languedoc pages - april 2012

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PUBLISHERS OF95c | ISSUE 9 | APRIL 2012 NEWS, WHAT’S ON INFO FOR AUDE, GARD, HERAULT, LOZERE, PYRENEES-ORIENTALES

CEDRIC, 17, IS FRANCE’SYOUNGEST PILOT

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THE Corbières mountains are prov-ing a major headache to plannersworking on the new high-speedtrain line from Montpellier toPerpignan.

The simplest, cheapest solution isto closely skim these hills north-east of Perpignan, but the terrain istoo steep for freight trains – aproblem because the aim hasalways been for the line to be usedby freight as well as passengers.

Another option – followingcoastal lagoons between Narbonneand Rivesaltes – is more costly,involving two tunnels of 3km eachto avoid built-up areas. The issue,plus others like location of new sta-tions, must be solved by theautumn. Public consultations areplanned in June and July.

A spokeswoman for rail infra-structure body Réseau Ferré deFrance (RFF), Valérie Durand, saida third route near the hills that cantake freight is technically possible –but very difficult, requiring a tunnelmore than 8km long.

She said: “We are already consult-ing with mairies and associations,

but we also need to talk to citizens,including about the issue of mixeduse [freight and passengers].

“What is certain is that the brief isthat the new line must be mixed inthe areas with heaviest use – so,from Montpellier to Narbonne.After that a line branches towardsToulouse, so some traffic leaves.There is then the Corbières, whereit is hard to pass. Freight trains can’tcope with steep ups and downs. Ifthe line continues with just TGVs,freight trains would leave and con-tinue to Spain on existing lines.”

The project is the latest attempt toprolong the LGV Méditérannée, fin-ished in 2001, which links Paris toNîmes; with the long-term goal oflinking Paris to Barcelona in fourhours. RFF is building a sectionfrom Nîmes to Montpellier from theend of this year, over four years.

The Montpellier to Perpignanstage is then hoped to be opera-tional by 2020, carrying trains at300kph over 150km.

Ms Durand said: “Nothing isdecided. We are doing studies, pre-senting results and listening to peo-

ple; but we need to take the majordecisions this year.”

The Corbière hills problem is notthe only one that must be solved.Current plans have the line followthe A9 motorway to either thesouth or north. Both options pres-ent challenges as south of the A9lies the protected area of LaGardiole, while to the north aremany inhabited zones.

Another hurdle is the issue of newTGV stations and where they willbe located. Debate has arisen overwhether to build separate stationsfor Béziers and Narbonne, or a sin-gle station at Nissan, with local trainconnections.

Environmental challenges areposed by the conservation area ofLoupian, the vineyards around theMèze area, the crossing of theHérault river and the flood zones ofMoussan and Caxac.

Mountainhurdle fornew rail link

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Montpellier’s colourfultramway is complete P3

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Audeon highsecurityalert afterkillings P5

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2 News Languedoc Pages April 2012

EMERGENCY NUMBERS18: Emergencies: Calls the fire brigade(Sapeurs Pompiers), but they deal withmedical emergencies and are usually thefirst port of call in rural areas. 112:Emergency calls from your mobile: Beready with your name and where you arecalling from and do not hang up until toldto do so. 17: Police (gendarmes) 119:Child abuse. 1616: Sea and lake rescue.01 40 05 48 48: Anti-poison centre (Paris)08 10 33 30 + your department number(eg 24 for the Dordogne): Gas & electrici-ty emergenciesUTILITIES FRANCE TELECOM Websitein English: www.francetelecom.comTo report a fault online: www.1013.fr(click on the UK flag). English-speakinghelpline: 09 69 36 39 00 (from France); + 33 1 55 78 60 56 (outside France).ORANGE: English-speaking helpline: 0969 36 39 00. SFR: 1023(+ 33 6 10 00 10 23 from outside France).FREE: 1044. BOUYGUES: 1034. EDF:24 hour breakdown line: 08 10 33 30 87;Helpline in English: 05 62 16 49 08; Fromoutside France: + 33 5 62 16 49 08;Email: [email protected] ORGANISATIONSCAISSE D’ALLOCATIONS FAMILIALES- CAF: www.caf.fr; Tel: 08 10 25 14 10.L’ASSURANCE MALADIE (AMELI, for-merly known as CPAM – the healthservice): www.ameli.fr; Tel: 36 46 (Mon-Fri, 8am-5pm) English spoken. URSSAF:English-language website:www.anglais.urssaf.fr - Aude - 20 rueSaint Michel, BP 605, 11876 CARCAS-SONNE CEDEX 9, Tel: 04 68 11 24 00 |Gard - 6 rue du Cirque Romain, 30923NIMES CEDEX 9, Tel: 04 66 36 48 00 |Hérault - Quartier de la Mosson, 35 rueLa Haye, 34937 MONTPELLIER CEDEX9, Tel: 08 20 00 34 35 | Lozère - Quartierdes Carmes, BP 104, 48003 MENDE, Tel:04 66 47 23 48 | Pyrénées-Orientales -26 rue Petite la Monnaie, BP 59926,66021 PERPIGNAN CEDEX 9, Tel: 04 68 35 75 00PREFECTURE: Aude - 52 rue JeanBringer, BP 836, 11012 CARCASSONNECEDEX Tel: 04 68 10 27 01 | Gard - 10avenue Feuchères, 30045 NIMESCEDEX 9 Tel: 04 66 36 40 40 | Hérault -34 place des Martyrs de la Résistance,34062 MONTPELLIER CEDEX 2 Tel: 04 67 61 61 61 | Lozère - 2 rue de

La Rovère, 48000 MENDE Tel: 04 66 49 60 00 | Pyrénées-Orientales -24 quai Sadi Carnot, 66951 PERPIGNANCEDEX Tel: 04 68 51 66 66OTHER HELP IN ENGLISHCOUNSELLING IN FRANCE: for a quali-fied therapist near you or counselling overthe telephone; www.counsellingin-france.com SOS HELP: similar to theSamaritans, listeners who are profession-ally trained; Tel 01 46 21 46 46;www.soshelpline.org NO PANICFRANCE: for help with anxiety disorders;Tel: 02 51 28 80 25;www.nopanic.org.uk ALCOHOLICSANONYMOUS: Aude - Regular meetingsare held (in French) in Carcassonne |Gard - Regular meetings are held (inFrench) in Nîmes, Alès and Cèze |Hérault - Regular meetings are held (inFrench) in Sète Agde Beziers, Bédarieuxand Lodève. Montpellier: English-speak-ing group (closed) meets Thursdays at18:45-20:15, doors open at 18:30.Ganges: English-speaking meeting(Willing to Grow Group), with meetings(closed) Tuesdays 18:30-20:00 in theFoyer des Jeunes, near the Schools onrue E. Gounelle, 34190 Ganges. |Pyrénées-OrientalesCéret, Le Barcares-Village, Thuir, Vernetles Bains and Perpignan CANCERSUPPORT FRANCE: for advice andsomeone to talk to: www.cancersupportfrance.infoNational Office: email: [email protected]; Tel: 05 45 89 30 05. SOLDIERS,SAILORS, AIRMEN AND FAMILIESASSOCIATION FORCES (SSAFA): InFrance: 05 53 01 64 54. Email:france@ssafa. org.uk AVF: help withFrench life; www.avf.asso.frOTHER INFOYELLOW PAGES: www.pagesjaunes.frSPEAKING CLOCK: 3699. WEATHER:08 92 68 02 + dept. number. LASTINCOMING CALL ON YOUR PHONE:3131, then ‘5’ if you wish to connect. BRITISH CONSULATEBritish Consulate Marseilles: 24 avenuedu Prado, 13006 Marseilles. Open: 09:00-12:00 and 14:00-17:00 Tel: 04 91 15 72 10 (after hours emer-gency call this number for answer phoneemergency service)PUBLIC HOLIDAYS THIS MONTHApril 9 - Easter Monday

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News 2-7What’s On 8-11Feature 12-13Business 14

Food 15Directory 16-17Home and Legal 18-19Property 20-23

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214 Route de Grenoble, 06290 Nice Cedex 3. EEnnvviirroonnmmeennttaall ppoolliiccyyLanguedoc Pages is printed on recycled newspaper, using a printingcompany which adheres to stringent regulations to reduce pollution.Mensuel Depôt légal – a parutionISSN: 2224-977X - CPPAP: 1013 I 91061Encart abonnement sur une diffusion partielle.

Allicance Franco-Anglaise du LanguedocRoussillonAssociation aimed at assisting Englishspeaking newcomers to integrate throughconversation classes and social events.Contact Keith Redfern: 04 68 41 28 60www.afal.name

Association EchangesAssociation offering cultural exchanges inFrench or English and bringing togethervarious nationalities for meetings everytwo months. Social events for people inthe area plus English lessons. The mainactivity for English speakers is a "potluck" meal together for informal discus-sion and games and so on. ContactEmma Tikunova: 04 68 60 38 99 or06 01 79 97 [email protected]

Appassionata ChoirThe Chorale Appassionata welcomes newmembers. We rehearse in the SallePolyvalente at Bassan,from 19.45 to22.00 every Tuesday. Membership isinternational,- we sing everything - classi-cal to jazz. Contact Rhona Goujon 04 67 36 05 83

ESKA English Speaking Kids AssociationA new non-profit association called ESKA- English Speaking Kids Association -which has been set up in the region tobring together English-speaking childrenof various ages to enjoy different kinds ofactivities in English. All children of allnationalities are welcome to join in theactivities accompanied by their parents orguardians. Meetings take place in Lunel-Viel. 04 67 82 36 62

Languedoc Clubs and Associations

Inheritance SolutionsFrench inheritance rules may mean that your worldwide estate will not be distributed according to your wishes.

Look after those that matter.Marjorie Mansfield, Regional ManagerTel French Head Office: 05 56 34 75 51Email: [email protected]

www.siddalls.frFrench fi nance in plain EnglishSiddalls France SASU, Parc Innolin, 3 Rue du Golf, 33700 Mérignac - RCS BX 498 800 465. C.I.F. No E001669 auprès de ANACOFI-CIF association agréée par l’Autorité des Marchés Financiers et Courtier d’Assurances, Catégorie B - ORIAS 07 027 475. Garantie Financière et Assurance de Responsabilité Civile Professionnelle conformes aux articles L 541-3 du Code Monétaire et Financier et L 512-6 et 512-7 du Code des Assurances.

A LANGUEDOC restaurant owned bytwin brother chefs Jacques and LaurentPourcel has lost a Michelin star in the latestissue of the gastronomic Michelin Guide.

The chefs’ Montpellier restaurant Le Jardindes Sens now has just one star.

It means the regional capital now has onlytwo Michelin-starred establishments - theother being La Maison de la Lozère, whichalso has a single star. Other Languedoc los-

ers were Le Vieux Castillon, in Castillon(Gard) and Saint-Cyprien’s L’Almandin(Pyrénées-Orientales), which both had theirsolitary stars removed.

On a positive note, Carcassonne chef FranckPutelat was awarded a second starfor Le Parc, and Cyril Attrazic of Aumont-Aubrac’s Chez Camillou (Lozère) won backhis star, while female chef Anne Majourel wasalso awarded a star for La Coquerie, in Sète.

Cows fed winefor delicacy meatFARMERS in Languedochave come up with their ownversion of the celebratedJapanese Kobe beef – feedingtheir animals on a muesli mixand a litre a day of local wine.Young farmers and vigneronsin the Hérault registered thename VinBovin for the newdelicacy and hope to matchprices set for the denselymarbled Japanese beef: €600a kilo. Honneur du Vin presi-dent Jean-Charles Tastavyheard of the Wagyu cattlewhich produce Kobe beefbeing fattened on sake andbeer, and spoke to a cattlebreeder at Lunel to do thesame. He said they took theWorld Health Organisationguidelines for maximumhuman alcohol consumption,scaled up for the cattle tomean a little more than onelitre of wine per day per beast.

Giant catfishthrive in HéraultGIANT catfish are thriving inthe Hérault river. Believed tohave been introduced fromthe Danube 200 years ago,this predator grows to morethan 2.4m and weighs 80kg.It lives on the riverbed andfeeds on any fish that passesits sensitive whiskers. Thecatfish also thrives on deadfish and birds, giving it itsnickname “the undertaker”.

Jo’burg flightsset for take-offSOUTH African Airways(SAA) is launching weeklyflights from Montpellier toJohannesburg. The link startson March 31 and is sharedwith Lufthansa, which willrun a linking Munich toMontpellier service. TheMontpellier-Munich servicewill fly on Saturdays, with areturn flight every Friday.

Languedoc wineexports increaseWINE exports fromLanguedoc-Roussillonshowed a sizeable increasefrom 2006 to 2011, accordingto figures released by Sud deFrance Développement, thethe regionally-funded organi-sation that promotesLanguedoc-Roussillon foodand wine exports at Vinisud,Montpellier’s wine tradeshow. Exports to Chinashowed a seven-fold increase,putting Languedoc wine salessecond only to those ofBordeaux. In Germany, onebottle in every three ofFrench wine sold is fromLanguedoc-Roussillon.

Wind farm plancomes to a haltLANGUEDOC-Roussillonpréfecture has vetoed a proj-ect to build a wind farm inthe Faugères wine-makingarea of Laurens, north ofBéziers. Campaign groupRoquessels Patrimoine spokes-woman Michèle Solans said:“The associations, winemak-ers and local people whojoined together should beproud of their efforts.”

Michelin stars: someyou win, some you lose

Chefs Jacques and Laurent Pourcel’srestaurant has lost a Michelin star

News in briefPAGESLANGUEDOC

News 3Languedoc Pages April 2012

A COLLECTIVE sigh ofrelief will be breathed byvisitors and residents alikethis month in Montpellierwhen work on the latestadditions to the city’s publictransport system will befinished, three years sincethe official groundbreakingceremony on March 19, 2009.Friday April 6 sees the officialinauguration of new Lines 3and 4 of the tramwaynetwork, and from Saturday,April 7 the public will beable to ride 100km of track,connecting four communes.

French fashion designerChristian Lacroix created therather daring look of thecarriages. Line 3’s carssport a psychedelic, seaside-inspired motif in fuchsiapink, purple, turquoise andgreen on a black background.Their interiors are a riot oforange, lime green, purple,mid-blue and turquoise,while the slightly more sedateLine 4 carriages are decoratedwith golden Louis XIV-derived patterns referencingthe city’s Jardin du Peyrou.

They join the comparativelyprim Line 1 - white birds ona blue background - designedby Italian duo ElizabethGarouste and Mattia Bonetti.This line was inaugurated inJuly 2000 by the late GeorgesFrêche, the former mayor.More flamboyant, howeverare the flower-power, red,yellow and green trams ofLine 2, also the work ofGarouste and Bonetti, whichwas inaugurated inDecember 2006.

