Tag: France

20Oct By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Guides

Portes du Soleil: a winter sports travel guide

The 2024-2025 winter sports season marks a monumental milestone for the Portes du Soleil, as it celebrates its 60th anniversary. Nestled between Lake Geneva and Mont Blanc, just an hour from Geneva, the Portes du Soleil remains one of the largest and most celebrated ski areas in the world. Spanning the Franco-Swiss border, the ski paradise boasts 12 resorts, offering skiers and snowboarders the unique opportunity to glide seamlessly between France and Switzerland.  All 12 resorts in the Portes du Soleil can be easily accessed from Geneva Airport. A six-day lift pass for the Portes du Soleil area is priced from €336 for adults, €252 for children and €302 for seniors (web prices, until 28 March 2025). See more at portesdusoleil.com   Portes du Soleil: the 12 resorts  Avoriaz (Fran...

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Tennis grand slam: 2025 French Open Roland-Garros

The French Open, held annually at Roland-Garros in Paris, is the second of the four grand slam tennis tournaments and the premier clay court event in the world. Taking place in 2025 from 19 May to 8 June, it is renowned for its gruelling matches, unique playing surface, and storied history.  Founded in 1891, the French Open has produced some of the sport’s most legendary moments and champions. Rafael Nadal, often referred to as the "King of Clay", holds the record for the most men's singles titles at Roland Garros, having won the tournament an astonishing 14 times. Nadal’s dominance at the French Open has become one of tennis's most iconic storylines, as the slow clay surface perfectly complements his physical and grinding style of play. On the women's side, players like Chris Evert and...

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1Sep By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Holidays & Trips

Action Outdoors launches 2024-2025 UCPA skiing holidays for 18-30s

Action Outdoors, the UK arm of not-for-profit French organisation UCPA, has launched an expanded programme of ski and snowboard holidays for young people for the 2024-2025 winter sport season. Like all of its holidays, the emphasis is on all-inclusive value for money in UCPA centres in some of the top French ski resorts including Val d'Isère, Val Thorens and Les Arcs. There’s now more than 300 holidays across the winter that are specifically for the 18-30 age group, with 18-25s benefiting from even further discounting on price. All 18-30 Club Exclusive holidays mean the centres are blocked off exclusively for that age group. Prices start at £541pp (18-25s) and £551pp (18-30 Club Exclusive weeks), including seven nights’ full-board accommodation with breakfast, lunch and dinner, full...

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10Aug By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Editor's Pick, Guides

Les 3 Vallées: a winter sports travel guide 

Les 3 Vallées, nestled in the French Alps, is the largest interconnected ski area in the world, encompassing seven resorts: Courchevel, Méribel, Saint-Martin-de-Belleville, Les Menuires, Val Thorens, Orelle, and Brides-les-Bains. Renowned for its stunning landscapes, diverse ski terrains, and luxurious accommodations, Les 3 Vallées is a paradise for winter sports enthusiasts. Main image: Courchevel (credit: Les 3 Vallées/Alexis Brot)  Top resorts in Les 3 Vallées Courchevel Overview: Courchevel is the most prestigious resort in Les 3 Vallées, known for its upscale hotels, MICHELIN-starred restaurants, and high-end shopping. It’s composed of four villages, each at different altitudes, with Courchevel 1850 being the most glamorous. Sports appeal: The resort offers access to ...

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7Jul By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Guides

Paris: a sports travel city guide

This summer Paris will be the centre of the sporting world when the French capital city hosts the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The "City of Light" is renowned for its rich history, art, and culture, yet, beyond the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre, it’s also a vibrant hub for sports enthusiasts.  With a diverse array of teams, stadiums, and sporting attractions, the city offers a comprehensive sporting experience that appeals to both locals and tourists. In this feature we look into the sporting landscape of Paris... Subscribe to our monthly newsletter Iconic venues Stade de France: Located just north of the city in Saint-Denis, the Stade de France is the largest stadium in France and a venue of huge significance. It was built for the 1998 Fifa World Cup, which host nation Fr...

