The case studies showed that for these places the concept of the dedicated artistic or literary 'pilgrim' found little support. Many kinds of people visit Cabourg, Pont-Aven and Auvers. They are by no means connoisseurs of literature or art and most have no detailed knowledge of the writer or artist. The evidence suggests that the large majority gain pleasure from their visit and although that pleasure derives from various sources, which include the opportunity to relax, to enjoy good company, to taste the ambience of a place and to 'gaze' at beautiful scenes, there is also for many the feeling that they have had some contact with a writer or artist and with the environments which they inha- bited. Only minorities visited these places with a pre-existing sense of meaning or emotional attach- ment but many may have gained something of these attributes during their visit.