Situated north of Biarritz with long sweeping beaches and dunes, typical of the Landes departement, Capbreton offers a festival which is full of flowers, procession with floats, music and dancing.

For more info see www.capbreton-tourisme.com

“Les Voiles d’Antibes” – Vintage sailboat regattas: As the grand opening of the Mediterranean sailing season, around sixty of the world’s most beautiful sailing ships who have written the splendid history of international yachting since the end of the 19th century, will once again gather in Antibes. These nautical cathedrals (certain units featuring over 1,000 square meters of sails) will fill with joy the spectators, offering them a magnificent show while racing along the 24 km of Antibes’s coastline. A Sports’ events doubled with a four days fiesta and fun in the “Village des Voiles” as well as in the old city.

Whether as a spectator or participant thus promises to be a fun event in the elegant surroundings of Antibes between Nice and Cannes on the Côte d’Azur – beaches and museums (for Napoleon, Picassoand Absinthe amonst others). It is also home to an internationsal hJazz Festival (Jazz à Juan) in July. (12-21 July 2013)

There is also the Port Vauban, built by France’s greatest military architect. The old port was the heart of the ancient Greek city of Antipolis. It is now the largest yachting harbour in Europe,

For more information see www.voilesdantibes.com/

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Go by train from London to Nice?

The magical effect of coloured lighting on the façade of the cathedral, created by the
company Skertzò, provides visitors with an original experience of this impressive gothic cathedral.

The cathedral is a UNESCO World Heritage site -Amiens Cathedral, in the heart of Picardy, is one of the largest ‘classic’ Gothic churches of the 13th century. It is notable for the coherence of its plan, the beauty of its three-tier interior elevation and the particularly fine display of sculptures on the principal facade and in the south transept.

For more info about the Cathedral lighting

Amiens Tourism Office

In and around Cassel, in the Houtland district and on Mont Cassel itself, visitors have an opportunity to beat time and dance to the sound of the pipes. Musical instruments mart, folk dancing, free concerts and special folk dances.

The French for bagpipes is Cornemuse!, and thcey are often associated with Breton folk music, alt hough there may be different traditions in this northern corner of France.

For examples of Breton folk music look out for the group la Bottine Souriante, which although from Quebec they do feature French Folk music

For more info see gotofrancenow.com

The famous and pleasant town of Nuits-St-Georges is in the heart of Burgundy wine country.  Similar to the November Hospices de Beaune auction, this is an opportunity for local winemakers to raise money for charity, whilst also getting some markers on the potential prices for their wines. Open to the general public entry cost €10 for an engraved glass and opportunities to taste the wines from the 2012 harvest.

Make a weekend of it by visiting the  Festival of Chocolate, the  farmers’ and gourmet market and the  dog show and take part in the Half-Marathon.

Find hotels in Nuits-Saint-Georges, France

For more on the Auction

Every year the Spring Scallop Festival is held in one of three  west Brittany ports – the others being Erquy and Saint Quay Portrieux. This area regards itself as the “Capital of the Scallop”, with a vibrant fish market serviced by the local fishing boats – lobsters, scallops, spider crabs are usually available.

Abbaye de Beauport

North of Paimpol, the so-called Goëlo Coast is a must for lovers of the outdoors. Take the GR34 old customs officers’ path around the peninsula from the active fishing village of Loguivy-de-la-Mer to Pors-Even, taking in the magnificent views and historic town of Ploubazlanec.

This is far Brittany, a long way from the rest of France, its customs, language and culture.

Just south of Paimpol is the maritime abbey of Beauport, which is well worth a visit, and at the in Autumn the abbey hosts an Apple Festival (Fête de la Pomme) 7 October 2012

To the north of the port of Paimpol you can get a ferry for a trip to the Isle of Brehat.! (no vehicles)

For more info on the Spring Scallop Festival see www.cotesdarmor.com
Best rates for Hotels in Paimpol, France

Compiegne styles itself as an “Imperial Town” based on its connection with Napoleon and other French kings – the Chateau de Compiegne and the surrounding forests (for hunting) were a royal and imperial favourite – and conveniently lying just about 80km north of Paris.

