The town of Albi (81 Tarn et Garonne, Midi Pyrenees) holds its annual Carnival celebration from 20 – 28 February 2010.
Albi is perhapes best known for its pink brick Cathedral, the Toulouse Lautrec museum and the birthplace of the Albigensian Crusades which led to the Cathar heresy and battles.
However for a week in February the town goes into Carnival mode with Carnival Queens, Parades, floats, music etc to jollify the streets of the town.
I have stayed at the Mercure Bastides Hotel in Albi is centrally situated by the River Tarn with great views of the Cathedral.
Whilst in the area you can visit the vineyards of Gaillac AC. I can recommend the Domaine de Labarthe at Castanet which produces some very good Gaillac reds, dry and sweet whites. Sparkling and Gaillac Perlé ( a lightly petillant dry white).
For more info on the Albi Carnival see www.carnaval-albi.com
For more info on Albi see www.albi-tourisme.fr
Categories: 81 Tarn, Art, Culture, France Events, Gaillac No Comments
Avignon and the roses at AlteraRosa
Think ahead to warm (or even hot) Spring days in Provence – add the magnificent Pope’s Palace (Palais de Papes) in Avignon and a stunning exhibition of roses – sounds vert enticing! 13 May -16 May 2010 are the dates for the 2010 edition of this annual celebration of the beautiful Rose.
For 4 days the Cloister of St Benedict in the Palais de Papes is bedecked with hundreds of varieties of roses, including some new strains – making the whole place a riot of colour and perfume. There is a competition for the best rose and the opportunity to buy or just enjoy.
However implausible it may seem even southern Provence has had snow this winter – so its not just the northern climes which have suffered – see www.avignon-tourisme.com for pictures of Avignon in the snow!!
Avignon is always worth visiting any time of year – a great combination of lively modern city, medieval walled town and Palace, the famous truncated Pont d”Avignon Bridge across the Rhone (real name Pont St Benazit) – surrounded by superb Provencal countryside (St Remy de Provence with its market and Van Gogh connections is only a short distance away- plus plenty of great wines and local produce to enjoy.
For more info on Altera Rosa see www.alterarosa.com
For more info on Avignon see www.avignon-tourisme.com
Find best hotel rates in Avignon
Categories: 84 Vaucluse, France Events, Gardens No Comments
Nice Carnaval 2010
Nice (06 Alpes-Maritimes, Provence) celebrates its Carnaval from 12-28 February 2010 which has grown into one of the largest carnivals in the world and is the main winter event on the Riviera with its carnaval parades, flower parades and parade of lights!
The carnival processions, comprising 20 floats telling the story of the “Blue Planet” work their way up to a crescendo of gigantic decorations on the Place Masséna. These giant, colourful parades take place day and night, with entertainment provided by over 1,000 musicians and dancers from across the world.
In a unique setting, on the Promenade des Anglais, the elegant “flower battles” are part of the carnival not to be missed. On floats decorated with the most stunning floral compositions, extravagantly dressed characters throw out mimosas, gerberas, and lilies into the public …
Carnival provides locals and visitors with a chance to enjoy themselves before the privations of Lent and certainly brightens up the long dull winter days – although the Riviera is seldom dreary even in mid-winter.
For more info see www.nicecarnaval.com
Categories: 06 Alpes-Maritimes, France Events No Comments
P&O to cease ferry route to Bilbao
P&O Ferries has announced that it is to discontinue its Portsmouth to Bilbao route from after 27 September 2010.
The Spanish terminal is at Santurtzi about 10 miles from the city on the edge of the Basque country. For francophiles the advantage is that Bilbao is less than 2 hours from the French border and destinations such as Biarritz and Bayonne, and as such offers a much more convenient journey to the Pyrenees than driving all the way from the Engish Channel, Normandy or Brittany. By comparison Biarritz is more than 660 miles from Calais, over 500 miles from Caen, Le Havre and Cherbourg and 450 miles from St Malo. By the time you factor in the cost of autoroute tolls and overnight accommodation the higher cost of the 35-hour crossing (or cruise).
After September 2010 the only alternative will be the Brittany Ferries Service to Santander which is about an hour further west than Bilbao.
I keep hoping that someone would open a ferry service from UK to Bordeaux which would be an ideal entry point for the whole of SouthWest France.
Categories: 64 Pyrenees Atlantiques, Ferry No Comments
Dunkerque Carnival 2010
Dunkerque (62 Pas de Calais, Nord-Pas-de-Calais) manages to brighten up the miserable nothern French winter with its annual Carnival from 23 January to 6 March 2010
The most famous, the nosiest, the most mental, but also the oldest, is the Dunkerque Carnival. For weeks on end, groups called fisherbands take the measure of each other, confront each other with sarabands and songs, disperse and liven up the town, and finally come together in one huge choir to celebrate their sailors, honour Jean Bart, and claim, with body and voice, their herrings thrown from the top of the belfry.
If you’ve never done Carnival here, you’ve never seen a real carnival !
For more info see www.northernfrance-tourism.com
Of course Dunkerque is directly connected from Dover with Norfolkline Ferries – but beware that the port (near Loon-Plage) is some 18km from the town centre
Categories: 62 Pas-de-Calais, Ferry, France, France Events No Comments
From our Archives………………….
