France

Monuments of Antiquity and authentic products: cheeses and fast food straight from the 19th century

DAY 1 A piece of Italy in the country of francs

The Romans conquered the city from the Gauls in the second century BC. Nimes still preserved the monuments of ancient Roman culture. There are more of them here than in any other French city! The Roman amphitheater, the prototype of the legendary Colosseum, the Temple of Diana, the &ldquo;Maison carree&rdquo; Temple, the Great Tower left over from the Gauls, these are far from all the attractions of the city. Despite the fact that Nimes is called &quot;French Rome&quot;, perhaps from the Italian cuisine there is only a love for olives and anchovies. Local chefs continue the traditions of their predecessors and still keep the old recipes for dishes &quot;a la Nimes&quot;.

Duende is a story about exclusive cuisine and selected ingredients from Occitania and the Mediterranean: Baron de Cévennes pork with sage and juniper, Camargue rice and Roquefort blue cheese ripening in the Rouergue caves. The restaurant's menu is thought out to the smallest detail to unleash the potential of regional products and give maximum pleasure to the taste buds.

Duende

Star chef Julien Barrera Labonne opened the restaurant in 2012, befriending French delicacy and Catalan spice. You can start with Saint-Jacques scallop tartare, haddock, herring roe, hummus and Faisselle cheese; then move on to the most tender beef steak of the Camargue breed, cooked in butter with aromatic herbs from Lozere; and round off the evening with a sweet crème brulee or wasabi cheesecake. The Labonne team uses products obtained organically and biodynamically without harming the environment.

Le Patio Littré Nîmes

The Aux Plaisirs des Halles restaurant serves French chic style. In summer, guests dine in the shady courtyard; in winter, in a cozy room upholstered in dark wood. The menu includes legendary French cuisine: foie gras, ratatouille, crème brulee; and for a snack it offers the Pelardon cheese famous all over Nimes.

Aux Plaisirs des Halles

A gastrobar on the corner of Les Halles market is just what you need to satisfy your roaring appetite, especially since the La pie qui Couette team uses products from those counters. The menu focuses on appetizers: oysters, homemade burgers, jamon, beef tartare, but there are also nutritious fish and meat dishes.

La Pie qui Couette

At Les Magnolias, try typical Nimes dishes such as the gardiane de taureau, beef stew in red wine. The correct la gardiane de taureau is made from the meat of the Camargue bull. The meat is pre-marinated in vinegar with onions, carrots and herbs. The restaurant also serves bouillabaisse fish soup. It is believed that the dish was invented by fishermen who cooked bouillabaisse from evening sales leftovers.

Les Magnolias

Nicolas restaurant has classic French cuisine on the menu, if you want something à la nimoise, ask the waiter to bring anchovy, garlic and olive oil pasta for a snack. Here it is called anchoÏade and is eaten spread over bread.

Nicolas

Fill your evening with spectacular views from the terrace of Le Lisita Restaurant. For dinner you can try French cuisine and several regional specialties, for example, brandade de morue, a casserole made from salted cod and potatoes. It used to be eaten only in winter, but today you can enjoy brandade de morue all year round.

Le Lisita

It is worth visiting the Museum of Romanity not only for the stunning collection of exhibits, but also for the restaurant Le Table du 2, which will delight you with the panorama of the monumental Arena of Nimes. The restaurant's menu changes every few months so that guests can taste the seasonal vegetables, fruits and herbs of the Languedoc province. The wine list includes over 50 Occitan wines.

La Table du 2

Bold, bright and juicy is the best description for the kitchen of the chef Damien Sanchez and his team. Unexpected culinary combinations, whether it is squid with pine nuts or oysters with carrot balls and seaweed puree, a thoughtful interior and products that reveal the uniqueness of the region, a formula for success that makes Skab the perfect place for a business meeting or a leisurely dinner for two.

Skab

Nimes

The shop is owned by the Vergne family and is one of the top 10 best cheese boutiques in France. Pélardon, the oldest European cheese, is made here. According to legend, the first recipes appeared in the first century! It is a delicate goat cheese with a creamy crust, tart aroma and nutty notes. The counters are lined with rows of rustic salty cheese Tomme de Lozère, delicate Tomme d'Estaing with a floral scent and Tomme des Pyrénées with a specific black crust. Every corner of southeastern France and the Alps is famous for its own "Tomme", a pressed high-altitude cheese that melts in your mouth.

