France: 2024 will be a year of commemorations and competitions

Whether it's high fashion or haute cuisine, France is known for its creme-de-la-creme experiences. But the sheer number of special events and exciting new developments taking place in 2024 will have even the French exclaiming "sacré bleu!"

The marquee attraction will be the 2024 Paris Olympics, taking place from July 26 to Aug. 11. The opening ceremony will be held along the Seine in the heart of Paris — one of the only times an Olympic commencement event has occurred in the center of the host city.

Other showstopping venues will include the magnificent grounds of the Palace of Versailles for equestrian events and stadiums throughout the country for soccer. Even French Polynesia will get in on the action by hosting the surfing competition. The stage will be set for a truly spectacular set of games, so now is the time to get your reservations squared away. Travelers typically have to purchase official accommodation packages, so be wary of any sites promoting too-good-to-be-true options. And if you have issues with a rental or hotel stay you've already booked, you can contact our ombudsman for help.

Although cycling enthusiasts might be miffed that the Olympics have displaced the Tour de France from its normal final stage along the Champs-Elysees in Paris, the alternative ending this year is equally jaw-dropping. Competitors will complete their final few miles along the sun-splashed Cote d'Azur from Monaco to Nice.

If you're thinking of attending, you might want to book your stay at the recently opened Carlton Cannes, a Regent Hotel. This property is a luxurious reimagining of one of France's most iconic hotels courtesy of IHG. Hilton is also planning a vast French expansion with various branded properties in cities like Cannes, Dijon, Bordeaux and Marseille, so your Hilton Honors points should come in handy across the south of the country, too.

This year marks a more somber commemoration as well, as June 6, 2024, will mark the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings in Normandy. To honor the occasion, the region is planning over 100 special events, including a June 1 sound and light show using 2,500 drones over the five landing beaches.

From March 22 to Sept. 22, the region will also host the Normandy Impressionist Festival, celebrating the 150th anniversary of the first impressionist exhibition. Events will include a major show of James McNeill Whistler's works at Rouen's Museum of Fine Arts and the "Paris 1874: The Impressionist Moment" showcase of 130 masterpieces of painting, sculpture, photographs and more at the Musee d'Orsay in Paris.

In Alsace, Strasbourg will be UNESCO's 2024 World Book Capital, with activations and events organized around various themes like poetry, refuge and debate. The German-influenced city is also home to one of Europe's most delightful Christmas markets in the month leading up to the holiday, so start saving for souvenirs now.

Wine lovers should set their sights on Bordeaux for its famous Fete le Vin wine festival from June 27 to 30, an event that invites attendees to taste their way through the region's famous vintages and gourmet delicacies while listening to live music and enjoying other performances in the city and beyond.

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Thanks to a new Philippe Starck-designed Mondrian, visitors with Accor points can cash them in while visiting Bordeaux, too. Constructed around a 19th-century building right in the historic center, the hotel will feature an expansive open-air terrace and 97 rooms. It'll be the perfect place to toast the perfect trip to France.

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