Where will we go this summer? In France, suggests to each interview Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne, the Secretary of State in charge of Tourism. Question of "citizenship" , he insisted last Friday on Europe 1, the day after the green light given by the government to trips of more than 100 km from this June 2. Can the mountains and the countryside dethrone the beach? On this wide open space match against hot sand regulated by health precautions, the prognosis is good.
Rather than drawing plans for the comet, Savoie-Mont-Blanc Tourisme decided to take the temperature, very seriously. As of the confinement, this organization for the promotion of the mountain entrusted to two design offices a barometer in four waves, mid-April, mid-May, mid-June and early July, on the wishes and intentions of the French vacation. At the end of the second survey, six in ten still want to leave and four in ten still do not know where exactly. Except that, environmental question, it is, more or less, the same tidal wave: 61% of those questioned vote for the sea, 16% for the countryside and 12% for the mountain - against, respectively, 66%, 14% and 11% last month. On the other hand, the Hexagon, which will please the Minister, has made a spectacular leap: from 67% to 89% of the desire to escape. Blow, discover, get active ... Our three-color suggestions to take off in hot weather.
Camp spirit
HUTTOPIA: THE HYMN IN NATURE
Camping Huttopia, La Pinède (Excenevex) 74. Manu Reyboz
With 300 m2 per site in the four forest villages and 150 m2 in the 39 campsites, there is no overcrowding. The accommodations are exclusive models (almost all with shower and toilet), in canvas, in wood, such as the new Portland chalet of 35 m2 and three bedrooms. Or both at the same time, like these funny huts on stilts and on floors. Or these brand new Arizona chalets of 18 m2 and two bedrooms. Four new sites will open on June 19: “Forêt de Janas”, between Toulon and Bandol, a first on the Mediterranean; "Meursault", in the heart of the Burgundy vineyards, "Calvados-Normandie", under the apple trees of the Pays d'Auge, and, in Auvergne, "Lac de la Siauve", at the water's edge. In each camp, a shop, a restaurant with a terrace and an outdoor swimming pool where you can spend forever. The discovery of nature punctuates the holidays. Guided walks, treasure hunts, land art, cinema under the stars, electric bike ..., outdoor activities will be multiplied this summer.
In Calvados, Portland chalet from € 875 per week in July and August. Tel .: 04 37 64 22 35 and europe.huttopia.com.
A PRE BED
The paradise in the green of a refined tent in La Flocellière, in the high Vendée bocage. the flocellière
A desire for terroir for the holidays? Discover life on the farm by sleeping in refined tents set up in the middle of pastures, this is a homecoming as we like them. If there is a small green paradise for the whole family, it is here in La Flocellière, in the heart of the high Vendée hedged farmland, not far from Puy du Fou. After a peaceful night in a luxury tent with a bathroom, you will wake up at sunrise, enjoying breathtaking views of the meadows and hills. You are free to plan the day by going to feed the animals, go hiking, fish or swim in the pond. All that's left is to stall the game of pétanque… and turn off your phone.
La Flocellière in Vendée collection, from € 944 a tent for 6 people for 7 nights in July / August. A bed at Pré: unlitaupre.fr.
THE FRENCH TIME UNDER THE STARS
Admire the stars and camp for a summer in complete freedom. Wikicampers
Camping in a “more modern, authentic, sensory and dynamic way”: that is the ambition of French Time, a new umbrella brand from two historic chains, Les Castels (60 years of 5-star campsites where you can plant your own tent in the park of a castle) and Sites & Paysages (38 years of participative nature campsites in remarkable sites). 75 destinations also referenced according to the desired experience. What if it was astronomy? Six campsites meet this criterion, both for their exceptional location and because you learn to read the constellations. Manager of French Time, Véronique Decamps lived this experience in Les Hirondelles, at Élodie and Loïc, a 3-star campsite in the Lot (Dordogne), in Loupiac, near Rocamadour. An address of 63 accommodations including 39 chalets in a park planted with truffle oaks. Every Thursday evening from July 16 to August 20, the "Around the Stars" event is offered at the heart of the campsite with a local mountain guide and Pascaline, "always passionate about astronomy". Enough to stretch the vigil until late at night.
