Unless you are lucky enough to live within an hour or so of the English Channel ports, the annual trip to and from France can be a bit of an ordeal. Dover crossings may be short, but tend to leave you with longer to drive on both sides of the Channel. The western Channel crossings [...]
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In the upper Loire Valley lies the appellation of the Côtes Roannaise AC – from the region around Roanne (42 Loire, Rhône-Alpes) – although a long way from the area most of us associate with the Loire Valley, For a rather different and eco-friendly B&B experience you could try this modern, well-equipped treehouse in southern Normandy 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 [...] Stage 4 Cholet – Cholet time trial in the Loire Valley 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 [...] Nantes is best known for being the major city on the western extremities of the River Loire – but it is also built on a smaller river, the River Erdre which runs in from the north. In September the city celebrates a 3–day “meeting on the Erdre” (Rendezvous de l’Erdre) – a very French mix of music [...] Orleans (45 Loiret, Centre) celebrates Europe’s last wild river, the Loire, with a meeting of French and foreign traditional riverboats. Nautical demonstrations, water shows, magical evenings, dinner-dances, Loire crafts and products village, conferences, exhibitions. This is the Loire like you’ve never seen before ! For more info see www.festivaldeloire.com
The Third edition of Le Marché des Vins de Saumur (49 Maine-et-Loire) on the Loire. Interesting and individual selection of French wines including DOMAINE DES HUARDS, Cour-Cheverny AC Cuvée Francois 1er 2002, Romorantin The little known Romorantin grape is now exclusive to Cour-Cheverny. A favourite of Leonardo de Vinci, it produces a very individual wine. Dry with subtle fruits and a slightly “sherried” flavour. Martlet Wines is internet-based (no shop) and provides a slightly quirky [...] Wales v Fiji in Nantes England v Samoa in Nantes Wales v Canada in Nantes The normally quiet coastal village of Batz-sur-Mer (44 Loire-Atlantique, Pays de la Loire) goes a little crazy for 3 days in July with their Nuits Salines – salty nights of music and dance – culminating in a Fest Noz (Festival of the Night) which is a traditional Breton festival, similar to a ceilidh – with [...] Between Nantes and Saint Nazaire on the Atlantic Coast – see www.frenchduck.com The choice of budget airline routes from UK to France is impressive, We met with Madame Leduc early in our wine travels – and more by happenchance than design. Having been thoroughly disgruntled by a Loire negociant who was only interested in selling cheap sweet rose to the English, we found we had time on our hands and an almost forgotten introduction to this vineyard from [...] The winemakers of Anjou and Saumur offer to brighten up February with a weekend wine Festival on 24 and 25 February 2007 at Challonnes-sur-Loire (49 Maine-et-Loire, Val de Loire – see map). This is not be be confused with the Loire Valley Wine Fair in Angers at the end of January, which is a trade [...] Domaine Octavie at Oisly make some excellent Touraine Sauvignon…. Sancerre (18 Cher, Centre) is world-renown vineyard (and pretty town) in the mid-Loire Valley, The town is situated on a rocky outcrop overlooking the Loire river and providing a superb view of the vineyards which enjoy the natural slopes on limestone and marl. |
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