“Paris is not France and France is not Paris”
Many go to Paris and believe they have seen France. An old saying holds that “Paris is not France and France is not Paris!”. Imagine traveling to Los Angeles and believing you have seen the United States! There is another France that the French call “La France Profonde” Most French consider their roots to be in French countryside.
A four and a half hour journey from Paris brings you to this beautiful countryside, far from the high prices, indifferent treatment, and citified arrogance that tourists some times complain about. Certainly Paris or the cote d’azure are beautiful, but these environs are just the tip of the French “ice berg”.
The history of the Southwest of France goes back to pre-Roman Gaul, the passage of the crusades, the dowry of Eleanor of Aquitaine to Henry II, the Hundred Years War and the friction of episodic English occupation. The region is dotted with medieval castles churches and ancient buildings. Not too far away in the Lot and Vezere valleys there remains of prehistoric cave dwellings.
Set against this backdrop is a hard working conservative friendly population of French agriculture as well as a high-tech center centering in Toulouse and Airbus Industries. The people are casual, relaxed and friendly. The villages are a treasure trove for lovers of old stones. Rather then being “fussy”, the local cuisine features “comfort food” made with the fresh fruits, vegetables poultry meat that grow in abundance. There is haute cuisine in Michelin starred restaurants if you desire. Rather then the architectural creations that one sees elsewhere there is a wealth of medieval buildings built with native stone and timber.
Most villages have a weekly market that feature local food items. Many French have a potager where they raise their own fruits and vegetables and some extra to sell at the village market. The village market is not only an opportunity to purchase local produce, meat, fish and wine but is also social occasion for the local peasants and farmers to catch up on the local news from each other. Many small wineries sell their wines and have tastings on site.
These small villages have summer and winter fetes where the locals and visitors celebrate everything from Pentecost to 14 July (Bastille day) to the end of the hunting season.
The delights of this treasure of history and local culture are available to all and sometimes are found serendipitously. We invite you to see what this region has to offer and we will try to find things that fit your interests for your stay, should it be history, food, wine, local culture, music or any other celebration of French country life and joie d’vivre.