Line 3 will cross the cityfrom north-west to south-east, running 22.4km acrossthe centre of Montpellier,from Juvignac to Pérols;

Line 4 runs on the existingtracks and links the otherthree lines, encircling thetown’s historic and largelypedestrian-access onlycentre and provides somehandy short-cuts. When bothnew lines finally come intoservice, Montpellier’stramway system will be oneof the longest in France.

More than 56km of railshad to be laid to complete theproject, which will carry anestimated 77,000 travellers

every day to and fromthe areas of Juvignac,Montpellier, Lattes andPérols. The only flaw in thenew system is that it excludesthe Montpellier-MéditerranéeAirport and the coast. Thesetwo destinations are much indemand, but neither is partof the agglomération ofMontpellier. The airport is inthe Mauguio commune andthe nearest beaches are atCarnon, also outside theAgglo catchment area.

The good news, however,is that Line 3 stops outsidethe Parc des Expositions,home of Montpellier’s showgrounds and recently-builtParc et Suites Arena concerthall, so visitors to thispreviously-inaccessible partof town near Pérols will seea tangible benefit.

UK wine importerMark Anderson says:“I’m a regular visitor toVinisud, and every yearthere are nightmare traffic

jams and cars sat bumper-to-bumper trying to get in orout of the car park at the Parcdes Expos. Taking a taxi fromthe centre of Montpellier outto the show is expensive, too.

“I’m certainly hoping thatthe new tram network willsort out this problem andmake visiting trade showsgenerally easier and cheaper.”

There are further benefitsfor motorists: those who liveout of town and use their carsto visit the region’s capitalwill be encouraged to leavetheir vehicles at one of threebrand-new car parks atMosson, Parc des Expositionsand Garcia Lorca, bringingthe number of parking spacesavailable across the tram net-work to more than 5,000. Other improvements will be

the modifications to Lines 1and 2. First up is the exten-sion of Line 1 with the addi-tion of a new station calledMosson (the stop that waspreviously named Mosson is

to be rechristened Stade de laMosson), which will be thenew terminus for Line 1,connected with Line 3 andwill improve transport linksfor residents of this north-eastern suburb. Meanwhile,on Line 2, the route betweenCorum and Gare Saint-Rochwill be modified to save nineminutes of journey time, withLines 3 and 4 covering offstops previously served by thecarriages of Line 2. The cost of the most recent

work is €530 million, 20%of which has been funded bythe Languedoc-Roussillonregional council. This bringsthe combined investment forMontpellier’s tramway system

to a total of €1,328.8 million.Montpellier Agglomérationpresident Jean-Pierre Mouresays: “With the advent ofLines 3 and 4, MontpellierAgglomération will have oneof the most highly-developedpublic transport systems ofany French city outside Paris.

The tram network alonewill serve 50% of the popula-tion of the Agglo. Beneaththeir fairy-tale exteriors, thenew tram carriages are 90%recyclable; they are part ofour vision for sustainabledevelopment. We aim to havereduced car use by 10%, andgreenhouse gas emissionsfrom public transportvehicles by 25%, by 2020.”

We love the colours - and so very daring!

We all know what it’s like- you wait three yearsfor a tram to turn upand then two new linescome along all at once.LOUISE HURREN reports

Montpellier’s vibrant tramsburst into life, three years on

Line 3 will cross the city from north-west tosouth-east, running 19.8km across Montpellier

FUN FOR ALL THE FAMILY: Tramwer is a board gamebased on Lines 1 and 2 of the Montpellier tramway system.Created and presented at the Cannes Toy Festival in 2008 byJoël Dubucq, a Transports de l’Agglomération de Montpellier(TAM) employee and father-of-three, it can be bought fromMontpellier toy shops including Polymômes and Excalibur,and is available online via http://tramwer.com/ (€29.90).

The fast trackto thetramway

Line 1 Length: 15.2kmCost: €348.8 millionInaugurated: July 2000Designers: ElizabethGarouste and Mattia Bonetti

Line 2 Length: 19.8kmCost: €450 millionInaugurated: December 2006Designers: ElizabethGarouste and Mattia Bonetti

Lines 3 & 4Length: 19.8km (Line 3) and8.2km (Line 4) Cost: €530mInaugurated: April 2012Designer: Christian Lacroix

The new tramcarriages are90% recyclableJean-Pierre MoureAgglo president

“

I like the fact that they dareto do things differently aroundhere. They really dare to dare.(Ulf Kloo)

“

We asked a selection of people for their opinion of the new tramway system:

I saw it this morning from theoutside only and it looks great.I love the colours. I’m lookingforward to it! (Joelle Hochberg)

“

I want to ride the new tramwayjust so I can check out thesecrazy colours... (Nina Izzo)“

The Line 1 trams were a bit convention-al, Line 2 was kind of hippy, “baba-cool”style, but Line 3 is positively psychedel-ic - really dynamic and modern, andso much fun. (Nathalie and Sylvain)

“

IF YOU think Languedoc-Roussillon isa bit of a mouthful (and tricky tospell), you are on the same wavelength

as the region’s late president Georges Frêche.When the social-ist politician wonthe regional elec-tions in 2004, heembarked uponan overhaul ofthe region, itsinstitutions andorganisations.The region’s flag(which at thetime bore the12-pointed crossof Languedoc aswell as the yel-low-and-red striped senyera flag of Roussillon)was given a makeover and the result was a con-temporary-looking graphic with no referenceto the old provinces save for the red and yellowhues.

Along with the visual identity overhaul,Frêche decided to undertake a rebrandingexercise. The duality of Languedoc andRoussillon was declared to be problematic anda new name – Septimanie – was proposed,with the aim of strengthening the unity of theregion. The origins of this rather odd-sound-ing name were Roman: Septimania was theterm that designated the coastal area that cov-ers present-day Languedoc-Roussillon (withthe exception of the Gévaudan area, nowadaysLozère). The regional council quickly adopted

the new name and employed it with gusto,rebaptising certain structures (Prod’Exportbecame Septimanie Export, for example),while local and regional press debated the prosand cons of such a step.

Frêche’s wish to reintroduce a name that hadnot been used since the Middle Ages fell ondeaf ears: the general public voiced their dis-sent and the Catalan population of thePyrénées-Orientales was strongly opposed tothe idea, claiming that Septimanie under-mined their Catalan identity and denied thedual cultural identity inherent in Languedoc-Roussillon; the inhabitants of Lozère wereunderstandably unenthusiastic about the pro-posed name change, too. A petition wasorganised with more than 45,000 signaturesopposing the idea, and a protest march inPerpignan in October 2005 saw 8,000people gather to voice their concerns.Faced with such opposition, Frêche aban-doned his name-change mission andLanguedoc-Roussillon lived on.

THE PINK Flamingos seen in theCamargue region on the edge ofLanguedoc are naturally white rather

than pink. They take their pink colour fromthe large quantity of shrimps they eat.

DURING the 17th century conflict inLanguedoc between the Huguenotsand the Catholics, the Protestant

Huguenots were coerced into having Dragoonsoldiers billeted upon them. They were expect-ed to give them lodgings and feed themtogether with their horses. This gave rise tothe English verb “to be dragooned” or “tocoerce or compel by violent measures”.

THE RELICS of Saint Valentine havelain in Roquemaure since 1868. Everyyear, on the weekend nearest February

14, the town recreates the arrival of SaintValentine’s relics and celebrates the love andromance this mythical saint symbolises.Roquemaure turns into the town of love leg-ends, and a 19th-century look, with more than800 traditionally costumed people, horses andcarriages. Store fronts are decorated as theywould have been 200 years ago and streets aregiven the names of the most famous lovers inFrench literature.

THECOAT ofarms of

Nîmes bears anunlikely creature -that of a chainedcrocodile. It is saidto commemoratethe part played bythe legionaries in theconquest of Egypt.

THE TRIANGLE between Toulouse,Albi and Carcassonne was at one timethe centre of woad, or pastel production

in France. Produced from an undistinguishedplant, the dye was used throughout the cloth-producing countries of Northern Europe. Thedemise of the industry was due primarily to theintroduction of indigo from India. Now there isnot a single field of pastel growing anywherenear Toulouse.

THE Beast of Gévaudan story beganon June 30, 1764, when this legendarycreature is supposed to have claimed

its first victim, in the parish of St Etienne deLugdares in Vivarais.

Over the nextthree years, thestory turned intoa gory epic. Thebeast was blamedfor devouring ormaiming nearly100 peopleacross theMargeride regionof Gévaudan.

The wholecountry wagedwar against theanimal, withhunting-parties and searches. There are sever-al theories about the Beast's identity: some sayit was a wolf, or a pack of wolves; others claimit was some kind of strange wild animalimported from abroad, but no one actuallyknows.


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Festival of Saint Valentine in Roquemaure

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PARTS of the Gard andHérault departments haverecorded their lowest-everrainfall levels in 40 years, lead-ing to wildfires caused by thedroughts.

The French meteorologicaloffice, Météo France, saysrainfall levels from Decemberto January were the lowestrecorded since 1970. Only5mm of rain fell in theBéziers/Sète area, with lessthan 10mm in theMontpellier/Nîmes region.

The drought has caused anincreasing number of wild-fires, with Hérault firefightersaveraging seven calls-outs aday to deal with them. Cerealfarmers say they are worriedfor their crop yields.

Fishing has been banned onsome lakes to protect speciesthat are struggling becausewater levels are too low. Nohosepipe bans or restrictionson water consumption are inplace yet, but with under-ground water tables starting todry up, serious problems couldarise if there is little rainfallthis spring.

Perpignan-UKsummer linkLOW-cost carrier Ryanair hasannounced a new summerroute from Perpignan toLondon Stansted. Times andbooking info are online atwww.ryanair.com/en

Children fall illon pool visitA FAULTY water filter isthought to be to blame for 60schoolchildren falling ill on aswimming outing in Béziers.Pompiers were called to helpthe children, who sufferedfrom vomiting and fainting.

Number twoholiday choiceTHE LANGUEDOC hasbeen named the second mostpopular holiday region inFrance for this summer byusers of classifieds site DeParticulier à Particulier. ThePaca region came first.

Neighbour helpsite unveiledA SITE has been set up forBéziers residents to offer helpand put out appeals for workto be done in their home.Demandele.com acts as aforum where neighbours canco-operate on projects suchas gardening, removals, car-sharing or just ask for localinformation.

More scannersfor hospitalsLANGUEDOC regionalhealth agency has announcedthat 10 new MRI scannerswill be installed in hospitalsaround the region, bringingthe total from 26 to 36. Theirexact location has yet to bedecided.

Early springdrought leadsto wildfires

Relatives leave the Ozar Hatorah Jewish school after a man on a scooter opened fire on a teacher and children

A FULL autopsy is being carried out into a mystery death nearLaroque-de-Fa (Aude). A man’s body was found along with€17,000 in cash. So far, there is no clue as to the cause of death.

The mystery is deepened as there were also some written noteswhich appeared to reference Bugarach, regarded by some as amystic spot which is destined to survive the end of the world.

Investigators say the remains could be those of a 57 year-oldman missing from the Dordogne since last year. They said thatthere were no visible signs of foul play.

Body found with €17k cash

THE AUDE department has allocated €360,000 for invest-ment in cycle lanes in both rural and urban areas.

A cross-departmental route from north to south passingthrough major Cathar sites is planned, as well as a routethrough the Minervois area. Meanwhile, existing commutercycle lanes are to be improved (and new ones built) inNarbonne and Carcassonne.

In Perpignan, urban cycling goes from strength to strengthwith the municipal bike hire service BIP celebrating fouryears of activity, while in Montpellier, the popular Velomaggservice is to be enlarged this month with new bikes, morepick up/drop off points and secure bike parking stationsthroughout the tram network, to coincide with the inaugura-tion of the city’s brand new tram lines 3 and 4.

Aude on highest security alertafter Toulouse school killingsTHE Aude was on “scarlet alert” aswe went to press due to the killingsin Toulouse and Montauban.

The Midi-Pyrénées and neigh-bouring Aude and Lot-et-Garonnewere on this highest security level,which is being used for the firsttime in France and is designed forpreventing major terrorist attacks.

It followed the shooting of threeparatroopers of north African originand of three children and a teacherat a Jewish school.

The treasurer of Jewish communi-ty body the Association CultuelleIsréalite de Narbonne, MercedesAtlan, said: “We are a small commu-nity in the Aude, but very muchaffected. We have a lot of contactwith Toulouse – my daughter livesthere and her children went to theschool. It is tragic for the childrenand we are very, very shocked."

Ms Atlan added: “Our president ismeeting police to put in place sur-veillance of the synagogue, but thereare limits to what we can do. Wecan’t lock ourselves away at home,but as long as they have not caughtthe killer, we will be on alert.”

New cycle routeto take in majorCathar landmarks

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As we went to press, officers fromthe elite RAID squad were in

negotiations with a 24-year-oldsuspect at a flat in Toulouse.


Most regional airports see growth CARCASSONNE airport had a difficult yearin 2011, after losing two Ryanair routes, butother bases in the region have reported a suc-cessful year with increased passenger num-bers. Montpellier saw an 11% increase, with atotal of 1.3m passengers. Airport directorCyril Reboul said the creation of six new lines(Birmingham, Manchester, Nador, Rotterdam,Strasbourg, and Tangiers) had helped.

Nîmes saw passenger numbers increase by7% to a total of 195,000 passengers. Perpignanfor its part ushered 370,000 passengersthrough its gates, resulting in a 2% increase inpassenger numbers. Carcassonne lost 9% of itspassengers, but was still used by 368,000 peo-ple last year. Béziers, meanwhile, reported aspectacular increase of passenger numbers: up48% to 195,000 passengers. Rodez managed tomaintain passenger numbers at 141,460 overthe year.

Both Carcassonne and Perpignan are under-taking ambitious works to extend their infra-structure and increase the numbers of flightsthey can handle. Carcassonne is building anew area for standing aircraft and Perpignanis revamping its terminal in order to try todouble passenger numbers by 2018.

City population oncourse for 500,000 MONTPELLIER keeps growing, and is nowexpected to top the half-million populationmark before 2030, according to official sta-tistics bureau Insee. The current populationof 410,000 is estimated to be growing at anaverage rate of 2,700 people a year.

Young driverkilled in river plungeA 19-YEAR-OLD woman has died when the car she wasdriving left the road, turned over and crashed on to ariver bed in Bédarieux (Hérault).

The road accident happened when the victim, who wasa learner driver accompanied by her mother, apparentlylost control of the family’s Citroën C2 as she came offthe bridge onto the Quai Vailhé-Planol.

