Join Us in France Travel Podcast

Returning to the same place over and over again is not something most visitors do, but my guest today, Carl Carlson, has been to Sancerre many times. He and his wife Christine are from Hawaii, but have been going back to Sancerre for at least a couple of weeks almost every year since 2004. We've talked about Sancerre before on the podcast because that's where the language school Coeur de France is situated. It turns out that Carl knows Gérard and Marianne who own the school. They've been introduced to many other people in the village and it's almost a second home to them, even if they rent a different accommodation each time. Sancerre is world famous because of the wine they produce there. It is one on my favorites! It's easy to get to by car, but also by train. The nearest train station are in Cosne-Cours-sur-Loire, Nevers or Bourges. Carl likes to rent a car at Porte-Maillot so he avoids driving inside of Paris. That's a good idea for most people actually. What Makes Sancerre Special Carl and his wife like the fact that few people in the village speak English, therefore forcing them to practice their French. It's not touristy per se. There are visitors that come for the wine business and for the language school, but it's not a destination that so many people flock to. What Do You Do for 3 Weeks in Sancerre? Carl's idea is not to have much of a schedule. He enjoys settling in to the rhythm of the village and not rush anywhere. They like to go to the local café to the Auberge Joseph Mellot for dinner the day they arrive. The next day they go to the village café for breakfast. There's a nice open-air market in Cosne on Sunday and Wednesday mornings. You'll find the list of all the establishments they like to visit in the Guest Notes. There's also a dairy truck that comes by and they sell wonderful yogurt and butter. Café Librairie is a favorite too. It's about getting to know people and getting to know their schedule. You need to have the mindset that you will go with the flow. If you're too uptight, you won't get along. The village is picturesque, there is a central square with boutiques, wine  establishments (aka "caves"), cafés, a one star restaurant. There are a lot of wine tasting and wine buying opportunities. The vintners in the area do well. Sancerre wines sell for a minimum of 12€ at French grocery stores. Most are around 20€ per bottle, which is expensive for France. Why Not Every French Wine Is Sold in the US It's difficult for small wine producers to get into the US market because there are a lot of mandatory steps, paperwork and taxes to pay along the way. They must go through specific brokers in France, then importers and licensed agents get involved on the US side. And then it goes to the many retailers. Many hands touch that bottle of wine and the price increases every time. It may only be worth it if a producer can ship wine by the container-full. Local Wines Carl enjoys the wines of Jean Reverdy et Fils in Verdigny. It's only a 15 minute drive from Sancerre. They've become friends. Those wines are now availble in Hawaii where the Sauvignon Blanc sells for around $20 a bottle. They also make a rosé with their Pinot Noir. Chavignol is another wine producing village near Sancerre. André Bourgeois is a large producer there and they export a lot to Hawaii and the US in general. There's a nice little restaurant there called Au Ptit Gouter. This is also where they produce the cheese called Crotins de Chavignol. Great Places to Visit Around Sancerre Carl recommends the pottery village of La Borne. Guédelon aka Château de Guédelon is an amazing experiment. They are constructing a medieval castle and village with the tools and methods they had in the Middle Ages. They do everything themselves, including cutting the stone, growing and cutting the timber, etc. The work is done by hand, the workers wear period costumes. It's been going on for over 25 years and it's really interesting to visit. It's like a science experiment with archeology. La Charité-sur-Loire is a book seller's village. There are also a lot of chateaux in the area. Sancerre is far east on the Loire so the big famous chateaux of the Loire Valley are about 2 hours away. But there are smaller ones that are worth a visit. Nevers is a nice city, and so is Bourges. Bourges has a magnificent Cathedral and some good shopping too! When you're in the area you should go visit a goat dairy. Search for "visite élevage de chèvres" and the name of the town where you're staying to find them. Or ask at the tourist office, they can tell you where the great visits are. Le Trial de Sancerre is challenging, there is also one in Bourges as in many other parts of France. The one is Sancerre is beautiful because you run  through the vineyards. Walking the Chemin de Compostelle Carl also talks about his experience walking the Camino de Santiago in Spain and the Portuguese Way. They also did a section around Le Puy-en-Velay, Aire-sur-l'Adour to Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port via Bayonne. In the French part they were mostly around French walkers and they had a great time with it. They bought the Miam Miam Dodo book and love it. More episodes about the Loire Valley area Email | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | Twitter Did you get my VoiceMap Paris tours yet? They are designed for people who want to see the best of Paris neighborhoods and put what they are looking at into historical context. There are so many great stories in Paris. Don't walk right past them without having a clue what happened there! You can buy them directly from the VoiceMap app or click here to order activation codes at the podcast listener discount price. Discussed in this Episode Sancerre Coeur de France language School Cosne-Cours-sur-Loire Verdigny Chavignol Crotins de Chavignol Pottery village of La Borne Château de Guédelon La Charité-sur-Loire Nevers Bourges Goat farms Trial de Sancerre competition Camino de Santiago Portuguese Way Le Puy-en-Velay Chemin de Compostelle Aire-sur-l'Adour Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port Bayonne Support the Show Tip Your Guide Extras Patreon Audio Tours Merchandise If you enjoyed this episode, you should also listen to related episode(s): Loire Valley Castles You Shouldn't Skip, Episode 168 Paris Small Group Tours with Annie and Elyse, Episode 152 French Wine Regions and Loire Valley Wines, Episode 28 French Immersion Programs, Episode 288 Carl and his wife Christine enjoying some Sancerre wine Category: Loire Valley

Today, Annie Sargent brings you a conversation with Elyse Rivin about the Route des Fromages AOP d’Auvergne. The word Auvergne designates an old French province around its capital Clermont-Ferrand. Today it is part of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region and it is just a little west of Lyon and the Alps. This episode features our frequent and very popular guest Elyse Rivin. If you enjoy her episodes, please consider supporting her on Patreon. The Auvergne region produces a lot of wonderful cheeses and they are going to be the stars of the show: Bleu d’Auvergne, Cantal, Fourme d’Ambert, Saint-Nectaire, and Salers. Elyse tells us about the small towns that produce those cheeses and what you might see there when you visit. Another excellent show that takes us off the beaten track in France! The 4 departments that we'll be talking about are the Cantal (15), the Puy-de-Dôme (63), Haute-Loire (43), Allier (03). The Auvergne Cheese Route There are many cheeses produced in the Auvergne area, but these are the 5 that have an AOP designation. This stands for Appellation d'Origine Protégée and it's a European label that certifies that this