Editor's Blog

Driving in France

carolyn.boyd@archant.co.uk — Thu, 07 May 2009 08:40:00 GMT

We've just gone to press with our brand new book - Driving in France. The team have been hard at work on it for the last couple of months, as well as working on the magazine, and it should prove really popular with those who love France. Taking your car over on the ferry or Eurotunnel is such an easy way to visit, but there are lots of rules and regulations that one needs to know before leaving home. The book gives you all this information as well as tips for making a driving holiday a success. In addition to that, it has ten different regional drives to follow and each form the basis for a really great holiday. We had a great amount of reader feedback from Philip Faiers' slow route through France story in last August's issue, so we have also included that for the enjoyment of those who didn't get that issue.

The June issue is also about to hit the presses. We've gathered together a lovely selection of stories for you this month, and there's more than enough to entice those who are new to France to discover more.

Corsica beckons next week, so I'll report back after that!

A bientot,

Carolyn

March issue

carolyn.boyd@archant.co.uk — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 16:42:00 GMT

How time flies and blogs don't get written... sorry about that. We've been snowed under bringing you the best of France. Pre-Christmas and early spring are always very busy for the France team. Christmas deadlines put us under pressure, and then once that is over... it's on to holiday season!

Our March issue is full of inspirational pieces for spring trips over the Channel. From Percheron horse breeders in Le Perche to the wild and wacky Soufflacul festival in Nontron, l’Hexagone is ideal for a trip in March. So whether you’re wandering the streets of Pézenas, or breathing in the sea air in La Rochelle this spring, you’ll be sure to experience a little slice of France’s character wherever you are.
One actor who is used to playing a variety of characters is Jean Reno, who has become a familiar face in both French and Hollywood cinema. He can currently be seen on the silver screen in The Pink Panther 2, and told Pierre De Villiers in an exclusive interview what he really thinks of France and America.
Those who are watching the pennies but who still want to get a dose of French culture this month will love our articles about visiting France on a day trip. They prove that, with a bit of planning and organisation, it is perfectly possible to get there and back in one day thus saving you the cost of an hotel. And speaking of cutting costs, camping is a great way save money. With such fantastic lakeside campsites to be found across France, I hope you’ll be tempted to spend a few nights under canvas this summer. With so many ideas to tempt you over the Channel this spring, I can only ask – what are you waiting for? Book that trip!

A bientot,

Carolyn

ps. Web-savvy visitors should sign up to Twitter and follow France Magazine for regular updates on what's coming soon... our latest 'Tweet'? A sneak preview to our new columnist...

October Times Online column

carolyn.boyd@archant.co.uk — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 16:34:00 GMT

October: the time for foodie breaks to France

Join the grape harvest, pick mushrooms or trawl markets bursting with produce this month, says France Magazine editor, Carolyn Boyd

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For fans of French food and wine, there is no better time than October to hop over the Channel. The countryside is a hive of activity with the vendanges (grape harvest) in full swing. Meanwhile, rural woodlands are besieged by mushroom hunters and market stalls become a riot of colour as bright orange squash and pumpkins are piled high.

Down in the Gers in Midi-Pyrénées, our contributing editor Philip Faiers is on the lookout for woodlands surrounded by parked cars – a sure sign, he says, that there’s a bounty of fungi to be found.

“Ceps are the most prized variety and mushroom fanciers know that ten days after heavy rain is the best time; a few days after a new moon is also a fruitful time. If the two coincide then be prepared for a bumper harvest.”

When asked for his top tips for fungi foraging, Philip recommends collecting them in a wicker basket as they will deteriorate in a plastic bag. And starting your hunt at first light to beat the neighbours and the slugs. The France Magazine forum is also abuzz with tips for foraging, and Cat quotes www.rogersmushrooms.com as a resource for identifying the different species.

In Burgundy, the harvest of vineyards in the Côtes de Beaune and Chablis is getting underway. According to David Cogan, who runs the Burgundy Eye website, it’s best to stay out of the way of harvesters unless you’re joining in. So, one of the most exciting ways to observe the region is from the sky in a hot air balloon. You’ll see the pickers hard at work below, as well as magnificent châteaux, beautiful red and orange forests and gentle, rolling hills as you float peacefully above the landscape.

Talking of balloons, Janet Rankin of Direct Corsica is looking forward to seeing the skies over Calvi in Corsica filled with balloons, kites and paragliders from October 29 to November 2.

The 17th Calvi Wind Festival is aimed at promoting the protection of the environment and renewable energy sources. On terra firma, meanwhile, there’ll be artists, painters and musicians performing in the streets and on stage. And if you’re hunting for some late summer sun, Corsica is the ideal place to catch some last-minute rays.

