Languedoc Pages - May 2012

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NEWS, WHAT’S ON INFO FOR AUDE, GARD, HERAULT, LOZERE, PYRENEES-ORIENTALES

One woman’s mission to improve male driving WE NEED WOMEN TO HELP, SAYS CAMPAIGNER

Studio plan as region bids for more films

Satellite crackdown on local tax cheats HALF a million euros in tax evasion fines were pocketed last year by Carcassonne town hall, who gave six specialists the mission of pinpointing undeclared swimming pools, vacant buildings and land suitable for development.

The team used Google Earth and other satellite imaging services to zoom in and verify residents’ taxe d’habitation (council tax) declarations.

The operation was managed

by Mohamed Didaoui, according to whom, in 2011, 487 untaxed swimming pools were indentified, bringing in a total €100,000 in fines.

Mr Didaoui said he expected the rate of detection to go up, as his team were waiting for new satellite images to become available – their investigations so far have been made using images from 2008.

Swimming pools are an obvious target, but habitable buildings that have been vacant for five years or more are now subject to a special tax that last year netted some €98,000 euros.

A law passed in 2011 enforcing taxation on land suitable for development but as yet without habitable construction has brought a further €130,000 euros into the local coffers.

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BOOK FAIR DIRECTOR SHOWCASES UK AUTHORS p24

FILMMAKERS are increasingly turning to the LanguedocRoussillon when it comes to locations for their films – and plans to build a studio are expected to give the sector another boost in years to come.

Five feature films, eight TV films, seven shorts and four documentaries were filmed last year in 400 days of filming. This year, three series and two films are coming out with the region and Montpellier as their backdrops. These are TV series Antigone 34, which started recently on France 2 and Inquisitio (for the same channel) as well as the films Paradis Perdu (filmed in Céret, Pyrénées-Orientales) and Pauline Détective.

This comes as policies started by former regional president Georges Frêche, who

died while still in office in 2010, are bearing fruit.

As for 2012, filming is planned on a France 2 series Lignes de Vie (Lifelines), in Montpellier, and on a major historical series Heretics in the Aude to be screened on Arte next year. Among other projects expected to be filmed are English-language films, but details are yet to be confirmed.

Heretics was made in locations including Narbonne, Carcassonne and Fontfroide Abbey and focuses on the Cathars, the medieval sect which flourished in the Languedoc and was subject to violent repression by the Catholic Church.

M According to the councillor in charge of culture at Montpellier, Philippe Saurel, there is

a freshness about the region’s scenery that appeals to filmmakers. The town has encouraged the trend, for example with offers of free use of car parks or locations, such as the old Hôtel de Ville for scenes in Lignes de Vie. A director of LanguedocRoussillon Cinéma, an agency working with the state and local authorities to develop filming in the area, Marin Rosenstiehl, said: “Cinema and television films have been developing extremely well in the Languedoc-Roussillon for a couple of years. It’s been Continued on page 2

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Languedoc Pages

May 2012

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Contents News What’s On Feature Coffee Break

2-7 8-11 12-13 14

Food Directory Home and Legal Property

15 16-17 18-19 20-23

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: www.caf.fr; Tel: 08 10 25 14 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 website: www.anglais.urssaf.fr - Aude - 20 rue Saint Michel, BP 605, 11876 CARCASSONNE CEDEX 9, Tel: 04 68 11 24 00 | Gard - 6 rue du Cirque Romain, 30923 NIMES CEDEX 9, Tel: 04 66 36 48 00 | Hérault - Quartier de la Mosson, 35 rue La Haye, 34937 MONTPELLIER CEDEX 9, Tel: 08 20 00 34 35 | Lozère - Quartier des Carmes, BP 104, 48003 MENDE, Tel: 04 66 47 23 48 | Pyrénées-Orientales 26 rue Petite la Monnaie, BP 59926, 66021 PERPIGNAN CEDEX 9, Tel: 04 68 35 75 00 PREFECTURE: Aude - 52 rue Jean Bringer, BP 836, 11012 CARCASSONNE CEDEX Tel: 04 68 10 27 01 | Gard - 10 avenue Feuchères, 30045 NIMES CEDEX 9 Tel: 04 66 36 40 40 | Hérault 34 place des Martyrs de la Résistance, 34062 MONTPELLIER CEDEX 2 Tel: 04 67 61 61 61 | Lozère - 2 rue de La Rovère, 48000 MENDE Tel:

04 66 49 60 00 | Pyrénées-Orientales 24 quai Sadi Carnot, 66951 PERPIGNAN CEDEX Tel: 04 68 51 66 66 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: Aude - Regular meetings are held (in French) in Carcassonne | Gard - Regular meetings are held (in French) in Nîmes, Alès and Cèze | Hérault - Regular meetings are held (in French) in Sète Agde Beziers, Bédarieux and Lodève. Montpellier: English-speaking group (closed) meets Thursdays at 18:45-20:15, doors open at 18:30.

Ganges: English-speaking meeting (Willing to Grow Group), with meetings (closed) Tuesdays 18:30-20:00 in the Foyer des Jeunes, near the Schools on rue E. Gounelle, 34190 Ganges. | Pyrénées-Orientales Céret, Le Barcares-Village, Thuir, Vernet les Bains and Perpignan 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. SOLDIERS, SAILORS, AIRMEN AND FAMILIES ASSOCIATION FORCES (SSAFA): In France: 05 53 01 64 54. Email: france@ssafa. org.uk AVF: help with French life; www.avf.asso.fr 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.

BRITISH CONSULATE British Consulate Marseilles: 24 avenue du Prado, 13006 Marseilles. Open: 09:0012:00 and 14:00-17:00 Tel: 04 91 15 72 10 (after hours emergency call this number for answer phone emergency service) PUBLIC HOLIDAYS THIS MONTH May 1 - Labour Day, May 8 - VE Day May 17 - Ascension Day May 28 - Whitmonday

Languedoc Clubs and Associations Allicance Franco-Anglaise du Languedoc Roussillon Association aimed at assisting English speaking newcomers to integrate through conversation classes and social events.

Contact Neil Todd: 04 67 37 99 52 www.afal.name Association Echanges Association offering cultural exchanges in French or English and bringing together various nationalities for meetings every two months. Social events for people in the area plus English lessons. The main activity for English speakers is a "pot luck" meal together for informal discussion and games and so on. Contact Emma Tikunova: 04 68 60 38 99 or 06 01 79 97 27 associationechanges@live.com

Appassionata Choir The Chorale Appassionata welcomes new members. We rehearse in the Salle Polyvalente at Bassan,from 19.45 to 22.00 every Tuesday. Membership is international,- we sing everything - classical to jazz. Contact Rhona Goujon 04 67 36 05 83 ESKA English Speaking Kids Association A new non-profit association called ESKA - English Speaking Kids Association which has been set up in the region to bring together English-speaking children of various ages to enjoy different kinds of activities in English. All children of all nationalities are welcome to join in the activities accompanied by their parents or guardians. Meetings take place in LunelViel. 04 67 82 36 62

Pauline Étienne and Olivier Rabourdin play daughter and father Lucie and Hugo in Paradis Perdu, filmed in Céret

Tight budgets could attract more productions to region

Continued from Page 1 taking off considerably in terms of the number of things being filmed.”

