FrenchDuck UK - where to stay in France - gites. B&B, villas,vineyards » Aquitaine

Stay on an organic vineyard in Saussignac

Administrator — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 16:03:20 +0000

The organic vineyard of Chateau Haut Garrigue in the village of Saussignac (24 Dordogne, Aquitaine) near Bergerac has it all – a wonderful situation overlooking the Dordogne valley; a self-contained gite “The Grape Escape”, friendly English-speaking (well, Irish) hosts and a real opportunity to see and learn more about wine and wine-making (if that’s what [...]

Gite on the Lot/Dorgogne border

Administrator — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 05:50:35 +0000

There are numerous criteria for selecting the perfect holiday gite – for me it has to be a combination of tranquility, privacy, a decent view, comfortable accommodation, swimming pool; within walking distance of a bar, shop and preferably a restaurant; within striking distance of a town with a good selection of shops – and with [...]

Stay on a Vineyard – Côtes de Duras

Administrator — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 17:53:10 +0000

In the heart of the Côtes de Duras vineyards between St Astier and Duras (47 Lot-et-Garonne, Aquitaine) on the Chateau la Petite Bertande – a gite sleeping up to 8 people.

With 3 bedrooms, bathroom, well-equipped kitchen and a terrace surrounded by vines.

The vineyard produces some excellent Côtes de Duras AC, especially the crisp dry white [...]

Cottages in the Gers

Administrator — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 10:11:37 +0000

Self-Catering Cottages and Bed & Breakfast Accommodation in a listed 17th Century domaine in Gascony – 35 acres, lakes, pool and Spa Ideal location for visiting Madiran, Jurancon, Côtes de St Mont, Côtes de Gascogne, Armagnac, Floc de Gascogne vineyards. Situated just 10 minutes drive south of Auch (32 Gers, Midi-Pyrenees – see map), Peyloubère is classified [...]

Exploring the South West of France

Administrator — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 09:26:10 +0000

The problem (and delight) of South West France is that there are so many areas to explore, and often renting a gite can be so delightful that getting out and exploring might be limited to the nearest town and trips for French Bread, a bar and an ocassional restaurant. However, an English couple (Jason and Michelle) [...]

St Emilion’s Spring Festival

Administrator — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 17:27:27 +0000

The Spring Festival (Fete de Printemps) takes place in the medieval town of St Emilion (33 Gironde, Aquitaine), one of the best appellations for Bordeaux red wines. There is always a colourful parade with a band through the town, with plenty of opportunities to taste some of the wines at any of the wine shops [...]

Ban des Vendanges in St Emilion

Administrator — Sun, 06 Jan 2008 17:10:46 +0000

The Proclamation of the Harvest takes place in the medieval town of St Emilion (33 Gironde, Aquitaine), one of the best appellations for Bordeaux red wines. There is always a colourful parade with a band through the town, with plenty of opportunities to taste some of the wines at any of the wine shops scattered [...]

Truffle Festival in the Dordogne

Administrator — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 11:14:33 +0000

Held every year on the third Sunday in January (20 Jan 2008) the village of Sorges (24 Dordogne, Aquitaine) holds a competition to find the biggest truffle – and its the highly prized Black Truffle (truffe noire d’hiver).There is also a Truffle Market and the local hostelries will be offering Truffle omelettes!

For more info see [...]

On your bicyclette! City bike schemes in France

Administrator — Tue, 23 Oct 2007 04:55:18 +0000

It all started in Paris with the Velib’ Scheme – an amalgam of Velo (cycle) and Liberte (free), which has been a tremendous success.

The latest we’ve come across is the Velomagg in Montepellier (34 Herault, Languedoc-Roussillon).

Vélib’ is a Self Service “bike hire” system available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Multi pick up [...]

Toll Free autoroutes in France

Administrator — Sun, 02 Sep 2007 11:00:40 +0000

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 [...]

Rugby World Cup venues map

Administrator — Fri, 31 Aug 2007 16:32:56 +0000

With the 2007 Rugby World Cup kicking off in early September, it is worth knowing when and where the matches are to be held – if only so that you can avoid the additional heavy traffic for several hours around the match time. Particularly susceptible to congestion will be the Paris Peripherique and the A1 [...]

Jardins du Sardy – Dordogne

Administrator — Sat, 25 Aug 2007 07:10:33 +0000

Between St Emilion (33 Gironde, Aquitaine) and Bergerac (24 Dordogne, Aquitaine) there is a special garden centred on an old 18th century farmhouse – combining both English and Italian themes – the Jardins du Sardy at Velines (24 Dordogne, Aquitaine). JF reports: “We saw it advertised in the tourist office in St Emilion, and we found it [...]

The Big Prune Show at Agen

Administrator — Fri, 24 Aug 2007 05:37:57 +0000

Agen (47 Lot-et-Garonne, Aquitaine) is home to the famous Agen Prune – the gently baked moist plums which are a key feature of SW France cuisine. The delicacy (although not that delicate) is protected as an Appellation Controllee. Agen celebrates its Prune with a weekend festival every Autumn – taste and learn with music and dancing [...]

