95c
ISSUE 42
AUGUST 2012
PUBLISHERS OF
News and What’s On information for the Dordogne and surrounding area
UK author is honoured for bringing in tourists
Third shale gas permit sought for Dordogne ANOTHER company has made a request to test for shale gas in the Dordogne – covering an area to the east of the department, bringing the total number of potential local drilling projects to three. Hexagon Company, based in Singapore, has asked the ecology ministry for permission to carry out drilling in an area covering parts of the Dordogne, the Corrèze and the Lot. The request was made two years ago but was only made public this summer due to the new government’s policy of transparency. The third project, called the Permis de Brive, was added to the ecology ministry’s website shortly after the recent presidential elections. Two other licence requests affect the Dordogne – the Permis de Cahors covering 35 communes in the department and the Permis de Beaumontde-Lomagne to the very south of the Dordogne around Villefranche-du-Périgord. The three demands dovetail together to cover the east of the Dordogne including the towns and beauty spots of Sarlat, La Roque-Gageac, Beynac, Terrasson, SalignacEyvigues, Saint-Cyprien and Beynac. In total, they cover nine departments in the south-west. Î Turn
How couple created a lavender farm near the Dordogne p7
to page 2
by JANE HANKS MARTIN Walker, the UK writer who created a series of crime novels based in the Périgord, has been honoured for his contribution to local tourism. Martin Walker’s books have been sold worldwide with particular success in Germany, Switzerland and Austria - and have literally attracted busloads of visitors to the Dordogne. The works have been translated into 15 languages and were recently published in French – and Mr Walker was invited to a celebration launch in Paris. He was joined by the two people who were the inspiration for his books – the mayor of Le Bugue, Gérard Labrousse, and police chief Pierrot Simonet who is the model for the main character, Bruno Courrèges, the chief of police at Saint-Denis, the book’s fictional village which bears a close resemblance to Le Bugue. Mr Walker has spent his professional life all over the world but chose the Dordogne as the “nearest I have to home”. He wrote for The Guardian for 25 years and rubbed shoulders with politicians including Thatcher, Bush, Gorbachev, Clinton and Blair. Î Turn
to page 2
Martin Walker and police chief Pierrot Simonet, the model for the main character
M 05151 - 42 - F: 0,95 E
3:HIKPLF=VUU^Z]:?k@k@e@c@a;
Send international money transfers the easy way. Your high street bank offers foreign exchange as part of its service. At HiFX, foreign exchange is our business.
¸ Bank beating exchange rates online or over the phone ¸ Track payments 24 hours a day ¸ Transfer from as little as £50 ¸ VeriSign security used by 97 of the World’s top 100 banks
Don’t let the banks cash in. www.hifx.co.uk
2 News
www.dordogneadvertiser.com
CONTACT US With a story, email: dordogne@connexionfrance.com (please include a daytime contact number) With a subscription or advert query call:
From France: 0800 91 77 56 (freephone) From UK: 0844 256 9881 (4p per minute)
or by email: sales@connexionfrance.com The Advertiser is published by: English Language Media Sarl, Le Vedra, 38 rue Grimaldi, 98000 Monaco. Directrice de la publication: Sarah Smith.
Printed at Nice-M Matin: 214 Route de Grenoble, 06290 Nice Cedex 3. Environmental policy The Advertiser is printed on recycled newspaper, using a printing company which adheres to stringent regulations to reduce pollution.
Mensuel Depôt légal – a parution ISSN: 2226-9525 CPPAP: 0413 I 91324 Encart abonnement sur une diffusion partielle.
Read the Advertiser online at www.dordogneadvertiser.com
Contents News What’s On Feature Leisure Time
1-7 8-11 12-13, 24 14
Food and Pets 15 Directory 16-19 Home and Garden 20-21 Property and Finance 22-23
Useful Numbers EMERGENCY NUMBERS 18: Emergencies: Calls the fire brigade (Sapeurs Pompiers), but they deal with medical emergencies and are usually the first port of call in rural areas. 112: Emergency calls from your mobile: Be ready with your name and where you are calling from and do not hang up until told to do so. 17: Police (gendarmes) 119: Child abuse. 1616: Sea and lake rescue. 01 40 05 48 48: Anti-poison centre (Paris) 08 10 33 30 + your department number (eg 24 for the Dordogne): Gas & electricity emergencies UTILITIES FRANCE TELECOM Website in English: www.francetelecom.com To report a fault online: www.1013.fr (click on the UK flag). English-speaking helpline: 09 69 36 39 00 (from France); + 33 1 55 78 60 56 (outside France). ORANGE: English-speaking helpline: 09 69 36 39 00. SFR: 1023 (+ 33 6 10 00 10 23 from outside France) FREE: 1044 BOUYGUES: 1034 EDF: 24 hour breakdown line: 08 10 33 30 87; Helpline in English: 05 62 16 49 08; From outside France: + 33 5 62 16 49 08; Email: simpleenergywithedf@edf.fr GOVERNMENT ORGANISATIONS CAISSE D’ALLOCATIONS FAMILIALES - CAF: 50 Rue Claude Bernard, 24011 PERIGUEUX CEDEX; Tel: 08 10 25 24 10. L’ASSURANCE MALADIE (AMELI, formerly known as CPAM – the health service): www.ameli.fr, Tel: 36 46 (MonFri, 8am-5pm) English spoken. URSSAF: English-language site:www.anglais.urssaf.fr, Périgueux, 50 rue Claude-Bernard, 24022 Périgueux Cedex; Tel: 05 53 45 69 00. PREFECTURE: Services de l’Etat-préfecture, Cité administrative 24024 PERIGUEUX CEDEX Tel: 05 53 02 24 24; Email:prefecture@dordogne.gouv.fr OTHER HELP IN ENGLISH COUNSELLING IN FRANCE: for a qualified therapist near you or counselling over the telephone; www.counsellinginfrance.com SOS HELP: similar to the Samaritans, listeners who are professionally trained; Tel 01 46 21 46 46; www.soshelpline.org.
NO PANIC FRANCE: for help with anxiety disorders; Tel: 02 51 28 80 25; www.nopanic.org.uk ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS: www.aafrancesud-ouest.com or call Ewen on 05 53 05 76 62 or Christine on 05 45 98 11 05. CANCER SUPPORT FRANCE: for advice and someone to talk to: www.cancersupportfrance.info, National Office email: cancersupportfrance@orange.fr, Tel: 05 45 89 30 05. CSF DORDOGNE EST/LOT: Margaret York: 05 65 22 96 37 or 06 35 90 03 41 (24 hrs); csfdoedognelot@yahoo.com CSF RIBERAC (CHARENTE SOUTH AND DORDOGNE WEST): Teresa Rekowska: 06 82 72 68 58; Email: csfriberac@gmail.com SOLDIERS, SAILORS, AIRMEN AND FAMILIES ASSOCIATION FORCES (SSAFA): In France: 05 53 01 64 54; Email: france@ssafa.org.uk. AVF: help with integration into French life; www.avf.asso.fr ASSOCIATION FRANÇAISE DES SOLOS: Monthly meetings after divorce, bereavement or separation. Social events for members. Corinne: 05 53 22 68 52 (evenings); or Claire: 05 53 08 55 13 (evenings); Email: afs.bergerac@orange.fr; www.asso-des-solos.fr BRITISH CONSULATE Address: 353 Boulevard du President Wilson 33073, Bordeaux Cedex; Tel + 33 5 57 22 21 10; www.ukinfrance.fco.gov.uk/en ENGLISH-LANGUAGE RADIO Radio Liberté 91.6 Mhz, based in Riberac, Dordogne, broadcasts an English-language radio show with news in English from Monday to Friday at 12:15 and at 19:30. It also airs a live English program every Friday from 12:30 to 14:30. Online streaming available. OTHER INFO YELLOW PAGES: www.pagesjaunes.fr SPEAKING CLOCK: 3699. WEATHER: 08 92 68 02 + dept. number. LAST INCOMING CALL ON YOUR PHONE: 3131, then ‘5’ if you wish to connect. PUBLIC HOLIDAYS THIS MONTH August 15 - Assumption Day
Dordogne Clubs and Associations Anglican Church of Aquitaine Services: Bertric Burée, Chancelade, Limeuil Haut, Ste Nathalène and Sorges, also in 47, 33. Chaplain Revd Dr Paul Vrolijk 05 53 23 40 73 aquitainechaplain@gmail.com Association Culturelle Franco-Anglaise Aquitaine From French lessons to bridge, plus monthly social get-togethers. www.acfaa.com
www.photoclub-bergerac.com Bibliothèque Anglaise Meyrals English books and DVDs. Mon 14.00 to 16.00 and Wed 10.00 to noon in 24220 Meyrals. Em Boiling: 05 53 30 30 23 bibliotheque.anglaise@gmail.com Chabrelle Computer Club Charlie Nott: La Roche Chabrelle 24320 St Just Tel: 05 53 90 50 39
Association Culturelle Internationale du Périgord ACIP aims to promote integration. Lycette Schouten Hoogendyk: 05 53 29 27 96 louisa.schoutenhoogendyk@orange.fr www.acip24.com
Centre de Golf Bergeracois Philippa Thornton: 05 53 58 87 18 centredegolfbergeracois@orange.fr
Bergerac Photo Club Meets Wed at 20.30, Maison des Associations, Place Jules Ferry, Bergerac. photoclub-bergerac@orange.fr
The Interesting Gardening Club Jane Evans: 05 53 91 34 96 carolawt@aol.com www.theinterestinggardeningclub.org
Golf Public de Périgueux 05 53 53 02 35 golfpgx@wanadoo.fr www.golfdeperigueux.com
‘Difficult to prevent the search for shale gas’ Î From
page 1 projects can be found by putting in the name of the permis at www.developpementdurable.gouv.fr At present, fracking – the method used to shatter the rock holding the shale gas and which it is feared could contaminate water supplies – has been made illegal and there is a moratorium on testing. Recently, though, it was understood that the Permis de Cahors had got through the first administrative procedure and was awaiting examination at government level. Protestors fear careful wording may allow fracking to go ahead. Dominique Pouyer-Hue, president of Vigilance Périgord association, said that it was good news the government had decided to be more open with information – but she still fears that testing will go ahead. She said: “François Hollande has already said he wouldn’t be against seeing what is under the ground. We don’t believe there is any alternative to fracking and we think it will be very difficult to prevent the search for shale gas in the department. “We are glad that no decisions are being made in the immediate future. This gives us time to put in place a procedure whereby volunteer scientists will test the water before any drilling begins so we can prove any deterioration should testing begin.”
Dordogne Advertiser
August 2012
Books are a ‘shop window for Dordogne’ Î From
page 1 Micheline Morriseau from Dordogne tourist board said Mr Walker had become an ambassador for the Périgord: “He has become a great friend for us – and created an extraordinary shop window for us around the world. “He has attracted important media coverage – for example Die Welt in Germany and the Austrian national television chain which made a documentary on the riches of the Dordogne as viewed by Martin Walker.” Ms Morriseau added: “We wanted to celebrate and thank him for the help he has given us.” Mr Walker said he was very happy with the success of the books: “I adore the place and really hope that I have created the magic of the region. “I am very pleased particularly with the success in Germany, Switzerland and Austria. I was in Vienna a short time ago and it was very strange to walk down the street and see a shop window full of pictures of me and my books. “Back here tourists come up to our police chief in Le Bugue and ask him for his autograph. I really love the region. When
Martin Walker (centre) with Le Bugue police chief Pierrot Simonet and mayor Gérard Labrousse at the book launch I come here it makes me feel 20 years younger.” Sales have also been good in the US, where purchasers of his e-books also get a Perfect Week in Périgord guide written by Mr Walker and where he has extolled the virtues of the region on CNN. The Danish press has been here this summer to interview the celebrated author and it is hoped the first book will sell well in France under the title Meurtre en Périgord. Book signings in Sarlat and Bergerac have proved popular. In the UK, Mr Walker’s fifth
book, The Devil’s Cave, is published this month and he will be working on his sixth book this summer. He added: “I haven’t yet decided on the title, but it’s going to start with the death of an old man who is clutching a beautiful 1940 banknote which, it is discovered, was part of the haul of the Neuvic train raid in 1944 when the equivalent of €350million was stolen by the Resistance from a German-run train. There has always been mystery surrounding what happened to the money.”
theme park
Funeral boss ‘threw bones into quarry’ A FUNERAL director in Eymet could face a year in prison and a €15,000 fine after he was accused of digging up graves and emptying their contents into a local quarry. Walkers recorded a video showing human remains including bones and skulls alongside broken pieces of wood and household waste at the site. There are strict rules governing exhumations, requiring any bones to be sorted, labelled and stored in an ossuary. Lawyers for Patrice Pauly, who employs 23 staff, said he had an impeccable track record and claimed he had been set up. A judgment is not expected until September 11.
Discover a different kind of leisure park experience! With 40 millions visitors since it opened, Futuroscope is one of the best loved leisure Parks in France That destination is Futuroscope, the ideal place to relax in 60 hectares of tranquil green countryside and enjoy 25 original experiences you won’t find anywhere else: films in giant format, thrill-filled attractions, games, live shows, open-air activities, People of the Future and more. Discovery and thrills guaranteed for everyone, young and old! And take advantage of the special 25th Birthday offers to discover Futuroscope in 2012…
Local athletes off to London THREE sportsmen from the Dordogne are in London for the Olympic Games. They are Stany Delayre, an oarsman from the Bergerac rowing club, Yoann Kowal, a runner who will be competing in the 1500m and Joël Jeannot, who will be in the handbike events in the Paralympics. The local council has given financial help to all three athletes.
iMagic
Arthur, the 4D Adventure
Cosmic Collisions
-3€
per person The Blue Note Mystery Evening Show
The voucher is valid for adult, senior citizen (aged 60 and over) and child (aged 5 to 16) for 1 day or 2 day dated-entry tickets and must be handed in at the Futuroscope ticket booths between the 1st April 2012 to the 6th January 2013* (1 to 5 visitors per voucher). Discount does not apply to packages, group tickets, and undated entry tickets (visa/ season). Offer may not be combined with other offers and backdated. *Please check the opening date’s calendar on futuroscope.com
Dordogne Advertiser
August 2012
News 3
www.dordogneadvertiser.com
Animal charity must grow
“
Last summer was horrific. We had 50 to 100 calls a day either reporting cruelty or lost or found animals Christian Carrard
money from legacies and donations and will ask the departmental council for help. They also want to change their status – at present they have two functions: one to protect animals and one to act as a pound for stray dogs and cats notified to them by mairies. At present they have an agreement with 300 communes as far away as Terrasson to the east and Riberac to the north but are not officially recognised by the department as an animal pound. Mr Carrard added: “Our vehicles do 35,000km a year. It would be much better for us in terms of administration if we could be officially recognised. We already cover most of the department.” The SPA is never short of work. In
Charity president Christian Carrard (below) wants to move into new premises to offer a better standard of care France, 100,000 pets are abandoned every year – 60,000 in the summer. Mr Carrard says he sees the same pattern in the Dordogne: “Last summer was horrific. We had 50 to 100 telephone calls a day either reporting cruelty or lost or found animals. It’s difficult to manage all of that. “We do see a lot of cruelty. At present we have a case of neglect where a breeder who has fallen on hard times has got about 40 dogs living in appalling conditions – most of them sick and suffering. We will have to see if we can get them and find room for them. We cannot leave them like that.” He says they are always looking for families to adopt cats or dogs and with the recession there are more abandoned pets – and fewer people willing to take on an animal. If you want to adopt you can go and choose an animal and will be given advice. It is not free however: it costs €155 for a dog, €110 for a cat and €85 for a kitten or female cat which includes vaccinations and electronic tags and castration for a male cat. The SPA is keen to point out the commitment required to take on a pet. You can consult animals available for adoption at www.spa-bergerac.org The group also welcomes donations to cover their costs which include seven permanent staff and the price of 15 to 20 tonnes of pet food a year.
Photo: Lars Karlsson/Wikimedia
Not enough research has been done in France on hedgehog numbers people who have found babies or injured hedgehogs. We give advice so we can save as many as possible.” It is complicated in France because it is illegal to look after a wild animal
A 17-year-old boy from Bergerac has won a prestigious award for being the best speller in France. Osiris Malbranque, a pupil at the Lycée Maine-deBiron, beat 500 participants in the finals at the Sorbonne University in Paris. He made just five mistakes in a range of dictation and grammar questions – and even the French champion had to concede that he had got his masculine and feminine endings mixed up in two words.