With that in mind, Year in the Merde author Stephen Clarke is heading to his favourite spot on the south coast, Bandol. Its semi-circular bay, fringing its clear turquoise sea, is the setting for his latest book Dial M for Merde. He tells me that even in October, the water is warm enough for snorkelling.

“Take a boat out to the secluded island of Bendor, just offshore,” he says, “where Daddi Milou's seafood restaurant is right on the waterfront - you can have a quick snorkel between courses”.

Also down south, writer Wendy Atkins is counting down the days before sampling the local wine and specialities close to her home in Carcassonne during the Ronde du Malepère wine festival on 18 and 19 October. If you fancy hopping over on a plane, the festival will provide you with dozens of tasting opportunities, street music and an art exhibition. She’s even heard a rumour that tasting glasses of Malpère wine will be given to those arriving at Carcassonne airport the week before.

Finally, conkers are falling from the trees around the newly renovated Tour St Jacques in Paris. The gothic tower has been covered with scaffolding for the last nine years and writer Jacqueline Karp tells me Parisians are enjoying the new view of it from the park that surrounds it.

Apparently, the tower glows in the warm autumn sunlight, complemented by the changing colours of the nearby horse chestnut trees. In the 16th century, the tower was the gathering point for pilgrims starting out along the route to St Jacques de Compostelle.

Don’t forget your binoculars for viewing the mythological animals, saints and devils gargoyles and grotesques that decorate it. If you fancy a bite to eat nearby, try the Restaurant St Martin in rue St Martin for some simple cuisine familiale.

La Rentree!

carolyn.boyd@archant.co.uk — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 16:32:00 GMT

All over France, parents and children are declaring “c’est La Rentrée” as they go back to school and work after their August holidays. As they vacate the hotels, beaches and tourist hotspots, now is the time to hop over the Channel and make the most of France without the crowds.

La Rentrée is a big thing in France, proving that the French are experts at turning even the most mundane into cause for celebration.

According to "Cat" on the France Magazine forum, it has even made headline news on French TV station TF1. “Was that really the most important thing going on in the world?” she says in our forum, “Well yes, perhaps it was, if you happen to be French.”

One excellent reason for celebrating La Rentrée in Paris is the return of the city’s restaurateurs. September sees them flinging open their doors after a month’s closure and, with mouths watering, their patrons sit down to newly inspired menus and the best late-summer produce.

Carol Drinkwater, author of The Olive Route recommends Le Gorille Blanc (The White Gorilla) at 11 bis rue Chomel in the 7th arrondissement, as somewhere great for lunch or a great-value evening meal.

“I have never seen another foreigner in there,” she says.

Among her other favourite Left Bank hangouts is Nabuchodonosor (6 avenue Bosquet, 75017 Paris), which is run by a gay couple who apparently delight in explaining the strange name to customers and make sure everyone is made very much at home.

Café des Lettres (53, Rue Verneuil, 75007 Paris), meanwhile, is a great place to take a rest stop after visiting the nearby Musée d’Orsay (voted by our readers as their favourite French museum) and is a favourite spot for writers from all over the world.

Restaurants aren’t the only establishments re-opening their doors this month. The annual Journées du Patrimoine weekend takes place on September 20-21 and is the ideal opportunity for visitors to have a good nose around thousands of privately owned and government buildings, which are usually closed to the public.

This year is its 25th, and churches, abbeys, châteaux, museums and government departments will be open. Among them is the Prime Minister’s official residence l’Hôtel de Matignon, which I had a private peek at last year at the invitation of its latest tenant Penelope Fillon, the Welsh-born wife of the French Prime Minister (Sarkozy’s number two) François Fillon.

Apparently, Matignon is one of the most popular places to visit over the open weekend, and queues form early in the morning.

Visitors file through the spectacularly lavish décor, put in place in the 18th century when it was the residence of the Princes of Monaco. Since then, it has been home to a string of fascinating characters, including a Scottish banker, a community of nuns and Charles de Gaulle.

Those looking for the sillier side to French culture this month could take part in the annual Marathon du Médoc on September 6 down near Bordeaux. The region’s best vintages and gastronomic treats are consumed by more than 8,000 runners as they conquer the distance of 42.2km.

Writer Wendy Atkins took part last year dressed as a Native American and took her first taste of “a good red from Château Lynch-Bages” at 10am after her second kilometre, before going on to try 15 more wines by 25th kilometre, and then dine on oysters at the 35th. “Even if you’re not a runner,” says Wendy, “it’s worth a visit for the atmosphere and wine-tasting”.

And speaking of wine-tasting, if you’re going back to school to brush up on the lingo this autumn, a discussion on our forum came up with some ideas improving the fluency of your French: a glass or two of wine.

