FrenchDuck’s databank

Stage 4 Cholet - Cholet time trial in the Loire Valley
see www.letour.fr

Stage 3 St Malo to Nantes in Brittany
see www.letour.fr

Stage 2 Auray to Saint-Brieuc in Brittany
see www.letour.fr

Stage 1 Brest to Plumelec in Brittany
see www.letour.fr

There are numerous options for getting closer to the wines of Cahors (46 Lot, Midi-Pyrenees), with their predominance of the Malbec grape (known locally as Auxerrois or Cot). Several domaines offer either Bed and Breakfast (Chambre d’Hote) or gites to rent.
Chateau les Grauzils at Prayseau sac - gite
Chateau Haut Monplaisir at Lacapelle-Cabanac - Cathy et Daniel Fournié Tel : 05.65.24.64.78 Fax : 05.65.24.68.90 E Mail : chateau.hautmonplaisir@wanadoo.fr - gite
(and their wines are top rate - especially the Cuvee Pur Plaisir!
Chateau Plat Faisant at St Vincent-Rive d’Olt TÉL : 05.65.30.76.38 FAX : 05.65.36.76.38
Chateau Vincens at Luzech - TÉL : 05.65.30.51.55 FAX : 05.65.20.15.83 - gite
Chateau de Rouffiac at Duravel - B&B (Chambre d’Hote)
Domaines Delmas (Chateau de Parnac) at Parnac - Chambres d’Hote and gite

One of Cahors’ top wine chateaux is the Chateau de Mercues, which is also a top class Michelin restaurant and hotel - the barrell-ageing cellar is under the hotel. Situated on a promontory to the west of Cahors, it offers stunning views over the Lot Valley. see www.relaischateaux.com

Although not actually on a vineyard, the Hotel Restaurant Le Vinois at Caillac (46 Lot) to the west of Cahors offers stylish accommodation surrounded by vines.

For more info on Cahors see www.mairie-cahors.fr

Lille takes Christmas seriously with the city brightly decorated and a big ferris wheel in the main square,

With Christmas fast approaching, Lille is decked out in lights and colour. Around the market, the whole town is covered in a huge crown of garlands.

In the period just before Christmas, Lille is vibrating with colours and lights. The Chalets which make up the Christmas market are installed for a month on the Place Rihour, just 50 metres from the Grand’Place. The craftsmen and stallholders extend their warm welcome and look forward to putting forward their ideas for new and original gifts. Amongst the articles to temps you, there will be local produce, samplings, Christmas decorations, jewellery, toys…

A stone’s throw from the Christmas Market, the big wheel majestically turns on the Grand’Place and offers a fascinating view over the world of the city. And when you come back down to earth a glass of mulled wine will work its magic on you.

For more info see www.lilletourism.com

London - Lille by Eurostar in 100 minutes

A Christmas Market with a difference in Mulhouse (68 Haut-Rhin, Alsace) with the venue being the the Museum of Printed Textiles (Musée de l’Impression sur Etoffes), where a stunning array of scarves, shawls, hanging fabrics - with the addition of a mountain theme with farmers and craftsmen from the nearby Vosges mountains. The museum looks well worth a visit in any case, but at Christmas doubly so.

For more info see www.musee-impression.com or the Mulhouse Tourist Office

Fans of Guitar music should head just 10 miles south of Paris to the town of Ballainvillers (91 Essonne, Ile de France) which holds an annual International Guitar Festival with a series of evening concerts, free daytime concerts, masterclasses and entertainments for children.

The town of Ballainvilliers,France will be holding their second International Guitar Festival,known as “The Automnales“. Visitors will again be able to travel around the continents of the world through international music themes, played by guest artists attending from many different countries – As in the very first event in autumn 2006, the Ballainvilliers Festival will welcome world famous performers, including Boulou and Elios FERRE, Antonio FORCIONE, Claus BOESSER-FERRARI, Soïg SIBERIL,
Ahmed El-SALAMOUNY and Konarak REDDY.

See our map

Our discovery of Les Trois Marchands (The Three Merchants) at Cour-Cheverny (41 Loir-et-Cher, Centre) was a recommendation from Michel Gendrier at nearby Domaine des Huards- and we have been back at least half-a-dozen times since.
Situated about 12km south of Blois, it is ideally situated for the Touraine chateaux and vineyards, including Domaine Octavie at Oisly.
As a hotel it falls into the OK category - neither luxurious nor spartan - comfortable, affordable en-suite rooms in the French style (although heavy flock wallpaper is absent!). It is the restaurant that (as usual) is the main attraction - especially if you feel up to tacking the Menu Gastronomique! Always good food - with a wide range of choice - excellent local wines and friendly service. We have never had a bad meal there - even when turning up late and unannounced with a party of 8!!

Hotel Les Trois Marchands
60 pl. de l’Eglise
41700 Cour Cheverny
Tél.: 02 54 79 96 44
Fax: 02 54 79 25 60
www.hoteldes3marchands.com

Most French autoroutes between major towns and cities are toll motorways, which whilst often offering fast and uncrowded dual-carriageways, can nevertheless add significantly to the cost of a trip through France - e.g over €90 (over £60) on a one-way trip from Calais to Nice (1226km of motorway driving about 760 miles).

However there are significant sections of autoroute which are toll free - most often these are around major towns and Cities (Paris, Bordeaux, Lyon etc).

In the North, the A16 is toll-free from Boulogne (J29) to the Belgian border (J36) via Calais and Dunkerque. The A25 from Dunkerque (J20) to Lille is free, so you can reach Lille from the main Channel ports without paying a toll!. Also all routes from Lille to the Belgian border.
The following autoroutes are toll free (as at September 2007)
A16 (part of the Autoroute des Estuaires (estuaries)) from Boulogne-sur-Mer (J29) to the Belgian border(J36)
A20 (L’Occitane) from Vierzon (J6 junction with A71) to Brive-la-Gaillarde (J53) via Chateauroux, Argenton and Limoges
A25 from Dunkerque (J20 with A16) to Lille
A28 from Abbeville (J1) to Rouen (J14)
A30/A31 (Autoroute de la Vallée de la Fensch) from Thionville (J1) to Toul (J12) via Metz and Nancy
A38 from Dijon (J33) to Pouilly-sur-Auxois (J24 and the junction with the A6)
A63 (Autoroute de la Cote Basque) from Bordeaux to Bellin-Bellet (J20)
A64 (la Pyreneenne) from St Martory (J20) to Muret (J25)
A68 (la Tarnaise) from Monastruc (J3 NE of Toulouse) to Albi (J11) via Gaillac
A75 (la Meridienne) from Clermont-Ferrand (J15) to Pezenas (J59) (except for the Millau Bridge) via Issoire
A77 (Autoroute de l’Arbre (trees)) from Pouilly (J26) to Nevers (J37)
A84 from Caen (J46) to Rennes (J25) via Avranches