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This is just a quick snapshot. The regions' representatives will take you through anything which interests you in detail. Remember to register.
Camping
- Auvergne: Camping Indigo gives nature pride of place and high quality facilities located at the foot of a volcano
- Corsica: The paradise of backpackers with lots of campsites such as acquadolce, arcudisole, capsud-village
- Dordogne Valley: Many campsites on the Dordogne river banks: Le Vaurette in Monceauxs/Dordogne, les Iles à Beaulieu s/Dordogne, Le Port à Creysse/ Les Chalets s/Dordogne à Girac, La Plage à Meyronne
- Savoie Mont Blanc: The Camping du Sierroz is ideally located on the banks of Le Bourget Lake, a stone's throw from the Grand Port, its restaurants and the beach
Youth Hostels
- Burgundy: Ethic Etapes Dijon, a youth hostel with quality facilities at unbelievable prices.
Nord Pas de Calais: L’escale is a newly opened youth hostel in Dunkerque. - Marseilles: Vertigo Hotels are located in the heart of the city, near the central train station Saint-Charles and the Old-Port. These unique places offer lodging in shared rooms for a group of friends, backpackers in a hostel or youth hostel like accommodation and also private rooms as for classic hotels with a personal touch.
- Nantes 2012: From the sobre to the eccentric, in one of the appartments named “un coin chez soi”: captain Némo’s hut, sweet indulgence, childhood memories, the playground, hamster villa…
- Rhône-Alpes: Discover why youth hostel can also be synonymous with breathtaking views in Annecy.
UCPA
- Languedoc Roussillon: The UCPA in St CYPRIEN is ideal for those in search of tennis, sailing and many other activities.
Health retreat
- Midi-Pyrenées: Le Mas de Rigoulac in Aubrac is a charming house with spa, Turkish bath and swimming pool, complete with magnificent views over the Aubrac and Viadène.
Cabins
- Normandy: Les Cabanes de la Grande Noë are a series of ‘cabins’ in the trees, with magnificent views over the countryside, plus picnic hampers available on request.
Mountain lodge
- Riviera: Le Relais des Merveilles is a dormitory and the perfect place to take a rest and have a meal before discovering the Mercantour National Park and many other wonderful trekking and fishing locations.
This is just a quick snapshot. The regions' representatives will take you through anything which interests you in detail. Remember to register.
Oenology
- Burgundy: Sensation wine is a space entirely dedicated to wine discovery and the perfect place to set off for the Burgundy vineyards.
- Var: know more about provence wines as you’ll learn some cooking tricks with the members of the"Club de la Gastronomie Varoise", all "Maitre Restaurateur".
Restaurants/ bars/ cafes/ bistrots
- Auvergne: La Sangria is the oldest independent café-concert bar of Auvergne, with more than 1,000 free concerts under its belt.
- Midi - Pyrenées: The famous bars and concerts of Place St Pierre in Toulouse are always busy with students and sport lovers alike.
- Nord Pas de Calais: Oyster bar ‘A L’Huitrière’ in Lille: If you can’t afford the restaurant, you can still go the great lounge bar where they serve delicious seafood.
- Rhône - Alpes: The Bistrots de Pays in Southern Ardèche and Drôme Provençale are delightful and offer typical and authentic cuisine, based on regional produces.
- Savoie Mont Blanc: Le Bachal in La Clusaz is the place to go for a mulled wine or hot chocolate after skiing or cocktails and dancing later in the evening.
- Riviera: Tsumoru Takano and Laurent Kenji Inoue have just opened "Les deux canailles" restaurant in Nice. The chef uses regional produces with a Japanese twist
- Corsica: Wide range of places to eat and drink: All styles and all fees for restaurants, pizzeria, tapas bars…Diners on the beach with ‘Restaurant Cote Plage’.
- Nantes 2012: the old biscuits factory LU lives to the rhythm of an atypical art centre: the Lieu Unique. Here, you will find a bar, a shop, theatre (nationwide tour venue) a hammam, bar and restaurant at very affordable price.
