The world’s leading cyclists cover some of France’s most challenging terrain during the 23-day event that takes them through flat, hilly and mountain stages, mountaintop finishes, individual and time-trial stages. If you happen to be somewhere near the tour route to support your favourite cyclists, why not take in the sights at the same time?

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There is no shortage of interesting things to see along the route. Here are a few places that may stoke your interest.

For the history buffs

If you are into history, check out Reims on stage 4. The unofficial capital of France’s Champagne wine-producing region is in the northeast of the country and has been a symbol of power for a long time.

Reims Cathedral – a Unesco World Heritage Site – is a magnificent 13th century Gothic construct that was used to crown France’s kings for more than 1,000 years. It attracts over a million visitors each year. This Roman Catholic cathedral replaced an earlier church destroyed by a fire in 1221. Another heritage site of great renown – next to the cathedral – is the Palace of Tau, former residence of the Archbishop of Reims where coronation banquets are hosted. It was extensively damaged in a 1914 fire, and wasn’t restored to its former glory until after the second world war, while the entire city – after being devastated in the first world war – was rebuilt in the popular art deco style of the time.

The organisers could not have found a better place than Albi for the cyclists and support staff’s rest day on July 16 before they contemplate tackling stage 11 the next day. This provincial city on the banks of the River Tarn developed into a popular tourist hub, after the area containing its cathedral and the Berbie Palace was declared a Unesco World Heritage Site. This small city in the Midi-Pyrenees has a history rooted in the religious conflicts of the Middle Ages. Its beautiful Old Bridge – not far from the cathedral – has been standing for more than a thousand years.

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Rambouillet, where the race leader, wearing the traditional yellow jersey, will lead cyclists out on the final stage, is about 44km away from the city centre of Paris. The area is famous for its historical castle, the Chateau de Rambouillet, a former medieval fortress acquired by Louis XVI in 1783 as a private residence and which served as one of Napoleon’s imperial residences during the First French Empire. One of the chateau’s most impressive features is The Nymph of Amalthea, a neoclassical structure built out of sandstone that opens into an artificial cave with a marble sculpture of a nymph with the mythical goat Amalthea.

Wine land

Wine lovers rejoice as stage 5 ends in Colmar, often referred to as the capital of Alsatian wines. This country town is on the Alsace Wine Route with local vineyards specialising in riesling and Gewürztraminer wines.

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Near the border with Germany and Switzerland, between the Rhine and Vosges mountains, lies the cobblestoned town of Colmar. This picturesque place in France’s Grand Est region features half-timbered medieval and early Renaissance buildings. Here, you are immersed in over 1,000 years of European history. Developed throughout the Middle Ages, Colmar became an Imperial City in the 13th century and was chosen by many religious orders as a place of establishment. This contributed to the numerous churches and monastic buildings in its historical centre. Its most striking quarter is arguably La Petite Venise (Little Venice) where rows of colourful houses line the area of canals along the River Lauch.

Stage 8 starts in Mâcon, in southern Burgundy, where some of the region’s best chardonnays are produced. The rolling hills of the region is only 90 minutes away by TGV (high speed) train from Paris, or 90 minutes by car from Geneva airport, and its many vineyards churn out almost 50 million bottles a year. A visit to wineries here is recommended.

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Art and archaeology 

For cultural immersion, the cities dotted along the stretch from stages 11 to 16 will not disappoint. When athletes speed through the southern stretch of France near the Spanish border, the view goes from green to red. On July 17, the cyclists will end the day in Toulouse, the capital of the Occitanie region.

The city is also known as La Ville Rose, or “the Pink City”, as a result of its terracotta-red brick buildings. It sits on the River Garonne and its 17th century Canal du Midi channels the Garonne into the Mediterranean Sea. The Place du Capitole is one of Toulouse’s oldest quarters where the Theatre du Capitole opera house can be found. Its 11th century Basilica of St. Sernin is a renowned stop on the Santiago de Compostela pilgrimage route and a must-see as far as Romanesque churches go. If art is what you are after, a collection of paintings by Manet and Toulouse-Lautrec can be found along a significant sculpture collection in a converted 14th century convent known as the Musée des Augustins.

Next stop, you could imagine yourself in little Rome when visiting the 2,000-year-old Nîmes (and a rest day on July 22) further southeast as it has considerable Roman heritage. Maison Carrée, one of the best preserved Roman temples, and the Arena are among the impressive remains in the city. Others include the Temple of Diana and Tour Magne.

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Mountain activities

Stages 19 and 20 take us up the mountains near Tignes and Val Thorens. Tignes is a collection of villages that make up a high altitude ski resort in the French Alps.

Skiing isn’t the only activity on the Alpine menu – during July when the tour is underway, the surroundings are suitable for cycling, hiking and water sports. Families with children enjoy archery, horseback riding and fishing, while the more adventurous opt for rafting, paragliding or rock climbing.

Val Thorens, in the Tarentaise Valley, in the French Alps, is Europe’s highest ski resort at an altitude of 2,300 metres. In the summer, the amalgamated resort of three villages becomes a venue for paintball, mountain adventure and quad biking.

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