He added: “The Paca region is also very attractive, but we are complementary to that now – we enrich the offer of the Mediterranean basin.

“There is a little bit of competition between us, but we’re a small region and it would be presumptuous to say we are trying to outdo them. We each have different kinds of locations. However, as producers are increasingly trying to work on tighter budgets, we think more and more films will be made here.”

Mr Rosenstiehl said regional council aid is a draw. “Films only come if there’s some finance. The region gives €1.3 million each year towards making films. As for us at Languedoc-Roussillon Cinéma, we are financed by the region to commission films and welcome the crews.

“We offer logistical support, including looking for every imaginable place you could film. We have a database of thousands of locations – châteaux, but also ordinary places like industrial wastelands and of course beaches, and countryside like the wide open spaces you find in the Lozère.

“We can also put them in touch with

“

You don’t often see Montpellier in French series. It’s a very pretty town and fits well with the plot elements Chloë Besomi Production assistant on Antigone 34

actors and technicians. The more filmmakers can use local people, the less they have to spend on accommodation and catering.”

Looking ahead, the possibility of creating a studio which could be used by companies filming in the area is being studied: “It wouldn’t be a Hollywood studio, it would be a little film set of 1,000m2, but the idea interests the councils, including the mairie of Montpellier.

“We still need to look at the long-term demand and see if it’s needed, but TF1 is interested and it could interest the other channels as well.”

Chloë Besomi, the production assistant for Mascaret Films, which made Antigone 34, said: “We chose to film in the Languedoc-Roussillon partly because the regional council offered interesting financial support and also because you don’t often see Montpellier in French series, so it gives an original touch. It’s a very pretty town and fits well with the plot elements.”

The director of Paradis Perdu, Eve Deboise, said she benefitted from a grant from the regional council to help her write the screenplay, which she deliberately based in the area, plus aid was given to help with production costs. She also benefitted from logistical help, for example to find the plant nursery where the action would take place.

She said: “I knew the area well and really wanted to film in that scenery. It’s that beauty which is still very wild, with a powerful presence of the elements – the wind and the heat. It’s quite dry, but very colourful, with wild flowers; it’s enchanting. It has an Eden-like quality which I wanted for the film.”

Films and series out this year AMONG those that have already or are expected shortly to hit French screens are: Antigone 34 (named after a Montpellier district and the department number of the Hérault), about an attractive policewoman and

her investigations in the local area.

Inquisitio is a historical series set in the Middle Ages, with themes like the plague, the Inquisition and the power struggle between rival popes in Rome and Avignon.

Paradis Perdu is about a father and daughter who live

and work in a plant nursery in Languedoc-Roussillon, making the best of things after the mother has left.

Their relationship is described as increasingly close, “reassuring” but also “dangerous”. There is drama when the mother comes back, and in a potential rela-

tionship between the daughter and an illegal immigrant.

Pauline Detective, expected to come out in June, is a crime comedy. Pauline, a journalist, goes to Italy with her sister after being dumped by her boyfriend; she investigates a crime committed in their hotel.

Region below national average for bac SCHOOLS in Languedoc-Roussillon have recorded slightly worse results in the baccalauréat exams in the past year, after doing better than the national average a year earlier, according to government figures.

The final, definitive results show that in the Montpellier education area (académie), which covers the whole Languedoc-Roussillon region, 25,875 pupils sat their bac (baccalauréat) exams in 2011 and overall 85.6% of them passed, compared with an average of 86% across the rest of France.

The Languedoc pass rate is down from

86.2% in 2010, which was higher than that year’s national average of 85.8%.

Montpellier académie was beaten by four big others: Nantes (91.1%), Rennes (89.8%), Strasbourg (88.6%) and Toulouse (88.5%). At the bottom of the league, Créteil had a pass rate of just 79.1% (although up from last year’s dismal 78.4%).

For the bac général, the region was also under-average: the pass rate was 87.7% (maintained from last year) compared with 88.5% (up from 87.4%) in the rest of France. However, the results were the same in Lille, Paris and Versailles and

better than in Amiens, Caen, Nice, Orléans-Tours, Poitiers and Reims.

For the bac technologique, the pass rate was also below average: 82.1% (up from 81.9% in 2010) compared with 82.8% (up from 81.9%) in the rest of France.

This compares with Nantes which had a pass rate of 88.7% (up just a shade from 88.4% last year).

In line with the rest of the country, results for the bac professionnel fell: the pass rate was 85.2% (down from 88.1% in 2010). This result compared with 84.1% (down from 86.5%) across the rest of the country.

Languedoc Pages

News 3

May 2012

Campaign seeks women’s help to tackle dangerous male driving SHOPPERS and tourists crossing Montpellier’s Place de la Comédie one sunny afternoon recently were curious to see a large, bright yellow caravan parked outside the tourist office.

Banners in an equallyarresting shade of yellow carried disturbing messages: “75% des morts sur la route sont des hommes” (75% of road deaths are men), “Tant qu'il y aura des hommes pour mourir sur la route, il faudra des femmes pour que ça change” (as long as there are men dying on the road, we will need women to change this). The campaign, Le Manifeste des Femmes (the Women’s Manifesto) calls on female drivers to help change men’s driving habits and make the roads safer.

“

Once they get behind the wheel, some men (and some women, too) think they are in a bubble Catherine Mallet

Clipboard-toting volunteers in bright yellow T-shirts were on hand to ask passers-by to sign the manifesto and to give out information about the French government’s latest road safety campaign which targets women.

Besides Paris, the campaign is being rolled out in five major cities across France, of which Montpellier is one (Lyon, Bordeaux, Toulouse and Marseille are the others), and the préfecture of Hérault has embraced the concept and taken the manifesto message to the streets.

Road safety co-ordinator and campaign spokeswoman Catherine Mallet said: “It was only natural for the Hérault préfecture to get involved in this national initiative, particularly since the department’s 2011 road safety figures have shown an even greater disparity between men and women: of 99 road deaths, 81 were men and only 18 were women. Of the 55 in-car deaths, 43 were men and 12 were women.”

These are sobering figures that suggest the French gov-

ernment’s idea of reducing male road accident mortality rates via women may be wise.

However, not everyone seems to have taken the message the same way.

Ms Mallet added: “This communication campaign was deliberately launched on March 8, International Women’s Day. Some reactions we have heard suggest that for some members of the public, the message was perceived in a negative way, as men might feel stigmatised or think that only women were meant to sign the manifesto.

“However, as far as we were concerned, in Montpellier, our team of a dozen volunteers went right up to everyone, male and female alike, to explain the aim of the campaign, namely, to incite anyone – regardless of gender – who witnesses dangerous behaviour behind the wheel to intervene and reason with the person in question.

“Some men who felt they were being singled out as part of the problem when they first read the slogans on the banners came round after we talked to them, and ended up signing the manifesto.”

Asked about the causes of most road accidents, Ms Mallet replied: “A lack of respect for the rules of the road, and to a greater extent, a lack of respect for others.

