Lille, France

Archive for the ‘lille france’ Category

Located in the charming medieval hilltop village of Eze, the Chateau de la Chevre d’Or is the place to stay. Between Nice and Monaco and overlooking the blue waters of the Mediterranean, it’s perfect for a short break. So if you’ve missed Valentine’s Day, this might just be the chance to redeem yourself in your partner’s eyes.

There’s a 3 for 2 offer here if you book a room or a suite valid from March 8^th to April 30^th, though it doesn’t cover the Easter weekend of April 6^th to 9^th. So you stay for three nights and pay for two of them.

The Chateau de la Chevre d’Or is one of the region’s top hotels, with a heated outdoor pool as well as steam room, sauna and Fitness Centre. The restaurant has two Michelin stars, so you’ll certainly eat well. And it’s right in the middle of some great sightseeing countryside.

Practical Information

Moyenne Corniche
06360 Eze Village
Tel.: 00 33 (0)4 92 10 66 66
Website
Contact: Isabelle Fremont. Email:  ifremont@phoenixhmc.com

Splash out at the Chevre d’Or Chateau Hotel originally appeared on About.com France Travel on Sunday, February 19th, 2012 at 15:52:31.

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From February 17th to March 4th, Nice is awash with Carnival fans. This year His Majesty The King of the Carnival, who leads the whole glorious festival is the King of Sport. And, in a truly gracious Gallic gesture, His Majesty’s guest of honor is…Great Britain. It’s an acknowledgement of the 2012 Olympic Games which, hopefully the whole world knows by now, will be in London.

There will be the usual 20 huge, impressive floats; the wonderful street entertainers and musical groups from five continents parading along the Promenade des Anglais. And of course, that famous Battle of Flowers. It’s great fun, very lively and finishes with a spectacular firework display.

Nice Carnival Starts February 17th originally appeared on About.com France Travel on Thursday, February 16th, 2012 at 10:02:36.

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The French are good at romance and Valentine’s Day offers every full-blooded French man and woman the chance for dressing up, going out and of course, eating and drinking very well. But the French are very good at romance all year round.  See what the French  get up to on St. Valentine’s Day.

Where else would you expect to find somewhere dedicated to the saint but in France? St. Valentin is  in Indre, the central Val de Loire region and has declared itself the ‘Village of Love’. There’s a festival, of course, from February 12^th to 14^th, with the village decorated to within an inch of its life with red roses and plenty of people renewing vows, and some getting married.

If you don’t fancy that particular crowd of lovers, there are plenty of other places which fulfill all the romantic requirements. Check out the top top romantic hotels in France.

Image: Domaine les Crayeres in Reims, Champagne, has a special romantic offer. See the top romantic hotels in France.

Valentine’s Day in Romantic France originally appeared on About.com France Travel on Friday, February 10th, 2012 at 09:18:23.

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The snow has been falling and the slopes on the French ski resorts are top quality. But a slow start to the season meant that many people held off booking or went elsewhere. So there are plenty of bargains out there, even over the half-term holidays. Here are a few suggestions from some small specialised companies in the U.K. Even if you don’t use them this time, it’s worth keeping their details for future ski holidays:

If calling from the U.S.A. please add 00 44 before the telephone number and omit the first 0 (so VIP chalets above will be 00 44 844 557 3119.

Image: Kids skiing at Courchevel 1850 © Courchevel Tourisme/Jerome Kelagopian

More on Skiing in the French Alps

Last Minute Ski Deals from UK Companies originally appeared on About.com France Travel on Sunday, February 5th, 2012 at 11:01:58.

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For many of us, carnivals are usually associated with the south of France, and Christmas markets with the north. But both Christmas markets and carnivals are celebrated throughout France with equal gusto so wherever you are, you’ll find one.

January is a cold, sometimes bleak month in Pas de Calais on the English Channel, but there was a particularly reason for little Dunkerque to cheer itself up.

Dunkerque’s prosperity lay with the visscherbende (groups of local fishermen), who sailed to Iceland to catch cod. Before they set sail on what was a very dangerous journey, there was, of course, a great feast. It started in the 18^th century and has continued to this day, along with all sorts of local customs and songs added in for good measure.

It’s the biggest carnival in this part of France, and one of the oldest. It may not be not the most comfortable carnival for spectators, but it’s fascinating and an event well worth seeing and it lasts at weekends and on certain weekdays, until March 11th.

Little Dunkerque’s Mighty Carnival originally appeared on About.com France Travel on Wednesday, February 1st, 2012 at 09:39:40.

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Shopping in French fleamarkets is a particular pleasure. Some cities specialize in gathering dealers together at fixed dates. Strasbourg has four brocantes or fleamarkets a year and the next two in February and April (7th and 8th) give you the chance to seek out all sorts of old items, some valuable, some possibly less so except in terms of the pleasure that an old set of cutlery, grape scissors or a vintage frock might give you .

Strasbourg, placed at the eastern border where France and Germany meet, is a particular good place for such an event. On  February 4^th and 5^th, you can browse through the stalls for old European jewelery, ceramics, glassware, clothes and general antiques, giving a far greater range than in many French cities.

Practical Information

Parc des Expositions du Wacken.
Place de la Foire-Expositions
Tel.: 00 33 (0)3 88 37 67 67
Website

Image: Streets of Strasbourg © AIRDIASOL – ROTHAN

Strasbourg’s February Fleamarket originally appeared on About.com France Travel on Sunday, January 29th, 2012 at 08:12:27.

