Posts Tagged ‘Dordogne’

The most prestigious event in the French farming calendar, the Salon de l’Agriculture, is opening this weekend in Paris - showcasing produce from all over the country, including delights from Provence, the Dordogne and Normandy.

Thousands of stalls are on offer, hosting a variety of French cheese, beer, honey and much more. The event also holds an awards ceremony ‘Le Concours General Agricole’, for the best wines, livestock, dairy products and other French produce. Rare breeds of cattle will be on show such as the Bretonne pie noire, as well as showcasing a plethora of other animals.

Political appearances are expected from the likes of Jacques Chirac and Nicolas Sarkozy, who will spend hours sampling French produce and mingling with farmers. The event is reported in The Connexion to be a ”political pilgrimage” for politicians looking to bolster the rural vote, as regional elections are due to commence on March 14.

The event, dubbed as ‘the biggest farm in the world’, is also expected to attract over 600,000 visitors and tourists alike, from February 27 – March 7.

With the theme of the event being that of sustainable development, new to this year’s show will be a research centre, showing the affect of agriculture on the environment.

The event hopes to celebrate French farmers and produce, at a time when there is a growing worry about cheaper produce being imported from overseas.

British buyers look like they are venturing out there again – investing in overseas property in France. More than 70 per cent of Knight Frank’s enquiries for France so far this year have been from British people, with the greatest interest in the Dordogne, as well as areas in the South, South west, and the Alps.

Paul Humphreys, from Knight Frank’s French department commented on the trend, saying: “It’s a good time to buy. French property prices have fallen and there’s a nice supply of good-quality properties at the right price on the market, in places we’ve always had love affairs with, such as Gascony and the Dordogne.”

As well as the country’s aesthetically pleasing appeals, the vineyards and châteaux, the food, culture and countryside, France also rates highly on practical points too. Its proximity, which good for those who hate flying or airports, and prefer to drive or take the train. For those who relish flying, there is an international appeal- a bonus for holiday lets. The weather is hot and sunny and a weakening Euro are all factors of advantage towards French holidays.

The Dordogne is particularly attractive to British families and couples, as it boasts a relaxed setting, with rivers, market towns and no hustle or bustle. Harris Raphael from Pioneer France says: “The Dordogne is as the British imagine the countryside should be. We’ve seen an increase in enquiries and sales since the end of late 2009, mainly families with children looking for a holiday home and couples in their fifties thinking of retirement in a few years.”

Knight Frank says they are hearing more from commuters seeking a family home in France, where the husband can fly back from Bergerac or Bordeaux airports to an office in London.

The UK half-term may be over for most of Britain’s school kids, but in France the school break has barely begun. For the many schools across the Dordogne, lessons are out for at least two weeks from Saturday the 20th to Sunday the 7th of March.

Although this may mean longer queues for those on a French holiday, it also means that there will be many opportunities for family activities throughout the Dordogne, specially organised for the half-term break.

Those attracted to the Dordogne by the valley’s prehistoric heritage, such as the world famous Lascaux caves, will be pleased to know that both the National Museum of Prehistory and the Vezere prehistoric cave organisation are running a family discovery program until March 7.

The Museum, located in Les Eyz€ies, will have daily tours throughout the week; prices range from €10 for adults, €5 for those under 18 and free entry for under 13′s.  There will also be visits to sites at Le Moustier, Micoque, Laugerie Haute and Font De Gaume.

If history doesn’t appeal, then you may be interested in the downhill ice-run located in Bergerac for the half-term period. An ice rink has been installed in the town’s Room Anatole France; covering an area of 600 square metres, holding 150 people at once. Entry costs €7 for adults, €5 for children and the rink is open from 1000 to 1200, 1400-1600 and 1700-1900 on weekdays. Night-time sessions are held on Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 2100 to midnight.

People who are planning to visit the Dordogne for a French holiday over the next month should be aware that five major trade unions are planning a nationwide day of strike action on the 23rd of March.

Connexion, the English-language French news monthly, reports that the unions are likely to strike in protest at proposed pension reforms. Although the publication says that it is “too early” to say what effect the strike will have or where the effects will be most felt, given the prominence of the unions it seems likely that services will be disrupted across the country.

CFDT, CGT, FSU, Solidaires and UNSA have all announced plans for an industry-wide walkout after President Sarkozy said that a new law on retirement would be pushed back to the Autumn, instead of summer as originally planned. Between them, the five unions represent many in blue-collar jobs, such as transport, retail or municipal services, as well as those in white-collar jobs such as civil administration.

Those on a French holiday may find it easier to plan around the strike. They may find shops, services and public attractions disrupted or closed due to lack of staff or temporarily closed as a gesture of solidarity with the movement. In the Dordogne specifically, it seems unlikely that the strike will affect the smaller villages and towns in the region, although larger settlements like Perigueux or Bergerac may be affected.

