10 Extraordinary Experiences in France

As a self-proclaimed Francophile, I’ve spent the past decade traveling and discovering every corner of France.  From the picture perfect country sides of Alsace to the magnificent beaches of Dune de Pyla, I love all the wonders that the country has to offer: breathtaking scenery, charming villages and towns, spectacular beaches (mostly the western coast and not the proverbial Cote d’Azur) and mountains, the divine selection of wine, the scrumptious cuisine … and on … and on … and on.

However, here are 10 extraordinary experiences I've had that were not only a lot of fun but also has changed the way I traveled. It is unlikely that any of them will be mentioned in travel guides or magazine as "must dos", but they are extraordinary experiences beyond just visiting and seeing the conventional tourist attractions.

Rollerblading in Paris 

Over the years, rollerblading (roller, as the locals call it) in Paris has become a trendy event, and these days, you can even join hundreds of skaters (called Pari-Roller) to cruise down the magnificent city of lights in the middle of the night. 

 

However, I like to think that I started this trend back in 1997, while I was studying there, and blazing through the cobblestone streets of Paris while observing the gorgeous scenery and the Parisian sitting at outdoor cafes was truly an unforgettable experience.

Learning French in Strasbourg 

Strasbourg is a picture perfect town in a region that borders Germany known as Alsace, and ever since the European Parliament has moved its headquarters there, it’s become a bustling town that attracts thousands of tourists who flock to get a glimpse of its magnificent gothic cathedral and immaculately maintained vieille ville, la Petite France.

I had the pleasure of attending a language school filled with people from all over the world, which made for a very festive atmosphere, and we were more interested in learning about each other than conjugation. Nevertheless, it was a great place to soak up the French language and culture.

Skiing in Megeve 

Megeve is a wonderfully charming ski village near Mont Blanc with a splendid selection of restaurants, hotels and shops.  Among all the beautiful ski resorts and towns in Europe, Megeve is my absolutely favorite.  The village with its turreted houses around a 17th-century church, the scent of wood smoke  that permeates through the entire town, and the sounds of hooves clopping on cobblestones is straight out of a fairytale.

From 11am to 6am, the center of the old village closes to traffic, except for pedestrians and sledges, and you can shop at your leisure, stopping everywhere from the cobbler to the antiques dealer to the many boutiques.  The picture-perfect charcuteries, fromageries and boulangeries sell some of the best delicatessen in France, and the shops offer a wonderful variety of traditional crafts.

Biking Around Lac Leman 

Covering about 140 sq miles (362 sq km), crescent-shaped Lac Léman is the largest, and in my opinion, the loveliest lake in Western Europe.  My husband and I’d discovered it on our way from Provence to Frankfurt, and what a lovely surprise it turned out to be!  We’d stayed overnight in a little town of Thonon-les-Bains at Hotel le Duche de Savoie.  We’d arrived late at night and didn’t get to see much of the town that evening, but when we woke up the next morning, we were pleasantly surprised by the spectacular view outside our window. 

Lac Léman truly is a hidden gem, and we’ve gone back several times throughout the years exploring different cities and towns around it.  However, the BEST part of being there is observing and absorbing the breathtaking scenery.

Wonderful Meals in Beaune 

People often ask me where I’ve had the best meals during my travel, and although the term ‘best’ is highly relative, without hesitation, Beaune comes to mind. Having said that, the great thing about traveling in France is that you don’t have to spend a lot of money on great food, which throws the whole myth about 'French food being overly pricey' right out the window, and Beaune is a perfect example of that.

Beaune is a relatively unknown town in Bourgogne, which makes it an ideal place for a stopover, especially since there is a larger selection of charming hotels and wonderful restaurants that offer haute cuisine at a reasonable price. Also, the town has a charming market on Saturday mornings that offers rather a large selection of produce and crafts, and the Hotel Dieu alone is definitely worth a visit.

Beautiful Town of Orange 

Orange is a charming little town, located in the south of France. Although it may not be as sophisticated as some of the more tourist-driven towns and villages in Provence, it has one of the most well-maintained Roman theaters in Europe. It also has a beautiful town square and offers budget travelers a great selection of charming hotels at a reasonable price.

To me, Orange will always be the best kept secret in Provence. It is without a doubt one of the most charming little towns in the region, and my husband and I have such fond memories of visiting Orange on our first road trip and staying in Hotel St. Florent, which has become one of our favorites in France.

Enchanting Medieval Town of Sarlat-la-Canéda

Sarlat is a picturesque town located in the heart of France, and although it’s the best-preserved medieval town in southwestern France representative of 14th century France, or Europe for that matter, due to its isolated location, tourism-wise, it remains to be one of the least developed places in France.

Walking through this gorgeous town filled with so many ancient buildings, we felt as if we’d stepped back into another age.  My favorite experience in Sarlat was going to the outdoor market on the weekend, and having a lot of scrumptious meals, as even the rustic food are prepared with the freshest ingredients from local farmers.  Oh what I would give to taste cassoulet in Sarlat again!

