Tours in the province of france tour operator. Tours in the southern provinces of france

24.08.2021

Another Paris

This was my first trip to France. Gray and wretched - here it is, my impression of Paris! Either my friend stabbed me and brought me not to Paris, or the emigrants changed the city beyond recognition. Although how do I know what he was like before my arrival ?! I know Paris from Hugo's stories and from the film Amelie. The French women also turned out to be different from the films. Ordinary, not Catherine Deneuve.

Provincials

I didn’t see Paris normally, I didn’t go to the famous “Moulin Rouge”. We were taken to the provinces, the French track is boring and not brutal. There is no mystery in it, like we have, when you do not know what awaits you. You go too smoothly, you don't feel the steering wheel. I got the idea to do Dakar here. Let them feel what real off-road is! The French are spoiled for good roads, quality wine and welfare benefits. We have developed immunity even to the apocalypse, so I sarcastically glanced at my escorts.

We drive past French villages. Our guide says that the French themselves love the provinces, they are attached to their homes and neighbors. Oddly enough, but about Paris, he speaks casually, as a bustling and dirty city. I agree with him. But I am silent, the guide and so sideways in my direction. He is pissed off by my impeccable English and my ungodly pronunciation of merci, excusez moi.

After a 7 hour flight and disappointment in Paris, I want to send a friend. He deprived me of Thai massage and all inclusive hotel. Mark saves him. He is the owner of a winery with bottomless barrels of red and white wine. Red wine with a lightly roasted steak was a great end to the evening.

Morning in the village

The morning in the French countryside is not the same as ours. There are no crowing roosters and, in principle, living creatures. This pleases, no one intrusively wakes up. But lying in bed when the owners are already working, I found it uncomfortable. They get up early. Mark rides a 56 hectare farm on a horse - Domain Sant'Anne. Driving through the vineyard can ruin him. I join Mark, get into the carriage, his son talks about the family business.

Red, white and rosé, still, semi-sparkling and sparkling wines are made under 60 different names, which differ in appearance from very dry to very sweet. Four completely different types of wines are produced from Chenet Blanc grapes: dry, semi-sweet, sweet and sparkling. These are the traditions that arose under the influence of the whims of the local climate. This grape variety has an inherent excess natural acidity and if it receives enough sunlight, it has a high sugar content. But, from a viticulture point of view, the Loire Valley is considered a northern region, wine producers are obliged to take into account late frosts, cold winds and changeable weather in summer. In sunny years, winemakers strive to produce the most intense wines from sweet and savory grapes, but in other cases they only manage to make semi-sweet or dry wines. Species diversity is at the heart of the Loire winemakers' predicament, since a reputation cannot be built on inconsistency. With the exception of wines such as the finest Savenniere, chaené blanc dry wines are too often dry, coarse and sour. They do not add to the reputation of the Loire, but their characteristics are similar to Champagne wines. While still wines with such characteristics are disappointing, sparkling wines are delight. It is not surprising that during the period of the rapid development of the champagne trade in the 19th century. the production of sparkling wines began in Saumur. Today the Loire is renowned as the largest sparkling wine market outside of Champagne itself.

Spirit Hunter Louis

My friend clearly liked France. What makes free wine and pretty French women! I was still thinking about Thai massage and ocean relaxation until Mark suggested going to Chambord Castle. This is the hunting lodge of the kings, where, I suspect, they took their girlfriends. Previously, turners also bought houses with servants, arranging dinner parties in the castles, while the legal wife decided the fate of the people in Versailles. I was more interested in the legends of local ghosts. I don't believe in them, but the French are sure that they are found here. Actually, that's why I went to Louis's hunting lodge. Now these same hunting lodges are being bought by our oligarchs.

I lagged behind the guide and turned on the headphones for Russian-speaking tourists. If we omit the long introduction, then the story of Chambord is interesting.

Chambord Castle is a citadel of medieval architecture. It was built by order of King Francis I in 1519 and served as a hunting lodge. King Francis spared no expense for the construction of the castle, he was not embarrassed by his debt to Spain. He threw all the forces of engineers and workers to build his "house". Moreover, he raised the tax to the church and forced his subjects to smelt silver. The design of the building was developed by the Italian architect Domenico da Cortona, but it is also rumored that Leonardo da Vinci had his hand in the work. It was he who suggested the elements for the decoration of the building. Also Leonardo da Vinci designed the stairs in the castle. The central staircase is made with a double spiral winding. There are 77 staircases in the castle. They say that Francis specially ordered the construction of many stairs so that his favorites did not collide with each other. The beautiful Constantinople with numerous columns served as the inspiration for the creation of the Chambord castle.

Smelly cheese or fries

After a long excursion, a zhor attacked me. In my search for a cafe, I was helped by French women who were leaving the castle. They turned out to be atypical Europeans, they knew where Kazakhstan and Astana were. The feeling of pride was replaced by a momentary anger after the mention of Borat. They apparently expected me to wash my hands in the toilet, but I decided to disappoint them and behaved like an English dandy. In a cafe, we ordered oysters, somewhere I read that they have a positive effect on potency. I don’t know about the wellness functions, but it tastes like a nightmare! Nothing beats horse meat, oysters and frog legs in the furnace! Send brie cheese there, too, which smells like bachelorette socks.