People who take or rent a car on their French holiday will have to pay close attention to speed limits rather than the position of speed cameras as the national government introduces a new generation of technology to the country’s motorways.

Prime Minister Francois Fillon recently announced that 800 new speed cameras will be introduced, with new measures taken to ensure that speeding drivers don’t simply brake just before they come in range to avoid being caught. Connexion, the English language French news monthly, reports that Mr Fillon also confirmed that a new type of camera would be rolled out across the country after being tested since 2003 on the A10 road in Orleans.

Starting this year, warning signs will be placed between 1 and 2 kilometres ahead of speed cameras rather than the current distance of 400 metres. A new type of speed camera will also be added to some motorways, which will measure a vehicle’s speed over a long distance and use the average to judge whether a car is speeding.

Other announcements were made which reinforced the importance of driving safely during a French holiday and paying strict attention to local laws. Nearly 2000 electronic breathalysers have been issued to police forces around the country and the punitive measures for those caught drink-driving or without a valid license or insurance have been increased; now, any motorist in breach of the law faces having their car taken away on the spot and impounded for seven days.

The new measures will help make France a safer place for motorists but also means that UK drivers shouldn’t take their holiday for granted. If you get caught speeding through the Dordogne on the A89, you face a similar punishment as if you are speeding on the M62 at home.

Music lovers who find themselves in the Dordogne this weekend will have plenty to choose from.

In addition to eclectic rock band We Insist‘s performance in Bartola bar in Perigueux this Saturday, Sudouest.com has published a round-up of several other gigs on offer throughout the department.

Tonight there will be gigs in both Perigueux and Lembras, each catering to markedly different tastes. The Vinyl Cafe in Lembras hosts a free gig for lovers of 60′s and 70′s rock music, with a performance from The Lemba Rzique between 1900 and 2100.

In Perigueux, the Toques beer bar will host blues band Brother Jack and Friends for a performance that starts at 2130. Admission is free.

On Saturday though, visitors to the Dordogne will be spoilt for choice; there will be 6 gigs in addition to We Insist.

Perhaps the most significant of the groups playing this weekend is the performance from Jazz artists Picture Post. Famous for their ethno-jazz, the group will be playing in the village hall of Eymet at 2045 on Saturday the 20th of February. The band has been together since 1987 and has shared the stage with Jazz luminaries such as Miles Davis, Tony Williams, Herbie Hancock and John MacLaughin. Admission is 10 euros and there will also be tapas served at the gig.

However, there will also be other gigs for fans of different genres, all of which are also free to attend.

The Vinyl cafe will host another performance at 1900 to 2100, this time from pop punk band The Choocoos; Sue and Elena.

Toques Beer bar in Perigueux will follow up Friday’s blues performance with another free gig at 2130. This time the artist will be Mr Miguel, a blues, soul and funk performer. Meanwhile, Thetards, another venue in Perigueux will host Malandos Os, a samba band from 2000 to 2100.

In Savignac-de-Miremont, pop-rock band Concert On/Off will play at the Moulin Du Souffron from 2000 to 2100.

Finally, in the town of Taste-Rossignol, le P’tit Rossignol presents ska band The King’s Tone at the same 2000-2100 time slot.

Fine food and drink are among the many reasons that people choose to take a French holiday. Yet according to a recent study, only 11% of the French are obese – compared with 25% in Britain.

Writing in Connexion France, the English-language French news and lifestyle magazine, the former slimming editor of The Sun says that the French attitude to food could teach the British a few lessons in healthy eating. Sally Ann Voak, who has written 28 books on weight loss and worked on The Sun for 32 years, writes that the difference in attitude is profound.

“Brits are becoming conditioned to accepting obesity” says Voak. In France, “women admire Carla and Segolene for their chic and slender bodies, as well as their intelligence. In some UK towns, reasonably-sized people appear undernourished. In France, it is still considered unhealthy to be fat.”

She also says that the UK has taken on “the American custom of serving huge portions”, for both “lunchtime fare” and “at the top end of the market.”

“We Brits want value for money. One single, delicious slice of tarte au chocolat? No thanks, let us have a pile of profiteroles…French meals are well-balanced, and the traditional ‘proper’ lunch means that snacking is unnecessary. French women do not experience the 1600 blood sugar ‘low’ that hits most offices in the UK – when biscuits and cakes appear as if by magic.”

Voak also says that in France, exercise is a much more natural activity. “Going to the gym or health club is a luxury in the UK. Municipal facilities such as pools and tennis courts are less accessible…sports have declined at school, and family activities like skiing – for all income groups in France – are only enjoyed by the few.”

