How to travel in France without leaving your home?

Travelling in your room¹: this is the challenge of Explore France, a government website that has just published a complete and diverse news to travel differently in France, from your home. Everything is possible: dreaming, reading, observing, cooking, sharing friendly moments remotely, all of this to a French tune!

Because France currently applies sanitary measures “for the protection of everybody”, the website Explore France chose to offer “a quantum of getaway” while waiting for better days.

Holiday memories and beautiful pictures

All forms of escape are thus planned, and what a programme! We can start with holiday memories and look at old photos. Before planning a new trip to France, it’s maybe time to plunge back into holiday images: from the Alps to the Pyrenees mountains, from the lavender fields of Provence to the shores of the Atlantic Ocean or the Mediterranean, from the Parisian museums to the Loire castles, without forgetting the vineyards and the tasting of local specialities. With a single click, you can for example access the “45 Wonders of France” listed as World Heritage Sites by UNESCO: https://www.france.fr/fr/actualite/article/souvenirs-de-vacances-france

Squash and mushrooms

But what would France be without its legendary gastronomy and fine wines (to be consumed in moderation, of course)? The squash is thus crowned by Explore France as the “star of autumn”. A star with all kinds of sauces, since numerous recipes, from the simplest to the most original, allow you to taste the squash in unusual and gourmet forms: https://www.france.fr/fr/actualite/liste/recettes-courge

Another seasonal dish, mushrooms, which are also on the menu with a “Relais & Châteaux”-style mushroom recipe! Explore France went in the Chantilly domain to discover “seasonal and local cuisine” with smoked porcini mushrooms and finely cooked button mushrooms:

https://www.france.fr/fr/hauts-de-france/article/recette-champignons-auberge-du-jeu-de-paume

Villages and ports

After a good meal, a little rest. Why not discover France in a different way through reading, while waiting to be able to explore its landscapes? Explore France offers a selection of books for travelling. “Whether you’re into the great outdoors, heritage, small village or big city”, this selection satisfies all tastes. From the 100 villages de France qu’il faut avoir vus  (100 must-see villages of France) and La France de port en port (France, port by port) or Paris à vol d'oiseau (Paris as the crow flies), the overview is varied:

https://www.france.fr/fr/actualite/liste/livres-paysages-france

Vintage or club

And now that you’re full of images and flavours, why not listen to a French tune? At least, that's what the Explore France editorial team wanted to do, as they “cooked the perfect playlist”. From Brigitte Bardot to Laurent Garnier, and Rone tone Massilia Sound System, you can let yourself be guided to discover “all the aspects of French music”. And you can do it at any time of the day: to get up on the right foot, to have a “vintage breakfast”, to have lunch “in style”, for a “naughty nap” or to end the day gently in the Parisian clubs. In short, all the French music is there for your ears:

https://www.france.fr/fr/actualite/liste/la-playlist-de-musique-francaise-qui-vous-accompagne-toute-la-journee

To know more: 

- Explore France: https://www.france.fr/fr/story/voyager-en-france-depuis-votre-canape

- A journey round my room: Le voyage autour de ma chambre (A journey round my room, available free of charge online or in digital version, in French) by French writer Xavier de Maistre may be the perfect companion in these times of lockdown.

Photo credit: ©Viacheslav Lopatin – adobe.stock.com