Finally, I’ll post photos from this year’s summer trip - “Great trip to the southern provinces of France” with DSBW. Route: Nice - Avignon - Pont du Gard - Nimes - Carcassonne - Bordeaux - Cognac - Angouleme - Sarlas la Caneda - Rocamadour - Toulouse - Arles - Marseille - and another 4 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 Virgin Marys - so for me this tour also turned out to be quite eventful and educational, although in some cities (I was bringing 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 came at the worst possible time, late July - early August. It depends on you, but by the middle of the tour I was simply feeling ill from the heat (although a whole day of partying for fun in Bordeaux improved the situation somewhat). If interested, I can tell you about the organizer and the guide.
And the advantages... what can I say about them, they are all in the photographs.
Market in Nice
Panorama
Avignon. The square in front of the Papal Palace.
There was a theater festival in Avignon at that time, and throughout the central part artists gave their little performances
View of the Saint-Benezé bridge (pont d'Avignon from a song that every Frenchman allegedly knows; however, the motive is familiar even to me)
Pont du Gard is a stunning monument of Roman architecture...
And a little memory of our ancestors-tourists (note 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 can be felt very well...
Roman Arena in Nîmes (1st half of the 1st century AD)
She's inside. You can walk around the entire amphitheater from the top, although you need appropriate physical conditions - you constantly have to climb considerable steps, 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 don't know
Bordeaux, St. Andrew's Cathedral
Local entertainment is a fountain on the Garonne embankment. Just an area covered with a thin layer of water that barely covers your feet. Personally, I took off my shoes and frolicked. Local residents are clearly having fun with the same thing.
Of course, there are Roman ruins here too...
Triumphal Arch
And this is a statue in front of the medical faculty building. The students were clearly celebrating their graduation...
Sardia la Caneda. Foie gras production center, by the way! Therefore, the geese are honored and respected here.
In general, this is real medieval city with very narrow and very crooked streets, in which it is easy to get lost
And this is Rocamadour - a major European pilgrimage center, part of the Way of Santiago.
This is a castle and three churches, partly built on a small platform on a rock, partly carved right into this rock.
A winding road leads from the church up to the castle, symbolizing the way of the cross of Christ; Once upon a time, pilgrims walked it on their knees. And in one of the churches one of the Black Virgin Marys is kept
(sorry about the quality)
Toulouse. The city is pink! Once upon a time it was only possible to build here with brick; and now a house made of any material will certainly be painted or at least trimmed red or pink
Capitolium
Arles. There is a Roman amphitheater here too, but in some places it has been restored in our time
Van Gogh was once treated here
Marseilles.
Notre-Dame de la Garde blesses the city from above from the magnificent cathedral
And in the cathedral itself there is a wonderful silver statue of the Virgin Mary
In the group of islands, the middle one (and the smallest) is the same island on which the Château d'If is located. Unfortunately, we didn't get it
Here’s a closer look at the castle (notre-Dame de la Garde can be seen behind it)
La Major Cathedral
We went to Grasse on our own while we lived in Nice for 4 days. A small cozy town, although crawling to it from the station (quite high up the hill) is not so easy. There are also elegant streets there...
And those where Jean-Baptiste Grenouille, apparently, lay in wait for his victims
And this is a panorama of Cannes - we stopped by on the road from Grasse
And this is Monaco - Monte Carlo - another of our independent trips.
It’s a pity that you can’t film 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 visit, be sure to take a tour! They give you headphones, there is a tour in Russian (and very good Russian), and I highly recommend seeing the palace itself. We also visited an exhibition dedicated to Princess Grazia Patricia - actress Grace Kelly. How local resident love their princely family! The English also love their queen, but they also make fun of her and scold her... And here - such touching love...
Princely Palace
"Changing of the Page Guard"
A piece of the Formula 1 track
And there are also these racing cars in the city
Famous Casino
A small educational program: Black Madonnas, Black Virgins, Vierges Noires are statues of the Mother of God made of black/dark material or painted black. Madonna has been revered at all times, and no one knows why her images were made black. I rummaged through a lot of things (although, unfortunately, I was only able to read articles written in Russian and English), as a result I discovered: serious researchers are quite cautious, with the reservations “it is likely that it could be”, they say that these are possibly remnants of Celtic cults - newly converted Catholics tried to cross their old beliefs and gods with the new religion; this is the most common version. The “obsessed” (Eco defined them very well) claim approximately the same thing, but categorically (somewhere I even came across the theory that some of these statues are former statues Isis and Osiris). Perhaps there is some truth in this - some statues are very far from traditional Catholic images and are more reminiscent of statues from Easter Island.
So here it is. I posted Notre-Dame de Rocamadour above. Here it is closer - it’s an ordinary postcard, I took the photo on the Internet
12th century, possibly 9th. One of the few surviving originals that are 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 from 1806, made to replace the statue destroyed during the revolution, but it is 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 some confusion arose with it. I was looking for Notre-Dame du Palais - a statue made of dark stone, which should now be located on the Jesuit Church. We found this church in the middle of the night... There is this statue there:
In principle, everything is correct - the stone is not that light.