Her mother, in the passenger seat beside her, survivedalthough seriously injured and was airlifted by helicopterto hospital in Montpellier. Investigations into the causeof the accident are ongoing.

Between 2005 and 2010 there were 39 road accidentsin Bédarieux, according to the town council. Theseresulted in four deaths, 55 injuries (31 of which wereserious) and 26 prosecutions.

Successive governments over the last decade have beenattempting to reduce the death toll on French roads,which still remains almost double that in the UK. Shock-tactic publicity campaigns, speed cameras and the latestrequirement from July 1 for all drivers to carry a breath-test kit in their car are all tactics being used.

The nationwide figures for February 2012 showed anencouraging drop in fatalities to 201 deaths, down from269 in February 2011 – but this coincided with a nation-wide cold snap which kept many people off the roads.For the period March 2011 to February 2012, annualFrench road deaths were 3,876 – the first time the figurehas ever dropped below 3,900.

Next year, motorbikes come under the spotlight withnew laws on number plates making it easier for them tobe identified by speed cameras, and a new requirementfor motorcyclists to wear high-visibility clothing.

News in brief

Litter loutsface fines ofup to €450

OFFICERS from Montpellier’s ASVP clean-upsquad are targeting residents andbusinesses fouling the city centre – and theyhave the power to levy fines of up to €450.

The officers have stepped up their cam-paign to stop unlawful dumping and dog-fouling, which they say cost the city moreeach year than running a large creche.

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Find us in French newsagents or Freephone0800 91 77 56 (France) or 0844 256 9881 (UK calls cost 4p/minute)

France in EnglishNews, interviews, practical info and more


Solutionsneededfor traincrowding

Plan unveiled for salt therapyretreat at Camargue marshesAN AMBITIOUS plan hasbeen hatched to build a thera-peutic health retreat at acoastal town in the Camarguefamous for its salt marshes.

Aigues-Mortes mayorCédric Bonato wants to builda health farm, in partnershipwith the salt marsh centreowners, les Salins du Midi,offering halotherapy.

This is a treatment based onbreathing in salt-laden air,which has been gaining pop-ularity in France over thepast 20 years.

Studies have shown it to beparticularly beneficial to peo-ple suffering from congestedairways and lungs, for exam-ple people with cystic fibrosisor bronchitis.

The cost is estimated at any-where between €40m and€60m but the mayor is sokeen on the project that afuturistic design has alreadybeen commissioned fromarchitects François Fontesandin Montpellier, and a feasibilitystudy has been completedwhich concludes that it wouldindeed be possible to build thecentre.

It would be a luxury affair,

offering up to 60 four-starrooms, and total tranquillityamong the salt heaps, flamin-gos and salt marshes of theCamargue.

Guests would breathe the saltair, swim in natural pools ofsalt water and be completelycut off from the stresses ofmodern life. Access would beon foot or by electric-poweredferryboat.

The proposed site alreadybelongs to les Salins de Midi.

A study on the impact of thebuilding works and the subse-quent use of the centre isabout to be completed.

At a higher level, the Gardpréfecture is also on board,although there are still ques-tions which need to beaddressed. The centre wouldbe in a zone which floods reg-ularly, and in which the envi-ronment is heavily protectedby a raft of laws designed topreserve the unique ecology of

the Camargue.Mr Bonato says the huge

investment could bring sub-stantial rewards to the area.Local authorities estimate thatthe centre would generatearound 100 jobs.

The plan would be to turnthe management of the saltmarsh centre over to a privatecompany which would overseethe creation of a workshopmaking and selling salt-thera-py products.

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Perpignan pilot, 17,is France’s youngest

At 17, Cédric Rousseau from Perpignan hasbecome the youngest pilot in France.

He passed his theory exam, the brevet d’initi-ation aéronautique at 15, so he could take fly-ing lessons in a dual control plane. He passedhis first flying exams a year later and now,having completed 35 hours of flying in a dualcontrol plane, plus 23 hours of solo flight, hashis private pilot’s licence.

With his fluent English, he can legally flysingle engine aircraft all over Europe.

His next challenge is to be selected for a sin-gle engine aircraft “tour de France” next year,and the national aviation body the FFA hasgiven him €300 towards buying more flyingtime to practise for this.

FFA spokesman Cyril Godeaux said: “Wefund flying lessons for young people frommodest backgrounds, to ensure flying isn’tonly for the privileged. We have an entire pro-

gramme for young fliers to help anyone fromwhatever background, if they have a passionfor flying, to get into flying school and becomea professional.” Though Cédric is the youngestpilot in France, there are others only a fewmonths older. “It’s one of the quirky thingsabout France, you can get your pilot’s licenceto fly a plane before you can drive a car.”

Cédric said: “I discovered flying because afriend was into it and he persuaded me to dothe brevet with him. I just fell in love with it.

“To have found my passion so young really isa piece of good luck. Flying’s like being a birdand despite knowing a lot of theory it’s stilllike magic for me.” He added it was “brilliant”the FFA helped people such as him, with nofamily background in flying, with the expense.

Cédric now plans to take his scientific bacand hopes go on to prep classes and a grandeécole to study to be an airline pilot.

LOCAL trains are jam-packed across the region –with an 11% rise in thenumber of commuters usingrail services in the past year,according to the SNCF.

Rail users have com-plained that it has beenimpossible to get on sometrains, because platforms atsome smaller stations aretoo short to accommodatethe new trains.

The SNCF has respondedwith some possible solu-tions, including extendingthe platforms or investing indouble-decker trains. Bothare expensive, but are beingconsidered. Another optionwould be introducing“metro-style” carriages withreduced seating, especiallyon routes where most pas-sengers make journeys offewer than 15 minutes.

As well as the 11% rise incommuters, in the past yearthere has been a 5% increasein schoolchildren and stu-dents using trains. Everyday, 21,500 people travel onlocal trains, 80% of them onthe Nîmes-Perpignan line.

The region’s salt-filled air could be a draw to people seeking help with breathing problems

How saltcan cure

Halotherapy has beenused to help miners withbreathing problems sincethe Roman and medievaleras.

In 1843 a Polish doctorat a salt mine in Wieliczkanoticed that the minersthere did not have lungdiseases and his successorfounded a spa based onthis observation.

The therapy has beenused in modern timessince a German doctor, DrKarl Hermann Spannagelnoticed that the health ofhis patients improved afterthey had been hiding inlocal salt caves to escapethe Allied bombing.

Breathing salt spray hasalso been found to beeffective for people withcongested lungs. This wasfirst noticed by Australiansurfers.

Cédric wants to fulfil his dream of becoming a professional airline pilot after university

8 What’s On Languedoc Pages April 2012

noticeboard

Mauguio

Hérault

DANCE

GGeettGGeettIInnvvoollvveedd!!IInnvvoollvveedd!!

April 1 Les Temps du Tango, L’Espace Morastel,Mauguio, 10.00 – Put on your dancing shoes for thisday of fun on the dance floor. In the morning, you willlearn the traditional Argentinian dances like LaChacarera and the tango. In the afternoon, you willlearn the Milonga, another Argentinian dance.There will be an exhibition about Argentina andthe tango as well as stands selling dancingclothes and shoes. Argentinian food, suchas empanadas, will be available to buythere. FREE.Call 04 67 29 47 93 or [email protected]://tangazur.blogs.midilibre.com/

The women whotrade wine secretsLES Vinifilles en Languedoc-Roussillon is a by-invitation-onlygathering of women winemakersfrom the region.

Founded in 2009 by formerschool teacher Pascale Rivière ofDomaine La Jasse Castel(Montpeyroux), the associationconsists of 18 producers whosevineyards are located acrossLanguedoc-Roussillon, in a vari-ety of wine-producing areas andappellations.

The association aims to share itsmembers’ passion for wine andviticulture, promote their winesand wine-making know-how, andto pass on information to othersinterested in following this path.

“We aim to help safeguard theculture of wine and the develop-ment of environmentally-friendlyviticulture, through our group-based activities and events,” saysPascale.

The group is made up of womenfrom all walks of life. Some wereborn into winemaking, while oth-ers have changed their career. Notall Vinifilles members are French,either; members are Dutch, Swiss,Belgian, Franco-Brazilian andIrish. What unites this energeticgroup is a desire to share theirenthusiasm for wine, and to sup-port each other.

“The Vinifilles group allows meto meet other women winemakers

on a similar wavelength and swapideas with them,” comments Swissvigneronne Hildegard Horat ofAssignan’s La Grange de QuatreSous.

Roussillon-based Laeticia Pietri-Clara adds: “We are all passionatewomen, living in a world that canbe tough at times; introducing alittle femininity cannot hurt.”

To date, the Vinifilles’ activitieshave been mainly business-focused and aimed at wine trademembers – the group has exhibit-ed at trade shows includingMontpellier’s Vinisud andDusseldorf ’s Prowein in 2012).

The association is set to preachthe wine-loving gospel to the pub-lic in Languedoc later this year.Plans are also under way for aVinifilles picnic and wine fair,scheduled to take place in latespring or early summer at thedomaine of one of the group’smembers.

Details of the date and venuewill be announced shortly on theassociation’s websitewww.vinifilles.fr

Les Vinifilles en Languedoc-Rousillon share their knowledge of wine

“We are all passionatewomen, living in a worldthat can be tough at times;introducing a little feminini-ty cannot hurt

April 6 - MARKING the start of Easter Holy Week or Semaine Sainte inRoussillon, the Procession de la Sanch around the streets of Perpignan datesback to 1416 and the founding of the brotherhood of La Sanch in the churchof St Jacques.This is where the annual procession starts at 15.00 and endsagain nearly three hours later.

It celebrates the Passion and the Agony of Christ but also follows in thesteps of the penitents: condemned men on their way to their final tortureand death.The Sanch – named after the precious blood of Jesus – helpedprepare them for their deaths.The caparutxa hoods were used to hidethe criminals’ identities to stop them being attacked by the crowd,already whipped up into a religious fervour.They walked through thestreets to the sound of the chant of the misère des pendus.

Wearing a pointed caparutxa hood nearly two feet high, the red-robed Regidor leads the procession, ringing an iron bell, withhis black-robed followers behind him beating black-drapeddrums.An important part of the procession are the misteris,which are full-size representations of the scenes of the Passionand the goigs which are traditional Catalan chants and songs atthe end when the penitents reach Eglise St Jacques again.

Versions of the Sanch also take place in nearby Collioureand from Arles-sur-Tech Abbey, the see of the Sanch.www.perpignantourisme.com

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PerpignanPyrénées-OrientalesCULTURE

Gard GaronsEXHIBITION

April 1 European show of perfumebottles, Salle des Fêtes, 08.30 to18.00 – Marvel at the variety ofglass and crystalware on show atthis exhibition.As well as bottles, there will bemany old perfumery objects,including perfumed fans and cardsand vintage face powder boxes, sovalued by collectors.Call 04 66 70 05 77or email [email protected]

Promote your community event, send details to: [email protected]

What’s On 9Languedoc Pages April 2012

April

Hérault SèteFAMILY

April 6-9 Escale à Sète, throughout the town – More than 100 boats will gather in the port for this festival of maritime traditions,including some of the most beautiful boats from around the world, such as the Krusenstern and three masted Le Bel Espoir. Fromthe Savonnerie dock to the Saint Louis pier, the canals and the fish market, the town will celebrate its sea-going history. Over

four days, you can visit some traditional boats as well as enjoy processions of crew members, jousting, seafood cookery lessonswith celebrated chefs and enjoy special Escale Assiette menus at participating harbourside restaurants.

On Saturday night, there will be an illuminated procession of the boats. Other attractions include music, sea shanties,workshops and a treasure hunt for children.

To obtain a full programme, call 04 67 46 07 14 or email [email protected] or visit www.ot-sete.fr

Colombières-sur-Orb

April 6 One Day à laBobitch, 20.30 – The

star of this familyshow is Bobitch, a

little old man who ishaving an

exceptional day.This clown, acrobat,

ventriloquist andsound effect engineer

will take us on a captivating journey

from 20.30. Price: €5for all.

Call 04 67 97 59 58or email

[email protected]

HéraultFAMILY April 15 Trail Les Gorges du

Tarn by Salomon, starts 14.30 –This race leaves from

Saint-Rome-De-Dolan from14.30.Those wishing to takepart can choose to enjoy the

beautiful landscape by running a solo race (11 or

27kms), a pairs race (11 and16kms) or alternatively hiking

the trail (11kms).Prices: Registration for the

solo race costs €7 in advanceor €9 on the day, the duo raceis €12 or €16 on the day and

hiking is €4.Call 04 66 48 88 08 or visitwww.gorgesdutarn-sauve

terre.com

Saint-Rome-De-DolanLozère SPORT

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10 What’s On Languedoc Pages April 2012

Help is at hand.

Contact us now for more information, or seeour website for full details.UK: Tel 0121 288 1448Fax: +33 (0) 494 512 490Email: [email protected]

Living in France is a great adventure, however once the honeymoon period starts wearingoff you may find that certain issues are lost in translation.Do you fully understand the fundamentals of the French healthcare systems and themedical costs that are at your charge?

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Gard Vauvert FASHION

April 28 Atout Fil, Arts centreRobert Gourdon, 20.30 – The themeof the 27th fashion show Atout Filthis year is the four elements.Thisannual event dedicated to clothingcreation allows creators, amateurand professional, to design clothingillustrating the topic selected andto show them off to light andmusic in a dramatic and choreo-graphic way. Prices: €14 for adults,€9 for children, and FREE forunder 6s.Call 04 66 88 23 63or email [email protected] visit www.atoutfil.com

AudeCastelnaudary ART

April 28-29 Pottery market, Place de laRépublique – Between 25 and 30 potters andceramists from the South of France will presenttheir earthenware, stoneware and porcelain.Visitors will be able to learn about the differenttechniques, such as glazing the pottery, polishing,Japanese raku ware, the primitive firing tech-nique called smoke firing and more.You will alsobe able to watch how to make a pot and therewill be workshops for children.Call 04 68 23 58 21or email [email protected]

TorreillesPyrénées-Orientales

April 28-29 Les Floralies, Chapelle de Juhègues – The floral event will be held in the splendidgrounds of the chapel. The market will offer exotic plants, bushes, Mediterranean plants, cacti,rose trees and more.There will also be concerts, free guided visits of the site, workshops for

children and many other activities. FREE.Call 04 68 28 41 10 or email [email protected]

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April 28-29 Great Roman Games,Arènes de Nîmes – Travelback to the Roman Era for this spectacular event, set in theamphitheatre in Nimes.Activities include demonstrations of

stone cutting, Roman food andcraft market,

workshops for children and more.

