PDF Guidebooks to Download for Paris

What a great idea for tourists! You can thank Girls Guide to Paris for this innovation.

A perfect way to enjoy your stay in Paris is to download and print out one or more of our walking tours. We’ve saved you the trouble of hauling around a heavy guidebook; rather, you can discreetly enjoy being a tourist and, with just a few pages at a time, carry around only the information that you actually need. We have 10 unique tours that our founder created after years of wandering around Paris—please peruse them below. We guarantee you won’t be disappointed! Each includes a map so that you won’t get lost and addresses to all the points of interest that we recommend. Save, download, walk and enjoy!

Maps include:
1. Stroll from St.Germain to the Louvre
2. Stroll from St.Germain to Notre Dame
3. Around the Marais
4. Shop the rues St.Dominique and Grenelle
5. Exploring Rue du Cherche-Midi
6. Pigalle and Montmartre
... and many more

For more information and downloads: Girls’ guide tours

Video: Paris Travel Guide

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Free Food Festivals Across France

Enjoy Food? Then September is the time to visit France. Culinary events are planned all around France. More details below ...

On the first day of autumn, France devotes an entire day to celebrate gastronomy. La Fête de la Gastronomie marks its second year on September 22, 2012, celebrating terroirs, highlighting the traditions and creativity infused into French gastronomy through exceptional events all around the country.

This year's events include free food samples at stores all around France, exceptional markets, live cooking demonstrations, and special discounts at restaurants. In Burgundy and Paris, lavish picnics will be held in various locations ranging from vineyards to open-air cafes, serving food prepared by famous chefs and wine by local growers. New this year is the launch of an amateur cooking competition, bringing together hundreds of chefs to showcase their creativity. Regional competitions will be held at various Relais & Chateaux properties as well as cooking schools around the country, where contestants will prepare dishes using a predetermined selection of local produce. The final will be held in the city of Dax in the Basque Country on September 22.

More details: France Welcomes Second Annual Food Festival

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Tip: Enrolling Children in School in France

Interesting post about enrolling children into French schools. This can be especially difficult if you have just moved to France. What evidence do you need, and what is the procedure?

You need proof of address to enrol your children in school.
You are right to rent a furnished apartment first , six months is good until the end of the school year.
The rental contract will be proof enough for you to enrol in the school.
Often with furnished apartments and for stays of less than 12 months, the utility bills stay in the name of the landlord so it would be unlikely that you will be able to have a EDF account in your name.

It is likely you will need your daughter's birth certificate/passport as well as your own passport.  The first step is to contact the town hall and not the school.

Garderies(Creches) are available in all schools until 18.00/18.30, the fees are usually up to 1€ per hour. The canteen can cost anywhere between 3-6 euros depending on the school.

Full article: Moving to Montpellier

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Video: Explore Cannes and Antibes

Enjoy this video along a famous stretch of the Cote d'Azur - visitors flock here and the video will illustrate the popularity of this area.

The French Riviera stretches along the Mediterranean from St-Tropez to the Italian border. Two popular destinations are Cannes and Antibes. With exclusive hotels lining mostly private stretches of sandy beach — Cannes is for strolling, dreaming of meeting a movie star, and lounging on the seafront. Don't look for any actual sights to tour. If you missed the film festival (usually held in late-May), there's little to do other than shop and enjoy the beach. Just up the coast, Antibes has a down-to-earth, easygoing ambience that's rare in this area. Its old town is a maze of narrow streets and red-tile roofs rising above the turquoise sea, protected by twin medieval towers and wrapped in rugged ramparts. Picasso called Antibes home for a time and the town's cultural claim to fame, the Picasso Museum, shows off a great collection of his sketches, paintings and ceramics in a fine old seaside castle.

Video Tour of Cannes and Antibes

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Top 3 Ski Resorts in France

The end of summer is nigh! You can always tells as the Ski promotion season kicks in!

Ski resorts in France have always ranked among the best in the world. The French ski resorts boast great mountain slopes, apres ski, infrastructure and are usually always located near picturesque towns or villages. Another advantage is that France is very accessible to travellers from England. The resorts provide expert trainers for people who want to actually ski while they are on their luxurious vacation.