Seven teachers hired, 35 go
Hedgehog helpers inundated with calls ANOTHER charity that says it has learnt a great deal from the British is the Hedgehog Sanctuary in France. It was created in the north of the country by Anne Fingar, who tries to deal with prickly hedgehog problems all over France. The group recently gave advice after someone found baby hedgehogs in the Dordogne which were then taken to a local vet to be cared for. Mrs Fingar said the hérisson (hedgehog) is in grave danger of extinction. UK studies show that if nothing is done they could be extinct by 2025. “There has been a 95% reduction in the hedgehog population in England in 60 years. I am sure it is the same in France but there isn’t enough interest in the subject for any research to be carried out,” she said. “I trained in the UK before setting up my sanctuary here 15 years ago. We have a website and get a huge number of calls from
THE Dordogne’s four members of parliament are now all from the left after Brigitte Allain, representing an alliance of the Greens and the Socialists at Bergerac, beat the ring-wing UMP candidate Dominique Mortemousque in the latest elections. The other three députés, Germinal Peiro for the south-east, Colette Langlade for the North and Pascal Deguilhem for Périgueux and the l’Isle Valley all held on to their seats. The previous MP for Bergerac, Daniel Garrigue, who was originally a member of the UMP but left to become an independent supporting the centre, had held his seat since 2002 but was knocked out in the first round.
Bergerac boy is spelling winner
Photo: Jane Hanks
THE Society for the Protection of Animals (SPA) at Bergerac is looking for funding to build a centre in a new location to better cater for the animals it rescues. It is also hoping to be recognised as the official animal pound for the department. At present the SPA looks after as many as 80 dogs, 40 cats and 35 kittens at any time. President Christian Carrard said the current site is small and outdated: “There isn’t enough space and the concrete flooring is unhygienic and hard to wash. “We have the opportunity to buy a piece of land far enough away from housing so as not to be a nuisance and we really want to find enough money to build new premises on it. “We could then look after our dogs and cats in far better conditions and have facilities for bigger animals like horses. The other day somebody found three donkeys loose on the road and we had to try and find someone to care for them – it would be much better if we had our own stable. “We’d also like an area for school visits and associations – education and prevention are important in our work but we have nowhere to do it. It’s a huge project but would be ideal.” The charity hopes to raise enough
Photo: Jane Hanks
by JANE HANKS
UMP loses only Dordogne seat
– as reported in the Dordogne Advertiser, people have been taken to court for having a fox and a wild boar in their homes. The charity gives advice but does
not advocate keeping them: “We give first aid tips, for example they are vulnerable during the day so we suggest people shelter them until it is dark. “You can give them dog and cat croquettes – but never cow’s milk. If you find one that is injured take it to a vet or an animal centre. You can find full details at www.herisson.eu.” The charity says the main cause of death is the road (they claim 700,000 hedgehogs are killed by cars a year in Europe) and pesticides, and everyone can help by making their gardens safe. “In the UK you are well-educated about providing wild areas where they can nest for the winter and about checking your bonfires before lighting them and we are trying to educate people here to do the same thing,” said Mrs Fingar. “But we are only a small group – and we receive 16,500 emails and 20,000 telephone calls a year – so at present it’s an uphill struggle.”
THE Dordogne will have seven new teachers in September, of whom six will be used as replacement teachers. It is part of President Hollande’s promise to increase the number of staff in schools – 1,000 new posts have been created throughout France. The Dordogne branch of teachers’ union SNUipp said the new posts were far from sufficient as there will be 35 fewer teachers in the Dordogne this year and many of the jobs cuts are special needs posts. Earlier this year the headmistress of a school at Montignac went on hunger strike for a month to protest at cuts in staff. Meanwhile the department’s education authority has announced that five classes threatened with closure in September will remain open: Beaumont, Tocane, Trémolat, Thonac and Saint-Leon-sur-Vézère.
Sarlat footpath network opens AROUND 300km of footpaths have been officially opened in the 13 communes around Sarlat. There are several circuits which are linked together by adjoining paths. Maps for each commune can be found in the local tourist offices. There are plans to publish a map showing the routes for the whole of the communauté de communes of Sarlat. Sébastien Galabrun, in charge of the project, said that walking was attracting more and more people and the paths were popular.
4 News
www.dordogneadvertiser.com
Town is on the cutting edge of knifemaking
Nontron knifemaking can be traced back to Middle Ages The handles are made from local box wood and decorated with a symbol in the form of a U and three dots in pyrography. The blades are no longer forged in the Dordogne – but at Laguiole in the Aveyron, another town associated with French knives. The knife festival is one of the most important in
Europe. Visitors can see forgers at work with a workshop for children and there will be craftsmen from all over Europe and as far away as Japan presenting their products. The festival is open from 10.00-19.00 on Saturday and Sunday. Entrance costs €5 for one day, €7 for both days and is free for under 16s.
A BRAND new system has been installed in the Dordogne so that fire and ambulance services will be able to respond faster to emergency calls – including better support for Englishspeakers who do not speak much French. At a cost of nearly €9million, commander Jean-Yves Dupont of the Fire and Rescue Services (SDIS 24) said it would mean a much more efficient service: “We have 41 centres and 1,500 firemen to co-ordinate and this new installation means we can do so more easily. “There are about 60 incidents a day – 400 to 500 a week. For example before when we contacted the (volunteer) firemen we had to wait to see if they turned up at the centre or not before calling on others. “Now they will all carry a pager which will immediately show their availability – and if they can’t come our centre will automatically contact the next person on the list. That can save us many valuable minutes for getting our per-
sonnel on the road.” There is also a GPS system to locate the whereabouts of the vehicles so they can find the nearest one to call out to a location. Another innovation is a digital iPad-like device which has been created by a Sarlat company and is a leader in its field. It will be able to register details of an accident to be sent ahead to the receiving hospital and it is has a translation system which has been created to communicate with non-French speaking people. There is a list of about 300 questions which can be asked in English, German or Spanish with yes/no or factual answers – for example: “Where does it hurt?”, “Do you take any medications?” and “Where are you staying?” Mr Dupont says this multilingual system has already proved very useful. The new centre will deal with all emergency calls except the police. These are: 15 (medical services, SAMU), 18 (fire services) and 112 (the European emergency number).
A SPOT OF HISTORY
Carsac’s Malta connection Photo: Mairie de Carsac-Aillac - Wikimedia Commons
the combination of existing forges smelting local iron ore, the very cold waters of the river Bandiat for tempering steel and the abundance of wood made the craft a possibility. The first real traces go back to the Middle Ages. Craftsman came from all over France to study the art of knifemaking. In the early 18th century when dogs were still used to turn the great stones which polished the metal, two families established themselves at the centre of the industry, the Bernards and the Petits. They monopolised the trade throughout the 19th and early 20th century, the golden age of knifemaking at Nontron. One of their specialities were miniature knives placed in walnuts and sold as curiosities. Today the traditional knife is still made by the Coutellerie Nontronaise.
August 2012
Emergency call centre can offer help in English
Did you know?
THE DORDOGNE is not only well-known for its truffles, foie gras and walnuts but also for its knives and particularly those that are made in Nontron. Legend has it that King Henry IV of France was stabbed with a knife from the town and that Charles VII’s sword came from the local forges. The first folding pocket knives in France – the kind that Périgourdian men cannot be without and use for, among other things, cutting slices of bread, saucisson and mushrooms from the woods – was created in Nontron. This month, on August 5 and 6, there will be the 17th Fête du Couteau de Nontron celebrating both the local knives and the art of crafting them from all round the world. Nobody knows exactly when knifemaking began in Nontron but it seems that
Dordogne Advertiser
Saint-Caprais church in the village of Carsac ANY visitor to Malta may be interested to know that the island’s capital, Valletta, owes its name to the village of Carsac, a few kilometres south of Sarlat. Back in 1485, the Château de Carsac was acquired by the de Valette family, whose possessions stretched from Quercy to the Rouergue. It was the start of a long history, linking the destinies of the parish and this distinguished family for more than two-and-a-half centuries. In 1565, Antoine III de Valette is said to have sent “important help” to his cousin Jean, who was defending Malta against the Turks. The year after the defenders were victorious, the island’s capital was established and given the name of its brave founder (now Valletta in English but still La Valette in French). It never being too late for gratitude, Carsac’s treasured 12th-century church – regarded as the most beautiful little church in the whole Dordogne department – is reported to have received a gift from the Grand Master of the Order of Malta to complete the necessary financing for its restoration in the 1940s.
From a new bilingual guide to Carsac-Aillac, latest in a series of guides to beautiful local villages published by the Périgord Heritage association. Copies (only €5) can be obtained from: Mairie, La Tavernerie, 24200 Carsac-Aillac. Others in the series include bilingual guides to Beynac, La Roque-Gageac and Vézac.
Another big name locally was prehistorian François Bordes, whose research work in the area (using a method adopted worldwide) led him to fall in love with Carsac and buy a second home in the village – its garden large enough for his students to set up camp there. On the side, he produced science fiction best-sellers, written under the pseudonym of Francis Carsac. He and his wife, also an eminent prehistorian, are buried together in Carsac’s little cemetery.
Dordogne Advertiser
August 2012
Hospital sets out plan to beat debt
Woman wins fight to keep her wild boar
Evelyne Cornu and her boar A WOMAN who was taken to court for looking after a wild boar for 12 years on her farm at Veyrines-de-Vergt has crossed the last legal hurdle in her fight to keep the animal. Evelyne Cornu was surprised to receive a letter this summer asking her to appear before judges at Bordeaux after a court at Périgueux had decided to give her a suspended fine of €100 and allowed her to keep the boar, called Mimine. However, at the last minute the court decided to drop the action. Mimine’s owner says she is relieved and can now relax with her wild boar who now has official papers and a tag in her ear.
New warning on level crossing safety MOTORISTS in the Dordogne have been reminded about driving safely near level crossings after the deaths of two people in the department this year. The RFF – responsible for rail tracks in France – said 98% of level crossing accidents were caused by drivers breaking the highway code. Earlier this summer one crossing that had been deemed too dangerous was closed at Terrasson, with a road created to bypass it.
Souillac awaits court ruling over airport name dispute BRIVE Vallée de la Dordogne airport may be forced to change its name to include the town of Souillac, depending on the outcome of a final decision from a court in Limoges whch was imminent as the Advertiser went to press. The town took the airport to court after the original title Aéroport Brive-Souillac was changed in 2009 to Aéroport de Brive Vallée de la Dordogne which was felt to be more commercially attractive. The consortium which runs the airport argued that it had kept the name Souillac in its official company title, Syndicat Mixte de l’Aérodrome de Brive-Souillac. However Souillac was not satisfied as it says the airport was born from the vision of two mayors, Jean Charbonnel at Brive and Alain Chastagnol at Souillac 25 years ago. Councillor François Thomas from Souillac says it is important for his town to be recognised: “We were at the initiative of the airport and it is us who are by the Dordogne river and not Brive. It would help our town attract more visitors and we feel we deserve a place in the title.” A compromise has been suggested: Aéroport Brive Souillac Vallée de la Dordogne – but at present the airport has decided not to
Photo: Le grand Cricri/Wikimedia
SARLAT hospital has drawn up a new plan to balance its books after the first one was rejected by the regional health authority. The hospital is €1.8m in the red due largely to a drop in the number of patients. The hospital hoped to have until 2016 to make up its debts but has now introduced new measures with a 2013 deadline. Director Christophe Marilesse said it would be “faster and harder” but was confident it could be done without job losses. He said: “If we have managed to claw back €1.5m in the next 18 months we will have won through.” He sees a change in the hospital services in the future: “We will have far more home hospital beds. We will have the same staff but there will be more activity outside the hospital building. Why give antibiotic therapy in hospital when it can be done at home?” Jean-Jacques De Peretti, the mayor of Sarlat who also heads the hospital’s council, pointed out that the town is in a particularly difficult position being rural: “We serve 70,000 people and there is no alternative nearby. “The maternity services need 900 births to break even – but there are only about 450 a year. However the government should help us to ensure that this public service continues. Local women cannot travel all the way to Périgueux to give birth.” The regional health authority has until August 20 to give the thumbs up to the plans – if not the hospital could be put under a temporary administration order.
News 5
www.dordogneadvertiser.com
The airport was previously called Brive-Souillac but changed its name to Vallée de la Dordogne in 2009 make any changes. A preliminary hearing in Limoges took place in June and a ruling is due shortly. Meanwhile, at Bergerac, the job of running its airport is available. The chamber of commerce has carried out the task up to now – but the overall governing body the Smad (Syndicat Mixte AirDordogne) has decided to put the job out to tender. As well as the chamber of commerce, there are two other candi-
dates: construction firm Vinci and Canadian group SNC Lavalin. They have until the end of September to put in details of their offers and a decision is expected by the end of this year. The chosen group will start work in January. The chamber of commerce is keen to continue. A spokesman said: “Why give up when it is going so well? The economy of Bergerac needs the airport and we are at the head of something which benefits
the local businesses which we represent.” The chamber of commerce has ambitious plans for the future. Mr Lacombe added: “We would eventually like to see the airport run at its capacity for 400,000 passengers but for that we will need to attract more clients. So we will look at the possibility of additional flights towards the south – Italy, Portugal, Spain for example and try to attract more local people on to our planes.”
Give €1 to help club compete with new boat A ROWING club at Bergerac is hoping to raise €38,000 to pay for a state of the art, eightman rowing boat by asking the public to donate €1 to their cause. The Sport Nautique de Bergerac has put collection boxes in bakeries and other shops throughout the Bergerac area and money is already coming in. The club was founded in 1860 and since then boasts 100 French championship titles to its name, was the top winning club in France for Club needs €38,000 12 years running (this for the ultra-light boat year it is seventh out of 400) and has produced one of the rowers for the Olympics, Stany Delayre. Club president Jean Rousseaux is proud of his club and says they would like to purchase the boat for their up-and-coming young rowers: “We have very talented teams of eight in all the youth categories and it would be wonderful to have this boat. “It is made from the latest technologies in Germany and its advantage is that it is extremely light for its length and extremely strong. It is 18.6m long and weighs just 5kg. We have it on loan from the company but would like to keep it. We feel we have given a lot to the town – and are hoping we can ask just a little from a lot of people to help us continue competing at the highest levels.” Mr Rousseaux said the club had made rowing a part of life in Bergerac as every year pupils from the local schools, collèges and lycées are introduced to the sport. “We welcome new members and believe this is a modern sport – ecological and pure,” he said. “At Bergerac we have possibly the largest selection of boats in Europe – if you put them end to end they would measure 2.15km and that’s without the new boat which would be our crowning glory.”
Worried about the Euro debt crisis? Talk to Siddalls about how to structure your finances in these difficult times Peter Wakelin, Regional Manager French Head Office: 05 56 34 75 51 Email: bordeaux.office@siddalls.net
www.siddalls.fr French finance in plain English Siddalls France SASU, Parc Innolin, 3 Rue du Golf, 33700 Mérignac - RCS BX 498 800 465. C.I.F. No E001669 auprès de ANACOFI-CIF association agréée par l’Autorité des Marchés Financiers et Courtier d’Assurances, Catégorie B - ORIAS 07 027 475. Garantie Financière et Assurance de Responsabilité Civile Professionnelle conformes aux articles L 541-3 du Code Monétaire et Financier et L 512-6 et 512-7 du Code des Assurances.
6 National News FRANCE’S No1 car-maker, Peugeot Citroën wants to cut 8,000 jobs across the company and close its factory at Aulnay-sous-Bois in 2014. More than 3,000 jobs will go at Aulnay, 1,400 from its factory at Rennes in Brittany and another 3,600 – including 1,400 from research and development of new models – from various administrative, research and sales functions. Social Affairs Minister Marisol Touraine said she could “not accept something like this” and added that the firm had received €4billion in state aid in the past few years. Union leader Bernard Thibault of the CGT said the union would take action, as the real impact in terms of jobs in the rest of the country could “triple or quadruple” the job losses. Peugeot Citroën said sales had fallen 15% across Europe in the first three months of the year meaning operational losses of €700million.
Bac exam results are down – and up OVERALL results in this year’s Baccalauréat are down – due entirely to a large drop in the pass rate for the vocational Bac Professionnel. However, despite this, pass rates were up in most other exam types, with a 90.8% pass in the scientific strand and 89.1% for the economic and social sector. The overall rate fell from 85.6% to 84.5% but the rate for the general Bac was up 1.4% to 89.6% and the technological Bac was up 1%. However, the professional Bac fell 5.6% to hit 78.2%.