From 602 euros per week for 4 people in July and August. Phone: 02 52 56 03 73; lefrenchtime.com.
Read also - The micro-adventure, another way of traveling in France
A VILLAGE OF TOUES
Le Domaine des Demoiselles, a village of all cabins transformed into unusual charming accommodation, between Burgundy and Auvergne. A.Carignant / the canalous
It is an unusual holiday resort between Digoin (Burgundy) and Chassenard, (Auvergne), designed by two enthusiasts of river navigation and atypical hotel industry, Alfred Carignant and his father Claude, at the head of the boat rental company The Canalous. On a pond, they gathered nineteen cabins, wooden boats that used to be used for transportation in the Loire Valley, to transform them into accommodation. With a surface area of 25 m2, each is fitted out and equipped like a junior suite in a 4-star hotel, for 5 people. Breathtaking view of the site classified as a Natura 2000 zone. The most severe criticism received is "the noise of the frogs". The place is called the Domaine des demoiselles, like the demoiselle dragonfly that populates the pond in summer. A real holiday village, with activities - canoeing, cycling, donkey treks, swimming pool - and a “toue-cabane bien-être” with jacuzzi and sauna, which can be privatized (45 €).
From 118 € per night for 5 people, 9 € / person breakfast at the chalet, or 11.50 € delivered on the boat. Phone: 03 85 53 76 60; slowmoov.com.
Roaming
IN COMBI OR CAMPING-CAR
Nomade Aventure offers a ten-day road trip to discover the most beautiful landscapes of the Southwest. 228140988 / industrieblick - stock.adobe.com
Follow in the footsteps of Giono by the D 900, follow the lavender fields, bathe in Lake Sainte-Croix and sleep under the stars ... Here is the week-long circuit in Provence offered by Vintage Roads, rental specialist vintage vehicles, for holidays with an air of adventure in an early VW Combi fitted out in a motorhome. Perfect for those worried about social distancing and basic enthusiasts. Want more comfort? Nomade Aventure offers a ten-day road trip to discover the most beautiful landscapes of the Southwest aboard a Volkswagen California fitted van with all amenities including toilet and shower) which turns into a living space for 2 to 4 people . Depart from Bordeaux to Figeac via the beaches of Capbreton, the city of Cahors and the Causses du Quercy regional natural park. The plus of the tour operator? An application to guide you during your hikes and which is full of small confidential addresses ... Up to the most beautiful spots where to spend your nights.
Vintage Roads, Combi motorhome rental from € 149 per day. vintageroads.fr
Nomade Aventure, “On the Landes again!” Circuit: 10 days from € 699 per person based on 2 adventurers. nomade-aventure.com
Read also - The motorhome, unexpected star of summer 2020
BY BIKE IN THE DOUBS VALLEY
An emblematic cycle path, EuroVelo 6 links the Atlantic to the Black Sea. No need to travel the 3,600 km, a portion achievable in 5 to 10 days is enough to take the pulse. This is how Le Vélo Voyageur, an agency specializing in cycling holidays in France, has imagined a new summer circuit on this “river route”. From Belfort, renowned for its Vauban citadel and its 18th century façades, travelers get into the saddle and follow the meanders of the Doubs, in which the surrounding forests and cliffs are reflected. The route crosses medieval cities, towns suitable for strolling (Besançon, Dole) and sites witnessing the industrial past of the region, like the royal saltworks of Arc-et-Senans. "In addition to a rich heritage and a real gastronomic interest, this route is suitable for neophytes and families thanks to arranged and secure cycle paths", specifies Eugénie Triebel, co-founder. On the logistics side, the agency takes care of everything: equipment rental, accommodation booking, luggage transport between stages and organization of tailor-made visits.
Le Vélo Voyageur, "The Doubs valley between wild landscapes and architecture", from € 789 per person, levelovoyageur.com.