Pilgrimage to Rocamadour 

All the guide books may rave about Mont Saint Michel, but I prefer Rocamadour.  Located about 100 miles north of Toulouse, Rocamadour is a pectacular natural and religious site perched high on a rocky plateau.  The name literally derives from “roc”, which translates into rock, and “Amadour” named after the Saint whose body was known to be preserved in the area.

Aside from being one of the most spectacular sites in France, Rocamadour serves an important pilgrimage destination. Today, tourists come to Rocamadour for its religious interest, historical significance, beautiful architecture, and most of all, for the spectacular views, and for us, staying in Rocamadour, especially our favorite Hotel Beau Site, was a truly unique experience we would never forget.

The Chapel That Le Corbusier Built 

Notre Dame du Haut in Ronchamp is undoubtedly one of Le Corbusier finest work.  High on a hill near Belfort in eastern France, Le Corbusier’s masterpiece unfolds in the round, offering, like a sequence of Mondrians and Arps, different and uncannily poised compositions from every angle, back and front, side to side, inside and out and, crucially, in relation to the grounds. It commands the hill as the Parthenon does the Acropolis, its immense roof a great airfoil or billowing sail appearing to lift the building off the earth, and simultaneously seeming to weigh it down, compress it.

What Le Corbusier called the chapel’s “ineffable space” derives not from Zen-like simplicity or Baroque extravagance but from this quasi-Cubist asymmetry of robust, jaunty, sensuous shapes, held in improbable equilibrium as if by a juggler on a tightrope. It’s a sculptural feat. Nowadays architects rely on digital technology to fashion swooping, soaring spaces that look as if they folded in on themselves. Ronchamp, by contrast, is the product of old-fashioned craft and serendipity, every surface different from every other, imperfectly, lovingly made. – “Quiet Additions to a Modernist Masterpiece” by Michael Kimmelman

Picnics on Dune de Pyla 

About 60km (40miles) from Bordeaux lies the Dune de Pyla, the highest dune in Europe and one of the most magnificent beaches in the world.  At the summit, you get a spectacular view of the Atlantic Ocean on one side and the large pine forest on the other.

One of my favorite travel experience was sitting on top of the dune, having a picnic consisting of a great bottle of Bordeaux with my husband while soaking up that glorious view, which seemed surreal at times.  We also loved our charming little hotel La Corniche which had a breathtaking view of the Ocean.

10 More Favorites:

• Jardin du Luxembourg, Paris
• Ouen Flea Market, Paris
• Chateaux of the Loire Valley 
• Markets in Annecy 
• Stunningly Beautiful Vezelay  
  
• Bordeaux 
• Scrumptious Meals & World-Class Wine in Saint Emilion 
• Majestic Mont Sainte Victoire 
• Roman Ruins in Arles 
• Breathtaking Drives & Countrysides

All About France by Regions 

All About France, Picturesque Provence

Provence is an old-fashioned love affair that’s vivid in every tourist’s mind.  It embodies everything that is quintessentially “French”. The idyllic sun-drenched landscapes filled with scented lavenders, olive groves and chestnut trees; the locals leisurely sipping express at quaint outdoor cafes; the festive markets in town square selling all sorts of local delicacies and gastronomic art de vivre.  It's a place that takes you to different place and time.  

So, it’s no wonder that we fell in love with Provence on our first road trip to Southern France, and we kept going back for many more years.

Aix-en-Provence

Aix-en Provence is perhaps one of the most idyllic towns in Provence, and everywhere you turn, it feels as if you’ve just stepped into an impressionistic painting.  Cours Mirabeau is a street made for strolling, and Atelier de Cézanne (the last workshop of Cézanne) is definitely a must see.  Also, I highly recommend the drive out to Mont Sainte Victoire, as the landscape, which is exactly as Cézanne had painted it, is absolutely stunning.

The only downside is that due to its popularity, Aix-en-Provence can be packed with tourists throughout the year, which also true for Provence in general.  Try to avoid visiting this area especially during the summer holidays, as you’re likely to encounter more British tourists than locals. 

  
Therefore, we prefer to stay outside of the city center at one of the many lovely country houses or farms that have been converted to B&B’s (called Mas).  Our favorite is la Chêneraie (Bastide du Plan, 13840 Rognes tel.: +33 442 501 901); however, we also loved these hotels in and around Aix.

In Aix-en-Provence:

• Hotel Cardinal
• Hotel de France
• Hotel des Quatre-Dauphins
• Hotel St Christophe

Outside of Aix:

• Mas de la Bertrande
• Domaine Genty

Arles

If someone were to ask me for my favorite town in Provence, I would have to go with Arles.  Although the town has changed quite a bit since the first time we were there, Arles still has, and always will have a special place in my heart. 

