Visit France!

RIP Keith Floyd

2009-09-17T09:58:00.003+01:00

Apologies for radio silence of late – let's just put it down to "technical issues"!

Anyway, things continue apace in the Francophile world. We're just finishing the latest issue of French Magazine, on sale 3rd October. It comes with a free 64-page copy of The Traveller in France, so offers top value. Features include La Rochelle, Pays Basque, a look around the lovely Languedoc home of Josephine Ryan (antiques expert and author) as well as some great recipes from Michael Caines and Michel Roux Jr – who can currently be seen picking the bones out of pro cooks' efforts on Masterchef: The Professionals.

It was very sad to hear of the death of Keith Floyd this week. I grew up watching this guy romp around Britain and the world, having a booze-up on camera and looking like he was having a great time. He was a West Country lad like me and attended the same school, so I always felt some kind of affinity for him, just because he was "one of us". I interviewed him in France once by phone – he was a committed Francophile and spent a lot of his time there. When I rang him, half of his village was being washed away by some kind of flood or mudslide but he was still charming and funny. The "C'est la vie" attitude sat with him very well.

A couple of years back we were looking at doing a special issue of French with a guest editor. Our first choice was Keith Floyd, of course, so we contacted his agent – but never heard back. What a laugh that would have been.

Since his death, every TV chef with a decent PR has clamoured to offer a soundbite extolling Floyd's culinary and broadcasting virtues but as far as I can tell, few of them offered him shared screen time in recent years. I suspect that's because he was far more charismatic and compelling than any of them.

Jolie Petite Histoire

2009-07-13T15:48:00.010+01:00

Back from a few days in Dordogneshire – or Bergerac-on-Avon if you wish, during which I dined excessively on confit duck as usual and sampled a lovely 2004 Montbazillac in situ that would have set off a choccie pud just lovely. I also pretended not to be English in Issigeac on market day (a tall order). I achieved this by having the audacity to speak in French to some of the market stall holders. For this shameless affront to local sensibilities, I was hounded out of town by the mayor, a retired bricklayer from Knutsford. OK, this bit isn't true.

I can report that the airport at Bergerac is much improved, though quite why the good people of Ryanair insist on herding you into a facilities-free departure lounge about twenty minutes before the check-in even closes is a mystery that surely only Mr O'Leary could fathom. I look forward to the day that customers, not luggage, come along the baggage carousel after being stowed in the hold. Still, if you want a £5 flight, deal with it.

A lowlight on an otherwise very relaxing jolly was acquiring as many mosquito bites – some in places that even the great Michel Thomas would have been unwilling to teach me the French for – as in my previous 36 years put together. Those greedy French mossies have either immaculate taste or none whatsoever.

Driving around the vine-striped hills and vales of this lovely part of France with the radio on, a tune caught my ear amongst the usual dross of Fun Radio. The only words I could remember when I got home were Jolie Petite Histoire – and I had no group name or song title. But hark and watch, I found it on Youtube - it's a live version of the 1983 smash Cendrillon (meaning Cinderella) by Téléphone.

It sounds like a soppy ode to finding Prince Charming but is probably dripping with angst and irony. I can't tell – I struggle with French irony in the way that Alanis Morrissette struggles with irony in her native tongue. Anyway, it's a tune that, if it had been written and sung by an English or American group, would probably now be held in the same nostalgic esteem as Cheap Trick's I Want You to Want Me or Another Girl, Another Planet by The Only Ones, both of which I believe it resembles.

If anyone French is reading this, please can they tell me what Téléphone meant/mean to French people? I know nothing about the group.

Power pop with a beret on, smashing:

Level playing field

2009-06-25T14:20:00.002+01:00

An email about disabled access in France arrived this week. If anyone has any tips for Pat, please either drop me an email or leave a comment on this blog. Many thanks.

Here it is in full:

We look forward very much to our twice yearly visits to France and have for many years considered buying our own property, but other commitments have somehow got in the way!

We are a couple with an adult disabled son, and have for the past 12 years taken our holidays in an apart/hotel in Evian on Lake Geneva, however it is now necessary that we have specially adapted accommodation - 2 bedrooms with w/chair accessible bathroom and level access throughout. Because of our love for the region I have spent much time e-mailing tourist info sites to find that no specific literature for disabled accommodation exists - is this situation general in France as whole?

Surely we are not the only family to be confronted by this problem, therefore my question is: Is it possible your readers know of, or provide such accommodation, or, has the time come when we have to build from scratch to our own specifications? Have any of your readers done precisely that and are there any obstacles to watch out for?

We are not particularly looking in the Lake Geneva area but we do need to be in a town with level walks (preferably waterside) to shops, market, bars, cafes, etc. within a days drive of Calais.

Pat Powell, Devon

10 things I learned in Nice

2009-05-31T16:34:00.004+01:00

1. 4.40 euros gets you two white peaches. Juicy, pricy.

2. It's naive to think you can visit inside the fabulously grand Russian Church on a Sunday morning.

3. The iconic Thérèse, who runs the socca stall in the Cours Saleya market is one-part cook, three-parts crowd pleaser.

4. Men's mainstream fashion = tight, garish and a tad camp.

5. You can nick some sneaky wi-fi access in your hotel if you're lucky.

6. Don't be afraid of its grandeur, the Negresco hotel's bar is accessible to all.

7. The salades niçoises served in Nice's many open-air restaurants range from the delicious to the insultingly basic (no olives, limp lettuce – 11.50 euros, thanks for asking).

8. Everything is walkable, except the Matisse Museum. Get the bus.

9. Said museum is pretty, but pretty insubstantial. But it is free, unlike the Marc Chagall Museum.

10. For a sunshine weekend break, Nice can hardly be beaten.

New French Magazine!

2009-05-28T14:38:00.006+01:00

Salut tout le monde! We've just sent the latest issue of French to print – it's out next Thursday, 4th June, so be sure to order your copy or even subscribe (call 0117 9323 586). It's looking particularly gorgeous after a pre-summer spruce up.

New subscribers this issue will receive a cracking double DVD pack of James Martin's Brittany. In it, the likeable Saturday Kitchen chef heads off on a cook's tour of the Brittany region with culinary mates like The Hairy Bikers and Martin Blunos, picking up market produce and doing a bit of stovetop cooking, as well as dropping in on local cheese and beer producers, that kind of thing. I've seen the whole series and can strongly recommend it for a lovely armchair taste of France.

The issue has loads of good things in it - from watersports in the Champagne lakes (not literally, clearly) to Golf in Brittany, plus two stories of a dream life in Provence. Add to this the usual recipes and food news, reader comps, cultural reviews and property advice and it's the perfect read for the summer.