“Once they get behind the wheel, some men (and some women too, although this is rare) think they are in a bubble, and that they are the only ones on the road.

“However, our roads are a shared space where we have to be particularly attentive to the more vulnerable users, such as cyclists and motorbike riders, and pedestrians.

“In the case of those who do not (or who do not want to) realise this is the case, their friends and families have to open their eyes and make them see sense.

“This is particularly true of those who want to drive after drinking alcohol. One of the effects of alcohol is the lifting of inhibitions, so people feel more than capable of driving even when, in fact, they are a danger to themselves and to others.

“This is why the French national road safety slogan is tous responsables – we are all responsible for road safety.”

The préfecture has put its weight behind the Manifeste des Femmes campaign, but as previously reported in the Languedoc Pages, it is also carrying out a study – the first of its kind in France – to pinpoint the causes of road

Photo: PHOTOPQR/LE MIDI LIBRE/DAVID CRESPIN

Road safety in France is currently in the spotlight, and parts of Languedoc-Roussillon have a particularly poor record.

LOUISE HURREN looks at a major campaign in the region to try to resolve the problem

A fatal road accident between Castries and Teryant in the Hérault, a department in which 99 drivers died on roads in 2011 accidents in the Gard and Hérault departments, where the problem is particularly pronounced (in 2011 there were 99 deaths on the road in Hérault, and 71 in the Gard).

The study was ordered by the transport ministry in 2010 because of particularly high fatality rates at the time.

Ms Mallet added: “We want to know if bad driving is somehow genetic, or if road users are just rather laid back because the sun shines a lot in the south of France.”

The préfecture has recruited 60 volunteers from each department, who will spend half a day with a psychologist. By way of comparison, an identical study is to be held in the Loire-Atlantique department, which has a similar demographic but a significantly lower road accident rate. Results are expected in September.

New speed limits for A9 motorway NEW measures will be coming into force in June this year to limit driving speeds to 90kph on the A9 motorway near Montpellier. The area in question runs from the Montpellier Est entry to the Saint-Jean de Védas toll booth and is a road accident black spot. The new speed limit will be in effect during rush hour, on working days, from 7.009.00 and from 17.00-19.00.

The rest of the time, the speed limit is set at 110kph. Automatic speed limit cameras are going to be installed on both sides of the road along the section in question.

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4 News

Languedoc Pages

May 2012

Towns compete How a shelter from the sun over location of became a popular wine brand TGV stations

Did you know?

MANY Languedoc wine domaines have the word borie as part of their name (Borie de Maurel, Borie la Vitarèle, Château Borie Neuve) but exactly what the term means is perhaps less common knowledge.

The word borie is in fact of Provençal origin: bòria was used to mean a farm and comes from the Latin boaria, meaning a stable for oxen. Today, it signifies a type of dry-stone shelter found dotted throughout the fields and vineyards of Languedoc-Roussillon.

Originally used to house farm labourers’ tools, it also served as a shelter from the beating sun, or less clement weather.

However, borie is not the only name used for such dry-stone structures: capitelle, from the Occitan word capitelà, is equally found, as are the terms cazelle, carabelle, cabane and oustalet, depending on the geographical area. The shape can vary too: some have a corbelled roof, while others are domed, ogival- or pyramid-shaped.

Some date back as far as the early Middle Ages, but in France many were built in the 18th century, when land was divided up and distributed among the poor; labourers used the stones that they removed from their plots to create walls, terraces and shelters for storing their tools.

A borie is a dry-stone shelter found dotted through the region’s vineyards Although very common to Languedoc (there are some fine examples of bories to be seen in the vineyards and scrubland of the Faugères wine-making area, for example), drystone huts have been documented in other parts of France (in Beaujolais and

Provence, for example: near the village of Gordes, there is a whole borie village that has been classed as a historic monument) and around the world (in Corsica, Crete and California, to name just a few). Some are still used by shepherds today.

THE location of stations on the new high-speed TGV train link between Montpellier and Perpignan will be annouced in July – but the debate over their exact location is starting to intensify.

The line, which is planned to come into service in 2020, will complete the TGV link between Nîmes and Barcelona. In Languedoc, the towns of Béziers and Narbonne are currently vying for who gets a TGV station.

In the Hérault department, Raymond Couderc, president of the greater Béziers area, argues that a TGV station in his home town would provide a vital economic and social benefit for the 500,000 people who live in the agglomeration.

Freight would also be boosted, according to Couderc, due to the positioning of the station near the A9-A75 motorway interchange.

Meanwhile, in the Aude, Jacques Bascou, MP and mayor of Narbonne, is keen

to promote his plans for a TGV station situated to the west of the town, in the area of Montredon-Lebrette.

He said: “We have the land, and more importantly we can link air, sea and train,” referring to political and financial allegiances with both Carcassonne (its airport representing the air links) and Port-la-Nouvelle (sea links).

It remains to be seen who will win, but Raymond Couderc suggests: “It is not inconceivable to have two stations with 40 to 50km between them, given the fact that the whole area is so densely populated.”

Meanwhile, the TGV link between Perpignan and Barcelona has been delayed and will not be in service by the end of the year, as previously announced.

Tunneling delays and financial complications between Catalonia and Madrid mean that the service is now expected to be in operation by spring 2013, according to reports.

Carcassonne drivers win competition case Photo: ©PHOTOPQR/LE MIDI LIBRE

Taxi drivers with a full Caracassonne licence had faced rivalry from a firm based nearby A TAXI firm based 10km outside Caracassonne has been banned from advertising its services to the city’s residents, after it was prosecuted for unfair competition following a legal complaint by a rival group of drivers.

Aud’Line Taxi owns taxi licences in Leuc, Verzeille and Ladern-sur-Lauquet, on the city edge, and advertised in the phone directory and on its website as a Carcassonne-based firm. It also advertised station and airport pick-ups.

However, the firm’s licence was not issued in Carcassonne, and 15 drivers with full city licences, allowing them to pick up passengers who hail a car in the city, took legal action.

Outside taxi firms are allowed to drop off

passengers in the city, or pick them up by prior appointment. The judge said taxi users risked being confused by Aud’Line’s advertising claims and had a right to be “clearly informed of where a taxi is based”.

He ruled that the firm’s advertising was unfair to the Carcassonne drivers. The French taxi industry is very heavily regulated, and licences are very expensive in many parts of France, because their numbers are limited – in Carcassonne they change hands for more than €100,000.

The drivers’ lawyer, Sabine Pépin, said other firms based outside the city could be pursued if they made similar claims. Aud’Line faces a fine of up to €200 a day if it does not comply.

Aude solar energy project is abandoned PLANS to equip 38 public buildings around the Aude with solar panels have been scrapped. Only six secondary schools in the area have had the photovoltaic installations put in place, but the council has stressed that it remains committed to renewal energy in the long term. The project was announced two years ago and would have made it one of the country’s leading supporters of photovoltaic installations, but the decision by EDF to cut the amount it pays for electricity from solar producers meant the project was no longer considered viable.