ON HORSE, IN THE PYRENEES
Horse riding in the Pyrenees-Orientales. caval & go
The meeting is set at Porté-Puymorens, a village in the Pyrénées-Orientales, perched at more than 1,500 m above sea level. The 8-day equestrian hike, reserved for good riders, runs along the wild mountain and its high-altitude lakes (Lanous, Camporells…). Sometimes a milky jade green, sometimes shiny like black blue sapphires, these mirrors of dazzling beauty punctuate expedition days in flowered valleys, pine forests, mineral ridges…
The Mérens and Castillon horses cavalry ensure a comfortable adventure. We spend the night in a refuge, a gîte or a bivouac. After a week of roaming, the most bitten will be able to continue with the hike "Le Long des torrents" for 8 additional days on horseback.
Eight days (including six days on horseback), from € 1,040 per person all inclusive (meal, saddlery and horse equipment, guide, daily luggage transport) from the starting point of the hike. Several departures this summer; that of July 25 is guaranteed. Caval & go: cavalngo.com
ON THE BRITTANY CANALS
In Brittany, on the Nantes canal, in Brest, on board a license-free river boat rented by Locaboat. Here, in front of the castle of Josselin, in flamboyant Gothic style. Brigitte Merz
Along the water, the Nantes to Brest canal reveals the most beautiful valleys of inland Brittany, from the city of the Dukes to northern Finistère, punctuated by a village of granite and slate with its maze of streets with medieval lines and picturesque half-timbered houses. River navigation, on a boat without a license, allows you to venture slowly, away from the crowd on this blue ribbon of 360 km long and 236 locks, which winds from the Erdre to the Alder, passing through the Vilaine , the Blavet and the Oust, this river which majestically passes between the granite cliffs and reveals a series of islets with bird names, Île aux Pies, Île aux Geais, Île aux Corbeaux. Locaboat, flagship player in river tourism in France with 250 license-free boats for hire from 18 bases, offers to embark in Saint-Martin-sur-Oust, for a river cruise with family or friends and à la carte, passing by the remarkable site of Île au Pies. "From there, opt for a detour on the small Aff river to the pretty village of La Gacilly," advises the professional. The place is famous for these craftsmen who work with wax, earth, wood, glass and flowers. Then we reach Redon and its Saint-Sauveur abbey. The freedom to moor your boat where you want along the banks allows you to discover the sites with your nose in the wind, with the bikes that you will have embarked on. “Towards Nantes, take the Erdre valley passing through Blain and the Gâvre forest. West of Saint-Martin-sur-Oust, one of the most beautiful sailing routes opens onto the canal, ”reads the website of Locaboat, which indicates that you should keep an eye on Malestroit. and its half-timbered houses, the moss paths. Highlight: the Josselin castle in flamboyant Gothic style, with its impressive walls and dungeons.
A one-week itinerary, 122 km round trip and 38 locks, according to a navigation time of 3 h 30 per day. In July and August, count between € 1,869 and € 2,898 for 4 passengers depending on the boat model. Phone: 03 59 28 17 60; locaboat.fr
Read also - The French rediscover river boating
BY CAR, THE ALPS IN ALL THEIR SPLENDOR
Le Lautaret, one of the 18 passes on the route des Grandes Alpes. DAVID GOUEL
The route des Grandes Alpes offers a complete panorama of the French Alps, from Lake Geneva to the Mediterranean, via six departments. From north to south: Haute-Savoie, Savoie, Isère, Hautes-Alpes, Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, Alpes-Maritimes. On this unparalleled 720 km route, the mountains take turns in the background, Aravis, Mont-Blanc, Vanoise, Écrins, Mercantour… A real life-size geo course. And there is no question of going for it on this bitumen ribbon which goes up and down like a yo-yo, tightening the laces better when passing the passes. However, between the departure from Thonon-les-Bains and the arrival at Menton, we will cross eighteen and not the least: the Iseran, the Galibier, the Lautaret, the Izoard and the Col de Vars, all at more than 2,000 m above sea level.
As early as 1909, the Touring Club de France had outlined the route of the Grandes Alpes route. It will be completed in 1937 with the opening of the Iseran pass road, between the Haute Tarentaise and the Haute Maurienne Savoyardes. At the end of the 1990s, its coat of arms was redecorated with its own signage and a promotion dedicated to the essentials, heritage, specialties, natural sites, valleys crossed. Then this long course fell into oblivion. It is however, whatever the detractors of the car, slow tourism in all its splendor. Comfortable roaming at its own pace, coupled, in this summer with health precautions, with a safe mode of transport. To take full advantage of it, spend a week or more on it. Certain stages deserve to be spent an entire day. In addition, from the main route, several loops - the Bauges massif and Lake Annecy, Oisans, Serre-Ponçon lake, Mercantour National Park - complete the discovery.