Jasmine Festival in Grasse, Provence
The town of Grasse (06 Alpes-Maritimes, Provence) is famous for being the heart of the Provencal perfumery industry with evocative names such as Fragonard to entice you. Set up in the hills back from the Mediterranean coast, Grasse celebrates its 3-day Fete du Jasmin from 1-3 August 2008. The festival marks the beginning of the Jasmine harvest and features fireworks, dancing and a Jasmine parade.
Most visitors to Provence head for the spectacular Mediterranean coast and stylish seaside resorts, but you are missing much of the best of Provence if you don’t venture inland, where the scenery is stunning – and you can get great views of the sea.
The Côte d’Azur, the French Riviera: its sun, its beaches… and especially its backcountry, a true haven of well-being, brimming with authentic flavours and fragrances!!! Rising from the hills above the Mediterranean is the city of Grasse, the perfume capital of the world, surrounded by the charming Provencal landscape and villages of the Pays de Grasse, the regional name for this breathtaking and tranquil countryside. Together, they form the French Rivera’s most beautiful balcony.
For more info see www.ville-grasse.fr/jasminade
Categories: 06 Alpes-Maritimes, France Events, Gardens No Comments
From our Archives………………….
New national park in the Limousin
The French Government has announced the creation of a new “Parc Naturel Regional de Millevaches en Limousin“, joining another 44 areas already so designated and protected by law. The Park takes its name from the wide plateau of “Millevaches” literally translated as One Thousand Cows but thought to refer to the many bogs and ponds which are the source of many rivers, some of which contribute to some of France’s major rivers including the Vienne, Loire, Dordogne and Vezere. Richly forested and with a gently rolling landscape it is a little explored area lying to the east of Limoges (87 Haut Vienne, Limousin) towards Clermont Ferrand (63 Puy-de-Dome, Auvergne), with few towns of any note – the largest being Meymac, Felletin and Eymoutiers.
This really is deepest France! – and because of the size of the country, their parks tend to be muc larger and more unspoilt than in the UK. However, they may not always be as user-friendly in terms of signposting and pathways – so make sure you get a good map!
There is a good little website at wwwmillevaches.free.fr
There is an official government website at www.parcs-naturels-regionaux.fr but it was not available at the time of writing.
See map
Categories: Central France, France Visit No Comments
From our Archives………………….
Stay on a Vineyard near Saumur (Loire Valley)
In the heart of the Loire Valley there is an ideal solution for francophiles who are interested in wine. The Le Bellevue not only offers some stylish self-contained accommodation but also an opportunity to get really close to the process of transforming grapes into wine.
Surrounded by vineyards and sleepy hamlets our French/Anglo home is a delightful, peaceful retreat. Ideally located for discovering the Loire Valley and beyond, La Bellevue is conveniently close to Saumur, Chinon, Montreuil-Bellay, Fontevraud l’Abbaye and Angers.
In the company of a knowledgeable vigneron, wine-maker, discover the world of wine and enhance your understanding and recognition of an ‘inferior’/’superior’ wine. Spend time discovering how wine is produced at a stunning Domaine in the heart of the val de loire. Or perhaps try your hand at grape-picking during harvest.
With the added benefits that come with an English hostess and a French vigneron you can just enjoy the scenery and try the wines – or take a private wine tour with a winemaker – or have your own wine-tasting evening with expert advice and local knowledge – or if you are feeling really energetic (and no back problems) then get involved with the grape picking at harvest time.
Situated just south of Saumur, famous for its Sparkling Chenin Blanc, dry still white and the red Saumur-Champigny AC this is an area rich in chateaux, history and wine. The Domaine’s association with Domaine de la Paleine, a few kilometres away at Le Puy Notre Dame (49 Maine-et-Loire, Pays de Loire) gives you privileged access to a vineyard which has won recognition in the respected Guide Hachette des Vins de France, winning a Coup de Coeur in the 2008 edition for the red Saumur “Moulin des Quints” 2005 made from Cabernet Franc. They also produce Saumur Brut (sparkling), Saumur Blanc (dry white), Coteaux de Saumur (a dessert wine based on Chenin Blanc) and two rosés – Cabernet de Saumur (dry) and a Cabernet d’Anjou (medium dry) – see the website at www.domaine-paleine.com (there is more info on the French language version)
See our customised map of the Vienne département including the location of Domaine de la Paleine and Domaine de la Bellevue.
For more information on the Chambre d’Hote at Domaine de la Bellevue – use the enquiry form at www.frenchduck.co.uk
Categories: 86 Vienne, Accommodation France, B&B,Chambres d'Hote, Stay on a vineyard No Comments
Truffles and Malbec in Cahors!
Winter is the time for truffles in the Perigord and surrounding areas. Georges Vigouroux is one of the main Cahors wine producers in South West France (46 Lot, Midi-Pyrenees) with several major chateaux under its umbrella including Chateau de Mercuès and Chateau de Haute-Serre with some classy rich winesn made from the Malbec grape.
So bringing these two classic regional delights together should make for a great combination:
….. our first exclusive 2010 event in Château de Haute-Serre: “Truffle & Malbec Tuesdays” from January 12th to March 2nd in the restaurant La Table de Haute-Serre, with a special menu made of truffles. A perfect pairing between food and our wines has been set up by our 1 Michelin Star chef Philippe Combet. You can extend your stay in the land of the ‘black diamond’ with a visit to Lalbenque where the traditional truffle market starts every Tuesday in winter at 2 p.m. in the main street.
For more info see www.hauteserre.fr
Cahors Tshirt from jumboTs.co.uk
Categories: 46 Lot, Cahors, France, France Events, FrenchFood, Markets No Comments