And then on a tour 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’s quite meager)). In short, I'm still at a loss. Until I get around to contacting the author of the list where I got the information from and asking for advice.
There was another statue in Arles, but, unfortunately, we didn’t see it - we didn’t have much time in the city, according to the program it was in the evening, and the church, which I suspected was the Black Virgin there))), was closed.
But we found the Black Virgin in Marseille - Notre-Dame de la Confession
It is in the basilica of the Abbey of Saint-Victor, wood, 13th century.
And finally - those same statues from Chartres Cathedral:
Notre-Dame de Sous-Terre
Notre-Dame du Pilier
(photo stolen from the official website of the cathedral)
Day 1 Moscow - Nice: Arrival V Nice.Detailed information on recommended flights from Russian cities and transfers is presented in the “Recommended Flights” section under the tour description. Transfer and hotel accommodation. We also organize transfers from Genoa. Free time.
After noon walking tour of Nice , founded by the ancient Greeks, which turned into a popular seaside resort for the European aristocracy in the 19th century. Many artists have linked their fate with Nice. IN Matisse Museum there is one of the largest collections of paintings by the master. IN Marc Chagall Museum presents works by the famous artist on biblical themes. Free time.
Day 2 Nice - Verdon Gorge - Moustiers Saint Marie - Roussillon - Marseille: Departure for a journey through the south of France along picturesque national roads. Visit on the way Verdon Gorgewith a stop at Lake of the Holy Cross. Then You will stop at a mountain village Moustier Saint Marie(~ 140 km), then you will have a stop at Roussillon(~100 km), which is a member of the Association of the "most beautiful villages France", with a short excursion and his famous natural park with ocher hills. Free time for lunch.
Then you will go to Marseille (~ 95 km). Accommodation at a hotel in Marseille. Free time. While in Marseille you should definitely tryBouillabaisse - Provencal fish soup, which is usually prepared for 2 - 3 people and which will cost about €50 - €60. You can try Marseille Bouillabaisse, for example in a restaurant Les Miramar at Quai du Port 12.Alternatively, you can also have a nice dinner in a restaurant Toinou at Cours Saint-Louis, 3 , located near the Old Port. Here you can try almost everything that local fishermen catch: oysters, shrimp, crabs, mussels, scallops, snails, which are delivered here 6 times a day!
Day 3 Marseille - Avignon: Sightseeing tour of Marseille, a port city in the south of France, founded by Greek traders in the 7th century. BC. At the top of the city is the Romano-Byzantine-style Basilica of Notre-Dame de la Garde, which offers magnificent views of Marseille and is included in a city tour. The most famous modern buildings are the Radiant City complex, designed by Le Corbusier, and the CMA CGM Tower skyscraper by architect Zaha Hadid.
Free time. We recommend visiting Museum of European and Mediterranean Civilizations- a building in the form of a huge black cube near the Old Port. The roof of the museum offers beautiful views of the Mediterranean Sea and the old port, and the building itself is connected pedestrian bridge with Fort Saint-Jean - St Jean of the 17th century. There is a good restaurant with original cuisine on the roof of the museum. Le Môle Passédat- address Quai du Port, 201. Lunch according to the “formula” will cost ~€20 here. Moving Avignon(~105 km). Hotel accommodation.
Day 4 Avignon - Pont du Gard - Nimes:Avignon walking tour - medieval city, famous for the Papal Palace of the 14th century. Papal Palace - a monument of history and architecture, object World Heritage UNESCO and one of the largest palaces in Europe. Avignon hosts an annual Theater Festival. Free time in Avignon. We recommend visiting Papal Palace, where you can walk with an audio guide in Russian. If you climb to the very top, you will be able to see a beautiful panorama of Avignon overlooking the famous Avignon Bridge and the Rhone River. Free time for lunch.
In the afternoon, a trip to the monument of the Roman era - the aqueduct bridge Pont du Gard(~25 km). The Pont du Gard is the highest surviving ancient Roman aqueduct with a length of 275 meters and a height of 47 meters. UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Then excursion to Nimes(~ 30 km) with a tour of the ancient Roman Arena for 23,000 spectators, built under Caesar, and the Maison Care Temple, erected under Emperor Augustus. We recommend visiting the Arena inside - it is still used for concerts - the acoustics are amazing. Free time. Return to the hotel in Avignon (~ 44 km)
Day 5 Avignon - Orange - Beau de Provence: Excursion trip to Provence. First you will go to the city Orange(~30 km). Orange, which was one of the most prosperous centers of Roman Provence under Emperor Augustus, is famous today mainly due to Ancient Roman theater, in which in the summer months are held music festivals. This horseshoe-shaped theater has no equal in terms of its state of preservation: the back wall is more than 100 meters long, and in the central niche stands a 3.5-meter high statue of Emperor Augustus. Next to the theater there is a wonderful museum dedicated to the history of Ancient Rome.
Transfer to a picturesque village Beau de Provence , which is included in the Association of “the most beautiful villages in France”, leads serpentine roads (~ 60 km). We recommend climbing to the very top of Beau de Provence, visiting the fortress and looking at the magnificent landscapes of Provence from above. The excursion day will end Wine tasting in Chateauneuf du Pape*. Return to Avignon.
