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

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

An amazing new event for everyone who wants to enter the legend of Father Christmas. A unique, magical performance in front of the Palace of the Popes, a thirty-minute show featuring special effects, giant sets, fireworks and beautiful lighting to tell a wonderful story which takes place in Provence. After the show, young and old alike can meet Father Christmas and his elves, who will be distributing hot chocolate, Christmas crackers and surprises.

Whilst there you can also indulge in the Christmas Market(Marché de Noel)  in the Place d’Horloge (26 November 2009 -2 January 2010 ) with a village of 60+ chalets offering craft jewelery, candles, lamps,  specialities such as local wines, nougat, candied fruits, chocolate, honey, gingerbread, games and wooden toys.  Free entertainment, parades, concerts for children and adults accompanying the event.

Make a weekend break of it with Eurostar and TGV –
Find best hotel rates in Avignon

For more info see www.provenceguide.co.uk

A multicoloured festival under the sun! The town comes alive on Sunday mornings, when coaches and cars dance through the streets, an endless farandole of people swaying down the alleyways to the sea. Laughter and joy shine from happy faces everywhere.

Today is a holiday! A wide-eyed child stares in wonderment at the confetti showering from the sea blue sky… Creative masks and sumptuous costumes abound; fanfares twirl and zigzag through the citrus-laden floats to the sound of traditional drums.

On Thursday nights there is a Moonlit Parade with more floats, music and fireworks! Then there is are displays of local crafts and stalls offering every variation on citrus fruit.  This area of the French Riviera enjoys a sub-tropical climate with a steady temperature of 6-13° C ,and is  shielded from harmful winds by the nearby mountains.

See www.feteducitron.com

Running until 31 January 2010  the exhibition retraces the life of the sex icon who was photographed and immortalised by the greats of film and still photography at a time when she came across as young, fresh, innocent and natural – especially after the post-war years of austerity.

The exhibition is divided into three sections and leads you through her life, (1)from her early days at home, through (2) the fun and excesses of the  life of St Tropez (83 Var, Provence) and the film star years and (3) since  the 70s she has been a passionate advocate for animal right issues.

In many ways she was responsible for the fame of St Tropez, which was previously a pretty but unknown small port on the Mediterranean. Today it is a magnet for rich, wealthy celebrities which becomes impossibly busy in high season – but in Spring and Autumn it is worth a visit, with great views across to Ste Maxime.

For more info see www.boulognebillancourt.fr (in French)
Find the best rates for Hotels in Boulogne-Billancourt

Musée des Années 30 (MA30)

28 avenue André Morizet

92100 Boulogne-Billancourt

With music, dancing, processions of donkeys, ponies and horsement, and plenty of opportunities to try Melon in its many guises (jams, sauces, liqueurs etc)  and buy from the Melon market, The Cavaillon melon tends to be smaller but more flavoursome than say, a honeydew melon.

Cavaillon is also well-situated for visiting Avignon, St Remy de Provence and the Luberon area – some of the best of Provence.

More info on Cavaillon and its region.
Find the best rates for Hotels in Cavaillon

The Festival d’Avignon has long been an international platform for the performing arts, gathering artists and audiences from all around the world.
This year, the programme welcomes artists and performances from many countries and many languages will be heard on the festival stages:French from three different continents as well as English, Spanish, Italian, Arabic, Polish, German and Hebrew.

For more info see www.festival-avignon.com

The best way to get there would be to take the Eurostar and TGV train direct from London – city centre to city centre, economical and environmentally friendly.

For more info see www.choregies.com

Be warned that he is a very poplular artist – an exhibition of his work in Paris in 2006 was sold out.

The museum is also worth seeing for some of its other treasures including Van Gogh, Modigliani, Degas and Cezanne.

Musée ANGLADON 5, rue Laboureur , 84000 Avignon

For more info see www.antibesjuanlespins.com

Of course Juan-les-Pins and neighbouring Antibes are worth visitng whether you are a Jazz fan or not. with this idyllic (and often exclusive) peninsula surrounded by the Mediterranean – and the Musee Picasso at the Chateau Grimaldi is a must-see.