Sometimes called the soul of Provence, this town on the Rhone attracts art lovers, archaeologists, historians, and even pilgrims on the route to Santiago de Compostela.  Everywhere you turn, you feel as if you’ve just stepped into one of van Gogh’s painting, and the town is filled with Roman artifacts that are in better shape than in Rome.  It could be because Arles was a Roman colony during the reign of Julius Caesar, and Constantine the Great named it the second capital of his empire in A.D. 306, when it was known as "the little Rome of the Gauls." 

Musée Réattu

Espace Van Gogh

les Arénes d'Arles (Amphitheatre)

All the years we've visited Arles, my husband and I have been privy to so many fun and quirky events and celebrations.  However, our favorite is the Feria du Riz (Rice Festival), which takes place in September. It's a three-day blowout celebration that takes place throughout the entire town, and the Spanish toreadors are invited to perform the Spanish style bullfighting (refer to Hemingway's Death in the Afternoon) at the main Amphitheater. It's a truly spectacular event unique to this region.

the Festival of Rice

Here are some of our other favorites in Arles.

• Hotel Calendal  – a beautiful hotel ideally situated directly in front of the Amphitheatre
• l’Andaluz – an absolutely charming restaurant that serves up the best seafood soup I’ve had in France
• outdoor market on Saturday on boulevard des Lices, is – the largest in Provence

Avoid: Arles, or Provence in general, in August when the entire region turns into a tourist hell.  Hotel de la Muette, there are only few places in the world where I choose to remember the negative experience I’ve had so that I could remind myself never to go back, and this hotel is definitely one of them.

Avignon 

Avignon is stunningly beautiful yet relaxed at the same. It embodies a wonderful mixture of chic, elegance and perfectly preserved medieval splendour. Be sure to check out: the world's largest Gothic palace, the 14th-century Palais des Papes and Place de l’Horloge.

Eyguieres

After being surrounded by English speaking tourists, I long to be around the locals and to speak French.  That’s when my husband and I head over to Eyguieres, a quiet little village about 30 minutes east of Arles.  The drive is gorgeous, and we love sitting in one of the cafes and just soaking up the provincial atmosphere.

Fontaine de Vaucluse

Gorde

Gorde is a picturesque little village that seems too beautiful to be real, and judging from the busloads of tourists, I assume that the rest of the world knows it too.  Nevertheless, for the first time visitor to the region, Gorde is a must see, as the majestic sight of Gordes's ancient stone houses rising in tiers above the Imergue Valley is an image that you should not miss. 

Les Baux de Provence

Les Baux truly is an anomaly.  Aside from being one of the most picturesque villages in Provence, in its lonely position high on a windswept plateau overlooking the southern Alpilles, Les Baux seems to be part of the mysterious, shadowy rock formations themselves.  Nevertheless, don’t let its regal façade fool you, as the warmth and hospitality of the locals will draw you in.

Marseille

By the time we'd arrived in Marseille at the end of our road trip, we'd seen so many beautiful places that we didn't appreciate all that the city had to offer. Throughout the trip, we visited mostly smaller cities and towns, and being in the second largest city in France seemed overwhelming and crowded. Nevertheless, we enjoyed the food and like the lively atmosphere in the evening.

Orange

To me, Orange will always be the best kept secret in Provence. It is without a doubt one of the most charming little towns in the region, and my husband and I have such fond memories of visiting Orange on our first road trip and staying in Hotel St. Florent, which has become one of our favorites in France.

Pont du Gard

We'd found Pont du Gard on our way to Nimes. Then, it was just another undiscovered ancient Roman archeological site like many others in that area, all of which have been well-discovered in the last decade. It's no wonder that Pont du Gard has become one of France's most popular tourist attractions, as it is one of the best preserved ancient Roman aqueduct bridges in Western Europe. However, my husband and I will always remember it as a serenely beautiful place where we took long walks along the stream and hiked by the moonlight.

Roussillion

There is no mistaking Roussillon. This little picturesque village perched on top of the hill is orange-red … literally, the entire village. The distinctive color is due to the ochre mine below the village. It creates a fascinating 'out of this world' experience like a miniature version of Bryce Canyon National Park, in the US.

The color of the rocks in the mines mirrors the colors of the houses in Roussillon village itself, which makes it uniquely different than other villages in the region. If at all possible you should try to visit Roussillon at dusk to see the glowing colors of the house at their most stunning.

St Remy de Provence

Even though tourists have long since discovered St-Rémy-de-Provence, it hasn't eroded the charms of this delightful market town at the foot of the Alpilles mountain range. The medieval streets of the Vieille Ville (Old Town) jumble together to form a maze filled with upscale boutiques and pretty shops stocking Provençal products, and plane trees shade the cafes and restaurants along the wide boulevard that circles the old town, which gives it the quintessentially provincial feel and atmosphere.

The Gorges of the Ardèche

The river that carved these canyons is the most temperamental of any French waterway.  Its ebbs and flows have created the Grand Canyon of France.  Riddled with alluvial deposits, grottoes, caves, and canyons more than 950 feet deep, the valley is one of the country's most unusual geological spectacles.  A panoramic road (D290) runs along one rim of these canyons, providing views over a striking, arid landscape.