Archive for March, 2010

Those who want to avoid hefty transportation costs when buying French champagne in bulk, will be pleased to hear that champagne bottles are to be made 65g lighter to reduce transport costs - thus reducing carbon emissions.

The Connexion reports that the 835g bottles could save around 8,000 metric tonnes of carbon dioxide per annum. This large decrease in emissions is solely attributed to reduced fuel consumption, caused by a lighter load.

It is estimated that such carbon savings will aid the champagne industry to lessen its carbon footprint over the next ten years by around 25 per cent. It is hoped that wine producers across France, including Bordeaux and the Dordogne will start to use the lighter bottles, making France’s drinks sector one of the most sustainable in the world.

Champagne bottles are usually heavier than wine bottles as they need to be able to cope with the pressure of 6kg per square centimetre – 835g is reportedly the lightest the bottles can be, without being prone to exploding.

The Champagne industry’s regulatory body the CIVC, has welcomed the new lighter bottles, which have been rigorously tested over the past two years to make sure that they are durable enough to stand up to the pressure of being transported long distances.

Producer Vranken-Pommery has pioneered the use of the new bottles and has been using them for all of its drinks over the past 8 years. It is expected that more companies will begin to use the bottles, promoting the ‘green’ in the drinks industry and reducing costs in this post-recession period.

Fishing enthusiasts will be pleased to hear that the fishing season officially commences this weekend in most areas of France.

The season starts on March 13th and ends on September 19th or October 3rd, for those warmer areas of the country, according to The Connexion.

Those on French holidays will be spoilt with the choice of fish available, from salmon and trout to more elusive fish like the pike – whose season doesn’t begin until April, but runs later until January.

Both locals and visitors to picturesque French rivers and lakes will need to make sure they have a valid permit. Such permits can be purchased from AAPPMA fishing association branches, which are widely accessibly in most French departments. They can also be bought in tabacs, or bars, for those who wish to partake in a spot of last minute fishing.

If you don’t have the patience to catch a fish yourself, France is famed for its fish restaurants, cooking up delights such as crayfish, rockfish and seabass – washed down with an obligatory glass of wine.

No matter whether you are visiting the Brittany, the Dordogne or Normandy, France is home to a smörgåsbord of cafés, bars and restaurants, where one can fully take in French culture.

It may come as a surprise to anyone who’s been on a French holiday and experienced the luxuries of Gallic cuisine, but British people are actually more interested in cooking than their continental counterparts.

UK research from Olive, the BBC Food Magazine, reveals a surprising twist on the standard stereotypes when compared with research from French magazine Madame Figaro.

It appears that though 72% of British people cook at home every day, only 59% of French people do the same. British cooks also spend more time in the kitchen and amazingly, have a wider variety of tastes.

Around half of all UK respondents said that they spent at least 30 minutes each day cooking, compared with just over 25% in France. The British also said they frequently prepared dishes such as Italian, Indian or Chinese, whilst the French were likely to be more conservative.

This twist on national stereotypes is perhaps explained by another finding; French consumers eat out more often than the British, going to a restaurant at least three times a month.

This will probably ring true with anyone who has gone on a French holiday; cafés, bars and restaurants are far more popular on a day to day basis over the channel than they are in the UK. Simply put, the French cook less – because they can get better food when they eat out.

Commenting on the survey, Olive editor Christine Hayes said: “Although the French have an enviable food heritage, it’s fascinating to see how much British people have embraced home cooking and international cuisine over the past few years.”

Last Saturday, local fishing and waterways associations announced the opening of fishing season in the Dordogne. Angling enthusiasts will be welcome in the Dordogne’s waterways from now until September 19, according to SudOuest.com. The only exception will be the river Coly and its tributaries, which will be prohibited for the first sixteen days - until the 22nd of March.

The Dordogne’s waterways are some of the best in France for amateur fishing. Anglers can hook carp, cat fish, trout or even salmon in either privately maintained lakes, or in the local rivers. Like anywhere, fishermen should be aware of regulations to stop overfishing - for example, this year, anglers may catch six trout over 25cm per day per person.

Speaking at the meeting of the 70 presidents of the Associations Authorised Fishing and Protection of the Aquatic Environment (AAPPMA), the departmental president was enthusiastic about the prospects for fishing in the Dordogne over the next year.

Robert Philip said: “The winter was cold with lots of rain, [but] our rivers have good levels and [the] conditions are excellent. This week, more releases of fish will be organised throughout the department.”

“This should be a good season.”

A full fishing license for the department will cost 65 euros, although for 85 euros you can purchase a license that allows you to fish in a total of 70 departments. There are other pricing options available that are less expensive and may be more appropriate, particularly for those on a French holiday, such as the holiday-period specific card, the daily license and the youth card.

In 2009, more than 21,000 fishing licenses were sold in the Dordogne. They can usually be obtained from either fishing shops or from local tabacs (newsagents) or even bars.

Two U.S rock bands are to play in the Dordogne this weekend, bringing explosive live music to a traditionally peaceful day.

This Sunday punk rockers The Bellrays and The Fleshtones will play Rocksane, a popular music venue in Bergerac and one of the most popular venues in the Dordogne. The concert will start at 6pm, with tickets costing 18 euros on the door or 15 euros pre-ordered.

Unlike many gigs at Rocksane, this explosive concert is likely to only be suitable for 18s or over.