The genre of "Great walks" emerged in the late 60s of the XX century and today has become one of the most popular types of recreation in France and Europe.

Active tours in the provinces of France for a duration from 5 to 8 days They consist of “Big Walks” between villages, castles, landmarks, rural landscapes or wilderness.

On foot or by bike 2-3 hours before lunch and the same after, with overnight stays in rural hotels, guest houses, tourist centers. A real trip - after all, every night is in a different place!

A separate, more sporting genre is a sea kayak trip along the coast of Corsica or a canoe trip along the rivers of the reserves of France.

"ProjectFrance"- an information bureau in Russia, designed to popularize active tours in the provinces of France from the French tour operators of the group

On your own or with a guide

Self-guided with tour guide and GPS

A guide is not always necessary if there is a quality guide and GPS track... The navigator will not let you get lost. The guide will describe the attractions. And the assistance service will help you in case of difficulties.

Not having a guide will save your budget and give your travel in the province an unforgettable taste of adventure.

Small and cozy rural hotels with half board, located in old, often historical buildings, are booked. Baggage transfers between hotels are reserved.

You can go starting with a group of 2 people and on any dates.

The flexible formula, and the excellently developed tourist infrastructure in the provinces of France since the 70s, ensured the genre of travel "Great Walks" extraordinary popularity, without destroying the wildlife and provincial atmosphere of towns, villages and farms.

With a guide

If you don't want to bother with worries about where to turn on a rural path, leave it to the guide.

Guided tours of the province are designed for both scenic countryside full of historical sites and those interested in the wilderness of France. There are combinations of the first and the second.

The duration is the same - from 6 to 8 days.

Private guided tour requires a minimum 4-6 people in a group and up to 12 people maximum (limited by the concept itself, as well as the small capacity of rural hotels).

If you speak French, you can join a French group on fixed dates.

By default, the guide is a French anglophone. Since the genre of active tours in the provinces of France is just entering the Russian market today, there are no Russian-speaking guides in this travel package, with rare exceptions.

Optionally, you can order support by a Russian-speaking translator.

SPA-tours "Relaxation and form"

It can be both independent walks with a guidebook and GPS, and guided walks.

For all 7 days tour You are accommodated in a spa resort in the mountains or by the sea.

First half of the day You devote to invigorating, refreshing walks along scenic trails that combine local attractions.

In the second Relaxation awaits you: SPA-procedures, thermal baths, balneo-, thalassotherapy.

The combination of balanced physical activity, fresh air and relaxing treatments has an effective regenerative effect on the body weakened by the urban lifestyle.

How tedious are “Long Walks”?

Each active tour of the province is assigned from 1 to 3 stars.

One Star: 2 hours of leisurely walks before and after lunch on flat terrain, for example, on the seaside.

"Three stars": 3 hours of walking before and after lunch along the paths in the highlands. Such walks can already be called light trekking.

The undoubted plus of "Great Walks": accessibility to everyone.

If you haven't had enough activity since your last vacation, then fresh air and a uniform load from walks for 7 days will put you in good shape.

Learn more about exercise while traveling

Total duration of the trip

Regardless of which individual tours in the provinces of France you choose, the total is a classic two-week vacation.

It takes 1-2 days to get to the town "A", where the travel route through the province begins.

The same amount - from the town "B", where the tour ends, to Paris, for example, from where you fly home from France. Let's round up to 4.

In total, we get 7 + 4 = 11 days.

You will probably want to spend a couple more days in Paris or the regional capital (Marseille, Toulouse, Bordeaux, Lyon), go to see the nearby classic sights (Carcassonne, Pont du Gard, etc.) or lie on the beach.
This is another 3-5 days.

Total, 11 + 5 = 16 classic vacation days.

Optional booking of hotels and train tickets in France

Everything that is located before the aforementioned town "A" and after town "B" is not included in the price of the provincial catalog tour.

You have the right to purchase either only the catalog package, or add options to it:

Railway tickets,
hotels in regional capitals and small towns,
necessary transfers, meetings.

An example of a trip to France
in 14-16 days

Let's say you are arriving in Paris

You can immediately change to a domestic flight to the regional capital of France (Lyon, Toulouse, ...), or you can book a night in Paris and on one of the following days a train network to the regional capital. On the high speed TGV (from 2 to 6 hours) or on the night sleeper train.

You fly directly to the regional capital

Usually after making a change in Europe. You immediately arrive in Lyon, Toulouse, Bordeaux, Marseille, Perpignan, etc.

In the French hinterland

You book a night in a regional capital and explore.

One of the following days you take a regional train and get to a certain town. It may be like the aforementioned town "A", from where the program of your big walks in the province of France begins, or you may also have to use a regular regional bus or a ordered transfer.

In Town A, you may also want to reserve a day to explore the sights. Grasse is a great example!

Return trip

The return journey, at the end of the provincial catalog tour, follows the same logic.

