If you’re at all interested in photography, this is a must. Every year on the first weekend in June, a huge and very popular international photographic event takes over the small town of Bièvres, just south of Paris. This year over the weekend of Saturday and Sunday June 2^nd and 3^rd, professional and amateur photographers gather for a weekend of exhibitions and a second-hand photographic market on Sunday. And it’s all completely free.

It gives everybody the chance to see professionals along with individual stands of amateurs. There are prizes for the best photos awarded by a selected jury to some of the 100 exhibitors.

It started in 1964, and quickly became a real draw. Today it offers a great chance to talk about photography, the latest trends, innovations and practices.

On Sunday over 300 traders gather from Europe, Japan and North America, buying and selling rare piece of equipment, collectors’ items, vintage cameras, lens and accessories, vintage pictures and old books.

Practical Information

Photoclub de Paris-Val-de-Bievres
Bievres
Tel.: 00 33 (0)6 84 28 29 76
Website

Getting to Bievres

More on Photography

International Photographic Fair and Market originally appeared on About.com France Travel on Wednesday, May 16th, 2012 at 14:10:34.

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Every year the French join the rest of Europe to open their museums for a free evening. Called Nuit des Musees, most museums stay open from 6pm to midnight on Saturday May 19th and some particularly in Paris, to 1am. It’s a wonderful chance to see many of France’s great treasures for free. Many museums lay on special events, so there is a real party atmosphere.

In Calais, the Cite de la Dentelle (Lace Museum) brings in a company of professional comedians to entertain visitors. They’ll act out the secret arrival of the forbidden, and therefore smuggled, lace-making machine from England to Calais; the sad occasion when the lace worker Serge was separated from his love, and how tulle can come alive in the hands of  a master.

The Museum of Flanders in Cassel is putting on a show around the theme of Temptations, taking in figures from St Anthony and his demons to the powerful, proud Duke of Burgundy, Phillip the Good. Gluttony, envy, lust…all the temptations are there. It should be interesting.

And down in the south of France, check out the museums in and around Nice.

But wherever you are, check out the local museums. You’ll have a very good evening.

Information and locations for Nuit des Musees

Museum Information

Museum Night May 19th 2012 originally appeared on About.com France Travel on Sunday, May 13th, 2012 at 09:47:56.

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If you’re in the south of France near Toulon, St. Tropez or Marseille, try to get to the 27^th Hyeres Festival de Mode et de Photographie, an important annual event in the fashion and photographic world.

This year’s Festival started in April with a competition to select winners from ten photographers and ten fashion designers exhibiting their works and putting their designs onto the catwalk.

Demonstrating its importance, the jury was led by Yohji Yamamoto and included Terry Jones, founder of I-D magazine in London and Olivier Saillard, director of Musee Galliera in Paris. It shows the strength of the fashion industry with big players sponsoring the event and the prizes. It’s a pioneering competition giving young designers the chance to show their real inspirations without the market forces that so often stifle – or at least – temper pure talent.

For each competition, hundreds of hopefuls submit their photographs and designs; it’s a formidable task to make the final selection that is on show at the current Festival.

The exhition, which includes the work of some of the great names in fashion as well as those selected for the festival, is held at the Villa Noailles –the landmark cubist villa built in the 1920′s by Mallet-Stevens. The Villa is worth noting anyway for the changing landmark, exciting exhibitions that are held here throughout the year.

Practical Information

Villa Noailles
Montée Noailles
83400 Hyères
Tel.: 00 33 (0)4 98 08 01 98
Website

Admission free
Open Wed-Sun 1pm-6pm. Friday late night 3pm-8pm.

More on the Region

Guide to Marseille

Top Mediterranean Beaches

Guide to Provence

Hyeres Festival of Fashion and Photography originally appeared on About.com France Travel on Thursday, May 10th, 2012 at 07:42:52.

