For sports fans, Paris will be the center of the world this summer. The Olympic and Paralympic Games are expected to draw 15 million visitors, and Paris will feel that way due to crowding and high prices. However, Paris is not the only Olympic venue in France. Events are also held in his nine destinations outside metropolitan areas, allowing travelers to get in on the action without getting caught up in the hustle and bustle.
You can watch top athletes compete in soccer, basketball, sailing, and surfing in places like Bordeaux, Marseille, and even Tahiti. (Tickets are added in batches, so if you can't get the tickets you want, check out our ticket sales site, tickets.Paris2024.org. If that doesn't work, the official resale platform is his May 15 )
When you're not watching sports, explore museums, parks, a design center, and fresh food and wine options. You can also ride a mechanical elephant in Nantes.
Here are some ideas for planning your own trip to the Olympics.
reel
Basketball: July 27th to August 4th. ticket From 50 euros ($54).
Handball: August 6th-11th ticket From 45 euros.
Start by strolling through Old Lille, grabbing a coffee at the Grand Place and admiring the colorful facades of this city near the Belgian border. Head to the Saint-Sauveur district to admire the Art Deco bell tower and exhibits of Gare Saint-Sauveur, a former train station. On Sundays, around 400 stalls sell produce, fish, plants, fabrics, textiles and leather goods at the rambling Wazenmes Market. Head to Heron Park in the east of the city and visit his LaM Museum (7 euros), which displays works by Pablo Picasso, Amedeo Modigliani, Joan Miró and more. Lille is more famous for its beer than its wine, and Brasserie Gobrecht offers brewery tours every Saturday (reservations recommended).
Where to stay: Hotel de la Paix (€354 per night); Hotel Carlton (€406).
bordeaux
Soccer: July 24th to August 2nd. ticket From 24 euros.
The capital of a region best known for its wine, this small southwestern city sells local winewalk maps at its tourist information center. Also stop by Marche des Capucins, a local indoor market. There's also Bistro Poulette, a slightly chaotic but very tasty spot serving fried mussels and fried mussels. In the afternoon, visit Bassin des Lumières (€15), the world's largest digital art center, or Cité du Vin (€21) for a wine tasting experience. If you want to unwind in a quiet wine bar, try Yala, or for cocktails try Symbiose. If you have time for a detour, he recommends spending the day in Saint-Emilion, about 44 miles away, and sampling some of the great wines. Or visit Europe's tallest sand dune, the 90-foot Dune du Pylat, located about 39 miles southwest of Bordeaux near the seaside town of Arcachon.
Accommodation: Les Chambres de Marie (170 euros). La Maison Gallienne (€259); India Hotel (€355); Le Palais Gallienne Hôtel & Spa (€419).
Nantes
Soccer: July 24th to August 8th. ticket From 24 euros.
Nantes' road signs are written in both Breton and French, reflecting the city's historical ties to Brittany. Start by looking for picnic supplies, especially radishes, local cheese, and strawberries, at Talensak's market. Enjoy local delicacies such as gateau nante (almond pound cake) and far breton (almanac pickled prune flan). Enjoy a picnic lunch in the courtyard of the Chateau du Ducs of Brittany, a medieval castle and museum (free in the courtyard, 9 euros in the museum). A former shipyard on the island of Nantes has been transformed into a wild mechanical theme park. The Machines de l'ÃŽle combines Jules Verne's stories and Leonardo da Vinci's designs in the form of rideable mechanical elephants and sea creatures (€9.50 for elephant ride or gallery visit). The Emancipation Monument (free) explores Nantes' history as France's most active slave-trading port in the 18th century. The artists behind the glass-and-concrete monument, Krzysztof Wodiczko and Julian Bonder, say it's a “metaphorical and emotional reminder of a primarily historical but very current abolitionist struggle.” was intended to create.
Where to stay: Hotel Voltaire Opéra (€103); Hotel de la Cité (€120).
Chateauroux
Shooting: July 27th to August 5th ticket From 24 euros.
This small city, not far from the Loire Valley, is named after Château Raoul, a 10th-century castle that is now part of the private residence of a local official. The best view of the castle is from Gütersloh Bridge. Follow the “Coule Verte” (green corridor) along the banks of the River Indre, stopping at Parc de Belle ÃŽle, which has a swimming lake and beach where you can rent kayaks and stand-up paddleboards. , playground or camping. The 13th-century Franciscan Abbey of Cordelier (free of charge) now hosts contemporary art exhibitions and miles of gardens. The Bertrand Museum (free of charge), an 18th-century townhouse, features a diverse collection in each of its 26 rooms. Also included is the plaster original of Camille Claudel's sculpture “Sakuntala”.
Accommodation: Les Rives du Château (€138); Les Rives du Château (€210 for a two-bedroom apartment).
Lyon and Saint Etienne
Soccer: Lyon, July 24th to August 9th. ticket From 24 euros. Saint-Etienne, July 24th to 31st. ticket From 24 euros.