The Chateau is worth visiting for its 3 museums  – The Historic Apartments, The Museum of the Second Empire, and the  National Museum of Cars & Tourisme (Musée National de la Voiture et du Tourisme), established in 1927!!

But of course, Compiegne has more recent claims to fame – the Armistice following the First World War was signed in a railway carriage in the forest of Compiegne – there is now an Armistice Museum which contains a replica of the Wagon-Lits Carriage where the Armistice was signed (and where in 1940 Hitler humiliated the French in return after the Fall of France).

The other claim to fame is that Compiegne is the start of the gruelling Paris-Roubaix cycle race each April.

For more info on the Cheese & Wine Fair – see  Foire aux Fromages et aux Vins
Find best rates for Hotels in Compiegne, France

- No baggage restrictions
- Space to relax and unwind
- Convenience of having your own car

To celebrate DFDS is taking 20% off their 2013 Dover-Dunkirk and Dover-Calais Economy fares so if you travel with your car and up to 4 people before 19 December 2013, you’ll save £’s!

Just book before 20 March 2013 by going to DFDS  quoting offer code ENFF

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Over on Brittany Ferries – you can get your family holiday off to a great start by taking advantage of the special family holiday offer, worth up to £180. Travel on a day sailing to France this summer and for lots of free extras.

Book now and:

• Kids travel free*
• Free day cabins**
• Free bikes on the back of your car

By taking your car you’ll be free from the hassle of airports, free to explore at your own pace and free to pack all you need to make the most of your trip. With convenient routes and sailings, you’ll arrive closer to your holiday saving miles of driving, tolls and even overnight stops. And the on board service will mean getting there is all part of the fun, with lots to keep the family occupied as you head south.

Booking and travel dates:

This offer is valid on day sailings only throughout the year including school holidays. Simply book by 18 March 2013   – Brittany Ferries Special Offer

The wine fair also features other local producers – charcuterie, chocolate, nougat , cheese….

In mid-summer there are also 2 more wine festivals – Nuits Diviniques (19 July 2013 and 8 August 2013) – evening events starting at 7pm in the Place de la Mairie.

Then in September (date to be confirmed) there is the Grape Harvest Festival (Ban des Vendanges)

Vinsobres is predominantly a red wine made from Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre grapes – they are grown rather higher on the valley sides giving them more structure and complexity.

Vinsobres is situated about 40 kms north east of Chateauneuf-du-Pape.

For more info see www.vinsobres.fr

Discover the biggest living history event in the south of France. Roman legionnaires, Celts, the Imperial Court, auxiliaries, cavalrymen and war chariots will all be there for this great celebration of Roman civilization….

Nîmes became a colony under Latin Law and was ornamented with sumptuous monuments. It reached its peak in the second century AD. Successive invasions and then the arrival of the Visigoths in the fifth century put an end to its prosperity.

The local wine is Costières de Nimes, which is the most southerly of the Côtes du Rhône appellations – see our article on Nimes and its Costieres

Nimes Tourist Office

Roman Games website (in French)

Since P&O Ferries pulled out of this route a few years ago, competition has been lacking – with the only other alternatives being the short-sea crossing from Dover – Calais or Brittany Ferries’ longer crossings to Caen or St Malo or Roscoff further west.

Beyond the obvious advantages for those living in the South or SouthWest of England, this is also an attractive route for travellers to or from the Midlands and North, as it avoids London and the  M25, whilst the A43 and A34 south from the M1 at Northampton via Oxford is, despite not being a motorway, dual carriageway most of its length and generally less busy – although the Oxford By-Pass (A34) can cause a few delays on rush hour.

On the French side, Le Havre is about 2 hours from Paris on the A13 – or if you are heading to the southwest you can avoid Paris altogether! It is a few years since I have been in Le Havre, and never particularly liked the often “brutalist” post-war architecture  – but maybe I am wrong – as

In July 2005, UNESCO added the city centre, rebuilt by Auguste Perret, to its World Heritage List. Perret was a major 20th century architect and a “poet in concrete” who was both traditionalist and innovative in his approach. He successfully rose to the challenge before him, seeking inspiration in architectural tradition and drawing on his own strong desire for modernisation to reinvent a unique, open city centre that is harmonious and resolutely innovative across an area of 133 hectares. Le Havre city centre is the first 20th century urban settlement in Europe to be added to the World Heritage List.