Roman legionnaires,Celts, the Imperial

Court, auxiliaries, cavalry men and war chariots take

part in drills, the Trojan battle, gladiatorial

combats and much more.Prices for one day: €24 for

adults, €17 for 13-17 and students, €14 for 4-12

and FREE for under 4s.Call 04 66 58 38 00

to book the tickets, email message@

arenes-nimes.com or visit

www.arenes-nimes.com

NîmesGard FAMILY

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What’s On 11Languedoc Pages April 2012

Les AnglesPyrénées-Orientales

April 7 Le Snow Bike and Sun, 13.30 – This competitive butfun ride from Le Roc d’Aude to the lower resort is the

first in the year after the skiing season. It is a combination of sun, snow and soil.

Registration starts at 09.00 and the cycling contest takesplace at 13.30.There will also be fancy dress, barbecues and

music to mark the end of the season.The fun carries oninto the night, with a musical evening start at 20.00.

Call 04 68 04 30 26 / 06 07 88 21 65 or visit www.lesangles.com

SPORT

HéraultLodève

ARTUp to April 29 Tapestry exhibition,Lodève Museum – This show pays tribute to the skill and expertise of theweavers from the Lodève NationalWorkshop of Carpets, created in the60s.You will be able to admire a varietyof carpets from well-known weavers.Prices: €4.50/€3 for students andgroups.Call 04 67 88 86 10 or [email protected] visit www.lodevoisetlarzac.fr

Pick of the rest in LanguedocGard, Lanuejols, FAMILYApril 7-9, 21-23, 28-30Cattle drive, Farm Les Randals – Experiencedhorseriders can join the cattle drive at thisbison ranch. Other activities include tours ofthe ranch, watching over the animals, herd-ing the animals in the meadows, sorting the cattle, training, a penning competition andmuch more. Prices: €120 for one day, €255for two days and one night, €390 for threedays and two nights (meals are included).Call 04 67 82 73 74 or [email protected] visit www.randals-bison.comAude, Narbonne, DANCE

April 26 Dambë, Le Théâtre, Scène Nationalede Narbonne, 19.30 – This dance show isperformed by Salia Sanou accompanied by asinger. Sanou talks about himself and herediscovers the emotions of his life as achild in Léguéma, his native town. Prices:€22.50.Call 04 68 90 90 20 or visit www.letheatre-narbonne.comAude, Narbonne, DANCE

April 28 Flamenco Barocco Scarletti & LeFlamenco, Palais Archevêques from 16.30: Thisharpsichord and guitar concert takes us intothe Spanish world of the Flamenco. LauraClemente will be dancing the Flamenco tothe rhythm of the music performed byCatherine Lazarus and Marc Loopuyt.FREE.Call 04 68 90 30 65

Pyrénées-Orientales,Perpignan, CULTUREApril 24-27 Spartacus, Théâtre de L’Archipel– This epic story features order, power andwealth on one side and misery, death andthirst for freedom on the other. It is thestory of a social revolt in Rome in the year73BC.Two singers and three comedians willbe performing this historical epic along withobjects and puppets. Prices: €18 for adultsand €10 for under 26s.Call 04 68 51 64 40or visit www.theatredelarchipel.org

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At the time of going to press The Languedoc Pages checked, to the best of its ability, that thedetails of events listed on these pages are correct. However, as such information can change,please always check with organisers beforehand that there are no changes to the programme.

12 Blooming good Languedoc Pag

THERE are a number of tasks thatcan be done this month to make sureyour garden looks its best over thesummer.

Gite and second home-owners inparticular can harness a wide rangeof new products to keep flowersblooming.

Now is the time to be plantinghanging baskets, boxes and pots.Heather Verard, a Chelsea exhibitorand garden designer who now runsher own garden centre, A Propos duJardin in Villedieu-les-Poêles inNormandy, recommends using a

slow-release fertiliser and buyinggood quality compost.

“It is a false economy to scrimpand save when it comes to compost,”she said. “All plants need to be nour-ished – feeding is terribly important.If you use a slow-release fertiliser,they will look good without you hav-ing to be there to tend to them con-stantly. It doesn’t need to be expen-sive. Slow-release cones work out atabout 20 cents each,” she explained.

She also recommends mulchingflower beds. “This has two benefits.It keeps the moisture in the soil and

it helps to keep the weeds at bay. Aproduct like ecorce de pin also looksnatural and pretty. The chunkiervarieties won’t get scrapped aroundso much by the birds,” she added.

Feeding is vital at this time of theyear. Roses need a good fertiliser ifthey haven’t already been given one,and lawns will also benefit fromweeding and feeding. New for 2012is Bacteriosol, an eco-friendly prod-

uct that feeds and airs the soil.“Moss grows on hard compacted

soil, so it is important to aerate yourlawn. If we get a dry spell, don’t cutyour lawn too short,” said MrsVerard. She also recommends usingyour bath and dish water in the gar-den. “As long as there is no bleach init, it will not harm your plants.”

Her top plants to try this year allcope well with varying weather con-ditions. Nepeta (cat mint) is great forattracting bees for pollination if youhave fruit trees in your garden, andcopes well with most weather condi-tions. Agastache is her favouriteplant, as it flowers non-stop for fourmonths. It is tall, but does not needstaking. Prostanthera (Australianmint) is an evergreen with smallleaves, aromatic foliage, gives goodground cover and has a mass of blue,white or pink flowers. It needs well-drained soil, but is hardy anddrought-tolerant.

Her final recommendation isdahlias. “People think they are toomuch hard work and that you haveto lift them in the autumn and storethem in a shed over the winter. That

is all nonsense. In France they willlive happily without being lifted aslong as they are planted deepenough. They give you a riot ofcolour well into October,” she said.

She also believes that good qualitygarden furniture can help to make agarden look extra special. “I wouldadvise people to buy the best qualitythey can afford. A simple wood oriron bench with a few cushions orsome plants can really lift a drab cor-ner of a garden,” she explained.

Other good props include arboursfor roses, trellis for sweet-smellingplants like honeysuckle, and sum-mery tables and chairs, again withcushions or pots with colourfulplants.

April is a good time to sort outyour swimming pool, if you haveone in your garden. Brian McHale,of Vendée Pools, said automatic cov-ers are becoming cheaper and there-fore more popular. They also havethe advantage that they fulfillFrance’s strict pool security regula-tions, which means you don’t need asecurity fence as well.

“They look better and work all year

Wise plantand poolchoices willkeep gardenin top formPast years have been difficult for gardeners with dry hotspringtimes followed by wet and windy summers, but usingthe right plants will help keep the garden looking good soyou can enjoy it. And, if it still needs a little something, thenRAY CLANCY looks at what needs to be done with pools

“A simplewood oriron benchwith a fewcushionscan reallylift a drabcorner of agarden

Pruning and feeding is vital if you are hoping for a colourful display throughout the summer

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Blooming good 13ges April 2012

round, so there is no need to have asummer and a winter cover. Theyare so easy to operate and are notheavy, like some of the winter cov-ers,” Mr McHale said.

If budget is not a problem, thereare some exciting new products onthe market this year. They includepool-cleaning robots and an auto-matic self-cleaning pool where thewater is recirculated into the pool via

jets on the bottom instead of on theside. This means that any dirt in thewater falls into a drain underneath.

Mr McHale also pointed out thatpool owners often leave it too late tosort out their pool and he often getspanicky phone calls from gite own-ers whose pools have gone green.“Now is the time to make sure yourcleaning system is working and tomake sure you have enough chemi-

cals. You can’t sort out a green poolovernight, and just flinging in extrachemicals is not going to work.”

Each pool is different and with alittle practice, some technical helpand a thorough cleaning regime, youwill be able to stay on top of yourpool and get full pleasure from it formany years to come. The key com-ponent in your armoury against anunsafe pool is the filtration system.

Another key element in keepingyour pool clean is to keep the dirtout of it in the first place, so it isadvisable not to have any loosematerial like sand or gravel near thepool, to keep potted plants well awayfrom the water and to try to site yourpool away from trees and shrubs,especially pine trees, advises MrMcHale. It is also worth consideringa poolside shower to rinse dirty feetand suntanned bodies before enter-ing the pool. Also, keep the poolcovered when not in use.

If you are heating your pool, don’tmake it too warm as anything over28C invites algae growth, can dam-age the liner and make the job of thepool chemicals more difficult.

“Moss

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It’s time to plant up hanging baskets and window boxes for a colourful display above,buy the best quality garden furniture you can afford to enhance your garden

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THREE YEARS ago Jan van Gils’s compa-ny PoolGoods introduced PoolGobblerPro into the French market. Since then ithas found its place in many pools, keep-ing the top surface clean of all floatingdebris. However, Jan says it is not alwayseasy to convince people that PoolGobblerPro really does the job. “This is quiteunderstandable because it is so small andsimple, it doesn’t look like it can work sohard,” said Jan. “However, seeing isbelieving and once people watch thedemo video they then usually have toorder PoolGobbler right away.” You canwatch this video at www.pure-piscines.com.

The PoolGobbler connects to an inletjet or a pipe where the water from the

pump returns into the swimming pool. Itdoes not need any electricity as it is theforce of the streaming water that makes itwork, pulling all floating debris, such asflies, wasps and leaves, towards it like amagnet. It creates a circular flow thatresults in all the floating debris collectingin its filter bag. This clever use of fluidmechanics turns the pool into a no-flyzone and works continuously when thepump is running.

Installation of the PoolGobbler isstraightforward and a one-off job. It hasbeen made even easier as a result of cus-tomer feedback over the last three years,which has helped create a comprehensiveuser guide.

“This document is now so easy to

understand that you could almost do theinstallation blindfolded,” said Jan. “OncePoolGobbler is installed you can immedi-ately enjoy watching all the flies, leavesand so on disappear into its filter bag -and you can leave it connected all thetime, for the whole season."

PoolGobbler Pro works on the principlethat the pressure of streaming waterdecreases when the speed of flow increases.

Water streaming into your pool is muchfaster than the surrounding water in thepool. This creates a low pressure area thatpulls the surrounding water towardsitself.

This water in turn pulls surroundingwater - and debris - towards itself and sothe pool’s surface water starts to circulate.

DO THE TEST: You can create thiseffect in your own pool with a gardenhose. Connect it to a tap and put theother end in your pool.

Hold it just below the water level, andjust watch the surface water being pulledtowards it.

Squeeze the end to increase the speed(and so decrease the pressure) and youwill see the pulling effect get stronger.

PoolGobbler Pro’s Venturi nozzle con-siderable increases the speed of in-streaming water and creates an area ofconsiderable low pressure.

On the website www.pure-piscines.comthe product can be ordered directly.Customers can pay securely online bycredit card (Carte Bleue) or PayPal, placean order over the phone or pay by chequeto the following address: Pure-Piscines,Le Bourg, 46700, Sé[email protected] 65 31 96 23 or06 34 05 67 30www.pure-piscines.com

Keeping swimming pools clear of flies, wasps, leaves and otherfloating debris is a never-ending chore during the summer, but Janvan Gils explains how PoolGobbler can do all the hard work for you

Make your pool a no-fly zone and relaxADVERTISING FEATURE

Not easy to believe thatsuch small and simple toolcould do such a great job

Top tips willkeep your poolclean and safeSO... you’ve got your swimmingpool brightening up your gardenand making life more pleasant insummer – but you will have to dosome work to keep it in topshape. More importantly, thework is intended to keep waterclean and safe – that’s the mainaim of routine pool maintenance.

Reader and pool owner SimonLang, who lives in Saint-Papoul,in the Aude, shares some hintsbased on his own experience: 1. Ensure pool liner/tiling is ingood condition: there should beno wrinkles in the liner (thesecollect dirt and wear out morequickly when you clean) norleaks in tile grouting.2. Check the pump works well,and that the pumphouse is clean (to avoidfrogs, other animals anddirt from blocking the fil-tration)3. Check hose connec-tions and that frost hasnot affected pipes andconnections4. Keep the water to thecorrect level, so thepump works properly inwinter as in summer5. Calculate the appropri-ate number of hours torun your filtration pump.As warmer weather letsalgae grow quicker, usethis calculation: degreesC divided by 2 (thus, 26Cdivided by 2 = 13 hoursper day, 4C = 2 hours)6. Check and clean pump filterdaily (summer) or weekly (winter)7. Buy two or three filters(depending on your system) soyou can rotate their washing8. Thoroughly spray-clean filterafter each replacement9. Wash filter in washing machineafter each spray-clean everymonth10. In winter, run pump in day-light hours (as algae grow in sun-light) rather than when electricityis cheaper (ie. at night)11. Buy an electronic pH and chlorine checker – they arequick, easy to use and reliable

12. Check pool water pH andchlorine twice a week in winter13. Check daily in swimming sea-son with your checker – andkeep pH and chlorine at the rightlevels (pools can turn green in 30 minutes in summer)14. Invest in a “robot”: it does anexcellent cleaning job and shouldbe used weekly15. Make friends with your localswimming pool company: theycan provide advice when thingsgo awry (e.g. when the water is“milky” or green)16. If possible, jet spray aroundthe pool tiling, to avoid dirt enter-ing the pool17. Cover pool with summer cover(like giant bubble wrap) each

evening before air temperaturefalls below water temperature, toretain as much heat as possible18. Security equipment is legallynecessary, whether an alarm,fencing or a robust cover. The lat-ter also keeps winter dirt out ofthe pool, so restoring the pool iseasy when summer arrives.19. Set a regular time each weekfor pool care and make it part ofyour routine20. The whole point of pool main-tenance is to keep dirt out of thepool, and the water clean. Fix aritual for doing all this, and it'snot a problem

Reader Simon Lang gives tips on pools

14 Business Languedoc Pages April 2012

Something wiki this waycomes to get us together

FINANCEAnswered by

Tax rules on pension

We came to live in France in August 2011. We areretired and in addition to our UK State pensions,I am receiving a Civil Service pension. We alsoreceive interest and dividends from our ISAs.

We have been told that we must complete a Frenchincome tax return in 2012, but we do not understandwhy, as we are paying tax on our pensions in the UKand our ISAs are tax-ffree. Please can you explain? F.I.

FRENCH residents are liable for French taxes on all theirworldwide income and assets. Unfortunately, while yourISAs are tax-free in the UK, this is not the case in France.

Your first income tax return will be due in May 2012 andyou will need to declare your income and gains for theperiod from August to December 2011. This will includeall your pensions and your investment income. The latterincludes any dividends paid on the shares/funds held withinyour equity ISAs, even if these have been re-invested. Inaddition, the interest earned on your cash ISAs must alsobe declared for the period, whether or not you have drawnthis. This is also the case for any other bank interest,coupons on bonds, Premium Bond winnings, etc.