Next I begin work on the next issue of The Traveller in France, then crack on with French 76. If you have any photos that you think could grace the pages of our Vos Images readers' photo page, please send them to images@frenchmagazine dot co dot uk and if you have any comment you'd like to make about either the magazine or something you got up to in France, please drop me a line at edit@frenchmagazine dot co dot uk (you are not allowed to put email addresses on blogs, for some reason). There are prizes for the best of both, so get in touch!

I'm off tomorrow to France for a bit to, erm, research a piece for next issue on Nice and the Riviera (it's a terrible job, but someone... etc). I am hoping to get back to Grasse, home of French perfume. I went once years ago and they let me make my own aftershave (called "Lethargie pour Homme", of course), so I hope to replenish stocks. I imagine the ladies of France will hardly be able to contain themselves.

I hope to post a blog or two from Nice and Le Tignet, technical issues permitting. Stay tuned!

In other news, please check out Dan Johnson's blog over at Siblu - there's some good scope for discussion. Oh, and I've just reviewed the DVD of A Christmas Tale for the second issue of the brilliant new movie magazine Filmstar - the first issue of which is on sale today at all good newsagents and supermarkets. Alors, à bientôt...

Special offers

2009-04-29T15:15:00.004+01:00

A few special offers from travel/holiday companies for you below - I will aim to post such offers more regularly so that you can eke out every euro from your pound sterling! Just click on the links to go to their websites and get full details.

Complimentary TGV travel to Burgundy or Provence and 10% off a Canal du Midi deluxe barge break from Go Barging

Until June 30th 2009, three nights for the price of two at selected hotels with Brittany Ferries

Some French golf break bargains to be had with Golf Planet Holidays

Le couloir d'incertitude*

2009-04-15T10:08:00.012+01:00

Apologies for the paucity of updates of late - it's been a busy couple of weeks, what with getting French Magazine to print (Issue 75 will finally be on sale on April 24th – look out for the Loire château on the cover and a free bagged issue of the Traveller in France) and then swanning off to the Lake District for Easter.

Given my family name, you might reasonably presume that I am a Lakes aficionado or frequenter. But despite my presumed Cumbrian heritage, the weekend's walking and pie-eating break was my very first in the land of "Thwaites" (clearings).

Some brief internet genealogy research (the cheapest kind) had revealed that my forebears may have been notable landownwers and so, seeing myself as some kind of prodigal son, I was expecting a triumphant homecoming as I passed through Kendal, gateway to the Lakes, onto Windermere and up to Bassenthwaite, the northernmost and least touristy of the waters where I would be staying.

There would surely be bunting, dancing girls and jugs of ale for the heroic southern softie who finally deigned to step foot up north to be with his brethren. Women and children would weep with joy as I made my way through my unfamiliar homeland, waving flags and knocking out Royal Wedding-style commemorative plates for future generations to either eat hotpot from or put on eBay. Instead, in Bowness I was queue-jumped by a stern-looking Japanese couple itching to get their hands on a battered sausage in Vinegar Joe's chippy. I ask you! Still, I'm sure there's a Stuart Maconie-style travelogue waiting to be to written on the subject.

In the meantime it's on with French Magazine Issue 75, which will feature, among many other Francophile-friendly delights, the changing face of Champagne – the region, not the drink – and the rise of Golf in France.

Talking of sports that we invented and turned out to be not very good at, there's a lovely piece on French cricket in today's Indpendent. I love a good day at the cricket – I can usually be found eyeing the cider tent by 11am at the annual Bath Cricket festival – and feel sure the game would catch on in France if, contrary to what the organisers and journalist hope, the French ditch the 20-20 format and opt for five-day matches.

To my mind, they wouldn't get bored at all. After a delayed start time thanks to whatever transport strike was holding up spectators en route to the game, then a four-hour, five-course lunch followed by an obligatory afternoon snooze, there would be very little cricket played – perhaps ten overs aside. Then it would be time for an apéro and off to dinner.

*Geoff Boycott's lovely phrase "corridor of uncertainty" might also be applied to the English Channel given the recent boat blockades. Ce n'est pas le creekeet, as he might say, and I hope that none of you have had your holidays ruined. If you have, to cheer yourself up just imagine, for a moment, Boycott commentating on French telly.

Scarlett Johansson, not me: New face of Moët et Chandon

2009-04-01T16:08:00.008+01:00

Alas, I have been overlooked by the good people at Moët et Chandon, who have plumped for pouting beauty Scarlett Johansson when looking for their latest brand ambassador. I thought it must have been me for a moment when I heard the Moët top brass describing their new pick as "refreshingly spontaneous, generous, glamorous" and someone who "like Moët, has a magical story to tell and makes people dream". I hope they told her to pronounce the "t" in Moët.

Maybe Babycham will come knocking for me instead.

Internet 0-1 Library

2009-03-25T11:16:00.009Z

I am undertaking more freelance writing now that French Magazine is a bi-monthly title (Issue 74 will now be on sale April 24th, dear readers, so many apologies to those of you awaiting your French fix) and the first commission I have received is to write a brief social/cultural history of coffee in France.

Naturally, my first port of call for research was t'interweb but I soon realised that certain dates didn't tally from one so-called "expert source" to the next. So, for the first time since I was a student, I went to the public library to do some work in situ, and to sniff out some facts from actual - don't tell anyone! - books.

And what a treat. As I plonked myself down amongst the undergraduates and pensioners, I felt completely at home and instantly more studious.

As for the research, the archives of Bath Library offered up a rare beauty – a photocopy of a pamphlet written in 1845 by a local coffee merchant, one Samuel Bennett. It detailed in fine olde Englishe the Coffea Arabica plant's origins and the relentless spread of its boiled, then roasted and percolated, seed throughout the world from Ethiopia to Arabia, Cairo, Damascus and Constantinople, and eventually to the coffee shops of Venice, Amsterdam, Paris and London.

The librarian, an upbeat and helpful chap, had to go into a back room to dig the prized document out for me, and insisted that under no circumstances did I take it anywhere. All very cloak and dagger and, more excitingly, a rare victory for the printed word over the internet's presumed omniscience.

England thrash France

2009-03-17T14:40:00.004Z

David Hepworth, with customary insight, has a great take on the unpredictability of sport following the England rugby team's shock trouncing of France at Twickenham on Sunday. I can't help thinking, though, that the OTT media assault on the English in the build-up to the game had more than a little to do with the outcome. Pride, attacking with pace and rubbish French defending - the perfect set-up for a drubbing.