Le Havre and Normandy is also worth visiting in 2013 for the Normandie Impressioniste Festival (27 April – 29 September 2013), and the delights of Rouen are within easy reach!
Brittany Ferries   Best rates for hotels in Le Havre

DFDS Ferries

The riverside town of St Valéry-sur-Somme (80 Somme, Picardie) is a pleasant place to stop with its riverside boardwalk up to the estuary, old fishermans’ cottages. medieval tower and battlements with links to Joan of Arc. It is also the port from which William the Conqueror departed for England in 1066!

Every April there is a Festival of Birds and Nature (fête de l’oiseau et de  la Nature 20-28 April 2013

St Valéry-sur-Somme is also one terminus for the small steam railway which runs around the bay to Le Crotoy and Cayeux-sur-Mer via Noyelles-sur-Mer- the Chemin de Fer de la Baie de Somme (CFBS).

Every 3 years there is a Steam Festival  - 27-28 April 2013 at Noyelles-sur-Mer.

See historic engines and carriges – take a ride on a steam train around the bay – getting closer to the wildlife than you would by car – visit the workshops and go to the market!

For more info see http://www.fetevapeur.fr/

For more on St Valery-sur-Somme

Somme Tourist Office

The annual wine fair (Fete de la St Vincent) is held in Jonquières-Saint-Vincent (30 Gard, Languedoc-Roussillon)26-27 January 2013

A hyphen between the Rhône and the Camargue, the Costières de Nîmes exhibit a colourful Mediterranean temperament. They may be calm, turbulent, fruity, spicy, wild, smooth, floral or rich… But they will never fail to surprise you…. accorded AOC status in 1986, the southernmost of the Rhone Valley wine-growing areas perfectly exhibits all the characteristics of its Roman history and culture: a relaxed way of life, sophistication, warmth. The vineyards lie to the south east of the city from which they take their name, producing predominantly red wines, as well as some rosés and whites. All derive their character from an exceptional soil (a terrace of gravely pebbles deposited by the rivers Rhone and Durance), the vigour of the Rhone grape varieties, a favourable climate, and the mistral. The appellation’s wines also benefit from implementation of the Costières de Nîmes Landscape and Environmental Charter, an innovative concept to protect and promote wine-growing areas*. Among the measures already undertaken are a “Sustainable Viticulture” charter of good practice appended to the AOC’s terms of reference, an assessment of the vineyards’ biodiversity, the creation of themed short-stay packages, and the waymarking of paths offering outstanding views of the countryside. And, each spring, a special event (Les Vignes Toquées) is held involving a gastronomic tour of the vineyards.

Our personal favourite Costieres de Nimes wines come from Château de la Tuilerie
For more info on this event see www.ot-beaucaire.fr – more info on the wines see www.rhone-wines.com

By Train from London to Nimes

Nimes from Chateau de la Tuilerie

Chateau de la Tuilerie

With a goose market, gaggles of geese being herded through the medieval streets, music from bandas, a hearty soup made from the carcases, demonstrations for jointing and cooking goose, and of course ample supplies of foie gras – a central and very traditional part of southwest France cuisine.

For more info see Sarlat Tourisme

Sarlat-la-Canéda, the capital of the Perigord Noir, is situated in the heart of a forested area – to the east of the great region of the Aquitaine and close to the Dordogne valley.

Sarlat

The name Sarlat itself, evokes both gastronomic and cultural pleasures. Its worldwide reputation is linked with its rich history from the Middle Ages onwards. Its evolution over the centuries has left it with an exceptional heritage.

Sarlat was the first place in France to be safeguarded by being restored under the Malraux law of 1964. Its classification as Ville d’Art et d’Histoire (Artistic and Historic Town), is testament to its high architectural quality. Its medieval lanes and its large, sunny squares, particularly lively on market days, create an agreeable atmosphere.

