Life in the coutryside
Life in the countryside involves the acceptance of the dependence on nature, which is sometimes hostile: "The dreadful side of life in the country is being left, helpless, to the rain, the mud and the snow " (François Mauriac); "Me, for a start, the countryside - I have to say straight away that I've never been able to tolerate it " (Louis-Ferdinand Destouches known as Céline).
Depending on the period, life in the countryside also involves working relentlessly to the rhythm of the seasons or, despite the daily strains, taking the time to share festive moments, like the village fairs or the Midsummer bonfires in celebration of Saint John the Baptist.
"The city has a face, the country has a soul." (Jacques de Lacretelle)
Once looked upon as a region of cultivated lands, the countryside now offers another dimension to our lives by becoming a freely chosen holiday destination - "ecotourism".
