Only in France – Favourite French experiences for Silver Travellers

As a specialist in France, I’m always being asked to name my favourite place.  Impossible!  So much depends on my mood.  But France is as much about experiences as places, so here are 12 of my must-dos – or as the French say, les incontournables – all perfectly accessible to Silver Travellers.  And these are just for starters.

1)  Feel your spine tingle as you come face-to-face with original prehistoric cave paintings.  My all-time favourites are in the Grottes de Niaux in the Ariège department of Midi-Pyrenees – simply walk through a door in the mountainside and follow an old river bed by flashlight to confront bison and antelope so realistic you think they’ll gallop away across the rock.  Hooked on ancient history?  See cave paintings at Pech Merle in the Lot Valley and Font de Gaume in the Dordogne, and don’t miss the new Caverne du Pont d’Arc in southern Ardèche, an exact replica of the Chauvet Cave with 425 painted animals. 

www.tourism-midi-pyrenees.co.uk

Balloon ride over Gers 2)  I’ve never forgotten the magic of a candlelit summer evening at Vaux Le Vicomte, a magnificent castle east of Paris built by Nicholas Fouquet, finance minister to Louis XIV.  So jealous was the young king of his minister’s new home, he imprisoned him for fraud and commissioned his architect, interior designer and landscape artist to build him his own palace, Versailles.  Watch out for similar candlelit events at some of the Loire Valley chateaux. 

www.tourism77.co.uk

3)  OK, it’s pricey, but worth saving up to float over Gascony on a golden autumn evening in a hot air balloon – or montgolfière – looking down on the perched village of Lectoure.  If that’s beyond the budget, watch the colourful spectacle of the annual hot air balloon festival from Annonay in Ardèche, homeland of the pioneering Montgolfier brothers.

www.tourism-midi-pyrenees.co.uk

St Romain en Gal 4)  It always thrills me to walk in Roman footsteps across the paving stones of Vaison la Romaine, just off the Rhône Valley north of Avignon.  A little further north is another Roman favourite, St-Romain-en-Gal.  Too often overlooked by people flying down the fast lane of the motorway, it has a great museum and extensive remains of villas, streets and even public toilets!  On the opposite bank stands Vienne with its twin theatres and temple.

www.vienne-tourisme.com

D-Day beaches - American Cemetery, Colleville-sur-Mere 5)  Humbling and uplifting despite the obvious sadness are the war cemeteries of two world wars.  Everyone should walk amongst the Great War headstones, crosses and memorials across Northern France, not just to the Commonwealth dead, but to the French and Germans, Portuguese and Indians, all so close together.  The D-Day landing beaches of Normandy are also unmissable with museums and visitor centres that are personal to so many of us whose fathers fought for our freedom.   

www.remembrancetrails-northernfrance.com
www.normandy-tourism.org

6)  France has some fantastic museums, large and small, but one of my all-time favourites is the Musée Lumière in Lyon, former Art Nouveau home of photographer Antoine Lumière and his two sons who invented the cinematograph projector and first colour photographs.  I sat spellbound in front of flickering black-and-white films, some barely a minute long.  The first film of workers filing out of the factory was shot here on site, and when the brothers’ film of a train pulling into a station was first screened in cinemas, people jumped out of their seats for fear of being mown down!

www.lyon-france.com

Transhumance festival, Aubrac 7)  Join in the fun of the annual Transhumance Festival in late May when herds of tranquil honey-coloured cows are blessed in the village square at Aubrac in the Lot Valley before being walked up to the summer pastures of the Aubrac Plateau.  Lead cows are decked out in headgear of decorated holly bushes or French flags in this flamboyant bovine version of Royal Ascot.  Other transhumance festivals take place throughout early summer in the Alps and Pyrenees.

www.tourisme-aveyron.com

Petit Train d'Artouste 8)  The French love their little trains, not just the Petits Trains which trundle round tourist towns on wheels, but also narrow gauge railways.  My vote goes to Le Petit Train d’Artouste which is accessed via a cable car from Fabrèges in the Ossau Valley of the Pyrenees.  Ride up through the clouds before climbing aboard the open-sided train which once took men and materials to build a dam, then walk round the lake or hike up into the Pyrenees.

