Gay Vacations: Sites In France
Whether traveling to France on a trip across Europe, or visiting this popular country as your only gay vacations destination, travelers will find magnificent beaches, alpine resorts, breathtaking countryside with quaint villages and medieval castles, world-renowned art collections, the glorious French Riviera and the truly unique, exceptional city of Paris.
People often do their gay vacations around Paris and its vibrant LGBT community, cultural and historical landmarks and accepting cosmopolitan environment, visitors will find that throughout France there is plenty to do and see, as well as many LGBT establishments and a welcoming atmosphere. Laws outlawing sodomy were abolished over 200 years ago and Frances LGBT community has enjoyed civil unions for the last decade. With legal protections in place and a general laissez-faire attitude that is common among the French, visitors will find that France provides an accepting, and pleasant destination for gay tours.
There are several community events throughout the year, including a huge pride parade and festival and a gay and lesbian film festival in Paris, as well as several smaller pride celebrations across the country. Other Paris attractions that should not be missed on a gay vacation include ArtMenParis, an art gallery devoted solely to images of men; Legay Choc, an LGBT-owned bakery in the Marais district; and Chez Michou, Madame Arthur and LArtishow, cabarets featuring female impersonators. As for the Paris nightlife, bars are typically open from afternoon until 2am; whereas, clubs often do not open until midnight and stay open as late as noon.
Men interested in exploring the bawdier side of Paris gay vacations will find that cruising spots, bars with backrooms and sex clubs are easy to find and quite popular with visitors, as well as locals. Saunas, aka bathhouses, are also plentiful; however, they work a bit differently in France than they do in America or Canada. French saunas do not have private rooms, but rather cubicles that are set aside for a bit of privacy, and they are not 24-hour operations. Most of the activity takes place in the afternoon, rather than the evening or night, and Sunday afternoons are particularly popular.
Most gay vacation spots 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.
Although Paris might be the most visited gay vacation destination in France, many other options are available throughout the country, including Avignon in Provence, Montpellier and Nice on the Mediterranian coast, Annecy in the Alps, Nantes in Brittany and the nude community beaches of Camargue. For those who hope to rub elbows with the rich and famous, Saint Tropez on the French Riviera should not be missed, while those looking for a romantic retreat might opt for an LGBT-owned B ... B outside of Bourdeaux. With so many gay vacations in 2010 to choose from, France is truly an ideal setting for gay romance travel.
People often do their gay vacations around Paris and its vibrant LGBT community, cultural and historical landmarks and accepting cosmopolitan environment, visitors will find that throughout France there is plenty to do and see, as well as many LGBT establishments and a welcoming atmosphere. Laws outlawing sodomy were abolished over 200 years ago and Frances LGBT community has enjoyed civil unions for the last decade. With legal protections in place and a general laissez-faire attitude that is common among the French, visitors will find that France provides an accepting, and pleasant destination for gay tours.
There are several community events throughout the year, including a huge pride parade and festival and a gay and lesbian film festival in Paris, as well as several smaller pride celebrations across the country. Other Paris attractions that should not be missed on a gay vacation include ArtMenParis, an art gallery devoted solely to images of men; Legay Choc, an LGBT-owned bakery in the Marais district; and Chez Michou, Madame Arthur and LArtishow, cabarets featuring female impersonators. As for the Paris nightlife, bars are typically open from afternoon until 2am; whereas, clubs often do not open until midnight and stay open as late as noon.
Men interested in exploring the bawdier side of Paris gay vacations will find that cruising spots, bars with backrooms and sex clubs are easy to find and quite popular with visitors, as well as locals. Saunas, aka bathhouses, are also plentiful; however, they work a bit differently in France than they do in America or Canada. French saunas do not have private rooms, but rather cubicles that are set aside for a bit of privacy, and they are not 24-hour operations. Most of the activity takes place in the afternoon, rather than the evening or night, and Sunday afternoons are particularly popular.
Most gay vacation spots 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.
Although Paris might be the most visited gay vacation destination in France, many other options are available throughout the country, including Avignon in Provence, Montpellier and Nice on the Mediterranian coast, Annecy in the Alps, Nantes in Brittany and the nude community beaches of Camargue. For those who hope to rub elbows with the rich and famous, Saint Tropez on the French Riviera should not be missed, while those looking for a romantic retreat might opt for an LGBT-owned B ... B outside of Bourdeaux. With so many gay vacations in 2010 to choose from, France is truly an ideal setting for gay romance travel.
About the Author:
Column about France fashioned by Howie Holben. Spirit Journeys advocates a gay yoga retreat and has ideas on gay spirituality.
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