Robb Report

5 Sporty French Destinations to Check Out After the Olympics, From Nice to Chantilly

Fashion, art, food, wine . . . sport? Discover France's rich athletic history in some of its most iconic destinations.

Published on July 16, 2024

By Chrissie McClatchie

France is well known for wine, for fashion, for food—but sporting prowess should also be high on that list. After all, Paris is where the modern Olympics as we know them were revived and reinvented in 1900.

But this summer’s Olympics will extend far beyond the City of Light—and you should, too. As we previously reported, soccer matches kick off in Lyon, Saint-Etienne, Nice, Bordeaux, Nantes, while sailing is set in Marseille. Basketball and handball fans are making their way to Lille, while the Loire Valley will welcome the shooting competition. Surfing will be held in a different hemisphere entirely, in French Polynesia.

And it doesn’t stop there. Below is a guide to iconic French destinations to add on at the end of an Olympic trip that will allow you to continue in the spirit of the Games.

The Cream of Chantilly

Fun fact: Polo has not been an Olympic sport since 1936 in Berlin. But, if it was in Paris, odds are high that it would take place at the Polo Club du Domaine de Chantilly, a vast, 500-acre property that dates back to the 17th century just 40 minutes outside Paris. Timed to coincide with the conclusion of the Olympic equestrian competition on August 6 in Versailles, the Club is hosting the Paris Games Polo Challenge 2024 on August 7, pitting the U.S. against France in a tribute to the centenary of the Paris 1924 Olympics (where the two countries met in competition). “The event is a way to reignite the spirit of international polo competition,” says J. Michael Prince, president & CEO of U.S. Polo Assn., the official brand of the United States Polo Association. Prince recommends staying for a few days to soak up Chantilly’s rich history, including the stately Château de Chantilly, home to the second-largest collection of historical paintings in France after the Louvre.

https://robbreport.com/travel/destinations/france-sporty-destinations-1235693188/