This French Life – Page 6

This French Life

Dordogne airports and driving distances

YOUR best airport for flying to the Dordogne will very much depend upon where you are staying because it is one of the largest départements in France.

The Dordogne can take a good three hours to drive across, so whilst you think you might have saved money on your flights by landing at a ‘cheaper’ airport, if you have to add on the cost of travel to your final destination you could have lost out in the long run.

So if we use for example Périgueux, found close to the centre of the Dordogne as our target destination what distances are we looking at for driving to the town from airports in the south west of France?

Bergerac Airport

Summer flights to Bergerac Airport from the UK and the Netherlands are common so many people flying to the Dordogne will land here.

It is found to the south of Bergerac and is a small airport that accommodates thousands of holidaymakers every summer, but also those visiting family and friends back in the UK or those still with business and work there.

The distance from Bergerac to Périgueux is around 50kms, so less than an hour’s drive along main roads and with plenty of places to stop for a break on the way if necessary.

Recently Begerac Airport has also started a summer bus service that connects to other towns and villages in south west France.

Limoges Airport

Found in the Haute-Vienne, Limoges Airport opens up options if you are planning on going to the north of the Dordogne.

It is around 100kms from Périgueux, so you are looking at around a two hour drive, but if you are staying close to the Périgord-Limousin Regional Nature Park then Limoges is your best option.

Brive Airport

The inauguration of Brive Airport was on 15 June, 2010 and it has slowly established itself as an alternative route to the north and eastern side of the Dordogne, as well as the higher reaches of the Dordogne valley.

It is not as popular as Bergerac so you are not guaranteed regular links to the UK will be operating year after year, much depends upon the willingness of airlines to provide flights to Brive.

As for driving to Périgueux, you are looking at a little over an hour covering a distance of 75kms.

Bordeaux Airport

The international Bordeaux-Merignac Airport is one of the largest in France and offers flights to destinations around the world.

A key point about the airport is that it is found to the west of Bordeaux, so you have to get round the city first before heading towards the Dordogne and whilst there is a ring road tolls are payable on some sections.

As for distance, Périgueux is 150kms away so you will need to plan for about a three hour drive, as long as you don’t bump into any traffic problems round Bordeaux.

Toulouse-Blagnac Airport

I would say that Toulouse Airport is about the limit of places to fly to if you are driving north towards the Dordogne.

The distance to Périgueux is 260kms meaning a drive of around four hours, which is a bit long in the summer months, although the vast majority of the trip can be done on autoroutes.

If you are planning on staying around the southern reaches of the Dordogne, and Bergerac airport is not an option, the distance is a little more manageable at around 150kms, so approximately a little over a two and a half hour drive.

Whilst summer flights to the Dordogne are usually many and varied, you might want to double-check just how far your ultimate destination is from the airport.

Because, that bargain priced flight might not look as attractive as you thought if you still have a long drive in front of you upon arrival.

15 June 2022
Map shows where ticks are found in France

A MAP showing where ticks are most common in France highlights an area from the south west, through the central region and on into the north east corner of the country.

Published by l’INRAE (l’Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement) it highlights areas that are heavily wooded and which feature many wild animals such as deer and boar.

Popular holiday regions such as here in the Dordogne are areas of high risk, with researchers saying that an increase in the number of animals that carry ticks being a reason behind their spread.

Risk of Lyme disease

If you are bitten then ticks can pass on Lyme disease, the beginning of which is recognisable by a red rash in the shape of a bullseye target, usually with a small bite mark at its centre.

Around 60,000 cases a year of Lyme’s disease are recorded in France, and as more and more people spend leisure time in the woods the chances of crossing ticks and being bitten rise.

At the earliest sign you should visit a local doctor as antibiotic treatment is possible to deal with the flare up, if you leave it real problems can occur and cause highly disabling illness.

Ticks on cats and dogs

Ticks are also a risk to your dogs and cats, attaching themselves to your pets and risking the development of diseases such as leishmaniasis, babesiosis, ehrlichiosis and heartworm.

These can prove fatal to your pets so precautions should be taken.

To protect your pets you can use spot-on treatments such as Frontline, and use a small hook to pick out the tick from your pets skin or your own, you can find treatments on Amazon.

Make a habit of looking over your pet for the distinctive tick, there is a larger black variety and a small red coloured one.

How do ticks transmit diseases?

Ticks will attach themselves to humans or animals and feed on the blood after biting their host.

They can transmit pathogens to new hosts and the diseases they pass on are transmitted through their saliva, that’s why it is important not to squeeze the body of a tick when attached to the skin as it will force these body fluids back into its host.