With more than 300 ski resorts covering close to 8000kms of ski trails (pistes), choosing the right luxury resort can be challenging. To make the task easier here are three luxury ski resorts that have consistently been in almost all top ten lists.

1. Chamonix
2. Val d’Isere
3. Courchevel

Here is what aLuxuryTravelBlog had to say about Val d'Isere
Val d’Isere is home to some of the most expensive and exclusive restaurants and retail stores. It may not have the sky high ski lifts of Chamonix but compensates for it by having some of the loudest and hippest night clubs. Founded in 1934, it has about 300 kms of ski trails that are more suited for experienced skiers. Of the three ski areas, Solaise is the one recommended for beginners and there are many ski guides and private ski schools to help you hone your technique. Val d’Isere is part of the famed Espace Killy and is just about three hours away from Geneva. As a result has hosted parts of the Olympics and World Cup. You can also enjoy other outdoor sports, indoor sauna and spa facilities or visit some of the best chalets in France.

Complete article and photos: The best luxury ski resorts in France

Do you agree - what are your top ten ski resorts in France?

Video Guide to Val d'Isere

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Wine harvest in Provence

September / October is the time of the year for wine harvests in France. The picking time is crucial for the quality of wine. It has been a tricky time with so much sun and hot temperatures. Belle Provence Travels reports on their experiences in Provence.

The wine harvest in Provence is in full-swing and this past weekend we were lucky enough to witness a ceremonial “first-press” in the village of Le Beausett.

The village’s annual  Fête de Terroir, which showcases local products from the region, took place on Sunday and included villagers in period costume, folk dancing, and samples of freshly-pressed grape juice. Also featured were local wines, charcuterie (ham & salami), and regional desserts ranging from pâtes de fruits to calissons. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again… these villagers really know how to party.

The grape harvest will continue through October with many opportunities to either take part in the process, or celebrate “the take”. For the time being, I think we’ll be doing more of the later, but if you’re in Provence, make sure to check out the website Routes des Vins de Provence (in French & English).

Thirty-three wine routes have been “mapped” to guide tourists through the vineyards of Provence. The routes include 350 wineries around the region and the site regularly advertises local festivals and tasting events.

More details and photos: It’s Harvest Time in Provence

Video: Hand Harvesting in Provence

Here we see the traditional, age-old method of picking grapes by hand. So many modern vineyards are switching to machine harvesting, but with 40 year old bush-vines like these, machine harvesting is just not an option.

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Visit Deauville and the Casino

Deauville, Lower Normandy: our visit to this upmarket resort started in Honfleur a few miles up the coast. Our aim was to visit all the towns and villages from Deauville to the D Day beaches.

The town became very popular with the rich and famous in the 1930. People came to the Casino you could fly into the small airport right on the edge of town or the ferry to Caen.

Deauville Casino

The Casino opens at 10 am every day.The town caters for most sports from sailing and beach sports to its 4 golf courses.There is two horse racing tracks and a large market on a Friday morning on the sea front.

Built in 1913, this grand hotel adjoins the palatial Deauville casino and is within a half-kilometer of the beach, Planches board walk, and designer shopping. The Royal Barriere features lavish Belle Epoque decor, a fitness center with solarium and massage, an outdoor pool, and a gourmet restaurant with a terrace and sea views.

More details and photos: Deauville Normandy

Video Tour of Deauville:

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Kate & William go French Kissing

Idyllic Chateau d'Autet is set amid 640 acres of fragrant woodland in the Luberon region of Provence

This is the romantic French hideaway where William and Kate have been soaking up the sunshine ahead of their forthcoming tour of South East Asia.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge escaped to the idyllic Chateau d'Autet, a historic hunting lodge nestled in Provence's picturesque Luberon region.

Owned by the Queen's nephew, Viscount Linley, the 19th century hunting lodge is set in 640 acres of woodland and boasts unspoilt views of fields carpeted with lavender.

The secluded Chateau d'Autet was purchased by Lord Linley and his wife Serena in 1999, after the couple were introduced to the area by Peter Mayle, the author of the bestselling A Year in Provence.

