Dream Destinations: Where We Want to Travel in France
As the coronavirus pandemic sweeps the globe and much of the world is on lockdown at their homes, we reached out to our France Today contributors to share their travel dreams. Where do you want to travel to France once the quarantine is lifted? Share in the comments section below.
The Gorges du Verdon
“I’d been planning to hike the Gorges du Verdon, in Provence, in
October this year. It’s a region I know very well from my 20s. You can lose
yourself as you descend deep into the rocky canyons. If the weather’s right I
may even swim in the Lac de Sainte-Croix. Even well into autumn, Provence often
keeps its summer heat.”
My Local Café
“As someone who has been house- and
garden-bound for the past three weeks with a two-year-old son, my dream escape
would not necessarily be somewhere exotic or glamorous, distant or photogenic,
quaint or atmospheric. A little wander up to the local café to nurse a passion of Pelforth or perhaps a
sniff around a few shops – both seem like an other-worldly, old-school treats
right now.
Having said that, if pushed my imagination can
easily leap beyond the perfunctory: a sun-kissed stroll around the wave-lapped
footpath looping around the St-Jean Cap Ferrat headland – this would be just
the ticket, fresh-air wise; a long, slow lunch of duck confit, red wine and
chocolate mousse, in the shadow of Albi’s Sainte-Cecile Cathedral –
hard to beat whether you’ve gone stir-crazy or not; and how about lazily
watching the catch come in port-side at L’Herbaudière on Noirmoutier?
From lockdown to
Lacanau
“During the lockdown here in Paris, where we
have been confined for almost three weeks, I’ve been dreaming of our much-loved
Lacanau on the south-west coast. Pounded by the powerful waves of the Atlantic,
there’s a wild and rugged beauty to this part of the world – and it feels like
the exact antithesis of where we are now. I can’t wait to smell the scent of
the pine forests, feel the softness of the sand dunes underfoot and splash
around on my surfboard again.”
The Pink Granite Coast
“I have my fingers firmly crossed for a welcome
return to the Breton coast this summer/ I’m due to research a feature for France Today on some of Brittany’s
many islands, and then join my family for a three-generation week at
Perros-Guirec on the glorious Pink Granite Coast. Watch this space!”
The Coast of Finistère
“It’s a footbridge called La Passerelle des
Capucins, passing over the sea a short walk out of the market town of Audierne
about 5km from where I live. At the weekend (even when it’s not sunny), I love
to take our little dog, park up in Audierne, walk along the seafront and watch
the boats bobbing up and down in the marina, the gulls overhead and the
occasional fishing boat that’s heading off for the day. We follow the path out
of town over this footbridge and keep going until the estuary opens right out
into the sea at the main beach.
It’s a place with the seemingly endless sky, a
wide, flat horizon, and a landscape of blue, gold, white, and grey that is
constantly changing. I’m surprised at how much I miss the simple pleasure of
heading to the sea and feeling all that space, breathing it all in.”
A Favourite Place in
Provence
“If I could snap my fingers I’d go to Uzès, my
favorite destination in Provence. I’d stay at the fabulous, L’Albiousse B&B
and venture forth each day to the vineyards of Chateauneuf du Pape, and
Gigondas and I’d have lunch at Le Verger de Pape overlooking the valley.”
The Tarn
“Dreaming of the golden triangle of medieval Albi,
Gaillac and ancient Cordes-sur-Mer in the sunny Tarn. Rolling hills, lush
fields, and fabulous food. Heaven!”
Tour du Mont Blanc
“My husband Dave and I were set to hike the
160-km Tour du Mont Blanc in early July. It is one of the iconic grand randonnée walking routes,
starting in Les Houches and circling the foot of the massif into France, Italy, and Switzerland. The idea was born as a way to visit a spectacular place and
also as motivation to get in shape ahead of the rather demanding 10-day trek.
We had been researching the #TMB itinerary and ultra-light gear for weeks (we
prefer to bivouac when we can, rather than stay in mountain refuges), and, just
as we started training, the coronavirus epidemic unleashed its fury. As did
everyone else, we’ve had to reshuffle work and personal commitments due to the
lockdown, so even if travel restrictions were lifted in time, it is unlikely
that we’d be able to pick up our plans this year. Never fear. As I choose to
see it, this gives us even more time to get trail-fit and prepared. Mont Blanc
will still be there next summer, as magnificent as ever, and we’ll probably
savor the opportunity even more once we are free from these trammels, like the
first ray of sunshine after a raging storm.”
Mercantour National
Park
“These days, in my (hyperactive) mind’s eye,
I’m dreaming of getting high on altitude and returning to the wilds of the
Riviera backcountry, only an hour and a half from the coast, where you can hike
in the Vallée des Merveilles of the Mercantour Park. A three-hour climb will
take you past patches of wild raspberries, purple wildflowers, waterfalls and
prancing chamois to the Refuge de Nice perched at 2232 meters above sea level.
Not only do you feel like you’re on top of the world, but the homemade blueberry
pie on the mountain shelter terrace is pure heaven.”
Enjoy!!
Comments
Post a Comment