Fortunately, there is a Double Taxation Treaty (DTT)between the UK and France, which prevents you beingtaxed twice on the same source of income or gains. Thislays down that your Civil Service pension will remainsubject to UK tax. However, the amount must still bedeclared in France and will be taken into account, therefore,in determining your French income tax liability. The totalamount of French income tax due to be paid will then bereduced, to take into account that this source of income issubject to UK tax. If you have sold any of your ISA sharesor funds since becoming French resident and you havemade a gain, you will also be liable to French capital gainstax on the amount of the gain. Unlike the UK, there is nocapital gains tax allowance on this type of investment.These gains (or losses) should be reported on yourFrench tax return.

Once you are registered in the French tax system, youwill be able to claim relief from double taxation. In themeantime, it is likely that you will continue to pay tax inthe UK and so you will need to claim a rebate from the UKtax authority, pending relief being granted.

As in the UK, France has its own forms of tax-efficientinvestments. With careful planning, you can avoid payingunnecessary taxes on your investments. However, it is alsoimportant that you have investments that are suitable foryour needs and in line with your attitude to investment risk.Hence, it is very important to seek professional independentfinancial advice before selling existing investments andentering into new ones. Clearly, where this involves“cross-border” circumstances, it is better to seek advicefrom a specialist in this field, so as to ensure that you donot inadvertently incur any tax penalties in the UK, whilerestructuring for your new life in France.

Photo: © JPC-PR

OD

- Fotolia.com

Income from the UK needs to be declared in France

ANNETTE MORRIS has lived in Languedoc for over four years.She works as a freelance internet marketing consultant and website developer, helping businesses optimise their online presence. Annetteco-runs www.LaFranglaise.com and the Languedoc group of the SurviveFrance network. Last year she started Languedoc Jelly, designed to promote the co-working concept to expats and English-speakers inFrance. In this regular column she shares her tips for the business community and would welcome readers’ questions and feedback.

OPERATIONAL issues that affect theremote worker, such as insurance andlegal matters, cannot be overlooked, andthere are already avocats that specialisein the legal ins and outs of télétravail.Other expenses, for example marketresearch information, can be out of reachfor someone running a small business,and sourcing useful and genuinemarketing advice can be a

time-consuming exercise. If you haveever used Wikipedia, you’ll know what avaluable and varied source of facts andfigures it can be. Essentially, a “wiki” is acollection of pages and informationwhich anyone can edit. The structureand content of a wiki is built by its users- commenting, editing and improvingthe information within. Visitors cansearch the wiki’s content, view updatessince a previous visit or edit a page inreal time.

For accommodation providers andtheir guests, a brand new Wiki hasrecently been launched. Started inLanguedoc by an enterprising bed& breakfast owner Tony Tidswell,Wikibnb.org is a project to encourageco-working of a completely new kindacross the globe, bringing togetheranyone interested in leisure tourismto post questions, links and articlesrelated to the property rental industry.

Wikis are not commercial websites,they are collaborative places to bringgroups of people together - literally “onthe same page”. A huge variety of Wikisare available online, including wikis forTravel, France, Health, Jelly events, eventhe Klingon language and Star Wars!

Within the travel trade, niche groupshave also developed with a view tomaximising sales - singles, couples,activity breaks, toddlers and emptynesters are just a fewof the specialist

markets in the sector. Within each ofthose markets, there area multitude of other topics that may ormay not improve the conversion ratefor bookings - from choosing gardendesigns, decorations and linen, tonaming rooms, menus and makinghomemade jams. Often, the b&b ownercan be faced with an endless and oftenexhausting list of challenges. As it grows,Wikibnb.org will be able to help bothnew and established accommodationproviders find answers for some of theissues that they may encounter.

It’s early days for the project, which iscurrently an “open wiki”. Content on thesite is currently being developed by itsgrowing band of users and contributors,providing recommendations on how toimprove online marketing techniquesor indicate the best referral sites forbookings. While the developers stressthat the initiative is not an onlinemarket place, users do have a chanceto list and promote their own accommo-dation, providing valuable inbound linksto increase website traffic.

There is no charge to sign up for thewiki, which is attracting users from theAude to Arizona, Perpignan to Peru.Additional features for the wiki maylater include online calendars, liveaudio-visual conferencing, RSS feedsand more. Anyone interested in helpingto administer and develop the wikishould email [email protected] register online.

Continuing the co-working concept,free Languedoc Jelly events continuethroughout April including a specialWikibnb Jelly in Perpignan on April 24.The event is open to all and may espe-cially appeal to holiday accommodationproviders. Organised in conjunctionwith FAB Networks, it will include apresentation about B&B marketing andspecific discussion groups will beencouraged to share information andideas about promoting travel tradebusiness in Languedoc.

The new trend of remote andco-operative working is rapidlyallowing professionals towork and collaborate together whatever their geographical location. The recent surge inco-working spaces across Franceand Languedoc reinforces themessage that salaried employees are now regularlyworking remotely from theiroffices. Online resources, networks and forums are in constant development asneeds arise for greateraccess to shared informationand expertise.

www.wikibnb.orgwww.airbnb.com www.languedocjelly.orgwww.fab-networks.com

Useful Websites

To contact Annette Morris, call07 86 14 16 39

or [email protected]

“Essentially,a “wiki” is acollection of pages andinformation thatanyone can edit

Phot

o: ©

Lvn

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Foto

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A wiki can bring people in niche markets together and help to maximise sales

PAGES 16-17

DIRECTORYPAGES

Find registered tradespeoplequickly and easily

Food/Pets 15Languedoc Pages April 2012

To advertise your restaurantwith us call

0800 91 77 56

A collection of restaurants in Languedoc

THERE are numerous legal obliga-tions to familiarise yourself withwhen you own a pet or animal decompagnie in France.

The responsibilities of animalownership are taken seriously; yourmairie will have exact informationon guidelines relating to your com-mune. These are drawn up accord-ing to whether you live in a town,village or rural environment.

You will be expected to be in con-trol of your animal at all times.

Be aware of your environmentthroughout the year. A busy road,sheep in the field, building con-struction work – take on board whatthis means for you and your pet.

Pets are generally adored inFrance, but persistent nuisances arenot tolerated. From dealing withunrelenting yapping to physicallyrestraining over-enthusiastic ani-mals, the French attitude is some-what different. Contentious meas-ures are frequently in use: electronicanti-barking devices, dogs chained

up for hours on end and muzzles areall the norm in French pet culture. Ifyou cannot control your pet, expectto be advised to use such measures.

For your animal’s safety (and thatof others if you live near a road orpathway), securely fence the perime-ter of your grounds, restrict youranimal to an outbuilding or yourhouse. You are liable for any damagecaused by your pets if they haveescaped or strayed from your prop-erty. You are only allowed to keep a

maximum of nine domestic animals– above this, welfare, sanitation andthe animals’ environment falls underthe strict control of your depart-mental DDSV (DirectionDépartemental des ServicesVétérinaires). They will want toensure that your animals’ wellbeingcomplies with their regulations, andwill make regular visits to ensurethis is the case. This is regardless ofwhether your animals are a com-mercial proposition or pets.

If you arrived in France with yourpet signed up to the UK microchipregistration scheme, don’t forget toregister his or her identity on theFrench National Register. Your vetwill have the necessary paperworkto complete and send off on yourbehalf. Get into the habit of askingyour vet to scan your pet’smicrochip when you have a consul-tation. It’s not unheard of for thechip to move underneath the ani-mal’s skin or to be registered under

someone else’s name (mistakes dohappen!). If you’ve recently bought apet in France, it is a legal require-ment that the pet – this includesdogs, cats, and ferrets – ismicrochipped. Until July 2011, a tat-too was another form of identifica-tion accepted. There is a €135 finefor any animals found withouteither form of identification.

While vaccinations are not com-pulsory for a domestic animal in aFrench household, if you intend totravel around France with your pet(visit Corsica or campsites, forexample) or board it while you areaway, you will need an up-to-datepet passport and vaccinations.

In French law, abandonment of apet is a crime punishable by a€30,000 fine and up to two years’imprisonment. There are also heavypenalties for cruelty to an animal.For example, the police or other ani-mal officials have the right to enteryour car or your property if theysuspect that an animal is in distress.It goes without saying – never leaveyour animal unattended in your car!

TTeell.. 0066 5588 0011 8822 7766WWeebb.. wwwwww..sseeuulleemmeennttnnaattuurreell..eeuuEEmmaaiill.. mmaarrcc..ssoommsseenn@@cchhaarrddeeyyrree..ccoomm

This column is sponsored by

Pet Care

By Samantha Brick

PET CARE

BELOVED of fundraisingdos, bring-a-dish events andbuffets, the quiche these dayshas migrated all over theworld and boasts a mind-boggling variety of fillings.

Food snobs deride it andhearts may sink on hearingthe words “I’ll bring aquiche”, but it is here to stay.

In France, ingredients, dish-es and tastes express the his-tory of the people and colourthe country’s many regionalidentities. The word quichecomes from the Germanword “kuchen”, or cake.

The German-influencedLorraine gives us, of course,the best-known quiche of all,although these days it ismuch altered and tweaked.

As with most culinary tradi-tions, the nearer one gets tothe origins of a dish the more“authentic” it is likely to be.

The people of Lorraine havechanged nationality and even

language often – German,French, German and mostrecently French again.

Perhaps one constant istheir quiches. These possiblygraced the tables of the courtin Nancy as far back as 1550,but they were flat and madeof bread, rather like a pizza.Gradually the bases changedto pastry and a variety ofmixtures used to fill them.

In Lorraine quetches andmirabelles were the mostcommon sweet versions,while savoury ones hadcream, onions, or evenchopped veal and pork.

The one we know as thequiche Lorraine, probably theoriginal 16th century version,contains only eggs, creamand bacon, though elsewherein France, Gruyère cheese isadded. This, say regionalexperts, is simply not right.

It might be a quiche, butnot a quiche Lorraine.

The buffetstaple thatstands thetest of time

After winning the first BBC MasterChef in1990, JOAN BUNTING was soon writing afood column and doing local radio for theBBC. Now the former teacher has retiredand moved permanently to her home inFrance, but she is still keen to tell readers about good food

Sift the flour on to a cool work sur-face and put the butter in the centre.Bring the flour over the butter andsqueeze them together, then rub theflour into the butter until you have par-ticles like peas.

Make a well in the centre of this mix-ture and add the salt and water and,

using your fingertips, draw the butterand flour into the well and mix togetherquickly and lightly until smooth.

Wrap and then chill for 30 minutes.Pre-heat the oven to 190C and put a

baking sheet in the oven to heat.Line a 25cm flan tin or ring with the

pastry, and bake blind for 15 minutes.

Cool, leaving baking sheet in oven.Sauté the lardons in the butter until

golden, sprinkle on the base of the flan.Mix the eggs and cream together andseason to taste. Put the tin on the bak-ing sheet and bake for 30-35 minutesuntil the filling is set and golden brown.Do not over-cook.

Tried and tested by usA member of the LanguedocPages team tested out therecipe and said: I had only aceramic flan dish so I bakedthe pastry blind – usingsome chickpeas to weigh itdown. I also found the 190Ctemperature to be too hotfor my fan-assisted oven sowould recommend using alower temperature.

Traditional Quiche LorrainePhoto:© hazel proudlove - Fotolia.com

METHOD

INGREDIENTS

CUT OUT & KEEP!

Pastry:250g plain flour150g unsalted butter,softened1 tsp salt2 tbsp water

Filling:200g lean smoked lardons15g butter3 egg yolks and 1 wholeegg, beaten375ml of crème fraicheépaisseSalt, pepper and a pinch ofnutmeg

Keep your animal on right side of law

pixp

hoto

- Fo

tolia

.com

Phot

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16 Directory Languedoc Pages April 2012

ANIMALS

ACCOUNTING

ARCHITECTS

BUILDERS & RENOVATION

BUSINESS & WEBSITES

EDUCATION & LANGUAGES

ESTATE AGENTS

ELECTRICIANS

FINANCE & INSURANCE

GARDENS & POOLS

GENERAL

PROPERTY SERVICES

Les JoursHeureux 66For all things Property

in Dept 66!Property Sales

Management & Holiday RentalsAll year round maintenance service

Visit the website:www.lesjoursheureux66.com

and contact me:Ruby Laura Goold 06 38 73 15 62

EExxcclluussiivveeHHeeaalltthhccaarreeYour Helping Hand to the

French Health System

+33 (0) 4 94 40 31 45www.exclusivehealthcare.com

DDIICCKK FFOOWWLLEERR CCOONNSSTTRRUUCCTTIIOONNPool design and build

Also other house renovation andconstruction works

Email: [email protected]: 06 70 91 12 17

Ad No. 18691

FRENCH INSURANCE - IN ENGLISH

For people who live in/ own property in

FranceStraight-forward, honest advice onthe best house, car, life & health

insurance policies for youOver 15 years experience inFrench insurance markets

English, Dutch & German spoken.Philippe Schreinemachers

www.insurance.frTel: 05 62 29 20 00

Email: [email protected] Auch B479 400 657 - Regions: All France

The Spectrum IFA GroupRegulated, qualified and

experienced advisers providing independent

financial advice.Investments, retirement,

inheritance planning,Insurance, mortgages.

Mail: [email protected] your nearest adviser.With care, you prosper.

Ad No. 16706

Justin Harrison, Central heatingEngineer/Plumber and David

Hodgskin, ElectricianFull renovations / repairs in Aude

[email protected] 06 65 06 05 74www.justinharrison.net

[email protected] 06 33 38 87 38Ad No. 17780

LANGUEDOCELECTRICIANGraham Fox – Fully Qualified

25+ Years ExperienceFriendly, Informative ReliableHigh Professional Standard

E-mail: [email protected]/Fax: 04 68 45 46 28

Depts: 11, 34 - Siret: 49443828600010

HOUSES ONINTERNET

Sell your property to aworldwide audience using

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CERTIFIED TRANSLATIONSAll legal transla-tions by French-English speaking sworn translator

Property-legal-birth cert.,driving licences

traductions assermentéesValid everywhere

with 25 years of experienceRegions : All FRANCEKaren RENEL-KINGTel: 06 18 03 18 38

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Fast and affordableSiret: 38058374000028

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We design professional websites, highly Google-ranked, that sell.

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COMPUTER SUPPORT AND HELPDESK

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P.O.INTERIORSRENOVATION - KITCHENS, BATHROOMS,

TOTAL RENOVATION AND CARPENTRY,DECKING, TERRACES AND MUCH MORE

Tel. 06 72 42 07 04 - 04 68 37 97 83DEPT 66

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Ward BuildingServices

Renovation to DecorationExtensions, Kitchens,

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Tel: Mike 04 68 24 45 05 / 06 33 28 48 72Email: [email protected]

Siret: 50400085200013

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Web: www.artisanfr.com or www.boltholefrance.com

hussellbuilding.comRoofing, Scaffolding

Heavy Structural BuildingDept 66 / 11

04 68 98 03 24

Paul HockingsSATISFYING CUSTOMER NEEDS

in Joinery and Building works since 1980.MIni Digger available.

