“You must go to Oradour.”

The advice came from a friend as I talked about a forthcoming vacation to France.

The ultimate destination was the Dordogne where a cosy gite was waiting for an extended stay. En route we had decided to lay up for a couple of days a few miles north of Limoges.

That’s when Oradour entered the conversation.

Regular driving holidays to France had inevitably brought us into contact with the world wars; the Normandy beaches, immaculately kept cemeteries across the north, to Cambrai, where tanks rolled into battle for the first time (maybe my grandfather had been stationed somewhere near here, I remember thinking) and poignant small town tributes to sacrifice and courage.

But I had never heard of Oradour-sur-Glane. As it turned out, no amount of pre-research could ever have prepared me for the actual visit.

Here, once, was rural France at its most charming, a typical Limousin market town with a population a little over 700 at ease with itself and its way of life. It’s a peculiarly French attitude to living that I admire immensely.

At Oradour-sur-Glane the clocks stopped forever on June 10th 1944.

Today you get to Oradour through a showpiece visitor centre and a short walk that winds past vivid and haunting interpretation boards. A flight of steps leads up to the village where time has stood still since that fateful day in June.

The enormity of what took place at Oradour settles on you like a weight as you walk around its gently decaying streets and buildings; past the Town Hall, schools and around the village green, all drawing you to the Oradour memorial and a martyrs grave in the cemetery.

The obscenity that was Nazism and the madness of war are writ large at Oradour.

In all 642 men, women and children, were exterminated by SS  troops of the Das Reich Division who then went on to destroy the town. Their actions that day would become a perpetual stain on their humanity.

Of Oradour’s 247 children only one – eight-year-old Roger Godfrin – a refugee from Lorraine who had seen the Germans in action before, escaped death by hiding in a garden.

They, together with the women were herded into the church and set on fire. Alone among the 500 incarcerated, a Madame Rouffanche managed to climb to safety through a window. Her family, two daughters, a grandson, husband and son weren’t so fortunate.

It is said that you will never hear a bird singing in Oradour and I don’t remember hearing or even seeing one.

Silence is a constant companion as you take in the sheer horror of what took place and conversation is replaced by pointing; through a living room window where a rusting sewing machine leans against a wall and at burnt out cars that lie exactly where they where torched 68 years ago.

And the reason for the atrocity? Well it’s still anyone’s guess but we do know it happened four days after the D-Day landings and the French resistance were making life as difficult as possible for German troops redeploying to Normandy from other parts of France. The occupation forces wanted to make a point.

The SS troops at Oradour were also said to have been sent to search Oradour for weapons and, in the best traditions of the conspiracy theory, looking for gold bullion that had reputedly stolen from the Nazis.

The man in charge at Oradour, First Lieutenant Heinz Barth, was eventually brought to trial in 1983 and sentenced by an East German Court to life imprisonment. He had previously been tried in absentia by the French and sentenced to death. Barth was released in 1997 and died ten years later.

The Limousin region is a wonderful part of France and, with its fine city of Limoges, has much to recommend it.

But if you are visiting the Limoges region find time to go to Oradour.

Subtitled suspense thrillers have become a Saturday night favourite for British viewers.

The growing army, first hooked by Wallendar, are now being driven to the 9pm slot on BBC 4 by the delightful Sofie Grabol – better know to us as Detective Inspector Sarah Lund.

The conclusion of The Killing II last weekend came with a promise that a third series would be on its way in due course.

In the meantime the Danish tourism industry – not to mention the fashion business – has not been slow to capitalise on the the popular crime series.

So much so that Copenhagen based company ‘Peter and Ping’ now offers a dedicated walking tour based on the drama, taking visitors past Copenhagen sights featured in the series, while discussing the story line and its characters.

If you prefer doing your own following ‘in the footsteps of DI Lund’, VisitCopenhagen provides a list of main film locations on their website:(www.visitcopenhagen.com/see-and-do/the-killing)

Locations include the City Hall where Troels Hartmann was giving his all to beat Mayor Bremer in the election, as well as other key locations from the series.

Plenty of city shops stock the Gudrun & Gudrun Faroese sweaters that Sarah has made a must have fashion item.

Wonderful Copenhagen has plenty of other charms, too, including tempting aromas of food and drink be enjoyed from the many cosy bars and restaurants in the city.

Getting there…

SAS Scandinavian Airlines offers direct flights to Copenhagen from Aberdeen, Manchester, Birmingham and London Heathrow. Flight time is less than two hours. (www.flysas.co.uk) SAS Scandinavian Airlines also offers direct flights from Dublin. (www.flysas.ie)

For the independent traveller there’s also the option of taking a ferry from Newcastle to Amsterdam and then the prospect of a very pleasant drive by car through Holland to Denmark.