“A visit to the Picasso Museum is a moving experience. It evokes joy and pain, despondency and exultation. Visitors cannot help but sense all that has gone on within these walls that were the Antibes Chateau. There was the delicate balance of a family relationship and the ensuing drama; the intrusion of the museum on the chateau; the silence and the magic. The chateau of Antibes is poetic, serious and joyous at one and the same time, like the sea that is visible from many of its windows. A place which saw nobility and poverty and which one day became the home of the Spanish artist Picasso, who continued the magic. The museum is not to be understood, it is to be experienced. It is what it is, take it or leave it.”
For more info on Antibes/Juan-les=Pins see the Office de Tousime at  www.antibesjuanlespins.com

This exhibition demonstrates the Musée Granet’s commitment to highlighting the work of Cézanne in its temporary exhibitions, with particular emphasis given to the artist’s role as the father of modern art and his artistic relationship with other 20C masters.

Cezanne was born in Aix-en-Provence in 1839 (died 1906) and was a major inspiration for Picasso (1881 – 1972) – this exhibition (open daily) beings together a variety of important paintings, sculptures, drawings and engravings which were key to Picasso’s artistic development. With the neaby Montagne de Ste Victoire, which was a favourite subject of Degas provence paintings, this has to be worth a significant detour.

Musée Granet, Place Saint Jean de Malte 13100 Aix-en-Provence
Tel: + 33 (0)4 42 52 88 32
www.museegranet-aixenprovence.fr

Every year Nice holds its fabulous Carnival in February, (13-29 Februart 2010) and the air fills with rhythm and soulful melodies for the famous jazz festival in July  (18-25 July 2009)

Nice`s old quarter is the perfect place for shopping amongst the town`s boutiques and souvenir shops where you can pick up local Provencal crafts and gastronomic items. Visitors to Nice also flock to the Phoenix Parc Floral botanical garden with its bird and insect zoo and fascinating museum dedicated to Far Eastern art.

Anyone interested in local art must also visit the museum of Henri Matisse, whose paintings were inspired by the majesty of the town.

For the perfect snaps, Le chateau, a castle now in ruins, is a tranquil area accessible via steps from the Quai des Etats-Unis, and is the best vantage point from which to enjoy views over Nice and the surrounding sea and countryside.
Eating out in Nice is a delight with cafes and restaurants around every corner catering for all tastes. Not surprisingly, gastronomic influences have flooded in from neighbouring Italy, with pasta on every other menu. Delicious local Provencal dishes bring a taste of authentic local cuisine whilst ample fish and seafood restaurants serve up the catch of the day around the Cours de Saleya and along the seafront. There are ample opportunities for gourmet wining and dining at the town`s top restaurants and opulent boutique hotels. On the other hand you can of course avail yourself of fresh local market produce, making a short break in Nice as low-budget or as indulgent as you wish.
In spite of its reputation for extravagance, a weekend in Nice needn`t break the bank, with a range of budget hotels available from as little as 25 euros a night.  With flybe now offering services to the Cote d`Azur from 11 airports across the UK, the joie de vivre of this elegant town has never been more accessible.

For more info on Nice see the Nice Tourism Office website
See map

map of Provence painters route

From the end of the 19^th Century onwards, many artists became fascinated by the tranquil lifestyle and luminosity of the Côte d’Azur. The diversity of the landscapes, the clement climate, the exuberant nature of the place, the magical colours and extraordinary light and the apparent gift of healing and embellishing has never failed to evoke inspiration and creative energy for the numerous famous painters who visited or lived in the region. With a unique cultural abundance, the French Riviera had become a place privileging freedom, experimentation and a land of welcome, refuge and wellbeing for inventors of modernity who can be found in the artists’ studios in Antibes, Cagnes-sur-Mer or in Saint-Paul-de-Vence.
Spanning ten communes in the Alpes-Maritimes Department, the route provides numerous lecterns put in place on sites of original paintings so that you can follow in the footsteps of Picasso, Chagall, Monet, Renoir, Dufy, Cocteau, Bonnard, Soutine, Derain, Cross, Boudin, Peynet…

You can view or  print  the brochure at www.guideriviera.com

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/

If you are a fan of Muscat wines then Perpignan (66 Pyrenees-Orientales, Languedoc-Roussillon) should be your destination from 31 January – 2 February 2009 with the Rencontres Mediterraneenes du Muscat (Mediterranean Muscat’s Convention).

