OpenLLM-France/wikimedia huggingface dataset:
# Mirande

Mirande is a town in the beautiful Gers region. It is a lively fortified bastide town, built during the 13th century and was once a must-know town in the south of Gers. Traditional in its ways, Mirande provides the visitor with a truly local French experience.

## Understand
### History

At the end of the 11th century, the Southwest of France was little populated. Outside the large towns like Toulouse, Auch, or Albi, the rural population was quite dispersed. In the countryside, peasants lived with the insecurity created by uncontrolled semi-nomadic people who lived in the thick forest. In this world, bastides made life a bit better, marking a movement of urbanism in the Southwest of France between 1222 with the founding of Cordes and 1373 with the founding of Labastide d'Anjou.

## See

A small town it has a main square surrounded by attractive medieval arcades and an original 15th century Gothic cathedral that stands proud looking over the town.
During the month of July you can enjoy the vibrancy of Mirande’s International Country Music Festival. Mirande is also well known for other celebrations; traditional feasts, dances, concerts and plays that take place in the central square.

## Do

Take a stroll around its small network of streets, visit the regular markets filled with local produce from this agricultural area and enjoy a coffee at one of its delightful cafes.
Visit the museum of Fine Arts and China.

## Buy

Small selection of shops, but not a shopping mecca! Regular markets.
# Marciac

Marciac is a town in Gers between Auch and Tarbes. Home to 1200 peoplr, Marciac is perhaps most famous for its yearly Jazz Festival that has been running every August since 1978. A ‘bastide’ town, it dates to the late 12th century.

## See

The town square with its medieval arcades is the heart of everything and home to many concerts and events.
The church, which boasts the highest clock tower in the Gers.

## Do

You must attend one of Marciacs many festivals. From Jazz to Latino to country, the festivals bring vibrancy and colour to this small French town.
On the outskirts of Marciac there is a large lake where you can hire pedal boats, go windsurfing and swimming.

## Eat

There are a few restaurants in the town. Wander into the heart of the village beneath the cooling arcades to find an attractive place to dine or head to the lake and dine at the floating restaurant.

## Sleep

There are a selection of self-catering, hotels, bed and breakfast options as well as camping. Do organise in advance if you are attending the Jazz Festival.
# Gers

The department of Gers is in the Occitanie region of south-west France. It is a stunning area flanked on one side by the imposing Pyrenees, whose snow-capped peaks can often be seen, nestled within beautifully peaceful rolling countryside

## Towns

* 43.6452780.5886111 Auch — it has a cathedral, a medieval tower, and a monumental staircase
* 43.95750.37252 Condom
* 43.5241670.1616673 Marciac — famous for its yearly Jazz Festival
* 43.5147220.4041674 Mirande — a lively fortified bastide town, built during the 13th century
* 43.758333-0.0338895 Nogaro
* 43.9344440.6211116 Lectoure
* 43.7744440.9291677 Sarrant
* 43.6136111.0808338 L’Isle Jourdain
* 43.8613890.1013899 Eauze
* 43.651389-0.15027810 Saint-Mont — visit the the monastery of Saint-Mont and the church of Saint-Jean Baptiste

## Get in

You can reach the area by plane to Pau airport, approximately 1 hr 15 min drive away, or Toulouse, about 2 hours. By car you can choose to arrive by ferry at St. Malo in Northern France or Santander in Northern Spain, which is about a 6-hour car journey.

## See

The Gers is famous for its many fortified towns that provide lovely points of interest.
As the capital of the Gers, Auch is worth a visit. With 20,000 inhabitants it has an impressive cathedral and a vibrant centre filled with charming cafes and restaurants.

## Do

Reported to have some of the cleanest air in Europe; you may want to simply relax, kick back and enjoy the quiet lifestyle that is enjoyed by this sparsely populated area. Country drives are a pleasure on the deserted country lanes that weave amongst stunning scenery, or for the more energetic, walking and cycling.
The region is also famous for fantastic vibrant festivals, with the most famous being the Marciac Jazz Festival that runs for two weeks in August. There is also a country and western festival in the small, quaint town of Mirande.

