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France Tours & Trips

From delicious cuisine and wonderful wines to châteaux and ski resorts, it's no surprise that France entices people of all ages. Take a adventure to the strikingly beautiful island of Mont-Saint-Michel, challenge yourself with a hike around glorious Mont Blanc , escape to the beautiful beaches of the French Riviera in Nice, or follow in the footsteps of artists in Provence . Visit the vineyards of the Loire Valley on a river cruise , and of course check out the romantic Paris, City of Light. A tour of France is a must for all travelers.

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250+ france tour packages with 2,545 reviews.

• Coach / Bus
• Sightseeing

French Dream ( 6 days )

• River Cruise

Paris to Normandy 2024

we went with another couple and had a blast....we all agreed the trip was fabulous and we would try to do another trip with Avalon soon...

• Hiking & Trekking
• Mountain Hikes

Mont Blanc Highlights

Wonderful guided hikes, all different and amazing views. Tourradar really surpassed all my expectations. From a wonderful hotel - stayed at Richemond Hotel, in the centre of town to the amazing prepared lunches and restaurant dinners to our wonderful and knowledgeable guide Nichole. Thank you Nicole for your energy, patience, calmness, and expertise both up and down each mountain adventure. You made our trip a wonderful

Cycle Provence

• In-depth Cultural

The Treasures of France including Normandy (8 Days)

We had a wonderful time! Tim Smith made the experience so enjoyable. I would book a trip with him again.

• €100 deposit on some dates Some departure dates offer you the chance to book this tour with a lower deposit.

• Christmas & New Year

Paris and Versailles

Hotel and tours were good. It would help to have guidance on travel/transportation to tour meeting sites, especially Metro subway usage.

French Ring ( 11 days )

Looking for tours beyond just france.

Explore tours with itineraries going through multiple countries, including France.

Paris to Normandy WWII Remembrance & History Cruise (Southbound)

Normandy, Brittany & The Loire Valley (Classic, 8 Days)

Wonderful tour. Top notch accommodations; very comfortable tour bus; courteous, friendly, and knowledgeable tour guide and driver. Restaurant selections were fine and we had sufficient time to explore on our own. Highly recommended.

Best of France Tour

Outstanding week in Normandy and Bretagne regions.We have always wanted to visit D-Day beaches and nothing was like our day long trip to Normandy. France is beautiful country. Our 10 year old daughter enjoyed the tour as much as my wife and I did. Phillippe, our guide, could not have been more patient with us and kinder. He took extra time to show us little unknown places that were important. We will certainly travel with Eskapas again and I would highly recommend them to anyone!

Premium Best of France

France Family Journey: From Paris to Normandy and Beyond

The tour was interesting, fun, and just the right balance of group and independent activities. The tour guides were knowledgeable, helpful, and very organized!

Paris, Normandy and the Loire

A truly wonderful experience ... what we saw, heard, and did!! The tour guide (Mike) was excellent in all respects. And the driver deserves lots of kudos (safety, comfort, on time).

Paris Explorer (8 Days)

We enjoyed our time in Paris. Johnathan was an exceptional tour guide. His thoughtful approach to Normandy was wonderful. The hotel was not up to Marriott standards. Room was dusty and thoughtlessly cleaned. The location was good and the bus was in great shape.

• Wine tasting

Brilliant Bordeaux (2024) (Bordeaux to Bordeaux, 2024)

What people love about france tours.

It was a very comfortable and enjoyable cruise. The service staff were very friendly and attentive. The fellow passengers were very friendly and sociable which makes the whole cruise line one big happy family.

Overall a great tour. Much more than we expected. Highly recommend instead of trying to visit a foreign country without a tour guide and driver-- both of whom were fabulous !!

France Destinations

• Southern France (365)
• Northern France (316)
• Provence (117)
• Normandy (87)
• Aquitaine & Midi Pyrenees (87)
• Alsace & Lorraine (63)
• Bordeaux & Dordogne (55)
• Loire Valley (46)
• Pays de la Loire (46)
• Burgundy (34)
• Ile de France (28)
• French Riviera (23)
• Champagne (11)
• France Castle (7)
• Brittany (5)
• Rhone (286)

Travel Styles

• Small Group (120)
• Budget (53)
• Luxury (144)
• Singles and Solo (526)
• For Couples (427)
• Young Adults (5)
• Seniors (478)
• Group (846)
• Fully Guided (731)
• Family (605)
• Explorer (575)
• River Cruise (549)
• Personalized (158)
• Self-Guided (140)
• Bicycle (133)
• Private (124)
• In-depth Cultural (123)
• Partially Guided (98)
• Coach / Bus (62)
• Active (50)
• Hiking & Trekking (44)
• Food & Culinary (27)
• Motorcycle Ride (21)
• 3 Day Tours (17)
• 7 Day Tours (221)
• 10 Day Tours (260)
• 2 Week Tours (57)
• 3 Week Tours (54)
• 4 Week Tours (5)
• Spring 2024 (280)
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• Fall / Autumn 2024 (405)
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• January 2025 (59)
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• April 2025 (157)
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• June 2025 (161)
• July 2025 (172)
• August 2025 (161)
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• October 2025 (152)
• November 2025 (48)

France Tours starting in

• Starting in Paris (177)
• Starting in Lyon (56)
• Starting in Strasbourg (46)
• Starting in Arles (43)
• Starting in Bordeaux (38)
• Starting in Nice (23)
• Starting in Avignon (22)
• Starting in London (14)
• Starting in Marseille (11)
• Starting in Chalon sur Saone (9)
• France Travel Guide | All You Need to Know
• Best 10 Day France Itineraries 2024/2025 (with Reviews)
• Best 7 Day France Itineraries 2024/2025 (with Reviews)

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Refined culture and deep history

A rendezvous with a magnifique experience awaits! As cliché as it sounds, France truly has something for everyone. With over two dozen cities, each with their own nuances of the French culture and contributions to its history, architecture, art and last but not least, the gastronomical delights that the French are famous for throughout the world are yours to explore, experience and fall in love with during your stay. Coast to coast, border to border, there are seemingly endless variations on your French experience to be had. Rolling hills and scenic valleys lined with the fruit of the gods; seaside towns, along sandy beaches with views you just might be sharing with royalty; or maybe snowcapped mountain ranges providing some of the best skiing in the world and an adrenaline rush to match is what you seek. Whatever you decide, France easily makes you feel as if you have stepped out of reality and into the art you learned about and loved since you were a child.

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Destination Must-Sees

This French capital is one of the world's greatest cities and certainly one of its most beautiful. The Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, Louvre and Orsay Museums, the Champs Elysees, Montmartre and the Sacre Coeur, and many others are all iconic symbols of the "City of Light." Renowned for fabulous dining, high fashion and the French savoir faire, one can keep returning to Paris over a lifetime and still not see everything it has to offer.

Sitting on the French Riviera, north of Cannes, is a town that is an olfactory oasis. Set in the hills, Grasse is considered the perfume capital of the world. The town’s fields of jasmine, lavender, and other fragrant flowers are harvested to create essential oils for perfume production. Perfumers (known as a nez, or nose) in Grasse can teach you how to recognize different scents and how top notes, mid notes and the lingering base of a fragrance come together to create a magical aroma.

At 370 acres or three-quarters of a square mile, the Principality of Monaco is the world's second smallest sovereign state. It sits in a scenic cliff-side location on the Mediterranean completely surrounded by French territory. This fairy tale of a country is headed by the Prince Sovereign, currently, Albert II, son of Rainier III and American actress Grace Kelly. Discover a place that is just as you imagined with opulent architecture, stunning coastal panoramas, chic boutiques and ritzy cars. Highlights of a visit include the Oceanographic Museum and the Prince's Palace as well as the Cathedral, the final resting place of the Principality's monarchs.

A perfectly preserved medieval enclave of Roman origins, Avignon is set in the heart of France's Provence region on the banks of the Rhone River. For 68 years in the 14th century, Avignon was the capital of Christianity, the seat of 10 Popes before the papacy was brought back to Rome in 1377. Avignon has always been a center for art and culture, a designation that continues with its annual Arts Festival, hosting numerous stage productions, film showings, exhibitions, poetry readings, concerts, mime performances, ballets, and more.

Destination Must-Dos

Small-town touring:

Take a break from the City of Light and get a taste of old world France when spending time in countryside villages that look like they are plucked from a storybook. With many unique villages, each region has its own special qualities for you to experience. Travel through hilltops, rocky coasts and remarkable views while learning about the locals and their lifestyles.

Omaha Beach:

This was one of the beach sectors assigned to the American landing forces during the invasion of June 6, 1944. It was here that the U.S. First Division fought the bloodiest engagement on D-Day. Go through the towns that make up the sector: St-Laurent, Colleville and Vierville. Set foot on the beach and reflect on that fateful day and cherish the present peace. The American Military Cemetery stands up on the bluff as a testament to the greatest sacrifice that these Americans have made in the name of freedom.

Dinner at Eiffel Tower:

Put yourself in a scene from a movie; the lights of Paris glitter beneath you as you dine inside one of the world’s most iconic landmarks – the Eiffel Tower. Built in 1889 as part of the World's Fair by the architecture team of Gustave Eiffel, the Eiffel Tower is the symbol of Paris today. Located on the first level is 58 Tour Eiffel, a gourmet restaurant with stunning panoramic views of Paris. Since food is another big part of Parisian culture, the meal is several courses, beautifully displayed and accompanied with wine, coffee and tea.

Cabaret Theatre performance:

Immerse yourself in the nostalgic side of Parisian culture when taking your seat at a traditional cabaret show. Colorful, crazy, glamourous and intriguing are all used when describing the excitement that is Parisian cabarets. Enjoy your meal while being entertained with a show or play in this festive atmosphere.

Expert Advice

In many places in France, wine costs less than water. Stay hydrated of course but this is also an affordable chance to try many different varieties of the best wine in the world.

Dinner at the Paradis Latin requires business casual attire; shorts are not allowed. This is your chance to get into the spirit of this exciting night.

The French eat lunch between noon and 2:30p.m. and dinner between 8-11p.m. Many restaurants close after lunch and do not open again until dinner time.

Featured Tours to France

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Tour de France 2024

Latest news from the race.

'Walk first, ride indoors and then on the road' - Jonas Vingegaard's road to recovery after Itzulia crash

'The goal is to win the Tour de France' - Jai Hindley and new role with Primoz Roglic

'I hope and think my long term goals will not change' – Remco Evenepoel weighs crash consequences

2024 tour de france information.

The 111th edition of the Tour de France starts in Florence, Italy, on Saturday, June 29 and ends three weeks later in Nice on Sunday, July 21. It is the first time the Tour starts in Italy and the first time it finishes in Nice to avoid the preparations for the 2024 Paris Olympics Games, which begin just a week later.

The route of the world's biggest race covers a total of 3,492km with some 52,320 metres of overall elevation, passing through four nations – Italy, San Marino, France, and Monaco. It features two individual time trials for a total of 59km, four mountain-top finishes, a series of gravel sections on stage 9, and a final hilly time trial to Nice. The official route was unveiled on October 25 in a special ceremony in Paris.

Tour de France champion  Jonas Vingegaard  (Jumbo-Visma) won his second GC title last year and will be back to defend his title against top rival Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates), who finished second overall. Vingegaard is likely to face a huge challenge from not just Pogačar, but also Remco Evenepoel (Soudal-QuickStep) and former teammate turned rival Primož Roglič (Bora-Hansgrohe).

Join Cyclingnews' coverage of the 2024 Tour de France with live coverage, race reports, results, photo galleries, news and race analysis.

• Tour de France 2024 route

The 2024 Tour de France includes 52,230 metres of vertical gain across 3,492km of climbs, sprints and time trialling from Italy into France, with fewer high climbs than in the past and shorter stages. 

It is a balanced three weeks of racing that includes eight flat stages, four mountain-top finishes and two individual time trials, the final test against the clock is a hilly time trial to Nice that could create suspense. The race has 25km of racing above 2,000 metres and 27 mountains classified as second, first, or HC.

Florence, Italy, will host the team presentation, and stage 1 will roll out from Piazzale Michelangelo to open the Grand Tour for the first time. The first two stages are just over 200km each and include climbing, with the third day in Italy a flatter affair at 225km from Piacenza to Turin. 

Stage 4 heads into France and straight away to the Alps, with climbs across Sestriere, the Col de Montgenèvre and the Col du Galibier before a fast descent to Valloire. After two days with opportunities for breakaways and fast finishers, the first time trial comes on stage 7 at 25km. The first week ends with back-to-back stages ending in the champagne capital of Troyes to the southeast of Paris, including stage 9, which is a far tougher day due to the 14 sectors of gravel.

Week two of the 2024 Tour starts with a four-day ride south to the Pyrenees via the Massif Central and the rural France Profonde, with stages to Saint-Amand-Montrond, Le Lioran, Villeneuve-sur-Lot and then Pau. The Tour celebrates the Bastille Day holiday weekend in the Pyrenees with consecutive mountain finishes - stage 14 finishes in Pla d'Adet after climbing the Col du Tourmalet and the Hourquette d’Ancizan while stage 15 climbs the Portet d'Aspet and the Col d’Agnes for the finish up to Plateau de Beille.

Following the second rest day in Gruissan on the Mediterranean coast near the border with Spain on Monday, July 15, the final week leads into the Alps. The contenders should face a final shakeout once the race reaches stage 20, as the 2,802-metre high Cime de la Bonette and final ascent to Isola 2000 will be decisive. The final stage of the 2024 Tour is a 34km hilly time trial from Monaco to Nice.

Check out all the details of the 2024 Tour de France route .

• There's no way to Jumbo-proof the Tour de France - 2024 route analysis
• ‘I think it’s a good parcours for me’ - Jonas Vingegaard keen on 2024 Tour de France route
• Mark Cavendish: 'It might be the hardest route I've ever seen at the Tour de France'
• Jasper Philipsen sees 'a very difficult end' for sprinters in 2024 Tour de France
• Tour de France 2024 gravel stage 'increases chance of bad luck' says Plugge
• Remco Evenepoel tempted by 2024 Giro d'Italia-Tour de France combo
• Regal reveals for Tour de France, Tour de France Femmes 2024 routes - Gallery
• As it happened: All the information about the 2024 Tour de France route unveiled
• Tour de France 2024 routes – All the rumours ahead of the official presentation

Tour de France 2024 Contenders

Defending Tour de France champion  Jonas Vingegaard will again have a strong Jumbo-Visma team to support his quest for a third title, but this time, former team leader Primož Roglič has turned to rival as he looks to give Bora-Hansgrohe top billing. Vingegaard will also face huge challenges from Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates) and Remco Evenepoel (Soudal-QuickStep). 

In the flat stages, look for last year's green jersey victor Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck) to contest for another title against Fabio Jakobsen , now with Team dsm-firmenich, and Caleb Ewan , now with Jayco-AlUIa. And fastman Mark Cavendish (Astana Qazaqstan) is back for an 18th pro season to mix it up in the sprints, on the hunt for a record-breaking 35th Tour de France stage victory.

And there will be opportunities across the three weeks for breakaway riders to shine, including the likes of Julian Alaphilippe (Soudal-QuickStep), Wout van Aert (Jumbo-Visma) and Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck).

