July 2008 - Posts
Bonjour!
My new column on the Times' website went live yesterday, just as I was travelling back from Burgundy.
Here's the link -
Times Online
If you have anything you'd like to contribute, then let us know at yourspace at francemag.com
A bientôt,
Carolyn
Our August issue came out a week ago and we've already had a great response from it. The letters have been flooding in which shows that driving in France is really an appealing holiday idea. And why wouldn't it be? With low-cost airlines making it more and more expensive to take lots of luggage away on holiday, driving the car to France is ideal for those unable to ‘travel light’. Families or couples can simply throw everything they’ll need for a week or two into the boot and head off into the sunset. French roads are a joy to drive down and if you don’t fancy speeding along the autoroutes, then there are plenty of smaller roads that will bring you avenues of poplar trees, fields of sunflowers and spectacular mountain views as you amble between charming villages and peaceful towns.
Our contributing editor, Philip Faiers, has been driving in France for years and, thanks to his many visits, he has discovered the most beautiful route from the north all the way down to the south. He guides us through the highlights in this issue.
Of course France is also the home of many a classic car and a recent visit to ‘La Vie En Bleu’, an annual celebration of French cars at the Prescott Hill Climb in Cheltenham, proved to me just how passionate people can be about Bugatti, Renault and Citroën models. One of these people is motoring journalist Kevin Raymond, who brings us a celebration of the 2CV’s 60th birthday.
Families taking the car to France this summer might want to follow in the footsteps of FRANCE Magazine’s Rachel Scott, who took her two young sons down to Poitou-Charentes to discover a host of family-friendly activities. Sadly Rachel is leaving us for pastures new to take up a role on another Archant title, Heritage magazine. She has been an absolutely invaluable member of the team and has played an enormous part in improving the title and having it reach more readers. I'm very sorry to see her go, but I wish her all the very best for her new job.
A bientôt,
Carolyn
Ever since the Lumière brothers developed their cinématographe in 1895, film-fans have been able to experience other worlds, countries and era in the comfort of the local movie theatre or their own home. While fake French backdrops can be created in the studio, many places – such as some of the villages, towns and restaurants mentioned in our cover feature – need little adaptation to become a genuine film set. With this in mind, we tracked down ten places that have played starring roles in famous films, and show how a visit to them can add a real-life element to your movie-going.
Of course Hollywood film-makers are also strongly attracted to France, visiting Cannes in May and Deauville – which features both on the cover of our July issue and in the classic film Un Homme et Une Femme – in September for the annual American Film Festival. In this its 34th year, it will, no doubt, see the usual crew of famous leading ladies and gentlemen strolling along its famous boardwalk.
From film buffs, to being in the buff – our article on naturist camping gives you a taster of what to expect if you dare to go bare on holiday. Meanwhile, those wishing to enjoy nature rather than naturism, this month's Where the Wild Things Are feature, which brings together some of the best places to watch wildlife in the French countryside.
Finally, don’t forget to take a look at our new twin-town column on the France at Home pages, and let us know about your own French events in the UK by emailing yourspace@francemag.com. You can even upload your own events on to our website at www.francemag.com. So until next month, bon voyage and à bientôt.
Carolyn