France Countryside Hotel

L'Alsace

(départements du Haut-Rhin 68 et Bas-Rhin 67 )

Situated between the Rhine and the Vosges regions, the Alsacian countryside is a green expanse of fields and hills dotted with Alsacian vineyards. The small hillside villages are flowered gems, the traditional houses decorated with wooden beams on the outside facade, storks' nests perched on chimney tops, and beautiful fortified castles. As far as the food is concerned, you may be surprised by some of Alsace's more unusual dishes which far outweigh the traditional sauerkraut. You may like to try some of the wine-producing specialities such as the Riesling or the Sylvaner, more commonly known as "l'Or de la Terre" (the gold of the earth). Before trying out sauerkraut, or sipping an Alsatian beer, we suggest that you take a trip to Ackerland where hops, cabbage and other traditional produce are cultivated.

L'Auvergne

(départements de l'Allier 03 , du Cantal 15, de la Haute-Loire 43 et du Puy-de-Dôme 63)

The Auvergne region is famous for its four volcanic craters, the youngest of which is less than 10 000 years old. This fascinating landscape, sculpted by fire, offers a natural open-air geological exhibition, as well as a number of natural reserves where the region's flora and fauna have been preserved in their natural state. Whilst hiking anywhere in the Auvergne region, you will spot rare species that have been preserved in the area. Some of the natural parks are really worth a special visit, such as the Vallée de Chaudefour, the Sagnes de la Godivelle, the Val d.Allier or the regional reserves: the Auvergne volcanoes and the Livradois Forez. The cows grazing on the Auvergne pastures are also famous for the salty milk which is used to produce cheese such as Cantal, Saint-Nectare, Bleu d.Auvergne and Fourme d.Ambert... Natural water springs producing pure, clear water can be found in certain areas of the Auvergne, such as in Loire, Allier or Dordogne.

Le Beaujolais

The landscape of Beaujolais is vivid with traditional villages nested in woody valleys as well as in famous vineyards . As far as wine is concerned, the term Beaujolais makes one think about the famous event every third Thursday of November : the sampling of the new vintage. You can expect a vast panel of famous cooks and quality restaurants all along the roads of Beaujolais. All of them have at least one exclusive recipe , each with a more and more local taste. These traditional local dishes are quite a big temptation to resist : at the Mount Brouilly don t miss the .caillettes de sanglier marine au cote de brouilly (marinated wild boar with cote de Brouilly),in Quincie you should try the anglerfish with melted leek at the Restaurant du Vieux Moulin in Alix.

La Bourgogne

(département de Côte d'Or 21, de la Nièvre 58, de Saône-et-Loire 71, Yonne 89.)

It would be difficult to find a countryside more appealing than that of Bourgogne, with its traditional farmhouses dotted around. It is also fair to say that Bourgogne wines have more than made their stake in terms of a solid reputation. Outdoor activities are the main attraction of the area (fishing, hiking, water sports ...). The Morvan, and the Bourgogne forests, lakes, rivers and canals are ideal settings for such activities. Don't miss out on a visit to the famous snail farms known as the ."Escargots de Bourgogne". You may also like to try some of the region's specialities such as Kir, .époisses., Charolais, the Bresse poultry, Beef Bourguignon and ginger bread...

La Bretagne

(départements des Côte-d'Armor 22, Finistère 29, Ille-et-Vilaine 35, Morbihan 56)

Brittany is a French region quite distinguished from all others. Its cultural identity has been protected through a language and traditions unique to the area. Its Celtic history and legends have been preserved. The architecture is also charming: houses are white with coloured shutters, or built of red shale or pink granite stone. The roofs are either made of slate or thatched. Follow the steps of the Knights of the Round Table, or delve into the Brocéliande Forest in search of Merlin's tomb, Vivianne the fairy, or the Barenton Fountain. The region is famous for its pancakes made in the traditional style : either wheat pancakes (from the West of the peninsula), or buck wheat pancakes (from the Gallo region), to be consumed with a glass of local sweet or dry cider.

