Young French Farmers Bring the Countryside to the Champs Elysees in Paris !

Young French Farmers brought a taste of the countryside into central Paris today. http://www.metro.co.uk/weird/827451-french-farmers-turn-champs-elysees-into-huge-farm

They were emphasising to city dwellers the importance of French agriculture to the economy and also the importance of retaining the ability to produce quality food in your own country.
Go Back to Best French Campsites

Loire Bike Routes

If you are taking your bike to the Loire Valley this year then you will love this website : http://www.cycling-loire.com/Default.aspx?base
Go Back to Best French Campsites

Problems with SNCF ticket booking

There is a bug with the SNCF computer system this weekend, making it difficult to book tickets online etc. For more information : http://www.francesoir.fr/tourisme-transports/sncf-une-panne-informatique-rend-impossible-lachat-de-billets-de-train
Go Back to Best French Campsites

Camping Checklist !

Here is a good checklist for family camping !!
http://www.rei.com/expertadvice/articles/family+camping+checklist.html

Go Back to Best French Campsites

Blue Flag Beaches in France

Here is a link to a list of the blue flag beaches in France. The blue flag is awarded based on :

• water quality,
• information displayed,
• cleanliness of the beach,
• toilet facilities etc
• in addition there must be some environmental education linked to the beach.

It does surprise me to see that some of my favourite beaches aren't listed. Also, some of the supposedly "great beaches for young children" aren't listed which is disappointing.

If you haven't decided which campsite to stay at yet the list of blue flagged beaches might help you. http://www.blueflag.org/Menu/Awarded+sites/2011/Northern+Hemisphere/France

What do you think about the beaches listed ? Have you found a beach which seemed really nice or one that wasn't so great ? We were slightly disappointed with the beaches at Trinite Sur Mer last year. I was a bit suspicious about the amount of green seaweed which had to be removed all the time in the early mornings - I wondered if this might be a sign of pollution and the water wasn't always all that clear. The only place that has so far tempted me in for a swim was the beach at the St Cast le Chatelet campsite on the north of the Brittany coast.

Another useful site that I have found to check water quality is http://baignades.sante.gouv.fr/editorial/en/accueil.html which allows you to search for water quality results at any of the beaches which have been tested. It's a slightly tricky site to use but its possible to get right down to some quite detailed information allowing you to check out the beaches before you book your holiday !

Go Back to Best French Campsites

BA Wins High Court Ban on Cabin Crew Strikes

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/10119196.stm

Go Back to Best French Campsites

Cinema !

If you would like to visit the cinema while on holiday in France then this site lists the films that are on in your local cinema wherever you are holidaying. http://www.linternaute.com/cinema/

If your French language abilities arent great and you would like to see a film in English then look for films which were originally filmed in English and which are marked VO for Original Version.
It may be that towards the High season you may get more of these sorts of films in cinemas in tourist areas.

Go Back to Best French Campsites

Channel Tunnel Services Disrupted

Channel Tunnel Services Disrupted. For more information : http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/8684297.stm
Go Back to Best French Campsites

Further BA Strike Dates Announced

BA Cabin Crew strikes - new dates are announced for further strikes.
18th -22nd May, 24th May and 30th May as well as the 5th June.
So, I hope none of those dates were when you were planning your holiday travel. As if it isnt bad enough having volcanic ash to think about !

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/10105863.stm

Go Back to Best French Campsites

Volcanic Ash may affect Cannes Film Festival !

As the Eyjafjöll volcano in Iceland continues to send ash ("cendres volcaniques") into the skies above the Atlantic, there are concerns that it might affect the Cannes Film Festival. It all depends on whether there is enough rain in the meantime to disperse the ash. If it did affect the Riviera airport and possibly transatlantic crossings then there would be fewer than expected dignitaries and VIPs attending the festival.

For a map of the spread of the ash :
http://www.lemonde.fr/web/illustration/0,32-0,40-1348459,0.html

For an article from Le Monde :
http://www.lemonde.fr/planete/article/2010/05/08/l-eyjafjoll-perturbe-a-nouveau-le-ciel-europeen_1348455_3244.html

Go Back to Best French Campsites

Aftermath of Xynthia Flooding

Residents of the areas of the Vendee affected by flooding, around l,aiguillon sur mer and La Roche Sur Yon have won the right to have the destruction or not of their houses reviewed on a case by case basis. The state had decided that 1,500 houses would be destroyed, with the floodzone area basically being declared uninhabitable.

http://www.lemonde.fr/planete/article/2010/05/07/en-vendee-les-proprietaires-qui-contestent-les-zones-noires-verront-leur-situation-etudiee-au-cas-par-cas_1348297_3244.html

Go Back to Best French Campsites

High Waves seen on Mediterranean at Nice and Cannes

High waves of between 6 and 10 metres high have been seen at Nice and Cannes. The beach at Nice and the southern road at the Promenade des Anglais has been closed.

Outsized Waves at Cote d'Azur

Go Back to Best French Campsites