THE MORNING LIST
A stopover village, what is it? It is a town located less than 5 kilometers from a highway or a national, but not always a village, sometimes a small town of less than 5,000 inhabitants. The stopover villages (found in the guide Stage villages of the Backpacker, Hachette, 160 pages, 9.90 euros) must offer shops and activities capable of welcoming travelers with dignity. There are currently 73, in 9 regions, 31 departments and on 36 roads.
In Moûtiers (Savoie), beaufort and street art
You can love “at the same time” Beaufort and street art. The proof in Moûtiers, which did not wait for the creation of the Village Stage label in 1992 to see travelers pass by, since the (small) capital of the Tarentaise valley was already an important stage on the Roman road which linked Milan to Vienna two millennia ago. Today we discover a journey of monumental frescoes whose colors enchant the walls of the houses. About forty works with evocative titles: The Jam in the Carrefour car park, or The tourist, station Square. A free app – St’art – and a leaflet available at the tourist office list them all. Appetite by this urban hike, we head towards the Moûtiers dairy cooperativefor a free visit with a presentation of a multitude of local products and, at the end, a cheese tasting.
In Saint-Brice-en-Coglès (Ille-et-Vilaine), the other “Downton Abbey”
Did Nicolas Peyrac refer to the village of his childhood when writing his tube So Far Away From LA ? Possible because, to be honest, Saint-Brice-en-Coglès – we simply say “cogle” – is quite far… from everything! It is the gateway to Brittany for anyone who enters it from the north, passing through Coglais, a place relatively unknown to the Bretons themselves. However, between Fougères and Mont-Saint-Michel, Saint-Brice-en-Coglès is worth a stop. In particular to discover the splendid Castle of the Rocher-Portail and its admirable gardens, on the edge of a pond and the Echelles stream. Massive, the granite building was built between 1596 and 1617 on elegant square plans. This private property can be visited and has a “je-ne-sais-quoi” of the famous residence of the series Downton Abbey. The most enthusiastic may decide to stay for the night, when the castle is unveiled by candlelight, before a musical spectacle and the final fireworks.
You have 55.22% of this article left to read. The following is for subscribers only.