La Champagne

(département des Ardennes 08, de l'Aube 10, de la Marne 51, de la Haute-Marne 52)

From an etymological point of view, "champagne" comes from the word "campagne" which literally means "pays de plaine" or Country of Plaines. The Champagne countryside of vineyards and hilly woodland stretches out between Reims and Troyes. Champagne is without doubt the most well known French wine, recognised world-wide. It is used to celebrate various occasions, parties, festivities, special occasions, candlelit dinners, family, official or even sports events. The pleasurable taste brings a sparkle to the eyes, to be consumed with moderation, of course! Other regional specialities to be enjoyed : chaource made with cow's milk, pink biscuits from Reims, Andouillettes of Troyes, ham from Ardennes, and Champenoise style tripes.

Le Centre

As the name suggests, this region, where the kings and nobles built their castles, is of great historical importance, heavily intertwined with Paris. You may like to view the region's history in the form of a .historical show.. A number of theatre museums operate in the area, such as Ambroise, Chenonceaux, Chambord, Blois..., it is impossible to name them all, but the shows are of excellent quality and well worth seeing. For those interested in gardens, the region's rich national heritage is for all to see, with everything from Middle Age to Avant Garde gardens of Caumont in Loire to visit. The region's riverbanks and waterways offer numerous activities such as fishing, hunting or water sports, as well as an excellent local cuisine. The region's well developed tourist industry means that one can find good quality accommodation, and activities to enjoy, at any time of the year.

La Franche-Comté

(départements du Doubs 25, du Jura 39, de Haute-Saône 70, du Territoire de Belfort 90.)

Franche-Comté is an example of perfect harmony between man, nature and earth. This region produces some of the most well known cheese such as Comté, Morbier, Emmental, Mont d.Or, Bleu de Gex and Cancoillotte. As a cattle breeding area, the local farms have developed an excellent cured meat tradition. Franche-Comté also produces country wines, Jura wines, spring waters and liqueurs : Kirsch de Fourgerolles, Mouthier, Sapin Liqueur, Gentiane ...

L'Ile-de-France

(départements de Paris 75, de Seine-et-Marne 77, des Yvelines 78, de l' Essonne 91, des Hauts-de-Seine 92, de la Seine-St-Denis 93, du Val de Marne 94, du Val d'Oise 95.)

At the heart of Paris, Île de France represents the artistic, cultural and touristic centre of France.The main sites to see in the capital are the Arc de Triomphe, the EiffelTower , the Invalides or Napoleon's tomb... Île de France is the most popular tourist destination in the country. The boutiques, smart districts, cathedrals, gardens and diverse museums (the Louvre, Orsay, Picasso, Rodin...) are all reminders of the city's architectural and artistic abundance. Visiting Paris by night is a colourful experience with famous cabarets to enjoy, such as the Moulin Rouge, the Folies Bergères, or boat trips on the Seine. Without forgetting, of course, Versailles and its splendid Château, sumptuously decorated, Chantilly, Vincennes, Rambouillet and Fontainbleau.

Landes

(départements des Landes 40)

In the Landes region, there is a nature reserve as well as a huge forest called the big forest. The plateau consists in numerous valleys with lots of clear, fawn coloured water springs with leafy banks.. Protected turtles, sea otters, European minks, herons and big games are part of the local living fauna. You can visit churches as well, built by the pilgrims of Saint-Jacques-de-Compostelle.

Le Limousin

(départements de la Corrèze 19, de la Creuse 23 et de la Haute-Vienne 87.)

Limousin represents the depths of France. An enchanting region, famous for its slate roofs and delicious black cherry clafoutis dessert. It is also famous for its cows (unique for their red colour), its good food, its small towns, and its stonework (a dominating feature in the region), all of which characterise the people of Limousin who are unique, happy-go-lucky, friendly and passionate.

Midi-Pyrénées

(départements de l'Ariège 09, de l'Aveyron 12, de Haute-Garonne 31, du Gers 32, du Lot 46, des Hautes-Pyrénées 65, du Tarn 81, du Tarn-et-Garonne 82.)

The Midi Pyrénées is the largest region in France with a surface of 4 5348 km2. It is as big as Denmark and bigger than Belgium, Switzerland or Holland. At the foothills of the Massif Central, the fields, valleys, mountains, plateaux, lakes, rivers, limestone and piedmont, all characterise the Pyrenees region. Don't hesitate to make a detour to Albi to visit Toulouse-Lautrec, relive the Cathar history in Ariège, and for food specialists, try out some of the Midi Pyrénéen local delicacies in Ger : foie gras, cassoulet, truffles, Roquefort, and wine from Cahors...