‘Stop and question’ police rules to stay PLANS to reform the way police stop and question people in the street are to be dropped. It had been planned for police to give receipts to the people they stop as a way of avoiding abuses where people are stopped and possibly searched because of their race. However, police unions were said to be “strongly opposed” to the move and the data watchdog Cnil was worried about potential data collection if police kept a record of who had been given receipts. Interior Minister Manuel Valls does
Dordogne Advertiser
August 2012
Paris police reveal Vel d’Hiv shame
Photo: ©PHOTOPQR/SUD OUEST / XAVIER LEOTY
Peugeot Citroën to cut 8,000 jobs
www.dordogneadvertiser.com
PARIS police has opened its archives on one of the darkest periods of its history – the “Vel d’Hiv Roundup” in July 1942, when the Vichy regime mobilised police and gendarmerie to round up Jews on behalf of the Nazi occupiers. In all, 13,152 men, women and children were picked up and held in the Vélodrome d’Hiver cycling stadium before being shipped to German camps, from where, it thought, fewer than 100 returned. The exhibition – The Vel d’Hiv Roundup: the police archives – runs until September 15 in the mairie of the 3rd arrondissement and includes lists of arrested Jews, accounts of goods seized, intelligence service notes on their state of mind etc.
New laws and rates come into force
Three down, one to go for quadruple amputee swimmer QUADRUPLE amputee Philippe Croizon has swum across the Strait of Gibraltar, the third stage of his bid to swim between the five continents. He and his able-bodied swimming partner Arnaud Chassery took five hours and 20 minutes to swim the 16km between Europe and Africa, swimming from Tarifa on the southern tip of Spain to Ciress on the Moroccan coast near Tangier. Philippe, using not favour the change, according to RTL radio station. Other proposals are still being looked at as the plan was an election promise by President François Hollande. These could include a return to police having numbers on uniforms or having cameras fitted on uniforms or on a neckband.
Legal bid to restrict Livret A accounts PEOPLE will be stopped from opening more than one Livret A savings accounts under a decree proposed by the Conseil d’Etat. The practice of having more than one of the non-tax-paying accounts is already illegal, but is widespread due to weak penalties. Now the Conseil d’Etat wants to
prosthetic limbs with flippers attached, and Arnaud have already swum from Australasia to Asia (crossing from Papua New Guinea to Indonesia) and from Africa to Asia (from Taba in Egypt across the Red Sea to Aqaba in Jordan). Next month they plan to complete the project by swimming across the Bering Strait from a Russian island to a US island in Alaska and may meet President Obama.
oblige banks to consult tax authorities before allowing someone to open an account, which has a savings ceiling of €15,300 and currently an interest rate of 2.25%.
the new Ayrault government’s plans for gas prices to be limited to the rate of inflation – or 2% – as opposed to the 4.1% which GDF has said that it needs.
Retrospective price increase for millions
France borrows at a negative interest rate
LAST year’s gas price freeze by the Fillon government has been ruled as unlawful – and millions using gas face a retrospective price increase for fuel they have already paid for. France’s top administrative body, the Conseil d’Etat, annulled the freeze, which lasted from October to the start of January, which means the average household will have to pay an extra €40 for last year’s gas. The ruling, after a plea by gas supplier GDF, has now cast doubt over
FOR the first time ever France has been able to borrow at a negative rate – that is, it will pay back less than it borrows – and joins a select group of countries, including Germany, Denmark and the Netherlands, which have been able to do so this year. The feat comes as investors seek safe places for their money, worried about instability in southern Europe. France had only intended to borrow €7.7billion but was offered nearly three times as much and Agence France Trésor was able to negotiate the lower rate. Threemonth bonds are at -0.005% and six-month ones at -0.006%.
Unesco hails the Dordogne heritage UNESCO has named the Dordogne river basin a biosphere reserve and added it to the list of natural heritage sites in France. There are 10 other labelled sites in France and the 24,000 km2 basin joins Mont Ventoux in the Vaucluse, the Cévennes and the Camargue. Unesco recognised the river, which rises at Puy de Sancy and crosses six departments, as being remarkable for its well-preserved natural setting and the exceptional cultural heritage and art de vivre linked to it.
California bans sale of foie gras PRODUCTION and sale of foie gras was banned in California on July 1 but it has not affected French-based suppliers too much as they already find it hard to sell in the US due to tough import rules. Restaurants risk fines of $1,000 a day if they serve the delicacy, as California’s politicians say the forcefeeding with grain – gavage – required is cruel.
NEW decrees came into force last month that see, amongst other things, the minimum wage rise 2%, social charges on dividends and interest rise from 13.5% to 15.5% and a ban on outdoor advertising signs to be lit at night. Speeding car drivers will also now face a fine if flashed in Belgium after a reciprocal agreement on crossborder offences – and must now carry a breathalyser kit in the car. It is also now cheaper to make or receive mobile phone calls in other EU countries, with a new limit of 29 centimes a minute for making calls (down from 35) and 8 centimes for receiving them (as opposed to 11).
Police told to stop using Tu and Toi INTERIOR Minister Manuel Valls has told senior police to call a halt to the use of “tu” and “toi” when officers address people, even those who are insulting or abusing them. Using tu/toi (called tutoiement) can be seen as a way of speaking down to people and he told the new promotion of commissaires at the Ecole Nationale Supérieure de la Police near Lyon: “I ask that police retain a certain professional distance in keeping a cool head in every circumstance and avoiding the use of tu/toi.”
Métro and RER will get internet access SOME smartphone users will be able to access the internet in the Paris Métro after a deal between transport authority RATP and phone operator SFR. RATP is looking to install new technology to make the internet accessible throughout the network by the end of 2015, including the RER A and B local train network. From October SFR users will be able to connect in the areas around two key stations in central Paris – Châtelet and the Gare de Lyon. RATP hopes that it can come to agreements with the other major mobile operators and last month it installed free wi-fi in 48 stations.
More on these articles - and hundreds more - can be found at
www.connexionfrance.com
Just place a keyword in search and click!
UPDATED DAILY
Dordogne Advertiser
News 7
www.dordogneadvertiser.com
August 2012
Lavender couple bring Provence to south-west by JANE HANKS
Photo: Jane Hanks
YOU may have thought that you would have to go all the way to Provence to see fields of lavender – but just a few miles to the south of the Dordogne, in the Lot, a couple have planted their own fields of this evocative smelling purple plant from which they extract its essential oil. Suzie and Ian Dick’s passion for lavender started by chance after a visit to a farm in Ian’s native New Zealand, after which they decided to put a piece of sloping, neglected land on their property to use. After advice from the UK’s leading expert on lavender who happened to be staying in New Zealand at the same time they bought 400 plants from England. After these survived the intense heat wave of 2003 and a difficult winter, the couple were smitten and now have 2,500 plants. Ms Dick says they do everything by hand – including labour-intensive weeding – and are proud that they use no chemicals and extract the purest oil possible: “Nobody works in quite the same way as we do. We have developed a way of working which means we can get the best possible quality oil.” She has become convinced of the many virtues of lavender: “I really believe it is nature’s first aid in a bottle. It is famed for its antiseptic, antibacterial and antiviral properties. During the First World
Suzie and Ian Dick have 2,500 lavender plants at their farm, above, and welcome visitors by appointment War all soldiers carried a phial of lavender oil. “We have found that every nation has a different use – the British know it can help you sleep better, the French use it to repel insects and moths and hunters in Provence rub it on their dogs if they are bitten by a viper. Plus, lavender-flavoured ice cream is really delicious.” Ms Dick is the horticulturist and her husband Ian takes charge of harvesting and distillation. He is
proud of his push-along New Zealand harvesting machine, adapted from a Japanese tea leaf cutter and the only one to exist in Europe. It takes minutes instead of hours to pick the precious heads, and he is keen to show off his small still which was hand produced in America. “I harvest in July and August and have experimented to find the best moment to pick the flowers,” he said. “I distill the oil straight away and get 60ml of oil from 4kg of
flowers – about nine litres a year.” They have also discovered that lavender was farmed commercially in the area in the inter-war period after phylloxera destroyed the local vines. There is still one farm not far away and the owners there have been fascinated to see the couple’s success. They are enthusiastic about sharing their new-found passion – and you can visit their farm for a tour and tea by appointment only. See www.lavenderalot.com
British pupils help entertain the elderly
Downe House pupils share scones and chat with residents
RESIDENTS at a retirement home in Sarlat were entertained by pupils from a British school this summer, when girls put on a music and dance show and afterwards chatted as best they could in French to their audience. They also put on an exhibition of English food – introducing the residents to the delights of treacle tart and scones. Downe House is an independent girls’ school in Berkshire which offers its pupils a term in Veyrines-deDomme when they are aged 12 and 13. For the past 15 years the school has taken its pupils to the Plantier retirement home three times a year,
which brings great pleasure to the residents who look forward to the visit. Headteacher Sylvie Gauthier said it was important that the pupils go out into the community while in France: “We are not a ghetto and we want our students to have the chance to mix with the local population and this is an important part of their time here. “We also have links with the oncology and burns sections of a hospital in Toulouse and raise money for them. “The girls enjoy their visit to the retirement home and though it’s not easy for them to talk in French to the residents they do their best to communicate with them.”
Foie gras farms unconcerned by California ban PRODUCERS of foie gras in the Dordogne say they are not worried by a ban on the local delicacy which came into force in California on July 1 – although it could reignite the debate here in France about the techniques used. The American state has not only outlawed its production but also the sale of foie gras imported from overseas. The law was passed in 2004 but gave farmers seven years to reconvert. Jean-Pierre Dubois, the agricultural engineer responsible for foie gras and poultry at the Chamber of Agriculture in the Dordogne, said that farmers here saw no cause for concern. He said: “It doesn’t really change anything for us. There has always been a lot of opposition to the gavage or force-feeding of geese and it will perhaps reopen the debate, but I think it is very important that our farmers are very open and proud to show tourists round their exploitations and to illustrate their working methods. “If they made their livestock suffer they wouldn’t want to have visitors. And once people have seen what foie gras production is really all about most of them say the procedure doesn’t shock them. Our farmers take great care to ensure that their geese or ducks are well looked after.” In some parts of France reaction to the ban has been strong. The president of the Gers departmental council, Philippe Martin has urged restaurants and wine merchants to stop selling Californian wine. However, the Association Foie Gras du Périgord which ensures the quality and provenance of the local product said they did not feel at all affected by the news as sales in California are negligible.
Mayors step up rail campaign THE mayor of Périgueux has joined the mayors of Limoges, Poitiers, Cahors and Brive to send a letter to the president and prime minister urging them to back a proposed high-speed railway line between Limoges and Poitiers and the electrification of the line between Limoges and Périgueux. They say that the development of the Dordogne, Limousin and Lot has been penalised by the degradation of the rail service between Paris and Toulouse and that a new TGV link would help boost the economies of the region. Périgueux mayor Michel Moyrand has been campaigning for years for the electrification of the line to the city and wants to see the journey to the capital cut to three hours. A public enquiry on the Poitiers-Limoges line is due in September and work could begin in 2015. A recent poll found 80% of local residents are in favour of the project.
Find registered tradespeople quickly and easily
DIRECTORY PAGES PAGES 16 - 19
8 What’s On
www.dordogneadvertiser.com
Dordogne Advertiser
Issigeac
Périgord Pourpre
August 2012
FESTIVAL
August August 18-19 Festival Itinérance Médiévale – The streets of Dropt come alive with medieval history, starting with a stunning show of sound and light in front of the tourist office at 21.00, including shows from Diabolo and company who will entertain spectatots with their juggling skills. Awakening the medieval spirit the following morning will be a food market and the rest of the day’s activities include a diverse show of stilt walkers, various juggling performances, puppet shows and dance routines. The festivities continue into the evening, with a medieval banquet at the Place du Château accompanied by music and jest. Then at 23.00, there is a fire-based display by the Dragons du Cormyr. Entry is FREE. Call 05 53 58 77 76 or visit www.medieval.dropt.org
Périgord Vert Nontron CULTURE August 4 - 5 Fête du Couteau de Nontron 10.00 19.00 – The French town of the knife is hosting its annual knife festival for the 17th year running. It is a two-day event where all the main knife-makers in France gather to demonstrate the art of forging knives as well as displaying their wares. This year will include famous names such as les Baillon, Bignon, Cellier, Garnier, Herrero, Lavialle, Marchand, Moulay et Relot. Refreshments will be available during the day followed by music in the evening. Tickets cost €5 for one day or €7 for the two day event. Call 05 53 56 25 50 or visit www.feteducouteau.typepad.fr
Busserolles OUT AND ABOUT August 4 Nocturnal Hiking, 19.30 – Go outdoors and enjoy the summer evenings socialising with keen hikers.There will be two circuits of 7km and 12km depending on your fitness level, with food and drink stops along the way. The walks depart at 19.30 and you must reserve your place in advance. Make sure you wear comfortable shoes and bring an electric hand torch.Tickets €12. Call 05 53 60 74 75 www.perigordverttourisme.com
Brantôme
FAMILY
Every Friday evening in August Joutes Nautiques at l’Abbaye de Brantôme - from 21.15 – This event takes place every year in the village of Brantôme which is one of the prettiest villages in the Dordogne and known locally as the ‘Venice of Périgord’ due to its unique situation of being encircled by the River Dronne. Two opposing teams, one red and one blue, battle with their paddles to see who will become the first person to splash into the river. Cheering is guaranteed as the locals root for their preferred team.With a backdrop of the beautiful Abbaye de Brantôme, this event brings in a big crowd every year so be sure to arrive early and find yourself an ideal viewing spot. If you prefer, make your way over to one of the riverside restaurants, where you will be able to marvel at the two battling teams while enjoying an al fresco meal.There will also be an evening market where local producers will be at hand to offer their regional delicacies. Entry is FREE. Call 05 53 05 80 63 or visit www.perigord-dronne-belle.fr
Dordogne Advertiser
August 2012
Hautefort
CULTURE
www.dordogneadvertiser.com
Until August 22nd Château de Hautefort – Every Wednesday, take a night-time tour of this beautiful castle that dates back to the 9th century, and see some of the day-to-day 17th century activities being re-enacted along the way. The château is steeped in history; Richard the Lionheart laid siege to what was then a medieval fortress in 1183, and it underwent immense transformations in the 17th century producing an opulent and elegant edifice.Tickets €10, nocturnal tour departs at 22.00. Visit www.chateau-hautefort.com
Périgord Noir Until August 20 Visite nocturne au Grand Roc – Follow in the footsteps of archeologist Jean Maury, who discovered this magical cave in 1924.With a presentation about the prehistoric background whilst actually in the cave, wander around with only a kerosene lantern to light the way. Call 05 53 06 92 70
Les Eyzies-de-Tayac-Sireuil CULTURE
Perigueux MUSIC
What’s On 9
Périgord Blanc
August 27 - September 1 Sinfonia en Périgord - Now in its 22nd year, this annual event mixes baroque music with the chance to discover some of the finest places in Perigueux and its suburbs.You are invited to immerse yourself into the world of music with 15 concerts full of surprises and discovery. This year the concerts will be arranged in different places in Périgueux and in the beautiful Monastery in Chancelade, where this year a concert in the garden will be arranged. Day passes start from €50 with concessions and packages available. To make a reservation Call 05 53 08 69 81 or visit www.sinfonia-en-perigord.com
Trélissac MUSIC July 26 - August 11 Musique Nouvelle Orléans en Périgord – Over 12 dates, three groups offer a fix of New Orleans blues, including regular performances by the Louisana French Trio, with their unique sound that fuses Blues, Funk, Soul and Country.Tickets €25. www.mnop-festival.com
leading the way in the money circuit
FREE EVEN T
The No.1 Expat Event in Limousin-Dordogne Wed 12th & Thurs 13th September, 9.30am-2.30pm
Golf de Saint Junien 87200 Golf de la Marterie 24260 • Are we eligible for healthcare in France? • What about tax (Inheritance, Wealth, Income)? • How can we save on exchange rates for international transfers? Have your questions answered and join us at Le Tour de Finance to receive expert advice.