For all information on Copenhagen including accommodation: (www.visitcopenhagen.com)

In Tunisia the talk is of new beginnings.

The newly elected assembly the Ennahda Party – ennahda means renaissance – is getting down to the business of leading a national coalition to a freer, democratic Tunisia.

The winds of change blowing from this country’s Arab Spring promise a soft landing for a vibrant tourism industry that is a key driver of the economy.  It accounts for 6.5% of GDP and is responsible for the livelihoods of getting on for half a million people.

And if turbulence has not quite given way to tranquility, Tunisia’s Minister for Commerce and Tourism, Mr Mehdi Houas has signalled ambitious plans to get Tunisian tourism back on track.

He has an established people-appeal portfolio working in his favour – and some things that have not changed.

Sunshine, mile on mile of unspoilt sandy Mediterranean beaches and good quality, value for money holidays have made Tunisia a popular choice for UK holiday makers.

But there is more, much more, to this North African country than a coastal strip of blue seas and guaranteed sunshine, as Mr Houas was keen to point out when he spoke at the World Travel Market in London recently.

Tunisia is super rich in terms of culture and heritage. Its outstanding landscapes provided the backdrop to blockbusters such as Star Wars, The Raiders of the Lost Ark and Monty Python’s Life of Brian.

All will be given more prominence as the country unfolds plans to attract more British tourists in 2012

“The atmosphere in Tunisia has changed since the revolution; we are now a free and democratic country and for the first time the Tunisian people are able to tell their own story. Visitors can now experience the culture first hand. This is a great opportunity for tourism.

“Tourism is one of our most important industries and the British market has bounced back quicker than any other. Our aim is to return to last year’s record-breaking visitor numbers by 2012, and we will do that by extending our appeal,” said Mr Houas.

Last year Tunisia welcomed 353,282 British visitors, up 28 per cent on 2009. Following the Jasmine Revolution tourist arrivals dropped by 35 per cent, but the country has seen steady growth in visitor numbers since the major carriers resumed flights in March.

If culture is to be king then the eternal fascination for all things Roman is certain to be at the heart of things, and here Tunisia holds a fistful of trump cards.

For sheer magnificence the ace in the pack has to be the amphitheatre of El Jem (above) built in the 3^rd century AD. It’s the third largest in the Roman world, capable of holding crowds of over 35,000 in its heyday, and arguably the best preserved.

Its famous features –  not to mention its original bloodthirsty function – were good enough to be reprised for some scenes in the film Gladiator.

Two smaller amphitheatres, not far from El Jem, confirm the importance this former Roman town of Thysdrus must have enjoyed at one time – and excite the imagination when you consider what secrets still lie hidden in the surrounding sandy landscapes.

Travel north to the capital Tunis and you arrive at the site of Carthage (top), founded in 814BC and the home of a civilization and trading empire that rivalled Rome for centuries. The Carthaginians had their moments during the Punic wars, which was fought on and off over 120 years, but it was Rome that emerged top dog. Carthage was razed to the ground in 146BC.

A few decades later Gaius Marius and Sulla made their reputations as Rome’s foremost military men, destroying Jugurtha’s uprising in Numidia – a kingdom that straddled modern day Algeria and Tunisia.

Evidence of Rome’s presence in this part of North Africa can be found at virtually every turn and the town of Thugga (now Dougga) is another ‘must visit’ location. It flourished under Roman rule and impressive ruins are still visible and well worth the trip.

Like El Jem and the ruins of Carthage, where extensive excavation work is ongoing, Dougga (left) is on Roman tourism’s A-list. All are UNESCO World Heritage Sites – and there are four more in Tunisia.

So, if culture can unlock a surge of new interest in Tunisia who would argue against those who want to make it happen. Any investment that makes such a rich and diverse past more accessible has to be welcomed.

For more information visit www.cometotunisia.co.uk

Suggested reading
The First Man of Rome – Colleen Mcullough
Salammbo – Gustave Flaubert

Jet2.com and sister company Jet2holidays are celebrating a trio of wins at two of the top award ceremonies in the travel industry calendar.

Jet2holidays led the awards haul after being voted Best Tour Operator to the Iberian Peninsula and Islands at the prestigious British Travel Awards. As the largest survey of public opinion on UK travel industry performance and the most anticipated awards in the travel industry calendar, the accolade recognises the package holiday specialists’ position as the leading British tour operator to that region.

Jet2holidays was also named Best Mainstream Short Haul Operator at the annual travel awards of the Scottish Passenger Agents’ Association, where Jet2.com was declared Best Low Cost Airline and runner up in the Best European Airline category.

Jet2.com received further national praise from readers of The Telegraph newspaper in its annual travel awards. The airline was unveiled as runner up in the Favourite Short-Haul Airline category, second only to British Airways.

