The French connection

It’s going to be a big year for France. The most popular country in the world for tourists is preparing to welcome even more visitors for this summer’s Olympics and Paralympics in Paris. And then there’s a raft of exhibitions to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the impressionist art movement.
Beyond these grands spectacles is a vast country that prides itself on diverse scenery, amazing cuisine and, most importantly, its mode de vie. It’s why so many French choose to holiday at home.
To get a taste of what’s in store for those planning a visit this year, we asked Carolyn Boyd, former editor of France Magazine and author of a new book, Amuse Bouche, to share her standout moments from nearly 20 years of travelling and eating around France. From the simple pleasures of scoffing a punnet of gariguette strawberries fresh from a farm in Brittany to a slap-up meal at a bistro in Noirmoutier that served tender asparagus and mussels adorned with stripy beetroot sliced so finely it was transparent, the French are experts in celebrating and savouring their local specialities.
Beyond the table, Carolyn says: “When you can gaze on the salt pans of Guérande, near Nantes, cycle through lavender fields in Drôme, in the south-east, and bask in the splendour of the Cirque de Gavarnie in the Pyrénees, you have to wonder how France got so lucky with its diverse landscapes.” In her pick of discoveries, she shares her favourite beaches, islands and landscapes, as well as lesser-known galleries, museums and places to stay. Bonnes vacances!