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30Jun By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Sports Business

Rugby World Cup 2023 generated €871m economic impact for France

South Africa were not the only winners of Rugby World Cup hosted in France in 2023. The 10th edition of the men’s flagship event generated €1.8 billion of spend and a net input of €871 million for the host country, according to an impact study commissioned by the French Ministry of Sport and produced by EY. Assessing the three main type of impacts (economic, social, environmental) with comparable methodology to other major international sporting events, the comprehensive report gives an in-depth analysis of Rugby World Cup’s clear hosting benefits to boost the host nation’s economy, drive positive social change and reduce the global carbon footprint inherent to international competitions. Report highlights: Rugby World Cup 2023 delivered a net input of €871 million for France’s ...

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4May By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Holidays & Trips

Cycling holidays inspired by Tour de France and 2024 Olympics

The eyes of the sporting world will be firmly fixed on France this summer as it hosts the Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games and the 111th edition of the Tour de France – cycling’s most iconic road cycling event. For cyclists and active travel enthusiasts looking to experience their own sporting adventure in France this year, independent cycling holiday company Saddle Skedaddle has a range of road cycling trips that combine highlights of Le Tour with the country’s stunning landscapes and scenery. To mark this year’s Grand Depart in Florence and Italy’s Emilia-Romagna region, Saddle Skedaddle is also offering a relaxed, self-guided leisure cycling holiday that takes riders on a culinary tour of the Emilia-Romagna region – from Cremona in the north, to Bologna in the south. Tackle...

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25Nov By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Events

Sport in France in 2024: major events and sporting highlights

France is getting ready for a bumper year of tourism and sport in 2024 with a number of new and exciting openings, exhibitions, sustainable tourism initiatives, and major anniversaries on the calendar. The country is also in the final preparation stages of hosting its biggest ever event, the Paris 2024 Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games. Here we take a look at the sporting highlights in France in 2024.  SPOT24: new urban sport and culture hub with Olympic exhibition  Paris, Île-de-France: until 31 December 2024 Paris je t'aime (the Paris Tourist Office) has set up a new hybrid venue showcasing urban sport, culture and Olympism. Serving as a tourist information point, Olympics ticket office and official shop, alongside a café dedicated to Parisian products, SPOT24 also com...

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25Nov By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Sports Business

World Ski Awards 2023: Val Thorens again named world’s best ski resort 

Val Thorens in the French Alps was named as the “best ski resort in the world” for the eighth time in 11 years at the annual World Ski Awards. The highest ski resort in Europe at 2,300m, Val Thorens is part of Les 3 Vallées, the world’s largest interconnected ski area with 600km of pistes and 162 lifts. Vincent Lalanne, director of Val Thorens Tourist Office, said: “This award represents the hard work of all resort staff whom I would like to salute for their involvement, teamwork and imagination. We're very proud to win again and I would like to thank our customers from all over the world for their unfailing support. We're dedicated to delivering excellence and continually developing the resort to ensure a fantastic holiday experience for everyone." Val Thorens celebrated its 50th a...

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6Nov By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Sports Business

2024 Olympics to boost tourism spending in Paris by up to €4bn

An extra three million people are expected in Paris for the Olympic Games in 2024 increasing tourism spending by up to €4bn, according to Euromonitor International.  The successful Rugby World Cup, which has just played out in Paris and across France, served as a dress rehearsal for next summer’s games which will bring many opportunities, but also challenges for the French tourism industry. With a forecasted four billion global television audience, the country will be front and centre in the worldwide spotlight.  A well-executed Paris 2024 could skyrocket the profile of France, already at the top of Euromonitor International’s Top 100 City Destinations Index for 2022, as a destination from 2025.  Alexander Göransson, senior consultant at Euromonitor International, said in his rep...

