With obvious exceptions such as Provence, the Dordogne and Tuscany, the regions which we feature in our various programmes tend not to be very well known to the British, and in some cases are largely unknown even by the population of the country in question! It could be argued, however, that this is no bad thing – it does at least mean that these regions remain wonderfully unspoiled and tranquil, making them a joy to discover for those who do venture there. Here are our Top 10 Unknown Regions.
The Engadine, Switzerland. Despite the fact that St Moritz lies at one end of the valley, the Engadine in eastern Switzerland thankfully remains completely unspoiled. Today, idyllic villages such as Guarda and Zuoz look largely the same as they did several centuries ago, their cobbled streets lined with sturdy stone houses whose arched doorways and deeply recessed windows are decorated with delicately painted patterns and murals (sgraffiti) and window-boxes dripping with flowers. We offer walks and holidays in the snow here.
Galicia, Spain. Northern Spain – la España Verde (‘Green Spain’) – is much less visited than the south, and Galicia, in the far north-west corner, particularly so. In fact, were it not for its famous pilgrims’ city, Santiago de Compostela, this verdant region would barely register on the tourist map. The 1,400-kilometre-long fjord-like coastline is dotted with fishing villages whose inhabitants have for centuries eked out a precarious living from the Atlantic, while the lush green interior possesses a timeless quality, with rolling moorland peppered with mysterious dolmens and interspersed with steep valleys where farmers lead their small herds of cattle on foot and winegrowers harvest the famous albariño grapes by hand.
The Apennines, Italy. Inntravel may have been offering walking holidays to the Apennines for many years, but they remain largely unknown. Stretching from Liguria to Umbria, these rugged mountains form Italy’s spine, and are great walking country. Autumn is a particularly special time here as the woods of beech, oak and chestnut that coat the lower slopes provide wonderful displays of colour, and the abundant chestnuts and wild mushrooms are incorporated in a variety of delicious local dishes.
Corbières, France. The Corbières in the south-west, beneath the Pyrenees, had to feature in our Top 10 Unknown Regions because it is one of the last truly secret regions of France, one little-known to the French themselves, despite it being the focal point of a very turbulent era of the country’s history. But the region’s tranquillity is only part of the allure – this is also superb walking country, where you can enjoy challenging, rewarding walks and at the same time learn about the mysterious Cathars – who took refuge in some of the incredibly located châteaux during the bloody suppression of their sect – so as to gain a real insight into this intriguing region.
Lake Iseo, Italy. Iseo is the smallest of Lombardy’s four major lakes and, though it nestles between the famous lakes of Como and Garda, is a secret jewel. To the north, the landscapes are rugged and wild, while its southern shores yield to the gentle, vine-covered hills that produce the delicious Franciacorta wines. However, perhaps the lake’s most alluring feature is its delightful island, Monte Isola, with its distinctly Mediterranean landscape.
Castile, Spain. Less than 90 minutes’ drive north of Madrid, the ancient kingdom of Castile-Leon is strikingly beautiful and utterly timeless, crisscrossed by age-old transhumance routes and dotted with splendid castles, romantic churches, magnificent Roman ruins and perfectly preserved medieval stone villages. Here, as in the two other corners of Spain featured in our Top 10 Unknown Regions, you enjoy the sensation of being in ‘real’, undiscovered Spain, and are made to feel like honoured guests at the region’s small country hotels. We offer cycling holidays, short walking breaks and family walking holidays (accompanied by a donkey!) here.
Auvergne, France. Thanks to the adverts for a certain brand of mineral water, most Britons will at least have heard of the Auvergne, even if very few have actually visited it. Admittedly, it is not the easiest place to get to – from Paris you face a six-hour train journey – but it is well worth the effort. The bulky (and deceptively high) mountains are surprisingly green, their pastures grazed by the omnipresent Salers cow whose milk is made into a delicious cheese of the same name, and the cones of the extinct volcanoes (puys) add a certain enchantment to the scenery.
Sicily’s Madonie Mountains, Italy. Rising from Sicily’s centre, the Madonie Mountains stretch northwards towards the Tirrenian Sea. Unaware of the wonderful possibilities for walking, few tourists, British or otherwise, venture here, and the result is a great sense of space and freedom – and absolute tranquillity, broken only by the occasional cry of a royal eagle. Spring, when endemic flowers coat the ground, and autumn, when the reds and golds of the turning leaves light up the wooded slopes, are particularly special times.
The Garrotxa, Spain. Catalonia as a whole may be well known, especially because of its vibrant capital, Barcelona, and the tempting beaches of the Costa Brava, but this corner of the region in the foothills of the Pyrenees still feels very much like uncharted territory. Here, you can walk across warm, wooded hills on scenic paths that have linked the stone villages and their pretty Romanesque churches for centuries and not meet another soul all day. We offer walking and cycling holidays here amid the ancient volcanoes.
Piedmont, Italy. Piedmont’s full-bodied, velvety Barolo wines deservedly rejoice in fame, but less well-known are the eleven idyllic medieval villages where they are produced, the unusual landscape of wave-shaped hills that surround the villages and their crumbling castles, and the outstanding regional gastronomy based on delicious white truffles, hazelnuts and flavoursome cheeses. We offer walking holidays in this enchanting region.
If our Top 10 Unknown Regions has inspired you, please contact our friendly reservations team for more information.