Public holidays are a great opportunity to get away for three days or more if you decide to take a day or two off work. They are especially popular in the spring and summer when the sun shines brightly and the temperatures cool down. For those who wish to take a break and get some fresh air, you should take advantage of the holidays to escape and discover the corners of France that you have not yet visited. You'll see, it's good for you and recharges your batteries until the summer break! Here are a few ideas for escapades and walks to do during weekends extended by the presence of public holidays
Take advantage of public holidays to get away from it all
When spring sets in and we think about the upcoming public holidays, we often think about heading to the coast for the pleasure of setting up the towel on the beach, or even swimming and eating fish and other shellfish in the evening. The French coastline is generous and has thousands of kilometres of sandy coastline. For those who love Brittany: what if a long weekend thanks to a public holiday was the opportunity to go to the superb Pink Granite Coast? Located in the Côtes-d'Armor department, you can't help but be seduced by the beauty of the geological formations that cover the coastline. Thousands of years of erosion have formed blocks of bright pink granite, and the contrast with the clear waters of the sea is simply stunning. Walkers enjoy the customs path to take in the spectacle. And to put down your bags, head for Perros-Guirec, Trégastel or Trébeurden, charming seaside resorts renowned for their gentle atmosphere and beautiful beaches
Change of location with the Basque coast and the beautiful Biarritz. Once you arrive in the city, the charm is immediate, between the buildings and the panoramas offered, which are impossible to get tired of. We like to spend time on the Grande Plage, watch the surfers and why not join them. And to see just how radiant this strip of sand is, don't hesitate to go to the Atalaye plateau, which offers the opportunity to admire the Barrière casino. Biarritz also offers the possibility to stroll along the Port des Pêcheurs, a bucolic place with its little houses, huts and boats, but also to rent a boat to escape to the sea and observe the beauty of the Basque coast and the Golf of Gascony. Finally, going to watch the sunset from the Rocher de la Vierge is a must at the end of the day, just before going to enjoy some good Basque products bought at the Halles de Biarritz
Go for a nice bike ride
Public holidays and the long weekends they usually bring are also a great opportunity to get back into outdoor sports. And among them, there are the inevitable mountain bike rides! Mountain biking has many advantages. First of all, it's an excellent way to escape the hustle and bustle of the cities and to be in perfect harmony with nature. And then, in addition to contemplating superb panoramas, whether in the countryside or in the mountains, you can put your muscles into action while offering yourself a good dose of sensations on certain bumpy paths
One of the best places to go mountain biking in France on public holidays is the Massif Central, and more particularly the Parc naturel régional des Volcans d'Auvergne! Here, nature is wonderfully preserved, the landscapes are varied, green and the trails dedicated to cyclists are numerous. Each path is a godsend to contemplate the gentle shapes of the volcanoes, but also to stop for a picnic on the edge of a lake such as Lake Aydat. And then there are also the splendid gorges of the Cère and the charming villages in which it is good to make some contemplative pauses. Let's mention the village of Besse and its stone houses typical of mountain villages
Further south and east, and for those who don't mind doing a bit of driving on a long weekend on a public holiday, a very pleasant mountain bike ride is the one that takes place in the Vercors. The pre-Alpine landscapes of the area are beautiful and there are also many paths that lead to observation points that put stars in the eyes. The gorges, ridges and rugged cliffs offer an unforgettable spectacle to cyclists and the interest of the Vercors is that there are routes for all levels. It is therefore quite possible to plan a mountain bike ride with the children on gentle trails! An ideal place to enjoy cycling in the heart of sensational landscapes is the commune of Villard-de-Lans
