. Keen to getinonthislucrative trade, The pink-hued onionswere ahitwith the oignons rosés andsailedto Plymouthin1828. loaded aboat withthetown’s sought-after Roscoff. Alongwiththree fellow farmers, he enterprising grower at theFerme duRazin so thestory goes,was oneHenriOllivier, an The very first to hopacross theChannel,or their homegrown produce inoldBlighty? these humbleBreton labourers come to sell sweet onionsdoorto door. Buthow did Great Britain,peddlingtheirstrings of have travelled thelengthandbreadth of For closeto two centuries, OnionJohnnies

Art de vivre 36-37 Where to stay What are the biggest challenges of organic winemaking? It’s a lot more complicated. You can’t use artificial or synthetic pesticides and chemicals. Instead, we use natural pesticides, copper The palais de Biarritz sulphate, plant-based formulations. The key thing is to make sure the vine is protected at reborn all times. You need to be hypervigilant, react quickly and treat the vine with copper sulphate whenever issues arise. Three years ago, we Fresh from a three-year revamp and more exquisite than ever, the lost three quarters of our crops to mildew legendary Hôtel du Palais in Biarritz is set to reign supreme over the despite having nearly 50 years of experience in Atlantic Coast once again. From its 56 antiques-festooned suites to the organic winegrowing under our belts. classic elegance of the tapestries, Second Empire-style furnishings and paintings elevating its 142 rooms, the opulent décor promises to pay tribute Is the production of organic wine to the palace’s illustrious past as the summer residence of Napoleon III and Interview and cognac widespread in Charente Eugenie. A sybarite’s dream, the sprawling 2,500m2 Spa Impérial will take © Sophie Brard Blanchard pampering to brave new heights with its pool, Jaccuzi, sauna, hammam, today? solarium and range of indulgent Guerlain beauty treatments and wellness No, it’s still quite niche. There are about 50 therapies. Young chef Aurélien Largeau will head up the hotel’s quartet of organic winegrowers out of nearly 5,000 eateries: La Rotonde, the Bar Napoléon III, Lounge and Terrasse. Domaine producers in Charente. It stems from a fear of hyatt.com losing crops or smaller harvests. That being © Hôtel du Palais said, producers are steadily following the Brard Blanchard, lead of big cognac houses and embracing slightly more natural methods and looking for Charente’s sustainable solutions. © Hôtel de la Cité Royale organic cognac Sleep

pioneer 38-39 of the just Trailblazing vigneron Jacques Brard Blanchard was one of the very first cognac producers in Charente to switch to organic Loches’s historic courthouse will soon get a new lease of life as the four- in 1972. Despite a wobbly start, his gamble more than paid star Hôtel de la Cité Royale, courtesy of Best Western Plus. From this summer, guests seeking luxury with a side of history – and plenty of period off. Four decades on, his daughter and fourth-generation

features to boot – will get to nosy round the grand entrance hall, have Art de vivre winemaker Sophie Brard Blanchard is carrying on the family supper in the courtroom and spend the night in the judges’ chamber. legacy, proudly flying the flag for organic cognac. A retreat fit for 21st-century epicureans, the 45-room hotel will feature a spa, heated indoor pool and fine-dining restaurant as well as a terrace affording sweeping vistas of the Royal City of Loches. Do organic wines and cognacs have hotel-citeroyale.com What prompted your father to make the a more distinctive flavour or subtler switch to organic winegrowing at a time aroma? when no-one was remotely interested in I certainly hope so. Because of the way we organic agriculture? work on the vines, the roots penetrate deeper Every summer he would get chronic chest into the soil; so you get a stronger expression infections while treating the vines. He had of the terroir. two choices: either change jobs or change his Go green in Corsica method. He switched to organic and never looked back. The first few years were difficult. He had no help, no information, no framework Looking for a green escape in the sun-dappled fold of Corsica? Look to rely on. He lost a lot of crops and he faced no further than Hôtel Calavita on the edge of Cap Corse, a pioneer animosity from neighbouring producers too. He in sustainable tourism and a card-carrying member of the RISPETTU went organic in 1972 and started selling organic network, which sets out to reduce hospitality businesses’ carbon grape juice in 1976. He produced his first white footprint on the island. A cosy getaway with a modern, pared-back pineau in 1977 and his first cognac in 1978. style a stone’s throw from , it comprises 32 bedrooms, a rooftop bar and pool with stunning sea views and a restaurant serving locally- sourced and seasonal fare. hotelcalavita.com/en/ brard-blanchard.fr © Hôtel Calavita 22 reasons to visit France in 2022 February 9/  9/ 8/   7/  6/  5/ 4/ April Carnival Nice3/ 2/ Menton Lemon Festival Savoie MontBlanc Odyssée 1/ Grande January © Carnaval deNice © MelindaNagy-AdobeStock in Sèvres andSaint-Cloud Métiers d’Art etduDesign  OpeningoftheCité des Cotterêts Château deVillers- Francophonie at the Opening oftheCité Days European Artistic Crafts to July25) the -Lens (April6 The ‘Rome’ exhibition at November) Chaumont-sur-Loire (until Festival at the Domainede International Garden Heritage Sites Day and UNESCO World International Monuments 11/ June 10/ May © Franck Legros -AdobeStock © bbsferrari -AdobeStock  Night  European Museum (all summer) A SummerinLe Havre © scaliger-AdobeStock September 22/ 21/ 20/ 19/ 18/ European HeritageDays 17/  16/  15/ 14/  13/  12/ confirmed Date to be December October July © Phil_Good-AdobeStock © RachelJohnston   (White Night)  NuitBlanche Paris DesignWeek   in La Braderie fleamarket festival (untilSeptember) The Voyage àNantes art des Collectionneurs in Opening oftheMusée Festival Film  Festival Deauville AmericanFilm Arles (untilSeptember) Photographie festival in Rencontres dela Patrimoine inParis LVMH Arts-Talents - Opening ofthe Maison Market Christmas  Rugby World Cup2023. Follow #WeAre2023 for allthelatest updates on the traditions andworld-class cuisine. breadth ofFrance’s cultural andnatural heritage, and introduce international fans to thewealth and The event will alsobeachance to flytheflag for responds to thechallengesoftoday andtomorrow.” and France by offering a responsible event that vision: to have apositive impactfor rugby, theplanet Claude Atcher said:“France 2023 hasadopted a France 2023 Rugby World Cupchiefexecutive date. responsible, inclusive andsustainable World Cupto new era inthesportby delivering themost socially The organising committee hasvowed to usher ina to godown inhistory –inmore ways thanone. for abumper45days, this10theditionpromises expected to descend onFrance’s ninehost cities With 48matches scheduledand450,000 fans , Japan,Scotland, Argentina, Fiji,andItaly. Africa, England,New Zealand, Wales, Ireland, France, Rugby World Cup2019 pools.They are: South after finishinginthe top three intheir respective by 20teams, 12ofwhichautomatically qualified sport, themilestone competition willbecontested Marking the200thanniversary ofthecreation ofthe Stade de France. between theFrench team andNew Zealand at the Toulouse, kickingoffwithablockbuster clash Nantes, Nice, Paris-Saint-Denis, Saint-Etienneand across thecitiesofBordeaux, Lille, Lyon, , The hotly-anticipated tournament willbestaged Cup from September 8to October 21,2023. It’s official: France willhost the10thRugby World World Cup2023 at theRugby Join thescrum rugby We are

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