Inside it’s smart and modern with an indoor pool, bar and restaurant. The Hôtel de la Paix* is right in the centre of Reims, an easy walk (or stagger) to its Champagne houses, bars and restaurants.
Or for something different, head 15 minutes outside of Reims to Perching Bar in Verzy, a Champagne bar in the treetops. Or try the 1930s-style Café du Palais with its Art Deco décor and hearty bistro food to help soak up the bubbly. Le Foch is the place for a special meal in Reims, with fine-dining French food and an epic wine list. Relax with a glass of your favourite vintage and watch the world go by in Place Drouet d’Erlon’s cafés. Once you’ve had your fill of bubbles, you can check out Reims’ Roman Porte Mars gate, the UNESCO-listed Notre-Dame Cathedral (and its next-door neighbour the Palace of Tau) and explore the city’s museums dedicated to art and Second World War history. A guided day tour* includes visits to Moët & Chandon, Dom Perignon’s abbey and Épernay’s Avenue de Champagne. Or you can head out into the countryside surrounding Reims to discover other famous names or some of the area’s smaller boutique producers. Taittinger, Mumm, Pommery and Lanson are all within walking distance of the city centre and run tours and tastings. SEE & DOĬhampagne is everywhere in Reims – from the world’s best-known Champagne houses to the miles of tunnels in the cellars beneath your feet. The capital of France’s Champagne region is home to some of the most famous names in Champagne, and has some great restaurants and historic sights if you need a break from the bubbles. Read more: Ports and painters: The best things to do in Honfleur Moules in Honfleur 2. The nearest major airport is in Paris, where you can catch a train to nearby Trouville-Deauville (2 hours 10 mins) then a bus or taxi to Honfleur. Honfleur is near cross-Channel ferry ports at Le Havre (25km) and Caen (75km), and ferries to Portsmouth take 5.5 hours.
This five-star Relais & Châteaux hotel and spa in a converted farmhouse was a hostel for artists in its previous life. Spend the night in Monet’s old pad, the Ferme Saint Simeon*. Or try Cidrerie Crêperie for paper-thin pancakes and cloudy cider. La Tortue is a cosy restaurant with good set menu deals using local produce – don’t miss their scallops and apple délice with Calvados. Have a drink on the harbourside, then head into Honfleur’s side streets for better food at lower prices. Normandy’s apples feature in everything from tarte tatin to Calvados liqueur, and there’s great seafood, cheese and butter. Or head along the coast to the pretty 19th-century seaside resorts of Deauville and Trouville for a day on their sandy beaches. Take a boat trip around the port and out to the Pont de Normandie cable bridge, which stretches over 2000 metres across the River Seine. If you’re inspired by the artistic atmosphere you can join a painting class – or leave it to the experts and browse Honfleur’s galleries and studios. Honfleur has museums honouring two local heroes, composer Erik Satie and Impressionist painter Eugène Boudin. Visit the France’s largest wooden church, the Église Sainte Catherine, with its unique ships’ hull-inspired ceiling. With its narrow, tall merchants’ houses and old stone salt stores, the Vieux Bassin (historic port) is the old heart of Honfleur and its most picture-perfect spot. HonfleurĪ Normandy harbour town that could be straight out of an Impressionist painting, Honfleur was the haunt of artists like Monet and Cézanne in the 1850s, and doesn’t look like it’s changed much since. 10 of the best French weekend break ideas French café culture 1.
#Weekends awa how to
So if you’re looking for inspiration for your next trip to France, here are 10 of my favourite, tried-and-tested French weekend break ideas, with all the details you need, from what to do and where to eat, drink and stay to how to get there – and there’s a downloadable PDF version of the guide the end so you can save them for later.
Whatever trip you fancy you can find it in France – museum hop around a city, laze on a beach, taste wine at a vineyard, live it up in a luxury château. And one of the things I love most about the country is its diversity. I’ve spent more holidays in France than anywhere else – from childhood trips to Normandy to a winter skiing in the Alps. * This site contains affiliate links, where I get a small commission from purchases at no extra cost to you. Plan a fantastic short break in France with our guide to 10 of the best tried-and-tested French weekend break ideas, from city breaks to beach escapes, historic castles to wine regions.
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