“Alcohol breaks down the inhibitions and one are less likely to worry about making mistakes,” says Callie. “Suddenly all the French you ever came across pours forth in a sort of burbly manner.”

And if wine doesn’t help, a soap TV series might: “Find a slow soap, such as Les Feux de l'Amour on TF1 and get the subtitles running,” says forum-user Martin.

“My other half couldn't believe how a narrative copy of the dialogue made such a difference; she could "see" where one word ended and the next began. The soap in question is truly lamentable from a content point of view, but for learning the language quite superb!”

Launch of new Times Online column

carolyn.boyd@archant.co.uk — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 12:51:00 GMT

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

August issue

carolyn.boyd@archant.co.uk — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 12:35:00 GMT

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

In our July issue

carolyn.boyd@archant.co.uk — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 12:06:00 GMT

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

The June issue

carolyn.boyd@archant.co.uk — Tue, 20 May 2008 12:27:00 GMT

With summer on the way, most of us are busy planning our holidays and the June issue, just back from the printers, is packed with fantastic ideas that would appeal to every kind of visitor. For those wanting a little more sunshine than we got in the UK last summer, the ideal destination is Provence, one of my favourite regions of France. The lavender will soon be in bloom and with this in mind, we couldn’t resist the beautiful picture of this iconic French flower for the cover. The lavender fields are just a short distance away from the gorgeous village of Ménerbes, which is a great place to base yourself in this area. Our Provence-based writer Jon Bryant visited the village and brings us the very best of what it has to offer.
Our Active Annecy feature provides ample inspiration for those wishing to enjoy the great outdoors. From hiking to high ropes, it doesn’t matter how active you are, the mountains around the beautiful Lake Annecy are ideal for those wishing to experience either an adrenalin rush or a relaxing stroll.
Meanwhile, music lovers will be spoiled for choice with our selection of this summer’s best festivals, so whether it’s Mozart or Massive Attack that you’re into, there’s an event here for everyone. With all these features, plus stories on aspects of France you might never have known (how about donkeys, yurts or war heroes?), as well as our regular features on food, wine, film, language and UK-based events, this issue brings you - as ever - all the inspiration you could wish for this summer.

Back from Marseille

carolyn.boyd@archant.co.uk — Fri, 02 May 2008 16:12:00 GMT

It's hard to believe that it's now May and we're already putting the finishing touches to our June issue - this year seems to be going very fast!

But it's just as well as June is a wonderful time to explore France and I'm really excited by all the great stories going into the next issue. I'm also really happy to have finally made my first trip to France this year. It was a whirlwind tour that provided me with the very best of France in April. I went from skiing in Morzine for the very last days of this year's ski season, and on to Marseille for this year's ABTOF (Association of British Tour Operators to France) conference. It was a fantastic trip (as ever!) and I particularly enjoyed visiting Marseille for the first time. Our hotel was situated next to the Vieux Port and the view was reminiscent of the front cover of the first FRANCE Magazine I edited (Feb 2007). It's a sensational sight of all the wonderful yachts and old buildings and, being lucky with the weather, it felt like the height of summer. As well as representing the magazine on a panel session on stage 'How to make the most of the media', it was great to meet so many of the tour operators who create your holidays. There are some really exciting trips going out to France this year, which made me even happier to play a part in inspiring you to go.

As well as Marseille, we took a trip down the coast to Cassis where I had a wonderful dinner on the quayside. The tiny, colourful fishing boats bobbed alongside me as I tucked into a wonderful dish of fresh sea bream accompanied by some delicious local wine. Cassis is a gorgeous little spot, so the Archant Life France team and I returned on Monday (before flying home) to take a boat trip along the Calanques and see the fascinating rocky inlets along the coast. I was also lucky enough to visit Arles, another wonderful spot about an hour from Marseille. The Roman amphitheatre is an amazing sight and I really enjoyed wandering through the narrow streets around it before a delicious dinner at the Michelin-starred restaurant Le Cilantro, where we had a delicious meal prepared by chef Jérôme Laurent.

Back to work now, but not long the next trip - can't wait!

A bientôt,

Carolyn

Bienvenue

carolyn.boyd@archant.co.uk — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 13:15:00 GMT

Bonjour and welcome to my first blog!

In the coming months the France Magazine team and I will be using this blog to discuss current affairs and France-related events.

We hope you enjoy our contributions.

A bientot!

Carolyn

Editor's Blog

Driving in France

March issue

October Times Online column

October: the time for foodie breaks to France

Join the grape harvest, pick mushrooms or trawl markets bursting with produce this month, says France Magazine editor, Carolyn Boyd

La Rentree!

The smart guide to Gascony

The smart guide to Burgundy

The smart guide to Normandy

Related Internet Links

Launch of new Times Online column

August issue

In our July issue

The June issue

Back from Marseille

Bienvenue