Markets & local produce
- Dordogne: The famous Beaulieu strawberries, of which the Guinguette is the star, the George Brassins market and so many local and farmers markets.
- Languedoc Roussillon: The seafood restaurant ‘La Ferme Marine’ in Marseillan features an unlimited buffet, not to be missed!
- Limousin: Top quality produces and the art of fine dining, tradition, quality and good taste can be found in farmers’ markets and in inns and Michelin starred restaurants.
- Brittany: http://www.whatson-brittanytourism.com is perfect to find out where the locals go and get a taste of the real Brittany.
- Languedoc Roussillon: The Haribo sweets factory based on Haribo’s site production in Uzès is a highly enjoyable visit.
This is just a quick snapshot. The regions' representatives will take you through anything which interests you in detail. Remember to register.
Museums
- Auvergne: The Hôtel-Dieu in Le Puy-en-Velay, a recently restored UNESCO world heritage site, now houses an interactive museum with temporary exhibitions, a café-restaurant and conference centre.
- Languedoc Roussillon: The ‘Dinosaur museum’ in Esperaza is the first French museum completely dedicated to dinosaurs.
- Nord Pas de Calais: The Tri Postal is a 6,000 m² building which has now become a benchmark venue for contemporary creativity which will soon welcome a Nick Cave exhibition.
- Poitou - Charentes: Angouleme’s ‘International Comic Strip Museum’ has 1,300sqm of space organized around the history of the comic strip, design workshop and temporary exhibitions.
- Rhône - Alpes: The Institut Lumiere in Lyon gives a fascinating insight into the history, science and aesthetics of film and the story of the Lumière brothers, inventors of the cinematograph and fathers of cinema.
- Clos Luce: The countryside display at the Château du Clos Lucé is a top cultural attraction – a real journey of discovery, on the trail of Leonardo da Vinci’s visionary genius.
- Club French Heritage & Culture: The Chateau of Vaux le Vicomte, near Paris, organise special shows with horse carriages.
- Var: in Hyères, the ‘Villa Noailles’, built between 1924 and 1932, is today a main art centre dedicated to fashion, desigh and photography.2 international annual events: the international Fashion & photography Festival and the ‘design parade’.
Historic events and people
- Burgundy: A team of 50 people have taken on the extraordinary feat of building the Guédelon castle using the same techniques and materials used in the Middle Ages.
- Dordogne Valley: Discover the chateaux, beautiful medieval towns and some of the most beautiful villages of France based in the Dordogne region.
- Midi - Pyrenées: A boat excursion that travels 112 yards underground and 550 yards along a river to admire the ‘Padirac chasm’, the world's leading underground site.
This is just a quick snapshot. The regions' representatives will take you through anything which interests you in detail. Remember to register.
City break
- Nord pas de Calais: Package: night at the Grand Hôtel Bellevue, a historic property in the heart of the city once visited by Mozart + A Lille City pass gives admission to all major attractions, city tours, museums and urban transport.
- Burgundy: The best way to discover Dijon is by riding a Segway, perfect for exploring more in a very unique hour long experience!
Regional tours
- Auvergne: Four resorts are especially worth a visit : Super-Besse and Le Mont-Dore, (both “Famille Plus montagne” accredited) and Le Lioran and Les Estables.
- Midi - Pyrenées: Seven-day tour covering 700km, stopping off in 10 villages in the Aveyron and featuring a wide variety of landscapes, perfect for intermediate-level cyclists.
- Normandy: A 50km video-guided tour of 10 of the most important sites linked to the D-Day landings is available at the Tourist Office in Sainte-Maire-Eglise.
- Rhône-Alpes: Djuringa Junior organises stays specialized for 5 to 18 years old: from winter sport stays to summer activities, theatre, cinema and circus packages...
- Clos Luce: discover the site with Mathurine, Leonardo da Vinci's cooker.
- Club French Heritage & Culture: In the Popes’ palace, in Avignon, the myths of the legendary animals – unicorn, dragon, chimera - sculpted or designed all around the building are unveiled in the winter light.
