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Flybe (www.flybe.com) has just announced a bundle of new routes for Summer 2006, including new destinations such as Angers (49 Maine-et-Loire, Val de Loire) and Avignon (84 Vaucluse, Provence) with more French destinations served from Birmingham, Leeds/Bradford, Norwich and Southampton. The choices for next summer to fly direct to your French holiday destination will be better than ever, and will pose the ferry companies with increased competition when you could (in many cases) fly-drive to your destination cheaper than the cost of a channel crossing - and without the additional cost, time and stress of driving so far. Maybe not so good for global warming, I daresay.

For more on Travel to and in France see www.frenchduck.co.uk

Keywords: France, Travel,Angers,Avignon, Bordeaux,Brest

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On 1 January 2006. Paris invites you to join in its “Grande Parade” on New Year’s Day - festive trumpets, cymbals, drums and majorettes - just what you need with a hangover from the night before!!

Come along to the district of Montmartre to admire, applaud and encourage all these talented performers, with musicians, bands, cheerleaders from the United States, Great Britain or Japan, a display of colourful costumes and decors and above all, a great atmosphere. The Grande Parade is also a golden opportunity for visitors to explore Montmartre’s countless treasures, including its typical winding streets, the Sacré Cœur and its artists…

The Parade commences at 2.30pm on New Year's Day from the junction of Rue Caulaincourt and Rue Lamarck and then winds itself up the last part of the hill of Montmartre giving performances at the foot of the steps that lead to the Sacre Couer before ending in Place du Tertre.

For more info see www.parisparade.com

See our France events Calendar at www.frenchduck.com/webcal

For more on French Events, Wine, Food & Travel see www.frenchduck.co.uk

Keywords: France,Paris,Event,Parade,Montmartre

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Wine Tasting Note: Domaine Clavel Les Catalognes, 2003, Coteaux du Languedoc, France.
Available from Oddbins for £6.49.
A blend of Grenache, Carignan and Syrah - which is just about Rhoney enough. The nose is a little bretty, mushrooms, undergrowth and shit mixed in with squishy black-fruits and some oriental spices. The palate is distinctive. Rough tannins coupled with fruit that has melded into a spicy, coffee-laced whole over the years. There is a touch of port-like richness initially, before the flavours evolve into an inky, blackberry finish. It needs food; with the pie it was fine mixing deliciously with the creamy potatoes and lamb base. Alcohol 13.5%.

Domaine Clavel is in Pic St Loup, just a stones throw from the Rhone area. They maintain a website. Sadly the English translation part of the site doesn't load, but translating part of it, it would seem that the wine offers "Great moment of table" and "assured laughter". While the site lists Grenache, Carignan and Syrah as the constituent grapes the Oddbins page adds Mourvedre, Muscat Petit Grians and Pinot Gris to the mix. I think they must have that wrong.

This note first appeared on Spittoon.

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I have long been a fan of Alsace wines, but they were always notoriously difficult to sell to the public - probably something to do with the Germanic bottle shape and names - undermining the fact that these are usually elegant dry white wines, a long way from their sweeter German cousins. The other issue has also been price - there is no real cheap entry wine in Alsace (excluding Edelzwicker which is not worth trying usually).

However, my predeliction was always for Riesling or exotic Gewurztraminer - avoiding the deadly dull Edelzwicker blend, and usually finding the Tokay Pinot Gris a bit thin and uninteresting. Hence my delight to find a superb Tokay Pinot Gris from Domaine Fleischer at the Lille Wine Fair. This has a good weighty mouth with lots of structure and length - and stands up well to a rich chicken in mushroom sauce. I did also enjoy their Riesling and a very good Crémant d'Alsace.

Alsace is one area where "Co-operatives" are usually very good, and quite dominant in the mid-range. But this should not be allowed to obscure the fact that there are many good independent growers such as the Fleischer family who take huge pride in the quality of their production,

The good news is that their wines are available in the UK through The Wine Collective - although I will not upset you or them by revealing the price I paid in Lille. But then by the time you add the ferry costs, fuel, a few nights hotel and the odd gourmet meal it did not end up so cheap - but nevertheless a bargain.