In other news, the latest issue of The Traveller in France has just gone to print. It's a rather lovely read, and includes city guides to Dijon, Angers, Biarritz and Mulhouse, plus extensive features on green French holidays, learning and modern art breaks, plus the best places to head for a picnic. There is also a very amusing interview with comedian Marcus Brigstocke, himself something of a Francophile.

It will be bagged free with Issue 74 of French Magazine early April, and available as a download from www.franceguide.com soon after.

Modern life is not rubbish

2009-03-09T17:05:00.005Z

Over the weekend I enjoyed preview discs of two cracking new French film releases.

Modern Life (pictured) is a masterful study of the erosion of farming communities in the Auvergne. Director Raymond Depardon is from the area and his film oozes love and respect for his subjects. One thing I noticed was that the men interviewed were generally dejected and, well, knackered, while the women by their sides were smiling and upbeat in spite of the harshness of rural life. Not sure what to read into that. Anyway, it's on general release from April 3rd.

I found the 1970s-set thriller Rivals equally compelling. It's a moral fable, with impeccable period costumes and soundtrack, about two brothers on either side of the law and stars Guillaume Canet (director of Tell No One) and François Cluzet. It's out on DVD March 30th.

You can read the full reviews in the next issue of French Magazine, which goes on sale early April. You can subscribe here.

Vive la France film season

2009-03-06T12:45:00.004Z

Fans of French film are in for a treat, as a new season of great movies kicks off this weekend on Sky Arts. It's curated by the man who, during the 80s and 90s was everyone's favorite comedy Frenchman – Antoine de Caunes. With his innovative music show on BBC2, Rapido, and then Channel Four's saucy smut-fest Eurotrash he was, for me as an adolescent, the very face of France itself.

Now an established director, de Caunes will discuss his own inspirations and influences as he presents classics such as Orphée by Jean Cocteau and modern works like Love Me If You Dare. For me, though, the undisputed highlight will be a quartet of Jacques Tati films – Les Vacances de Monsieur Hulot, Mon Oncle, Playtime and Jour de Fête (pictured, top), which is in my top ten favourites of all time.

The season kicks off tomorrow night, Saturday 7th March with Orphée. I urge you to watch. Alas I won't be able to, as I don't have satellite telly!

Sarkozy sued by MGMT

2009-03-05T11:53:00.003Z

As far as I can tell from this story about boisterous beatnik popsters MGMT suing Sarkozy's party, everyone's a winner. The hip New York duo's studied cool rubs off on the politicians, while the free publicity for the band is priceless.

Kids is the song in question but Time to Pretend gets my vote. It's one of the great singles of recent years, though the sentiment probably wasn't quite what Sarko was looking for.

French rugby mystery

2009-03-02T16:53:00.004Z

The decision to play the first ever Friday night Six Nations game was as baffling to the untrained eye as the brilliant underdog performance of the French rugby team against Wales.

I watched the game through the mist of a few glasses of Champers, as I helped a friend celebrate a new job, so I cannot comment on the ins and outs, but it's clear that writing the French off is perilous, especially when Sébastien Tellier, sorry Sébastian Chabal, has fire in his belly.

Don't touch my Picardy!

2009-02-27T11:41:00.007Z

The Independent's coverage of French current affairs comes from the top drawer this week. I normally turn to the peerless Charles Bremner of the Times for my French gossip and news, but a change of paper in my local coffee shop meant a daily pre-work flick through the Indie.

In today's paper alone, there are features on the proposed restructure of the French regions - see the hard copy for an excellent map of the newly delineated boundaries - while the frankly laughable minimalist art scene and Ségolène Royal's latest brush with the paps get column inches, too.

Of these three stories, Sarkozy's plan to virtually dispense with Picardy and merge other major administrative chunks is the most eye-catching to anyone who knows and loves France. Given that the French notion of terroir is not merely attributable to wine and food but, crucially, to les habitants and where they were born and bred, a plot to turn someone from a Burgundian to a Franche-Comtois overnight seems incendiary. I predict a riot. Or, failing that, a stroppy march through town or a turnip blockade on the roads if farmers get wind of it.

YSL was sitting on a fortune

2009-02-26T12:58:00.004Z

This puts all of our economic tribulations nicely into perspective. I'd rather be broke than a twit who pays £20million for an armchair. I trust it has a drinks holder and reclining facility for when YSL watched the Eastenders Omnibus on a Sunday, otherwise the new owner might feel a tad shortchanged.

Bung it in the wash

2009-02-24T14:29:00.004Z

I was chatting to a friend recently about my wine-soaked year at the University of Pau in the early 1990s. From the twin fug-inducers of 10F Pol Rémy and Existentialism (part of my French degree), I recall some of the tunes that soundtracked my stay there.

This is from Francis Cabrel, a sensitive soul with a southern drawl. It still sounds lovely. Don't fancy his motor much, though, or his 'tache.

And this gem from Alain Souchon – a single which I bought on cassette, no less – offered a much-needed antidote to Sartre's pained inertia. If love or life is going a bit belly up, simply bung it in the washing machine, to get the colour back. Obvious.

One more thing. Rumours of French Magazine's demise have been greatly exagerrated. The title has been snapped up by Evolve Publishing, and the next issue comes out early April.

Mud, magazines and a buyer's market

2009-02-02T16:21:00.003Z

Last weekend a few of us, including a bona fide Frenchman, Alex, who is our hugely affable sales manager on French Magazine, piled down to the Bath Rec for a front-row mud-fest as the Heineken Rugby Cup group stage came to a soggy end.

With honours even in a low-scoring match, both sides progressed and as Bath didn't win, thereby dumping the boys from the Pink City into the swollen Avon, I am in no position to tease Fanny from the Toulouse Tourist Office. Who knows, we may meet in the final. Alex, an Aveyron lad with mixed allegiances on the day, quite sensibly refused to nail his flag to either team's mast. He kept schtum and ate his smelly burger. A top day out was had by all.

Back to work, then, and we are, in addition to preparing the April Issue of French Magazine (you need a subscription!) in the midst of making the Traveller in France Spring/Summer 2009 edition. This venerable 80-year-old tourism magazine, previously edited by the sadly missed Anne Gregg, will be available mid-March, and promises to be packed with holiday ideas, many with a nod to bargain breaks with a green or family twist.

Meanwhile, as the French property side of our industry seeks to find some kind of foothold against a wave of media naysaying, Penny Zoldan, a vastly experienced French Property agent, urges those with a few quid and a dream of living in France, to get looking sharpish while buyers have all the clout. Yes, the ex-rate is bad, but many people's savings are doing next to nothing sat in the bank. Meanwhile, prices are being slashed by those looking for a quick sale in France.