Fromagerie Vergne Cheese Boutique

The bakery specializes in the famous Nîmes snacks, shortcrust pies with pate of beef and pork, pâté nîmois. The delicacy appeared in the 19th century.

Le Petit Nîmois Bakery

In the heart of the city, foodies will find Les Halles Market, the largest gastronomic location in Nîmes. Tourists literally get lost in the shopping arcade, where about a hundred local producers are represented. Here you will find the long-maturing Laguiole cheese, invented by monks in the 5th-6th centuries, and Le Pavé du Larzac, a sheep's cheese with a delicate milky flavor that is easily recognizable by its orange crust. The region also brews a creamy Pérail with a herbal and floral aftertaste and a homogeneous Gardian eaten with olive oil.

Les Halles de Nîmes Market

Nicolas is a chain of liquor stores, where in addition to wines from different regions, there are also other drinks: cognac, Norman Calvados, Armagnac and French craft beer, which is already quite unusual. The shop will appeal to lovers of original flavors and aromas: white flowers, citrus fruits and tropical fruits. Vendors will select a certain appetizer — for example, cheeses or meat and fish delicacies, to maximize the taste palette of the drink.

Nicolas Nimes Wine Boutique

The Maison Villaret bakery was opened by Claude Villaret in 1775. It was he who came up with the recipe for the crunchy croquants villaret with lemon, honey and almond flavor. Last century, Villaret's descendants retired, and the bakery was bought by the Brad family, which continues to bake the popular delicacy according to the traditional recipe.

Maison Villaret Bakery

The heart of Nîmes is the harmony of incredible beauty and taste. The ancient amphitheater Arènes de Nîmes rises here, and just a few meters from it there are tables of restaurants and cafes. Here you will see the sign for Brasserie, the child of a bistro and a beer pub. Restaurants of this type appeared in France in the 19th century and quickly became attractive to bohemians, students, musicians and poets. The Brasserie menu is a compromise between bar snacks and home cooking. Cheeseburger with fries, fried mussels and grilled squid (seiches a la plancha) are ordered alongside Entrecôte steak, duck breast (magre de canard) and beef in red wine. Lovers of aperitif and aromatic coffee gather on the boulevard and hurry to take a table on the open terrace of the Grand Café, a more elite version of an ordinary cafe, designed for both young people and adults.

Boulevard des Arènes

Another must-eat in Nimes is strawberries! On the shelves, you will see two varieties: gariguette, oblong berries and small ones, reminding of wild strawberries, ciflorette. On the farm, buyers pick berries, vegetables and fruits on their own right from the garden! The prices here are much lower than in ordinary stores.

Le Jardin d'à côté Farm

The Margaret - Hôtel Chouleur captures the city's Catalan past, the architecture of the hotel echoes traditional Spanish mansions with patios, and the interior of the hall reminds of the Mudejar style. For relaxation, it offers a spa center, a gym, a restaurant, a coffee shop, a library, and an outdoor pool, as well as accomodation from standard rooms to luxury apartments in neoclassical style.

Hotel Margaret — Hôtel Chouleur

Maison de Sophie maintains the unmistakable chic of the 1900s while keeping its elegant interiors, antique furniture and decor in awe. The hotel has a quiet courtyard with an outdoor pool and only five rooms, promising a calm and intimate atmosphere.

La Maison de Sophie

This charming farmhouse is a great choice for those who don't like the hustle and bustle of a big city. It offers rooms with authentic design and self-catering apartments. The mansion is surrounded by a flower garden that will shelter you from the burning southern sun.

Mas d'Escattes

Apartments in the heart of the city mean independence, comfort and the opportunity to be in time everywhere. Chez Pepito Rooftop is a five-minute walk from the Cathedral and ten minutes from the Amphitheater. Would you like to sunbathe? Climb to one of the largest terraces in the historic center of Nimes. On the roof you will find sun loungers, a summer kitchen and a barbecue area.

