©Vallée de la ©Vallée de la Gastronomie – France ® / Seense The Vallee de la Gastronomie Janine Marsh undertakes a gastronomic odyssey of France… The Vallee de la Gastronomie ® is a unique route dedicated to food and wine. It straddles three major regions of France from the north to the south: Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, Bourgogne-Franche-Comté and Provence- Alpes-Côte d’Azur. It’s a path that follows a thousand-yearold trade route and which now celebrates passionate producers of the food world from farmers and wine makers to chefs and all involved in the production, processing and traditions that make the rich heritage of French gastronomy so incredible. It is the king of gourmet routes, running for an astonishing 620km through France. Along the way it is liberally peppered with the most delicious and authentic producers, a mind-boggling 452 who have signed up to offer a special welcome to visitors (usually in English as well as French), offering guided tours, sensational tastings and mouth-watering experiences. Whilst this gastronomic journey is perfect for a road trip, you don’t need a car, you can go from town to town by train and bus as I did, stopping off to meet with artisans, farmers and chefs, indulge at the most fabulous restaurants and explore gorgeous villages and historic cities. The Vallée de la Gastronomie website makes it super easy to find out more about these remarkable experiences. A tasty trek The Vallée de la Gastronomie broadly follows the path of the mighty Rhône River between vineyards and ancient towns, from Burgundy to the Mediterranean Sea. The climate and landscape differ hugely from place to place, and each area has its savoir-fair, it’s know- Marseille © Peter Jones how, specialities and rich culinary history. The Phoenicians founded Marseille and introduced vines to France, Roman winemaking was intensive along the Rhône Valley, in the 14th century the Dukes of Burgundy planted Pinot Noir grapes in Burgundy and the Popes of Avignon in Provence planted yet more vines. Meanwhile, the ‘gastronomic meal of the French’ is listed on the UNESCO world heritage list reflecting the exceptional standard of French cuisine. Every region has its own cuisine and specialities based on local products, Bresse chickens of Burgundy, bouillabaisse of Marseille, the black rice of the Camargue – the list is endless. And along the route of the Vallée de la Gastronomie, you’ll discover the culinary diversity of French food at its very best. 22 | The Good Life France Marseille The Good Life France | 23