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In fact, most of the wine enthusiasts who also love travelling love to visit this French region to discover and sample the various wines found here. I too set out on a journey to the Loire valley in search of good wine. One of the things that I discovered was that it is Vitis vinifera is favored by the climate here that is commendable for both short term and long term needs. That is, grape vines thrive under the warm air, bright sunshine as well as the cool sea breeze that determine the alcohol content. Ironically, it is these factors that also draw tourists here. These vines swelter under the warm air of the night. Most of the vines are usually juicy and sweet even as they develop the required flavor because their acids are replaced by sugars as they ripen. This means that a majority of the Loire wines do not have the acidic content that is refreshing.

Apart from sampling the different wines, I also got to possess a really feel with the tourism market, so I took some time off to loosen up. Certainly one of the breathtaking scenes is definitely the beaches which are golden and also the crystal clear calm waters and blue sky that guarantee you a rewarding adventure. Also notable was the reality that the majority of the areas in the Loire valley had bright colors that supply a unique type of cheer. This French region has coastlines which are endless. You could also venture inland for a true encounter from the history at the same time experience the heritage of Loire. One of the ought to visit places in France is the Riviera that’s also regarded as a tourist capital. The Riviera is not only endowed with golden beaches but additionally other facilities like golf courses, luxury vacation resorts and excellent restaurants that make it a European paradise.

The Riviera offers assorted accommodation facilities at varied rates thus you can make sure you have the best experience ever. The hotels and restaurants have fine furniture to match up their standards of service they deliver to guests coming right here. A few of the notable pieces of furnishings are pine tables and chairs that make your dining expertise here memorable because they’re uniquely and artistically made. However the hotel rooms are well equipped with several getting furniture within the balconies that overlook the stunning beaches exactly where you’ll be able to sit and take pleasure in your wine within the evening as you relax.

In conclusion, going to the Riviera in France guarantees you certainly one of the most effective experiences as you not simply get to sample several of the world’s finest wines but you also get the most effective of the tourism market there.

Looking to find the best deal on pine tables, then visit http://www.lowennaspinefurniture.co.uk to find the best advice on farmhouse tables for you.

This year’s Cannes Film Festival, the most famous film festival in the world, runs from May 16th to 27nd, 2012. So roll out the red carpet, for this is the month when the world’ eyes, well at least those in the movie business or the plain star-struck, are focused on glitzy, glamorous Cannes.

The stars arrive; the mega yachts sit in the harbor; everyone tries to get into the Carlton Hotel to rub shoulders with the great and the good and we all wait to see which film has been awarded the ultimate accolade by the jury, this year led by Nanni Moretti. Better known in Europe and Italy, Moretti’s career began when he directed his first film, Io Sono un Autarchico (I am Self Sufficient) in 1976.

Hollywood has a good presence on the red carpet this year with such star-studded films as Walter Salles’ On the Road, Lee Daniels’ The Paperboy, David Cronenberg’s Cosmopolis, Jeff Nichols’ Mud and Andrew Dominik’s Killing Them Softly, not to mention an out-of-competition screening of DreamWorks Animation’s Madagascar 3.

The Brits are there as well, with English actor and director Tim Roth the president of the Un Certain Regard Jury, part of the Festival de Cannes Official Selection.

It’s possible to see the stars – and some of the films – even if, like me, you are a mere mortal. See my guide to the 2012 Cannes Film Festival.

Also see my general guide to the Cannes Film Festival.

More information on Provence/Cote d’Azur

Cannes Film Festival 2012 originally appeared on About.com France Travel on Friday, May 4th, 2012 at 12:31:22.

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Paris lies Inland close to the English Channel, and links up to London, the Capital of England by a train system that goes under the sea which is considered to be a part of this a joined up Europe. Paris boasts of great design, architecture, service and style, that make it one of the places, that are most visited in France. It is also home to large scale hotels, that have a charming and intimate surrounding, making them a preference among tourists, and other visitors coming to the city. Most of the accommodation facilities here are four star hotels, these offer luxurious comfortable rooms, that are complimented,by the use of cutting edge technology in service offered.