Languedoc Pages

News 5

May 2012

Water restrictions in Gard and Hérault

Photo: Deuxtroy - wikimedia.org

A YEAR OF vastly reduced rainfall means parts of the region are already feeling the effects of drought with water restrictions in eight departments. Hopes for increased rain during the past autumn and winter came to nothing and the Hérault is the hardest hit department nationally, down 90% of normal rainfall levels. Farming groups are worried that the lack of rain will hit this year’s grain harvest, with a reduced wheat crop in what is Europe’s leading wheat-growing country. The rural life group Confédération Paysanne has called on the government to take urgent measures to help. Ecology Ministry officials said the situation was “worrying” without being “alarming”. At the time of writing, water usage has been restricted in the Gard and Hérault. Details of the precise areas with restrictions are available on the Propluvia website: www.tinyurl.com/frenchwatermap

Staff face uncertainty as salt firm up for sale

“

I'm very impressed with the Languedoc Pages well-written and interesting. Please let me know how to order, for home delivery if possible. C. W. See page 18 to subscribe

Montpellier to twin with Bethlehem

Major renovation at Montpellier station WITH the city’s new tramway lines 3 and 4 launched last month, it is full steam ahead on the works around Montpellier’s Gare Saint Roch train station. Major renovations are under way and are set to last three years, creating new retail units, a terrace/garden space, eight escalators and a new car park.

Meanwhile, the planning phase for the new TGV station in Montpellier continues. A business district and up to 5,000 apartments are to be built around the station, near the A9 motorway, with three internationally renowned architects competing for the contract, which comes with a budget of €917m.

Investors seek site for medieval park A GROUP of investors from China and Qatar have been touring the region in search of a site to create a medieval theme park, according to reports. The park, which would occupy a site of some 100 hectares located “somewhere between Montpellier and Montauban” will have a castle complete with a lord, knights and peasants. A consortium of about 25 investors has been put together by Raphaël Geslan (former coach of Toulouse handball club) with the hope to raise €100m in five years. A hotel, restaurants and health/sports facilites are also planned.

“Workers are worried, and with good reason.”

There are plans to create a €5m museum and health spa at the site, generating 25 jobs, but Les Salins du Midi president Pierre Levy stressed: “It is unthinkable that a company like ours would disappear overnight, and a museum without a factory does not make sense.”

However, he added: “I cannot give any guar-

Low incomes and joblessness hit region hard Photo: MaG - Fotolia.com

LANGUEDOC-ROUSILLON’S capital city Montpellier has announced it is to become twinned with the Palestininan city of Bethlehem. Besides the cultural and sporting exchanges provided by the new link, there will be an economic benefit for Montpellier, with the joint construction of a commercial and industrial zone in Bethlehem. Further cooperation between hospitals and universities in the two cities is planned. Montpellier is now twinned with eight cities around the world: the others are Louisville (United States), Heidelberg (Germany), Barcelona (Spain), Chengdu (China), Tiberias (Israel), Fès (Morocco) and Tlemcen (Algeria).

THE FUTURE of one of Europe’s largest and best-known salt producers is uncertain after Les Salins du Midi was put up for sale.

Founded in 1856, the firm, based in the Aude, was taken over in 2004 by investment banks Chequers and Abénex, who now wish to see a return on their investment.

Local councillor Robert Crauste said:

LANGUEDOC-ROUSSILLON residents have one of the lowest standards of living in all of France, with growing numbers of people living below the poverty line.

New statistics from the French national statistics body Insee put the region second-lowest in France, above the Nord-Pas-de-Calais.

Between 2008 and 2009 the number of people living below the poverty line increased by 17,000 (an increase from 18.1% to 18.6% of households over the previous year), and in 2009, half of the population of Languedoc lived on a monthly income of less than €1,470.

Of the region’s five departments, Hérault enjoys the highest standard of living, while Aude has the lowest.

The standard of living is calculated by dividing the income of a household by the number of inhabitants. The high numbers of unemployed, non-working spouses and retired people contribute to Languedoc’s low ranking in the standard of living charts.

Insee regional director Francis Vennat said he feared the situation would continue to worsen, due to the knock-on effects of the financial crisis on unemployment figures and wages. He said: “The real effect will only be visible two years on, when job losses are no longer covered by unemployment benefit.”

According to Insee, 7.3% of LanguedocRoussillon residents aged 15-64 are paid the RSA (revenu de solidarité actif, a benefit available to job seekers who are not eligible for unemployment benefit), compared to the national average of 4.5%.

antees.” Meanwhile, local Green party member Didier Claire suggested that the museum plans were a “smoke screen” and that the company was now under the control of bankers who are looking for a quick return.

Les Salins du Midi currently employs 260 people, and the site received more than 80,000 visitors in 2011.

6 National News

Languedoc Pages

May 2012

News from across France

Social security deficit falls PROGRESS is being made on the problem of the social security deficit, new figures show. The good news was announced by director of the health branch of social security, Frédéric Van Roekeghem.

The deficit of the branch (concerned with funding/reimbursement of healthcare) was €8.6 billion last year, down from €11.6 billion in 2010 – which is €900 million better than had been predicted.

The comments contrast with the views of employers’ body Medef, which recently said the state health insurance system was “on the verge of bankruptcy”. It has urged the presidential candidates to prioritise a radical overhaul.

Photo: © lightpoet - Fotolia.com

Brangelina’s wedding plan

tury chapel there.

However, Brad’s agent, Cynthia Pett-Dante, said : “Yes, it’s confirmed. It is a promise for the future, and their kids are very happy.

There’s no date set at this time.”

Efforts to keep taxes down RESIDENTIAL taxes for the coming year are being kept roughly in line with the past year, as mayors and departmental councils have reined back increases in the taxe d’habitation and taxe foncière.

However, that does not mean impôts locaux are staying the same.

Local taxes are levied on the theoretical potential rental value of the property, which is set at national level each year, and that has been increased by 1.8%.

This means households will face a minimim 1.8% rise even where local councils have decided to maintain taxes at the 2011 level.

Soap spillage shuts motorway

WHILE Hollywood was abuzz with the news that Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie are to get married, it brought little reaction in the couple’s French “home town” of Correns, in the Var. Staff at the mairie knew nothing of the wedding.

The couple own the Château de Miraval in the commune and there have been rumours that they were keen to tie the knot in the 16th cen-

TRAFFIC was disrupted on the A4 autoroute north-east of Paris after an HGV carrying liquid soap crashed, tipping its contents out.

The accident, which involved a car, happened on April 12, between Sainte-Aulde in Seine-et-Marne and Orxois in the Aisne.

The 40-tonne lorry veered into the verge and turned over, injuring the driver and dumping liquid soap tubs which broke open on the road.

The motorway was closed in the Strasbourg direction, but was reopened later in the day.

Disneyland marks birthday DISNEYLAND Paris is 20 years old.

With 250 million visitors since it opened in 1992, and 15.7 million last year, Europe’s top attraction is marking the date with a new night-

VISITORS to the Louvre can learn about the Old Masters with an audiovisual guide provided on Nintendo’s 3DS handheld console.

The device has replaced the Paris museum’s electronic tour devices and allows visitors to see where they are at any moment on the map using the gadget’s dual screens. Through the Nintendo visitors can listen to interviews with curators and lecturers and get descriptions of more than 700 objects.

time show and a revamped parade.

