FrenchDuck UK – where to stay in France – gites. B&B, villas,vineyards

That’s DÉGUSTING! – Venturing into French vineyards

One of the joys of touring France is the opportunity to try wines at the vineyard. In every wine region you’ll pass roadside signs to “degustation”(tasting) and “caveau”(cellar), but it can be a daunting prospect if you are not a confident wine bluffer or fluent in francais.. Yet often [...]

Champagne region – Reims, Epernay and Bar-sur-Aube
see map

Public Holiday in France – New Year’s Day – Jour de l’an

Other French public holidays in 2008:-
Monday 24 March 2008 – Easter Monday – Lundi de Pâques
Thursday 1 May 2008`- Labour Day – Fête du Travail – and Ascension Day – Ascension catholique
Thursday 8 May 2008 – Victory Day (WWII) – Fête de la Victoire [...]

Beware that much of France can seem surprisingly closed (especially banks) on and around Public Holidays – especially when they are close to a weekend – traffic will be worse, autoroute tolls may be higher….

Monday 1 Jan 2007 = New Years Day
Sunday 8 and Monday 9 April 2007 = Easter
Tuesday 1 May 2007 = Fete [...]

Michel and Jocelyne Gendrier at Domaine des Huards are great enthusiasts for these wines – elegant and richly flavoured. Their reputation has spread beyond the local region to Paris – and every weekend you’ll find Parisiens at the domaine, having travelled down the autoroute just to stock up on these wines.
You can be assured of [...]