To be honest, because the name France for Freebooters sounds fun and is easy to remember. Its meaning gives the wrong idea about my target audience – ‘freebooter’ is derived from the Dutch vrijbuiter, which means ayone who pillages and plunders.

However, with a bit of poetic licence we can include smugglers or Free Traders. Now we have established the beginning of a justification, because the creation of the EEC has turned all European Union citizens into Free Traders. Those among you who have to pass through the ‘non-EEC’ gates are cordially invited to join us.

One thing I shall do is point you to sources of free booty : things you can enjoy without paying an entry fee. Some of these are obvious, like wandering along the feeder stream for the canal du Midi or strolling the quays of the harbour at Antibes wondering if there is anywhere else in the world where so many multi-million-dollar yachts are gathered in one place. Others are 'special deals', such as the fact that the Louvre museum does not charge an entry fee on Sundays.

Here's another loose association: if you couldn’t lay your hands on a dictionary, you might guess that a freebooter was ‘footloose’ – a wanderer who goes where he (or she) pleases. If that describes you, welcome to the site. The people I want to reach are independent travelers with adequate means, but without extravagant tastes (I know at least one millionaire that still qualifies).

I’m not suggesting that you should be a complete rolling stone, never staying anywhere for more than a day. But I am saying that most of the places I talk about will not be just a taxi ride from an international airport. You will be able to reach some of them by using the excellent SNCF trains, but for others you will need a car – or in some cases a boat.