Open to the public, the event offers culinary and wine-tasting workshops and the opportunity to taste a range of Muscat wines and Vins Doux Naturels (fortified wines) including St Jean de Minervois, Lunel, Rivesaltes, Frontignan and Mireval in the Languedoc, Beaumes de Venise in Provence, Cap Corse in Corsica and Samos in Greece.

The Muscat grape in its various guises tends to produce wines with the most obviously “grapey” taste, and they are usually sweet or dessert wines , such as the local Muscat de Rivesaltes. However a dry style is produced in Alsace and some domaines in the Languedoc (under the Vin de Pays d’Oc label)

For more info see www.rencontres-muscat.com

For more info on Perpignan see www.perpignantourisme.com

In April 2008, 22 students from the Photographic department were welcomed each in one of the 22 participating cities. The participants ranged in age between 20 and 35 years old, as well as originating from 15 different countries. Each student was given an “emotional passport” to express their own talent and sense and to capture the daily life of France. Their only requirement: let the dreams and emotions of the people and places be the guide!

The venues include Aix-en-Provence, Amiens, Angers, Avignon, Bordeaux, Dijon, Grenoble, Le Havre, Lille, Marseille, Metz, Montpellier, Mulhouse, Nancy, Nantes, Nice, Nimes, Reims. Rennes, Rouen, Toulouse and Versailles.

For more info see www.franceemotion.com/

Moonlit parades, Citrus Exhibition, Gardens of Light and a Sunday Parade of Golden Fruit all offer plenty to see and do in mid-winter.

For more info see www.feteducitron.com

In Menton (Alpes-Maritimes, Provence Cote d-Azur) the Christmas Market takes place rather later than elsewhere in France – from 19 Dec 2008 – 4 Jan 2009 In the Biovès Gardens and throughout the town.

The Christmas festival in this, one of the pleasantest Riviera towns and the self-styled capital of Lemons, features festive lights, shows,  a Christmas market, nativity scene, a skating rink, nordic ski track and a Carousel.

The main theme is around music, especially traditional nursery rhymes (comptines) making the whole event very family-friendly.

For more info see www.menton.fr

For more info see www.aixenprovencetourism.com
and http://uk.franceguide.com

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

Mouries claims to be the premier oil-producing commune in France with a reported 80,000 olive vines producing Huile A.O.C. Vallée des Baux-de-Provence.

One of the key producers is Christian Rossi at the Moulin St Michel:-

Made from a variety of four olives: the Salonenque, the Berruguette, the Verdale and the Grossane. It is mellow and exquisite with delicate tones of small green fruit, Moulin Saint-Michel A.O.C. olive oil from the Valley of Baux-de-Provence is fragrant and exceptionally fine, bringing out all the best qualities of the dishes with which it is used.

There is also the Moulin du Mas de Vaudoret and the Moulin Co-operative de Mouries,

A number of signposted trails have been established including the Route de l’olivier (the olive route) which runs through the olive groves and around the okive oil mills. There is also a wine route and a route which takes you around the key buildings of the area.

For more info see www.mouries.com

Several major extensions of the network include:-

Tours to Bordeaux via Poitiers and Angouleme, bringing Bordeaux within 2 hours of Paris. Utlimately the high speed line will extend south to Bayonne and into Spain!

Le Mans to Rennes in Brittany – bringing Brest within 3 hours of Paris!

Bordeaux to Toulouse in South West France, reducing the travel time to 1 hour!

Marseille to Nice will complete the line to Provence and the Côte d’Azur

Montpellier to Perpignan and on to Barcelona in Spain!

It’s a great example of why domestic air travel in France becomes less and less viable with city centre to city centre times such as these in the offing – speedy and green!
You can book any train journey to and within France including Eurostar, TGV and local lines through RailEurope

The Telegraph (19 Aug 08) includes a boat trip up the Rhone Valley as one of its top 10 river cruises:

Navigating France’s mightiest river is a favourite for wine aficionados and foodies. A cruise through Burgundy and Provence gives you the chance to visit vineyards (think Côtes du Rhône and Châteauneuf-du-Pape), explore Lyon – the gourmet capital of France – and enjoy historic towns such as the fortified city of Avignon and the Roman ruins in Arles. The countryside is equally superb: its fields of lavender and sunflowers were an inspiration for artists such as Vincent Van Gogh, and as the river drains into the Mediterranean you’ll see the famous white horses of the Camargue.