In details

Baggage

The walks are lightweight. Luggage is transported by car between hotels.

In addition to your large travel bag, take a light urban backpack for 30-40 liters for personal items, such as, for example: a windbreaker from the rain, a jumper if it gets cool or windy, sun cream, personal first aid kit, a bottle of mineral water, sometimes a picnic.

Recommendations for a personal first aid kit on the Health page

There are a number of routes through the province with a donkey of burden! In this case, your luggage travels, or rather, walks next to you during the walk. This happens either in the case of hiking routes in the wild, where you spend the night in a tent, or the owners of rural hotels take care of the donkeys (included in the price).

Nutrition

Lunches for walks are organized in village cafes or in the form of a picnic, and then taken with them. Breakfasts and dinners - at the owners' place or in a restaurant near the place of residence.

The self-guided tour assumes half board by default,
Private guided tour - full board

You can choose options for every day. For example, in a large village or town where there are restaurants and cafes, you do not have to book dinner and breakfast at a hotel or guest house. And in small villages and farms, on the contrary, there may simply not be an alternative.

Moving

Active tours of the provinces of France are full of sights, natural and / or cultural, which makes it possible to realize the concept of a "Great Walk" in itself.

Where the density of attractions drops, a private car or local bus transfer is usually planned, depending on the program.

Get there yourself / estimate the total budget

If you decide to independently order train tickets in France, book hotels on the way to and from the tour site, or just want to estimate the total travel budget, below the link we provide a list of some reliable companies with a convenient online booking system, with which you can confidently start.

Get there on your own

Included in the price of the catalog package

The cost of an individual tour of the province is calculated using the formula "From town A to town B".

Not included in the list price

Dossier fee 15 euros (for self-guided tours);
Your journey to town "A" and after town "B";
Air tickets;
Insurance and visa;

Individual tours, what they are

Independent travel

You know English or French, you are not traveling in Europe / France for the first time, you want to look beyond the classical tours or have dropped in more than once. The French province and its hinterland intrigue you.

You love an active lifestyle and are happy to have the opportunity to get out into the fresh air, prefer freedom of decisions to follow a guide.

Then an Independent Travel is your choice. To help you:

a detailed travel guide designed for each individual tour,
pre-booked hotels on the route with or without half board, at your discretion,
transportation of luggage between hotels,
transfers when needed.

The cost of an independent individual tour in France does not depend on the number of people in your company, but only on whether it is even or odd (due to the accommodation formula and the availability of ordered transfers).

To learn more
View catalog

Active premium tours

Combine the sophisticated comfort of original French guesthouses, castles and historic residences with outdoor activities such as refreshing walks or bike rides through the countryside of the French countryside between historic towns, villages and attractions. On your own, with a detailed guide and GPS navigator, or with a guide.

Travel alone, with family, with friends or colleagues - we will provide memorable nights, gourmet cuisine, transportation of your luggage and necessary transfers.

An individual premium tour is designed for a group of 2 to 8 people.

To learn more
View catalog

Individual tours for families with children

You are waiting for walks in the fresh air, on foot or by bike, which combine the historical sights of the provinces of France, meetings with local residents, for example, artisans, farmers, shepherds and foresters of Natural Parks, a game plot, the basics of sports activities (cycling, canyoning, acrobranche , etc.) and acquaintance with nature.

The Big Adventure-style program is organized by professional children's guides.

A private family tour is usually for a group of 6 to 12 people, including children.

An active and educational vacation that will tone the whole family in good shape!

To learn more
View catalog

Private guided tours

Walks in the French provinces - among picturesque countryside or wilderness, paths in the mountains or hilly plains among vineyards, on the Atlantic or Mediterranean coast, between picturesque old towns and villages.

A professional English- and French-speaking guide, a native of the region, will guide you through the natural beauty and sights.

Individual guided tours of the provinces of France are designed for a group of 4 to 12 people.

To learn more
View catalog

Individual travel to order

If you have your own idea, or you would like to transform the catalog tour to your requirements, then this can be done either directly from a French tour operator (negotiations in English or French), or by sending your request through us.

To learn more

Find your customized tour
by provinces of France

You can choose an individual tour in the catalog:

by region
by duration
according to the preferred season for this trip
by the level of comfort
by activity (walking, cycling, canoeing, sea kayak ...)
by topic (for example, wine tours, castles, thermal springs…)
by relief (for example, seashore, mountains ...)

The label "Comfort", for example, means accommodation in rural hotels or guest houses with shower and toilet in the room throughout the tour, probably with the exception of one or two nights, which is stipulated in the description of the program.

Additionally, in the "tag cloud" at the bottom of the page, a selection of popular and interesting topics is compiled, such as, for example:

Holidays on the coast of France
Historical tours
Cycling ...

