EZTrip.com International Destination Guide and Hotel Listings

ST-CHARTIER , 10km north of La Châtre, is the venue of one of the best folk festivals in Europe, the Rencontres Internationales de St-Chartier, an annual festival of folk and traditional music and dance that started as a hurdy-gurdy and pipe festival but has spread its horizons over the years. It takes place around the old château, the village church and in the surrounding parkland. Traditional-instrument makers set up their stalls, and there are dance workshops, competitions, concerts and a festive ball in the main square every night. To give some idea of the festival's range, past line-ups have included traditional music from Lombardy, folk bands from Moldavia, Spanish bagpipes, English and Irish folk, and a fifty-piece orchestra from Berry.

The festival takes place over four or five days around July 14, and inclusive tickets cost around 380F/¬57.93, or you can just go for the day for about 160F/¬24.39. There are free campsites all around the village for the duration. Details are available from the Comité George Sand, 141 rue Nationale, 36400 La Châtre (tel 02.54.06.09.96), or online at www.saintchartier.com .

On the route de Verneuil, in St-Chartier, is the Château de la Vallée Bleue , a peaceful country park hotel (tel 02.54.31.01.91; 300-400F/¬46-61), with an excellent restaurant (menus from 130F/¬19.82).