Steve Heapy, Managing Director of Jet2holidays and Chief Commercial Officer of Jet2.com, said: “This latest flurry of awards is a reflection of our continued dedication to providing the best possible service to our customers who clearly enjoy our growing list of city, sun and ski destinations. The recognition from both customers and agents is hugely important to us and is a clear indication that we are getting it right across the board.

“Our friendly flight times from eight regional bases and generous 22kg baggage allowance as well as our ATOL protected holiday packages to suit all tastes and budgets are what set us apart from our competitors and help to keep us the airline and tour operator of choice for our loyal customers,” he said.

Top flight: L-R Managing Director of Jet2holidays and Chief Commercial Officer of Jet2.com, Steve Heapy and General Manager of trade sales, Alan Cross.

Are you a foodie? Mad on handicrafts? On a budget?

The UK’s leading short break provider Cresta has launched the new edition of its Christmas Markets and Winter Breaks brochure for 2011/12.

The guide is perfect for the indecisive – whether you want to shop till you drop or sample local fare, it will point you in the right direction.

And Christmas could come early with discounts and travel savings for customers who book early.

The selection of Christmas market destinations features Lille (November 24 – December 30) travelling in style on Eurostar from St Pancras, Finland Helsinki (December 7 – December 20),  Budapest (November 19 – December 29), Berlin (November 22 – December 31), Prague (November 27 – January 2).

More on 0844 879 8014 and at www.crestaholidays.co.uk or visit your nearest Thomas Cook or Going Places.

Irish website and online deal-of-the-day operation Dealsireland.ie could be a money-saving guide for anyone travelling to Ireland this summer.

It allows you to follow the daily deals and promises the best offers on hotel accommodation in Ireland, as well as leisure facilities, restaurants and beauty treatments. The deals are available for a 24 hour period and represent between 50% and 90% off the normal price.

Covering accommodation, travel, popular entertainment and beauty treatments, www.dealsireland.ie claims to give UK tourists the opportunity to see Ireland for half the price or even less. In addition, an extra €3 is added to the discount for recommending a friend.

The website, which has no subscription fee, is perfect for tourists seeking a taste of Irish culture whilst ensuring the best possible value for money.

Having launched with deals in the Dublin area www.dealsireland.ie plans to expanding into all major cities in the Republic of Ireland.

For more information visit www.dealsireland.ie

Brits are behaving less badly abroad.

New Foreign and Commonwealth Office data shoes that Britons arrested overseas has fallen by over 10%  and drug arrests have decreased by almost 20% over the past year.

Despite this positive trend, Foreign Office staff still handled 5,700 arrest cases last year with Spain and USA the top hot spots.

Drug arrests continue to be a significant problem for some countries, particularly parts of South America and the Caribbean where a high proportion of total arrests are drug related.

Minister for Europe, David Lidington, said: “We work hard to warn British nationals about the consequences of breaking the law abroad so it is really encouraging to see the overall number of cases of arrests and drug arrests falling.

“Prison conditions in some parts of the world can be very poor, overcrowded and, in some cases, dangerous. And sentences can be much tougher than in the UK.  People are mistaken if they think the Foreign Office can get you out of jail.  We can’t, but we will work hard to try and ensure your safety, and that you get a fair trial.”

New consumer research launched today by the Foreign Office reveals that 43%2 of 18-24 year olds know someone who has taken illegal drugs whilst abroad. It also showed that over two thirds (69%) of people in Britain don’t always find out about the laws of the country they are visiting before they go abroad – putting themselves at risk of unknowingly breaking the law.

More worryingly nearly a third (32%) of people are not aware that they will always be prosecuted under local law if they break the law abroad.

Aside from arrests, the British Behaviour Abroad report shows that the number of Brits hospitalised abroad has increased to 3,752 cases, despite fewer people from the UK travelling abroad last year.

Medical treatment abroad can be very expensive and to avoid being faced with large bills if taken ill or after having an accident, the Foreign Office is urging people to take out a comprehensive travel insurance policy before they go away this summer.  Previous research suggests that 15% of Britons travel abroad uninsured.

For details on how the Foreign Office can help if you get into trouble abroad, please visit www.fco.gov.uk/travel

The Foreign Office is encouraging people to sign up to Facebook and Twitter feeds to ensure they are informed of the latest travel advice: www.facebook.com/fcotravel or twitter.com/fcotravel

I can think of no better way to spend lazy summer days than cruising through the orchards and vineyards of the South of France.

And the gorgeous Dutch barge ‘Rosa’ looks to be just the ticket – immersing passengers in a world of picturesque villages, good food and fine wine.

The Rosa, operated by European Waterways, sails on the Canal de la Garonne through Gascony towards Bordeaux.

