Touring France
With our excellent concert contacts all over France, a tour to any region of this beautiful, diverse country is possible, with any type of group. Many of the northern regions are within a day's drive of the UK, which makes them an ideal destination for short coach tour. Whatever you want from your tour, whether Champagne tasting, lakes and mountains, sun-baked beaches, gastronomy, theme-parks or shopping, there is a part of France which will be ideal for your group.
As France has so much to offer, we would recommend that you contact OneStage to discuss possibilities for your tour. Below you will find just some of the destinations which we have found the most popular in the past. Other possible destinations include Normandy, Picardy, Brittany, Champagne-Ardennes, the Loire, Toulouse and the Tarn.
Visiting Paris
Whether on a first time visit, or whether you have visited countless times in the past, the well-known sights of Paris such as the Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe and Notre Dame Cathedral never fail to impress. Paris also offers an exciting variety of museums and galleries, of which the most famous are The Louvre (which houses the Venus de Milo and the Mona Lisa), the Musée D'Orsay (which houses a vast collection of impressionist paintings), and the Pompidou Centre.
Paris boasts unrivalled shopping and eating out; and attractions such as the hands-on Science Museum, a boat trip on the River Seine, or the water park "Aquaboulevard" can be ideal for youth groups. Excursions out of the centre include Disneyland Paris, Versailles and Chartres.
- Outdoor Venues:
- The Luxembourg Gardens, Place Jean XVIII (by Notre Dame Cathedral)
- Churches and Cathedrals:
- Notre Dame Cathedral, St Severin, St Eustache & St Clotilde (all in Paris), the church in Egreville, Eglise St-Martin in Ivry-la-Bataille, Chartres Cathedral
- Other Indoor Venues:
- The Fantasyland Stage at Disneyland Paris, Rothschild Residential Home in Paris, the Salle de Fetes in Chantilly
Visiting the West Coast
A popular place to stay and see this area is La Rochelle, which is one of the most un-spoilt and attractive towns on the west coast of France. The town has a fascinating history, beautiful sandy beaches, quaint fisherman's huts and great shopping. The nearby islands, such as Ile de Ré, and Ile d'Oléron also boast beautiful white sand beaches and the historic towns of Cognac and Saintes are not far away, with a visit to one of the brandy distilleries a popular diversion.
An alternative base is Poitiers, a unique historic town with narrow, winding streets, a magnificent cathedral and numerous gardens, squares and vibrant cafés. About 8km from Poitiers is Futuroscope, the high-tech theme park brings together the very latest advances in giant-screen film, video and the Internet and guarantees a busy, fun-filled day out for everyone.
- Outdoor Venues:
- Outside the Town Hall in Nieul-sur-mer, Place de l'Ocean in Royan-sur-mer)
- Churches and Cathedrals:
- Church of St Pierre in Ile d'Oléron, the parish church at Blanzac-Porcheresse
- Other Indoor Venues:
- Salle Roger in Fouras, Pavillion at La-Tranche-sur-mer
Visiting Provence and the Côte D'Azur
Provence, in the South Eastern region of France has an abundance of well-preserved, charming towns, the beautiful beaches of the Côte d'Azur, The Camargue (famous for its white horses and black bulls) and characteristically, fields and fields full of lavender and sunflowers. Markets in every town sell local produce, such as cheeses, wine and lavender products, the climate is wonderful and the region has a unique character not found anywhere else in France.
Marseille is the largest city in the area and also a major port. For those groups wanting some nightlife and shopping, then this is an excellent place to base your group. From Marseille you can take a boat ride to Chateau d'If, famously chosen as the prison where the fictional character Edmond Dantès was held, the hero of Alexandre Dumas' "The Count of Montecristo".
Provence is well known for its Roman history and the well preserved amphitheatres in Arles and Nimes and remains at Orange are stunning examples of this. The attractive and beautifully preserved old towns of Aix-en-Provence and Avignon are certainly worth a visit, as is Chateauneuf-du-Papes for a wine-tasting.
- Outdoor Venues:
- Local festivals in Apt and Bandol; purpose built outdoor stage in Marseille, Place d' Horloge in Avignon
- Churches and Cathedrals:
- Eglise de la Seyne, Eglise Flayosc, Cavaillon Cathedral
- Other Indoor Venues:
- Espace Victor Hugo in Puget-sur-Agen
Visiting Alsace
Strasbourg, on the doorstep of the River Rhine, is the principal city of Alsace and home to the European Parliament. The city boasts a magnificent cathedral, (complete with a famous Astronomical Clock), excellent shopping and an attractive centre with cobbled streets, half-timbered houses and a network of canals. Delightful cafés, wine bars (Winstub) and restaurants on every corner offer local specialities such as Sauerkraut and foie gras, and the mouth-watering tarte flambée.
Within a short drive, you can reach Freiburg-im-Breisgau, the heart of the Black Forest, famous for cuckoo-clocks and delicious black forest gateaux. In the other direction lie the pretty towns of Colmar and Riquewehr. The Swiss border is also on the Alsatian doorstep and a visit to Basel recommended.
- Outdoor Venues:
- Strasbourg Park, the Orangerie in Strasbourg, Colmar Town Square; Riquewihr market square
- Churches and Cathedrals:
- Strasbourg Cathedral, St George's Church in Selestat
- Other Indoor Venues:
- Multi-purpose hall in Thann, Europa Park (amusement park)
