The city is a symphony of gastronomic delights that even the most regionally patriotic French chef would have to concede that there is nowhere else in the world that can conjure magic for your mastication pleasure like the Lyonaise.

Dinner in Lyon, France by Ross Hill

Local foods

Looking up the delights that may come across your dinner plate, the meat stuff of Lyon is pig, lots of it, and all of it.

It’s not unusual to see meals expertly and deliciously incorporating (if you’re squeamish take a deep breath now) the likes of pig fat fried in, yes you guessed it, pig fat; but let us not forget the pigs bladder, belly, intestine (stuffed with more intestine) and of course sausages.

The thought of an offal heavy meal will be very off-putting to many people, but as soon as the plate is under your nose the sights and the smells will quickly change your mind.

The classics

There was a bit of an accidental creation that became a classic that any trainee chef would have to master, the quenelle.

It was created, like many foods, out of necessity by a wine maker of the Rhone Valley who needed to find a way to eat the largely unpalatable pike fished out of the Rhone river. It was mixed with breadcrumbs and eggs and became a sort of soufflé.

Of course it has been refined and nowadays it is a popular dish in which it is cooked and served in a rich creamy broth to look like a floating cloud. Delicious!

Something to wash it down

The Rhone Valley is one of the major wine producing regions of France, the most famous being the bold Chateauneuf-du-Pape from the Southern Rhone appellation.

There are 13 different grapes permitted in the blend of this wine which helps to give it such a rich and complex character. The deep reds with the use of varieties such as Grenache and Syrah have the weight to cut through and compliment the fatty meat dishes while the while varieties have the right kind of balance to compliment anything fishy, and maybe even the famous quenelle.

There are around 1800 eating establishments in this fair city and no matter where your hotel in Lyon is located you will never be far from a culinary delight that will tantalise your taste buds and change your life forever.

Catherine Halsey writes for a digital marketing agency on a range of subjects. This article links back to https://www.radissonblu.com/hotel-lyon

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If, however, you’re looking for something a bit more unusual, maybe you could consider one of our more off-beat destinations for your next French trip. Treat yourself to a stay in a French Villa while you are at it for the height of luxury.

1. The peculiar Palais Ideal

Hauterives, a tiny village in the Rhone-Alps province of France is, for the most part, unremarkable. The one thing for which it is famous is the Palais Ideal, a folly designed and built by a single man – postman Ferdinand Cheval – in the late 19th and early 20th century.

Palais idéal, Hauterives, France by Ankopedia

The Palais draws on a range of styles, particularly that of Hindu temples, and took 33 years to complete. Cheval himself rests in the complex in a grand mausoleum.

2. The Machines of the Isle of Nantes

Marauding around the city of Nantes are giant mechanical creations, devised by two French artists in the warehouses of the former shipyards who were previously based there. Inspired by the imaginary worlds of Jules Verne and Leonardo da Vinci, a huge mechanical elephant was the first to be unveiled in the park and carries up to 49 passengers for a 45 minute walk around the site.

Later in 2012 the second exhibit, the Machine Worlds Carousel, will be opened with three levels showing 35 moving mechanical animals. In 2014 a third exhibit, The Heron Tree, will join the first two.

3. Ardeche region

With the ever-popular Normandy region and oft-visited Riviera, the inland regions of France are frequently overlooked. The Ardeche, in the Rhone-Alps area of the country, is rich with history from the prehistoric cave paintings at Chauvet Pont d’Arc through to more modern scientific pioneers of locomotives in Lyon.

If you have the chance, check out the Romanesque churches around Niègles and Rochecolombe dating back to the 10th century.

4. The Green Flash at sunset in St-Jean de Luz

Thought to be an optical illusion brought about by the refraction of light and the curvature of the earth at that precise point, in the last moments of sunset viewed from St-Jean de Luz a green ray seems to shoot out of the sun.

Located on the Basque coast amongst some of the finest fishing ports on the Riviera, why not check out one of the excellent fish restaurants while awaiting sunset?

5. The Midi-Pyrénées region

Home of the world-famous Roquefort cheese,the Midi-Pyrenees region has a host of hidden gems to offer the intrepid traveler. In particular the Cambalou caves, where the Roquefort cheeses are aged, has a great visitor centre that explains the process of making and maturing the legendary cheese.

6. Parisian Catacombs

Little do the majority of Paris’ visitors realize that beneath their feet lie the bones of six million people in the remains of the city’s former stone mines. The catacombs offer a fascinating insight into Parisian life through one of the most important things in life – the way we treat the dead.

7. Waterways of France

Often thought of as the preserve of the British, canal barge holidays are popular in France and there are many waterways to choose from. With over 8,000km of canals and rivers to cruise, the east and west of the country are crisscrossed with beautiful routes on which to take a relaxing boating holiday.

8. Great Dune of Pyla

In La Teste-de-Buch, 60 km from Bordeaux, lies the Pyla dune. The tallest sand dune in Europe, the bank abuts the Atlantic Ocean and rises to 107m above sea level.

The Great Dune of Pyla, France by Larrousiney

The dune is a beautiful place to walk, but is also popular for a number of other sports. The strong gusts off the Atlantic make it an ideal place for paragliding, while others use the steep slopes for sand boarding – a variant of snowboarding that can be enjoyed all year round.

Conclusion

Whether you want a peaceful holiday or to explore and find new experiences, there are plenty of destinations off the beaten track that can open up a new world on your doorstep.

The post 8 Unusual Destinations in France – A Guide To 8 Off The Beaten Destinations appeared first on Europe Explored.

