Tournus wins coveted EDEN Laureate 2015

Varied heritage sites, a strategic location, and rich gastronomic heritage have scooped top slot for Tournus and the surrounding Tournugeois area in an annual competition to showcase lesser-known tourist destinations. Three other destinations have also won coveted Commendations in the French section of the EDEN awards.

This European competition aims to enhance the visibility of destinations with low visitor numbers, as well as moving visitors away from overcrowded locations and encouraging out-of-season travel.  A different theme is chosen each year, 2015 focusing on Tourism and Local Gastronomy. Tournus and the Tournugeois is the sixth Laureate winner since France entered the competition in 2006.

A website launched in 2012 by the Ministry of Tourism and Atout France aims to make the EDEN network better known in France and neighbouring European countries – www.eden-france.com. Projects must be emerging tourist destinations, have an identified project leader and, for the 2015 competition, be able to display a direct link between tourism and gastronomy with strong promotional plans to move this forward.  This year's winning projects showcase four very different areas:

Eden 2015 Laureate

Tournus and the Tournugeois

Midway between Dijon and Lyon, historic Tournus stands on the Saône at the heart of the Tournugeois micro-region, a small town with cruise boat moorings, a Romanesque abbey, bicycle museum and historic quarter. Gateway to the Mâconnais vineyards,Tournus provides access to good walking and cycling country, but has also developed a specialisation in gastronomy.  

Tournus has 4 Michelin star restaurants – an exceptionally high rate per head for its 12,500 population - and many high quality food-related professionals such as butchers, cheese-makers and pâtissiers. The Franco Gourmandes Festival of music and gastronomy attracts 20,000 people over two days in June, but there are cookery classes, gourmet walking trails, tasting opportunities and other foodie events throughout the year.

Commendations for 2015

Guillestre – Queyras Regional Park

Between the Ecrins National Park and the Italian Alps, the Guillestre-Queyras area produces many different Alpine food products. Now holidaymakers can get involved at grass roots level with workshops in cheese, honey, milk production and other local products at 30 producers involved in the Ateliers Consom'acteurs project.

Baie de Saint-Brieuc Paimpol – Les Caps

This picturesque bay on Brittany's north coast is famed for its seafood – fish, mussels and oysters – as well as for market gardening and pig farming. Local gastronomy is now promoted by local chefs and food producers in association with Art Rock, a multi-disciplinary music festival in late May. This has led to the Rock'n Toques collective which also takes part in other gastronomic events in the area. 

The Routes du Comté

Based on the famous Comté cheese, this gastronomic trail stretches across the Jura and Doubs departments of Franche-Comté and the Ain in Rhône-Alpes. Amongst a variety of sites open to the public are farms, fruit growers, and cheese-ripening cellars, whilst visitors can also stay on farms, buy from specialised shops, and enjoy themed seasonal events.