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2024 Côte Chalonnaise Wine Marathon, Burgundy

Held in the vineyards and villages of Burgundy in France, the 2024 Côte Chalonnaise Wine Marathon will take place on Saturday 23 March. Starting and finishing in Givry, the event features a number of race distances including the full marathon, half marathon and a 10km. There will also be the “MARA3”, a race with three runners with the first runner on the 42km, the second for the 21km and third on 10km. All three runners will then finish together.  Throughout the course there will be refreshments and runners are encouraged to compete in fancy dress. There will also be a wine market all weekend with Givry wines on sale. You can register for the event at marathondesvinsdelacotechalonnaise.fr  For more information and hotels see: Event: marathondesvinsdelacotechalonnaise.fr Hotel...

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24Aug By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Holidays & Trips

Scenic to host Paris-Seine sporting legends cruise ahead of 2024 Olympics

Cruise guests can sail with two of Great Britain’s finest Olympians, Steve Redgrave and Daley Thompson, on a round trip from Paris, just weeks before the French capital city welcomes the 2024 Summer Olympic Games. The special-edition “sporting legends” sailing, hosted by Scenic Luxury Cruises and Tours, will be held from 8-15 July 2024. During the eight-day sailing guests will get the opportunity to join a private question-and-answer session with Thompson and Redgrave. The duo, who have won seven Olympic medals between them, will also join guests for an exclusive concert at Château de La Roche Guyon, where they will share Olympic memories and reveal what it takes to be a champion.  Scenic’s eight-day cruise, starting and finishing in Paris, calls at Cornflans, Rouen, Hornfleur,...

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30Jul By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Events, Sports Travel

Rugby World Cup: Place de la Concorde will host the Paris Rugby Village

Parisian landmark Place de la Concorde will host a village dedicated to rugby throughout the 2023 Rugby World Cup, which takes place in France from 8 September to 28 October. Pierre Rabadan, deputy mayor of Paris in charge of sport, the Olympic and Paralympic Games and the Seine, unveiled the "Paris Rugby Village" programme and the city’s accessibility and eco-responsibility commitments. The Paris Rugby Village will include a rugby entertainment and promotional area, plus two giant screens to broadcast RWC matches. And the number of screens will increase to four for the opening match on 8 September between France and New Zealand. Visitors can enjoy entertainment and discovery areas, photo booths, the official France 2023 shop, exhibitions, and a central stage that will host the ope...

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31May By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Events, Sports Travel

100 days to go until the Rugby World Cup 2023 in France

Celebrations are taking place throughout France to mark the 100-day countdown to the start of the Rugby World Cup 2023. With a little under three months to go until the 20 nations arrive in France, final preparations are underway for rugby union’s 200th birthday party. There will be 48 matches taking place across ten host destinations: Bordeaux, Lille, Lyon, Marseille, Nantes, Nice, Paris, Saint-Denis, Saint-Etienne and Toulouse. Hosts France will face New Zealand in the opening match of the tournament at the 80,698-capacity Stade de France in Saint-Denis on Friday 8 September. The Rugby World Cup final will be played on Saturday 28 October 2023, also at the Stade de France. On Tuesday 30 May, the Webb Ellis Cup arrived in Paris on an Emirates A380 with bespoke Rugby World Cup 2023 ...

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26May By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Events, Sports Travel

Event in focus: 24 Hours of Le Mans Centenary

The French department of Sarthe is gearing up to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the iconic 24 Hours of Le Mans race, which takes place from 10-11 June 2023 (4pm to 4pm) at the Circuit de la Sarthe.  First run in 1923, the endurance race is part of the “triple crown” of motor sport – alongside the Indianapolis 500 and F1 Monaco Grand Prix. Expect an epic battle between Toyota, Ferrari (back in the top-tier category after a 40-year hiatus), Porsche (record holder for the most Le Mans wins), Peugeot and Cadillac.  To mark the centenary, the 24 Hours Museum on the circuit is hosting a special exhibition (1 June-2 July) of 86 cars that have either won the race or left a mark on its history.  Event organisers have also announced that after record sales, all ticket...

