Why The Best Of France Is Found Beyond Paris

France has so many gems to be uncovered. Some are more hidden than others, some are hours south on its southern shores. What they all have in common, though, is that they lie beyond the majestic capital of Paris.

Châteaux Country

The Loire Valley is known for being a patchwork quilt of elegant white stone châteaux. Between Nantes and Orléans, nearly 1000 châteaux sit on the banks of the River Loire. In the 16th century, the Loire was the chosen leisure destination for French royalty and so many bourgeoisie homes were renovated and built. Around 100 of these can be visited today.

Vineyards of Bordeaux

Perfect Provence

Oh Provence! If there is ever a reason to travel to the south of France, then Provence is it. Especially in late spring/early summer, when the ‘lavender routes‘ are in full vibrant colour. Base yourself in a beautiful Provence village, take in the colours, aromas and fine foods of this incredibly beautiful pocket of France.

Majestic Mountains

France is home to two mountain ranges: the French Alps and the Pyrenees. Hike in springtime, picnic in the summer season and ski when the winter months are in full swing.

French Riviera

The French Riviera (or Côte d’Azur) is the Mediterranean coastline in the southeast of France, housing the glitzy resorts of St Tropez and Cannes. Red roofs bathed in Mediterranean sun, seafood oozing with freshness and cafes sprawling happily left, right and centre. Slow your pace down and let the good times roll…

The Artist Trail

Art goes hand in hand with Paris, but to see the inspirations behind the artwork, leave the city behind you and follow your own artist trail. From Cézanne’s Mont Saint Victoire (pictured below) in Provence to Monet’s Normandy cliffs, see the landscape in your own right.

1. Lyon: Gastronomic Capital

Market, Restaurant, French

For the foodie traveller, simply, head to Lyon. Make sure to spend some time in Les Halles de Lyon, the city’s prestigious indoor market, as well as the plentiful outdoor markets dotted about the city. Make sure to eat at a bouchon (traditional restaurant).

Outdoor France

France is a paradise for the outdoorsy traveller, so head towards the big skies and away from the city humdrum. From trying your endurance on the Tour de France cycle routes and skiing in the Alps, to kayaking the Dordogne River and potholing in the Ardèche.

2. Normandy's D-Day Sites

Cemetery, Memorial

Take a pause and a minute or more to reflect a the World War II cemetery and memorial ground in Normandy at Colleville-sur-Mer. The iconic rows of white headstones on the backdrop of trees and grass will take your breath away. More than 9,000 graves lie here, make sure to give it the time it deserves.

Canal Culture

Canal culture is live and well in France. For a peaceful boating holiday – outside of Paris’ canals – there are lots of routes, especially in the east of the country. One of the most famous is the Canal du Midi, located in the south of France, but if you are searching a little closer to home, you can start in Calais and Dunkerque.

Champagne in Champagne

To Paris’ north and east lies the historical province of Champagne, known the world over for the production of the sparkling white wine that bears the region’s name. Flat agricultural land and undulating hills make up this region of France; perfect for meandering and exploring by car on a day trip from Paris or in a holiday itself.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.