The France Today Holiday Gift Guide

Tis the season! Need some inspiration for your holiday shopping? Our editors have curated a fabulous selection of 11 France-themed gifts at all price ranges.

Laguoile

This isn’t any old shepherd’s folding knife. This finely crafted artisanal tool—distinguished by the bee on the spring—has now become a trendy accoutrement, available at fine retailers and kitchen stores like Willams-Sonoma in the U.S. (A four-piece steak knife set costs $299.95.)  For tips about visiting the town that gives the knives their name, see our recent article.

Cognac

Nothing says Merry Christmas like a bottle of Hennessy cognac. If you’re planning a surprise getaway, consider a trip to the pretty town of Cognac to learn about the fine French spirit. Did you know you can even make your own cognac blend at Camus? The two-hour atelier costs 160 euros per person, including one 50 cl bottle. Price for a 750 ml bottle of Hennessy Cognac VSOP is $64.99 at BevMo! in the U.S.

The Best Loved Villages of France

A beautiful new coffee table book from the prestigious Flammarion publishing house will inspire wanderlust with every turn of the page. Read an exclusive excerpt here. List price is $34.95.

Glove Love

France’s tradition of high-end glove-making is seeing a renaissance. A pair of luxury gloves from Maisons Causse, Fabre or Lavabre Cadet is a swoonworthy gift. After all, these handmade gloves are cherished by Paris couturiers and fashionistas! Read more about the artisanal craftmanship in our magazine feature. Sample price: The Irma gloves at Maison Causse cost 249 euros.

Sea Salt

The fleur de sel harvested by hand in Guérande and on the Île de Ré is a gift cherished by gourmands. (We’re talking about “the caviar of salts!”) If you can’t buy directly from the cooperatives, you can find their varieties of salt at Monoprix, Galeries Lafayette Gourmet, and La Grande Épicerie in Paris. In the U.S. retailers like Dean & Deluca offer this French artisanal sea salt. From 3 euros.

100 Places in France Every Woman Should Go

A new book by journalist Marcia DeSanctis will have you immediately packing your bags for the hexagon. Read our review, along with an exclusive excerpt, here. List price is $19.95

La Cour des Senteurs perfume by Guerlain

When Guerlain opened its boutique last year in the Cour des Senteurs in Versailles, it was the perfumer’s first dedicated shop outside of its Champs-Élysées flagship. To celebrate the occasion, Guerlain created an exclusive new perfume called La Cour des Senteurs, scented with bergamot and jasmine and packaged in a beautiful bottle marked by the Sun King’s bee symbol. You can also partake in an atelier offered at the Versailles boutique, starting from 50 euros (1 hour, Petit-Déjeuner Visit).

Piment d’Espelette

Grown in a small area of the Basque Country, the pepper spice known as Piment d’Espelette has an AOP (Appellation d’Origine Protégé). Not too spicy, piment d’Espelette adds a slight kick to your cuisine. (We love it in chocolate bars!) Read all about the spice, with a fun recipe, in this article by cookbook author Susan Herrmann Loomis. 13 euros at Monoprix and other fine grocery stores.

French Tea Towels

Who can resist a set of colourful French tea towels? Quel Objet, a beautifully curated online shop, has a lovely selection of fine towels, tablecloths, and linens… amongst other fabulous gift items. We love the Jean Vier towels from the Basque country. $22

Club Med Val Thorens

Club Med will debut a brand new resort this month in Val Thorens, the highest ski resort in Europe and connected to Les 3 Vallées, which offers some of the most sublime skiing on earth. The advantage of an all-inclusive winter holiday is that ski passes and instruction are included with your accommodations—along with gourmet meals, drinks, and entertainment—meaning that you’ll find a great luxury value. Prices starting from $303 per person/night (based on double occupancy).

Kasia Dietz Bags

A native New Yorker, Kasia Dietz is a designer in Paris, whose hand bags and canvas totes have made a splash amongst the city’s fashionable denizens. Each canvas bag is hand-painted, resulting in a unique piece of wearable art, reversing to reveal another one-of-a-kind creation. An added bonus: 20% of the proceeds of her beautiful new Unity collection will be donated to the International Red Cross. From 45 euros.