## Buy

This area is a famous agricultural region so local markets filled with fresh produce are bountiful.

## Eat

Food is reasonably priced, local and unsophisticated, although you will find more sophisticated restaurants for special occasions dotted throughout the region. There is usually no problem getting a table at a local restaurant as levels of tourism are low.
In particular there is a charming family-run restaurant in a small village called Bassoues; about a 30-minute drive from Mirande. Well worth a visit if you are looking for an unpretentious evening with locals.
# Roquesérière

Roquesérière is a commune in the Haute-Garonne region of France, 25 km north-east of Toulouse.

## See

* 43.733581.637981 St. Peter Church (Église Saint-Pierre), Place de la Barbacane. Church and clergy dating from 1863. (updated Mar 2019)
* 43.73411.637652 War Memorial, Rue de l'Église. Monument for the ca. 200 local soldiers fallen during the World Wars in the defence of France. (updated Mar 2019)

## Do

* Hike. There are plenty of hiking routes passing around Roquesérière.
* 43.73971.639251 Sports park, Chemin de Sallebasse. 24/7. Tennis and basketball courts. Free. (updated Mar 2019)

## Buy

There are no shops or supermarkets in Roquesérière. All convenience items, food and drinks must be purchased prior to arrival in Roquesérière.

## Eat

There are no restaurants in Roqueserière. Bring food with you when visiting.

## Sleep

* 43.738681.642181 $^{[deadlink]}$ Gîte la Ferronnerie, Route de Saint-Sulpice 528, ☏ +33 5 61 84 31 53. (updated Mar 2019)

## Connect

Roquesérière and its approach roads have 4G from all French carriers. As of Aug 2023, 5G has not reached this area.

## Go next

* Toulouse
# Oeiras (Portugal)

Oeiras is a town in Greater Lisbon, Portugal.

## Understand

Oeiras (oh-AY-ruhsh, /o.ˈɐj.ɾɐʃ/) municipality has 172,120 residents (2011).

### Visitor information

* Descobrir Oeiras. (updated Jul 2021)

## Get in

Comboios de Portugal (CP) has several rail stations in Oeiras municipality on the Linha de Cascais: Algés, Cruz Quebrada, Caxias, Paço de Arcos, Santo Amaro, and Oeiras.
Several Carris bus routes and the 15E tram provide the eastern edges of the municipality with transport from Lisbon.
The A5 motorway (Autoestrada da Costa do Estoril) crosses the municipality east–west between Lisbon and Cascais. The A9 (Circular Regional Exterior de Lisboa, CREL) provides access from several communities in the region's eastern area.

## Get around

Bus service is provided by Vimeca's Lisboa Transportes and by Scotturb.

## See

* 38.699191-9.2381781 Aquário Vasco da Gama (Vasco da Gama Aquarium), Rua Direita do Dafundo, Cruz Quebrada – Dafundo. 10:00–18:00 daily. Aquarium displaying live freshwater and saltwater animals and plants from around the world, concentrating on Portugal. The museum exhibits preserved species from the collection of King Carlos I. Adults €5, seniors 65+ & kids 4-12 €2.50, kids 0-3 free, family (2 adults & 2 youths) €13. (updated Jul 2021)
* 38.696-9.28992 Palácio dos Arcos (Paço dos Arcos), Largo Conde das Alcáçovas 3, Paço de Arcos. 15th-century noble house now used as a hotel. (updated Jul 2021)
* 38.692301-9.3144763 Palácio do Marquês de Pombal. 18th-century noble estate. It was built for the First Marquis of Pombal, who was the chief minister to King José I and is credited with rebuilding the country after the 1755 Lisbon earthquake. (updated Jul 2021)
* 38.702052-9.302474 Parque dos Poetas (Poets' Park), Rua Lino de Assunção. 22.5 hectares (56 acres) park that serves as an outdoor sculpture museum, featuring statues of Portuguese poets. (updated Jul 2021)