Let's summarize

The concept of individual tours

Active lifestyle, travel on the move, in the fresh air;
Great walks in the provinces of France: on foot, by bike, by sea kayak, canoe - in mini-groups up to 12 people;
Always light- transportation of luggage from overnight to overnight;
Real journey- overnight stays each time in a new place. Or stationary accommodation in a hotel / chalet with outings for walks;
Comfort- from simplicity to sophistication. Always, where possible - in old houses, interesting from the point of view of history and cultural heritage: small original hotels in the city, cozy village hotels or in private houses in the countryside, and in the wild - in tourist centers, mountain shelters or even in tents ;
Discoveries- a live acquaintance with the people and nature of the French province beyond the classic routes. Meetings with residents who are remarkable in their life, profession, creativity;
Safety and thoughtfulness routes. Both in the countryside and in the wilderness;
Escort a professional guide (spoken English and French) or independent travel with a detailed guide and GPS-navigator;
For families with children- active and educational adventure travel;
"Relaxation and form". A separate direction of tours aimed at rest and peace: a combination of walks in the mountain or sea air with thermal baths, spa treatments, balneo or thalassotherapy.

Do not confuse outdoor activities with hiking trips

All individual trips offered in the catalog refer to active recreation. However, they should not be confused with sports or hiking tourism.

Photo of sights of France

France is more than we imagine it. Provinces, all different from each other: nature, architecture, mentality ... You draw in your imagination: castles, lavender fields, vineyards on the hills, Paris, Cote d'Azur, skiing in the Alps, something else ... But you can't immediately imagine how much this "much more!

To get inspired by new ideas to independently design your own tours of the provinces of France, you can take a look at a selection of Google Panoramio photos taken along the itineraries of individual tours on the Photos of France page.

Or just open Google " Planet Earth"! A file is attached on the page of each individual tour kmz(Google Earth format). Click on the file, and the program will take you to the place of travel action with scattering of photos!

This charming tour can be visited not only on its own, but also as an extension of your trip to Paris. During it you will make fascinating excursions around Normandy, Brittany and the Loire river valley, get acquainted with their history, natural and architectural sights, visit the castles that once belonged to the French nobility.
One of the oldest French cities, Rouen will open to visitors as a Viking city and the ancient capital of Normandy. On the Old Market Square, you will hear a story about the Virgin of Orleans. Honfleur is the most beautiful seaport, along the picturesque streets of which it is pleasant to stroll, slowly examining the beauty of the Old Town. Deauville is considered a city of aristocrats, being a luxury resort on the banks of the English Channel. Despite the significant destruction during the war years, Caen still remains one of the most interesting cities in terms of architecture in Northern France. For many centuries, the abbey of Mont Saint-Michel, which combines natural uniqueness, architectural merits and mystical history, flaunts on a rock in the middle of waters and quicksand. Angers, due to its historical past, is considered the most English of the French cities.
The Loire Valley is another unique area in France. Nobody can name the total number of castles located on its territory, but each of them has a unique history and architecture. So, Chenonceau is called a castle-bridge, since it is thrown across the river, Amboise is partially glorified by the name of Leonardo da Vinci, Chambord is considered one of the most romantic castles in France.

Tour program

Arrival. If desired, a program in Paris.

Paris - Rouen - Honfleur - Deauville - Caen
08:00 - meeting with the guide. Transfer to the city of Rouen (135 km) - the city of the Vikings, the ancient capital of Normandy and the modern capital of the Upper Normandy region. Rouen is one of the largest, oldest and most beautiful cities in France. In Rouen, there is a sightseeing walking tour with a tour of the magnificent Rouen Cathedral, as well as a walk along the Old Market Square, associated with the history of Jeanne D'Arc, and along the Gros-Orlozh street with its ancient tower clock.
Transfer to the city of Honfleur (92 km) - one of the most beautiful seaports in France. Walk through the Old Town with picturesque streets, 17th century salt warehouses, old docks and the old Enklo quarter. Walk along the embankment of St. Catherine, visit the church of the same name - a rare example of wooden architecture of the 16th century.
Travel to Deauville (18 km) - a luxury resort on the shores of the English Channel with the widest sandy beach and the famous boardwalk with "personalized" cinema booths. A city of aristocrats, casinos and romantic stories inspired by the cult film by Claude Lelouch "Man and Woman". Walking tour of the city.
Moving to Caen (60 km). Architecturally, Caen is one of the most interesting cities located in Northern France. Walking tour of the city. Overnight at the hotel in Caen.

Mont Saint Michel - Saint Malo - Angers
Start of the day in Le Mont-Saint-Michel - (125 km). The Abbey of Mont Saint-Michel is a real gem of medieval Gothic, an island-abbey, a mirage island on a granite rock among quicksand, rapid ebb and flow, one of the pilgrimage shrines of the Christian world. Mont Saint-Michel is included in the lists of UNESCO sites and has no analogues in the world for the combination of architectural merits, mystical history and natural uniqueness. The abbey, dedicated to Michael the Archangel, has been rising on the mountain since the 7th century, and for all these centuries it has been attracting curious, suffering and believers. Today Mont Saint Michel is the second most visited place in France after Paris.
Moving to Saint-Malo (54 km) - a fortified city, the eternal rival of the Norman Mont Saint-Michel, the refuge of formidable corsairs, the place of the most powerful ebb and flow in Europe, the birthplace of the discoverer of Canada, Jacques Cartier. The program includes a walking tour of Intra Muros - an ancient city enclosed in a ring of fortress walls, from which a beautiful sea panorama and a view of the ancient forts opens up. After the tour, you can buy real Breton souvenirs and delicacies in the shops of the city.
Moving to Angers (198 km), walking tour of the historical center of the English city of France, which became the cradle and "second capital" of the English royal dynasty of Plantagenets. A majestic fortress with 15 formidable bastions reigned over the city and the river for many centuries, the foundation of which was laid in the 9th century, defending against the raids of the Normans, by the warlike and cruel owner of these places - Fulk Nerra, Count of Anjou. The city at all times found itself at the crossroads of wars from the pre-Roman era to World War II, which miraculously spared the city.
Accommodation in Angers.