Day 6 Avignon - Gordes - Senanque - Aix-en-Provence: Moving to a medieval village Proud(~50 km). A short stop. Medieval buildings dating back to the 12th century have been preserved here. Many people remember Gord from the movie " Good year". A short stop at Abbeys of Senanque(~ 5 km), located against the backdrop of lavender fields.
Moving to Aix-en-Provence(~75 km) is a university town in Provence, where the famous post-impressionist artist Paul Cézanne was born. The city is also known forEuropean Academy of Music and many art festivals. Excursion around Aix-en-Provence. Free time. Accommodation at a hotel in Aix-en-Provence.
Day 7 Aix-en-Provence - Arles - Camargue - Carcassonne: Moving to Arles(~80 km). Hiking around the city of Arles, one of the historical cities in the south of the country associated with history ancient Rome. Moving to Camargue(~12 km) regional natural Park South of France. Moving to Carcassonne(~228 km). Hotel accommodation in Carcassonne.
Day 8 Carcassonne - Bordeaux:Walking tour of the fortified city of Carcassonne, one of the most beautiful fortified cities of medieval Europe: a double ring of fortress walls, 52 towers with a length of fortifications of 3 km. It was here that Kevin Costner filmed the film “Robin Hood”, the setting for which was the walls of this famous fortress. Free time for lunch. Moving from Carcassonne to Bordeaux(~340 km). Accommodation at a hotel in Bordeaux.
Day 9 Bordeaux - Cognac - Angouleme: Walking tour of Bordeaux. A trip through the picturesque surroundings of Bordeaux with a visit to the city Cognac(~125 km). You will learn all the secrets of Cognac production technology and will be able to take part in a small tasting. You will learn what "Angel's Share" is. Then the city awaits you Angouleme(~47 km) with its famous cathedral. In the evening return to the hotel l in Bordeaux.
Day 10 Bordeaux - Saint-Emilion - Rocamadour - Narbonne: Moving to Saint-Emilion (~ 50 km) - delightful medieval town on a hilltop above a valley of vineyards on the right bank of the Dordogne river.
Moving to Rocamadour(~ 180 km) - a medieval city on the top of a cliff overlooking the Dordogne Valley, with an amazingly beautiful scattering of medieval houses, churches and terraces, a place of pilgrimage for believers and tourists, one of the three most visited attractions in France. Excursion to Rocamadour. Free time for lunch. Moving to Narbonne(~320 km). Hotel accommodation.
Day 11 Narbonne - Sigean - Nice: Walking tour of Narbonne. Moving to the safari park Sizhan(~22 km). Safari Park Sigean is considered unique reserve African wild nature in France. Sizhan is interesting because here you cannot see the usual enclosures in which their inhabitants huddle closely. All collected animals are in conditions close to their usual habitat and roam freely around its territory. Entry tickets 35 euros to be paid on the spot. Transfer to Marseille (~ 280 km). Free time for lunch. Moving to Nice (~ 200 km) - the capital Cote d'Azur France. Hotel accommodation.
Day 12 Nice:
"EXTRA PACKAGE NICE"
Day 12 Nice: Free time in the morning. After noonExcursion to Monaco On the way, stop at the medieval the village of Eze, rising at an altitude of 427 meters above the peninsula of Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, from where beautiful views to the Cote d'Azur, with a visit Perfume factory and perfume museum. During your free time in Monaco, we recommend visiting the magnificent aquariums at the Oceanographic Museum and the Garden of Exotic Plants. Fans of vintage cars will be interested in the Prince of Monaco Automotive Museum. Return to Nice.
Day 13 Nice: Excursion trip Cannes - Grasse with a visit to the perfume museum. Cannes- the venue of the famous Cannes Film Festival and the city Grass- the capital of French perfumery, located 20 km from the seashore, has retained its provincial charm. You will see a picturesque Old city, on the streets of which ancient perfume shops still operate.
Day 14 Nice: Free time. Transfer to Nice airport.
Another Paris
This was my first trip to France. Gray and miserable - that’s my impression of Paris! Either my friend tricked me and brought me to a place other than 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 those in the films. Ordinary ones, not Catherine Deneuve.
Provincials
I didn’t really see Paris; 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 ours, when you don’t know what awaits you. You drive too smoothly, you don’t feel the steering wheel. The idea came to do the Dakar here. Let them feel what real off-roading is like! The French are spoiled by good roads, quality wine and social benefits. We have developed immunity even to the apocalypse, so I glanced sarcastically at my guides.
We pass by French villages. Our guide says that the French themselves love the provinces, they are attached to their homes and neighbors. Oddly enough, he speaks of Paris casually, as if it were a bustling and dirty city. I agree with him. But I’m silent, the guide is already looking sideways in my direction. He is infuriated by my impeccable English and godless pronunciation of merci, excusez moi.
After a 7 hour flight and disappointment in Paris, I want to send a friend. He deprived me of a Thai massage and an all inclusive hotel. Mark saves him. He is the owner of a winery with bottomless barrels of red and white wine. Red wine with medium rare steak was a great end to the evening.
