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PUBLISHERS OF95c | ISSUE 10 | MAY 2012 NEWS, WHAT’S ON INFO FOR AUDE, GARD, HERAULT, LOZERE, PYRENEES-ORIENTALES

BOOK FAIRDIRECTORSHOWCASES UK AUTHORS p24

Studio planas regionbids for more films

One woman’s mission to improve male drivingWE NEED WOMEN TO HELP, SAYS CAMPAIGNER P3

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Satellite crackdownon local tax cheatsHALF a million euros in taxevasion fines were pocketedlast year by Carcassonnetown hall, who gave six spe-cialists the mission of pin-pointing undeclared swim-ming pools, vacant buildingsand land suitable fordevelopment.

The team used GoogleEarth and other satelliteimaging services to zoom inand verify residents’ taxed’habitation (council tax)declarations.

The operation was managedby Mohamed Didaoui,according to whom, in 2011,487 untaxed swimming poolswere indentified, bringing ina total €100,000 in fines.

Mr Didaoui said he expect-ed the rate of detection to goup, as his team were waitingfor new satellite images tobecome available – theirinvestigations so far havebeen made using imagesfrom 2008.

Swimming pools are anobvious target, but habitablebuildings that have beenvacant for five years or moreare now subject to a specialtax that last year netted some€98,000 euros.

A law passed in 2011enforcing taxation on landsuitable for development butas yet without habitable con-struction has brought a fur-ther €130,000 euros into thelocal coffers.

FILMMAKERS are increasing-ly turning to the Languedoc-Roussillon when it comes tolocations for their films – andplans to build a studio areexpected to give the sectoranother boost in years to come.

Five feature films, eight TVfilms, seven shorts and fourdocumentaries were filmedlast year in 400 days of film-ing. This year, three series andtwo films are coming out withthe region and Montpellier astheir backdrops. These areTV series Antigone 34, whichstarted recently on France 2and Inquisitio (for the samechannel) as well as the filmsParadis Perdu (filmed inCéret, Pyrénées-Orientales)and Pauline Détective.

This comes as policies start-ed by former regional presi-dent Georges Frêche, who

died while still in office in2010, are bearing fruit.

As for 2012, filming isplanned on a France 2 seriesLignes de Vie (Lifelines), inMontpellier, and on a majorhistorical series Heretics in theAude to be screened on Artenext year. Among other proj-ects expected to be filmed areEnglish-language films, butdetails are yet to be confirmed.

Heretics was made in loca-tions including Narbonne,Carcassonne and FontfroideAbbey and focuses on theCathars, the medieval sectwhich flourished in theLanguedoc and was sub-ject to violent repressionby the Catholic Church.

According to thecouncillor in charge ofculture at Montpellier,Philippe Saurel, there is

a freshness about the region’sscenery that appeals to film-makers. The town has encour-aged the trend, for examplewith offers of free use of carparks or locations, such as theold Hôtel de Ville for scenes inLignes de Vie.

A director of Languedoc-Roussillon Cinéma, an agencyworking with the state andlocal authorities to developfilming in the area, MarinRosenstiehl, said: “Cinemaand television films have beendeveloping extremely well inthe Languedoc-Roussillon fora couple of years. It’s been

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2 News Languedoc Pages May 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: simpleenergywithedf@edf.frGOVERNMENT 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 deLa 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: cancersupportfrance@orange.fr; 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 MONTHMay 1 - Labour Day, May 8 - VE DayMay 17 - Ascension DayMay 28 - Whitmonday

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With a subscription or advert query call:From France: 0800 91 77 56 (freephone)From UK: 0844 256 9881 (4p per minute)or by email: sales@ connexionfrance.com

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Directrice de la publication: Sarah Smith. Printed at Nice-MMatin:

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 Neil Todd: 04 67 37 99 52www.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 27associationechanges@live.com

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

PAGESLANGUEDOC

Region below national average for bac

Tight budgets could attractmore productions to region

AMONG those that havealready or are expectedshortly to hit French screensare:

Antigone 34 (named aftera Montpellier district andthe department number ofthe Hérault), about anattractive policewoman and

her investigations in thelocal area.

Inquisitio is a historicalseries set in the Middle Ages,with themes like the plague,the Inquisition and thepower struggle between rivalpopes in Rome and Avignon.

Paradis Perdu is about afather and daughter who live

and work in a plant nurseryin Languedoc-Roussillon,making the best of thingsafter the mother has left.

Their relationship isdescribed as increasinglyclose, “reassuring” but also“dangerous”. There is dramawhen the mother comesback, and in a potential rela-

tionship between the daugh-ter and an illegal immigrant.

Pauline Detective, expect-ed to come out in June, is acrime comedy. Pauline, ajournalist, goes to Italy withher sister after beingdumped by her boyfriend;she investigates a crime com-mitted in their hotel.

Films and series out this year

taking off considerably in terms of thenumber of things being filmed.”

He added: “The Paca region is also veryattractive, but we are complementary tothat now – we enrich the offer of theMediterranean basin.

“There is a little bit of competitionbetween us, but we’re a small region and itwould be presumptuous to say we are try-ing to outdo them. We each have differentkinds of locations. However, as producersare increasingly trying to work on tighterbudgets, we think more and more filmswill be made here.”

Mr Rosenstiehl said regional council aidis a draw. “Films only come if there’s somefinance. The region gives €1.3 millioneach year towards making films. As for usat Languedoc-Roussillon Cinéma, we arefinanced by the region to commissionfilms and welcome the crews.

“We offer logistical support, includinglooking for every imaginable place youcould film. We have a database of thou-sands of locations – châteaux, but also ordi-nary places like industrial wastelands andof course beaches, and countryside like thewide open spaces you find in the Lozère.

“We can also put them in touch with

actors and technicians. The more filmmak-ers can use local people, the less they haveto spend on accommodation and catering.”

Looking ahead, the possibility of creat-ing a studio which could be used by com-panies filming in the area is being stud-ied: “It wouldn’t be a Hollywood studio, itwould be a little film set of 1,000m2, butthe idea interests the councils, includingthe mairie of Montpellier.

“We still need to look at the long-termdemand and see if it’s needed, but TF1 isinterested and it could interest the otherchannels as well.”

Chloë Besomi, the production assistantfor Mascaret Films, which made Antigone34, said: “We chose to film in theLanguedoc-Roussillon partly because theregional council offered interestingfinancial support and also because youdon’t often see Montpellier in Frenchseries, so it gives an original touch. It’s avery pretty town and fits well with theplot elements.”

The director of Paradis Perdu, EveDeboise, said she benefitted from a grantfrom the regional council to help herwrite the screenplay, which she deliber-ately based in the area, plus aid was givento help with production costs. She alsobenefitted from logistical help, for exam-ple to find the plant nursery where theaction would take place.

She said: “I knew the area well and real-ly wanted to film in that scenery. It’s thatbeauty which is still very wild, with apowerful presence of the elements – thewind and the heat. It’s quite dry, but verycolourful, with wild flowers; it’s enchant-ing. It has an Eden-like quality which Iwanted for the film.”

Continued from Page 1 “You don’t often seeMontpellier inFrench series. It’s avery pretty town andfits well with the plotelementsChloë BesomiProduction assistanton Antigone 34

Pauline Étienne and Olivier Rabourdin play daughter and father Lucie and Hugo in Paradis Perdu, filmed in Céret

SCHOOLS in Languedoc-Roussillonhave recorded slightly worse results inthe baccalauréat exams in the past year,after doing better than the national aver-age a year earlier, according to govern-ment figures.

The final, definitive results show that inthe Montpellier education area(académie), which covers the wholeLanguedoc-Roussillon region, 25,875pupils sat their bac (baccalauréat) examsin 2011 and overall 85.6% of them passed,compared with an average of 86% acrossthe rest of France.

The Languedoc pass rate is down from

86.2% in 2010, which was higher thanthat year’s national average of 85.8%.

Montpellier académie was beaten byfour big others: Nantes (91.1%), Rennes(89.8%), Strasbourg (88.6%) andToulouse (88.5%). At the bottom of theleague, Créteil had a pass rate of just79.1% (although up from last year’s dis-mal 78.4%).

For the bac général, the region was alsounder-average: the pass rate was 87.7%(maintained from last year) comparedwith 88.5% (up from 87.4%) in the restof France. However, the results were thesame in Lille, Paris and Versailles and

better than in Amiens, Caen, Nice,Orléans-Tours, Poitiers and Reims.

For the bac technologique, the pass ratewas also below average: 82.1% (up from81.9% in 2010) compared with 82.8%(up from 81.9%) in the rest of France.This compares with Nantes which had apass rate of 88.7% (up just a shade from88.4% last year).

In line with the rest of the country,results for the bac professionnel fell: thepass rate was 85.2% (down from 88.1%in 2010). This result compared with84.1% (down from 86.5%) across the restof the country.

News 3Languedoc Pages May 2012

Campaign seeks women’s helpto tackle dangerous male driving

SHOPPERS and touristscrossing Montpellier’s Placede la Comédie one sunnyafternoon recently were curi-ous to see a large, bright yel-low caravan parked outsidethe tourist office.

Banners in an equally-arresting shade of yellow car-ried disturbing messages:“75% des morts sur la routesont des hommes” (75% ofroad deaths are men), “Tantqu'il y aura des hommes pourmourir sur la route, il faudrades femmes pour que çachange” (as long as there aremen dying on the road, wewill need women to changethis). The campaign, LeManifeste des Femmes (theWomen’s Manifesto) calls onfemale drivers to help changemen’s driving habits andmake the roads safer.

Clipboard-toting volunteersin bright yellow T-shirts wereon hand to ask passers-by tosign the manifesto and togive out information aboutthe French government’s lat-est road safety campaignwhich targets women.

Besides Paris, the campaignis being rolled out in fivemajor cities across France, ofwhich Montpellier is one(Lyon, Bordeaux, Toulouseand Marseille are the others),and the préfecture of Héraulthas embraced the conceptand taken the manifesto mes-sage to the streets.

Road safety co-ordinatorand campaign spokeswomanCatherine Mallet said: “It wasonly natural for the Héraultpréfecture to get involved inthis national initiative, partic-ularly since the department’s2011 road safety figures haveshown an even greater dis-parity between men andwomen: of 99 road deaths, 81were men and only 18 werewomen. Of the 55 in-cardeaths, 43 were men and 12were women.”

These are sobering figuresthat suggest the French gov-

ernment’s idea of reducingmale road accident mortalityrates via women may be wise.However, not everyone seemsto have taken the message thesame way.

Ms Mallet added: “Thiscommunication campaignwas deliberately launched onMarch 8, InternationalWomen’s Day. Some reactionswe have heard suggest thatfor some members of thepublic, the message was per-ceived in a negative way, asmen might feel stigmatised orthink that only women weremeant to sign the manifesto.

“However, as far as we wereconcerned, in Montpellier,our team of a dozen volun-teers went right up to every-one, male and female alike, toexplain the aim of the cam-paign, namely, to incite any-one – regardless of gender –who witnesses dangerousbehaviour behind the wheelto intervene and reason withthe person in question.

“Some men who felt theywere being singled out as partof the problem when theyfirst read the slogans on thebanners came round after wetalked to them, and ended upsigning the manifesto.”

Asked about the causes ofmost road accidents, MsMallet replied: “A lack ofrespect for the rules of theroad, and to a greater extent,a lack of respect for others.

“Once they get behind thewheel, some men (and somewomen too, although this israre) think they are in a bub-ble, and that they are the onlyones on the road.

“However, our roads are ashared space where we haveto be particularly attentive tothe more vulnerable users,such as cyclists and motor-bike riders, and pedestrians.

“In the case of those whodo not (or who do not wantto) realise this is the case,their friends and familieshave to open their eyes andmake them see sense.

“This is particularly true ofthose who want to drive afterdrinking alcohol. One of theeffects of alcohol is the liftingof inhibitions, so people feelmore than capable of drivingeven when, in fact, they are adanger to themselves and toothers.

“This is why the Frenchnational road safety slogan istous responsables – we are allresponsible for road safety.”

The préfecture has put itsweight behind the Manifestedes Femmes campaign, but aspreviously reported in theLanguedoc Pages, it is alsocarrying out a study – thefirst of its kind in France – topinpoint the causes of road

accidents in the Gard andHérault departments, wherethe problem is particularlypronounced (in 2011 therewere 99 deaths on the road inHérault, and 71 in the Gard).The study was ordered by thetransport ministry in 2010because of particularly highfatality rates at the time.

Ms Mallet added: “We wantto know if bad driving issomehow genetic, or if roadusers are just rather laid backbecause the sun shines a lotin the south of France.”

The préfecture has recruited60 volunteers from eachdepartment, who will spendhalf a day with a psycholo-gist. By way of comparison,an identical study is to beheld in the Loire-Atlantiquedepartment, which has a sim-ilar demographic but a signif-icantly lower road accidentrate. Results are expected inSeptember.