Since 1928, cinema producers have found the authentic surroundings a perfect backdrop for historic films. The guided visits to the town, given by the Tourist Office, offer an introduction into the history of Sarlat and the opportunity to discover the charm of this medieval city with its Occitan overtones.

Sarlat has been awarded the exceptional three star classification by the Michelin Guide, making it equal to Europe’s most beautiful cities.

See a video of the Goose Fest on YouTube

That’s huge savings on first and standard class fares on French train travel. This offer is applicable on high speed TGV services from Paris and Lille.

These fares sell out quickly, book early to avoid disappointment – see RailEurope

Book by 31st January 2013 and enter evoucher code – 4EQ8H95936 – on the payment page, to receive a 20% discount on your Dover to Calais crossing -
Dover – Calais with P&O

From about twenty kilometers from Romans-sur-Isère, in the heart of an undulating landscape, the abbey of Saint-Antoine watches over the village. Close to the imposing monument, considered as one of the most beautiful gothic heritage of the region, this medieval site shows different faces : the modest half-timbered houses of the suburb, the shopping quarter with its covered market, the small alleys leading to the top of the village and the rich residences with its mullioned windows…

Since 1998 the Festival has been presenting opera performances and concerts in the magical setting of Belle-Île-en-Mer in Brittany, France.

Over the past thirteen years the historic Citadelle Vauban has played host to performances of such works as Don Giovanni, Bluebeard’s Castle, The Tales of Hoffmann, Madame Butterfly, Carmen, Falstaff, Don Pasquale, The Magic Flute, La Bohème, The Barber of Seville, Tosca, Rigoletto, L’Elisir d’Amore and Cosi fan tutte. In 2012, the festival celebrated its 15th anniversary with a season which presented critically acclaimed performances of Verdi’s Otello and Rossini’s La Cenerentola.

The Festival is well-known for presenting up and coming international singers from such prestigious houses as New York’s Metropolitan Opera, Chicago Lyric Opera, L’Opèra de Paris, La Scala, Milan and London’s Covent Garden.

Lyrique-en-mer prensent for the 2013 season performances of Bizet’s Carmen and Rossini’s Barbier of Seville in the Citadelle Vauban.

The summer’s programme also included Haendel’s Messiah performed by the Festival Chorus in the churches of Le Palais, Bangor, Sauzon and Locmaria.

Belle-Ile is a delightful small, quiet island, which we discoved a few years ago. Very photogenic – at least outside the summer months. There is a car ferry to the main town (Le Palais) from Quiberon, but it may work out cheaper to hire a car on the island – no great distances are involved – a trip to the pretty harbour at Sauzon and on to the Lighthouse on the Poulains – or the Sarah Bernhardt Museum (April to September only)  or south to the small beach at  Locmaria.

Being an island in the Atlantic, the weather plays an important role – storms can make for some dramatic landscapes, whilst at other times the island is peaceful and tranquil.

We stayed at the Hotel Restaurant Atlantique on the harbourside at Le Palais.

For more info on the Opera Festival

Belle Ile Tourist Office

view from Hotel Atlantique, Le Palais

The harbour at Sauzon

The Lighthouse on les Poulains

The “24 Hours of Le Mans” technical regulations distinguish two major car families: The “Prototypes” and “Grand Touring“, each of which is split into two parts. Each category fights rigorously for victory in its class.

The “Prototype” category refers to cars exclusively developed for competition on track and which meet the technical regulations of the Automobile Club de l’Ouest. The performance levels and technological development make this category overeign in endurance.

The “Grand Touring” category features cars derived from models homologated for road use and which can be purchased. A minimum of 100 road cars must be built by the major car manufacturers and a minimum of 25 for the smaller makes. Easily identifiable by the public, the GTs always achieve great success.

Le Mans 24h race website

Unless you are a real fan, then it is probably best to avoid the town for the weekend and a few days either side, as the traffic, crowds and road closures can make life challenging.  However the autoroutes A28 ( from the Channel coast to the Loire Valley), A11 (Paris – Angers) enable you to avoid the City Centre and the southside of the town where the race is run.