particular product is produced in a specific geographical area. When you drive around the Auvergne you will see road signs that indicate the Route des Fromages. Here are the Auvergne cheese route AOP cheeses we discuss in this episode, and they are all made of cow milk: Cantal Cheese Cantal cheese is one of the oldest cheeses in France. It's somewhat similar to a cheddar. It is made in huge wheels that weight 40 kilograms. You can buy it young (1-2 months) or entre-deux (3-5 months) and vieux (6 months or more). Louis XIV loves Cantal cheese and had it brought to Versailles in great quantities, which contributed to its popularity and fame. Cantal cheese is produced in large quantities and there are production sites all over the Cantal. If you're in France at Christmas time, look for Cantal de Noël, it's a treat! Salers Cheese Unlike the Cantal cheese, Salers cheese is a more exclusive cheese produced only between April 15 and November 15 from the Salers breed of cows that are grass-fed at high elevations. The production is limited to the areas of Cantal, the Mont Doré and Cézallier. Salers cheese can only be made with raw milk, unlike all the others we'll talk about today that can be made with either raw or pasteurized milk. Salers is usually sold in specialty cheese shops and not at the supermarket because it is not sold year-round.  This cheese is also only made at the farm, there are no industrial large quantities production facilities for the Salers cheese. Saint-Nectaire Cheese This cheese has a creamy texture and nutty flavor, it is Annie's favorite cheese. It's a flat wheel that's 1.7 kilograms. In France, you can buy the "fermier" kind that is made with raw milk or the pasteurized milk. It can have a fairly strong flavor if you leave it out for a couple of hours before serving it. Bleu d'Auvergne Cheese There is a lot of bleu d'Auvergne produced in France. It is similar to Roquefort, but it is milder. Bleu d'Auvergne is produced all over the Auvergne. It is creamier than Roquefort. You normally don't find bleu d'Auvergne made with raw milk. Bleu d'Auvergne comes in a small cylinder. Fourme d'Ambert Cheese This is the smoothest, creamiest and mildest blue cheese made in France. It is a cylinder. This is a good blue cheese to start with if you're not sure you can take a strong Roquefort. There Are 40 Stops on the The Auvergne Cheese Route You can't see all of them unless you plan to spend a month. But why wouldn't you? This is a great area for active recreational activities. It's also great for people who like to see scenic vistas and great medieval villages. Here are a few we think are noteworthy. Great Towns Around the Auvergne The town of Salers is beautiful. We also like the small city if Saint Flour. Riom is somewhat touristy, it even has a tourist train! Issoire is beautiful and is connected to the Chemin de Compostelle pilgrimage. The village of Saint-Nectaire is also beautiful. Activities Around the Auvergne La Chaise-Dieu has a marvelous abbey and a festival of sacred music. Vulcania is a theme park around the theme of volcanos. There are so many trails and activities all around the area! Check out the Mont Dore volcanic are. The Puy de Sancy volcano. These are not steep slopes, but they make beautiful hills. This is a great area to explore on bike, there are all sorts of races you can enroll in. Le Puy-en-Velay is one of the places from where you can start your Saint Jacques de Compostelle pilgrimage walk. There are also nice festivals in the area. Clermont-Ferrand has a short film festival that has been going on for decades. Aurillac has a great street festival every year. Email | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | Twitter   Did you get my VoiceMap Paris tours yet? They are designed for people who want to see the best of Paris neighborhoods and put what they are looking at into historical context. There are so many great stories in Paris. Don't walk right past them without having a clue what happened there! You can buy them directly from the VoiceMap app or click here to order activation codes at the podcast listener discount price.   Discussed in this Episode Cantal (15) the Puy-de-Dôme (63) Haute-Loire (43) Allier (03) Cantal cheese Salers cheese Mont Doré Cézallier Saint-Nectaire cheese Bleu d'Auvergne cheese Fourme d'Ambert cheese The town of Salers Saint-Flour Riom Issoire The village of Saint-Nectaire Clermont-Ferrand Aurillac La Chaise-Dieu and its sacred music festival Vulcania Mont Dore Puy de Sancy Puy-en-Velay Support the Show Tip Your Guide Extras Patreon Audio Tours Merchandise Let's Review If you'd like to stay in the area, we recommend you check out Gîtes de France. Keep in mind that this is a part of France where winter comes early, best times to visit are May through October. More episodes about French food and wine   Categories: French Food & Wine, Lyon Area  

On today's episode, Annie chats with Ira about her favorite day-trips around Bordeaux. Ira is in a great position to tell us about that because she moved to Bordeaux full time a few years ago and has gotten to know the area very well. We talk about several wine routes you can drive, about the Bassin d’Arcachon which is dear to my heart as I explain in the episode, the Entre Deux Mers area, and about general tips about visiting this area. Ira publishes a blog called Lost in Bordeaux that I can heartily recommend. Day-Trips Around Bordeaux There is a fair bit of information about Bordaux and Saint-Émilion on-line, but not so much about the other gems in the area. The purpose of this episode is to make you aware of the many wonderful places you can visit around Bordeaux! Before you get going around Bordeaux, it's worth repeating that Bordeaux itself is worth a full day. The city has a lot to offer. If you land in Paris from North America and take the TGV to Bordeaux directly from the CDG airport, you'll arrive in Bordeaux by the middle of the afternoon France time. It would be ideal to spend that first half-day in Bordeaux and then at least one more full day. It's worth it just for the gastronomy and all the great wine bars! Places You Can Visit Around Bordeaux Bordeaux is in the Gironde department, in the Nouvelle Aquitaine region. One of the things that make it special is that there are so many different types of activities to do in this part of France. Having said that, many of the attractions we'll discuss are hard to get to without a car. You should book your car in advance, especially if you need an automatic. Understand that in France last-minute car rentals are terribly expensive. Wine Activities You can't come to Bordeaux and ignore the wine. There are 5 sub wine regions in Bordeaux and you could do a wine route dedicated to each of them. Each would look different, taste different, have a different history. Saint-Émilion Do understand that Saint-Émilion is the most "touristy" wine area of the Bordeaux region, especially during "vendange" season which is Sept and Oct. This town is the easiest to visit by train. The train station in Saint-Émilion is a 15-20 minute walk to the center of the town, but there are taxis, it's easy to do. In Saint-Émilion you MUST take the tour that they offer at the tourist office otherwise you won't get into the monolithic church that is so interesting there. You should plan ahead and book a tour, they have them available in English as well. There are a lot of wineries to visit around Saint-Émilion and for some of those you need a car. If you come in the summer or harvest season, book in advance, they don't like people just showing up. But, if you didn't book in advance, at the Tourist Office they have a list of 3 or 4 chateaux that are open that day for drop-in visitors. Also book your