Le Tour Circuit 2012 Wed 12th September
Thurs 13th September
Golf de Saint Junien Les Jouberties, Saint-Junien 87200 Saint Junien Golf de la Marterie RD710, 24260 Saint-Félix-de-Reillac-et-Mortemart
• Free entry from 9.30am–2.30pm
Golf de Saint Junien 12th September
Golf de la Marterie 13th September
• Free 3 course luncheon • Free seminars and refreshments
HOW TO BOOK Places are limited, to book your place or to receive additional information about the speakers or locations, please email info@letourdefinance.com or contact Sue Cook on +33 (0) 489 829 206 or mobile: +33 (0) 689 992 889 www.letourdefinance.com In association with:
Dordogne Advertiser
August 2012
What’s On 11
www.dordogneadvertiser.com
What’s On in the capital
See Richter through the years
Babar celebrates his 80th
Weekend of live music August 24-26 – Rock en Seine is one of Paris’s biggest live music events and, despite the name, it covers a broad range of contemporary French and international
MUSIC
music genres, over three days at the Domaine de SaintCloud, west of the city. More than 50 acts will play, including the Waterboys, Sigur Ros and Noel Gallagher. www.rockenseine.com
Still time to enjoy Paris beach OUTDOORS Until August 19 – Visitors to Paris in the first half of the month can still catch the city’s urban beach, back for its 11th year on the right
bank of the Seine, from Pont Neuf to the Pont de Sully, with sunloungers, ice-cream, restaurants, children’s activity areas and much more. Entry is free, open 8.00 to 0.00. www.paris.fr/parisplages
Bring a picnic to the cinema
Photo: Nathalie Prebende
Until August 5 – Curated by the Museum of Modern Art in New York, this wideranging exhibition is more than just a chance to remember some of Tim Burton’s best-loved films – from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Alice in Wonderland to Sleepy Hollow and Sweeney Todd. It is also an opportunity to discover Burton’s talents as a painter, photographer and inventor of colourful, amazing sculptures. La Cinémathèque Française, 51 rue de Bercy (12e). M° Bercy. Open daily (except Tuesday) 10.00-20.00, late night Thursday until 22.00. Entry €11, under-18s €5.50. www.cinematheque.fr
Garden gigs all over city MUSIC All summer – The bandstands in Paris’s parks and gardens host more than 200 free open-air concerts this month and next. Performers range from local conservatoire music students to the official Paris metro staff choir, and a number of UK schools and youth bands who have been invited over to perform to a Parisian audience. The full programme is online at tinyurl.com/ ParisBandstands
OUTDOORS August 1-12 – The Cinéma au Clair de Lune festival brings French and foreign films (in version originale) to screens in iconic locations including Montmartre and the Place des Vosges. Entry is free – just turn up with a blanket, chair and a picnic.This year’s selection of nine films includes Blake Edwards’ 1958 romantic comedy The Perfect Furlough, based in Paris, and the 1967 musical classic Les Demoiselles de Rochefort. Films start at 21.30. www.forumdesimages.fr Meanwhile, the Parc de la Villette has an open-air cinema festival of its own until August 26. Screenings include Good Bye, Lenin, Virgin Suicides, Superman and Hair – and they are all free, but if you want to hire a chair it costs €7 for the evening. See the full programme online at www.villette.com
FAMILY Until September 2 – To celebrate the 80th anniversary of the popular French cartoon elephant, created by Jean de Brunhoff, the Musée des Décoratifs has an exhibition of 100 original sketches and a range of Babar-themed toys from the 1930s to today. Musée des Arts Décoratifs, 107 rue de Rivoli (1er). M° Palais Royal-Musée du Louvre or Pyramides. Open Tuesday-Sunday 11.00-18.00 (late opening until 21.00 on Thursdays). Entry €9.50, under-18s go free. www.lesartsdecoratifs.fr
Admire palace’s dancing fountains
Until September 1 – The gardens at Versailles are the setting for another season of sound, light and water shows in August. Watch the fountains dance as night falls, accompanied by music and lasers.The show ends with a firework display. Every Saturday, 21.00-23.20. €23, under-18s €19. www.chateauversailles -spectacles.fr
Photo: Mat’s Eye/Flickr
Until September 2 – From historic wartime broadcasts and the pirate era to today’s broad spectrum of styles and tastes, radio in all its forms and the French public’s long-lasting attachment to the medium is the focus of this exhibition. The show includes plenty of archive audio, guided visits each day at 15.30 and a discovery trail for children. Musée des Arts et Métiers, 60 rue Réaumur (3e). M° Arts et Métiers. Entry €5.50. www.arts-et-metiers.net
Photo: Romain DUBOIS/Wikimedia
EXHIBITION
CINEMA Photo: Gerhard Richter
Until September 24 – The work of leading German artist Gerhard Richter, whose creations last year achieved higher prices than those of any other living artist, is celebrated with a retrospective exhibition at the Pompidou Centre to coincide with his 80th birthday. Richter’s work was first exhibited at the centre in 1977 when the museum opened. The exhibition is arranged chronologically, from his early 1960s photography to the abstract digital works of today, made using computer software.Tickets giving full access to the Pompidou Centre and all its exhibitions cost €13. Open daily except Tuesday, 11.00-21.00, late on Thursdays until 23.00. Pompidou Centre m° Hôtel de Ville or Rambuteau. www.centrepompidou.fr
ART
Making waves
In the mind of Tim Burton
12 Education
www.dordogneadvertiser.com
Dordogne Adverti
Find your way through the French education system French schooling is often of good quality but the system is different in almost every respect to what expats may have been used to in countries like the UK. Here we look at some of the key elements parents and young people should be familiar with. school or an international school in France are among other alternatives. State education State education is under the control of the Ministre de l’Education (presently Vincent Peillon) and is open to everybody. It is a highly centralised system under which, at least in theory, every pupil at a state school should be following the same curriculum from the same textbooks and be at the same place in the curriculum as those at the same level in every other school in France on a given day. The reality, however, may differ from this aim (not least, due to individual teachers’ whims). French schools generally place less emphasis on extra-curricular activities than British ones do, and these are often done outside of school. Physical education is nonetheless part of the curriculum (at both primary and secondary levels) and bodies called associations sportives scolaires may work in partnership with schools to introduce children to certain sports and organise local, regional and national sporting competitions. France being a secular state, there is no religious education in state schools. It is actually illegal for pupils to exhibit any religious symbol (such as a crucifix) or to wear anything that
The baccalauréat Education leads to a nationally organised exam at the end of the school career, the baccalauréat. This is essential in moving on to higher education or to many careers. It can be a major hurdle. The pass rate varies, but there is always a percentage of those who fail and have to redoubler (repeat the last year’s classes.) Redoublement can happen at any stage of a child’s school career and its usefulness is the subject of much debate School holidays The academic year starts in September and continues until after the summer exams, which finish around mid-June. Apart from public holidays, there are breaks of a few days around All Saints Day (Toussaint) and over Christmas and New Year, with a mid-term break in February, the peak time for winter sports, and two weeks around Easter. Until a few years ago all schools took their holidays simultaneously, causing traffic jams and crowded ski and beach resorts. The country is now divided into three
regions for the winter and spring holidays, the dates being staggered between the regions. Many schools offer breaks at state or departmentally run hostels (colonies de vacances) in holiday areas. A child progresses through three obligatory stages: école maternelle and école élémentaire, which make up French primary school (l’école primaire) and then collège. Where l’école is referred to, this often means primary school. The three-year “sixth form” equivalent is called lycée. Boarding schools Boarding schools (internats) exist at all levels in both public and private sectors and a directory can be found online at www.tinyurl.com/Find-A-Boarding-School It can be a practical choice where, for example, parents are often absent. Private schools There are some 9,000 private schools, the large majority of which are Catholic. More than two million children attend these, or 17% of the total in schooling. Listings can be found at: www.enseignement-prive.fr They fall into several categories: Those operated under a “contract of association” with the state are by far the most numerous. They are staffed by the state, follow the state system and receive a local authority running costs contribution – from the mairie for primary school, department for collège and region for lycée. Par-
Photo: PICTURE-FACTORY - FOTOLIACOM
FRANCE has a sophisticated education system that has often been admired by its neighbours and is internationally recognised as being of a high standard. Nonetheless, in recent years, it has faced difficulties in maintaining these standards. As elsewhere there are problems of funding and, in certain areas, of discipline and violence in schools. As a generalisation, teachers and pupils have tended to become more militant and less motivated, though of course this is not universally true. In these respects France is no different from Britain. There are both private and state schools and it is usual to put your child into the free state system unless there is a particular reason not to do so, such as when the child has special needs or the parents are absent and a boarding school is necessary (though boarding is also available at some state schools). Religion is another factor, with most private schools being Catholic-run, whereas state ones have a secular ethos. University education is heavily subsidised and available to those living in the university’s catchment area and who have the necessary entry qualifications (baccalauréat). This has tended to cause overcrowding. Above the universities in status and reputation are the grandes écoles. These are outside the main university system and entry is by competition, which is fierce. These produce most of France’s leaders, especially military and political. Bear in mind that the environment and education within the French system are usually entirely in French. Children of primary school age usually adapt well and become bilingual. Older ones may find it more difficult if they are not already competent in French. Certain French schools have “international sections” where part of the teaching is in English (see later). Alternatively, a crash course in French before your move should help. You might also look at ongoing extra sessions with a home tutor (which attract an income tax credit if done by an accredited firm). If your finances stretch to it, a UK boarding
has a religious significance (for example, a headscarf).
Expat children of primary school age usually adapt well and quickly become bilingual, but teenagers might find it harder to adjust
ADVERTISIN
Do you have a child who is, or will be, studying abroad? International education is an increasingly popular way to give your child the opportunity to learn, grow and experience a foreign country during their education. Whether attending an overseas lycée, private school, summer program or university, a growing number of children of all ages are becoming a part of the global education institution. INTERNATIONAL housing and schooling fees can however be expensive, so ensure that your money goes further for your child's education with the help of a foreign exchange (FX) provider. The benefits of choosing an FX provider over your bank to make your international transfers include a personalised and secure money-saving service and access to a team on the ground which is available to answer your questions. Currencies Direct is a preferred FX provider in France, and offers a wide range of services including both spot (on
demand) and regular transfer plans to accommodate overseas payments and transfers for your children's international education. Currencies Direct has been meeting client requirements in the UK and France for the past 16 years, consistently achieving an average 3% better rate than any bank for international bank to bank transfers. Operating on 5 continents, Currencies Direct makes an average of 220,000 transactions per year for its extensive clientele base of over 200,000 registered clients and 3,000 partners worldwide. As a fully FSA registered organisa-
tion and with an average growth of 20% per year since its creation, the credit agency D&B has given Currencies Direct a #1 rating for its reliability and security. Ask your son or daughter to start honing their research skills and investigate how much your family will save by using Currencies Direct over the bank! To ask for a no obligation comparative rate and learn more about our money-saving services please email france@currenciesdirect.com
iser
www.dordogneadvertiser.com
August 2012
Photo: lightpoet - Fotolia.com
Lycée studies are towards the baccalauréat, necessary for university entry and many careers
“
It is a highly centralised system under which, in theory, every pupil at every state school should be following the same curriculum and be at the same level as every school in France on a given day. The reality may differ from this aim
ents contribute between €400 and €750 per child per year, included in which is payment for such elements not included in the national curriculum, such as religious instruction. Those operating under a “simple contract”. A similar arrangement to the above, this concerns fewer schools and only applies in the primary sector. In some respects it is less bound to the state system (teachers are paid as private workers as opposed to state civil servants) but they are nevertheless supervised and inspected and follow the state curriculum. Non-contracted schools. These have much more freedom and their fees are paid by parents in full. There are fewer of them and they include the private international schools (see below).
Outside the national education system there are a number of private international schools, often working towards the International Baccalaureate (IB). An international school in Paris, for example, has pupils of 50 nationalities (the majority being British) and prepares pupils for GCSEs. English-language schools can be found at www.france.english-schools.org Note that some schools in the French system have an international “section”, leading to the taking of the international option of the baccalauréat (OIB), a French bilingual and bi-cultural examination which should not be confused with the IB. There is also a “European school” in Strasbourg, which is a French state school and allows pupils whose mother tongue is English to study mainly in that language and to take a “European” baccalauréat version, alongside pupils whose main language is German or French. The International baccalauréate This is an exam run by the International Baccalaureate organisation, based in Geneva, founded in 1948. The IB diploma is not offered by French state schools. Strong commitment is required to take and succeed in the full course and it is possible to take just certain parts of it, although pupils who do so do not receive the full diploma. The full course involves taking six subjects, one from each of five subject groups and one from group six or from a permitted substitute from another group.The IB is accepted for entry into universities in most countries. The papers may be taken in a variety (or a mixture) of languages. It covers a wide spectrum, which has led to criticism in the UK that it is too broad and insufficiently specialised as an introduction to further studies.
Education in France helpguide – new this year The Connexion newspaper publishes a helpguide to education in France, covering the whole system from maternelle to university and the grandes écoles plus continuing education for adults. School meals and transport and assurance scolaire (school insurance) are among other topics discussed.
Download a copy for €5 at www.connexionfrance.com or call 0800 91 77 56 to have a printed version sent to you
NG FEATURE
“
We live in the UK and my daughter decided she wanted to go on a University exchange in France for a special program. A friend of mine suggested I try an FX company to pay her tuition and send her money and I was pleasantly surprised when I did. I usually use my bank because I thought it was easier but this way I can transfer money into my daughter's account equally quickly and save money in the process. M. Barnes
Education 13
Lessons learnt from having three boys in French school
Natalie and Mike Strange with sons Sebastian, Toby and Rufus NATALIE Strange moved to France from East Sussex in 2005 with her husband Mike and three boys Sebastian (now 15), Toby (13) and Rufus (eight), settling near Limoux in the Aude. Rufus settled into school the easiest, starting at the very beginning of the cycle. Ms Strange says: “I’ve had to help him the least with the homework. He seems to grasp things quickly.” But Sebastian and Toby found it much more difficult at first, and homework time involved re-teaching what had been covered in class. “I used to dread weekends,” she says. “I spent hours and hours going over it with them. They’re at collège now and I’ve let go.” Toby is dyslexic and the family invested in home tuition, which attracts a 50% income tax credit, which has paid off: “It was really helpful and it gave him a confidence boost. Having two languages is a mountain for a dyslexic person.” They also took him to see a speech therapist, and this was fully reimbursed by social security. Toby has not had to repeat a year, which Ms Strange believes would have been detrimental to him. However, she feels she had to do a lot of work herself to get help for Toby, which she thinks would have been better handled by school staff in the UK. When Sebastian, the eldest, started school he was placed one year lower than the rest of his age to compensate for the language problems (he was born in November and the school admissions year runs from January to
December). “I sometimes regret that,” says Ms Strange. “I should have pushed. I think for him socially it feels difficult.” However, he sat his brevet last month and is looking forward to lycée in September. He is becoming bilingual and bicultural, surpassing his mother’s level of French. “Sebastian is very conscious of me speaking English to him in a shop, about being more French when we are out in the open,” she says. “He corrects me on my French. I just don’t think he should be embarrassed about it. French kids are intrigued about England and the English.” On a general note, she says: “I feel that French teaching isn’t as creative as English, even in secondary school.” There are fewer experiments in science and creative areas, such as art, are underexplored, prompting Sebastian to pursue his photography hobby elsewhere. Contact with other parents is limited – there is less of a culture of chattering at the school gate: “That’s something I felt was quite sad. There was a strong community with the parents and here I feel it’s very much just collect the kids and go.” However, there are regular parent-teacher evenings every term and she says parents are strongly encouraged to have a role in their children’s education and check they are not slipping. She is also impressed with the number of tests pupils are given – one or two every week – and the ability to check the marks online.
14 Leisure Time
www.dordogneadvertiser.com
Dordogne Advertiser
August 2012
Sponsored by French-themed crossword Across
Down
2. In French as in English, sport for two teams of seven swimmers (5-4) 8. Franc portion (7) 9. Organ of the body, le siège des émotions et sentiments (5) 10. Wise shrub whose aromatic leaves are used for seasoning (4) 11. Prospero’s daughter in Shakespeare’s The Tempest (7) 13. Spa city in North Rhine-Westphalia otherwise known as Aix-la-Chapelle (6) 15. Octogenarian Vichy France chief of state (6) 18. Useful outil for stargazing in France (7) 20. Long dress for formal occasions (4) 23. A legal right (5) 24. Monmartre-born artist Maurice _______, who specialised in cityscapes (7) 25. Gas providing a very hot flame discovered by Edmund Davy, then rediscovered and named by French chemist Marcellin Berthelot (9)
1. French Mediterranean city named after the Greek goddess of victory (4) 2. Eponymous fish in 1988 film starring John Cleese and Kevin Kline (5) 3 and 22. Fabric with a repeated pattern, often of a pastoral scene (5,2,4) 4. City in Champagne-Ardennes region which was the traditional scene of the coronation of the kings of France (English spelling, with an H) (6) 5 and 21. Irish playwright and poet buried in the Cimetière du Père-Lachaise in Paris (5,5) 6. Geographical area encompassing islands and seas in the Pacific (7) 7. “Of all the crosses I have to bear,” said Churchill of his relationship with de Gaulle, “the heaviest is the Cross of ________” (8) 12. Singer Johnny who co-starred with Jean Rochefort in L'homme du train (8) 14. Marseilles-born former Manchester United star Eric _______ (7) 16. Fencing term adopted from French (2,5) 17. “In all labour there is profit: but the talk of the lips tendeth only to ______”, Proverbs 14:23 (6) 19. Qualification honorifique given to a person (5) 21. See 5 22. See 3
Most answers are in French, with the exceptions of Across: 11 and 20 and Down: 2, 4, 6, 17 and 5/21. Answers can be found at the bottom of page
lubashi
.com - Fotolia
Sudoku
Easy
machine-gun. However it had more to do with a change in the law. In October 1920 the French government passed a law which prevented bakers from starting work before 4.00, no longer leaving them enough time to prepare the standard round loaf, called a boule, in time for breakfast. The slender baguette solved the problem because it could be prepared and baked much more rapidly. Nor is the baguette even a French invention, unfortunately. Like so much else in the baker’s window, from the croissant to the pain au chocolat, the baguette first made its appearance in Austria, which is why so many such delicacies are still referred to as viennoiseries. At least the baker’s shop itself still retains the original French name of boulangerie, even if it does now produce far more than just the traditional round loaf, or boule, which gave it its name.
