Meow: 5 Activities Cat Lovers Can Do in France!

*This post was originally published on Blog Voyageur, a French travel blog. Access the French version here.

My chat baby Lobo: I named him Lobo because he’s a wild child.

Calling all feline lovers! La France is known for its beauty, love language and home to millions of chat (French word for cat) owners. Pets are family and bring lots of joy and fulfillment to us. Any chat owner will tell you their cat is an important part of their life and the bond between a cat and their owner is sacred. Happily, for feline admirers, there are several activities in France that will tickle your chat fancy. Here's 5 activities cat lovers can indulge in while visiting France:

Beautiful kitty sitting on a perch.

1.     Circuit du Chat Perché - Dole, France

On the east side of France, near Switzerland, lies Dole, a hidden gem in France with a small number of tourists and exuding genuine authenticity. Circuit du Chat Perché, the Trail of the Perched Cat, is a well-known destination where cat lovers can go walking on a 4-kilometre trail along the streets of Dole and see the adorable ground triangular signs have cats pointing in the direction of destinations to visit along your tour. During the eye-catching experience along The Trail observers will see well preserved architecture. In the mood for some munchies or yummy beverages, you can get something to satisfy your belly and quench your thirst at a local boulangerie.

Tip: Dole Tourisme offers a complimentary guide of the trail at this link.

Cat cafés are very popular throughout the world.

2.        Le Cat Café - All Over France

Enjoy a pâtisserie and warm cup of tea or espresso alongside a cute kitty at a French café. Cat cafés are all the rage in multiple destinations throughout the world including France, Japan, London, Taiwan, United States and India. Cat cafés ensure hygiene standards are up to par to maintain high quality, fresh food and beverages. In addition, to protect the health and safety of visitors and cats, cafés have several policies such as “look but don’t touch” the cats and hand washing. These policies aid in maintaining a calm and gentle aura in the café.

Tip: Most cat cafés require reservations and can be done by phone or visiting their website. Some cat cafés to visit in France include Meow Cats Café in Aix-en-Provence, Le Comptoir des Chats in Bordeaux, La Ronronnerie in Nice and Chat Mallows Café in Paris.

Chats are superheroes at French village La Romieu.

3.        Le Chats de La Romieu

A popular destination for tourists is La Romieu, a small medieval village located in southwest region of France. La Romieu has a rich history with a great admiration and reverence for cats. Artist Maurice Serreau, who’s muse was a cat, became inspired to create his masterpieces when he overheard a village woman telling the tale of Angeline, a Native American Princess who rejected a treaty created by her father, by refusing to leave her land. This act of rebellion became legend as Angeline and her incredible cats became heroines and saved the village. When visiting this town, cat lovers will feel proud of the rich history of the bravery from a woman and her feline warriors and view lots of beautiful chat sculptures.

Tip: Take a pic next to the bust of Angeline, which is sculpted in a cat-like manner.

Musée de Montmarte, located in Paris, had an exhibition dedicated to Chat Noir.

4.        Musée de Montmarte - Paris, France

In the mood for some art and history, visit Musée de Montmarte, a Parisian musée with various art displays. Founded in 1960, this musée boasts gorgeous past and current exhibitions including beautiful black kitty Chat Noir, Surréalisme au Féminin, Dufy’s Paris and Picasso. The museum is open 7 days a week from 10AM to 7PM CEST with the last entrant allowed 45 minutes prior to closing. Individual adult tickets cost 15€. The musée also offers guided tours and workshops. The musée also has 3 gardens in honor of French artist Auguste Renoir and can be enjoyed with a subscription to the musée starting at 40€ or 5€ without subscription.

Tip: Visitors can enjoy fresh, seasonal refreshments at Café Renoir, which offers a stunning view through its glass roof. The café is open every day from 11AM to 6:30PM.

Guests are greeted by a white, tabby colored cat sitting on an outdoor perch at Les Pins D'Alep.

 5.     Apartment Les Pins D'Alep - Le Cannet, France

Want to get away for the weekend and stay local, take a staycation at Apartment Les Pins D’Alep. Located in Le Cannet, on the southeastern region of France, this highly rated 2-bedroom, 2-bathroom apartment is approximately 1270 square feet and includes a kitchen, dishwasher, refrigerator, TV, heating, air conditioning, internet, on-site parking, elevator and microwave. Cat lovers will be glad to be greeted a local white, tabby colored cat sitting on an outdoor perch of a residence in the building.

Tip: For water fun, visit one of these nearby plages: Plage du Midi Beach, Plage de la Croisette and Plage du Palais des Festivals, which are less than 2 miles away.