A tick’s ability to spread illnesses and diseases is very good as they can feed on large amounts of blood and increase the chances of absorbing a pathogen.

They can also travel long distances as they attach themselves to humans and animals who then move around.

Ticks also have a long life span, sometimes a few months, and they reproduce in large numbers, ensuring diseases they carry are kept active in the environment.

Tips on protecting yourself

The most common area for the presence of ticks is woodland so if you are out walking with family and friends, or with your dog, then make a habit of looking over your clothes and through your pet’s fur to try and spot any ticks early.

If will also help if you wear light-coloured clothing that shows ticks easily and covers arms and legs. Wear long-sleeved shirts, tight at the wrists, long pants tight at the ankles and tucked into socks, and shoes covering the whole foot.

Apply diethyltoluamide (e.g., DEET) to skin and permethrin to clothing. But do not apply it to clothing while it is being worn, and allow the clothing to thoroughly dry before wearing.

Perform daily checks of skin for ticks. Check children two to three times a day. Check under waistbands, sock tops, under arms, and any other moist areas.

Remove ticks by using toothed hooks like these on Amazon or you should be able to buy them at a chemist or vets.

Slide the teeth of the tool across your skin and around the tick as closely to the skin as possible. Use a steady motion, pull the tick’s body away from the skin.

If parts of the tick remain stuck in the skin, they should be removed as soon as possible.

Suffocating the tick with oil, cream etc. may induce injection of more infectious material into the body, so do not use petroleum jelly, burning matches or cigarette ends, nail polish or other products.

Related: Tiger mosquito warning map for France

10 June 2022
Dordogne weather – what to expect throughout the year

THE weather in the Dordogne is usually not too hot, or too cold, for any length of time – there was a good reason Cro-Magnon man settled in the region.

You can visit the region throughout the year and see the Dordogne countryside under a different coloured sky, from slate grey of winter to dazzling clear, blue skies of summer.

And one of the reasons so many people visit the area is because the weather is rarely extreme, forcing you to batten down the hatches for days or wrap up warm when you are on your summer holidays.

To get a forecast for the next few days you can visit Météo-France, and narrow your search down to different regions.

Dordogne weather in March, April and Easter

March can still be cold and damp, but you will begin to see the first signs of spring approaching, however, overnight frosts can still be experienced.

April is the month of change in the Dordogne when the beginning of the month can still be cool and damp, with the trees and flowers beginning to show their first initial bursts of green.

By the end of the month many flowers will be in full bloom beside the roads and under the forest trees with warm temperatures allowing you to get out and explore the Dordogne.

Dordogne weather in May and June

As we head towards the summer there is more daylight and the warmth of the sun brings the forests to life, with a mellow green glow in the air.

You may still get a day or two of rain, but overall your week or two on holiday in the Dordogne should not be disturbed by long periods of rain, although you might be advised to keep an umbrella to hand.

Thunderstorms can pop up in late afternoon, usually with heavy downpours and hailstones, but they usually bring a breath of fresh air to the region.

Dordogne weather in summer months of July and August

By this time of the year the temperatures will be in the high 20Cs or early 30Cs, with warm mild evenings allowing your to sit outside at night markets or small local bars.

Recent summers have had periods of extreme heat though, with some days seeing temperatures heading towards 40C, this is too much for many especially by the afternoon when many of the houses will close their shutters to keep the scorching heat out.

And increasingly the threat of forest fires grows in the summer months so being aware of what you can do to reduce the risk is important.

Dordogne weather in autumn of September and October

This is my favourite time of the year, especially getting out early on a cool September morning when a light mist might be lingering in the valley.

You can spend all day in a t-shirt, enjoy meals outdoors and only have to put a light jumper on in the evening.

For me it is the perfect time to visit the Dordogne, the busy tourists days are behind you and many places to visit, as well as bars and restaurants are still open, but without long queues or hordes of people.

Dordogne weather in winter and Christmas

November and December is likely to be damp, with some days of heavy rain, and fewer places open to visit, but it won’t be very cold, although night time temperatures can occasionally get down to -5C.

But you should be able to still get out and on clear, crisp mornings see some beautiful landscapes and whilst you will have to wrap up, you should not have to battle with heavy snowfall or problematic wintery conditions.

Christmas in recent years has seen mild weather, with the chance to spend Noël au balcon or Christmas on the terrace, especially if you are sheltered from any chilly winds.

