Alsace

Across France much of the landscape and many small villages have stirred into frenetic activity with the start of the annual grape harvest – some areas have been busy for weeks already, whilst others may not start until later in September or even later if they are very high or concentrating on late-harvest (vendanges tardives) or botrytised wines.

Over in Alsace, the Hugel family are producing a daily video diary of the 2009 harvest, so that you can see the process and get some insight into the 2009 vintage potential. Hugel is one of the top names in Alsace and produce some really excellent wines. So far everything is looking very promising with ideal conditions for autumn weather and the condition of the vines – see http://blog.hugel.com/en/harvest/

Some of Hugel’s range can be found in the UK at Adnams and other independent wine merchants.

Alsace on the eastern border with Germany is a surprising region – sheltered from oceanic influence by the Vosges mountains, the Alsace wine region enjoys some of the lowest rainfall in France (just 400-500mm or 16-20 inches per year) and is blessed with a semi-continental climate—sunny, warm and dry. The key varietals – Gewurztraminer and  Riesling produced here can be extraordinarily intense and elegant, and despite the Germanic shape of the bottle (and often the labels too) the wines are dry (unless they are late harvest versions) – for more info on Alsace wines see www.vinsalsace.com/

The 12th RALLYE MONTE-CARLO HISTORIQUE will be held from 29 January to 4 February 2009.

There are numerous starting points ranging from Oslo to Barcelona and Turin. finally coming together for the last section down across the Alps to Monte Carlo. Strasbourg, Reims, Perpignan, Narbonne, Beaune and Avignon are all on one of the various routes which the classic cars will pass through – the cars all being models which participated in the Monte Carlo Rally proper between 1955 and 1980.

Over 120 cars will leave the Cathedral Square in Reims on the evening of Friday 30 January 2009.

For more info see www.acm.mc

For Reims see www.reims-tourism.com/

Strasbourg Christmas Market (Bas-Rhin, Alsace) takes place from 29 Nov to 31 Dec 2008

In a breathtaking position in front of Strasbourg Cathedral, this is one of the largest Christmas markets in France. The original “Christkindelsmärik” is in Strasbourg and dates back to 1570. It is dedicated to culinary delights and Christmas decorations and takes place at the Place Brogile. In its 431st year, this market in Alsace is the oldest Christmas market in France. Do not miss La Petite France, a cosy neighborhood of timbered fairy-tale buildings with Christmas shops and a gingerbread bakery.

Strasbourg adorns itself in its very best finery. Lights sparkle throughout the city and the atmosphere is one of meeting friends and sharing the festive spirit. Mulled wine is sampled in front of the opera or the cathedral, arms are laden with a hundred and one gifts and children are the centre of the celebrations.

From the Place de la Gare where visitors flock in their thousands into the city, to the historic heart of the city in Petite France; from the Place de la Cathédrale to Place Broglie, historic sites of the Christmas market; from Place Kléber where the Christmas Tree majestically towers over shoppers, to Place d’Austerlitz, transformed into a “Forêt de Délices” (Forest of Delights); tastes and scents mingle with sweet Christmas music, inviting visitors to enter a world of dreams.

For more info see www.noel-strasbourg.com

Alsace hosts many Christmas markets – building on its links and traditions with neighbouring Germany. Strasbourg hosts what is probably the biggest and best known

For a full list of Christmas Markets in Alsace see http://noel.tourisme-alsace.com

However, given free choice I would probably recommend Colmar, It is smaller than Strasbourg, but that makes it more intimate and atmospheric. It is also a very attractive town with its canals and timbered building  – and is in the heart of the Alsace wine region.

Colmar Christmas Market (Haut-Rhin, Alsace) runs from 22 Nov to 31 Dec 2008.

The annual Colmar Christmas market is regarded as one of the most unusual French markets with its special character. It takes place in the Old Town at 5 various venues: Petite Venise for children, Place des Dominicains, Place de l’Ancienne Douane, Place Jeanne d’Arc and inside the Koifhus, the old customs house.