Chez Pepito Rooftop

Gastronomic locations for fish and seafood lovers

Day 2. French Venice

The city is surrounded by the sea on one side and the Thau&nbsp;Lake on the other. Sete was built by the order of Louis XIV in 1666. The king wanted to connect the Southern Canal with the Mediterranean Sea and export goods from Languedoc. Long favored by fishermen, Sete still looks like an old port village, where the sound of the waves is interrupted by the cries of seagulls, and yachts and fishing boats gleam white on the azure water. After strolling along the beaches and marinas, stop at one of the restaurants overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. Sete&#39;s cuisine is simple and nutritious, and consists mainly of seafood and fish, which are delivered to local restaurants directly from the lagoon.

Michelin Guide recommends the restaurant Quai 17, and we recommend that guests of the restaurant enjoy dishes typical of southern France, for example, bourride, white fish stewed in broth with tomatoes, onions, white wine, saffron, thyme, sometimes with orange peel.

Quai 17

Check out a local street food called Tielle, octopus patty. It appeared in Sete.

La Haut

Sete

Local fishermen gather in the city port every day and sell fresh catch to restaurants and fish shops. The trade is organized in the form of an auction, but not only potential buyers, but also tourists are allowed here.

Fish Auction

The cries of seagulls, the ringing of the ship's bell and the laughter of vacationers from numerous cafes merge on the embankment of General Durand. At restaurants overlooking the pier, try the classic macaronade,  which consists of beef patties and pasta in tomato sauce, spiced, parsley and garlic. Among the traditional seafood delicacies, it is worth ordering rouille de seiche, a cuttlefish fried in a sauce of tomatoes, onions, white wine and garlic; and encornets  farcis, a squid stuffed with vegetables and herbs.

Embankment of General Durand

The master of chocolate art Auguste Pralus opened the first pastry shop in 1948. Since then, the Pralus chain of sweet boutiques has grown to 18 stores across France. The son and grandson of the great chocolatier continue family traditions and personally control the quality of products from harvesting cocoa beans to making flavored chocolate. The sweet brioche Praluline stuffed with pink praline is considered the ambassador of the house of Pralus. The dessert appeared back in 1955 and has not left store shelves for almost 70 years, and the recipe for the famous Pralulin has not changed for decades.

Pralus Chocolate Boutique

The market in Sete is a place with a special atmosphere. People come here to have a few words with the sellers and try fresh products at an attractive price. Walking between the aisles, look into the fish shops, where delicious shellfish, lobster, red mullet, salmon, monkfish, squid, shrimp, mackerel and many other inhabitants of the Mediterranean and the Thau Pond have been waiting for you on the ice stalls.

Les Halles de Sète Market

The flavors of Occitania have gathered under the roof of the Bellas Didier grocery store. The surrounding farms supply seasonal vegetables, fruits and berries, poultry, pork, beef and veal. Didier and his team collect culinary gems from all over the area, whether it is aromatic spicy bread or a family recipe for Spanish sangria. In the gastronomic section, the selection of products from artisanal producers is presented: salami from Lacan, homemade ham, sausages with espelet peppers and vegetables.

Bellas Didier Grocery Store

The views from the top of Saint-Clair are mesmerizing so that you don't want to go down, and tourists choose La Singulière guest house, where comfortable rooms with a kitchenette, a spa center and an outdoor pool are applied to the sea panorama.

La Singulière

A night in an authentic fishing hut will fill the weekend with romance and vivid memories, especially when the houses belong to a real dynasty of fishermen and the owners of oyster farms, the Tarburich family. The list of amenities in the hut includes an equipped kitchen, a hammock for relaxation and a jacuzzi, and from archaic shuttered windows you can see the sea, which, by the way, is a 5-minute walk.

Les Maisons de pêcheurs

A small apartment with a balcony overlooking the waterfront is an accommodation with southern French chic. Despite the fact that  Le Petit Bijou apart-hotel is located in an 18th century building, the apartments are completely renovated, equipped with household and digital appliances.