Christmas markets and special fetes and celebrations are held in many towns and villages, so you should be able to enjoy a real taste of the Dordogne without getting wet or very cold.

Dordogne weather in January and February

Deep into winter in the Dordogne and you are likely to experience cloudy, cold days when the log burning fire has to be kept topped up.

The east of the Dordogne can experience winter temperatures quite a few degrees lower than the west, and northerly or winds from the east can take day time temperatures below freezing.

The weather in the Dordogne gives you a chance to see it during various times of the year, and as I highlight above early autumn is a good time to visit.

But whatever time of year you visit you are unlikely to have your travel plans completely washed out, or forced to sit around the fireplace keeping warm, although that is a lovely experience in an old stone cottage as you watch the sun set.

10 June 2022
What is the FR-Alert mobile phone emergency messaging system?

THE French authorities have launched the FR-Alert messaging system via mobile phones to send warnings about the weather, terrorist attacks and other life threatening dangers.

FR-Alert has been developed in partnership with French mobile phone operators and in time you may get a first message advising you of the launch of the service.

The system will work on a regional basis covering dangers such as flooding and storms, as well as possible chemical leaks, health warnings, severe road accidents, travel incidents and even possible terrorist incidents.

A key feature of FR-Alert is that it will work on a localised basis, ensuring people don’t get messages that are a long way from where they live, with the hope that people will take note when they do receive one.

Warning messages will provide advice and information on any steps you need to take, such as whether you should stay at home or evacuate the area.

Naturally the messages will be provided in French, but the authorities say that other languages will be provided should a dangerous event take place in an area that has a high foreign tourist population.

You will not need to download an application to your phone, the messages will come directly to your device, but they will not be able to bypass Airplane mode if it is set on your phone.

Updating iPhone for FR-Alert

For my own iPhone SE, which the screen grab above is from, I first updated the operating system on my phone to iOS 15.5.

Once this is complete you can then go into Settings > Notifications and scroll down the page to a section titled FR-ALERT where you will see the recognisable green slide buttons that allow you to turn on or off the notifications.

Interestingly despite my phone being set up to use the French language, the section is in English, and whilst messages about kidnapping alerts of young children are self-explanatory, I could not find out more about what the different threat levels mean.

Phones using the Android based operating system do not require an update and the FR-Alert section can also be found under the notifications section of settings.

7 June 2022
Summer 2022 bus service from Bergerac Airport

FOR summer 2022 a bus service will be operating from Bergerac Airport offering connections to popular towns and cities in south west France.

One service will provide a link between Bergerac and Périgueux, another will go between Bergerac, Eymet and Marmande, with a third service linking Bergerac to Issigeac and Villeneuve-sur-Lot.

All three services go via the SNCF station at Bergerac.

Ticket prices have increased on last year to 2,30€ (up from 2€) and you need to reserve your seat the day before your trip, and then ring before 17h.

One thing to be aware of is if you want to travel using the bus service on Saturday, Sunday or Monday then you need to call before 17h on the Friday.

More information is available on the Bergerac Airport website.

The following .pdf timetables will help with your planning:

Bus number 3 – Bergerac and Périgueux

Download SPECIAL Eté-Fiche horaire-Cars régionaux-Bergerac-Perigueux

Bus number 4 – Bergerac, Eymet and Marmande

Download NOUVEAU-SPECIAL Eté-Fiche horaire-Cars régionaux-Marmande-Bergerac

Bus number 4A – Bergerac to Issigeac and Villeneuve-sur-Lot

Download NOUVEAU-SPECIAL Eté-Fiche horaire-Cars régionaux-Villeneuve%20Sur%20Lot-Bergerac

6 June 2022
The Dordogne Mysteries of Martin Walker in order

IF there is one way to discover and learn about the Dordogne it is through the books of author, Martin Walker, and his fictional character Bruno, chief of police.

The books are set in the small town of St. Denis south-west France, which is based upon the actual town of Le Bugue, and tells of the adventures of Bruno Courreges as well as the characters, both good and bad, that he crosses.

At the heart of each book is a crime solving adventure undertaken by Bruno, chief of police, but you will also learn so much about life in the Dordogne, its food, the countryside, its history.

Martin Walker writes with a real passion, and intimate knowledge of the area that comes through in every page.

With the number of Dordogne mysteries books now into double figures, you may be wondering what order they come in, find out below.

And whilst I have listed them from the very first to the most recent, there is no need to read them one after the other as each book stands alone, and although there may be the occasional mention of previous stories, they have no impact on the one you are reading.

