When the boys were younger it was access to a wonderful little complex in the Charente with a small lake on site, full of carp from pastie to about 8lbs. Leave your rods set up - go out for the day somewhere..come back pick up a rod, walk 10 yards and be fishing!
Now I look for the rivers and the scenery. Fishing the Lot in the company of deer, buzzards and red kite, fishing the Adour at dusk as the woods opposite became alive with calling green woodpeckers as they? roost, fishing the Lantouy - an intimate little trout stream and being ignored by the trout but catching chub and roach. The steepling cliffs as the Lot cuts through the Massif Central and then the Quercy Limestone Causse
Laughing and sharing ideas with French anglers - as I struggle with the speed of their speech, regional dialect and they struggle with my pronunciation!!
Solitude, beauty....I even learn to love poisson chat.
Noting new waters you may fish next time... visiting the beautiful city of Albi, its stunning cathedral. walking over the middle bridge leaning over and watch barbel in profusion over a gravel bar in the Tarn - and already planning for next year
And the food, drink and wonderful,hospitable French people(and the Madiran Wine when in Gascony and the Marcillac wines when in the Aveyron)