This French Life

Author: Coral Luke

  • Association supports restoration of historic monument

    Burgundy stoneBURGUNDY stone can be found from as far apart as the north of the Côte d’Or around Chatillion sur Seine and the east of Yonne in the Tonnerois to the south around Beaune, Autun and as far south as Cluny.

    The range of hues, from the soft white ‘Anstrude’ to the reddish ‘Renaissance de Jour’ and the shimmering veined ‘Corton’ to ‘Bleu de Vix’, ‘Beauvillion rubane’ and ‘Comblanchien granite’; these are colours sculptors dream of and names they roll around their tongues.

    Burgundy stone represents 25% of France’s production of ornamental stone and there are 100 varieties on the market. It is widely used and found on facades, tiling and pavements and is quite often used in the renovation of historical monuments and is particularly chosen when covering or constructing walls.

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  • Website to bring together disabled and potential employers

    292471133_9a1c45ffd9_mA NEW website has been launched in France to aid disabled people in finding employment.

    Handicap-Job.com has been launched by Fabien Maurice, assisted by Céline Maurice, as an initiative to bring together employers and future employees. Businesses with 20 or more employees are expected to have at least six per cent of disabled people amongst their labour force.

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  • Le Relais de Flavigny

    WHEN visiting a place like Flavigny sur Ozerain it would be unthinkable not to try the gastronomic delights.

    Le Relais de Flavigny offers a warm welcome in this mediaeval village where they serve authentic French cuisine.

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  • Le Domaine de Flavigny – Alésia

    Vignoble de FlavignySET in the heart of the Auxois countryside you will find the vineyard of Le Domaine de Flavigny-Alésia.

    The trellised vineyards on the slopes behind Le Domaine give forth beautiful grapes.

    Here you can taste the wines from Flavigny, one of the oldest vineyards in France; documented well before Charlemagne, in 741.

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  • Flavigny sur Ozerain, a village set in time

    Flavigny sur OzerainAN hour north of Dijon and a short drive from the A6 lays the fortified, Burgundian, hilltop village of Flavigny sur Ozerain.

    If it seems time has stopped in this mediaeval village it makes it a much more charming and desirable to visit. Julius Caesar installed his troops in ‘Flaviniacum’ in 52 BC while he fought the coalition Gaul army, led by Vercingétorix, who had their base at Alésia on the opposite side of the valley perched on Mont Auxois.

    The first constructions date back to the Gallo-Roman period when Flavigny became a place of great importance, the name Flavinus is that of the owner of the ground, a villa with agricultural outlines and artisanal remains date from that period.

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  • The Époisses cheese and recipe

    WHEN farmer Robert Berthaut and his wife realised in 1956 that the Époisses cheeses were becoming extinct the couple were determined to do something about it.

    They decided that the traditional heritage should be revived and set about learning the skills surrounding this specialist cheese

    The Berthaut cheese company is deeply rooted in history founded on time honoured techniques and traditions and is situated on what had at one time been an ancient religious community, with its buildings built to blend in with the old curing room.

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  • The château of Époisses

    Chateau EpoissesIF you are a lover of châteaux and cheese, Époisses in Burgundy is a delight to visit.

    Today the moat has been filled in, and the park a playground for the village children, but these are just some of the chapters in a long and complicated history.

    From a fortress to a semi-circular château, Époisses has changed hands many times. In the 6th century Queen Brunehault, regent of Thierry her grandson, king of Burgundy, oversaw it but the queen had her own ambitions, and not wanting to hand over the throne, kept Thierry away with women of easy virtue and clear of too much food and wine.

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  • When the Tour de France circus comes to town

    Le tour cyclistSEMUR en Auxois has spent weeks, if not months, preparing for its biggest moment of the year; the arrival of the Tour de France in this mediaeval town in the middle of Burgundy.

    Every time we have recently visited the town something has been painted, cleaned, or flags erected, while road works have caused diversions, and souvenirs have been on sale.

    So it was only natural that when the Tour is set to almost pass your front door you want to experience the fever that surrounds it.

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  • The Hurdy Gurdy Men in the Morvan

    771526382_1a39298068_m_3‘La Fete de la Vielle en Morvan’ is an annual festival being held 15 – 19 August in Anost, a typical Morvan village in the Saône et Loire, totally dedicated to the ancient Hurdy Gurdy instrument and traditional French music.

    In the 19th century the Hurdy Gurdy was a popular instrument with many players throughout the area and, located in the Morvan, Anost has for the last 30 years held the festival to maintain the important, traditional culture.

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  • Famous Boeuf Bourguignon recipe

    184728707_6072363feb_mONE of the most famous recipes of Burgundy is the one that includes its name, Boeuf Bourguignon.

    This version is taken from that used by the chef at The Hotel Dieu, Monsieur Vernet.

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