Sancerre and Bourges

[suevthompson]

We shall be staying on a vineyard in Sancerre in late September with two friends from US on their first visit to France. Do you have any recommendations of places to eat or indeed visit?

Thanks.

[Laidback]

Ms. L and I spent 6 weeks in Sancerre and in our opinion the area has much to offer in dining from gourmet to very casual. In the town the top restaurant is La Tour followed by l'Auberge Pomme d'Or. The Auberge Joseph Mellot is very casual and popular as are the 2 pizza places and the cafés on the market square. Just at the foot of Sancerre in Chavignol is another excellent restaurant, Cote des Monts Damnés. A little further afield in Vailly sur Sauldre is the highly rated Le Lievre Gourmand.

In Sancerre the main sights are the panoramic view over the Loire and surrounding villages and the Tour de Fief, from which you can look down on the private chateau and its gardens which is not open to visitors. Nearby is the Chateau Bocard which has guided visits. The town of Charité sur Loire is well worth a visit with its ancient church and ramparts which resisted Joan of Arc's advances.

Any of the tourist offices will provide you with many interesting sites in the area.