For more on France, French Wine, Food & Travel see www.frenchduck.co.uk

Keywords: France,Wine,Alsace,Lille,Riesling,Tokay,Pinot,Gris

Alsace is on the eastern border of France, with the wine producing region running south from Strasbourg along the banks of the Rhine down to Colmar.

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The big department store in Boulevard Haussman is richly decorated for Christmas (until 2 January 2006) by Jean-Charles de Castelbajac who created a Royal Christmas for the store with the store windows, the decorations for the famous giant tree and a collection of limited edition gifts. The store will have a castle-like feel to it: tear-drop chandeliers, velvet cushions, medallion chairs and fitting background music for the season. The store’s façade will be decorated in its traditional ‘luminous lace’ dressing by Valerio Festi with millions of multicoloured lights illuminating Haussmann Boulevard. Sounds like fun!

For more info see the Galeries Lafeyette website (in English!)

For more of France, French Wine, Food & Travel see www.frenchduck.co.uk

Keywords; France, Paris, Travel

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Beware of snow and ice in northern France this weekend - in the départements of Nord-Pas-de-Calais, Somme, Oise, Aisne, Ardennes, Marne.

For travel info see www.bison-fute.equipement.gouv.fr/, which gives info (in French) on French traffic conditions (roadworks, accidents,congestion) or www.meteo.fr for weather forecasts - also in French but with graphic symbols which are easy to translate.

For more on France, French Travel, Wine & Food see www.frenchduck.co,uk

Keywords: France, Travel

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LES FETES DE LA LUMIERE at ST RAPHAEL 83 Var, Provence) 17-31 December 2005 - Saint Raphaël on the Riviera is covered in illuminations and colours to celebrate the Festival of Light ,Parades and shows, bonfires and fireworks, sparking lights, music, everything you need for everyone to share in this festival see www.cote.azur.fr

For more French events see www.frenchduck.co.uk/WHATSON.htm

Keywords; France, Provence, St Raphael,events

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Ryanair www.ryanair.com has brought forward by a month the start of their new routes to Bergerac (24 Dordogne, Aquitaine) and Limoges (89 Haut-Vienne,Limousin) due to high bookings - so these routes now start on 8th and 9th of February 2006. Both destinations qualify as "the real France" in our book - and whilst Bergerac has wine, Limoges has porcelain!

For more on France, French Wine, Food and Travel see www.frenchduck.co.uk

Keywords: France,Travel,Bergerac,Limoges

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Now that has to be something - an ice rink (patinoire) on the first level of the Eiffel Tower - 57m above the ground within those famous girders, with the tower "all lit up" and in festive mood. Admittedly the rink is not huge, but they reckon 100 people can get on (or fall over) at any one time! They supply the skates (patins) - free as part of your entrance fee to the tower - 7 Dec 2005 - 1 Feb 2006 from 09.30 to 22.30 daily,

Also at the Eiffel Tower is an exhibition of photographs of the Tower taken by Robert Doisneau, whose moody, usually black and white or sepia photos of Paris capture a romantic, sometimes poignant view of the city and its people. 10 Nov 2005 - 1 Jan 2006.

For more info on France, French Wine, Food & Travel see www.frenchduck.co.uk

Keywords: France, Paris, Travel,Eiffel,Doisneau,Photography,Ice rink

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Rick Stein's recent travels in his "French Odyssey" series featured a canal barge trip from Bordeaux to Marseille (well, almost). The first half of the trip to Toulouse is technically along the "Canal Lateral à la Garonne", as the Canal du Midi runs east from Toulouse to the Etang du Thau on the Mediterranean coast near Sète via the outskirts of Carcassonne, Narbonne and Beziers. Amazingly construction was begun in the 17th Century, providing an important economic and strategic equivalent of a water motorway.It remains a viable waterway, albeit mainly for pleasure use these days.

The Canal is largely tree-lined and can offer a quiet wonderful sanctuary from the summer heat, as well as diverting you off the main autoroute or major N road. The canal takes you through wine country, the land of the Cathars, the heartland of French Rugby and a gastronomic paradise of duck and goose dishes, including the legendary Cassoulet. The scale of the engineering involved was recognised in 1997 when the canal was created as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

There is an interesting website at www.canalmidi.com/ written by an enthusiast, but with an English translation and with info and links to almost anything to do with the canal.