Road safety in France is currently in thespotlight, and parts of Languedoc-Roussillonhave a particularly poor record.LOUISE HURREN looks at a major campaign inthe region to try to resolve the problem

Once they getbehind thewheel, somemen (andsome women,too) think theyare in a bubbleCatherine Mallet

“

New speed limitsfor A9 motorway

NEW measures will becoming into force in Junethis year to limit drivingspeeds to 90kph on the A9motorway nearMontpellier. The area inquestion runs from theMontpellier Est entry tothe Saint-Jean de Védastoll booth and is a roadaccident black spot. Thenew speed limit will be ineffect during rush hour, onworking days, from 7.00-9.00 and from 17.00-19.00.The rest of the time, thespeed limit is set at110kph. Automatic speedlimit cameras are going tobe installed on both sidesof the road along the sec-tion in question.

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: bordeaux.office@siddalls.net

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.

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A fatal road accident between Castries and Teryant in the Hérault, a department in which 99 drivers died on roads in 2011

4 News Languedoc Pages May 2012

MANY Languedoc wine domaines havethe word borie as part of their name(Borie de Maurel, Borie la Vitarèle,Château Borie Neuve) but exactly whatthe term means is perhaps less com-mon knowledge.

The word borie is in fact of Provençalorigin: bòria was used to mean a farmand comes from the Latin boaria,meaning a stable for oxen. Today, it sig-nifies a type of dry-stone shelter founddotted throughout the fields and vine-yards of Languedoc-Roussillon.Originally used to house farm labour-ers’ tools, it also served as a shelterfrom the beating sun, or less clementweather.

However, borie is not the only nameused for such dry-stone structures:capitelle, from the Occitan wordcapitelà, is equally found, as are theterms cazelle, carabelle, cabane andoustalet, depending on the geographicalarea. The shape can vary too: somehave a corbelled roof, while others aredomed, ogival- or pyramid-shaped.

Some date back as far as the earlyMiddle Ages, but in France many werebuilt in the 18th century, when landwas divided up and distributed amongthe poor; labourers used the stones thatthey removed from their plots to createwalls, terraces and shelters for storingtheir tools.

Although very common toLanguedoc (there are some fine exam-ples of bories to be seen in the vine-yards and scrubland of the Faugèreswine-making area, for example), dry-stone huts have been documented inother parts of France (in Beaujolais and

Provence, for example: near the villageof Gordes, there is a whole borie villagethat has been classed as a historic mon-ument) and around the world (inCorsica, Crete and California, to namejust a few). Some are still used by shep-herds today.

How a shelter from the sunbecame a popular wine brand

Did you know?

A borie is a dry-stone shelter found dotted through the region’s vineyards

Towns competeover location ofTGV stations

A TAXI firm based 10km outside Caracassonnehas been banned from advertising its servicesto the city’s residents, after it was prosecuted forunfair competition following a legal complaintby a rival group of drivers.

Aud’Line Taxi owns taxi licences in Leuc,Verzeille and Ladern-sur-Lauquet, on the cityedge, and advertised in the phone directoryand on its website as a Carcassonne-basedfirm. It also advertised station and airportpick-ups.

However, the firm’s licence was not issued inCarcassonne, and 15 drivers with full citylicences, allowing them to pick up passengerswho hail a car in the city, took legal action.

Outside taxi firms are allowed to drop off

passengers in the city, or pick them up byprior appointment. The judge said taxi usersrisked being confused by Aud’Line’s advertis-ing claims and had a right to be “clearlyinformed of where a taxi is based”.

He ruled that the firm’s advertising wasunfair to the Carcassonne drivers. The Frenchtaxi industry is very heavily regulated, andlicences are very expensive in many parts ofFrance, because their numbers are limited – inCarcassonne they change hands for more than€100,000.

The drivers’ lawyer, Sabine Pépin, said otherfirms based outside the city could be pursuedif they made similar claims. Aud’Line faces afine of up to €200 a day if it does not comply.

Carcassonne driverswin competition case

Taxi drivers with a full Caracassonne licence had faced rivalry from a firm based nearby

THE location of stations onthe new high-speed TGVtrain link betweenMontpellier and Perpignanwill be annouced in July –but the debate over theirexact location is starting tointensify.

The line, which is plannedto come into service in 2020,will complete the TGV linkbetween Nîmes andBarcelona. In Languedoc, thetowns of Béziers andNarbonne are currently vyingfor who gets a TGV station.

In the Hérault depart-ment, Raymond Couderc,president of the greaterBéziers area, argues that aTGV station in his hometown would provide a vitaleconomic and social benefitfor the 500,000 people wholive in the agglomeration.

Freight would also beboosted, according toCouderc, due to the posi-tioning of the station nearthe A9-A75 motorway inter-change.

Meanwhile, in the Aude,Jacques Bascou, MP andmayor of Narbonne, is keen

to promote his plans for aTGV station situated to thewest of the town, in the areaof Montredon-Lebrette.

He said: “We have theland, and more importantlywe can link air, sea andtrain,” referring to politicaland financial allegianceswith both Carcassonne (itsairport representing the airlinks) and Port-la-Nouvelle(sea links).

It remains to be seen whowill win, but RaymondCouderc suggests: “It is notinconceivable to have twostations with 40 to 50kmbetween them, given the factthat the whole area is sodensely populated.”

Meanwhile, the TGV linkbetween Perpignan andBarcelona has been delayedand will not be in service bythe end of the year, as previ-ously announced.

Tunneling delays andfinancial complicationsbetween Catalonia andMadrid mean that the serv-ice is now expected to be inoperation by spring 2013,according to reports.

Aude solar energy project is abandonedPLANS to equip 38 public buildings around the Aude with solar panels have been scrapped. Onlysix secondary schools in the area have had the photovoltaic installations put in place, but thecouncil has stressed that it remains committed to renewal energy in the long term. The projectwas announced two years ago and would have made it one of the country’s leading supporters ofphotovoltaic installations, but the decision by EDF to cut the amount it pays for electricity fromsolar producers meant the project was no longer considered viable.

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News 5Languedoc Pages May 2012

LANGUEDOC-ROUSSILLON residents haveone of the lowest standards of living in all ofFrance, with growing numbers of people livingbelow the poverty line.

New statistics from the French national sta-tistics body Insee put the region second-lowestin France, above the Nord-Pas-de-Calais.

Between 2008 and 2009 the number of peopleliving below the poverty line increased by17,000 (an increase from 18.1% to 18.6% ofhouseholds over the previous year), and in2009, half of the population of Languedoc livedon a monthly income of less than €1,470.

Of the region’s five departments, Héraultenjoys the highest standard of living, whileAude has the lowest.

The standard of living is calculated by divid-ing the income of a household by the numberof inhabitants. The high numbers of unem-ployed, non-working spouses and retired peo-ple contribute to Languedoc’s low ranking inthe standard of living charts.

Insee regional director Francis Vennat said hefeared the situation would continue to worsen,due to the knock-on effects of the financial cri-sis on unemployment figures and wages. Hesaid: “The real effect will only be visible twoyears on, when job losses are no longer coveredby unemployment benefit.”

According to Insee, 7.3% of Languedoc-Roussillon residents aged 15-64 are paid theRSA (revenu de solidarité actif, a benefit avail-able to job seekers who are not eligible forunemployment benefit), compared to thenational average of 4.5%.

Staff face uncertaintyas salt firm up for sale

Water restrictionsin Gard and HéraultA YEAR OF vastly reduced rainfall meansparts of the region are already feeling theeffects of drought with water restrictions ineight departments. Hopes for increased rainduring the past autumn and winter came tonothing and the Hérault is the hardest hitdepartment nationally, down 90% of normalrainfall levels. Farming groups are worriedthat the lack of rain will hit this year’s grainharvest, with a reduced wheat crop in what isEurope’s leading wheat-growing country. Therural life group Confédération Paysanne hascalled on the government to take urgentmeasures to help. Ecology Ministry officialssaid the situation was “worrying” withoutbeing “alarming”. At the time of writing, waterusage has been restricted in the Gard andHérault. Details of the precise areas withrestrictions are available on the Propluviawebsite: www.tinyurl.com/frenchwatermap

Montpellier to twinwith BethlehemLANGUEDOC-ROUSILLON’S capital cityMontpellier has announced it is to becometwinned with the Palestininan city ofBethlehem. Besides the cultural and sportingexchanges provided by the new link, there willbe an economic benefit for Montpellier, withthe joint construction of a commercial andindustrial zone in Bethlehem. Further cooper-ation between hospitals and universities in thetwo cities is planned. Montpellier is nowtwinned with eight cities around the world:the others are Louisville (United States),Heidelberg (Germany), Barcelona (Spain),Chengdu (China), Tiberias (Israel), Fès(Morocco) and Tlemcen (Algeria).

Major renovation atMontpellier stationWITH the city’s new tramway lines 3 and 4launched last month, it is full steam ahead onthe works around Montpellier’s Gare SaintRoch train station. Major renovations areunder way and are set to last three years, cre-ating new retail units, a terrace/garden space,eight escalators and a new car park.Meanwhile, the planning phase for the newTGV station in Montpellier continues. A busi-ness district and up to 5,000 apartments are tobe built around the station, near the A9motorway, with three internationallyrenowned architects competing for the con-tract, which comes with a budget of €917m.

Investors seek sitefor medieval parkA GROUP of investors from China and Qatarhave been touring the region in search of asite to create a medieval theme park, accord-ing to reports. The park, which would occupya site of some 100 hectares located “some-where between Montpellier and Montauban”will have a castle complete with a lord,knights and peasants. A consortium of about25 investors has been put together by RaphaëlGeslan (former coach of Toulouse handballclub) with the hope to raise €100m in fiveyears. A hotel, restaurants and health/sportsfacilites are also planned.

Low incomesand joblessnesshit region hard

THE FUTURE of one of Europe’s largest andbest-known salt producers is uncertain afterLes Salins du Midi was put up for sale.

Founded in 1856, the firm, based in theAude, was taken over in 2004 by investmentbanks Chequers and Abénex, who now wish tosee a return on their investment.

Local councillor Robert Crauste said:

“Workers are worried, and with good reason.”There are plans to create a €5m museum

and health spa at the site, generating 25 jobs,but Les Salins du Midi president Pierre Levystressed: “It is unthinkable that a company likeours would disappear overnight, and a muse-um without a factory does not make sense.”

However, he added: “I cannot give any guar-

antees.” Meanwhile, local Green party memberDidier Claire suggested that the museum planswere a “smoke screen” and that the companywas now under the control of bankers who arelooking for a quick return.

Les Salins du Midi currently employs 260people, and the site received more than 80,000visitors in 2011.

Photo: MaG

- Fotolia.com

Photo: Deuxtroy - w

ikimedia.org

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6 National News Languedoc Pages May 2012

More CCTVafter shootingAFTER two gangland shootings in24 hours in Marseille, InteriorMinister Claude Guéant hasannounced an extra 1,750 surveil-lance cameras across the city.

The body of a 26-year-old manwas found riddled with bullets in aseafront car park in the 8tharrondissement. The man wasknown to police for drug trafficking.

Hours earlier the body of gangmember Farid Tir was found in sim-ilar circumstances outside his homein the 3rd arrondissement.

Guéant was speaking at the open-ing of a new Centre de SupervisionUrbaine in Marseille which, he said,was the first stage in a project tohave 1,800 cameras across the city.

Social securitydeficit fallsPROGRESS is being made on theproblem of the social securitydeficit, new figures show. The goodnews was announced by director ofthe health branch of social security,Frédéric Van Roekeghem.

The deficit of the branch (con-cerned with funding/reimbursementof healthcare) was €8.6 billion lastyear, down from €11.6 billion in2010 – which is €900 million betterthan had been predicted.

The comments contrast with theviews of employers’ body Medef,which recently said the state healthinsurance system was “on the vergeof bankruptcy”. It has urged thepresidential candidates to prioritisea radical overhaul.

Brangelina’swedding plan

WHILE Hollywood was abuzz withthe news that Brad Pitt andAngelina Jolie are to get married, itbrought little reaction in the couple’sFrench “home town” of Correns, inthe Var. Staff at the mairie knewnothing of the wedding.

The couple own the Château deMiraval in the commune and therehave been rumours that they werekeen to tie the knot in the 16th cen-

tury chapel there. However, Brad’s agent, Cynthia

Pett-Dante, said : “Yes, it’s con-firmed. It is a promise for the future,and their kids are very happy.There’s no date set at this time.”

Efforts to keeptaxes downRESIDENTIAL taxes for the comingyear are being kept roughly in linewith the past year, as mayors anddepartmental councils have reinedback increases in the taxe d’habita-tion and taxe foncière.

However, that does not meanimpôts locaux are staying the same.

Local taxes are levied on the theo-retical potential rental value of theproperty, which is set at nationallevel each year, and that has beenincreased by 1.8%.