Amboise - Chenonceau - Chambord - Paris
Loire Valley. Visit to the castles of Chenonceau, Amboise (internal inspection) and Chambord (external inspection).
Moving to Chenonceau (159 km) - one of the most beautiful and elegant castles of the Loire Valley, a castle-bridge that spans the Cher river. "Castle of the Five Dames", which belonged to the beautiful favorite of Francis II, Diane de Poitiers. The castle is deservedly recognized as a masterpiece of architecture and is under the protection of UNESCO.
Amboise (20 km) - a masterpiece of Renaissance architecture, the favorite castle of the kings of the Valois dynasty - Charles VIII and Francis I; the place where Leonardo da Vinci made his last brilliant discoveries. Here the great Italian lived his last years (in the nearby castle Clos-Luce), found eternal peace and left his magical "La Gioconda" to the French crown as a token of gratitude.
Chambord (58 km) - one of the most recognizable and romantic castles in France. It was built by order of King Francis I of Valois, a fine art connoisseur, founder of the Renaissance in France, patron of Leonardo da Vinci. This castle served as a hunting residence for the king, and at the same time gave him an excellent opportunity to be closer to his beloved, Countess Turi, who lived nearby.
Moving to Paris (178 km).

Optionally - a program in Paris. Departure.

What you should definitely try when visiting these places are, of course, "rillettes" (finely chopped and fried in lard pork or goose meat), "rillons" (cracklings), pates and many other dishes typical of this region, made from wild boar and pork. Do not forget about some of the best goat cheese varieties in France. As for sweet dishes, they are also at their best here: is it necessary to present one of the most famous French desserts "Tarre Tarin" - hot apple pie with caramel. The region also produces numerous wines: reds, whites, rosés, dry, soft or sparkling, among which the most famous are Chinon, Bourgueil, Vouvray, Sancerre, Pouilly-Fume. or Cheverny (Cheverny).

Poitou Charente

Poitou-Charentes

From Poitiers to the "walled city" of La Rochelle, crossing the town of Cognac, whose name is associated with the famous alcohol throughout the world, take the opportunity to sample the amazing local cuisine, which originates in the vineyards and fishing harbors of the Atlantic Ocean. Mussels alone are prepared here according to unique traditional recipes ...

Poitou Charentes is a place that invites travelers to discover a unique union of maritime and land culture, gastronomy and landscapes. As for cheese, there is not much of it in this region, but the oil is excellent here: this region, the only one in France, produces high quality branded butter with a delicate nutty flavor, which passes the strictest control.

North - Pas-de-Calais

Nord-Pas-de-Calais

The Pas-de-Calais region offers travelers its seaside landscapes of dunes and cliffs. The traditional view of the region paints a picture of flat, deep countryside, dotted with large, low and square farms, where mussel dishes know no end and beer flows like water. Of course, there are also ports and beaches in the north where you can see fans of all sports, such as sailing, and where you can have fun in the many casinos along the coast. And the favorite sweets of children and adults here are waffles, cakes with sugar and mint candies ("Betises de Cambrais") locally made.

Ile de France

Ile-de-France

Historically, the Ile-de-France region has always supplied Paris with vegetables, fruits, dairy products and meat. But despite the fact that the intensive development around the French capital has seriously changed the environment, the region has remained agricultural on a massive scale. Every year, festivals and fairs of local products are cheerfully celebrated here: wines and cheeses, of which the most famous varieties are "Coulomier" and "Brie", as well as watercress, strawberries, blueberries, mirabelle, apples, hops, from which beer is made , cider and turkey. Some of the products used in cooking still bear the name of the city in which they were produced, such as the famous Chantilly cream.

In this region, besides very close to Paris, you can quickly find yourself in nature, in a small hotel located next to the Fontainebleau forest in the charming village of Barbizon - a wonderful place known for its school of landscape painters, which gave birth to the nineteenth century such famous names as Corot, Millet, Rousseau; or visit Auvers-sur-Oise, where Van Gogh spent the last years of his life and painted the most famous paintings such as "The Church at Auvers".

