Whether as a stop on a tour through Europe, or a standalone vacation destination, France offers travelers world-renowned beaches, snow-covered alps, bucolic countryside dotted with castles and remnants of Frances long history, some of the most amazing art collections in the world, the fabulous French Riviera and, of course, the truly exceptional, unique city of Paris.
Planning gay travel often centers 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 safe gay vacations destination.
Visitors will find a number of community festivals and events taking place throughout the year in different parts of the country, including pride celebrations in many cities, a gay and lesbian film festival in Paris and Paris world-famous pride festival and parade. A gay vacation in Paris should also include a stop at the Legay Choc bakery in the Marais district, as well as the collection of male images at ArtMenParis and the female impersonation cabaret shows at LArtishow, Madame Arthur and Chez Michou. Paris nightlife often starts early with bars opening in the afternoon, followed by clubs opening around midnight and thumping the night away, often until 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 travel hotspots 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.
While Paris may be the most popular gay tours spot in France, there are many others to choose from as well, including Nantes in Brittany, Avignon in Provence, Annecy in the Alps, Nice and Montpellier on the Mediterranean coast and, of course, the popular community beaches of Camargue, where naturism is the norm. Saint Tropez on the French Riviera is another spot to visit in hopes of catching a glimpse of the rich and famous, while an LGBT-owned bed and breakfast outside of Bourdeaux is the ideal setting for a romantic getaway. The many options available for gay travel in France make this beautiful country the perfect destination for a gay holidays package.
Planning gay travel often centers 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 safe gay vacations destination.
Visitors will find a number of community festivals and events taking place throughout the year in different parts of the country, including pride celebrations in many cities, a gay and lesbian film festival in Paris and Paris world-famous pride festival and parade. A gay vacation in Paris should also include a stop at the Legay Choc bakery in the Marais district, as well as the collection of male images at ArtMenParis and the female impersonation cabaret shows at LArtishow, Madame Arthur and Chez Michou. Paris nightlife often starts early with bars opening in the afternoon, followed by clubs opening around midnight and thumping the night away, often until 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 travel hotspots 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.
While Paris may be the most popular gay tours spot in France, there are many others to choose from as well, including Nantes in Brittany, Avignon in Provence, Annecy in the Alps, Nice and Montpellier on the Mediterranean coast and, of course, the popular community beaches of Camargue, where naturism is the norm. Saint Tropez on the French Riviera is another spot to visit in hopes of catching a glimpse of the rich and famous, while an LGBT-owned bed and breakfast outside of Bourdeaux is the ideal setting for a romantic getaway. The many options available for gay travel in France make this beautiful country the perfect destination for a gay holidays package.
About the Author:
A gay travel location article about France by author by Howie Holben. Spirit Journeys does spiritual gay tours and holidays with a difference. Spirit Journeys website, www.spiritjourneys.com, has more info about Howie.
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