Forget the Eiffel Tower. Here’s Where the French Travel in France

International travelers may prefer visits to the Eiffel Tower and Louvre when visiting France.

But French residents have other ideas.

Border restrictions during the pandemic largely gave locals the chance to explore their country without foreign tourists, which numbered about 90 million in 2019.

France did not miss the opportunity. More than two-thirds of French residents traveled in 2021, with 84% of France’s metropolitan residents opting to stay within the country, according to French tourism marketing research firm Raffour Interactif.

whereas Covid outweighs tourism in French PolynesiaSome islands close to the mainland attracted many local tourists, Bailey said. The le de Rey, off France’s west coast, did well because of its proximity to Paris – it’s less than five hours by car, she said – while visitors north of Belle le were “super famous, luxurious”. Went to the island as well, as well as Corsica to the south.

“When people are going to Corsica…they’re messaging me [saying] He said, ‘There is no use going to Maldives because the water looks the same.’ She spoke to CNBC from the Htel Molitor Paris-MG Gallery where, she said, many Parisians were enjoying the stay.

From skiing in the Pyrenees As for diving in the Mediterranean, it’s the diversity of landscapes and experiences in France—which is almost twice the size of Colorado—that makes it so popular, Bailey said.

“I believe the richness of this small country – with so many different possibilities for entertainment and vacation in just one place – is a little unique,” ​​she said.

But there is one exception, at least for now. Alsace Wine Route,

“You can just go to Strasbourg and then start by car, jumping from village to village and just tasting and exploring the wines, the castles… the landscape,” she said. “It’s quite a secret.”

The secret is out at places like Beaune and Macon in Burgundy’s world-renowned wine region. Both were popular among domestic travelers last year, she said.

Before the pandemic, about 60% of France’s wine tourists were domestic travelers, said Martin Lhuillier, head of wine tourism at Etout France, the country’s tourism development agency.

One of his top “insider tips” is to visit the village of Chateau-Chalon, one of France’s smallest wine regions, the Jura, he said. There, visitors can try the “heart and soul” of the area – its pale Aleor pale wine.

Both Bailly and Lhuillier recommend the French department of the Dordogne. Located between the Loire Valley and the Pyrenees, Lhuillier said, it has “obscure natural jewels” such as Bergerac and Durrs.

Although it’s less chic than other parts of France, the Dordogne is a place “where you can really enjoy the French art de vivre, gastronomy and nature,” Bailey said.

France’s “art de vivre” – literally “the art of living” – is part of the reason why France has been one of the most popular destinations for international travelers for decades. The emphasis on enjoying life is ubiquitous – along the boulevards of Paris, within the rooms of the Palace of Versailles, and inside country restaurants, which collectively have more Michelin stars than any other country in the world.

But Bailey said it is in “more secret, discreet places” that travelers can truly “relax and reconnect with the French way of life.”

Another location in the Dordogne, Beaulieu-sur-Dordogne, is one of the newest villages on the list.most beautiful villages in france,

The list, which began 40 years ago, names 168 villages of exceptional heritage and beauty. Each is evaluated on 30 criteria, including heritage sites and architecture as well as small details such as hidden electrical wires. According to the list’s website, the chances of making the list are less than 1-in-5.

Southern France has the highest concentration of these villages, with more than 75% being located in the provinces of Nouvelle Aquitaine, Occitanie and Provence-Alpes-Cte-d’Azur.

The television show “Le Village Prefere des Français” – or “The Favorite Village of the French” – also draws visitors to lesser-known places in the country. Each year fourteen villages are shortlisted – one in each region in France – the winner is crowned by a public vote.

Last year’s winner attracted more tourists: The small hill town of Sainsre, which is one of the most recognizable appellations for French Sauvignon Blanc.

The same is likely to happen for bergheimA village along the Alsace Wine Route was crowned this year’s winner on Wednesday.

Bailey said that travelers can make the entire journey around these villages.

“It’s a more private, homely, cultural way of looking at France,” she said. “It’s not Saint-Tropez, it’s not Mont Saint-Michel or the Eiffel Tower, but it’s also France with the richness of its history.”