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When P&O commissioned its two massive new ferries, the company had no idea that its main rival, SeaFrance, would go into liquidation. But what timing for P&O. Until a new ferry company takes over SeaFrance or sets up a rival, the considerable freight and passenger traffic is using P&O and its expanding fleet.

It was a bold step to invest in two new ships. Spirit of Britain entered the fleet last year; now P&O Ferries has taken delivery of its second new 180 million euro ship, Spirit of France. It was built at the STX Europe shipyard in Rauma, Finland to high specifications and began its 1,400 mile journey to Dover early in January. Spirit of France will arrive in Dover at 11am this Saturday January 28^th. Then there are last minute preparations to make before the new ship joins the Dover-Calais route by mid-February.

The two new ships are the largest ferries ever built for the crossing in the Dover Strait. Each is more than 47,000 gross tons and 213 metres (700 feet) in length, with 12 decks and a capacity of 170 trucks at 15 meters long plus 195 cars, or 1,000 cars and 2,000 passengers. No wonder together the ships cost 360 million euros ($472.5million or £301 million ).

The ships are, as you can imagine, extremely smart, with plenty of lounges and seating areas, good restaurants and shops more like an airport than a ferry.

So if you get the chance, book on one of the new ships.

Check out the Guide to Ferries from the UK

P&O Ferries Massive New Ferry originally appeared on About.com France Travel on Thursday, January 26th, 2012 at 14:52:56.

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From November 2011 to May 2012, during the period of the UK Presidency of the Council of Europe, Strasbourg is celebrating all things British. So if you want British style, and art, and architecture, film, food, dance and, well, British culture generally, then the Alsatian capital is the place to visit.

The relationship between Strasbourg and Britain goes back to 1949, when the Treaty of London created the Council of Europe with its 10 founding member states. On August 12^th, 1949, Sir Winston Churchill recognized the symbolic importance of choosing Strasbourg . This was the city of Franco-German reconciliation.

From today until the end of April, you can’t miss the connection: Tram E in the city will be decorated in red, white and blue. In February look out for a retrospective of the films of Stephen Frears at the Cinema L’Odyssee, while major works by modern British artists are on display at the Modern Art Museum. Lewis Carroll is celebrated in April.

There’s an ongoing calender of events. So check out the Sooo British program

More information
Strasbourg Tourist Information
17 place de la Cathedrale
Tel.: 00 33 (0)3 88 52 28 28
Website

More about Strasbourg

General View of Strasbourg © Geneviève Engel

Sooo British in Strasbourg originally appeared on About.com France Travel on Monday, January 23rd, 2012 at 08:57:47.

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You expect all sorts of exciting events in ski resorts, but this one is a bit out of the ordinary. This is the 28^th year that Valloire, at the foot of the famous Col du Galibier in Savoie in the French Alps, has organized their fabulous snow sculpture contest.

From January 24th to 27th, you can meet the artists from all around the world (Canada is particularly strong on this art). You find out how they do their extraordinary art and extraordinary it is. Sculptures beautifully made of cars, polar bears, fanciful creatures and more are created by international artists. It’s a fleeting moment; they will not last.

You can place a vote for the final result which is announced at 5pm on Friday January 27^th. Then there’s a torch-lit descent by the professional ski instructors in the resort, stunning fire works that soar into the black night sky, and dancing lights on all the sculptures.

More information

Office de Tourisme de Valloire
rue des Grandes Alpes – 73450 Valloire
Tel: 04 79 59 03 96
Website

More on the Region

© Pascal Delannoy / Ot Valloire

Snow Sculpture in Valloire, Jan 24th to 27th originally appeared on About.com France Travel on Friday, January 20th, 2012 at 06:05:24.

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It’s that time of year again, when the Carnival season gets going and people traditionally throw off winter blues to celebrate the coming of Spring. Limoux, one of the first of the year, is a remarkable festival and the longest in the world. There are exhibitions and events all through the carnaval, but the main processions take place on Saturdays and Sundays at 11am, 4.30pm and 10pm, when masked characters parade through the town.  These are the ‘guilds’ who play music and sing songs, but it’s not as carefree as that sounds. The reason is satire, making fun of society and its rules, all conducted in the ancient Occitan language. The most impressive of these processions is the torchlit one at night, where you really do feel that the ghosts of the past are gathering.

While the bandes who lead the procession are locals, you can join in (provided you dress up and the more obscure or strange the better). You can become one of the ‘goudils’, followers of the bandes who go through the streets, stopping at cafes for a quick glass of wine before the final stop in the main square, la place de la Republique.

The carnaval ends after ten weeks on March 25^th, the second Sunday before Easter. This is La Nuit de la Blanquette, the night when His Majesty King Carnaval is burnt at the stake in the main square, la place de la Republique. A straw effigy, he is the scapegoat who takes the blame for the ‘sins’ people have committed during the festival.

It’s a great event, so if you can visit Limoux then this is a good time.

Check out hotels in Limoux

More on Limoux and the Region

Limoux Tourist Office (in French)

Limoux Carnaval Jan 15 to March 25 originally appeared on About.com France Travel on Sunday, January 15th, 2012 at 13:13:58.

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