The magic of Christmas in Colmar, first of all there’s the ambiance of the Old Town, illuminated and decorated like a fairy tale : a historic setting made magical by the Christmas illuminations which, in this festive period, blend harmoniously with the wonderful lighting designed to enhance the town’s heritage, and lay a soothing aura of light over the centre of Colmar.
Town centre which is essentially pedestrian, comprises numerous architectural treasures such as monuments, churches, museums and alleys, built for the most imposing from Middle Age to 19th century. Do not miss to be amazed by the Maison Pfister, the Koïfhus, Unterlinden museum, Little Venice, the House of the Heads and Saint Martin Collegiate church.
The whole town is decorated like a dream to turn the old centre into a veritable open-air theatre where the warm Christmas mood envelops the heart of the town

For more info see www.noel-colmar.com

Mulhouse Christmas Market (Haut-Rhin, Alsace) 22 Nov to 30 Dec 2008

Set in the historic heart of the city Mulhouse is the home to an impressive Christmas Market that has maintained its authenticity in a prestigious setting on the Place de la Réunion. Mulhouse offers a typical Alsatian market with half-timbered stalls featuring exceptional fabric and other French products. Sip spice-scented mulled wine and nibble on festive gormet treats such as “bredele” (small typically Alsatian cakes) or Christmas biscuits whilst shopping.

Mulhouse has a tradition of producing high quality fabrics and every year a special Christmas fabric inspired by the collections kept at the Museum of Printing Fabrics is produced to dress the City Hall and façades of the Place de la Réunion, the pedestrian streets and chalets on the Christmas market.

In the historical centre of Mulhouse there will be a traditional Hungarian Village of Arts and Crafts.
Customs and traditions of the “Pearl of the Danube” will have the place of honor. Let yourself be tempted by the pleasures and wealth of the Hungarian culture. (only until 21 Dec 08)

For more info see www.tourisme-mulhouse.com

Each July the French get very excited about 180 or more professional cyclists who cover 3,500km over three weeks racing around France, including staggering climbs in the Alps and Pyrenees.

Tour de France 2009

With lots of razzamataz, commercial sponsorship, scandal and sporting achievement, it is a spectacle well worth seeing – especially as it is free. However, the downside is that the Tour can cause major disruption with roads closed for hours, hordes of people and traffic – and all hotel rooms along the route booked.
In 2009 the tour starts in Monaco on 4 July 2009, travels down the Mediterranean coast into Spain to Barcelona – then up through Andorra to the Pyrenees. With a skip to Central France the route heads east through northern Burgundy to Alsace, south the the Alpes and then heads for Paris and the final stage which finishes on the Champs Elysees on 26 July 2009.
Sat 4 July Monaco
Sun 5 July Monaco > Brignoles
Mon 6 July Marseille > La Grande-Motte
Tue 7 July Montpellier
Wed 8 July Le Cap d’Agde > Perpignan
Thu 9 July Gérona > Barcelona (Spain)
Fri 10 July Barcelona > Andorra
Sat 11 July Andorra> Saint-Girons
Sun 12 July Saint-Gaudens > Tarbes
Mon 13 July rest day – Limoges
Tue 14 July Limoges > Issoudun
Wed 15 July Vatan > Saint-Fargeau
Thu 16 July Tonnerre > Vittel
Fri 17 July Vittel > Colmar
Sat 18 July Colmar > Besançon
Sun 19 July Pontarlier > Verbier
Mon 20 July rest day – Verbier
Tue 21 July Martigny > Bourg-Saint-Maurice
Wed 22 July Bourg-Saint-Maurice > Le Grand-Bornand
Thu 23 July Annecy > Annecy
Fri 24 July Bourgoin-Jallieu > Aubenas
Sat 25 July Montélimar > Mont Ventoux
Sun 26 July Montereau-Fault-Yonne > Paris Champs-Élysées

For more info on the Tour de France see www.letour.fr