Tour de France 2024 stages

• Tour de France past winners
• Stage 1 | Florence - Rimini 2024-06-29 205km
• Stage 2 | Cesenatico - Bologna 2024-06-30 200km
• Stage 3 | Piacenza - Turin 2024-07-01 225km
• Stage 4 | Pinerolo - Valloire 2024-07-02 138km
• Stage 5 | Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne - Saint-Vulbas Plaine de l'Ain 2024-07-03 177km
• Stage 6 | Mâcon - Dijon 2024-07-04 163km
• Stage 7 | Nuits-Saint-Georges - Gevrey-Chambertin (ITT) 2024-07-05 25km
• Stage 8 | Semur-en-Auxois - Colombey-les-Deux-Églises 2024-07-06 176km
• Stage 9 | Troyes - Troyes 2024-07-07 199km
• Rest Day 1 | Orléans 2024-07-08
• Stage 10 | Orléans - Saint-Amand-Montrond 2024-07-09 187km
• Stage 11 | Évaux-les-Bains - Le Lioran 2024-07-10 211km
• Stage 12 | Aurillac - Villeneuve-sur-Lot 2024-07-11 204km
• Stage 13 | Agen - Pau 2024-07-12 171km
• Stage 14 | Pau - Saint-Lary-Soulan (Pla d'Adet) 2024-07-13 152km
• Stage 15 | Loudenvielle - Plateau de Beille 2024-07-14 198km
• Rest Day 2 | Gruissan 2024-07-15
• Stage 16 | Gruissan - Nîmes 2024-07-16 187km
• Stage 17 | Saint-Paul-Trois-Châteaux - Superdévoluy 2024-07-17 178km
• Stage 18 | Gap - Barcelonnette 2024-07-18 179km
• Stage 19 | Embru - Isola 2000 2024-07-19 145km
• Stage 20 | Nice - Col de la Couillole 2024-07-20 133km
• Stage 21 | Monaco - Nice (ITT) 2024-07-21 34km

Latest Content on the Race

By Stephen Farrand published 18 April 24

News 'In two weeks, we'll know what is possible' - Visma DS Frans Maassen on Dane's chances of riding the Tour de France

By Sophie Smith published 16 April 24

In-depth Team sports director says Hindley is 'a champion in cycling', 'sometimes too nice' and talks about a different kind of season with a different kind of leader

By Simone Giuliani published 5 April 24

News After breaking collarbone, shoulder blade in Itzulia Basque Country crash Belgian indicates Ardennes out but Tour de France hopes alive

Miguel Indurain - 'Tadej Pogačar can do the Giro d'Italia-Tour de France double'

By Alasdair Fotheringham published 29 March 24

News All-time Spanish great says Slovenian star could win both Grand Tours in 2024

Awe-inspiring TTT footage at Paris-Nice leads to possible drone footage for Tour de France

By James Moultrie published 12 March 24

News 'Nothing has been decided but we're thinking about it' says broadcast director with eyes on Troyes gravel stage

Bora-Hansgrohe to roll out Red Bull branded kits, bikes before Tour de France

By Stephen Farrand published 7 March 24

News German team working on new colours after energy drink buys 51% controlling stake

‘I’d like to get back’ - Tour de France return remains the goal for Chris Froome

By James Moultrie, Stephen Farrand published 5 March 24

News Four-time winner lines out at Tirreno-Adriatico for his first WorldTour appearance since April of last year

Roglic predicts 'beautiful' Tour de France matchup with Vingegaard, Pogacar and Evenepoel

By James Moultrie published 20 February 24

News 'It's the best for us to have the highest level, and the best one will win' says Slovenian ahead of season debut in Paris-Nice

‘I’m not delusional but I’m not under-ambitious’ - Sepp Kuss clarifies his Tour de France ambitions

By Alasdair Fotheringham published 14 February 24

News American plays down idea of co-leadership with Jonas Vingegaard in 2024 Grand Boucle

'This is not our project' – Tour de France director claims One Cycling reforms doomed to failure

By Stephen Farrand published 13 February 24

News 'Every time cycling has tried to transform itself solely with money, it has failed' says Christian Prudhomme

Top News on the Race

Remco Evenepoel: Tour de France podium would be a dream come true

'To fight for the same thing is exciting' – Geraint Thomas relishes Giro-Tour battle with Pogacar

Mark Cavendish lays the foundations for 2024 success at Colombian altitude camp

Geraint Thomas to ride Giro d'Italia and Tour de France in 2024

Related features.

The event of the summer – Remco Evenepoel's Tour de France debut

Tour de France 2024 - Four contenders, four different paths to the big showdown

'If nothing goes wrong, Tadej is boss’ - Adam Yates on the Tour de France and life with Pogacar

'It's a year to rebuild and find my feet again' – Caleb Ewan starts over at Jayco-AlUla

France Tours & Vacations

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Customers rate Zicasso's travel referral service  5  on a scale of 1 to 5 based on  1537  reviews on Trustpilot

We match you with top tour companies that specialize in the trip you want,  whether it's a customized private tour or a group tour.

Zicasso tours of France offer a unique opportunity to explore the iconic destination known worldwide for its culture and cuisine. With over 15,000 itineraries planned for our France travelers already, uncover the real France through your own personalized vacation. From iconic monuments to charming countryside villages, discover what this marvelous country has to offer through our sample itinerary collection and visit our France guide to get inspired for your own journey.

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Trips curated by the world’s top destination experts

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11  Day Custom Tour

Dynamic pricing from  $3,933

The French countryside will beckon you to discover its breathtaking landscapes and royal Chateaus on this 11-day tour across its bucolic pastures. In addition to being enchanted by the ornate architecture of these captivating Chateaus, this tour has been tailored to immerse you in French culture through experiences within its honored heritage sites, delectable cuisine, and brilliant topography.

14  Day Custom Tour

Dynamic pricing from  $4,979

Witness a side of France that is often missed by hasty travelers on this 14-day tour of Paris, Bordeaux, and Provence. During this tour, the rich culture and historic legacy of each region you visit will be yours to enjoy. From the banks of the Seine River to the sunbaked Mediterranean, this tour will ensure your complete immersion and enjoyment of the places you visit.

10  Day Custom Tour

Dynamic pricing from  $3,665

Wander the French countryside during this guided 10-day self-drive itinerary from the quaint town of Chablis to the breathtaking wilderness flanking Sarlat, Dordogne. Find refuge in charming accommodations pinned in picturesque off-the-beaten-path wine regions as well as immaculate volcanic landscapes veiling France’s outlying pastures. Explore the flavors of France and the country’s rich heritage as you make your way down south towards Bordeaux.

Dynamic pricing from  $11,699

French culture embodies richness, and you can indulge in opulence during your 11-day luxury France tour. This featured itinerary brings private guides to introduce you to unforgettable treasures from the Louvre to Versailles. Whether you want Michelin-starred restaurants, private cooking demonstrations, or luxuriant accommodations, you will find endless delight from Paris to the Côte d’Azur.

Dynamic pricing from  $8,575

France offers visitors an unparalleled blend of European history, delicious cuisine, and stunning natural beauty, all of which appear throughout this 11-day tour of scenic Paris and the country's southern regions. From the regal elegance of the French capital to the vibrant French Riviera, this tour ensures your full immersion into what is best in each community you visit.

Dynamic pricing from  $7,145

Sample breathtaking wines and indulge in mouthwatering cuisine during this 10-day wine and food tour of France. This tour focuses on the ultimate wine road through the Burgundy and Alsace regions. Picturesque villages, dramatic castles, and inspiring cooking classes will capture your imagination, while wine cellars, half-timbered homes, and Michelin-starred restaurants will enrich your experience. During this tour, you will experience the essence of France.

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Dynamic pricing from  $3,856

Venture across the immaculate French countryside to witness stellar landscapes to explore endearing destinations with this thrilling 11-day tour. From the astonishing Roman origins in Avignon to the history of perfume in Grasse, your experiences during this tour will be as beautiful as they are culturally rewarding.

8  Day Custom Tour

Dynamic pricing from  $2,907

From cuisine to shopping and artistic treasures to iconic architecture, this 8-day family trip to France will immerse you in cultural splendor and regal grandeur. Sample famous Parisian chocolates and pastries, ride horses through the gorgeous landscapes of the Loire Valley, marvel at the masterpieces in the Louvre Museum, and glide down the Seine River on a scenic cruise. Your family will discover and delight in French castles, cuisine, and culture.

From the sparkling skyline of Paris to the fabulous landscapes of the French Riviera, your 11-day tour through France will allow you to create unforgettable memories within breathtaking sceneries. During this memorable tour, you will explore the culture and heritage of France in addition to discovering the centuries-old influences that dominate its towns, communes, and villages along the countryside and Mediterranean coast.

Dynamic pricing from  $2,859

Staggering snow-capped alps soar toward the clouds, mountainous landscapes surround golden castles, and gingerbread-esque houses await your discovery on this 8-day French getaway from Annecy to Alsace. You will find so much to enjoy when exploring the cultural nuances and culinary delights that compose the traditional villages and towns among the breathtaking Alps of France.

Dynamic pricing from  $10,915

Enjoy one of Europe's most undiscovered regions on this 14-day tour of Bordeaux, San Sebastian, Bilbao, and Santiago de Compostela. This transnational tour is customized for those who enjoy leisurely time as well as an active exploration of each destination they visit. By the time your trip concludes, you will be well-versed in the national charm of France, Spain, and the Basque Country.

9  Day Custom Tour

Dynamic pricing from  $3,217

From the wartime history along the sandy beaches of Normandy to the breathtaking royal Chateaus in the French countryside, this handcrafted 9-day tour immerses you in the heritage and allure of France. From Paris to Amboise, moments will prove rewarding as you visit iconic art galleries, appreciate unique architecture, and treasure important history throughout this immersive French experience.

Dynamic pricing from  $4,731

The city of lights will bewitch and delight your senses during this 8-day tour of Paris to celebrate the big dreams of Mrs. Harris captured in the new film, Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris . From the sparkling skyline crowned by the Eiffel Tower to the visions of Monet’s masterpieces in The Louvre and the history that emanates from Versailles, Paris is a dream of art, history, culture, and fashion for you to discover.

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Dynamic pricing from  $7,795

From historic ports to World War II battlements and opulent palaces to elegant bohemian gardens, this 10-day luxury France tour will reveal the alluring history and fascinating scenery of France, from Paris to Normandy. Witness the works of master artists at the Louvre, discover the power of German armaments on the coastline, wander preserved medieval lanes, and bask in Parisian prestige and Norman charm while experiencing France in ultimate luxury.

13  Day Custom Tour

Dynamic pricing from  $5,065

Well off the beaten path of major European cities, this 13-day tour of Colmar, Nancy, Strasbourg, and Reims will show you a side of France that is missed by those who never leave the capital. This tour offers guided explorations of the cuisine, history, and architecture in each region you visit. You will also enjoy an abundance of leisure time to ensure your ability to chart your own course through each stunning setting.

Dynamic pricing from  $3,505

It takes visitors little time to realize the seamless interaction of past and present in France, and this 9-day tour of the country provides you with a front-row seat for this interaction, especially in regard to the country's religious sites. With Paris as your basecamp, trips to Lourdes and Lisieux will tell the holy story of France and why so many of the pious return here.

12  Day Custom Tour

Dynamic pricing from  $4,291

Follow in the footsteps of van Gogh, Dali, Cezanne, and Toulouse-Lautrec, and celebrate the splendor of the finest attractions of France on your 12-day South of France tour. Explore the banks of tranquil waterways, both natural and manmade. Immerse yourself in the scenery and indulge in the flavors of the different cities, each offering a new twist on the French culture you thought you knew. Experience how the wealth of history has shaped and enriched the South of France, from the rolling mountaintops of Pyrenees to the canals of Languedoc, and the lavender fields of Provence.

France is filled with a world of wonder that will inspire the entire family on your custom tailored France Tour for families. The gargoyles of Notre Dame de Paris decorate the rooftops and watch over the banks of the Seine River. Parisians lounge at café tables, enjoying the small pleasures of the day. The gardens at Giverny erupt with colors, immaculately captured by Monet. Turquoise water brushes against the shores of Omaha Beach in Normandy. The sensational history of France created a world famous culture that decorates the streets of Paris and the natural beauty of Normandy.

From the most elegant châteaux to the perfect glass of red wine, the luxuries of Southwest France invite you to indulge and enjoy the moment. On this customized Southwest of France Tour, you’ll visit the region’s highlights: sunny Toulouse, charming Provence, regal Biarritz and the beautiful Bordeaux wine country. Step back in time and into the scene of storybook castles, medieval villages, seaside resorts and the idyllic vineyards. You’ll enjoy guided France tours of the monumental churches and châteaux and wander through hidden streets of historic towns. Visit prestigious wineries of the Médoc and Saint-Émilion while sampling world-renowned wines.

Dynamic pricing from  $4,142

The scenic beauty and rich culture of Provence and Paris are yours to enjoy on this 11-day tour through some of France's most breathtaking regions. From the iconic Eiffel Tower to the scenic banks of the Rhone River, a blend of small-town charm and urban thrills will ensure a balanced exploration of each community you visit.

Dynamic pricing from  $4,987

France and Switzerland will be yours to enjoy on this 12-day tour of Normandy, Paris, and the Alps. This incredible tour of two illustrious French cities provides a balanced exploration that will immerse you in the local culture, storied heritage, and world-renowned cuisine. From the lowlands of Mont-Saint-Michel to the lofty heights of the Swiss Alps, this tour will provide you with a close look at the rich culture and history in each destination.

Dynamic pricing from  $5,273

The best part of European travel is the abundance of beauty wherever you look, and this 14-day tour of Southern France and Northern Spain is designed to introduce you to both region's endless beauty and charm. From the fertile vineyards of the Bordeaux wine region to the tasty tapas of Santiago de Compostela, this unique tour will ensure your enjoyment of each destination.

Dynamic pricing from  $4,090

Tailored for those seeking to discover the best of London and Paris, this 8-day tour highlights the reasons these destinations must be visited. Uncover the origins of Rome in London in addition to visiting its royal palaces and the English countryside. Savor authentic French cuisine and make memories within France's fabled heritage sites of Versailles and the Eiffel Tower.

The châteaux are legendary, the landscape is spectacular, and the wine is beyond comparison. In the Loire Valley and Bordeaux region of France, you will delight in exquisite landscapes while sampling some of the world’s finest wines. You’ll visit the Loire’s fairy-tale castles of Chambord and Chenonceau, the historic cities of Amboise and Chinon, and the prestigious wineries of Chinon and Vouvray appellations. Then you’ll tour the elegant city of Bordeaux, the UNESCO village of Saint-Émilion and the surrounding Médoc vineyards with stops at world-famous wineries. This luxurious Bordeaux and Loire Valley wine tour also includes relaxing by a beautiful beach and leisurely gourmet meals.

Show More • ( 12 itineraries)

Popular France Travel Styles

While some months are busier than others, the best time to travel to France is between mid-spring and early summer, from April to June, and in fall, between September and November.

As the weather warms up in spring and early summer, travelers arrive to explore popular cities and famous regions such as the French Riviera, the Loire Valley, and more. Temperatures rise as the crowds gather in July and August, and while busy, summer travel is enjoyable when you have planned early to secure top accommodations and guides. In the fall, France is breathtaking and a quieter atmosphere invites you to slow down and appreciate the highlights.

While not the most popular time to visit, the winter months from December to February are excellent options for travelers spending Christmas in Europe or those seeking active adventures like skiing in the French Alps.

To find the right time for your tour of France, explore more in our guide on the best time to visit France , or learn about when to go to Paris if you are spending a few days in the capital.

From Paris to Normandy, the Loire Valley to Burgundy, and the French Riviera, each of France’s top destinations offers something unique.

Whether you want to enjoy pastries in boulevard cafés near the Eiffel Tower or taste fine wines in medieval villages in the countryside, here are some of the best places to visit in France :

• Paris : France’s capital is a beacon of romance, innovation, and tradition. Boasting iconic landmarks like the Eiffel Tower, Michelin-starred restaurants, fashion districts, and famous museums, there is so much to explore.
• Loire Valley: Home to regal chateaus, including Chambord and Chenonceau, and a gateway to the cascading vineyards of the wine country, Loire Valley is a must-visit to explore France’s royal history and fine wines.
• Burgundy: From Pinot Noirs to Chardonnays, Burgundy produces some of France’s finest reds and whites. Explore the wine cellars on tasting tours or visit medieval towns that reveal the history and culture across the French countryside.
• French Riviera: Explore stunning resort towns and admire the breathtaking Mediterranean coastline of southern France . Spend time on sandy beaches, stay at upscale boutique hotels, and swoon over views of villages perched on the coastal cliffs.
• Normandy: With a picturesque coastline, charming towns, and emotionally stirring history, Normandy is a top spot for relaxation, cultural explorers, and history buffs.

Art and architecture bring France’s dramatic history to life while cafés and Michelin-starred restaurants reveal the traditions of French cooking. Wine estates offer a comfortable getaway from the bustling cities, and fashion takes center stage in the capital.

You can experience all of this and more as you plan to enjoy the following top things to do on tours in France:

• Enjoy the best experiences in Paris and visit the capital’s many landmarks, including the Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, and the Louvre
• Explore French history on cultural tours of medieval villages, in famous museums , and at heritage sites
• Admire European art in France’s iconic galleries and exhibitions
• Taste French wine in the countryside at estates overlooking the hills and sweeping valleys
• Savor fine French cuisine and learn about the culinary traditions on food tours or during cooking classes
• Escape the bustling cities and visit the chateaus in the French countryside

Most of France’s top attractions can be seen in or around Paris, from the Eiffel Tower to the Arc de Triomphe and the Louvre.

Whether exploring the highlights of Paris or enjoying a day trip to Versailles, here are some of the top things to see in France:

• Eiffel Tower, Paris
• Arc de Triomphe, Paris
• Louvre Museum, Paris
• d’Orsay Museum, Paris
• Palace of Versailles, Versailles
• Mont-Saint-Michel, Normandy
• Château de Chenonceau, Loire Valley

France is famous for its romantic and fashionable capital, Paris, and its museums that display many of Europe’s greatest artworks. Travelers flock from all over to sample world-class wines and savor decadent desserts and pastries. You can experience all of this and more on trips to France.

French wine is considered some of the best in the world, and its wine regions are a global hotspot for wine enthusiasts.

