The New Roots Travel Trend Has Americans Flocking to France to Walk in the Footsteps of Their Ancestors

Forget the Louvre. Skip Versailles. More and more Americans than ever are turning away from the big-name attractions in favor of medieval French villages, hoping to walk the same streets their ancestors once did. Many claim to trace their family lines to Charlemagne himself in the new roots travel trend now influencing the way Americans travel through Europe.

This growing movement is known as heritage travel, or ancestry tourism. It’s about retracing family footsteps, tasting dishes that echo recipes passed down through generations, and sometimes even meeting distant relatives who help fill in missing pieces of the family tree.

What’s driving the surge? New technology and DNA testing have made it easier than ever to uncover personal histories. Genealogy sites and digitised records open doors to the past. Add in the influence of shows like Who Do You Think You Are and Finding Your Roots, and you’ve got Baby Boomers and younger generations alike curious to reconnect with where they came from.

Why Americans Are Flocking to France to Discover Their Heritage

Americans are starting to factor ancestry into their vacation plans, with many digging into family trees before they book a flight.

The trend, known as roots travel, is gaining momentum and driving more visitors to Europe, in particular, France. As a girl who loves history, I can completely understand this. It’s that pull of feeling directly connected to a place you have never been, but where your family story still lingers. 

France has already seen the impact, with around 16 million Americans tracing at least some descent from France, accounting for approximately 4–5% of the population. 

How Do You Plan a Discover Your Roots Trip to France?

Good question. It’s not something you rush into, and you’ll want to make sure you’ve covered every base and triple-checked your findings. You don’t want to spend a fortune traveling to France, only to find you’re in the wrong place because you followed a dead end.

Having done a fair amount of this type of travel myself, I have some helpful tips and tricks on how to discover your French ancestors and plan for a stress-free trip.

Become a Super Sleuth

Research is the backbone of any heritage trip. A good place to start is with family. Ask relatives what they know about your background and whether they have old photographs, letters, or documents like marriage or death certificates. You might even find clues tucked away in the attic or in boxes that have not been opened for years.

Once you have gathered what you can from family, move online. Genealogy databases and heritage websites hold a huge amount of information, but the sheer number of options can be overwhelming. To make it manageable, I have some French resources you might find helpful.

Many French immigrants who arrived after 1800 were Catholic, which means church records in the countries where they settled can hold valuable information. Baptism, marriage, and death registers often list not only the person’s name, but also details about their birthplace, residence, and parents. 

In some cases, the records even include information on grandparents. When you can, look up every available entry connected to your ancestor, their children, and other family members to build a fuller picture.

Finding the Right Tools for Tracing French Family Lines

Published family trees created by descendants or distant relatives can sometimes point you toward an ancestor’s exact place of origin. In addition to the major genealogy sites many Americans already use, it is worth exploring Geneanet and Filae.

These platforms are popular among French researchers and enable collaboration with relatives still living in France. While they are subscription-based, each offers some level of free searching.

If the location of your ancestor’s hometown is still unclear, take a closer look at surname patterns. Filae compiles over a million French birth records from 1891 to 1990. Even if your ancestor left before that period, relatives who remained in France may have stayed in the same region. The site displays the locations where people with the same surname were born over time, categorized by department and commune.

You can also use Facebook’s search bar to track people with a particular surname in specific regions, which may lead to useful contacts.

Working with a Professional

If research DIY feels overwhelming, you can always bring in an expert. Hiring a genealogist who lives in the region your relatives once called home has clear advantages. Local professionals know the area, understand the records, and speak the language. 

Historical societies in the region may also provide resources or guidance to help you piece together your family tree. Just keep in mind that you will need to give them enough lead time. Reaching out only a couple of weeks before a trip is usually too late, since most professionals will already be booked.

Before you commit, ask about pricing and make sure you have written confirmation of what services will be included. Some genealogists charge by the hour, while others work on a project basis. 