The route includes many worthwhile stops for visits to suit all tastes, but it is also remarkably rich in potential wine visits as you’ll pass through appellations such as Costieres de Nimes, Cotes du Rhone (north and south), Lirac, Tavel, Chateauneuf-du-Pape, St Joseph and Hermitage – and if you branch onto the River Saone north of Lyon you can explore Beuajolais and southern Burgundy!

It should come as little surprise that rivers and canals tend to offer good access to good vineyards – vines often grow best on the steep valley sides with their good drainage and aspect to the sun.

A more modest trip than the Rhone, could be a canal trip from Auxerre (89 Yonne, Burgundy) close to Chablis and down the Canal de Bourgogne to Dijon and the Burgundy vineyards; or a trip down the Canal Lateral de la Loire for Sancerre AC, Pouilly-Fumé and Coteaux Giennois. By using the Canal du Nivernais and the Canal de Briare you could even manage a circular route via Auxerre.

Of course, Rick Stein’s French Odyssey was based on a canal trip along the Canal du Midi and the Canal Lateral de la Garonne and included the vineyards of Bordeaux, Cotes du Marmandais, Buzet, Fronton, Minervois, Corbieres and the Coteaux du Languedoc.

For another set of options try Hilary Wright’s book Water into Wine: A Wine Lover’s Journey Through The Waterways of France which also includes itineraries in the lower Loire. Cognac, Alsace, Lorraiine and the Lot.

For more info on the canals of France see the website for VNF (Voies Navigable de la France) now much improved and in English!

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

From the Esterel mountains to the Pointe Croisette, the bay of Cannes forms a jewel case for great events. Cannes wanted to organize for its citizens, as well as for tourists, an international valued event in the very heart of the summer season, where it could take advantage of both : its magnificent natural scenery and its prestige.

These shows, given from a 300 meters seafront, in the splendid bay of Cannes, gave a surprising dimension to it. The reflection of the fireworks on the water and the acoustic relief, transported the public into a fairy tale world of successive frames.

For more info see www.festival-pyrotechnique-cannes.com

It is hardly surprising then that a substantial proportion of the hundreds of thousands of Brits who own French property have been tempted by the apparently bucolic life of a vigneron……
Are there any French winemakers left down there?
I asked Walter McKinlay, whose Domaine de Mourchon southern Rhône wines are some of the most successful from a British domaine, whether his Domaine de Mourchon wines were financially viable. He frowned. “Just about,” he said cautiously, then smiled. “But it’s a lovely lifestyle though.”

My own observation would be that it can be incredibly hard work and despite the attractions of the climate, landscape and the French way of life, it can also be very stressful. And as with all winemakers, a bad harvest, particularly in the early years can be devastating.

So, here’s our list of British vineyard owners (and 1 Irish couple) – that we are aware of (not an exhaustive list I am sure). Visits can be much more informative if the language is no barrier:-

Domaine de Laroux – Cotes de Gascogne, Armagnac (32 Gers, Midi-Pyrenees) – Nick and Karen Kitchener
Chateau Haut Garrigue - Bergerac, Saussignac AC (24 Dordogne, Aquitaine) – Sean and Caroline Feely (the Irish couple running an organic vineyard also known as Wild Earth Vineyards)
Domaine de Fontenay – Cote Roannaise AC (42 Loire, Rhone-Alpes) – Simon and Isabelle Hawkins

Chateau Richard – Bergerac, Saussignac AC (24 Dordogne, Aquitaine) – Richard Doughty

Domaine de Merchien – Coteaux du Quercy and beer! (46 Lot, Midi-Pyrenees – David & Sarah Meakin

Clos d’Yvigne – Cotes de Bergeac, Saussignac AC (24 Dordogne, Aquitaine) – Patricia Atkinson

Chateau des Milles Anges – Premieres Cotes de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, Cadillac AC (33 Gironde, Aquitaine) – Heather van Ekris

Chateau Lezongars - Premieres Cotes de Bordeaux, Bordeaux AC (33 Gironde, Aquitaine) – Philip and Sarah Iles

Chateau Teyssier – Saint Emilion Grand Cru AC (33 Gironde, Aquitaine) – Jonathan and Lyn Maltus

