The ease of travelling to France almost makes it hard to choose when to visit. With so much you could simply pop down for throughout the year, we asked Carolyn Boyd, travel writer and fervent Francophile, to pick out the one thing she’d go for in each season. Here are her recommendations for spring cycling, winter in Normandy and a couple in between.
Spring, cycling Ile de Ré:
The west coast of France is dotted with islands that make for idyllic cycling holidays, and one of the best is the Ile de Ré. It boasts 110km of cycle paths, many of which are away from main roads and take you through vineyards, along the pine-scented coastline and between the salt pans. Villages like Le Bois Plage en Ré are a dream to trundle through, with white-washed houses adorned with blue or green shutters and colourful hollyhocks growing along street verges and in every garden.
Stay at: Les Voiles at the heart of Le Bois Plage en Ré.
Summer, Breton culture:
Brittany is home to one of the world’s most fascinating Celtic cultures, and each July the town of Quimper in southern Finistère celebrates in style with its Festival Cornouaille. There is music galore, much of it from bands from other Celtic cultures around the world. There are costumed parades where the women don the traditional tall lace bonnet, you can join in with traditional dances known as Fest-Noz, and tuck into the local speciality buckwheat crêpes from the various stalls.
Stay at: Sémaphore de Lervily near Audierne, a converted semaphore station on the remote south-west coast.
Autumn, the Dordogne:
The Dordogne stays warm well into October, when the trees also put on a spectacular show with the changing colours of the leaves. You can spend your days exploring the countryside by bike, canoeing on the River Dordogne, or browsing the shops and markets in Perigeux and Bergerac. Fans of pre-history will also enjoy visiting the many caves in the area, including the most famous Lascaux IV, an hour away.
Stay at: Gites Boutique, where you might get a late-summer dip in the pool.
Winter festive family fun in Normandy:
Ever thought to take the whole family to France for Christmas? Base yourself in the countryside between Caen and Paris, making day trips to the capital and Monet’s garden at Giverny. The key here is to find the right place and that’s where Château du Bois de la Lune comes in.
It sleeps 25 and there are expansive grounds and a swimming pool (if you prefer to go in summer) as well as a billiard room, for those who prefer to make the most of the chateau. The huge kitchen is ideal for cooking up a feast for the Big Day.
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Carolyn Boyd
Guest Expert
Carolyn is one of the UK’s leading food and travel writers and an expert on France. She likes nothing more than telling a good story, packed with expert insight and inspirational recommendations. Her writing for The Guardian, The Times, National Geographic Traveller and many more has seen her cycle across France, seeking out its beauty, culture and delectable produce in search of some of the most delicious and exciting experiences in travel.
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