If you can’t wait, drop in on Amazon to find out more.

1 – Death in the Dordogne: The Dordogne Mysteries

Here we meet Bruno for the first time and some of the characters he works and spends time with that also feature in future books.

But first he has to deal with the murder of a world war two veteran and while many point the finger at one man, Bruno is not so sure and and works hard to get to the bottom of the case.

2 – Dark Vineyard: The Dordogne Mysteries

The vineyards of south west France produce a valuable commodity, but is it one that results in murder? As battle rages over the future of wine growing around St. Denis arsonists hit a research plant, causing Bruno to call on his local contacts.

3 – Black Diamond: The Dordogne Mysteries

The black diamond in the title is the name often given to truffles, a prized ingredient that is found at the foot of oak trees, and whose location is a closely guarded secret.

But it is secrets that lead to threats and murder, and as Bruno investigates he uncovers links to China and child prostitution.

4 – The Crowded Grave: The Dordogne Mysteries

The Dordogne is home to cro-magnon man, and whilst archaeologists work on a dig, a more recent body is found.

And with a high-level meeting set to take place on his patch, Bruno, chief of police. is left fighting terrorists and the loss of a loved one in the final battle.

5 – The Devil’s Cave: The Dordogne Mysteries

Satanism in the quiet corners of the Dordogne seems unlikely, but when a body is found in a boat floating downstream Bruno steps into a dark world.

6 – The Resistance Man: The Dordogne Mysteries

The second world war is still a painful memory for many in France and this is the case in St.Denis as past crimes come to the fore.

Bruno is forced to look into the history of the war and the local Resistance, whilst also handling a complicated old flame of his own.

7 – Death Undercover: The Dordogne Mysteries

The war in Afghanistan and Muslim terrorists leave a deep scar on Bruno as he looks to fine the men who killed a police colleague, leaving his body in the woods.

8 – The Dying Season: The Dordogne Mysteries

A powerful family in the region invites Bruno to a birthday party, but whilst enjoying his time there a murder takes place opening up deep divisions within the family and a few skeletons in cupboards they want to keep locked.

But Bruno shakes off the pressure to look the other way and works to find the murderer, all while trying to calm frictions between pro and anti hunters in woods around St.Denis.

9 – Fatal Pursuit: The Dordogne Mysteries

Whatever happened to a famous Bugatti racing car from the past? What appears to be a story of car enthusiasts enjoying their hobby soon progresses to money laundering and the funding of terrorism.

And while a new arrival to the area seems to have the future of the locals at heart, doubts begin to form in the mind of Bruno about future plans for property and land.

10 – The Templars’ Last Secret: The Dordogne Mysteries

A mysterious death leaves the body of an unknown woman at the foot of the château walls, who is she and where did she come from?

Bruno has to use all his experience and knowledge to find out what happened.

11 – A Taste for Vengeance: The Dordogne Mysteries

Bruno’s love for the Dordogne way of life and cuisine comes to the fore when he is asked to host a cookery class, but when one of the students is found dead he has to swap hats and solve the crime.

12 – The Body in the Castle Well: The Dordogne Mysteries

A murder draws in the White House and the FBI giving Bruno a headache of international proportions.

But with priceless artwork and a château lying at the heart of the death, Bruno uncovers evidence that takes him back to world war two and the French conflict in Algeria.

13 – A Shooting at Chateau Rock: The Dordogne Mysteries

A Russian oligarch is implicated in the death of a local farmer, but with influence that stretches back to the Kremlin, will Bruno be able to arrest the perpetrator of the crime?

14 – The Coldest Case: The Dordogne Mysteries

An unsolved case from 30 years ago still haunts Bruno’s boss. J-J, so much so that he has kept the victim’s skull.

When Bruno sees the work of reconstructive modellers working on Cro-Magnon bones, he looks to use their skills to close the case once and for all.

15 – To Kill a Troubadour: The Dordogne Mysteries

When a songwriter from one of Bruno’s favourite bands faces possible assassination for publishing a song about Catalonia, the Dordogne’s favourite police chief has to ensure international relations are kept peaceful.

All this while helping a long standing friend sort out her own day-to-day life.

16 – A Chateau Under Siege: The Dordogne Mysteries

France’s favorite country cop, Bruno, is drawn into a high-stakes investigation when a historical re-enactment in Sarlat goes wrong and a prominent figure is nearly killed.

Initially unsure if it was an accident or an attack, Bruno uncovers that the victim—Kerquelin, a former Silicon Valley star now leading France’s secret intelligence base—faked his injury. Kerquelin is secretly working on a huge deal to launch a semiconductor industry in France, but a new, dangerous adversary appears, intent on stopping it at all costs.