This means households will face aminimim 1.8% rise even where localcouncils have decided to maintaintaxes at the 2011 level.

Soap spillageshuts motorwayTRAFFIC was disrupted on the A4autoroute north-east of Paris afteran HGV carrying liquid soapcrashed, tipping its contents out.

The accident, which involved a car,happened on April 12, betweenSainte-Aulde in Seine-et-Marne andOrxois in the Aisne.

The 40-tonne lorry veered into theverge and turned over, injuring thedriver and dumping liquid soap tubswhich broke open on the road.

The motorway was closed in theStrasbourg direction, but was re-opened later in the day.

Disneylandmarks birthdayDISNEYLAND Paris is 20 years old.

With 250 million visitors since itopened in 1992, and 15.7 millionlast year, Europe’s top attraction ismarking the date with a new night-

time show and a revamped parade. The park was originally known as

Euro Disney, but was relaunched asDisneyland Paris in 1994 after poorhotel occupancy and takings.

A second park, Walt DisneyStudios Park, opened in 2002.

Despite high visitor numbers, thecompany registered a loss last year,of €56 million, despite a rise in itsturnover of 5%, to €1.3 billion.

Police ‘sold offseized goods’SENIOR police officers in Lille,Roubaix and Tourcoing are underinvestigation for selling seized goodsto help pay the running expenses oftheir police stations.

The head of the DirectionDépartementale de la SécuritéPublique du Nord, DidierPerroudon, said since 2008 policehad been selling off items foundafter burglaries or raids and whichcould not be traced back to anowner. Judges had ordered the itemsto be destroyed.

The officers had used the moneyto buy lightbulbs, paint for an officewall or road maps. It was thoughtthere had been no personal gain.

Three superintendents and severalofficers have been investigated

Airport underinvestigationTHE European Commission hasopened an “in-depth inquiry” intopublic financing at Carcassonne-Salvaza airport, used by Ryanair.

It wants to find out if grants madeto bodies running the airport overthe last decade are legal with regardto competition rules or may havefavoured Ryanair. Similar enquiriesare under way in Marseilles and LaRochelle. The airport was centralgovernment property until 2007when it was transferred to theregional council. Véolia Transporttook over last May. Its infrastructurebenefited from €11 million fromthe region, department, town and

intercommunal body from 2000-2010. The commission says it“doubts these measures were in con-formity with directives relating tostate aid to the aviation sector.” It isalso looking into €8m in grants tothe CCI for the running of the facil-ity and grants to Véolia linked to thenumber of Ryanair services, as wellas commercial agreements madebetween Rynair and Véolia andreduced airport charges.

Cost of livingstill risingINFLATION remains high inFrance, according to figures fromofficial statistics body Insee. Averageconsumer prices were up 0.8% in

March over a month, and 2.3% overa year. Food is up 0.7% over themonth and 3.7% over the year.However, Insee noted price falls inpharmaceuticals and electrical itemslike IT equipment , cameras, TVs,hi-fis and telephones.

Call for Frenchfood labellingCONSUMERS have called for a newfood label to be created, to highlightproducts that are produced in France.

Nine out of 10 said there should bea collective Label France for foodproducts, but added they did notwant to pay more for the privilege asthey found food too expensive.

A poll, conducted for the NationalAssociation of Food Industries(Ania), found that two thirds of cus-tomers usually chose the cheapestproducts. However, they said foodproducers deserved a fair price forproducts. More than two thirds ofrespondents “trust French foodbusinesses to ensure product safety”.

Lifts ‘couldcause death’AROUND 15,000 French lifts couldkill or injure users, according to theFédération des Ascenseurs (FA).

Urgent upgrades – such as makingsure doors are safe – were supposedto have been made by the end of2010, but 8% of lifts are still illegal,the FA says. Nonetheless the FA saysaccidents are down (250 last year)and, since 2000, fatal ones have beencut by two-thirds. There have been11 deaths since 2006.

News from across France

More on these articles - andhundreds more - can be found at

www.connexionfrance.comJust place a word in keysearch and click!

UPDATED DAILY

Tour Louvreon NintendoVISITORS to the Louvrecan learn about the OldMasters with an audio-visual guide provided onNintendo’s 3DS handheldconsole. The device has replaced

the Paris museum’s elec-tronic tour devices andallows visitors to see wherethey are at any moment onthe map using the gadget’sdual screens. Through theNintendo visitors can lis-ten to interviews withcurators and lecturers andget descriptions of morethan 700 objects.

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Fuel sales fallas prices risePETROL prices have hit a newrecord, with SP95 averaging€1.6664 a litre across France.

As prices have continued to risesince the end of 2011, however,fuel sales tumbled 3.5% in the yearto March. Petrol prices in someParis stations have been above €2

for several months. Diesel, the most common fuel in

France with 80% of consumption,has also seen its average price riseafter a modest fall last week. Itnow costs €1.4362 a litre, up from€1.4347 last week, but still farshort of the mid-March record of€1.4584. Only the higher-octaneSP98 petrol saw a fall in price:from its record of €1.7121 lastweek to €1.7095

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News 7Languedoc Pages May 2012

Calls to ratify law to keepregional languages alive

EU investigatesCarcassonneairport funding

New research to findexclusion hotspotsA MAP is being drawn up to highlight areas where older peo-ple are most at risk of social exclusion, in order to then targetresources.

Recent research suggests that many senior citizens in ruralareas are vulnerable, but that this phenomenon can also occurin urban centres such as Montpellier, Nîmes and Perpignan,where the general population is younger and more transient.

Alain Cwick, president of Carsat Languedoc-Rousillon (anorganisation that represents retirees) said: “Some people areisolated, and no-one comes to see them – this must stop.”

Photo: mikelo/Flickr

THOUSANDS of Occitanand Catalan-speakers haveturned out at demonstrationsto defend their regional lan-guages, which they say arestill widely spoken acrossLanguedoc-Roussillon.

The marches, in Toulouseand Perpignan, aimed toshow the widespread supportfor the languages and todemand that the French gov-ernment ratify the EuropeanCharter on National andMinority Languages whichhas been stalled for a numberof years because it contradictsthe French constitution,which states that the officiallanguage should be onlyFrench.

President Sarkozy andNational Front leader MarineLe Pen have both said theywill not ratify the charter, butsocialist candidate FrançoisHollande, Green candidateEva Joly and centrist FrançoisBayou have all said they arein favour of ratification.

Signature of the charterwould not make minoritylanguages official, but wouldmake them officially recog-nised and would open theway towards financial grants

to help preserve this elementof France's cultural heritage.

Occitan is widely spokenall across the south of Francefrom the Atlantic coast toItaly, and even gave theLanguedoc-Roussillon itsname: the language of Oc (lalangue d’Oc).

Oc means yes in Occitan. Itis even spoken in parts ofSpain, Italy and Monaco.

It is no longer spoken as amonolingual mother tongue,and accurate figures are hardto come by as to how many

people speak it or to whatlevel of fluency. Estimatesstart at around 500,000 andgo as high as 12 million peo-ple if those speakers with justa smattering of phrases areincluded.

Occitan is a romance lan-guage with connections toCatalan, another of France’sregional languages, spokenmainly in the south ofLanguedoc-Roussillon.

Catalan, the national andofficial language of Andorra,is also spoken in parts of

France, Spain and Sardinia.Because of this, although it isa minority language inFrance, it is not endangeredin the same way as otherregional languages.

Occitan has a solid writtentradition with its own literarycannon including a huge cat-alogue of songs and playswritten in the language. It iswidely used at cultural eventsand is taught in many pri-mary schools. It is howevernot used for legal and admin-istrative settings.

Occitan is not recognised by the government as an official language of France to be saved

Photo: Mediatèca-O

ccitana/Flickr

An Irish pub with a touch of classIrish-owned Sky Sports Darts Competitions

Live Music Open Mic Nights Theme Nights Craic

5 rue Armagac, Carcassonne 04 68 10 96 44 www.theceltpub.com theceltpub@yahoo.co.uk OPEN EVERY DAY Mon-Fri 4pm - 2am Sat-Sun 2pm - 2am

THE European Commissionhas opened an “in-depthinquiry” into public financingat Carcassonne-Salvaza air-port, which is used byRyanair.

It wants to find out if grantsmade to bodies running theairport over the last decadeare legal with regard to com-petition rules or may haveoverly favoured Ryanair.

The airport was central gov-ernment property until 2007when it was transferred to theregional council, and was runby the CCI (chamber of com-merce) of Carcassonne untilVéolia Transport took overlast May.

Its infrastructure benefitedfrom €11 million from theregion, department, town andintercommunal body from2000-2010. The commissionsays it “doubts these measureswere in conformity withdirectives relating to state aidto the aviation sector.”

It is also looking into €8min grants to the CCI for therunning of the facility. Thecommission says it appears

likely the money wenttowards “ordinary expenses”and may therefore represent“help with running costs,given in violation of rules onstate aid”.

The Commission is alsoexamining grants to Véolialinked to the number ofRyanair services, as well ascommercial agreements madebetween Rynair and Véoliaand reduced airport charges,which may have amounted togiving an unfair advantage tothe firm. The bodies con-cerned will be invited toexplain their actions.

Ryanair’s head of communi-cation, Steven McNamara,said the European Courts inDecember 2008 dismissedsimilar commission claimsagainst Ryanair in relation toCharleroi airport nearBrussels, and the commissiondid not appeal.

He added: “Ryanair’sarrangements with all EU air-ports comply with competi-tion rules. This latest com-mission goose chase is hardto understand.”

8 What’s On Languedoc Pages May 2012

May

Hérault MontpellierFESTIVAL

May 4-13 The International Festival of VeryShorts Fifty films, each under three minutes in

length will be shown simultaneously in venues across France and 15 other countriesacross the world.All genres are represented:fiction, animation, documentary, experimentaland more. More than 1,500 short films were

submitted, and the organisers had a hardtime whittling them down to the final 50which, they say, were selected for “their originality, their boldness, their sense of

humour, their generosity, their bad taste ...and maybe even for their technical qualities.”

There will be a special event,“Women’sVoices”, dedicated to films made by women,

about women or women’s issues.Visit www.trescourt.com or email

contact@trescourt.com to get the exactprices, dates and venues of the screenings.

Hérault

Hérault

Montpellier

Montpellier

MUSICGard Nîmes MARKET

May 19 Mai l'art en balade, Parvis de la MaisonCarrée, 10.00-19.00 – This designer market

attracts many talented designers from differentfields, including painting, sculpture, ceramic,

jewellery, lighting, fashion design, and photography, selected both for the quality of

their work and their orginality.Visit www.marchedecreateurs.free.fr

or email firstage@yahoo.comor Call 06 03 16 43 25

May 27 Thriller Live, Zenith, 18.30 – The sensational dancing and distinctive sound of MichaelJackson’s greatest hits are brought to life in this energetic show.Thriller Live includes

eye-popping multi-media effects and dazzling choreography by the show’s award-winning director Gary Lloyd. It includes over two hours of non-stop hits in a tribute to the King of

Pop’s legendary live performances. Prices: €40 to €71.Visit www.thrillerlive.com and book on www.digitick.com, www.fnac.com,

www.francebillet.com or www.carrefour.com

May 19 La Nuit des Musées, 18.30 – Culture-vulturesshould be prepared to stay up late on Saturday May 19 thisyear. European Museum Night sees 3,000 museums inaround 40 European countries stage special programmes.Starting at sunset, the general public can enjoy free danceand music performances, concerts and conferences. InFrance, about 1,300 venues are involved, and many ofLanguedoc's museums are part of the movement.Admissionto Perpignan’s four main museums – Puig, Rigaud, Casa Pairaland Muséum – will be free of charge, with dancing, live musicand guided visits on the programme; Narbonne, Béziers,Sète, Montpellier and Carcassonne will also be taking part.nuitdesmusees.culture.fr

May 16-20 International Festival of Extreme Sports, Lez riverside– The world's top professionals get together for five wild daysof skateboarding, roller-blading, BMX, snowboarding, and wakeboard. Nearly a thousand amateurs also come to measure their skills against the champions, and many more justcome to watch.

The largest extreme sports event in Europe, more than220,000 visitors are expected at this free event.As well as thesports, there will be about 40 exhibitors. FREE.www.fise.fr

SPORT

What’s On 9Languedoc Pages May 2012

New

with Flybe. Corresponding ights :Belfast, Dublin, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Manchester, Newcastle, Jersey, Guernsey

The AirportSunnywww.beziers.aeroport.fr

8 European routes

Services at the Airport :Shuttle bus to Béziers and Agde/Cap d’Agde running on each departing and arrivingfl ight. Parking : 30 minutes free, 1 day of parking offered per week paid. Free Wifi Zone.

www.beziers.aeroport.fr

BUS

30 MN GRATUITE MIN. FREE

FREE ZONE

London

Gard Le-Grau-du-Roi FESTIVAL

May 17-20 Vogua Monstra is a traditional celebration of the oar and Mediterranean cultures that will take place in the town.There will be a Mediterranean market, a musical

festival, oars events, Provencal jousts and jousts from Languedoc.You will discover thedifferent oars crafts and Mediterranean traditions.

