|
Traveling through France on a jaunt across Europe, or as a standalone vacation destination, is a trip that everyone should experience at least once. With snowcapped alps, the magnificent French Riviera, world famous art collections, pristine beaches, pastoral landscapes dotted with medieval castles, villages and ruins that tell the story of France’s diverse history, and the truly exquisite cosmopolitan city of Paris, travelers are sure to find exactly what they are looking for during gay travel to this unique country.
While visitors on gay vacations
tend to stay around Paris to enjoy the accepting atmosphere that Paris is known for, while experiencing the heart of France’s LGBT culture and visiting the city’s famous cultural and historical landmarks, travelers will find that Paris’ accepting atmosphere extends across the country and there are plenty of LGBT establishments and things to see and do no matter where you travel in France. For over 200 years, France’s community has enjoyed life without anti-sodomy laws, and civil unions have been commonplace for the last decade. With both the law and the laissez-faire attitude common among the French on their side, LGBT travelers will find France an ideal location for safe, enjoyable gay vacations.
Visitors will find a number of community festivals and events taking place throughout the year in different parts of the country, including pride celebrations in many cities, a gay and lesbian film festival in Paris and Paris’ world-famous pride festival and parade. Gay travel in Paris should also include a stop at the Legay Choc bakery in the Marais district, as well as the collection of male images at ArtMenParis and the female impersonation cabaret shows at L’Artishow, Madame Arthur and Chez Michou. Paris nightlife often starts early with bars opening in the afternoon, followed by clubs opening around midnight and thumping the night away, often until noon.
For men in search of the bawdier side of gay holidays
in Paris, sex clubs, bars with backrooms and popular cruising spots are readily available. There are also plenty of saunas (bathhouses) to choose from; however, French saunas operate differently than what some travelers might be accustomed to in Canada or America. In France, saunas have relaxation cubicles rather than private rooms for rent and visiting saunas is largely an afternoon activity, with Sunday afternoons being the most popular time.
Most gay travel hotspots cater largely to men, have little to no visible lesbian presence and offer few establishments dedicated to the lesbian community. Women will be delighted to discover that this is not the case in Paris. Parisian lesbians and visitors enjoy a multitude of venues and organizations that can be found throughout the city, but particularly in the neighborhoods of Marais, Grands Boulevards, Halles-Beaubourg, Saint Germain des Pres and Palais Royal. Palais Royal is home to one of the oldest lesbian bars in Paris, while the Bastille-Republique district has a delightful community bookstore with a distinct Sapphic flare. There is also a lesbian walking group and even a sex shop that caters solely to women.
Paris is sure to remain the most popular spot for gay tours to France; however there are several other places to choose from, including Nice and Montpellier on the Mediterranean, Annecy in the Alps, Nantes in Brittany and Avignon in Provence, as well as the well-known LGBT beaches in Camargue, where nudism is the norm. Folks who would like to play among the rich and famous should definitely head to Saint Tropez on the French Riviera, while those in search of a more romantic respite might prefer an LGBT-owned bed and breakfast on the outskirts of Bourdeaux. With so many gay travel options available throughout France, it is clear that this diverse, unique country is the perfect choice for a gay vacation.
|