From the vineyards of Bordeaux to the authentic champagnes of the Champagne region, you can cross the countryside to taste the fine wines or simply bask in the scenery of these famous wine regions in France :

• Loire Valley
• Rhone Valley
• Languedoc-Roussillon
• Jura and Savoie

French cuisine is known for its deliciously sweet pastries and baked breads, hearty soups and stews, and unique delicacies like escargots.

Some of the most popular foods in France to try on French culinary tours include:

• Escargots , snails
• Cuisses de Grenouilles , frogs’ legs
• Foie gras , duck liver pate
• Coq au vin , chicken braised with wine
• Ratatouille
• Beef bourguignon , beef braised with wine
• Chocolate souffle

The best France itinerary combines several days in the capital city with extensions to the countryside, French coast, or medieval villages. Below, we share some of our most popular customizable France itineraries:

• From the capital city to the countryside, explore the best of Paris, Loire Valley, and Bordeaux on our Best of France Tour: Starry City to Countryside Chateaux .
• Spend several days in the bustling capital city, sample the vintages of Bordeaux and Lyon, and conclude your French experience on the coast with our Highlights of France Tour: Paris, Bordeaux, Lyon, and Nice .

Showcasing the best Paris, Provence, and the French Riviera, our Opulent Visions of France Tour: Endless Cultural Delight combines cosmopolitan splendor, wine country exclusivity, and coastal charm.

France is a sensational winter destination. You can explore Paris when it's covered in snow, head for the French Alps to ski the slopes, or admire the Christmas festivals lighting up the center of Lyon.

When planning a winter trip, these are a few of the best places to spend winter in France :

• The French Alps

Explore more information in our frequently asked questions about planning a trip to France and inspiration in our France travel guide .

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THE 10 BEST France Tours & Excursions

France tours.

• Historical & Heritage Tours
• Walking Tours
• Cultural Tours
• Literary, Art & Music Tours
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• 1 to 4 hours
• 4 hours to 1 day
• 5.0 of 5 bubbles
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• The ranking of tours, activities, and experiences available on Tripadvisor is determined by several factors including the revenue generated by Tripadvisor from these bookings, the frequency of user clicks, and the volume and quality of customer reviews. Occasionally, newly listed offerings may be prioritized and appear higher in the list. The specific placement of these new listings may vary.

1. Eiffel Tower Guided Tour by Elevator with Summit option

2. Skip-the-Line: Louvre Museum Masterpieces Fully Guided Tour

3. Louvre Museum - Exclusive Guided Tour (Reserved Entry Included)

4. Paris Seine River Dinner Cruise with Live Music by Bateaux Mouches

5. Paris Walking Food Tour with Secret Food Tours

6. Versailles Palace and Gardens Skip-the-Line Tour from Paris

7. Versailles Palace Live Tour with Gardens Access from Paris

8. Versailles Palace Classic Guided Tour

9. Priority Entrance Ticket to Versailles Palace, Gardens and Estate

10. Bateaux Parisiens Seine River Gourmet Dinner & Sightseeing Cruise

11. Paris Seine River Private Boat Tour

12. Louvre Museum Timed Entry Ticket

13. Normandy D-Day Landing Beaches Day Trip with Cider Tasting & Lunch from Paris

14. Normandy American D-Day Beaches Full Day Tour from Bayeux

15. Utah & Omaha Beaches D-Day Group Tour from Bayeux

16. Big Bus Paris Hop-On Hop-Off Tour with Optional River Cruise

17. Versailles Domain Bike Tour with Palace and Trianon Estate Access

18. D-Day Beaches Shore Excursion with Packed Lunch from Le Havre

19. Louvre Museum Semi-Private Guided Tour (Reserved Entry Included)

20. Versailles Domain Skip-the-Line Access and Guided Tour from Paris

21. Mont Saint Michel Day Trip from Paris with English Speaking Guide

22. Normandy D-Day Small-Group Day Trip with Omaha Beach, Cemetery & Cider Tasting

23. Welcome Tour to Paris by Private Eco Tuk Tuk

24. Chateauneuf du Pape wine tour

25. Skip-the-Line Paris Catacombs Special Access Tour

26. Loire Valley Castles Day Trip from Paris with Wine Tasting

27. Eiffel Tower Guided Tour by Elevator

28. Guided Eiffel Tower Climbing Tour with Summit Access

29. Louvre Museum Priority Access Guided Tour with Mona Lisa

30. Giverny Monet’s House and Gardens Half Day Tour from Paris

What travelers are saying.

• Matthew J 1 contribution 0 5.0 of 5 bubbles Some things to know about Versailles Palace tour Another amazing palace in Europe. If you like that then this is a must see. The viewing of the royal rooms is very crowded and you move through pretty fast so unless you are well prepared for what you will be seeing ( we never are) a guide is a must. We used Get a Guide and it was great. Picked up our tickets to the palace and the gardens right in town (70 and 10 euros respectively - how you could go to Versailles and not see the gardens is beyond me) and walked 10 minutes with our guide to the palace. Our guide was Frederic with a group of about ten (can be at least double that size) . We were all given audio enhancers to be able to hear our guide over all the noise inside. Worked ok but would probably be better if you used your own head phones to plug in. Frederick was friendly, personable, patient and well informed. A really nice guy. The rooms took about 90 minutes to get through then it was on to the gardens. Expansive doesn’t adequately describe the grounds (unless you think in terms like “the Pacific Ocean is expansive”) especially if you try to include a walk to Trianon. I definitely think you should take the 5 euro hop-on hop-off train (pay the driver directly ) if you decide to add this to your day. Overall a great experience. Oh, by the way, like every historical sight in Europe where tourists gather the bathroom facilities are grossly inadequate and the wait time for women especially can be ridiculous - you have been warned! Read more Review of: Versailles Palace Classic Guided Tour Written April 19, 2024 This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

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Discover france, fine wine, renowned works of art and high style blend effortlessly with quaint bistros, renaissance villages and picturesque countryside..

From shabby to chic, you’ll find it in France. The glittering height of the Eiffel Tower, the elegance of designer boutiques, the Champagne sparkle of nightlife and the rustic traditions of rural winemakers are just a few of the ways that France embraces your senses.

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More about france.

On the west coast of continental Europe, France is synonymous with elegance and romance, and weaves together the past and the present with charm and sophistication. In the heart of France, Paris is well-known for the architectural marvel that is the Eiffel Tower, and meaningful monuments such as the Arc de Triomphe, honoring those who fought and died for France during the French Revolution and Napoleonic Wars. With over 100 museums throughout Paris, the Louvre Museum is the world's largest museum, featuring an impressive art collection that includes the world-famous Mona Lisa, a painting by Leonardo da Vinci. As a global center for art, culture, fashion, history, and gastronomy, Paris boasts delectable French cuisine and world-class wine.

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France Reviews & Ratings

Nancy & Steven

It was nice biking on quiet roads with beautiful scenery

Wonderful cycling tour of Provence! It was nice biking on quiet roads with beautiful scenery. I loved the e bike!I wish we stayed more then one night in each place. ...

William & Marcia

We really liked the equipment including the day pack boxes, paniers, and especially the bikes.

We really liked the equipment including the day pack boxes, paniers, and especially the bikes. Well matched to the types of roads we were on. We will reccomend you t...

Shir & Noga

A fantastic trip! Everything was so simple, well planned and accommodating.

A fantastic trip! Everything was so simple, well planned and...

Matthew & Sarah

The trip highlights were riding Ventoux, beautiful backroads riding around Provence.

Villa de Margot (in Avignon) had the best breakfast. The trip highlights were riding Ventoux, beautiful backroads riding around Provence. The hotel in Bedoin was mor...

Mark & Elizabeth

The bikes were great and we are definitely interested in coming back again in the future

The gorges de la nesque was especially beautiful. Marie at BB La Villa de Margot was utterly wonderful and sweet. Hotel les Remparts had a great restaurant. We were ...

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Related Trips and Tours

Trip planning.

Destination: France

Touring France with Odyssey

Odyssey offers easy, convenient, and relaxed escorted small group tours across Western Europe and beyond. We explore France’s fairy-tale natural beauty, its ancient Roman, and Imperial heritage, its World Heritage Sites, and world famous cities, all with some truly spectacular scenery along the way. This and more is all waiting to be explored on one of Odyssey’s small group tours of France, designed for the senior traveller, and led by experienced, and enthusiastic like minded people.

Continues below

France Tours

Crafted Tours for Mature World Travellers

Singapore to Lisbon by train

Visiting China

A small group railway journey from Singapore to Lisbon . The longest in the world for senior couples and mature solo travellers . Explore over some 56 days, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, China , Mongolia , Russia, France , Spain and Portugal . Limited to 10 travelers on this escorted program.

From A$41,145 AUD

Anglo French Tour | Normandy, Brittany, Channel Islands tour

Visiting Channel Islands, England

Our 21 night program has daily itineraries with plenty of authentic experiences provided by passionate local guides in the key destinations in France , Channel Islands and England for this small group of like minded people. For Solo travellers minimal single supplement applies for this European tour.

From A$17,995 AUD

Secret France | Small group tours France | Places of cultural interest for seniors

Visiting France

Our small group tour d esigned with the mature traveller in mind, gives you the chance to see eight different locations over 25 days while experiencing local culture, t rying regional cuisine , exploring breathtaking architecture and admiring beautiful scenery. From Zurich the tour will move south towards Sare before returning north to Paris where the tour finishes, for a significant part of our journey we will be following old pilgrim pathways , taking the group deep into the villages, valleys, shrines and ski resorts.

European Ballet escorted small groups tour for senior travellers

Visiting France, Germany

For couples and solo travellers who enjoy the ballet and the arts this 16 day program from Amsterdam to Hamburg and finishing in Paris is a dance delight. Programs and actual performances will vary, but the structure and fabric of the experiences to be enjoyed within a small group remains the cornerstone of your experience on this program.

From A$12,695 AUD

Normandy and Brittany escorted history tours for small mature grups

This small group tour for couples and solo travellers is centred on the North West corner of France: Normandy , where the peaceful landscape belies a turbulent past ; Brittany , where a strongly separate Celtic culture is still evident; Poitou, famous for its rich farmlands and historic ports; and the Loire Valley , replete with royal châteaux.

From A$15,895 AUD

Italy and France, history of gardens small group escorted tour

Visiting France, Italy

Odyssey's small group tour explores some of the classic gardens of Italy and France that reflect changing fashions and garden designs throughout the ages. This fully escorted tour features an Odyssey Program Leader and a handful of local guides who will examine, discuss, compare and contrast the cultural and temporal similarities and diversities between the gardens of Italy and France and the historical influences on their design.

From A$17,595 AUD

La Belle France small group escorted history tours for seniors

Travelling with like minded people on this small group we visit several culturally significant and picturesque regions of France , including Provence, Champagne, Burgundy, and Bordeaux regions, where we sample wine and learn more about the tradition of wine-making. We also visit the Loire Valley to see its many castles. Finally, we travel to Bayeux, from where we we visit Mont St Michel and spend time up on the Normandy landing beaches with local guides.

From A$19,965 AUD

La Belle France Small Group Short Tour

On this small group tour of France , we visit several culturally significant and picturesque regions of France , including Provence, Champagne, Burgundy. We learn about each region's history from expert local guides with a chance to experience the local culture, and taste the regional cuisine.

From A$11,875 AUD

Belgium, Netherlands, France, Germany Art Tour | Western Europe Art Tour

Visiting Belgium, France

Most of us have already experienced the grandeur of classic galleries such as the Louvre and the National Gallery . Travel with like-minded people in a small group tour and be surprised by the lesser-known but equally wonderful smaller art galleries across Northwest Europe .

Romans in France small group specialist history tours for seniors

Visiting France, Switzerland

Join our small group tour to explore what remains of the Roman Gaul . France , Belgium, Luxembourg and South-west Germany were occupied by Roman Gaul some 2,000 years ago. To this region the Romans brought roads , bridges, education, cities and, perhaps, above all the Peace of Rome .

From A$16,995 AUD

France on Foot | Small Group Walking Tours France

Our France on Foot small group walking is designed for the active walker and extends from the scenic island of Noirmoutier on the Atlantic Coast via the Massif Central on the borders of Limousin and the Auvergne to the snow-tipped peaks of the Alps in Savoy.

From A$19,345 AUD

Opera Tour Europe | Theatre-Opera-Ballet and Classical Music Small Group Tour for Seniors

Visiting England

This 22-day small group program visits the major arts centres of Hamburg, Amsterdam, Paris , and London . We travel in winter avoiding crowds and enjoy a different perspective of the places visited. At Odyssey Traveller we have sought to assemble entry and show tickets to what many will consider the best arts experiences available in those cities during each program.

From A$22,000 AUD

As a travel experience, beautifully historic and immaculately cosmopolitan, France is sure to make your jaw drop in whichever city you find yourself in. Several centuries of history will be all around you, evident in the blend of architectural styles, the iconic landmarks and the many monuments to some of France’s most important figures and historical moments. Encompassing beautiful scenery, quaint villages , great wines and plenty of hidden gems, a trip here is sure to be equal parts memorable and amazing.

After walking through an art gallery , or shopping in boutiques along cobblestone streets, eating delectable sweets at a cafe are among the best ways to enjoy an afternoon in any French town. From the rolling plains lined with grape vines in Bordeaux, the aquamarine waters of the French Riviera, and to the architectural gems to be discovered on small group tours Paris France as you cross back and forth over the Seine River, France has a breathtaking sight for every traveller and is brimming with natural wonders waiting to be discovered. The beauty of the French landscape demands outdoor action and whether you’re a hiker, swimmer, skier or adventure-seeker, you will find an activity that’s sure to combine joy and natural beauty. It is also a food lover’s paradise , famed for its gastronomical experiences, classy restaurants, cosy patisseries and bustling markets. If you’ve never had French cuisine or a good glass of Bordeaux wine, you’ll be wondering what you’ve been doing your whole life. Whatever your passion, be it art, architecture, history, food or geography, you are sure to fall in love with what France has to offer.

France tours, travel packages, and experiences for seniors

Odyssey Traveller’s small group tours of France are ideal for solo travellers or couples seeking an intimate guided tour led by an expert tour manager and local guide. When it comes to our tours, we select our destinations with an eye to getting off the beaten path while also providing the opportunity to explore the major cities with small group tours Paris France, the inimitable and endlessly elegant capital, and tours that visit the port city of Bordeaux , the capital of France’s largest département, Gironde. Our France tours also delve into Provincial France and the villages of Alsace; examine the history of classic French gardens with a visit to the magnificent Palace of Versailles; and explore the life of French Impressionist master Claude Monet through his most loved places in France including Le Havre, his hometown on the Normandy coast. On our Explore Paris tour we visit the Place de la Bastille, the Tuileries Gardens and the stunning Musee de l’Armee; while our Southwest France tour allows you to journey along the Canal du Midi sharing in travel experiences almost 250 years old. If you are considering joining a France Odyssey tour, some of things to think about include what places you would like to visit , when you would like to go and the best way to travel around the country. Whatever sightseeing tour you choose for your French vacation, from a tour of the entire country to immersing yourself in one city , Odyssey Traveller makes sure you have time to learn about and appreciate France’s culture, history and people when on vacation as solo travellers or with your companion.

Articles about France

Arrondissements of Paris, France

Know about Paris with this article giving the solo traveller or couple confidence when exploring the city on foot or on the metro . A small group tour of Paris mature and senior travellers explore off the beaten track, great galleries such as Marmottan , Musee Maillol .

France Guide for Mature or Senior travellers

France Guide for Mature or Senior Travellers There are good reasons why France has been the world’s most popular tourist destination for over twenty years. This France guide should give you the start  of an…

Historic Loire Valley

Historic Loire Valley The Loire Valley has been the site of both aristocratic grandeur and thousands of years of territorial conflict. Now a UNESCO World Heritage Site with the 15th century Château de Chenonceau as…

Monet's Giverny Garden

Monet’s Giverny Garden Claude Monet French Impressionist Claude Monet (1840-1926) was a pioneer of a major art movement, but he created a thing of beauty that he believed eclipsed even his own celebrated works of art.…

Paris Leaders & Landmarks

Paris Leaders & Landmarks   The inhabitants of a place surely influence how it is perceived. Parisian politicians have certainly left their marks on some of France’s most famous landmarks, creating some amazing stories for…

Questions About France for Senior travellers

Escorted small group tours for mature and senior travellers to France . Designed for couples and solo travellers who like to explore and enjoy learning as they travel to Paris , Provence, the South or the Loire Valley and beyond.

Bayeux, France

The quaint medieval city of Bayeux is home to one big ticket item – the fascinating Bayeux Tapestry, which depicts the Norman Conquest of England by William the Conqueror in 1066. Though the origins of the tapestry are debated by historians, it is of great artistic interest and is an important historical source.

