It's estimated that there are more than 13,000 antiques shops throughout the country. Stop wherever the sign antiquaire or brocante is displayed.
Food here is as cerebral as it is sensual.
For a modest charge, trains throughout France will carry your bicycle to any point you specify, allowing you to avoid the urban congestion of Paris and other large cities. Many barges have been upgraded into luxury craft with superb dining facilities and comfortable accommodations. You can sit back and enjoy the lovely scenery, perhaps stopping here and there to sightsee or to visit local wineries. Follow in the footsteps of Coco Chanel, Yves Saint Laurent, and Karl Lagerfeld for a shopper's tour of a lifetime. Exploring the ch teaux scattered among the valley's rich fields and forests will familiarize you with the French Renaissance's architectural aesthetics and with the intrigues, dalliances, and scandals of the French kings and their courts.