Canals in France are managed by Voies Navigables de France (VNF) - the French equivalent of the British Waterways Board or whatever it is called these days. Their website is at www.vnf.fr where you can find maps of the network which is quite extensive in NE France, Loire, Burgundy, Rhone, Provence and Languedoc.

For an entertaining read about a narrow boat journey from the UK to the Languedoc see "Narrow Dog to Carcassonne" by Terry Darlington

For more on France, French Wine, Food & Travel visit www.frenchduck.co.uk

Keywords: France, Travel,Canal,Midi,Canal du Midi,Toulouse, Narbonne, Beziers

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Patricia Atkinson has now published a follow-up to the very readable "A Ripening Sun" which traced her challenges and realities of buying a vineyard at Gageac et Rouillac near Bergerac (24 Dordogne, Aquitaine). An area I know well, she managed both to entertain and inform, and I learned much about the real work of running a vineyard, getting in the harvest and vinifying the wine. Yes there is the inevitable idioscyncratic cariacature of the French yokel, but some great insights into rural life in a French community. This second book continues the story as she settles into her 15th year in wine!
Her wines have won many plaudits, and she has a good website - CLICK HERE; you can also join her wine club get a guaranteed quantity of wine at a discount plus discounts on accommodation in Bergerac and an annual dinner in London - all designed to make you feel part of the enterprise.
You can save 30% on the book at Amazon UK

For more on France, French Wine, Food & Travel visit www.frenchduck.co.uk

Keywords: France,Bergerac,Wine,Yvigne

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From all the reports and vivid images of the last few weeks, you could be forgiven for thinking that France had descended into some anarchic nightmare, but I am delighted to report that in Lille (59 Nord, Nord-Pas-de-Calais) there was no sign of any problems - the city was its usual busy and vibrant self, gearing up for Christmas. Even though our SatNav brought us in through some of the southern "banlieus" there were no "voitures brulees" to be seen, and perversely the absence of any visible increased police or CRS riot squad presence was really quite reassuring.

So, Lille was hugely enjoyable with its great shopping, Vieux Lille (old town), Christmas Carousel, Vauban fort and of course the 9th Annual Wine Fair (18-21 November 2005) - "Salon des Vins des Vignerons Independants". This year more than 490 independent vignerons were showing their wines - from every region of France including Corsica, Calvados, and Maury. Equipped with a tasting glass and an inquisitive palate you can try (and buy) as many different wines as you wish, although stamina tends to be the limiting factor. You buy at vineyard door prices, and get to chat to the men and women who make it - wonderful! Increasing numbers of Brits seem to have found this event - and there are hordes of Belgians, Lille being only 10 miles or so from the Belgian border. And, whatever you think about the Belgians, they know their wine and food!

We found (or re-discovered) some great Alsace (Riesling, Tokay-Pinot-Gris and Cremant), some superb Jurancon, some interesting Cotes de Malepere, Bergerac and Cheverny - more on these on a later posting.

The whole thing moves to Paris for the even bigger Paris Wine Fair held at Paris Expo - Porte de Versailles from 24-28 November 2005!

For more on France, French Wine, Food and Travel see www.frenchduck.co.uk

Keywords: France, Lille, Wine,Vigneron,Independant

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Some interesting tips on living in France (and for visitors too) appear on the Telegraph online. Ten celebrity Francophiles tell how they made a second life across the Channel, and offer a few tips to anyone thinking of following in their footsteps. One recommendation is to use the local Bricolage (DIY) store rather than go for IKEA for furnishings; (we've certainly found some useful items at Castorama which you cannot get in the UK); find the local markets (we are building a comprehensive list at www.frenchduck.co.uk available soon) and sourcing building materials locally. Terence Conran, Carole Drinkwater and Ken Hom are amongst those featured - but somehow I think I would prefer to see some tips from other people who do not have the luxury of being able to commute to their country cottage at whim, and those who truly aspire to participate full-time in French life.