Bordeaux, France

Explore Bordeaux, historic Atlantic trading city, and wine capital of France. Odyssey offers small group tours for mature and senior travellers couples and solo travelers to Bordeaux and France .

Caen, France

The city of Caen, with a dramatic history spanning from the time of William the Conqueror to the D-Day Landing, is a highlight of any Normandy tour.

Conserving Versailles: The Definitive Guide for Travellers

Conserving Versailles Versailles was the official royal residence for over a century from 1682 – 1789. The splendor of the palace and the hundreds of people living there is awe-inspiring to reflect on. However, at…

Constructing Versailles: The Definitive Guide For Travellers

Constructing Versailles, the making of a Palace The Château du Versailles is an iconic destination for all of those interested in French history. A stone’s throw away from Paris, Versailles was the official residence of…

Cooking & eating French food: 10 of the best books for travellers

Discovering French food France’s distinctive culinary tradition is among the most respected in the world. No trip to France will remain untouched by the wonders of French gastronomy. Whether you are tucked into a quiet…

Designing Paris: The Definitive Guide for Travellers

Redesigning Paris The Paris that many of us know and love did not always look as it does now. When Napoleon III instructed Hausmann to tear down the urban centre to make way for the…

Escorted Tours of European gardens with Odyssey Traveller

Gardens remain a popular package tour option for small group tours for mature and senior travellers to Britain and Europe. This collection focuses on the influencers, the designers and visionaries who shape the outside rooms. Couples and solo travellers are welcome consider joining these programs.

Exploring Paris and France by rail, tips for learning about history

French history by rail for mature and senior travellers , couples or solo travellers is a long stay apartment based small group tour based in Paris. We use the rail network to learn about the history of Medieval to Contemporary France . One of 20+ Vacation packages offered in France.

Five Women of the Renaissance period to see on tour

Five Incredible Women of the Renaissance | Small Group Tours The Renaissance is considered humanity’s greatest intellectual and artistic revolution and stories about the period is dominated by tales of famous men and their inventions,…

Getting around Paris by Métro and Rail: A guide for seniors

Ride the metro and RER of Paris when on a small group tour for mature and senior travellers in Europe and visiting Paris , wth your partner or as a solo traveller , visit Marmottan , Musee Maillol or wander through the arcades .

Guillaumot prevents Paris collapse

Guillaumot prevents Paris collapse. Modern-day Paris On April 24, 1777, architect Charles-Axel Guillaumot, newly minted Inspector of Quarries, experienced the worst first day at work. More than two years prior, in the afternoon of December…

Living at Versailles: The Definitive Guide

The Political and Social Climate at the Palace of Versailles The Palace of Versailles was a place of total luxury from the time of Louis XIV’s initial plans to the end of the French monarchy…

Loire Valley France

The Loire Valley in France is renowned for its picturesque natural beauty, and the region also combines all the ingredients of what the French consider to be the good life. The Valley is the home of gorgeous architecture, historic monuments, and fabulous French cuisine and wine from the Loire Valley vineyards.

Marmottan Monet Museum, France

Marmottan Monet Museum - home to the world's largest collection of Monets, along with works by the other great impressionists - remains a hidden gem, often left out of the standard tour of Paris.

Mediterranean Islands: Malta, Sicily, Sardinia and Corsica

Malta, Sicily, Sardinia and Corsica: An Educational Journey through Western Mediterranean This article takes you on a journey through the beautiful islands of the western Mediterranean – Malta, Sicily, Sardinia and Corsica – by tracing…

Monet's Water Lillies: The Definitive Guide for Travellers

Claude Monet’s Water Lilies are among the most beloved and amazing artworks of the 20th century. Displayed in Paris’s Orangerie in a set of rooms devoted entirely to the paintings, they are Monet’s gift to…

Mont-St-Michel, France

In 966, a Benedictine abbey was built on the island and Mont St-Michel became a centre of religious learning, attracting the brightest minds and most talented artists from around Europe.

Musée Maillol, Paris

Musee Maillol, a small museum devoted to the work of Aristide Maillol, a pioneering turn-of-the-century sculptor.

Musée Rodin, France

World’s most extensive collection of Auguste Rodin’s work, displayed in the beautiful house and gardens of the Hotel Biron, the Musee Rodin is a highlight of any trip to Paris.

Musée Yves Saint Laurent, Paris, France

The Musée Yves Saint Laurent is Paris's latest must-see destination, an extensive and deeply personal look through the life and works of the revolutionary fashion designer - who embodied the spirit of the 'Swinging Sixties'

Normandy Beaches

The Normandy beaches in northwestern France were the location of D-Day during World War II, the historic simultaneous landings of Allied troops that liberated Western Europe and eventually put an end to the Nazi Reich.

Quimper, France

Quimper, France The cultural heart of Brittany, the charming small city of Quimper is a gateway into France’s most distinct region. Believed to be inhabited since the neolithic, Brittany is home to some of the…

South West France

South West France Travelling the Canal du Midi: this article will help mature and senior travellers understand the cultural and geographical links between the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea through Southwestern France as they prepare…

Studying Gargoyles and Grotesques: The Definitive Guide for Travellers

Article to support world travellers since 1983 with small group educational tours for senior couples or mature solo travellers interested in British and European history.

Ten Things To Do in France When You Visit

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The Elegant Arcades of Paris

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The Louvre Museum

The Louvre Museum (Musee du Louvre) is the world’s largest museum and most visited art gallery in the world, displaying some 35,000 artworks from the antiquities to the mid-19th century and attracting nearly 10 million visitors every year.

Tours of France. Guided tours of France for mature travellers

The Best Guided Tours of France Odyssey Traveller Australia’s all inclusive French vacation packages provide unique experiences for senior travellers. Our La Belle France small group escorted history tours for seniors is perfect for singles…

Walking tours for active travellers – tips for seniors

For the active mature and senior traveller be they a couple or solo traveller this article outlines preparation for walking tours even for the over 80's. It may on the Wainwright , the lake district or a pilgrims walk across Europe or St James Way, the Camino. This artices give advice on getting fit, shoes and socks including for particular advice for women on this topic.

Writers of Paris, France

Paris, attracts the artists and writers. From Monet to Picasso, or Hemingway to Dumas. Our escorted small group tours of Paris and France explore the literary past of this magnificent city.

What the top travel destinations in France for mature travellers? Where to go in France?

One of the world’s most iconic cities, Paris is a must-see for any trip to France. One of the magnificent things about Paris is that walking around is half the fun but there is also no shortage of museums, galleries and gardens to explore. It is a testament to the city that every time you return you can have a different experience, whether you visit all the tourist spots, spend your time shopping or do a culinary tour of the city.

With its tree-lined boulevards, impressive art museums, sunlit vineyards and extravagant Gothic architecture, there is a lot to love about Bordeaux. Home to some of the best wine in the world and incredible restaurants, a day of exploring the city will be well paid off.

Burgundy or Bourgogne in French is a historical region in east-central France, renowned for its delicious wine, Dijon mustard (from the capital of the same name) and startling natural beauty. The towns and villages of Burgundy are framed by the most stunning countryside, with verdant meadows, rolling hills and blooming spring flowers. For senior travellers, the region’s medieval architecture, tranquil canals and sublime vineyards are sure to capture the imagination.

This charming riverside town has a rich medieval heritage that is sure to delight mature travellers. Explore the picturesque cobbled streets and admire stately Renaissance mansions with impressive carved facades. Discover the town’s fascinating history involving Benedictine monks and pilgrim stopovers. Figeac is also the perfect base from which to explore surrounding hilltop towns and medieval sites.

What are some of France's must-see sights?

Palace of versailles.

A trip to France is not quite complete without a visit to the country’s most famous and most magnificent palace. Louis XIV redesigned his father’s hunting lodge and transformed into the impossibly grand Chateau de Versailles in the 17th century. Composed of the Palace, the gardens, the Park, the Trianon estate and several buildings in town, the Estate of Versailles spreads over more than 800 hectares.

Mont St Michel

One of France’s most picturesque and unforgettable landmarks, Mont Saint-Michel is a small island located in the midst of sandbanks between Normandy and Brittany. The island is cut off during high tide but it is accessible via a footbridge. An impressive abbey is the crown jewel of the rocky islet, which has been built and expanded over several centuries since Benedictine monks settled there in 966 AD.

Noirmoutier

Noirmoutier is an island in the Bay of Biscay , connected to the mainland by a modern bridge. Despite its Atlantic location, there is something Mediterranean about Noirmoutier with its long sandy beaches framed by giant pines alongside whitewashed walls with blue shutters. A great location for a seaside holiday and delicious seafood.

Lavender Fields in the Provence

For many, the image and scent of lavender fields is emblematic of France’s beautiful Provence. The Valensole Plateau’s lavender fields are perhaps the most famous in the world and framed by sunflowers. The area is breathtakingly beautiful and the town of Valensole sits on the plateau with an 11th century church at its centre. Take a stroll through the colourful fields and admire the view.

What is the best way to travel around France?

Best walking tours of france for older travellers.

Odyssey Traveller offers walking tours designed especially for senior and mature travellers. Suitable for couples and singles, they are tailored toward varying levels of fitness and are flexible. So, if you would prefer to spend an afternoon sipping tea and watching the world go by, you can rejoin the rest of the small group later. Walking tours are fully mapped out, designed to maximise experience, and are guided by people in the know. Discover the world at a slower pace and get your feet dirty!

The France on Foot tour extends from the scenic island of Noirmoutier on the Atlantic coast all the way to Limousin and the Auvergne to the peaks of the Savoy Alps. Along the way we traverse France via the Massif Central. For those who enjoy walking holidays, this is a walking holiday like no other. With a range of different walks on offer, you will be able to experience the full range of French landscapes, from medieval cities, alpine villages, rugged mountain ranges, Mediterranean beaches and seaside villages.

What to Look for in a France Travel Package

When booking an Odyssey small group tour, some things to consider before you book include:

• Gratuities included: Tipping per person, per day, for all different services can quickly add up and leave you out of pocket. As well as this, it can be stressful working out how much and how often you should be tipping. When tipping is included in the price, it saves you both time and money, while giving you peace of mind that you’re not committing any type of cultural faux pas.
• Number of fellow travellers: When booking a France small group tour, you want to ensure that you are not going to get lost in a big crowd of people. This is particularly pertinent when visiting a popular European holiday destination such as France. Odyssey tours have an average of eight participants per tour with a maximum of group size of 18.
• Knowledgeable guides: France has a long, rich and complex history, demonstrated by its architectural diversity, multiple museums and numerous festivals. Ideally, you want to be able to gain a sense of France’s past, present and future and for this reason, an informed Program leader and knowledgeable guides are essential to a fulfilling travel experience. All Odyssey Traveller France tours include a Program Leader who accompanies the group for the duration of the tour. In addition, we engage local guides with regional knowledge to ensure an authentic experience during which you can learn as much as possible about the history and culture of the different regions of France, from the stylish south to rustic northern villages.
• Unique locations: France truly has something for everyone and when looking for a France travel package, it is useful to consider where you might want to visit and the kind of holiday you would like. Odyssey Traveller offers tours that allow you to travel all around France, through France and more of Western Europe or to focus on a particular region or city. The French History by Rail tour , for example, will guide you on an unforgettable journey through some of France’s medieval city centres, discovering Gothic churches and ancient castles.
• Culture and History: When visiting somewhere like France, you want to return with a better understanding of France traditions, art, architecture, literature, history and culture. Odyssey offers a wide range of educational, cultural and heritage journeys will let you see a side of France you don’t always get from the history books. Travel back many millennia to the pre-historic Caves of Lascaux II, attend the dazzling Royal Opera house at the Palace of Versaille to watch Mozart’s opera The Magic Flute, visit Saint-Cecile Cathedral, the largest brick-built cathedral in the world, and marvel at the glamorous city-state of Monaco.
• Time of the tour: France is beautiful and captivating regardless of the time of the year but peak season is definitely during the summer from the beginning of June to the end of August. During this time, the most popular destinations in France, including Paris, Bordeaux and the Mediterranean beaches, experience a massive increase in tourism. For this reason, it is best to visit during the shoulder seasons (spring and autumn) and to look for tours that start during this period. There will be less crowd and traffic and more temperate weather.

Tour Reviews

This tour was such a good mix of the different areas of France, good food, good wine, good company and amazing sights.

Participant Sep 2014

Robert's knowledge and expertise was greatly appreciated especially as I was the least culturally aware of the group. I enjoyed every minute of the tour, and his cheerfulness even in times of trial ( the weather) and the usual small things that go wrong were met with enthusiasm and help.

Participant -17

This trip could have been planned for me as all my interests were included - ballet, theatre, concerts, opera and visits to magnificent museums and galleries.

Robert was an excellent leader who made things run smoothly. He had great knowledge about all aspects of the content of this expedition. He interacted with all members of the group. I would be very happy to go on another tour with Robert as leader.

The tour was compact, well planned and intense of course, having to include so much in a short space of time, compared with what we would do and see normally at home. A bit overwhelming, but wonderful for looking back, and a challenge to see how much one can remember.

Brilliant trip with an excellent guide and driver. Even converted my sports -orientated husband into appreciating cathedrals and architecture! Love the 'all-inclusive' aspect, not having to bother with meals, tipping, etc. Made it a real holiday for me.

I was impressed by the number of places we visited. It was a very full itinerary which I like. We saw things of interest every day. I see no fault with the tour.

Participant 2017

Touring France

The need to know

Getting around

Odyssey travels by coach and occasionally uses local transport, including trains and ferries. Specifics are always outlined in your tour itinerary. France has a centralised and impressively extensive rail network comprised by the TER, which links towns, and the TGV, which links major cities. Paris itself is home to one of the most extensive metro systems in the world, and a number of the stations are tourist attractions in their own right.

Accommodation

In major cities, Odyssey stays in centrally located 3-4 star hotels, with easy access to public transport. In smaller towns or rural areas, we usually stay in family-run hotels or guesthouses. On our long-stay tours, during which you spend the length of the tour in a single location, we use serviced apartments.

Tour Guides

Odyssey always engages local guides with regional knowledge to ensure an authentic experience during which you can learn as much as possible about the history and culture of places you visit.

Geography, Environment, & Weather

France is divided into 13 administrative regions, each with its distinct lifestyle and cuisine. The landscape of France is equally varied, with beaches along the north coast, to spectacular mountain ranges of the Pyrenees and the Alps.

In terms of climate, there is a lot of variety, but temperate winters and mild summers are typical, and especially in Paris. Conditions are wetter in the northwest (Brittany), and winters are often colder along the German border (Alsace). Along the Rhône Valley, occasional strong, cold, north-to northwesterly winds blow: this is known as the mistral. Snow reaches the Mountainous regions, including the Alps, the Pyrenees, and the Auvergne. So, do your research to discover what weather to expect at the time of your visit and in the area you’re visiting, but it is wise to prepare for all eventualities.

World Heritage Sites

France has an impressive 42 UNESCO World Heritage Sites. You can view the official list of the sites here ( https://whc.unesco.org/en/statesparties/fr ). While every site has something of value, here are a few highlights: The Loire Valley, home to some of the world’s most stunning architecture and landscape. The Chartres Cathedral, which was constructed throughout the 12th and 13th centuries and remains in excellent condition. The Palace of Versailles, perhaps the world’s most renowned royal residence, home to French kings from the time of Louis XIV to Louis XVI.

Festivals & Events

France has an extraordinary number of cultural, culinary, and sports events. From the Tour De France which treks across the country each July, to the many celebrations of Bastille Day, you will certainly be able to find something that suits your schedule and taste. Other events include The Cannes Film Festival, The Monaco Grand Prix, and one of the world’s biggest Mardi Gras festivals.

Reading List

My Life in France by Julia Child and Alex Prud’homme The Discovery of France: A Historical Geography by Graham Robb A Year in Provence by Peter Mayle Cambridge Illustrated History of France by Colin Jones The History of Modern France: From the Revolution to the War on Terror by Jonathan Fenby

Eating & Drinking

One of France’s primary attraction’s is its cuisine. Many people travel to France exclusively to experience its food and drink, and there are many good reasons for that. While foreigners often think of French food as one category, it actually varies widely based on the region. Some popular regional dishes include Champagne Ham, from Champagne, Boeuf Boirguignon, from Burgundy, and gratin dauphinois, from Dauphine. And of course, you can’t go past French wine. It’s estimated that France drinks around 43 litres of wine per capita per year and, just like the food, wine is regionally distinct, with globally famous varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, pinot noir, and Sauvignon blanc. What about tips for dining out? Here’s something not many tourists know. It’s often cheaper to stand at the bar and have a coffee or drink than it is to sit down! And see below for our advice on how to tip.