## Eat

* 38.6935-9.29831 Borges, Rua Curry Cabral 4, Paço de Arcos, ☏ +351 21 443 2659, restborges82@gmail.com. Tu–Sa 12:00–15:00 & 19:00–22:00, Su 12:00–15:00, closed M. Portuguese cuisine with a vast selection of wines. Mid-range. (updated Jul 2021)
* 38.6889-9.31692 A Quinta, Largo Henrique de Paiva Couceiro 36, ☏ +351 21 443 0566. Daily 06:00–23:00. €8-17. (updated Jul 2021)
* 38.702882-9.2383493 Everest Montanha Algés, R. Dr. Augusto José da Cunha 3g, 1495-240 Algés, ☏ +351 21 411 3532, everestmontanhaalges@outlook.com. 12–3 PM, 7–11 PM. €10-15. (updated Feb 2025)

## Drink

* 38.6995-9.31931 Vinho de Carcavelos, Estação Agronómica Nacional, ☏ +351 21 440 3500. (updated Jul 2021)

## Sleep

* 38.7099-9.28861 Hotel Real Oeiras, Rua Álvaro Rodrigues de Azevedo 5, ☏ +351 21 446 9900, roe@realhotelsgroup.com. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 12:00. Four star, 100-room hotel with pool, gym, bar, and free Wi-Fi. €45-91. (updated Jul 2021)
# Northwest China

North West China was historically a border region with the beginning of the ancient Silk Road, much desert terrain, and mainly Muslim inhabitants including some nomads and rather fierce tribal groups. It has always had strong Chinese influences, though at times there were also independent kingdoms in the area. Over the past hundred years, there has been considerable migration by Han Chinese; they are now the largest ethnic group in most areas. Today it is a rapidly growing region, though still less developed than coastal areas.

## Regions

* Shaanxi Province
* Gansu Province
* Ningxia Autonomous Region
* Qinghai Province
* Xinjiang Autonomous Region (Dzungarian, Tarim)

## Cities

* 40.14111194.6638891 Dunhuang, Gansu, with Buddhist grottoes that are on the UNESCO World Heritage List
* 36.40277894.9041672 Golmud, Qinghai, jumping off point for many trips to Tibet
* 39.4575.9833333 Kashgar, Xinjiang, historic trading center on the Silk Road
* 36.06171103.831774 Lanzhou, Gansu, provincial capital
* 42.9589.1822225 Turpan, Xinjiang, lowest point in China
* 43.822587.61256 Urumqi, Xinjiang, provincial capital
* 34.261111108.9422227 Xi'an, Shaanxi, ancient capital with many cultural relics including the Terracotta Warriors
* 36.62386101.778668 Xining, Qinghai, provincial capital
* 38.485106.2259 Yinchuan, Ningxia, provincial capital

## Other destinations

* 34.351061 Maijishan National Park (Gansu) - Cliffside grottoes and botanic gardens
* 38.435035105.9871672 Xixia Wangling National Park (Ningxia)- Western Xia Tombs
* 371003 Qinghaihu National Park (Qinghai) - migratory bird stop

## See

Heaven lake of Tian Shan

## Do

Shopping at Urumqi's International Grand Bazaar.

## Go next

* North China
* Southwest China
* South China
# Mukalla

Mukalla is in the Yemeni Highlands and is eastern Yemen's biggest city, the gateway to the historical Hadhramaut region. A bustling port, it is well developed by Yemeni standards, with good roads and a reasonably smart waterfront. In 2023, it was home to about 595,000 people.

## Understand

The name "Mukalla" (المكلا) is derived from the Arabic verb "kala" (كلا), meaning "to preserve" or "to nurture." This reflects the city's historical role as a safe harbor and bustling port, providing shelter and nurturing trade in the region. Historically, the city had multiple names: Al-Kheesa, Bandar Yaqoub, Bandar Omar, Bandar Al-Naqeeb, and Bandar Ghalib
Al Mukalla is close to Qana, the ancient Hadrami trading post between India and Africa, with incense producing areas in its hinterland. The city was founded in 1035 as a fishing settlement.
While Al Mukalla has fared slightly better during the ongoing Yemeni Civil War, it was held by Al-Qaida between 2015-2016. The city is now considered the safest compared to the rest of mainland Yemen's cities.