The Bellray’s performance is part of their European tour. The rather odd choice of a Sunday evening for a rock concert is the result of their hectic schedule; the band is playing a different venue for every single day they are on the continent. According to SudOuest.com, this non-stop schedule reflects the quartet’s non-stop style of music, characterised by punk tempos, edgy guitar riffs and the soulful voice of singer Lisa Kekula – a combination of garage rock and soul singing that fits their slogan of “Maximum Rock N’Soul”.

As well as the Bellray’s, concert-goers will have the opportunity to see New York garage rock group The Fleshtones. Since forming in 1976, this band has amassed a huge cult following, though their independent streak has stood in the way of mass commercial success. 

With over three decades of experience playing alongside names like Iggy Pop, James Brown, Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley and relative newcomers The Strokes, arguably it’s The Fleshtones who should get top billing this Sunday. If you love rock n’roll and you’re in the Dordogne, there’s no better way you could spend your Sunday.

The Connexion has reported that vast sea defence work across the whole of the French coastline and waterways have been planned to avoid a repeat of last weekend’s storm induced floods.

The French government has commissioned a task force to examine over 1,000 km of sea walls in the upcoming weeks. By May, the government has announced it will publish a report on any improvements or further reinforcements that will need to be implemented along its coastlines.

During the height of the recent storms, an old sea wall on the Vendee coast was breached, causing a large flood that submerged local houses and French holiday homes under nearly 2 metres of water, claiming the lives of 52 people in the country.

The government hopes to create a warning system for homes on coastal floodplains and will create tougher planning regulations for homes in previous flood affected areas.

Many homes on the banks of the Loire river, have been condemned, to protect against floods – with the local council buying up homes, to allow residents to find alternative accommodation.

Chantal Jouanno, Junior Ecology Minister commented that although the financing of the scheme had yet to be agreed, the improvements could cost around 3 billion Euros.

Such improvements have given reassurance to those with holiday cottages or second homes in France, who were worried that flood risks from both rivers and coasts may affect their investments.

If you are looking to go for a French holiday with a difference, then Paris is kicking off it’s world famous Paris Fashion Week on Thursday. The city will be buzzing while this event runs for nine days and you could even catch a glimpse of top fashionista’s and celebs.

Those with children can take a trip to Disneyland, and the fashion lovers can attend nearby fashion exhibitions which are put on throughout the city whilst fashion week is going on. For the not-so fashion orientated, then the Paris Sightseeing Pass gives access to over fifty of the French capital’s top attractions, guaranteeing boredom will never set in. Take time to explore the historical sights and attractions such as the Louvre and the Arc de Triomphe before enjoying a relaxing cruise along the Seine River. There is also a wine tasting experience for the adults to enjoy.

Though if you aren’t the hustle and bustle type, your holiday is probably best spent in a more relaxed area, such as the Dordogne. A more tranquil and laid back countryside filled with vineyards and peace. 

So whether you want a break consisting of fashion, a busy city break, or a tranquil stay in a luxury traditional house, France offers a variety of different options available for every taste.

The Dordogne appears to have escaped the violent storms that struck France over the weekend with remarkably little damage, with the department wide crisis warning being cleared at 1600 yesterday.

Earlier this morning, President Nicolas Sarkozy declared a national disaster after the storms caused massive destruction in other areas of France, particularly across the Atlantic coast. Many buildings and roads across the country have been damaged by the force of the storm, named Xynthia.

Xynthia had wind speeds of an estimated 140km/h when it swept across the west of France, before sweeping into Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands.

As the major threat was to the French coastline – which has been hit badly by the storm – five departments along the coast were placed on red warning but many of the other 90 departments in the country were placed on high alert with an orange warning.

The Dordogne was among those departments but appears to have escaped damage almost entirely, even compared with other inland areas. During the storm, Weather France Bergerac – which lost power during the storm – recorded wind speeds of 105km/h near Thiviers, 95km/h near Perigueux and 92km/h near Bergerac.

According to SudOuest.com there has been no major damage to any location in the department, though there are still “trees and branches on the pavement…overturned garbage cans or broken signs” and minor damage to roof tiles across the Dordogne-Perigord region.

Speaking yesterday morning, the sub-preft of Bergerac, Bernard Pouget, said that though “the wind blew hard… we found no significant consequences” and there is “No particular risk of flooding…given the lack of rainfall during the storm.”

Damage in the Dordogne appears to have been limited to minor power cuts and disruptions to phone lines, caused by fallen trees. Some houses have also been damaged but no casualties have been reported and the roads have been cleared throughout the department, thanks to the 76 operations by local firefighters over the weekend.

Services in the Dordogne may be affected today by a national demonstration over immigration.

A national “day without immigrants” is to take place today as a form of protest over political hostility towards immigrants and labour in France. Foreign residents across France, as well as all those citizens who were born overseas have been encouraged to halt work throughout the first of March, in order to highlight their contribution to the economy at a national and local level.

Claimed to the be the first of its kind in France, the initiative was inspired by a similar demonstration in the US in 2006. Similar protests will take place in other EU countries today, with immigrants in Italy, Greece and Spain seeking to illustrate their contribution to their respective nations.

The protests are supported by five national unions. It is hoped by the organisers that none of the 70,000 people who joined the supporting Facebook group or any of those acting in solidarity, will either work in any form of employment or buy any kind of product for the next 24 hours.

Some demonstrations will take place outside town halls between 1200 and 1400 though it is unknown whether any of these will take place in the Dordogne.

Although mass disruption is unlikely to affect anyone on a French holiday significantly, people should be prepared for the possibility of reduced staff in many areas of private and public services throughout France.