Health & Safety

As of writing, smarttraveller.gov recommends exercising a high degree of caution when travelling in France due to the risk of a terrorist attack. While much of France is usually safe to travel around, it’s important to stay alert to anything unusual. Also, you will often see signs warning of pickpockets in areas popular with tourists, so keep a close eye on your belongings at all times.

Electrical Supply

Whenever you travel overseas, it’s always wise to take an appropriate travel adaptor. Plugs in France have two round pins, so make sure to pick up the right adaptor before your trip.

The best of France

The Loire Valley

Old-world villages and story-book chateaux bedeck the Loire, once fought over by Gauls, Romans, Visigoths and even Attila the Hun. Hire bikes and roll through the lush valley, visiting fortresses in Amboise and Angers, UNESCO-designated Chartres Cathedral and the Gothic cathedral in Nantes.

The Normandy beaches

The Normandy landings were the landing operations on Tuesday, 6 June 1944 of the Allied invasion of Normandy in Operation Overlord during World War II.

Louvre Museum

Home to Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa, the Louvre is considered the world's greatest art museum, with an unparalleled collection of items covering the full spectrum of art through the ages.

What is the time zone?

France has a single time zone (excluding its overseas territories), Central European Time. The nation observes daylight saving time from the last Sunday in March to the last Sunday in October.

Is tipping customary in France?

If you’re on an Odyssey tour, we take care of tipping so you don’t need to give it a second thought. However, in your free time, or if travelling independently, it’s essential that you tip an appropriate amount for services, as is the case throughout much of Europe. It’s customary to tip 10% of the bill at restaurants, or 1 to 3 euro at a more casual establishment. It’s polite to round a bill up to the nearest whole figure or leave the change when buying drinks.

What is the internet access like in France?

Internet is easily accessible, and most hotels and many cafes will be able to offer it.

Can I use my mobile/cell phone while in France?

Check with your cell phone provider to see whether you’re able to make calls and use data while in France. Many providers will allow you to pay a daily fee that allows you to make calls and check the internet while only being charged your regular rates. However, be certain to inform your provider that you’re heading overseas, because just like a bank they can turn off your service as a result of unusual activity.

What types of tours are available in France?

Odyssey offers 10 different tours to France. We explore France’s fairy-tale natural beauty, its ancient Roman, and Imperial heritage, its World Heritage Sites, and world famous cities, all with some truly spectacular scenery along the way. This and more is all waiting to be explored on one of Odyssey’s small group tours of France, designed for the senior traveller, and led by experienced, and enthusiastic like minded people.

Following Monet

History of France by Rail

Provincial France

La Belle France

Belgium, Netherlands, France & Germany Art tour

Theatre-Opera-Ballet & Classical Music tour of Europe

Western Europe Gardens & Chateaux

Anglo French Journey

France on Foot

Romans in France

What's included on a France tour?

Odyssey’s tours are typically half or full-board, we include all accommodation, as well as:

• Transport and field trips as indicated.
• Applicable entry fees and services of local guides.
• Gratuities and necessary tips.
• Services of an Odyssey group leader.
• Detailed Tour Information Booklet.

What to pack for France?

Many travellers ask us how best to prepare for their Odyssey Traveller programs, seeking out advice on clothing, medication , insurance, among other concerns when travelling overseas. This article shares some of what we have learned from years of accumulated experience in leading small group tours to assist you when travelling overseas what to pack.

How much do France tours cost?

Odyssey’s tour itinerary with prices in your selected currency, to France, can be found here.

When is the best time to visit France?

Odyssey recommends visiting France is in spring (April-May), or autumn (September-October). These are also less crowded months, compared to Sumemr (June-August).

What tours in France are taking additional safety precautions?

The safety of our travellers, tour leader, local guide and support staff has always been our top priority and with the new guidelines for public health and safety for keeping safe for destinations around the world, we’ve developed our plan to give you peace of mind when travelling with us.

Why travel with us?

Odyssey specialises in educational small group tours for seniors, typically groups sizes are between 6 to 12 people. Odyssey has been offering this style of adventure and educational programs to since 1983. We offer a wide range of fully escorted, cultural and heritage journeys that expand horizons and broaden the mind. Our tours are designed for active, inquisitive travellers in a small group environment.

What are the best tours in France?

What tours in france are good for avoiding crowds.

When it comes to our tours, we select our destinations with an eye to getting off the beaten path, during Spring or Autumn, to avoid heavy crowds.

Do you need a visa to enter?

Contact the nearest embassy or consulate of France for details about visas, currency, customs and quarantine rules.

France is part of the Schengen area . This means you can enter France without a visa in some cases. In other situations, you need a visa.

What to do in Paris ?

Here are some must-do Paris experinces:

Climb to the top of the Eiffel Tower

Visit the Louvre

Visit the Cathedral of Notre-Dame de Paris

View Arc de Triophe at the end of Champs-Élysées

Take a trip to the Palace of of Versailles

Visit the Roman Catholic church in the heart of Paris – Sacré-Cœur Basilica

Articles about France published by Odyssey Traveller

The following list of articles, represents some of the articles published by Odyssey Traveller for mature aged and senior travellers to maximise their knowledge and enjoyment of France when visiting;

• Exploring France by rail some tips.
• Ten of the best travel books on France
• Ten things to do in France when you visit
• Designing Paris
• Paris; leaders and landmarks
• Guillamot prevents the collapse of Paris
• The elegant arcades of Paris
• Questions about France
• Studying Gargoyles and grotesques
• Around the world in six coffees
• Ten of the best French cookery books
• Ten of the Best art galleries in Europe to visit
• A guide on France for mature travellers

For all the articles published by Odyssey Traveller, please click through to this link

External articles to assist you plan your visit to France.

• A guide to Alsace
• History of Alsace; Britannica.com
• Burgundy’s climat; a UNSECO world heritage listing
• Avignon, the palace of Popes
• History of Avignon 15-18th century
• Exploring Chatres cathedral
• War of religion; France
• Published articles on French history.

Responsible travel tips for France

• Learn at least the local greetings to break the ice. Although many locals speak English, the more you know of the native language, the greater your experience of the country will be.
• Carry a business card in your wallet or purse from your local hotel, to assist you with the return journey if you do become lost.
• Always ensure that you are covered by travel insurance. If you need advice on this feel free to contact Odyssey and we’ll be able to help.
• When travelling independently, make sure you check the opening hours of shops and museums so that you don’t miss out! Museums and galleries are often closed on Mondays. Also be certain to check whether your trip coincides with any public holidays, so you can plan accordingly.
• Consider contacting your bank to inform them that you may be making purchases overseas. Otherwise, they may flag any activity on your account as suspicious. Also, check which ATMs and banks are compatible with your cards, to ensure you can withdraw cash with minimal fees.
• Before departing, make sure you have a number of Euros in a range of denominations. You don’t want to be carrying around enormous amounts of cash, but take enough to make it easy to pay in locations that might not accept credit card. It will also help you avoid card transaction fees.

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10 Day France Itinerary: See the Best of France

France is a country that offers visitors incredible diversity. It is loved by so many and is one of the most visited countries in the world. But the majority of those people only visit Paris. This 10 day France itinerary aims to get you outside of Paris and exploring other equally incredible parts of the country.

My France 10 day itinerary covers just some of the highlights that France has to offer. It brings together the what to see in France in 10 days so you can get a taste for this beautiful country and make the most of your precious vacation time.

If you follow this trip to a tee you’ll be driving close to 2,000 km so you’ll want a vehicle that is comfortable for both driver and passengers, plus on that has plenty of space for your luggage.

For all my car hire bookings I use and recommend Hertz . I’ve found they offer the most comparable prices, let you search and compare multiple vehicle types and they have a great customer service team who can help if you come into any unexpected troubles.

10 Day France Itinerary

Days 1 to 3 – Paris

Day 1 – Begin your 10 days in France by arriving in Paris. This itinerary assumes that you arrive in the morning giving you three quarters of a day to start seeing the sights.

The City of Lights, Paris, is one of the most visited cities in the world and rightly so. It is dripping with amazing architecture, world class art and culture and mouth-watering food. Paris is a city for everyone and its highlights can easily be explored in just a few days.

What to See & Do in Paris

Eiffel Tower – The icon of Paris is the perfect place to start your visit. Admire the architecture of what was once the world’s tallest tower before being whisked to the top in an elevator to enjoy the most spectacular uninterrupted views of the city. Skip the queues and pre-booked your visit to the top of the Eiffel Tower here .

Arc Du Triomphe – Take a walk up the famous Champ Elysees to enjoy the approaching view of this imposing arch. Built to honour those who fought and died for France, check out the inner and outer surfaces of the Arc for the names of French war victories and generals inscribed in the stone. You can climb the steps to the top for nice views over Paris and down the avenues that run off the centre of the Arc. Avoid long queues with this pre-booked ticket to the top.

Notre Dame Cathedral – One of the finest examples of French Gothic architecture in the world, Notre Dame is famous for its incredible stained glass windows and for the gargoyles that guard the cathedral from above. Inside it is simply breathtaking and the view from the top allows you to get a closer look at those gargoyles, the cathedral’s roof and spires and over the city.

The Louvre – Home of the famous Mona Lisa, the world’s largest and most visited museum is spread across three wings with eight different departments and around 35,000 works of art and artifacts on display. One visit is most certainly not enough to take it all in so a little forward planning about what you want to see is a must. You might also want to nab yourself a timed entry ticket here to avoid the really long queues.

Montmartre & Sacre Coeur – For many hundreds of years the area of Montmartre has attracted artists from around the world. Today the area has a very bohemian vibe with tons of character and notorious nightlife. The most notable structure in the area is the lovely Sacre Coeur Basilica which holds services daily for locals and visitors. Make sure you enjoy the view from the area in front of the Basilica looking out over Paris. With so much interesting history in this area, a short tour with a local guide is a must!

Cruise the Seine –  Some of Paris’s best architecture and landmarks line the Seine River making a sightseeing cruise a must do (especially this evening illuminations cruise where you will see Paris sparkle!). My top tip is to hop aboard the Bateaux Mouches for a one hour cruise at night on an open top boat that will take you under all of the city’s famous bridges and past its famous sites.

Palace of Versailles – This grand chateau was once home to Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette and is simply spectacular inside and out. Grand rooms filled with priceless works of art, furniture and antiquities on the inside and sprawling perfectly manicured gardens on the outside make this a worthy half to full day trip from the centre of Paris. As with most popular Paris attractions, having a skip the line entry ticket is a must.

Enjoy the Gardens – Paris has some really stunning gardens that are a haven from the busy streets of the city. Stroll the length of the Jardin des Tuileries from the Louvre to the Place de la Concorde or enjoy the spectacular flower displays of the Jardin du Luxembourg, just to name two of the city’s best green spaces.

Where to Stay in Paris

Here are three accommodation options to suit all budgets that I recommend you check out. All are centrally located, highly rated and come with excellent facilities. You can also check out my whole post dedicated to places to stay in Paris here .

Budget – Hotel Marignan

Mid-Range – Hotel Le Relais des Halles

Luxury – Four Seasons Hotel George V Paris

Read More About Paris

30 Things to Do in Paris

The Best Tours in Paris for Sightseeing

The Best Day Trips from Paris

Days 4 to 5 – Loire Valley

Drive: The next stop on your 10 day trip to France is the Loire Valley. From Paris to Tours it is approximately 2.5 hours drive. Leave Paris early to make the most of the day in The Loire Valley.

Famous for its abundance of chateau, The Loire Valley has to be one of the most beautiful regions of France. Explore the chateau, wander the sprawling gardens and orchids, taste the local produce and wine and just simply soak up the beauty of the landscape.

What to See & Do in the Loire Valley

Chateau Chambord – The biggest and most famous of the chateau in The Loire Valley, Chateau Chambord was built by King Francis I as a hunting lodge. Of course it has been upgraded and expanded considerably since then. It is one of the best examples of renaissance architecture in the world. A small number of the 440 odd rooms in the chateau are open to the public to explore. See this incredible building without the queues by booking here in advance.

Ainy-le-Vieil Chateau & Gardens – One of the many chateau in the region, what sets Ainy-le-Vieil apart from the rest is the incredible gardens which are split into a series of rooms each with a different theme. The chateau itself has been in the same family since 1467 and you can explore the interiors to check out some of the personal mementos left behind by past family members.

Cycle along the Loire River – The Loire Valley is relatively flat making it the perfect place to hire a bike or take a bike tour ( like this one !). There are bike hire places in most villages along the river and the path is well sign posted. Whether its just a short ride or a full day, you’ll see plenty of beautiful chateau and have the opportunity to stop by plenty of quaint little villages on your ride.

Bourges Cathedral – One of the most remarkable Gothic cathedrals in France, the Bourges is located in the town of the same name and dates back to the 12th century. Modelled on Notre-Dame in Paris, the cathedrals biggest draw card is its spectacular stained glass windows intricately depicting biblical stories.

Explore the Vineyards – The Loire Valley has some of the best wine-making soil in France and some of France’s most well-known wine is produced in the region. You can explore the vineyards on your own in the car, hire a bike or take a tour like this one . Maps are available from local tourist offices making it easy to navigate between the vineyards.

Where to Stay in the Loire Valley

Here are three accommodation options to suit all budgets that I recommend you check out. All are centrally located in the town of Tours, highly rated and come with excellent facilities.

Budget – Hotel Italia

Mid-Range – Best Western Plus l’Artist Hotel

Luxury – Chateau Belmont Tours

Days 6 to 7 – Lyon

Drive: Your Frnace 10 day itinerary continues in Lyon which is approximately 4.5 hours drive from Tours. Leave Tours early to make the most of the day and allow time for plenty of scenic stops along the way.

If the main reasons you’re visiting France are for the culture and the food then you can’t miss visiting Lyon on your travel travel itinerary. France’s third largest city is home to interesting museums, cultural events year round and food offerings for those with an adventurous palate. 

What to See & Do in Lyon

Explore the Vieux – Lyon’s Vieux (old town) is a great place to start your visit. Take a wander around the cobblestone streets through narrow passageways past delicatessens, artisan stores and sidewalk cafes. Keep your eye out for an old traboule which are passageways used in medieval times by the silk industry, some of which have been recently renovated. A guided tour, like this one , will help you find all those hidden spots.

Dine in a bouchon – These small restaurants serve the most traditional of Lyonnaise cuisine and are best suited to those looking to try something a little different. Dishes on the menu might include ingredients such as tripe, bone marrow or pork offal.

Basilique Notre-Dame de Fourviere – Perched high above the old town, this impressive white church dominates Lyon’s skyline and offers great views over Lyon from the promenade out the front. You can walk up the steep steps to get there or take the funicular for a few euros to save your legs. Nicknamed “the upside down elephant” because of its outside shape, inside its interior is quite pretty with lots of ornate features.

Roman Amphitheatre  – Right next to Notre Dame is one of the best preserved Roman amphitheatres outside of Rome. The theatre holds up to 10,000 people and is used by the city to host many festivals and events throughout the year. When there’s nothing going on, visitors are free to wander around the theatre and picture themselves enjoying a concert in roman times.

Museum of Fine Arts – This museum has one of the broadest collections of fine art pieces of any museum in the world with their collection ranging from ancient Egyptian antiquities to modern art pieces from the last few decades. The Museum of Fine Arts also holds pieces that are among the finest in all of Europe. For art lovers, this place is heaven and not to be missed.

Hire a bike – Lyon is laid out on relatively flat ground and running right through the city are two rivers. This makes Lyon a great place to hire a bike and explore. There are Velo bike stations all over the city where you can pick up a bike any time of day for a few hours or a full day and explore along the rivers or around the city. It’s a great way to cover a lot of ground in less time.

Take a River Cruise – A great way to see most cities in Europe is on a river cruise and Lyon is no different. This one hour Saone River cruise will give you a new perspective of the most famous landmarks of Lyon and its interesting and unique architecture.

Where to Stay in Lyon

Here are three accommodation options to suit all budgets that I recommend you check out. All are centrally located, highly rated and come with excellent facilities.

Budget – Hotel Saint Vincent

Mid-Range – Hotel ParkSaone

Luxury – Villa Maia

Days 8 – Aix-en-Provence

Drive: The next stop on your France vacation itinerary is Aix-en-Provence, located approximately 3.5 hours drive south of Lyon. Leave Lyon early to allow time for plenty of stops along the way.

Suggested Stop

Allow plenty of time to stop at two French gems. First make stop at the Pont du Gard for a stroll out to this ancient roman aqueduct. Then head into Avignon to check out the Palais des Papes, walk over the Pont Saint-Benezet, wander the cobblestone streets browsing the boutiques and relax in one of the sidewalk cafes.

Food to the people of Provence is everything, so foodies will love exploring this region on this France Itinerary. From the markets to the cafes and rolling fields of produce, Provence is a region for the senses. Its naturally beautiful landscapes and pretty little towns have been attracting artists for hundreds of years who come for the light and create masterpieces that can now be found in some of the best galleries all over the world.

