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What is a gem ?
It's a top spot, an absolute must, somewhere you love bringing friends to, a really special place - in a nutshell, the best your region has to offer.
Gems of Europe
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Travel with a difference: discover the territories of Europe


  © R. Sandraz

Where to go at the weekend, or on holiday? Rome, Berlin, the South of France… Europe abounds in destinations, each more enticing than the last.


But away from these major capitals and prestigious regions, there is another Europe every bit as delightful: the Europe of small provincial towns where time passes leisurely; where hidden churches and castles are waiting to be explored; where vineyards serve their own wine; where you can observe a mountain valley in total solitude…

 

This Europe needs to be revealed and discovered – and this is what we aim to do by unearthing the ‘gems’ of these territories of Europe.

 

What are these gems we have chosen? They are spots off the beaten track, addresses recommended by friends, original activities, or maybe just an artwork, a sensation or a flavour…

 

In this website, you will discover the first territories of Europe assembled to show you their riches: Vilafranca del Penédès in Catalonia; Dolomites and Piemonte in Italia ; the mountains of Bulgaria; ; the region of Maurienne, Narbonne, Strasbourg, the Ecrins and the Pays des Maures in France.

 

In each country, top publishing houses have collaborated with the tourist offices and local communities in these regions: Prisacom in Spain, the Touring Editore in Italy, Gallimard in France, Atlas in Bulgaria.

 

Together, they will unveil the best of these territories: attractive places to stay, culinary specialities, unusual landscapes. An array of ‘gems’, ‘jewels’, ‘pearls’ awaiting inquisitive tourists just like you. And now, set off to discover the gems of Europe.



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36 gems in the area
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2009/07/01

recipes old days eat local authentic wild spinach country cooking local produce

Gastronomy - who's for a bite of "donkeys' ears"?
At the foot of the Puy Saint Vincent slopes, meet Jean-Louis Giraud, head chef of the Hotel...

2008/12/15

barbaresco wine cellar regional

Barbaresco Regional Wine Cellar
The Enoteca Regionale del Barbaresco was created to promote the local wine production. It is...

2008/12/23

overnight stay dormillouse

An overnight stay in Dormillouse, in the heart of the National Park
It is the last inhabited village before the eternity of the upper mountain reaches. It stretches...

2008/10/27

londe-les-maures londe maures olive oil nectar of the maures

La Londe des Maures: olive oil, nectar of the Maures
If it's Eden, then there has to be olive trees. This goes for the Maures country too, which has...

2008/11/04

cardinale mazzarino cherasco langa langhe historic hotel piedmont piemonte

Cardinale di Langa
The fascination of a small historic hotel, in the very center of Cherasco.

2009/01/27

antica torroneria piemontese sinio torrone honey sugar chocolate hazelnut almond nougats vanilla citrus orange

Sweet and delicate from Piedmont
Honey, sugar, chocolate, lot of hazelnuts and some almonds. The recipe for the Torrone delle...

2008/10/27

gassin three circuits to discover some exceptional maures wine on

Three circuits to discover some exceptional Maures wine on
Rich in forests, the Maures hills also feature several vineyards. The Côte de Provence...

2008/10/27

ramatuelle circuit from cogolin to mole

Circuit 3 : From Cogolin to La Môle
It's only a stone's throw from the hills of Saint Tropez to the sea. We could just retrace our...

2008/12/23

welcoming refuges glacier hike nature helicopter snow mountaineering ailefroide pre madame carle marmots sealskin

The smile of the White Glacier
Don't let the marmots' mocking whistle deter you - there is a fine solid house waiting for you at...

2008/12/16

cheese cansiglio dairy tambre spert centro caseario agrituristico altopiano

Cheese from Cansiglio
The Cansiglio Dairy Centre produce both fresh milk and cheese made only with organic milk,...

2008/10/09

vintage wines

Vintage wines
The relation between the wine and the region of Penedes goes back to the fourth century BC

2009/01/08

black roosters and dumb ducks

Black roosters and dumb ducks
Clues to discover and taste the gastronomic delights of Vilafranca del Penedès

2008/12/23

guides alps tackling ridges

Tackle the mountain ridges with an Alpine guide
Forty enthusiastic guides are available to assist apprentice mountaineers and hikers on the...

