Heading to France later this year? Or planning that holiday break in advance for next year? Why look any further than France. France has everything for the discerning visitor, from beaches,countless attractions, to buzzing and cosmopolitan cities. However, France is not just about those places that attract millions of visitors each year. There are some emerging cities and locations in France that are emerging as tourism hot spots, so bear these in mind!
Without further ado, please check out our guide to what we feel are the major up and coming French destinations…
Annecy
Situated in a magnificent location, on Annecy Lake, with the stunning Aravis Mountains located in the background, this location is home to the International Festival of Animated Films that is held annually in June. During the Festival, all of the theatres in the town show films that are involved in the competition. The town is located to the east of Lyon.
The location is known as the "Venice of Savoie", as it has a very medieval town centre, which is constructed around The Château d'Annecy, which is a castle that dominates the town. The castle has been tastefully transformed into Musée Château d''Annecy, a terrific museum that displays and gives historical background on Savoyard artwork and craftworks. Other historical monuments include the Palais De l’Isle, a prison in the town from the 12th century.
Cahors
Cahors is located to the north of Toulouse, is in the Pyrenees area and is the capital of the Quercy Region. It is positioned in a place inside a bend of the River Lot. It is a historic town with plenty of antique buildings, quaint shopping streets and a very impressive cathedral. Cahors is a perfect place to explore the Quercy Region. The Region has plenty of medieval villages, vineyards, castles and the imposing cliffs carved out of limestone that provide a backdrop to the Lot and Cele rivers.
Cahors itself has plenty to see and do – make sure to check out the medieval bridge from the 14th century period. This bridge, which is called Pont Valentrè, covers the River Lot and has towers and arches and it is most impressive. The bridge was completed in 1378. Also check out the Cathedral of St Etienne and the Arc de Dianne. Also worth a visit in Cahors is the Henri Martin Museum. For some great views from a height, take a train ride from Cahors through the valley to Saint Cirq-Lapopie. Outside Cahors itself, you could take a trip to the renowned world heritage cave paintings at Pech Merle to the east of the town and Font de Gaume to the west.
Food and Drink are popular industries in the town – check out the dark Cahors Wine, which has been in production here since Roman times. The markets that take place on both Wednesday and Saturdays give a great insight into the laid back atmosphere in the town, and you can enjoy sampling the wonderful local cuisine.
Lille
The northern French city of Lille is well connected by rail and road – so no excuse for not taking a visit there! The city has an architectural style of his own, and this is somewhere in the medium between Flemish and baroque. The city has been recognised as a city of Art and History since 2004. There are a large number of conserved buildings and historic monuments, which bear testimony to the strong heritage of the city. Some of the most popular monuments to visit include the wonderful example of 17th century military buildings, the Citadelle Park and Fortress, which was styled by Vauban.
La Vieille Bourse is a reminder of the Spanish stranglehold on the region, together with an amalgamation of French and Flemish cultures. La Grand Place symbolises the French resistance against the Austrians in the 18th century. Don’t forget to take a trip to the Rue de la Monnaie, where coins were minted over previous centuries. And finally, another landmark in Lille certainly worth exploring is the Opera House in the Place du Theatre. After a fire devastated the building in the early 1900’s it was rebuilt in the style of Louis XVI by Louis Cordonnier. The building is wonderfully decorated, with sculptures of icons from the Greek era.
If you are interested in shopping, then Lille is definitely a place to check out. There are plenty of markets to be enjoyed in the town, particularly at Christmas time with the market at the Place Rihour. You can sample plenty of the stunning cuisine local to Lille at these markets. The cuisine is in typical Flemish tradition and offers wonderful meat and fish dishes. There are plenty of shops in the city, and the wide variety of shops suit all budgets and tastes.
For some fine sights as you shop, check out the Old Lille town with its narrow cobblestone streets and lined with typical Flemish buildings. If antiques and art galleries are your thing, check out La Grand Place or La Place du Concert.
Saint Etienne
The city is located in the Massif Central in the centre east of France. Located in wonderful countryside, with snow covered mountains, and green valleys, and cascading lakes and rivers. The city of Saint Etienne is home to some astounding half timber houses that date from the 16th century, and you will come across plenty of these during your visit, especially if you venture in the direction of the old quarter of Saint Jacques.
Saint Etienne is home to the Musée d'Art Moderne which has a great collection of modern art. Another museum worth visiting is the Musée de la Mine, which is located on the site of the largest mining workplace of the 20th century. Take a trip down the shaft of the mine and find out what life was like for workers here. As you retrace the steps of the miners you will take a trip in a cage down to the pit, and then onto the lampstore. From the exhibitions you can learn all about mining.
One of the main architectural delights is the wonderful Notre Dame church, which dates from the 18th century.
Tours
Located in the Loire Region, it is said that the purest form of the French language is spoken in Tours! The city has a rich and cosmopolitan feel to it, with wide-open boulevards and lush public parks and garden areas. It is no wonder that Tours is called "Le Jardin de la France" (The Garden of France). Tours is positioned between two rivers, the Cher to the south, and the Loire to the North.
One of the many factors in choosing Tours as a holiday destination has to be the chance to sample the wonderful wine of the region, from white Vouvrays to Montlouis. There are also some fine castles to be seen in the region including Langeais and Chenonceau. Check out Le Vieux Tours, which is the old town with its half-timber buildings, the courtyards and La Place Plumereau. This is a square with museums, art galleries, street cafes and restaurants, and well worth exploring. The weekly markets at Boulevard Beranger are also well worth checking out.
Close to the cathedral, in the garden of the Musée des Beaux-Arts lies a huge cedar tree, which is said to have been planted by Napoleon.
Have we tempted you to check out some of these emerging French locations? The best way to get around is to rent a car. Visit Novacarhire.com's
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