Morning in the village
Mornings in the French countryside are not like ours. There are no crowing roosters and, in principle, no living creatures. This makes me happy, no one wakes me up annoyingly. But I found it inconvenient to lie in bed when the owners were already working. They get up early. Mark rides a horse around 56 hectares of the farm - Domaine Sant-Anne. A car ride through a vineyard can ruin it. I join Mark and get on the wagon as his son talks about the family business.
Red, white and rosé, still, semi-sparkling and sparkling wines are produced under 60 different names, which vary in appearance from very dry to very sweet. Chenay Blanc grapes produce four completely different types of wines: dry, semi-sweet, sweet and sparkling. These are traditions that arose under the influence of the whims of the local climate. This grape variety has excess natural acidity and, if it receives enough sunlight, a high sugar content. But, from a viticultural point of view, the Loire Valley is considered a northern region, and wine producers must take into account late frosts, cold winds and changeable weather in the summer. In sunny years, winemakers strive to produce the most full-bodied wines from sweet and savory grapes, but in other cases they can only make semi-sweet or dry wines. Species diversity is at the heart of Loire winemakers' predicament, because you can't build a reputation on inconsistency. With the exception of wines such as the best Savenniere, dry Chenay blanc wines are too often bodyless, coarse and sour. They by no means enhance the reputation of the Loire, but they are similar in characteristics to Champagne wines. And if still wines with such characteristics cause disappointment, then sparkling wines cause delight. It is not surprising that during the period of rapid development of the champagne trade in the 19th century. The production of sparkling wines began in Saumur. Today, the Loire enjoys the reputation of being the largest sparkling wine market outside of Champagne itself.
Spirit Hunter of Louis
My friend clearly liked it in France. What does free wine and pretty French women do! I was still thinking about a Thai massage and an ocean holiday until Mark suggested going to Chateau de Chambord. This is the kings' hunting lodge, where I suspect they took their girlfriends. Previously, tokalkas also bought houses with servants, holding dinner parties in castles, while the legal wife decided the fate of the people in Versailles. I was more interested in the legends about 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 fell behind the guide and turned on my headphones for Russian-speaking tourists. Long introduction aside, the history of Chambord is interesting.
Chateau de Chambord 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 in building the castle; he was not embarrassed by his debt to Spain. He devoted all his efforts to engineers and workers to build his “house.” Moreover, he raised taxes on the church and forced his subjects to melt silver. The design of the building was developed by the Italian architect Domenico da Cortona, but they also say that Leonardo da Vinci had a hand in the work. It was he who suggested the elements for finishing the building. Leonardo da Vinci also designed the staircase in the castle. The central ladder is made with double spiral winding. There are a total of 77 staircases in the castle. They say that Francis specifically ordered the construction of many stairs so that his favorites would not collide with each other. Beautiful Constantinople with its many columns served as inspiration for the creation of the Chateau de Chambord.
Stinky cheese or fries
After a long excursion, I was attacked by a glutton. The French women who were leaving the castle helped me find the cafe. They turned out to be atypical Europeans; they knew where Kazakhstan and Astana were. The feeling of pride gave way to a moment of 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 the cafe we ordered oysters, I read somewhere that they have a positive effect on potency. I don’t know about the health benefits, but the taste is a nightmare! Nothing beats horse meat, oysters and frog legs! Send the brie cheese there, smelling like bachelor socks.
First 2 weeks of September 2008.
Tour operator "DSBV"
Nice-Avignon-Pont du Gard-Nîmes-Carcassonne-Bordeaux-Cognac-Angoulême-Saint-Emilion-Arcachon-Sarles la Caneda-Rocamadour-Toulouse-Arles-Marseille + holidays in Nice
The trip was simply wonderful, very interesting and educational, although very difficult. Moreover, the flight was to Genoa (Italy), and then by bus to Nice. The tour was simply about endurance, because in the intense heat (it was more than +30) we had to walk almost 10 km with our legs almost every day, and even along mountains, steps, and abbeys. We must pay tribute, all the hotels along the route were from “3+” to “4 stars” with buffet breakfasts, i.e. with a hot buffet, which is very cool and a rarity for a tour of France. I liked Nice, however, the dominance of Russian speech, you feel like in Sochi, and I went specifically to speak French. From Mount Chateau there is an incomparable view panoramic view: Bay of Angels, English Promenade, palaces, parks, shops, restaurants. Bright sun, blue sky, turquoise sea. And all this is poetically called the Cote d'Azur! But personally I for beach holiday I would never choose Nice. The beach is large pebbles, it hurts your feet very, very much. And the equipped beach is no different: just a sun lounger - 20 euros, a soft mattress - 5 euros, an umbrella - 5 euros, and entering the water is just as stupid. I had to buy special swimming slippers.