This is her latest reader Q&A in French Magazine - I would welcome your comments:

We have a reasonable deposit and intend to buy a property in France and wonder if we should leave it in the bank and wait for things to improve or buy a property now. Perhaps you can give us your views on the current market.

The property market in France has not been as affected by the ‘credit crunch’ as property in the UK. Historically the French have not allowed people to borrow so much to buy a property and have kept lending limits to reasonabe amounts so that people are not so overstretched and can afford to pay their mortgages. This means that there are not the number of repossessions we are seeing here and that those that are selling are selling because they want or need to. However, the market has slowed down tremendously as people have become a little nervous, which has led to price reductions from those who do want to sell – as well as the possibility of good negotiations for those who are in a position to buy – making it a real buyer's market.

Despite the fact that the Euro is a little weaker, you will find that you will be paying less in equivalent sterling for a property in France this year than you would have paid last year when the rate was better. This, added to the fact that with the Euro so strong, you will be buying into a stronger economy and will not have all your eggs in one basket, are very good reasons to buy now.

The Euro is expected by many of the currency specialists to rise a little more by March/April which, if you buy now, would be the time that you would be completing – it is not expected to reach the higher rates we enjoyed a year or so ago. If you are going to need a mortgage you will find that they are still available on the same basis of income to loan ratio as always but that you will need a reasonable deposit, which you mention you have.

With this in mind I would suggest you contact a mortgage broker (we can put you in touch with someone if you wish) who can get you an ‘in principle’ agreement to a loan prior to making trips to France to find a property – this will mean that you will be in a strong position to negotiate with a mortgage agreed and ready to go and will also confirm how much you will have available to you.

With the low interest rates being offered on savings in the UK, it would seem pointless to leave your money in the bank, losing value when you can use it to purchase in France at a time when prices are lower than last year and you are in a strong position to negotiate even further. I believe that over the next 5 years that prices will creep back so that you get much more capital growth on your investment in France than you would get if you were to leave it in the bank earning low interest.

Make the most of the quieter market, when agents will really work hard to research suitable properties for you and most properties are on the market because the vendors really want to sell now. If you are concerned about the outgoings, then consider renting out your property at the beginning to help pay your mortgage – the rental market is particularly good at present. The signs at the beginning of this year indicate that there is no reduction in interest in buying in France but that people are just a little hesitant, which I believe will mean that the market could soon start improving.

To sum up, as you are in the lucky position of having a deposit then taking into account the buyer’s market, the lower prices and the low interest in the UK on savings, I believe this could be an extremely good time to purchase in France to get the benefit of the growth in prices as the market picks up again.

Ideas for Valentine's Day, Part Two

2009-01-22T09:11:00.004Z

Bereft of any inventive ideas for Valentine's Day? How about a weekend in Bayonne and Biarritz? Chocolate for girls, surfing for boys – two gender clichés nicely covered. This landed in my inbox today, and sounds good:

If you’d like to combine a bit of romance with some good old-fashioned chocolate indulgence on Valentine’s Day, then head to the Basque city of Bayonne where France’s first chocolate-making took place, and combine it with a weekend in the nearby town of Biarritz.

Located in the south-western corner of France in the Bearn-Basque region, Bayonne’s chocolate-making expertise dates back to 1609 with the arrival of Jewish immigrants. In the 18th century, a Chocolate Maker’s Guild was formed and for over 100 years chocolate-making provided one of the city’s main raisons d'être. Two chocolate factories and five pastry cook-chocolate sellers exist today, all family-owned and run.

Bayonne is renowned for its hot chocolate (originally flavoured with cinnamon) and dark, bitter variety of chocolate, and there’s no better place to sample it than in the oldest chocolaterie in town, Casenave, which was established in 1854. Their delightful boutique offers a selection of chocolate bars and makes Chocolat Mousseux – the compulsory house speciality!

The Atelier du Chocolat is another must-see, where you can discover the art of chocolate and cocoa culture in its exotic environment, not forgetting the all-important tastings to finish the visit off…

When you have satisfied your chocolate cravings, make your way back to Biarritz for a bit of romance. Check into the luxurious Sofitel Thalassa Miramar for a spot of champagne and thalassotherapy whilst enjoying some breathtaking views over the Atlantic Ocean.

Alternatively, for something a little quirkier and easier on the wallet, the funky 70’s styled Hotel Le Mirano offers nine double rooms, each decorated in a unique retro style.

For more information on Bayonne, Biarritz and the surrounding area, visit www.bearn-basquecountry.com

Ryanair (ryanair.com) flies directly to Biarritz from Stansted, Luton and Birmingham.

Sofitel Thalassa Miramar is offering a special Pure Serenity Package for two people from 13-22 February 2009 from 576 Euros which includes breakfast, dinner and champagne, one hour’s massage treatment for two with essential oils, as well as unlimited access to the spa which boasts a sauna, hammam, jacuzzi, indoor and outdoor heated pools and a gym. Contact Sofitel Thalassa Miramar on +33 5 59 41 30 01 or email h2049-RE@accor.com

Hotel Le Mirano has double rooms from 70 Euros a night during February 2009 and will offer couples staying two nights over a weekend a complimentary bottle of champagne on arrival. Contact Hotel Le Mirano on +33 5 59 23 11 63 or email hotel.mirano@orange.fr

Party likes it's 1199

2009-01-15T12:17:00.007Z

Find 26 million euros behind your sofa cushions and this compact, bijoux pad near Limoges could be yours. What parties you could have – imagine pulling one from the truncheon in your own medieval tavern. Make mine a mead top please, barkeep, and be quick with those pork scratchings!

Claude Berri dies

2009-01-13T14:43:00.003Z

One of France's most respected film directors, Claude Berri, passed away yesterday. He achieved massive success with his two films about rural deceit and revenge – Jean de Florette and Manon des Sources.

Both were very well received in the UK, and Manon des Sources was especially well received in my house, thanks to the casting of the estimable Emmanuelle Béart as the, erm, titular shepherdess. Surely every hot-blooded young man fancied booking a trip to the Provence countryside upon witnessing her open-air bathing ritual.

Berri also enjoyed considerable success as a producer, mosty recently working on Bienvenue Chez les Ch'tis – France's most popular film of recent years, woefully under-distributed in the UK – and La Graine et le Mulet (released here as Couscous), whose central family meal scene is one of modern cinema's most eye-catching and beautiful.

