Sunday 24 March 2024

Escargots in the Loire Valley

Famously, French people eat snails. You may or may not want to try them and these days they don't appear on that many menus, but they aren't especially difficult to find if you know the right restaurants. What you may not know is that the species of snail which is the most prized lives in the wild in the Loire Valley, and if we are in the right place at the right time we may see some. They are a protected species, so only certain people can gather them and only for a limited time during the year. But if we encounter any while we are with you, we will be sure to point them out. One of the lesser known chateaux that we visit with clients has them in the grounds, so if you are very keen to see real Escargot de Bourgogne roaming free and living their best life, let us know and we will include that chateau in your itinerary.

Roman/Burgundian Snail Helix pomatia, Loir et Cher, France. Photo by Loire Valley Time Travel.
Roman, or Burgundian Snail Helix pomatia in the grounds of a chateau. They are often white like this and nicknamed 'les gros blancs' ('big fat whites') in French.


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For details of our private guided tours of chateaux, gardens, wineries, markets and more please visit the Loire Valley Time Travel website. We would be delighted to design a tour for you.

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