The park was originally known as Euro Disney, but was relaunched as Disneyland Paris in 1994 after poor hotel occupancy and takings.

A second park, Walt Disney Studios Park, opened in 2002.

Despite high visitor numbers, the company registered a loss last year, of €56 million, despite a rise in its turnover of 5%, to €1.3 billion.

Police ‘sold off seized goods’ SENIOR police officers in Lille, Roubaix and Tourcoing are under investigation for selling seized goods to help pay the running expenses of their police stations.

The head of the Direction Départementale de la Sécurité Publique du Nord, Didier Perroudon, said since 2008 police had been selling off items found after burglaries or raids and which could not be traced back to an owner. Judges had ordered the items to be destroyed.

The officers had used the money to buy lightbulbs, paint for an office wall or road maps. It was thought there had been no personal gain.

Three superintendents and several officers have been investigated

intercommunal body from 20002010. The commission says it “doubts these measures were in conformity with directives relating to state aid to the aviation sector.” It is also looking into €8m in grants to the CCI for the running of the facility and grants to Véolia linked to the number of Ryanair services, as well as commercial agreements made between Rynair and Véolia and reduced airport charges.

Cost of living still rising INFLATION remains high in France, according to figures from official statistics body Insee. Average consumer prices were up 0.8% in

March over a month, and 2.3% over a year. Food is up 0.7% over the month and 3.7% over the year.

However, Insee noted price falls in pharmaceuticals and electrical items like IT equipment , cameras, TVs, hi-fis and telephones.

Call for French food labelling CONSUMERS have called for a new food label to be created, to highlight products that are produced in France.

Nine out of 10 said there should be a collective Label France for food products, but added they did not want to pay more for the privilege as they found food too expensive.

A poll, conducted for the National Association of Food Industries (Ania), found that two thirds of customers usually chose the cheapest products. However, they said food producers deserved a fair price for products. More than two thirds of respondents “trust French food businesses to ensure product safety”.

Lifts ‘could cause death’ AROUND 15,000 French lifts could kill or injure users, according to the Fédération des Ascenseurs (FA).

Urgent upgrades – such as making sure doors are safe – were supposed to have been made by the end of 2010, but 8% of lifts are still illegal, the FA says. Nonetheless the FA says accidents are down (250 last year) and, since 2000, fatal ones have been cut by two-thirds. There have been 11 deaths since 2006.

Photo: © lightpoet - Fotolia.com

AFTER two gangland shootings in 24 hours in Marseille, Interior Minister Claude Guéant has announced an extra 1,750 surveillance cameras across the city.

The body of a 26-year-old man was found riddled with bullets in a seafront car park in the 8th arrondissement. The man was known to police for drug trafficking.

Hours earlier the body of gang member Farid Tir was found in similar circumstances outside his home in the 3rd arrondissement.

Guéant was speaking at the opening of a new Centre de Supervision Urbaine in Marseille which, he said, was the first stage in a project to have 1,800 cameras across the city.

Tour Louvre on Nintendo

Photo: ©PHOTOPQR/LE PARISIEN/Olivier Corsan

More CCTV after shooting

Airport under investigation THE European Commission has opened an “in-depth inquiry” into public financing at CarcassonneSalvaza airport, used by Ryanair.

It wants to find out if grants made to bodies running the airport over the last decade are legal with regard to competition rules or may have favoured Ryanair. Similar enquiries are under way in Marseilles and La Rochelle. The airport was central government property until 2007 when it was transferred to the regional council. Véolia Transport took over last May. Its infrastructure benefited from €11 million from the region, department, town and

Fuel sales fall as prices rise PETROL prices have hit a new record, with SP95 averaging €1.6664 a litre across France.

As prices have continued to rise since the end of 2011, however, fuel sales tumbled 3.5% in the year to March. Petrol prices in some Paris stations have been above €2

for several months.

Diesel, the most common fuel in France with 80% of consumption, has also seen its average price rise after a modest fall last week. It now costs €1.4362 a litre, up from €1.4347 last week, but still far short of the mid-March record of €1.4584. Only the higher-octane SP98 petrol saw a fall in price: from its record of €1.7121 last week to €1.7095

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Languedoc Pages

News 7

May 2012 Photo: mikelo/Flickr

THE European Commission has opened an “in-depth inquiry” into public financing at Carcassonne-Salvaza airport, which is used by Ryanair.

It wants to find out if grants made to bodies running the airport over the last decade are legal with regard to competition rules or may have overly favoured Ryanair.

The airport was central government property until 2007 when it was transferred to the regional council, and was run by the CCI (chamber of commerce) of Carcassonne until Véolia Transport took over last May. Its infrastructure benefited from €11 million from the region, department, town and intercommunal body from 2000-2010. The commission says it “doubts these measures were in conformity with directives relating to state aid to the aviation sector.”

It is also looking into €8m in grants to the CCI for the running of the facility. The commission says it appears

likely the money went towards “ordinary expenses” and may therefore represent “help with running costs, given in violation of rules on state aid”.

The Commission is also examining grants to Véolia linked to the number of Ryanair services, as well as commercial agreements made between Rynair and Véolia and reduced airport charges, which may have amounted to giving an unfair advantage to the firm. The bodies concerned will be invited to explain their actions.

Ryanair’s head of communication, Steven McNamara, said the European Courts in December 2008 dismissed similar commission claims against Ryanair in relation to Charleroi airport near Brussels, and the commission did not appeal.

He added: “Ryanair’s arrangements with all EU airports comply with competition rules. This latest commission goose chase is hard to understand.”

New research to find exclusion hotspots A MAP is being drawn up to highlight areas where older people are most at risk of social exclusion, in order to then target resources.

Recent research suggests that many senior citizens in rural areas are vulnerable, but that this phenomenon can also occur in urban centres such as Montpellier, Nîmes and Perpignan, where the general population is younger and more transient.

Alain Cwick, president of Carsat Languedoc-Rousillon (an organisation that represents retirees) said: “Some people are isolated, and no-one comes to see them – this must stop.”

An Irish pub with a touch of class O

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THOUSANDS of Occitan and Catalan-speakers have turned out at demonstrations to defend their regional languages, which they say are still widely spoken across Languedoc-Roussillon.

The marches, in Toulouse and Perpignan, aimed to show the widespread support for the languages and to demand that the French government ratify the European Charter on National and Minority Languages which has been stalled for a number of years because it contradicts the French constitution, which states that the official language should be only French.

President Sarkozy and National Front leader Marine Le Pen have both said they will not ratify the charter, but socialist candidate François Hollande, Green candidate Eva Joly and centrist François Bayou have all said they are in favour of ratification.

Signature of the charter would not make minority languages official, but would make them officially recognised and would open the way towards financial grants

Photo: Mediatèca-Occitana/Flickr

EU investigates Carcassonne airport funding

Calls to ratify law to keep regional languages alive

Occitan is not recognised by the government as an official language of France to be saved to help preserve this element of France's cultural heritage.

Occitan is widely spoken all across the south of France from the Atlantic coast to Italy, and even gave the Languedoc-Roussillon its name: the language of Oc (la langue d’Oc).

