France is a country with plenty of gastronomic tours with aromas, flavours and textures of all types and colours. France is well worth visiting even if it’s just to discover famous restaurants with top quality products and world-renowned Michelin-starred chefs.
Here we bring you a list of some magical gourmet spots and French geography to delight your palate.
Route 1. The Normandy Cheese Trail
Cheese forms the basis of this journey through the north of France, where you can taste some of France’s finest cheeses, starting with Camenbert. This internationally famous cheese comes from a small, picturesque and humble village in Normandy. A guided tour of the Président farm is a great way to learn how to taste and see how the speciality cheeses are made on the farm which dates back to the early 19th century and has now been restored by the leading cheese producers in the region.
Route 2. Champagne Vineyards
The world’s most famous wineries/vineyards of this well-known drink are found in the region where the same names come from Mumm, Dom Pérignon and Moët et Chandon. You’ll be able to taste the finest bubbly surrounded by hillsides full of vines. The Champagne trail starts in the incredible city of Reims, which was founded in 1827, and is the world’s third largest producer of Champagne. You can find guided visits of the most prestigious wineries, which house no less than 25 million bottles of wine, waiting to be discovered and enjoyed! Once you’re in Reims, you have to try the world-famous Biscuit rose de Reims at Waïda, a renowned tearoom and confectioner that specialises in making these biscuits that are traditionally nibbled with Champagne.
Route 3. Burgundy and the Grands Crus
Now we head to the east of France, to a region that boasts one of the largest and most delightful gourmet routes in the world: the Route des Grands Crus. Where you’ll have the chance to visit some of the most famous vineyards in Burgundy and as it should be, sample some excellent wines in the historical surroundings. We recommend visiting the region in spring or autumn, as the colour of the landscapes and the tranquillity of the area are at their best at these times of the year.
Route 4. Gastronomic Dordogne
This region is very famous for its sophisticated gastronomic culture, but also for keeping a particular rural touch that makes this route even more pleasant. Apart from visiting restaurants and productions centres, you should also find some time to visit the street markets. If you start the route in Salat-la-Canéda, you’ll have the chance to visit the street market that’s usually set up on Saturday mornings. This is a great place to find seasonal products such as ceps mushrooms, terrine of duck foie gras, nuts and even black truffles.
Route 5. Bordeaux wines, oysters and other surprises
Bordeaux is synonymous with excellent wines, but there’s so much more to this region on the shores of the Atlantic and the Gironde estuary. Here, you can taste the regions magnificent and artistic cuisine. The historic part of the city is on the UNESCO World Heritage List and is a wonderful adventure to discover on foot.
If you fancy a break from the wine and checking out some other delicacies, you should definitely make your way over to the coastal area of Gujan-Mestras that’s world-renowned for its oysters. The traditional old wooden houses in Port de Larros are a great place to pick up all the varieties of the local harvest.
Route 6. Breton and Normandy delicacies
Brittany is a ‘must’ of the French gastronomic trails. A place renowned for its many fine dining options, some are quite touristic, but there are also some secret spots to discover. This is home to one of the country’s most famous butter artisans, Jean-Yves Bordier, who you can find in the Bistro Autour du Berrer, which is a great place to sample and buy the best cheeses, butters and local seasonal dishes.
Another culinary secret is the small fishing port of Cancale, about 15km east of Saint-Malo, which is famous for its oyster farms and sells its produce throughout northern France. You can buy them and taste them prepared traditionally in the stalls located next to the Pointe des Crolles lighthouse. All you need to do is point out the ones you like most, season them with a few drops of lemon, and that’s it. Delicious!
Route 7. Beaujolais and its villages
The region of Beaujolais is picture-perfect with its green rolling hills, vineyards and magical, charming villages. This is the perfect place to taste fine wines, relax, explore and enjoy the silence and stillness.
If you start your from Villefranche-sur-Saône, you can use the wine as the guiding thread heading towards the north. Then starting point will be Espace des Vins de Beaujolais. And you should continue to the north, to the incredible Salles-Arbuissonnas-en-Beaujolais Priory, which dates back to the 10th century. We recommend stopping at Auberge de Clochemerle, a hotel with the Michelin-starred Romain Barthe leading the kitchen and creating incredible regional dishes.