See http://www.telegraph.co.uk

For more on France, Wine,Food & Travel see www.frenchduck.co.uk

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The Costieres de Nimes (30 Gard, Languedoc) often gets overlooked, sitting as it (or they?) does (do) on the edge of the lower Rhone delta, adjacent to the Languedoc and with more than a hint of Provence in the air. Previously known as the Costieres du Gard, the reds are predominantly made from a typically Languedoc blend, but with Grenache (a Rhone varietal) gradually supplanting Carignan in the mix. The terroir is quite individual, combining the intensity of the sun and the white of the rounded stones (galets) which were washed down the Rhône in earilier times. It is the reds which are best (80% of the production), although I have tasted some good rosés and delightful whites from Macabeo, Clairette and Marsanne - remarkably fresh and bright given a hot climate.

Leon Stolarski has a new arrival of the wines of Chateau Bellefontaine at Beauvoisin (30 Gard, Languedoc) - the 2003 red and the heartier 2003 Grande Cuvée (boosted by the addition of Mourvedre) sounds superb - "A nose of dark cherries in eau de vie. Light-to-medium bodied, with flavours of cherries, forest fruits, strawberries and cream, and a hint of herby garrigue and spice, with good balance and gentle tannins."

In my book they tend to be more interesting than most Languedoc wines (there are obviously some exceptions to that rule) and a touch softer than full-blooded Southern Rhônes - well worth a try.

For more on these wines visit Leon Stolarski Wines - Chateau Bellefontaine also has a website at www.chateau-bellefontaine.fr

For more on France, French Wine, Food and Travel visit www.frenchduck.co.uk

Keywords: France, Wine, Nimes, Costieres,Gard,Languedoc, Bellefontaine

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Carpentras (84 Vaucluse, Provence) 25th-27th November 2005 sees the 480th edition of this annual festival which dates from the Middle Ages, when the town is turned over to a massive fair/festival/market including agriculture, crafts, truffle market, horse market, vineyard market and flea market.- see http://www.ville-carpentras.fr/english/

For more on France, French Wine, Food and Travel see www.frenchduck.co.uk

Keywords: France, Events, Carpentras, Provence

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Cahors has always been one of our favourites, and Chateau de Mercues from Georges Vigouroux is one of the best - so much so that I included the 2001 in a recent tasting of my selection of 6 of the best wines from South West France.
The wine is a blend of 80% Auxerrois (Malbec) with 15%Merlot and 4%Tannat and is a Cahors in the best tradtional style - typically rich and plummy with hints of chocolate and tobacco.

Majestic Wine Warehouses (www.majestic.co.uk) is currently selling the 1989 for just £4.99 a bottle. 1989 was a good vintage and well-made Cahors certainly has the ageing potential to go up to 20 years, so I reckon that must be worth a try.

For other good Cahors wines from Georges Vigouroux see Advintage Wines

For more on France, French Wine, Food & Travel see www.frenchduck.co.uk

Keywords: France, wine,Cahors, Malbec, Mercues

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The old E111 form which provided evidence of entitlement to access the public health systems in Europe and Switzerland is being replaced with a new EUROPEAN HEALTH INSURANCE CARD (EHIC). The size of a credit card this will be easier to carry and produce as required to access health care in the EU with a similar entitlement to residents of the country concerned - and in most cases this is reduced cost or free. As the card is free, there is no good reason for travelling EU citizens not to carry one in the event of an accident or some form of medical emergency whilst in another EU state.
It does not replace the need for other insurance cover - i.e it will not cover repatriation or other expenses which may be incurred, and some insurance policies may restrict their cover within the EU assuming that you have the card, and hence free or cheap access to health care - check your policy.

