Forget Paris: Other French Hotspots

Forget Paris.

Instead, walk along the Promenade des Anglais in Nice, hit the slopes in the Alps, or explore the Loire Valley outside of Orleans.

My European adventures have usually landed me somewhere in France. So, here’s the rundown on where to visit if you’re craving more French culture and you want to go beyond Paris.

Nice

My first solo trip across the Atlantic was in high school for several weeks in the Cote d’Azur. Jo’s brother was an exchange student there, so the promise of free boarding, sun, and fun lured us to the south of France—oh, and there was the academic aspect, as we took French lessons at the Alliances Françaises, too.

Getting to Nice proved to be challenging. My hate for Charles de Gaulle airport is rooted in this very trip, where I missed my easyjet flight to Nice. I got lost for what would be the first of many times in this god forsaken airport and spent a few hours navigating the shuttle system, customer service, and security in the rain…all “en Français,” of course.

Eventually, I made it on a flight and found myself landing along a gorgeous coastline with the blazing sun beating down on it. I met up with Jo and we rode the bus to her brother’s apartment, merely blocks away from the beach.

We spent two weeks exploring Old Nice, local museums, and the Promenade des Anglais—the street lined with palm trees along the rocky beach and water. Daily swims in the Mediterranean and long walks across town to our French lessons took up most of our days.

The food in Nice is full of variety, but the best bets would be pizza or kebabs. In terms of nightlife, there are a few popular clubs along the promenade. Club Saramanga was hopping, but on the sketchy side of things.

Take a day trip out to Monaco by train and check out the renowned Monte Carlo. We managed to walk around this small area no problem. We tried to find the aquarium, but to no avail…yet, walking along the harbor and grabbing an ice cream at a typical French café proved just as fun.

It's the second-smallest independent city-state in the world and has the most millionaires per capita, according to Wikipedia. It’s probably best explored in a car, but if you’re watching your pennies, you can discover a lot by foot.

Along the Riviera you should also explore Antibes, which is on the way to Cannes. It's a typical resort town outside of Nice. The beaches are fabulous and a covered market is packed with flowers and crafts inland. We took the long way up what seemed to be a mountain to get to a seafront castle, which entertained us for a few hours. Antibes is the hotspot for the really rich, but don’t let this dissuade you from visiting for a day…there’s plenty to do for a thrifty traveler.

Back in Nice, the most memorable part of the trip included flowing music and flowing wine on every corner. It was the Fête de la Musique, which brings out all of France—and subsequently, everyone else, as it is known as World Music Day and it is celebrated all over, from Germany to China, Britain to India. On June 21, local musicians flood the streets and everyone is dancing to the beat of a different drum.

Our last night in Nice before a week-long stint in Paris was bittersweet. We were excited for a Parisian adventure, but sad to leave such a vibrant city behind. Also, we had to take sleeping shifts because we didn’t have an alarm clock and we needed to grab a taxi and 4 a.m. to catch a flight. But other than that, Nice was pretty magical. I almost don’t want to go back, as my memories of when I was 17 and with my best friend in this foreign land can’t be beat.

Grenoble

Amid snow-capped hilltops, below the French Alps, and at the meeting point of the Drac into the Isère River lays the quiet city of Grenoble. Miles away in Southeast France, here is a charming town nestled away in the mountains of Europe.

I can still sense the crisp breeze in mid-March, yet snow was more of a distant memory as the town itself was dry. But you needn’t go far to hit the powdery slopes for skiing in the Alps.

Of course, a trip to Grenoble is somewhat wasted on me, considering I don’t ski. Or snowboard. Or enjoy snow at all for that matter. I’m a flip-flop kind of girl. But, wherever my friends go to study abroad dictates where I vacation and in the spring semester of 2006 that logic luckily landed me in Grenoble.

Jo was studying at the Université de Grenoble for a year and so it was my duty as one of her travel buddies to join her. I was there during the onslaught of the rallies related to employment. I missed the violent protests during which dissenters started to set cars ablaze, throw things at police, and cause mischief on the metro, but France wouldn't be France without a strike, so I wasn't surprised when I encountered numerous protests throughout the country against the CPE.

The CPE (Contract Premiere Embauche or first hiring contract) was a work contract the French government passed for those under 26 years of age. The contract allowed employers to terminate a young person's job during the first two years of work without giving a reason. Employers in the US are acclimatized to this liberty, but the French saw this new contract as detracting from their civil rights.

All in all, the protests made for an entertaining experience, with the pristine backdrop of the Alps making them perfect photo-ops. But other than avoiding the rallies, there wasn’t a lot to do in Grenoble if you don’t ski. Overlooking Grenoble, The Bastille is the most popular of tourist attractions. It's up a huge mountain and is a series of protective forts. Take "Les Bulles," or the circular cable cars, up to the top for about 6 Euros roundtrip.

Orleans

About 80 miles southwest of Paris, the city of Orléans rests within the Loire Valley. More than 110,000 people live in Orleans, including good friends of our family, the Spencers. They've been kind enough to put my friends and I up in their home many times and have shown us the sights.

My most recent trip to Orléans was with Jo and our good friend Rachel from high school, who was studying at the Sorbonne at the time. The three of us met up in Paris and took a quick train down to Orléans for the weekend.

Orléans’ claim to fame is Joan of Arc. Back in the day, she saved the city, so now they honor her with statues all over town, the largest of which is in the center of downtown. Walking along the high street, there are several shops and restaurants and once you make it to the center, there’s a good photo op with Joan of Arc.

Outside of Orléans is the Château de Chambord, the largest castle in the Loire Valley. This massive castle has a rich history and never-ending grounds to keep you entertained for at least an hour or two. The castle is open all year round from 9 a.m. to at least 5:15 p.m. everyday. The entrance fee is under 10 Euros and worth it.

Most of our time spent in Orléans was with the Spencers, getting a taste of French life. I could certainly get used to wine, bread, and cheese with every meal. Orléans is the perfect place to visit to find out what the real French people are like. It’s not a hot tourist spot or home to the rich Riviera type, so chances are you’ll find a slice of real life in Orléans.

This page can now be translated! Click the BabelFish logo below for a choice of 8 other languages: