Update – 19 January 2022

We are delighted that travel is starting to bounce back after the recent French
government announcement. What’s new in France for 2022? We are really looking forward to the coming year across the Channel, with an exciting range of cultural venues and exhibitions, tourism initiatives, anniversaries, food and shopping, festivals and sporting events, and hotel openings will set the tone for France this year – and demonstrate that France is back!

All information contained here is correct at the time of publication, but we do recommend that you check with the individual destinations or venues for the latest updates going forward, as dates may remain subject to change and events may still need to be cancelled or postponed in line with the health situation in France.

Download full press release here.

Tourism figures

While the general impact of Covid-19 on travel to France remained significant in 2021, new
research from the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) reveals that France’s travel and
tourism sector can expect to have achieved a year-on-year growth of 34.9%, representing
an increase of €38 billion compared with 2020. The data also reveals that France could see
a year-on-year growth of 21.8% in 2022, contributing a further €32 billion boost to the
economy.

In line with the pandemic’s impact on the transport sector, the capacity and frequency of
flights to France remained reduced in 2021. Air capacity from the UK to France dropped by
more than 70% in 2021 compared with 2019 (data as of 1 November 2021). However, at the
time of writing there are flights operating to 30 destinations in France from 15 cities across
the UK. Based on positive current trends, we expect to see an improvement on the
capacity figures in 2022 and achieve a steadier climb back towards 2019 levels.
Furthermore, France remains easily accessible both by train and by car or passenger ferry.

Sources: WTTC, Insee, OAG

Covid-19 regulations in France

For all travel and quarantine regulations to and from France

More information on preparing for holidaying in France

ALL NEWS AT A GLANCE

18 Dec 2021-27 March 2022 – Ski train returns to connect London with the Alps
2022 – Maison LVMH Arts opens in Paris (date to be confirmed)
2022 – Villeurbanne named French Capital of Culture
2022 – Grenoble named European Green Capital
2022 – Bordeaux named European Capital of Smart Tourism
2022 – Rivières de L’Ouest, a new river destination brand in Pays de la Loire
2022 – 10^th anniversary of the Louvre Lens
2022 – 80^th anniversary of the Dieppe Raid
2022 – 50^th anniversary of ski resort Isola 2000
2022 – 400^th anniversary of Molière
2022 – 50^th anniversary of Brittany Ferries
2022 – Food Society opens in Paris
2022 – Hotel Como Le Montrachet opens in Burgundy
2022 – Anantara Plaza Nice Hotel opens in Nice
2022 – Hotel Maison Delano opens in Paris
2022 – Hotel Fleur de Loire opens in Blois, Centre-Val de Loire
2022 – A new Parcel Tiny House opens in Normandy
29 January-18 September – Yves Saint-Laurent aux Musées exhibitions, Paris
From 6 March – 30^th anniversary of Disneyland Paris
16-20 March – Skiing World Cup Finals, Courchevel and Méribel
16 March-31 July – Romy Schneider exhibition at the Cinémathèque Française
18 March – Downton Abbey: A New Era is released following filming in Var
19-26 March – Tomorrowland Winter Festival, Alpe d’Huez
26 March – Musée Rodin Meudon reopens
Spring – The Cité de Vitrail opens in Troyes
Spring – IHG’s Holiday Inn Express Ajaccio opens in Ajaccio, Corsica
Spring – Les Grandes Halles du Vieux Port opens in Marseille
Spring – Musée de Cluny reopens upgraded ‘Cluny 4’ in Paris
Spring – Maison Gainsbourg opens in Paris
Spring – An additional ferry on Irish Ferries’ Dover-Calais route
May – Six Senses Resort Loire Valley opens in Centre-Val de Loire
6 May – The Cité Internationale de la Gastronomie et du Vin opens in Dijon
June – The Grotte Cosquer replica opens at La Villa Méditerrannée, Marseille
23-26 June – French Road Cycling Championships in Cholet, Pays de la Loire
30 June-3 July – Le Mans Classic returns to Le Mans
24-31 July – The women’s Tour de France returns after over 30 years
Mid-2022 – IHG’s Staybridge Suites Cannes Centre opens in Cannes
September 2022 – Hotel Le Grand Mazarin opens in Paris

2022

CULTURAL SITES, EVENTS & EXHIBITIONS

‘ROMY SCHNEIDER, EXPOSITION’ AT THE CINÉMATHÈQUE FRANÇAISE
New exhibition
Paris, Île-de-France
16 March – 31 July 2022

The Cinémathèque Française is paying tribute to Romy Schneider, Franco-German star of the 70s, with this major exhibition. Forty years after the death of the actress, the exhibition attempts to understand how Rosemarie Magdalena Albach became an icon in the space of just a few years. It will feature Schneider’s roles, lines, diary, interviews and images showing her on set, making it a very comprehensive examination of her career.

www.cinematheque.fr/saison-2021-2022.html (French only)

VILLEURBANNE NAMED FRENCH CAPITAL OF CULTURE FOR 2022
Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes

A dynamic city and suburb of Lyon with a rich industrial history, Villeurbanne has been awarded the title of French Capital of Culture for 2022 by the French Minister of Culture. It chose to target youth and young people with its campaign, aiming to revitalise and innovate the artistic and cultural education it offers. It will highlight its little-known heritage while making use of its major cultural institutions and university resources. Alongside the award, Villeurbanne has received funding of €1m to boost the city’s cultural economy. The French Capital of Culture is awarded every two years.

THE CITE DE VITRAIL OPENS IN TROYES
New art installation
Champagne
Spring 2022

The Champagne region is set to pop a cork for the town of Troyes next year, jewel of the Aube department and known for centuries as the stained glass capital of Europe. The Cité de Vitrail will be housed in the magnificently restored 18^th-century Hôtel-Dieu-le-Comte, with over 32,000 square feet dedicated to showcasing stained glass works from the 12^th to the 21^st centuries. It will also highlight the creativity of local stained glass artists. Aube has also created a downloadable app with itineraries for exploring churches with the most impressive windows.
https://cite-vitrail.aube.fr/ (French only)

THE GROTTE COSQUER REPLICA OPENS IN MARSEILLE
New art installation
PACA
June 2022

The Grotte Cosquer is an underwater archaeological cave in the calanques of Marseille, containing over 500 exceptional works of cave art when it was inhabited between 19,000 and 33,000 years ago. A faithful reproduction of the cave will open in June in the Villa Méditerrannée, an ultra-modern structure on Marseille’s Vieux Port. Visitors will be able to explore the cave replica in small self-drive vehicles and witness depictions of marine life including penguins, seals and what appear to be jellyfish. There will also be an interpretation centre focusing on cave art, prehistory, and the issue of rising sea levels, of which the Grotte Cosquer is a unique example. A film shown in the auditorium will chart the story of the cave’s discovery.
www.grotte-cosquer.com/en/

MAISON LVMH ARTS
New cultural site
Paris, Île-de-France
Date to be confirmed

Part of luxury goods conglomorate Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessy, La Maison LVMH / Arts – Talents – Patrimoine will be a new multi-disciplinary cultural institution in Paris dedicated to artistic heritage, the applied arts, exhibitions and live performances. It will open following renovation of the former Musée des Arts et Traditions Populaires in the heart of the Bois de Boulogne. The original building was designed by Jean Dubuisson, winner of the Prix de Rome and a student of Le Corbusier, and has now been reinvented by architects Frank Gehry and Thomas Dubuisson, Jean’s grandson. As well as artist workshops, the space will also house a restaurant with stunning panoramic views of the capital.

CLUNY 4: THE NEW MUSEE DE CLUNY
Upgraded cultural site
Paris, Île-de-France
Spring 2022

The Musée de Cluny embarked on a major restoration and upgrade programme back in autumn 2015, and the results of the final stage are set to be unveiled this spring in the form of a new museum entitled Cluny 4. The project has been split into four parts: the restoration of the chapel of the Hôtel de Cluny (2015-16) and Gallo-Roman baths (2016-17); the construction of a new reception area on Boulevard Saint-Michel (2018); and for 2022, the redesign of the exhibition routes, an overhaul of the medieval garden and an optimisation of the whole museum’s urban integration.
www.musee-moyenage.fr/en

MAISON GAINSBOURG
New cultural site
Paris, Île-de-France
Spring 2022

After 30 years of eager anticipation, France’s first cultural institution dedicated to songwriter Serge Gainsbourg opens its doors to the public in spring 2022. Serge’s legendary interior on 5 bis rue de Verneuil is accompanied at 14 rue de Verneuil by a museum, a bookstore and Le Gainsbarre, a hybrid space that hosts a café during the day and a piano bar by night – and together they form the Maison Gainsbourg. Ahead of the ticket office opening, browse exclusive images of the museum’s creation as well as selected archives from its collections.
www.maisongainsbourg.fr/en

MUSÉE RODIN, MEUDON
Museum reopening
Paris, Île-de-France
26 March 2022

Closed for renovation since March 2020, the ‘secret Musée Rodin’ outside Paris is reopening on 26 March for weekend visitors. The tour begins with the Villa des Brillants, Rodin’s home for the last 20 years of his life. Old photographs show Rodin in his daily life. The plaster gallery offers an immersive experience of Rodin’s studio: his sculptures are displayed in their successive states, illustrating the various stages of his creative process. The Gates of Hell, The Kiss, Balzac, The Burghers of Calais, all glowing in their white plaster versions. In the garden, the lawn is decorated with original monumental bronze sculptures. Further on, The Walking Man, on a Column dominates a lawn overlooking the river Seine―a pleasant place for a picnic in fine weather, The Thinker watches over the tomb of Rodin and his wife Rose, who both died in 1917 and are buried in their garden. For those who feel like entering the artist’s world of creation, this is the place to go.
www.meudon.musee-rodin.fr/en

YVES SAINT-LAURENT AUX MUSÉES
New exhibitions
Paris, Île-de-France
29 January – 18 September 2022

This collection of exhibitions celebrates the 60th anniversary of the designer’s first fashion show, across six Parisian museums: the Centre Pompidou, the Musée d’Art Moderne de Paris, the Musée du Louvre, the Musée d’Orsay, the Musée National Picasso and the Musée Yves-Saint-Laurent.
https://museeyslparis.com

DOWNTON ABBEY: A NEW ERA: ON LOCATION IN FRANCE
New film
Le Pradet, Var, Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur
Release date 18 March 2022

The sequel to critically acclaimed drama Downton Abbey’s first feature film, released in 2019, is set to burst onto cinema screens this spring – and the French Riviera played a key role in its filming. The majestic Villa Rocabella in Var, used in the film as a property inherited by the Dowager Countess where the Crawley family – and their staff – go to stay, is a unique residence in Le Pradet with a beautiful three-hectare garden. With its spectacular sea view, this villa has several unique living rooms and terraces. The large reception hall with its majestic marble staircase leads to 11 uniquely charming rooms in Napoleonic decor.
www.rocabella.fr/en/

SUSTAINABLE AND OTHER TOURISM INITIATIVES

GRENOBLE NAMED EUROPEAN GREEN CAPITAL FOR 2022
Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
2022

Congratulations to Grenoble! The title of European Green Capital is awarded to cities that meet ambitious objectives in terms of the environment and sustainable development. Grenoble has secured the prestigious title with the following achievements: a reduction of fine air particles by 25% between 2004 and 2015; boasting France’s largest Low Emission Zone; being the second city in France for commuting by bicycle, with 320km of cycle routes; endowing its school canteens with organic and/or local products, and avoiding the use of pesticides in its green spaces for the last decade. By 2022 Grenoble will also be using 100% green electricity, and it is working towards a 50% reduction in greenhouse gases by 2030. The gateway to the French Alps, Grenoble unites a historic quarter and world-class galleries with a dramatic natural landscape.

BORDEAUX NAMED EUROPEAN CAPITAL OF SMART TOURISM FOR 2022
Nouvelle Aquitaine
2022

France’s wine capital and the world’s largest urban World Heritage Site, Bordeaux has been selected for this award for its excellence as a tourism destination in accessibility, sustainability, digitalisation, and cultural heritage and creativity. The city is making use of its existing resources and repurposing them to propel their smart tourism practices – for example with the Darwin Ecosystem, a collective geared towards a green economy and now one of the most visited sites in Bordeaux. This former military barracks is home to an urban farm and the largest organic restaurant in France, all showing a way of ‘consuming differently’. As a winner alongside Valencia, Bordeaux will benefit from a purpose-built sculpture in its city centre, a promotional video and other bespoke actions designed to raise its profile and boost visitor numbers.

