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                                                                                       " I roamed the countryside searching for answers to things I did not understand."                                
                                                                        -  Leonardo da Vinci

HAPPILY 'LOST' IN THE FRENCH COUNTRYSIDE . . . discovering France's most beautiful villages

The more you travel through France, the more you will be impressed by how diverse the landscape and architecture are.  From verdant Brittany with its sturdy granite houses to the foothills of the Alps in the Savoie, from the sunny Côte d'Azur of Provence to the rugged Auvergne and its dormant volcanoes ~ you will remember each for its uniqueness.  The cuisine changes from region to region as do the wines, and there are places where a French patois (Old French meaning 'local or regional dialect') is spoken as well as other languages ~ you may hear Basque, Alsatian, Catalan, Corsican or Breton to mention only a few.

For travelers hesitant to visit the French countryside because they do not speak French very well or at all, English is spoken by so many people in France and, depending upon the region your are visiting, Spanish, German and Italian may also be spoken.  Learn a few French phrases that you might need in a restaurant, at your hotel or with a salesperson in a shop  ~ the French will appreciate your effort, and you will do just fine. 

The geography of France's countryside is especially appealing.  It is a land of rivers with their sources in the many mountain ranges ~ the Alps, the Pyrénées, the Voges, the Jura and the Massif Central ~ and following a river during your visit will take you to some very interesting towns and villages.  The River Sarthe in the Pays de la Loire is one we recommend.  Find the source of your favorite river ~ something that often comes as a surprise as we found at the source of the Seine: a tiny trickle of water from an underground spring [photo at left].  France's forests are in every region, and the iconic rows of plane trees along the country highways are uniquely French.

Where to begin  . . .

The choice is yours, so decide what regions of France you want to explore, areas you have never been before, or places you wish to revisit.  We think you will especially enjoy referencing the organization known as The Most Beautiful Villages of France (Les Plus Beaux Villages de France) ~ founded in 1981 by the mayor of Collonges-la-Rouge, Charles Ceyrac, to bring together the small, often overlooked, villages into his new association.  His goal was to preserve the culture and  the heritage of these villages while stemming the flow of rural exodus.  By 1982, he had 66 mayors joining him.

Standards had to be met, of course, and the primary qualifications for membership were and still are: 

• the hamlet or village must have a maximum population of 2,000 inhabitants
• it should have at least 2 protected sites or monuments, either listed or registered on the supplementary list of historic monuments
• there must be mass support for the application for membership showing a decision by the town council.

Les Baux-de-Provence (Bouches-de-Rhône) is a charming village both old and new ~ the newer part with shops and restaurants, the older (ville morte) is the ruins of what once existed [photo of both at right].  Les Baux was occupied as far back as the Bronze Age but came into its own in Medieval times.  The massive fortress and the little town it oversees were built in the 10th century and ruled for 500 years by the powerful and often cruel Lords of Baux.  It had its most influential period in the 15th century under new rulers, the Comtes de Provence.  In the 16th century, when ruled by the kings of France, conflicts and wars dominated, and King Louis XIII had the fortress destroyed in 1633. 

Today, it is a popular travel destination south of Avignon, surrounded by vineyards and orchards, and it offers visitors shops, cafés, good restaurants and spectacular panoramic views.  Be sure to read Anita Rieu-Sicart's article in this issue about the Art Expo taking place now in Les Baux:  the  Carrières de Lumières ~ a projection of art accompanied by music.    

 We will continue to include Arthur Gillette's "Twisted Tongues" in our newsletter
until we exhaust the selection he kindly provided.  We hope you enjoy them as much as he
enjoyed the French language.  We are sure he would want us to continue the game . . .

                                                                                                               SPONSORING THIS ISSUE                                                                                                                      

Château d'Agel

The Medieval splendor of Château d'Agel creates an ambiance you will never find
in a hotel.  Among the Minervois and Corbières vineyards of the Hérault, guests can enjoy the
peaceful surroundings, a fine swimming pool and day trips to Carcassonne, the Canal
du Midi or the Mediterranean beaches at Gruissan and Narbonne Plage.

Click here or  on the photo for more information and reservations.