The small south-west appellation of Madiran (64 Pyrénées-Atlantiques, Nouvelle Aquitaine) is home to the Tannat grape, producing rich, sometimes tannic red wines. This is a rural area - no large…
Ideally situated in the Languedoc town of Beziers(11, Aude, Occitanie) there is a stylish B&B (Chambres d’Hote) with 5 double bedrooms with en-suite facilities - Maison de l'Orb Beziers is…
At Lagrave (81 Tarn, Midi-Pyrenees) on the Gaillac wine estate of Chateau Touny-les-Roses you can stay either B&B (Chambres d'Hote) in an 18th Century chateau or self-catering cottage (Gite) on…
On the east of the Bordeaux Wine region, the Chateau de Claribès offers holiday accommodation on a vineyard. With views over the valley and vines, the newly renovated self catering holiday…
There are plenty of fine Chateaux around Bordeaux, but few of them offer B&B (Chambres d'Hote) accommodation, and even fewer are as impressive as the Chateau de la Rivière at…
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…
In the deep south of France, almost into Spain is Argeles-sur-Mer (66 Pyrenees-Orientales, Occitanie) - this is the home of Chateau Valmy which overlooks the town, the sea and the…
Entraygues-sur-Truyere In a favourite corner of France in the upper reaches of the Lot Valley is Entraygues-sur-Truyere (12 Aveyron, Midi-Pyrenees) - Le Petit Chou is a cute apartment in Entraygues…
The organic vineyard of Chateau Haut Garrigue in the village of Saussignac (24 Dordogne, Aquitaine) near Bergerac has it all - a wonderful situation overlooking the Dordogne valley; a self-contained…
At Saint Bauzille de Montmel (34 Herault, Languedoc) north east of Montpellier the Mas de Martin is a well-established vineyard (Coteaux du Languedoc AC) which also offers 2 Gites under…
The problem (and delight) of South West France is that there are so many areas to explore, and often renting a gite can be so delightful that getting out and…
The Spring Festival (Fete de Printemps) takes place in the medieval town of St Emilion (33 Gironde, Aquitaine), one of the best appellations for Bordeaux red wines. There is always…
One way to make the best of winter could be to head to the ski resort of Isola 2000 (06 Alpes-Maritimes, Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur) where they hold an annual snowball fight…
The riviera town of Menton (06 Alpes-Maritimes, Provence) celebrates the citrus fruits every winter, bring a zesty touch of colour and animation to the town. The theme this year is…
The weekend of 21-23 December 2013 there is the "Petit Marché du Gros Souper", (Christmas market) in St Remy-de-Provence (13 Bouches-du-Rhone, Provence) where you can find the traditional ingredients for…
The town of Cassis (13 Bouches-du-Rhone, Provence) celebrates the harvest of the AOC Olive Oil (Huile d'Olive) from Les Baux de Provence at l’Oustau Calendal on 15 and 16 December…
Down on the Mediterranean coast, Christmas looks to be a bit incongruous to a northerner, but at Cassis (13 Bouches-du-Rhone) they have a Christmas Market (Marché de Noel) from 13-16…
It all started in Paris with the Velib' Scheme - an amalgam of Velo (cycle) and Liberte (free), which has been a tremendous success. The latest we've come across is…
The third Thursday in November (19 November 2015)is the release date for the new vintage of Beaujolais Nouveau, nowadays the first date on which it can be sold. In earlier…
The annual auction of the wine of the Hospices de Beaune (21 Côte d'Or, Burgundy) takes place each November - which, whilst it may look like an opportunity for a…