Next we move to Avignon, famous for its bridge over the Rhone River, the Papal Palace and the Notre Dame de Dome Cathedral. The Rhone is wonderfully beautiful, its banks are simply buried in lush vegetation, and the emerald waters rush in a stormy stream. In one of the restaurants in the center of Avignon, a waiter approaches us, a purely Russian boy from Samara, whose mother married a Frenchman. Now he is French too. We eat amazingly tasty fish and wash everything down with rose wine. Mmm... How lovely! From Avignon we are taken to a wine tasting at Chateau Laurent Charles Brotte. These chateaus used to be castles, but now the chateau is an estate with outbuildings and endless vineyards. The tasting is conducted by the young owner himself and even with a guided tour. Of course, we buy 3-4 bottles of wine at a price of 20 to 50 euros each, remembering that the suitcase on the way back should weigh no more than 20 kg. From Avignon we move to a place called “Pont du Gard” (literally, “bridge over the Gard River”). Roman legionnaires also left their legacy here. A gorgeous, several-tiered aqueduct, which was built not by slaves, but by the Romans themselves with good technical education. And a quiet village nearby. You can clearly see how the river is teeming with fish, and herons stand decorously along the banks. If I were an artist, I would immediately sketch this landscape! Next we go to the city of Nimes. He's not small at all. His coat of arms includes crocodiles. Residents are still fighting with the La Coste company, which allegedly stole their crocodiles. The city is decorated with huge arenas reminiscent of the Roman Colosseum. By the way, bullfighting is still held here, but bulls are not killed. There are a lot of beautiful squares and fountains, from the most ancient to the super stylish and modern. Everyone is allowed into the city hall; the doors there simply do not close. The canal itself along which we are walking is beautiful. We go into the “Garden of Fountains”, admire the Temple of Diana, no one knows in what century it was erected. It’s hot, the sun is strong, no less than +33, and it’s already the month of September. But the photos will turn out great.
Then we move to the medieval fortified city of Carcassonne. As the French say sité, i.e. its central part is fenced with fortified walls with loopholes. The beginning of its construction dates back to the 15th century. I was there with my husband 6 years ago; we drove to Carcassonne from Spain. Nothing changed. Everything is just as beautiful, there are several museums: schools, ghosts and the Inquisition (the latter, by the way, is very interesting). And now about the town itself. It is located on very convenient routes, so everyone wanted to get their hands on it. He was besieged very often. And according to legend, during a long siege, Madame Carcass began throwing pigs from the fortress walls. By this she wanted to show the besiegers that the besieged inhabitants still had a lot of provisions. The siege was lifted... Since then the city has been called Carcassonne, and on the Narbonne Gate there is a bas-relief of Madame Carcasse. By the way, this is where the film “Robin Hood” starring Kevin Costner was filmed. Wonderful little town. But we lived outside the walls of the site, in a simple city, however, also very old. Our hotel was called Terminu. Simple 3 stars +, the only hotel of this level, all the rest were normal European “fours”. I didn’t like the hotel, the reception desk looked like a train station in the design plan, but the hotel had a swimming pool and a jacuzzi. The rooms are tiny, between the sink and the bathtub directly to the toilet itself I made my way sideways and exhaled air!!!
After Carcassonne we move to Bordeaux. Surprisingly, there are very few hiking trails through this city. However, I didn't really like him. A large industrial city, very modern. And the wide and very dirty Garona River flows through it. True, it is dirty not from industrial waste, like our Moscow River, but from clay banks. I only liked it long embankment with a fountain, all in flowers, but they should have called it “Customs Embankment”! We live in Bordeaux for 3 whole days, going on excursions and returning to it. Here we have a very decent 4-star hotel of the Novotel chain. The room is large, spacious, with a luxurious bathroom and separate toilet. And what a good restaurant in this hotel, one might say, with gourmet delights! We drink wine a little at a time, but at breakfast, before lunch, at lunch, before dinner, at dinner, and after dinner. And we don't even get drunk. The wines are incredible!
Next we move to the city of Cognac, which stands on the most beautiful river Charente. An amazingly beautiful bridge, all entwined with flowers. I can't resist taking pictures. The castle itself (chateau) belonged for many years to Baron Otar, who specialized in the production of cognac. Here the cognac is real, but everywhere else there is only brandy. And several centuries ago, the chateau belonged to Francis I himself. He was an extraordinary man for those times. Tall, healthy, with sloping shoulders and bent horseshoes with his hands. But he really loved the female sex, which is why he died prematurely. He had a mistress, Belle Froniere, and her husband could not forgive her for being the king’s favorite. He “awarded” his wife with syphilis, and she gave the king. The sad result is that all three died prematurely... But Francis did not forget about his wife, who bore him 7 children. We go into the chateau. The tour is conducted in Russian by a simple Ukrainian girl, who has lived and worked there for a long time, wearing a simple long dress stylized as a peasant woman. But we see mannequins in medieval clothes. Bah! Yes, this is Francis the First himself with Claudine of France and his retinue. I can't resist taking pictures! And then we are led through the vaulted halls and down into the cellars, shown the storage facilities, and told about the distillation system. And... finally, tasting. They pour little and little, and only 2 varieties. Of course, we also buy Otar cognac, the price ranges from 20 to 240 euros per bottle, depending on the V.S.O.P. or X.O.