Champagne-Ardennes

The Ardennes: all seasons are good for visiting this region, which has managed to carefully preserve its natural beauty! In winter it is ideal for skiing, in summer - for walking in the forest, in autumn - for hunting and contemplating magnificent landscapes, golden colors of falling leaves ... legends, carried to the present day. The Champagne region, located right at the foot of the mountains, by its name alone makes it clear where the champagne was born, whose producers, from the most famous to the independent, compete in the field of quality and sophistication. Champagne produces wine for special occasions and celebrations, presenting it all over the world as a unique drink that symbolizes French luxury.

Alsace-Lorraine

Known by Voltaire as the "Garden of France", Alsace-Lorraine is a land of prosperity, and this prosperity is very contagious here. Mountainous and lowland areas impartially divide the territory of the region, stretching across the expanses to the Rhine itself, the natural border with Germany, and towering over the Vosges and Jura mountains. On this land, nature has not suffered from industrial expansion. The local gastronomy is very varied and skillfully combines French and German cuisine. For those with a sweet tooth, there are many local delicacies such as the "Kugelhopf" - something like a bun with raisins and almonds. When you know that this region is rich in apples, pears, cherries, mirabelles, strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, thorns, lingonberries and more, it becomes much clearer why the Alsatians give such a preference to confectionery with a particularly high reputation. Almost every city has its own specialty, such as "Bergamotes de Nancy" (candies with bergamot flavor from Nancy), "Madeleines de Commercy" ("Madeleine" sponge cake from Commercy) or the famous "Sauciases de Straubourg" (Stpacburg sausages).

Franche-Comté

Franche-Comte

The best period to visit this region, from April to October, will allow you to fully enjoy the sun, gently warming over the herbs and flowers, enveloping the air with thousands of delicate aromas. Franche-Comté invites you to wander through the mountains and sample a special local gastronomy in which cheese is the main ingredient, for example in dishes such as "raclette" or "fondue", which are based on hot cheese. There is even a variety that bears the name of the region - "Comte", which is produced in the mountains and has a special sweetish flavor. At Franche-Comté you will also taste the traditional divine taste (and name) "Jesus de Morteau" ("Jesus of Morteau") made from pork shoulder. It should be noted that the city of Morto is posed with its sausages of all types and varieties, thereby conquering gastronomes.

Cheeses: local cheese "Morbier" ("Morbier"), easily recognizable by the strip of grayish color in the middle. Another variety, "Beaufort" ("Beaufort"), is produced in summer in wooden huts in high-altitude pastures with cows. And then he is placed in a damp basement room, where he "comes" for another two years. The texture of the fabric of this type of cheese is quite grainy, and the taste is floral-sweet. It has a mild hazelnut flavor and rich mountain aromas.

Burgundy

Bourgogne

Burgundy is an area whose name speaks volumes to wine lovers. The natural beauty of this land is varied: on the one hand, it is spread out with carefully manicured vineyards, protected by forged iron trellises - the pride of happy owners, and on the other, it is bordered by dense oak forests. Burgundy is a country of farms, fairy tales, delicious wines and black currant cream liqueur, which gave birth to the famous throughout France and widely consumed aperitif "Kir", named after one of the mayors of the city of Dijon, who served this drink at every official reception in the city hall ... But above all, Burgundy is a land where you will feel at home thanks to the exceptional hospitality and friendliness of the locals.

The cheeses you should definitely try during your visit are Epoisses, Langres and Charolais; as for the cheeses made from cow's milk, and from spring to late autumn, fresh goat cheese Chevre frais and Montrachet for lovers of goat's milk cheeses. It is also impossible to forget that Burgundy is unusually rich in high quality wines such as Nuits-Saint-Georges, Chablis, Meursault, Montrachet, Pommard, Beaune, Bourgogne-Aligote, Volnay and Vosnes-Romanee. Among the local products, it is worth mentioning sausages and, of course, the famous mustard from Dijon, which is famous all over the world.

Auvergne et Center

The center of France remains for the most part a sparsely populated area, due to the harsh conditions of internal communication for many centuries and the harsh climate. This land will reveal to you all its breadth and beauty of volcanic landscapes, green hollows, turbulent streams, pristine lakes and warm springs with healing water. The chain of mountain ranges has 8 volcanoes, "dormant" for eight millennia, and is the largest volcanic ensemble in Europe.

The region has an enormous civil and military heritage dating back to the Middle Ages, and the castles and Romanesque churches towering on mountain ledges testify to a rich past, ranked among the masterpieces of French architectural art.

Akiten and the Atlantic Pyrenees

Aquitaine et Pyrenees-Atlantiques

Traveling through this region, you will take a real journey back in time! This is where the center of the prehistoric world is truly concentrated, in periods from 300 thousand years to 10 thousand years BC. Many thousands of deposits and about half of the caves of all of France have been preserved here, including the famous grotte de Lascaux cave, ranked as a world heritage of mankind.

Land of sun, fishing and mountainous landscapes, this marvelous area stretches from the Atlantic Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea. It is nice to sunbathe on the white sandy beaches or hide in the shade of pine forests.

Southern Pyrenees and Languedoc-Roussillon

Midi-Pyrenees et Languedoc-Roussillon

This region of France, rich in rivers, lakes and ponds, will captivate lovers of fishing, light clothing and the sun! Mosaic paintings of vegetable gardens, orchards and vineyards give a complete picture of the local nature, which has favored the development of the region from time immemorial, which at the same time explains the richness of culture - the cradle of Romanesque-French art.

