Then the sudden plunge of a fish or a slithering eel creases the surface of the water. Over the centuries, there have been hare-brained engineering schemes to reroute or drain the ponds into ditches or canals, plant trees and reclaim the wetlands for industrial agriculture. But the Sologne remains wet and wild, and the small artisanal farmers remain in charge of the region's mystique. Since the terrain is flat, it's ideal for bicyclists recovering from multicourse meals. Pedaling along the country roads, we saw golden broom bushes define the background, while red paintbrush plants contrasted with the yellow and green.
Higher ground is used for grazing sheep.
One day I went out walking in a hunting preserve. The day was bright, birds sang and wildflowers nodded in the breeze. The silver birch and oaks gave way to open space defined by clumps of marsh grasses and wild blackberry bushes in bloom. But a persistent gutteral animal call gave rise to fearful speculation. They rarely venture forth during the day.