Oc means yes in Occitan. It is even spoken in parts of Spain, Italy and Monaco.

It is no longer spoken as a monolingual mother tongue, and accurate figures are hard to come by as to how many

people speak it or to what level of fluency. Estimates start at around 500,000 and go as high as 12 million people if those speakers with just a smattering of phrases are included.

Occitan is a romance language with connections to Catalan, another of France’s regional languages, spoken mainly in the south of Languedoc-Roussillon.

Catalan, the national and official language of Andorra, is also spoken in parts of

France, Spain and Sardinia.

Because of this, although it is a minority language in France, it is not endangered in the same way as other regional languages.

Occitan has a solid written tradition with its own literary cannon including a huge catalogue of songs and plays written in the language. It is widely used at cultural events and is taught in many primary schools. It is however not used for legal and administrative settings.

8 What’s On

Languedoc Pages

Hérault

May 2012

Montpellier

FESTIVAL May 4-13 The International Festival of Very Shorts Fifty films, each under three minutes in length will be shown simultaneously in venues across France and 15 other countries across the world. All genres are represented: fiction, animation, documentary, experimental and more. More than 1,500 short films were submitted, and the organisers had a hard time whittling them down to the final 50 which, they say, were selected for “their originality, their boldness, their sense of humour, their generosity, their bad taste ... and maybe even for their technical qualities.”

There will be a special event, “Women’s Voices”, dedicated to films made by women, about women or women’s issues.

Visit www.trescourt.com or email contact@trescourt.com to get the exact prices, dates and venues of the screenings.

May

Hérault

Montpellier

SPORT

May 16-20 International Festival of Extreme Sports, Lez riverside – The world's top professionals get together for five wild days of skateboarding, roller-blading, BMX, snowboarding, and wakeboard. Nearly a thousand amateurs also come to measure their skills against the champions, and many more just come to watch.

The largest extreme sports event in Europe, more than 220,000 visitors are expected at this free event. As well as the sports, there will be about 40 exhibitors. FREE. www.fise.fr

May 19 La Nuit des Musées, 18.30 – Culture-vultures should be prepared to stay up late on Saturday May 19 this year. European Museum Night sees 3,000 museums in around 40 European countries stage special programmes.

Starting at sunset, the general public can enjoy free dance and music performances, concerts and conferences. In France, about 1,300 venues are involved, and many of Languedoc's museums are part of the movement. Admission to Perpignan’s four main museums – Puig, Rigaud, Casa Pairal and Muséum – will be free of charge, with dancing, live music and guided visits on the programme; Narbonne, Béziers, Sète, Montpellier and Carcassonne will also be taking part. nuitdesmusees.culture.fr

Gard

Nîmes

MARKET

May 19 Mai l'art en balade, Parvis de la Maison Carrée, 10.00-19.00 – This designer market attracts many talented designers from different fields, including painting, sculpture, ceramic, jewellery, lighting, fashion design, and photography, selected both for the quality of their work and their orginality.

Visit www.marchedecreateurs.free.fr or email firstage@yahoo.com or Call 06 03 16 43 25

Hérault

Montpellier

MUSIC

May 27 Thriller Live, Zenith, 18.30 – The sensational dancing and distinctive sound of Michael Jackson’s greatest hits are brought to life in this energetic show.Thriller Live includes eye-popping multi-media effects and dazzling choreography by the show’s award-winning director Gary Lloyd. It includes over two hours of non-stop hits in a tribute to the King of Pop’s legendary live performances. Prices: €40 to €71.

Visit www.thrillerlive.com and book on www.digitick.com, www.fnac.com, www.francebillet.com or www.carrefour.com

Languedoc Pages

What’s On 9

May 2012

Pyrénées-Orientales

Maury CULTURE

Gard

Le-Grau-du-Roi

FESTIVAL

May 27 Les Amorioles – This gourmet walk with six gastronomic stages, will take you all around the village of Maury.

At each stage there will be a dish, a tasting of several wines and you will have the opportunity to meet with the producers and the winemakers.The menu will be prepared by Pascal Borrell, the chef of the Michelin-starred Maison du Terroir.The walk will start at the ruined Cathar castle of Quéribus.

Prices: €39 for adults and €10 for under 10s. Call 04 68 50 08 54 or email amoriolesmaury@gmail.com to book.

Pyrénées-Orientales

Ille-sur-Tet ART

May 17-20 Vogua Monstra is a traditional celebration of the oar and Mediterranean cultures that will take place in the town.There will be a Mediterranean market, a musical festival, oars events, Provencal jousts and jousts from Languedoc.You will discover the different oars crafts and Mediterranean traditions.

Call 04 66 73 45 45 or email animation@ville-legrauduroi.fr

May 12-13 Balade en terre d'Artistes – The artists of Ille-sur-Tet open the doors of their workshops to share their talent and skills with the public.

These artists are painters, sculptors, wrought-iron craftsmen, photographers, potters and ceramists.

This event will take place the whole week-end in every town of the Pyrenées Orientales. Just come along!

Call 04 68 08 29 33 or visit www.cg66.fr

Pyrénées-Orientales Canet-en-Roussillon

8 The

European routes

Sunny Airport

www.beziers.aeroport.fr

SPORT May 17-20 Destination Mer, Canet Port, 9.00noon, 14.00-18.00 – This four-day event hosted

by Canet Kite Club gives you the chance to try kite-surfing and wake-boarding free and safely with the experts, or compete for big cash prizes.

In the evenings there will be sea shanties with Pavillon Noir, musical parades with a Caribbean steel drum band, and the Fiesta Latina Show, followed by fireworks. On Sunday there will be a Brazilian Batucada samba band.

Call 04 68 86 72 00 or email animation@ot-canet.fr

New

London

Lozère

Col de Bonnecombe FESTIVAL May 27 Fête de la transhumance en Aubrac – This event celebrates the moving of cattle from the valleys to the Aubrac plateau, where they will spend the summer among the lush green pastures.

Throughout the day, at the Col de Bonnecombe, there will be folklore events and Occitan songs, sales of regional products such as cheese, olives and fruit, and a chance to try the local version of sausage and mash, aligot-saucisse.

Call 04 66 32 39 53 or email contact@aubrac-sud-lozere.com At the time of going to press The Languedoc Pages team checked, to the best of its ability, that the details of events listed here are correct. However, we recommend that you check with organisers before setting out to see there have not been any last minute changes to programmes.

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10 What’s On

Languedoc Pages

May 2012

Get Involved!

noticeboard Language is no barrier to group’s cultural exchange Association Franco-Anglaise du Languedoc-Roussillon (AFAL) The AFAL is an Anglo/French association that aims to encourage cultural exchange between English-speaking people integrating into the French way of life, and French people who want to meet British residents and practise their English.

The objective is to bring English speakers together with French speakers in a social environment. AFAL currently has about 100 members, including French, British, Dutch, Irish, Belgian and German representatives.

The association was founded in 2002 by a French woman, Pascale Bernet, when she moved into this area with her family.

They hold conversation groups in Narbonne each Wednesday evening.

The groups are designed to mix both French and English languages in an informal and social atmosphere.

Afterwards, wine and snacks are served.