At other times Le Mans is worth visit – an elegant city with a well-preserved old town (Cité Plantagenêt), Cathedral, ramparts, riverside walks along the banks of the river Sarthe etc

Le Mans is twinned with Bolton, England.

Le Mans tourist office

Find the best rates for hotels in Le Mans

 a Museum of History and Society

A new perspective on one of the 20th century’s major conflicts, the First World War, for better understanding of the world of today.

Housing a collection unparalleled anywhere in Europe, the Musée de la Grande Guerre in Pays de Meaux offers a new vision of the first worldwide conflict [1914-1918], through innovative scenography illustrating the great changes and upheavals in society that resulted from it. A remarkable heritage to be handed on to future generations. A museum of’ history and society to help learn of past hardships, better understand present-day society and build tomorrow’s world.

One of numerous museums focussed in World War I (the Great War as the French call it), this recently opened museum has both temporary and permanent exhibitions. Meaux is in the heart of the Marne battlefields, but also has a splendid Cathedral (St Etienne) and other cultural treasures. However, Meaux is probably most widely known for the cheese Brie de Meaux and Meaux mustard,

Musée de la Grande Guerre du Pays de Meaux Rue Lazare Ponticelli, 77100 Meaux. Closed on Tuesdays and on 1 January, 1 May and 25 December

see also the  Historial at Péronne

L’Aventure Michelin spreads over two levels of a former industrial space of 2,000m² on the Cataroux site.The original architecture, dating back to the beginning of the 20th century, has been preserved.  These thematic and chronological exhibitions are dedicated to the past, present and future of the Michelin Group.

Visiting l’Aventure Michelin can allow visitors to discover first-hand and get to know better the reality of the men and women who shaped our world during an extraordinary adventure. It is through their everyday deeds and actions, through their way of life that they left an inheritance.Visitorss will be able to discover various universes, sometimes a world separated by time and space and yet close at hand as it corresponds to cultural, social, technological, industrial and local life. They will encounter historical evolutions, science, techniques and lifestyles of yesterday, today and maybe tomorrow…

L’Aventure Michelin 32 de la rue du Clos-Four, Montferrand, Clermont-Ferrand

Linking the past and the future, Rétromobile rises to the challenge of providing an exciting and fascinating event for vintage car enthusiasts and collectors from all over the world.

Emblematic collectors, extreme auctions, indoor and outdoor events, clubs, automakers, artists and vendors: all contribute to making these 5 days a very special experience.

This is held at the Porte de Versailles (15e) in Paris.

for more info see: Rétromobile

http://www.hotelscombined.com/City/Paris.htm?a_aid=13922&label=fdcom_retromobi

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For City centre to City Centre this has to be the best way to travel to Paris and Brussels.
Lille is a wonderful city for a weekend break – and in the depths of winter it can be a great relief to a choppy Channel crossing.
Book your Eurostar ticket by 14 January 2013 for travel between 17 January and 27 March 2013 to grab yourself a bargain. Hurry though, these fares will sell out fast.

For more info see RailEurope.co.uk

Calling at Ashford International you can travel direct to Avignon without changing trains or battling your way through Paris from Gare de Nord to the Gare de Lyon. The journey takes under 6 hours and leaves on Saturday mornings between 6 July and 31 August 2013.

The journey time on the return is a little longer as the train stops at Lille for UK immigration checks.

Avignon TGV station is just south of the city with frequent bus links. And of course with the train you have none of the hassle of airport check-ins and security queues (although there are formalities to go through at St Pancras International)

At other times although there may not be direct trains, you can change at Lille rather than endure the Paris station change.

for more info see www.raileurope.co.uk

The TGV station in Avignon

Avignon is of course the site of ywo major UNESCO World Heritage Sites – The Palais des Papes and the Pont St Benazit

February:

• Menton Lemon Festival
• Nice Carnaval
• Mimosa Festival at Mandelieu-la Napoule
• Percée du Vin Jaune Festival in the Jura

March:

• Bayonne – Ham Festival
• Black Pudding Festival in Normandie

April:

