Top 3 French Destinations for Hipster Nature Lovers
Finding holiday destinations that are nature-orientated as well as original and authentic can sometimes be tricky. However, these three French gems offer just what you’re looking for!
All located in the Southern part of France, Gigondas, Isle-sur-la-Sorgue and Evisa are wonderful places for travellers who make nature and originality a priority.
1.Gigondas
First on the list is Gigondas, a small village located in the Provence region of Southern France, in the Rhone Valley. It is internationally famous for its wine estates and locally considered one of the best hiking spots. This picturesque village not only offers wine tastings and tours but it also has multiple walking and biking trails with views on the whole area. One of these trails takes you along Les Dentelles, a stunning mountain range thought to be the key to great soils for great wines.
Most of Gigondas’ wineries make organic wines which can be purchased either directly from the winemakers or in the village wine shop. Gigondas is a very authentic ‘provençal’ village with small boutiques and restaurants, one of which has a Michelin star!
The village is only accessible by car as there are almost no buses going there.
The closest train station is Avignon (40-minute drive) and connects very well to Paris and other big cities. Gigondas is definitely a great place to stop if you are road tripping around France.
Hotels there are mostly expensive (90-150 euros per night) but there are cottages and houses for rent which are affordable. There is also a lodge offering simple accommodation in the centre of the village. Alternatively, you could stay in a campsite nearby.
2.Isle-sur-la-Sorgue
Not too far from Gigondas is Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, a very picturesque town with a river flowing through it. A sort of French Venice! Just like Gigondas, Isle-sur-la-Sorgue is in the Vaucluse department of France and is a very popular date spot for locals and tourists, thanks to its charm.
Isle-sur-la-Sorgue is a beloved hipster destination for many reasons but the main one is probably because it has so many antiques boutiques. And they are proper antiques! Some of the art and decorative objects there date back to the 18th century.
The town hosts regular flea markets too where you can find just about anything. There are also lots of independent shops, cafés and restaurants where you can sit and enjoy the view.
To top it off, it turns out you can kayak on the Sorgue river and trust me, it’s an experience you do not want to miss!
For an affordable price, you can go kayaking down the river for two hours under the blue sky, surrounded by peaceful trees.
In terms of transport, although there is a bus station in town, Isle-sur-la-Sorgue is more accessible by car.
Accommodation-wise, some of the hotels in town can be pricey but there are cheap campsites in Isle-Sur-La-Sorgue as well as in neighbouring villages.
3.Evisa
This unique village is located on the western side of Corsica, the beautiful island just off South of France. Although Corsica itself is a very popular holiday destination, Evisa doesn’t attract many tourists and has managed to remain very authentic.
Evisa is a hot spot for keen walkers and there are indeed many stunning trek routes around the village. Most of these routes include swimming spots like gorges and rivers.
An unforgettable aspect of Evisa is its wildlife. In fact, it is known for its large population of wild pigs who turn out to be very friendly!
The village itself is very Corsican and the locals are very friendly. There are some traditional boutiques selling locally made products such as chestnut jam. There is also a wide variety of restaurants and cafés where locals and tourists mix and chat about secret hiking spots.
Hotels in Evisa are generally inexpensive compared to other parts of Corsica, but there are also cheap campsites there. A great place to stay however, is the Aitone hotel. The owner is a fascinating and charismatic Corsican man who will definitely make your stay worthwhile.
The easiest and most eco-friendly way to get to Corsica is to take the ferry from mainland France. Once there, you can rent a car to get to Evisa or hitch-hike if you’re feeling adventurous!
Overall, all three of these French destinations are worth visiting if you are a nature lover. I can assure you that these places will not deceive you. Whether it be Gigondas’ wines, Isle-sur-la-Sorgue’s antiques or Evisa’s Corsican culture, the hipster inside you will not be deceived either!
Written by Jenny Barruol.
My name is Jenny and I am 21 years old. I am French but I moved to the UK in 2018 to study Spanish and Russian at the University of Bristol. I have a passion for travelling, writing and travel writing! I have been lucky to travel all around the world, especially around France, as I love local travel the most. I started getting interested in journalism about one year ago and I have since been published a few times. In the future, I would like to become a freelance travel writer. For now, I try to take as many writing opportunities as possible to build a portfolio.