Detailed itinerary on routedesgrandesalpes.com and on the dedicated IGN map, superb and plasticized, better than a GPS, € 8.95 on ignrando.fr Tailor-made travel to build with MyTripTailor. Tel: 09 70 80 12 78 and mytriptailor.com
Read also - Summer vacation: 20 experiences to live to (re) discover the French mountains
Sports stays
INTERNSHIPS TO IMPROVE YOUR SWING
In Évian, we will inaugurate in mid-June "The Lake Course", a 6-hole overlooking Lake Geneva and offering the same standards as the championship course. Evian Resort
After two months of quarantine, walking 7 kilometers while practicing a friendly sport, attracted many followers. Addicts and occasional players who decided to get back on track. For this, nothing better than an internship in an academy offering quality training spaces and the latest video. In Évian, the "Academy", a unique place where the methods of coach David Leadbetter are taught, will inaugurate in mid-June "The Lake Course", a 6-hole course overlooking Lake Geneva and offering the same standards as the championship course . To combine with a luxury stay at the Hôtel Royal (€ 526 for a 2-day course, from € 836 for two for a golf stay, www.evianresort.com). Another destination, another atmosphere: the Golf Barrière Deauville, where Christophe Pottier, former coach of the French teams, has opened a state-of-the-art training center.
To remember for the whole family: its Junior Camps (250 €, 10 hours of lessons per week), Baby Golf (35 €, one hour per day), the adult course 2 days (from 719 € per person with two nights at the Hôtel du Golf and lunches). lhoteldugolf-deauville.com
IN CORSICA AT THE SAILING SCHOOL
Discover the treasures of Corsica by sail. Matthieu Honoré
Learn during your holidays to navigate in the crystal clear waters of the Isle of Beauty, this is what the sailing school (cruise, kitesurf, catamaran, dinghy or windsurf and windsurfing) offers of the Glénans, created in Brittany after war (1947) by a couple of resistance fighters, Philippe and Hélène Viannay, but also established in Corsica for more than fifty years. “The privileged links maintained by Philippe Viannay with the Conservatoire du littoral enabled the trainees to settle in the cove of Fazzio, a former sheepfold located a stone's throw from Bonifacio. This isolated cove, sheltered from the wind, bordered by scrub and surrounded by rocks is a site perfectly suited to learning to cruise, "recalls on the website of the association Hervé Colas, base manager from 2000 to 2003 in Bonifacio, where the activity of the Glénans volunteers contributed to the construction of the Maison de la mer. The latter also operates all year round, with courses combining sailing and cross-country skiing in winter.
This summer, the courses will resume on June 20 (until the end of September) on a navigation area going to the mouths of Bonifacio, in the international strait separating Sardinia from Corsica, where the Italian islands are located. La Maddalena archipelago and the French islands of Cavallo and Lavezzi. Of the six 39-foot (12-meter) boats, four are new, launched in March and never sailed due to Covid. Due to the sanitary context, the number of places on board is limited to 5 people instead of 8 in normal times, which makes more room in the cabin with three individual cabins and a square for two. With the cessation of activities, the harbor water has never been so green and the dolphins are at the exit of the channel. "It's really a good year to enjoy Corsica," enthuses Emmanuele Fanzano, base manager at Bonifacio. The courses are open from 18 years old.
7-day on-board training courses in July and August: from € 700 without on-board cash for each of the 4 options: "coastal cruise discovery", "cruise improvement", "versatile crew" or "chief on board". Phone: 01 53 92 86 00; glenan.asso.fr or the Bonifacio Tourist Office website: bonifacio.fr
YOGA FOR ALL IN ALPE D'HUEZ
Yoga session in the heart of the Grandes Rousses massif at Club Med Alpes d'Huez. club Med
To reconnect with yourself after two months of confinement, you put on fresh air in the mountains. In the heart of the Grandes Rousses massif, live a unique yoga experience developed by Heberson Oliveira, one of the most famous and renowned yoga masters in France. The latter has developed for over twenty years his own method: Vibhava Yoga. Thus, from sunrise to sunset, the day will be punctuated with various practices: hiking, yoga, meditation and relaxation workshops ... This program of the Yoga School by Heberson is offered in some Club Med around the world, including that of Alpe d'Huez 4 tridents which reopens on July 4. What return to the top of its form!
