View of Aix-les-Bains

News & Features

Appelation Monks

The department of the Gers, one of the most rural in France, is noted for its foie gras, garlic and Armagnac. It includes most of what was once ancient Gascony, famous of course as the birthplace of the fourth musketeer, d’Artagnan, whose statue stands in the principal town of Auch. Close to Auch is the village of Saint-Mont, the focal point of Les Producteurs Plaimont, a cooperative making some excellent white and red wines that go back beyond even d’Artagnan, to the secret skills of Benedictine monks in the eleventh century. They are of VDQS quality, that is, between vin de pays and appellation contrôlée.
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Cut and Run

Action against genetically modified crops seems to have died down in the UK but has intensified in France, where the area planted with GMO corn has grown dramatically since last year. Although the exact figure is unknown, as farmers are not required to register their crops, it is estimated at 1,000 hectares.

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Chinese Torture

    
On the face of it, the Vaucluse and the People’s Republic of China have little in common. Yet it has welcomed some thirty Chinese delegations in the past five years, mainly from the central province of Hubei, which would dwarf the Vaucluse: it covers an area of nearly 200,000 square kilometers and has a population of more than 62 million. What they share are growing concentrations of industrialised agriculture and IT developments, offering scope for future cooperation and cultural exchanges.
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Granville keeps you guessing

Thierry Seni, one of Normandy’s most talented and creative photographers, has turned his skills to his adopted home town of Granville. Granville et le pays Granvillais’ is a collection of more than 200 superb images of the area and is sure to grace many a Norman coffee table.
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Great house, pity about the gelignite


The Conservatoire de l’espace littoral et des rivages lacustres, a bastion against concrete development, celebrates its 30th anniversary this year. The Conservatoire is responsible for around 10 million hectares and has fought to preserve the coastline, natural sites, and an ecological balance.  
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Alice in Wonderland spectacles

If you or your children wear spectacles, make sure that your travel insurance covers their loss or damage in full. If you need repairs or replacements while in France, despite the reciprocal medical cover now supposed to be in place, even if your spectacles were supplied or subsidised by the UK DoHS, the French Sécurité Sociale makes it as difficult as possible to claim back the cost. 
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Sainte-Hélène Ref DL139 Périgueux in Dordogne

A truly magical house combining typical Périgordine architecture with a provençal-like courtyard in beautiful peaceful grounds. It’s really hard to believe the bustling town of Périgueux is just waiting at the gates. This 17th century farmhouse is set in two hectares of peaceful grounds just 20 minutes by foot to the stunning cathedral and the daily market. The interior is full of charm and character and a lot of thought and taste has gone into decorating and furnishing.

2 WEEK PRICE RANGE *
£6,380 in August to £3,370 in October

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Château de la Fouquerie Ref DL66 Montpezat in Lot-et-Garonne

It’s quite unusual in this part of France to still find such vast grounds attached to one private property. The château and its setting are truly elegant and the views from the terrace and pool are a joy. With origins dating back to the 15th century the château has been completely renovated to a high standard and stands in 80 hectares of meadows. The interior is stylish and very tastefully decorated with beautiful antiques.

2 WEEK PRICE RANGE *
£6,470 in August to £4,050 in October

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La Soleïade Ref CD51 Le Brusc in Côte-d'Azur

This modern villa is set in grounds of 1100sqm which include a large parking area at the front of the house, a spacious paved terrace enclosing the irregular-shaped pool and a very pleasant dining area under beautiful pine trees. The property enjoys a very good location in a residential area close to a lively town (Six-Fours-les-Plages 2km) and to sandy beaches (1.5km). It is also just 11km from Bandol and 40km from the beautiful town of Cassis. The interior is light, spacious and modern.

2 WEEK PRICE RANGE *
£4,610 in August to £2620 in October

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L'Abizia Ref AC17 Moutiers-les-Mauxfaits in Vendée

This tastefully restored barn is quite a find - the heated indoor pool is a great asset in the cooler months and the proximity to lovely sandy beaches (13km) make it quite desirable.This property has been recently restored to a high standard. It is located 2km from the village of Moutiers-les-Mauxfaits, which has a good selection of shops and services, a supermarket, a weekly market and a tennis court.

2 WEEK PRICE RANGE *
£3870 in August to £2750 in October

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Sleeps 9 - 5 bedrooms - 4 bathrooms
Shops 4km Nice airport 69km
Swimming pool Private, fenced-off, roman steps, size 10x5.5m

Mas entre Mer et Ciel Ref CD34 Mons in Côte-d'Azur

Savour the taste of true Provence in this delightfully restored and decorated house. It has featured in Germany's leading home and decorating magazine "Schöner Wohnen". The pretty garden covers 1000sqm within substantial grounds of 7000sqm which boast 65 olive trees, fig trees, pink laurels and herbs. The property is situated at the foot of the pretty hilltop village of Mons which has spectacular views and offers good facilities. This is also a wonderful area for discovering the many attractive small towns and villages nearby

2 WEEK PRICE RANGE *
£5450 in August to £4250 in October

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You could save up to 12.5% in 2006