RIVIERES DE L’OUEST
River tourism network
Pays de la Loire
2022

A new cross-departmental river tourism network brand is to be launched, linking the waterways of Anjou, Mayenne and Sarthe in the region of Pays de la Loire. The total network covers 283km, making it France’s largest. Visitors are encouraged to rent a houseboat for a few days and cruise at their own pace; go cycling, fishing, kayaking or e-foiling; see wildlife otherwise unseen from land; stroll around character towns, taste local produce and enjoy the ‘guinguettes’ (riverside bars).

www.rivieres-ouest.com (French only)

LA SEINE A VÉLO
Cycle route
Normandy
2021

France is the world’s second most popular cycling destination (after Germany), and aspires to be the first within five years. With this in mind, a brand new 430km cycle route, La Seine à Vélo, launched in spring 2021 and links Paris to Le Havre and Deauville in Normandy. Following the course of the River Seine, the cycle route passes through Giverny, Les Andelys, Rouen, Jumièges and Honfleur, and is suitable for cyclists of all levels and ages.

www.laseineavelo.com

ANNIVERSARIES

30^TH ANNIVERSARY OF DISNEYLAND PARIS
Île-de-France
From 6 March 2022

Disneyland Paris is celebrating its 30^th birthday in 2022 with a full season of exciting events. The resort will celebrate its past and future in glittering style, offering visitors special experiences across Disneyland and Walt Disney Studios. The celebrations coincide with the 50^th anniversary of Walt Disney World. Check the website for the latest announcements as they are revealed.

THE LOUVRE LENS TURNS 10
Lens, Hauts-de-France
2022

Sister venue to the Paris Louvre, the Louvre Lens will be marking its 10^th anniversary from 1 January to 4 December 2022, with two major exhibitions. ‘Rome: La Cité et L’Empire’ (6 April – 25 July) will offer a vast retrospective on Roman civilisation from its foundation in 753 BC to the fall of the Empire in 476 AD, with a collection of art and antiquities from the Paris Louvre. This will be followed by ‘Hieroglyphics’ (28 September – 16 January 2023). Situated in northern France, Lens is easily accessible from Paris by train in just over an hour.

www.louvrelens.fr/en/

80^THANNIVERSARY OF THE DIEPPE RAID
Normandy
2022

On 19 August 1942, Canadian and British troops began landing on beaches in and around the French port of Dieppe with the aim of capturing the town and returning to England with secret documents that could give the Allies an advantage. But the planned raid resulted in a mass loss of troops and became one of the most identifiable events in Second World War history. To mark the 80^th anniversary, the Juno Beach Centre is proud to announce a new temporary exhibition in partnership with the War Heritage Institute in Brussels: ‘From Dieppe to Juno: The 80^th Anniversary of the Dieppe Raid’, which opens on 12 March in Courseulles-sur-Mer.

www.junobeach.org

50^TH ANNIVERSARY OF SKI RESORT ISOLA 2000
PACA
2022

The resort of Isola 2000 nestles at the gateway to the Mercantour National Park, 90km from Nice and enjoying plenty of the famous Provencal sunshine on its varied slopes. It was the brainchild of British Army ex-officer and Olympic skier Peter Boumphrey after he discovered a basin in the Southern French Alps on a map, and by December 1971 the resort opened to accommodate 6,000 visitors. At 2,000m, the resort is one of the highest in the Alps and boasts panoramic views towards the Mediterranean Sea. It has a snow park with jumps and rails, 3km of cross-country ski piste and downhill racing facilities.

www.isola2000.com/en

400^TH ANNIVERSARY OF MOLIERE
Across France
2022

To celebrate the 400th birthday of this esteemed French writer, a range of events and exhibitions have been organised throughout the year across France, from Versailles to Valenciennes and Paris to Montpellier.
For the full listing, visit https://moliere2022.org.

50^TH ANNIVERSARY OF BRITTANY FERRIES
2022

Brittany Ferries is turning 50! Half a century ago, a group of Breton farmers wanted to find a
way to open up their region and transport their produce efficiently to England, sidestepping
the established Eastern Channel ferry routes. The odds were against them, but they pushed
for the building of a deep water port in Roscoff, and then obtained their first vessel, Kerisnel. With this, Brittany Ferries was born.
Watch the dedicated anniversary video here.

