This French Life

Author: Craig McGinty

  • 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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  • 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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  • Quiz questions about France

    Academie FrancaiseIF 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.

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  • Discovering the life of the Quercy Blanc

    Amanda LawrenceTHE 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.

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  • A poetic look over the sands of time

    Reporting from PalestineJACQUELINE 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.

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  • Tips on turning your gite business green

    Les CygnesTHE 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.

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