restaurant in Saint-Émilion unless you just want to get a sandwich at a boulangerie because all the good places are full. This is more important than ever because with the pandemic all venues are limited to how many people they can host and this will probably be the case going forward to some time. Pomerole Pomerole is another lovely wine village and area you can visit. It's not as touristy. The town itself if tiny, not much to see. But there are lots of wineries around there including Château Pétrus but most of us can't afford that because it is priced in the thousands per bottle. A more approachable chateau there is called Château Beauregard and it's also very nice. Médoc The Médoc area includes some of the most expensive wines in the world, but it's not as touristy as the others. Médoc is more spread-out all over the Médoc peninsula. They are all along this road with beautiful châteaux sprinkled throughout. You'll see many family-owned wineries, much smaller labels you've probably never heard of. Again, it's important to select a few places you want to visit and book them in advance because, like many popular wine-producing areas in France, they are a bit stuck up in Bordeaux (not as much as in Beaune, actually) and they don't like surprises. It's a different matter in the Fronton, Gaillac and Corbières areas closer to Toulouse. You could spend more than a day exploring the Médoc. On the estuary side of it is the wine and on the other side is the Atlantic Ocean that is so loved by surfers. One place stands out in the north of the Médoc called Soulac-sur-Mer, it's referred to as the "mini Arcachon". Graves-Sauterne If you prefer sweeter white wines, this is the area for you! This is south of Bordeaux. If you look at the Bordeaux area on a map, you have two rivers that flow through it: the Dordogne and the Garonne. Graves-Sauterne is left of the Garonne river on the map.   The Garonne and Dordogne Rivers around Bordeaux   The Graves area is considered the birth place of the Clairette, which is a name British people use for Bordeaux wines. There are a lot of amazing chateaux in this area, including Château Pape Clément that you can get to using the Bordeaux tram system! If you only have two days in Bordeaux, this is a beaufitul chateau with excellent wines also! Les Sources de Caudalie is another place that's worth a visit. It's a famous luxurious hotel in the vineyard. An amazing place with a great restaurant, and the whole package. Entre Deux-Mers If you're going to take some day-trips around Bordeaux, don't forget to include the "entre deux mers" area. Most people don't know about this Bordeaux wine area, but it's the biggest one and it's wonderful! They produce white wines mostly. It is the Tuscany of Gironde, hilly, vineyards, beautiful medieval towns. This part of the Bordeaux area has a lot of Bastides towns. There's usually a beautiful square with arches, you'll find cafés, restaurants, and shops all around. This is between Gironde and Lot-et-Garonne. Cadillac One such a place is Cadillac which is famous for its château, the man who gave the name to the car is from there. The chateau is a great visit. It was a prison at one point. On the second floor you can see the prison. Saint-Macaire Saint-Macaire is also interesting. It is also an old bastide that was once on the river, but now there is some distance between the town and the river. There are fortification walls. You could spend a half day there because it's an amazing town with a beautiful church, some nice restaurants. If you come at the end of August there is a great medieval festival  in Saint-Macaise. Other worthwhile towns are Rions which has a Michelin restaurant. You'll also find Castelmoron d'Albret the smallest village in France by square footage. But every street is lovely and it's wonderful to visit at Christmas because they decorate it beautifully. Abbaye de la Sauve Majeure, the abbey is wonderful, but there's also the Maison du Vin of the area is in this town and they do some wine tasting. Beach Activities Bassin d'Arcachon Bassin d'Arcachon. If you've had enough of the wine, let's go to the beach! Arcachon is a resort destination for French people as well as foreign visitors. It is 60 kilometers west of Bordeaux. If you don't have a car you can take a train from Bordeaux to Arcachon city. This is not a fisherman's village but a bigger town that's intersting in terms of architecture. The "ville d'hiver" part of the city has beautiful villas from the 19th century. The central beach in Arcachon is packed in the summer. You could either get away from that by renting a bike or by taking bus #1 that goes along all the beaches of the south of the Bassin d'Arcachon. Cap Ferret Ira likes to go to the Plage de Pereire because it's good with kids. Or continue on to Plage du Moulleau, another resort little town. Cap Ferret is also really popular. There is a bus to get there but it takes forever. It's better to take a ferry between Arcachon and Cap Ferret. There are oyster farmers, it's not quite a fisherman's village any more, but it's nice. Most restaurants there are "cabanes à huitres" where they serve oysters and that's about it! You'll get your choice of size of oysters, you want #2 or #3, they are the best! L'Herbe in Lège Cap Ferret is a favorite of Ira. Dune du Pilat From Arcachon you can either take a bus or rent a bike to go to the Dune du Pilat. Going by bike is recommended because they have a lot of great bike paths in this area. The Dune du Pilat is the biggest sand dune in Europe, it's amazing. You can climb it year-round. The tourist season there is May through the end of September. At that time they have stairs for everyone to use. The rest of the year you have to climb it in the sand and it's not easy! When you get to the top you see the ocean on one side and the forest on the other, it's wonderful. If you're making a day of it, you could buy a picnic in Arcachon and take it to enjoy while watching the view at the top of the Dune du Pilat. Soulac-sur-Mer Normally they have a wonderful festival in Soulac in July, it's a great place to enjoy for the week-end. Of course, this was cancelled in 2020 due to the pandemic, but it will come back! More episodes about the Bordeaux area As you can see, if you're looking for day-trips around Bordeaux you'll have plenty to choose from. We didn't have time to get to all the day-trips around Bordeaux, click on Guest Notes (blue button) to read all the wonderful day-trip Ira recommends! Email | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | Twitter Did you get my VoiceMap Paris tours yet? They are designed for people who want to see the best of Paris neighborhoods and put what they are looking at into historical context. There are so many great stories in Paris. Don't walk right past them without having a clue what happened there! You can buy them directly from the VoiceMap app or click here to order activation codes at the podcast listener discount price.   Discussed in this Episode Saint-Émilion Pomerol Médoc Surfing Cadillac Saint-Macaire Rions Castelmoron d'Albret Abbaye de la Sauve Majeure Bassin d'Arcachon Dune du Pilat Plage de Pereire Plage du Moulleau Cap Ferret Cabanes à huitres Support the Show Tip Your Guide Extras Patreon Audio Tours Merchandise If you enjoyed this episode, you should also listen to related episode(s): Bordeaux, France a Historical Perspective, Episode 44 Hiking Around Bordeaux, Episode 144 Category: Bordeaux Area

