GREEN FRANCE ❘ LES INFOS


1992


The year that the Écolabel Européen was created by the European Commission


ACCOMMODATION ROOMS WITH A VIEW From top:


You won’t find a better panoramic terrace view; the hotel’s Cinq Mondes spa pool; the epic Gorges du Verdon


DIVING DIVERSION A mammoth artificial coral reef is set to


be laid on the seabed off the coast of Cap d’Agde (Hérault). The 108-tonne structure, measuring 6.5m high and 8m in circumference, is the world’s largest artificial reef project dedicated to diving. It took Seaboost of Montpellier – a company dedicated to increasing marine biodiversity – three years to build. It was conceived in order to preserve more delicate natural diving zones in the area.


Green is as green does, and the 4* Hotel & Spa du Gorges du Verdun at La Palud-sur-Verdon (Alpes-de-Haute-Provence), ticks both boxes in style. It boasts a spellbinding location 938m above the verdant glory of the Gorges du Verdon – Europe’s biggest canyon, high above the Verdon river – plus decent ecological credentials for those keen to combine environmental soundness with their luxury French break. The hotel boasts various ‘green’ labels – among them Écolabel Européen, Clef Verte and Hôtels au Naturel – and commits to measures such as using renewable energy as much as possible, reducing water consumption, using nature-friendly cleaning products as much as possible, increasing recycled waste and giving priority to local, organic, eco-responsible suppliers. All of which lend added kudos to the general finery – 30 beautiful guest rooms, a Cinq Mondes Spa, chef François Bargoing’s superb restaurant. Plus that terrace view, swoon… www.hotel-des-gorges-du- verdon.fr/en


CHANGE FOR BETTER CLEAN BEACHES FOR 2022


This summer, 419 beaches and 117 pleasure ports have been awarded the Pavillon Bleu label for water quality and cleanliness. Here we pick four of the 27 beaches that joined the list this year


DONVILLE-LES-BAINS Located near Granville, childhood home of Christian Dior, La plage du Lude in Donville-les-Bains (Manche) is one of Normandy’s nicest – great for families, it is supervised in summer and has super sunsets. www.donvillelesbains.fr


LE PRADET


Well suited to families and accessed via a single, sloping path, la Plage du Pin de Galle at Le Pradet, Var, is a lovely beach with small pebbles in an exceptional and protected natural environment. Free parking nearby. www.lepradet-tourisme.fr/en


JARD-SUR-MER Boisvinet beach in Jard-sur-Mer,


Vendée, is located near the port and extends to Saint-Vincent-sur-Jard. The only supervised beach at the resort, it welcomes those with reduced mobility. www.destination-


vendeegrandlittoral.com


ESPACE HERMELINE


Unusually, this ‘beach’ is actually inland – at a leisure park 40km south of Limoges at Bussière-Galant, Haute- Vienne, to be precise. Bathers can enjoy various water sports before relaxing on either grass or sand. espace-hermeline.com


Aug/Sep FRANCE TODAY ❘ 27


IMAGES © SEABOOST - AGDE; SHUTTERSTOCK; HYERES TOURIISM; VENDEE TOURISM


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