IF you think your knowledge of all things France is good, well it is time to check it out with questions posed by author Andrew Whittaker.
He has put together ten questions that cover recent events, but also a challenging selection of brain teasers testing your knowledge of literature, music, photography and cinema.
THE rocky outcrops of the Quercy Blanc region and the deep reds of the wines of Cahors are the underlying elements of a corner of France many people may drive past when heading to the Mediterranean coast.
But author Amanda Lawrence stopped and used the area as the setting for her debut book, White Stone Black Wine, which opens a door on the local people and the rich history of a region dominated by vineyards, truffles and foie gras.
And although Amanda has long enjoyed visiting the region, it wasn’t until she and her family left the UK that her book began to take shape.
JACQUELINE Karp-Gendre has lived in France for over 30 years, writes Beryl Brennan. She speaks French and Spanish like a native, as well as a smattering of Arabic.
Her mother was a journalist, so writing is in her blood, and she never travels without a notebook and pen.
“People I meet, things that happen, places I visit, all inspire me and trigger my thoughts, and I have to sit down there and then and write them down,” Jacqueline explains. Nowadays, she also carries a laptop.
THE appeal amongst holiday makers to both enjoy their time away, but also to make sure that their impact on the environment is kept to a minimum, is proving increasingly important.
With this in mind there are a growing number of gite owners in France making their facilities ‘green’ not only to cut back on waste, but also as a way to appeal to people looking to take a holiday that respects the environment.
AS the world’s most popular tourist destination France has something for everyone and you will never run out of places to visit.
With easy travel options and accommodation available practically everywhere you could a lifetime discovering the country, below is a look at some of the off the beaten track highlights.
Lalbenque truffle market
An otherwise undistinguished town in south west France will be magically transformed into one of the most exciting, adrenaline-pumping and important events in the entire French culinary universe.
A magical walk with the trois évêques, near Lavaur, Dordogne
You are sure to see the steep rock face from the road as you navigate the tight bend, but not many people stop and take a stroll to the Fontaine des trois évêques.
Latour-Marliac water lily gardens
Begun in 1875 by Joseph Bory Latour-Marliac making the Nénuphar centre the oldest lily nursery in the world.
Abbaye Nouvelle, a place of hidden stories
A Gothic-style abbey, which dates from the 13th century, with its five bays towering above you, found near Gourdon, the Lot.
CAFI, a Vietnamese village in the Lot, France
The Indochinese living at CAFI arrived by British boat to Marseille some 54 years ago, here is their story of life in France.
Woolen mill Filature de Belvès
The spinning mill sits beneath the hill on top of which sits the Dordogne town of Belvès, and it produced yarns up until the 1990s.
Visit to the Museum of Resistance, in Cahors
Across six rooms you learn how the Resistance in the Lot département took shape to attack armoured columns, bomb railway lines and support Allied troops and operations in the region.
A walk around Prats du Perigord
Stroll around the small Dordogne village of Prats-du-Périgord*, but keep an eye out for the speedy Nordic Walkers as they stride past.
Canoeing on the river Dordogne
Glide through the water in your canoe as you pass the turrets and towers of Castlenaud on the river Dordogne.
Stepping into angelica country at Bessines
The village straddles the D9 to Coulon and is the gateway to angelica country, but also each May Bessines plays host to the Angelica Festival.
Counting sheep at Mouton Village, Deux-Sevres
Mouton Village occupies a large part of the village, with its 1,600 human inhabitants greatly outnumbered by their four-legged woolly compatriots.
The Roc aux Sorciers comes to life
The Roc aux Sorciers exhibition centre has images recreated by laser etching tools to feature bison, goats, cats and even erotic female forms.
UNESCO sites in France
France is heavily involved in the work of UNESCO around the world, but closer to home there are a number of interesting places you could visit.
A festive stroll around Strasbourg Christmas market
Strasbourg is internationally famous for its Christmas market, or Christkindelmarïk, and for good reason.
Tips for visitors of Paris museums and monuments
Paris museums and monuments are the things you want to visit in the capital. However, they can often be crowded, overwhelming, and expensive.
Visitors guide to the Auxois region
Each community of communes in the Pays d’Auxois has adapted a site in partnership with l’Office National des Forets.
Flavigny sur Ozerain – a village set in time
An hour north of Dijon and a short drive from the A6 lays the fortified, Burgundian, hilltop village of Flavigny sur Ozerain.
The château of Époisses in Burgundy
The interior of the château brings to life its long history, with the entrance decorated with the coats of arms of successive owners.
Carrière Wellington Museum at Arras
Parts of the underground city built during World War One near Arras have been opened to the public, showing the conditions that thousands of soldiers endured.
AS more and more families move across to France questions about the French schooling system are sure to be asked.
There are quite a few differences to the way children are schooled in the UK and this can be a bit of a shock, but at the same time the rigid nature of the system appeals to many.
French education, an introduction
A look at the basic set up of the French state education for nursery and primary school pupils.
Education for older pupils in French schools
Views on the secondary education system from both French and English people.
Education in France – a view from the playground
How an English schoolgirl found her feet at her new French school.