Today I bring you a conversation with Cindy McBrayer about Le Chambon-sur-Lignon a place of refuge. During WW2 this small town and neighboring villages became a heaven for Jewish children who were on the run from the Germans and from French authorities who collaborated with them. Would you like to be a recipe tester for Annie's cookbook? Email her! I’m always surprised by how many novels get released today but are set in WW2! This is a fascinating time period when humanity’s best and humanity’s worst had to battle it out and decide who was going to come out on top. The folks of Le Chambon sur Lignon made the most generous and courageous choice and we talk about it today. It’s also a lovely place to visit and definitely off the beaten track. I should mention that we often refer to it as Chambon in the episode, but it’s Le Chambon-sur-Lignon that we’re talking about, there’s another town 2.5 hours drive away called Chambon, don’t go to the wrong place! Recommended in this Episode Lovely inn in Rochepaule, 30 minutes away from Le Chambon.  Hotel L’Escapade (converted private school).  Owners live on site, and have a well-known, lovely small restaurant “Restaurant Maryse et Eric”.  Reservations recommended. Books About Le Chambon The latest, and an EXCELLENT book about Le Chambon, then and NOW….is The Plateau, by Maggie Paxon. If you can only read one, make it this one! Article about Le Chambon from Time Magazine Village of Secrets, Defying the Nazis in Vichy, France, by Caroline Moorehead A Good Place to Hide, How One French Village Saved Thousands of Lives during WWII, by Peter Grose. This one is easy to read. Lest Innocent Blood Be Shed, by Phillip Hallie Hidden on the Mountain, by Karen Gray Ruelle. (stories from surviving children)   More episodes about French History Email | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | Twitter   Did you get my VoiceMap Paris tours yet? They are designed for people who want to see the best of Paris neighborhoods and put what they are looking at into historical context. There are so many great stories in Paris. Don't walk right past them without having a clue what happened there! You can buy them directly from the VoiceMap app or click here to order activation codes at the podcast listener discount price.   Discussed in this Episode Le Chambon-sur-Lignon WW2 sites in Lyon Izieu Les Cevennes Tence WW2 book recommendations Driving in France Support the Show Tip Your Guide Extras Patreon Audio Tours Merchandise If you enjoyed this episode, you should also listen to related episode(s): Wine Touring in Beaune, Burgundy, Episode 128 Top Attractions in Lyon, Episode 113 Chamonix, Annecy, and the Alps, Episode 121 Cindy McBrayer in Le Chambon-sur-Lignon Read more about this episode Guest Notes  Categories: Active Vacations in France, French History, Lyon Area

In this episode Annie and Elyse talk about the lovely city of Castelnaudary. But this being our 300ths episode we also celebrate the moment, discuss our motivations in continuing to produce the podcast and our history. We also talk about Annie's southern French accent (which is shared by our current Prime Minister Jean Castex). And how could we talk about Castelnaudary without talking about Cassoulet? Castelnaudary is, after all,  the world-capital of this delicious dish. A major Amazon depot is going to be established in Castelnaudary so that should bring in younger people. But it is a medium city and quite a few English expats and a good standard of living. Castelnaudary is a major stop on the Canal du Midi and has an impressive set of 5 locks followed by a "Grand Bassin" and an artificial island called Ile de la Cybèle. Did the Cassoulet Originate in Castelnaudary? Anatole France certainly thought so! There was also a cookbook in the 1600s that describes a stew that sounds a lot like Cassoulet! Cassoulet got its name from the dish Cassole or Cassolette. Cassoulet in Castelnaudary is made with goose (not duck) and doesn't have bread crumb on top. Restaurant Recommendation Annie and David ate at a restaurant called Chez David and it was delicious. They claim to make it from scratch and cook it for 7 hours. Make a reservation, it's not very big and it fills up! Cassoulet is a mix of slow cooked goose, pork and beans. They have a special white bean from Castelnaudary, but it's quite expensive and it just tastes like a white bean. Making Cassoulet from scratch in America is not easy, but you could make it if you use chicken thighs, pork ribs and Italian sausage. When in Castelnaudary, Do the Walking Tour! The Tourist Office has put together a nice 4k walking tour that will take your through all the interesting sites in the city. Careful around the church, you want to be on Rue du Collège or you might get lost. Discussed in this Episode Castelnaudary Cassoulet and Canal du Midi [11:22] Le Lauragais [13:01] Wheat growing area [14:04] A lot of British people lived in Castelnaudary [14:40] Castelnaudary economy [14:53] Castelnaudary is a good choice for people looking for a nice place to live in France that is not too expensive [16:13] Ruins of the Castle [17:26] Castelnaudary and the 100 Years War [18:02] Pieere Paul Riquet and the Canal du Midi [19:28] Grand Bassin in Castelnaudary [20:13] Ile de la Cybèle [20:48] The importance of the Canal du Midi [21:39] About the Cassoulet and its origins [28:40] Why Castelnaudary claims Cassoulet started there [29:50] Cassoulet comes from Cassole [31:39] The difference in Cassoulet recipes between Toulouse Carcassonne and Castelnaudary [31:37] Cassoulet is time-consuming and ingredients are hard to find in the US [34:36] You don't need a cassolette to make Cassoulet [37:16] How do you know if you're getting home-made Cassoulet? [38:25] Restaurants that claim their Cassoulet is home-made [38:41] The intestinal consequences to eating Cassoulet [40:37] Castelnaudary is off the beaten track and lovely [41:59] Is it a transat or a chaise longue? [42:53] Seuil de Naurouze [43:12] Cugarel Windmill in Castelnaudary [44:21] The Lauragais is pretty [44:37] Starting a podcast is a steep learning curve [46:55] More day trips from Toulouse Email | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | Twitter Did you get my VoiceMap Paris tours yet? They are designed for people who want to see the best of Paris neighborhoods and put what they are looking at into historical context. There are so many great stories in Paris. Don't walk right past them without having a clue what happened there! You can buy them directly from the VoiceMap app or click here to order activation codes at the podcast listener discount price. Support the Show Tip Your Guide Extras Patreon Audio Tours Merchandise If you enjoyed this episode, you should also listen to related episode(s): Sorèze and Revel, Great Day Trips from Toulouse, Episode 156 Canal du Midi, Episode 22 The Best of Sète, Episode 107 The Rules of Driving in France, Episode 16 Toulouse Trip Report, Episode 258 Categories: Day -Trips from Toulouse, French Food & Wine, Toulouse Area