It wasn't me

2009-01-06T16:31:00.002Z

Happy New Year everybody.

Now that festive excesses are but claret-soaked memories, thoughts must turn to 2009 and the fun ahead. From a professional perspective, the year promises to be challenging in the extreme, but you get nothing done by moaning. I hope that those of you who have enjoyed reading French Magazine over the years will continue to do so.

I am off to the France Show at Earl's Court this weekend, where I hope to spy some familiar faces. The show is always a fantastic place to immerse oneself in a bit of French culture, and to think about planning a great holiday. I might see you there!

Meanwhile in the news, it's good to see that, despite more pressing issues to deal with, even the corridors of power in the French Justice Minsitry are rife with idle speculation.

Paris Valentine's Special Offer

2008-12-18T12:39:00.004Z

Here's a great offer for all your romantics out there...

If you fancy treating that special someone to a romantic break next year, I can strongly recommend the Hotel Aviatic, in Paris’s 6th arrondissement (Hotel Aviatic, 105 rue de Vaugirard, 75006 Paris; www.aviatic.fr; 0033 153632550).

The hotel would like to give French magazine readers a special Valentine’s Day package. For the whole of February 2009 they are offering two nights in a superior room plus breakfast and a half-bottle of Champagne for 359 Euros instead of 579 Euros.

P&O Ferries Christmas crossings

2008-12-08T15:43:00.001Z

For those of you heading to France or beyond over the festive seasons, this just in from the P&O press office:

P&O Ferries has an extensive choice of sailings over the festive period, with space available across its route network. However there will be no services, or reduced services, on some dates.

All services and timetables can be checked on www.POferries.com or by calling 08716 646464.

Service changes include the following:

Dover - Calais
Reduced service on Christmas Eve. No service on Christmas Day. Reduced service on Boxing Day. Normal service over the New Year.

Hull - Rotterdam
No service on Christmas Day, Boxing Day, 31 December, 1 January.

Hull - Zeebrugge
No service on December 24, 25, 30 and 31.

Portsmouth - Bilbao
Full scheduled service.

Win a language course in Brittany!

2008-12-02T14:00:00.004Z

There's a fabulous competition prize in the latest issue of French Magazine, on sale Thursday 4th December. You can enter here:

Go here to subscribe to French - until Christmas it's 40% off for 12 issues, so why not treat a loved one to the gift that gives all year?!

Film review: A Christmas Tale

2008-11-18T14:20:00.004Z

I wondered when the standout French film of the year would land on my desk, and here it is just in time for Christmas, although you won’t be able to see it in UK cinemas until early next year.

Director Arnaud Desplechin has some serious prior: 2005’s Kings and Queen (starring his muse Almaric, pictured here after a glass of red too many) was rewarded with multiple gongs and it was clear from this César (French Oscars) triumph that he has a winning way with big name actors and large casts.

Set in the northern town of Roubaix (place of Desplechin’s birth – what a nice change to see a star-studded film set outside of Paris), we witness the gathering of the Vuillard clan for Christmas, each member having undergone a compatibility test that might save the matriarch Junon (played with trademark understatement by Deneuve) from liver cancer.

The offspring – a heavy-drinking black sheep, played with barnstorming gusto and lip by Almaric; a sad and bitter eldest sister, Anne Consigny; and a smooth and thoughtful fixer, Melvil Poupaud – harbour no end of defects (mainly self-medicated) and combine to form a perfectly dysfunctional family. Much of the humour and pathos in this tightly scripted drama comes from bickering and seething tensions. Meanwhile, Junon faces her illness with grace and fortitude.

Stylish, witty, poignant and intense, with a superlative cast and outstandingly fleshed out lesser characters, this film knocks the genre of family reunion drama – so often marred by slush in Hollywood films – into an artfully cocked beret. Go and see it.

Ségolène Royal and me

2008-11-11T09:54:00.006Z

Before you get too excited, no, I am not the "dashing and handsome media figure" with whom the Socialist Party's defeated 2007 presidential candidate has recently been photographed in a "stepping out" kind of way, although you could be forgiven for thinking this to be entirely plausible.

The lucky chap in question is Bruno Gaccio, who founded the French equivalent of Spitting Image – a puppet show which lampoons politicians. He left the show in January 2007, so presumably will now be delighted that he doesn't have to take the rise out of his alleged new squeeze to pay the bills.

Me and Royal have history (well, sort of, very tenuously). I first heard of her a few years ago during a trip to the Poitou-Charentes region, of which she had just been elected Council President (2004, I think) and I vividly remember somebody – a tourism bod if memory serves – telling me that she, Royal, would be President someday. I've kept an eye out for her ever since and although Sarkozy convinced the electorate that he was the man to change France for the better, Royal is firmly back on the front foot.

As for news on the dynamic President, his wife Carla Bruni has taken an admirable public stance on Berlusconi's crude Barack Obama suntan "joke".

Whatever you say about France's current crop of public figures, boring they ain't.

Language course offer

2008-11-07T12:38:00.003Z

A serious offer from the good people at Coeur de France, who run a language school in hilltop Sancerre, Loire. In addition to learning French in situ, you can make the most of the local wine and Chavignol goat's cheese. I've visited the area and can vouch for its appeal.

Study French in Sancerre!
Special Limited Time Offer from
Coeur de France Ecole de Langues

Exclusively for UK and Ireland Residents

Save 170 to 500 euros (up to 400 pounds) on 1 or 2 week GCSE preparation packages

Save 300 to 700 euros (up to 560 pounds) on 2 week Group and Couple packages

Save 100 to 200 euros (up to 160 pounds) on 1 week Group and Couple packages

Similar savings available for Family Programs and private One to One tutorials!

Available Dates
Choose a 1 or 2 week period between 15 November 2008 and 21 March 15 2009.

Available Courses
All of our courses are eligible: Group, One to One, Combination, Couple, Petit 1:1 child's tutorial. Even our famous Family Program is eligible!

Special offer ends 30 November 2008. All dates and courses are subject to availability. Don’t wait – with these low rates, availability is very limited and on a “first come – first served” basis -- don’t miss out!

For details, please see www.CoeurDeFrance.com/specialuk.htm

Lawsuits you, sir

2008-10-30T15:13:00.002Z

Voodoo doll update... A judge has let common sense prevail and allowed production of the Sarkozy and Royal dolls to continue. Who says the French have no sense of humour?

Cistern addict

2008-10-29T10:05:00.004Z

Is there a story whose headline more perfectly "does what it says on the tin"? I doubt it.