Chateau de Sours – Bordeaux AC (33 Gironde, Aquitaine) – Esme & Sara Johnson

Domaine Gourdon – Cotes de Duras AC (47 Lot-et-Garonne, Aquitaine) – John Coulthard
Domaine du Grand Mayne – Cotes de Duras AC (47 Lot-et-Garonne, Aquitaine) – Andrew Gordon
Domaine de Begude – Limoux AC (11 Aude, Languedoc-Roussillon) – Catherine and James Kinglake
Domaine de Mourchon – Cotes du Rhone Seguret AC (84 Vaucluse, Provence) – Walter McKinley
Maison des Bulliats – Regnie AC Beaujolais (69 Rhone, Rhone-Alpes) – Fred and Helen Lockwood
Chateau Méaume – Bordeaux Superieure AC (33 Gironde, Aquitaine) – Alan and Sue Johnson-Hill

Domaine a Sauvageonne – Coteaux du Languedoc AC, Vin de Pays d’Oc (34 Herault, Languedoc – Roussillon) – Gavin Crisfield

Domaine Sainte Rose – Vin de Pays d’Oc (34 Herault, Languedoc-Roussillon) – Charles and Ruth Simpson

Chateau Bauduc - Bordeaux AC (33 Gironde, Aquitaine) – Gavin and Angela Quinney

Domaine Sainte Croix - Corbieres AC (11 Aude, Languedoc-Roussillon) – Jon & Elizabeth Bowen

Chateau Monplaisir – Bergerac AC (24 Dordogne, Aquitaine) – David and Helen Baxter

Chateau du Seuil  – Graves AC (33 Gironde, Aquitaine) – Sean and Nicola Allison

The Independent’s Simon Calder narrates an interesting and informative Podcast which you can download and take with you to the cosmopolitan city of Nice, an easy option with many budget airlines flying in from numerous UK airports – or take the TGV from London!

Beginning in the Promenade des Anglais, Simon Calder explores the Matisse Museum and admires the beautiful views of the hills of Provence. He also samples the region’s cuisine, trying traditional corn pancakes and dining at the luxurious Aphrodite restaurant, before tasting some locally produced wine.

The local wine is called Bellet AOC.The vineyards lie within the city limits in the hills above the town. Seldom seen in the UK, the whites are made from Rolle and some Chardonnay with Folle Noir for the reds with some Grenache and Cinsault. Rosé comes from Braquet and Cinsault. Yapp Brothers stock the Bellet AC wines of Domaine de la Source – the rosé 2007 being “a dry and fruity rosé with aromas of wild roses. On the palate, red berry flavours precede a clean, dry finish.”, whilst the 2007 Blanc is described as “An esoteric dry white wine with subtle hints of Provençal pine. The wine displays aromas of pear and wild flowers when young and quince and toasted almonds when it reaches maturity. The dry but fruity palate has balanced acidity and good fruit characteristics, preceding an alluring dry finish.”

Some Links:
Hi Hotel
Musée Matisse in Nice
Aphrodite Restaurant
Nice Official Tourist Office

It all started in Paris with the Velib’ Scheme – an amalgam of Velo (cycle) and Liberte (free), which has been a tremendous success.

Vélib’ is a Self Service “bike hire” system available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Multi pick up and drop off location allows you to pick up your bike from one service point and drop off to another.

You need to subscribe, but for visitors there are 1-day and 7-day subscriptions and after the first 30 minutes you pay by the half-hour – e.g. a 90-minute hire will cost just €3 and you can pick up and drop off your bike at any of the hundreds of self-service stations across the city.

The Velib’ scheme has been based on a similar scheme VeloV in Lyon (69 Rhone, Rhone-Alpes) France’s second city. The combination of these eco-friendly and fitness focussed schemes is now spreading throughout France:-
VeloCite in Mulhouse (68 Haut-Rhin, Alsace) and Besancon (25 Doubs, Franche-Comté)
Vhello in Aix-en-Provence (13 Bouches-du-Rhone, Provence)
Le Velo in Marseille (13 Bouches-du-Rhone, Provence)
Velo in Toulouse (34 Haut Garonne, Midi-Pyrenees)
Nantes (44 Loire-Atlantique, Val de Loire)
Rouen (76 Seine Maritime, Normandy)
Bordeaux (33 Gironde, Aquitaine)
Velostan in Nancy (54 Meurthe et Moselle, Lorraine)
Velo+ in Orleans (45 Loiret, Centre)
Velomagg in Montpellier (34 Herault, Languedoc-Roussillon)

This is clearly a popular scheme, mainly aimed at local residents but may also offer a different way of seeing some of France’s major cities from a different perspective. However, I would recommend choosing a city with good cycle lanes and paths – you do get the impression that traffic in many of France’s cities is not very forgiving with errant cyclists – so do not try cycling around the rond-point of the Arc de Triomphe in Paris!!