FOOD & SHOPPING

THE CITE INTERNATIONALE DE LA GASTRONOMIE ET DU VIN
Dijon, Burgundy
6 May

The Burgundy capital is looking forward to opening the long-anticipated ‘International City of Gastronomy and Wine’ following its postponement due to the pandemic. A new eight-acre district of restored and repurposed historic buildings, it will feature a major cultural and training centre for food and wine, with a Ferrandi cookery school, new shops and restaurants, a four-star hotel and a 13-screen cinema complex. The Cité marks the starting point of the region’s renowned wine route from Dijon to Maçon via Beaune.

FOOD SOCIETY
Paris, Île-de-France
Early 2022 (postponed from 2020)

Billed as ‘Europe’s largest food hall’, Food Society will be a unique culinary space within Les Ateliers Gaîté in Paris’ Left-Bank district of Montparnasse. It serves breakfast, lunch, apéritifs and dinner from 35 food counters (bars and street food restaurants) across three levels and 5,000m². Events and entertainment accompany the food and drink. Les Ateliers Gaîté will also house a hotel, library, crèche and housing.

LES GRANDES HALLES DU VIEUX PORT
Marseille, Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur
Spring 2022

A new food hall is opening its doors in the coastal city of Marseille. Combining quality food
with a friendly atmosphere, the hall is scheduled to open this spring and will be home to 15
food shops from around the world, with a total seated capacity of 400 people. Don’t miss this opportunity to experience culinary travel any time of the day, under the warm sun of the
Riviera!

FESTIVALS AND SPORTING EVENTS

TOMORROWLAND WINTER
Alpe d’Huez, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
19–26 March 2022

After two years, Tomorrowland is back! The first Tomorrowland of 2022 will take place in the beautiful mountain village of Alpe d’Huez, a magical gathering filled with skiing, snowboarding and the best electro music. The line-up includes Afrojack, Armin van Buuren, Kungs, Martin Solveig and Lost Frequencies. Expect performances on mountain and village stages, all accessible to all. There will be a brand new, covered and heated mainstage.

www.tomorrowland.com/en/winter/welcome

ALPINE SKIING WORLD CUP FINALS
Courchevel & Méribel, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
14–20 March 2022

The high-octane finals of the Skiing World Cup are set to take place in two of France’s most iconic mountain resorts. Proceedings kick off with two downhill training sessions on 14 and 15 March. The official men’s and women’s speed events will take place on 16 and 17 March: downhill and super-G. A parallel team event will then take place at Méribel’s Corbey stadium, followed by the men’s and women’s slaloms and giants. Awards will be given in each discipline and the ‘big globe’ will be awarded to the world’s best team. Situated in the majestic Trois Vallées, Courchevel and Méribel offer an amazing variety of activities for non-skiers in addition to their world-class slopes.

www.courchevelmeribel2023.com/finales-2022 (French only)

LE MANS CLASSIC RETURNS
Le Mans, Pays de la Loire
30 June-3 July 2022

After a two-year postponement, the iconic classic car event will return to Pays de la Loire’s motoring capital next year. Le Mans Classic has continued to grow since its beginnings in 2002 and it attracted over 195,000 spectators in 2018. Expect 600 racing cars on the track and 8,500 classic cars displayed in the specially designed enclosures.

www.lemansclassic.com/language/en/home/

THE WOMEN’S TOUR DE FRANCE RETURNS AFTER OVER 30 YEARS
24-31 July 2022

Amaury Sport Organisation (ASO) is launching the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift this
year, beginning alongside the final stage 21 of the men’s Tour. The eight-day race will cover
1,029 kilometres and include back-to-back mountain stages, two stages for the puncheurs, a
stage packed with gravel sectors and four flat stages that could either end in bunch sprints
or breakaway wins. It will start at the Eiffel Tower and end atop La Planche des Belles Filles in the Vosges mountains. The original women’s Tour de France ended in 1989, and while ASO
went on to organise women’s one-day races like La Flèche Wallonne, Liège-Bastogne-Liège,
La Course, and the inaugural Paris-Roubaix in 2021, the women’s peloton has not been
included as part of the official Tour de France for the past 30 years. A total of €250,000 is up
for grabs over the course of the race, with €50,000 in prize money for the winner.
www.letourfemmes.fr/en

TRANSPORT

THE SKI TRAIN RETURNS
Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
18 December 2021–27 March 2022

Accessing the French mountains is once again possible by train this season. Eco-conscious travellers will be cheered by the launch of the Travelski Express train, replacing the former Eurostar service and linking London with Moûtiers and Bourg-St-Maurice. Chartered by Compagnie des Alpes and operating on weekends from 18 December 2021 – overnight on Fridays from St-Pancras and returning from France during the daytime on Saturdays – this direct service is bookable as part of a package including accommodation, ski passes and shuttle services to six resorts: La Plagne, Les Arcs, Les Menuires, Méribel, Tignes and Val d’Isère.

