Aveyron, Midi-Pyrenees
The department of Aveyron is like a place that time forgot, magical villages perched high on ridges, forests and fields, babbling streams and ancient castles. Brilliant for walking and cycling, painting or photography, a place where the scenery is forever changing and never more so than in autumn when blue skies vie with golden leaved woods for your attention.
Don’t miss:
Najac, one of the most beautiful villages in France
Villefranche de Rouergue with its magnificent Thursday morning market
Conques, a place that has been nourishing the souls of pilgrims for centuries, another “plus beaux village de France”, rocky crags, chestnut, pine and oak trees and a sensational medieval village…
Rodez museum – an artist and a chef create a winning, inspirational combination at Rodez Museum. Pierre Soulages, internationally renowned artist, shows more than 500 works. Take a break in the museum restaurant where food meets art as 3 Michelin Star chef Michel Bras creates…
Le Touquet Paris-Plages
Just 2.5 hours from Paris, Le Touquet on the Opal Cost of northern France is a secret haunt of Parisians in the know. Chic streets and shops, the art deco Westminster hotel where Michelin star chef William Elliot is in residence, long golden beaches and bracing fresh air.
This is a place to unwind, play golf, enjoy long walks on the beach and in the surrounding pine forests, go horse riding in the dunes, seal spotting in the bays, cycling on quiet country roads and learn to sand yacht (as the Queen did many years ago here)…
Don’t miss:
Enjoy the Saturday morning market in Le Touquet’s listed, covered art deco market
Slurp mussels and chips, the most popular local dish, the mussels are local and delicious…
Enjoy one of the many sporting activities – on the beach, in the countryside and forests, dunes and on the famous golf courses…
Watch the world go by from a terraced café in Le Touquet over a hot chocolate or glass of wine…
Wander the ramparts of the ancient town of Montreuil-sur-Mer close by