In France, more than anywhere in the world, Valentine’s Day means romance!
January 22, 2008
There are many ways and many places to celebrate Valentine’s Day with your sweetheart, but few spots in the world say “love” better than France. Whether it’s a gourmet dinner at a French restaurant in Paris—the world’s most romantic city—skiing in tandem down the French alps or a weekend in a cozy bed and breakfast in the beautiful French wine country, France makes “le saint valentin” the perfect setting for an unforgettable time with the one you love.
Valentine’s Day and France through the ages
The ancient legend actually begins before there was a France, in Rome, where it is said that a young priest named Valentine defied the Emperor Claudius by marrying couples in secret. Claudius thought single men made better soldiers. Valentine was thrown into prison and later executed on February 14, but not before falling for the jailer’s daughter, sending her love notes “from your Valentine.” The term stuck.
Valentine’s Day has a long and colorful history in France. During the Middle Ages, there was a popular belief in France and England that birds began their mating halfway through the second month of the year. For this reason lovers considered Valentine’s Day auspicious to exchange love letters and tokens of love. During fourteenth and fifteenth centuries, French poets and writers, as well as English writers like Chaucer continued to create a romantic image of the day in the minds of the people. France’s being one of the cradles of “courtly love” made it fertile ground for making Valentine’s Day an enduringly popular holiday.
Even the tradition of Valentine’s Day cards is said to have originated in France, long before Hallmark made a fortune selling cards to Americans. A young Frenchman, Charles, Duke of Orleans, who was captured at the Battle of Agincourt in 1415, is said to have written a poem to his wife while imprisoned in the Tower of London – the first “valentine.”
How to enjoy Valentine’s Day in France today
It’s no surprise that Valentine’s Day still enjoys great popularity in romance-loving France, and offers visitors and natives of France alike many delightful ways to celebrate everywhere in the country. This year, Valentine’s Day falls on a Thursday…the perfect excuse for a long weekend, not that one needs much excuse for that in France!
Of course, when considering observing Valentine’s Day in France, the first site one thinks of is Paris, the world capital of romance as well as the capital of France. Being a world capital of good food as well, it’s natural to bring these together on Valentine’s Day with a special meal at a great restaurant. Some say it’s hard to find a bad meal in Paris, but on Valentine’s Day, you don’t want to go wrong, so visit restaurant in France website to find the most up-to-date listings and reviews in English of the best French restaurants in Paris and elsewhere in France. Just try not to drool on the keyboard!
Beyond fine dining, Paris certainly does not lack for other romantic activities and spots to exchange romantic gestures with your significant other. After exchanging a kiss on the Pont-Marie, you might consider staying in a real French apartment on the Ile-saint-Louis. Visit Guest Apartment Services, specialized in luxury aparmtent in Paris and browse their many apartments and special offers for Valentine’s Day weekend.
You might also consider a river cruise or a stroll along the Seine, time-honored romantic traditions that, like love, never get old.
France offers many wonderful ways to celebrate Valentine’s Day outside of Paris, too. You can escape to the romantic and rustic Luberon in Provence at Le Manoir, a charming country house of golden stone perfect for a cozy weekend a deux.
In the “Landes” area of southwest France, on the bank of a pristine lake, modern comforts meet old customs at the charming 3-star Hotel in Landes : Hotel des Lacs d’Halco. Bike and hiking tours are available for outdoorsy lovers, and a fabulous French restaurant caters to gourmets.
If Champagne is your thing, why not check out the romantic Auberge de Nicey hotel, where their Valentine’s package offered all through the month of February includes an amazing gourmet dinner, a bottle of local Champagne, a tour of a Champagne cellar and more, as you relax in the Jacuzzi or stroll the county lanes of Troyes and Provins. .
To celebrate Valentine’s Day in medieval France, visit the charming Haute-Loire village of Brioude and neighboring Lamothe, which holds a delightful country fair the weekend of Valentine’s day. Both towns are picturesque and romantic enough to inspire the modern-day version of courtly love in today’s France!
Skiing and spa-ing are great alternatives too, and for Valentine’s Day many lovers flock to ski areas such as Les Trois Vallees to share sport, relaxation and special moments in alpine France. There’s nothing like a day in the cold to bring out the warmth in your relationship by the fireside.
No matter what your lifestyle or love style, France is the place to go to celebrate the most romantic holiday of the year.
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