IRISH FERRIES EXPANDS ITS DOVER-CALAIS ROUTE
Spring 2022

Irish Ferries is pleased to announce the addition of a third ferry to its Dover to Calais route. The ship is expected to enter service in the first quarter of 2022, the Ciudad de Mahon is joining
the Isle of Inishmore and the recently announced Isle of Innisfree.
www.irishferries.com/uk-en/

HOTELS

COMO LE MONTRACHET
Puligny-Montrachet, Burgundy
Five-star expected
2022

The COMO Group has announced plans for its first property in France, situated in Puligny-Montrachet in Burgundy. With this new addition to the portfolio, COMO is bringing its contemporary flair to the Côte-d’Or department, providing unparalleled access to some of the most famous Grand Cru vineyards. Hotel Le Montrachet will be housed within an 18^th-century property on the village square and currently comprises four heritage buildings, with 31 rooms and suites which will be converted into ‘chic sanctuaries’. An added Shambhala Retreat will be the first of its kind in France. The first phase of Como Le Montrachet is expected to be completed in 2022, in collaboration with Milan-based architect-designer Paola Navone.

ANANTARA PLAZA NICE HOTEL
Nice, PACA
Five-star expected
2022

Anantara Hotels, Resorts and Spas will open its first Anantara-branded property in France in 2022, on the French Riviera in Nice. The Belle-Epoque Plaza first opened in 1850, facing the Promenade des Anglais and the Jardin Albert 1er. After a two-year renovation, the establishment will now offer 151 rooms and suites, including a 75m² presidential suite and 36 suites of at least 40m². Ideally located at the entrance to Nice’s Golden Square, the hotel has retained its famous rooftop, offering a panoramic view of the Baie des Anges and Old Nice. Guests will also be able to enjoy a new spa with five treatment rooms, as well as a fitness area and a seminar space with seven meeting rooms and a ballroom for up to 300.

SIX SENSES LOIRE VALLEY
St-Laurent-Nouan, Centre-Val de Loire
May 2022

Less than 10 miles from the famous Chateau de Chambord, this new resort will be part of the 1,400-acre Les Bordes Estate and will also include a tennis centre, equestrian facilities, natural swimming lake, petting farm and art gallery. The centerpiece will be a historic chateau which will house the reception, a gourmet restaurant and bar. The 88 guest suites and villas will be spread throughout the surrounding woodland. There will also be a Six Senses Spa and conference centre. Developed in partnership with an affiliate of London-based RoundShield Partners LLP, Six Senses Loire Valley will also offer 70 residential villas.

MAISON DELANO
Paris, Île-de-France
2022

As the first addition to the Delano brand, Maison Delano Paris is destined to be a jewel in the crown of Accor’s lifestyle portfolio and will set the standard for future expansion. Located at the heart of Paris’ prestigious 8^th arrondissement in an 18^th-century mansion at 4 Rue d’Anjou, just steps away from the famous Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré, the hotel will boast 56 extraordinary rooms and suites, a vibrant restaurant and a bar nestled in the mansion’s historical courtyard. It will also introduce a new food & drink concept by renowned chef Dani Garcia.

FIVE NEW COASTAL HOTELS BY IHG
Arcachon, Nouvelle Aquitaine | Cagnes-sur-Mer, PACA | Ajaccio, Corsica | Cannes, PACA | Marseille, PACA
Autumn 2021 – Summer 2022

Leading hotel company IHG Hotels & Resorts has expanded its presence in France with five new hotels along France’s coastline, across its Staybridge Suites, Holiday Inn Express, Crowne Plaza and Hotel Indigo brands. The 77-room Holiday Inn Express Arcachon-La Teste recently opened in Arcachon Bay, alongside the 87-room Hotel Indigo Cagnes-sur-Mer. Further ahead, the 71-room Holiday Inn Express Ajaccio will open in spring 2022 on the island of Corsica, and the new Staybridge Suites Cannes Centre in mid-2022 near the Palais des Festivals. The Crowne Plaza Marseille Le Dôme is also expected to open next year, and will offer 147 rooms and an on-site restaurant.