## Get in
### By plane

National carrier Yemenia operates a few domestic flights to Mukalla.
* 14.662549.3751 Riyan Mukalla International Airport (مطار الريان الدولي) (30 km east of the city). RIY (updated Jan 2023)

## See

The old historic city core, located on a small peninsula, has many small alleyways worth exploring.
* 14.5583849.136461 Fort Al-Ghwayzi (حِصْن ٱلْغوَيْزِي). Built on the foot of a rock and designed to protect the city from Bedouin attacks, this historic fortress dates back to 1716 when the sultans of the Emirate of Al-Kassad ruled the Hadhramaut area. (updated Jan 2023)
* 14.531449.12772 Qu'aiti palace museum (قصر السلطان القعيطي). A former royal palace, now turned into a regional museum. (updated Jan 2023)
* 14.5281349.137333 Sik'kat Yaqoub (سكة يعقوب), Hayy Ash-Shaheed Khalid (by car or public transport). Market area near the Yaqoub cemetery (updated Nov 2024)
* 14.536949.12734 Khor al-Mukalla. (updated Nov 2024)
* 14.53050749.1346695 Omar Mosque (Sultan Omar al-Quaiti Mosque جامع السلطان عمر القعيطي), Mukalla St. (updated Jan 2025)
* 14.52884949.1365096 Al-Rawdah Mosque (جامع الروضة), Hayy Ash-Shaheed Khalid. (updated Jan 2025)
* 14.47975549.0489457 The Martyrs' Monument (نصب الشهيد التذكاري), Fuwah. (updated Jan 2025)

## Do

Nearby are Hadhramaut Mountains, such as Husn Ghuraf.

## Sleep

* 14.541849.17141 Ramada Al Mukalla. One of the best hotels in the area. It is not in the city centre but is a few kilometres away. It has a private beach, swimming pool and intermittent internet. All rooms have a sea view. It used to be a Holiday Inn, but has changed to the Ramada brand. Be careful on the beach as it is rocky with sharp objects/sea urchins at low tide. (updated Jan 2023)
* Hadhramaut Hotel, ☏ +967 5 302060, +967 5 303441. Has swimming pool. On the eastern side of the city.
* Al Salama Hotel. Cheaper hotel in the old city
* 14.52104649.088632 Nesto Hotel (Nesto نستو). (updated Jan 2025)

## Go next

* Socotra – an island that is a UNESCO world natural heritage site
# Brownsburg

Brownsburg is a city in the Nine-County Region of Indiana.

## Get in

I74 passes through Brownsburg, going East to West.
* 39.81427-86.400671 B&O Trail. Goes from Brownsburg to the edge of Indianapolis. (updated Jan 2021)

## Do

* 39.8482-86.4011 Arbuckle Acres Park, 200 N Green St. 5AM to Dusk. Large park with recreational facilities. Free. (updated Jan 2021)

## Drink

* 39.85799-86.391051 Brickers Pub, 50 Northfield Dr, ☏ +1-317-858-2745. Opens 11AM Monday - Saturday, Noon on Sunday. Serves American food and drinks. (updated Jan 2021)

## Sleep

* Comfort Suites West Indianapolis-Brownsburg, 500 W Northfield Dr, ☏ +1-317-852-2000. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 11AM. Includes breakfast, Wi-Fi, and Gym. ~$90. (updated Jan 2021)

## Connect

* 39.83666-86.396831 Brownsburg Public Library (BPL), 450 S Jefferson St, ☏ +1-317-852-3167. Free. (updated Jan 2021)
# Combarro

Combarro is a village in Galicia.

## Get in

Bus from Pontevedra signed for O Grove. It is not at all clear where to alight and you should ask before you get too far!

## Get around

Walk; it's a very small village.

## See

* All the shoreline of the village, which is on the north side of the Ria de Pontevedra.
* The numerous horreos. These look a bit like tombs on legs but are actually for storage. The legs are to deter rats and the crosses on the top are to exclude evil spirits. On local postcards these are shown with translations of 'horreos', the English one reading 'Lurking places!'

