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Chartres CathedralChurches & Abbeys in Chartres Cathedral, France Two pointed, pale grey Gothic towers pierce the air on either side of the magnificent rose window on the western side of Chartres Cathedral, and 152 beautiful stained glass windows, notable for their deep blue colour, throw cool shadows onto the labyrinthine floor. It is a glorious example of Gothic style throughout, both in terms of architecture and art, as it was not damaged during the Revolution and nothing was stolen from it. Amongst other relics and artistic gems is a tunic believed to have belonged to the Virgin Mary herself.
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Review by Photo by flickr user giopuo |
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Green GardeningActivity Courses in Limousin, France Perhaps you fantasise about living a self-sufficient lifestyle, with your own vegetable plot and a couple of chickens – or maybe it’s just that a lot of your financial resources go towards buying ‘greener’ organic produce and you feel you’re being punished for being good; either way, a course in organic gardening might be the next step towards satisfaction – and not just in a culinary sense, either. It’s often been said that gardening can be therapeutic, and a week or so immersed in the rural idyll of an organic farm could hardly be bad for you.
Organic farming isn’t just about going chemical free; as well as finding out new, natural ways to fend off pests and diseases, you can also discover how to improve the fertility of the soil on your patch with your own, home-made compost, propagate plants and manage crop rotation (so you’ll be able to harvest seasonal fruit and vegetables all year round).
Part of the principle of organic farming is to encourage beneficial wildlife in your little bit of the ecosystem rather than scaring it off, so the fascinating little lives of butterflies, bees and other creepy-crawlies become important too.
A good place to learn is in the peaceful, French countryside of Limousin; you can spend seven days in organic gardening paradise with ‘Vacances Vertes les Belles’ in their lovely farmhouse in the village of Saint Germain les Belles, adjoining the teaching gardens. There’s a beach nearby and a great range of traditional markets, small shops and restaurants to explore, as well as mile upon mile of picturesque farmland to stroll through.
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Review by Photo by Vacances Vertes les Belles |
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Cours SaleyaMarkets in Nice, France The Marché aux Fleurs in the cours Saleya in Nice is renowned for its colourful flowers and assorted fruit and fresh vegetables that overflow from the stalls all along the long courtyard. The buildings that surround the ‘cours’ used to be fishermen’s warehouses but have now been converted into seafood restaurants or cafés where you can sit at a terrace and watch the bustle of the market. The market mostly deals with fresh produce such as fish, cheese and vegetables but it also features a number of regional products such as honey, lavender and barrels of olive oil. For those who prefer to get stuck in rather than observe from a terrace, there are nicois specialities to sample as you wander around the many stalls, such as a tarte des blettes, a spinach tart dusted with icing sugar, or the classic ‘salade niçoise’ with anchovies.
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Review by Photo by flickr user Antarius |
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The D-Day BattlegroundsBattlefields in Normandy, France June 6th, 1944 - D-Day. The most momentous day in the history of the 20th Century, possibly the modern age. Secure telex lines and printers began to clatter the length and breadth of Britain. The long wait was over – the great adventure was on. Thousands of servicemen began their preparations, making their peace in their own way. For them the longest day of their lives was about to begin.
“Les sanglots longs des violins de L’Automne” – the first lines of Verlaine’s poem “Chanson D’Automne” were broadcast by the BBC World Service on 1st June 1944 as a pre-cursor to the invasion. On receipt of these lines Resistance units up and down the coast of Normandy and others further inland, made ready – they now knew that the invasion was imminent. Their wait was a short but tense one – on 5th June the second set of lines was received – “Blessent mon coeur d’une longueur monotone” – this was it - the invasion would begin within 48 hours!
For four long years western Europe had suffered under the yoke of the Nazi war machine. Now was the hour when the allies were to start the process of liberation and set Europe and the world free. Immortalized in the classic film " The Longest Day ", and more recently " Saving Private Ryan " and " Band of Brothers " many thousands of young men fought fiercely for victory or simply for survival.
Our tour takes in a selection of places which were significant in those hectic first 24 hours and which manage to convey the sense and feel of the time. Historic bridges, beaches, bunkers and of course, marvellous museums and interpretative centres. Each location has been selected to highlight a particular facet of the day’s action and contrasts tactics and sacrifice – the common thread which runs through each and every one however is the human endeavour and courage which shines through like a beacon light.
Day 1 looks at two differing “Coup de Main” operations by the airborne forces, and ends with a first look at the beaches. Day 2 looks at the mainstream fighting on and around the beaches, and the beautiful American cemetery at St Laurent; Day 3 rounds off with a look at 2 differing American “Coup de main” operations and a last look at remembrance and the sacrifices made. A journey of a lifetime.
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Review by Photo by edchurch |
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Monet's GardensGardens in North East France, France Monet's Garden is the colourful garden of an artist, by an artist. This is the garden created from 1883 to 1926 in the Valley of the River Epte by Claude Monet, one of the world's best loved artists. He was the leader of the Impressionist painters, the term being derived in 1874 from his landscape Impression Soleil Levant. Monet liked painting a subject in the open air at different times of day to show variation in light. This garden was thus a picture itself besides a subject for painting. His garden will have special appeal for artists and photographers. The estate was authentically restored in 1976 for l'Acadamie des Beaux Arts (there are even turkeys, in a small enclosure). This beautiful garden of ethereal colour harmonies and contrasts at Giverny is divided into two distinct parts by a road. Access between the parts is through a tunnel. On one side of the road, standing well back at the top of the garden, backing onto the village street, is Monet's characteristic pink house with green shutters and festooned with roses. On the walls inside his simply appointed house hang his collection of Japanese prints. In front of the house a cornucopia of colour inhabited by bees and butterflies stretches down to the wall by the road. Through the tunnel lies a different scene. The stylistically eastern water-garden with its famous wisteria, willows and water-lilies still appears to await the dazzling eye of the master for a final canvas. You walk beside Monet's famous slowly-flowing, shallow, water-lily ponds with their wonderful play of light and shadow, inspiration for his immortal paintings. You will find a good choice of Monet souvenirs in the visitors' centre. Also in this delightful village is the Musee Americain Giverny which was opened in 1992. Funded by the Terra Foundation for the Arts in America, the museum enables the visitor to explore the historical connection between French and American artists throughout the Impressionist and other 19th and 20th century periods.
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Review by Photo by Donna Dawson |
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