If you’re considering cycling holidays in France this year here are five reasons why Calais shouldn’t simply be discarded from your list of potential destinations.

Calais

Just 21 miles from the cliffs of Dover, Calais itself is home to several historical attractions, including La Forteresse de Mimoyecques. The fortress is what remains of a German bunker constructed to fire shells at London during the Second World War. Comprising a maze of tunnels and chambers which can be accessed from the hillside it’s here that Joseph Kennedy – the brother of US President John F Kennedy died during an air raid in 1944.

Before leaving Calais itself, pay a visit to the oldest building in Calais, the Watch Tower. Constructed in the 13th century it suffered from an earthquake in the 16th century, a fire in the 17th century and the ravages of the Second World War in the 20th century.

Tower in Calais / Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Nick

Montreuil

Steeped in history, the cobbled streets of this quaint village were apparently the inspiration for Victor Hugo’s Les Miserables. For those of you with an interest in battlefields, there is of course the battle site of Agincourt close to Montreuil. The Battle of Agincourt took place in 1415. Around 6,000 English soldiers took up arms against a French army comprised of highly skilled noblemen who outnumbered them by approximately five to one. Even if you’re not a history buff, there are no prizes for guessing who won the day.

Further afield you’ll find the site of the Field of the Cloth of Gold which commemorates the much vaunted meeting between Henry VIII and King Francis I of France in 1520.

There’s also a stunning chocolatier in Montreuil. After a hard day’s cycling you deserve it.

Montreuil-sur-Mer / Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by openroads.com

La Coupoule (Eperlecques)

Continuing the war theme, the World War Two concrete bunker – or blockhaus- can also be found close to Calais. Eperlecques was the German bunker where Hitler intended to launch his deadly V2 rockets on London. Thankfully, the European Allies bombed it before he had a chance to carry out his deadly plans. Now known as La Coupoule you can still see the huge crater caused by one of the Allied bombs and gaze in disbelief at the door to the bunker – it’s a hefty seven feet thick.

St Omer

Away from the stark reminders of modern and not so modern history lies the elegant town of St Omer with its iconic Gothic cathedral. With hundreds of miles of waterways, 150 homes are located in an area named Audomarois and can only be reached by boat. Time to park the bike for a short while and explore the surrounding rivers and woodlands.

For lovers of wildlife there are over 200 species of birdlife. As you ride you may notice a distinct aroma of cauliflower. If you do, you’re not imagining it. The marsh surrounding Audomarois produces five million heads of cauliflower every year. If an overdose of cauliflower is your version of gastronomic hell there are plenty of cheese cellars throughout the region and if you head back to Montreuil you’ll find a specialist winery. You can pop back in and see the chocolatier while you’re there.

St-Omer, France / Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by openroads.com

The Beaches

The region of Calais also conceals a number of beaches for you to linger on after your cycling efforts. Head to Wimereux where you’ll be able to join the locals hunting for shrimps or you can continue along the coast to the Bay of Wissant.  The resort of Le Tuquet has countless grass-covered dunes with a cycle track leading the way around them.

Wherever you travel in France, you’ll find acres of rolling hillside, welcoming vineyards, ancient castles and gastronomic delights. Perhaps as you begin your adventures this year you might consider a brief stop at an often forgotten town.

Kate Smedley recommends stopping off at Calais during your cycling holidays in France

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Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Andrew Crump

An overview of the region

The largest city in the area is Nice with a population of about 350,000. It is a popular tourist destination among celebrities and common people alike. It features a beautiful flower market apart from its commercial port. The airport is the third busiest airport in France after both the airports in Paris. The low budget airlines have contributed greatly to the increased tourists arrivals in this region.

To the east of Nice you will find the resort of Menton, known for its lemon festival and stunning villas. Cannes, the city popular for its film festival, is also located on the French Riviera and witnesses a lot of tourist activity. Towns like Mandelie-La Napoule, located further to the west of the region, are known for their unique chateaux and marinas. St Tropez is another popular holiday destination, which is a favorite among celebrities and movie stars. Small villages surrounding St. Tropez have managed to retain a bit of their fishing village atmosphere.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Michael Gwyther-Jones

The French Riviera is often associated with wealth, glamorous lifestyle and yachts. But taking a stroll into the old areas may change you outlook. You will find a number of quaint towns and villages on the coast. Several of these unassuming little towns attract artists, who find inspiration in the serenity and beauty of the region. Businessmen are known to purchase Cote d’Azur Villas in France, which are primarily used as holiday retreats. Other than painting, which is seen all over the region, Cote d’Azur is also known for activities like perfumery, pottery and glass blowing.

Villas at Cote d’Azur

France exhibits some of its most exquisite architecture in the villas located on the French Riviera. These properties are owned by some of the richest people in the world, many of whom are famous. Sean Combs, Tom Cruise, David Beckham and Johnny Depp are among the some of the rich and famous that own property here.

Cote d’Azur Villas in France, although expensive, are a worthy investment. The properties often include waterfront houses with private beaches with enough space for a yacht. Others are characterized by beautiful marble staircases and wrought iron grills. A large number of contemporary villas have been seen cropping up recently made entirely with chrome finished glass. This timeless destination is a hotspot for international investors, especially because of its warm sunny weather. Hiring a real estate agent can be helpful when purchasing or renting a villa as they are well versed with the local laws, tax regulations and other such rules.

Want to find out more about luxury holiday villa rentals in France, then visit Burger Davis Sotheby’s International Realty, the luxury property rental specialists for apartments to rent in Cannes and villas throughout the South of France.

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