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16May By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Guides, Holidays & Trips, Sports Travel

Portes du Soleil: a summer sports travel guide

Portes du Soleil is a ski and biking region of the Alps that covers the neighbouring French Chablais and Swiss Valais. The region features 12 resorts – including Avoriaz, Champéry, Les Gets and Morzine – and offers a range of summer activities such as mountain biking, cycling, hiking, trail running and yoga. Portes du Soleil is a popular destination for a sporty summer holiday, we take a look at the highlights.  Portes du Soleil’s 12 resorts The 12 French and Swiss resorts in the Portes du Soleil region are located between Mont Blanc and Lake Geneva:  France: Morzine, Avoriaz, Châtel, Les Gets, Montriond, La Chapelle-d’Abondance, Abondance, Saint-Jean-d'Aulps Switzerland: Champéry, Val-d’Illiez-Les Crosets-Champoussin, Torgon, Morgins Mountain biking An inter...

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8Apr By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Events, Guides, Sports Travel

Cycling in Morzine 2023: Tour de France, Bike Week and more 

Sitting at 1,000m altitude, the French mountain village of Morzine, part of the Portes du Soleil, has a wide range of activities and experiences on offer throughout summer. Not only is it a sporting hub, with the Tour de France returning for the 22nd time, but it’s also a place where visitors can enjoy nature and the great outdoors.  Unlike many other skiing destinations, Morzine has 3,000 permanent residents, meaning it remains a vibrant hub during the warmer months. Guests can make the most of 52 bars and restaurants, 34 hotels, 80 retailers, 21 chairlifts and cable cars across Morzine and Portes du Soleil, 200km of signed cycling trails, and 15 mapped mountain bike routes. Visitors can also spot 132 cows, 50 goats and 20 pigs, plus more than 1,000 species of flora.   He...

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24Oct By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Sports Travel

Les Sables-d’Olonne: capitalising on sailing and ocean racing

by Ramy James Salameh For Les Sables d'Olonne sport has brought global attention to this elegant seaside town in western France. Settled on the shores of the Atlantic coast, the destination has become the world capital of single-handed ocean racing, home of the Vendée Globe and Golden Globe solo round-the-world sailing races. The latter is described as the father of solo round-the-world events, one for the sailing purists, placing man and not machine at the heart of maritime exploration, while the equally demanding Vendée Globe uses state-of-the-art technology and equipment, but with no less guile, determination and fortitude.  A dedicated race village opens to the public at Esplanade du Vendée Globe weeks prior ...

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30Jul By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Guides, Sports Travel

Val d’Isère summer sports guide: e-biking, walking, hiking and more

Sports fanatics looking for an active summer break need look no further than the striking alpine town of Val d’Isère in France. Typically thought of as a snow-capped winter destination, Val d’Isère transforms in the summer months to offer a whole range of sporting activities in the beautiful mountainous landscape, from exciting e-bike routes and trail running packages to forest adventure courses and lake-side yoga.  Summer’s hottest sport Noticing an ongoing demand for e-biking, Val d’Isère has committed to boosting its e-bike offering through developing new trails, bike sharing schemes, and hosting an E-Bike Festival from 29-31 July which will see long distance races, discovery rides, including a gourmet ride where food lovers can explore the area whilst trying fresh local produ...

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Paris 2024 Summer Paralympic Games

After the Summer Olympic Games, the French capital city of Paris will then host the Paralympics from Wednesday 28 August until Sunday 8 September 2024. Paris 2024 will be the largest event ever organised in the country and it promises to be an inclusive, interactive and sustainable celebration of sport. For the games, the most fantastic sites and monuments in Paris, and in France in general, are to be transformed into breathtaking settings to host the world’s greatest sporting event. These iconic venues, resulting from an unlikely fusion between sport and France’s rich heritage, will see jaw-dropping performances from the finest athletes. They offer a unique experience to all involved in the Games – the athletes, the spectators on site, and the millions watching on television around the...

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