very true, Nav. Lots of history to discover off the beaten path too. It does help to travel with folks who speak French or have a lot of patience because most of the locals can't/don't speak English. ...and the local food - cheese, sausages, beef burgundy, plateau fruits de mer, paella - is really something. Just about any restaurant or butcher/cheese shop will knock your socks off. so will a trip to the beach.
I agree that speaking the native tongue helps tremendously. Or am I confusing that with tonguing the natives?