This is just a quick snapshot. The regions' representatives will take you through anything which interests you in detail. Remember to register.
Thermal springs
- Auvergne: 2 new recreational spa centres offer outstanding facilities in which to enjoy all the pleasure of the water: The Royatonic in Royat and Caleden in Chaudes-Aigues
Swimming pools & Aquatic centres
- Burgundy: Dijon boasts sports facilities of international standard, such as an Olympic pool, entry price at just 5€.
- Midi - Pyrenées: The Caliceo aquatic centre is only 15 minutes away from Toulouse centre, featuring steam bath and indoor pool.
- Normandy: Les Bains des docks in Le Havre: newly renovated, this innovative aquatic centre has indoor and outdoor pools, Jacuzzi, water jets and a well equipped gym.
- Savoie Mont Blanc: Fabulous 5,000 m2 aqua centre “le Lagon” at the bottom of the pists facing the Grande Motte glacier in Tignes with water slides for kids and adults!
Sports & Thalassotherapy
- Languedoc Roussillon: Mix hiking and thalassotherapy with Vert-l’Aventure on the Côte Vermeille. Minimum age: 12 years old.
This is just a quick snapshot. The regions' representatives will take you through anything which interests you in detail. Remember to register.
Eco tourism
- Auvergne: The famous GR7 Stevenson's and Modestine's trail follows in the footsteps of Robert-Louis Stevenson, who trekked across the Massif Central in 1878.
- Languedoc Roussillon: Far west in Camargue… Visit the Longhorn ranch and discover the world famous cattle. Donkey rides also available.
Outdoor activities
- Brittany: Jugon-les-Lacs offers the first mountain-biking centre in France with routes similar to the ones available in ski resorts: colour coded and clearly marked.
- Burgundy: The 330km of the Grande Traversée du Morvan (GTM) mountain bike route is the ideal alternative for discovering the Morvan.
- Midi - Pyrenées: The “Route des cols” is a challenging itinerary cycling 34 great Pyrenean passes, including the Col du Tourmalet (2,115 m) which is both legendary and inspirational for cyclists.
- Nord Pas de Calais: Boris bikes have made their way to Lille with their own VéLille! To be extended progressively to Roubaix, Tourcoing and Villeneuve d’Ascq.
- Rhône - Alpes: Opening of the mountain bike season at Vercors’s Mountain bike park and 25th anniversary of the first Mountain Bile World Championship at the Big Bike Festival.
- Savoie Mont Blanc: One of the best mountain biking spot of the region is probably The Portes du Soleil. New dedicated areas such as at Les Saisies and Beaufort are also being developed.
- Dordogne Valley: Canoe-kayak on the Dordogne River, leaving Argentat towards Souillac.
- Var: Set in unspoiled breathtaking scenery, the Verdon Grand Canyon is Europe's largest canyon and the stage for many exciting sporting activities, on the water and the rocks, in the air and on the walking paths. Unforgettable!
Unusual
- Normandy: The Domaine ‘Rêve de Bisons’ provides tours of their grounds in a military 4x4 to meet the 200 bison that live there; also features the possibility to sleep in a tipi.
- Riviera: Artificial ice-fall climb with introductory lessons by a mountain guide, equipped with crampons, ice axes, harnesses and helmets in St Martin Vésubie.
This is just a quick snapshot. The regions' representatives will take you through anything which interests you in detail. Remember to register.
Lakes and rivers
- Auvergne: Given the number of lakes and rivers present in Auvergne, a high number of leisure centres offer sailing, canoeing, kayaking, rafting or tubing activities.
- Burgundy: Learn the history of the Settons’ lake with the "Eco-base activital des Settons"
- Midi-Pyrenées: Canyoning, white water in Aveyron: sliding down slides, jumping into pools, abseiling... guaranteed thrills.
- Rhône-Alpes: Discover Lake Annecy in an ecological, calm and original way with the stand up paddle
- Savoie Mont Blanc: White-water activities are aplenty in the region and besides being fun and safe, they can be practiced in Bourg Saint Maurice on the Isère river.
