France is almost always bustling with one hot activity, festival or event after another. It can be hard to narrow the thousands of fetes down to the few don't-miss events of the year. Here is a list of the best, hottest events in France of 2007.
France will be the center of the global stage for the world's top rugby event, which will take competing teams to some wonderful French destinations like
Bordeaux,
Toulouse and
Paris in September and October. This provides a great chance to see some intense rugby action and to visit some of France's more underrated, but splendid, cities.
Although last year's tour was marred by controversy right from the start (and was missing the popular champion Lance Armstrong), this is still one of the key events in France annually. In 2007, this is sure to be a monumental and exciting tour. To witness it anywhere on the route this July in person will be a thrill.
Unless you are really part of the in crowd, you won't be able to actually attend film showings. But just being part of the excitement is still a blast. You can crowd up to the red carpet each evening to see celebrities prance by mere feet away. You can spend your days lounging at the beach, or sipping cafe au laits at outdoor bistros. This is the one event in France that attracts visitors from around the globe, both celebrities and commoners.
The Carnaval in Nice is a festive 10-day celebration featuring daily parades, concerts, street theater and more. Dating back to the Middle Ages, people from around the world have been descending on this gorgeous French Riviera city each year to cut loose. It is a chance to indulge in food, music and festivities, all in the mild winter climate of the Mediterannean. While this isn't the only Carnaval in Europe, this is certainly one of the biggest ones.
The long-awaited release of each year's Beaujolais Nouveau comes at the strike of midnight on the third Thursday in November. There are about 120 festivals to honor the arrival of this enticing young wine in the Beaujolais region alone, not to mention throughout France and across the globe. To truly experience this amazing annual event, visit the Beaujolais region.
France is known for its wonderful markets, but one of the best times of year to visit is during the Santa season. There are several Christmas markets throughout France, with wonderful handcrafted ornaments, gifts and food items. Plan your trip to visit the Christmas markets. As a bonus, this is also a wonderful time of year to see France. Shops and homes are decked for the holidays. Village squares are dangled with lights. Beautiful and magical!
The ultimate French holiday is Bastille Day, which is essentially their equivelant to America's Independence Day. A visit to any spot in France, be it Paris or a small village, is sure to be rewarded with amazing festivities, fabulous food and general revelry.
This is one of the world's most popular gay events of the year. The event attracts about half a million people each year, as well as more than a hundred associations, trade unions, political parties, organizations for the defence of human rights and commercial establishments.
Although the major festivities of the recent 60th anniversary of D-Day have come and gone, the annual anniversary is still a wonderful time to visit the World War II sites in northern France.
The French really know how to celebrate New Year's, whether it's clubbing in Paris or the sublime midnight grape-picking event in the Midi Pyrenees or an upscale, medieval celebration in a Loire castle. Find out how to plan a New Year's Eve visit to France, and which events and festivals are planned for the turn of the new year.