Read more at the Daily Mail site: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2200494/Duke-Duchess-Cambridge-The-idyllic-French-retreat-owned-Queens-nephew.html#ixzz264iJVJ00

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Top Tips: Eating Out in French Restaurants

One of the joys of visiting France is eating out. Oui in France have an interesting article about French Restaurants - their tips will help you enjoy and get the most from gastronomic visit. Extract from article:

General info on restaurants in France
Dinnertime is never before 7 p.m. at the absolute earliest
If you want to look like a tourist, go eat dinner at 6:30 p.m. Tom rolls his eyes when I say I’m hungry before 8 p.m. Early dinners just aren’t part of the culture here, and in many restaurants, you cannot get a reservation before 8 p.m. for dinner. So what do you do? Snacks. Lots of ‘em.

Many restaurants in France are NOT open all day
They close in between lunch and dinner. In touristy areas in Paris, restaurants are open all day long, but in the country, this is not the norm. So if you’re looking to have a late lunch at a specific restaurant, call ahead. No coffee to go in France

No take out coffee
Unless you’re in Paris and go to Starbucks, the concept of taking coffee to go in a paper cup is unheard of and not part of French culture. Coffee is not sold to go in bakeries or cafes, so if you want your morning cup of java (and you aren’t in Paris), be prepared to sit down at a cafe or make it at home.

No doggy bags
At restaurants in France, do not ask for your meal to be wrapped up if you have leftovers. Many establishments will find this rude and might oblige out of politeness but many will absolutely refuse. Spare yourself the embarrassment and don’t even ask.

Ordering info at restaurants in France
Entree is the appetizer:
An entree in French is the appetizer. The plat principal is the main course. Also, a fun side note is that French people LOVE to get dessert. Many restaurants offer formules/menus that consist of several courses which end up being cheaper than ordering a la carte. So whichever option you choose, be French and make sure you indulge in dessert.

Meals start with an aperitif
Waiters usually ask if you’d like an aperitif, a beverage that is usually alcoholic and consumed before your meal comes, before ordering. They’re not asking for your drink order with your meal here (so don’t tell them water at this stage). The aperitif is a beverage course and is sometimes served with a little snack consisting of crackers or nuts. In many cases, it’s fine to say no thank you, but waiters just about always ask if you’ll be ordering an apero and it’s certainly part of French culture.

If you want tap water, you need to ask
At restaurants in France, if you want regular tap water, you need to ask for une carafe d’eau. Otherwise, if you don’t ask, water won’t be brought to you automatically. When you do ask for water, make sure you don’t just say de l’eau s’il vous plait if you want regular tap water. Most waiters will bring you a brand name bottled water and might not even ask. You’ll realize your mistake when you see the extra 10 euro charge on your bill.

French restaurant tips
If you need more water, wine or bread, you have to ask
In most French restaurants, you won’t receive a refill on anything unless you specifically ask for it.

Paying at restaurants in France
You have to ask for the check to pay
It doesn’t automatically come and in most cases, you can sit at a table for as long as you want.
It’s normal to get up and just go to the register to pay.

More Tips: Restaurants in France: Things you might not know about dining out

Video: Ordering in France with a Diet in Mind

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Top 5 Restaurants in Provence?

Of course, these are one person's opinions but a good starting point for discussion?

Are you a complete food buff? If yes, then you certainly hit on the right place. Provence, a district in the southern part of France located close to the Mediterranean Sea boasts of some of the best restaurants and cuisine in the world that offers the best range of French delicacies. Here is a list of five Provence Alpes Cote d’Azur restaurants that you should consider visiting during your tour around this region with spectacular scenic beauty.

1. The Auberge de la Loube
2. Alexandre
3. Chef Fonfon
4. Chef Bruno
5. Christian Etienne

This is the review of The Auberge de la Loube ...
If you are touring around Buoux, then you simply cannot miss the opportunity to dine in The Auberge de la Loube. Here you would get the opportunity to taste authentic French delicacies that are prepared in the tradition style. Though all the set of choices that are offered by this restaurant are truly scrumptious and are definitely worth trying out, but main delicacy that forces avid food lovers to come back to this place time and again is the roasted lamb leg. Moreover, a wide variety of traditional French starters garnish the menus list. Try as many as them as possible as they are really yummy. Do not miss to visit it, if you are in Bonnieux.