Le Petit Bijou

Franco-Catalan architecture and cosmopolitan cuisine

Day 3. Perpignan with Catalan pepper

Perpignan is the capital of the Roussillon province, which finally became part of France only in the 17th century. Here you can still feel a mixture of Catalan and French culture in the mentality of the Perpignans, the southern dialect and cuisine. Local dishes were born from Spanish and French recipes. Even the famous French Cr&egrave;me-Br&ucirc;l&eacute;e is served here in Catalan style.

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The inhabitants of Perpignan satisfy their hunger with snacks, which are called here tapas in the Spanish manner. Bistro Saint Martin near the Palace of the Kings of Mallorca serves the popular cargolade, grilled snails dressed with garlic aioli sauce.

Bistrot Saint Martin

As you walk the streets of Perpignan, stop by for lunch at L'Assiette Catalane. The specialty of the restaurant is the regional dishes only. As an entrée, Catalan salad (salade catalane) with red peppers, onions, olives and tomatoes is served. There are several variations of this cold appetizer, for example, in Perpignan, anchovies are added to the dish. Try the bouillinade, a fish baked with potatoes, saffron and parsley. For dessert, take a crème brulee, which is prepared here with milk according to the Catalan tradition and is called crème catalane.

L'Assiette Catalane

Via Del Vi is a small, cozy restaurant with a open concept kitchen. The owners of the restaurant rely on original seasonal dishes, such as melon soup with mint and coconut espurma, French ravigot sauce and carrot and cilantro croquettes. Don't forget to appreciate the natural wines from the local cellar.

Via Del Vi

The family-run La Passerelle restaurant focuses on seafood, local vegetables and fruits. Each season, guests will find a new menu and original presentation of dishes. We recommend ordering white fish, and for dessert we advise classic French desserts: Milles-feuilles puff pastry or Saint Honore cake, named after a Catholic saint and patron saint of bakers.

La Passerelle

Le Capuccino restaurant specializes in French cuisine. The menu is based on classic dishes: foie-gras goose liver pate, pork steak (entrecôte) and magret duck breast (magret du canard). We recommend trying one of Perpignan's traditional treats, boles de picolat, veal or pork meatballs, stewed in a sauce of vegetables, dried porcini mushrooms and beans.

Le Capuccino

Perpignan

The market on the picturesque Place Belgique in the old quarter of Perpignan will fill your holiday with southern French flavor. Here tourists will find products from local producers: fresh meat, fish, seafood, honey, bread, pastries, wines and flowers.

Place de Belgic Market

Rousquille glazed biscuits are baked at Vincent Boulin in a minute walk from the Rigaud Museum. The traditional dessert is loved on both sides of the Pyrenees.

Vincent Boulin Pastry

The boutique is owned by Yves Thuries, the famous French chocolatier who turned candy making into a true jewelery art. The assortment scatters eyes: chocolate spread, filled pralines, fruit pastilles, sweet sticks and sweets. Maitre Thuries is personally responsible for the quality of the ingredients, the cocoa beans are supplied to the confectionery from its own plantation from Ecuador, and the nuts are grown in orchards in the south-west of France.

Les chocolats Yves Thuries Boutique

Perpignan's gourmets gather in the Republic Square. The urban space is surrounded by cafes with summer verandas and food stalls. Here you will find the confectionery of Olivier Bajard, a temple of aroma and taste, where guests feast on pear soufflé cake; Les Sablés du Roussillon, shortbread cookies; and classic French sweets: brioches, macaroons, flan and la verrin. A little further on, there is the sign of the Chez Guillaume butcher shop. The shop has been owned by the Cervantes family for a hundred years, supplying the townspeople with Angus beef, capons, poulards, guinea fowls and ducks. Add a bottle of sharp and spicy wine of Syrah and Grenache from Nicolas Perpignan wine shop and cheeses from Hellen Colls to the meat and voila, an authentic lunch is ready!

Republic Square

Create your own culinary masterpiece at the International School of Olivier Bajart, the world confectionery champion who is ranked in the top 100 best chocolatiers of the century. At the master class, you will learn about the gastronomic landscape of Perpignan, unusual recipes for desserts, life hacks for cooking and serving dishes, and then you can buy sweets in a pastry shop at the school. Lessons are available for both adults and children.

Pastry & International School of Olivier Bajard

The apart-hotel in the heart of Perpignan's historic quarter has eight rooms, where bright interiors combine Mudejar elements with modern comfort.