One of the company’s best, she has been part of the fleet for a number of years, and was loved by Celebrity Chef Rick Stein on his hugely successful BBC TV series ‘French Odyssey’.

Newly refurbished, Rosa now presents an exquisite wood panelled saloon, occupied by cosy seating and a bar. Passengers can relax on her deck, as they bask in the French sun and even enjoy her very own spa pool.

The varied itinerary offers passengers the very essence of Southern France. As they visit historic Montauban with its ancient abbeys, indulge in wine, armagnac and fois gras tasting the Rosa also traverses an impressive 1000 foot aqueduct.

There’s room for eight passengers on board, staying in one of four double cabins, each air conditioned and with en suite facilities and a party can charter the whole barge.

Rates for a cruise aboard ‘Rosa’ are from £2,250 per person sharing a double cabin and from £15,700 for an exclusive charter of the entire vessel for 8 passengers. This is all-inclusive (excluding travel).

Travel Notes
European Waterways is the largest all-inclusive hotel barging company in Europe, operating in France, Italy, England, Scotland, Ireland, Germany, Belgium & Luxembourg and offering 6-night/7-day cruises on its fleet of luxury hotel barges.

The hotel barges accommodate between 4 and 20 passengers and are ideal for people looking for either an individual cruise with other like-minded people, or for those wanting a whole barge charter for a family or group of friends.

All the vessels are fully crewed with a Captain, gourmet chef, hostess and tour guide, with a private air-conditioned mini-bus taking passengers on excursions. There are well-planned and interesting daily itineraries that give passengers the opportunity to visit cultural and historical places of interest, vineyards and markets in each region.

Rosa’s route in Gascony on Canal de la Garonne in Gascony is between Montauban and Agen – a junrey of 60km.

More at http://www.gobarging.com/rosa-standard-itinerary

Summer in London has never looked brighter with big savings on top attractions, courtesy of London’s top selling 2 for 1 Voucher and Guide Book from Take Two.

A combination of a tourist guide for London and money-off vouchers, the book gives buyers the opportunity to save up to £1100 when visiting many of London’s main attractions, enjoying good food or going to the theatre.

Take Two provides visitors with a cost effective way to make the most of their ‘London experience’.

Managing Director Sajid Parkar: “London is such an amazing multicultural city. We have really tried to capture its heart and soul in the variety of experiences we have selected. The Take Two Voucher and Guide Book will hopefully make a visit to London both pleasurable and memorable and at half the usual cost.”

The pocket sized Take Two book works as a unique London information guide. It’s packed with everyday essentials such as day planners, maps, useful tips and free places to visit. It’s also translated into three languages; French, Spanish and German.

The book costs £14.95 and is guaranteed to save money. Use just one of the vouchers on the main attractions in the book and the book will have paid for itself. All vouchers are valid until 31st August 2011, giving everyone plenty of time to enjoy their 2 for 1 experiences at leisure.

Take Two books has also created a number of videos introducing the places write about and offer 50% off entrance charges.

More at www.taketwobooks.com

Newcastle holidaymakers can now jet off to Toulouse for the first time thanks to leading leisure airline Jet2.com.

Jet2.com’s brand new direct weekly service will operate throughout the summer until Sunday 4th September 2011, with prices starting at just £29.99 one way including taxes.

Chris Sanders, Aviation Development Director at Newcastle International, said:  “We very much welcome this new route from Jet2.com as it makes access to Toulouse and other parts of southern France much, much easier.”

Toulouse, the capital of the Midi-Pyrénées, is known as La Ville Rose (The Pink City) because of its many elegant rose colour buildings, including the famous Place du Capitole.

It is a fantastic city to explore on foot with an abundance of street cafes to rest your feet and sample some of the tempting local cuisine.  The city is also a perfect base from which to visit some of the beautiful surrounding cities and towns of South West France including Carcassonne – the largest medieval fortress in Europe – and the famous Lourdes Sanctuary.

Fans of The Da Vinci code will enjoy a visit to the mysterious Rennes le Château – the centre of various conspiracy theories which were inspiration for the bestselling novel.

In addition the Toulouse flights open up a wonderful part of France for the fly-drive traveller and Jet2 expects the new service to be extremely popular route with travellers.

Customers keen to book a break to Toulouse will be able to try out Jet2.com’s new look booking process.  In an overhaul of its popular website it has launched inclusive pricing – with all taxes and charges now included from the outset so that customers can easily get a sense of their total costs up front.

Jet2.com recently announced the first phase of its ambitious growth plans at Newcastle Airport, with four brand new destinations taking off this summer – Alicante, Faro, Krakow and Prague – the launch of New York shopping breaks this Christmas, the announcement of 47 new jobs and an additional  aircraft to be based at the airport.

For more information or to book flights go to www.Jet2.com.