In France

Visitors must pay for treatment and then apply for a refund of part of the costs from the CPAM - Local Sickness Insurance Offices (Caisse Primaire d'Assurance-Maladie).. Ensure that the doctor or dentist you consult is conventionné, that is, they work within the French health system. After treatment, obtain a signed statement of the treatment given (feuille de soins); you cannot claim a refund without it. You will be charged for the treatment you receive, as well as for any prescribed medicines, and the amount(s) should be shown on the feuille. When getting prescribed medicines, the pharmacist will hand you back your prescription and you should attach it to the feuille in order to claim a refund. Medicine containers also carry detachable labels (vignettes), showing the name and price of the contents. Stick these in the appropriate place on the feuille, and sign and date the form at the end. Around 70% of standard doctors' and dentists' fees are refunded, and between 35% and 65% of the cost of most, but not all, prescribed medicines.If you are treated in an approved hospital, the CPAM will pay 75% or more of the cost direct to the hospital. You pay the balance. You must also pay a fixed daily hospital charge (forfait journalier). The 25% balance and the forfait journalier are non-refundable.

Countries covered include all the EU countries plus Iceland, Malta and Switzerland - but not Northern Cyprus.

The card relates to one individual, not a family - but you can apply online - it's free and you need name, date of birth and National Insurance number.

For more info see http://www.dh.gov.uk/

For more on France, French Wine, Food & Travel see www.frenchducck.co.uk

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The Avignon Tourist Office (84 Vaucluse, Provence) has devised a splendid way to pass a winter Sunday morning, combining wine, cheese and spiritual uplift! Every Sunday morning until 26 February 2006 you can enjoy a guided visit to the Petit Palais of the Popes, including a viewing of the frescos in the Pope's bedroon - to be followed by a tutored wine, bread and cheese tasting - wine and the divine - sublime! You will need to book, and there is a charge of €25, which sounds well worth it! Sounds like a great winter weekend break - fly to Nimes, TGV direct to Avignon?

See www.frenchduck.co.uk for more info.

The wines, cheeses and breads are as follows:-

Châteauneuf-du Pape blanc 2004, Maison Brotte
Picodon ½ sec & Pain au sésame

Côtes du Rhône Rasteau Villages,
Cave de Rasteau «Prestige» 2001
Comté & Pain Céréales

Châteauneuf du Pape rouge 2003,
Domaine de La présidente «Grand Classique»
Brie de Meaux & Pain au levain

Muscat de Beaumes de Venise (dessert wine)
Domaine de la Pigeade 2004
Roquefort & Pain vigneron aux noix et raisins secs

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Remember next Thursday (17 November) is Beaujolais Nouveau day and the following is an assessment of the harvest from the Beaujolais producers - it will be interesting to see if it lives up to the hype!

Exceptional is not too complimentary a word for the coming 2005 vintage, the first grapes for which were picked on 5th September 2005. Everything has come together to make the 2005 vintage a success: - Ideal weather with maximum sunshine, cool nights and enough water to allow the grapes to ripen well. - A harvest smaller than the authorised appellation yields is a condition for excellent concentration. - The health and ripeness of the grapes was perfect giving exceptional quality. - Remarkable balance between acidity and a natural wealth in sugar. All the winemakers have to do now is to transform this potential into nectar...

Michel Bosse Platière, Inter Beaujolais President

For more on French Wine, Food & Travel see www.frenchduck.co.uk

For a good UK stockist see Nick Dobson Wines

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Families of the Vine by Michael Sanders - a follow-up to his fascinating "From Here you can't see Paris" this burrows deeply into the wine culture of Cahors in South West France, with an intimate exploration of three wine-making families in the region, including Clos Triguedena. The trials of climate, the difficult (but potentially wonderful) Malbec grape and the family issues are interwoven to give a unique insight into the realities of a life in wine production and living in rural Southwest France. For more info on this book CLICK HERE

For more on French Wines, Travel, Food etc see www.frenchduck.co.uk

Keywords: France, Cahors, Wine,South West

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Tempting offer from the excruciatingly named www.ferrycheap.com:-
Get away before Christmas : Travel from Dover to Calais with P&O Ferries with a car and four passengers and choose to stay in one of two hotels for only £39 per person!
This price includes 24hr return travel and accommodation on a bed and continental breakfast basis - offer is valid until Dec 31st, See www.ferrycheap.com

For more on France, French Wine, Food and Travel see www.frenchduck.co.uk

Keywords: France, Travel, Ferry, Calais

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Hoverspeed has closed its Dover-Calais hovercraft route - economics prevail - plus winter crossings were always prone to cancellation if the Channel was rough.