Call 04 66 73 45 45 or email animation@ville-legrauduroi.fr

Pyrénées-Orientales Maury CULTUREMay 27 Les Amorioles – This gourmet walk with six

gastronomic stages, will take you all around the village of Maury.At each stage there will be a dish, a tasting of several wines andyou will have the opportunity to meet with the producers andthe winemakers.The menu will be prepared by Pascal Borrell,

the chef of the Michelin-starred Maison du Terroir.The walk willstart at the ruined Cathar castle of Quéribus.

Prices: €39 for adults and €10 for under 10s. Call 04 68 50 08 54

or email amoriolesmaury@gmail.com

to book.

May 12-13 Balade enterre d'Artistes – Theartists of Ille-sur-Tetopen the doors oftheir workshops toshare their talent andskills with the public.These artists arepainters, sculptors,wrought-iron craftsmen,photographers,potters and ceramists.This event will takeplace the wholeweek-end in everytown of the PyrenéesOrientales. Just comealong! Call 04 68 08 29 33or visit www.cg66.fr

Pyrénées-Orientales Ille-sur-Tet ART

May 17-20 Destination Mer, Canet Port, 9.00-noon, 14.00-18.00 – This four-day event hosted

by Canet Kite Club gives you the chance to trykite-surfing and wake-boarding free and safely

with the experts, or compete for big cash prizes.In the evenings there will be sea shanties with

Pavillon Noir, musical parades with a Caribbean steeldrum band, and the Fiesta Latina Show, followed by

fireworks. On Sunday there will be a BrazilianBatucada samba band.Call 04 68 86 72 00

or email animation@ot-canet.fr

Pyrénées-OrientalesCanet-en-Roussillon

SPORT

At the time of going to pressThe Languedoc Pages team checked, to the best of its ability, that thedetails of events listed here are correct. However, we recommend that you check with

organisers before setting out to see there have not been any last minute changes to programmes.

May 27 Fête de la transhumance en Aubrac– This event celebrates the moving of cattle from the valleys to the Aubracplateau, where they will spend the summer among the lush green pastures.Throughout the day, at the Col deBonnecombe, there will be folklore eventsand Occitan songs, sales of regional products such as cheese, olives and fruit,and a chance to try the local version ofsausage and mash, aligot-saucisse.Call 04 66 32 39 53 or email contact@aubrac-sud-lozere.com

LozèreCol de Bonnecombe FESTIVAL

10 What’s On Languedoc Pages May 2012

GGeettGGeettIInnvvoollvveedd!!IInnvvoollvveedd!!

Association Franco-Anglaise duLanguedoc-Roussillon (AFAL)The AFAL is an Anglo/French associa-tion that aims to encourage culturalexchange between English-speakingpeople integrating into the French wayof life, and French people who want tomeet British residents and practisetheir English.

The objective is to bring Englishspeakers together with French speak-ers in a social environment. AFAL cur-rently has about 100 members, includ-ing French, British, Dutch, Irish,Belgian and German representatives.

The association was founded in 2002by a French woman, Pascale Bernet,when she moved into this area withher family.

They hold conversation groups inNarbonne each Wednesday evening.

The groups are designed to mix bothFrench and English languages in aninformal and social atmosphere.Afterwards, wine and snacks areserved.

The association also organises amonthly pétanque meeting (next datesare May 10, June 14 and July 12), oftenwith lunch afterwards, and there aregroup walks, sometimes followed by apicnic. Cycle-rides, ten-pin bowling,visits to local villages, restaurantmeals, canal cruises and trips to localhistoric sites are just some of the otheractivities. It costs €12 to join the asso-ciation, plus €15 to take part in theconversation groups (but this isoptional). For more information seewww.afal.name or contact the secre-tary, Neil Todd at todd.neil@orange.fror on 04 67 37 99 52.

Promote your club or community event - email news@connexionfrance.com

noticeboardLanguage is no barrier togroup’s cultural exchange

What’s On 11Languedoc Pages May 2012

What’s On in the capital

Until June 17 – Since Australianphotographer Helmut Newton’sdeath in 2004, there has been noretrospective of his work in France,even though he did much of hiswork here, particularly for theFrench edition of Vogue.

A new exhibition at the beautifulGrand Palais aims to fix that – andshow that Newton was much morethan just a fashion photographer.

Bringing together more than 200of his provocative photographs,mostly original or vintage printsmade under Newton’s supervision,the exhibition also includes pressrecords, and a film made by his wife,June. Open daily, 10.00-22.00, exceptTuesdays and May 1. Open late onMay 19 for the Nuit des Musées.Grand Palais, Metro Champs-ElyséesClémenceau (1, 13) €11,concessions €8.www.rmngp.fr

Provocative photosexplore fashion,money and power

May 9-15 – Less than halfan hour on the train from

the centre of Paris, Versailles will hostmore than a dozen concerts, in a widerange of venues from restaurants to thetown’s main market square, featuringestablished and up-and-coming Frenchjazz, soul and choral performers.Some concerts are free, others rangefrom €13 to €31.www.versaillesjazzfestival.eu

May 22 to June 10 – Thebest tennis players in theworld will compete throughseven gruelling rounds for theFrench Open title over a fort-night, and almost half a millionfans are expected to flock toRoland Garros stadium on theedge of the Bois de Boulogneto cheer them along. Spanishstar Rafael Nadal (pictured)was last year’s champion inthe men’s tournament, and NaLi fromChinapickedup thewomen’ssinglestrophy.

Ticketsrangefrom€17 to€169depending on your choice ofdays and courts. MetroMichel-Ange Auteuil orMichel-Ange Molitor (line 9),or Porte d’Auteuil (10).rolandgarros.fft-tickets.com

May 11-14 – The edgy,working class eastern Paris

district of Belleville (pictured) hosts itsannual artists’ open house event, offer-ing the chance of a glimpse into the livesand work of local artists. More than 200artists work in the free event, daily from14.00 to 21.00, with studio tours, discus-sions and other activities. All mediumsare represented, including painting,sculpture, street art, photography andvideo for the expected 50,000 visitors.www.ateliers-artistes-belleville.org

Until July 1 – The Muséed’Orsay hosts the first

major French retrospective of Edgar Degas’work in almost a quarter of a century. Organisedin collaboration with the Boston Museum of FineArts, it focuses on the artist’s depictions of nudemodels throughout the course of his long career.It features several works that rarely see the lightof day because of preservation issues. Open daily,9.30-18.00, late night on Thursdays, closedMondays and May 1. Metro Musée d’Orsay (RERC) or Solférino (12). €9, concessions €6.50.www.musee-orsay.fr

Until June 3 – The Foire duTrône is a massive late spring fun-fair on the edge of the Bois deVincennes, with rides galore,including a giant ferris wheel andall the usual stalls. A flat-ratepass (€29.99) buys access to the10 big rides and other discounts.Open daily from 12.00 tomidnight (1.00 on Saturdays).Metro Liberté (line 8) or 87 busfrom Gare de Lyon.

foiredutrone.com

Fly highat funfairFAMILY

EXHIBITION

World tennisgreats playFrench OpenSPORT

Until May 27 – Sesame Street meets South Park in this musical comedy,which sees human actors performing and singing alongside puppets. The

French interpretation is based on the phenomenally successful Broadway and West End shows andruns until the end of this month.Théâtre Bobino, Rue de la Gaîté (14e). Metro Gaîté (13) or Edgar-Quinet (6).€27 to €80. www.avenueq.fr

French take on top Broadway puppet showTHEATRE

Rare exposure for Degas nude worksCULTURE

Suburban swing atVersailles jazz festMUSIC

Art events openedART

Newton’s iconic work for French titleNova and the British Vogue (right)

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12 Golf Languedoc Pag

WITH its varied landscape and topog-raphy, France is ideal golfing countryand today there are more than550 golf courses which cater foreveryone from beginners toadvanced.

Such a variety means, howev-er, that you needto choose yourcoursecare-fullyto get the bestof a day’s golf, asthe terrain can varywidely. By the sea inNormandy there arelinks courses (which arequite exposed) and inlandin the Dordogne, for example,you can find courses withwooded areas and more protectionfrom the wind.

One of the most vital considera-tions for many golfers in France isthe 19th hole. Indeed, formerFrench professional golf championDaniel Lefèvre reckons it is one ofthe most important points to con-sider when trying a new course orwhen going on holiday.

“It is always agreeable to try outand enjoy the restaurant and barfacilities in the clubhouse. If youare on holiday it also gives youthe chance to try some local spe-cialities,” he says. “I also recom-mend looking at the culture andhistory of a course. It can be anopportunity for golfers and theirfamilies to discover a new area.”

Some golf courses are famousfor their food. An example is theChâteau des Vigiers nearBergerac in the Dordogne.There is a formal restaurant, abrasserie and a club bar whichalso serves snacks. The château dates

Glorious golf courses that wWith hundreds of golfcourses in France of allshapes, sizes and for allabilities, how do youknow where to start?RAY CLANCY sharessome tips on picking theright course, and theright gear toaccompany yourgolfing trip

Golf gear fashion: the new blackWHEN it comes to fashion on the golf course, black is the colour for 2012 – not just graphite shafts anddriver crowns but, increasingly, clubfaces to match. Of course, black, gunmetal and other dusky finishes arenot new, but what started out with a few anti-glare wedges has turned into a fully fledged fashion statementavailable as standard this season. Most bigger clubs have their own shops with the very latest gear.

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GOLF AT DOMAINE DE FALGOS DISCOVER AN EXCEPTIONAL VENUE

At 1,100 metres altitude, near the Spanish border in the heart of the Vallespir at St. Laurent de Cerdans.25-bedroom traditional three-star hotel.

Restaurant with veranda and terrace with panoramic view.

7 holiday apartments in the 18th C. farmhouse.

Golf course of 5,177 metres, par 70, in a breathtaking setting.

Club house with all amenities.

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back to 1597 and it offers gourmet golf packageswith spa facilities. The golf course is suitable forbeginners and advanced players. In the busysummer months, booking in advance is essentialand it is worth checking to see if certain days ofthe week are members only.

Mr Lefèvre also recommends choosing acourse according to your style of play. He says:“There is no point in picking a wooded courseif you don’t like trees around the fairways andlikewise a links course can be too flat andwindy for some players.”

He adds that it is also worth considering thedistance to get to the golf course and the difficul-ty level. “For beginners I recommend a goodnine-hole course or one of the easier 18-holecourses without lots of trees and water. The aimshould be to enjoy your day,” he explains.

For example, Saint Laurent in Brittany, whichhas hosted both the French professional champi-onship and the National Open, has fairways thatweave through an oak and pine forest, but thetrees are well spaced and offer protection fromthe wind. It has been named as one of thenation’s top 40 courses and is suited to players ofall standards. There is a nine-hole course as well.

Both Normandy and Brittany have somespectacular courses and some much sought-after clubhouses. Golf d’Omaha Beach is on theshore close to one of the famous D-Day land-ing beaches of the Second World War. It ispopular with Americans, as is Cicé-Blossac inBrittany where the greens and tees are built

upon sand so are very fast draining and there-fore playable throughout the year.

One of the most chic is the Golf Barrière deDeauville, while Champ de Bataille is regardedas one of Normandy’s best. For beautiful viewsit is hard not to beat Golf d’Etretat on theNorth coast of Normandy, which looks overthe famous cliffs.

A lot of golf courses in France are more envi-ronmentally friendly in terms of using recycledwater for the greens but also in terms of pro-tecting local flora and fauna. Courses havebeen sympathetically developed to make themost of the spectacular natural surroundingsand you are just as likely to see an ancientstanding stone on the golf course as off it.

This beautiful course on the out-skirts of Biarritz in the Basque coun-

try provides stunning views – but ifyou are a first-timer and want some-

thing less exposed and more easy-going, try an inland course in a

wooded area which will offer moreprotection from the elements

“For beginners I recommend agood nine-hole course or oneof the easier 18-hole courseswithout lots of trees andwater. The aim should be toenjoy your dayDaniel LefèvreFrench professional golf champion

THE MOST novel introduction in equipment,according to Golf Today, Europe’s leadingonline golf resource, is the Adams Speedline9064LS where the shaft length can be varied bysliding different-sized metal spacers into thehosel section and compensating for the changein swing weight by switching a colour-coded solescrew. It claims to give an ideal trade-off betweenthe speed advantages of a longer shaft and the controlbenefits of a shorter one.

NEW technology is fast-moving in the golf world and GPS technology in partic-ular has reached a new level for 2012. New gadgets give detailed green mappingfeatures offering distance to mid-green ridges and they come pre-programmed withtens of thousands of courses, with all data revisions and software upgrades down-loadable free of charge.

