Sign-In
Cart
From Groningen to Montpellier: A walk along rivers and canals
Paperback
Sports GeneralTravel WritingAncient Rome
ISBN13: 9789789464180
Publisher: Hielke Hylkema
Published: Jan 1 2021
Pages: 522
Weight: 2.26
Height: 1.05 Width: 8.00 Depth: 10.00
Language: English
In the summer of 1995 Hielke Hylkema walked from Groningen in the north of the Netherlands to Montpellier in the south of France. A 1150 mile walk over ancient Roman roads with minimal luggage. He tried to avoid as many barking dogs as possible, practiced Tai Ji in quiet spots along the way, and explored local, Roman, and European history.
Meuse and Marne brought him to Paris. The Seine, Loire, and Rhône accompanied him to the Mediterranean. He hoped the long-distance hike would reduce his anxiety, and maybe he would even find a girlfriend along the way.
It is a travelogue with some additional commentary about the local sights and restaurants. In each chapter, there are small maps of the local area so that you can follow along with this journey.
The book is filled with historical facts and observations, a touch of Chinese wisdom, and reflections on the books that influenced him (Henry David Thoreau, Lin Yutang, Robert M. Pirsig, Michel de Montaigne)
Hielke chose history as his secondary theme, with an emphasis on the history of the regions and cities he passed. How did it all begin and how much of what you see today, points back to a distant past? How are past and present connected? He looked for clues in the names of the places and regions, in language, religion, and local customs. So by the end of it you will have learned a decent amount about early European (and French) history. From Celts to Charlemagne.
The history of the Romans plays a leading role because written European history begins with the Romans. Many French cities started as Roman cities, and a large part of the Roman road network in France is still there in its original state. Hielke tells what can still be seen of these ancient Roman roads. They're pretty easy to spot on a map because they are all very straight.
After the Romans, it was the Catholic Church that defined the face of Europe, so you can also read a little bit about the rise of Christianity and about the saints who took over tasks from the Roman gods.
Also in
Travel Writing
La Bella Lingua: My Love Affair with Italian, the World's Most Enchanting Language
Hales, Dianne
Paperback
Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance [50th Anniversary Edition]: An Inquiry Into Values
Pirsig, Robert M.
Paperback
Who Needs Friends: An Unscientific Examination of Male Friendship Across America
McCarthy, Andrew
Hardcover
Travels with Charley in Search of America: (Penguin Classics Deluxe Edition)
Steinbeck, John
Paperback
Custodians of Wonder: Ancient Customs, Profound Traditions, and the Last People Keeping Them Alive
Stein, Eliot
Hardcover
Mother of God: An Extraordinary Journey Into the Uncharted Tributaries of the Western Amazon
Rosolie, Paul
Paperback
Pacific Coasting: A Guide to the Ultimate Road Trip, from Southern California to the Pacific Northwest
Kroll, Danielle
Hardcover
East Coasting: The Ultimate Roadtripper's Guide to New England
Dorazewski, Monica
Chitnis, Christine
Hardcover
The Scenic Route: Following My Inner Compass Across 12 Countries in 12 Months
Aviram, Sarah
Paperback
One Man's Wilderness, 50th Anniversary Edition: An Alaskan Odyssey
Proenneke, Richard Louis
Keith, Sam
Paperback
We Are Soldiers Still: A Journey Back to the Battlefields of Vietnam
Moore, Harold G.
Galloway, Joseph L.