However, there are some good offers available on www.raileurope.co.uk with tickets on TGV to a large number of destinations for just £15.00!! - But hurry, this is a limited offer and tickets are going fast, but I was able to find a ticket from London to Avignon TGV for £15.00 - and no booking fee or airport taxes - you can't beat that!

And Transeuropa has some good deals for bookngs before 31.1.06 on its Ramsgate - Ostend service.

For more on travel to and within France see www.frenchduck.co.uk

Keywords: France, Travel, Train, TGV,Ferry,hover

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2006 is going to be a great year for the town of Cahors (46 Lot,Midi-Pyrenees) - as it sees the 700th Anniversary of the medieval fortified bridge (Pont Valentré) which is one of its main attractions. There will doubtless be many festivities to mark the ocassion, and we'll post the details as we get them.
On a more mundane, but practical note, there is a new free Park-and-Ride service (Navette) from the south side of the river (Chartreux) to the town centre, which should ease some of the parking difficulties in the town.
And Cahors is now recognised as "une Ville d'Art et d'Historie" by the French Government, one of 130 sites across France recognised for the importance and quality of their heritage. The town is also active in protecting and restoring much of this heritage, by restricting traffic and encouraging restoration without turning the place into a theme park. As with so many towns like this, although the obvious attractions of the main boulevard, market, Catherdral and the river are delighful, a bit of exploration on foot will yield some of the more interesting gems and snickleways in the heart of the medieval town.

For more on France, Travel, Wine & Food see www.frenchduck.co.uk

Keywords: France, Lot, Cahors

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Eurostar has announced its winter timetable for trains direct from London to the Alps for Winter 2006 - on Saturdays there are 3 direct destinations - Bourg St Maurice,la Plagne,Moustiers - e.g. £190 London Waterloo - Bourg St Maurice in just 7½ hours. There are plenty of other destinations on offer but these involve a change of trains in Lille or Paris. See www.eurostar.com.

For more on France, Travel, Food and Wine see www.frenchduck.co.uk

Keywords: France, Travel,Alps,Train

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Montbeliard (25 Doubs, Franche-Comté) holds its annual Christmas Festival of Lights with a Christmas market, craft fair and all sorts of other seasonal festivites 26th November - 24th December 2005 - see www.frenchduck.co.uk

Keywords: France, Christmas,Noel,Montbeliard,Doubs

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An interesting piece on the conflict between "New" and "Old World" approaches to wine-making, which gives an example of the vineyards of Les Baux de Provence (13, Bouches-du-Rhône,Provence)

"small is beautiful’. ‘We may be small,’ admit the Baux growers, who have an AC for their olive oil too, ‘but we have no intention of being lost in the mass. Our only chance is to set ourselves apart: by our vines, but also by our growing methods, by taking care of our land and promoting it. Without forgetting our history, which goes back to the Romans. And Provencal cooking.’ You can see that here, just as in Val d’Aosta, Jurançon, Pantelleria, Catalonia, on Lac Leman, the terraces of the Cinque Terre, in the vineyards of Montrachet and the crag of Hermitage, being different means having greater opportunities. And what is making the difference in this case is something intensely physical.

For more stuff on France, French Wine, Food and Travel visit www.frenchduck.co.uk

Keywords:France,Wine, Baux,Provence,Mas Sainte Berthe

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Joanne Harris' recipe from the South West of France is on the Independent's website - a hearty dish of potatoes, cabbage and Camembert!

For more on French Food, Wine & Travel see www.frenchduck.co.uk

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Scribbling Andy at www.spittoon.biz has unearthed a rare Pinot Gris in the heart of Muscadet country on the western end of the Loire Valley. Pinot Gris is generally only grown in Alsace in France (also at Pinot Grigio in NE Italy). The Vin de Pays des Marches de Bretagne is a small appellation just to the south and east of Nantes, along the valley of the Sevre Nantaise. "Marches" refers to border country - this being the border between Brittany, Poitou and Charentes.

See his review at www.spittoon.biz

For more on French wines, food & travel see www.frenchduck.co.uk

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SNCF unions are threatening another 1 day strike on Monday 21 November 2005 to protest at the Government's plans to sell off all or part of the state-owned Railway company.