What to See & Do in Provence

Aix-en-Provence – Basing yourself in Aix-en-Provence will give you plenty of time to explore this picture perfect town. Dine in one of the many fantastic restaurants that use only the best local produce. Wander the cobblestone lanes to see exactly why artists like Cezanne were so inspired by this town. And browse through the chic boutiques scattered through the town.

Arles  Amphitheater  – During the summer months this ancient roman amphitheater comes alive with plays and concerts. For the rest of the year it is open to visitors. Take a walk around and picture yourself back in the roman days watching sporting events, wild-animal hunts, executions of prisoners, and gladiatorial contests.

Marseille’s Vieux Port – The Old Port of Marseille is the beating heart of the city and the Provence region. It is the place where locals and visitors go to relax, eat, drink, shop and just generally enjoy life. Wander through the shops and markets, have a drink or a bite to eat in one of the restaurants, bars and cafes or just stroll along the harbour people watching.

Saint-Remy-de-Provence – This quaint, traditional Provençal village is rather sleepy these days but back in Roman times it was a thriving Roman settlement, the ruins of which can still be seen today. However, this isn’t the town’s only claim to fame. It was also where Van Gogh was housed while being treated for his many psychiatric problems. It’s a lovely town to explore on foot and enjoy a break at one of the many cafes.

Moustiers Sainte-Marie – Hiding up the Gorges du Verdon is the town of Moustiers Sainte-Marie. The drive to this beautiful medieval town is on a long and winding road up the gorge with some spectacular scenery. The village itself is charming and well worth the effort to get there as it seems like time has stood still of hundreds of years.

Digne les Bains Lavender Fields – Take a drive through the rolling hills of Digne les Bains to see field after field of lavender mass planted. Stop by one of the road-side stalls or country shops to buy all sorts of lavender products from soaps and fragrance sprays to honey and other food products. The lavender blooms from June to August and the locals celebrate with a festival over a few days in August at harvest time.

Where to Stay in Provence

Budget – Hotel Le Mozart

Mid-Range – Hotel du Globe

Luxury – Villa Gallici Hotel & Spa

Days 9 to 10 – French Riviera

Drive: The last stop on this 10 day France Itinerary is the French Riviera, with Nice, the main city along this stretch of coast approximately 5 hours drive from Aux-en-Provence if you take the slower coast road the whole way or 3 hours if you take the inland faster route. Leave Nimes early to make the most of the day and allow time for plenty of scenic stops along the way.

Optional Detour

To get to Nice you can take the quick route shown in the map above. Or if you have a bit more time you can detour the French Riviera coast stopping in Saint Topez, Cannes and Antibes .

The heart of the French Riviera, Nice is everything you have heard it is and so much more. Nice is a mixture of grit and opulence drenched with lots of sunshine. While the beaches and corso are the places to be and be seen, it’s the winding cobblestone lanes of the old town you’ll want to get lost in and find your own little piece of Nice.

What to See & Do in the French Riviera

Soak up with sun on the beach – While the beaches of Nice aren’t like the white sandy beaches most will be used to, the warm Mediterranean seas are more than enough to get most people over having to walk on pebbles. Whether you hire a sun lounger and umbrella for a day or brave it on the pebbles, a day by the water in Nice is an absolutely must!

Stroll the Promenade des Anglais – This palm fringed promenade runs for five miles along the beach at Nice and is the place to be and be seen when the sun is shining. You could easily spend a few hours strolling up and down the promenade watching the people enjoy life and this beautiful part of the world.

Nice Old Town – Once you’ve had your time in the sun, head to the old town to wander around the colourful winding cobblestone lanes. It’s a labyrinth you could easily get lost in passing but tiny local cafes, green grocers and artisan stores. There’s usually a market going on too which gives you a great glimpse into the lives of the locals.

Monaco – The nicest time of day to enjoy Monaco is just before the sun sets. You can take a bus or train from Nice (20-30 minutes) in the late afternoon to explore Le Palais des Princes de Monaco then watch the sun set over the billions of dollar’s worth of yachts in the marina. Finishing off the night in the Monte Carlo Casino or just outside in one of the sidewalk cafes checking out some of the world’s most expensive cars and the wealthy people who own them. This evening tour is also a great way to experience the very best of Monaco on short trip from Nice.

Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art – Get your final art fix of the trip at this museum famous for its Pop Art collection. The Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art has a large collection of permanent exhibitions which are free to visit as well as ever-changing temporary exhibitions for a small fee. The building itself is also a work of art and worth a look, as is the view from the roof.

Where to Stay in Nice

Budget – Hotel des Dames

Mid-Range – Ibis Styles Nice Centre Gare

Luxury – Hotel Negresco

Read More About Nice

Things to Do in Nice

Got More Time?

If you have more than 10 days in France you have a few options to extend you’re time there.

Check out my Two Week France Itinerary which covers a little more time in some of the places mentioned above, plus a few nights in the historic Normandy region.

You can choose to add some additional days at the places mentioned above. This will give you more quality time to spend in each place and will allow you to see more and spend a bit more time relaxing.

Alternatively you can add another destination or two to your journey. Just a few of these options include the Bordeaux wine region, the French Alps (I love the mountain town of Annecy), Dijon for the cuisine or Strasbourg on the German border to see how the cultures mix together to form a truly unique city.

Your can read more about some of these additional places to visit in France here .

Over to you!

What is your favourite part of this France vacation itinerary or where are you most keen to visit?

Let me know using the comments section below or join me on social media to start a conversation.

Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoyed this post.

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4 thoughts on “10 Day France Itinerary: See the Best of France”

Hello and thank you for all the info. We want to start in Marsielle and hoping to see Provence, St. Tropez, Nice and Paris. From Paris we are going to Amsterdam. Do you think we can do that in 7 days prior to going to Amsterdam? Thank you

HI Cindy, Yes it is doable however it will be tight. I tend to choose quality time in each destination rather than lots of destinations. You could easily spend the whole 7 days in Paris and not get bored.

Hello, thank you for this information. I lived and traveled in France many years ago and still speak it pretty well. I am planning to take my 2 adult nieces on a 10 day trip- this itinerary looks great but a bit tight; I am in my late 50’s so I’m wondering if I can keep up. (:-)) Do you have an approximate suggestion of cost for this trip- just housing and food (not including air fare)? I’m also thinking of substituting Mont St. Michel for something else (maybe Lyon), but that may not be practical. Everything else you mentioned sounds perfect. We’re planning to go in late March 2023. Thank you!

We’re renting a car any suggestion we want to travel out of PARIS starting at CDG AND BACK TO CDG ( 10 days road trip_

Any nice route we want to see small town, architecture ,like the dordogne

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The Fastest Men and Women of the Giro d’Italia, Tour de France, and Vuelta a España

Not all sprinters are created equal. So, let’s delve into the tactical genius and prowess of the peloton’s best mad men and women.

Sprinters with something to prove

Women’s top sprinters.

But what about the green and purple jerseys , those awarded to the leaders and winners of the points classifications, often, though not always, noted sprinters?

These are men and women capable of making unfathomable watts, often after four, five, and sometimes six-plus hours of racing, who are held at bay all day, only to unleash their greatest skills for barely a few hundred meters. They’re often the ones who give us the biggest thrills and the narrowest victories (or defeats).

While we focus on the speed and raw power of sprinters, one thing that’s often overlooked is how well they race; how the best sprinters are often the most patient riders, waiting until the perfect moment to launch their attacks. Theirs is often a game of cat-and-mouse, a strategic battle as much as a power-based one. Given the blazing speed at which these riders can sprint, it’s easy to forget that they’re some of the savviest riders in the peloton.

So, who are they? Let’s take a deeper look at the riders going for those green jerseys and points competitions at the Giro d’Italia , Tour de France , and Vuelta a España this summer.

Men’s Top Sprinters

Jasper philipsen – alpecin-deceuninck.

The young Belgian, once derided as “Jasper the Disaster,” is the best sprinter in the world right now. Possessing the perfect combination of strength, racing know-how, and the patience required to win a bunch sprint, he has to be the favorite heading into any stage suited to sprinters. After a second-place finish at Roubaix , the reigning Tour de France green jersey will head into this year’s Grande Boucle as the heavy favorite to repeat.

Mads Pedersen – Lidl-Trek

Unlike most others on this list, Mads Pedersen is hardly a pure sprinter. Rather, the one-day specialist has shown that he’s most at home when launching attacks from a long way out. In fact, just a few weeks ago, he did something most people didn’t think was possible when he stayed with Mathieu van der Poel for some fifty kilometers in Ghent-Wevelgem , only to outsprint the Dutch superstar in the closing meters. There isn’t a team in the men’s peloton looking quite as strong as Lidl-Trek is right now, so expect Mads to compete for at least a few bunch sprint wins in his scheduled Tour and Vuelta appearances.

Tim Merlier – Soudal-Quick-Step

By the metric of the modern peloton, Tim Merlier is getting a bit long in the tooth. The 31-year-old from Flanders only has two Grand Tour stage wins to his name: one in the Giro and one in the Tour . But, as most of Merlier’s early career was focused on cyclocross racing, he very well could just be coming into his prime. In the last three seasons, Merlier has won the Belgian National Road Race and Brugge-De Panne, and, from 2022 to this year, three-peated in Nokere Koerse. Maybe, like a great sprinter does, he’s waiting until the perfect moment to launch.

Mark Cavendish – Astana Qazaqstan

In 2024, Cav is sitting on the precipice between these two categories. The Manx Missile was coaxed out of retirement not once but twice with the promise of nabbing Eddy Merckx’s longstanding record of 34 Tour de France stage wins. And while his early-season returns have been anything but stunning, we’re talking about the greatest sprinter of all time here. And so, for that very reason, we have to consider Cav, a two-time Tour de France green jersey winner, in the upper echelon here.

Dylan Groenewegen – Jayco AlUla

Groenewegen has five Tour de France stage wins. But four of them came before 2020 and one in 2022. Much of that drought likely has to do with the nine-month ban he received from the UCI after it was determined he caused the crash that put Fabio Jakobsen in an induced coma for two days. Still, Groenewegen has shown form early this season with a ninth-place finish in Ghent-Wevelgem and a few strong stages in Paris-Nice and the UAE Tour.

Kaden Groves – Alpecin-Deceuninck

Groves, the four-time Vuelta a España stage winner and reigning green jersey champion of that race, will likely contest again for several of that race’s sprint stages. Groves has shown a predilection for hilly stages that tend to thin the herd over the course of the day, stages that are becoming increasingly common in the modern Grand Tour.

Arnaud Démare – Arkéa–B&B Hotels

Though he didn’t get any last year, Arnaud Démare has won ten Grand Tour stages: eight in the Giro and two in the Tour . He’s also a two-time points champion in the Giro. And though his spring campaign has been nothing to write home about, he’s an expert at positioning when the bunch really starts charging. Given as much, he should have more than a few opportunities to outsprint the bunch in this summer’s Tour.

Fabio Jakobsen – dsm firmenich PostNL

Like a few others on this list, Jakobsen’s results don’t necessarily match his strength. Easily one of the fastest sprinters in the peloton, Jakobsen will definitely find his way to the bunch in this year’s Giro and Tour, where he’ll try to add to his palmarès, which already counts five Vuelta stage wins. Of course, he hasn’t gotten one of those since 2021, so you either think he’s washed or he’s due.

Dark Horses

Sam Bennett (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale) - Outside of Mark Cavendish, Sam Bennett is the most decorated racer on this list. His palmarès includes five stage wins at the Vuelta , three at the Giro , and two at the Tour . He was also the Tour’s 2020 green jersey. And though his last two seasons have been hardly spectacular, it’s easy to predict that Sam Bennett could be in the mix for stage wins, especially after he was left off AG2R’s Tour roster last year.

Caleb Ewan (Jayco AlUla) - The man who was once a sure-fire bet to take a Grand Tour sprint stage—he’s won ten in his career—has fallen to the bottom of this pack simply because he hasn’t been able to nab a stage win since the 2021 Giro d’Italia . Of course, he’s still one of the strongest sprinters on Earth and always a threat to take a win, which, over the last three years, he’s been ever so close to. Despite his recent cold streak, Ewan is truly one of the riders you can never, ever count out.

Biniam Girmay (Intermarché-Wanty) - After a historic stage win in the 2022 Giro d’Italia and a third-place finish behind Jasper Phillipsen and Mark Cavendish in stage 7 of last’s Tour de France, the Eritrean rider showed a lot of promise as a Grand Tour sprinter. Now confirmed for the Giro, we hope to see Girmay bring on the heat to the favorites.

Alberto Dainese (Tudor Pro Cycling) - While still early in his professional career, Dainese has already demonstrated his potential as a top-level sprinter and is definitely one to watch. In 2023, the Italian sprinter won two Giro stages and one Vuelta stage.

On the women’s side of the coin, there’s far less separation between the heavy favorites, the maybe-they-could, and the sprinters who might steal a stage here or there. And much of that has to do with the fact that there’s much more parity in general in the women’s WorldTour (which is why we should all be watching a lot more women’s races!). But there is still the cream of the crop and everyone else.

Lotte Kopecky – SD Worx-Protime

You could easily argue that Lotte Kopecky is the strongest bike racer in the world, regardless of gender. Her ability to sustain efforts and grind her opponents into dust behind her is matched only by the likes of Mathieu van der Poel . As she heads into this summer as the reigning Tour de France points champion, all eyes will be on the 28-year-old to rack up more stage wins.

Lorena Wiebes – SD Worx-Protime

It’s no secret that SD Worx is sitting on an embarrassment of riches right now. This is evidenced by the fact that Lotte Kopecky is racing on the same team as Lorena Wiebes , perhaps the strongest pure sprinter in the women’s peloton. The 25-year-old Dutchwoman has won Ronde van Drenthe four years in a row and just added to her palmarès with a Gent-Wevelgem victory last weekend. In a heads-up sprint, Wiebes is as tough as out there is.

Elisa Balsamo – Lidl-Trek

With wins at Brugge-De Panne and Trofeo Alfredo Binda and second-place finishes at Paris-Roubaix , Ronde van Drenthe, and Ghent-Wevelgem , the Italian one-day specialist is having a world-class spring campaign. She’s had a bit of success in stage races, nabbing a pair of wins at the 2022 Giro Donne and another pair at 2023’s Setmana Ciclista Valenciana. But at just 26 years old, Balsamo could be on the precipice of a breakout summer.

Charlotte Kool – dsm firmenich PostNL

At just 24 years old, Charlotte Kool seems to be hitting her prime. She won her first Grand Tour stage in last year’s Vuelta and was fighting for wins in Brugge-De Panne and Ghent-Wevelgem, where she finished second and fourth, respectively. She won the points classification in last year’s UAE Tour and should rack up plenty of points over the course of the summer.

Emma Norsgaard – Movistar

Though Norsgaard’s spring has been inauspicious at best, she’s always a tough out when it comes to sprints. With a pair of stage wins to her name (a Giro stage in 2021 and a Tour stage in 2023), she knows how to win from the bunch. She just needs to find her way to the front and put herself in a position to compete. If she can get there, there’s no doubt she’s got the legs.

Marianne Vos – Visma-Lease a Bike

So long as there’s a bike race, and so long as Marianne Vos is in that bike race, it’s just plain stupid to count her out. To list her palmarès would take all of the space this story has, so just accept the fact that she’s likely to be there at the end, whether the stage calls for a breakaway, a punchy climb, or a bunch sprint. And though she’s one of the women’s peloton’s elder stateswomen at age 36, with recent wins at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and Dwars door Vlaanderen , she’s still proving week after week that she can race with—and beat—the best.

Elisa Longo Borghini – Lidl-Trek

Between Mads Pedersen , Elisa Balsamo, and Longo Borghini, Lidl-Trek’s cup runneth over with one-day talent. But to win one-day races, you need to be able to create and sustain attacks, and there are few better in the women’s bunch at that than Longo Borghini. Hardly a pure sprinter, she’ll need to use her well-honed racing acumen if she’s going to take a stage win.

Chloé Dygert – Canyon//SRAM

Dygert is back. After suffering a training setback late last year, stemming from an injury sustained earlier in 2023, Dygert returned to the peloton with a sixth-place finish in Brugge-De Panne. And while she’s known more for her time-trialing acumen than her pure sprint ability, she can put down and sustain boatloads of power. If she and her teammates can put her in the right position, look for the American star to steal a stage here or there.

Chiara Consonni (UAE Team ADQ) - This is only Consonni’s second year at the WorldTour level, but she’s shown in recent times that she has the legs and the know-how to go elbow-to-elbow with the best of the bunch. Her best result is arguably a third-place finish in the points classification in this year’s UAE Tour. Look for her to steal a stage win or two (or three) as the summer progresses.

