Green France: Addition to Cycling Route and Rural Stays

Eco-tourism and green living in France is endlessly evolving – here we bring you the latest news and developments in tourism from measures to make driving in France more ecological to sustainable stays.

A bucolic long-distance cycling route in France

Calling all two-wheeled sightseers! Spanning 350 short kilometres from Dordogne (new in 2023) to the island of Aix in Charente-Maritime, La Flow Vélo is a bike route that can be enjoyed in its entirety (decent cyclists will need about a week), or by opting for short escapes over a long weekend. After crossing the Périgord-Limousin regional natural park, passing castles and villages of character along the Dordogne, the route goes on to Angoulême, Cognac, Saintes and Rochefort, ending at the Atlantic beaches.

Sections can be picked according to a preferred theme, be it local gastronomy (Périgord truffle, Pineau des Charentes), cultural heritage, natural wonders or artistic installation pieces.

French motorways to pay for ecological transition

Companies that run France’s autoroute network will need to “contribute financially to the ecological transition”, Minister of Transport Clément Beaune told Le Monde. “We will discuss this in the coming months, without any taboos, including on the tax front. We need to build another model,” he said about current concessions, due to end in 2030.

Growing options for eco-friendly stays

Slow Village is a small but growing chain of campsites, holiday villages and eco-friendly hotels. Its Biscarrosse site is the latest to obtain a European Ecolabel, awarded for a commitment to reducing environmental impact by promoting the use of renewable energy sources, saving energy and water and reducing waste.

Rural stays paying off for French villages

Airbnb paid over €148m of tourist tax to more than 23,000 French municipalities on behalf of its guests in 2022, with nearly 30% of the tax going to rural communities with fewer than 3,500 inhabitants. “Rural destinations continue to benefit from travellers’ infatuation with green tourism,” said Airbnb.

Classic car rules in France

Classic car owners can benefit from a deal made by the French Federation of Vintage Vehicles regarding driving in les zones à faibles émissions (low emission zones). Owners will need to obtain a collector’s registration card – the car must be over 30 years old, 100% original, and have an up-to-date contrôle technique to be updated every five years.

From France Today magazine