www.tourisme64.com

Over the Mont Blanc glaciers 9)  Take a light aircraft flight from Megève altiport in summer.  I sat spellbound as the green lower slopes morphed into pristine snow and we flew low over the glaciers around Mont Blanc.  If you’ve no head for heights or no holiday cash to spare, take the 100-year-old tramway to the café beneath the glaciers or swim in the natural swimming pool – or biotope – at Combloux in the shadow of France’s most iconic peak.  

www.savoie-mont-blanc.com

Punting through the Marais Poitevin 10)  Glide through ‘Green Venice’ in a traditional punt.  This ‘wet marsh’ area of the Marais Poitevin straddles the border of Poitou-Charente and Pays de la Loire on the Atlantic coast.  On a summer evening, I spotted water vole swimming about their business, watched heron in search of supper, and caught the azure flash of a kingfisher.  Pole your own punt or, my tip, let an expert local guide do the hard work and tell you about life in this magical area.  Further north, there are gentle cruises to enjoy through the Brière marshes behind La Baule.

www.visit-poitou-charentes.com

Riding in the Camargue 11)  Largest area of wetland in France, the Camargue is famous for its black bulls, white horses and flamingos.  Explore on horseback to get up close and personal with the wildlife, no equestrian experience necessary to enjoy a gentle ride, safely cocooned in a Western-style saddle.   Returning from the dunes at dusk, we splashed through the shallow lagoon as flamingos sifted the shallows and coypu sat in wait for a fish supper.  Love riding?   I loved my spring hack through the lush landscape of Normandy’s undulating Suisse Normande.

www.visitprovence.com

12)  The chateaux of the Loire Valley have been staging son et lumière shows for decades, but many cities also now offer highly sophisticated light shows and trails.  See the summer projections on the Roman walls surrounding Le Mans; the multi-coloured projections on churches in Poitiers, Rouen and Amiens; and wander the spectacular illuminated trail through historic Chartres.  For winter magic, head to Lyon around December 6th for the annual 3-day festival when buildings all over the city become the backdrop to the best in urban lighting.

www.loirevalleytourism.com
www.chartresenlumieres.com

239 people found this helpful
18081

Share Article:

Gillian Thornton

Travel writer

Leave a comment

*

Sign up to our newsletter to receive the latest travel tips on top destinations.

Join the club

Become a member to receive exclusive benefits

Our community is the heart of Silver Travel Advisor, we love nothing more than sharing ideas, inspiration, hints and tips between us.

Most Recent Articles

There’s something refreshingly nostalgic about the quintessential British coach holiday….

Come feel the love on a Princess cruise. You’ll enjoy the MedallionClass experience others simply can’t, and it’s exclusively for everyone. Visit incredible destinations and be involved in the best experiences around each one of them.

Experience more with Princess and connect effortlessly with the world around you, spend time away with loved ones, take a moment for yourself, and fall in love with your holiday of a lifetime, every time.

With over 20 years of experience, Wendy Wu Tours has mastered the art of creating exceptional, fully inclusive tours which showcase the very best of each destination.

Each tour is led by a world-class guide, who will highlight the very best of their homeland, and includes authentic cultural experiences so you are not just seeing the sights, but truly immersing yourself in local life.

Say hello to ease at sea. Ambassador’s purpose is simple: they want to inspire every guest to experience authentic cruising, effortlessly and sustainably. Passionate about protecting our oceans and destinations, their ships comply with the highest industry emission standards and there is no single-use plastic on board.

On your voyage, you will receive the warmest of welcomes from the Ambassador community as you sail upon the friendliest ships afloat.

This is a global co-operative co-owned by local partners using real local experts and guides, which supports local communities, environments and wildlife. It offers travellers quirky places to stay, activity holidays and learning experiences. Not In The Guidebooks gets travellers off the beaten track into local culture with day experiences and longer, immersive adventures.

From wild wellness breaks in Wales to painting in Portugal, sustainable adventures in Mauritius to food safaris in Brazil, this is immersive, exciting travel.

Seabourn’s five intimate ships carry guests to the heart of great cities, exclusive yacht harbours and secluded coves around the world, while two new purpose-built expedition ships will combine exhilarating adventures in remote destinations with the sophisticated amenities of the world’s finest resorts at sea.

From the luxury of all suite accommodations to complimentary fine wines and spirits, and a no tipping policy, Seabourn exemplifies the definition of travelling well.