Rachele Barbieri (dsm firmenich PostNL) - For all of the success Rachele Barbieri has enjoyed on the track, she’s had little on the road. Her best finishes in major races are a pair of second-place finishes in stages in the Giro and UAE Tour and two fourth-place finishes in Tour stages. However, anyone who can make the kind of power Babieri is capable of making can and should not be counted out. Look for her to snag a sleeper win at some point this year.

Michael Venutolo-Mantovani is a writer and musician based in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. He loves road and track cycling, likes gravel riding, and can often be found trying to avoid crashing his mountain bike. 

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'High-speed criterium racing' returning to Greenville, Tour De France's Hincapie riding

Bike alongside Tour de France veterans at ONE City Plaza on April 25 as the Greenville Cycling Classic , presented by Prisma Health, will allow attendees to take a 20-minute ride alongside George Hincapie, Bobby Julich and Christian Vande Velde.

Beginning at 3 p.m., men's and women's professional and amateur cycling will occur along Main and Coffee Street. Bike races will continue through 9 p.m. to determine a winner in nine divisions, ranging from 30-minute rides to a 70-lap competition.

This race is part of the Speed Week race series, with nine races in South Carolina and Georgia.

"We're thrilled to bring high-speed criterium racing back to Greenville," Hincapie said. "This event will be a fantastic spring highlight for the entire community to enjoy."

Tour de France legends Julich, Vande Velde and Hincapie are offering the first 200 registered riders to a casual, one-kilometer speed criterium loop race that travels around downtown for 20 minutes beginning at 5:15 p.m.

Who is George Hincapie and the other Tour de France legends?

Hincapie is a former professional racing cyclist who competed alongside Lance Armstrong as his domestique or assisting rider on the U.S. PostalPro Cycling Team. He is also known for helping Alberto Contador and Cadel Evans to their first Tour de France victories in 2007 and 2011.

During Hincapie's 27-year professional cycling career, he won three U.S. Professional Road Race championships and finished second in the 2005 Paris-Roubaix, which still stands as the highest-placing American ranking for that specific race.

In October 2012, Hincapie admitted to using banned substances during his career and received a six-month ban and loss of race results between May 2004 and July 2006.

The New York native, now a Greenville resident, has had the Hincapie name in Greenville pro and amateur cycling since the Michelin Cycling Classic in 1994. His footprint in the Upstate also includes a stake in Hotel Domestique and Restaurant 17, which has an on-site vineyard and pathways for cycling lessons. He has brought various international cyclists to the area to train and compete in Traveler's Rest and downtown Greenville.

Hincapie will host the Gran Fondo Hincape in Greenville on October 19, 2024.

How do I attend the Greenville Cycling Classic?

This is a free event; however, amateur and professional cyclists looking to compete still have time to register. Fees to participate in the races range between $40 and $60. Winners can win cash prizes up to $6,000.

Ages 12 and up can join the ride with Tour de France legends, and the pool limit is 200 people. The registration deadline for all events is April 24 at 5 p.m.

The racing path will expand between East North Street, East McBee Avenue, and South Laurens Street and South Brown Street.

What roads will be closed during the race?

Road closures for the event will be in place from noon to 11 p.m. on April 25. They will include:- Main Street, from McBee Avenue to East North Street- East North Street, from North Main to Brown Streets- Brown Street, from East North Street to McBee Avenue- McBee Avenue, from South Brown Street to South Laurens Street- South Laurens Street, from West McBee Avenue to West Washington Street- Washington Street, from South Laurens to Brown streets

For more information, visit greenvillecyclingclassic.com

– A.J. Jackson covers the food & dining scene, along with arts, entertainment and downtown culture for The Greenville News. Contact him by email at [email protected], and follow him on X (formally Twitter) @ajhappened. This coverage is only possible with support from our readers. Sign up today for a digital subscription .  

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Sources confirm Evenepoel will train at altitude next month, while the future for Van Aert is less clear with no hints of a return to the Tour this summer.

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Wout van Aert and Remco Evenepoel are both on the road to recovery after their devastating crashes, but the paths forward are not similarly clear for these two “Bigs” of Belgian bike racing.

Van Aert posted to Strava on Wednesday his first outdoor ride since he broke his sternum, collarbone, and several ribs three weeks ago at Dwars door Vlaanderen, a 30km ride on a specially adapted MTB.

“Sorry to all the colleagues I’ve ever given shit to because they have spacers under their stem,” he joked in the title of his file, referencing the extra-elevated front-end of his Cervélo ZFS.

Van Aert’s ride outside of his Herentals hometown comes just one week after he was forced to concede that he would not make his debut at the Giro d’Italia next month.

“At this point I cannot train at all. I’m trying to do my first pedal strokes on the bike, but not enough to be able to train,” he said in a video statement last week.

The shape of the 29-year-old’s summer is uncertain as his Olympic ambitions and Visma-Lease a Bike’s Tour de France title defense come into tension.

Evenepoel back on track for the Tour de France

Meanwhile, team sources told Velo on Thursday that Evenepoel will be back on his track toward the Tour de France next month.

Soudal Quick-Step representatives confirmed Evenepoel will be on altitude camp in Sierra Nevada in early May ahead of the Critérium du Dauphiné on June 2 and his hugely hyped Tour debut a few weeks later.

Evenepoel has kept any training off-grid since he broke his collarbone and shoulder blade two weeks ago at the Itzulia Basque Country in a horrific crash that also involved Tour contenders Jonas Vingegaard and Primož Roglič.

The 24-year-old broke some of his social media silence Wednesday when he shared images from his ambassadorial appearance with the Tous à Bord charitable project. He was not wearing a sling or showing any visible signs of his injuries.

  View this post on Instagram   A post shared by R.EV (@r.ev1703)

Evenepoel’s return to altitude training next month suggests Soudal Quick-Step’s Tour de France project rattles forward as planned.

The 24-year-old superstar was forced to skip his Liège-Bastogne-Liège defense this weekend, but his calendar appears to have been otherwise mostly unaltered.

Should all go to plan, Evenepoel will face off in a popcorn-worthy clash at the Tour de France with Roglič and Tadej Pogačar on June 29 at the Grand Départ .

Whether two-time champion Vingegaard will be there to defend his crown is uncertain.

The Danish dominator was cleared to leave hospital this week after he suffered a broken collarbone and ribs and damaged his lungs in the calendar-shaping Basque crash.

It has already been confirmed that, unlike Evenepoel, Vingegaard will not be attending a previously-scheduled altitude camp next month.

What next for Wout? Olympics, Tour, Vuelta calendar complications

Visma-Lease a Bike is at the drawing board while it waits on the progress of Van Aert and Vingegaard’s injuries, and each of their calendars could impact on the other.

The squad has not yet hinted at what it might have in mind for Van Aert, who originally opted out of riding his sixth-straight Tour in favor of taking a taste of the Giro d’Italia.

That original plan freed Van Aert to go 100 percent for the Paris Olympics, which arrive just days after the conclusion of the Tour.

Should the team stick to the script and keep Van Aert out of the Tour de France, there’s every possibility he’ll return to grand tour racing for a debut at the Vuelta a España in August.

Visma-Lease a Bike director Merijn Zeeman recently told Het Nieuwsblad the team is contemplating every possibility for Van Aert and Vingegaard.

The coming weeks could see the squad making some crucial decisions for both.

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2024 Could Be a Make-Or-Break Year for the Tour de France Femmes

I f there’s one depressing fact I’ve learned in nearly two decades of covering women’s cycling, it’s that, sadly, there’s rarely a moment to rest on one’s laurels in this sport—and that’s particularly true for race organizers, and team owners.

Just because a race does fantastically well one year in terms of unprecedented levels of viewership and media coverage or because a team is arguably the absolute best in the world doesn’t guarantee anything. It’s all easy come, easy go. That’s why I’m nervous about the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift and why I believe that this year could be the most pivotal year for the race.

But why am I worried about the Tour de France Femmes in year three? After all, viewership numbers have been high, enthusiasm hasn’t waned, and sports bars are full of fans screaming for Demi Vollering and Kasia Niewiadoma. And yet... There are a few important factors to consider.

Last year, Zwift’s Kate Verroneau told me that the second year of the TDFF was scary for her: The first year, you’re riding a wave of hype. In the second year, the race has to stand as a great race, not just a “first.” What about the third year?

“There’s no kind of resting on the fact that last year was really successful,” Veronneau said then. “I look at it and think, ‘Last year was pretty easy sell: It was the first women’s Tour de France in over 30 years. That was easy to get the media on board, easy to get sponsors on board. It was the first time that that huge of an audience watched women’s racing.”

Year two was hugely successful, but what about year three?

The sponsorship dynamics at play

First, there’s the simple fact that this is year three of Zwift’s four-year commitment to the Tour de France Femmes in partnership with ASO. That means if Zwift isn’t planning to continue its support or is going to cut back its sponsorship budget, this is the year the race needs to look for a new sponsor.

Leaving it entirely to next year, the final year in their contract, is foolhardy. So I have to imagine that there’s some buzz happening behind the scenes already. I haven’t heard any scuttlebutt about them giving up their title sponsorship position, to be clear, but considering Zwift just had a round of layoffs and a shuffle in their C-suite , who knows where they’re heading? Hopefully into another lengthy contract, but it’s unclear. My fingers are crossed.

Viewership challenges

Viewership this year will also be more important than ever. High viewership numbers mean a better chance of securing new or renewed sponsorship dollars, and TdFF viewership has been undeniably impressive. But this year is going to make that tricky. The men’s Tour de France and the Tour de France Femmes are separated this year by the Olympics. That means three weeks between the races, rather than the men’s race ending on the day the women’s race began.

In the past two years, it was easy to just continue tuning in if you’d been watching the men’s race. This year, viewers will have to actively seek it out starting August 12—the day after the Olympics finish. That is a lot of TV watching for cycling/sports fans to contend with. While serious fans will still tune in, those ‘medium’ fans may not.

The state of the cycling industry

Then, there’s the cycling industry landscape. Brands like Trek and Specialized are slashing budgets , and Shimano is reporting quarter after quarter of losses . To blithely assume that there’s a cycling company capable of taking Zwift’s place as title sponsor in the current landscape is a mistake.

I say all this not to be discouraging. It’s meant to be a rallying cry. What does this all mean for you, the person reading this?

I want to believe that this race will survive and thrive in the same way that Le Tour has for over a century. But I also know that it takes more than love to keep a race of this magnitude running. It takes cold, hard cash. It takes commitment from big businesses that often see women’s cycling as a line item that they can scrap when it’s time to tighten up their belts. It took decades to get back to a point where we have this race. It’s happened before, it’s been lost before. Let’s not let it happen again.

It’s time to get fired up and ensure that the Tour de France Femmes isn’t just a blip in the cycling history books. Mark your calendars, set a Google alert for the Tour de France Femmes, follow racers on social media, and plan watch parties—let’s make this the loudest Tour de France Femmes yet.

Turn your dream vacation into reality

What To Do in Tours, France (Guide + Map)

• December 26, 2023

Located just an hour away by train from Paris, Tours is often used as a base for visiting the chateaux of Loire Valley. It is one of the largest cities in the Centre-Val de Loire region of France, well connected by public transport to the most famous castles in the area. Indeed, from here, you can easily reach the historic palaces of Chenonceau, Chambord, Blois and Amboise.

Once the capital of France, today Tours is a lively city boasting a beautiful historic centre with half-timbered houses and gourmet bistros. A perfect stop on your way through the Loire Valley!

What to do in Tours, France in one day

Thanks to its central location and excellent public transport connections to the nearby towns, Tours is a great base to discover the chateaux of Loire. This is one of the main cities I’d recommend you to base yourself in, especially if you’re travelling by train.

Besides being an excellent base for touring the historic chateaux, Tours itself is worth at least half a day of exploring. Take a walk along the narrow cobbled streets while admiring the half-timbered houses, the impressive Saint-Gatien Cathedral and the Renaissance Hotel Gouïn.

Follow my itinerary to discover the best things to do in Tours, France for one day. You’ll also find what are the most famous chateaux to visit near the city and some restaurant recommendations.

At the end of the blog post, you can find a map of this itinerary (with all attractions and restaurants’ websites).

What to do in Tours in one day

Breakfast at l’atelier du talemelier.

• Visit Basilique Saint-Martin de Tours

Tour de l’Horloge and Tour de Charlemagne

• Have a cup of coffee at Place Plumereau
• Admire Hôtel Goüin

Lunch at Les Gens Heureux

• Visit Saint-Gatien Cathedral

Hôtel de Ville de Tours

• Admire the art at Musée des Beaux-Arts
• Take a walk in the Botanical Garden
• Visit the quirky Musée de Compagnonnage

09:00 AM – 10:00 AM Start your one day in Tours with breakfast at L’Atelier du Talemelier or Kat’s Coffee . L’Atelier du Talemelier is a great bakery which offers quality pastries and sandwiches. However, if you prefer to enjoy some delicious cakes with your coffee, head to Kat’s Coffee.

Basilique Saint-Martin de Tours

10:00 AM – 10:25 AM Basilique Saint-Martin de Tours (Basilica of St. Martin) is dedicated to Saint Martin of Tours, the third bishop of Tours. It was built over the traditional burial site of the saint in the 5th century AD. During the centuries, the small basilica was replaced several times with larger structures.

The basilica in a Neo-byzantine style that you see today dates from the 19th century. However, you can still see some of the remains of the older Romanesque edifice – the western clock tower and Tour de Charlemagne (Charlemagne Tower). They are located just a few steps away from the current church.

Inside the crypt, you’ll find the tomb of Saint Martin.

10:30 AM – 10:45 AM Tour de l’Horloge (Clock Tower) and Tour de Charlemagne are the only remnants of the impressive structure of the 11th-century Romanesque Basilica of Saint Martin.

Tour de Charlemagne was built on the site of the tomb of Luitgard, the last wife of Charlemagne. The king was so greatly affected by her death in 800, that he decided that Luitgard would be buried in the Basilica of Saint Martin. In the 19th century, the Charlemagne Tower was converted into a water tower.

Although, it’s not possible to visit the towers, take a few moments and admire their structure. Just imagine the grandeur of the 11th-century Romanesque basilica, of which these towers were part!

Place Plumereau

10:50 AM – 11:05 AM Place Plumereau is the heart of the historic centre of Tours. It is a lively square with bars and restaurants, framed by charming 15th-century half-timbered houses. A popular place to sit and watch the world go by!

The square is named in honour of Charles Plumereau, a municipal councillor of Tours, who bequeathed 3000 francs to the city.

Hôtel Goüin

11:15 AM – 11:30 AM This Renaissance palace served as a private mansion of a family of silk merchants in the 15th century. The façade with its beautiful arches is a real masterpiece of the Italian Renaissance. So don’t miss to take a quick look and admire the exterior!

Hôtel Goüin is named after a family of Breton bankers who purchased the building in 1738. And don’t be fooled by the word hotel, this is not an actual hotel, but a museum for temporary art exhibitions.

12:00 PM – 02:00 PM For lunch head to Les Gens Heureux . This typical French restaurant offers a small selection of interesting dishes with a unique combination of flavours.

Saint-Gatien Cathedral

02:00 PM – 02:30 PM Tours Cathedral (Cathédrale Saint-Gatien) is dedicated to the first bishop of Tours – Saint Gatianus. Built between 1170 and 1547, it reflects the development of the Gothic style of architecture. Some of the cathedral’s highlights include the spectacular 13th-14th century stained glass windows and an Italian-style organ.

The cathedral houses the tombs of the children of Anne de Bretagne and Charles VII. Also, you’ll find a chapel dedicated to Joan of Arc. She had met with Charles VII here in Tours, an important meeting which became a turning point in the Hundred Years’ War.

02:45 PM – 03:00 PM The last stop of this Tours itinerary is the town hall, Hôtel de Ville de Tours. Take your time and enjoy its magnificent Renaissance Revival façade.

The town hall was built between 1896 and 1904 by the famous architect Victor Laloux. It is the same architect who designed the Orsay museum in Paris!

Dinner at La Maison des Halles

Finish your one day in Tours with dinner at La Maison des Halles . The wine list here is great and the menu is excellent (don’t miss the desserts – the best I’ve had during a week in France).

More ideas for your one day in Tours, France

Museum of fine arts.

The Museum of Fine Arts (Musée des Beaux-Arts) is housed in the former bishop’s palace. The museum owns a remarkable collection of Italian Primitives from the 14th-15th centuries. Among them are two renaissance paintings by Andrea Mantegna, considered masterpieces. You’ll also find many artworks by Delacroix, Degas, Monet, Rembrandt, Rubens and Rodin.

Don’t miss the staggering cedar tree at the museum entrance, which is over 200 years old!

Castle of Tours

Close to the cathedral, you’ll find the Castle of Tours (Château de Tours). Built in the 11th century, this small chateau served as a residence of the Carolingian dynasty. Today, it houses contemporary exhibitions of paintings and photographs .