The association also organises a monthly pétanque meeting (next dates are May 10, June 14 and July 12), often with lunch afterwards, and there are group walks, sometimes followed by a picnic. Cycle-rides, ten-pin bowling, visits to local villages, restaurant meals, canal cruises and trips to local historic sites are just some of the other activities. It costs €12 to join the association, plus €15 to take part in the conversation groups (but this is optional). For more information see www.afal.name or contact the secretary, Neil Todd at todd.neil@orange.fr or on 04 67 37 99 52.

Promote your club or community event - email news@connexionfrance.com

Languedoc Pages

What’s On 11

May 2012

What’s On in the capital

SPORT

Newton’s iconic work for French title Nova and the British Vogue (right)

rolandgarros.fft-tickets.com Photo: Michael Schamis/Wikimedia

Fly high at funfair FAMILY

Photo: besofa/Flickr

Until June 3 – The Foire du Trône is a massive late spring funfair on the edge of the Bois de Vincennes, with rides galore, including a giant ferris wheel and all the usual stalls. A flat-rate pass (€29.99) buys access to the 10 big rides and other discounts.

Open daily from 12.00 to midnight (1.00 on Saturdays).

Metro Liberté (line 8) or 87 bus from Gare de Lyon. foiredutrone.com

French take on top Broadway puppet show Until May 27 – Sesame Street meets South Park in this musical comedy, which sees human actors performing and singing alongside puppets. The French interpretation is based on the phenomenally successful Broadway and West End shows and runs until the end of this month.Théâtre Bobino, Rue de la Gaîté (14e). Metro Gaîté (13) or Edgar-Quinet (6). €27 to €80. www.avenueq.fr

THEATRE

Art events opened Suburban swing at Rare exposure for Degas nude works May 11-14 – The edgy, working class eastern Paris district of Belleville (pictured) hosts its annual artists’ open house event, offering the chance of a glimpse into the lives and work of local artists. More than 200 artists work in the free event, daily from 14.00 to 21.00, with studio tours, discussions and other activities. All mediums are represented, including painting, sculpture, street art, photography and video for the expected 50,000 visitors. www.ateliers-artistes-belleville.org

Photo: LPLT/Wikimedia

ART

Versailles jazz fest

May 9-15 – Less than half an hour on the train from the centre of Paris, Versailles will host more than a dozen concerts, in a wide range of venues from restaurants to the town’s main market square, featuring established and up-and-coming French jazz, soul and choral performers.

Some concerts are free, others range from €13 to €31. www.versaillesjazzfestival.eu

MUSIC

Photo: Wikimedia Creative Commons

May 22 to June 10 – The best tennis players in the world will compete through seven gruelling rounds for the French Open title over a fortnight, and almost half a million fans are expected to flock to Roland Garros stadium on the edge of the Bois de Boulogne to cheer them along. Spanish star Rafael Nadal (pictured) was last year’s champion in the men’s tournament, and Na Li from China picked up the women’s singles trophy.

Tickets range from €17 to €169 depending on your choice of days and courts. Metro Michel-Ange Auteuil or Michel-Ange Molitor (line 9), or Porte d’Auteuil (10).

Photo: Helmut Newton Estate

EXHIBITION Until June 17 – Since Australian photographer Helmut Newton’s death in 2004, there has been no retrospective of his work in France, even though he did much of his work here, particularly for the French edition of Vogue.

A new exhibition at the beautiful Grand Palais aims to fix that – and show that Newton was much more than just a fashion photographer.

Bringing together more than 200 of his provocative photographs, mostly original or vintage prints made under Newton’s supervision, the exhibition also includes press records, and a film made by his wife, June. Open daily, 10.00-22.00, except Tuesdays and May 1. Open late on May 19 for the Nuit des Musées.

Grand Palais, Metro Champs-Elysées Clémenceau (1, 13) €11, concessions €8. www.rmngp.fr

Photo: Helmut Newton Estate

Provocative photos explore fashion, money and power

World tennis greats play French Open

Until July 1 – The Musée d’Orsay hosts the first major French retrospective of Edgar Degas’ work in almost a quarter of a century. Organised in collaboration with the Boston Museum of Fine Arts, it focuses on the artist’s depictions of nude models throughout the course of his long career.

It features several works that rarely see the light of day because of preservation issues. Open daily, 9.30-18.00, late night on Thursdays, closed Mondays and May 1. Metro Musée d’Orsay (RER C) or Solférino (12). €9, concessions €6.50. www.musee-orsay.fr

CULTURE

12 Golf

Languedoc Pag

Glorious golf courses that w With hundreds of golf courses in France of all shapes, sizes and for all abilities, how do you know where to start?

RAY CLANCY shares some tips on picking the right course, and the right gear to accompany your golfing trip WITH its varied landscape and topography, France is ideal golfing country and today there are more than 550 golf courses which cater for everyone from beginners to advanced.

Such a variety means, however, that you need to choose your course carefully to get the best of a day’s golf, as the terrain can vary widely. By the sea in Normandy there are links courses (which are quite exposed) and inland in the Dordogne, for example, you can find courses with wooded areas and more protection from the wind.

One of the most vital considerations for many golfers in France is the 19th hole. Indeed, former French professional golf champion Daniel Lefèvre reckons it is one of the most important points to consider when trying a new course or when going on holiday.

“It is always agreeable to try out and enjoy the restaurant and bar facilities in the clubhouse. If you are on holiday it also gives you the chance to try some local specialities,” he says. “I also recommend looking at the culture and history of a course. It can be an opportunity for golfers and their families to discover a new area.”

Some golf courses are famous for their food. An example is the Château des Vigiers near Bergerac in the Dordogne.

There is a formal restaurant, a brasserie and a club bar which also serves snacks. The château dates

Golf gear fashion: the new black WHEN it comes to fashion on the golf course, black is the colour for 2012 – not just graphite shafts and driver crowns but, increasingly, clubfaces to match. Of course, black, gunmetal and other dusky finishes are not new, but what started out with a few anti-glare wedges has turned into a fully fledged fashion statement available as standard this season. Most bigger clubs have their own shops with the very latest gear.

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ges

Golf 13

May 2012

will suit you to a tee Main photo: Xiongmao - Fotolia.com. Side photo: Alexander Raths - Fotolia.com

Tech tips: best golf gadgets THE MOST novel introduction in equipment, according to Golf Today, Europe’s leading online golf resource, is the Adams Speedline 9064LS where the shaft length can be varied by sliding different-sized metal spacers into the hosel section and compensating for the change in swing weight by switching a colour-coded sole screw. It claims to give an ideal trade-off between the speed advantages of a longer shaft and the control benefits of a shorter one.

NEW technology is fast-moving in the golf world and GPS technology in particular has reached a new level for 2012. New gadgets give detailed green mapping features offering distance to mid-green ridges and they come pre-programmed with tens of thousands of courses, with all data revisions and software upgrades downloadable free of charge.

OTHER glamorous gadgets include the Insight iTrainer, a box that clips onto the shaft of your club and delivers instant analysis on swing shape and club face angle as well as various dynamic data. Then to get in trim there is golf ’s answer to the treadmill, a pulley based home exercise unit for developing swing strength.