## Buy

If you walk by the horreos you will find many picturesque shops. You shouldn't leave with one of the small witches, because in Galicia witches are said to be everywhere. And you can pick up bottles of wine Albariño, very similar to the Italian Pinot Grigio, but better. And lastly, the liquor that is only produced in Galicia and the locals call "Aguardiente", which is distilled from the skin of the grape and sometimes can reach 40 proof.

## Sleep

* 42.4313-8.704831 Casa do Sal (Salt House), Rúa do Mar, ☏ +34 600-510-309, info@galiciavillas.com. This old salt warehouse, now renovated and rehabilitated, has the capacity to accommodate up to a maximum of 3 people. €100. (updated May 2019)

## Connect

As of Feb 2025, Combarro and its approach roads have 5G from all Spanish carriers.
# O Grove

O Grove$^{[deadlink]}$ is a coastal town of 10,700 people (2018) in Galicia, in the heart of the Rías Baixas. A popular tourist destination during summer, O Grove is famous for its beaches, its nature, its hot springs and its seafood.

## Understand

O Grove is a town in the peninsula of the same name, some 30 km west of Pontevedra.

## Get in
### By car

O Grove is easily reachable by car, and is less than an hour ride from Pontevedra and Santiago de Compostela. The main road (AG-41) is a highway and is in good condition, but traffic can be heavy on sunny summer weekends since the beaches around that area are very popular for Galicians to spend the day.

### By bus

There are buses from Pontevedra and Santiago de Compostela, operated by Monbus .

## Get around

The town is best explored on foot. The center lies around Rúa Castelao (nicknamed Calle Catorse -14th Street- by locals) and Beiramar, and most cafés, shops, restaurants and nightclubs are in that area.
The island of A Toxa is also at walking distance from the town centre.
However, a bike or a car are highly recommended if you want to visit the rest of the peninsula, including some of the most popular beaches and attractions.

## See

* A Siradella: this mount is the highest point of the peninsula, and offers a stunning view of the Ría de Arousa, the A Lanzada beach and the surrounding towns and islands. Although usually reached by car, the place is 3-4 km from the centre and has a picnic area, so it can make for a nice half-day excursion.
* Capela da Toxa (A Toxa chapel): a nice and small chapel, built in the 12th century and completely covered with scallop shells.
* Aquarium Galicia: claims to be the first aquarium in Galicia. Small and perhaps a bit expensive (€10) for its size, but a worthwhile visit anyway.

## Connect

As of Feb 2025, O Grove and its approach roads have 4G from Vodafone, and 5G from Masmovil, Movistar and Orange.
# Muros

Muros is a town of about 10,000 people in Galicia. Muros is an old harbour town whose traditional economy, like that of most harbour towns, is based on fishing.

## Understand

After surviving a city-planning boom from the 1960s and 1970s, Muros has conserved one of the most historical centres of the Galician coast. In the parish of Louro they emphasize the numerous found petroglyphs, as well as the singular Via Crucis and the monastery of San Francisco. It has about twenty beaches.

## Get in

Bus from Santiago de Compostela. The bus ride is a very pleasant part of a visit to the town, in its own right.

## Get around

No problem with walking.

## See

This is at the end of the Ria de Muros e Noia. Unsurprisingly the Ria is less visited by tourists and less built up than the rias of Pontevedra and Vigo. Some guidebooks reckon it second only to Pontevedra as a Galician town. Possibly this is a bit over-enthusiastic but, be that as it may, the setting of the town is its main attraction.

## Eat

Like many places around it, Muros is a great place for seafood--try to take advantage, even if it's only something to eat while waiting for the bus.

## Connect

As of Feb 2025, Muros and its approach roads have 5G from Masmovil, Movistar and Orange, but only a scratchy basic signal from Vodafone.
# Ribadavia

Ribadavia is a town of about 5,000 people (2018) in Galicia. It might appeal for a first night stay as the Talgo is quite late arriving at these better known places.