While I feel for the hapless passenger, one cannot help but marvel at the sheer suction power of a French train loo. Way ahead of us, as usual.

Do you do voodoo?

2008-10-27T09:56:00.003Z

French President Nicolas Sarkozy is fuming at news that some wag has produced 20,000 voodoo kits in his image, complete with instructions on how to stick pins in it. Of course, in France people own absolute copyright to their own image, so it's not surprising that Sarkozy plans to sue if the dolls are not withdrawn from sale.

Either the President is actually afraid of the dark art bringing him bad fortune or the thought of pins going in his thigh makes him wince. But as my doctor tells me, Benny Hill-style, when I go for a jab, "Don't worry, you'll just feel a little prick".

In the interests of fairness, the doll makers have also made one of oppostion leader Ségolène Royal.

* The image above is not of either of the aforementioned dolls

French cuddle crisis

2008-10-22T15:19:00.009+01:00

Daniel Johnson, the very amicable marketing chap at Siblu , whom I know from knocking about at various industry do's, just pointed me to this bizarre survey on the GMTW website. It's the kind of thing that editors get sent all the time by PRs scrambling for attention – and, of course, the financial crisis is the current angle for all stories, no matter how tenuous the link.

Apparently the French aren't as handy as us saucy Brits at cuddling up in bed on a cold winter's night in their efforts to stave off ever-growing heating bills.

And they, the French, would do well, say the sponsors of the survey, to put aside ten minutes each week to do something 'green'. Fair enough, we all can do our bit and I'm as partial to credit crunch cuddle as anybody. But read further down, to the second bullet-pointed section "And in Europe", and among a list of things that some people are wasting ten precious minutes on each week, you find this:

"Twenty-one per cent of Frenchmen and women spend more than 10 minutes a week waiting for their food to arrive in a restaurant."

Quelle surprise! I would suggest that any restaurant where you don't have to wait ten minutes for your food to arrive is called Burger King. And how, one wonders, is something that takes longer than ten minutes to cook from scratch, supposed to be cooked in less than ten minutes?

In future I will order salade niçoise every time I eat out, thereby giving me ten more minutes to put my recycling out. If only steak tartare had been on the menu at Kyoto Agreement meetings...

His Heineken Cup runneth over

2008-10-16T14:33:00.006+01:00

A rather disingenuously teasing email came through from Toulouse Tourist Office's ever so charming press officer Fanny, with whom I dined heartily and happily on my most recent visit to the Pink City (as featured in the latest issue of French).

She was ribbing me about how her local rugby team had beaten mine over the weekend in a pulsating Heineken Cup tie. I replied, naturellement, with double the sarcasm, which I hope didn't upset her too much. Anyone who says the French have no sense of humour is quite wrong.

Anyone who says Toulouse deserved to win is also quite wrong, but c'est la vie. The winning kick was delivered by the talented, though inconsistent, David Skrela (pictured), who seems to be French rugby's latest poster boy.

The return fixture in Bath, on the weekend of January 23rd, promises to be a humdinger. What Entente Cordiale?

Monet's too tight to mention

2008-10-07T10:39:00.003+01:00

No, this is not a post about Charlie Drake-alike warbler Mick Hucknall selling off his impressionist art collection to ward off the credit crunch, but a crafty way of introducing a fantastic offer to all new subscribers this month to French Magazine, the Giverny-bedecked issue of which is out now.
Ring the hotline on 01225 786 850 to subscribe and you will recieve a lovely 2009 Monet Pocket Diary for 2009 AND a stylish teneues Paris 2009 Wall Calendar. These two fabulous gifts are worth £29.50.
Oh, and of course you get 12 issues of the UK's best magazine about France and the French lifestyle delivered straight to your door before everyone else.

Laurels for Hardy*

2008-09-30T16:27:00.005+01:00

I've listened to some lovely old Françoise Hardy tunes today as I tried get in the mood to write a piece about the food and drink of the Dordogne (duck and wine on the whole, but you knew that). Anyone looking for a logical link between the two – Hardy and the Dordogne, that is – will have no joy.
I got distracted and had a look at Ms Hardy's excellent website, thinking that perhaps we could feature her somewhere in French Magazine (new issue on sale this Thursday, complete with a free 86-page Traveller in France magazine; Monet's Giverny on the bright pink cover). Anyway, I decided that this is the benchmark for anyone blessed with rare beauty who seeks to age with grace. Swoon...

*Before you ask, this post wasn't created just so I could use this dodgy title.

Sloping off

2008-09-25T11:56:00.007+01:00

I was informed by my old mate (and French tourism industry legend in his own lunchtime) Paddy Daly from that fine organisation ABTOF that, according to his members, ski holiday bookings to France are very healthy this year. In the face of seemingly endless rounds of credit crunch doom-mongering, this is great news for anyone in the French holiday business. If you haven't yet booked your winter visit, you'll find plenty of ideas and offers on the site.

I'm undecided about whether or not to hit the slopes this season. For a start, I'm not very good at skiing, and this annoys me greatly. I've only been a couple of times with a group of friends who leave me in their wake, struggling to descend even the simplest of red runs. This winds me up no end, especially as smug five-year-olds whizz past wearing all their fancy outfits.

I am, however, very good at scoffing artery-pillaging tartiflette (pictured) as if, ironically, my very life depended on it, and at indulging in boozy après-ski shenanigans. Actually, sod the skis – these are two very good reasons to book an Alpine jolly NOW.

Reindeers in Normandy

2008-09-23T14:16:00.003+01:00

You heard! This is likely to confuse the kids this Christmas.

I've Loved You (For) So Long

2008-09-16T12:45:00.006+01:00

I have just reviewed new cinema release I've Loved You So Long for Issue 70 of French Magazine:

Once every few years, a French film emerges flare-like from the cloying fog of Hollywood PR and big budgets, a film so engrossing and original (Amélie and Hidden spring to mind) that you want to ring all of your friends and tell them to flick Batman the bird and instead turn to arthouse cinema for an “event” outing of equal import, but without the stunts, scraps, hollering and merchandise.

What’s remarkable about I’ve Loved You So Long, however, is that there are no clever and cute editing techniques, or time-bending narratives at work, as with the aforementioned French box-office winners. There’s barely even a plot to speak of, yet the exqusite tension of this exceptional family drama is held through slow revelation, superb use of intermittent music and some exquisite acting by the entire cast. That this film is the debut of writer ClaudePhilippe makes it all the more striking.

