Touring - French Travel Service Paris & France including Corsica 2012 (page 48)

Touring by boaT River Cruising in Anjou The Anjou, so-called country of kings and with many historical links to the English from the time of the Plantagenets, is a delightful region which soon reveals itself to be one of France's best kept secrets. Less well-known but no less enchanting than the Loire Chateaux country around Tours, it has a mellow beauty of gentle rolling meadows, forests and vine-covered hillsides, all irrigated by the Loire's meandering tributaries, and a similarly rich cultural, gastronomic and architectural heritage, with many beautiful chateaux of its own. The River Sarthe itself is a gentle tributary of the Loire to the north of the lovely regional capital Angers, and meanders through verdant countryside dotted with picturesque villages on its way to Le Mans, most famous for the 24-hour race but with some of the best preserved Roman walls in Europe and, in the old town, a magnificent Cathedral with a menhir in front of it as well as many 15/16th century houses lining its narrow cobbled streets. The region's location and mild climate make it ideal to visit at any time between March and October, with the evolving seasons constantly and naturally renewing its visual appeal.. Our base port is Sablé-sur-Sarthe, midway between Angers and Le Mans in the heart of the Anjou, with a railway station directly accessible by TGV. You will glide past many towns and villages at the water's edge, and a great network of cycle paths enables you to explore further afield at an easy pace. Don't miss the elegant chateau of Plessis-Bourré, the imposing Benedictine Abbey of Solesmes, Malicorne, famous for its porcelain, and the lovely older parts of Le Mans. As there are very few locks to negotiate this cruise is ideal for novices. 1 week option Sable to Spay or Chaffes and return 2 week option Sable to Laval or Le Mans and return Touring by boaT Canal Cruising in Alsace Justly renowned for its gastronomy, wines and cultural heritage, the Alsace region nestles between the Vosges mountains and the Rhine, a privileged location endowing it with a climate drier than most regions of France. A predominantly rural land of many contrasts, the remarkably unspoilt character of both its beautifully manicured towns and often spectacular countryside constantly surprises with its rich diversity. Medieval castles look down on vineyard-clad slopes, picturesque villages and gently rolling farmland The region, so often disputed between France and Germany, has an immensely rich cultural history, mirrored in the warm hues of its magnificent pink sandstone churches and the vibrant colours of its half-timbered houses, whose mullioned windows are decked with flowers. In fact, there can be few other parts of France with such a succession of award-winning "villages fleuris". Our base port is Saverne, about 25 miles west of Strasbourg in the heart of Alsace, with a railway station directly accessible by TGV. Located as it is on the Canal du Marne au Rhin, you can head to the lovely capital of Alsace, Strasbourg in one direction, west and north into the verdant Lorraine plateau, amid lakes and forests, in the other, via the spectacular inclined barge lift at Lutzelbourg. It is also possible to branch off through the Lorraine Regional Park on the Houillières de la Sarre Canal, formerly used for transporting coal, close to the German frontier at Sarreguemines, famous for its porcelain. 1 week option Saverne to Arzviller and either Mittersheim or Lagarde and return or, Saverne to Strasbourg & Boofzheim and return 2 week option Saverne to Strasbourg and Nancy and return or Saverne to Strasbourg and Sarreguemines and return 48 visit our website on www.F-T-S.co.uk or call 0844 84 888 43