THE GUIDE WINTER 2024/25


CHRISTMAS SHOPPING


Get into the Christmas spirit with a family trip to Parc Astérix


Previous stars include Afrojack, Steve Aoki and Armin van Buuren. The 2025 event runs from March 15 to 22. No under-18s allowed. winter.tomorrowland.com


OTHER WINTER ACTIVITIES Parc Astérix


Celebrate Christmas with France’s favourite ancient Gauls, Astérix and Obélix, at the Parc Astérix theme park, 35km north of Paris. This year’s celebrations include a new rubber-ring slide called La Glissade d’Obélix, an enchanted trail through Santa’s wonderful gardens, toboggan runs, ice rinks and the Gaulish Christmas Parade, with acrobats, dancers and musicians. Don’t forget to drink your magic potion. parcasterix.fr


Le Grand Noël


“A magical journey into the enchanting world of fairy tales, bringing to life the great classics that have shaped our childhood. The crackling fi replaces and stunning decorations will transport you into a magical world alongside characters like The Nutcracker, Snow White, Little Red Riding Hood, Goldilocks and Alice in


128 ❘ FRANCE TODAY Dec/Jan 2025


Wonderland.” So say the owners of the beautifully baroque Château de Vaux-le- Vicomte, in the Seine-et- Marne, which loves to celebrate Christmas Renaissance style. From November 16 until January 5, visitors can dress in velvet capes and stroll in and around the castle, enjoying horse- carriage rides, treasure hunts, an ice rink, toasted marshmallows and light shows. Tickets costs €23.90 (€18.90 for children). vaux-le-vicomte.com/en/news/ thegrandnoel


Vichy spa break


France has lots of wonderful spa towns and Vichy is perhaps the most famous. The French have been enjoying its thermal waters since Roman times but it wasn’t until the late 19th century that the town cemented its reputation as a great European spa centre thanks to investment from Napoleon III. Nowadays you’ll fi nd all sorts of healthy treatments at the various spas dotted around the city, from facials and anti-cellulite treatments to hammams and thermal cures. One of the most famous is the fi ve-star Vichy Célestins Spa Hotel with its 7,500m2


spa beside


the Lac d’Allier. Just perfect for a rejuvenating and relaxing winter getaway. www.vichy-spa-hotel.com


Institut de Français language lessons This language school in Villefranche-sur-Mer, close to Nice, offers French language lessons over the winter at its hillside villa overlooking the sea. Lessons take place both inside and outside the classroom, with students encouraged to “plunge themselves into the French language without recourse to his or her mother tongue”. www.institutdefrancais.com


Christmas shopping at Galeries Lafayette For the ultimate in Parisian high fashion, head for Galeries Lafayette on Boulevard Haussmann. At Christmas time, your eyes will positively boggle at the clothes, perfume and luxury goods on offer, all beneath that famous glass and steel dome and surrounded by the beautiful Art Nouveau staircases. The Christmas tree is always impressive and will inject festive spirit into even the most humbug of visitors. Just down the road is the Lafayette Maison and Gourmet store for homewares and luxury food and wine. www.galerieslafayette.com


Fromages.com


Bleu, Brie, Camembert, Cantal, Chaource, Maroilles, Pont-l’Évêque, Roquefort, Saint-Nectaire, Tomme, Vacherin… this French website positively reeks of just about every moreish cheese you care to imagine. They offer international delivery to Europe and USA within 72 hours. www.fromages.com


Aimee’s French market “Welcome to a slice of Provence,” say the owners of this online marketplace which offers an array of quality French products ranging from linens, soaps and foodstuffs to home décor, kitchenware and hobby gifts. All orders are beautifully packaged up as if they were gifts. www.aimeesfrenchmarket.com


Distilleries et Domaines de Provence


Enjoy Christmas with Distilleries et Domaines de Provence


This shop in the Provençal town of Forcalquier is on the site of an old distillery. Nowadays it sells drinks guaranteed to get that Christmas party started: pastis, gin, vermouth, génépi and various liqueurs. www.distilleries-provence.com FT


IMAGE © DISTILLERIES ET DOMAINES DE PROVENCE, SYLVAIN CAMBON


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