This season of rebirth is welcoming a glut of new attractions across the Channel
These openings include several educational visitor centres, a sculpture museum, France’s fastest rollercoaster and a thermal spa. Also check out three beautiful new or renovated hotels between Paris and Provence.
THE RENOVATED FIVE-STAR HOTEL CARLTON IN CANNES
Cannes, Provence-Alps-Côte d’Azur
Reopened 13 March
A renaissance for Cannes’ iconic Carlton! This ambitious renovation and extension project, completed for the reopening just weeks ago, has preserved the hotel’s Belle-Epoque soul while adding elements of contemporary design. Interior designer Tristan Auer has harmoniously combined the hotel’s heritage with his creativity to create a modern-day masterpiece in true Carlton style.
THE RODIN MUSEUM IN MEUDON
Meudon, Paris-Ile de France
Reopened 25 March
After a long winter break, the Musée Rodin Meudon reopened last weekend to coincide with the Printemps de la Sculpture, an annual event uniting sculpture venues in Hauts-de-Seine. Visitors are welcome on Fridays and weekends from 10am-6pm for the next six months, with free entry.
FRANCE’S LARGEST PLANETARIUM
Saint-Ours, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
Opened 29 March
Volcano-themed amusement park Vulcania has unveiled a brand new 22-metre planetarium dome, the largest in France, offering visitors a unique immersive experience into space. Travelling into our solar system and beyond, you’ll enjoy films and animated sessions with the park’s science team. The structure’s four educational rooms host workshops for young explorers. Vulcania mirrors its physical location perfectly, being at the heart of the UNESCO-listed Chaîne des Puys with its 80 volcanoes.
THE RENOVATED D-DAY MUSEUM
Arromanches, Normandy
From 1 April
Built in Arromanches to commemorate 6th June 1944 and the Battle of Normandy, the D-Day Museum has been totally renovated and is set to open its doors this weekend. It boasts a new 1,200-square-metre exhibition space to help visitors understand the incredible technological challenge of building the prefabricated port – a gigantic project initiated by Winston Churchill – plus a recontextualised model gallery and a new monumental projection on the functioning of the port.
THE NANCY THERMAL SPA COMPLEX
Nancy, Grand-Est
From 1 April
This weekend also sees the opening of Nancy Thermal, a brand new urban spa complex in the east of France championing wellness, fitness and relaxation. Adjacent to Parc Sainte-Marie, the centre will offer a range of spaces and treatments for all, capitalising on the 35-degree spa waters with their excellent health benefits, drawn from 800m below ground. Nancy Thermal will be opened in three stages: the Aquasports Area on 1 April, the main thermal spa and hotel on 15 April, followed by the spa treatment centre on 15 May.
A NEW MARITIME HERITAGE CENTRE
Honfleur, Normandy
From 7 April
The oldest building in this pretty Norman port town has been renovated and is about to open its doors with a new visitor centre dedicated to Honfleur’s maritime history. After seven years of work, exterior masonry and interior fittings, the Lieutenance – classified as a historic monument in 1909 having served as accommodation for the king’s lieutenant – has become a CIAP (Architecture and Heritage Interpretation Centre) with audio testimonies, 3D reconstructions and hands-on games and panels.
More on La Lieutenance (French only)
FRANCE’S HIGHEST AND FASTEST ROLLERCOASTER
Parc Astérix, Hauts-de-France
From 8 April
Calling all adrenaline junkies… a new three-hectare zone is opening next week at Parc Astérix in northern France, home to a record-breaking rollercoaster named Toutatis. Sporting unique special effects, the coaster will be the highest (51 metres) and fastest (110 km/h) of its kind in the country. In the same zone will be family attraction Chez Gyrofolix with its four giant arms rotating in orbit, as well as the Parc’s largest playground. The zone will have its own restaurant and shops too.
FONTENILLE BIEN-ÊTRE
Oppède-le-Vieux, Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur
From late April
It’s been a well-kept secret that boutique hotel group Domaines de Fontenille is opening a second hotel in Provence’s paradisiac Luberon area this spring. The next opus will be a haven of 17 rooms, focusing on wellness. Aficonados will be able to come here to get back on form, do a detox cure or hone their yoga practice. Keep an eye on the website for further details as they are published.
THE FIVE-STAR HOTEL LE GRAND MAZARIN
Paris, Paris-Ile de France
From 15 June
The first Paris address from Maisons Pariente, Le Grand Mazarin will open its doors a stone’s throw from Hôtel de Ville, close to the Seine, at the corner of rue de la Verrerie and rue des Archives. The hotel’s elegant décor has been conceived by renowned Swedish designer Martin Brudnizki, revisiting French classicism with a breath of refined modernity. There will be 61 rooms, including 11 suites.
THE CITÉ INTERNATIONALE DE LA LANGUE FRANCAISE
Villers-Cotterets, Hauts-de-France
From June
The forthcoming Cité Internationale de la Langue Française will be a cultural leisure site dedicated entirely to the French language and the French-speaking world. The site will be a multidisciplinary institute accessible to all. It will bring together varied and complementary activities including a visitor circuit, temporary exhibitions, one-off performances and residency workshops for artists.
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