Count down to, La Rentrée
The restart of the school year sees parents looking at the list provided by schools and ensuring that everything has been bought for their children.
Back to school calendar in France
Track down the different dates for holidays amongst the three distinct educational zones in France.
Being an English Language Assistant
A popular route into France, especially for those who have recently graduated from college or university, is as an English Language Assistant.
Advice for a single parent heading to France
Some of the particular challenges single parents may face when in France.
WHETHER you are using the internet to help support your business or just to keep in touch with friends, you may find you spend more time online in France than ever before.
Here you can find out how to help improve your website, try a few online tools for common tasks and ensure you work safely online so that you don’t fall victim to dodgy tricks and scam merchants.
Holiday home website tips
As more and more people turn to the internet to track down a holiday home in France it is vital that your site has the basics right.
First steps in starting a blog
A series of articles that will set you up with a blog and help you keep readers up to date and ensure search engines regularly visit.
Tips to improve your holiday home website
For gite and holiday rental owners your website is your shop window and often is the only way a potential client can see what they are going to get.
Promote your holiday home with postcards
As the cost of online printing services fall here is a very easy way of putting your property in front of others.
Use newspapers and eBay to boost business
Use the power of eBay and newspaper inserts to give your business a boost.
Online tools to stay in touch with friends and family
Thanks to the internet it is possible to keep people up to date with places you’ve visited, photographs you’ve taken and those strange peculiarities of French life.
Ditch dodgy email and stay clear of scam messages
Unfortunately an array of tricks, frauds and crooked emails are circulating the internet every day, here’s what to look out for.
Keep your computer safe when in France
It is important your computer is protected with anti-virus software but you can also keep up to date with the latest spam tricks.
Forums, message boards and Facebook in France
There is a growing collection of websites for people keen to chat and message others about moving to France.
An availability calendar for your holiday home
How to use Google Calendar to create a simple availability calendar you can manage from anywhere.
A contact form for your holiday home website
Using Google Documents to build a form that accepts enquiries and lets you easily manage them through a spreadsheet
FROM the high speed TGV rail system to flights from destinations around the world France can be access quickly and easily.
But once you move to France you are going to need a car and maybe some other helpful advice on things like petrol prices, rail tickets and beating traffic problems.
Importing an English car into France
You can bring your English registered car into France but to drive it long term it has to be part of the French system.
Advice on car registration in France
Some more hints and pointers on registering cars in France.
How the carte grise works
Just like the UK you need to be the registered owner of the car and for that you need to apply for your carte grise.
Alcohol breathalyser for motorists
The requirement to have a single use alcohol breathalyser in your vehicle when driving in France.
Website for petrol prices in France
If you want to track down the cheapest price for petrol a regularly updated website will help you out.
Traffic reports for French roads
Maps and pointers to potential traffic problems from across France which will prove useful during the tourist season.
Driving tips in France
A few simple checks before departure will ensure your trip runs smoothly and doesn’t get stuck in a pothole or two.
Advice and tips to travel safe and securely
Nearly one in five people holidaying in France fall foul to thieves of one sort or another.
EU pet passport scheme for travel
Pets travelling between European Union member states must have an official EU Pets Passport.
Eurostar ticket tips when making a booking
If you are travelling to France on the Eurostar get the best priced ticket deal.
Cheap ferry ticket tips to France
If you can be flexible with your times of travel you may be able to get a cheaper ferry ticket than you thought.
Rules on air travel for disabled passengers
Rules have been introduced by the Department of Transport to give disabled people new rights when travelling by air in Europe.
Carte Senior from SNCF
If you are aged over 60 and enjoy discovering the different corners of France by train, then SNCF’s Carte Senior may be worth investigating.
THE French health system is seen as one of the finest in the world, with billions of euros spent on it by the government.
And whilst only some people enjoy a completely free health service, it is still very cheap and waiting times are kept to a minimum.
Here is a look at some of the articles on the site offering insight into the health system, but also information on some of the benefits available and support groups in France.
Tips and advice on French health system
A list of helpful tips offering advice on how the French health system works.
French health and emergency services
It is worth being aware of how to contact the emergency services should the worst happen.
UK benefits and allowances after moving to France
For some people giving up their old lives and leaving family and friends is complicated by whether they will continue to receive the allowances and benefits they receive in the UK.
Counselling services in France
What with a language to learn, a wage to earn and friends to make, the dream move to France can soon turn into a nightmare.
Advice from Cancer Support France
Offering a helping hand for both those with cancer and their carers.
Chronic Fatigue or ME and associated disorders
For sufferers who already have this condition and are receiving treatment and support, a move to France can be challenging.
Diabetic treatment in France
Readers of the site offer their experience of having diabetes and the medical help available.
Haemochromatosis advice and support
Haemochromatosis is a genetic disorder that sees people absorb excessive amounts of iron from their diet. Here is a piece about the illness as well as ways to get support from others.
Much planning goes into the Tour and here is the 2008 routeTHE Tour de France starts from Brest, in Brittany on Saturday, July 5 and finishes in the usual spectacular style on the Champs Élysées, Paris, on July 27.