One of the things that I also noted, when I stayed in a Paris hotel, for a weekend shopping trip was the fact that these four star accommodation facilities, live up to their standard as they offer fresh cuisine, that is prepared using ingredients, that are locally grown. Every aspect of these accommodation facilities, is designed with the end being comfort. Moreover, the hotels rooms have an excellent, interior design finish that is complimented, by the type of furniture that is used. Thus, most of these hotels, have a cozy feel. Some of the striking furniture items, that I could not help but notice, when I stayed in a hotel in Paris, for a weekend shopping trip, were pine furniture, tables and the fitted pine wardrobes. These offer guests at the hotel, an ideal space, where they can sit and read, or browse on their laptop as they unwind, after a long day of hauling from one store to the other, in the course of shopping. You can also get to use the wardrobe, keep your clothes and prevent further creasing. Some hotels go for custom made wardrobes, as this is believed to contribute towards giving, them some sort of uniqueness and identity.

The furniture that is provided in the hotel rooms, will often vary from one hotel, to the other hence it is important, that you check prior to booking. This is because, while some hotels may have cozy sofa sets, or furniture on the balcony, overlooking the panoramic view of this beautiful city, others will only have select furniture items. The choice of this furniture, is also determined by the overall theme of the hotel. If you would like to sample, the various furniture items, and designs that are used in the hotels, you will do well to stay at a different hotel, every time you go shopping in St Michael.

In conclusion, whilst you may be visiting Paris, on a mission to shop, you cannot keep away from noticing, the uniqueness of accommodation facilities as you will need, to check into a hotel for the night.

Want to find out more about pine furniture, then visit William’s site on how to choose the best pine furniture for your needs

Bring out the gypsy in you…well, a gypsy of the well-dressed, luxury-loving, gourmet-style type. Highly suitable for Provence.

La Bastide de Marie is one of Provence’s best hotels in the heart of the Luberon. It has all the requisite delightful Provencale decor, a library and tasting vault, two restaurants and a Spa Pure Altitude with indoor and outdoor treatment rooms and two swimming pools. Just the place for wanderers.

Now if you want all that, and a feeling of being away from it all, you can book for their gypsy-style caravan or ‘Roulotte’. It’s in the grounds of the hotel and is surrounded by vineyards. But this is no ordinary caravan. It has wooden floors, a bed with a gilded wood headboard, a wing chair, no less, and what is described as a ‘quaint’ washroom.

It’s not gypsy prices, but at this level of luxury…sorry authenticity…from 465 euros per night for two people, including b&b, afternoon tea, lunch or dinner, served with an aperitif, wines from the Domaine de Marie, mineral water and coffee, it’s pretty good value.

They’ve also got rather a nice deal on a special lunch. You go shopping at the local market in Coustellet with the hotel chef, tour La Bastide’s vegetable garden, have a two-and-a-half hour cookery lesson then lunch at the chef’s table. 90 euros per person.

Practical Information

La Bastide de Marie
Route de Bonnieux
Quartier de la Verrerie
84560 – Ménerbes
Tel.: 00 33 (0)4 90 72 30 20
Website

More hotel suggestions

Stay in a gypsy caravan originally appeared on About.com France Travel on Monday, April 30th, 2012 at 07:28:34.

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The good things regarding furnishing your house together with your own furniture is that finding furniture in Paris is just about simple therefore you’ll be able to take care to induce what you would like. Paris boasts of diverse furniture stores that are well distributed in nearly all elements of town. Therefore, whether or not you’re searching for basic furniture things like narrow bedside cabinets or larger furniture things like wardrobes you’ll be able to take care to seek out one that completely meets your tastes and preferences in Paris. If you wish furniture that’s custom created for you, you’ll additionally realize various furniture dealers which will tailor create furniture which will fit your desires. However, this is often typically expensive compared to purchasing furniture that’s prepared created.