Just as an aside, I came across the latest version of the SNCF logo, which fashionably does nothing to communicate the nature of the business - just another multinational with a fancy bland logo - no obvious connection with the business of railways. Like the old British Railways logo , at least some of the earlier versions implied some connection to rail or movement - and personally I like the original best with the intertwined letters of SNCF wich stands for "Société Nationale des Chemins de Fer Francais" - at least it was artistic and had references to wheels/tracks.

For more info on travel to and in France see www.frenchduck.co.uk

Keywords:France,Travel,Rail,SNCF

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We have 2 pairs of tickets to give away for the independent Wine Maker's Fair in Lille between 18th and 21st November 2005. More than 490 winemakers will be there from all regions of France, so you can taste a huge range of different wines for free!

All you need to do is to email us at lille@frenchduck.co.uk with Lille in the subject line plus your name and postal address. The first 2 drawn out of the hat on Sunday 13 November will get a pair of tickets each. Bonne chance!

For more info on French events see www.frenchduck.co.uk

Keywords: France, wine,events,Lille,Vignerons Independents

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ARMAGNAC FESTIVAL - various dates including a Night Ramble with flaming torches through the vineyards of Montreal (32 Gers, Midi-Pyrenees) on Sat 19 November 2005 with a local market and other festivities in the town on Sunday 20 November 2005; ceremonial firing of the Armagnac still("alambic") and musical procession through the town of Montesquieu (32 Gers, Midi-Pyrenees) on 12 November 2005, Christmas Market in Marciac on 18 December 2005

For more info on this and other events in France and info on French Wine, Food & Travel see www.frenchduck.co.uk

Keywords: France, Armagnac,Gers,Montreal,Montesquieu,Marciac

Posted by frenchduck at 6:14 AM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

Our French event listings are now viewable in a new Calendar view which you can filter to see different event types - e.g. wine events, Christmas markets, sports, public holidays, UK-based events and other festivals and festivities of note. If you know of an event which is not listed then let us know.

See www.frenchduck.com/webcal/

Posted by frenchduck at 9:12 AM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

PUY-EN-VELAY BALLOON FESTIVAL (43 Haut-Loire, Auvergne) 11th-13th November 2005 - over the Armistice Day Weekend - 40 or so balloonists from around the world do their thing in the volcanic region of the Auvergne - already 600m above sea level, the surrounding peaks apparently make for interesting air flows for lift - should be quite a sight if the weather is fine! In French a hot air balloon is called a "Montgolfier" after the brothers who claim to have invented it!
- see www.ot-lepuyenvelay.fr

For more French events see www.frenchduck.co.uk

Keywords: France,balloon,Puy,Auvergne

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That august journal the Hampstead and Highgate Express concludes that the South West of France is best for exciting French wines - Liz Sagues reports that from a recent wine critics' tasting reports that the "southwestern wines, followed closely by some from the Languedoc and southern Rhône, were way the most interesting, featuring grape varieties and terroirs which deserve far wider distribution and popularity". Cannot disagree with that!

For more details see her article
For more info on France and French wines see www.frenchduck.co.uk

Keywords: France, Wine, Southwest,Madiran

Posted by frenchduck at 7:56 AM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

The largest military castle in Europe is at Sedan (08 Ardennes, Champagne-Ardennes) on the strategically important eastern frontier of France - and it now includes a 53-room 3 star hotel and restaurant (Hôtellerie Le Château Fort - see www.hotelfp-sedan.com. It is an imposing medieval structure built on a rocky promontory and boasted a complement of 4,000 soldiers in its heyday!. It consists of seven floors, four of which are underground!! The accommodation looks rather more luxurious than that endured by those 4000 soldiers!

The chateau itself is classified as an Historical Monument and is open to the public - see www.tourisme-sedan.fr for opening times.

(PS I had thought that Carcassonne (11 Aude,Languedoc) qualified as the largest Castle in Europe, but technically it is a fortified city rather than a castle!)

For more recommendations on where to stay in France see www.frenchduck.co.uk

Keywords: France,hotels,Champagne,Sedan,Ardennes

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