Tel +33 (0) 4 68 77 05 96Email: [email protected]

Siret: 51271440300015

Pete's RoofingCovering the Gard

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ARCHITECTUK Architect, Design, Dossiers for Planning

Applications and Project Management.Based in the Aude and Herault.

Tel 04 67 89 57 [email protected]

VILLASOPHIEYour architect in Languedoc RoussillonDesign permits and plans for new builds and renovations


ARCHITECTE SUDBi-lingual architect SW France:

feasibility studies, ecological design,renovation, planning, project management.

Tel: 05 63 56 39 11 Email: [email protected]: www.architectesud.fr

SIRET N°: 41976643100011

PETER JOHNSON SARLBusiness & Financial Services

French taxation specialists (25 years experience)

Mobile: 06 21 04 89 37Office: 04 93 29 34 32

Email: [email protected] n° 479 554 784 RCS Grasse

Boutique cat and dog hotelHome from Home

3km from Beziers.English: John 04 67 36 63 38French: Ian 06 81 16 39 [email protected]

www.4pawsbeziers.com

Le Palais des ChatsExclusive hotel for cats

35 minutes from PerpignanCollection/delivery available

Carol and Stuart Metcalfe04 68 96 40 80

Email: [email protected]: lepalaisdeschats.com

Find registered tradespeople quickly and easily

English-speaking firms near youFor your security, we check that the French businesses in this section are officially registered with the authorities

By advertising in our directory you get the chance to run advertorials (thearticles you see on these pages). We are currently offering these at a two for oneprice, so two x 1/4 page advertorials, maximum 400 words plus photo, costsjust €200HT. A minimum two month break between publishing applies andthe second advertorial is a repeat of the first. If you wish to change the secondthere is a €25 fee together with a €15 fee if you want us to provide a photo.

We will keep you up to date with features and special events in your area ofFrance in all our publications which could help to boost your business.

We include the text from your advertisement in our online directory for noextra charge.

Want to advertise in our national paper The Connexion or sister papers inother regions? Call our sales team for more information.

Advertise here ALL YEAR from just€€75HT Call free on 0800 91 77 56 or email [email protected]

LANGUEDOC DIRECTORY

LANGUEDOCPAGES

Directory 17Languedoc Pages April 2012

RETAIL

ALPACA WOOLand KNITWEAR

Knitting Yarns, Accessories,Fleeces For Spinning

www.polfagesalpacas.comemail: [email protected]

Siret 529 235 053

Spex4less.ComHigh Quality Prescription

Glasses OnlineSave Money On All Your

Prescription Eyewearwww.spex4less.com

BBC-ITV-SkyFor all your UK Tv and Radio

solutionsSkydigi - based in Languedoc04 68 87 18 30 www.skydigi.tv

Ad No. 19225

KeysittingProperty Services

We look after your home in your absenceProviding an extensive range of services

for your complete peace of mind

Project Managementof any works, repairs, renovations,

extensions

UZESwww.keysitting.fr

[email protected] 33 (0) 6 78 47 37 58

Ad No. 15493

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local areas. Property ManagementServices available.


www.southfranceholidayvillas.co.uk

Smithy’s FerronnerieMetalwork & Welding - GatesBalconies Handrails - Fences

Staircases - PergolasAnything You Want!

www.smithysferronerie.com04 68 94 28 64 or 06 73 95 92 57

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ADVERTISING FEATURES

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combination of words and photos.Call Clare on 0800 91 77 56 or email [email protected]

WHETHER you are applying for Frenchsocial security, changing a driver’slicence or buying a house, at some pointan official French translation of yourEnglish documentation will be required.

Even if you are confident at speakingand writing French, there are situationsthat will arise where you need to organ-ise a sworn translation. This means thatthe document is signed and sealed by anauthorised sworn translator and is recognised as an official translation.

Legally-recognised translations arelikely to be asked for when you deal withyour notaire, mairie, préfecture or socialsecurity office and will often be requiredquickly - this is where King Translationscan help.

Karen Renel-King runs KingTranslations and has over 25 years’ experience in commercial and legaltranslation. She is a member of the professional translators association inFrance, the Société Française desTraducteurs, and can work by email toturn around sworn translations in 24hours. Karen has a qualification in translation and interpreting from theSorbonne in Paris and has been workingas a sworn translator since 1985.

“What people want in a translator is asimple, fast and efficient service and thisis exactly what I provide,” said Karen.“By working online I can provide atranslation service for customers all over France.”

Karen has translated thousands of official documents from English intoFrench and vice-versa. However, it is notjust her experience and efficient servicethat makes customers use her servicesagain and again, she offers incrediblycompetitive prices for all her translationwork, with sworn and certified transla-tions - such as birth certificates, drivinglicenses and degree certificates - startingat just €35. More complicated documents, such as contracts, arecharged by the word.

With France being such a popular

location for property investment, particularly in the current financial climate, Karen finds that she is oftencontacted by both English-speaking buyers and notaires who need sale deeddocuments translated.

“I am regularly called on to translate compromis de vente and acte de ventecontracts, and also often work withclients on the translation of their mortgage documentation,” said Karen.

The most efficient way to receive atranslation is to scan the original andsend it by email so that Karen can assessthe document and issue a quote.

Karen added: “I start work on a translation as soon as payment isreceived and aim to have the officialtranslation with the customer as soon as possible.”

09 67 01 45 86 / 06 18 03 18 [email protected]

Quick and competitive sworn translation serviceNeed a translation quickly? Sworn translations can be turnedaround in 24 hours by Karen Renel-King

Karen Renel-King has over 25 years’ experience in commercial and legal translation

“What people want in atranslator is a simple, fastand efficient service and thisis exactly what I provide

JANE Potts has been running PolfageAlpacas in the Languedoc since 2008.She keeps a herd of Huacaya alapacas,which are renowned for their fine, luxurious fibre.

“Alpacas are very interesting anddelightful animals originating fromSouth America, mainly Peru, Chile andBolivia,” said Jane. These animals live inthe Andes and as a result can tolerateextreme changes in temperature: frombeing very cold at night to much warmerin the daytime.

With this changeable climate alpacashave developed a remarkable fleece,which is made up of hollow fibres that

insulate the animal against the climaticchanges.

“The fibre is very strong and durable,being second in strength to silk, ishypoallergenic, and has a soft, luxurious,light feel to it,” said Jane. “In the time ofthe Incas it was reserved for Inca royaltyand was called ‘the fibre of the gods’.”

Alpacas are generally shorn once a yeararound May or June and the fleeces,which come in a range of colours,including white, fawn and black, are sent off to a mill to be processed intofine yarns.

Jane has had two open days during thewinter, which have been very successful,and she will be holding them again inthe autumn.

“Everyone who visited us enjoyed see-ing the alpacas and had lots of questionsabout them,” said Jane. “It is a veryunique shopping experience as peoplesee the alpacas and then what the woolproduces, which are high quality products that will last a long time.”

Socks, hats, and throws are just someof the products available for purchase -these are also available through theonline shop, which is accessible via thePolfage Alpacas website. Jane added:“Visitors are also welcome any time tosee the alpacas and the knitwear, as longas they ring or email to let us know inadvance.”


Soft and luxurious wool fibre that is fit for a kingAlpaca wool is strong like silk,yet warm and hypoallergenic,says Jane Potts

“The fibre is very strong anddurable, being second instrength to silk, and has asoft, luxurious, light feel

Over time alpacas have developed a strong, softfleece, which is made fromhollow fibres

HOUSES on Internet - the marketingand internet company that helps privateowners sell their French property with-out using an estate agent - has been sosuccessful during the past few monthsthat it now desperately needs more houses in order to meet the growingdemand from abroad.

Richard Kroon, director and founder,said: “It is a bit frustrating to be honest.After a year with new sales records in2011, the trend continued this year,which means that more houses from ourportfolio have now been sold than ‘new’ones coming in for sale.”

The boost in sales is due to the compa-ny’s continuous global advertising onGoogle and the leading French propertywebsites.

As a result of the company’s success insales, Houses on Internet has been

forced, in a number of cases, to disap-point prospective buyers.

“While we currently have about 325properties for sale throughout the coun-try, there are also over 100,000 visitors,literally, from around the world, whobrowse our website on a daily basis - andmost of them are looking to buy withinfour to six months,” said Richard.

“More than half of those visitors live incountries other than the ‘traditional’ones: France, UK, Holland and Belgium.”

Over 50% of people who bought ahouse through Houses on Internet wereeither non-European (from countriessuch as Canada, Australia, Russia andChina), or came from parts of Europethat have in the past been less active onthe French property market. Examples of those are Finland, Switzerland and Germany.

The group of potential buyers is largeand diverse. “They are constantly check-ing our website for houses that haverecently been put on the market - andmany of them also contact us directly totell us what they are looking for, so wehave a pretty good idea of what it is theywant,” said Richard.

According to Richard demand is cur-rently high for relatively new bungalows(for people wanting to downsize), reno-vated country houses, villas and largeproperties and estates suitable for keep-ing horses. Many also want a house torenovate, in any region, that is under€100,000.

“What these people search for is, infact, not so much different from whatwas sold through us over the past 12months, when we sold houses from€60,000 to €1.9 million,” he added.

“The most popular areas for foreign buyers currently are Normandy, Brittany,Poitou-Charentes, Limousin, the north-east of Aquitaine and the wholeMediterranean area.”

Houses on Internet can have a cus-tomer’s property profile online in three

languages in just a few weeks. Interestedprospective sellers can visit the website for more information and tosign-on directly.

05 55 65 12 19www.housesoninternet.com

Foreign buyers are searching French properties Richard Kroon islooking for moreproperties to sellfor the Houses onInternet website so he can keep with demand forFrench property

18 Home and Legal Languedoc Pages April 2012

LegalNotesAnswered by

THE first step for your son will be to contact the Chambre demétiers et de l’artisanat of the nearest town. As a citizen ofthe EU, he will request a document called attestation dequalification professionnelle. This is a document certifyingthat he has the training and experience to work as anelectrician. To obtain this document, your son will be askedto provide evidence of his past experience - statements fromprevious employers or if he was previously self-employed,documents showing the works that he has completed.He will also need to provide his professional diplomas and,yes, this will indeed need to be translated into French.

This formality should not be too complicated, as youindicate that he has 15 years’ experience and qualifications.To actually set up as an auto-entrepreneur, it is very straight-forward. For France, it really is quite amazing howlittle red tape is involved. A form needs to be filled in thattakes a few minutes and it can all be done online. Once theregistration form has been submitted, your son will receivewhat is called his SIREN number. This is his officialregistration number that needs to shown on all invoices andestimates relating to your son’s work. There is a verycomprehensive website www.apce.com that provides all theessential information for auto-entrepreneurs.

Another advantage of this type of enterprise is that taxesand social charges are only due on the actual turnover,so your son will not be receiving demands for payments oflarge amounts of money in advance from the social securityin particular.

As your son is an electrician, it is essential that before hestarts working that he organises a proper insurance policy tocover him, in case any problems occur. It is compulsory inFrance to have proper insurance cover and it can be a veryexpensive mistake to not take proper advice about thismatter from an insurance agent.

Finally, if your son sets up his business as an auto-entrepreneur he may wish to think about protecting hispersonal assets. Indeed, as there is no limited liabilityattached to this status, if ever he were to face any problemswith employees for example or a court case for faulty works,all his assets are exposed and could potentially be seized topay his debts. A declaration d'insaisissabilité can be signedwith a notaire to protect the family home from seizure bycreditors. This obviously needs to be signed and publishedbefore starting up his business.

All that remains now is to welcome your son to France andwish him all the best with his future business.

Setting up as an auto-entrepreneur is straightforward

My son is in the process of coming to live in France. Heis a fully qualified electrician in the UK and has workedas one for the past 15 years. Would all his diploma certificates need to be translated into Frenchfor him to start as an auto-eentrepreneur? J.F.

Spark can adaptto life in France

Photo:© aurem

ar - Fotolia.com

If your garden needs sprucing up,simple art and decorationtechniques canwork wonders.And you don’thave to go forintricate itemsand designs. REBECCA LAWN reports.

ONE-OFF artistic metalworkdesigned by a blacksmith canbe a focal point for your gar-den or home, and a timelesspiece to pass down to futuregenerations.

It is not often that you cancreate a design, discuss itwith a professional, and see itcome to life chez vous.

Whether you are lookingfor practical pieces such asgarden gates, metalwork forthe patio, banisters andbalustrades, or if you want tomark a special occasion oranniversary with a sculptureor gift, going to a blacksmithcould be the answer.

Simon Robinson, an expertin hand-forging stainlesssteel, at Flers in Normandy(www.forgerobinson.com),said: “Everything I make isdifferent – the commissioncould be absolutely anything.

“What I make is to go in ahouse, on a house, in a garden or in a public space.

“It can be domestic, sculp-tural or even monumental,”he added.

“It depends what the personwants – for the home or gar-den, it could be a seat or afountain. I’ve even madesmall pieces of jewellery inthe past.”

The first step is to come upwith an idea of what youmight like, or explain thatyou are interested in a certaintype of piece.

“Sometimes clients willshow me a photograph or asketch,” said Simon. In somecases, he will then work onthe design to make it aesthet-ically more appealing. “Just a

slight change in a curve or aline can make it look muchbetter,” he explained. As pro-portion is key, you will alsoneed to bear in mind the sizeof the room or garden.

Blacksmiths will often wantto meet you in person, seethe area that you have inmind for the piece and takemeasurements if needed.

As for the materials, artisticmetalwork can be createdusing steel, stainless steel,bronze or copper. While steelis cheaper, maintaining it canup the price – it will have tobe galvanised and painted,and if water gets in, it can

rust. To protect his stainlesssteel creations from the ele-ments, Simon has them electro-polished, a processwhich takes off molecules ofmetal from the surface.

“If a job is done properly,then that’s it – it will remainlike that,” Simon said.

After that, maintaining thecreations means simply get-ting the hose out to washexterior pieces and a dustcloth for ones in the home.

The whole process of creat-ing a piece can be very per-sonal. For larger pieces,blacksmiths will often takeinto account the client’s lifeand work closely with them.

“I’m sensitive to their sur-roundings. I put as much ofthat person into the piece as Ican. When you’re working,how you’re thinking and feel-ing comes through into thework, otherwise it hasn’t gotany soul in it. When someonereally puts themselves intothe work, it comes alive.”

When Simon came toFrance, he already had a fullportfolio of work from a suc-cessful career in the UK, buthe was still pleasantly sur-prised with the welcome thathe received.