Intermediate
6 FRANCE’S youngest MP, aged 22, belongs to which famous family of politicians?
2 WHO said they would “roll out the red carpet” to wealthy French people and businesses put off by high tax rates in France? 3 WHICH town in the Corrèze is putting on tours allowing visitors to "follow in the footsteps of François Hollande"?
7 WHICH travel operator has bought ferries from collapsed firm SeaFrance and is returning them to regular service on the Channel?
4 THE WORLD of French sport paid tribute to Thierry Roland recently, who died at the age of 76. For what job was he famous?
Difficult
Photo: Dave Hamster/Flickr
IF YOU go into a boulangerie and ask for a baguette, you would know exactly what to expect – one of those wonderful long, French loaves that are known the world over. But less than a couple of hundred years ago, when Napoleon’s armies were rampaging through Europe, from Spain to Egypt and northwards to Russia, a baguette meant something quite different. It was the ramrod used to pack the charge into a musket, ready for firing in battle. It also doubled as a cane for whipping unfortunate soldiers, who were punished by running the gauntlet between two lines of infantry-men. Recalcitrant soldiers carried the scars of such beatings until their dying day. So when did the military ramrod change into a harmless and delicious loaf of bread? It must have had something to do with advances in military technology, which made the muzzle-loaded musket redundant in the face of the carbine, the rifle and the
baguette
5 LONDON is hosting this summer’s Olympics. Which city came second in the bidding process?
1 WHICH celebrity couple, who had a home in Plan-de-la-Tour (Var) have split up after 14 years together?
CROSSWORD ANSWERS. Across: 2 water-polo; 8 centime; 9 coeur; 10 sage; 11 Miranda; 13 Aachen; 15 Pétain; 18 lunette; 20 gown; 23 droit; 24 Utrillo; 25 acétylène Down: 1 Nice; 2 Wanda; 3&22 toile de Jouy; 4 Rheims; 5&21 Oscar Wilde; 6 Oceania; 7 Lorraine; 12 Hallyday; 14 Cantona; 16 en garde; 17 penury; 19 titre (or title) FRANCE QUIZ ANSWERS: 1 Johnny Depp and Vanessa Paradis; 2 David Cameron; 3 Tulle; 4 TV football commentator; 5 Paris; 6 Le Pen; 7 Eurotunnel
Photo:
The France quiz
by Paul Masters
Photo: Jessica Genetel/Wikimedia
What’s in a word?
by John Foley
Dordogne Advertiser
www.dordogneadvertiser.com
August 2012
Fresh tuna for a light summer’s lunchtime
Medium-cooked tuna, peppers confit and balsamic caramel
CUT OUT & KEEP!
INGREDIENTS
50ml groundnut oil (huile d’arachide) 4 fresh tuna steaks For the peppers confit: 80ml extra-virgin olive oil 2 yellow peppers, de-seeded and chopped 2 red peppers, de-seeded and chopped a few spring onions salt and pepper For the balsamic caramel: 200ml balsamic vinegar 30g caster sugar
METHOD
ance and is fished all year round in tropical waters, mainly for canned products. Like salmon, tuna is rich in omega 3 (which is good for the cardio-vascular system) and contains vitamin B3, which helps the nervous system. Serving possibilities are endless: whether grilled or pan-fried with vegetables, baked in a gratin or lasagne with some spinach and ricotta, shaped into balls with pasta and a tomato sauce, or of course the traditional salade niçoise and the sandwich equivalent, pain bagnat, with olive oil, olives, eggs and anchovies. Alternatively, pick up some brightly coloured peppers from your garden or the market, and a chilled white or rosé wine, and try this recipe for a light al-fresco lunch or dinner.
Serves: 4 Preparation: 20 minutes Cooking: 25-30 minutes
Freshly caught from the Mediterranean and Atlantic coasts, tuna is in plentiful supply at markets – and there is much more to it than just an ingredient in a traditional salade niçoise FORGET the tins from the Seychelles available all year round – this time of year is ideal for buying freshly caught tuna steaks in France. Market traders sell tuna from the Gulf of Gascony or the Mediterranean from June until November and most commonly thon blanc, with its light pink flesh Other varieties exist, most notably thon rouge or bluefin tuna which is very popular for sushi and has been the subject of much controversy. Bluefin tuna is an endangered species and has been over-fished in recent years – prompting protests from Greenpeace including a 2006 blockade of Marseille port. France banned bluefin tuna fishing very early this season when quotas were reached. There is also tuna albacore, which has a yellowy appear-
Food and Pets 15
Prepare the balsamic caramel by combining the balsamic vinegar and caster sugar together in a saucepan. Bring to a simmer over a moderate heat. Continue to simmer until it has reduced by half and thickened. Pre-heat the oven to 200°C (gas mark 6). Arrange the peppers and spring onions in a roasting tray. Season and drizzle over half of the extra-virgin olive oil. Roast for 10-15 minutes until soft.
Remove from the oven and pour over the rest of the olive oil. Cover and leave to cool to room temperature. Rub the tuna steaks with the groundnut oil and season with salt and pepper. Heat a cast iron frying pan over a high heat until hot. Sear the tuna steaks for 1-2 minutes on all sides, then transfer to the oven to
finish cooking for 4-6 minutes. Transfer the peppers and spring onion to the oven at the same time as the tuna steaks go in to reheat. Reheat the balsamic caramel at the same time over a low heat. Spoon the peppers and spring onions on to serving plates. Top with the tuna steaks and spoon the balsamic caramel on top.
Time to ramp up the flea prevention
SCRATCHING is generally the first sign that your pet is infested with fleas. Use Betadine to clean any small bites, cuts or sore patches on your pet’s skin. Bites on humans tend to come in little rows of three small, flat, incredibly itchy red spots. Check for fleas around the eyes and ears of your pet and underneath the tail. If your pet has dark fur, use a flea comb to search for what looks like fine black grit but which is in fact, flea droppings. If your pet is clear, then your prevention plan is working and should be continued. If not, you need to ramp up the action. The best known and most effective treatment on the market is probably Frontline, a small tube of liquid which you buy from
Photo: TheSupe87 - Fotolia.com
August is prime time for fleas, so treatment and prevention should continue at full strength until at least the end of November, says SAMANTHA DAVID
Pet Care the pharmacy and apply to the nape of your pet’s neck. If it does not seem to be working, try applying half to the nape of the neck and half between the shoulder blades, and increase frequency to two rather than three weeks. If your pet is allergic to Frontline, try Stronghold which is more expensive but better tolerated by animals with sensitive skins. These treatments take two to three days to work and in the meantime, flea powder can be a useful instant treatment, but wear an overall and
This column is sponsored by
Insecticide shampoos are instantly effective, but not long-lasting apply it outside well away from the house, or the fleas will simply jump off your pet on to the sofa and live there until they can move back home at a later date. Insecticide shampoos are instantly effective on dogs but only last until the dog meets a new flea. Collars are vital and effective against the sand
flies which carry leichmaniose but alone will not protect against fleas. If despite all this, your pets still have fleas and humans in the household are also being bitten, it is possible that your furnishings and carpets are harbouring a reservoir of them which is constantly re-infesting your pets. Remove loose covers
from sofas and armchairs and check the seams for flea eggs. They will look like fluff but be harder to pull away from the stitching. If you are not sure, get all loose covers, cushion covers and other soft furnishings dry cleaned or put them through the washing machine at 60°C. Then sprinkle specialised insecticide powder (from the pet section of DIY shops) over your carpets and furniture, paying attention to the sides of the arms and the divisions between the backs and bases of sofas where fleas could hide. Leave the powder for a day and then go to war with your vacuum. You will need a flattened furniture attachment to get into all recesses. Vacuum all curtains, carpets (on both sides) and furniture (inside and out, underneath and round the back) and when you have finished, take the vacuum outside and change the bag immediately. Throw it straight into the dustbin. Chickens are commonly infested with fleas, so try to keep cats and dogs away from chicken runs and if you or your children handle chickens, wash your hands afterwards.
Tel. 06 58 01 82 76 Web. www.seulementnaturel.eu Email. marc.somsen@chardeyre.com
16 Directory
www.dordogneadvertiser.com
Dordogne Advertiser
August 2012
Advertise here ALL YEAR from just €75HT Call free on 0800 91 77 56 or email directory@connexionfrance.com
DORDOGNE DIRECTORY
English-speaking firms near you For your security, we check that the French businesses in this section are officially registered with the authorities
Find registered tradespeople quickly and easily By advertising in our directory you get the chance to run advertorials (the articles you see on these pages). We are currently offering these at a two for one price, so two x 1/4 page advertorials, maximum 400 words plus photo, costs just €200HT. A minimum two month break between publishing applies and the second advertorial is a repeat of the first. If you wish to change the second there is a €25 fee together with a €15 fee if you want us to provide a photo.
B&W Colour
€225HT €339HT
Yellow
47mm x 75mm
(31-45 words)
call 0800 91 77 56 Orange
Treble
Colour
€150HT €225HT
Red
47mm x 50mm
B&W
Light Purple
Double
Rounded
Dark Purple
(16-30 words)
Light Green
Colour
Dark Green
} }
€75HT €114HT
Light Blue
47mm x 25mm
B&W
Standard
Dark Blue
Single
(1-15 words)
HOW TO BOOK AN ADVERT Choose the size of your advert from the examples on the left. You can have a black and white advert; or you can choose a colour from the list below. Finally, you can choose to have rounded corners to the box to help make your advert stand out (See right). Then, when you have made your choice,
Choose from these colours:
Directory adverts are available in 3 sizes and in colour or black and white.
We will keep you up to date with features and special events in your area of France in all our publications which could help to boost your business. We include the text from your advertisement in our online directory for no extra charge. Want to advertise in our national paper The Connexion or sister papers in other regions? Call our sales team for more information.
DB
LB
DG
LG
DP
LP
R
O
Y
How to use our directory For your security, all businesses in this section are officially registered REGISTRATION
THE DORDOGNE ADVERTISER checks that all French businesses advertising on these pages are registered with the French authorities. While not all firms choose to display their siret number in their advert, they have all been verified. Advertisers without sirets are not allowed, those who use siret en cours (who are in the process of registering their business) will be removed if a number is not given within one month. UK businesses are checked at Companies House - and UK sole traders must have a UK billing address.
WHAT IS A SIRET?
THE siret is a 14-digit number identifying a business, issued by the national statistics body Insee. It proves a business has been registered with the French authorities. You can check it on www.infogreffe.fr (This site checks the siren - the first 10 digits or the siret). However, while www.infogreffe.fr will list the occupation of a firm, this can sometimes undersell a business, which may be able to carry out a range of tasks not mentioned on the site. You can also ask to see a copy of the business’ insurance certificate and the card issued by the chambres de métiers which will list the competences of a firm.
Being registered does not, of course, guarantee workmanship but it is an important step in selecting tradespeople.
PAYMENT
UNDECLARED work is illegal in France. If you are asked for cash, this should ring alarms bells. There are tax breaks associated with many forms of construction and other areas like home tuition, so it is beneficial to get receipts. For some of these benefits the company chosen must be accredited. Any work costing more than €150 must have a receipt. For some services you could pay using Cesu (Cheque emploi service universel). This is an official government-sponsored way of employing people, that also allows tax breaks. (Connexion has a helpguide on employing people in your home. See www.connexionfrance.com)
CATEGORIES
THE directory is split into the different types of businesses covering the Dordogne area. To locate a company, simply find the type of business you need which are indicated with an illustrative symbol and the title underneath (see right for some examples).
Dordogne Advertiser
Directory 17
www.dordogneadvertiser.com
August 2012
ADVERTISING FEATURE
The jewel of the Vézère valley A medieval stronghold steeped in history offers culture and charm in abundance from the depths of the Dordogne DRIVING south of Montignac-Lascaux (famous for its caves dating back to 17,000 BC) on the D706 to Les Eyzies, which is known as the prehistoric capital of Périgord, the Château de Losse commands the view of the valley. The chateau towers above the Vézère river and access is via a monumental gatehouse, which is covered in lauze stones and known as the largest in the south of France. The Renaissance Hall was built in 1576 within the walls of the fortress. Its elegant façade of local mellow golden stone and the grand staircase beckon visitors to explore inside. Here, fine decor and
exceptional period furniture can be found, which evoke the grand lifestyle of the marquesses of Losse in the 16th and 17th centuries during the reigns of the last Valois and first Bourbon kings. Visitors from all over the world flock to experience the beauty, culture and history of the Château de Losse and an English speaking guide is available for groups if reservations are made. People from as far as Australia, New Zealand, the US and Canada book in advance to make sure they do not miss out on a proper tour of the chateau when they visit. The Renaissance-style gardens at the
To advertise here call freephone in France 0800 91 77 56 / from UK 0844 256 9881 (4p/min)
We look after your dog in our own home. Love, Food and Plenty of Exercise, near Montignac. Tel Emma: 06 48 02 41 57 Chenil Les Mille Calins English Run
5 Star accommodation for Dogs/Cats Underfloor heated kennels Qualified staff Top Quality food and exercise Only 45 minutes south of Caen Convenient Ferry Access
www.goldenwaypets.com Telephone 02 33 37 49 19 Emergency 02 33 38 41 32 Fax 02 33 38 44 16
WAGS AND WHISKERS British owned boarding kennels and cattery 35 years experience Tel: 05 65 35 46 51 www.wagsandwhiskerskennels.co.uk
Dept 46, near Cazals
SIRET: 500607858
The Cats Inn Luxury Cattery - Cales near Lalinde - Very Spacious - Lots of Love and Attention Tel: Paula 05 53 24 14 42 www.thecatsinncattery.com paulaL24150@aol.com
ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES Small or large projects. Applications for building permits. Friendly,professional service.
Tel: 05 45 78 36 63 mcdonaldritchie@hotmail.com
Ad No. 10862
PENSION POUR CHATS NEAR SARLAT, OPEN-AIR, INSULATED AND HEATED CONTACT ANNA MASLEN 05 53 31 95 88 / 06 86 94 85 78 p.maslen@wanadoo.fr www.dordognecattery.com
05 53 50 80 08 chateaudelosse24@yahoo.fr www.chateaudelosse.com
Hautefort Renovation Professional Building &
De Ryck Elisabeth Interior Architect Renovation or New Construction * Private Homes * Shops * Offices *
20 years experience Tel: 06 30 63 20 40 deryck.interiors@gmail.com Depts 19,24,46,47,82 Languages spoken: English, French, Dutch Le Colombié, 46600 Montvalent
Discover Renaissance-styled gardens this summer at the Château de Losse
WEBSITES
NE24 & bordering 87,19 & 46
Charles Fleming 0553501239 or 0684530839
hautefortrenovation.com
CT HEWITT GENERAL BUILDER Renovation - New Build - Plastering Fosse septic Roofing - Guttering Maintenance & Repairs
All aspects of building work carried out. Established in the UK for over 20 years. Tel: 06 79 05 98 85 / 05 53 58 92 13 Email: Hewitt.chris@wanadoo.fr Web: www.hewittbuilders.com Depts: 24, 46 & 47
Experienced Mental Health Worker
Tel: 05 62 67 39 98 rt@rob-tomlinson.com
Email: gillcr@ymail.com www.vezerecounselling.com
www.rob-tomlinson.com
Regions: All France Siret: 419 490 297 00027
Voilà! Web Solutions Exclusive multilingual websites competitively priced. Personalised Facebook, Twitter and blogs part of a complete service to make your business highly visible on the Internet. www.voilawebsolutions.com info@voilawebsolutions.com Tel: Harvey 05 53 81 03 78
UK and French Registered Architects Dossiers for Permis de Construire Interior and Landscape design Ordre des Architectes No. 1867 Tel: 05 53 09 33 45 E: mail@parkes-ducellier.com W: www.parkes-ducellier.com Depts: 16,19,24,33,87 Siret: 488 165 564 00011
ABP SASU
Renovation and construction of buildings and swimming pools. New timber framed constructions. Negotiation of diverse products
Tel Alan Fisk: 05 53 56 68 87 Email: abp.sasu@orange.fr
General Builder
City & Guilds qualified, 35yrs experience, reliable, ALL WORK GUARANTEED Tel: 05 53 80 42 91 Mob: +44 759 286 5010 Email: angelaharrisson@orange.fr Dept 24, close to Mussidan Siret: 51352715000017
Bergerac Renovation & Building
OAKWOOD FLOORING
Mob: 06 33 94 84 53 - Tel: 06 33 94 84 53 barry@bgsurveyor.com www.bgsurveyor.com Siret 51786170400016
Justine Joseph
Renovation Architect 06 79 92 95 88 33580 Monségur - 24590 Salignac-Eyvigues
www.justinejoseph.com
General building work. 20 years building experience in France. Based in Castelnaud de Gratecambe 47.