On today's episode, Annie Sargent brings you a trip report with Rick McGuirk about his 5 favorite chateaux in the Loire Valley. There are so many chateaux along the Loire Valley that it’s hard to choose which ones to go to and which ones to skip. You could spend a couple of months there if you wanted to see them all. So, just in case you don't have that kind of time, let's see which ones are must-sees. Rick and his wife have visited France many times, but this was their first time exploring the Loire Valley. They don't speak French beyond "bonjour", "au revoir" and "une carafe d'eau" but that wasn't a problem. So long as you know the magic word in French, you'll be OK! 5 Favorite Chateaux in the Loire Valley On this trip they stayed in Paris for 5 days then took the TGV  from Montparnasse to  Gare de Saint-Pierre-des-Corps in Tour where they picked up a rental car. It is wise to reserve your rental car from home, especially if you'd like to drive an automatic! Distances between the chateaux are usually 30 to 45 minute drive and those drives are scenic and enjoyable. Rick's top 5 Chambord Cheverny Chemonceau Amboise Vilandry Take-Away from this Episode You could visit the 5 favorite chateaux in the Loire Valley in 2 days, but 3 would be better. They saw 10 places in 4 days as listed below, and it would have been better to cut a couple of them off. Maybe I should have asked him for a top 6 list so that he could have included Azay-le-Rideau which I've enjoyed personally. If you need to choose between staying in Chinon or staying in Amboise, Amboise is probably a better choice because it is a bigger cleaner town and there are more dining and shopping choices. Keep in mind that the Loire Valley is not where you go for great night-life but rather for gorgeous architecture, gardens and scenery. It is a peaceful, quiet soul-full type of vacation. Most of these chateaux are in rural France, pay attention to opening and closing times and the infrequent availability of stores compared to what you're used to. Hotels Recommended in this Episode They stayed at a lovely quaint hotel in Chinon for 2 nights. French manor house with lovely furniture, beams on the ceiling, beautiful floors. Amazing breakfast. But Chinon the city is a smaller town, it may be difficult to find anything open in the middle of the day, especially if you're on foot. They enjoyed La Cabane à Vin in Chinon. They preferred the city of Amboise where they found a lovely hotel.  An old remodeled manor house with spacious rooms, wonderful staff, great location overlooking the Loire River and central to the town.  Plus the staff was extra kind to them when they found out that Rick's mother-in-law passed away while they were in France. Vilandry The formal gardens are spectacular in October: flowers, pears, pretty grounds. This is a beautiful French Garden style and there are nice gardens behind the chateau as well. Definitely plan time to explore the grounds. Vilandry is furnished more than other chateaux, but the best part is seeing the grounds. Azay-le-Rideau More furniture and amazing rooms at Azay-le-Rideau, but the grounds weren't as nice as Vilandry even though the water all around the chateau is beautiful. Abbey Royale de Fontevraud Finding the parking-lot can be tricky, it's a big place, somewhat empty, has a lot of both illustrious and infamous history. It was not a favorite of theirs. Chateau d'Ussé About a 30 minute drive, easy to find with a GPS. The building itself is amazing. They say it was the inspiration for Disney's Cinderella Castle. A lot of the chateau is in great condition, so are the stables. The Café Dechemin Eric had a great view onto the chateau but the food was just OK. Chateau de Chinon This is more of a fortress than a chateau, the views from the chateau are lovely, but the place itself has a lot of military history. The chateau at Amboise might be a better choice if you can only see one. They had dinner at a restaurant called Au Chapeau Rouge that comes highly recommended everywhere but they didn't feel welcome there and the food was mediocre and not cheap. To be avoided. Amboise Both the chateau, the grounds and the city of Amboise are wonderful. Definitely one of the best they saw. There are a lot of signs in the Amboise chateau and you should spend some time reading them because the history is wonderful. It would be a good idea to have lunch at the chateau, you can sit on the terrace and enjoy great views. Le Clos Lucé This is the chateau where Leonardo da Vinci spent the last few years of his life after being invited by the King to be the resident genius. The chateau itself is not as large or as fancy, but the grounds are wonderful and there are a lot of displays for the kids to see. This chateau has a lot of da Vinci themed stuff in the gift shop. Restaurant near the chateau Via Roma, it was good to have some Italian food, not many tourists there, a great choice. Royal Chateau d'Amboise This is a military castle, it is well preserved, great views. Not very large, but a great visit, highly recommended. They went back to eat at a place called Chez Bruno twice, lots of locals, nice food, but reserve because it fills up. Chateau Cheverny Cheverny is a great chateau with an interesting look and a great story. The family that owns the chateau still lives there at least part-time. There is a lot to see inside the chateau as well, this is a must-do. It doesn't have the high-end formal gardens that other chateaux have but it has dogs. You must plan to be there during dog feeding time (get there early, lots of people want to see it!) There are 50 or 60 dogs and it's great to watch the 20 or 30 minute "show". The dogs are in great condition and trained well. Great for children and people who like Tintin as well. Chateau de Chambord This one is the most spectacular, it's the biggest one and grand beyond description. There are a lot of rooms open for touring and they are enormous. Many of them are unfurnished, possibly because it wasn't lived-in very much. Don't miss the double-helix staircase. You can go every which way around the chateau, climb to the top, it's a great visit. There's a food court there and it's OK. One Word of Caution in Closing They knew the Hertz location where they rented the car would be closed when they were to drop-off the car. They were told to leave the car in the parking lot and put the keys in the mailbox. Unfortunately there were no spots left to park until a train arrived and a few people took their cars to go home. Don't be in a rush if you need to leave the car at the train station parking lot! Email | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | Twitter   Did you get my VoiceMap Paris tours yet? They are designed for people who want to see the best of Paris neighborhoods and put what they are looking at into historical context. There are so many great stories in Paris. Don't walk right past them without having a clue what happened there! You can buy them directly from the VoiceMap app or click here to order activation codes at the podcast listener discount price. Support the Show Tip Your Guide Extras Patreon Audio Tours Merchandise If you enjoyed this episode, you should also listen to related episode(s): An Action-Packed Holiday in France with Kids, Episode 259 The Lovely City of Tours in the Loire Valley, Episode 255 A Scenic Drive along the Loire River, Episode 252 Tips for Visiting Chenonceau and Cheverny, Episode 171 Loire Valley Castles You Shouldn't Skip, Episode 168 Trip Report Loire Valley and Dordogne, Episode 82 Chartres Cathedral, Episode 26 The Rules of Driving in France, Episode 16 Category: Loire Valley