Next we move to Angoulême. A medieval town, the old part of the city is again located high, high on the mountain. Oh, I'm crawling up! My poor legs, they are just buzzing with fatigue! The beautiful ancient St. Andrew's Cathedral, a modern theater, parks, squares, absolutely tiny and narrow streets. It seems that the city is sleeping, there are almost no tourists. And then there’s a very beautiful and ancient castle, now it’s the mayor’s office of Angoulême, surrounded by a stunning square with bright flowers and right there a monument to Margaret of Angoulême, the most educated woman of her time, by the way, the sister of Francis the First. In our free time, we sit right in a restaurant near the Hotel de Ville (city hall) and, while drinking aromatic coffee, meditate, i.e. We are transported to the atmosphere of the Middle Ages. Then we move to Saint Emilion. It is because of him that we chose this tour. Here are the best vineyards in France, here, not in Bordeaux. For information: in Moscow restaurants, a bottle of high-quality collection wine from the Saint-Emilion region costs from 5 to 10 thousand rubles apiece. The town is also very old, the cathedral is high on the mountain, and in its chapel there is a clock with such a melodious chime that you can’t help but listen to it, and the spire of the chapel soars high, high into the sky. Wine stores visible and invisible. And they offer free tasting in any of them. I buy one single bottle, but... for 155 euros. Oh, and my husband will kick me out of the house for SUCH a gift!!! Next we go to Arcachon, which is famous for its sandy beaches and oyster plantations. The beaches are indeed sandy, although not equipped. But there are plenty of seafood restaurants. Well, how can you deny yourself this? That's how clean ours is sightseeing tour It also develops into a gastronomic one. We order a huge plate of seafood, only 24 euros, and wine too! There is a huge dune in the city, its height is 115 meters, it gives the impression that you are in the desert. But the town is very nice, a real resort town and there are pine trees all around!
I really liked the city of Sarlat-la-Caneda (absolutely ancient), and we also went to the festive Saturday fair, where local farmers bring their products: excellent cheeses, smoked meats, fish, seafood and foie gros (goose liver pate). The province of Perigo is famous for this particular product. I really, really liked it here. Very old houses, but a modern, vibrant rhythm of life! Then there was tiny Arles, where Van Gogh lived and worked. Next, our path lies in the city of Rocamadour. Rocamadour Abbey is located high up on a steep cliff. When I heard that we were going there now, I almost fainted. “With your legs again?!” - a phrase involuntarily escaped from me, directed to the guide. It turned out that everything was simpler, we were taken to the very top by bus, and from there, gradually downwards, along serpentine paths we went down to the town itself. The abbey is very old, it dates back to the 11th century, but everything is very beautiful, measured and calm.
And then Toulouse. Very Big city. A mixture of antiquity and modernity, an abundance of squares, parks and fountains. And there are a lot of Muslims, black people and homeless people. While we were relaxing at the Merkur Hotel in the very center of the city, it was in Toulouse that they tried to rob our bus at night. They knocked down a window near the driver's seat and got inside, but they stole little, some candy and cookies, apparently some teenagers got in. But the province of Languedoc has always been considered very, very rich. Remember Geoffrey de Peyrac, Count of Toulouse, who was richer than the king himself, from “Angelique - Marquise of the Angels” by Anne and Serge Gollon? Apparently Toulouse is not so rich now...
And then Marseille with its famous islands (Castle d'If and Frioul). We ate the famous bouillabaisse soup in Marseille. A plate for 38 euros, but nothing special, fish soup made from pureed lentils with fish, however, cooked according to a special, secret and time-consuming recipe. But most of all I didn’t like the fact that French is the second language in Marseille, the first is Arabic. There is a very large Muslim population. It was in vain that Charles de Gaulle allowed them into France in such a rank. And finally, the most famous cathedral, Notre Dame de la Garde, on top of which rises the golden Virgin Mary, stretching out her arms to the sea and protecting the peace of the inhabitants of Marseille. We ourselves, on a pleasure boat, go first to the island of If (remember the Count of Monte Cristo?), and then to the island of Frioul. All this is very close to Marseille. Honestly, I thought that in Marseille I would see drunken wandering sailors embracing whores. This is a huge port. But I didn’t see anything like that. And then again to Nice, to our 4-star Excellur hotel.
