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Hidden France
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Hidden France is for the independent,
discerning traveller who recognises the rewarding benefits that accrue when
one gets off the beaten track and well away from package-holiday traps. That
enterprise allows one to savour the sights, sounds and tastes of rural France:
its woods and forests; its meadows and pastures; its hills and river valleys;
its placid streams and roaring torrents; its ancient villages and medieval
buildings; and its vast larder of culinary delights. Many of the most beautiful
parts of France are amongst the least visited - for all practical purposes
they remain hidden to the huge majority of visitors; areas of attractive
countryside where one can breathe fresh air and where Mother Nature has fashioned
many priceless treasures. Brother Roger of Taizé put it simply with
these words: ‘the constant need to admire is satisfied’. I have chosen 25
areas in France, each one of which demonstrates perfectly the pleasure and
joy you can win for yourself when you seek out the hidden corners of that
enchanting country. It is a subjective, idiosyncratic list; I would have
loved to extend it, but within the limits of cost I set for myself, I had
to settle for just 25. In each area I have tried to highlight for you what
makes it attractive - detailing scenic, artistic and culinary pleasures.
Every one of the 25 areas is in unspoilt country - but to enjoy them to the
full you must recognise three prerequisites. Firstly, acknowledge the huge
dividends a car can bring when it is used intelligently and with enterprise.
Secondly, realise that you must often desert your car to savour the myriad
pleasures of Nature: it’s your legs that will take you to the finest viewpoints,
the banks of tranquil streams, across a bracing moor or through a still,
cool wood. Expose all your senses this way - that’s not always possible sitting
in a car! Finally, accept without question that a good large-scale map will
repay its small outlay a thousand times over. Immerse yourself in maps -
pore over them; every hour spent studying them will be time wisely spent.
I count myself fortunate that I have always had an enthusiastic passion for
maps and navigation. All place names in bold print in Hidden France
are identified on the accompanying area maps. Each area map indicates the
number of the Michelin yellow map(s) that you should refer to for greater
detail. In each of the 25 areas four recommended hotels are described -
inexpensive, modest, family-owned establishments. Not one of them will bankrupt
you - there is always one to suit any budget. Not one of the 100 has a Michelin
star for cooking; don’t expect too much in that area - what you will find
is a reasonable standard of good-value cuisine. Many of the 100 entries are
Logis de France hotels and the majority have quiet sites. Many of you will
perhaps not know that I took the gamble to publish, in Britain, my own books
- without any previous experience of writing or publishing; Chiltern House
is in fact our family home. Thank you for your support. I hope Hidden
France, my fourth book, will help you to enjoy the best of that lovely
country. |
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