“I’ve found that, when itcomes to the work I do, I’mtreated as an artist in France,and given a certain amountof respect. For the French,there is the notion that artsand culture is the mainstay oftheir country.”

Contact Simon Robinson:www.forgerobinson.com

Show your metal andenhance your garden

If Simon’s stainless steel work is not what you want in the garden, simple steel archescan transform the look of your outside space and separate different garden themes

Phot

o: ©

JEl

enat

hew

ise

- Fot

olia

.com

Photo: © PITR

S - Fotolia.com

Simon Robinson produced this stunning gate in Dublin

Above: Give your garden atouch of elegance with achair that uses your ownideas on decoration or,below, one of SimonRobinson’s creations for agarden statue feature

DIY 19Languedoc Pages April 2012

DIY tips

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Take good careof wood burners

WITH the cold months finally over it is easy to give yourwood burner a quick clean and then forget about it until theautumn, but do not leave it until the last minute to take careof it. Here are some tips on how to keep to your wood burn-er in tip-top condition and get the best results from it whenin use. Cleaning the glass door.

You can buy special products for cleaning the glass, butnothing beats using an old newspaper, ash and some vinegar.It is best to clean it whilst the door is still slightly warm.Brush off any loose residue and, with a damp piece of news-paper, rub ash from the fire in small circular motions on tothe glass. Keep doing this, renewing the piece of paper ifnecessary, until the door is clear of residue. Wipe the doorclean with a mix of warm water and white vinegar and drywith a clean cloth. Repeat if necessary.

Checks to be made: The baffle plate

The baffle is the plate suspended above the flame and can bemade of steel or cast iron. Check it has no cracks, if it does itneeds replacing as they are there to protect the burner. If thebaffle is easy to remove then it is worth taking it out andcleaning away any deposits that might have built up on it. Fire bricks

As for the baffle plate, check the fire brick walls on the insideof the burner are intact and not warped or cracked. Leavingdamaged bricks in will reduce the effectiveness of yourburner and could lead to the outer shell overheating andthen having to replace the whole burner if it gets damaged. Seals

Make sure the rope seals around the fire door are sealingcorrectly. Sweep the flue

It is very important tokeep the flue pipesswept. If they are notkept clear and there isa fire, you may not becovered by insurance.You must have proofof having had yourchimney swept, somake sure that once ayear you get it profes-sionally done andobtain a dated receiptfrom the company.

Wood burners are alovely feature and eco-nomical way of heat-ing your home. Followthese simple tips toget the most out ofyours.

Take time to ensure your wood burner is in good shape

Photo: Rubber D

ragon - flickr.com

20 Property Languedoc Pages April 2012

Buying or selling a property? We can help.

Our website www.connexionfrance.com carries details ofmore than 14,000 homes for sale across France.

We also feature properties for sale in this dedicated sectionof the paper each month. To find out more about any particular property, go to www.connexionfrance.com andenter the ref: code shown under the property.

For sellers, the adverts are also displayed across a range ofpopular English- speaking websites and are seen by thousands of potential buyers EVERY day. Our 3+3 pack-

age costs just €200TTC and gives you three months onlineadvertising as well as a print advert in three editions of TheLanguedoc Pages. Our 6+6 package is best value at€330TTC and provides the same, but for six months viaeach channel.

Contact us on 0800 91 77 56 (freephone in France)or email [email protected]

New Consumption and Emission Chart- e.g. Energy rating C & F refers to C for Consumption and F for Emissions

Houses for sale across France

PROPERTIES IN LANGUEDOC

REF: 40758

€€165,000

ENERGY RATING = Not given

Saint-Pierre-la-Mer, AudeThis villa is set in 110sqm ofland and comes with a beautifulgarden and great views. Theproperty comprises a kitchen ,bedroom, shower room and averanda

REF: IFPC21232

€€230,000


Tuchan, AudeThe house has recently beenconverted and provides comfort-able accommodation on threelevels, each with its own accessto patios giving magnificentviews in all directions.

REF: 342431397

€€122,000


Laurens, HéraultExcellent investment opportuni-ty for this fully-renovated villagehouse in the historic centre ofthis sought after South of Francevillage, with parking within 20meters.

REF: 10765-V209000E

€€209,000

ENERGY RATING = D

HéraultGreat opportunity to own thisdetached villa offering 110 m2

living space including a separatestudio. The property has 3 bed-rooms and terraces withpanoramic views.

REF: 28822

€€195,000


Vendres, HéraultThis beautiful villa comes withan enclosed garden. Within 83sqm of living space and on a sin-gle level, it comprises a living-room, veranda, kitchen, 2 bed-rooms and a linen room.

REF: 110153254

€€140,000


Trèbes, AudeDetached house built in 1969, 3bedrooms, kitchen, lounge withfire place, laundry, garage, ter-race, 2 wcs, shower room, plot of653m with well and gardenshed.

REF: 110152781

€€103,500


Capendu, AudeVillage house with character andrenovated. It features 3 bed-rooms, kitchen, living room,shower room, separate wc. Theloft could be converted andthere is also a barn attached.

REF: 810

€€178,000


Near Carcassonne, AudeLovely, large, detached propertysituated on the edge of a villagewith amenities close toCarcassonne. Main work hasalready been completed with 3separate, 2 bedroom dwellings.

REF: 110152252

€€238,000


Capendu, AudeDetached house with big garage,3 bedrooms, lounge, kitchen, wc,cellar, office. Land of 1149mclose to the river, very quiet,nice views of the river, goodcondition.

REF: 10765-C136400E

€€130,000

ENERGY RATING = C & D

HéraultStone village home offering 3bedrooms and 2 shower rooms/wcs, equipped kitchen, court-yard on ground floor, and hand-some 'escargot' staircase. Manyoriginal elements.

REF: 485

€€218,000


Castelnau-de-Guers, HéraultThis is a converted barn is locat-ed within walking distance of allamenities and is ready to moveinto. There is also room in thegarden for a swimming pool ifrequired.

REF: 10765-TNTLSBEA199600E

€€199,600


HéraultIn a hamlet at 3 minutes from allamenities, stone village housewith about 120m2 of livingspace, 4 bedrooms, terrace andcourtyard with nice setting andviews.

REF: 10765-SN158760E

€€148,000

ENERGY RATING = C

HéraultDelightful village house, restoredwith taste and well maintained,located in the centre of the vil-lage only about 250 meters fromthe Canal, offering 86m2 of liv-ing space.

REF: 31337

€€110,000


Limoux, AudeThis lovely stone house comeswith a garage and a small gar-den. Within about 81sqm of liv-ing space, the house comprises a33.3sqm kitchen and a 17.6 sqmveranda on the ground floor.

REF: 110151018

€€185,000


Lagrasse, AudeA pretty villa of 100m all onone floor with a living room,opening onto a fitted kitchen, 3bedrooms, a shower room, sepa-rate toilet, laundry room, garageand outbuildings. Pool.

REF: 5710

€€249,000


Pézenas, HéraultThis villa has a lovely, secludedgarden with a pool all with thebenefit of mature shrubs andfruit trees. Large kitchen, sepa-rate wc and bathroom, 3 good-sized bedrooms.

REF: 10765-CR143000EB

€€137,500

ENERGY RATING = E

Hérault Stone character home in a lovelypeaceful village surrounded byvineyards, offering 80 m2 of liv-ing space including 2 bedroomsand 2 bathrooms, plus sunnyprivate roof terrace .

REF: DH620

€€220,000


Fuilla, Pyrénées Orientales With uninterrupted views on theMont Canigou, this beautifulbungalow offers 2 bedrooms, 1bathroom, kitchen, an open-plandining/living area with terraceonto the swimming pool.

REF: 29214/9411

€€200,000


Carcassonne, Aude"U" shaped house consisting ofliving room with fireplace, open-plan kitchen, bedroom with en-suite bathroom, second bed-room and bathroom. All roomshave french windows to garden.

REF: 40874

€€158,000


Valras Plage, HéraultThis village house is set only300m from the beach and comeswith a 30sqm terrace. It com-prises a living room, kitchen,bedroom, mezzanine, showerroom and wc.

REF: LAR-266

€€119,000


Tuchan, AudeFully-renovated attached villagehouse with many authenticdetails still visible. The propertyis located in a small village andhas a large terrace on the roof.

The adverts above cost from just €200TTC for three months of web advertising and three months of print advertising. Let our distribution get you a sale. Contact our sales team on 0800 91 77 56 (freephone in France) or

email [email protected]

More details on all these properties - and how to contact the seller directly - can be found in the property for sale section of

www.connexionfrance.comSimply enter the code under each home to find out more

Property 21Languedoc Pages April 2012

PROPERTIES IN LANGUEDOC

REF: 110154036

€€258,000


Trèbes, AudeA splendid winegrower-stylehouse, located in a village only 5minutes away from Trèbes, andvery well renovated. 3 bed-rooms, 1 bathroom, garden withtrees and swimming pool.

REF: K399

€€350,000


Saint-Ambroix, GardBeautiful villa in the hills, 5minutes walk from the centre ofSt Ambroix with all amenities. The garden faces south and hasmany trees, a large terrace and aswimming pool of 55m2.

REF: V5720

€€325,000


St-Pons-de-Thomières, HéraultA few minutes from St. Pons deThomières in a very quiet vil-lage, is this beautiful villa. Thecovered swimming pool ensuresswimming in spring as well asautumn.

REF: 10765-AM432000E

€€378,000

ENERGY RATING = C

HéraultTraditional villa with 130 m2 liv-ing space, a garage, a superbequipped summer kitchen and apool, on 1520 m2 of land includ-ing a buildable section withindependent access.

REF: Q543

€€335,000


Cabrières, GardThis bungalow has a living roomwith fireplace, a kitchen, a lovelyconservatory, 3 bedrooms, 1with dressing room, an office, autility room, bathroom and wc.

REF: 10765-M332000E

€€280,000

ENERGY RATING = B & C

HéraultPretty recent villa with pool,offering 4 bedrooms and 2bathrooms. Located in a quietand nice residential area, just afew minutes walk of all shopsand restaurants.

REF: 1175

€€300,000

ENERGY RATING = B

Near Carcassonne, AudeThis beautiful detached villa, sit-uated in a village on the edge ofCarcassonne, is within walkingdistance of all amenities. Ingood condition throughout.Lovely views. Garage.

REF: FP15092011

€€265,000


Uzès, GardCharming old stone farmhousedating back to 1870 fullyrestored offering 200m2 of livingspace and a landscaped gardenof 1700m2. 4 bedrooms, lounge,study, kitchen and 2 bathrooms.

REF: IFPC21740

€€360,000


Sérignan, HéraultContemporary villa situated 5kms from sandy beaches. On theground floor, there is a bedroomwith a shower room and akitchen leading to a large livingroom. 4 more bedrooms upstairs.

REF: 748

€€327,000

ENERGY RATING = D

Near Carcassonne, AudeBeautifully renovated 300 yearold farmhouse situated in apeaceful haven just 10mins fromRevel. Main 2 bedroom propertyplus 2 bedroom gîte and possi-bility of further expansion.

REF: 1446

€€385,000


AudeThis elegant house is locatedhalfway Carcassonne andNarbonne. The renovation workhas been done with very highstandard and only top qualitymaterials have been used.

REF: MLP322

€€340,000


Lodève, HéraultIn a lovely location, in the beau-tiful hills, 5 minutes fromLodève, a new villa (2005) ofabout 160m² habitable space ona plot of land of 4541m².Stunning views over the hills.

REF: 318V

€€295,000

ENERGY RATING = D

Caveirac, GardSet over 2 levels with a southernaspect and having views over thegarden, this house includes liv-ing room, kitchen, 2 bedrooms,all on wooded land.

REF: 10765-TLA323500E

€€307,000

ENERGY RATING = D

HéraultComfortable and charminghouse located at the edge of avillage, just a few steps from allshops, offering about 107m2 ofliving space including 3 bed-rooms and 2 bathrooms.

REF: 110152506

€€276,000


Capendu, AudeVery nice villa in very good con-dition with 6 rooms including aliving room with a fireplace, adining room with a mezzanine,3 bedrooms, a bathroom andwc. Garden with pool.

REF: jpb755

€€365,000

ENERGY RATING = D

Minervois, AudeThis pretty winegrower's housein exposed stone over 2 floorswith a view of the village andhills, offers a living room withopen plan kitchen, living room,terrace and south-facing garden.

REF: H178

€€330,000


Nîmes, GardThis villa has 3 bedrooms,kitchen with access to livingroom with a fireplace. Possibilityto enlarge the living space.Pleasant environment with alarge, wooded garden.

REF: 595

€€399,000


Carcassonne, AudeBeautiful detached stone pigeon-nier dating back to the 18th cen-tury, renovated throughoutwhilst maintaining original fea-tures. 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms,living room, immense fireplace.

REF: 466v

€€342,000

ENERGY RATING = D

Uchaud, GardThe property has been carefullyrestored. Living room, a separatekitchen with dining room open-ing onto the garden. Upstairs, 2nice bedrooms, dressing room,bathroom and wc.

REF: 34

€€299,000

ENERGY RATING = B

Near Carcassonne, AudeThis beautifully-presented villais situated in a hamlet on theedge of Carcassonne. 4 bed-rooms with 2 shower rooms and1 bathroom, large living roomwith fully equipped kitchen.

REF: 5632

€€317,000

ENERGY RATING = D

Sauvian, HéraultNicely decorated 3 bedroomedvilla with fully tiled 8m x 4mpool in a quiet residential areawithin walking distance of thevillage centre.

REF: 110153706

€€430,000


Trèbes, AudeLarge villa with luxurious fea-tures in a very popular village.Featuring a large living roomwith reversible air conditioningand a fireplace, office, kitchen,bathroom and 4 bedrooms.

REF: 10765-TNTBEZ503000E

€€473,000

ENERGY RATING = D & E

Béziers, Hérault In Béziers with all amenities, 15years old villa with 145m2 of liv-ing space, 3 bedrooms, garage,terraces, on a 2557m2 plot withpool.

REF: M959

€€410,000


Saint-Privat-des-Vieux, GardThis villa of over 200m² is divid-ed into a large living room,kitchen, 4 bedrooms, gamesroom, video room, two bath-rooms, laundry room andpantry.

REF: DH602

€€480,000


Montauriol, Pyrénées-OrientalesOffering stunning views over theRoussillon plain, vineyards andup to the sea, beautiful villa witha main living room, dining area,separate kitchen, conservatory, 4bedrooms and 1 bathroom.

REF: 484v

€€417,000

ENERGY RATING = C

Langlade, GardVery quiet and residential placefor this nice recent villa. 3 bed-rooms, bathroom. Large terracewith view over the VaunageValley. Charming garden withswimming pool and spa.

