Mit Montaigne auf Reisen

To Italy, through Switzerland and Germany - Michel de Montaigne described his journey on horseback from 1580 to 1581 in his famous travel diary. 440 years later, the French philosopher Gaspard Koenig follows in his footsteps. This is a unique travelogue about being on the move, the freedom of slowness, and today's Europe.

How many detours and coincidences does the modern world still allow us on our own path? With Montaigne as a constant travel companion, Koenig rides past the same fields, churches, and vineyards - yet this journey from Bordeaux to Rome is not a historical reconstruction. While Montaigne chose the fastest means of transport of his time and changed his horses daily, today's journey is one of deceleration and bureaucratic hurdles. Without the proper papers for his horse, Koenig fails at the Swiss border, and modern route guides confront the rider with unforeseen limitations.

This journey is an adventure and a connection with nature. But above all, it is a narrative of individual experiences. Like Montaigne, Koenig seeks contact with the people he meets and is guided by their stories. From a unique perspective, he explores the peculiarities of the countries he traverses. This travelogue is a celebration of human encounters, the radical simplicity, and the art of slowing down.