This is but to not say that going for a custom created wardrobe isn’t cheap as a result of though the price is on the upper facet, it’s still cheap. a number of the furniture things that you simply can purchase from the furniture dealers in Paris embody pine tables additionally as cozy sofa sets. If you’re lucky enough you’ll conjointly realize farmhouse tables to enrich the planning of your house.

Besides the furniture dealers that sell new furniture, you could also find numerous second hand furniture dealers in Paris. This is usually a great way to begin furnishing your house especially if you are working on a budget. The second hand furniture dealers are also a good option to shop for your furniture because some of them usually have furniture that was previously custom made for someone hence you could have the opportunity of taking home unique pieces of furniture. While most of these second hand furniture dealers are located in places such as the numerous Stone Streets of Paris that are within reach, others are found in secluded places. Most of the furniture dealers are open during the week hence accessing them should not be a problem. You could also find information on some of the best furniture dealers in Paris on the internet as most of them have websites.

In summary, Paris has a vibrant furniture market that offers a variety of furniture items which are required to complete the home. Thus, you can be sure you will not be disappointed when finding furniture in Paris.

Looking to find the best deal on pine furniture, then visit http://www.lowennaspinefurniture.co.uk to find the best advice on narrow bedside cabinets for you.

From May 16th to 20th, Lyon is given over to indie and electronic music.Nuits sonores is a great festival where the young and the enthusiasts come from all over France to listen to (and dance and party along with) electronic rock, hip-hop and electro music, almost around the clock.

60 venues are involved in this urban festival which starts in a former factory built in 1840. Other venues include the Hotel-Dieu and its many courtyards, and La Sucrerie, the former warehouse down in the area below Perrache which is the hip section of a changing city.

Names at the festival include Ricardo Villalobos and Max Loderbauer from Germany, Mudhoney and a whole load of artists whose names will be familiar to those tuned into electronic music. And being France, there’s a good children’s festival as well.

Information and booking including accommodation on the Lyon Tourist Site.

Lyon is a great city; check out the Lyon Photo gallery

Indie and Electronic Festival in Lyon originally appeared on About.com France Travel on Friday, April 27th, 2012 at 06:38:09.

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Why? Well, it was in 1659 that the first grapes were harvested in the Dutch Cape Colony (present day Southwest South Africa). Twenty-six years later, in 1685, Simor van der Stel constituted the Constantia vineyards in the Dutch Cape Colony, and Louis XIV reversed the Edict of Nantes. It was only three years on, in 1688, that about two hundred or so French Huguenots relocated to the Olifantshoek Valley (named after the elephants who once wandered there). Today it is commonly known as the Franschhoek Valley (“French Corner” in Afrikaans), baring witness to the French settlement.

Viticulture was present in S. A. before those French emigres arrived, and there are numerous other things that led to South Africa’s greatness in the wine world. Nonetheless, the fact of the matter is that without French knowledge, the nascent “wine industry” (if one could even call it that) of the Dutch Cape Colony would not have matured. Wine production would have most likely remained isolated to Constantia (a dependable source of wonderful cool climate whites & deliciously sweet dessert wines), and had it spread it probably would have simply stayed a novelty.

The French laid the foundation for the fame and quality of today’s South African wines. Naturally, lots of wineries in the Cape still have French names. This stands as a reminder of the contribution the French made to South Africa’s now famous wine-making industry.

Thank the Lord for the French! Dieu merci, pour les Francais! For, without them, would we enjoy South African wine?

Nic Haegeli still considers himself somewhat new to the wine business, but he now has several years of experience as a wine manager at Colonial Spirits of Acton. With a BA in History and a Master of Public Policy in International Relations, Nic never envisioned himself working with wine. But he was raised in Alsace, France… So it is sensible when you know where he is from.Nic would like to invite you to come by our liquor store in Acton, MA for one of our frequent wine tastings. If you can not stop by the physical store, then please check out our online wine store. Colonial Spirits Delivers offers wine delivery and Champagne delivery anywhere in Eastern Mass!