REF: 1347

€€459,000


Céret, Pyrénées-OrientalesThe villa is airy and light andthe area is completely quiet andsecluded with no neighboursnearby. The lively, artistic andcultural centre of Ceret is nice 3minute drive away.

REF: FP04072011

€€495,000


Uzès, GardCharming stone farmhouse,completely renovated, offering aliving area of 200m2 and land of1.8hectares. It has 4 bedrooms, 2bathrooms and a swimmingpool.

REF: 10765-AN420000E

€€420,000

ENERGY RATING = D

HéraultImmaculate stone village housewith beautiful exposed stonefacade, offering 140m2 of habit-able space comprising 4 bed-rooms, 2 bathrooms, garage, winecellar and garden with pool.

REF: IFPC21537

€€445,000

ENERGY RATING = D & B

Bédarieux, HéraultRestored 5 bedroom farmhousewith heated pool in spectacularsetting with stream and mountain views. Ground floor:large open-plan space diningroom with French door.

22 Property Languedoc Pages April 2012

PROPERTIES AROUND FRANCE

REF: 41220

€€99,900


Carentan, MancheThis charming hamlet housecomes with a garden and court-yard. The property currentlyoffers 4 main rooms, including 2bedrooms and a living room,also a bathroom and wc.

REF: IFPC21672

€€109,000


Callac, Côtes-d'ArmorThis pretty stone cottage hasbeen lovingly updated to excel-lent specifications with characterretaining hardwood doubleglazed windows. Brand new fit-ted kitchen/diner.

REF: 41746

€€115,000


ChervalThis ancient stone house is seton 1 acre of land and comeswith excellent views. It compris-ing a fitted kitchen, a livingroom with a character fireplace,a bathroom and 2 bedrooms.

REF: 42070

€€124,877


Pontrieux, Côtes-d'ArmorThis house is set in a 0.32 acresof land and comes with a terraceand a garden shed. It has alounge with a fireplace, a fittedkitchen, a shower room and awc and 1 large bedroom.

REF: BVI0006695

€€125,000

ENERGY RATING = E & F

MonestierA beautifully-restored 2 bed-roomed village house in a smallvillage amongst the Saussignacvineyards, between Sainte-Foy-la-Grande and Eymet .

REF: 41860

€€132,305


Vire, CalvadosThis stone cottage is set in alovely garden. The propertyoffers a living room with a fire-place, fitted kitchen, bathroom,store-room, 2 bedrooms - oneen-suite.

REF: 39570

€€139,100


Saint-Pantaly-d'AnsThis lovely Perigourdine is set in0.36 acres of land and comeswith a separate garage and a gîte.The house comprises a fittedkitchen, living/sitting room withfireplace and a shower room.

REF: 42101

€€140,400


Domfront, OrneThis charming longère is set in 1acre of garden and comes with agarage and a large workshop.The property offers a spaciouskitchen, lounge, bathroom, 2bedrooms and a linen room.

REF: 12203

€€143,000


Plémet, Côtes-d'ArmorThis modern, 5-bedroomedhouse is close to all amenitiesand in addition to the livingspace, this property has a largebasement, comprising a garage,laundry room and work space.

REF: 12505

€€148,500


Chanu, OrneRetaining a very cosy, homelyand traditional French feel, thisproperty comprises a spaciouslounge/dining room, kitchen,family bathroom,a conservatoryand 2 spacious bedrooms

REF: 144

€€154,425


Sainte-Brigitte, Morbihan Superb views over the country-side and tranquillity guaranteedfor this pleasant and very brightbungalow with 4 bedrooms,comprising of entrance hall, fit-ted kitchen and lounge.

REF: 40442

€€160,000


ExcideuilThis charming farmhouse is setin 810 sqm of garden and comeswith a little chalet and lovelyviews. The property has beenrenovated to a very tasteful stan-dard.

REF: KPS 793

€€165,850

ENERGY RATING = F

Huelgoat, FinistèreThis pretty stone longère istucked away in a very peacefulpart of the countryside. It hasbeen recently renovated but stillretains its old world charm. Oilfired central heating.

REF: BVI0005627

€€175,000

ENERGY RATING = C

Jumilhac-le-Grand This 3 bedroomed, 1 bath-roomed home with great equinepossibilities, is nestled in a ham-let in the beautiful countrysideof the Perigord Vert. Very wellpresented throughout.

REF: 12302

€€180,200


La Haye-Bellefond, MancheThis is a delightful detachedproperty in a peaceful part ofthe countryside. The house iscurrently 2 bedroomed, butthere are another 2 large roomsnearly finished off.

REF: RKP395

€€185,000


BrantômePretty 3 bedroomed characterstone property close to river.The property has a small man-ageable garden and rooftop ter-race.

REF: 39

€€192,400


Mesnil-Clinchamps, CalvadosA delightfully-renovated cottageon the outskirts of this prettyvillage. As well as two balconiesproviding terrific views over theorchard and surrounding coun-tryside, there is a pool.

REF: 305

€€196,100


Lignol, MorbihanPretty stone features and alounge with its imposing fire-place give this house a very par-ticular character. This 3 bed-roomed logère is ideally setwithin its own enclosed land.

REF: 12

€€199,000


Montreuil-en-Caux, Seine-MaritimeCharming half-timbered longèrein the perfect Caux countryside.Quality-built with superb mate-rials. Well placed in a sumptu-ous garden.

REF: BRE-642

€€205,000

ENERGY RATING = C

Ploërmel, MorbihanThis detached farmhouse from1901 with double garage is locat-ed in a small, peaceful hamletwith virtually no traffic. It is inexcellent condition both insideand out.

REF: FPBH2196M

€€214,000


Monpazier This restored stone house is in atranquil location with lovelyviews over the surroundingcountryside. The property com-prises a living room with fire-place and fitted kitchen.

REF: KPS 963

€€223,630

ENERGY RATING = G

Huelgoat, FinistèreA great opportunity to purchasean excellently renovated 5 bed-roomed farmhouse that stillretains all its character andcharm. Situated deep in thecountryside yet close to town.

REF: 12327

€€232,200


ThiviersThe house was built in 1982 andhas been finished to a very highstandard. With parquet floorsupstairs, ceramic tiles down-stairs and double glazingthroughout.

REF: IFPC20915

€€237,500


Eu, Seine-Maritime This farmhouse and outbuildingsare set in a U-shape with largegardens surrounded by trees.Beyond lies an open area with amixture of grass and trees, with afurther derelict building.

REF: BVI0006563

€€243,800

ENERGY RATING = D

Jumilhac-le-Grand This 2 bedroomed home in anelevated position offering on onelevel the kitchen , lounge , bath-room and WC with livingaccommodation attached garageand store . Built in 1995.

REF: 11550

€€256,000


Surville, MancheUnspoilt sandy beaches are only3 mins away from this gorgeous,stone 4 bedroomed house. Thereception rooms are large andairy and decorated to a highstandard, so are the bedrooms.

REF: 11160

€€263,150


Dinan, Côtes-d'ArmorCharming house with B & Bpotential. Large sitting roomwith fire place and living roomwith open plan kitchen. 3 en-suite bedrooms. Several out-buildings, could be converted.

REF: 12170

€€267,500


L'Épinay-le-Comte, OrneThis is a gem of a property situ-ated in a quiet location just out-side the village. It is a carefully-renovated, traditional Frenchfarmhouse which dates back to1836.

REF: IFPC18460

€€275,000


Rostrenen, Côtes-d'ArmorThis property has 4 bedrooms, 1bath and 1 shower room. Thelarge-beamed sitting room has animpressive fireplace and woodburning stove. The kitchen is fit-ted with oak topped units.

REF: APS1952

€€278,200

ENERGY RATING = G

EymetThis beautifully-renovated stonefarmhouse is set on the hillsideof the Dropt river valley notmore than 10 kms from theBastide town of Eymet in theDordogne.

Property 23Languedoc Pages April 2012

PROPERTIES AROUND FRANCE

REF: KPS 1174

€€283,550


Finistère This well established and prof-itable gîte complex consists ofowner’s accommodation, 3 let-ting gîtes plus a below-groundswimming pool that meets allFrench regulations.

REF: FPBR2233M

€€295,000


MonpazierThis attractive stone house is sit-uated in a small hamlet over-looking the countryside. Thehouse has an entrance hall, largeliving room, kitchen, 5 bed-rooms, 2 bathrooms and 2 wcs.

REF: DOM1289

€€299,000


Bolbec, Seine-MaritimeA delightful 1898 detached“Maison de Maître”, built fromtraditional red brick and fire-stone under a new slate roof.Original features retained.Positioned in a quiet rural area.

REF: DOM1293

€€315,000


Pont-Audemer, EureSpacious `colombage` houseunder a slate tiled roof in goodcondition set in 2200m2

(0.54acres). 6/7 rooms, 3 bath-rooms, 2 wcs, kitchen, 2 recep-tion rooms, cave and garage.

REF: FPBB3249C

€€305,000


SarlatThis 18th century stone barnhas been entirely restored and ispeacefully situated in 6000 m2 ofland with far-reaching viewsfrom the swimming-pool andterrace.

REF: DOM1173

€€323,400


Saint-Brieuc, Côtes-d'ArmorRevenue-earning private homeplus gîtes and camping facilities.Walk to village shops, shortdrive to leisure lake with boatingand sandy beach. Set 0.64acresof landscaped gardens.

REF: DOM1377

€€324,000


Avranches, MancheA very charming Normandyhouse full of character datingfrom the 18th century located ina magnificent setting. 5 bed-rooms, 7 rooms. Possibility toobtain extra 10 hectares.

REF: BRE-411

€€325,000


Redon, Ille-et-VilaineThis gorgeous property was fullyrenovated in 2004. It still main-tains authentic features and thewarm atmosphere of days goneby. Inside are oak floors, stonewalls and a spiral staircase.

REF: BVI0006848

€€336,000

ENERGY RATING = C

VélinesCompletely renovated housewith separate living space on theground floor. Ideal for a familyor to rent out a part of thehouse. Huge garden, swimmingpool, garage and outbuildings.

REF: 2862

€€339,200


Châteauneuf-du-Faou, FinistèreA renovated, "neo-Breton" housewith magnificent views, having 6bedrooms and situated on 2.6hectares of wooded grounds.

REF: 11429

€€357,000


NeuvicMagnificent 6 bedroomed singlestorey modern property inimmaculate condition through-out. The kitchen includes ceram-ic hob, integrated washingmachine, dishwasher and fridge.

REF: 81

€€364,000


Sourdeval, MancheSuperb 19th century villa withentry into large living room,open-plan kitchen, wc, 3 bed-rooms, 1 bathroom, convertibleattic, cellar, cave, garage andworkshop.

REF: BVI0006711

€€371,000

ENERGY RATING = C

LalindeA modern 3 bedroomed houseon the edge of a popular andbeautiful village. The house hasbeen built to the highest specifi-cations and offers geothermicunderfloor heating.

REF: NOR61CHA

€€378,000


Bagnoles de l'Orne, OrneSet in the heart of the NationalPark of Normandy, this fullyrenovated 19th c. house has 5bedrooms and a separate 2 bed-roomed guest cottage. There isalso a lovely garden.

REF: 146067

€€388,125


Iffendic, Ille-et-Vilaine, A spacious traditional stoneproperty with over400m² of habitable living space in the centre of the community.

REF: HNO-235

€€390,000


Lyons-la-Forêt, EureThis detached, spacious andcharacteristic "Maison deMaître" from 1840 was carefullyrenovated between 1998 and2008. Many authentic details likethe double oak front door.

REF: BRE-267

€€395,000


Pontivy, MorbihanThis beautifully spaciousdetached villa from 2006 is lightand very well decorated. Theproperty is in perfect conditionand ready to move into. It alsohas an award-winning garden.

REF: FPBE1193L

€€398,000


Le Buisson-de-CadouinThis restored stone house has alarge kitchen, living room, din-ing room, 2 bedrooms, bath-room. 2 further bedrooms independence nearby, both en-suite. 1 bedroomed gîte.

REF: 2805

€€402,800


Maël-Carhaix, Côtes-d'ArmorStone house with 3 bedroomsand a number of other buildingsset in the countryside with 8hectares of land.

REF: APS2125

€€424,000

ENERGY RATING = F

EymetVery attractive stone house onthe immediate outskirts of abeautiful bastide town. Lounge,dining area, kitchen area, study,3/4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, wc,garage and outbuildings.

REF: DOM1398

€€429,000


Domfront, OrneCharming 17th century châteaudecorated to a good standard.Some further work required. 7bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 3 wcs,kitchen, 2 large reception roomsand loft.

REF: BVI0006814

€€434,600

ENERGY RATING = E

LalindeStone house completely renovat-ed with a lovely riverside garden,hidden in a beautiful port by theDordogne river. 3 bedrooms, 2living rooms and much morewith super views all around.

REF: IFPC20301

€€440,000


Dieppe, Seine-MaritimeWonderful 12th century Abbeyused by nuns until the revolu-tion, and the resistance duringWorld War II. Partly restored,with 5 bedrooms and 3 bath-rooms in the usable wing.

REF: KPS 1778

€€449,400

ENERGY RATING = D

MorbihanThis is a delightfully-restored19th century granite longèrecomprising of a main house,plus 2 gîtes and an outbuildingto convert to create a further 2gîtes.

REF: IFPC21878

€€450,000

ENERGY RATING = D

Le Neubourg, EureThis former presbytery in thevillage (first built in 1810), haslots of charm (timbered beamsand old wooden interior shut-ters) and modern comforts. 3bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.

REF: 146072

€€465,000


Rennes, Ille-et-VilaineIn a pretty hamlet about 15 minsfrom Rennes, this is a lovelymodern villa presented to thehighest standard with lovely gar-dens and swimming pool. 3 bed-rooms.

REF: FPBH3341C

€€475,000


DommeThis charming property hasbeen tastefully restored. It is sit-uated on approximately 5hectares, very quiet and with abeautiful view over the valleyand the Dordogne River.

REF: 146515

€€480,000


Saint-Gilles, Ille-et-VilaineSituated in 10,000 m2 of land, asuperb longère with 220m2 ofhabitable living space. The prop-erty includes 6 bedrooms andnumerous outbuildings.

REF: AQU-394

€€495,000


RibéracImpressive country house withswimming pool, stables and fish-ing lake on a terrain of 3hectares. This large, impressivePerigordine house from 2001 islocated in a natural setting.

REF: DOM873

€€499,950


Honfleur, Eure Normandy ‘colombage’ manorhouse and 3 large outbuildingsin sound condition with waterand electricity. 1 large outbuild-ing without water and electricity.1 large hanger barn with gates.

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