This French Life

  • The wines of Bergerac

    Phil HargreavesFOR too long, Bergerac has bumped along in the wake of its more illustrious neighbour, Bordeaux, writes Phil Hargreaves.

    Now, massive investment and a new generation of often innovative winemakers have put Bergerac back on the map.

    The wines cover a whole range of tastes, from dry whites, reds from Montravel and Pécharmant and sweet whites from Saussignac and Monbazillac.

    However, don’t underestimate the simple Bergerac appellation which affords some excellent value, from straightforward fruity wines to more expensive oak-aged cuvées.

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  • French system fails to recognise civil partnerships

    Bluefrenchlifeblock03040SAME-SEX couples who are registered in a civil partnership from outside France, and who are then considered resident in the country, face paying thousands of pounds in inheritance tax, even if they are not considered French residents.

    Although the UK recognises the French equivalent of its own civil partnership, the pacte civil de solidarité (PACS), the reverse is not the case.

    Meaning should one or other partner die in France an inheritance tax bill of 60 per cent will be sent to the surviving partner, with those affected having little option but to pay up.

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  • An artistic tour of Burgundy talent

    Burgundy arts

    A chance to exhibit, take part and enjoy artwork in the Cote d’Or

    FORTY THREE artists, sculptors and photographers gathered for the 9th E.V.A.sions de la Peinture et des Arts Contemporaine competition in the Auxois region of the Cote d’Or, Burgundy.

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  • Find a doctor in France

    Health FranceIF you want to find a doctor, dentist or other health professional in France the the l’Assurance Maladie website has a search facility to help you out.

    The Annuaire des Professionnels de Santé (Directory of Health Professionals) lets you select different job types such as doctor, dentist or midwife , but also places including chemists and laboratories.

    You pick the profession, make sure you confirm your choice as this lets you narrow down your search a littel further if necessary, then enter your post code or town and then Rechercher.

    The database then pops out the address and contact details of the doctors, dentists or other professionals near you.

  • Operation Tranquillité Vacances to protect your home

    Operation TranquilliteIF you are away from your home in France visiting friends, or even taking a holiday, many areas will operate Operation Tranquillité Vacances which is overseen by the local police or gendarmerie.

    The Connexion newspaper highlights the service and it is designed to provide homeowners with added security as police officers will be aware the property is empty and so be vigilant during patrols.

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  • Bringing English cheese to the dinner tables of France

    Adrian PerrymanSOME might say that selling English cheese in France is a bit like sending coals to Newcastle, but for Adrian Perryman it’s a chance to show off the rich tastes the UK has to offer.

    Since moving to France in 2003 with his partner Jannie, the former chef and builder has become a regular at village markets around the Creuse offering up a cheeseboard bearing some of the most famous names from England.

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  • Cycle the trail of the Vallee du Thouet

    Vallee ThouetYOU might not think water runs uphill, but in France it does, writes Beryl Brennan.

    The source of the River Thouet in Deux-Sevres is at Le Beugnon, near Secondigny, and it runs uphill to join the mighty Loire at Saumur.

    It is a particularly attractive river, meandering through the picturesque and varied countryside via Parthenay, Airvault (birthplace of Voltaire) and Thouars, in a route known as the Vallee du Thouet.

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  • A garden of contrasts in l’Orne, Normandy

    Jardins Mansoniere
    I LOVE gardens. Well to be exact I like visiting and looking at gardens. Whilst staying with friends they took us to a most delightful village, Saint Céneri le Gérei.

    Hidden away on the edge of the village are some gardens, Les Jardins de la Mansonière, which have been constructed over 16 years by Michèle and Philippe Manson.

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  • Rouen – The Armada starts from here

    Tall Ships RouenTHE magnificent sight of the Tall Ships Race, or as the French call it The Armada, called in at Rouen in the Seine Maritime department of Normandy, before heading to the UK.

    Here Coral writes about her experience of visiting the event, but also some of the difficulties she faced as a disabled visitor during a trip with family and friends:

    While on holiday in the area I took time to go and see the tall ships as they were in the port at Rouen, before they left in style on July 14.

    There were due to be around 30 ships taking part, as well as free concerts and firework displays every evening, plus the chance to enjoy international shops, local restaurants and bars, the crowning of Miss Armada, an interfaith mass and the Grand Parade of Tall Ships on Bastille Day.

    Other events on offer were lunch aboard three of the ships, the ability to tour some of the ships and a four day rowing race from Paris to Rouen.

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  • Le Village Gaulois in Brittany

    Village gaulois
    IN 1967 a young Breton schoolboy was shocked as he watched televised pictures of the Biafran war in Nigeria.

    These pictures triggered a dream in the young Jean-Marc Le Bail to find a way to help African people. In 1978 he built his own house and joined an ecological society which supported third world projects.

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