Her comments are likely to ring true to anyone who has taken a French holiday in the Dordogne. Although the region is famous for its locally produced wines, hearty traditional Occitan dishes and delicacies such as pate, fois gras or the black Perigord truffle, it was also recently recognised for its enthusiastic sporting clubs and facilities by the Aquitaine regional board.

Whilst skiing is a less than available activity in the south-west of France, the Dordogne has an extensive system of cycle lanes, many municipal facilities and the calm waters of the eponymous river make it a popular place for kayaking, swimming and wild camping.

The change to the single European currency may have made it much easier for tourists to make a French holiday part of a wider travel plan but a new survey reveals that many French people still long for the old days.

A survey by Paris Match magazine reports that nearly 69% of the French would prefer to have the old French currency, the Franc, rather than the Euro. This nostalgic desire was more than just a passing opinion too, as some 47% said they missed the franc “a lot”.

This survey seems to indicate that the French attitude has changed fairly significantly since the new currency was introduced in January 2002. Then, only 39% said they would miss the old currency. Of course absence makes the heart grow fonder and the French are no exception; by 2005 this figure had grown to 61%, with nearly half as many people saying they missed the Franc.

However, though many in France might miss the old national monetary system, tourists are less likely to be as nostalgic. Since the introduction of the Euro, holidays on the continent have become much more flexible. As an example under the Euro, it’s possible for people staying in a Dordogne villa holiday to cross through the picturesque Basque country into Spain or Italy for a day visit – without having to exchange money before they cross the border.

Of course, if said tourists are British they’re in a much different situation than the French. Whilst the Banque de Francais will stop accepting Franc notes in February 2012, here in the UK the pound sterling seems set to stay – and a quick trip to the Bureau de Change will let you get currency accepted in every other country of the EU.

A public garden located in the Dordogne has been awarded second-place in the national competition for “Garden of the Year 2010.”

Femme Actuelle (‘Real woman’) magazine reports that Albadere Gardens in Saint Cybarnet, a commune in the south-east of the department, has been recognised by the French Journalists Association of Garden and Horticulture (AJJH).

The garden was given the prestigious “coup de couer” award. This is named after a popular French expression that, like ‘Deja vu’, has no simple English translation. Effectively, it translates to “love at first sight” or an impulsive fondness for something based on nothing more than first impressions. The phrase tends to be used more often for impersonal objects and is a popular expression for French language tourism guides.

Albadere Gardens impressed the jury with the organic farming methods used by the resident gardeners, married couple Brigitte and Serge Lapouge. These green-thumbed Gaelic’s have been responsible for the upkeep and design of garden, which covers around two acres.

The jury of gardening journalists and horticultural experts were impressed by how Mr and Mrs Lapouge had made use of organic compost and mulch and for their ability to suit their plants to the range of climates that can sweep through the Dordogne valley over the course of a year. According to Femme Actuelle, the plants in Albadere gardens thrive in the dry soil of summer and still manage to survive the frozen sub-zero temperatures of winter.

According to their website, the Albadere gardens has been a welcome challenge for both gardeners. Committing themselves to reviving a “land almost barren”, the Lapouges have shaped their terrain from “dry, poor, stony limestone” to a fairer landscape that can handle the “cold winters and warm dry summers” .

Now, ‘Jardin d’Albadere’ contains areas such as an orchard, an ‘English garden’ of lavender and biannual flowers, a main garden of summer flowers,  an enclosed garden and a ‘wild garden’ of sculpted bushes that mixes with the neighbouring woodlands.

Music fans with diverse tastes may be interested to know that tomorrow night, Bartola in Perigueux will be hosting a performance from Paris group We Insist, famous for their eclectic mix of influences.

The performance has been organised by the Produkt association, who regularly arrange for concerts in bars in the Dordogne. Often these are free to attend, though at most there is a cover charge of up to 5 euros – around £4.30.

Bartoli, a popular bar in Perigueux is the latest venue to host a Produkt gig. Tomorrow night We Insist will perform from half ten, supported by local music trio Resound.

According to Sud-Ouest.com, the band’s music is extremely diverse. They cite At the Drive In, Shellac, Led Zeppelin, Frank Zappa, John Zorn, Magma, Fugazi, The Police, Alice Cooper, Talking Heads, Jeff Beck and Tom Waits as just “some” of their influences.

The band’s latest album, ‘The Babel Inside’, was published last year by German label Exile on Mainstream. It is their fifth album in their fourteen years of performing as a group, gaining coverage from both French national media and independent, underground publications.

Sud-Ouest reports that the band’s members mix musical genres in their performance but disdain the fusion genres that have become increasingly popular in France over the past decade. Instead they describe themselves as ”metal to free jazz, punk to avant-garde”, bringing the “curious listener down little explored musical paths”.