http://frenchduck.com/latest Latest updates on France, French Wine, Food, Travel, Holidays and Events Fri, 05 Dec 2008 05:18:03 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en Boulogne-sur-Mer Christmas Market takes place on the weekend of 13 - 14 December 2008 - and is held in the attractive surroundings of the old walled upper town - a more atmospheric option than the more functional modern lower town centre. especially as it becomes a traffic-free zone for the ... http://frenchduck.com/latest/archives/2008/12/christmas-markets-at-boulogne-sur-mer-and-calais.html It was in the hot days of late June that we had the chance to call in on Caroline and Sean Feely at Chateau Haut Garrigue in Bergerac (24, Dordogne, Aquitaine), a warm and welcome memory on cold miserable winter days. An unlikely combination of Ireland, South Africa and rural ... http://frenchduck.com/latest/archives/2008/12/wild-and-organic-in-bergerac.html The northern French town Béthune (62 Pas de Calais) takes on a decidedly Festive atmosphere from 29 November to 28 December 2008 when it becomes La Cité Noel (Christmas Town). Another city with a Grand Place in which to stage the Christmas Market and other festivities such as the skating rink, ... http://frenchduck.com/latest/archives/2008/12/father-christmas-sings-the-blues-in-bethune.html Besançon Christmas Market (Doubs, Franche Comte) runs from 28 Nov - 24 Dec 2008. Besancon the capital of Franche-Comté, has just been declared as a Unesco World Heritage site. Fortified by Vauban, it has been recognised for its outstanding universal value by the World Heritage Committee. The town's Christmas Market offers carol singing, arts ... http://frenchduck.com/latest/archives/2008/11/besancons-christmas-market.html North Berwick-based French specialists Devigne Wines and Confit Direct have some interesting Christmas offers on Champagne and some lesser-known French Sparkling wines such as Cremants from Burgundy (Cremant de Bourgogne Chardonnay), Jura (Cremant de Jura Rosé made from the Poulsard grape), Gaillac in SW France (Mauzac and Len de l'El ... http://frenchduck.com/latest/archives/2008/11/christmas-sparklers-from-confit-direct.html Arras Christmas Market (Pas-de-Calais) runs 27 Nov to 24 Dec 2008 Arras, with its impressive squares (places), holds a spectacular Christmas market on the Grand Place. This market has ... http://frenchduck.com/latest/archives/2008/11/french-christmas-market-in-arras.html Sad to report that SpeedFerries service from Dover to Boulogne has now closed, as the Administrators have not managed to sell the business as a going concern. All future sailings are cancelled, and your best hope for a refund of pre-booked tickets or vouchers is likely to be through the ... http://frenchduck.com/latest/archives/2008/11/speedferries-sunk-by-the-credit-crunch.html Amiens Christmas Market (80 Somme, Picardie) runs from 29 Nov - 27 Dec 2008 Said to be the biggest and greatest Christmas market in Northern France, Amiens town centre is converted into a festive Christmas scene. Look our for stalls offering local eel, shrimp, duck and trout, as well as ... http://frenchduck.com/latest/archives/2008/11/amiens-christmas-market-and-cathedral-in-lights.html Dijon is famed for its mustard (Moutarde de Dijon) and hence it comes as a shock to hear that the company Maille is closing its mustard factory in Dijon (21 Cote d'Or, Burgundy). Whilst that is sad for the 300 or so workers, it does transpire that in any case most ... http://frenchduck.com/latest/archives/2008/11/dijon-without-the-mustard.html UPDATE: The boat Speed One has been released by the French authorities and can return to the UK, which should make it easier for the Administrators to sell the company, hopefully as a going concern. A further statement is expected on 26 November 2008,   According to the Speedferries website the ferry ... http://frenchduck.com/latest/archives/2008/11/speedferries-latest-company-in-administration.html The recent news that Speedferries' fast ferry service between Dover and Boulogne has been suspended has caused much consternation amongst travellers to France. One of the unique features of the Speedferries offer was opportunity to purchase books of up to 10 open tickets in advance at highly discounted prices, and ... http://frenchduck.com/latest/archives/2008/11/the-speedferries-saga-continues.html I can understand the attraction of fishing, but have never dabbled, always arguing that I do not have enough time to indulge in an activity which is so quintissentially time-consuming. Like all the best leisure pursuits, I suspect fishing enables you to escape into another world which is virtually timeless ... http://frenchduck.com/latest/archives/2008/11/fishing-at-a-french-chateau.html Amanda Lawrence's new bookWhite Stone, Black Wine: focuses on part of deepest South West France, and although subtitled " Life Among the Ancient Vineyards of the Quercy Blanc" it is about so much more than wine, as important as this is. Quercy is the ancient name for an area which ... http://frenchduck.com/latest/archives/2008/11/exploring-the-white-quercy-in-south-west-france.html Speedferries one and only vessel, SpeedOne, was impounded by the French authorities on 7 November 2008 in a dispute between the company and the Port of Boulogne. According to the SpeedFerries website: Yesterday afternoon, shortly after 17:00 UK time, the Port authorities of Boulogne arrested SpeedFerries’ SpeedOne during its turnaround. The ... http://frenchduck.com/latest/archives/2008/11/speedferries-dover-boulogne-services-suspended.html [caption id="attachment_1282" align="alignright" width="350" caption="Domaine le Fort"][/caption] For the first time this November there will be a French Wine Growers Fair in London (21-23 November 2008 at the Barbican). The Salons des Vignerons Independents (Independent Winemakers Fairs) are well established in France and we usually try to get to one of ... http://frenchduck.com/latest/archives/2008/11/france-comes-to-london-french-wine-growers-fair.html [caption id="attachment_1278" align="alignright" width="150" caption="FrogBus logo"][/caption] FrogBus is a bus service which links Perpignan (66 Pyrenees Orientales, Languedoc-Roussillon) with Girona Airport in Spain - a destination for many budget flights - and hence offers a practical alternative to other routes to this part of the Languedoc-Roussillon, whether it be for sun, ... http://frenchduck.com/latest/archives/2008/10/take-the-frogbus-to-perpignan.html [caption id="attachment_1272" align="alignright" width="150" caption="Christmas Market, Place du Capitoul, Toulouse"][/caption] As part of the city's End of Year celebrations, Toulouse (31 Haut-Garonne, Midi-Pyrenees) holds its 9th Christmas Market (Marché de Noel) from 5 - 28 December 2008. Over 100 Alsatian-style wooden chalets are erected in the Place du Capitole as ... http://frenchduck.com/latest/archives/2008/10/toulouse-christmas-market-2008.html The town of Laon (02 Aisne, Picardie) is always an impressive sight, situated on the rocky promontory overlooking the plains of Picardy and Champagne, with the 12th Century Cathedral of Notre Dame as its focal point - a landmark on the otherwise rather uninspiring autoroute A26 from Calais to Reims. [caption ... http://frenchduck.com/latest/archives/2008/10/christmas-markets-in-picardy-2008.html 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. [caption id="attachment_1239" align="alignright" width="150" caption="Tour de France 2009"][/caption] With lots of razzamataz, commercial sponsorship, scandal and sporting achievement, it is a spectacle ... http://frenchduck.com/latest/archives/2008/10/cyclings-tour-de-france-2009.html An autumn Sunday afternoon in the depths of the Yonne departement (89 Burgundy) following the route of the Canal du Nivernais south from Auxerre towards Clamecy (58 Nievre) – a quiet, peaceful landscape where life follows a gentle pace. But, what is this? Not one, but two trains within an ... http://frenchduck.com/latest/archives/2008/10/making-tracks-in-the-yonne.html [caption id="attachment_1224" align="alignright" width="150" caption="SpeedFerries terminal in Boulogne"][/caption] SpeedFerries has had a major impact on cross-channel ferry ticket prices with aggressive pricing on their Dover to Boulogne fast ferry service - when in many ways some of us might be prepared to pay more for a faster cross-channel service (just 50 ... http://frenchduck.com/latest/archives/2008/10/speed-ferry-to-boulogne-in-2009.html If you are a fan of the pungent Truffle then Lalbenque (46 Lot, Midi-Pyrenees) south of Cahors in the heart of the Quercy Blanc is the place to head for in the winter months. Starting on the first Tuesday of December and on every Tuesday until mid-March the truffle market ... http://frenchduck.com/latest/archives/2008/10/lalbenques-truffle-market.html [caption id="attachment_1215" align="alignright" width="150" caption="Lauroux vineyards in the Gers in winter"][/caption] Nick and Karen Kitchener will be in London exhibiting their wines (Cotes de Gascogne and Floc) and Armagnacs at The Wine Show to be held at the Business Design Centre, Islington on 23-26 October. (Stand C35-4 in the Wine Market ... http://frenchduck.com/latest/archives/2008/10/get-a-taste-of-armagnac-from-domaine-de-lauroux.html Brittany is so different from the rest of France, especially the departement of Finistere (29 Bretagne) which stretches to the “end of the world” and the most westerly points of mainlaind France. It includes the most pleasant port of entry by sea into France at Roscoff on Brittany’s north ... http://frenchduck.com/latest/archives/2008/09/roscoff-and-concarneau-a-tale-of-two-brittany-ports.html Conveniently situated a kilometre or so off the main RN10 route (heading for Bordeaux, Aquitaine and the Basque country) near Limalonges (79 Deux Sevres, Poitou-Charentes) is an English run Chambres d'Hote run by Josie and Dave Duffield. Situated in the heart of Poitou Charentes (roughly mid-way between Poitiers and Angouleme) bordering ... http://frenchduck.com/latest/archives/2008/09/the-farmhouse-bb-in-poitou-charentes.html Another major French spectacle takes place on 12 October 2008 with the annual professional cycle race from Paris to Tours in the Loire Valley. Starting on the outskirts of the capital the route extends over 250km (over 160 miles) and takes about 5-6 hours before arriving in the city ... http://frenchduck.com/latest/archives/2008/09/paris-tours-cycle-race.html Register online before 30 November 2008 and you can get free tickets for the 2009 France Show (previously known as Vive la France) which runs from 9-11 January 2009 at London's Earls Court and is the UK's biggest France exhibition. MORE travel ideas to explore MORE French cuisine, including Jean-Christophe Novelli's bistro MORE ... http://frenchduck.com/latest/archives/2008/09/free-tickets-for-the-2009-france-show.html The Discovery of France by Graham Robb has proved to be a fascinating book on the history not so much of France as of the peoples of France. The book tries to make sense of the many contradictions and facets of France as we experience it as fellow citizens of ... http://frenchduck.com/latest/archives/2008/09/discovering-france-and-the-french.html France always seems to be a little schizophrenic about new technology - rather backward and bureaucratic in some areas, yet at the cutting edge in others. France invented and rolled out Minitel nationally many years ago which was a pre-cursor to the web and an impressive technology, but sadly overtaken ... http://frenchduck.com/latest/archives/2008/09/internet-access-when-touring-france.html Green and Blue, winners of Decanter’s Small Independent Wine Merchant of the Year Award 2008 stock two wines which are seldom seen in the UK - Entraygues et du Fel AC and Marcillac AC. These wines are really from deepest Southwest France coming from the upper Lot Valley and the Aveyron   2005 Laurent Mousset ... http://frenchduck.com/latest/archives/2008/09/entraygues-du-fel-and-marcillac-wines-from-uk-award-winner.html