Alentours

Alentours is a French noun meaning the area surrounding a place; the vicinity, nearby regions, or the local hinterland. In geography, urban planning, real estate, and tourism, the term is used to describe the parts of a location’s surroundings without defining precise boundaries. It helps to situate a site within its broader local context, including nearby towns, landscapes, and infrastructure.

Usage and variants: The plural form alentours is common, as in aux alentours de Paris or dans les alentours de la ville. The singular alentour exists but is much less frequent and tends to appear in more literary or historical contexts. The expression aux alentours is a fixed phrase often preferred in everyday language to indicate proximity, and it is commonly used interchangeably with environs or périmètre depending on the register.

Nuance and scope: Alentours emphasizes the immediate surroundings of a focal location, typically within a short travel distance or a modest regional radius. It does not imply distant regions and is distinct from terms like périphérie (outer edge) or environs (neighboring areas) that may carry slightly different connotations in planning, administration, or media reporting.

See also: Environs, Environnement, Périphérie, Voisinage.

Examples: The museum is located in the alentours of the cathedral. The coast and its villages form a pleasant set of alentours for visitors exploring the region.