From Nice we went to the Principality of Monaco, beautiful and respectable. All Rolls-Royces, Lambarginis and Porsches. Wonderful gardens of Albert the First and the princely palace itself. Even now everyone is allowed into it. And then to Monte Carlo, which is part of the city of Monaco. We also visited the famous casino. The entrance ticket is personalized, issued only if you have a passport and costs 10 euros. They don't allow you to take photographs there, which is a pity. Just a gorgeous palace with stucco moldings and huge crystal chandeliers. Yes... I won’t be a lady. And although by Moscow standards everything is fine with my money, it was there that I strongly felt and realized HOW poor I was! And HOW far I am from this world. However, this did not upset me. I didn’t play in the casino, I just don’t know how, I “rooted” for our men! And now a little about the French in general: they eat a huge amount of bread and croissants, while remaining not just slender, but dry as a roach. There are a lot of expensive branded clothing stores in Nice; a friend bought a blouse for 270 euros for her student daughter in the Sonia Rykiel brand store on rue Paradis. Don't go to this street. The most expensive stores, the prices in which are incredibly “off the charts”. Sizes of fashionable clothes are mainly from 1 to 3 sizes, i.e. from 40th to 46th. And on the pedestrian street Massena there are the best restaurants. We especially liked the restaurant "Le Mirador", the seafood and marinated mussels served right in the shells are very good there! In general, I really liked the measured way of life of the French. They are never in a hurry at all, they enjoy and experience life to the fullest. Everyone is obsessed with their body. In the morning, be sure to jog, bike or roller skate, and then aromatic coffee with a pile of croissants and the morning newspaper. They are actively fighting smoking; in restaurants they don’t even provide ashtrays, but put them on the street, on open verandas. And they themselves smoke a lot, a lot! The ticket for 15 days cost almost 2 thousand euros (price as of August 2008), I spent even more than 2.5 thousand euros there. All in the amount of more than 4.5 thousand euros. But she remained incredibly pleased. I plunged into the atmosphere of the Middle Ages, breathed in the real aroma of France, had a hearty conversation with the French, learned a lot of new things, and swam a little and sunbathed. Yes, the tour was very difficult, but since I survived, it means that it is accessible to everyone. I highly recommend this tour to lovers and deep connoisseurs of France.
The provinces of France, like Paris, are also known for their attractions, ancient castles, fortresses, gardens and parks, for which you can go on a trip. There are 34 provinces in France:
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Wherever you go on a trip to the provinces of France, everywhere you will get acquainted with unique creations the best architects and artists. The most favorable provinces for tourists are the following:
French Alsace is of particular interest to travelers. It is located a few hours away by car from the borders of Austria, Germany, Belgium, Holland, Luxembourg and Switzerland. Moreover, almost all of these countries are united into a single visa area, which allows a guest of Alsace to visit other regions of Europe. Every turn of the winding roads of Alsace...
In the north-west of France is the peninsular province of Brittany, washed by Atlantic Ocean. The ocean has a positive effect on the climate of the region, due to which Brittany has fairly mild winters and moderate heat in summer. The coast is considered the “golden belt” of Brittany. River mouths, fjords, bays and coves have been formed over centuries. Here to Mont Bay...
The province of Normandy is located in the north-west of the country, near the English Channel. The province owes its name to the Normans, Viking sailors. Here, on the banks of the English Channel, are the prestigious resort towns of France: Deauville, Trouville, etc. The small town of Deauville is considered by many to be an additional district of the capital. The cozy resort is located very close to...
Champagne Province
The Champagne region is primarily a wine-growing region and one of the most beautiful areas in northern France. Champagne has been producing wine for over 2000 years. This is the birthplace of real champagne. The cities and suburbs of Champagne produce the most famous varieties of champagne wines, including Veuve Clicquot, Pommery,...
Province of Provence
Provence is, first of all, the famous region of France, the Cote d'Azur (Riviera), with such world-famous resort cities as Nice, the famous Cannes, as well as Saint-Tropez and Marseille. The names of these cities are strongly associated with luxurious life. Nice is the capital of the Cote d'Azur, a magnificent resort located in the Bay of Angels, surrounded by the Maritime...
Province of Languedoc
The province of Languedoc is located in the south of France, on the edge of the Mediterranean Sea, it consists of two regions - the Lower (flat) and the Upper (mountainous). Languedoc has the largest number of cities that are famous for their monuments from the Gallo-Roman era. Among them is the city of Montpellier, where you can visit wonderful museums, the oldest Botanical Museum in the whole country...
Burgundy is considered the richest province of the country, a picturesque area among forest valleys and waterfalls. In the east of the region rise the Jura Mountains. The province is filled with architectural and religious monuments. The land of Burgundy was inhabited by Celts in ancient times. Then came the Romans, who were replaced in the 6th century by the Germanic Burgundians, who gave the country its name. She attracts...
Province of Aquitaine
The province of Aquitaine lies in southwestern France. The region is famous for its vineyards, seaside resorts and ports. The history of the province is rich in eras: Aquitaine was under the rule of the Romans, Visigoths and the English Empire. In the center of Aquitaine is the Bordeaux region with the capital of the same name. Thanks to Bordeaux, Aquitaine secured the title of the largest wine producing...
This northern region, like other historical provinces, existed until the French Revolution of 1790, and after it all provinces were dissolved. French territory was divided into departments. The main purpose of this change was the need to replace the population’s devotion to the feudal regions with devotion to the central one located in Paris...
The Limousin province is located in central France and includes three departments: Corrèze, Creuse and Haute-Vienne. The main glory and attractiveness of this region and, above all, its main city of Limoges, is the fine production of porcelain, as well as ceramics and enamel. The development of porcelain is associated with Madame Darnay, who discovered such a substance as kaolin in the 18th century. She...
The province of Anjou is located in the northwestern part of the state, it is located in the lower part of the Loire River valley and entirely includes the Maine-Loire department, as well as some parts of the territories of such departments as Indres, Loire, Maine. Population is about 400 thousand people. The province was named so as part of the ancient Gallic tribe, which was renamed...