Inevitably there are some urban myths developing – such as the fact that there are always plenty of bikes at the bottom of the Butte de Montmartre, but none at the top – for obvious reasons. And you can get caught out in busy locations if you cannot find an empty slot in which to return your bike!

Buy at AllPosters.com

Information on domestic flights in France is not easy to come by, one reason being that Air France has such a dominant position in France and already have flights on most internal routes.
Plus the French market is not as competitive. The French Railway system between major cities is both fast and competitive, especially if starting from Paris.
I have only been able to uncover a couple of airlines which offer domestic flights in France:-
http://www.easyjet.com/ – Toulouse to Lyon, Paris, Nice to Paris; Lyon to Biarritz, Bordeaux; Biarritz to Paris

http://www.twinjet.net/
Toulouse (32 Haute-Garonne, Midi-Pyrenees) to Metz/Nancy, Mulhouse, Brest; Marseille to Metz/Nancy, Mulhouse; Paris - Perigueux, Cherbourg

http://www.airlinair.fr/ Brest,(29 Finistere, Brittany) Bordeaux (33 Gironde, Aquitaine), Agen (47 Lot-et-Garonne, Aquitaine), Lyon (69 Rhone, Rhone-Alpes), Poitiers (86 Vienne, Poitou-Charentes), Brive (19 Correze, Limousin) Beziers (34 Herault, Languedoc-Roussillon) etc

http://www.ryanair.com/ now also has links from Marseille (13 Bouches-du-Rhone, Provence) to Lille (59 Nord, Nord-Pas de Calais) and Brest (29 Finistere, Brittany)

You can try sites like http://www.expedia.fr/ but even a price comparison site like http://www.baisse-de-prix.com/voyages.php seems to offer little new – it looks like Air France have cornered the market with little opportunity for discounting.

But, on a longer journey to the Mediterranean coast and the Cote d’Azur? The dash between rail terminals in Paris (e.g. Gare du Nord to Gare de Lyon) can be a significant disincentive for the train and adds time on an already long journey.

Sheila took the journey from London to Antibes (06 Alpes-Maritimes, Provence) by Eurostar and TGV, and here are some of her observations:

We were advised to go 1st class as it was a long journey…. St. Pancras to Antibes, changing at Lille – definitely worth the extra for the wide comfortable seats. Toilets on both the Eurostar and the following TGV were disgusting – but fine on the return journey. Food on Eurostar was good and pleasantly served. The staff were very obliging and efficient. Food on the Lille/Antibes train was just from the buffet car and not at all interesting – just sandwiches and snacks.It seemed that most people brought their own and ate on the journey but, being French, they did this at lunch time – not grazing constantly as the British seem to do.
Even in 1st class the TGV was full, and people tend to anticipate their station and prepare (with huge cases and luggage) several minutes before arrival at the station. The train does not stop for very long.
The train is very fast, but very smooth – it is a long journey so very necessary to have reading matter, ipod, or whatever to pass the time – scenery in the North rather flat, but becoming more interesting as it progresses through to the South.
We were on the top deck on the way out and it was a single decker on the return journey, but not really any noticeable difference except when coming in to a station and people’s heads were below eye level, only the stairs made it more difficult to get the luggage ready by the door when preparing to leave the train.
Despite the horribly early start, I think I’d do the same again rather than the alternative flight from Heathrow.

For example mid-week in late May 2008 you can leave London St Pancras at 07.00 and arrive in Antibes at 17.27 (local time) – a journey time of 9h27m with a 1 hour wait in Lille (59 Nord Nord-Pas-de-Calais) (but no dash across town just a saunter across the platform!). Return fare is £189.00 (£349 First Class).