Page 9 - (DK Eyewitness) Back Roads Travel Guide - France

About this Book 7

About this Book

The 24 driving tours in this guide reflect the By guiding readers away from the most
fantastic diversity of France. One of the largest commonly explored tourist routes (although
countries in Europe, its landscape ranges from not missing out on any must-see places en
rugged mountain plateaux to lush, rolling route), the insider knowledge of each tour
farmland, from tranquil river valleys to wild, rewards visitors with the sights, sounds and
rocky coastlines. This landscape has influenced flavours of the real France – the one that other
each region’s unique cultural identity: its visitors speed through on the autoroutes –
architecture, cuisine, customs and festivals. and delightful discoveries at every turn.

Getting Started appeal to lovers of culture, history
The guide begins with all the practical and architecture; outdoor types and Using the Sheet Map
information you need to plan a driving beach-bound families; gastronomes A pull-out road map of the entire
holiday in France. This includes an and wine buffs; and those who enjoy country is supplied. This map
overview of ways to get there; tips on taking the road less travelled. contains all the information you
bringing your own vehicle or hiring To help visitors choose and plan need to drive around the country
one; details of documentation neces- the trip, each drive begins with a list and to navigate between the
sary and in-depth motoring advice, of highlights and a clearly mapped tours. All motorways, major roads,
including the rules of the road; itinerary. There is advice on the best airports, both domestic and inter-
where and when you can buy petrol; time of year to do the drive, road national, plus all the ferry ports
and what to do if your car breaks conditions, market days and major are also clearly identified. This
down. There is also information on festival dates. The tour pages contain makes the pull-out map an excel-
health, money and communications, detailed descriptions of each sight lent addition to the drive itinerary
as well as a guide to the lodging and and activity, linked by clear driving maps within the book. There is a
dining options available, from luxury instructions. Side panels offer infor- map index for quick and easy
hotels to camping, and from gourmet mation on the most authentic places location of sights. The map is
restaurants to riverside picnics. A to stay and eat. Tinted boxes feature further supplemented by a clear
language section at the back lists background information, fascinating
distance chart so you can gauge
essential words and phrases, includ- anecdotes or suggestions for extra
the distances between the major
ing key driving-related vocabulary. activities. These might include details cities.
of a local festival or regional speciality;
The Drives tips for a wine-tasting tour; or infor-
The main touring section of the mation on the least-known beach. The flexible nature of the tours
guide is divided into leisurely drives, Each drive also features at least one means that some can be linked to
ranging in duration from one to mapped town or countryside walk- create a longer driving holiday; con-
seven days. All the tours are on ing tour, designed to take a maxi- versely, they can be dipped into to
paved roads and can be undertaken mum of two hours at a gentle pace plan day trips while based in one
in a standard vehicle. No special with stops along the way. particular region.
driving skills are required.
The drives have been chosen to
encompass every region of France,
from the lush orchards of Normandy
and the rugged cliffs and coves of
Brittany to the breathtaking passes of
the Pyrenees and the sun-soaked
Provençal coast. There are drives to
Top left Imposing Château Guillaume-le-
Conquérant, Falaise, Basse-Normandie Top right
Magnificent Viaduc de Millau Middle left
Restaurants in the old town of Nice Middle right
Terrace café in Bordeaux Below left Rolling
vineyards of the Montagne de Reims Below right
Grand Château de Chambord Right Cars passing
by the peaks of the Pyrénéan mountains