This episode features our frequent and very popular guest Elyse Rivin. If you enjoy her episodes, please consider supporting her on Patreon. The Bois de Boulogne is to the West of Paris, covers part of the 16e arrondissement and it is a large natural area. Baron Haussmann turned it into a park in the middle of the 1800s. At that time it went from a forest to an area of leisure for the upper class. In its most recent history one part of the Bois de Boulogne is an area where there is a fair amount of prostitution, but you can take a stroll there without ever running into it. It is called "le carré". A Brief History of the Bois de Boulogne The name Bois de Boulogne comes from time of Philippe Le Bel. As he sent his daughter away to marry the English King they prayed in a church called Notre Dame de Boulogne. The King then decided to build another church in the woods and named it Boulogne la Petite. The area then became known as Boulogne. King Chideric gave this large forest to the Abbey of Saint Denis and they built an abbey there and developed it. Then Philippe-Auguste bought a large part of this forest in the 1100s because he wanted hunting grounds close to Paris. Saint Louis' sister didn't want to marry and wished to be a nun. Her brother the King gave her an Abbey called Longchamp. That's where the longchamp hypodrome is today. During the 100 year war, the English hid in the Bois de Boulogne to attack Paris. During the Renaissance, François 1st decided to build a chateau called Chateau de Madrid in the middle of the forest. This is a place where he received a lot of courtesans for his various interludes with ladies. This might be where the prostitution started in this part of France? The Spanish and the English also used the forest to attack Napoleon in more recent times and much of the forest burned. When Napoleon III came to power in the middle of the 1800s he decided to revive this area and turn it into a park. What Is at the Bois de Boulogne Today? This is a place where you'll find paths for horse-back riding, there are lakes where you can rent boats and go rowing. There are walkers, joggers, and 3 famous restaurants: The Prés Catalan restaurant is in there, it's a 3 star restaurant and fairly expensive even at lunch-time.  Le Châlet des Îles and Auberge du Bonheur. There are also two race-tracks for horse races: Longchamp and Auteuil that attract a lot of people. The great tennis complex of Roland-Garros is at one end of the Bois de Boulogne. There are interesting visual features around the various lakes, but they are not as impressive as what you'll see at Parc Monceau for example. How to get there? Metro line 1, line 9, line 10 will take you close to the forest, but there are also buses and a tram, depending on where you want to go. We recommend the free app CityMapper. Works Inspired by the Bois de Boulogne Books by Balzac, Flaubert, Zola, Maupassant, Daudet  are set in the Bois de Boulogne, at least partially. Painters often got inspiration by going to this park to paint natural scenes, even if they didn't necessarily identified it by name. Learn about the best parks in Paris   Email | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | Twitter   Did you get my VoiceMap Paris tours yet? They are designed for people who want to see the best of Paris neighborhoods and put what they are looking at into historical context. There are so many great stories in Paris. Don't walk right past them without having a clue what happened there! You can buy them directly from the VoiceMap app or click here to order activation codes at the podcast listener discount price. Support the Show Tip Your Guide Extras Patreon Audio Tours Merchandise Recommended in this Episode Les Dames du Bois de Boulogne, a movie from 1945 by Robert Bresson If you enjoyed this episode, you should also listen to related episode(s): Best Parks In and Around Paris, Episode 290 Categories: Active Vacations in France, Paris

Are you considering visiting D-Day sites with kids? You'll want to listen to this episode! My guests Ginny and Cristina are mother and daughter and the kids were a 12yo boy, a 9yo girl, a 7yo girl, and a 3yo boy. Also on this trip were Ginny’s sister and Cristina’s husband. They took this trip in October 2019. We have a conversation about driving in France, etiquette at French restaurants with kids, and also about taking kids to D-Day sites and how that worked out for this family. What can you do to keep the kids interested? What is there to do in Normandy besides D-Day sites? Recommended in this episode: The Classic Tales Podcast   It turns out that this family has a long history with Normandy. Ginny’s father served in Normandy in WW2 and they had some letters from him. They went looking for the places where he served, including some places we haven’t talked about on the podcast yet. Tips for Visiting D-Day Sites with Kids Learn from the best, folks who did it and learned the lessons! About Driving in France If there are enough adults in your party willing to drive, you might want to rent 2 cars instead of a van. That will allow you to split up if needed. There are speed traps in France, do not go over the speed limit or you may get a ticket in the mail a month after you get home. If you pay for the built-in GPS in the rental car it will tell you what the speed limit is in any particular road section. Everything is far apart in Normandy, you will need to drive. Parking is generally not a problem in Normandy unless you go around D-Day commemorations. Do Kids Need to Be Quiet at Restaurants in France? Cristina's children are used to traveling at lot, at least the older ones are. Like anything else, travel gets easier the more you do it and that's true for children too! But still she worried about how her kids would be treated in restaurants in France. She had heard that kids in France need to be quiet at restaurants and she didn't think that was possible. There is this myth that French children are somehow perfectly well behaved at restaurants. Let's be realistic: French people have kids, they know it's best to serve families with kids promptly and keep them happy. French waiters do not expect perfection from kids at all! How Were the Kids at D-Day Sites? Ginny had prepared the kids for Normandy by sharing with them letters that her father had sent to his sister during WW2. Build-up some knowledge about WW2 with the older kids ahead of time. Get them as interested as you can. The older kids really enjoyed a book called I Survived the Battle of D Day, and there are a lot of books that can help prepare your kids to understand the historical significance of the area. It's not difficult to find food and snacks the kids will enjoy, go to a grocery store where you'll find a lot of variations on Nutella. There are also lots of cookies and crackers in France. They also love brioche, which is different from what they get at home. Stay in the Same Place Every Night They decided to stay in Mondeville near Caen at an Airbnb called Maison Ancienne "style Deauville en Normandie". It was probably the coolest Airbnb Cristina has ever stayed. Everyone had a room and it was wonderful. Omaha Beach Day with Kids They never planned on too many things in one day, made sure there was always time for ice cream. Their priority was to go to the American Cemetery at Omaha Beach. It was powerful for the kids to realize that this large field full of crosses is the result of war. The level of appreciation of French people towards the sacrifices of American soldiers is also palpable. The orientation table that faces the ocean and shows where all the battles took place on different beaches is great and they spend some time there. There are no restaurants or cafés at the cemetery per se. But if you drive down to the beach you'll find many services. It's a lovely sandy beach with a monument. There are shells and things on the beach that kids will enjoy. Definitely bring swimming suits if you go in the summer. They visited a small private museum. It didn't take long at all which is great with kids because it kept their interest. Cherbourg Day They wanted to go to Cherbourg because Ginny's father was stationed. They were looking for a museum that had information about the 280th Station Hospital Unit, and they found one. But before they went to the museum they went to La Cité de la Mer which they really enjoyed. They had some information about the Titanic, they have a submarine you can go into, they have the deepest aquarium tank. The kids loved the interactive exhibit where it's an underwater simulation. The Musée de la Libération at Fort du Roule was also interesting and they adults would have liked to spend more time there. They had some information about Ginny's dad's unit. They ticket seller didn't know anything