Chateaux?
It may be a bit of a cliché, but Garlic (ail) is almost an essential element of Franch life. Grown fairly widely in France, but especially in the southwest -…
B&B in the Chateau
The extraordinary professional cycle race the Tour de France and its accompanying circus and roadshow hit the roads of France in July 29 June - 21 July 2024 Exceptionally, because…
In deepest Gascony and in the foothills of the Pyrénées lies the idyllic landscape of Madiran, home to the original Malbec wines of the name.
For the 2 weeks in summer each year (from 14 July to 4 August 2024) the quiet Gascony village of Marciac (32 Gers, Occitanie) holds its annual Marciac Jazz Festival.…
The village of Saint Clar (32 Gers, Occitanie) holds an annual Saint Clar Garlic Festival 4 August 2022. Estivail (Summer garlic festival) with traditional market, tasting, music, workshop, games, and…
In the deepest south west of France lies the wine region of Madiran - renown for producing big red wines from the Tannat grape - and white wines under the…
As a fan of SW France, its wines and its food it is always good to have some of your favourite wines featured by an independent UK wine merchant -…
Part of our series featuring places for a short stay in the in France we visit the Gers, South West France (32 Gers, Occitanie) Le Weekend in...Eauze Where to stay?…
I suspect we all look for evidence to convince us that our bad habits are not so bad for us after all. I still quote numerous medical articles which "prove"…
Apparently there is a type of pain d'epices (spice cake, rather like gingerbread) made with honey which is designed to go with Foie Gras (Goose Liver)! So I learn from…
The two appellations of Madiran AC (red) and Pacherenc du Vic Bilh AC (white) were created in 1948, and the village of Madiran (65 Hautes-Pyrenees, Occitanie) will be celebrating with…
The Vignerons Independants (independent wine makers) of the Vins de Pays des Cotes de Gascogne hold their annual wine festival in the town of Eauze (32 Gers, Occitanie) on 18-19…
Jancis Robinson in the Financial Times (12 May 08) talks about the growing number of Brits who have followed their dream and bought a vineyard in France. It is hardly…
The extraordinarily rich musical traditions of this otherwise quiet and peaceful part of rural France kick off the season with the Festival of Bandas & Penas in the town of…
A personal favourite, Domaine Berthomieu is a small domaine (26 hectares) in the village of Viella (32 Gers, Midi-Pyrenees), in the north of the Madiran appellation. The domaine has been…
Jazz in Marciac, (32 Gers, Occitanie) This normally tranquil bastide town in deepest Gascony hosts a world-class Jazz festival during the first three weeks on August every year 22…
28-31 July 2022 - a Festival of Afro, Cuban, Salsa and Latin music and dance, in the middle of the otherwise sleepy département of Gers (32, Occitanie) - snazzy website…