2008/12/23

ski resorts pelvoux puy aillaud puy saint vincent

Slide sports in the Ecrins - guaranteed sunshine and a village atmosphere
Enjoy a true Mediterranean climate and the preserved environment in the Ecrins country's two...

2008/12/18

sleeping vilafranca feasts

Sleeping in Vilafranca’s feasts
Advices to finding accommodation in Vilafranca whatever the reason for your visit

2008/08/25

narbonne the gastronomic city lucques bourride and cargolade

Narbonne, the gastronomic city: lucques*, bourride** and cargolade 
Press your own olive oil, skin eels and cook petit-gris snails from the scrublands: three...

2008/11/13

collobrieres gonfaron welcome to bastide cabriere

Collobrières : welcome to Bastide de la Cabrière
Aristocrat, rugby player, farmer, goat breeder and poet, Loïc de Saleneuve has a warm welcome...

2009/04/27

small organic wine producers and lavinia

Small organic wine producers and Lavinia
Lavinia is a 6 500 m² immaculately designed wine store located on the busy boulevard...

2008/10/27

pierrefeu circuit from puget ville to chateau reillane

Circuit 2 : from Puget Ville to Chateau Reillane
At the foot of the Maures hills, on the plain which stretches between Puget-Ville and Pierrefeu,...

2008/05/16

marcel bantin the soul of termignon blue

Marcel Bantin: the soul of Termignon blue
This cheese varies according to the area of production, and enjoys an excellent reputation within...

2008/10/27

collobrieres collbrieres the chestnut country

Collbrières, the chestnut country
It is said that they were first planted by Carthusian monks. Chestnut growers have now elected...

2008/11/03

saint-tropez markets in the maures country symbols of the eternal provence

Markets in the Maures country, symbols of the eternal Provence
On Tuesday and Saturday mornings, the Provence hill country meets up with the Provence of the...

2008/11/04

fontanafredda vino langhe langa

Fontanafredda
Fontanafredda lies at the heart of the Langhe, a world of hills dating back to ancient times...

2008/12/18

prompting palate

Prompting the palate
The cuisine of Vilafranca retrieves the flavors of the region

2008/04/11

brighten your winter days curled up at the fireside

Brighten your winter days curled up at the fireside
Skiing is not the only sensational activity on offer in the mountains in wintertime. Luxury is...

2008/10/27

bormes-les-mimosas gui gedda pape cuisine provencale

Bormes les Mimosa : Gui Gedda, the "Pope" of Provencal cuisine
His father, grandfather and uncle were all chefs, and he himself is one of the most well-known...

2008/11/04

alba food wine cheese truffle langhe roero barolo tajarin brasato piedmont piemonte

Civilized Alba
The Langhe region keep an unbelievable heritage of taste. Great wines and cuisine traditions are...

2008/12/17

barolo barbaresco dolcetto wine food langa langhe roero piemonte

Baroloworld
Perhaps you've never been here, but almost certainly you tasted our flavours. Red wines like...

2008/04/07

chalet lavis-trafford secluded mountain paradise

Chalet de Lavis-Trafford, a secluded mountain paradise
In winter, you have to approach the “Lavis-Trafford” chalet on snowshoes or skis. The little...

2008/12/15

dolcetto dogliani wine shop langhe langa piedmont piemonte

Dolcetto di Dogliani Wine Shop
At the Bottega del Vino Dolcetto di Dogliani, an historic vaulted stone cellar beneath the town...

2008/12/23

guesthouse green juliane organic

La Juliane – an all-organic green guesthouse
At an altitude of 1,450 m, in this entirely self-sufficient green guesthouse, you will live...

2008/09/11

quatourze wine an antique tradition ready to conquer china

Quatourze wine: an antique tradition ready to conquer China
In the midst of an ocean of wine, Narbonne is surrounded by three quality classified wine areas...

2009/04/27

drink wine but make it organic tasting wine-makers organic wine vivin

Drink wine, but make it organic
Vivin is a cosy wine cellar in Neuilly that only sells organic wine. What Eric Pasquet, the shop...

2008/12/15

canale wine cellar regional roero

Roero Regional Wine Cellar
The Enoteca Regionale del Roero's offering includes the entire range of Roero wines from the...

2009/01/27

barolo wine route piedmont langhe roero barbaresco dolcetto strada grandi vini

The Barolo Wine Route
Perhaps you've never come here, but you've certainly come across their flavours. Barolo,...