French Labor Day - Fête du Travail.

It is a tradition in France that on May 1st, May Day - French Labor Day/Fête du Travail people will pick wild Lily of the Valley Muguets in French).

Also, it is very common to see roadside stands or people in front of supermarkets selling Lilies of the Valley, often to gather funds for an organization.

Lily of the Valley is a small plant that gives off a very nice smell. The tradition is: you go out and gather the Lilies of the Valley, enjoy the spring weather and get a little exercise. Then, when you have collected your Lilies of the Valley, you put them in a vase in your home to bring their perfume home.

Some French Easter Facts

Photo courtesy of Epicerie de Charles

In France, church bells stop ringing on the Thursday before Good Friday and do not ring again until Easter Sunday morning. The reason for this is that all the bells are supposed to fly to the Vatican carrying with them the grief of those who mourn the crucifixion; then these flying bells (cloche volant) return on Easter Sunday bringing with them lots of chocolate and eggs.

Another French custom is a contest of rolling raw eggs down a gentle slope – the surviving egg is the victory egg symbolising the stone that was rolled away from Christ’s tomb. Kids also throw eggs in the air – the first one to drop theirs is the loser who must pay a penalty.

Joyeuses Pâques.........

L x

Spring has arrived in SW France

I just had to share these photos with you, this is my favourite photo!

This one is so sweet, and so french with the shutters (volets)

I love the way the french mix different plants in one container....................

And finally, one for all you basket lovers out there...................

Tomorrow night - daylight permitting I am hoping to take one of the plum trees with their lovely white blossom so watch this space!

If you did not already know it this area is famous for producing the best prunes in the world but that is another story to come :-)

L x

Video of Bergerac and surrounding villages

Today the Bergerac Office de Tourisme have advised that they have a new video showing attractions in Bergerac and nearby villages.

I have just watched and must say it is great as it shows the wine museum, Chateau de Monbazillac, Tobacco Museum, many surrounding villages including Issigeac, Monpazier and Beaumont, the Cadouin Abbey and many scenes in the old part of Bergerac.

Hope that you all enjoy watching it as much as we did.

à très bientôt

L x

Market days

I love market days in France. It is a tradition that has been going some 700 years in this part of France and I love them as it is an excuse to meet up with friends and also buy some wonderful local fresh produce.

Yesterday we went to the market in Issigeac, the sun was shining and the market traders were out in force meaning that things are returning to normal. If it is grey a lot of traders do not show up so it means that the locals do not either so market days in the winter are rather grey whereas in the summer they are bright and sunny.

I thought that it maybe worthwhile posting details of market days in the area, we also include details in information folders at Maison de Poitiers & Maison No. 20 along ideas on what to see & do.

Places and days are as follows:

¨Lundi/Monday
Lacapelle-Biron

¨Mardi/Tuesday
Castillonnes
Fumel
Monflanquin (juillet-septembre)
Sauveterre la Lémance

¨Mercredi/Wednesday
Villeréal (juillet-août)
Bergerac
Sarlat
Perigueux

¨Jeudi/Thursday
Monflanquin + marché des producteurs
Monsempron-Libos
Domme
Eymet
Lalinde
Loubéjac
Monpazier

¨Vendredi/Friday
Fumel


¨Samedi/Saturday
Villeréal
Sarlat
Perigueux

¨Dimanche/Sunday
Issigeac
Monflanquin (juillet-août)


Also a previous guest has asked me for details of the events taking place as part of the celebrations for solistice and fete of St Jean Baptiste, it is a little early yet as most of the tourist offices will start publishing details next month so I will let you all know as soon as I hear of any deatils. It is a great time to be in France as each village holds a fete de la musique and they compete to see who can attrct the most people.

A bientot

Lx

The Brocante/Vide Grenier season has started

My favourite time of the year has commenced...............

The brocante/vide grenier (empty attic or car boot) season has started again and we are looking forward to picking up some more lovely french items.

Below is a link to a document on the Villereal Office de Tourism website which contains all the dates for vide greniers/brocantes taking place in 2009.

http://www.villereal-tourisme.com/brochures/1236251481.pdf


For those of you who may not know the difference between a vide grenier and a brocante, the main difference is that at a brocante all the sellers are professional antique sellers whereas anyone can sell at a vide grenier hence the translation 'empty attic".

a la prochaine

Leeann

Castillonnes Virtual Tour - includes Maison de Poitiers

Hello,

I thought that you may find this interesting, it is a virtual tour of Castillonnes and it includes "Maison de Poitiers" complete with new paintwork!

http://www.france-sud-tourisme.fr:80/lot-et-garonne/panoramas/pan_mov.php?pan=F-Castillonnes-place&comment=Castillonn%C3%A8s%20%3A%20la%20place%20Corni%C3%A8res&ville=cast&menu=ville&haveqt=1

A bientot

Leeann