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 Auvergne
Auvergne is a rarely visited region of outstanding natural
beauty where life contiues much as it did a century ago. Our
holidays are based in two parts of the department of Cantal.
The mountains of the Monts du Cantal offer spectacular walks,
while our cycling holidays are in the gentler, deeply rural
region around the small town of St Flour.
Walkers
will enjoy the tracks along the ridges and valleys of the
mountains. Cyclists will favour following the contours rather
than crossing them. We will point out ancient churches, waterfalls,
standing stones and many unexpected points of interest for
walkers and cyclists alike.
Gastronomy
of Auvergne
Auvergnat cooking reflects the rich pastures, mountains and
woodlands; it is rustic and strong. Auvergne is said to be
the best place for simple good food in all of France, where
fresh local produce is prepared with integrity.
 Pork
is a speciality of Auvergne, served with the excellent lentils
of the area or in friand santlorin (pork in puff pastry from
St Flour) or in potée, (a hotpot of sausages and vegetables).
Black boudin sausages served with chestnuts are another local
treat.
Auvergne is the only region of France to boast five AOC (“Appellation
d’Origine Controllee”) cheese labels. Cantal, made
in great wheels, is probably the most famous; Saint Nectaire
is delicate and nutty; Bleu d’Auvergne is powerful, creamy
and veined with blue.
Auvergne
wildlife
 Nature
and mankind have co-existed in Auvergne for centuries, from
the cattle grazing on the high plateaux to the low intensity
farming of the gentle valleys. The hard winters and warm summers
give a rugged look to the mountains and the wildlife is specially
adapted to these conditions.
Red and
black kites, kestrels and peregrine falcons are seen hunting
in the valleys in summer. Buzzards are ubiquitous, finding
the varied terrain an ideal habitat all year round. Black
redstarts make their homes in or near buildings, profiting
from the association with man.
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 Burgundy
Famous for its wealth and tradition, Burgundy may surprise
you with its diversity. There are chateaux, castles, ancient
churches and abbeys. There are lakes and rivers, pastures
and vineyards and, of course, wines and good cuisine.
Publicity
boasts of l'art et le plaisir de vivre (the art and pleasure
of living) and the people of Burgundy have been practicing
since Roman times. Burgundy has a charm and style that really
is typically French. French call this a gastronomic region
and Burgundians are proud of their traditions and hospitality.
Gastronomy
of Burgundy
In Burgundy, the cuisine is often based on the local wine.
The Burgundian menu is flamboyant and full flavoured. Charolais
beef is used with mushrooms, salt pork and dark red wine in
beef bourguignon. Try the other local specialities, escargots
bourguignons (snails in garlic butter) and coq au vin.
La Pochouse, a freshwater fish stew to rival bouillabaisse,
is said to be best in the town of Verdun sur le Doubs, where
the fish are fresh from the river.
Free-range poulet de Bresse chicken is sought after throughout
France and strict rules ensure the high standard of the genuine
product.
The finest cheese of the region is probably Epoisses, which
is rich and creamy and best eaten when young. For dessert,
you might be offered cherries from Auxerre or iced gingerbreads
from Dijon.
Wine
of Burgundy
From the rich, red soil of Burgundy come magnificent, complex
wines whose names are world-famous. Notice the evocative names
of the villages you stay at or travel through, Beaune, Meursault,
Poligny-Montrachet, Mercurey and Pommard to name only a few.
The wines of Burgundy are divided into about one hundred Appellations
Controlées and therefore the label can tell you a lot
about the wine in the bottle.
Burgundy
wildlife
The varied terrain and simple agricultural methods allow a
rich diversity of wildlife to exist. Red squirrels, hares
and hedgehogs thrive in the green, quiet countryside. Visitors
are often reminded nostalgically of England, fifty or a hundred
years ago.
Buzzards circle menacingly overhead and harriers and kites
can be seen hunting their prey. Kingfishers appear on the
rivers in a flash of electric blue.
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 Jura
Jura stretches across two distinctly different types of region
in eastern France.
In the east, Jura's limestone mountains have eroded over time
to form steep cliffs and spectacular caves. The fast-flowing
rivers and waterfalls have cut deep valleys. Contrast this
with the undulating terrain, woodland, meadows and vineyards
in the south.
Reminders of Jura's long and fascinating history can be seen
in the ancient towns and villages, historical oddities and
unusual monuments.
Jura's
Wildlife
A wide diversity of animals live in Jura. Deer, hares and
red squirrels can be seen across the region. More secretive,
wild boar, forest cats and lynx live in the forests. Bird
lovers can see woodpeckers and nuthatches in the woods or
kingfishers, herons and egrets on the lakes and rivers.
Oaks, sycamore and chestnut grow in the valleys while beech
and conifers thrive at higher altitude. A great profusion
of wild flowers is found on the pastures and slopes.
Jura's
Wine
Vin Jaune
Produced in Château Chalon and around Arbois, Vin Jaune
has a hard to describe “yellow” taste, unlike anything
else. Sold in 62cl bottles, all that remains of one litre
after ageing for 6 years in oak barrels.
Vin de Paille
Bunches of grapes are left to dry for several weeks to produce
this sweet and strong wine, sold in half bottles.
Absinthe
Before the distillation of absinthe was outlawed, it was an
important source of revenue for Doubs. The plants are used
today to flavour the local aperitif, Pontarlier.
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