- Riviera: Rafting, canyoning and hydrospeed are all available to practise in the inland rivers of the various valleys of the Riviera (Roya, Vésubie, Tinée).
Seaside
- Brittany: Try your hand at the stand up paddle to get a whole new perspective on the Pink Granite coast.
- Languedoc Roussillon: The ‘underwater trail’ in Cap d’Ague offers encounters with sea creatures and marine flora and an opportunity to explore the region's volcanic past
- Nord pas de Calais: Sand yachting schools all along the Opal coast and mountain boarding (mix of skateboarding, BMX and kite-buggying) by the Sanders dunes.
- Poitou Charentes: Oléron island is a first class destination for windsurfers: with regular national and international competitions, the area is also suitable for beginners.
- Marseilles: a snorkelling experience with a State-qualified diving instructor in the Riou Archipelago in order to discover the rocky inlets and sea beds from June to September.
- Var: lots of marine grottos and about 50 ship wrecks are waiting for your visit as you’re diving between Saint-Cyr sur Mer to St Raphaël.
This is just a quick snapshot. The regions' representatives will take you through anything which interests you in detail. Remember to register.
NEW OPENINGS
- Auvergne: Dinosaurs-a-plenty: Paléopolis invites visitors on a journey through 4 billion years of evolution across 700 m2.
- Brittany: ‘Petit tour de la Manche’: part of the pan European project cycle west linking cycle routes in southwest England with northwest France.
- Burgundy: The ‘Cluny-Vision’ app: This location-based tour of the monastic town of Cluny allows to discover the richness of its architecture and specific points of interest.
- Midi-Pyrenées: Nailloux Fashion village is the first outlet village of Southern France.
- Nord pas de Calais: With a maximum capacity of 50,283 seats, the ‘Grand Stade Lille métropole’ will host top national and international sporting fixtures and events.
- Savoie Mont Blanc: 369 apartments in Avoriaz have been refurbished and redesigned, with contemporary and mountain décor.
- Riviera: http://www.ceparou06.fr is a website for making better use of the French Riviera public transport systems and for optimising journeys.
- Clos Luce: A new workshop around nature and botanics in "Leonardo 's Garden" to discover Leonardo da Vinci's conception of Nature.
- Club French Heritage & Culture: From spring 2012, in the Popes’ Palace in Avignon , a multimedia presentation of the Popes’ way of life with 2D and 3D animations and PDA audioguide - unique in Europe.
This is just a quick snapshot. The regions' representatives will take you through anything which interests you in detail. Remember to register.
Music
- Auvergne: If you are a music lover, Clermont-Ferrand is the place for music lovers at the end of May, when the Europavox festival comes to town to showcase Europe's emerging musicians.
- Brittany: La Route du Rock will be in St Malo in August, another fine example of the Breton craic with its eclectic line up of French and British pop. Brittany has a huge programme of music festivals and there is a shared love of music and good company.
- Burgundy: The Peplum nights is a festival of francophonic songs held every July in the beautiful town of Alésia, between Dijon and Auxerre.
- Midi-Pyrenées: The ‘Rio Loco festival’ in Toulouse is an intense 4 day event with celebrations and concerts centred around the theme of world music.
- Poitou-Charente: Soul, blues, jazz, swing and gospel… for six days and nights Cognac comes alive to the sound of the ‘Cognac Blues Passion’ festival.
- Rhône-Alpes: Held in Lyon every May, The ‘Nuits Sonores’ (Electro and Indie Music Festival) celebrates its 10-year anniversary.
- Corsica: the ‘Peplum Nights’ is a French songs festivals bringing a newcomer next to well known artists every evening. It is set in the rocks theatre on the Roman site of Alesia.
- Marseilles: Marsatac is the musical event that rocks the world each year with electro beats, rock and hip hop. There’s a new venue this year: Friche de la Belle de Mai. Last week of September.