Rates can range from $30 to $40 an hour up to more than $200 depending on experience, location, project type, demand, and deadlines. Additional costs, such as travel expenses, are often billed separately.

I find this website an invaluable resource, as it is run by French genealogist Elise Lenoble and features some very helpful articles and advice.

Planning Your Heritage Trip

Many people have mixed family backgrounds, so the first step is to decide which lineage to focus on. It is usually best to commit to one region at a time instead of trying to cover several in a single trip, as France is a big country. Even once you choose a destination, there are still plenty of decisions ahead. Heritage travel takes many forms, from simple visits to fully guided experiences.

Budgeting is a helpful next step. Think about what matters most to you and set aside enough money for those priorities. Focusing on your must-haves can save both time and money while leading to a more rewarding trip. If you are traveling with others, make sure everyone is in agreement before you start booking. 

Once your goals and budget are clear, decide how much of the work you want to do yourself. Some travelers enjoy handling the research and planning, while others prefer to hire professionals or book through tour companies. Options range from modest, self-drive trips with simple hotels to fully customized packages that include luxury accommodations and a dedicated research guide. 

If your travels take you into more remote areas without professional guidance, expect to do extra preparation. Transportation, restaurants, and hotels may be limited. Narrow cobblestone roads, steep stairs, and other accessibility issues can be challenging if anyone in your group has mobility concerns. Safety checks and entry requirements should also be reviewed before you leave, especially with the changes to Americans visiting Europe in 2026.

Traveling in the off-season can help keep costs down, but some historical sites or buildings may be closed. Think carefully about what matters more to you: lower prices or guaranteed access to the places you want to see.

Practical tools will also make the trip smoother. Map apps, translation apps, and international data plans or SIM cards help you stay connected. Services like Zoom, FaceTime, Facebook Messenger, and WhatsApp are useful for staying in touch with family back home.

Finally, think about how you want to capture the wonderful memories you’ll be making in France. You might keep a handwritten journal, type notes into your phone, or rely on your camera and microphone to record photos, video, and audio clips of the places you visit and the people you meet. Planning this in advance helps you arrive prepared to document your journey.

Keeping Expectations Realistic

Packing the right clothes, shoes, and apps is only part of preparing for a heritage trip. Just as important is arriving with an open mindset. What you picture ahead of time is rarely what you find once you are there. Although many things in France are very well preserved, and much of it, especially in the rural areas, is like stepping back into another century, not everywhere is like that.

Looking at old photographs from the 1800s or early 1900s can set expectations that no longer match reality. Power lines, coffee chains, or fast-food outlets may now dot the streets. Historic buildings could have been turned into banks or retail shops, and farmland that once belonged to your ancestors might now be covered by offices.

Many travelers expect to spend hours in dusty archives, but often that is not possible. You’ll probably face language barriers, find the records digitized, or discover that the materials are not accessible to the public. The last thing you want to do on your trip is sit in a hotel room scrolling through genealogy sites you could have checked at home.

If meeting relatives is part of your plan, think about how you will communicate across languages. Bringing photos and sharing details about your life can help bridge gaps and make the visit more meaningful.

Once the groundwork of research is done, the trip itself becomes the reward. Walking in your ancestors’ footsteps, breathing the same air, eating the same foods, and seeing familiar sights can be deeply moving. It is an experience that can stay with you long after you return home.

Documenting what you see is just as important as experiencing it. Take plenty of photographs, and note what they show as soon as possible so the details remain accurate. Do the same for audio or video recordings. Memories fade quickly, and capturing the context right away ensures you preserve the story for future generations.

Flexibility is also key. Give yourself time to adjust to jet lag and to settle into the rhythm of the place. Avoid overscheduling, which can leave you stressed and prevent you from following new leads, enjoying chance encounters, or simply wandering. Leave space in your itinerary for quiet moments too. Often, it is the unplanned experiences that end up being the most memorable.