Le Week-end: the ABC’s of a French holiday

Spending the long Easter holidays in France this year? Whether you’re heading straight for the capital or are counting the days before seeing the Cote d’Azur for the first time this year, there are just some things that you must do on a French holiday. Grab your beret and baguette and allez!

Eat at a Parisian bistro

Is there anything for typically French than lunching at a Parisian café? Now that spring has arrived you can bet the bistros will be spilling out the doors and onto the streets. Bistros are small, informal restaurants that can get really busy at lunch time. Grab a free table and ask the waiter about the menu of the day. Enjoy it with a bottle of house wine. Service won’t be what you’re used to at your local gastro pub, don’t take it personal.

Cycle parts of the Tour de France

Are you a big fan of Le Tour? Then plan yourself a cycle holiday! Choose a leg of the race that matches your fitness level and pedal your heart out. The 207km leg from Visé to Tournai in Belgium is fairly flat, as is the leg from Orchies to Boulogne sur Mer with some small hills. For some classically French countryside, tackle the route from Epernay (Champagne) to Metz in the Lorraine region.

Toast to the Queen’s health in Champagne

Convinced by our 5 reasons to go abroad this summer? Don’t miss out on the spirit of the Jubilee and toast to the Queen’s health with a glass of champagne in… Champagne! You can tour the big house names like Champagne Mumm and Mercier but the best champagne comes from the small lot houses in the countryside that don’t often get exported abroad. Designate a driver and taste your way around the region!

Cruise down the Three Corniches

These three roads are without a doubt among the most scenic routes in Europe. More than 30km long, they run from Nice to Monaco and on to Menton, right on the Italian border. We recommend the Grande Corniche, built by Napoleon and follows the Roman Aurelian Way. It’s the highest of the three roads and has plenty of lay-bys for stopping and enjoying the views. The Basse Corniche is the best option if you want to stop at beaches along the way, it’s the old coastal route. Don’t forget, beach holidays don’t have to be lazy.

Eat your heart out at the markets

One thing that is certain when you plan holidays in France: you’re going to eat like a king. The best place to find the freshest produce is of course at the markets. Sniff out the best black truffles, the tastiest Camembert and the best Brie… Every region serves up something a little different at the markets by the best by far are in Aix-en-Provence and Carpentras: simply delicious!

Travelling to France this year? What are your favourite French experiences?

Imgs: risastla, Greenwich Photography, fhwrdh, e_calamar, sylvain_beauchamps / Flickr cc.