VIRE itself is worth visiting specifically for the food; in fact the one problem is what to do when you're not eating. the town is best known for its dreaded andouille sausages, but you can gorge yourself instead on salmon or trout fresh from the river, accompanied by local poiré. Choosing a hotel, it makes sense to go for one with a good dining room. At the central Hôtel de France, 4 rue d'Aignaux (tel 02.31.68.00.35; €40–55), the €20 menu du terroir is packed with local specialities, including andouillettes, but no one's going to make you eat it if you don't want to – there's always tripes a là mode de Caen instead. The Hôtel des Voyageurs, at the bottom of avenue de la Gare (tel 02.31.68.01.16; under €30) serves sumptuous buffets of hors d'oeuvres and desserts; you can sample both for €13.
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