More details about the other restaurants: Top 5 restaurants in Provence that You cannot miss to afford?

Do you agree? Your suggestions welcome in the comments!

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Visit Saint-Rémy-de-Provence

New York Habitat are publishing a series on the Top Towns to visit in the South of France - number 5 in their series is one of my favourites Saint-Rémy-de-Provence.

Extract: The village of Saint-Rémy-de-Provence is located within the lush valleys of the Alpilles mountain range. In the heart of the city remains the ruins of the Roman city, Glanum. A wall, built in the 14th century, protected the classic and picturesque interior, but today acts as an archaic entrance to the ancient remnants of the city.

The city takes great pride in being the birthplace of the physician and prophet, Nostradamus. Visitors can travel down the Rue Nostradamus to find a beautiful fountain of the same name.

For a brief time in Van Gogh’s life, Saint-Rémy-de-Provence was his home. In fact, Van Gogh used the landscape of the village as the inspiration for his much-renowned piece, Starry Night.

Wednesday is market day in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence.

Full article: Top Towns to visit in the South of France: #5 Saint-Rémy-de-Provence

Other towns featured so far:
Prophetic and artistic inspiration abounds in Saint Rémy de Provence!
Top Towns to Visit in the South of France
Top towns in the South of France: #2 Avignon, Provence
Top Towns to visit in the South of France: Nice, French Riviera: #4

Video Tour of Saint-Rémy-de-Provence

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Learning to Surf in France?

Not so much a surfing safari as a surfing playground, Lacanau on the French Atlantic coast is quickly becoming the country's primary destination for those learning to surf. And new materials and falling prices mean that more and more people are taking advantage.

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Charming Normandy Colombage - French Property of the Week

Charming, stone longere, totally renovated yet retaining the character of the property. situated in a quiet hamlet near the pretty town of Ducey. the house sits on a plot of just over 1000m2 with fruit trees and a stream.

At just 190,800 euros

Charming, stone longere, totally renovated yet retaining the character of the property. situated in a quiet hamlet near the pretty town of ducey. the house sits on a plot of just over 1000m2 with fruit trees and a stream. Possibility to buy furnished, this house would make an ideal bed and breakfas.

Town: Ducey
Department: Manche
Region: Lower Normandy
Price:     €190,800

More details and photos: Normandy Longere

More about the department of Manche, Normandy
La Manche is the most westerly Département of Normandy. From Cherbourg to Mont saint-Michel, this little corner of France provides a wealth of outdoor activities, and places to visit including the magnificent Mont Saint-Michel, the D-Day beaches, and much more ...

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Video Tour: Medieval Normandy

Need an excuse to visit France? Visit Normandy with the children and get involved and experience the Medieval history of Normandy.

In 2011, Normandy celebrates 1100 years medieval history as the Duchy of Normandy was created in 911. Festivals and fetes mark the medieval anniversary, which is being celebrated all year long. Come and see it for yourself, you may find yourself amidst your very own Norman conquest!

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Pining for a Pineau in Poitou Charentes

I remember well coming across Pineau whilst looking for a French property to buy around the Poitou Charentes region in the early 90s. Fortunately, we were looking for a rural property and you come across Pineau in the local bars and restaurants. It is a great favourite. Findingourwaynow.com have an interesting article about Pineau - extract below:

We were served Pineau des Charentes (produced by Domain La Prenellerie) as an aperitif several times while in France.  It was simply divine.  When I went in search of information about the wine, I found a very interesting and unique history.findingourwaynow.com

Nobody knows exactly how Pineau des Charentes came to be.  The legend is it was due to a happy accident.  The story goes, that in 1589, it is believed that a winegrower mistakenly poured unfermented grape juice (must) into a barrel of Cognac.

A few years later, when he needed to use that particular barrel, he discovered he had made a wonderful new drink.  That was when “Pineau des Charentes” was born.  In the four centuries that followed winegrowers who have made and are making Pineau des Charentes have maintained a very high standard for this unique and amazing product.

For a long time, Pineau des Charentes was kept a secret.  Bottles of this unique wine were hidden, only to be used for important occasions.

