This French Life – Page 7

This French Life

Tiger mosquito warning in France

THE tiger mosquito, or moustique tigre, continues to prove a nuisance across many areas of France with people urged to help in controlling its spread.

The mosquito can carry diseases such as chikungunya, dengue and Zika and was first spotted in the Dordogne in 2015. It is now a problem across two thirds of France, including many urban areas, with research from 2021 saying it was present in 67 départements.

And in July 2022, the French authorities announced that a resident of Perpignan, in the Pyrénées-Orientales, had developed dengue fever from a tiger mosquito bite that he suffered when at home.

It is rare for a domestic instance of the disease to be found, most cases in France come from when people have travelled overseas to areas that are known to suffer from mosquito borne illnesses.

The health authorities in Perpignan are going from door-to-door in the neighbourhood of where the victim lives to offer advice, but also in an attempt to deal with zones where the moustique tigre is present.

The French authorities have created a website providing more information on spotting and dealing with the tiger mosquito, as well as the opportunity to update them if you believe you have found the mosquito close to home.

Homeowners can reduce the risk of its spread by ensuring stagnant water is not left standing as it provides a breeding ground for the insect.

The tiger mosquito is very small at just 5 mm in length, with a distinctive black and white body and legs.

They live for around a month with the female able to lay 200 eggs every 12 days, and they only need a small quantity of water to use as a breeding ground.

Tiger mosquitoes are silent and diurnal, meaning that they tend to bite during the day (mainly in the morning and evening), whereas the common mosquito mainly bites at night

How to prevent tiger mosquito spread

The tiger mosquito seems to have adapted very well to urban and city environments as it is able to breed in artificial water containers such as vases, pots and rainwater collection systems.

– Empty all areas where stagnant water collects such as buckets and garden equipment, and put them away

– Put sand in the saucers under plants to absorb water and still let your flowers draw up moisture

– Any rainwater butts or collection points should be covered in mosquito net or cloth

– If you have ornamental ponds then introducing fish to them can help as they eat the mosquito larvae

Protect yourself from tiger mosquito bites

The mosquito does its damage during the day, biting its victims on areas of unprotected skin.

– If you can, wear long, loose, light-coloured clothing

– Spray on insect repellents can work, but double-check the packaging or ask your pharmacist for advice

– If your are struggling with the tiger mosquito around the house then nets across windows and doors might help while you deal with it

Updated July 2022

23 July 2020
How many British people live in the Dordogne?

HOW many British people live in the Dordogne? It is 7,198 according to the French statistics authority, INSEE.

Using census figures from 2016, the research body claims that the Dordogne is the second most popular place for British people to live in, behind Paris.

Overall, there are around 148,000 British residents in France, with the majority living along the western side of the country.

How many people live in the Dordogne?

Again using 2020 figures from INSEE there are 412,807 people living in the Dordogne, which is actually down around 3,500 compared to figures from 2014.

In terms of population, the Dordogne is one of the least densely populated departments in France.

The largest city in Dordogne is Périgueux, which has a population of around 29,255 which is down on the 2014 numbers.

Other important towns in the department include Bergerac with 26,360 inhabitants (27,776 in 2014) and Sarlat with 8,788 (from 9,127 in 2014).

Long term British residents

The vast majority of British people in the Dordogne have been living here for more than ten years, with 53% of those retirees, and across Nouvelle-Aquitaine there are just over 39,000 resident British people, making up 26% of the total number of British people in France.

At a Dordogne level the area around Eymet is the most popular destination for British people living the département, with nine per cent of the local population made up of British, with Ribérac the next most popular with around 4.3%.

Increase in British living in Dordogne

The figures show a sharp increase in the number of British people resident in Dordogne between 1999 and 2006, with around 3,000 at the end of the 90s heading upwards to just over 7,000 in 2016.

Whether Brexit will put a break on this remains to be seen, but with many British in France relying on freedom of movement rules to live and work here, it seems likely that the numbers moving to l’hexagone will fall.

Why do Brits move to the Dordogne?

I’m sure the quality of life, the easy pace and the mild Dordogne weather are just some of the reasons the region appeals so strongly.

There are many local village fairs and events that draw on the traditions of the Dordogne, and if you are willing to take part and volunteer your time you will often be welcome.

There is also a great deal of history to explore and learn, going as far back as Cro-magnon man, through the Hundred Years War and wars of religion, to the farming practices and the countryside way of life that appeals.

Of course the countryside is also a big draw, with gentle hills, atmospheric woods and meandering rivers offering plenty of spots to explore.

