Looking for "different" French cultural experiences!
 

We will be visiting France for the month of September via car in a circular itinerary: Paris-Normandy-Brittany-Dordogne Valley-Pays Basque and if time allows Valle du Rhone-La Bourgogne-Alsace-Lorraine.

We really don't care how far we get; we just want to enjoy where we're at at the moment. Fodorites have really helped with museums, lodging and restaurant choices. What we still need are a variety of experiences which will allow us to "do" and "learn", not just run through museums.

Normandy web sites were great--we have visits to a goat herd, a caramel making factory, cookie factory and a chocolatier lined up. Visits to a cider and cheese farm too. We haven't been able to stumble upon anything for the other regions, though I'm sure they are available. I just was having trouble "wording" my search as if you use "tours", you get tour agencies (like cityrama, filfranck etc)...not what we want.

With the exception of wine/champagne tours (obvious), anyone have other interesting visits/excursions they would recommend in other areas of France? And, no, it doesn't have to always involved eating! Seeing how anything local is made by artisans or grown by locals would be fantastic.

Thanks in advance for sharing!

September is nearly apple harvest time and the Brittany-Normandy region ( Calvados) is famous for it's apples and brandy. I'm sure that there will be local fall apple festivals and with the internet the information is at our fingertips!

Canal boat trips!

I expect you have tried Google with quote factory tour france unquote ? It gives some good links. Yiu might try also tour de fabrique

For modern France you should include Morrocan and Algerian music in Paris and I think in the cities of Alsace-Lorraine. You can find the Paris places if on arrival you buy at a newspaper kiosk the listings magazine Pariscope, and ask your hotel staff the help you use it. The site www.worldmusiccentral.org/staticpages/ index.php/Paris.htm gives background, and says:
La Scene features world music artists. Address: 2 bis rue des Taillandiers, 75011 Paris, France. The closest subway (metro) station is Bastille or Ledru Rollin. +33-01.48.06.50.70. E-mail: [email protected]. Site http://www.la-scene.com/
La Cabaret Sauvage presents many kinds of events, including world music. Address: Parc de la Villette, 211 avenue Jean Jaurès - 75019 Paris, France. +33 (0)1 42 09 03 09, Fax: +33 (0)1 42 09 11 17. E-mail: [email protected]. Site http://www.cabaretsauvage.com
Cité de la Musique. Address: 221 avenue Jean Jaurès, 75019 Paris. Phone: +33 (0)1 44 84 45 45. Site http://www.cite-musique.fr/
Maison des Cultures du Monde (Institute for World Cultures) is funded by the French Ministry of Culture. The center publishes books, releases CDs and organizes events. Address: 101 Bd Raspail, 75006 Paris, France. + 33 (0)1 45 44 72 30, Fax: + 33 (0)1 45 44 76 60. Métro station: Porte de Pantin. Site http://www.mcm.asso.fr/

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I use this site all the time when planning trips thru France..last year in October we found a wonderful cidre festival in Beuvron-en-Auge and had a great time.

http://www.whatsonwhen.com/partners/...sp?file=france

Hi, Klondike:

In the Dordogne I can recommend a visit to the walnut mill in Ste-Nathalène just outside Sarlat, where you can see how nut oils are made and purchase some lovely samples.
Also the Eco-Musée de la Noix on the road up to the château de Castelnau, where the whole walnut culture of the Périgord is explained.
And the Château de Castelnaud itself has marvelous displays of medieval warfare - in case you want to knoww how tosack a casstle.
In Le Bugue there is a good acquarium that explains how pisciculture is important in the region. Right next to it is Le Bournat, an exhibit of what life in the Périgord was in previous centuries.
Coming out of Le Bugue and heading toward les Eyzies and Campagne, take a right turn down a steep incline right as you hit the bridge and follow the signs to the Grolier Foie Gras factory/warehouse. They will give you samples and explain their products. And in Tursac, as you pass through on the way from Les Eyzies look left just after you leave town (you can't miss it - several thousand geese), you can see a demonstration of le gavage.
That should give you a good start....

When you're in France, the local tourism offices are a good place to look for tours and so forth. In the office in Nyons, for example, we found out about a silk museum and a mohair farm, where they sold gorgeous knitting yarn.

klondike, that's a wonderful way to travel. We have stayed in Montolieu at a working farm, and home of a sculptor a goat farm in Silvergues. A furniture maker in Glinka.

Forgot to mention - the village of Meyrals, between Les Eyzies and St-Cyprien, has become something of an artists' colony, with a fair number of studios and galleries.

Thank you to all for the specifics and also the "how to..." info for continuing and future trip planning.

cj

Klondike,

Would you mind sharing your goat herding information? We leave for Normandy in 15 days, and that sounds like a fun diversion. Thanks.

VictoriaK: http://www.normandy-tourism.org/fr/2..._theme=Elevage

The location is at Montchamp (east of Vire) and from the photo they look like a herd of Toggenburgs to me.

Email: les.chevres.de.monsieur.martin@wanadoo
.fr

Near the Pyrenees and the Pays Basque there is one [if not several] beret factory that is open for tours .. I can get the specific info on where it is if you would like ... I heard it was a great visit from my classmates.

Genesea: That would be most kind of you as we are planning on being in that area mid-September and my husband looks soooo good in his beret. We'd find that interesting I'm sure.

Merci a l'avance!