05 53 36 34 59/ 06 08 71 53 49 jameshopkins@orange.fr www.hopkinsrenovations.com Siret number: 417 916 574 00011
BOIS D'ARBRE CONSTRUCTION Specialists in Oak frames, Timber houses and carpentry Tel: 06 72 01 11 06 web: www.boisdarbreconstruction.com email: info@boisdarbreconstruction.com Siret 4899 5394 30011
Offering individual / couples counselling. (Depression, Stress, illness, bereavement etc).
Tel: 05 53 50 07 28 Mob: 06 47 17 60 78
Email: mglenys.forrester@gmail.com Web: www.mgfcounselling.com Regions Covered: All - Siret: 520 314 824
Large stocks available Prime & Character grades Oiled & waxed finishes
Tel: 05 53 81 60 73 christopher.jarrett@wanadoo.fr
Contact us for special offers
BÂTI-TOP SARL
Siret 520 298 217 00016
Wide boards
From groundwork, fosse septiques, masonary, interiors, to rooves. Free estimates & advice
www.oakwood-import.fr email: franceoak@gmail.com tel: 06 80 33 93 57 Siret 409 972 056
CERTIFIED TRANSLATIONS All legal translations by FrenchEnglish speaking sworn translator
Property-legal-birth cert., driving licences, traductions assermentées Valid everywhere with 25 years of experience
SMALL BUILDING WORKS
Planning Permissions - Setting Out Measured Building Surveys - Topographical Surveys (all sizes)
English Speaking Counselor. M. Glenys Forrester (B.Sc.psych.) (M.Sc. psych.)
Tel: 05 53 62 81 40 Email: craig.harriss@orange.fr Web: www.lasimpode.com/cherrypicker
CONSTRUCTION & RENOVATION
Hopkins Renovations
MGF Counselling Services
Interior and Exterior Cherrypicker assisted for speedy and cost saving service
www.bati-top.com 05 53 73 02 88 - Siret: 9868562700016
GEOMETRE TOPOGRAPHIE
Siret: 53445895500018
Painter and Decorator RON HARRISON
MEDIUM/LARGE PROJECTS UNDERTAKEN 10 YEAR INSURED GUARANTEE
LAND SURVEYOR
Gill Clunes Ross - Dip social work. RGN Tel: 05 53 51 63 69 or 09 51 80 97 38
Siret: 49899034000016
PARKES et DUCELIER
Architectes
Vezere Counselling Help with Stress - Anxiety - Depression - Life Changes
Boost your business with an affordable, high-performance website that you can edit yourself
Renovation Services
Siret: 48157998500021
Siret No.520 980 269 00010
THE DORDOGNE CATTERY
Château de Losse are listed and labelled “jardins remarquable”. Visitors can wander the grounds at leisure and enjoy the unspoilt views over the Virgilian countryside. Garden seats to accommodate guests’ picnics and refreshments are available at the Princess Garden. To find out more about this spectacular chateau, call in the afternoons or visit the website. The management are also looking for a couple who would be interested in accommodation in exchange for watering the flowers and looking after the winter heating - email or phone directly for further information.
Repointing, Plasterboarding, windows, doors installed. Translations, planning permissions. Tel: 06 43 25 85 68 Email: daveindordogne@sfr.fr www.dordognedave.webs.com
Internet by satellite, Streamed and satellite TV on computer, Networking and network streaming, Cloud computing. Mob: +33 (0) 6 44 01 70 63
Regions : All FRANCE Karen RENEL-KING Tel: 06 18 03 18 38 Email: karen.king@wanadoo.fr Web: www.certifiedfrenchtranslation.com Fast and affordable
Regions Covered 24,16,87 - Siret: 51913926500010
Tel: +33 (0) 5 53 51 87 53 / +33 (0) 9 70 40 82 31
Siret: 38058374000028
E-mail: John@JohnAin.org
LE FRANCAIS CHEZ VOUS Tailor made tuition in French at your home or Castel-Merle, 24290 Sergeac. Amanda and Emilie Millinship
Tel: 05 53 50 04 68 www.lefrancaischezvous.com Dordogne
18 Directory
www.dordogneadvertiser.com
Dordogne Advertiser
August 2012
ADVERTISING FEATURE
Tree surgery in south-west France Pruning, stump grinding and felling are just some of the services that Roots & Shoots offers. THERE are three key parts to the job of tree surgeon, says Mark Wilson of Roots & Shoots. These are tree felling, tree pruning and tree planting, and before any of these can be undertaken an assessment is required. “Each and every situation is different. I always assess the customer’s request by looking at the physical location and then the tree itself, that way I can see potential hazards and such things as dead wood, split and cracked limbs and disease,” said Mark. Following this initial review he
provides his professional opinion to the client, free of charge, recommending the best solution. Mark is fully insured so he can offer customers full peace of mind along with the assurance that any action taken will be completed with full satisfaction. Depending on the size of the task and the location, tree felling and pruning can require a variety of different methods in order to complete the job successfully. Roots & Shoots has a team of trained groundsmen and is fully equipped with an access platform,
FRENCH INSURANCE IN ENGLISH
For all your electrical requirements contact
AK Electrical
30 years experience/Fully insured
ak-electrical@hotmail.co.uk
Tel 06 32 31 61 85 siret: 494 064 322 00014
For people who live in / own property in France Straight-forward, honest advice on the best house, car, life & health insurance policies for you Over 15 years experience in French insurance markets English, Dutch & German spoken. Philippe Schreinemachers
ALL ELECTRICAL/ PLUMBING WORK Underfloor Heating/ Aerothermie Premiere service guaranteed St Yrieux / Brive / Perigueux / Sarlat
Tel: 06 37 09 55 13 Website: http://eurolec24.com/ Email: james.gunn@club-internet.fr Siret: 489 542 589 00010
Kennedy Electricite Services Installation, rewires and repairs. 20+ years experience. Fully insured. No job too small. Contact Justin or Melissa Kennedy. Tel: 05 55 56 37 36 Email: justin.kennedy@orange.fr Regions 87/24 Siret 503 417 04000014
www.insurance.fr Tel: 05 62 29 20 00 Email: cover@insurance.fr RCS Auch B479 400 657 - Regions: All France
AXA INSURANCE J. LECLUZE ST HILAIRE DU HARCOUET - 50600
HOME - CAR - HEALTH We insure UK registered cars ENGLISH SPOKEN (call Angeline) - 02 33 49 12 34
Brian Macey - Electrician maintenance, breakdowns, renovations, rewires, new build, interior & exterior 30 years experience
Tel: 05 55 97 18 10 Email: brimacelectrical@supanet.com
englishspokenlecluze.e-monsite.com
EXECO PARTNERS Certified Accountants (FR) Serving English Clients in France
Accounting, Payroll, Business Setup and registration, Individual & Business Taxation and more... Please feel welcome to contact:
Mr Pierre CHERON (Expert-Comptable) on Tél: 05.53.54.48.91 Email: contact@execopartners.com www.execopartners.eu
Sell your property to a worldwide audience using our global network. Our fees are the lowest in France, our results are the best. WWW. HOUSESONINTERNET.COM
Tel: 05 55 65 12 19
DEMPSEY TREE SURGERY CONTRACTORS British trained & qualified tree surgeon All tree work undertaken.
Tel: 05 45 65 96 86 Mob: 06 61 90 04 92 enquiries@dempseytreesurgery.com www.dempseytreesurgery.com Working in dept: 16, 17, 24, 87 Siret: 48930027700014
Plant Nursery le Lac des Joncs
SAPEG expertise et conseil Registered Chartered Accountants
- Business set up and registration - Business accountancy - Income tax,Wealth tax - Payroll and legal services Contact Alain: 05 53 92 50 00 Email: a.clisson@sapeg.expertscomptables.fr www.sapeg.experts-comptables.fr
Mark Wilson runs Roots & Shoots
05 53 75 05 48 06 89 79 05 02 www.roots-shoots.fr info@roots-shoots.fr
To advertise here call freephone in France 0800 91 77 56 / from UK 0844 256 9881 (4p/min)
Exclusive Healthcare
24 SERVICES
Your Helping Hand to the French Health System
Unusual hardy perennials, ornamental grasses, hemerocallis Ivy, hosta, succulents
Property Maintenance - Pools & Gardens Changeovers - Keyholding
Tel: 05 53 46 78 18 - 06 84 83 70 38 24580 Rouffignac - St Cernin Email: contact@pepilacdesjoncs.com
Tel: + 33 (0)5 24 17 60 29 contact@24services.fr
N. Dordogne
+33 (0) 4 94 40 31 45 www.exclusivehealthcare.com
Siret: 52841725600013
Roots & Shoots
Professional tree surgery Call Mark for a free quote 05 53 75 05 48 - 06 89 79 05 02 rootsandshoots.fr@gmail.com. www.roots-shoots.fr Siret number 452-803-539-00017
l‘Ecrin de Verdure
A Garden Design and Build Company “Full service” from sketch schemes to finished garden with integrated systems (lighting/watering/mowing)
24 Sarlat - 33 Monségur - 47 Duras
UK 06 79 92 95 88 FR 06 42 85 53 60 www.lecrindeverdure.com
IN DEEP PISCINES Maintenance, leak detection, servicing, repairs
Siret: 517 566 196 00013 Regions Covered: 19,24,87
HOUSES ON INTERNET
industrial-sized wood chipper and a stump grinder - this of course keeps the cost of hiring equipment down, making its prices incredibly competitive. Before the job begins Mark can also work out the best solution for dealing with clippings and branches and so on. These include environmentally-friendly options such as using a horticultural recycling centre or on-site equipment to make chippings and mulch, or even creating a garden feature with your logs. Have you ever wanted to plant a tree or hedge in your garden but had no idea where to start? Even the smallest plot can accommodate a tree and Mark can advise you. His experience on all aspects of tree and shrub planting will help turn your
vision into a reality, be it a grand tree-lined avenue or a humble shrub border. Having long standing relationships with local pépinières, Roots & Shoots offers realistic and competitive prices for a wide variety of trees and shrubs, both large and small. Mark can also work with wood in other ways to improve your outdoor spaces, from creating more shade in your garden to building pergolas, fences or decking.
Tel: 05 53 22 79 18 / 06 84 68 84 92 Web: www.indeeppiscines.com Email: sean@indeeppiscines.com
Regions: 24, 33, 46, 47, 82 - Siret: 504 576 802 00038
TIP TOP Garden & Property Services
Garden Maintenance Hedge Trimming - Strimming Groundworks / Diggerworks General Property Maintenance Property checks/Keyholding Photo updates Contact Barry On Tel: 05 53 29 03 52 Mobile: 06 24 07 31 14 E: paula.grainger@wanadoo.fr Dept 24 - Radius 50 kms Sarlat Siret: 49372365400015
Prêt à Plonger
Piscine installation, repairs & maintenance. Bespoke pools, no project too big or small. Complete package including groundwork, terracing/decking and pool security.
Simon & Julia Holt 0619 071121 or 0553 620152 or Julia: 06 32 10 39 92 simon.holt@wanadoo.fr www.pretaplongerpools.com Siret: 49397835700017
Garden Design Service by professional Landscape Architect/Garden Designer from conception to supervision of installation Virginia Fletcher BA, Dip (Hons) LA, MLA
Tel: 05 53 62 51 94 Mob: 06 24 92 82 57
G. W.
Makeovers & Design English Kitchens/ Bathrooms/appliances direct from UK manufacturers Full range of French kitchens supplied Free design/planning service Installations/Makeovers/ Installations Only/Tiling Granite and Stone worksurfaces available
E-mail: virginia.fletcher@aliceadsl.fr
Areas: 24 33 47 Call 05 53 58 09 32 or 06 58 92 09 97
Siret: 44943716900013 - Ad No. 17855
siret: 510 011 554 00019
GARDEN SERVICES Creation of Garden Maintenance & Tree surgery High quality in respect with nature Philippe Brulé -30 years experience
Tel. 05 65 34 09 91 Working dept: south 19, 46 Email: brule.philippe0346@orange.fr
St Pool Piscines
Concrete pools, reinforced liners. No expensive over design, expertly constructed
www.aquapierre.com stpoolsfrance@gmail.com 05 53 91 45 18
Jardins du Périgord - Design - Creation - Garden management High quality work by qualified gardeners
www.jardinsduperigord.com
Café Church Bergerac An English speaking approach to contemporary Christianity
EVERY FOURTH SUNDAY Tea and Cake from 5pm
Cafe Church from 5.30pm - 6.45pm Sponsored by and held at L'Eglise Evangelique Libre de Bergerac, 5 Rue Durou
For details of other meetings brian@lincolns.me.uk or Peter Shire 05 53 22 74 08 www.christiansindordogne.com Ad No. 2467
'Massages and well being at Castelnaud la Chapelle' With
Sophie NALIN, massage practitioner - Relaxing massage with organic oils - Wave and vibration massage techniques - Energising massage - Shiatsu Amma Assis
Tel: 06 79 67 38 06
Dordogne Advertiser
To advertise here call freephone in France 0800 91 77 56 / from UK 0844 256 9881 (4p/min) LANDROVER*MG* ROVER*JAGUAR* AUSTIN-MORRIS PARTS ELECTRONIC DIAGNOSTICS & GEARBOX REPAIRS
WWW.LANDYPOINT.NET
0545622720
LOCKES GROUNDWORKS & LANDSCAPING Digger / driver hire Fosse septiques Excavations, Building, Renovations Driveways, Fencing, Decking, Pergolas Tel: 05 53 79 77 61 or 06 42 86 85 31 Email: lockes@orange.fr Website: www.lockes47.com
Property Finder Service helping the buyer find their dream home. Telephone: 06 45 10 21 54 john@dordogne-correze-properties.com www.dordogne-correze-properties.com Siret 508 891 983 00019
ASBESTOS ROOFING ALERT!
Tél: 05 53 90 46 34 Siret: 4119 419 830
Plumbing, Central & Underfloor Heating Bathrooms, Solar systems, Woodburners.
GAS QUALIFIED INSTALLERS.
Act before EU forces removal and bans DIY disposal Save up to 75% contractor costs
Contact SiteClear for Cheap, Safe, Legal Solution FREE CONSULTATION
Tel: 09 62 27 94 39 email info@siteclear.eu Siret no. 51438447800012
Signs, vehicle lettering etc.
KITCHENS & BATHROOMS IN FRANCE
Free advice and quotes, based in the Dordogne, covering all of France. Tel: 05 53 52 45 82 or 06 32 83 35 97
For the best deals on your kitchens and bathrooms Call us on 05 53 09 41 88 for a FREE home visit.
www.swansolar.eu
Email: mark@signsetc.fr Web: www.signsetc.fr
www.bathroomsinfrance.com Email: info@salon2bains.fr Tel: 05 53 09 41 88 Fax: 05 53 09 21 04
Carpentry - Roofing - Insulation - Wood frames and houses - Decks - Porches - Floors Free Estimates - Depts: Dordogne - Gironde
Web: latelierdecharpente.fr Mob: 06 02 50 11 56 Email: latelier.construction@gmail.com English spoken
STAR SATELLITE BskyB Qualified - For All Your Satellite Needs
Tel: 05 53 80 63 93 Email: contact @starsatellite.fr Web: www.starsatellite.fr
Regions: Dordogne and surrounding Departments Siret: 50196266600019
Sarlat, Gourdon and Souillac areas
Tel April on 0631110202 or 0553312115 see rates at
www.maximalocation.com Siret no. 498 524 032 00022
DIGITAL INSTALLATIONS We do not only sell & install We also repair digiboxes NOW!! All freesat systems available WITHOUT CARD
For more information call 00 33 (0)5 45 98 25 37 FINNINGER & HELBACH Gmbh Le Petit Fouine, 16210 Curac Tel/Fax: 00 33 (0)5 45 98 25 37 email: FinnHans@aol.com www.digitalsatellitefrance.com Siret: 400 415 246 00026
SECURITY SYSTEMS Alarm calls up to 4 numbers if activated. NO ANNUAL CONTRACTS OR MONTHLY PAYMENTS. Wireless or wired. Cameras with 24/7 recording + Internet access. Security lighting.
Tel: 06 27 76 95 91
BOUCHERIE A LA FERME
English butchers and farmers in France.
Beef, Lamb, Pork Pasties, steak pies, pork pies. Bacon, gammon, sausages.
