Normandy

The Christmas Market at Harfleur (76 Seine-Maritime, Normandy) on the outskirts of Le Havre takes place between 4 and 6 December 2009 in the middle of the old town (www.lehavretourisme.com) with the usual collection of music, carols, markets and processions including a distinctive Father Christmas (pere noel)

© Guichard / Office de Tourisme de Caen

Caen (14 Calvados, Normandie) holds its Christmas Market from 28 November to 24 December 2009. This is a traditional Christmas market of wooden chalets in the centre of the town (Place du Theatre)

….over 50 stands selling with an outstanding array of Christmas goodies and artisan produce. This cosmopolitan market welcomes sellers from around the world with products such as nativity figurines, foie gras, Christmas desserts, pain d’épices (like gingerbread), hippocraswine, traditional waffles, baby clothes, plants, art, clothing, leather goods and jewellery. The charmingly festive atmosphere really makes this a Christmas event to be relished and it is not by chance that Father Christmas himself has chosen Caen as his home for the entire duration of the market!!

See www.tourisme.caen.fr
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LD Lines has dropped its Dover-Dieppe ferry service from the end of June 2009.
Reportedly due to insufficient traffic, the ship used , the “Cote D’Albatre” will continue to run on the newer Dover-Boulogne service. But it is a shame that there is again less choice for crossing the channel – the Dieppe route at 4+ hours was probably doomed because it was neither a short-sea crossing like Dover-Calais, nor a longer western Channel “cruise”. Importantly it did not offer UK travellers an option for avoiding the dreaded M25 motorway, and competed against faster and shorter crossings from the same ferry port.

However, Dieppe was (and is) a pleasant and less-crowded destination and did provide a useful start point for western France – or for exploring Picardie and the Seine Valley. You can still get a ferry to Dieppe from Newhaven on Transmanche ferries (also part of LD  Lines) – the crossing takes about 4 hours, but Newhaven is not so well connected to the motorway network.

Find the best rates for Hotels in Dieppe
There is a webcam overlooking Dieppe harbour and a motorhome parking area at www.dieppe.fr/webcams

Medcins du Monde UK  (World Doctors) runs an annual London to Paris Bike ride to raise funds (10-13 July 2009).

Day 1

Cycling from London to Dover.

Board the ferry at Dover, arrive in Dieppe in the evening.

Day 2

Set off 10.00 am through the lovely French countryside.

Finish cycling early evening and stay overnight in a French country inn.

Day 3

Leave the hotel at 9.00 am.
Let’s go!

Finish cycling mid-late afternoon in Paris.

Day 4

Free morning with suggested options.

Transfer from hotel to Gare du Nord for Eurostar, arrive in St Pancras

Although it may be too late to register to take part in this 300km ride, you can watch and support them as they cycle through the English and French countryside – and it is easier to get to watch this  than the Tour de France,
For more info see: www.medecinsdumonde.org.uk

Every year the town of Coutances on the western side of the Cherbourg peninsula holds a Jazz festival enticingly entitled Jazz sous les Pommiers (Jazz under the Apple Trees). in 2009 it runs from 16-23 May.

In addition to daily concerts there is also a daily online concert featuring a personal favourite – saxophonist Andy Shepperd and his quintet on Friday 22 May at 19.45 (French time – go to http://normandie.france3.fr

Every day there are numerous concerts on Friday and Saturday running throughout the afternoon and into the night – with more than one opportunity to see each artiste or band. Some concerts are in the openair and the late night “Jazz Club” does not require advanced booking. Music will fill the streets, the cafes and churches of the town throughout the week.

For more info see Jazz sous les Pommiers

For more info on the region see www.paysdecoutances.fr

Situated on the borders of Normandy, Brittany  and the Loire Valley, there is a good B&B/Chambres d’Hote near St Hilaire du Harcouet :-

set in a quiet hamlet in the  beautiful Mayenne countryside, on the border with Normandy and Brittany.It  is only 20 minutes from the A84 autoroute, which links the Channel ports of Cherbourg and Caen with Brittany and the Loire Valley…has five bedrooms on the upper floor, including a family suite. On the ground floor, there is a large dining room and a comfortable lounge area for guests to relax in. The extensive landscaped gardens have a beautiful terrace for outdoor eating or relaxing, and a lake completes the idyllic countryside setting

This English-owned B&B has five tastefully decorated double or twin bedded rooms, including a family suite, suitable for families of up to 6 people and makes an ideal base for touring the many delights of the area or as a stop-over on the journey west or southwards.

Le Mont St Michel is 40 minutes by car. Other towns in the area are Fougeres, Rennes, Dinan, St Malo and many more.

The famous racing circuit of Le Mans is an hour and a half away, as are the beaches of the 1944 Normandy landings and the Bayeux Tapestry.

To find out more about the B&B use the enquiry form below:-

cforms contact form by delicious:days

For more info on the region see www.tourisme-mayenne.com