Club Med Alpe d'Huez: from 3,840 euros (including the 15% reduction "Thank you summer") in an All Inclusive by Club Med formula for a family of 2 adults and 2 children aged 16 and 5 ( free stay for children under 6). Phone: 04 76 79 75 70; clubmed.fr
Read also - Summer holidays, they are reinventing themselves: Club Med puts on the mountain, "a very attractive destination"
SURF CAMP ON THE BASQUE COAST
The Joyu Surf Shack's “Maison du bonheur” in Biarritz. joyu surf shack
After these two confined months, there is the expectation of the days when we can let ourselves be carried by the waves and give in to the mysterious "ocean feeling" formulated by the Nobel Prize winner Romain Rolland, in 1927. In Bidart, at the gates of Biarritz, Joyu Surf Shack attracts travelers wishing to experience this state of fusion which gives the feeling of being one with the universe, in search of sharing and conviviality. With a bright open space and three double bedrooms, the surf house designed by Yutta and Geoffrey is the “house of happiness” par excellence. All summer, stays of 4 days are organized there. On the program: surfing guide on the most beautiful spots in the Basque Country (chosen according to the conditions and the level of the hosts), aqua training, Pilates and aquatic walk in wild places, as well as healthy, local and organic cuisine. Full box for a rejuvenating stay in a natural setting.
Joyu Surf Shack, from € 540 per person. joyu.fr
Ask
TUBA CLUB IN MARSEILLE
At the south-eastern end of Marseille's 8th arrondissement, almost at the end of the seaside road which leads to the creeks, in the Goudes district which shelters a small fishing port, an unsuspected hotel must open at the start July: Tuba club. In the same place of the old diving club. Nothing indicates on the spot that there will soon be five rooms and a restaurant imagined by two little kids from Marseille, Grégory Gassa and Fabrice Denizot, with the decoration entrusted to the interior designer Marion Mailaender, also from Marseille. The diving club logos are still stuck on the doors and the site sign indicates that the owner is "the leisure center of Goudes". But its managers are none other than Greg Gassa and Fabrice Denizot, who say they want to keep the spirit of the place. A great promise in front of the Planier lighthouse.
COLLECTION HOUSES IN AN EXCEPTIONAL CASE
All the accommodation available for rent on Le Collectionist (here, villa Alice) offers high-quality services: privileged locations, beautiful views, swimming pools, multiple bedrooms, large spaces and tasteful decoration. The Collectionist
Listed castles in Provence, corsair mansions in Normandy, Art Deco villas in Corsica or ultramodern lofts on the French Riviera, the accommodation available for rent on Le Collectionist spans styles and eras. Founded in 2012, the platform offers tailor-made holidays, which combine the best of classic luxury hotels (personalized services and experiences) and the comfort of a real place of life that is not shared with anyone. All the accommodation selected by this company offers high-quality services: privileged locations, beautiful views, swimming pools, multiple bedrooms, large spaces and tasteful decoration.
Our favorite: La Maison Bleue, 6 bedroom villa at Cap Ferret, a few steps from the beach, from € 1,300 per night. lecollectionist.com
ARTISTS GUEST HOUSES IN SÈTE
The Sétoise institution awarded a Michelin star, The Marcel has grown up. The group announced the opening of guest houses in August, above the Rio, a bistro with active cultural programming (exhibitions, concerts, screenings, etc.), located in an old cinema. Located in the heart of the Royal Setting, six high-end "artist suites" have been imagined and decorated by signatures such as plastic photographer Stéphane Couturier, American painter William MacKendree or photographer Gilles Favier, member of Agence Vu and historical collaborator of Liberation. All air-conditioned and enjoying a balcony or terrace with a view of the canals and Mont Saint-Clair, these rooms, ranging from 21 m2 to 67 m2, can accommodate up to six guests. Prices and website to come.