Church of Saint Julien

The Church of Saint Julien (Église Saint-Julien de Tours) is a part of a former Benedictine abbey founded in the 6th century. Most of the church is in Romanesque style and dates back to the 13th century.

Tours Botanical Garden

Founded in 1843, the Botanical Garden (Jardin Botanique de Tours) is the oldest city park. It’s a lovely area with lots of wildlife and thematic gardens – greenhouses, orchards, medical gardens, arboretums and many others. There is also a petting zoo with farm animals like donkeys, sheep, rabbits and poultry!

Musée de Compagnonnage

Musée de Compagnonnage occupies the dormitory at the former Abbey of Saint-Julien. This quirky museum is dedicated to the city’s trade guilds. The exhibition represents various objects related to metalwork, tailoring, culinary, shoemaking and woodcarving.

Where to stay in Tours, France

If you intend to use Tours as a base to explore the Loire castles, take a look at my recommendations below on where to stay. You’ll find most of the historic attractions and restaurants in the area between the Loire River and the Central Railway station. So, I’d advise you to look for accommodations in this area, because you’ll be within walking distance of everything.

Perfectly located in the heart of Tours, just a short walk from everything. Also, the hotel features a good bistro-style restaurant and a wellness centre with Spa, hammam and heated indoor pool. Why book – a short walk from the Old Town and Tours train station, heated indoor pool, private parking

Les Trésorières is an excellent choice for an upscale stay in Tours. Central quiet location and bright spacious room. A great wellness area, featuring a hammam, sauna and an indoor pool. Why book – at walking distance to the Old Town and Tours train station, indoor pool, parking nearby

Getting around in Tours, France

Find here a detailed map of this Tours walking itinerary.

The Old Town of Tours is very compact and you can easily explore it by walking in less than an hour.

How to get to Tours, France

Tours is well connected to other major cities in France by train. For example, it’s less than a 2 hours journey from Paris Gare Montparnasse. Tours station (Gare de Tours) is the city’s main railway station. It’s located just a short walk from the Old Town.

Check timetables and book train tickets online at SNCF official website .

Tours is divided into three different types of zones – red, orange and blue. The first two are limited to 3 hours of parking, while the blue one – to 5 hours. However, parking in the Old Town is free on Sundays and Monday – Saturday (between 12 PM – 2 PM and 6:30 PM – 9 AM).

If you’re arriving by car I’d recommend booking a hotel with parking or using any of the paid car parks in the city centre (see a list of all car parks here ).

Day trips from Tours, France

Loire valley chateaux.

The central location of Tours makes it a great base to explore the chateaux of Loire Valley. You’ll find a few of the most popular castles just a short train ride away. For more information, take a look at my guide on how to visit the Loire Valley .

Here are the most famous chateaux you can visit near Tours:

• Château de Chenonceau – known as Château des Dames, it’s the most beautiful Renaissance castle of Loire Valley
• Château de Chambord – this royal residence is one of the largest chateaux in France
• Château de Blois – home to 7 kings and 10 queens of France between the 13th and 17th centuries
• Château d’Amboise – the place where Leonardo Da Vinci spent his last years and where he is buried
• Château de Chaumont – a fairytale 10th-century castle, once home to Catherine de Medici and Diane de Poitiers
• Château de Villandry – is known for its beautiful French Gardens, which consist of several terraces of renaissance gardens

Blois is one of the most charming towns in the Loire Valley. The city is known for its royal chateau and the Cathedral of Saint-Louis, a Gothic masterpiece. For more information, take a look at my travel guide on how to spend one day in Blois .

How to get to Blois Take a train from Gare de Tours to Gare de Blois – Chambord (40min journey). From there, it’s a 10min walk to the Old Town and the chateau.

Located just a short train ride away, Angers is a great option for a day trip from Tours. The city is famous for its castle, the ancient seat of the Plantagenet dynasty and the Apocalypse tapestry, the largest medieval tapestry in the world. Find out more in my travel guide to the best things to do in Angers .

How to get to Angers Take a train from Gare de Tours to Gare d’Angers Saint-Laud (50min journey). From the central train station, it’s about a 10min walk to the city centre.

How many days in Tours, France

Is one day in tours enough.

The city of Tours can be easily visited in less than a day. In fact, most of the people come not for sightseeing but to use the city as a base to explore the nearby castles. Still, there is plenty to see, so dedicate at least half a day to this charming town.

Best time to visit Tours, France

If you intend to visit Tours as a part of your Loire Valley trip, do it in the months of May, June or September. Crowds are fewer and the weather is not hot, but nice and warm.

Faqs about visiting Tours, France

Tours is one of the largest cities in the Centre-Val de Loire region of France. It is worth visiting not only for the impressive Saint-Gatien Cathedral and the Renaissance Hotel Gouïn, but also for the picturesque half-timbered houses. Thanks to its central location, the city is an excellent base to explore the castles of the Loire Valley.

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About the author

Thank you for the blog which covers Tours in depth. We are travelling On Nov 07th to Blois to see three castles and unfortunately all public transport stops on Nov 05th. We don’t have car. Apart from Taxi any other alternate solution ?

Many Thanks -Yoga

Unfortunately, there is no other option, but a taxi. However, there are still a lot of castles, which are are reachable by train – Château de Chenonceau, Château de Blois, Château de Chaumont, Château d’Amboise, Château d’Angers, Château de Langeais, Château de Saumur, Château d’Azay-le-Rideau, Château de Loches, Château de Chinon and Château de Meung-sur-Loire.

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Oshkosh native living in Paris shares charms of Southern France in new cookbook, culinary tour

While studying at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, Rebekah Peppler got just the right push to follow her dreams. It took just one professor's confidence in her. 

Today the Oshkosh native lives in Paris and leads culinary tours in France. She’s carved out a career path traveling the globe writing about food, wine and cocktails. Yet no matter where she goes, her favorite cheese will always be Wisconsin cheddar.

Peppler, whose newest cookbook is her third written in France, is part of a small group of American expats who have built followings sharing their love of French cooking and culture, including Dorie Greenspan, David Lebovitz and Milwaukee native  Patricia Wells . 

Delving into the food, drinks and places that inspire her love of the south of France, Peppler’s new cookbook, in stores April 23, is “Le Sud: Recipes from Provence-Alpes-Cote d’Azur” (Chronicle Books), with photos by Joann Pai. A travelogue of taste, “Le Sud” offers a slice of time and place with recipes. 

Her previous books include  “Aperitif: Cocktail Hour the Frency Way” (Clarkson Potter), which was a 2019 James Beard Foundation Book Award nominee, and  “A Table: Recipes for Cooking and Eating the French Way” (Chronicle Books).

Peppler tries to get back to her hometown once a year to see her mother, a librarian. Between stops in New York, Toronto, San Francisco, Chicago and Seattle, she will bring her book tour to Elsewhere Market & Coffee House , 531 N. Main St., Oshkosh at 6 p.m. May 22. 

Working with Modern Adventure, she will also be leading a trip to Provence, France, Sept. 11-17. See  rebekahpeppler.com  or  modernadventure.com  for additional details. 

Peppler recently talked with the Journal Sentinel about her journey to living in France and her newest cookbook.

Making her way from Oshkosh to Paris

I grew up in Oshkosh. I was born there, studied at UW-Oshkosh, got my bachelor's in journalism news editorial with minors in art history and English. One of the reasons I wanted to stay close to home was so I could study abroad. I actually studied in England and Italy. That sparked my idea that I could live further afield later in life. 

When I graduated I decided to go to New York and culinary school. It is  ICC, the International Culinary Center , now. When I was there it was based in Soho, The French Culinary Institute. I got my degree in classic pastry arts. When I was thinking about what I wanted to do it was between that program and a similar one in Paris. I decided to move to New York first, started working as a food stylist, and spent nearing 10 years in New York doing that, but itching to do more writing. I had my feet firmly planted in the styling world, but always wanted to write and write cookbooks.

I never had a fantasy of living in France before I moved here, but I always wanted to live abroad and immerse myself in another culture and language. I started splitting my time between New York and Paris. Then it slowly became just Paris. I spend a lot of time in the U.S. for work, but my full-time life — and all my shoes and books — are in Paris. 

This expat’s first international trip didn’t happen until after high school

I went to Italy for the first time as my high school graduation present. I think I surprised my parents by choosing an international spot.

The power of positive people

Dorie Greenspan  specifically has long been a figure in my personal life. She is a dear human. She was one of the first people that planted the seed in my mind that I could move to France. I just asked her to coffee, and then asked, “What is it like to live (in France) as an American, and how do you split your time?” She was unequivocally, “Do it, just try it and see." Her confidence in my ability to take that leap was formative. 

What makes 'Le Sud' her most personal book

My interest in writing cookbooks stems from my interest in writing about food, but I’m not interested in banging out recipes and putting them in a book and putting pretty pictures in it. I’m more interested in telling stories and a narrative-driven book. That is what I strive for, and across the three books it started that way and leaned harder and harder. I think “Le Sud” is my most personal book. 

I weave in a lot of my life, as well as telling the story of the region and expanding the story outside the beautiful Mediterranean seasons, produce and lavender fields, which Provence has in spades. It also has all these other parts: rivers marshes, rice, beaches, hillsides, wines that aren’t just rosés that are really phenomenal but can be overlooked because we think of Provence and we think rosé. You have the Italian border and its influence. I wanted to learn about that more and transcribe that on the page, but also in a way that felt personal to me, and fun, hopefully funny at points.

How Julia Child’s former home became part of her book

I spent a month there, writing and living in the house. I lived in the house and cooked in the house and wrote in the house. I brought my photographer. ... I also brought my partner, Laila (Said). It felt special to wake up and make my coffee in Julia’s kitchen with the pegboard and watch the sunrise and have these surreal moments alongside real life. 

I had to eat dinner and work, connect with my spouse. There are all these things alongside the fantasy you walk into. That’s one of the things that is a bigger theme in my work in France, to separate the fantasy and the fantastic, what is real, and what can be fantastic about this fantasy, but doesn’t have to lean on the fantasy trope. I feel very privileged to live there for a month and use all the tools and develop and shoot recipes. 

These are her travel essentials

I’m always bringing back kitchen supplies! I bring a lot of salt and coffee. We were just in Japan. I brought back a copper omelet maker and some really gorgeous graters and salts.

When I do a book tour or work travel, moving between different spaces and trying to create a sense of home, I try to be in a place that has a bathtub. Water really grounds me, and I travel with bath salts. 

Who she looks to for inspiration

Melissa Clark has long been both inspiration and mentor for me. She has been such a champion of my work, which has felt like a big honor to me. Dorie Greenspan, the same. Sometimes there is this idea there is not enough to go around. I have found I have been welcomed and offered a lot of support. That is something I have never taken for granted. 

There are other writers who don’t write about food who I reach for, like Alexander Chee. He makes it look easy, but it is powerful.  

What she’s doing next

I have a tour with Modern Adventure (to Provence) in the fall. There are still seats. So if anyone from Wisconsin wants to join us, I would love it. The trip is inspired by the book. 

What this Wisconsin native misses most from home 

I still crave Wisconsin cheddar. It is one of my favorites in the world. The kind of cheddar we get in Europe is mostly English. There is nothing wrong with it. It is very good. I eat it when I can’t get my hands on Wisconsin cheddar. But there is such a flavor profile I haven’t been able to replicate in Europe. I used to bring blocks of cheddar back to New York. Also, heads up: If you travel with cheddar, take it out of your carry-on, because it gets flagged.

We’ll be stopping in Oshkosh right after Chicago (on this tour). I’m very excited. My first meal will include cheddar, and probably a brat on the grill and a seven layer salad. That is still one of my favorite things, and outside of Wisconsin no one knows what seven layer salad is! My mom makes it in a very specific way I love.

How Wisconsin plays a role in her success

It goes back to when I studied at UW-Oshkosh. I studied under an incredible teacher, Grace Lin. She still teaches. I’ll be in contact with her at the (May) event at Elsewhere (Marketplace & Coffee House). She’ll be moderating. She was very formative in starting my confidence in my writing, and also my confidence in being able to do it wherever I want. Educators can play such a huge role in pulling out the dreams of young people, laying them out in front of them and giving them the options.

Taylor Swift ‘Eras Tour’ resumes in May 2024 in France: How to get tickets to sold-out shows

• Updated: Apr. 17, 2024, 10:04 a.m. |
• Published: Apr. 17, 2024, 9:51 a.m.

Taylor Swift will resume her "Eras Tour" on May 9, 2024, in Nanterre, France, for four concerts. The tour returns to the U.S. for concerts in October 2024. Here, she performs at the Tokyo Dome, Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2024, in Tokyo. AP File Photo/Toru Hanai

• Deb Kiner | [email protected]

Swifties are eagerly awaiting the resumption of Taylor Swift’s “Eras Tour.”

After a two-month break, the pop star will hit the stage again in Nanterre, France, for four concerts - May 9 , May 10 , May 11 and May 12 at Paris La Defense Arena.

Her next album, “The Tortured Poets Department,” is scheduled to be released on Friday, April 19.

May 17, 18 and 19 the “Cruel Summer” singer will be in Stockholm, Sweden, followed by concerts in Portugal, Spain, the United Kingdom, Netherlands, Switzerland, Italy, Germany, Poland, Austria and Wembley Stadium in London through Aug. 20.

This fall, she returns to the United States for concerts in Miami, Florida; New Orleans, Louisiana; Indianapolis, Indiana; and Canada.

Most of her concerts are sold out but fans can still buy tickets from secondary market sites (tickets are expensive):

Friday, Oct. 18 - Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida

• Tickets: Stubhub , Vivid Seats , SeatGeek

Saturday, Oct. 19 - Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida

Sunday, Oct. 20 - Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida

• Tickets: Stubhub, Vivid Seats , SeatGeek

Friday, Oct. 25 - Caesars Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana

Saturday, Oct. 26 - Caesars Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana

Sunday, Oct. 27 - Caesars Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana

Friday, Nov. 1 - Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, Indiana

• Tickets: Stubhub, Vivid Seats, SeatGeek

Saturday, Nov. 2 - Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, Indiana

Sunday, Nov. 3 - Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, Indiana

Swift then will head to Canada for concerts Nov. 14-16 and 21-23 in Toronto and Dec. 6-8 in Vancouver.

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Paris Olympics: See the venues of the Summer Games

This summer's Olympics will unfold in more than 30 venues throughout Paris and other cities throughout France. This story is best viewed on mobile in the NBC News app .

by Chet Hill, Jiachuan Wu and Nigel Chiwaya

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The Olympics will transform Paris, with dozens of competitions and events expected to draw huge crowds to one of the world’s most iconic cities. Take a tour of some of the Games’ more noteworthy venues.

The River Seine, which flows through the heart of Paris, will be a central location throughout the Games.

The Seine will be the site of the opening ceremony on July 26, when 10,000 athletes aboard more than 160 boats will parade on the water in front of crowds of up to 300,000. In the following weeks, swimming, triathlon, 3-on-3 basketball, skateboarding and gymnastics competitions will also be held at venues along the river.

Beach volleyball will be played at a temporary stadium, currently under construction, in the Champ de Mars near the Eiffel Tower.

The Eiffel Tower Stadium will offer a spectacular view of one of Paris’ most iconic landmarks.

Judo and wrestling competitions will take place at a temporary arena in the Champ de Mars.

The arena will be dismantled after the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The Olympic village lies along the Seine’s northern bank and will house more than 20,000 athletes during the Olympics and Paralympic Games combined.

The village is located about a mile away from Stade de France, which will serve as the main Olympic stadium and host major events such as rugby, shot put and track and field.

The Roland Garros Stadium, built in 1928 in western Paris, is traditionally the home of the annual French Open tennis tournament.

During the Paris Olympics, the Roland Garros will host tennis, boxing, wheelchair tennis and sitting volleyball competitions.

The Olympics are not limited to Paris, as events will take place in other French cities, too. Bordeaux, Lyon, Marseille, Nantes and Nice will host soccer games. Sailing competitions will take place at the Marseille marina, and Villeneuve-d’Ascq in northern France will host basketball and handball competitions.

The farthest event of the Games will take place almost 10,000 miles away, in the French Polynesian island of Tahiti.

Teahupo’o, which is home to some of the biggest waves on the planet, will host surfing competitions.

Visual Credits

3D satellite imagery via Google Earth. Photo rendered images: Seine riverbank, Eiffel Tower Stadium: Paris 2024. Champ de Mars Arena: Paris 2024 /Rmngp/Wilmotte&Associes. Stade de France: Paris2024 / Stade de France © - Macary Zublena et Regembal Costantini - Architectes © ADAGP - Paris. Roland-Garros: Paris 2024 /Cédric Lecocq / FFT. Tahiti: Manea Fabisch/Tahiti Tourisme.