{"id":279,"date":"2013-02-13T06:03:54","date_gmt":"2013-02-13T06:03:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.franceforfamilies.com\/?page_id=279"},"modified":"2020-10-13T13:01:06","modified_gmt":"2020-10-13T12:01:06","slug":"east-france","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.franceforfamilies.com\/france\/east-france\/","title":{"rendered":"East France: six reasons to visit"},"content":{"rendered":"

East of France – 6 Reasons to Visit<\/h1>\n

To many British families, a French holiday means seaside fun or southern sun, but for those who enjoy quiet countryside and outdoor pursuits \u2013 with easy access to history and heritage sites \u2013 a g\u00eete holiday in Eastern France could be a delightful alternative.<\/p>\n

1. Get back to nature<\/h2>\n

If you like your countryside green and your holidays surrounded by nature, try the four neighbouring regions of north-east France.\u00a0 Champagne-Ardenne, Lorraine, Alsace and Franche-Comt\u00e9 offer gentle wooded countryside that rises gradually into the Vosges and Jura mountains the further east you go.\u00a0\u00a0 Rent a self-catering property here and you can enjoy walking and biking, country picnics and heritage visits in an area where tourist attractions blend seamlessly into the local way of life.<\/p>\n

2. Follow the history trails<\/h2>\n

Eastern France has often been a battleground, and older children will be moved by the monuments, museums and cemeteries from two World Wars at sites such as Verdun in the Meuse and in Champagne-Ardennes.\u00a0 Boundaries have changed here across the centuries, a fact that really comes to life in Alsace, with its Germanic place names and architecture, but you\u2019ll find history from every era.\u00a0 Sedan in the Ardennes is home to Europe\u2019s largest castle, whilst Grand, a small town with a big name in the department of Vosges, boasts a sizeable Roman theatre and intricate mosaics.\u00a0\u00a0 Stop off at Domr\u00e9my-la-Pucelle, birthplace of French national heroine Joan of Arc, and follow in the footsteps of painter Auguste Renoir at Essoyes in Champagne-Ardenne.<\/p>\n

3. Champagne and wine<\/h2>\n

Most adults won\u2019t be able to resist stocking up on champagne at prices significantly lower than in the UK, but younger visitors can also enjoy touring the cellars of the big champagne houses in Reims and Epernay, where racks of bottles stretch as far as the eye can see.\u00a0\u00a0 Don\u2019t leave Reims without visiting the magnificent cathedral where countless kings of France were once crowned.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Follow the wine route through Alsace; discover the distinctive wines of the Jura; and discover the story behind absinthe in Pontarlier.<\/p>\n

4. Rivers and caves<\/h2>\n

Take a guided river cruise along the Moselle, the Sa\u00f4ne or the Doubs, or play admiral and hire a self-drive boat\u2013 no previous experience necessary.\u00a0\u00a0 Franche-Comt\u00e9 is one of France\u2019s least known departments, but one of its prettiest, with rolling countryside shaped by water, both above and below ground.\u00a0\u00a0 See rivers tumbling out of the hillsides and tour underground caverns such as the fabulous Grotte d\u2019Osselle, packed with amazing geological formations.\u00a0\u00a0 There are canoes bases on many rivers and a wide variety of water sports and angling opportunities on both natural and man-made lakes\u00a0\u00a0 Like birdwatching?\u00a0\u00a0 Then head for the huge artificial lakes of Champagne-Ardennes.<\/p>\n

5. Accessible mountains<\/h2>\n

The rounded peaks of the Vosges mountains in Lorraine and the Jura in Franche-Comt\u00e9 are a great location for family walks with plenty of well-marked trails.\u00a0\u00a0 The picturesque Route des Cr\u00eates above G\u00e9rardmer offers sweeping views over Alsace, whilst further south, the summits of the Jura look over Switzerland to the snow-capped Alps.\u00a0 Buy maps and guidebooks at any local tourist office, or book a few hours with a qualified mountain guide for a real insight into the flower, fauna and traditions of the area.\u00a0 They\u2019ll be able to pitch the experience perfectly to suit your family\u2019s interests.<\/p>\n

6. History and heritage<\/h2>\n

The Ecomus\u00e9e d\u2019Alsace at Ungersheim near Colmar is huge fun for all ages, a \u2018village\u2019 of more than 72 houses on a 15-hectare site, making it in the largest open air museum in France.\u00a0\u00a0 Watch demonstrations in authentic buildings that include a farm and a mill, a school house, pottery and cobbler\u2019s shop.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Across the regional border in Franche-Comt\u00e9, car enthusiasts of all ages won\u2019t want to miss the Peugeot Adventure near Montb\u00e9liard to see more than 100 vehicles, 50 motorcycles and a huge range of Peugeot-branded memorabilia.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The vast hilltop citadel at nearby Besan\u00e7on is home to the town\u2019s Natural History Museum, split into six themed areas that include a small zoo, an insectarium, and noctarium.<\/p>\n

Further ideas from:
\nwww.champagne-ardenne-tourism.co.uk<\/a>
\nwww.tourism-lorraine.com<\/a>
\nwww.tourism.alsace.com<\/a>
\nwww.franche-comte.org<\/a><\/p>\n

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Here\u2019s more information to make the most of your visit to\u00a0East France:<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n