17 – A Grave in the Woods: The Dordogne Mysteries

Bruno is asked by his archaeologist friend Clothilde to help Abby, an American woman looking to start a new life in the Périgord after a tough divorce. Abby plans to become a tour guide focusing on historic American ties to the region. But when three sets of old bones are discovered in the woods, Bruno is pulled into a mystery that may involve wartime crimes.

At the same time, rising river levels threaten local dams, putting the town at risk. As always, Bruno must use his instincts, determination, and deep community ties to protect St Denis and uncover the truth.

18 – An Enemy in the Village: The Dordogne Mysteries

Bruno Courrèges, chief of police in the picturesque Dordogne town of St Denis, finds a woman dead in a car—apparently a suicide. But inconsistencies and disputes over her Will raise his suspicions.

At the same time, Bruno’s involvement in a local marital spat backfires, triggering a wave of political intrigue. Deputy mayor Xavier, seeking revenge and power, fuels a smear campaign painting Bruno as a covert agent for French intelligence. With his reputation under attack and a mysterious death to unravel, Bruno must fight to clear his name and uncover the truth.

Drop in on Amazon to find out more.

4 June 2022
Loubéjac farmers markets and others this summer 2021

EVERY Thursday the popular night market beneath Loubéjac’s church tower takes place and runs throughout July and August.

The first one takes place on 8 July, running through to 2 September, and starts at 18h30, and remember to bring along your plates, as well as glasses for a dash of wine and knives and forks.

You will also be asked to conform to any social distancing requirements and to be aware of keeping your hands clean before and after touching surfaces.

Local food and drink producers offer duck, breads, soups, salads, wine, fruits of all types and you can sit down with friends to enjoy a leisurely evening.

This southern corner of the Dordogne will host similar events, always offering a slice of real French life.

There is a farmers market every Tuesday during the summer season in Villefranche-du-Périgord, it takes place under the village halle from 13 July through to the 31 August and starts at 18h30.

On Fridays there is a farmers market in Besse from 18h30, starting on the 9 July until 27 August.

Summer 2022 farmers’ markets will be taking place, find out up to date dates and information.

6 July 2021
Dordogne tourism trade rescued by French visitors

THE French have come to the rescue of the Dordogne tourism trade this summer, with initial figures showing that the advertising promotions after the de-confinement in May helped the region.

The Comité Départemental du Tourisme de la Dordogne (CDTT) has said that despite foreign visitors being greatly reduced due to Covid-19 travel restrictions, many French people took their place.

Normally the split is 70% French and 30% foreign visitors, but this year the split is 90% French and 10% from outside France.

Gites and hotels have done well, with outdoor past-times such as cycling and canoeing proving popular, although camp sites and Bergerac airport has found summer 2020 a struggle.

Many visitors to the Dordogne are from the département, or neighbouring areas, and many have been willing to spend their euros in local shops and restaurants.

It is hoped that September will see an extension of the season and enable some businesses to make up some of the loses they experienced earlier in the year.

24 August 2020
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20 August 2020
Oil fired heating systems set to be phased out

NEW or replacement fioul, or oil fired, heating systems in France will be banned from the beginning of 2022.

The measure had been proposed by a citizens committee looking at ways to ‘green’ the French way of life, and the government has backed the proposal to bring an end to the use of oil, as well as coal, heating systems in the home.

There are currently around three and a half million homes in France using the equipment, but from 1 January 2022 no replacement systems or new ones can be installed in properties.

The government has said that it will help poorer households with the replacement of systems, up to 80 per cent of the cost, and has also stressed the importance of proper insulation in the home.

But what alternatives are available?

In the French countryside fioul is still quite common and you will see the large white containers in gardens a safe distance away from from the house.

But the problem is that many homes in the countryside can not be connected to town gas and so are likely to have to swap across to wood fired systems, heat pumps or solar – not a simple task.

Wood fired systems, especially those using pellets drawn in automatically, are very efficient but stocking the pellets in a dry and protected environment could be difficult.

While heat pump systems can be expensive and depending upon which type is installed may require the laying of pipes in the ground.

Solar is another option which also receives government support, but again physical constraints within a property might prove difficult to overcome and also the amount of sunlight received throughout the year needs to be accounted for.

An estimation of the financial support available, as well as information on claiming a rebate for the replacement work, is available via Prime à la conversion des chaudières.

29 July 2020