OTHER glamorous gadg-ets include the InsightiTrainer, a box that clipsonto the shaft of your cluband delivers instant analysison swing shape and clubface angle as well as variousdynamic data. Then to get intrim there is golf ’s answer tothe treadmill, a pulley basedhome exercise unit fordeveloping swing strength.

Tech tips: best golf gadgets

Main photo: Xiongm

ao - Fotolia.com.Side photo: Alexander R

aths - Fotolia.com

French golf isso muchmore relaxed

Nick and Carol Allbeury with dog Hugo

FRENCH golf clubs are unstuffy comparedto UK ones, says one expat golfer.

Nicholas Allbeury, president of his localclub, is “enjoying the best golf of [his] life”.

He likes the lack of dress codes. “InEngland you must wear collared shirts andhave socks pulled up to your knees andshorts down to your knees. If not, peoplerush across the fairway to berate you. InFrance you can virtually wear anything. Icame here to relax and have quality of life.The French understand it’s a game.”

There are no segregated tee times (such asmen-only from 8.00-11.00) and in competi-tions men, women and juniors play to-gether. “In the UK men play together, herethere’s égalité. A woman or a junior tee off abit closer to the green, to compensate forthe strength difference, that’s all. We have achat on the fairways and get to know eachother well. There are no cliques of bettergolfers or old pals and no culture of four-hour rounds. In the UK if you play slowly,as older people often do, people shout to‘get a move on’. Here it doesn’t matter.”

Woman have handicaps up to 56 and men36, as opposed to 36 and 24 in the UK,allowing players of lesser ability to charttheir progress rather than being “stuck”.

Annual fees are cheaper - €395 for a cou-ple, all-inclusive. In the UK a single mem-ber usually pays at least twice as much.

Pitch and putt also thrives, said Mr All-beury - a simple, “fun”, golf which, at hisclub (Mauriac Golf Club, Cantal) is playedon the standard course, but starting nearerthe green. It improves the short game andputting and is also ideal for the elderly.

He added: “There may be some differ-ences at some of the posher Paris clubs orchampionship courses, but I can speak formy experience in rural French clubs.”

14 Mind Matters Languedoc Pages May 2012

Sponsored by

Easy Intermediate DifficultPuzzles by websudoku.com

The France quiz

French-themed crossword by John Foley

What’s in a word? by Paul Masters

HAVE you ever noticed howsome words simply do nottranslate? It is especially com-mon with words which do nothave any exact equivalent in theother language. When this hap-pens, the foreign word is oftensimply absorbed, like sushi orbungalow, which have becomepart of standard English.

Something similar has hap-pened with charcuterie – thereis not an obvious translation.Some dictionaries suggest “porkbutcher”, or even delicatessen, aword imported from the German.But these hardly do the word justice, andto really understand what the word charcu-terie means we have to dig a little bit into itshistory.

Its roots are to be found in the old Frenchchair cuite, which translates as “cooked meat”,and this points to the first distinction betweenthe charcutier and the boucher, who, of course,sells raw meat. It is the skill and artistry of thecharcutier which produces the astonishingrange of cooked, salted and dried meats,

mostly derived from pork, andwhich include such delicacies as

pâté, rillette, and sausages ofevery type imaginable.

This whole trade was basedupon the requirements offood hygiene, in the days long

before the invention of com-mercial refrigeration, since

pork is a meat which spoils veryquickly after slaughter.

To avoid cross-contamination betweenthe slaughterhouses, butcheries, charcuteriesand fisheries, they were all physically sepa-rated in France during the Middle Ages, in amove which the charcutiers resisted fiercelyat the time, since they lost control of theslaughter and supply of their own raw mate-rials. But in the long term, this added com-petition led them to fight for survival, andthe vigour of the present market is in nosmall measure the result of their success.

charcuterie

Across

1. Acrobat Jules _______ who popularised theone-piece costume now named after him (7)4. Troubled president of Syria (5)7. Woollen cloth with a tartan or crisscross pat-tern (5)9. Relating to the nose (5)10. Jacques ____, comic actor and MonsieurHulot film director (4)11. British feature film of 1966 based on the storyof Joy and George Adamson and an orphanedlion cub named Elsa (4,4)13. Unfinished but classic F. Scott Fitzgeraldnovel, The Last ______ (6)14. Drink, often mildly alcoholic, taken after astronger one (6)17. Satirical, earthy writer best known for La Viede Gargantua et Pantagruel (8)19. Highest adult male voice (4)21. According to George Bernard Shaw, “_____ isa wonderful thing. What a crime to waste it onchildren” (5)22. Disrespectful British nickname for Napoleon(5)23. Bird of prey’s nest – typically in a high inac-cessible place (5)24. Slice of pain or jambon (7)

Down

1. Best-selling novella written and illustrated byAntoine de Saint-Exupéry (2,5,6)2. Department in Languedoc-Roussillon whosecapital is Carcassonne (4)3. Revolutionary leader overthrown byRobespierre and guillotined (6)4. Potent alcoholic spirit once known as la féeverte (8)5. Power produced by the conversion of sunlightinto electricity (5)6. Early photographic process named after itsFrench inventor (13)8. Room immediately below a building’s roof (5)12. City in the Haute-Garonne and birthplace of1 across (8)15. Pièce in a house for receiving and entertain-ing guests (5)16. In a brasserie, house wine is often served inthis (6)18. Born in the Lot department, this Charlesbecame a Hollywood star in the 1930s and 40s (5)20. Seventies pop group whose breakthroughsong begins with the words “My my, at WaterlooNapoleon did surrender” (4)

1 A MAN in Pérols,Languedoc, is suingfast-food giant KFCafter finding whatitem in his Towerchicken burger?

2 HOW many can-didates were there inthe first round of theFrench presidentialelections?

3 WHAT French vegetable has been atthe centre of a price fixing scandal?

4 WHICH well-knownFrench actor has agreedto play DominiqueStrauss-Kahn in a movie– but only because hedoes not like him?

5 WHICH Frenchtheme park has been named the best inthe world by the American ThemedEntertainment Association?

6 SCIENTISTS are to build theworld’s biggest optical telescope in

which French department?

7 THE DOG star of whichFrench film has been given a spe-cial invite to the White House for a

dinner with President Obama?

8 ACCORDING to a recent surveyby recruitment firm Apec, which is the

best region in France to live in?

9 WHAT French product are farmers inthe Hérault feeding their cows in a

bid to make them happier, andtheir meat

more of adelica-cy?

CROSSWORD ANSWERS. Across: 1 Léotard; 4 Assad; 7 plaid; 9 nasal; 10 Tati; 11 Born Free; 13 Tycoon; 14 chaser; 17 Rabelais; 19 alto; 21 youth; 22 Boney; 23 eyrie; 24 trancheDown: 1 Le Petit Prince; 2 Aude; 3 Danton; 4 absinthe; 5 solar; 6 daguerréotype; 8 attic; 12 Toulouse; 15 salon; 16 pichet; 18 Boyer; 22 AbbaFRANCEQUIZ ANSWERS. 1.A screw. 2. Ten. 3. Chicory. 4. Gérard Dépardieu. 5.Puy du Fou, Vendée.6. Alpes-de-Haute-Provence. 7. The Artist.8.Rhône-Alpes. 9. A litre of wine a day.

Sudoku

Food/Pets 15Languedoc Pages May 2012

Helpful tips to ward off harmful ticks

THE PET care industry in France isworth an eye-watering €125m eachyear. Much of this is spent duringthe spring and summer seasons,when the annual pet budget is takenup with the preventative treatmentof fleas and ticks.

Ticks (tiques) are one of the majorhazards for pet owners who live inthe French countryside or close torural areas. They are small parasitesthat feed off other animals’ blood.Disease can be transmitted throughthe blood from the bite of an infectedtick – therefore it is prudent to usepreventive treatment against them.

The onset of tick fever can berapid and often prove fatal for yourpet. Symptoms include fever, bloodin the urine, weight loss, lethargy

and loss of appetite. Call your vetimmediately if you suspect your pethas contracted this disease.

Get into the habit of checkingyourself and your pets thoroughlyfor ticks when you get home from awalk. If you find a tick on yourselfor your animal, remove it with aspecially designed tick remover. Youcan normally buy these devices atthe pharmacy or the vets. Sold as atwin pack, they typically cost lessthan €5.

If you do not have a tick remover,use sterilised tweezers and gently

remove the tick by the head. Bewarned: try not to crush the body orleave any parts embedded withinyour animal’s skin as it is these areasthat can carry the disease. Afterremoval, clean the area with an alco-hol solution.

There are various preventativetreatments on the market for sale insupermarkets and online, and pricesvary enormously. While it is tempt-ing to buy the cheapest products, itis sensible to discuss with your vet

the most appropriate treatment foryour pet, according to where youlive and local outbreaks of disease.

Direct application products suchas Frontline and Advantix need tobe used every month. Tick and fleacollars are another option, but maynot be appropriate for use in con-junction with certain other treat-ments, so consult your vet first.Check your pet’s weight so youknow to use the exact strength ofdrugs too.

Another nuisance comes fromfleas (puces). There are almost 2,000species of them, and unfortunatelyone of the biggest disadvantages inhaving pets is the fact that they arean ideal breeding ground for them.

If you are not vigilant, within days,you could be host to a full-blownflea infestation. If your pet isscratching or you notice flea biteson your arms and legs after being incontact with your animal then youneed to treat them immediately.

You can get rid of fleas temporarilywith a flea comb – drown the fleascaptured within the comb by ensur-ing you have an adjacent bowl of hotsoapy water. Unfortunately, combingout fleas is a temporary measure.The advice on preventative productsfor ticks is also relevant for fleas.

If your infected pet is in contactwith your home furnishings you willneed to treat these too.Conventional products are availablefrom homeware (bricolage) stores.However, once a flea infestation inyour home is under control, it mighttake a couple more treatments to killthe remaining fleas and those thatgo on to hatch.

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ON THE high plateau, belowMont Ventoux, the Romansleft a legacy every bit as inter-esting as their architecture –spelt grains that supplied theflour thought to have been theoriginal ingredient of maca-roni.

The Romans knew that onthin, stony soils in a savage cli-mate a variety of wheat calledtriticum spelta flourishes farbetter than other grains, andthe first written referencedates back to 301AD.

Many years ago, we had harecivet accompanied by what Ithought was brown rice. Thegrains were deliciously nuttyand chewy, a perfect foil forthe rich meat. Madameexplained it was épeautre, atraditional grain grown on theplateau and used in Provençalcooking centuries before ricewas grown in the Camargue.

In another restaurant, we

ate soft brown bread with anutty flavour and texturequite unlike any I had tastedin France. Chef told us thathe had made it with épeautreflour. Now that I knew whatto look for, épeautre grainsand flour popped up all overthe place: supermarkets, mar-kets and specialist épiceries.

I still assumed it was exclu-sively Provençal. But a coupleof years later, in the UK, thelink was made. I was sent asample of flour, producedfrom an ancient grain calledspelt. As chance would have it,I had that morning also dis-covered an English referenceto épeautre. Over the years,the rise in popularity of organ-ic (bio) and whole foods hasseen the availability ofspelt/épeautre grain and flourin many health-food shopsand supermarkets throughoutFrance and the UK.

Rich nuttygrains thatmake alovely loaf

After winning the first BBCMasterChef in 1990, JOANBUNTING was soon writing a foodcolumn and doing local radio forthe BBC. Now she has retired andmoved permanently to her homein France, but she is still keen totell readers about good food

Mix the flour with the saltand yeast, then stir in the oil.

Add water to make a firm,but not too stiff dough.

Turn onto a floured surfaceand knead until the dough issmooth and elastic.

Return to an oiled bowl,cover and leave in a warmplace to double in size.

Knead briefly again then

divide into two pieces andform into cigar shapes or put itinto a loaf tin.

Either slash the top or sprin-kle with some crushed grains.

Cover again and leave toprove and set the oven to220°C

When doubled in size, bakethe loaves in the pre-heatedoven until they sound hollowwhen tapped on the base.

This bread keeps well for 2-3 days and is delicious with cheeseor toasted. It is suitable for some wheat-intolerant people

Quick spelt bread

Photo: Joan Bunting

METHODINGREDIENTS

CUT OUT & KEEP!

750g épeautre flour

1 packet easy blendyeast (lévure deboulanger – found inthe same section asflour etc in smallsachets)

2 tbsp olive oil

1 tbsp salt

500ml warm water

You should discuss the most appropriate form of treatment with a vet

Photo: CallallooFred - Fotolia.com

WHICH WINESHOULD I DRINKWITH THIS?