Scott Thomas – in what is a surely an Oscar-nominee turn – plays elder sibling Juliette, gaunt and world weary, who emerges from a 15-year hiatus (to disclose why would be churlish here) to stay with her once doting younger sister Léa (Elsa Zylberstein) and her young family.
Oozing frustration, yet showing flashes of wit that make this so much more than a study in self-pity, Juliette’s remoteness at first serves to push away those seeking to understand her. Slowly she must learn to trust and open up, which she does... eventually, explosively. You will not see a more moving and captivating performance this year, or maybe any other.

It's a cracker, as you can tell, but one thing troubles me: the title. Shouldn't it be called I've Loved You For So Long, as it's translated from the French Il y a longtemps que je t'aime? I will bow to your greater linguistic knowledge if you can clear this up for me.

Bag a bargain boating break

2008-09-12T14:30:00.001+01:00

SAVE UP TO 20% ON BOATING BREAKS IN FRANCE

Leading French boating holiday specialist Le Boat has savings of up to 20% off August and September boat hire with prices for a one week holiday now starting from only £93pp. Le Boat offer the widest choice of cruising suggestions on the largest and most stylish fleet in Europe. What’s more, no previous boating holiday experience is required.

Cosmopolitan cruising in Alsace
Discover savings of 20% in addition to splendid scenery, pretty medieval villages and a multicultural atmosphere as you cruise the waterways of the Alsace – amazingly taking in three countries – France, Luxembourg and Germany. August and September prices start from £93pp based on five people sharing a Corsair boat.

A sunshine cruise on the Canal du Midi
Choose a cruise on France’s most famous canal following in Rick Stein’s wake. All along the canal you will see pretty restaurants offering delightful regional wines and speciality dishes to entice you to moor up for a relaxing lunch. Save 15% on August and September holidays. Prices start from £108pp based on six people sharing a 3-cabin boat.

A wine lovers break in Burgundy
A cruise on Burgundy’s beautiful waterways takes you through the wealthiest and most gastronomic region of France – a haven for those who appreciate fine wines and excellent cuisine. Save 20% on August and September holidays. Prices start from £130pp based on eight people sharing a 4-cabin boat.

Boating for beginners in the Camargue
For those looking to try a boating holiday for the first time the lock-free Camargue in the sunny south of France is ideal. Mix ancient ports, fishing villages and historic towns with fabulous beach resorts and wonderful wildlife. Save 15% on August and September holidays. Prices start from £103pp based on six people sharing a 3-cabin boat.

No previous boating experience is required as the boats are easy to operate and helpful base staff ensure you are comfortable at the helm before setting off on your holiday. With boats available to sleep from two to twelve people and holidays of one-week or longer are available as well as short-breaks, Le Boat has flexible options to suit every party size and budget.

Comprising the renowned brands Crown Blue Line, Connoisseur and Emerald Star, the Le Boat group has been providing self-drive river and canal holidays for over 40 years. For more information call 0844 463 3577 or visit www.leboat.co.uk

Poubelle, ma belle

2008-09-10T16:05:00.004+01:00

Just back from a fleeting trip to La Rochelle and île de Ré and neither disappointed in themselves, though my memory of them is now somewhat tarnished. I managed to raise a glass to dear old Raymond Rohou and soaked up the history and atmosphere of these Atlantic Coast gems. Particularly impressive was the harbour town of Saint-Martin on île de Ré – it's very pretty.

That my female companion decided I was good for the old poubelle upon our return suggests that either the sea air or the voluminous portions of seafood and wine she found ample room for sent her quite mad.

To cheer me up, I'd love to hear about places in France that you have especially fond memories of.

Meanwhile, the new issue of French Magazine is on sale in a good newsagent near you or by subscription here.

Highlights include guides to Albi, Amiens and the Wellington Quarry in Arras plus a look at Eco-Tourism in France. There's also the chance to win a fabulously indulgent break at Raymond Blanc's Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons.

Language course

2008-08-28T12:30:00.006+01:00

Sorry for the delay since last post. It's been all hands to the pump here as we put the final touches to the Autumn/Winter Edition of The Traveller in France. It's looking great, and you will be able to claim your free bagged copy when you buy the November issue of French Magazine, on sale October 2nd. Meanwhile, the October issue (are you following me?) of French is out next Thursday, September 4th! Full of French goodness, it is.

Today, amongst the pile of press releases and books that postie Steve jovially brings to our grateful editorial floor every day, I got a sample copy of this, a new edition one-day course in French, which is handy for anyone keen to extend their linguistic capabilities beyond baffled grunts, international hand gestures and just saying things slower and louder in English. It's on sale tomorrow.

Tot toreador shown the door

2008-08-20T14:59:00.007+01:00

Michelito, a tiny bullfighter with a big following in his native Mexico, was recently banned from competing in a non-lethal version of a corrida in the sport's stronghold – the deep South of France. Apparently, the ban was enforced not on animal welfare grounds but because of child labour laws.

Whatever the reasoning, I can think of a million better things to do in Nîmes or Arles, can't you?

Heartbreak hotel

2008-08-15T15:41:00.003+01:00

It seems I am not alone in questioning the dubious standards of certain sections of the French tourism/catering industries. This makes for sad reading if you love France as I do. What do you think?

La Rochelle revisited

2008-08-12T14:32:00.009+01:00

Off to La Rochelle for a few days soon, once both the October issue of French Magazine and the Autumn/Winter issue of The Traveller are done and dusted. I have tarnished memories of this lovely West Coast port, a place that cropped up randomly in GSCE French texts.

I visited for the magazine many years ago and was given a guided tour of the harbour, old town and various museums and squares by a lovely, sweet chap called Monsieur Raymond Rohou.

White of hair and 'tache was he, and no spring chicken, yet his zest for sharing his considerable knowledge of his adopted town was infectious. He would stoop, arms behind his back, looking into the windows of antique shops, raving about which trinket he fancied. He took me for lunch at one of the town's many lively seafood restaurants and bombarded me with facts, stats and recipe tips. He was great company, very polite, wise and calm – a perfect gent, if there is such a thing.

I kept in touch with him intermittently by postcard over the years. I would send mine from whichever part of France I was visiting, as did he initially, but these arrived increasingly frequently with a La Rochelle stamp. He was clearly not getting about much. Then one day I received a heartbreaking letter from his wife, informing me of his sudden passing and thanking me for my efforts in keeping up correspendence, which apparently he enjoyed greatly. I certainly did.

The message? Don't just respect your elders, make friends with them, even if you do meet them randomly in France. I'll be raising a glass of Muscadet to the silver fox when I visit.

New French Magazine on sale now!

