November 2021
We are delighted that travel is starting to bounce back after what has been a challenging 18 months for the industry. 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 that will set the tone for France in the coming 2022 year.
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.
ALL NEWS AT A GLANCE
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 – 10th anniversary of the Louvre Lens
2022 – 80th anniversary of the Dieppe Raid
2022 – 50th anniversary of ski resort Isola 2000
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
From 6 March – 30th 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, Paris
19-26 March – Tomorrowland Winter Festival, Alpe d’Huez
22 April – The Cité Internationale de la Gastronomie et du Vin opens in Dijon
Spring – The Cité de Vitrail opens in Troyes
Spring – IHG’s Holiday Inn Express Ajaccio opens in Ajaccio, Corsica
May – Six Senses Resort Loire Valley opens in Centre-Val de Loire
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
Mid-2022 – IHG’s Staybridge Suites Cannes Centre opens in Cannes
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 (In 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 18th-century Hôtel-Dieu-le-Comte, with over 32,000 square feet dedicated to showcasing stained glass works from the 12th to the 21st 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/ (In French only)
THE GROTTE COSQUER REPLICA OPENS IN MARSEILLE
New art installation
Provence-Alpes Cote d’Azur
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 conglomerate Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessy, La Maison LVMH / Arts – Talents – Patrimoine will be a new multi-disciplinary cultural institution in Paris dedicated to the 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.
www.lvmh.com/group/lvmh-commitments/art-culture/maison-lvmh-arts-talents-patrimoine-initiative-lvmh/
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.
https://ec.europa.eu/environment/europeangreencapital/grenoble/
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 its 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.
https://smart-tourism-capital.ec.europa.eu/index_en
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 (In 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.
ANNIVERSARIES
30TH ANNIVERSARY OF DISNEYLAND PARIS
Île-de-France
From 6 March 2022
Disneyland Paris is celebrating its 30th 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 50th anniversary of Walt Disney World. Check the website for the latest announcements as they are revealed.
www.disneylandparis.com/en-gb/events/30th-anniversary/
THE LOUVRE LENS TURNS 10
Lens, Hauts-de-France
2022
Sister venue to the Paris Louvre, the Louvre-Lens will be marking its 10th 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 of 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.
80TH ANNIVERSARY 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 80th 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 80th Anniversary of the Dieppe Raid’, which opens on 12 March in Courseulles-sur-Mer.
50TH ANNIVERSARY OF SKI RESORT ISOLA 2000
Provence-Alpes-Cote d’Azur
2022
The resort of Isola 2000 nestles at the gateway to the Mercantour National Park, 90km from Nice and enjoys 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.
FOOD & SHOPPING
THE CITE INTERNATIONALE DE LA GASTRONOMIE ET DU VIN
Dijon, Burgundy
22 April
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.
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 (In French only)
FRENCH ROAD CYCLING CHAMPIONSHIPS
Cholet, Pays de la Loire
23-26 June 2022
This three-day competition involves time trials and road races for elite professional and amateur riders, both men and women, involving around 600 entrants in 110 teams.
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/
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.
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 18th-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, Provence-Alpes-Cote d’Azur
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 8th arrondissement in an 18th-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.
MADAME REVE
Paris, Île-de-France
October 2021
Situated in the iconic 19th-century Louvre post office building in central Paris, the new five-star Madame Rêve Hotel embodies French luxury hospitality and offers guests a unique view of the Parisian cityscape from its 82 rooms and suites. There are two dining options: Mediterranean restaurant Madame Rêve Café, and Japanese-inspired La Plume. The hotel’s rooftop garden makes a beautiful meeting spot – a peaceful bubble of nature at the heart of the city buzz.
MAISON FRAGONARD, A NEW B&B
Grasse, Provence-Alpes-Cote d’Azur
Summer 2021
Perfumer Fragonard has ventured into new horizons by opening a guest house in the former provincial capital of Ancient Rome, Arles. On the ground floor is the Fragonard boutique and just above it, Maison Fragonard has six rooms spread over three floors. All floors have a terrace with a breathtaking view over the rooftops of the city of Arles. The project was carried out by the Be-poles Studio and architect Renzo Wieder.
www.fragonard.com/fr-int/maison-fragonard-arles (French only)
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 (In French only)
RUGBY WORLD CUP 2023
Across France
8 September–21 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.
Encapsulate France 