Angoumois is a historical area in western France; after the abolition of the provinces, it became part of the Charente department. Population 350 thousand people. Angoumois existed as a county since the 10th century and was annexed to the possessions of the French crown only in 1308. Then, from 1515, Angoumois became a duchy and in 1790 became part of the departments of Charente and...
Flanders is a historical territory that is located on the territory of three modern states, not only France, but also Belgium, as well as the Netherlands. Today, only part of the territory of Flanders is part of France, being part of the Nord department. This department is one of the first departments in France that were created after the Great French...
Berry is a historical province located in the center of France, once the Duchy of Berry, today its territory coincides with two departments - Cher and Indre. Population over 560 thousand people. The province of Berry is the main granary of France for the cultivation of grain, as well as the production of meat, milk and dairy products, and above all cheeses from...
Guienne and Gascony is a historical province located directly in the southwestern part of the country in the Garonne river basin. This province, like all the others, ceased to exist after the principle changed during the revolution administrative division countries. Guienne and Gascony includes 7 departments completely and 6 partially. The population of the province is...
Dauphine is a historical province of France, the territory of which corresponds to the current departments of Isère, Drôme, and Hautes-Alpes. The province is located in the southeast of France, its most of located in the Alps and the Rhone River Valley. The province has a population of two million people. Dauphin - from the 12th century the title of the owners of the counties of Auvergne and Vienois (later...
Corsica is the fourth largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, located 170 km in the southeastern part of the Cote d'Azur of France. The central city is Ajaccio with a population of more than 260 thousand people; the main people living on the island are Corsicans. At one time the island was under the rule of the Moors, but later it came under the control of the Genoese...
Picardy is a historical province in northern France, it includes departments such as Aisne, Oise and Somme. The capital of Picardy is the city of two million - Amiens. It is Picardy that is considered the birthplace of Gothic architecture; here you can see six famous cathedrals. The largest of them is located in Amiens. The region began to be called Picardy in...
Roussillon is a historical province located in the southern part of France, midway between the Pyrenees and Mediterranean Sea(now the department of Eastern Pyrenees). The main city is Perpignan. It was here that the County of Roussillon was located in the Middle Ages, and then this area became the Catalan comarque of Roussillon. During the Roman era it was part of a province called...
Orléans is a very well-known historical province of France until 1790; today, on its territory there are, for example, departments such as Loiret, Loire and Cher, as well as some territory of the departments of Eure and Loire and part of Yonne. In the past, this territory was owned by the Dukes of the Orleans family. The famous Loire River flows through the province. Loire Valley...
Maine is a former province that is located in the current departments of Mayenne and Sarthe. Its main city is Le Mans. During the time of the Romans, Cenomani lived on this land. This explains the name of the province. At one time it belonged to England - Saint Louis gave it to his brother Charles. Then, after the cessation of descendants of this family in the 15th century, she...
Franche-Comté is a historical province located in the east of the country. It occupies three percent of the entire territory of the country. It includes four departments - Doubs, Haute-Saône, Jura and Belfort Territory. This is the smallest and most environmentally friendly province of France. Translated, Franche-Comté means "Free County". This name was first...
Foix is a historical province of France until 1790, currently forming the Ariège department. This territory was annexed to France in 1607 by Henry IV. The main city has the same name: Foix. City of Foix The administrative center of the Ariège department is the city of Foix, the smallest French provincial capital. It is picturesquely located at...
general description Ile-de-France is one of the 26 administrative regions of France, mainly coinciding with the territory of Paris. Its name literally means "Island of France", possibly derived from the ancient Frankish expression "little France". At first, in 1961, the province received the name "District of the Paris Region", but later it was...
General description of Comtat-Venaissin, historical region in the southeast of France, the lands around the city of Avignon, a significant part of the Vaucluse department (administrative region of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur). From 1274 - part of the Papal States, in 1791 annexed by France. The county is also famous for the fact that between 1501 and 1791 it was...
General description Montbéliard is a historical province of France. The main city is Montbéliard. In fact, the city is sometimes called Sochaux-Montbéliard, since the eastern suburbs have long merged with the city, and in some way eclipsed it. Montbéliard is an ancient medieval city; in 1397-1793 it was the center of the German principality of Württemberg as part of the Holy...
Province of Nice (Fief of Sardinia)
General description Nice is the fifth largest city in France, the second in the number of museums and also the “capital” of the Cote d'Azur. The city center is Place Massena, to the east are the old quarters of the city, to the west are the new ones. Well, the heart of Nice is the central embankment...
Attractions Mulhouse (German: Mülhausen) is the second largest city in Alsace. Mulhouse got its name from the construction of a mill. There is an airport unique in Europe here, from the building of which you can get to three different countries: Germany, France and Switzerland. IN summer time Planes also fly here from Russia. Since then the mill wheel...
General description of Auvergne - the region main city which Clermont-Ferrand. The area of picturesque landscapes is famous among tourists tired of the beaten path. You can get to Auvergne from different provinces of France by train, plane, or car. Health tourism is popular among vacationers. Thermal springs and therapeutic mud are the basis of health...
