Latest updates on France, French Wine, Food, Travel, Holidays and Events
FrenchDuck UK - Latest
| July 4, 2008 |
France has big rivers and great bridges – the spectacular Viaduc de Millau on the A75 autoroute(12 Aveyron, Midi-Pyrenees) and the Pont de Normandie on the A29 autoroute between Le Havre and the Normandie coast (14 Calvados, Normandie) being great recent examples.
Almost simultaneously the birth of 2 other spectacular bridges is being celebrated – the medieval Pont Valentre in Cahors (46 Lot, Midi-Pyrenees) celebrates 700 years, whilst the latest Pont Gustave Flaubert (see picture) is due be opened in time for the Rouen Armada (4–5 July 2008).
Rouen’s latest crossing of the River Seine is in the heart of the city and will take the A154 autoroute from the nothwest (Dieppe) through the city to connect with the A13 Autoroute from Normandie to Paris.
Because is is a city centre site, and the Seine carries ocean-going ships (and was a Transatlantic Cruise ship terminal) there is not enough space to build a traditional high span bridge, so this will be the largest vertical lift bridge in the world. When high masted ships need to pass, both dual carriageways will be lifted by cable to allow the ship underneath. For such a massive task the structure seems remarkably elegant – each roadway is 18m wide and 120m long and weighs 1300 tonnes.
When opened in the next few weeks (early July 2008) the notorious congestion in the city centre will be eased considerably.
Meanwhile in Cahors the South West, the fortified medieval Pont Valentre celebrates its 700th anniversary – and this was open to road traffic until only a few years ago, But now the city will pay homage to its most distinctive landmark On 4th July 2008 there will be a banquet on the bridge itself prepared by some of the best chefs in the region – with music and dancing. From Wednesdays to Saturdays from 17 July 2008 to 9 Augusr 2008 the bridge will be lit up every night from 10.30pm for 2 hours with a sound and light show which promised to be spectacular.
There is a website about the bridge’s 700th anniversary which has been inviting photographers from around the world to show their images of the bridge in all its moods – www.lepontvalentrea700ans.com.
| June 11, 2008 | ||
| June 12, 2008 | ||
| June 13, 2008 | ||
| June 14, 2008 | ||
| June 15, 2008 |
The 2008 Tour de Normandie takes place 11-15 June 2008 (See map) and comprises a leisurely amble through the Normandy countryside (le Bocage) and along the coast. Starting from la Ferté-Macé (61 Orne, Normandie) the with music and a parade of the vehicles on 11 June, the rally proper starts with a route heading east from l’Aigle (61 Orne) to Orbec (14 Calvados, Normandie) before heading for Caen through the Pays d’Auge (home of the best Calvados apple brandies and ciders). The final day is a coastal jolly from Arromanches east to Ouistreham.
As with so many such events, you don’t have to be fanatical about classic cars to enjoy it - you’ll discover the French countryside and a carnival atmosphere which will be enjoyable on many levels. Somehow, summer skies, iconic french cars, music, Normandy cheese, butter, apples, cider, calvados topped with the sandy beaches of the Normandy coast sounds pretty good.
For more about the Tour (not to be confused with the other Tour de Normandie, which is a professional cycle race) see www.tourdenormandie.com
P&V have some special offers on their self-catering apartments in various parts of France - but these are limited time offers:-
Book 2 nights and get 2 free or book 1 week and get another whole week free! - offer closes 17th May. Available on 8 Pierre & Vacances residences - CLICk FOR DETAILS
25% off 2 week holidays in August - available between 16th and 30th August - CLICk FOR DETAILS
20% off luxury Adagio Tour Eiffel Aparthotel in Paris - available before 19th May. Includes this bank holiday weekend! 25% off 2 week holidays in August - available between 16th and 30th August - CLICk FOR DETAILS
15% off 4 night breaks at the Latitudes Beach Hotel in stylish Trouville (14 Calvados, Normandie)- available until 13th May - CLICk FOR DETAILS
| June 5, 2008 | to | June 7, 2008 |
| July 5, 2008 | to | July 6, 2008 |
| November 8, 2008 | to | November 9, 2008 |
Bayeux (14 Calvados, Normandie) is famous for its norman tapestry - and more recently its proximity to the Normandy landing beaches of 1944.
The tapestry (or more an embroidery) is now housed in a museum (Musée de Guillaume le Conquerant) in the Medieval heart of the town and is open daily throughout the year. The tapestry is now recognised as a UNESCO “Memory of the World” and is 70 metres long, made in the 11th century. It celebrates the conquest of England by William, Duke of Normandy after the Battle of Hastings in 1066.
“Legendary animals, ships, Vikings, Norman and Saxon cavalries illustrate the exploits of William and his opponent Harold, another pretender to the throne of England.”
For more about the Tapestry see www.tapisserie-bayeux.fr
There are a number of events which make it even more worthwhile to visit during 2008:-
Every year Bayeux holds a D-Day Festival, appropriately from 5-7 June 2008 - on the night of the 5/6 June there is a celebration of the arrival of the invasion with music and fireworks at nearby Longues-sur-Mer, whilst on 7th June there is a whole series of parades of military and other vehicles from the time, plus a picnic in the park with music to celebrate the fact that Bayeux was the first French city to be liberated!
Then in July Bayeux hosts its impressive Medieval Festival with lots of colourful activities with knights and damsels in medieval costume, a medieval market, street performers, music, dancing concerts, and parades (5-6 July 2008).
In November the place celebrates the Festival “Le Gout du Large” - a festival to celebrate scallops (Coquilles St Jacques) together with the Festival de Chants de Marins d’Europe - or the European Singing Sailors Festival at nearby Port-en-Bessin! 8-9 November 2008 - so if singing and shellfish are your thing, this will be the place to be!
Normandy is rightly famous for its cheeses - indeed think of Normandy and I immediately think of apples, cows and lush green fields, thatched cottages and cream - cider and Calvados (apple brandy), Camembert, Pont l’Eveque and wonderfully creamy butter.
Livarot is another of the great cows milk cheeses to come from the region, nicknamed the Colonel due to the straps of rush which hold it together and which look like military stripes.
It does of course belong to the family of seriously smelly French cheese, and has a strong distinctive taste and when properly ripe has a glutinous texture - yet it dissolves in the mouth.
This is definitely the type of cheese to be purchased from a proper cheesemonger rather than most local supermarkets. Online you can buy from the Teddington Cheese Company who describe the cheese as:“a full and assertive flavour, a supple texture and a pungent aroma…. excellent on the cheese board although it is best tasted after milder cheeses. It is best enjoyed with a full-bodied red wine, a glass of Normandy cider or even a nip of Calvados.”
Livarot holds its annual cheese festival in August - see our events schedule
Bayeux (14 Calvados, Normandie) celebrates its medieval heritage every July with a weekend festival of music, street entertainment etc - see www.bayeux-tourism.com/