Suites Coronell d'En Vila

Visitors to the Maison du Figuier will discover what lies behind the swinging shutters of a medieval house. The apartments have a curious interior: antiques, classic crystal chandeliers and a carved fireplace coexist with colorful canvases and designer knick-knacks.

Chambre d'hôtes Maison du Figuier B&B

The concept of the Dali Hôtel is the halls and rooms, named after Franco-Catalan artists. Stylish rooms, fitness, coworking, conference rooms and a rooftop terrace with city views are available to guests. Dali Hôtel is suitable for a comfortable family vacation and a business meeting.

Dali Hôtel Perpignan

Ancient estates and winemaking traditions

Day 4 Occitania Wines

The mild climate and 325 days a year of sunshine make the Limoux region of Occitania ideal for growing grapes. Chardonnay, Muscat, Syrah, Mourvedre, Cinsault, Carignan, Grenache Noir, Blanc and Gris are used to create famous wines using traditional technologies dating back to antiquity. The Cr&eacute;mant de Limoux appellation, on the other hand, is a relatively new player on the wine map of the region.

L'Odalisque restaurant does not modify the French culinary tradition. It serves time-tested dishes, that won the hearts of critics and loved by the French: from ballotine roll of sea bream and clams with mushrooms; parmentier potato casserole with duck confit and parmesan to classic desserts like mousse au chocolat au beurre salé, mousse with salted butter, and coeur coulant au chocolat, crispy pastry with a chocolate core. A presentation of dishes awaits guests before serving.

L'Odalisque

Café La Goutine is vegetarian-oriented and creates uncomplicated homemade meals from 100% quality organic products. Here you can order vegan burgers, scrambled eggs frittata with sheep cheese, seaweed tartare, popular pumpkin soup with coconut milk, lemon or blueberry cheesecakes.

La Goutine

Limoux Region

The foundations of winemaking on the Robinson Plateau were laid by the ancient Romans. In the Middle Ages, the Visigoth tribes ruined plantations, and the economy was completely restored only by the 18th century. Today, guests taste here the drinks of the Crémant de Limoux appellation, which is a modern sparkling wine made using the traditional “champagne method”, secondary fermentation in the bottle.

Domaine de Robinson Winery

The fields on the farm are still cultivated with the help of horses and the crops are harvested by hand. Winery owners reduce the amount of sulfur in their production, so their wines have 50% less sulfites, even when compared to the environmental limit.

Domaine du Grès Vaillant Winery

An ancient estate with an area of over 100 hectares. The Rothschilds have owned the estate since 1998, and they have completely restored the estate and vineyards. There are several types of excursions at the winery, you will walk through the castle, vineyards, learn about the process of wine production and taste famous wines.

Domaine de Baronarques Winery

Limoux is the birthplace of sparkling wine. According to legend, back in the 16th century, Benedictine monks from the Abbey of Saint-Hilaire learned how to make a pleasant drink, which was soon named Blanquette de Limoux in honor of the Blanquette grape variety (so called Mauzac in southern France). We recommend pairing the oldest sparkling wine with a sweet dessert or chocolate.

La Bastide Saint-Étienne: Gîte Rural De Groupes Près De Carcassonne Aude

The owners of the Domaine du Grès Vaillant winery have tried to convey the spirit of the south of France. The estate with antique dark wood furniture, fireplaces and flowering plantations around wants to be explored up and down, examining the details both inside and out. Guest houses are available for rent with a pool and a private terrace for up to six and ten people.

Guesthouse on Domaine du Grès Vaillant

The grapes on the Robinson Plateau have been cultivated for two thousand years. Visigoths, Templars, Moors and French aristocrats managed to visit here, and you can stay overnight in this historical place by renting a guest house overlooking the Pyrenees.

Guest House Domaine de Robinson

The gastronomy of Occitania is why it is worth visiting again and again. Here you can try the tenderest meat from the Camargue and Lozere plateaus, fresh fish from the Mediterranean Sea, and drink wines from local wineries. 38% of all French vineyards are located in the region! Discover the balanced and varied cuisine of the South of France!

Occitania Culinary Traditions