From the first races, in 1923, the drivers met south of the city on the legendary 24 Hours Le Mans circuit race, once sized up in its time by a certain Steve McQueen. Its 13km track makes it one of the longest circuits in the world. When on site, why not take a look at the shops, have a drink on the panoramic terrace or even visit the 24 Hours Le Mans museum. But the “real aficionados”—like our gang of thieves—tend to find themselves at Aux Portes du circuit, a well-established bar, run for 46 years by the legendary Jeanine.

What better place than Biarritz to refresh Laclos' literary masterpiece, transposed into the 5G lives of today's connected teenagers? This is how Célène (Paola Locatelli), a Parisian high school student, first arrives in the city of surfers. Leaving behind her lover Pierre, she finds herself caught in the Machiavellian games of an Instagram queen and a sinister surfer with whom she falls in love. The rollers of the coast are certain to get her heart falling head over heels.

At 2,642 meters in altitude, with a ride of 18.1 km at an average of 6.8% gradient, it certainly deserves its fearsome reputation. The narrow road winds through the middle of a dry, lunar landscape, bordered by a wall of snow in winter. But in the height of summer, pro-runners especially need water bottles and even ice packs to cool down. For the record, in 1911, the first (and only) racer to have completed it without setting foot on the ground once was called Émile Georget. And for the less sporty, of course it is possible to ascend with electric bikes or discover the region by car.