www.ihg.com/hotels/

MAISONS PARIENTE’S LE GRAND MAZARIN
Paris, Île-de-France
September 2022

Following Crillon le Brave in Provence, Lou Pinet in Saint-Tropez and Le Coucou in Méribel,
Maisons Pariente has chosen the heart of the Marais for its new five-star address: Le Grand
Mazarin. Located at the corner of Rue des Archives and Rue de la Verrerie near the Hôtel
de Ville, the first urban hotel of the collection embodies the cosmopolitan eclecticism
emblematic of the Marais. Le Grand Mazarin is a jewel box of elegance and sophistication
that channels a mixture of styles with a touch of humour, with 61 uniquely decorated rooms
and suites, a spectacular restaurant and bar and a swimming pool.
www.maisonspariente.com/en/

A NEW PARCEL TINY HOUSE
Normandy
2022

New to Parcel’s Tiny House collection for 2022 is a hideaway in Normandy, where you can
discover the secret of cider with an immersive stay among the apple trees. The Tiny House
ethos is to offer eco-friendly pieds-à-terre at the heart of nature and encourage guests to
experience the French terroir.
https://en.parceltinyhouse.com/location

LOOKING AHEAD

ALPINE WORLD SKI CHAMPIONSHIPS
Courchevel & Méribel, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
6–19 February 2023

After the Olympic Games, this is the most important event in the world of skiing. It takes place every two years on odd-numbered years and has only been held in France on three occasions: in Chamonix in 1937 and 1962, and in Val d’Isère in 2009. Across the two weeks, skiers from 70 nations will compete for 11 world titles in descent, super-G, giant, slalom and individual parallel. It is a different competition from the World Cup, which is a circuit of over 20 different events for men and women with World Cup titles for each discipline and an overall World title.

www.courchevelmeribel2023.com/finales-2022 (French only)

100th ANNIVERSARY OF THE 24 HOURS OF LE MANS
Le Mans, Pays de la Loire
2023

Next year marks the centenary of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the iconic motor race that
attracts a following of millions around the world and whose popularity has never dwindled.
Major manufacturers Ferrari, Porsche, Audi, Peugeot, Toyota and Glickenhaus are already
gearing up for the anniversary race, which is set to be historic in more ways than one.

RUGBY WORLD CUP 2023
Across France
8 September–28 October 2023

Preparations are well underway in France for the Rugby World Cup in 2023, 200 years after the sport’s inauguration. With 48 matches set to take place across 10 host cities – Bordeaux, Lille, Lyon, Marseille, Nantes, Nice, Paris, Saint-Denis, Saint-Etienne and Toulouse – this will be a 45-day celebration of sport like no other, using the slogan ‘We Are Rugby’. Players will total 600, from five continents and divided into 20 teams.

www.rugbyworldcup.com/2023/?lang=en

SUMMER OLYMPIC AND PARALYMPIC GAMES 2024
Paris, Île-de-France
26 July–11 August 2024

France has officially become the proud host nation of the next Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2024 (the Games of the 33rd Olympiad), receiving the flag from Tokyo. Set to take place exactly 100 years after France’s last summer Games, Paris 2024 will be the largest event ever organised in the country. It promises to be an inclusive, interactive and sustainable celebration of sport: the first fully gender-balanced and carbon-neutral Olympics, featuring the first-ever Olympic events open to general public participation. The Games will extend to the cities of Nantes, Bordeaux, Lyon, Nice and Marseille, as well as the island of Tahiti in French Polynesia.

www.paris2024.org/en/

-ENDS-

For further information please contact:
Marine Teste, Head of PR at Atout France UK & Ireland

Marine.teste@atout-france.fr
www.uk.france.fr

About Atout France

Atout France – France Tourism Development Agency, is responsible for promoting the development of the tourism industry, the country’s largest economic sector. Atout France’s primary mission is to monitor and analyse the supply and demand in the tourist market. Atout France is also committed to promoting destinations and tourism partners in and from France. This is achieved through marketing campaigns, online promotion, PR and working closely with the travel trade sector. Atout France is represented in the UK and Ireland from its office in London.