THE CULTURAL HIGHLIGHTS OF THE TOUR DE FRANCE ROUTE
The planet’s most famous cycling tournament, the Tour de France, has provided inspiration for travellers throughout its 106-year history. Every year travel writers and columnist wax lyrical about the unspoiled wonders of Brittany, Normandy, and the Loire Valley, where the route usually passes through.
However, this year offers something different. The route will be taking a significant departure from tradition, starting in Brussels (to honour the late cycling legend Eddy Merckx) before winding down into eastern France, through to formidable Vosges mountains and the rolling landscapes of the Massif Central.
Many legs of the tour will be featuring in the Tour de France for the first time, allowing spectators to get a glimpse of some rarely-seen corners of a particularly beautiful part of the world. If you’re looking for some travel inspiration this summer, here are the unmissable cultural gems you can find along the 2019 Tour de France route.
Brussels: Lose Yourself in Fine Art
It’s no secret that the Belgian capital is an art lover’s paradise, featuring some of the most valuable and prized collections on the planet. The spiritual home of the Surrealist movement, this is the place to lose yourself in the otherworldly works of Magritte, Dali, Picasso, and Kahlo. The Old Master’s museum also houses the largest collection of Renaissance, Baroque, and Romantic artworks in Europe.
Vosges: Explore a Blending of Franco-German Culture
One of the earliest legs of the tour will be through the Vosges mountain region in Alsace, one of the least-cycled through areas of the country. The mountains can be an arduous slog, but the cultural rewards are worth it.
Experience the polyglot and hybrid culture of a region that has long been passed between France and Germany. Here you’ll find traditional French chateaux standing side-by-side with imposing German Schlosser, as well as cuisine which gracefully blends the very best of French and German gastronomy.
Burgundy: Sample Europe’s Best Vineyards
Vineyards have existed in the Burgundy region for well over two thousand years, remaining the area’s main economic and cultural export to this day. There are exactly 100 vineyards in Burgundy, some of which offer the very best wine that can be found in Europe.
You will certainly not be the only wine-lover in Burgundy this summer, so avoid the crowds by embarking on a lesser-known wine tour of the region by bicycle. The Caveau de la Tour is an intimate, curated journey through Burgundy’s cosiest wine cellars and off-the-radar wineries that is designed to be enjoyed by small groups of people.
Failing that, simply stock up on a couple of vintages from your closest wine shop, grab some meat and cheese from the market, and hiking your way through this stunning region on your own.
Albi: An Architectural Feast at the Foot of the Pyrenees
Albi, an intensely colorful and ornate town nestled at the foot of the Pyrenees mountain range, will be the location of the final rest day of the 2019 tour. This means that the town will be a hive of activity in mid-July, making it the perfect time to explore the kaleidoscope of stunning architecture which adorns every street corner of this small town.
If it’s dramatic French gothic that you’re after, then the gargantuan Cathedrale Sainte-Cecile is the best place to lose yourself for a couple of hours. If austere medieval castles are more your speed, then the Palais de la Berbie, constructed 800 years ago, is a sight you’ll never forget.
If you’d rather not be hemmed in by plans and itineraries, simply stroll through the narrow streets of Albi, where you’ll be confronted with a dizzying combination of neoclassical, Roccoco, and Meditteranean structures.
The 2019 Tour de France has many stops that are well worth a visit, but these ones are truly not to be missed.