The nuttytaste ofépeautre goeswell withred wines.Or, if youare enjoy-ing it withcheese, tryaSauternes(white)

16 Directory Languedoc Pages May 2012

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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: paulhockings57@gmail.com

Siret: 51271440300015

Pete's RoofingCovering the Gard

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INTERNATIONAL RENOVATION LANGUEDOC

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Artisan Builder - All Renovation WorksPool Installation/Security - Aude

Tel: 06 37 64 40 58Email: colm.mcgowran@wanadoo.fr

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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 64gregoryjacquie@googlemail.com

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

04 68 20 04 31info@villasophie.euwww.villasophie.eu

ARCHITECTE SUDBi-lingual architect SW France:

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

Tel: 05 63 56 39 11 Email: info@architectesud.frWeb: www.architectesud.fr

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PETER JOHNSON SARLBusiness & Financial Services

French taxation specialists (25 years experience)

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

Email: peterjohnson@wanadoo.frSiret 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 30John4pawsbeziers@aol.com

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Le Palais des ChatsExclusive hotel for cats

35 minutes from PerpignanCollection/delivery available

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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

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Directory 17Languedoc Pages May 2012

ALPACA WOOLand KNITWEAR

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Ad No. 19225

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Digi TV SolutionsInstallation of UK and French TV,

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Languedoc Pages May 201218 DIY

DIY tips

Lack of maintenance can turn pools green very quickly

Photo:Petr Kurgan - Fotolia.com

MANY things can cause algae to form in swimming pools.Lack of maintenance and a hot spell are enough to turn thewater from blue to green in the space of a few days. Followthese steps and soon the green gunge will be gone.

The first thing to do is to get into the pool and brush off asmuch of the algae as possible. Next check the pH levels –they should be between 7.2 and 7.6. High pH levels affecthow well the chlorine works so it is important to get the bal-ance right.

Once you have assured the levels are correct, turn on thepool filter and add a chlorine based shock treatment that canbe bought from DIY stores. Follow the instructions on thebox for dosage. You should leave the pool filter running 24hours a day.

If after 12 to 24 hours there does not seem to be muchimprovement, add a second dose of shock treatment andrepeat as many times as needed until all the algae have died(they should be white or greyish in colour when dead).

Be careful when using the shock treatment. Always put thewater in the recipient first and add the chemicals afterwards,never do it the other way round.

The next job is to clean all the dead algae out of the pool.Start by vacuuming the pool. Try not to let too much of thealgae get trapped inside the filter. Thoroughly clean the poolfilter to ensure no algae has lodged itself inside. Finish bytesting the chemical levels in the pool. To keep the algaeaway it is advisable to add an anti algae pool chemical oncea week.General maintenance of swimming poolsTo maintain a clean swimming pool all year round it is nec-essary to pay careful attention to the chlorine levels. Theyshould never fall below 1.0ppm. Chlorine kills both algaeand harmful bacteria.

Daily: If the pool is used intensively in summer then it isgood to check pH levels every day. To raise the pH levels,add sodium carbonate. To lower the pH levels add sodiumbisulphate taking care to dose according to the recommen-dations on the box.

Once a week: Skim out any dead leaves or debris that mayhave fallen in. If not using an automatic pool sweep, vacuumthe pool weekly to remove any debris that has settled on thebottom. Brush the sides and bottom of the pool. Clean dirtmarks from around the water line especially if sun tan lotionis being used. To do this,use a chlorine-compatibletile and liner cleaner.

Once a fortnight: Thelonger the pool water isfiltered the cleaner thewater is, so try to keep thefilter running continu-ously when people areusing the pool. It isimportant to clean out thefilter at least once a fort-night.

Once a month: Checkalkalinity and calciumhardness.

Taking care ofswimming pools

INFORMATION YOU CAN TRUST ON LIFE IN FRANCE

2012 Income Tax Helpguide

The 2012 helpguide is now on sale for €9.50 for adownloadable or printed version (printed version does not include p&p)

Shows how to declare your income such as pensions, rent, ISAs, shares, savings and interestwith a visual guide to the French tax forms

Explains how France's tax system works and howyour income is assessed and charged

Published April 1, 2012, to include the latestinformation

Choose between PDF digital edition or papercopy posted to your French homeONLY

€9.50PLUS P&P

Remember: Everyone permanently resident in France must make a declaration

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or 0844 256 9881 from UK (4p/min) to pay by credit card

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Check alkalinity monthly

Home and Legal 19Languedoc Pages May 2012

LegalNotesAnswered by

WE HAVE been told chambres d’hôtes must have completely stainless steel kitchens. Is that true? A.C.Chambres d’hôtes have to be declared to the mairie and indoing so you agree yours meets basic hygiene standards.You do not, however, need stainless steel work surfaces(which are more typical of professional restaurants thanhomes). Gîtes de France – which has an accreditationscheme for chambres d’hôtes – highly recommends, but doesnot insist on, stainless steel (or melamine) surfaces for easeof cleaning (and says wood should be avoided) in the caseof those running tables d’hôtes. This is where you offerlunch and/or dinner as well as B&B.

A spokesman said all tables d’hôtes are meant to bedeclared to the departmental veterinary service, whichchecks hygiene. These vary in how strict they are, but hewas not aware of any who insist on stainless steel. Checksusually relate to matters like effective cold storage, cleanworktops and proper disposal of waste, he said.

Can dogs be used to drive out foxes and badgers?IS IT legal to dig out foxes and badgers and use terriersto kill them? We live in a zone where there is supposed-ly no hunting, but we have heard and seen this in thewoods. If this is illegal who should we contact? J.W.Madline Reynaud, director ofwild animal charity Aspas, saidthis practice, called déterrage, islegal, though Aspas campaignsagainst it. You imply, however, that you

believe the area where it wastaking place may have a hunt-ing ban – it may, for example,be designated a réserve de chas-se, which, contrary to ap-pearances, means hunting isnot allowed in it. You couldcheck this with the prefectureor mairie. Should the activity beillegal you should report it to the Office Nationale de laChasse et de la Faune Sauvage, who act as a kind of “hunt-ing police”, Ms Reynaud said.

Stainless steel kitchens are usually found in restaurants

Cleaning up onkitchen hygiene

Photo:© atm

20

03

- Fotolia.com

WHAT easier way to welcome springinto your home than with flowers? Thismonth you are spoilt for choice. Gardenroses have started coming, as have a fewof the long tulips, aquilegia, lilacs andbluebells.

While blues and greens give a room asense of calm and tranquillity, vibrantreds and orange are more dynamic, andpinks and lavenders set a romanticscene. Current trends in flower-arrang-ing include monobotanic (all one type offlower) and monochromatic (all onecolour). For a contemporary look, putthe flowers in groups of uneven numbersinstead of dotting them around. But foran English country garden look, mix lotsof textures and foliage.

When arranging, the largest and dark-est flowers tend to be placed near thebase of the arrangement, whereas small-er and lighter ones are put towards theedges. Put the more open flowers at thebase – do not stick them at the top of thebunch as it looks unnatural.

Try experimenting with differentshapes, textures and colours to bring outcertain flowers – placing all your flowersfacing forwards can look a bit dull. Littlearrangements of just one flower havetheir place, too, and can be striking.Lilies of the valley bunched in apéritifglasses look lovely when placed three ina row in separate glasses, for example.

On a practical note, when choosingflowers, ask your florist for the freshestvarieties in stock and pick ones thatshow a bit of colour. If you are bringing

any of your own flowers in, cut them inthe morning before 8.00 or late at night.When the flowers are cut during the dayand have had the sun on them then it istoo late and they just do not last as well.

Make sure that the vases are spotlessand remove leaves that will be under thewater in the vase as they will rot. I adviseleaving the flowers in a bucket withwater in a cool place before doing any-thing with them for a couple of hours.

Cut the stems at an angle, as it givesthem a greater surface area from whichto drink. To keep your flowers for aslong as possible, change the water everyfew days, and make sure that thearrangement is not placed in a roomwhere it is getting a lot of heat ordraught, as the flowers will wilt quickly.

When it comes to where to place your

flowers, the size of the arrangementshould fit the size of the area – smallflowers on a huge table will get lost.However, if you plan on putting thearrangement on the dining room table,do not have it so high that guests can'tspeak to those across from them.

There are lots of different, sometimesunusual, ways of presenting them. I rec-ommend going to brocantes to find items– old bottles, little tea glasses, oldcafetières, pottery – you do not have tobuy a glass vase for it. Things you havealready got can also work. The flowers justhave to be cut proportionally to the jar.

Claire Chalkley runs Les CouronnesSauvages florists in Brittany(www.lescouronnessauvages.com).Interview by Rebecca Lawn

Darling buds of May

“The size of thearrangement should fitthe size of the area –small flowers on a hugetable will get lost

Spring is the perfect time ofyear to experiment withsome flower-arranging.Expert CLAIRE CHALKLEYshares some recommendedtips and techniques

Head to a local brocante for unusual presentation ideas Keeping it simple: a monobotanic arrangement of tulips

Photo: Sander - Fotolia.com

Phot

o: B

rad

Pict

- Fo

tolia

.com

Red and orange flowers can give a dynamic, vibrant look to an arrangement

Photo: mangostock - Fotolia.com

Photo:© N

atalia D. - Fotolia.com

20 Property Languedoc Pages May 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 sales@connexionfrance.com

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

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 sales@connexionfrance.com

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

REF: 10765-V209000E

€€209,000

ENERGY RATING = D

HéraultGreat opportunity to own thisdetached villa offering 110 m² ofliving space including a separatestudio. The property has 3 bed-rooms and terraces withpanoramic views.

REF: 10765-C136400E

€€125,000

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: 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: 10765-CR143000EB

€€137,500

ENERGY RATING = E

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

REF: 10765-SL131000E

€€107,000

ENERGY RATING = E

Béziers, HéraultRenovated former village pres-bytery, with 4 bedrooms and anattic that could be converted.Nicely located in the heart of thevillage and with lots of originalelements.

REF: 10765-PP186000E

€€186,000

ENERGY RATING = D

HéraultCharming, fully-renovated andfurnished village house with95m² of living space including 2bedrooms and 2 bathrooms,with a sunny terrace. Well locat-ed in the a very quiet alley.

REF: 10765-LI236500E

€€198,000

ENERGY RATING = C

HéraultHome dating from around 1900,sunny and airy, including 4 bed-rooms, plus 3 outbuildings (2 ofwhich are ideal for creating 1independent apartment) andaround 170m² of outside space.

REF: 10765-BB220000E

€€220,000

ENERGY RATING = G

HéraultIn a magical location, a true stepback in time, beautiful renovatedmedieval house ideal for year-round or holiday living, includ-ing 3 bedrooms, terrace andcourtyard.

REF: 10765-CC274000E

€€274,000

ENERGY RATING = C

HéraultPretty villa including 4 bed-rooms, on an easily-maintainedplot with an above-ground pooland garage. Located in a quietand mature residential area, nearthe Canal du Midi.

REF: MLP262

€€295,000

ENERGY RATING = D

Béziers, HéraultThe house is well-maintainedand in a good condition.Entrance giving access to the liv-ing room, and the kitchen withFrench doors to the covered ter-race. 4 bedrooms, bathroom.

REF: 2669

€€320,000

ENERGY RATING = D

Belpech, AudeA wonderful renovation for thisdelightful house. Lots of spaceinside, with 5 bedrooms andspare room in the attic, a barn,garage and a swimming pool.Laundry room and an office.

REF: 1148

€€337,000

ENERGY RATING = C

Near Carcassonne, AudeThis very well-presented 4 bed-roomed villa is situated on theedge of a Minervois. Fully-equipped kitchen, large light liv-ing room. Enclosed garden withmature trees. Swimming pool.

REF: 10765-ALU415000E

€€349,000

ENERGY RATING = D

Near Béziers, HéraultVilla of traditional constructionwith living space including 4bedrooms and 3 bathrooms, plusa flat, garage, pool and land-scaped grounds with openviews. In a quiet area.

REF: 10765-NNP374000E

€€363,000

ENERGY RATING = D

Near Pézenas, HéraultHigh-quality villa of excellentconstruction and finish. Thereare 5 bedrooms, 3 bathroomsand 3 WCs. The home is config-ured so that it can easily bedivided into 2 lodgings.

REF: 2726

€€365,000

ENERGY RATING = D

Céret, Pyrénées Orientales Beautiful country house with 4bedrooms or two 2 bedroomedflats with a large garden andstone shed. Land leading to ariver with stunning views of themountains.

REF: 744

€€370,000

ENERGY RATING = D

Near Carcassonne, AudeBeautiful 4 bedroomed villa invery good condition. Wonderfullandscaped garden with maturetrees, swimming pool. Largegarage and workshop, independ-ent guest accommodation.

REF: 10765-A405000E

€€379,000

ENERGY RATING = D

Near Béziers, HéraultPretty character villa including3/4 bedrooms and 3 new bath-rooms, with new kitchen. Niceand spacious. Exposed beams.On a landscaped and privateplot. Two-car garage.

