What’s new in France for 2010
February 22, 2010 ·
In the Loire, taking a bus or minivan excursion to see the valley’s beaucoup chateaux can save time (in line) and money (on admissions) when you purchase your chateau ticket at a discounted group rate from the driver. Amboise’s tourist office now sells “le Pass” — tickets bundled in groups of three to save on entry fees (most Loire area tourist information offices offer some sort of pass promoting their sights). To avoid the lines at the popular Chateau de Chenonceau, purchase advance tickets at local tourist offices or from ticket machines. In the great castle town of Chinon, a free panoramic elevator now zips visitors up to the newly renovated fortress that crowns the city.
Along Provence’s Cotes du Rhone wine road, a trendy new winery called Domaine de Mourchon has become the buzz of the region, blending state-of-the-art technology and traditional winemaking methods — a dazzling ring of stainless-steel vats holds wines grown on land plowed by horses. The wines are winning international praise, and the owners are Scottish, eliminating the language barrier.
All these improvements to an already exciting tourist destination are a reminder that, more than ever, France is enthusiastic about sharing its heritage and welcoming visitors.
