Imagine awakening in a castle. You slip out of your poster bed, open french windows and step onto a stone balcony. You take in the view of surrounding vineyards that slope down to a quaint tile-roofed village in the misty river valley below. This isn"t a dream. You can actually spend the night in an authentic French ch?teau or manor house, one with all the personal care of a bed-and-breakfast. For centuries, the country"s small ch?teaux have remained secret, closed to all but the families of the owners. But in recent years, in efforts to generate revenue for preservation, many families are throwing open the doors and inviting the public in to stay. French Country Hideaways takes you inside 35 of these hidden gems where you can experience true French country living. At these ch?teaux d"h?te you will meet the owner-innkeeper and get to know the individual spirit of the place. These off-the-beaten-track estates were selected because each possesses a unique bond to the land. None...