Prune Festival at Villeneuve-sur-Lot

Administrator — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 08:45:57 +0000

The town of Villeneuve-sur-Lot (47 Lot-et-Garonne, Aquitaine) holds a 2–day festival to celebrate the local Prune (pruneau) when the Prune is King! (Le Pruneau Roi) – demonstrations of the history and transformation of the plum into prune, parades, music, clowns, and a cookery competition using prunes 23–24 Aug 07

For more info see Villeneuve-sur-Lot – Animations.

Full marks to Flybe

Administrator — Tue, 31 Jul 2007 12:07:50 +0000

At last a budget airline has introduced transparent pricing on its website. Flybe now shows the actual cost to fly on their routes to France and elsewhere. Until now airlines would headline their offers along the lines of “Flights from 99p” but by the time booking fees, admin charges, airport charges and government taxes were [...]

Rugby World Cup – Bordeaux

Administrator — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 17:32:28 +0000

Australia v Canada in Bordeaux

Rugby World Cup – Bordeaux

Administrator — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 17:22:33 +0000

Canada v Japan in Bordeaux

Rugby World Cup – Bordeaux

Administrator — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 07:35:59 +0000

Ireland v Georgia in Bordeaux

Rugby World Cup – Bordeaux

Administrator — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 07:10:46 +0000

Ireland v Namibia in Bordeaux

Wine, Cheese & Bread Festival – Langon

Administrator — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 18:59:36 +0000

Langon (33 Gironde, Aquitaine) midway between Bordeaux and Saint Emilion holds a well-balanced festival of wine,cheese and bread (La foire aux vins, fromages et pains) on the first weekend of September. Given the proximity of some of the finest vineyards in the world – Graves, Sauternes, Pomerol, Saint Emilion – the wine element alone should [...]

Jurade de St Emilion Harvest celebrations

Administrator — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 18:53:37 +0000

The Ban des Vendanges de la Jurade de St Emilion is a festival to formally announce the beginning of the harvest of the wines of St Emilion (33 Gironde, Aquitaine), one of the great wines of Bordeaux. The “Jurade” is one of those French inventions to recreate a usually fictitious ancient brotherhood of men (and [...]

Medieval Festival at Sauveterre

Administrator — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 20:58:54 +0000

Sauveterre (33 Gironde, Aquitaine) in the valley of the river Dropt holds an annual Medieval Festival with jousting, costumes, parade, dancing,music etc

For more info see http://www.sauveterre-de-guyenne.com

Sauveterre Wine Festival in Aquitaine

Administrator — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 20:50:13 +0000

Sauveterre (33, Gironde. Aquitaine) between Bordeaux and Marmande holds a 3–day festival of wine, food and other diversions featuring the wines of the Entre-Deux-Mers (between the 2 rivers) and Bordeaux.

For more info see http://www.sauveterre-de-guyenne.com/

Fete du Vin de Duras

Administrator — Mon, 16 Jul 2007 16:32:41 +0000

The Côtes de Duras wine festival takes place in the grounds of the Chateau at Duras (47 Lot-et-Garonne, Aquitaine)– in the morning some conducted walks amongst the vineyards, a procession of classic cars, taste some wine from many of the local producers – and then in the evening there is a feast and music (Jazz) and [...]

Tour de France 2007 – Stage 18

Administrator — Fri, 13 Jul 2007 10:53:49 +0000

From Cahors (46 Lot, Midi-Pyrenees) across the Dordogne (24 Dordogne, Aquitaine) and on to Angouleme (15 Charente, Poitou-Charentes) through the heart of South West and into Cognac country.

Tour de France 2007 – Stage 17

Administrator — Fri, 13 Jul 2007 09:16:29 +0000

Tour de France 2007 – Stage 16

Administrator — Fri, 13 Jul 2007 08:54:32 +0000

Orthez (64 Pyrenees-Atlantiques, Midi-Pyrenees) to Gourette (Col d’Aubisque) – after a rest day off the mountains, the tour now cruelly sends the cyclists back up the mountains for what is probably the hardest day of mountain climbing in the whole Tour. A quick detour into Spain is included before the finish.

For more info on the [...]

Markets in Gironde (33 Aquitaine)

Administrator — Sat, 23 Jun 2007 10:02:09 +0000

Markets in the Gironde (33, Aquitaine)

Arcachon for oysters and seafood, Bazas for beef.and almost everything in Bordeaux.

The following list is provided as an indicator of what markets take place whenin good faith, but bear in mind that some markets will only take place in the summer, others may be 2-weekly or monthly – always check [...]

Flying UK to France

Administrator — Mon, 05 Mar 2007 22:42:35 +0000

The choice of budget airline routes from UK to France is impressive,

Vineyard Gites in Bergerac

Administrator — Fri, 24 Nov 2006 09:26:40 +0000

Englishwoman Patricia Atkinson at Close d’Yvigne has established a name for herself as a writer and a successful winemaker in the Bergerac (24 Dordogne, Aquitaine) – see The Ripening Sun: One Woman and the Creation of a Vineyard and La Belle Saison. However in addition she also has 2 rather grand gites (villas) in [...]