You are also often very close to the natural world, with bird spotting, orchids and other wild flowers found at the road sides and you will often see deer, foxes and occasionally badgers and sanglier.

What are the disadvantages of the Dordogne?

Travel is very much dominated by the car as public transport is either confined to the bigger towns, such as the bus service from Bergerac Airport, or is very difficult to work around due to a reduced timetable.

If you look at a map of the Dordogne you will see that the main autoroutes and train lines go around the département, and these provide easy access to other towns and cities in France.

However, it can take you an hour or more to actually get to the autoroute junction or mainline train station in the first place to begin your journey.

Medical services are usually of the highest quality, but again you might have to travel some distance to get an appointment with the dentist or a physiotherapist.

This is because of the déserts médicaux in the countryside areas of France, it is not just a problem in the Dordogne, so doctors’ surgeries are often short of medical professionals or doctors decide to continue working beyond their retirement age to help ease the backlog.

What is the cost of living in the Dordogne?

You might want to get an idea of the cost of living in the Dordogne so you can plan ahead if you want to visit or are looking to make a permanent move.

Packaged goods from supermarkets can often be expensive, especially more well known names, but to get an idea of prices the bigger supermarkets such as Leclerc over a pick-up service and so you can check prices through their website.

Petrol prices are another cost you can check online with official figures gathered together letting you search via an online map and so get up to date prices.

But if you want to keep an eye on costs fruit and vegetables from local markets are a good option and do as the French do, buy local – buy seasonal, and if you are really keen grow your own vegetables.

21 July 2020
French school holidays 2020 – 2021

THE French school holidays for the coming academic year 2020 to 2021, will see school children go back to the classroom at the end of the summer break on Tuesday 1 September.

The school holiday dates for the year are outlined below, and while the dates mention Saturday that is for the last date should lessons take place, in most cases it will be the Friday the day before that school finishes.

Vacances de la Toussaint 2020
End of class, Saturday 17 October 2020
Start day, Monday 2 November 2020

Vacances de Noël 2020
End of class, Saturday 19 December 2020
Start day, Monday 4 January 2021

A key feature of the calendrier scolaire is the different dates for holidays amongst the different educational zones in France.

The three distinct zones when it comes to the dates of when classes break up are:

Zone A: Académies de Besançon, Bordeaux, Clermont-Ferrand, Dijon, Grenoble, Limoges, Lyon, Poitiers

Zone B: Académies d’Aix-Marseille, Amiens, Lille, Nancy-Metz, Nantes, Nice, Normandie, Orléans-Tours, Reims, Rennes, Strasbourg

Zone C: Académies de Créteil, Montpellier, Paris, Toulouse, Versailles

And the division of schools regions comes into play during the mid-winter and Easter holidays.

Vacances d’hiver 2021
Zone A: End of class, Saturday 6 February 2021. Start day, Monday 22 February 2021

Zone B: End of class, Saturday 20 February 2021. Start day, Monday 8 March 2021

Zone C: End of class, Saturday 13 February 2021. Start day, Monday 1 March 2021

Vacances de printemps 2021 (Easter)
Zone A: End of class, Saturday 10 April 2021. Start day, Monday 26 April 2021

Zone B: End of class, Saturday 24 April 2021. Start day, Monday 10 May 2021

Zone c: End of class, Saturday 17 April 2021. Start day, Monday 3 May 2021

Pont de l’Ascension 2021
End of class, Wednesday 12 May 2021
Start day, Monday 17 May 2021

Grandes vacances – Summer holidays 2021
End of class, Tuesday 6 July 2021

Download calendrier scolaire 2020-2021 (.pdf)

17 July 2020
Public swimming pool in Villefranche-du-Périgord opens for summer 2020

THE open air public swimming pool in Villefranche-du-Périgord will open for the summer season on Saturday 18 July.

The pool is found near the gymnasium on the north side of the village and it will be open every day from 14h to 19h until Sunday 30 August, and for more information call 05 53 29 91 44.

15 July 2020
Macron supports making face masks mandatory in enclosed public spaces

Update 16/07/2020 – France’s Prime Minister Jean Castex has announced that masks will be made mandatory in closed public spaces from 20 July, as the health minister, Olivier Véran, announced that Covid-19 cases are once again on the rise.

FRENCH president, Emmanuel Macron, has said he wants to see the mandatory wearing of face masks in enclosed public spaces, such as shops, to fight the coronavirus pandemic.

During a televised interview marking the fête nationale the president said that the authorities were seeing a rise in Covid-19 infections and that mask wearing, as well as hand cleaning and social distancing were key tools.

“I would like to make masks mandatory in all enclosed public spaces,” Macron said in the interview, with the plan set to come into force from 1 August.

