ACTIVITY HOLIDAY GUIDE 2015


great place to embark on a golfi ng holiday. Whether you play in the foothills of the Alps or historic Brittany, on a sun-kissed fairway in Provence or a wind-swept green by the Atlantic coast, you can fi nd a suitable course via regional tourist boards, perhaps picking a location rich in cultural heritage for days away from the fairway. If you’re holidaying in the Tarn département of the Midi-Pyrénées, try Golf d’Albi (www.golfalbi.com) for an extensive golf course that’s picturesquely encircled by the Tarn River – green fees start at just €43. And for access to a vast range of courses across the country, look up Golfy (www.golfy.fr), which offers discounted golfi ng holidays, discounted green fees and deals on accommodation for members who aren’t French residents.


BALLOONING


The misty, pre-light of dawn or the golden setting sun illuminates the landscape which gradually unfolds below as you glide seamlessly, serenely, into the cool sky. You’re in a hot air balloon above the Loire Valley, its white châteaux appearing jewel-like between dark


green forests and crystal lakes where the water shimmers in the hazy light and refl ects your ride’s multi-coloured canopy.


Taking a hot air balloon ride is a magical way to experience France afresh and to create unforgettable holiday memories. It’s an activity that can be found all over the country. For instance, if you’re staying in Dijon or Cluny, or passing through the Burgundian areas of Nuits-Saint-Georges, Beaune and Chalon-sur-Saône, you should look up Air Escargot (www.air-escargot.com). When you’re in Alsace, Colmar or Saverne – checking out the Vosges and vineyards of the Rhine – you can get aloft with Aérovision (www.aerovision-montgolfi ere. com), who also provide a breakfast or lunch after the fl ight and a personalised certifi cate that’s issued by your balloon’s pilot. Elsewhere, you can take a ride across the sunny Tarn département thanks to Lukkas Montgolfi ère (www.lukkas montgolfi ere.com) or experience the Loire Valley with Balloon Revolution (www.balloonrevolution. com), who have been drifting


➻


● Ballooning in Beaune since 1979 ● Flights approx 1h30min above the vineyards


● Your pilot will provide a unique ballooning experience uncovering the hidden treasures of the region


● Space limited to 4-8 passengers to share this magical experience


Christiane et Pierre Bonnet AIR ESCARGOT Tel: +33 (0)3 85 87 12 30 Web: www.air-escargot.com


Top-notch – and unusual – courses abound, thanks to golf’s popularity in France Subscribe at www.francetoday.com 91


www.aerovision-montgolfiere.com


IMAGES: © ATOUT FRANCE/JOEL DAMASE; CRTB


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15