- Riviera: Cannes is a mecca for “in” music with the Plages électroniques, the only electronic musical festival held on a public beach (July/Aug) and with the Festival Pantiero at the Terrace of the Palais des Festivals (Aug).
Food
- Dordogne Valley: An array of food celebrations are held in Dordogne such as the ‘Strawberry Fair’ in Beaulieu sur Dordogne and the ‘Prune Fair’ in Carennac…
Arts and crafts
- Dordogne: Every summer, the ‘Brive-Plage Festiv'all’ , the ‘Orchestrades Universelles of Brive’ and the ‘Mime Festival of Souillac’, are not to be missed .
- Languedoc Roussillon: The 4th edition of the festival of Crafts’ will take place in Pont de Montvert: carpenters, ironmongers, jewellers, painters will showcase their work.
- Clos Luce: "Happy birthday Leonardo": Meet us to celebrate all together Leonardo da Vinci's birthday on 15th april 2012, on Facebook and Twitter.
- Club French Heritage & Culture: At theMusée du quai Branly, in Paris, ‘Le Maître des Marionnettes’ (the puppets’ master) 10 - 25 February 2012, and ‘Transes et désordre’ how music and dance may lead to trance, 8 to 17 June 2012.
- Nantes 2012: A Journey to Nantes from 15 June to 19 August.
Sports
- Dordogne: ‘Les Montgolfiades’ held every September in Rocamadour is a hot-air balloon festival.
- Ile de Ré: Surfing, kite surfing, skateboarding and stand up paddle are celebrated every May during the ‘LG Surf and Skate Contest’.
- Savoie Mont Blanc: The ‘Utra-Trail du Mont Blanc’ is one of the toughest races in the world: 166km starting in Chamonix, 9,500 meters of positive heights gains passing through 3 countries.
- Riviera: Cannes is a mecca for “in” music with the Plages électroniques, the only electronic musical festival held on a public beach (July/Aug) and with the Festival Pantiero at the Terrace of the Palais des Festivals (Aug).
This is just a quick snapshot. The regions' representatives will take you through anything which interests you in detail. Remember to register.
Sports
- Auvergne: Snowkites, freestyle, speed riding, freeride and snowscoots are available in Super-Besse, Le Lioran, Le Mont-Dore, Le Sancy and Les Estables.
- Burgundy: The ‘Champs Retards’ grotto’ is adventure course, unique in France where pendulum jumping is also available.
- Midi-Pyrenées: The Pic du Midi is now opened to mountain bikes. Setting out at 2,872m, the descent to the valley covers a difference in altitude of 1,800m.
- Rhône-Alpes: ‘I way’ in Lyon: a world exclusive, a unique complex with 18 motor racing simulators (Formula 1, rally), one restaurant and one spa. Thrilling!
- Savoie Mont Blanc: Try the fantastic Chatel and fly like a bird at 100km per hour.
Accommodation
- Brittany: Choose from beautifully restored vintage vans (a 1934 Winchester, a 1956 Willerby or a Sologne or 1969’s Notin) are available at the Domaine du Roc.
- Normandy: Spend the night in a suspended tent in beautiful Normandy woodland situated just a stone’s throw from the picturesque coastline.
Cultural
- Languedoc Roussillon: Utopix is a live magical kingdom of stone, built & designed by Jo Pillet with exhibition spaces (indoor and outdoor).
- Nord pas de Calais: A unique day out discovering Lille retro-style aboard a traditional and mythical 2CV! Available all year round.
- Riviera: Nice and in partnership with Gay and Lesbian associations has just created a referential system defining the criteria for quality hospitality, enabling member establishments to obtain the 'Nice, irisée naturellement' label.
- Clos Luce: Don't miss the entrance to the secret underground passage, that, according to tradition, led to the Château royal d'Amboise and King Francis I would sometimes use this to visit Leonardo.
- Nantes 2012: The ‘Machines de l'Ile’ : Get on board the Great Elephant, look round the new Gallery, walk along the prototype branch from the future Heron Tree, and on 15 July 2012 discover the merry-go-round of the Marine’s world.