• Impressionist Festival across Normandie (until September)

May:

• Rose Festival in Avignon
• Strawberry Festival in the Dordogne
• Cherry Festival in the Pyrenees

June:

• Water Market at Amiens
• River Festival in Bordeaux
• Liberty Armada in Rouen

July:

• Raspberry Festival in the Corrèze

August:

• Jazz in Marciac in the Gers
• Maritime Festival in Sète

November:

• Herring Festival in Boulogne-sur-Mer
• Traditional Cider Festival in Normandy

December:

• Bresse Chicken Fair

All throughout the year 2013, hundreds of cultural and artistic events will be staged across the Provence region, from Arles to Toulon.
Artistic and cultural disciplines of all kinds will be present for this major event, ranging from contemporary dance to gastronomy, visual and performing arts, and scholarly conferences. Art will also be on display in public areas.
Four major festive events will be held in honour of the four seasons of the Capital year.

In keeping with its unique millennial culture, “Marseille-Provence” will be celebrating European and Mediterranean cultures all year long.

In 2013, Marseille’s urban landscape will present a fresh face with the opening of significant new cultural facilities along the seafront between Fort Saint Jean and the port of La Joliette. Among the creations designed by prominent architects are the Museum of European and Mediterranean civilisations, the Silo, the Regional Centre of the Mediterranean and the FRAC (Le Fonds Régional d’Art Contemporain)

For more info see www.mp2013.fr/attente-en/

From 5.30pm in the Place du Marché the  grande parade de Deauville is a floodlit parade of floats and balloons and is a fine close to the old Year.

As every year, Deauville is celebrating the last day of 2012 with a street parade : from 5:30pm starting from the Market Square, the artist company Les Quidams has imagined a show featuring 4m-tall giants meeting the huge flying fishes of the Aérosculpture Company, thereby creating a kind of magic sea in the city…

Then you can start the New Year with the organised swim in the sea on New Years Day (1 January 2013) with the Bain du 1 Janvier!! (12 noon) - hot drinks provided for bathers!

Stay on a few days and go horse-racing at the winter meeting of the Courses Hippiques.

Find the best rates for hotels in Deauville
Fly from London City Airport direct to Deauville with CityJet

For more info see www.deauville.org/fr/

• Champs Elysées 16 November 2012 – 6 January 2013 Along with the stunning illuminations on the world’s most beautiful avenue, no less than 160 authentic (made in the Vosges) chalets line the Champs-Elysées between the Rond-point and Place de la Concorde.
• Boulevard Saint-Germain-des-Prés 6 December 2012 – 2 January 2013 All along boulevard Saint Germain, no less than 30 chalets will spread the magic of Christmas. A great way to shop for all the family and taste some seasonal goodies
• Place du Trocadéro  13 December 2012 – 6 January 2013  The European Christmas Village ‘Trocadéro on Ice’ will be held at Trocadéro, opposite the Eiffel Tower.Trocadéro on Ice 2012 will once again transport us to a mountain resort that will take on the look of a ski resort right in the middle of Paris! Outdoor ice-rink, giant igloo, snowman, etc. On the programme: 100 or so wooden chalets, gastronomy, crafts, and numerous traditional events for a magical Christmas.
• Parvis de la Défense 21 November – 29 December 2012 The Christmas Village on the square at La Défense will be the most authentic and largest Christmas Village in the Paris Region. Kids and adults will experience the most magical end of year fête. This village extending over 10,000m² will have 300 chalets with traditional arts and crafts to discover, 400 m² of festive decorations and lots of tempting things to eat and drink.

for more info see Paris-info.com

This provencal village was once the summer home to the Popes (hence the name), but it is now probably its wines which draw the visitors. Here the reds are big and powerful – often quite complex due to up to 13 grape varieties being allowed in the blend.

The whites are seen less frequently but can be impressive.

Easy access a few kilometres north of Avignon and with easy access from the autoroutes (A7 and A9)

for more info see SALON DES VINS .
My personal favourite is Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe -  or for a smaller producer try Chateau Simian at Piolenc