THE GUIDE WINTER BREAKS 2019/20


International Wildlife & Nature Photo Festival


Christmas is a time to be merry – unless of course you’re a Licques turkey...


and traditions. After all,’tis a time for sharing and giving! www.noel.strasbourg.eu


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In some cultures, winter is the time of year when things slow down. Not so in France. In fact, judging by this exhausting (but not exhaustive) list, we’d swear the opposite is true! From December to February, L’Hexagone erupts with light shows and fl oat parades – and one of the world’s tastiest trade fairs (clue: it’s all a bit cocoa!).


Fête de la Dinde


If you can stomach seeing your Christmas dinner gaggle its way down a street before ending up on the plate, the quirky Fête de la Dinde might be the one for you. Curious? In this barmy annual tradition, a procession of turkeys makes its ungainly way through the village of Licques in Pas-de-Calais, studiously herded by the Brotherhood of the Turkey (yes, it really does exist). And, while fowl-ogling is the festival’s star attraction, in our humble opinion the pièce de résistance is its Licquoise – a mysterious local liqueur brewed in a giant cauldron! www.pas-de-calais-tourisme.com


Fête des Lumières


The French excel at light and sound shows, particularly around


144 ❘ FRANCE TODAY Oct/Nov 2019


this time of year, when it seems every city with a cathedral is champing at the bit to show off its latest extravaganza. But, if we had to pick just one to recommend, our vote would have to go to Lyon. In early December, the capital of Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes shapeshifts into a playground of light and colour as iconic buildings, such as the Cathédrale Saint-Jean-Baptiste, are lit up in honour of the Virgin Mary. Millions of starry-eyed spectators come to see the event every year, so while you’ll be in the thick of it, the wonder-fi lled atmosphere is hard to top. www.fetedeslumieres.lyon.fr


Fête du Citron


It might not scream ‘seasonal’, but that’s the point – this zesty carnival is just the ticket for beating those winter blues. An eye-poppingly colourful celebration, the Fête du Citron revolves around lemons and their role in making Menton one of Europe’s key citrus growers. Even if the sour fruit is not to your taste, the organic displays, made from hundreds upon hundreds of citrons and oranges, make for a heart- warming Mediterranean sensation. To make it even more fun, there’s a theme every year – 2019 saw a number of ‘fantastical worlds’-inspired


IMAGE © JEAN-CHRISTOPHE BLANQUART


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