REF: 203661

€€380,000Mons, GardIn the heart of a superb touristregion in a beautiful mediter-ranean climate. Quiet residentialarea in the village of Mons.Beautiful villa with 4 bedroomsand pool.

REF: LAR-491

€€400,000

ENERGY RATING = D

Lodève, HéraultThis detached, L-shaped, classyvilla from 2002 with indoorgarage has all living areas on theground floor. The house is builtwith first-class materials andoffers total luxury.

REF: MLP310

€€425,000

ENERGY RATING = D

Bédarieux, HéraultAn authentic and completelyrenovated “Maison de Maître”.In front of this unique propertyis a separate garden with a love-ly stone outbuilding whichincludes a summer kitchen.

REF: 891

€€493,000

ENERGY RATING = F

Near Carcassonne, AudeStunning restored mill withmain 3 bedroomed propertyplus 2 independent gîtes.Garden with stream. Swimmingpool. Sold fully furnished. Quietand private.

ENERGY RATING = Not given

Business / Finance 21Languedoc Pages May 2012

FINANCEAnswered by

Pension questions

We have just moved from the UK to live permanentlyin Nimes. Can my husband have his pension tax freelump sum paid into our UK account or Frenchaccount? Also do we now need to make a French will?Finally, will we eventually have to declare our UK bankaccount, building society account and savings?

THE SPECTRUM IFA GROUP REPLIES: THE subject ofthe tax free lump sum from a UK pension has been underthe spotlight for some time. Last year, the French tax officemade amendments to legislation and a complicated calcula-tion was announced relating to pension sums. This was thenreplaced by a flat rate of tax of 7.5%. However a final rulinghas been delayed. At this stage, as nothing is firm, we sug-gest that to protect yourself, you declare the amountreceived in a separate letter, when submitting your firstFrench tax return. It is then up to the tax office to respond.

You have not stated your nationality, if you have childrenor step children, what and where your assets are situated, soI can only reply in generic terms. However I would say thatthe answer is probably yes, you do need to make a willbecause the European parliament has recently passed a reg-ulation which should eventually allow expatriates in Franceto dictate in a will that they want the law of the state of theirnationality to apply to their estate and not French inheri-tance law. If you are English, this in effect, means that youcould leave your estate to whoever you wish and not bebound by the strict French inheritance rules as at present(i.e. English law would apply which is less restrictive thenFrench). However please note: This new regulation is notexpected to apply until 2015. Furthermore, it would notaffect French inheritance tax so your beneficiaries wouldstill be liable to French inheritance tax according to theirrelationship with you.

French tax residents must declare their worldwide assetsso yes, you do need to declare your UK assets (includingtrusts). There has been a new crackdown on undeclaredinvestments, so for residents who have omitted to declarethese in the past, we suggest that they do so this year. A newlaw was ratified in February introducing penalties of a 40%increase in the amount of tax due on undeclared overseasinvestments. There is already a potential fine of €1,500 foreach and every undeclared account. Remember also thatyour UK assets may no longer be tax- efficient now that youhave left the UK. France has its own forms of tax-efficientsavings which should be explored with a financial adviserwho can provide cross-border advice.

Photo: © aurem

ar - Fotolia.com

Do couples need to make a French will?

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.

A TOTAL of 70% ofEuropeans prepare for a holi-day online, so if you are run-ning any kind of business inthe leisure or tourism sector,it’s more important than everthat your online presence iseasy to find and appealing toboth international andnational visitors.

The Languedoc region isattracting over 10 million vis-itors per year, and the process

of choosing how to travel andwhere to stay is now largelytaking place online. Of all theweb purchases made inFrance, the holiday/tourismsector attracts the highestspend.

There is a staggering array ofoptions available to support awebsite or help engage withpotential clients. These rangefrom free Google tools, reviewsites and social media net-

works, to commercial listingsites, online booking portalsand search engine advertising.

A new wave of easy to useonline forums, multi-mediasites and social networks arereadily available and easy toimplement – includingairbnb.com, wimdu.com,Google places, Facebookpages, Foursquare and Qype.

At a recent e-marketingconference offered by L’Officede Tourisme Intercommunaldu Canal du Midi, MathieuVadot from Emarketing-Tourisme presented someinteresting facts and figuresabout internet usage inFrance. He said more than 12million people book orreserve a holiday online,

there are over 25 millionFacebook users and that onein two people in France pub-lish their opinion on a web-site. It is generally recognisedthat if Facebook were a coun-try, it would be the 3rdlargest on the planet!

A valuable reminder fromthe conference highlightedthe huge volume of nationaltourist traffic and the impor-tance of marketing your busi-ness through French sites, aswell as via English sources.Is your business ready to go mobile?

In France alone there aremore than 38 million internetusers and 18.3 million peopleusing smartphones.

According to a recent sur-vey, from 2014 in Francethere will be more phonesconnected to the internetthan computers.

Based on the fact that 88%of internet users in France areinfluenced by reviews, thesmartphone and your busi-ness e-reputation have a keyrole to play in establishingcustomer confidence. It’s nowpossible for people to publishtheir comments, positive ornegative, immediately, andglobally.

It is undesirable to have tohandle criticism, but negativereviews handled with accura-cy, confidence and integritycan leave the prospective cus-tomer with a positive impres-sion of your business.

Review sites such asTripAdvisor, l’Internaute andCityVox play a crucial role inthe tourism e-toolkit.

Here’s a checklist of things toconsider for your e-marketing: Visibility – how easy is it

to find your business? Desirability – what gives

your business the edge? Individuality – how do

you measure up in reviews? Saleability – how easy is

it to buy from you? Endorsability – what will

your customers be sayingabout you on the worldwideweb and how will you knowwhen they say it?

The Languedoc has so much to offer, it is no wonder that tourism plays a major role in theregion’s economy. France is the most visited country in the world; the Languedoc is one of thetop five destinations in France and the tourism industry is one of the largest in the world.

To contact Annette Morris, call 07 86 14 16 39

or email Solutions@LaFranglaise.com

www.tourismecanaldumidi.fr www.linternaute.com www.wimdu.co.uk www.marketing-tourisme.net

Useful WebsitesHolidays startwith a click

Mathieu Vadot

22 Property Languedoc Pages May 2012

PROPERTIES AROUND FRANCE

REF: 42093

€€102,600

ENERGY RATING = Not given

Domfront, OrneThis charming bungalow is setin a garden and comes with agarage. The property comprisesof an entrance hall, a fittedkitchen, living room, 3 bed-rooms and a bathroom.

REF: M2011

€€106,500

ENERGY RATING = E

Merdrignac, Côtes-d'ArmorHouse close to amenities, situat-ed in central Brittany. Livingroom, kitchen, 3 bedrooms, 2bathrooms, laundry, WC. Fullbasement with 1 car garage,boiler room.

REF: APS2116

€€112,350

ENERGY RATING = E

Eymet, Dordogne2 bedroomed stone house withkitchen, living room, diningroom and bathroom as well asgarden with a shed. The house isset on the outskirts of a charm-ing bastide town.

REF: IFPC19704

€€127,000

ENERGY RATING = G

Montpon-Ménestérol, DordogneDetached house with large brick-built barn plus two open barns,workshop, winery and piggery.There is potential for extendinginto the large roof space.

REF: 13439sdd

€€133,500

ENERGY RATING = F

Périers, MancheA very pretty village house withlarge garden and paddock situat-ed in a quiet village locationwithin easy walking distance ofall amenities.

REF: IFPC19305

€€137,500

ENERGY RATING = D

Mussidan, Dordogne3 bedroomed, very spacious,clean, bright and airy homeready to move in now. Thehouse has its own well, a smallorchard and mature trees thatprovide complete privacy.

REF: 13537PO

€€148,800

ENERGY RATING = E

Pont-d'Ouilly, CalvadosCompletely renovated villagehouse with courtyard consistingof entrance hall with cloakroom,kitchen, bathroom, sitting/din-ing room 4 bedrooms, sittingroom and playroom.

REF: 10947-32717749

€€153,700

ENERGY RATING = Not given

Saint-Connan, Côtes-d'ArmorThis delightful farmhouse is setin over an acre of land with 6outbuildings. The property hasexcellent links to both ferryports and airports.

REF: 13086POJD

€€159,000

ENERGY RATING = E

Mortain, MancheRenovated stone barn in quiethamlet with beautiful views.Impressive entrance hall withdouble staircase leading to min-strel gallery. 3 bedrooms.

REF: 293

€€169,600

ENERGY RATING = Not given

Cléguérec, MorbihanSet in a small quiet hamlet, thispleasant, private, renovatedhouse, offers 4 double bed-rooms, a lounge/living roomwith fireplace and insert and fit-ted/equipped kitchen.

REF: FPBC1502L

€€174,800

ENERGY RATING = Not given

Saint-Cyprien, Dordogne This property is situated in anidyllic, peaceful setting on over8000m² /2 acres of land. Theaccommodation is all on a singlelevel, with a large basement.

REF: 10947-32529757

€€189,500

ENERGY RATING = Not given

Guémené-sur-Scorff, MorbihanThis home-and-income propertyis set in the heart of town. It hasa restaurant, owner’s accommo-dation, B&B/self-catering poten-tial and also a self-contained let-ting property.

REF: 10947-29813626

€€201,400

ENERGY RATING = Not given

Verteillac, DordogneA taste for country living doesn'thave to mean life in a rusticbarn, as this 3 bedroomed,architect-designed village houseproves. Flooded with light fromthe huge windows.

REF: 13527scb

€€233,200

ENERGY RATING = E

Saint-Jean-de-Daye, MancheTwo fully-renovated houses withfurther scope for increase in liv-ing space. Set in a peacefullocation with views over themarais, yet within only 2-3kmsof shops and swimming pool.

REF: FPBC2243M

€€258,500

ENERGY RATING = Not given

Monpazier, DordogneRestored stone house in privatelocation. The house comprisesof a living room, kitchen/diningroom, large room, mezzanine, 2bedrooms, bathroom, WC anddressing-room.

REF: IFPC22209

€€285,000

ENERGY RATING = Not given

REF: 13362POJD

€€318,000

ENERGY RATING = D

St-Hilaire-du-Harcouët, MancheMagnificent thatched house withcolombage. Established gardens,in peaceful location with lovelyviews. The house is pristine,keeping the character of exposedbeams and stone.

REF: 13408PO

€€328,600

ENERGY RATING = C

Pont-d'Ouilly, CalvadosThis exceptional thatched cot-tage with river frontage is situat-ed in an idyllic tourist village. It’svery pretty, enclosed garden of2000m², will blow you away withits beauty and charm.

REF: L10034

€€276,900

ENERGY RATING = E

Loudéac, Côtes-d'ArmorA large Breton house which com-prises a hall, kitchen and amnageteam, a large living room anddining room with beautiful gran-ite fireplace, 8 bedrooms, bath-room and shower, attic.

REF: KPS1135

€€288,900

ENERGY RATING = D

Côtes-d'ArmorA fine country house set in 1acre with fantastic views over itsown land and rolling countrysidebeyond. Professionally renovatedto an exceptionally high standard

REF: FPBR2233M

€€295,000

ENERGY RATING = Not given

Monpazier, Dordogne This attractive stone house is sit-uated in a small hamlet over-looking the countryside. Thehouse consists of an entrancehall, living room, kitchen, 5 bed-rooms, 2 bathrooms, 2 WCs.

REF: IFPC21961

€€300,000

ENERGY RATING = B

Ploërmel, MorbihanLocated in the heart of thecountryside on a no-throughroad, this property has beenfully renovated and restored bycurrent owners. Also two fullyfurnished gîtes.

REF: BVI0005909

€€302,100

ENERGY RATING = D

Jumilhac-le-Grand This stone-built 4 bedroomed'Périgourdine' home with parcelof land is located in the PérigordVert region. Flexible living areasproviding possibility of gîte/chambre d'hôtes opportunity.

REF: FIXARD3151

€€318,000

ENERGY RATING = Not given

Fixard, DordogneDetached stone/brick and slateproperty, built in 1985, situatedin a hamlet, not too far from avillage with shops, with a gardenand two lakes. Gas central heat-ing. Double glazing.

REF: M794-22914183

€€330,750

ENERGY RATING = Not given

Morlaix, FinistèreThe house includes two massiverooms with impressive granitefireplaces, one in the diningroom and one in the lounge, anice fitted kitchen, a new bath-room with shower and WC.

REF: DOM1338

€€340,800

ENERGY RATING = Not given

Les Eyzies-de-Tayac-SireuilA very well-located Dordogneproperty with beautiful viewstowards the local village. Built15 years ago in the traditionalstyle, this 3 bedroomed househas been well-appointed.

REF: 88

€€260,000

ENERGY RATING = Not given

Magny-le-Désert, OrneBeautiful longère in a peacefulsetting close to the centre ofFerté Macé. This immaculatehouse is spacious and light.

