Because of the global coronavirus epidemic, our summer holidays should be Franco-French for many of us. And if you don't know which region to visit, Vanessa Zha, the travel specialist for Europe 1, whom you will find every Sunday at 7.52 am in the Gourmet stroll, offers you some heritage treasures to discover.
Cotentin, a breath of fresh air
You can go to Normandy to explore the Cotentin peninsula. At the far end, opposite Saint-Vaast-la-Hougue, you will be surprised by the island of Tatihou. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site by its Vauban tower, it is above all a little paradise of nature, totally preserved. It houses an ornithological reserve, a botanical garden but also 70 sheep which live in the open air from April to November. The guardians of the place, farmers, offer to join them for the day by taking the boat to go and return on foot, or the reverse depending on the tide.
But you can also sleep on site with full board with farm products. This farm is particularly suitable for children, it is a small Noah's ark: in addition to the 70 sheep, there are also goats, horses, a Norman donkey, chickens, ducks ...
On the village side, you can't miss Barfleur, which in the Middle Ages was the main port of the Anglo-Norman kingdom, or Saint-Vaast-la-Hougue, which was elected "Favorite Village of the French" in 2019 Its Vauban fort and the sailors' chapel are definitely worth a visit.
In the gardens, in the Moulins valley, in Saint-Germain-des-Vaux, you will be able to stroll through a remarkable garden: a garden in homage to Jacques Prévert - who had a house in Omonville-la-Petite, a few kilometers away. All the trees were chosen and planted by his wife and friends: Yves Montand, Juliette Gréco, Picasso. A place with a soul.
And finally, go to La Hague to walk on the customs trail. But above all, follow the guide to descend into the famous caves, in which the smugglers hid their booty.
The magical and preserved Côte d'Azur
If you dream of the Côte d'Azur but not of the crowd or the bling-bling side, Mandelieu-la-Napoule is waiting for you. You will discover the ancient medieval fortress, which overlooks the Mediterranean. A real balcony over the sea, but above all a magical place.
Henry and Marie Clews, a couple of American artists, restored this castle during the Roaring Twenties. And they made it into a real play, a universe full of humor and imagination, from plays to gardens. But it doesn't stop there: at the heart of the large tower, in the cellar, you will discover their two tombs, slightly open ... Why? To let their souls escape and find themselves every 100 years in the closed double tower room at the top of the tower. Their next meeting is also scheduled for July 28, 2037.
From the terrace of the Château de la Napoule, you have the most beautiful view of the Esterel massif, this glowing massif, covered with very green vegetation, which plunges its feet into the turquoise blue water and which becomes a cornice of gold that sparkles at sunset. You can take the hiking trails among the Aleppo pines, umbrella pines and eucalyptus trees, to the Pic de l'Ours or to the Balcons du Cap roux. If you are more athletic you can do it by mountain bike. If you are more trendy "sea", discover a must-see at the end of the day: the tour of the coves in the bay of Théoule-sur-Mer in stand-up-paddle or even in Hawaiian canoe!
In Savoy, Lake Bourget and its surroundings
If you take the direction of Savoy, go and discover the largest natural lake in France: the Bourget lake. 18 kilometers long, it is bordered by the spa town of Aix-les-Bains to the east, or Chambéry to the south.
You can admire the breathtaking landscape and learn about local legends. Thus, you will learn the history surrounding "the tooth of the cat", one of the peaks that surround the lake. Legend has it that a fisherman made a vow to throw the first fish he caught into the water, to bring him luck. But he did not keep his promise and on the third take, he caught a cat that turned into a fierce monster and terrorized everyone. Until two soldiers drop him into the lake. But one of his canines remained planted in the mountains…
This peak dominates the Hautecombe Abbey, a gem of Cistercian architecture and necropolis of the princes and princesses of Savoy. No less than thirty are buried there.
And if you are fond of hiking, you can take the Savoie Cheese Route which crosses the Tarentaise and Beaufortain valleys. You will climb the mountain pastures, learn how to make cheese and then taste it and you can even sleep under the stars!
A little further south, you can discover the Vanoise National Park on foot. This exceptional natural site also offers the "MyRDVnature" application, which sends you notifications on fauna or flora, with historical anecdotes and practical advice to help preserve the place.
In the Tarn, the magnificent Albi and Cordes, the castle in the sky
In Occitania, in Tarn, Albi will celebrate the ten years of the inscription of its episcopal city to the World heritage of Unesco, this summer. Around the Sainte-Cécile cathedral and the episcopal palace, giant red bricks, stroll through the alleys of the four medieval districts and discover the half-timbered houses. Then stroll along the Tarn and linger near the Pont-vieux, one of the oldest in France.
In the surroundings of Albi, get lost in the villages and vineyards. As in Lautrec, in the heart of the land of cocagne, formerly the stronghold of the dyers, who were said to be richer than the king thanks to this ball of cocagne, made of pastel leaves: the famous pastels of Lautrec.
If you prefer hiking, you can climb to the top of the Black Mountain to discover the Capelette de Saint-Féréol. And at the end of the day, you can admire the vineyards of Gaillac, from the Tarn, in gabarre.
In Brittany, discovering Breton Polynesia
The turquoise waters and the white sand beaches of Polynesia, without having to take the plane, are you tempted? Direction Finistère. Nine islands, hundreds of islets and the impression of being in the middle of the Polynesian lagoons, thanks to the maerl, a small red alga, which when it disintegrates, forms a white carpet at the bottom of the water. This is what gives the sand this brilliant whiteness, the waters this turquoise and translucent color.
And thanks to the wind that blows practically all year, it is a paradise for "sailors". It was there that former resistance fighters, who had made these islands their base camp, set up after the Second World War the Glénan sailing school which became THE reference.
If you are more connected culture than nautical sports, do not hesitate to push the doors of the chapel of Ty Mamm Doué in Quimper, or stroll on the place of Locronan, where many films like Chouans were filmed , and obviously visit the Quimper Museum of Fine Arts.