IN SEIGNOSSE BY A POND
The Villa de l'Etang blanc, surrounded by pine trees. This Landes house is a haven of tranquility, 2 km from the coast and surf spots. © villa de l'etang blanc
The Villa de l'Étang blanc is due to reopen on June 4. Freshly renovated, its 6 rooms are decorated in a bright and dapper style, enhanced by sections of walls lined with wallpaper. The address is known around the corner. David Sulpice, the chef and master of this house with his wife Magali, won his first Michelin star in 2019. Planted in the pines and decorated with an outdoor champagne bar, this Landes house is a haven of tranquility, 2 km from the coast and surf spots. She lives at the edge of the pond of which she bears the name, a calm patented mirror for fishing and boating, in the company of wild ducks.
Double room from € 140 with a view of the pond. Tel .: 05 58 72 80 15 and villaetangblanc.fr
JOURNEY TO ROYAN, FIFTIES SPIRIT
Club Royan 50 is a timeless experience in an apartment, a villa and even a bed and breakfast, for all lovers of fifties . CLUB ROYAN 50
How about going on vacation in the 1950s? It is the proposal of a collective of independent establishments in Royan, the Club Royan 50. Inhabited by a common passion for this period which evokes carefree and joie de vivre, the owners are unbeatable on the history and nuggets of this seaside resort of Charente-Maritime rebuilt after the war. A timeless experience in an apartment, a villa and even a bed and breakfast, for all lovers of fifties.
CasaModernista Royan, for two: 400 to 650 € per week (casamodernistaroyan.com); Le Ciel de Royan, for 4 to 14 people, between € 570 and € 1,600 per week (lecielderoyan.com); Clair Accueil, per night in a double guest room from € 42.50 for two, and from € 150 to € 275 for 6 to 10 people (clair-accueil.fr).
Read also- An architectural journey through time in Royan
“FAVORITE” HOUSING AT LOW PRICES
The Airbnb platform offers charming villas to book before they are taken by storm (here, Les Issambres, in Roquebrune-sur-Argens). AirBnb
Confinement or not, no question of skipping the family summer vacation! For their accommodation searches, 85% of Internet users focus on France and 35% on destinations located less than 80 km from their home, according to the trends observed by Airbnb. To facilitate reservations, the platform has brought together the ten most "wishlisted" accommodation since March 16. With 59 € per night, you can settle in a thatched cottage nestled on the slopes of Mont Mézenc, in Ardèche. Further east, a large yurt will accommodate a family of 6 in the Bauges massif (80 € per night) while La cabane d'Aurel, chalet with swimming pool and jacuzzi located twenty minutes from the Vosges resorts, will welcome a couple with two children (125 € per night). Charming finds to reserve before they are taken by storm.
airbnb.com
CHIC REFUGEES AND SECRETS OF INSIDING IN THE LANDES
The L'Incomparable hotel, near Aix-les-Bains, overlooks Lake Bourget, from which it offers an exceptional point of view. to come up
Seven years ago, Charlotte created “Les Maisons de Cha”, a collection of pretty villas for rent for the summer holidays, between Seignosse, Hossegor and Capbreton. Architect houses, wooden villas, luxury homes ... With swimming pool and garden, ideally located. Renamed "Hossegor Villas", the seasonal agency has grown with a portfolio of around fifty addresses handpicked by a young team passionate about decoration and design. The plus of Hossegor Villas? Tailor-made services and partnerships with carefully selected premises (restaurants, etc.). “We recommend places that we frequent ourselves; not tourist traps ", specifies the young woman before adding:" This special year, we offer new services such as an evening with DJ at home (lack of disco) or swimming lessons for children in the private pool of the House." Another novelty is the launch of the “My Little Villa” collection, the little sister of Hossegor Villas, dedicated to attractive family houses that are more affordable.
Hossegor Villas (hossegor-villas.com). Weekly summer rental from € 1,200 to € 13,000, depending on the villa, its capacity and the period. My Little Villa (mylittlevilla.com).