It's easy to catch a soccer match in both Lyon and Saint-Étienne in central-eastern France, which are just an hour away by train or car. In Lyon, also known as the gastronomic capital of France, visit the majestic Notre-Dame-de-Fourvière Cathedral and sample ice cream at La Fabrique's Givre. Explore the city's network of covered walkways known as traboules. It was originally used by workers to transport textile goods and later used by the French Resistance for secret meetings during World War II. Next, climb into the Pente de la Croix-Rousse district, with its small streets and shops, and admire the views of Lyon below. On a clear day you can even see Mont Blanc. The Lugdunum Museum (7 euros) and the nearby Roman Theater (4 euros) transport you back in time to 43 BC, when Lyon was known as Lugdunum. La Maison des Canoes (€9.50) also explores the city's history as the silk capital.
Located between Lyon and Saint-Etienne, the Pilat Regional Natural Park has more than 1,500 miles of rocky terrain perfect for hiking and biking, culminating in the 4,700-foot summit of Cle de la Perdrix with views of the Alps and Massif Central. there is.
Located approximately 40 miles southwest of Lyon, Saint-Étienne is transforming its historic industrial identity into one of design and innovation. In the center is the Cité du Design (€4.50), a former weapons factory that has served as a center for art and research since 2010. Today, the complex is a major economic force in the city and is open to the public. It is open to the public and hosts art and design exhibitions throughout the year.
Staying in Lyon: Fourvière Hotel (€189); Hôtel du Théâtre (€323).
Where to stay in Saint-Etienne: Le Parc 42 (€113); Le Golf Sauna (€269).
marseille
Sailing (including windsurfing, kitesurfing, etc.): July 28th to August 8th. ticket From 24 euros.
Soccer: July 24th to August 6th. ticket From 24 euros.
This Mediterranean port city combines urban flair with natural beauty. Start by visiting Le Panier, the oldest village-like area of ​​the city. On the sunny terrace, try navettes, traditional orange blossom biscuits, or try sardines or panis, traditional chickpea fries. We detour through the touristy but welcoming Old Port on our way to Mucem (11 euros), the first major museum dedicated to Mediterranean civilization and culture. Refuel at Deep Coffee Roasters, a specialty roaster tucked away between tourist shops. At sunset, climb up to Cour Julien, a fashionable neighborhood with beautiful views, and enjoy an Apéro. Don't miss Cité Raduse, a UNESCO World Heritage residential complex that boasts the modernist mastery of architect Le Corbusier (you can also stay in the hotel). Just southeast of the city are the Calanques, a series of small, narrow coves that offer miles of coastal trails and rocky scrambles along turquoise waters.
Where to stay: Hotel Le Corbusier (€229); Maison Juste (€300).
nice
Soccer: July 24th to 31st. ticket From 24 euros.
Summer is peak season in Nice, the queen city of the French Riviera, where the mountains meet the Mediterranean Sea. Run, bike, or inline skate along the Promenade des Anglais, a 4-mile coastal path. Next, climb the Colline du Château, a rocky hill to the east of the promenade. It offers views as far as Nice and the Alps. For a longer walk, follow the path from Coco Beach along the cove to Cape Nice. Next, head to Cours Saleya, the pedestrian area of ​​the old town. There are flower stands and antiques, as well as local food such as socca, a chickpea pancake. The Terra Amata Prehistoric Museum (5 euros) is built on top of the excavation site and reveals what Nice was like up to 400,000 years ago. Or you can sit in a lounge chair and enjoy Nice's pebble beaches.
Accommodation: Hôtel Rossetti (€186); Yellow Mozart (€238).
Te Aupoo, Tahiti
Surfing: July 27th-31st (event (Subject to change until August 4th, depending on wave conditions). Fan Zone is free.
The Games, which will be surfing's second Olympics after the first in Tokyo, will be held in Tahiti, part of French Polynesia, far from mainland France. Because the waves are offshore, he has set up ticket-free fan zones at two of his locations, Taharuu Beach and Paofai Gardens, where you can watch the event on large screens. Free tickets are available for the third fan zone at PK0 Beach in Tiupoo, but access is restricted. In addition to near-perfect waves, Tahiti offers white sand beaches and turquoise lagoons. For snorkeling, try the lagoon near Maui Beach, 8 miles from Tiupoo. For black volcanic sand, head to Tahaluu Beach, about 32 miles northwest of Te Aupoo. Papeete, the capital of French Polynesia with a population of about 26,000 and about 72 miles from Te Aupoo, offers a variety of local delicacies, including poisson cru (raw fish served with lime juice and coconut milk and eaten with rice). You can eat it. At Piazza Vaiete on the waterfront near Papeete Market, sample local specialties such as steak frites and veal heart skewers at a food truck called Roulette.
Accommodation: Kia Ora Lodge (265 euros, 11 km from Te Aupoo); Punatea Village (73 euros, 9 miles from Te Aupoo).
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