## Get in

On the train line from Madrid, Ávila and Zamora to Vigo and Pontevedra. There are also buses.

## Get around

Small enough to walk.

## See

* Plaza Mayor
* Information Centre, in a historic building in the plaza.
* The town and its old streets are the great appeal.
* Near the Campo da Feira, you can find the ruins of the castle of the Sarmientos, the Counts of Ribadavia, dating from the 15th century. It still preserves the interior, towers and the walls. Parts of the walls that surrounded the town are also still standing. Inside the old quarter (casco vello/Barrio Xudeu), you can visit the main square (Praza Maior) with interesting buildings like the 16th-century town hall. There are also buildings remaining from what was once a large Jewish quarter, including a synagogue.

## Drink

Since the 12th century, all the economic life of the comarca of the Ribeiro has centred on the vines first brought by the monks of Cluny who accompanied the first count of Galicia, Raymond of Burgundy. Today, the wine is commercialised as Denominación de Orixe Ribeiro (Demarcated Origen Ribeiro).

## Sleep

Hotel Plaza is a historic building in the Plaza Mayor. Budget price for good accommodation and also delicious food, available to hotel guests and non-guests.

## Connect

As of Feb 2025, Ribadavia and its approach roads have 5G from all Spanish carriers.
# Vilalba

Vilalba is a village in Galicia, Spain. It has 5,900 inhabitants (2023) and lies on the Northern Way of St. James (Camino del Norte). From Vilalba it's 116 km to Santiago de Compostela, which makes this section eligible to get the compostela, a certificate.

## Get in

The most convenient airport to arrive is the one of Santiago de Compostela. Others are in A Coruña and Vigo. The most destinations are served by the airport of Porto.
From A Coruña and Santiago there is a direct bus to Vilalba.
Intercity buses stop at the Estacion de Autobuses.

## Get around

The village can be easily explored on foot.

## Buy

The village has ATMs.
There are multiple bigger supermarkets in the centre of the village: Supermercados Gadis, Supermercados Froiz and Mercadona.

## Eat
### Budget

* Taperia O’porron, Rúa da Feira, 10. Tapas bar (updated Jan 2025)
* Bar Puro Teatro. Small restaurant with a terrace and a variety of food. (updated Jan 2025)
* Cafetería Luar, Rúa de Galicia, 2. Cafeteria serving tapas, bocadillos and breakfast (updated Jan 2025)
* Bar A Pravia, Plaza Suso Gayoso, 10. Bar with a terrace offering tapas. (updated Jan 2025)
* Bar A Esmorga, Rúa Basanta Silva. Bar with a terrace and good burgers (updated Jan 2025)
* Bar O' Porrás, Rúa Campo de Puente, 38. Bar serving tapas, breakfast, Spanish omelette, pintxos. (updated Jan 2025)

### Mid-range

* A Taberna, Plaza Suso Gayoso, 9. Modern looking tavern with tapas, mains, menu of the day and an octupos dish (updated Jan 2025)
* Pulpería & Cafetería O Manxar, Rúa da Pravia, 6. Retaurant popular for the octopus dish. Offers combo meals and russian salad. (updated Jan 2025)
* Pizzería Pizzca, Rúa da Pravia, 26. Modern looking restaurant with modern looking food. Good presentation of the dishes. (updated Jan 2025)
* Pizzería American's, Rúa Guitiriz, 16. US style pizzeria with tasty bocadillos. Fast treatment. (updated Jan 2025)
* Mesón pulpería O Típico, Rúa de Galicia, 56. Traditional style restaurant famous for octopus dish and churrasco. (updated Jan 2025)
* Restaurante Lanzos, Rúa Plácido Peña, 27. Galician restaurant with traditional food and a menu of the day. (updated Jan 2025)

## Sleep

Pilgrims can sleep in all of the albergues.

## Connect

As of Feb 2025, Vilalba and its approach roads have 4G from Vodafone, and 5G from Masmovil, Movistar and Orange.

## Go next

As a pilgrim in the direction of Santiago de Compostela.