Weekly services to & from France
Bespoke insulated packaging used for delivery throughout France. Raymond&Sophie Hicks www.boucheriealaferme.com Tel: 05 55 97 95 66 Mob: 06 45 51 34 58
Full or part loads, 4 wks free storage, 30 Years experience
Siret: 509 528 014 00012
Bar & Guild Member Contact: Anglo French Removals Tel: +44 (0) 1622 690 653 Email: info@anglofrench.co.uk
WOODBURNERS Ash Grove Stoves Supplier of Hunter - Villager
www.anglofrench.co.uk REFLEX MOODYS LTD SALISBURY
REMOVALS
-
Clean Burn - Fire Visible Boiler versions available Deliveries all over France Prices on our website
UK - FRANCE - UK
• Weekly Service • Full & Part Loads • Container Storage • BAR Members • On-line Quotation • Internet Shopping Deliveries
00 44 1722 414350 info@reflexmoodys.com www.reflexmoodys.com Company Regn No: UK 5186435 TVA / VAT No: UK 864 7217 04
George White European Transport Special rates to S/W France 13.6m/45ft trailer - Full/Part loads Removals/materials/vehicles Owner driver. RHA member
Tel: +44 (0)7768 867 360 Fax: +44 (0)1773 570 090 Fr Mobile: +33 (0)6 23 03 85 59 www.georgewhiteeuropean.co.uk
E: contact@aquitainealarmes.com W: www.aquitainealarmes.com Regions Covered: 24, 33, 17, 16 SIRET 50793843900019
Lowest Prices Guaranteed Tel: 00 44 (0) 1392 861579 www.ashgrovestoves.com sales@ashgrovestoves.com
SIMPLY BRITISH INDEPENDENT BRITISH GROCERS Large range of food - fresh and frozen, books, greetings cards and gifts
Tel: 05 61 64 98 89 Email: simplybritfoix@aol.com Web: simplybritish.fr REGION: Shop 09, mail order throughout France
Anglo Foods Agreed distributor of Iceland Frozen food 17270 Montguyon
Tel: 05 46 48 32 44
Supply & Installation of :
• Solar domestic hot water systems • Solar swimming pool systems • Wood boiler stoves • Plumbing services Tel : 05 53 63 43 87 / 06 06 41 08 85 Email : maswan@live.co.uk All depts covered Siret 50406233200011
SAND AND BLAST
Sandblasting service for Wood, Metal and Stone. Floor sanding service / hire available.
The World's Leading Solar Systems Tel: 05 53 62 31 35 www.ecopower.eu.com
Tel: 05 55 78 43 71 / 06 67 81 63 46 www.sandandblast.com
Property Owners Advertise with us for FREE info@everythingdordogne.net www.everythingdordogne.net
Furniture for France
A wide range of quality indoor furniture and sofas supplied and delivered direct to your French property saving you time and money. New showroom "Meubles New Ideas" near Brive(19) now open. For full colour brochure please e-mail info@furnitureforfrance.co.uk or call 0033 (0) 6 46 49 73 45 or 0033 (0) 5 55 25 02 68 www.furnitureforfrance.co.uk
Everything Dordogne Seeking Holiday Rentals for Australian Travellers Working in conjunction with Seek Travel Australia We advertise in Major Australian Newspapers
U.K. WOODBURNERS
EcoPower
Areas: 87, 16, 24 Siret: 48852292100037
<< L'ATELIER >>
British TV in France
Hammer, auger, dumper, roller etc available
MOVING TO OR FROM FRANCE?
Siret: 491205035 00026 - Ad No. 17751
We offer a full planning and design service...all under one roof! Visit our showroom in Perigueux. Covering Depts 24,16,17,33,47,46,19 & 87
Mini digger hire from 100 Euros per day HT
SARL Maxima
Dordogne-Correze-Properties
www.realheating.com info@realheating.com
Directory 19
www.dordogneadvertiser.com
August 2012
REDCLIFFE are a reliable Bristol based Remover and Storer with weekly trips to the Dordogne Credit crunch specials
Contact Andrew +44 (0) 7976 702 241 andrew@redclifferemovals.co.uk www.redclifferemovals.co.uk
Spex4less.Com High Quality Prescription Glasses Online Save Money On All Your Prescription Eyewear www.spex4less.com
AARROW YEOMAN STOVAX VILLAGER
France Agent - P.E.P Leisure Ltd UK 08717174097 FR 0553732521 www.pepleisure.com email: fires@pepleisure.com Regions All France
CLASSIFIEDS
BACCHUS IMMOBILIER recruits France-based estate agency seeks representatives for ALL regions of France. Carte Blanche Agent Commercial Immobilier and generous (up to 70%) commission rates offered. Contact Ivan Tredinnick.
Tel: 00 33 (0)5 45 82 42 93 Fax: 00 33 (0)5 45 36 27 95 E: property@bacchus-french-property.com W: www.bacchus-french-property.com Siret: 48034462100010
Car boot sales around the area this month August 1 - Le Buisson August 4 - Issigeac, Thiviers August 5 - Celles, Excideuil, Gageac-et-Rouillac, Gaumiers, Hautefort, Issigeac, La Bachellerie, Lanquais, Le Change, Le Fleix, Manzac-sur-Vern, Milhac-deNontron, Montignac-sur-Vézère, Queyssac, Saint-Antoine-Cumond, Saint-Astier, Saint-Cybranet, SaintLaurent-des-Vignes, Saint-Louis-en-
l'Isle, Savignac-de-Nontron, Verteillac August 6 - Hautefort August 11 - Monpazier, Thenon August 12 - Biras, Calviac-enPérigord, Campagnac-lès-Quercy, Fleurac, Issac, Journiac, Les Lèches, Monpazier, Montignac-sur-Vézère, Négrondes, Saint-Astier, SaintVivien, Sarlat-la-Canéda August 15 - Capdrot, Cherveix-
Cubas, Coulaures, Douchapt, Eymet, Fleurac, Jumilhac-le-Grand, Lamothe-Montravel, Nontron, Plazac, Saint-Pierre-de-Côle, Trémolat, Vendoire, Verteillac, Villamblard August 17 - Saint-Cyprien August 18 - Lisle, Pontours, Ribérac August 19 - Augignac, Champagnac-de-Bélair, Clermontde-Beauregard, Excideuil,
Monplaisant, Nailhac, Parcoul, SaintVincent-de-Connezac, Étouars August 22 - Le Buisson de Cadouin August 24 - Coulounieix-Chamiers August 26 - Bergerac, Besse, Chancelade, Corgnac-sur-l'Isle, Creyssac, Douzillac, La ChapelleFaucher, La Douze, Mensignac, Saint-Barthélemy-de-Bellegarde, Saint-Geniès, Sarlat-la-Canéda, Terrasson-la-Villedieu, Varaignes
20 DIY
www.dordogneadvertiser.com
2012 Helpguide to Healthcare in France INFORMATION YOU CAN TRUST ON LIFE IN FRANCE O
O
O O
ONLY
Explains how France’s healthcare system works and gives a breakdown of the reimbursement system covering doctors, dentists, opticians and mental health specialists. Explains how to register with a GP and other practical information including pregnancy, cancer screening, disabilities and pharmacies. Especially written for Britons living in France. Published July 2, 2012
€7.50
The 2012 helpguide is now on sale for €7.50 for a downloadable or printed version Excluding (printed version does not include p&p) P&P You can order at the helpguide section of www.connexionfrance.com or call (free from France) 0800 91 77 56 or 0844 256 9881 from UK (4p/min) to pay by credit card
SUBSCRIBE The Connexion
DORDOGNE ADVERTISER
France, in English News, interviews, practical info & more
Packed with local news, features & events
SUBSCRIBE
3 WAYS TO
Sponsored by
Outdoor kitchens: more than a BBQ MAKING an outdoor kitchen can be fairly straightforward. First, decide where to locate it. Choose a flat space, not too far from the water supply with no branches which could overhang a barbecue. An area of hard standing or concrete is useful but not essential. It simply depends on whether style-wise you are aiming for Robinson Crusoe or Saint-Tropez. Installing a kitchen sink is easy, especially if you already have a water supply or, at least, a rainwater butt in your garden. Cheap, second-hand stainless-steel sink tops are easy to find at places like Emmaüs (find a local one online at pagesjaunes.fr) and very often come with the taps still attached. Once you have got one, you need to build a support for it; out of bricks and mortar if you want it to last but there is no reason why it should not sit on two dry stone end walls or even two trestles if it is only designed to be there for the summer and you do not mind it being a bit rickety. Stake trestles for extra stability using washing line and tent pegs. Otherwise cut a hole in an old table and sit your sink top into that. You will then need to cap off the hot water supply and rig a hosepipe to supply the cold tap. For the outflow, think about your garden and either run the used water into an irrigation system or a water butt for later use. Supply a sink plug to prevent water being wasted and tie it to the tap so it does not get lost. If hot water seems like a must, investigate the systems sold in camping shops. They are inexpensive and essentially consist of a plastic bag of water which you hang up in the sun each morning so that it is hot by the end of the day. Once you get this far, it is not complicated to add a work surface and if you want to keep it clean, tiles might be a good idea but make sure they are safe to be frozen; normal decorating tiles for indoor use will crack at the first frost. A very slight slope forwards will help prevent puddles of rainwater forming and make your tiles last longer. Installing a barbecue can also be as complex or simple as you chose. At its most basic, it could be a hollow in the ground surrounded by large stones, but of course the most fun project is to build the base from bricks and mortar, topping it off with a fireproof slab and adding a work top to one side. When installing firebricks, remember to use fireproof cement as well. You can also buy fireproof sealing mastic. The barbecues you buy from DIY stores including a chimney may need planning permission and even if they do not, in the interest of world peace it may be a good idea to consult your neighbours before building one right beside a boundary fence.
Online www.dordogneadvertiser.com www.connexionfrance.com Call FREE from France 0800 91 77 56 Or for just 4p/min from the UK 0844 256 9881 Lines are open between 9am - 1pm Post this coupon to Subscription Services, BP 61096, 06002 Nice Cedex 1 Payment must be by euro cheque (from a French bank) or sterling cheque (from a UK bank). Cheques should be made payable to English Language Media
Dordogne Advertiser ONE YEAR (12 EDITIONS) To a UK or other EU address: €18 (£16)
D I Y tips
Subscribe to The Connexion and receive Dordogne Advertiser for FREE
Fill in your details (in capitals please): Name: ________________________________________________________________________________________________ Address: ______________________________________________________________________________________________ Town: __________________________________________Postcode: ____________________________________________ Country : ______________________________________Telephone: ____________________________________________ Email: ________________________________________________________________________________________________ To a French address: €10 (£9)
August 2012
Photo: Tommaso Lizzul - Fotolia.com
Live in Dordogne?
Dordogne Advertiser
The Connexion ONE YEAR (12 EDITIONS) To a French address: €33 (£30 by UK cheque) To a UK or other EU address: €44 (£40) Other addresses: €70 (£64)
The Connexion and receive Dordogne Advertiser for FREE ONE YEAR (Dordogne addresses only) To a Dordogne address (department 24 only): €33 (£30 by UK cheque) Please note: Subscriptions must reach us by the 16th of the month to ensure delivery of the next issue. We would like to send you a weekly email with news and practical information about life in France. You can unsubscribe at any time. We will never pass your details on to a third party. If you do NOT want this please tick here NO THANKS!
Sinks and work surfaces can be easily set up outside
Dordogne Advertiser
www.dordogneadvertiser.com
August 2012
Home and Garden 21 Photo: Eric Marquez/Flickr
Gardening Facts
Sponsored by Photo: Anatoliy Samara - Fotolia.com
Water restrictions can make August a difficult month
How does your garden grow? AUGUST is traditionally the month for gardeners to relax and make the most of their labours. The things-to-do list is short and light, mainly consisting of keeping an eye on everything. For many gardeners this summer however, August is a battle to keep the garden watered in the face of hosepipe restrictions and, in some areas, a total ban on watering flower gardens at all. Those gardeners with their own water source are to be envied but most bans do not include watering cans, and there is no reason not to use “grey” water (waste water which does not contain sewage) in the garden. At its most simple this can mean throwing the washing up water out of the window, but some dedicated gardeners also recuperate water from baths using a siphon. Collecting water from a washing machine is often the easiest however; the outflow hose is often simply hooked over the outflow pipe and can easily be attached to a hosepipe. Set up water butts in case it does rain. Leave the lawn slightly longer than normal to conserve water, but do not worry if it goes brown. It will turn green again the first time it rains. Put potted plants into half-shade where they will be able to conserve more moisture, and do not forget to mulch everything if you have not already done it. Melons and courgettes should be cropping nicely now, as should beans and tomatoes. Either swap or freeze the excess. Skinned and chopped frozen tomatoes are great in soups, pasta sauces and stews all year round. Look out for a recipe for deep-fried courgette flowers. Remember that cubes of vegetables pushed onto a skewer and brushed in olive oil cook very nicely on the barbecue. To keep the crops coming, hoe up weeds regularly. If water is restricted, it is better to give them a good soaking every other day than a light watering daily, which encourages roots to stay close to the surface. Vegetables that can be sown this month include spring and Chinese cabbage, chicory, winter lettuce, spinach and turnips. You can also start choosing bulbs to plant in the autumn for spring flowering. To keep flowers going, dead head regularly and feed weekly. Make sure tall plants are tied up in case of a summer thunderstorm. Check roses for pests and spray at the first sign of any infestation. Now is also a good time for some garden planning for next year. Choose bulbs for autumn planting, read through seed catalogues, and take some photographs for your garden diary – the successes as well as the failures. You might even sketch out a seeding plan for the spring (rotating is essential in a vegetable garden). Plan excursions to garden centres, famous gardens and parks for inspiration.
Reductions, Felling, Hedge cutting, Planting. Experienced tree climbers fully trained and insured. Contact Mark Wilson 0553750548 / 0689790502 O O
www.roots-shoots.fr info@roots-shoots.fr
Shade sails are an increasingly popular option and are great at letting heat escape and keeping the sun’s rays out
Tips to beat the heat IN THE midst of the hottest summer month, thoughts turn to staying cool and comfortable. Traditional systems such as ceiling fans can be bought at large homeware stores such as Leroy Merlin, Mr Bricolage and Castorama. Prices can vary widely, but tend to be between €50 and €150, depending on size. Although less popular in France than in the US, you can choose to install air conditioning (climatisation). There is a wide range of units to choose from, and those fitted with a heat pump can also help with heating in winter. You can choose between a climatiseur monobloc which is hung on a wall or window, or a “split” one which is moveable. The attached units are more expensive but are generally more powerful. However, they should only be used in rooms or studios smaller than 30m2. For the “split” option, one of the units is placed outside on a wall or patio, and the other unit is inside. Air conditioning costs between €300 and €5,000 depending on the number of units you have and how powerful they are. When buying a new air conditioner, be sure to check it for size and noise. If you have an old central air conditioner, you might want to look at replacing the outdoor compressor with a high-efficiency unit. Once in place, maintain your air conditioner so that it works as well as it can – this includes cleaning the filter every month it is in use, as dust can reduce air flow. Ducted air is another method of air conditioning, although it can be more expensive. It consists of a single compressor and evaporator which then circulate filtered air. As for keeping cool outside, parasols and awnings can cre-
Whether you are indoors or outside, there are many options available to you to help cool down in the height of summer. REBECCA LAWN explains more ate much-needed shade. Sail shades from Australia are also becoming more popular in France. Supplier Colin Lawrence, from Shade Sails France says: “Of the European countries that we supply, France is probably the fastest growing. “We attribute this to the need for shade – French people like to live outdoors in the summer and the sun is very hot – and also the French eye for style.” The shades are made of sail
“
French people like to live outdoors in the summer and the sun is very hot. The French also have an eye for style [when choosing a shade for the patio] Colin Lawrence Shade Sails France (www.shadesailsfrance.com)
cloth, and come in triangular or square designs. Mr Lawrence adds: “The material is permeable and allows hot air to escape from under the fabric, unlike traditional shade materials constructed from canvas, which tend to
trap the heat.” The shades provide UV protection of over 92%: “They can be used to provide a temporary solution and just put up when the sun shines – simply by tying the corners to a building or tree. However, most installations are semi-permanent – the sail only being taken down in the winter.”
When not in use, the sails can be folded and dry stored. Prices range from €120 for a 3.6m triangle to €255 for a 5m square, and they come in grey, sand and porcelain. Meanwhile, if you want to extend the summer for as long as possible, outdoor heating can help you to make the most of your garden, and there is a choice of patio heaters such as parasol, hanging and gazebo heaters, and free-standing electric heaters. They range in price from €119 to €459, and can be bought from large homeware stores.
