When browsing for your hotel in France here at EasyToBook.com, you may consider looking for a discount hotel room in Availles-en-Chatellerault in western France. Stop here particularly if you are interested in artisan crafts and mysteries, for Availles-en-Chatellerault has both. First, there is a family in the town that has been making walnut oil since 1810. The Lepine family is famous for their relatively modern production of this oil by using many of the methods that were used in ancient civilizations. Be sure to try a dish in a local restaurant that features the walnut oil, or buy some to take home with you.
The mystery comes from the other major attraction in the town, the underground refuge. It is actually located in the tiny hamlet of Pincay, found just to the south of Availles-en-Chatellerault. This underground structure was created by carving rooms out of the bed rock. The creators included slots for lamps, seating ledges, and storage niches over three major chambers on two different floors. It’s not difficult to imagine members of the town creating the refuge for times of war or other dangers, but the history of the refuge is somewhat unknown.