78 | Cycling World
A cycling holiday in France? A great
idea, but which France do you choose?
France, for a country of relatively modest size,
offers more variety than you might imagine…
The gently rolling river valleys of the Loire, Cher and
Indre, home to the majestic châteaux of the Renaissance;
the imperious peaks of the Alps and Pyrenees, the
battlegrounds of Anquetil, Mercx, Hinault, Lemond and
the other ‘convicts of the road’ who have toiled through
the Tour de France; the steep sided valley of the Rhine
in Alsace, where the villages are as German as they are
French, and forbidding castles look down from ridges
above the vineyards; the sun drenched roads of Provence
and Languedoc, snaking through fields of olives, lavender
and grapes; the meadows, orchards and beaches of
Normandy, steeped in military history; medieval fortresses
and prehistoric caves set amongst the rivers and sunflowers
of the Dordogne; and of course, the elegant wine houses
of Bordeaux and Burgundy, stately homes in the midst of
immaculately manicured rows of vines…
Whichever region you choose, you will find many things that stay the
same, such as the quiet backroads and cycle tracks that make cycling
in France such a stress-free experience. When you do meet a car, you
will encounter the courtesy and respect that comes from the unique
place that the vélo enjoys in French culture – the nickname for the
bicycle is ‘La petite Reine’ – ‘the little queen’. You are more likely
to find yourself overtaking a tractor than being overtaken by a car!
Common to every region of France is also an appreciation of the
finer things in life – in particular food and drink. Of course, each
region has its own specialities that reflect the climate and the terroir
– the all-encompassing term for the soil and growing conditions.
In the south, the heat is reflected in a lighter style of cooking, with
lots of fish, seafood, olive oil and vegetables – this is the home of
ratatouille and bouillabaisse. In Burgundy, home of the snail and
the famous Charollais cattle, escargots and boeuf bourguignon are
the signature dishes. Normandy is famous for its dairy products and
its apples as well as its fishing ports, so cream sauces and dishes
flambéed in calvados will be on the menu!
To receive a special 5% discount, phone +44 1923 674805 or email
[email protected] quoting ‘Cycling World’
or book via www.frenchcyclingholidays.com using voucher code CYCWLD