Fancy doing something different this Christmas? Make the festive season a really feel-good time with a trip to France. Pop across before the event to savour the delights of Christmas markets and pick up some wine bargains; spend the holiday in traditional style in the countryside or a French town; take family and friends for a fun New Year celebration.
France, together with wine lovers from all over the world will soon be celebrating a very special occasion - Beaujolais Nouveau Day which is celebrated on the third Thursday of November every year.
Read more: The delights of Beaujolais Nouveau & a great recipe for Chestnut Gateau
Mr and Mrs B from Scotland were the lucky winners of our competition run earlier this year with French, the monthly magazine. Their prize was a week’s stay in one of the luxury gites at the romantic 18th century Chateau de Percey, which is set in beautiful countryside in the famous wine region of Chablis, Burgundy.
Read more: Our competition winners enjoy a chateau holiday in Burgundy
There's a tendency to think of the Nord-Pas de Calais as an area of France that we rush through when heading further south - which is a pity. Every time I explore the region, I'm impressed by the clear impression that I have most definitely entered France with all that means in terms of ambience, way of life - and most especially way of eating.
Sunday 11th December 2011 sees the opening of the Eastern Branch of the Rhin-Rhône TGV high-speed train, placing the Franche-Comté region even closer to London. Journey times from Paris are now just 2h05 to Besançon and 2h15 to Belfort-Montbéliard, substantially cutting their duration, and both towns have brand new eco-friendly TGV railway stations.
Read more: New TGV service to Besançon and the lakes and mountains of Franche-Comté
Set between Grenoble and the Italian border, this sunny corner of the Alps has a wealth of friendly villages, some spectacularly high peaks and fantastic winter sports. Yet the Hautes-Alpes are delightfully unspoilt and offer less crowded ski holidays than better known ski areas of France.
This month we explore the origins of Halloween and I have a couple of good Halloween recipies for you.
Read more: Halloween in France - Pumpkin soup and Sausages braised in White Wine