Paperback
Wine Pairing for the People: The Communion of Wine, Food, and Culture from Africa and Beyond
McCoy, Cha
Hardcover
How to Read Nature: Awaken Your Senses to the Outdoors You've Never Noticed
Gooley, Tristan
Paperback
Leave Only Footprints: My Acadia-To-Zion Journey Through Every National Park
Knighton, Conor
Paperback
Cheese Trekking: How Microbes, Landscapes, Livestock, and Human Cultures Shape Terroir
Warmedahl, Trevor
Hardcover
Free Ride: Heartbreak, Courage, and the 20,000-Mile Motorcycle Journey That Changed My Life
Schoenmaker, Noraly
Hardcover
Street Cats & Where to Find Them: The Most Feline-Friendly Cities and Attractions Around the World
Bogle, Jeff
Hardcover
Lonely Planet Women Travel Solo: 30 Inspiring Stories of Adventure, Curiosity and the Power of Self-Discovery
Planet, Lonely
Hardcover
The Geography of Bliss: One Grump's Search for the Happiest Places in the World
Weiner, Eric
Paperback
Who Needs Friends: An Unscientific Examination of Male Friendship Across America (Large Print Edition)
McCarthy, Andrew
Paperback
House of Rain: Tracking a Vanished Civilization Across the American Southwest
Childs, Craig
Paperback
Belonging to the World: A Journey from Grief to Connection in Every Country on Earth
Hoffner, Barry
Hardcover
Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance American Classics Edition: An Inquiry Into Values
Pirsig, Robert M.
Paperback
Four Seasons in Rome: On Twins, Insomnia, and the Biggest Funeral in the History of the World
Doerr, Anthony
Paperback
Tip of the Iceberg: My 3,000-Mile Journey Around Wild Alaska, the Last Great American Frontier
Adams, Mark
Paperback
The Year of Living Danishly: Uncovering the Secrets of the World's Happiest Country
Russell, Helen
Paperback
All You Need Is Flights: How Kintsugi, Moai, and Volcano Pizza Helped Me Make More Solo Travel Magic
Ruiz, Jen
Paperback
Nothing Daunted: The Unexpected Education of Two Society Girls in the West
Wickenden, Dorothy
Paperback
Free Ride: Heartbreak, Courage, and the 20,000-Mile Motorcycle Journey That Changed My Life
Schoenmaker, Noraly
Paperback
The Secret Knowledge of Water: Discovering the Essence of the American Desert
Childs, Craig
Paperback
The Miracle of Castel di Sangro: A Tale of Passion and Folly in the Heart of Italy
McGinniss, Joe
Paperback
Belonging to the World: A Journey from Grief to Connection in Every Country on Earth
Hoffner, Barry
Paperback
Lost on Planet China: One Man's Attempt to Understand the World's Most Mystifying Nation
Troost, J. Maarten
Paperback
The Brendan Voyage: Sailing to America in a Leather Boat to Prove the Legend of the Irish Sailor Saints
Severin, Tim
Paperback
A Course Called Ireland: A Long Walk in Search of a Country, a Pint, and the Next Tee
Coyne, Tom
Paperback
Sovietistan: Travels in Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan
Fatland, Erika
Paperback
Running with the Kenyans: Discovering the Secrets of the Fastest People on Earth
Finn, Adharanand
Paperback
Long Lost: Three Trails, 8,000 Miles, One Unexpected Journey Across America's Triple Crown
Asars, Tami
Paperback
Books and Islands in Ojibwe Country: Traveling Through the Land of My Ancestors
Erdrich, Louise
Paperback
Travels with a Donkey in the Cévennes (Warbler Classics Annotated Edition)
Stevenson, Robert Louis
Paperback
Walking the High Desert: Encounters with Rural America Along the Oregon Desert Trail
Waterston, Ellen
Paperback
Peach Street to Lobster Lane: Coast to Coast in Search of Real American Cuisine
Cloake, Felicity
Paperback
Walk 12 Months 12 Journeys 1200 Miles: a heartfelt adventure on foot and within
Fennell, Carol
Paperback
The Darién Gap: A Reporter's Journey Through the Deadly Crossroads of the Americas
Fernández, Belén
Hardcover
Gyoza: The Ultimate Dumpling Cookbook: 50 Recipes from Tokyo's Gyoza King - Pot Stickers, Dumplings, Spring Rolls and More!
Yamamoto, Paradise
Hardcover