Destination: France
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Adventures
Craving excitement? Wanna feel the earth move? Dabble in daredevil France.
Scale Europe’s highest sand dune
Sail subterranean waters
Drive a Porsche on an ice piste or fly down the legendary Vallée Blanche off-piste
Learn how to survive in the mountains; attend an avalanche-awareness clinic
Embark on a surf safari
Trek Corsica’s hot tough spine with the mythical GR20
Splash out on some white-water sports in the Dordogne, Gorges du Verdon or Parc National des Pyrénées
Go volcanic
Paraglide the thermals above the balding Puy de Dôme or hang-glide off Ménez-Hom
Live dangerously: kite-surf, ski joër or sledge in a snakegliss
culinary experiences
France is your oyster as far as tickling the tastebuds with extraordinary new experiences goes.
Pick and nibble our way through Paris’ Marché Bastille, the capital’s best open-air market
Scoff porky-pig cuisine in a Lyonnais bouchon
Sleep, eat and breathe escargots (snails) at a fabulous snail-farm chambre d’hôte
Fill up on Burgundy reds at Beaune’s École des Vins de Bourgogne
Feast on wädele braisé au pinot noir (ham knuckles in wine), choucroute au canard (duck sauerkraut) and other Alsatian specialities in a cosy old winstub
Dip into an authentic fondue on a Jurassien farm
Tour Strasbourg’s breweries
Sink oysters fresh from an oyster farm in Cancale
While away several hours in Marseille over bouillabaisse at Chez Madie Les Galinettes
Savour a snail stuffed with foie gras in truffle- and foie gras–rich Périgord
shopping sprees
Be it street markets, chic boutiques or a farm, shopping en France covers the whole gambit of styles and wallets. Our favourites:
Triangle d’Or, Paris – French couture’s walk of fame
Marché aux Puces de St-Ouen, Paris – Europe’s largest flea market
Cité Europe, Calais – alcohol shopping in bulk
Cancale – year-round oyster market
Le Puy-en-Velay – handmade lace
La Maison de la Truffe, Uzès – snuffle a truffle
Sarlat-La-Canéda – Saturday morning truffle ‘n foie gras market
Limoges – porcelain and enamel shops
Les Halles, Lyon – for foodies seeking the very best
Places des Lices, St-Tropez – quintessential Provençal market
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