As I sweated via the crowds on the Rouen Armada in June 2023, it hit me: perhaps the Paris Olympics wouldn’t be everybody’s cup of tea. The warmth and chaos made me understand loads of people would possibly choose to skip the crowds and excessive costs. I’ve checked out all of the distinctive experiences and locations I’ve been to in France over the various years and have narrowed my record right down to 10 of my favourite, hidden gems in France (exterior of Paris). These are those that I strongly advocate you go to should you’re on the lookout for locations off the overwhelmed path.
**This publish accommodates affiliate hyperlinks. This implies should you make a reserving, I do earn a fee on every sale for free of charge to you. It helps assist the operating of this web site and I do recognize your assist.**
What cities in France are internet hosting Olympic occasions?
Apart from Paris, Marseille, Lille, Lyon, Nantes, Bordeaux, Good, Saint Etienne, and Versailles may also be internet hosting sporting occasions on the Olympics between July 28-August 11, 2024.
10 Hidden Gems In France
A. Coastal Retreats
1. Les Calanques (Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur Area)
Whereas many individuals take a ship cruise to see the Calanques in Provence (that are inlets with limestone cliffs), you’re going to get one of the best expertise and photographs should you take a hike. The turquoise waters of the Mediterranean are beautiful. There are three calanques and the primary is simple to get to. The opposite two are more difficult however definitely worth the effort. I’m not an skilled hiker however I did all three.
Try my publish right here:
What It’s Prefer to Hike The Three Calanques de Cassis
2. Etretat (Normandy Area)
There are lots of picturesque seaside cities alongside the coast of Normandy and the one which shouldn’t be missed is Etretat. The alabaster cliffs alongside the coast are breathtaking and should you take the Route des Abbayes drive to and from Charles de Gaulle airport to Etretat, you possibly can cross by many spectacular church buildings, similar to Abbaye de Jumièges.
Try my posts right here:
TRAVEL RESOURCES
Reserving.com and Expedia: are the businesses I take advantage of for locating lodging.
VRBO: is tremendous for reserving residences and homes.
AutoEurope: is the one automotive rental provider that I’ll use–with one of the best costs, and they’re going to refund the distinction if the worth goes down.
Trainline: affords a simple technique to guide practice tickets.
Get Your Information and Viator: Each provide excursions, metropolis playing cards, tickets, airport pickups, and so many different stuff you’ll want at your vacation spot.
Orange SIM Card-this is the corporate I take advantage of once I need a bodily SIM card
Airalo eSIM-offers eSIMS and get nice opinions
3. Ile de Ré (Nouvelle-Aquitaine Area)
2.5 hours north of Bordeaux and off the coast of La Rochelle is the island, Ile de Ré, an idyllic retreat with sandy seashores, seafood, and small villages, like Saint Martin, scattered all through the island. I did an tour from La Rochelle, rented a motorcycle as soon as on the island and cycled round the entire island in a day. No hills, a mild breeze and wonderful surroundings. After I did my journey, it was late June and hardly some other vacationers had been on the bike path.
Try my publish right here:
A Information To Biking On Île de Ré
B. Unbelievable, Unbelievable Websites Off the Overwhelmed Path In France
4. Rochers Sculptés (Brittany Area)
A very distinctive gem in Brittany and some of the distinctive locations I’ve ever visited is Rochers Sculptés de Rothéneuf, situated simply north of Saint Malo Rocks had been chiseled into 300 faces and animals by a deaf and mute abbot within the late 1800s.
I visited these sculptures throughout my 6 days in Brittany, a area which is way completely different from France’s different areas because it has a robust Celtic heritage. It is best to you’ll want to take pleasure in some oysters, buckwheat galettes (crepes), cider and the candy Breton cake, kouign amann whilst you’re there.
Try the Sculptured Rocks and extra about Brittany in these posts right here:
5. Gouffre de Padirac (Occitanie Area)
Gouffre de Padiric isn’t only a gem, it’s a diamond within the tough! Positioned within the Lot division, this cave is an extremely distinctive place in France. I strongly advocate a go to to Gouffre de Padirac and you’ll want to guide your tickets prematurely. As I wrote in my publish, it’s like a journey to the centre of the earth—- “an immense cave system with spectacular rock formations and a subterranean river the place you possibly can take a ship ride-103 metres beneath floor.”
Learn the publish right here:
Gouffre de Padirac: A Fascinating Cave That’s Value A Go to
C. Charming Villages and Cities
6. Rocamadour and Saint-Cirq Lapopie (Occitanie Area)
What I loved most about these two beautiful perched villages within the Lot division had been the beautiful views and exploring the villages on foot. There was a lot of medieval structure and historical past, and in Saint-Cirq Lapopie, cobblestone streets.
Learn the publish right here:
Greatest Perched Villages In The Lot: Saint-Cirq-Lapopie and Rocamadour
7. Les Plus Beaux Villages de France (Occitanie Area-Aveyron Division)
The Aveyron Division is commonly referred to as “France profound” (deepest France). One can journey via numerous picturesque villages of Aveyron and through my journey to the world, I visited 6 of probably the most stunning villages of France (Les Plus Beaux Villages de France): Belcastel, Brousse-le-Château, Estaing, La Couvertoirade, Najac, and Peyre. You’ll uncover so many hidden gems within the south of France.
You possibly can examine these villages and the area in these posts:
D. Escape to the French Countryside
8. Auvergne Dept. (Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Area)
Within the Massif Central in central France, do discover the chain of dormant volcanoes (Chaîne des Puys) within the space, situated 10 kilometers away from the city of Clermont-Ferrand both by taking the cog practice as much as the highest of Puy de Dome or by climbing up/down.
Learn extra in regards to the volcanoes right here:
Volcanoes In France?
9. Dordogne Dept. (Nouvelle-Aquitaine Area)
Uncover prehistoric caves, medieval castles, and gastronomic delights within the Dordogne countryside. For my Journey #33 to France, I used to be based mostly in Sarlat and Beynac-et-Cazenac [Post: Two Weeks In The Dordogne], and a real hidden gem within the Dordogne was to take a sizzling air balloon journey over the Dordogne river and the Vallée des Châteaux passing by stunning villages and castles, like Château de Beynac.
You possibly can examine what it’s like on this publish:
Take A Sizzling Air Balloon Trip in The Dordogne-Périgord
10. Pyrénées-Orientales Dept. (Occitanie Area)
One of many causes I headed to the Pyrénées-Orientales division of the Occitanie area throughout my 2 months in France was to take a journey on the Little Yellow Prepare, Le Petit Prepare Jaune. I bought a seat in an open carriage and was ready to absorb the panoramic views of the Pyrenees mountains and made a number of stops alongside the best way to do some exploring.
Examine this well-known practice and its journey right here:
Journey On The Little Yellow Prepare
My Plans
I don’t need to go to the Olympics in Paris or any metropolis in France that’s internet hosting an Olympic occasion. However, I nonetheless need to go to France this summer time. So I plan to enterprise into the Hautes-Pyrénées area of Occitanie for some climbing in early July.
I encourage you to discover the wide-ranging and enchanting areas and hidden gems in France past the Olympic host cities and away from the crowds and warmth. You’ll see that the nation has one thing for each traveler’s style. These in search of tranquility within the countryside, coastal adventures, or the attraction of quaint villages will discover it in France.
In search of extra inspiration and concepts or simply don’t need to go to France in the summertime? Try these different posts:
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