about it but she called the director over and he was able to explain more. The director didn't speak English so it wasn't very easy, but they managed anyway. Ginny and her sister Veronica recognized a cantine from American soldiers displayed at the museum that their dad also had. This was the most meaningful part of the trip for the adults. There is a beautiful view towards Cherbourg from Fort du Roule. D-Day Experience Museum at Carentan les Marais They stopped there on their way back from Cherbourg on the way back to their Airbnb. They got there a little bit late so they didn't have time to do everything. This is intense and they kids enjoyed it. The youngest kid told his kindergarten teacher that he was in a plane crash because it was so realistic. Kid-Tastorphies Cristina produces a podcast called Kid-Tastrophies and there were some kidtastrophies on this trip! Being in a "plane crash" would be one. Kids upset tummies are another one so always carry extra underwear! Also, keep your expectations low. Don't think your kids will get as much as you'd like them to from the trip. Cristina's oldest kid got some good WW2 experiences, but don't think just because you took them Normandy they'll now understand the full scope of WW2. Building family memories is really important, even if kids don't remember the details. Take lots of pictures to remind them of the experience. It's also important for kids to experience the fact that not everything is the same as what they are used to in their own little corner of the world. It broadens their point of view as much as possible for children. More episodes about family travel in France Email | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | Twitter   Did you get my VoiceMap Paris tours yet? They are designed for people who want to see the best of Paris neighborhoods and put what they are looking at into historical context. There are so many great stories in Paris. Don't walk right past them without having a clue what happened there! You can buy them directly from the VoiceMap app or click here to order activation codes at the podcast listener discount price.   Discussed in this Episode Omaha Beach Cherbourg Support the Show Tip Your Guide Extras Patreon Audio Tours Merchandise If you enjoyed this episode, you should also listen to related episode(s): Trip Report on Normandy and Paris, Episode 101 Visiting Normandy with Teenagers, Episode 165 A Multi-Generational Trip to Normandy and Brittany, Episode 242 Cristina and family Category: Normandy & Brittany

On today's episode Annie Sargent and Lisa Wylie talk about walking the French Chemin de Compostelle. Lisa started her walk late April, which is the beginning of the hiking season in France. The end of the hiking season is October. On average there are about 100 people walking the French Chemin de Compostelle per day. But as we'll see in the episode, the Spanish part of the Camino is a lot busier with around 1000 walkers per day. It's still perfectly safe, even for a solo woman traveler. There are many ways to get to Saint-Jacques-de-Compostelle or Santiago de Compostela in Spain. Lisa took the Puy route or via Podiensis, which is the most popular route in France. But she could have taken the route that starts in Paris, or the one that starts in Vézelay or Arles. You'll get to use your French on the Chemin! Lisa had a wonderful time in part because her French is quite good and she can have entire conversations in French. Knowing French is not a must, but if you can speak French you'll have a better time. Won't English be enough? Not everywhere. Remember, you'll be in rural France where most people aren't comfortable speaking English. One instance where speaking French is particularly helpful is when reserving rooms for the next night. It's possible (and sometimes advisable) to plan it all out and make your reservations weeks in advance from home, but what do you do it there's a rain storm that delays you? How about a blister that forces you to slow down considerably or even stop for a day? If you're comfortable speaking French on the phone, all of these things will be a lot easier for you. And speaking of making reservations, find out when holidays and school vacations are because those nights will often be booked up in advance! Walking the Chemin in Sections On this particular trip in 2019 Lisa walked between Cahors and Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port. 4 years prior she had done the section between Le Puy and Cahors, so she just picked up where she left off. Walking in sections is the most popular way to walk the chemin because most people have to go back to work and can't do it all in one trip. Practical Considerations when Walking the Chemin It took Lisa 3 weeks to complete the section between Le-Puy-en-Velay and Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port. That was walking 12 to 14 miles per day every day (which is 16 to 20 km per day). It takes some training to do this comfortably even if you're used to walking an hour with your dog every day. But the chemin is not technically difficult, it's just about building stamina. Are you thinking about backpacking it? Lisa carried her backpack and did not use a service to move her belongings around. But, when walking the French chemin de Compostelle you can travel light. You don't need to take a tent or cooking implements, there will be grocery stores and restaurants many places along the way. You won't be  walking in the wilderness but rather in the French countryside. There will be  villages, cafés, shops, pharmacies, at least in the bigger villages. There are transport services that will shuttle your bag between stops. They can also drive a person to the next stop if a walker in your party needs a break from walking. You'll find business cards for transport services at all the gîtes, so this is not something you need to arrange in advance. This is nothing like walking the Appalachian trail where you might be in the wilderness for days. The availability of frequent places to stop also means that you could decide to walk just 10 kilometers per day if that's more comfortable for you. But be aware that not every village has places where you can buy food, always carry some with you just in case. Le "sac à viande" aka sleeping bag liner You do need a change of clothes, a jacket, toiletries, a towel, and a "sac à viande" or sleeping bag liner. You'll use it when staying places where they don't give you sheets. But if you're planning on staying at regular hotels rather than "gîtes"  (youth hostel-like guest houses), then you won't need one. There are many places along the way where regular hotels are not available, so you'll need to make-do with basic accommodations such as gîtes. On the French side even the cheapest accommodations provide blankets, and you can often rent sheets for a few euros. But do bring your own toiletries and a light-weight bath towel. Choosing the right backpack Walking with a backpack is more difficult, but if affords more flexibility in your schedule. A general rule of thumb is a pack that is no more than 38 liters. That's enough to hold a change of clothes and some flip-flops. You'll probably also carry some snacks and maybe a lunch to hold you over until the next stop, but that's never more than a few hours away. Walking sticks help Walking a long way every day can be hard on your knees. Walking with poles can help a lot, especially if you get poles that fit your needs well. Consider poles that you can take apart and put in your backpack. There are poles made for women that fit their hands better. Annie prefers aluminum poles because they don't tend to vibrate when hitting the ground. The Miam Miam Dodo book and app This book