The wines of the southwestern part, less well-known compared to those of Bordeaux, are strong and their taste is generous: among them you will find Bergerac, Montbazillac, Pecharmant, Jurancon, Cahors and Bearn ... The Roussillon region specializes more in soft and sweet wines. such as Muscat de Rivesaltes and Banyuls.

Provence and Cote d'Azur

Provence et Cote d "Azur

The Cote d'Azur, which is a place of resort life of stars and popularity, is famous all over the world for the splendor of hotels, luxury yachts, the Cannes Festival ... barren landscapes, where the ocher colors of the earth echo the bright blue of the sky and the sea, and the green of the pine and oak forests with the whiteness of limestone. The Cote d'Azur is dazzled with whole carpets of lavender and fluffy mimosa, enveloping villages and villages in multi-colored fog.

Each individual market in Provence has its own characteristics and its own unique character. Here delicate roses of local gardeners coexist with fresh fish caught overnight, and vegetables and fruits of local gardeners decorating the counters are generously saturated with the sun. This whole bunch of the freshest products makes up wonderful salads, for example, the famous "Nice salad" with anchovies or "mes-clun" (a mixture of different types of lettuce and aromatic herbs), so refreshing in the summer.

And the Mediterranean Sea endows, in turn, with fish "stone", which is perfectly included in such dishes as "bouillabaisse" (fish soup with garlic and spices) and "bourride" (burrida - a kind of fish soup with garlic sauce), so typical for Marseille and the Côte d'Azur The local cuisine perfectly matches the surrounding sunny landscapes and warmth: the high quality of olive oil, honey and nougat, fruit jams and goat cheese speaks for itself.

The cheeses, as noted above, are mainly made from goat's milk: Banon de Provence, Picodon and Pelardon.

Some of the region's finest wines include Gigondas, Beaume-de-Venise, Bandol and Cassis.

Rhone-Alpes

From the Rhone Valley to the Swiss border, there is an area of Grenoble walnut trees and vineyards that grow as stairs above the river below. For most French people, Lyon today bears a huge resemblance to the Paris of 30 goals. Indeed, a passing tourist, finding himself in the second largest city in France, can get acquainted with the past and the present, from traditional, unshakable cuisine to the gastronomy of tomorrow, thus crossing several decades in just one day. It should be noted that in terms of gastronomy, Lyon and its region occupy one of the most privileged places, largely due to the huge number of bistros here called bouchons ("bouchon", that is, cork), which comes from the usual corks that close bottles from - under the wine. Authentic homemade dishes are prepared here according to unparalleled local recipes: "poulets de Bresse", "gratin dauphinois", local sausages and sausages of all kinds and colors, all served with young Beaujolais wine. The region also knows how to please lovers of sweets. In Lyon, for example, one of the world's best chocolate makers, Bernachon, is excellent at making pastries, like the President cake specially produced in honor of François Mitterrand, and chocolates. And Bress waffles with cream and sugar are so tasty and popular that they are sold in all bakeries in the region.

Cheeses: "Arome de Gene" refers to the cheeses typical of the Lyon region, which are usually soaked in grape pomace vodka. And here is another type of cheese, "Saint-Marcelin", made from cow's milk and looking like a small, flat, washer-shaped spool. In Savoy, there are dozens of different varieties of "Tommes de Savoie" (special Savoy cheese), some of which have spicy or peppery aromas.

In terms of wines, Beaujolais, Vin de Savoie, Vin de Paille, Vin Jaune, Hermitage and Cote-Rotie are worth trying.

"Privilege", No. 2, 1997

Finally, I will post pictures from this year's summer trip - "A great trip to the southern province of France" with DSBW. Route: Nice - Avignon - Pont du Gard - Nimes - Carcassonne - Bordeaux - Cognac - Angoulême - Sarles la Caneda - Rocamadour - Toulouse - Arles - Marseille - and 4 more days of rest in Nice. The tour is very interesting and beautiful, especially if you are interested in Roman architecture. Personally, I am more interested in the Black Madonnas - so for me this tour was also quite rich and informative, although in some cities (I was taking a list from Moscow where I could see the Black Madonnas along the route) I had to look for them, and in some places it was not without little adventures.

The main disadvantage is that we got to the worst time, the end of July - the beginning of August. Anyone else, but by the middle of the tour I was just sick from the heat (although the whole day of walking for my own pleasure in Bordeaux somewhat corrected the situation). If interested, I can tell you about the organizer and the guide.

And the pros ... but what to say about them, there they are all in the photographs.

Market in Nice

Panorama

Avignon. Square in front of the Papal Palace.

There was a theater festival in Avignon at that time, and throughout the central part, the artists gave their little performances

View of the Saint-Benezet bridge (pont d "Avignon from a song that every French is said to know; in other words, the motive is familiar even to me)

The Pont du Gard is a stunning monument of Roman architecture ...

