Paris Plus Plus – Paris and beyond

MORE GEMS OF THE BURGUNDY DISTRICT

Hot air balloons departing from a Burgundian chateau. Photo, exclusivefrancetours

Burgundy has such a wealth of attractions, ranging from the famous vineyards and the two major towns of Dijon and Beaune, it’s easy to lose a sense of time in these places and not leave enough to explore the region in greater depth. There are so many rewarding sights to discover, ranging from hilltop medieval villages and Gallo-Roman strongholds, to the quiet beauty of abbeys and monasteries, not to mention hot air ballooning or a gentle cruise along one of the region’s canals. There’s huge selection of exciting things to see and do, enough for many visits. Here are a few more interesting suggestions.

BURGUNDY – LAND OF FINE ART AND FINE LIVING

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A typical Cote dOr village in autumn. Photo, matteocolombo

Burgundy is full of surprises and contrasts. Running from Auxerre in the north to Mâcon in the south, this is a vast and varied landscape of wide rivers, dense forests, granite hills, limestone valleys, meandering country lanes and rolling hillsides. Of course, even without all this beauty, the attractions that draw most visitors are the region’s wonderful food and world famous wines.

AN ENTIRE WEEKEND CELBRATING A NATION’S HERITAGE

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Journees Europeennes du Patrimoine 2020 poster. Photo, normandie-tourisme.fr

Every year in September, most European countries devote an entire weekend to the celebration and exploration of their cultural heritage through the European Heritage Days program. This year in France it was held on 19th – 20th of the month celebrating the theme “Heritage and Education: Learning for Life”.

Public and private owners of historic properties, members of associations for the protection and enhancement of heritage, curators, restorers, guardians and chief architects of historic monuments and objects, all mobilised to welcome visitors to hundreds of sites, free of charge. It’s a wonderful opportunity for everyone to celebrate the beauty and history of their own heritage.

CELEBRATING CULTURE AT AN ALL NIGHT FESTIVAL

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Poster for the 2020 European Nuit des Musees. Photo, moreeuw

The idea of celebrating culture with an annual all-night event that brings together all ages and tastes, started back in 1982 and has since become a world-wide phenomenon. In France, the Fête de la Musique is held on 21 June every year, and La Nuit des Musées falls around the middle of May. Events are free, hugely popular, with a festive atmosphere and above all, great fun.

DISCOVER THE CANAL SAINT-MARTIN NEIGHBOURHOOD IN PARIS

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Take a leisurely cruise along the Canal Saint-Martin. Photo, Paris + Plus

For many visitors to Paris, if they know of its existence at all, the attraction of a leisurely boat ride along the Canal St. Martin lies in its being a great way to relax after a frenetic few days packed with sightseeing, or a few too many shopping trips. Delightful as a canal trip is, there is a whole lot more to this northern part of Paris to discover.