This fantastic fortified wine is now known around the world and is France’s most famous sweet, fortified wine.

Read full article: Trip To France: Pineau des Charentes 2010: Wine

Video: Tasting Pineau

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Pain in the Dough!

One of the reasons we love France is the Bread and Delicatessens. Here is the lowdown on the various types of Bread.

All boulangeries (bakeries) have baguettes (or flûtes), which are long and thin, as well as wider loaves simply known as pain (bread), both of which are at their best if eaten within four hours of baking.

Other types of bread, which come in a wide range of sizes and shapes, vary from shop to shop and region to region, but since they are all on display, making a selection is easy.

The following is just some of the types of bread you will find at a boulangerie.

1. Baguette – the standard long, crispy French loaf weighing 250g

2. Ficelle – a thinner, crustier 200g version of the baguette (really like a very thick breadstick)

3. Flûte – similar to, though often heavier than, a baguette

4. Pain – a wider, less crispy version of a baguette weighing 400g

5. Pain d’avoine – oat bread

6. Pain azyme – a flat unleavened loaf

7. Pain biologique (pain bio) – organic bread

8. Pain de campagne – country loaf

9. Pain aux cinq/six/sept céréales – five/six/seven grain bread

10. Pain complet – wholemeal bread

Read more other breads: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/france/travel-tips-and-articles/75917?affil=twit#ixzz22wFvpEZX

Making Bread Video:

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Converted Vendee Longere: 2 Gites French Property of the Week

A WELL- PRESENTED MODERNISED TRADITIONAL VENDĒEN LONGERE COTTAGE ARRANGED AS TWO SEPARATE GITES.

Located in a hamlet only 15mins from sandy Atlantic beaches.

Completely renovated while retaining its original character.

Excellent opportunities for income and competitively priced at just 149,000 euros

Superb location for rental income, given easy access to the long sandy beaches of the Vendee. Scope to increase current rental income as vendors are not fully exploiting rental potential (by choice).

More Details and Photos: Vendee Longere

Why choose the Vendee?

With its magnificent coastline of fine sandy beaches fronting the Atlantic Ocean, the Vendée is a family holiday destination, steeped in history where you can cycle through amazing natural landscapes. Discover an unexpected variety of fascinating scenery where you'll never be short of interesting places to explore.

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Video: Aix en Provence

One of my favourite locations in Provence. It is great to promenade the lovely streets, and enjoy the cooling fountains, and avenues of plane trees. Sit in a cafe and people watch - or enjoy a game of boules.

Aix-en-Provence is famous for its elegant streets and squares, markets, beautiful people, and ability to embrace the good life. For a tourist, Aix is happily free of any obligatory turnstiles — there's not a single ancient site to see. It's just an attractive, prosperous town filled with 140,000 people — most of whom, it seems, know how to live well and look good. Experience Aix by strolling the Cours Mirabeau, people-watching in an outdoor café, tasting the local goat cheese in the market or taking part in a game of boules.

For more information about Aix-en-Provence: Aix-en-Provence Tourism or 1st-for-Provence-Property.co.uk

Take a stroll down the streets of Aix:

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Champagne Region, France Video

Enjoy this video stroll around the Champagne - very bubbly!

Champage-Ardenne is located in the northeast of the country, bordering Belgium, and consists of four departments: Aube, Ardennes, Haute-Marne, and Marne. The region is famous for its sparkling champagne. Its rivers, most of which flow west, include the Seine, the Marne, and the Aisne. The Meuse flows north.

Drink it up:

Some of the cheapest properties are located in Champage-Ardenne

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Fascinating France Video

Enjoy 50+ minutes of this professional video about France. Just under half of video about Paris.

France is a country with a long and dramatic history. A country of unique flair and picturesque old towns, fortresses and castles and also a country of beautiful landscapes. Today Paris is one of the most beautiful cities in the world. First established by the Celts, next used strategically by the Romans and then the domain of the Sun King. Les Champs Elysees is the French metropolis' magnificent avenue and surely one of the most beautiful in the world, with wide boulevards, shady corners and large volumes of traffic.

This is a journey to many corners of France - a fascinating journey not to be missed!

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