And a small memory of our ancestors-tourists (pay attention to the date in this "Vasya was here")

Gallery on the first level of the bridge. Here, it seems to me, the scale and power of the structure is very well felt ...

Roman arena in Nimes (1st half of the 1st century AD)

She's inside. The entire amphitheater can be bypassed from above, although the physical conditions are needed to be appropriate - you constantly have to climb the rather big daytables up and down. But it's worth it!

And this is just my personal very strong impression. Something like a stone mound, and among the stones ... faces. What does this mean - I do not know

Bordeaux, Cathedral of St. Andrew

Local entertainment is the fountain on the Quai de Garonne. It's just an area covered with a thin - barely covering the feet - layer of water. Personally, I took off my shoes and frolic. The locals are clearly having fun with the same.

Of course, there were some Roman ruins here too ...

Triumphal Arch

And this is a statue in front of the building of the Faculty of Medicine. The students were clearly celebrating their graduation ...

Sardya la Caneda. Foie gras production center, by the way! Therefore, the geese are honored and respected here.

In general, this is a real medieval city with very narrow and very crooked streets, into which it is no wonder to get lost.

And this is Rocamadour - a major European pilgrimage center, part of the Santiago Way.

This is a castle and three churches, partly built on a small platform on the rock, partly carved right into this rock.

From the churches up to the castle, there is a winding road symbolizing the way of the cross of Christ; once upon a time pilgrims passed it on their knees. And in one of the churches one of the Black Mother of God is kept

(sorry for the quality)
Toulouse. The city is pink! Once it was possible to build here only from bricks; and now a house made of any material will certainly be painted or at least trimmed with red or pink

Capitolium

Arles. There is a Roman amphitheater here, but in some places it has been restored already in our time

And here once Van Gogh was treated

Marseilles.

From above, from the magnificent cathedral, the city blesses Notre Dame de la Garde

And in the cathedral itself there is a wonderful silver statue of the Virgin

In the group of islands, the middle (and smallest) is the same island on which the castle of If is located. Unfortunately, we did not hit it

And here is the castle closer (behind it you can see Notre Dame de la Garde)

Cathedral in a major

We went to Grasse ourselves, while we lived 4 days in Nice. A small, cozy town, although it is not so easy to crawl to it from the station (rather high up the mountain) There are also elegant streets ...

And those where Jean-Baptiste Grenouille, apparently, and watched his victims

And this is a panorama of Cannes - we stopped on the road from Grasse

And this is Monaco - Monte Carlo - another of our independent travel.

It is a pity that you cannot shoot in the prince's palace, although everything is clear - the palace is residential, and, standing on the gallery of the courtyard, you don't know - what if the prince is personally watching you from the window of his wing? If you are, be sure to go on a tour! They give out headphones, there is an excursion in Russian (and very good Russian), and I strongly advise you to see the palace itself. We also visited an exhibition dedicated to Princess Grace Patricia - actress Grace Kelly. How local residents love their princely family! The British also love their queen, but they also make fun of her, and scold her ... And here - such a touching love ...

Princely palace

"Changing of the guard of pages"

A piece of the Formula 1 track

And there are such racing cars in the city.

Famous Casino

A little educational program: Black Madonnas, Black Virgins, Vierges Noires are statues of Our Lady made of black / dark material or painted black. Madonna was revered at all times, and why her images were made black, no one knows. I rummaged through a lot (although, unfortunately, I was only able to read articles written in Russian and English), as a result I discovered: serious researchers are quite careful, with the caveats "probably, maybe" they say that these are possibly remnants of Celtic cults - the newly converted Catholics tried so hard to cross their old beliefs and gods with the new religion; this is the most common version. "Possessed" (Eco defined them very well) claim about the same, but categorically (somewhere I even met the theory that some of these statues are former statues of Isis with Osiris). Perhaps there is some truth in this - some of the statues are sooo far from traditional Catholic images and more resemble statues from Easter Island.

So that's it. I posted the Notre-Dame de Rocamadour above. Here it is closer - this is an ordinary postcard, I took a photo on the Internet

12th century, possibly 9. One of the few originals that have survived so old - most often I personally have come across either copies or simply newer statues.

This is Notre-Dame de la Daurade in Toulouse.

It is 1806, made instead of a statue destroyed during the revolution, but very different from the original. She is considered the patroness of expectant mothers.

In Toulouse, according to my list, there should have been another statue, but there were some misunderstandings with it. I was looking for Notre-Dame du Palais - a statue made of dark stone, which should now be on the Jesuit church. We found this church in the middle of the night ... This statue is there:

In principle, everything is correct - the stone, not that light.

And then on the excursion we found this one:

It is located above the entrance to the Notre-Dame du Taur church and also fits the description in all respects (to be honest, it is rather scarce)). In short, I'm still at a loss. Until my hands reach the author of the list from where I took the information, and ask for advice.

Another statue was in Arles, but we, unfortunately, did not see it - there was not much time in the city, according to the program it was in the evening, and the church, which I suspected that the Black Mother of God was there))), was closed.

But we found the Black Mother of God in Marseille - Notre-Dame de la Confession