Torigni-sur-Vire, Manche A unique hideaway propertysurrounded by farmland in astunning location overlookingone of Manche’s beautiful pro-tected valleys. 3-4 bedroomedhouse with wonderful views.

REF: 130

€€314,200

ENERGY RATING = Not given

Courtomer, OrneThe house is fully-renovated andhas a double-height living roomwith mezzanine and woodburn-er, a dining room with wood-burner, an entrance hall, WC, alarge kitchen and a utility room.

REF: DOM1377

€€324,000

ENERGY RATING = Not given

Avranches, MancheA very charming Normandyhouse full of character, datingfrom the 18 century, located in amagnificent setting. The houseis set in grounds of just 1.19acres with outbuildings.

REF: M711-22914175

€€123,050

ENERGY RATING = Not given

Finistère, Carhaix-PlouguerThis property is full of characterand has been very nicely reno-vated. Habitable right away,good potential for rentals withthe gîte and a 2 bedroom mobilehome.

Property 23Languedoc Pages May 2012

PROPERTIES AROUND FRANCE

REF: 11237

€€346,500

ENERGY RATING = Not given

Plancoët, Côtes-d'ArmorBeautiful renovated stone prop-erty with lots of character andcharm consisting of a 4 bed-room family home and 2 gîtes.Set in a lovely landscaped gar-den with views over countryside.

REF: APS1890

€€350,000

ENERGY RATING = E

Monestier, DordogneThis interesting property con-sists of 2 large stone houses, oneof which has been divided into agîte, an apartment, a large din-ing room and sitting room.

REF: 700083

€€371,000

ENERGY RATING = Not given

Rauville-la-Place, Manche Situated on the outskirts oftown, this spacious 5 bed-roomed house has been lovinglymaintained. It has panoramicviews across the Normandycountryside.

REF: 80

€€383,400

ENERGY RATING = Not given

Sacey, MancheThis 5 bedroomed house whichis used as a 3 bedroomed homeand 2 bedroomed gîte, is situat-ed just 20minutes from Mont StMichel.

REF: 13752POJD

€€445,000

ENERGY RATING = E

Villedieu-les-Poêles, Manche Charming country house withgîte, set in nearly 4.5 hectares ofland with pretty garden, andaround 3.5 hectares ideal forhorses, all with stunning viewsof the Normandy countryside.

REF: 8252

€€455,000

ENERGY RATING = Not given

Carcès, VarA perfect family home, withsecure pool and childproof gate.Totally private courtyard over-looking the large pool. Greatoutdoor eating terraces withmature vines and grass lawns.

REF: 1675

€€487,000

ENERGY RATING = Not given

Touffailles, Tarn-et-Garonne The property has been tastefullyrenovated throughout with qual-ity materials keeping originalfeatures. 5 bedrooms.

REF: 1638

€€495,850

ENERGY RATING = E

Niort, Deux-SèvresRenovated to a high standard,this property is currently run asa successful B&B with a proventrack record. Situated in a villagewith some services, south of thecounty town of Noirt.

REF: 06569

€€366,700

ENERGY RATING = Not given

Eymet, DordogneStone house with pool andattached gîte set in beautiful,peaceful countryside. Quirkyand characterful with a success-ful gîte and lovely grounds

REF: M910-22214193

€€378,000

ENERGY RATING = Not given

Callac, Côtes-d'ArmorThis property is located at theedge of a very pretty little town,in the countryside, with a niceview of a lake. The manoir is fullof character and has been reno-vated with great taste.

REF: KPS 1787

€€390,550

ENERGY RATING = C

Côtes-d'ArmorA rare opportunity to acquire an18th century manoir with 5 bed-rooms. The property is situatedat the end of a lane where thereare no other houses and there-fore offers a tranquil setting.

REF: BVI0006002

€€397,500

ENERGY RATING = G

Mussidan, DordogneThis 7 bedroomed property isideally situated for further com-mercial exploitation if desired. Ithas been renovated with style,preserving many features – highceilings, marble fireplaces, etc

REF: KPS 1571

€€406,600

ENERGY RATING = E

Côtes-d'Armor This type of property is a rarity.An ivy-clad stone house withadjoining garage and workshopand ancient watermill, all setaround a courtyard and sur-rounded by a small river.

REF: BVI0006650

€€424,000

ENERGY RATING = D

Lalinde, DordogneHouse built in the Périgourdinestyle with 5 bedrooms, 3 bath-rooms, study, living room withchimney, kitchen/diner and alarge basement with wine cave.Lovely mature garden.

REF: FP-24548AI24

€€434,600

ENERGY RATING = Not given

Mouleydier, DordogneThis property rates very high inmany respects and it is the loca-tion, overlooking the river justbeside the village harbour, that isparticularly impressive. 3 bed-rooms

REF: DOM1065

€€451,500

ENERGY RATING = Not given

Callac, Côtes-d'ArmorAn ideal gîte situation compris-ing 4 houses each with 4 bed-rooms and 2 bathrooms.Swimming pool and tenniscourt. Garage for 3 cars.

REF: 146071

€€455,400

ENERGY RATING = Not given

Rennes, Ille-et-VilaineAn attractive villa in a tranquilarea. 4 bedroomed property with150m² of living space set in564m² of grounds. Very nicelypresented.

REF: FPBR3348C

€€464,500

ENERGY RATING = D

Sarlat-la-Canéda, DordogneSituated in a very peaceful areabut close to Sarlat and all majortourist sites, a very nicePérigordine-style house, with apond of about 1000m² on landof 5500m².

REF: 3029

€€479,250

ENERGY RATING = E

Fougères, Ille-et-VilaineAt the end of a rural lane, thissuperb property offers not onlyan idyllic setting with heatedindoor swimming pool, but alsoproven revenue courtesy of thetwo charming holiday cottages.

REF: BVI0006969

€€485,000

ENERGY RATING = D

Montpon-Ménestérol, Dordogne200 year old farmhouse in 6hectares with luxury gîte, swim-ming pool, fishing lake, stablesfor 3 horses, and separate build-ing plot. Originally two cottages.

REF: FPBS2271M

€€493,000

ENERGY RATING = Not given

Beaumont-du-PérigordStone house in the Dordogneconsisting of an entrance, 2 livingrooms, kitchen, 5 bedrooms and2 bathrooms. Guest house has aliving room, kitchen, 2 bed-rooms, bathroom and WC.

REF: IFPC22206

€€495,000

ENERGY RATING = Not given

Plumaugat, Côtes-d'ArmorSituated in a beautiful and tran-quil area of Brittany, offering agreat place to live with beachesand cities within easy reach andTVR connections to paris. 6bedrooms.

REF: 10316

€€498,000

ENERGY RATING = Not given

Dinan, Côtes-d'ArmorBeautifully-renovated longèrewith 2 large reception roomsand 5 bedrooms. Second reno-vated house with living room,kitchen and 3 bedrooms. Idealas a gîte.

REF: BVI0006531

€€499,000

ENERGY RATING = G

Lanquais, DordogneProperty comprising a 3 bed-roomed main house, barns andstudio, all stone-built plus 5 sep-arate, en-suite bedrooms forB&B.

REF: N-RJK69

€€342,000

ENERGY RATING = Not given

Saint-Romain, CharenteA beautiful stone house, restoredand retaining lots of character.The generous garden has stun-ning views over rolling country-side. A 2 bedroomed gîte isready for your guests.

REF: TR200022

€€343,400

ENERGY RATING = F

Monflanquin, Lot-et-GaronneA lovely character villa whichhas kept its original features andincludes living room, kitchen,bathroom, WCs, 3 bedrooms, 2swimming pools. It also boasts 2gîtes.

REF: TRAMER3117

€€344,500

ENERGY RATING = Not given

Tramer, Haute-Vienne Stone and tiled property with 3gîtes, situated in a small hamlet,with a garden and swimmingpool, terrace and car park space.Pig sty. Lean-to. Barn with aboiler room/workshop.

REF: IFPC20339

€€360,000

ENERGY RATING = Not given

Near Pontorson, MancheA superb 3 bedroomed detachedhouse with a 2 bedroomed gîteattached. Could easily be used asa 5 bedroom family home asthere is an internal connectingdoor between the houses.

REF: 1907

€€426,000

ENERGY RATING = Not given

Mortain, MancheThis beautiful small château isset in parkland, formal gardensand paddocks. Both wings of thechâteau were built in 1591. Thecomplete history of the châteauis available.

REF: 700185

€€493,500

ENERGY RATING = Not given

Le Mesnil-Garnier, MancheThe property is approacheddown a tree-lined drive. On theleft is a longère which is in needof renovation, and on the rightis the main residence, renovatedto a very high standard.

24 People Languedoc Pages May 2012

AT a time when Kindles and e-books are gain-ing ground, Régis Penalva is promoting theprinted word at Languedoc’s Comédie du Livrefestival.

When we meet at his office in Montpellier’sbrand new city hall, Penalva looks pensive. Aswell he might: we are only a few weeks awayfrom the start of the 27th Comédie du Livre, amajor annual book fair that brings togetherthe general public and more than 350 authors.

Created in 1984, the event is, since 2011, hisbaby. But Penalva is also three weeks awayfrom becoming a father for the very firsttime.The three phones on his desk ringthroughout our meeting. He is in demand.

As the person responsible for organising theComédie du Livre, held in downtownMontpellier, Penalva, 33, has his work cut out.This year’s event on the Esplanade Charles deGaulle will see more than 300 writers and 50comic book authors present their books atconferences and debates, in literary cafés and

in booths hosted by independent bookstores.Each year, the focus is on a specific country;

in 2012, the spotlight is on contemporary liter-ature from the UK (a choice made by mayorHélène Mandroux and her team of advisors).

Penalva is understandably excited at theprospect of hosting 30 anglophone literary tal-ents, including David Lodge, Jonathan Coe,James Kelman, Louise Welsh, John Berger, andcartoonist Glen Baxter (the latter has designedthis year’s Comédie poster). For four days,starting May 31, these names will join around100 French writers to form France’s second-largest literary festival (the Salon du Livre inParis is the largest), so running such an eventis no small feat.

“I worked in a book store for 12 years beforethis job,” says Penalva, who obviously knowshis authors. “And I do a lot of sport: I run andI play football, to work off the stress,” hesmiles.

Promoting knowledge is key to his mission.The Comédie du Livre takes up two-thirds ofhis time; running the city’s Agora des Savoirs

programme (a series of free talks on science-based subjects, from November to June) andother cultural events takes care of the rest.

Does he see the internet as a friend or foe ofliterature?

“I can argue it both ways,” he responds. “Youcan consider modern technology as a newchannel for writers, with people reading e-books and buying Kindles, and yes, the writtenword can be shared more easily this way.

“But to be honest, as a former booksellerwho’s in touch with book store owners, I cantell you: the publishing industry is worried.”

He muses about a recent survey, according towhich, one in two Montpellier students doesnot open a book in the course of a year.

“Is this just a passing phase, or the start of amajor trend? Ten years from now, I really don’tknow how things will be, but...” he trails off,looking worried. Does he own a Kindle him-self? “No, I grew up with books and that’swhat I’m used to,” says Penalva, who graduat-ed in Modern Humanities.

Let’s hope that thanks to the Comédie duLivre, literature in print form will continue toexist for a few years more.

For details of the Comédie du Livre pro-gramme, go to www.comediedulivre.montpel-lier.fr.

A passion for the printed word

“You can consider moderntechnology as a new channel for writers, withpeople reading e-booksand buying Kindles, andyes, the written word canbe shared more easily thisway.Régis Penalva

by LOUISE HURREN

Phot

o: ©

Lou

ise

Hur

ren

Who you can meet at the showDavid Lodge – Literary critic whose novels include Paradise News, DeafSentence and Nice Work.Louise Welsh – Glasgow-based author whose debut novel, The Cutting Room,was nominated for the Orange Prize for Fiction.Marina Lewycka – A British writer of Ukrainian origin whose novels includeA Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian.R J Ellory - British writer of A Quiet Belief in Angels. His latest thriller, Saintsof New York, was released last month.Iain Banks – Science fiction author whose 24 books include The Crow Road,The Wasp Factory, and Stonemouth.Anne Fine – The second Children’s Laureate has more than 40 books to hercredit. Her novel Madame Doubtfire was made into the film Mrs Doubtfire.She also writes adult fiction.Jonathan Coe – A best-seller in France, he is best known for his trilogy What aCarve Up! The Rotters’ Club and The Closed Circle.John Berger – English art critic, novelist, painter and author whose novel G.won the Booker prize in 1972.James Kelman – Glasgow-born writer whose novel How Late It Was, HowLate, won the Booker Prize in 1994. One of the judges, Rabbi Julia Neuberger,described the book as a “disgrace”.Glen Baxter – An English cartoonist whose work has appeared in the NewYorker, Vanity Fair and The Independent. See cartoon below.

Régis Penalva, directorof the Comédie du Livrein Montpellier