2008-08-08T16:39:00.003+01:00

The latest issue of French Magazine is now available online and in the shops (WHSmiths, Tesco). We're thrilled with the redesign and new features, and hope our readers are equally impressed!

Eau no!

2008-08-06T12:03:00.002+01:00

As money worries bite across the Channel, one of the first luxuries the French have forsaken is mineral water. The country that brought us Evian and Vittel has turned from bottle to tap, with sales of mineral water down 6.7% on last year. Eco-savvy consumers, too, are being blamed for the decrease in sales, as many people are concerned about the environmental impact of their discarded plastic bottles. Instead, soda streams – the 70s gadgets that turn tap water fizzy – are enjoying a comeback. What next, raspberry slush puppies at the Elysée Palace? If you've seen similar evidence of times-a-changin' in France, pray tell.

Get 20% off a summer cruise!

2008-08-05T12:19:00.000+01:00

If anyone fancies messing about on a French river this summer, I just received this fabulous offer from Le Boat:

SAVE 20% ON FRENCH ODYSSEY SUMMER CRUISE
Follow in Rick Stein’s wake along the famous Canal du Midi

Leading boating holiday specialist the Le Boat group has made it even easier to follow in Rick Stein’s wake by offering 20% off Canal du Midi cruises for holidays between 15th August and 11th September 2008 in the South of France.

From Le Boat’s base in Narbonne it’s possible to cruise the same route taken by Rick, enjoying the fabulous views and scenery of this World Heritage Site, in addition to stopping off at the same wine cellars and many waterside restaurants serving local dishes such as the regions famous Cassoulet.

Longer cruises will also see you take in the impressive walled city of Carcassonne and the lovely town of Castelnaudary – both with great options for mooring up before heading off to explore.

No previous boating experience is required as the boats are easy to operate and helpful base staff ensure you are comfortable at the helm before setting off on your holiday. Also, for those new to boating holidays Le Boat provides a DVD with techniques and tips to introduce cruising.

Le Boat’s cruisers sleep from two to twelve people with prices for a one week holidays starting from just £179 per person based on four people sharing a two cabin cruiser. Holidays must be booked by 31st August.

Comprising the renowned brands Crown Blue Line, Connoisseur and Emerald Star, the Le Boat group has been providing self-drive river and canal holidays for over 40 years. For more information call 0844 463 3577 or visit www.leboat.co.uk

Service without a smile

2008-08-04T12:54:00.000+01:00

A French Magazine reader wrote to me complaining about a recent stay in France that left a distinctly bitter taste in her mouth. What was the source of her ire? It wasn't the feeble euro exchange rate she got for her hard earned pounds. Nor was it an over-priced, below-par meal, dog poo on the trottoir or even striking public sector workers (at least one of these can usually be relied upon to wind someone up on holiday).

She had, in fact, been on the wrong end of some shockingly bad customer service at a (British-run) B&B near Carcassonne. A frosty reception (ie, the welcome, not the porch), uncleaned bathrooms, messy tables at breakfast (not cleaned since dinner the previous evening), unkempt gardens that didn't resemble the publicity photos... Her list went on, but the gist of it was that the owners couldn't really care less about making her stay a pleasant one.

I can sympathise. I've stayed in a few miserable places in France in my time, and I've written in the magazine before about why the star ratings system in French hotels needs looking at. It needs to reflect the subjectively assessed attributes of an establishment that currently aren't measured (friendliness, anyone?). We wait with baited breath. Have you had any similar experiences on your French travels?

Facebook Francophiles

2008-08-01T14:33:00.000+01:00

Join our new French Magazine Facebook Group now to see exclusive previews of the new issue (on sale August 7th), join discussions with like-minded Francophiles and to share your thoughts and photos from recent visits to France. It's free and easy to join.

That Sun King feeling

2008-07-30T15:49:00.000+01:00

If you've never been to the Château de Versailles, whose huge hall of mirrors and golden gate have recently been returned, at great cost, to their former glory – this will whet your appetite. Of course, the gardens aren't too shabby either. I'm sure the numerous bewigged Louis' would approve.

If you are planning a visit, I can strongly recommend a stroll around the town's market (one of the finest I've seen in France) and a half-day here.

For lovers of France

2008-07-28T09:53:00.000+01:00

Bonjour and bienvenue to my spanking new blog about all things French. If you are a Francophile like me, or you just love visiting this fantastic country, then please bookmark this page and pop back regularly. I will be posting updates on travel and holidays, the property scene, food, wine, cultural matters and much more!

As the Editor of French Magazine and the French Government Tourist Office's Traveller in France, not only am I lucky enough to visit France on a regular basis (in the name of research for features, bien sûr!), but I also get wind of all manner of tips and hints on visiting our cross-Channel neighbours. Thanks to my extensive contacts in the travel industry, I will be able to provide exclusive information on great holiday bargains and offers, and can tell you about them before they ever make it into the printed magazine.

Of course, the key to this blog is your invaluable input, so please do join in by adding your comments. I'd love to hear about your recent or upcoming trips to France, and hope that you will share your insights on great places to stay, to eat and to visit. For starters, can anyone tell me where I should head for a great meal in La Rochelle? I am off there in a few weeks.

Now, in a blatant bit of self-promotion, can I point you to the latest issue of French Magazine – the UK's biggest and best glossy magazine for lovers of France is on sale 7th August and sports a lovely new look.

We’ve been plotting our little spruce up for a while now, with Art Editor Nathalie working very hard on new designs and myself and the rest of the editorial team coming up with new features that reflect what you, the reader, most want from us – a clear, informative and stylish read on all things French. We hope you like it – it would mean a lot to us to hear your thoughts.

So what’s new? In addition to the usual in-depth articles (you might try the Loire, Gironde, Rouen and a brief history of French street names for starters), we’ve a few new treats for you. Our 10 reasons to visit... series begins in Brittany, while our regular history lesson starts with Louis XIV.

Each month, we will recommend an eco-friendly French getaway in our new Joie de Vivre page (p12), which also sees a reader tell us why they love France so much. Drop us a line, and it could be you in the spotlight next month! Finally, our new Taste of the Terroir series looks at regional food and wine of the Aude in Languedoc, and the importance of keeping things local.

Don’t forget to enter our Condor Ferries competition (www.holidays2france.com/competitions/) or to take advantage of our brilliant subscriptions offer – lovely free Louis Jadot wine is in the offing. This, as we know in these trying, credit-crunchy times, is a rarity indeed! To subscribe to French Magazine, visit www.merricksmagazines.co.uk and for all the latest property news, visit www.homesworldwide.co.uk

Thanks for reading and come back soon – don't forget to bookmark!

Justin