I started practicing yoga 15 years ago, never expecting it would become my passport to the world. My latest retreat with The Travel Yogi and Explore Yoga took me to France, with a backdrop of ancient history, world-class art, food and fashion and sun-dreched lavender fields.
Landing in the City of Lights, our group settled into a centrally located Airbnb with a view of the Eiffel Tower. Built in 1889 for the Exposition Universelle, it towers 300 meters tall — be sure to catch a view at night, when its lights sparkle for five minutes every hour.
Paris is a walker’s paradise, and we logged tens of thousands of steps before even reaching Provence for our yoga retreat. A word to the wise: Forget about driving in Paris. The traffic is legendarily chaotic — plus, you’d miss the experience of stumbling upon a hidden patisserie or a centuries-old bookshop while strolling through the Marais. The metro and buses will get you anywhere you need to go, and your feet will do the rest.
With only a few days in the capital, we hit the highlights: the Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triomphe, the Louvre and the Musee D’Orsay, the grand sweep of the Avenue des Champs-Élysées, and of course, Notre-Dame Cathedral.
Notre-Dame Cathedral stands as a major Parisian landmark, representing architectural styles that span from its start in 1163 until its primary completion in 1260. The cathedral has undergone significant reconstruction, notably after the French Revolution and a fire in 2019. Our visit coincided with Mass, adding depth to our appreciation of the impressive façade.
Paris is home to between 135 and 150 museums — this city has been collecting treasures for a thousand years. We chose two of the giants: the Louvre and the Musée d’Orsay.
Our guide Gabriella led us through the Louvre’s galleries, pointing out hidden details in Renaissance paintings, explaining the evolution of French furniture design and depositing us in front of the “Mona Lisa” — much smaller than expected but an enigmatic highlight.
The Musée d’Orsay, housed in a converted railway station, is home to the world’s finest collection of Impressionist art. We wandered past Monet’s water lilies, Renoir’s sun-dappled scenes and Van Gogh’s swirling skies. Both museums deepened our appreciation for Paris’s rich cultural landscape.
While Paris was remarkable, I found Provence to be even more appealing. Just a three-hour train ride away, Les Baux-de-Provence is a hilltop town with roots stretching back to 6000 BCE and official records from the 10th century. Cobblestone streets wind past artisan shops and intimate restaurants, leading to a lookout point where the Alpilles mountains stretched endlessly before us.
Our home for the retreat was Mas Millesime, an 18th-century farmhouse wrapped in olive groves and lavender fields. Hosts Charline and Ronald produce their own olive oil from 85 trees on the property and Chef Catherine, whose exquisite cooking was demonstrated during a lesson, heightened the exceptional experience.
Each morning and evening began with yoga led by Marie, followed by guided excursions with Aurelien. We visited historic Avignon — including the Palais des Papes, once the papal seat — browsed St. Remy’s weekly market, and admired Pont du Gard, a remarkable Roman aqueduct that has carried water for nearly 2,000 years.
We explored the wine region of Châteauneuf-du-Pape, whose wine dates to the 17th century. And at the St. Paul Asylum, where Vincent Van Gogh spent a prolific year, we walked the same gardens that inspired 150 paintings, including “Starry Night.”
My advice: If you plan to head to France, wear comfortable shoes, leave room to bring home French chocolate and decadent desserts, and get ready for plenty of photos. Every corner of this country deserves to be remembered.