Franco Phile // France Facts About: A miscellany of anecdotes, facts, news, and updates on the French Property market .....
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In central France, Limousin Property is good value in lovely landscapes.
Brittany Property is always popular with the Brits!
The Poitou Charentes has a micro-climate similar to the Med Coast: Poitou-Charentes Property
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The French government is asking the nation what it means to be French, in what is being billed as a "Great Debate" against a backdrop of ethnic tension.
All French citizens are in principle invited to take part in a series of meetings across the country, lasting until January 31.
The country has seen smouldering unrest in immigrant-heavy suburbs, a movement to ban full Muslim veils, and questions over whether France's essential identity is vanishing in a complex world.
France has one of the highest proportions of immigrants in Europe and endures recurrent tensions over religion, yet champions the notion of a consensual "Frenchness" anchored in secularism.
The country prides itself on enshrining liberty, equality, fraternity, but faces constant claims of injustice, mainly from Arab and black minorities, many of them French citizens, which saw thousands of their youths rampage through housing projects in 2005.
"We're in a real denial of reality. Our world is cracking silently," said Jean-Pierre Door, a mayor who spoke at the first debate, held at the Immigration Ministry. He said the dialogue was breaking long-held taboos.
The government-ordered soul-searching over the French identity is an effort to clarify and reaffirm the nation's values, which President Nicolas Sarkozy says have been "forgotten and sometimes denied". France's immigration minister Eric Besson launched the Great Debate earlier this month with a website where citizens can write about what they think it means to be French.
More than 32,000 contributions were posted in the first two weeks, according to the ministry.
Opposition Socialists equate the national identity debate with a political stunt meant in part to garner votes of the anti-immigration far-right National Front ahead of March regional elections. Intellectuals and philosophers are divided, as are many citizens, saying it will fan xenophobia and stigmatise non-white French.
Talking points include French history, culture, religion or language. Ultimately, they are meant to address a handful of proposals such as the meaning of national symbols like the flag or whether youths should be obliged to sing the national anthem at least once a year - and how to share values with immigrant citizens.
Copyright © 2009 The Press Association. All rights reserved.
What a sensible idea! Perhaps the UK should take this on board in the run up to the election next year? What consult the public - with neither party supporting a referendum on Europe - fat chance of the UK public being consulted.
Dressed in a low-cut ball gown, Bruni chases Carl and declares: 'I want to make love, right now.'
Homer then tells Carl that Bruni is the president's wife, saying: 'You know that woman you've been playing 'hide the baguette' with? That's the First Lady of France, Carla Bruni!'
The Tommies have been identified as volunteers of the York and Lancaster Regiment killed between October 18 and 20, 1914 in a gunbattle with German troops near the castle of Flandres de Beaucamps-Ligny.
The bodies have been transferred to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission which maintains several cemetries in the former battlefields of northeastern France.
Renting property in France is big business. About half the population rents property although Sarkozy is trying to sell the benefits of home ownership (a la Thatcher) with tax incentives.
Most towns will have a large selection of "Locations" agencies where you can find property to rent. Rentals tend to be cheaper in France than the UK - but of course it does depend on location, location, location. Do a search on google.fr for a "location" plus town or village name to find rental property / agencies. Lets are from periods of 6 months.
Holiday lets will be more expensive especially in the high season (July and August) when France goes on holiday. Outside the high season prices will be more competitively priced. Property will be available on the coasts and rural locations - from apartment to chateaux! Something for every budget. For a great selection of French Property Rentals, and French Guides - try 1st for French Property.
Holiday Property Owners can add their property online - the online booking/availabilty system will make it easy for holidaymakers to book with you! More details of the comprehensive marketing, and complete automation of your business: Rent My Holiday Property.
Beaujolais Nouveau is released on the third Thursday of November. Beaujolais nouveau is the first wine of the season. It's vinified quickly and gently, turning out a light-bodied, unserious, very fruity red wine from the gamay grape.
Served at about 55 degrees, cooler than usual for a red wine, it goes well with turkey.
The wine takes its name from the historical Beaujolais province and wine producing region. It is located north of Lyon, and covers parts of the north of the Rhône département (Rhône-Alpes) and parts of the south of the Saône-et-Loire département (Burgundy).
Traditionally, the bistros of Paris use every form of transport from motorcycles to light aircraft to be the first to bring up the new wine from the Beaujolais region of southeast France.
The France Show: Three days of indulgence in French cuisine, art and culture at London's Earls Court between 8th and 10th January 2010.
What better way to rediscover the magic of France than by immersing yourself in the colours, the culture and the party atmosphere that is the France Show 2010 - the UK's largest celebration of all that makes France such a special place.
Also, you can discover a French Property at The French Property Exhibition. From Brittany Property to Provence Mas, there is plenty to dream about. As well as property - plenty of support services: legal, finance, transport, etc.By Henry Samuel in Paris
Published: 6:35AM GMT 17 Nov 2009
The rule banning women from dressing like men – namely by wearing trousers - was first introduced in 1800 by Paris' police chief and has survived repeated attempts to repeal it.
The 1800 rule stipulated than any Parisienne wishing to dress like a man "must present herself to Paris' main police station to obtain authorisation".
In 1892 it was slightly relaxed thanks to an amendment which said trousers were permitted "as long as the woman is holding the reins of a horse".
Then in 1909, the decree was further watered down when an extra clause was added to allow women in trousers on condition they were "on a bicycle or holding it by the handlebars".
In 1969, amid a global movement towards gender equality, the Paris council asked the city's police chief to bin the decree. His response was: "It is unwise to change texts which foreseen or unforeseen variations in fashion can return to the fore."
The latest attempt to remove the outmoded rule was in 2003, when a Right-wing MP from President Nicolas Sarkozy's UMP party wrote to the minister in charge of gender equality. The minister's response was: "Disuse is sometimes more efficient than (state) intervention in adapting the law to changing morays."
As Evelyne Pisier, a law professor whose book Le Droit des Femmes (The Rights of Women) unearthed the curious decree points out, given that trousers are compulsory for Parisian policewoman, they are all breaking the law.
O common on - this is just too silly; is this a Monty Python sketch?
