France Retreats

Lot-et-Garonne

Sometimes described as France’s best-kept secret, this pocket of rural peace in southwest France sits between Bordeaux to its north and Toulouse to the south and forms part of the history-steeped Aquitaine region. Often bypassed by visitors who flock to the neighbouring Dordogne, this picturesque department is crossed by the Lot and Garonne rivers and characterised by rolling countryside, sunflower fields, unspoiled market towns, and timbered villages. It is also the agricultural heartland of Aquitaine, with fruit orchards, vineyards, and fertile farmland making it one of France’s richest gastronomic destinations: specialities include d’Agen prunes and the red wines of the Buzet appellation. History is also everywhere here. Cue picturebook ‘bastide’ towns like hilltop Monflanquin and Villeréal, fairytale-like castles, and romantic chateaux, many of them largely undiscovered by tourists. Put them together and add everything from tree-lined canals and fantastic weekly food markets and Lot-et-Garonne ranks as one of France’s most rewarding and relaxing destinations.

​

Vallée de Naves

Buried deep in the French Alps near the border with Italy, the Vallée de Naves sits within France’s spectacular Savoy region. While the valley neighbours the better-known Tarentaise, the gateway to the popular 3 Valleys ski area studded with resorts like Meribel and Courchevel, the Naves area resolutely remains a haven of tranquillity. Visitors can breathe in the crisp Alpine air and the life-affirming backdrop of high peaks, plateaux, forests, valleys, and dairy pastures that turn from green in summer to white in winter, and whose slopes are speckled with traditional villages of wooden mountain chalets. The region’s ancient Savoyard culture and mountain terrain shapes its cuisine, which revolves around robust, rustic dishes such as fondue, sausages, and potato cakes accompanied by fresh white Savoy wines. Other attractions span everything from summer hiking and cycling trails to the thermal spa towns of La Léchère les Bains and Brides-Les-Bains, and historic Moutiers, a riverside jewel with a fine cathedral, stone bridges, museums, and food markets.