Brittany and Loire blog for expats living, working and playing in France
Covid complications causing concerns
Martin and Nadine haven’t been to France since January, and Covid complications certainly are an issue and a constant worry. It seems sorting out a ferry crossing isn’t the only hurdle. Is it better to go or to cancel?
Find out more about the obstacles that we have encountered when trying to travel to France this year
Kouign-amann vs Lardy cake
Kouign-amann is a beautiful, buttery, traditional Breton cake. During the current lockdown, unable to travel to Brittany, we have found an alternative: the British lardy cake.
Find out the difference between the two and decide which one appeals more to your taste buds!
Bonneau Services
Comprehensive translation, interpreting, relocation and administrative services. Your Helping Hand in Brittany / France.
Mushroom picking in France
In France, mushroom picking, or “cueillette des champignons”, is practically a national sport during the Autumn season. However, there are guidelines to follow before wandering through the woods.
Pineau … or Pinot? Do you know the difference?
Pineau is a delicious alcoholic drink which comes from the Charentes region. It’s a fortified wine made from 3 parts grape juice and 1 part Cognac and, like many great delicacies, was discovered by mistake.
Places to visit
Mushrooming in Monteneuf forest
If it were blowing a gale outside your French home would your first thought be to rush into the local woods to go hunting for ceps, chanterelles and pied de mouton mushrooms?
Read Nicola’s account of mushroom hunting in Brittany in the middle of a storm.
La Roche Bernard
La Roche Bernard is a pretty Brittany town in Morbihan on the banks of the river Vilaine. Picturesque, with a natural harbour, two superb bridges, shops and great restaurants. It is a Ville Gastronomique and Petite Cité de Caractère.
Local Activities
Looking for ideas of what to do while on holiday in the La Roche Bernard area? We have compiled a list of ideas to keep you entertained white holidaying there.
La Brière
The Parc Naturel Régional de La Brière includes the largest wetland area in France outside of the Camargue. It covers around 100,000 acres. Its vast network of canals, islets, marshes and lagoons plays host to a myriad of wildlife, and is a bird-watchers paradise.
Driving in France
Requirements for driving in France – Breath Test Kits
On 1st July 2012, a law was introduced in France: all drivers had to carry a breath test kit in their car. Find out why and if or how that law was implemented. Read more about the driving requirements in France.
The French authorities have introduced the use of breath test kits. Find out more…
Exporting a UK-bought LHD car to France
Is it possible or indeed practical to buy a LHD car in the UK, originally registered in Poland, and then import it to France? Are there guidelines to be followed?
Driving in France
In recent years, travelling across to the continent and driving in France has become increasingly easy for Brits, but there are laws and regulations to bear in mind while driving abroad.
Find out more about legal requirements, parking rules and see our useful tips for driving in France
Car rental from St Malo port
If you arrive in St Malo by ferry as foot passenger, you will find several hire car companies. Some are based at the port and the other ones can deliver cars to the port or pick you up and take you to their agency nearby.
How to hire or rent a car from St Malo ferry port in Brittany
French Education
La Rentrée des Classes.
The Summer holidays are nearing the end in France and everyone is preparing for “La Rentrée des Classes”. On September 2nd, every school in France will officially re-open its doors for the new school year.
Children’s Summer camps in Brittany
We had a request from Sandrine and Philippe, who were looking for English-speaking Summer camps in Brittany, where they live, for their children, aged 5 and 7.
La Rentrée 2011
After a 9 week summer break, it is time for children all over France to begin their new school year on the long awaited day of “La Rentrée”
Click here to read about a typical rentrée in a tiny village school
Let the holidays begin
French schoolchildren appear to have it all. In the summertime, they get a whole nine weeks off! However, not all of their time off is dedicated to rest and play, thanks to a popular educational too. Find out more about the French “Cahiers de Vacances”.
French Traditions
Etiquette surrounding the French aperitif
Is there an etiquette to observe when inviting French friends over for aperitif? Cindy, our guest blogger, having recently arrived in France, has discovered that there is.
Find out how to offer French aperitifs (or apéro) and avoid social embarrassment
Muguet (Lily of the Valley) in France on 1st May
Muguet, or Lily of the Valley, is very popular in France on 1st May each year. It is offered as a gift to friends and loved ones to wish them good luck,
Give Lily of the Valley to someone on 1st May
The Fête du Travail (Labour day) is the first of the official holidays in May. This public holiday celebrates the social and economic achievements of the labour movement, and is also the day when Lily of the Valley (Muguets) are given to friends and family.
Read about the French tradition of giving Lily of the Valley
French Easter Traditions – Chocolates from Rome
There is a tradition in France that says all the church bells go to Rome for Easter, and that on their return they drop small chocolate bells, chickens and rabbits in gardens. More about the French Easter traditions.
Gardening in France
A lunar calendar to improve my gardening skills
Does the lunar calendar work for planting fruit, vegetables, flowers, for sowing seeds, or for simply gardening? What is the Calendrier Lunaire? Read on.
Having a bonfire in France – is it ok to light a fire outdoors?
Can you light a fire outdoors in France to burn your garden waste? Maybe – but it’s best to check first with your local Mairie or fire service to make sure you don’t get a fine.
Who owns the right of way?
When Nicola and her husband tried buying a small right of way serving their garden a few months ago, little did they know how long it would take to achieve
Read about Nicola’s conversation with the local mayor regarding buying that small piece of land
Do not press apples on a descending moon
An unusually early Summer and Autumn this year means that Nicola’s orchard is growing faster than normal. Apples have to be picked and pressed well ahead of schedule
Pressing apples for juice in France isn’t as straightforward as it seems
Holiday Website Tips
Holiday Website Tips (2) – Be easy to contact
Make sure there is a clear and obvious way for people to get in touch with you wherever they are on your website. Failure to do so could result in lots of potential bookings finding their way to somebody elses website.
Find out how important it is to be easily contactable and how to fix it
Well done Brittany Ferries
I was surprised to get a response from Brittany Ferries when I complained about them on Twitter. This should be a normal PR activity for all businesses though.
10 reasons to have your own holiday property website
Do you need your own website to market your holiday rental property or are holiday rental listing sites good enough to deliver the return you need for your money?
Holiday Website Tips (6) – What your clients say is important!
As a french property owner you are constantly competing for bookings with other owners in your area. In times when demand outstrips supply you should all be able to co-exist happily, but the number of available rental units has been rising steadily and exchange rate fluctuations and economic crises are conspiring to dampen demand too. Internet searchers will usually look at a number of properties before choosing those to enquire about, so how do you increase the chances of your property being one of them?
Find out how to stand out from your competition by putting testimonials on your website