22 Property
www.dordogneadvertiser.com
Dordogne Advertiser
August 2012
Houses for sale across France Buying or selling a property? We can help. Our website www.connexionfrance.com carries details of more than 14,000 homes for sale across France. We also feature properties for sale in this dedicated section of the paper each month. To find out more about any particular property, go to www.connexionfrance.com and enter the ref: code shown under the property.
age costs just €200TTC and gives you three months online advertising as well as a print advert in three editions of The Advertiser. Our 6+6 package is best value at €330TTC and provides the same, but for six months via each channel.
New Consumption and Emission Chart - e.g. Energy rating C & F refers to C for Consumption and F for Emissions
Contact us on 0800 91 77 56 (freephone in France) or email sales@connexionfrance.com
More details on all these properties - and how to contact the seller directly - can be found in the property for sale section of
For sellers, the adverts are also displayed across a range of popular English- speaking websites and are seen by thousands of potential buyers EVERY day. Our 3+3 pack-
www.connexionfrance.com
Simply enter the code under each home to find out more PROPERTIES IN DORDOGNE
€95,000
€101,200
€112,000
Ribérac Four bedroom Maison de Maitre comprises two reception rooms, adjoining barn and garden on two levels. In need of renovation.
Nontron This lovely two bedroom little house is an ideal holiday cottage.
Near Saint-Cyprien This one bedroom house comprises kitchen, living room, bathroom, large attic, cellar (36m2), courtyard and large garden.
REF: BVI0004873
ENERGY RATING = F
REF: FP-26426SS24
ENERGY RATING = Not given
REF: 100561
€135,000
€141,000
€160,000
Monpazier Wooden two bedroom house comprises living room with open plan kitchen, bathroom, WC, back kitchen, storeroom, garage and workshop on a plot of 2532m2.
Cenac et St Julien Three bedroom charming medieval village has been tastefully restored. Includes large living area with open kitchen, dining room, lounge with fireplace, shower room and attic.
Corgnac-sur-l'Isle This three bedroom in good condition set on 1400m2 of land consist of bathroom, lounge with fireplace, fitted kitchen and garage.
REF: 200242
ENERGY RATING = Not given
REF: 300172
ENERGY RATING = Not given
REF: 47001
€180,000
€190,000
€200,000
Beaumont-du-Périgord This fully renovated two bedroom Perigordian stone house has beautiful views of the surrounding countryside, a heated swimming pool and is just 25 mins from Bergerac airport.
Belvès Old Perigourdine rural house comprises three bedroom, , living room/dining room with open plan kitchen and old chimney 42m2, terrace, large cellar and old bread furnace.
Monpazier This beautiful four bedroom house includes hall, living/dining room with chimney, kitchen, bathroom, two separate WC, garage, WC, utility room, kitchen and garden of 3100m2.
REF: 10947-38441066
ENERGY RATING = Not given
REF: 200533
ENERGY RATING = Not given
REF: 200428
€220,000
€245,000
€264,000
Hautefort This two bedroom beautiful stone perigourdinde with character is set in 690m2 of land. Comprises a living room with fitted and equipped corner kitchen, shower room and large basement.
St Paul Lizonne Four bedroom modern house includes two kitchens, shower room, en suite, balcony, office, large garden, three vine covered terraces, integral garage, workshop and swimming pool.
Gourdon Four bedroom bungalow with 1970 m2 of land comprise fitted kitchen, lounge/dining-room, bathroom, en suite, utility room, terrace, garden, outbuilding and swimming-pool.
REF: 39568
ENERGY RATING = D
REF: 700058
ENERGY RATING = D
REF: 300428
€273,920
€295,000
€318,000
Parcoul Recently renovated collection of buildings which have been transformed into a functional gîte complex consisting of a three bedroom barn conversion and two one-bedroom gîtes.
Near Pau, PyrénéesAtlantiques, Dordogne 19th century old water mill which has been converted into a charming farmhouse set on 4.80 hectares of farmland.
Monpazier Stone four bedroom house comprises living room with chimney, kitchen, two bathrooms, office, garage and workshop.
REF: 700483
ENERGY RATING = E
REF: IFPC22427
ENERGY RATING = D & D
REF: 200336
€329,000
€342,000
€350,000
Ribérac Four bedroom consist two fitted kitchens, dining room, lounge, summer room, veranda, pool room, terrace, swimming pool, double garage, 2 acres of garden and 1/2 acre of wooden land.
Sarlat-la-Canéda Three bedroom house and separate two bedroom apartment set on 6694 m2 of land.
Brantôme Superb traditional house and barn conversion offers four bedrooms, one with en suite bathroom, open plan kitchen/dining, sitting room, two further shower rooms, balcony and utility room.
REF: 8351
ENERGY RATING = Not given
REF: 300438
ENERGY RATING = Not given
REF: BVI0007043
€389,500
€424,000
€449,000
Belvès Two bedroom house set on 6 hectares of land.
Trémolat This beautiful six bedroom house consists of salon, TV room, dining room, kitchen, two bathrooms en suite, garden and swimming pool.
Beynac Perigordian style three bedroom house set on 1842 m2 of land. Includes lounge/dining-room, kitchen, bathroom, en suite, shower room, terrace, summer kitchen and double-garage.
REF: 3357
ENERGY RATING = Not given
REF: 100373
ENERGY RATING = Not given
REF: 300531
ENERGY RATING = Not given
ENERGY RATING = Not given
ENERGY RATING = Not given
ENERGY RATING = Not given
ENERGY RATING = Not given
ENERGY RATING = C
ENERGY RATING = Not given
The adverts above cost from just €200TTC for three months of web advertising and three months of print advertising.
Let our distribution get you a sale. Contact our sales team on 0800 91 77 56 (freephone in France) or email sales@connexionfrance.com
Dordogne Advertiser
www.dordogneadvertiser.com
August 2012
Currency Notes Jeremy Cook, chief economist at foreign exchange company, World First, talks about the Euro and other currencies.
FINANCE
Sponsored by
Sponsored by
CABINET D'AVOCATS E. ARAGUAS French Avocat
www.thefrenchlawyer.com
The on-going instability in global markets has caused exchange rates to fluctuate dramatically, which presents real problems for anyone who is moving money overseas, says Jeremy Cook of World First. IT SEEMS strange to think that the debt crisis in Europe has only been going on for just over two years. For those of us in the markets it feels like it has been dragging on a lot longer. What started in Greece then leaked into Portugal, jumped to Ireland and then back to the Mediterranean to hit Italy and Spain. Throughout the crisis it has been obvious to those of us on the outside that the Eurozone was never truly sustainable without the political and fiscal union that comes alongside monetary policy unification. A scenario which has come a few steps closer to becoming a reality following the recent agreement on bank recapitalisation which was heralded as a 'breakthrough moment' at the end of June. The on-going crisis has led to legitimate speculation about countries leaving the Eurozone and even provoked conjecture that there will be a complete dissolution of the single currency - although there only a few who believe that this will be allowed to happen. Unsurprisingly, this has caused a weakening of the euro, which has reached near four-year lows against the pound in the last few weeks. If we look at the figures there is obviously an issue which needs to be taken seriously: On June 29, 2011 - £200,000 would buy you €223,287. By June 29, 2012 - that same £200,000 would buy you €249,598. Before this recent euro devaluation, UK bank account holders moving money to Europe have been one of the most frustrated parties throughout the financial crisis as, despite the fears over the Eurozone, the euro has remained relatively overvalued versus the pound. A recent poll of banks and brokers has expectations of where GBP/EUR will be trading in 6 months' time from as low as 1.11 to as high as 1.39. The truth is that nobody really has any idea what will happen. While there is the opportunity for a decent round of upside there is also the possibility that these recent gains into the 1.20s may vanish before our eyes. Either way, volatility in the currency markets is likely to remain a challenge for those managing overseas funds for the foreseeable future. There is a significant amount of risk surrounding the Eurozone at the moment and trying to predict upcoming moves is becoming increasingly difficult. Some careful forward planning is certainly a wise move when it comes to managing your international payments.
Photo: © Minerva Studio - Fotolia.com
Photo: © spaceport9 - Fotolia.com
Bank manager can help on overdrafts
No-one can really predict euro rates
For more information about making international money transfers with World First visit the website www.worldfirst.com or call +44 20 7801 1050
LegalNotes Answered by
www.worldfirst.com +44 20 7801 1050 Exchange rate changes pose a problem
Property / Money 23
The Loi Carrez sets out how properties are measured
Your bank manager can vary overdraft interest rates Can you please explain how bank overdrafts operate in France and some of the differences with UK banks? F.A. ONE OF the differences you may find in France is the importance of a good relationship with the bank manager. Branches can often set interest rates or waive penalties as a goodwill gesture and can deal with overdrafts on a case-bycase basis. In the UK things may be less flexible. Even if you have no organised overdraft facility, your bank may tolerate the occasional one-off dip into the red (but it is not obliged to). There are also agreed arrangements for going into overdraft, called either a facilité de caisse or a découvert autorisé, and an overdraft facility is standard in many accounts. The basic amounts offered, however, are not as in UK banks. One difference between the two types is that a facilité de caisse is specifically intended for very short-term cash-flow difficulties –and generally specifies that your account will be in the black a given number of days a month (often 15), which is not the case with a découvert autorisé. Overdraft arrangements should be detailed in the convention de compte you signed on opening the account and you will find details in the tariffs documents banks send out annually. Bank statements also carry such information. Interest rates are variable and are indexed against a basic rate for the bank, increased by a certain margin. Banking rules currently set a maximum of 19.15% per year (though authorised overdrafts are generally well below this). This is applied daily to the actual amount overdrawn and the fees (often called agios) are debited each month or quarter. An unauthorised overdraft is when you exceed agreed limits, but the bank honours the payments anyway. The French Banking Federation says banks may tolerate this for a brief period, charging a fee for each transaction, called a commission d'intervention, as well as agios that are usually at a higher rate than those with an authorised overdraft. However transactions above a certain size or that push your balance below a certain level (see your account terms and conditions) will automatically be refused – and refusals also attract fees. In such a case you must contact your bank quickly, as there is a risk of being banned from using cheques, especially if there are several rejections or money is not deposited as soon as possible.
Surface area law protects buyers I AM starting to look for a property to buy in the Dordogne and have seen the Loi Carrez mentioned in adverts. What is this law please and do I have to check it is complied with when buying a property? Is it new? J.T THE 1996 Loi Carrez is designed “to settle the legal status of buildings held in co-ownership”. It requires sale contracts to very clearly state how much space (in m2) the property occupies in any building or group of buildings in which property is divided between several people. This aims to avoid disputes over which part of a jointly owned property is private and which is common. I. What does the Loi Carrez say? Any property contract prepared for exchange or any deed of purchase for a plot in a property held in co-ownership has to define its surface or is bound to be null and void. This principle helps every purchaser to know precisely which area of the property is for dwelling purposes. It is worth noting here that the following parts are always excluded from the definition of dwelling: uncovered or unclosed areas, cellars, garages, car parks, stairways or any room with a total surface of less than 8m2 or any part of a room lower than 1.8m from floor to ceiling. In an old stone building or a top-floor flat with sloping roofs, this can exclude a lot of the actual surface area of the property. This is of the utmost importance, not only for the purchaser but also for the lawyer who is in charge of drawing up the deed. II. How does the Loi Carrez protect the purchaser? Most of the time, neither the buyer nor the lawyer are able to check the reliability of this measurement themselves. That is why it is important to hire a professional to carry out a diagnostique, checking the measurements are correct and adding any other mandatory information to the documents. Should an erroneous report be released, two situations can occur for the purchaser after the completion. If the surface was underestimated, the seller has no claim against the purchaser for extra money. If the surface was overestimated by more than 5%, the measurer and/or the seller could be found legally liable, and the purchaser could be able to claim a discount on the price paid for the property.
Serving your interests is our first concern, defending them is our vocation Why take a chance with your French tax affairs? Tax & leaseback returns S.A.R.L & S.C.I registrations
T.V.A. Returns Dual taxation advice General Accountancy
enquiries@moneybureau.co.uk 00 44 18 27 70 39 76 Money-bureau
Full contact details and fees available on our website, English-speaking services including phonecalls, emails & legal consultations. Offices open from Mon. To Fri., 9am to 12am & 2pm to 6pm
Tel:00.33 (0)5.46.97.96.74 Fax: 00.33 (0)5.46.97.96.77
24 People
www.dordogneadvertiser.com
Dordogne Advertiser
August 2012
Carving out a career in heritage JEAN-Max Touron owns 12 historic sites – five of which are open to the public – La Roque Saint Christophe, the Roc de Cazelles, the Manoir de Gisson, the Maison Forte de Reignac and the Grotte du Sorcier. It all began when his father realised that the cliff face full of caves and ancient dwellings on his land was of potential international historic interest. He opened La Roque Saint Christophe to the public in 1938, closed it during the war and reopened it in 1952. At first, the season was short – just two months in the summer – but now it is one of the three most visited sites in the Dordogne and is open every day all year. The one kilometre long cliff in the Vézère valley was inhabited by prehistoric man 55,000 years ago and transformed into a fortress and city during the Middle Ages and is one of the major troglodytic sites in the world. Mr Touron says he has a profound affection for La Roque Saint Christophe: “I have many wonderful childhood memories from when I used to go there on my bike and explore all its nooks and crannies. “If I close my eyes now I can see it all printed in my head – every crack, every boulder. I have a deep and complete love for the place – it is in my heart and it’s my roots.” So it was a natural step for him to take over from his father. Little by little he developed the site and then in the 1980s he began to acquire others: “I have done it all with my own money. “The income from La Roque Saint Christophe has enabled me to develop other projects. “I own 12 sites – five are open and I hope to open another next year – but I will leave the rest alone. They are protected but will remain private. They would only reproduce what is already on offer to the visitor. So I’ll leave them to the bats.” In the Dordogne there is no equivalent of the National Trust, so many sites are privately owned. Does that mean a potential conflict of interest could arise between the need to make money and preserving the
Photo: Oups79/Flickr
Some of the Dordogne’s bestknown tourist sites are owned by one man, Jean-Max Touron, who has made preserving the local heritage his life’s work. JANE HANKS met him to discuss his job and future plans
Jean-Max Touron (below) took over the running of La Roque Saint Christophe from his father and plans to open a sixth site to the public next year
local heritage? Not for Mr Touron: “Firstly these places belong to me and are precious to me and my aim is to preserve them and explain their history to the public. “Secondly they are protected by an organisation, the Historic Monuments and Ancient Buildings of France, so no mad man can come in and turn such a site into an amusement park. “So far I have not asked for any public money – it is very difficult to obtain – but I am considering doing so for my next project.
“I own l’Abri de Cro-Magnon which is little more than a rock shelter at present. But it is the place where five skeletons and other important archaeological discoveries were made in 1868 and it gave the term Cro-Magnon to the world. “I think it is time to give it the recognition it deserves and I hope to open it next summer.” Mr Touron is passionate about history but feels that the latest technologies should be used to bring it to life: “I have projects to use holograms and I want to use computer
graphics to show the unfolding tale of the different civilisations that lived in the caves at Roque Saint Christophe. Before we could only do that with a guide and drawings. “This new approach will give another level of understanding. I have also just employed the use of a flying drone which can take the most amazing photographs. It is a remote controlled contraption about the size of a bicycle wheel with motors and rotor blades with a camera on it. A real piece of magic. “You can start it off on a desk –
make it float through a window and circle all around a building. I have used it on many of my sites – but it was particularly useful for the Manoir de Gisson in the heart of Sarlat where it would be impossible to manouevre a helicopter. The use of all these forms of technology are very exciting and allows me to explain the sites better.” He is confident for the future: “We know there is a recession but we don’t seem to be touched – for the moment. Visitors are still coming to see us – not just me but the other sites are doing well. The first half of this year has been good. “I know that some campsites and restaurants are suffering but at present holidaymakers seem to be spending their budget on visits.” Mr Touron has spent his life running his sites and is now beyond retirement age – but is still full of enthusiasm for his work: “Most people would be moving on to other things by now – but this is my life. “I am passionate about the local history, particularly prehistory and the Middle Ages. I feel very fortunate to have been born in the Périgord with all its riches. “I am very attached to my roots – I even sleep in the same bed that I was born in.”
Open your door to eight million paying guests... Choose us to let your holiday property and you can reach more than eight million potential customers. Right now, there’s huge demand for cottages, gites, houses and villas perfect for a family holiday. t Win more bookings more easily, for reliable income
t Personal support from a locally based Regional Manager
t Market-leading websites and unrivalled marketing
t The UK’s top letting agency, fully licensed and bonded to operate in France
Vacation Rental Sarl in partnership with... Tel: +33 (0)1 57 32 42 31 Email: recruitment@vacationrentalsarl.fr Carte Professionelle No 11042 - Garantie Financiere EUR 7,000,000 Lloyds (RCS VRS Cannes No B445 210 537)