The virus reproduction rate, the “R” ratio, had again risen above one in France, Macron said, and his message came after doctors warned of a possible second wave of infections, maybe in the coming weeks.

Any second wave could increase pressure on the hospital service, but Macron said the country was ready.

“We are organised on the ground, to allow us to deal with an upsurge, if it comes,” he said.

Related: Bergerac Airport brings in Covid-19 measures

14 July 2020
Raising awareness of risk of forest fires

WITH 90% of forest fires in France caused by human activity, the pompiers of the Dordogne have asked people to take care in the woods to cut the risk of accidentally starting a fire.

The Service Départemental d’Incendie et de Secours de la Dordogne dealt with around 100 forest fires in 2019, which burnt 142 hectares in total, and these statistics were up on the previous year.

Update July 2022 – Forest fires in south west France have seen the authorities step up their awareness campaign.

And the Dordogne préfecture has placed the département under a ‘risque sévère’ warning for forest fires.

And for 2020 the pompiers will also be able to use high performance drones to help in the spotting of fires with the new equipment able to reach an altitude of 100 metres and the high-tech kit also carries a heat detector.

But despite the new gadgets being at their disposal, the authorities say that it is the general public that can ensure fires do not start by accident, be that by not taking care when using a BBQ or by creating sparks when working with small machinery and tools in the forest.

Related: Rules tightened on burning of garden waste in the Dorodgne

8 July 2020
Dordogne towns and attractions to see military patrols this summer

SOLDIERS are to be deployed to tourist attractions and towns in the Dordogne as security measures are maintained as part of the Opération Sentinelle plan to protect against terrorist acts.

The Préfet de la Dordogne has announced that 27 military personnel from the 94ème régiment d’infanterie de Sissonne, will patrol popular tourist areas and events over the next couple of months.

For the past few years additional security measures have been undertaken in the Dordogne, and across France, with the troops expected to be on patrol until the end of August.

Related: Travel to the Dordogne in summer 2020

6 July 2020
Launch of residency permit website for British citizens delayed

THE French Ministry of the Interior has announced that it is postponing the re-launching of their residency permit portal from July to 1 October because of the impact of covid-19.

You can read their update here, and British citizens will not require a residency permit until 1 July 2021.

Roger Haigh, President of The Franco British Network, said: “Despite the delay in the opening of the online site for submitting residency applications we recommend that UK nationals begin to collect all the necessary documentation, in anticipation of the new date for the opening of the online site on 1 October 2020.”

The Franco British Network believes that UK nationals currently living in France will be required to submit five documents to support their applications:

1) Valid passport

2) Birth certificate

3) Proof of living permanently in France

4) Proof of income

5) Proof of healthcare

The Franco British Network is set to help UK nationals living in the Dordogne enabling them to take advantage of free assistance and directly ask questions.

You are able to ring 05 19 88 01 09 on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday between 9am to 1pm, and on Thursday and Friday between 1pm and 5pm.

28 June 2020
Loubéjac and other farmers markets open for summer

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 2 July, running through to 27 August, 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 7 July through to the 1 September and starts at 18h30.

On Fridays there is a farmers market in Besse from 19h, starting on the 10 July until the end of August.

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

28 June 2020
French to English translation of Covid-19 form to complete and notes

THE French government has issued a decree on 16 March, 2020 with further measures to try to contain the spread of the Covid-19 Corona virus, writes Sharon Rees-Williams.

The main measure is to prevent people circulating and meeting, so that the contamination chain might be broken.

This measure came into force at noon on the 17 March, operating until at least the 31 March, 2020.

Local authorities (that is : the Préfet) can take more restrictive measures if needed (it is not the case in Dordogne at the current time but this could change).

The idea is to ask people to stay home, that is in their house, including terrace and garden, and avoid any contact with other people (including close friends and family), and circulating on public places (even in open air spaces).

There are exceptions aimed to allow people mostly to buy food and to have health care.

This is in addition to the previous instructions: washing hands very often, stay at a distance of at least 1 meter from other people, and protect your mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing either with a disposable tissue (and then dispose) or with your elbow.

The fine for not following these rules will start at 38€, extending over time to 138€ if necessary. But of course, who wants to feel that they may have contributed to the spread of this virus, as people can host the virus and transmit it without presenting any symptoms at all.

The document below is intended to help you understand the restriction measures, and help assist you in completing the form you will need to take out with you every time you go outside.

This form can be printed, you can find it on the government site, whilst here is a copy of a French to English translation of the form for guidance (produced voluntarily).

Download Attestation déplacement COVID-19 french to english

17 March 2020