France truly has something for everyone. Thousand-year-old wineries, incredible food, museums, historical sites, theatre, etc. – the country plays host to some of the world’s most iconic experiences and travel bucket list adventures. This year, there’s several new attractions and events to pique the interest of travelers who have France on their radar. Here are four new reasons to visit France in 2019 (as if you needed any more).
The Marble Courtyard at Versailles has a new boutique.
The incredible grandeur of Versailles is something that spectators really can’t understand until they personally step foot on its grounds. Now, the Marble Courtyard of France’s most infamous palace has a new retail outlet for tourists that is far from the typical gift shop. The store’s architecture references that found in the royal apartments of Louis XVI and Marie-Antoinette, and merchandise includes products from fine French brands and goods made by local artisans
Tours are available for the battlefields of D-Day and Dunkirk.
This year marks the 75th anniversary of the D-Day landings, which took place on June 6, 1944. To honor the event, history buffs can take a tour of all the D-Day landing beaches in Normandy, as well as other important sites like the bunkers at Juno Beach, and where the “Band of Brothers” fought near St. Mere Eglise. Additionally, tours of Dunkirk are available for visitors to see the war graves and battle sites from the May 1940 evacuation.
A boutique airline is offering direct flights between New York and Nice.
Starting in May of this year, La Compagnie will be offering seasonal business-class flights between New York and Nice. This boutique airline features a comfortable on-board experience with reclining flat beds, amenity kits with Caudalie skincare products, personal iPads, a menu curated by Michelin-starred Chef Christophe Langree, French wines and champagne, and croissants from Maison Kayser. If you’re going to visit France in 2019, you might as well do it in style!
The Loire Valley will be celebrating the 500th anniversary of several Renaissance events.
The Loire Valley is one of the most scenic regions of France and considered to be the birthplace of the French Renaissance. As such, there will be several special events held this year as the region celebrates the 500th anniversary of many important Renaissance milestones. These include Catherine de’ Medici’s birthday on April 13th, the construction of Chateau de Chambord on September 6th, and the death of Leonardo da Vinci at Amboise on May 2nd.
