Dive into the Warm Soul of the Southern United States
Discover the warmth and culture of the American South.
Savor the legendary hospitality and enchanting rhythms.
United States – The South: A Warm and Cultural Adventure
True open-air museums, the 16 states that make up the South and Southeast are sure to excite you for a grand road trip adventure with a partner or friends, through history and some of the most fabulous landscapes in the USA. Follow the Blues route to New Orleans and its masterpieces of colonial architecture, take a paddlewheel boat along the banks of the Mississippi, explore the Louisiana bayous amidst alligators, or reach for the stars at NASA's Space Center in Houston.
And this list is far from exhaustive. The Great American South also features saloons and rodeo shows in Texas, a tropical climate to enjoy the beaches of South Carolina between Savannah and Charleston, beautiful walks in the Appalachians and in major national parks like Big Bend, not to mention pieces of history to savor in Georgia between the Coca-Cola museum in Atlanta and Martin Luther King's childhood home. Go South!
The Enchanting Charm of the American Deep South
"Sweet home Alabama", "Tennessee Stud", "Georgia on my mind"... The American Deep South has inspired many masterpieces of song. It is further proof that this vast region holds a special place in American mythology. A trip to the Southern United States will take you through history.
The Must-Sees of the Southern United States
Discovering New Orleans is diving into the cradle of blues and jazz to the tune of Louis Armstrong. Louisiana's first city also has a historic heart unparalleled in the USA with its 18th-century French Quarter, called "Vieux Carré." All around, you can still find cotton and sugarcane plantations.
There's nothing like a paddleboat cruise on the Mississippi to soak up the atmosphere of the South, with its beautiful mansions, cotton and sugarcane fields, and former Civil War battlefields.
In the USA, the period before the Civil War is called Antebellum. The homes of former plantation owners and merchants will dazzle you with their colonnades, verandas, and beautiful gardens.
Traveling through the Old South is retracing the history of music with Elvis, Johnny Cash, and Louis Armstrong. From New Orleans to Memphis, via Nashville, each city offers a unique musical atmosphere.
Discovering the Southern United States
The vastness of America invites you to discover the long Appalachian range, ideal for magnificent open-air hikes. Near Knoxville, the Great Smoky Mountains Park is one of the region's two natural reserves. This haven of greenery is populated with endless forests, dizzying waterfalls, and large brown bears.
The spirit of cowboys and the American West still lingers in the city of Fort Worth, about thirty kilometers from Dallas, Texas. On the festival program: a daily cattle sale gathering, rodeo shows, country music concerts, and a host of spectacular museums.
On the edge of the Atlantic, Charleston is immersed in an atmosphere blending tradition and modernity for the delight of visitors. The city is full of buildings and historical sites that take you back through 300 years of history. The local cultural agenda is also one of the richest in the Deep South.
Cradle of American Music
Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, BB King, Otis Redding, Dolly Parton, REM, Robert Johnson, Aretha Franklin, Jerry Lee Lewis, Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington are among the great names in music born in the South. New Orleans is favored for jazz, the Cajun country for zydeco, the Mississippi Delta for blues, and up to Memphis, which is also the home of rock'n'roll. The Appalachians are known for bluegrass, Nashville for country, and Alabama for soul and R&B.
Gastronomy: the art of blending flavors
Because it has been inspired by Indian, African, French, Spanish, Mexican, and Caribbean cuisines, the South will undoubtedly captivate your taste buds. The Creole or Cajun dishes from Louisiana, the catfish from the Mississippi, the crawfish from the Gulf of Mexico, or the traditional soul food from the coast are all dishes to discover. Not to mention, of course, the local star: barbecue. Each region has its own variant distinguished by a different sauce, more or less vinegary and spicy.