La Normandie

(départements du Calvados 14, de la Manche 50, de l'Orne 61, de l'Eure 27, de la Seine-Maritime 76)

The Normandy countryside is a haven of peace and serenity, with its golden fields, rolling hedged farmland, and forests of pine and beech trees. This is an area where nature's simplicity is its greatest attraction. You will no doubt appreciate the warm welcome of the country houses or local hotels offering accommodation, as well as excellent traditional food, and regional specialities made from local produce. Try tasting Marie Harel's camembert, with a glass of sweet or dry cider, or a glass of calvados made from Normandy apples. We guarantee that this will be a moment to remember.

Le Périgord

(département de la Dordogne 24)

Four colours make this region unique: Perigord green, Perigord white, Perigord black and Perigord purple. The main part of the Perigord is located at the Department of Dordogne with its back to the "Massif Central". The landscape is built on plateaus and rich valleys enclosed by calcareous hills. Important agricultural resources are present, since tobacco, vines, walnut trees, truffle oak trees and market gardening cultures are produced here. At Eyzies, the prehistoric cave of Lascaux, one of the most famous paleolithic sanctuaries, gives a proeminent place to prehistoric sites in Perigord.

Le Poitou-Charentes

(départements de Charente 16, de Charente-Maritime 17, des Deux-Sèvres 79, de la Vienne 86.)

Poitou-Charentes enjoys a micro climate and is held to be the sunniest region in the west of France. It is also famous for it.s rich cultural heritage. Don.t miss out on a trip on the famous Marais Poitevin, also known as .la Venise Verte., which unites Poitou with Vendée. Another unforgettable site is of course, Futuroscope, the cyber city.

La Provence

(départements des Alpes de Haute Provence 04, des Alpes (Hautes) 05, des Alpes-Maritimes 06, des Bouches du Rhône 13, du Var 83, du Vaucluse 84, Monaco 98.)

In between Marseille and Italy stretches out the famous rocky coast of the Côte d'Azur with its clear blue Mediterranean sea. From Saint-Tropez to Menton, including Cannes, Nice, Antibes and Monaco the Côte d'Azur is famous for its prestigious resorts and luxury lifestyle. Enjoy the beautiful Mediterranean coastline and sea air with a stroll along the Croisette in Cannes, or the Promenade des Anglais in Nice. If you prefer sandy or pebbled beaches, you will find both available, and for those enticed by more natural or preserved beaches, opt for the Varoise coast and explore the Esterel.

La Sologne

La Sologne is situated between the Loire, the Cher and the Sancernois rivers, located in the region of the Parisian Basin. Its astonishing charm comes from its many ponds, woods, rivers, and villages. Lovers of nature will be satisfied with the richness of its landscapes, flora and fauna (rabbits, wild boars, roe deers.).All these qualities give the impression of a still wild region. Moreover, there are four hundred castles, among which the most famous one is the .Castle of Chambord.

Rhône-Alpes

(départements de l'Ain 01, de l'Ardèche 07, de la Drôme 26, de la Haute-Savoie 74, de l'Isère 38, de la Loire 42 et du Rhône 69)

The Rhône-Alpes region is the home of Mont Blanc, the highest summit in Europe, 4807 meters high. This region is famous for its winter sports, and here the winter Olympics have been held 3 times: in Albertville (1992), Grenoble (1968) and Chamonix (1924). As far as gastronomy is concerned this region specialises in good quality produce, and traditional dishes from the .cuisine lyonnaise. amongst others.

La Lorraine

(County of Meurthe-et-Moselle 54, de la Meuse 55, de la Moselle 57 et des Vosges 88)

This is a land marked by its history and its wars. Lorraine was the homeland of Joan of Arc and often suffered as a result of Franco-German disputes. Despite its turbulent historical past, Lorraine welcomes you to its Plaines, plateaus and Vosgien mountains. The wonderful panoramic views of lakes, forests, and orchards... offer a mosaic of colours that must be seen to be believed. The town is never far from the country ... so don.t miss out on visiting the Stanislas square in Nancy, and the Cathedral in Metz