Towns the 2012 TDF Will Visit
5 New Towns the 2012 TDF Will Visit
One of the nicest things about the Tour de France, the most popular and highly regarded bike race in the world, is the fact that the route it takes changes each year. This means that even those participants who have competed in the race during years past can enjoy new and different terrain and a chance to cycle through areas they’ve never visited before. The 2012 race, scheduled to run from Saturday June 30th to Sunday July 22th 2012, as well as Discover France’s TDF Tours, will wind through the following five new towns, each boasting its own unique features.
Abbeville
This lovely little town located in Northern France is the starting point of the 4th stage of the Tour, which covers 214km. Abbeville has a long, rich history that dates back possibly as far as the Stone Age. There are a number of well-known landmarks and monuments located there, including St. Vulfran’s church, a beautifully constructed building built in honor of Saint Wulfram of Fontenelle the Archbishop of Sens, and the Boucher de Perthes Museum, which features art and other artifacts dating back as far as the 16th century.
Annonay
Located just a few kilometers from the famed Rhine River in the Rhone-Alpes region of Southern France, Annonay will be the final destination for riders in the 12th stage of the Tour. An industrious little town, it is also quite scenic, built on the hill overlooking the location where the gorges of the Deûme and the Cance meet. There are also a number of vineyards nearby boasting exquisite wines of the area.
Porrentruy
This friendly little town in Switzerland is where the Tour’s 8th stage concludes. It’s a beautiful location, surrounded by the natural splendor of the Allaine River, and the rolling hills and forests of the Petit Fahy and the Grand Fahy. Porrentruy is home to a number of historic buildings, many of which feature interesting architectural styles. For instance, the Catholic Church of Saint-Pierre is a gothic basilica that was built during the years of 1330-1350 and houses a number of valuable relics from the gothic era and the impressive Château de Porrentruy, some of which was built in the year 1271, and which was once home to the Bishop of Basel.
Samatan
A place of true cultural discovery and both architectural and natural beauty, the town of Samatan is the starting point of stage 15 of the Tour. Samatan has been given the nickname of the Mecca of foie gras and often considered the capital of “pink gold”, due to the unique pink bricks used in much of the area’s architecture. There’s plenty to do and see in this charming little town, particularly when it comes to gastronomy, as it boasts a number of unique dishes and some of the most delectable cuisine around.
Visé
Stage 2 of the Tour begins in this town, which borders both Belgium and the Netherlands. It’s relatively small in size with an area of only 27.99km, and is located in the province of Liege. Known affectionately as the “City of the Goose”, Visé is home to a number of cultural monuments including museums and other historical sites. There are also some fantastic natural landscapes to enjoy here. Visé may be small in size, but it possesses a larger-than-life personality all its own.
Boasting a grueling 20 stages and covering a total distance of 3,479 kilometers, the 2012 Tour de France will weave its way through a number of different areas and towns and cover a variety of terrain from gloriously flat stretches to demanding mountain climbs. Riders and spectators alike can enjoy the change of pace each year’s route provides, including these five new towns which embody the spirit of the race and provide the perfect setting to usher in a new champion. Regardless if the town is in the Rhone-Alpes, Midi Pyrenees or even Belgium, all of these towns listed are visited on Discover France’s TDF Tours.