is the Bible of the Chemin in French, it lists all the places you can sleep and eat and it's a favorite of French walkers. The app will show you where you are on the map. You can download the map when you're on-line so it'll work even if you're in the middle of nowhere. The book and app will also tell you how far to the next place to fill up your water bottle. Unfortunately it is only available in French. What sort of shoes do you need? You probably don't want simple sneakers, but you don't need heavy hiking boots either. Light hiking shoes are good, something like Merrels. French people and their blisters French walkers are concerned with taking good care of their blisters (ampoule in French which also means lightbulb). To do so they run a thread through the skin and it acts like a wicker. If you don't have the thread the skin will heal itself and the blister will not empty for a long time. Alternatively any French family doctor can cut out the thick skin and it'll allow the blister to heal within a couple of days. Be really mindful of meal-times You'll be walking through rural France so you must pay attention to meal times. Restaurants stop accepting customers after 1:30 PM for the lunch service. Rural grocery stores may close for lunch, they may also be away on vacation. Again, it is wise to carry some food with you. Lisa's stops along the way 17 minutes into the episode Lisa starts explaining the path she walked and where she stayed. They are also listed in the Guest Notes (blue button below). The whole point of walking the French chemin de Compostelle is to walk. There are no particular attractions along the way, although you will run into some gorgeous churches and abbeys you'll want to visit. And there are, of course, beautiful rural vistas. Be aware that many of these really scenic villages are dead unless you happen to be there on a week-end or school vacation. These are also places where it might be hard to get a meal because there aren't grocery stores. Pack ear plugs because you will run into snorers and at a hostel you can't always get away from them! Walking the French Chemin de Compostelle as a solo female traveler Lisa has traveled around the world by herself sometimes as was the case for her 2019 trip to walk the Camino. She never felt unsafe while walking or at any of the stops. Everyone was considerate and friendly. You will probably keep running into the same people and will get to know them quite well so it won't feel lonely. Some parts of the Camino are really busy Whe you're walking the French Chemin de Compostelle you'll run into 90% French people. As soon as you get to Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port you'll suddenly be surrounded by a lot more people from all over the world. There are 10 times more people hiking the Spanish side than the French side. What's the best part of walking the French Chemin de Compostelle? The best part of this walk is hanging out with other walkers at the gîte at night. French people love to socialize around a meal and most gîtes provide the evening meal. Most are great cooks, one wasn't (see guest notes). You'll meet a lot of like-minded people and chat about all sorts of things. Wine will be served with dinner, but you probably won't run into much wild partying. Restaurant Recommendation Le Fromage Rit in Moissac is a lovely restaurant where you can eat a good meal for under 20€ More episodes about active vacations in France Email | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | Twitter   Did you get my VoiceMap Paris tours yet? They are designed for people who want to see the best of Paris neighborhoods and put what they are looking at into historical context. There are so many great stories in Paris. Don't walk right past them without having a clue what happened there! You can buy them directly from the VoiceMap app or click here to order activation codes at the podcast listener discount price. Support the Show Tip Your Guide Extras Patreon Audio Tours Merchandise If you enjoyed this episode, you should also listen to related episode(s): Basque Country, Episode 60 Lise Wylie on the chemin de Compostelle Categories: Active Vacations in France, France How To

In this episode, Annie and Elyse chat about our favorite summer lunches in France. We talk about eating habits locals have in France during the warm months and the foods we all look forward to every summer in France. We also share a few recipes and cooking tips from our southern France kitchens! #joinusinfrance #frenchfood #frenchwine #summerfoods Support Elyse on Patreon Annie & Elyse's Favorite Summer Lunches in France In France we don't want to turn the oven on. Why? Because most French homes don't have air conditioning! Turning the oven on raises the temperature of an already hot house too much. That's also why many villas in France have a full kitchen outside. Some people just have a barbecue, but you'll also find outdoor kitchens with a "plancha" (large hot plate), a fridge and a sink. And air-fryers are also good for that. Do French People Have Food Traditions in the Summer? French people used to eat a lot more regional foods, but as food distribution has become more global, you can find similar summer foods all over France. Barbecues French people barbecue sausages a lot. There are electric barbecues you can even use on a balcony. Merguez from North Africa Chipolatas from the south of France Porc chops Duck heats Grilled Rocamadour cheese Summer Salads Watermelon salad with feta and mint Caprese salad with garden tomatoes, mozzarela and fresh basil Salade Niçoise (and maybe some Socca to go with it?) Salads with boiled eggs and fruit (fresh strawberries or canned peaches or melons) Melon Charantais with prosciuto ham or with port wine Summer Soups Gazpacho Cucumber soup Royco soup (instant) Zucchini soup with either curry or Boursin cheese Summer Sandwiches Pain Bagnat Sandwich aux mergez Sandwich à la saucisse de Toulouse Summer Pizzas Pissaladière Fig and feta pizza Summer Fruit Peaches Melons Charentais Flat peaches or nectarines Summer Dishes Ratatouille (which you can make in one pot and without much fuss as Annie explains 19 minutes into the episode) Tian de légumes Quiches with a lot of onion or zucchini or Swiss chard or leeks Tomates farçies Dishes with fresh peas Mussels and fries Terrines de poisson or terrines de légume Fresh sardines on the grill Taboulé Apéritif dinatoire is a big thing in France in the summer Summer Is Rosé Season For some reason most French people switch to drinking rosé during the summer, especially in the last 10 years. It's completely OK to drink it with ice, but if you don't use ice it must be served very cold. There are good rosés from Corsica, Provence and Pays de Loire. More episodes about French food and wine   Email | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | Twitter   Did you get my VoiceMap Paris tours yet? They are designed for people who want to see the best of Paris neighborhoods and put what they are looking at into historical context. There are so many great stories in Paris. Don't walk right past them without having a clue what happened there! You can buy them directly from the VoiceMap app or click here to order activation codes at the podcast listener discount price. Support the Show Tip Your Guide Extras Patreon Audio Tours Merchandise If you enjoyed this episode, you should also listen to related episode(s): French Food, Episode 17 Dealing with food allergies in France, Episode 170 A Cornucopia of Bizarre French Foods, Episode 193 Food Prices at French Grocery Stores, Episode 197 Do's and Don'ts at Restaurants in France, Episode 209 Cafe Culture in France, Episode 228 Categories: French Culture, French Food & Wine