This beautiful course on the outskirts of Biarritz in the Basque country provides stunning views – but if you are a first-timer and want something less exposed and more easygoing, try an inland course in a wooded area which will offer more protection from the elements

back to 1597 and it offers gourmet golf packages with spa facilities. The golf course is suitable for beginners and advanced players. In the busy summer months, booking in advance is essential and it is worth checking to see if certain days of the week are members only.

Mr Lefèvre also recommends choosing a course according to your style of play. He says: “There is no point in picking a wooded course if you don’t like trees around the fairways and likewise a links course can be too flat and windy for some players.”

He adds that it is also worth considering the distance to get to the golf course and the difficulty level. “For beginners I recommend a good nine-hole course or one of the easier 18-hole courses without lots of trees and water. The aim should be to enjoy your day,” he explains.

For example, Saint Laurent in Brittany, which has hosted both the French professional championship and the National Open, has fairways that weave through an oak and pine forest, but the trees are well spaced and offer protection from the wind. It has been named as one of the nation’s top 40 courses and is suited to players of all standards. There is a nine-hole course as well.

Both Normandy and Brittany have some spectacular courses and some much soughtafter clubhouses. Golf d’Omaha Beach is on the shore close to one of the famous D-Day landing beaches of the Second World War. It is popular with Americans, as is Cicé-Blossac in Brittany where the greens and tees are built

“

For beginners I recommend a good nine-hole course or one of the easier 18-hole courses without lots of trees and water. The aim should be to enjoy your day

French golf is so much more relaxed FRENCH golf clubs are unstuffy compared to UK ones, says one expat golfer.

Nicholas Allbeury, president of his local club, is “enjoying the best golf of [his] life”.

He likes the lack of dress codes. “In England you must wear collared shirts and have socks pulled up to your knees and shorts down to your knees. If not, people rush across the fairway to berate you. In France you can virtually wear anything. I came here to relax and have quality of life.

The French understand it’s a game.”

There are no segregated tee times (such as men-only from 8.00-11.00) and in competitions men, women and juniors play together. “In the UK men play together, here there’s égalité. A woman or a junior tee off a bit closer to the green, to compensate for the strength difference, that’s all. We have a chat on the fairways and get to know each other well. There are no cliques of better golfers or old pals and no culture of fourhour rounds. In the UK if you play slowly, as older people often do, people shout to ‘get a move on’. Here it doesn’t matter.”

Woman have handicaps up to 56 and men 36, as opposed to 36 and 24 in the UK, allowing players of lesser ability to chart their progress rather than being “stuck”.

Annual fees are cheaper - €395 for a couple, all-inclusive. In the UK a single member usually pays at least twice as much.

Pitch and putt also thrives, said Mr Allbeury - a simple, “fun”, golf which, at his club (Mauriac Golf Club, Cantal) is played on the standard course, but starting nearer the green. It improves the short game and putting and is also ideal for the elderly.

He added: “There may be some differences at some of the posher Paris clubs or championship courses, but I can speak for my experience in rural French clubs.”

Daniel Lefèvre

French professional golf champion upon sand so are very fast draining and therefore playable throughout the year.

One of the most chic is the Golf Barrière de Deauville, while Champ de Bataille is regarded as one of Normandy’s best. For beautiful views it is hard not to beat Golf d’Etretat on the North coast of Normandy, which looks over the famous cliffs.

A lot of golf courses in France are more environmentally friendly in terms of using recycled water for the greens but also in terms of protecting local flora and fauna. Courses have been sympathetically developed to make the most of the spectacular natural surroundings and you are just as likely to see an ancient standing stone on the golf course as off it.

Nick and Carol Allbeury with dog Hugo

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O Sports facilities: rugby field, football, tennis, pétanque, table tennis, walking tracks.

O Golf course of 5,177 metres, par 70, in a breathtaking setting.

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Domaine de Falgos - 66260 Saint Laurent de Cerdans O Tel.: 04 68 39 51 42 O Email: contact@falgos.com O Web: www.falgos.com

14 Mind Matters

Languedoc Pages

May 2012

Sponsored by French-themed crossword

What’s in a word?

Across

Down

1. Acrobat Jules _______ who popularised the one-piece costume now named after him (7) 4. Troubled president of Syria (5) 7. Woollen cloth with a tartan or crisscross pattern (5) 9. Relating to the nose (5) 10. Jacques ____, comic actor and Monsieur Hulot film director (4) 11. British feature film of 1966 based on the story of Joy and George Adamson and an orphaned lion cub named Elsa (4,4) 13. Unfinished but classic F. Scott Fitzgerald novel, The Last ______ (6) 14. Drink, often mildly alcoholic, taken after a stronger one (6) 17. Satirical, earthy writer best known for La Vie de Gargantua et Pantagruel (8) 19. Highest adult male voice (4) 21. According to George Bernard Shaw, “_____ is a wonderful thing. What a crime to waste it on children” (5) 22. Disrespectful British nickname for Napoleon (5) 23. Bird of prey’s nest – typically in a high inaccessible place (5) 24. Slice of pain or jambon (7)

1. Best-selling novella written and illustrated by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry (2,5,6) 2. Department in Languedoc-Roussillon whose capital is Carcassonne (4) 3. Revolutionary leader overthrown by Robespierre and guillotined (6) 4. Potent alcoholic spirit once known as la fée verte (8) 5. Power produced by the conversion of sunlight into electricity (5) 6. Early photographic process named after its French inventor (13) 8. Room immediately below a building’s roof (5) 12. City in the Haute-Garonne and birthplace of 1 across (8) 15. Pièce in a house for receiving and entertaining guests (5) 16. In a brasserie, house wine is often served in this (6) 18. Born in the Lot department, this Charles became a Hollywood star in the 1930s and 40s (5) 20. Seventies pop group whose breakthrough song begins with the words “My my, at Waterloo Napoleon did surrender” (4)

by Paul Masters

charcuterie

HAVE you ever noticed how some words simply do not translate? It is especially common with words which do not have any exact equivalent in the other language. When this happens, the foreign word is often simply absorbed, like sushi or bungalow, which have become part of standard English.

Something similar has happened with charcuterie – there is not an obvious translation.

Some dictionaries suggest “pork butcher”, or even delicatessen, a word imported from the German.

But these hardly do the word justice, and to really understand what the word charcuterie means we have to dig a little bit into its history.

Its roots are to be found in the old French chair cuite, which translates as “cooked meat”, and this points to the first distinction between the charcutier and the boucher, who, of course, sells raw meat. It is the skill and artistry of the charcutier which produces the astonishing range of cooked, salted and dried meats,

Easy

mostly derived from pork, and which include such delicacies as pâté, rillette, and sausages of every type imaginable.

This whole trade was based upon the requirements of food hygiene, in the days long before the invention of commercial refrigeration, since pork is a meat which spoils very quickly after slaughter.

To avoid cross-contamination between the slaughterhouses, butcheries, charcuteries and fisheries, they were all physically separated in France during the Middle Ages, in a move which the charcutiers resisted fiercely at the time, since they lost control of the slaughter and supply of their own raw materials. But in the long term, this added competition led them to fight for survival, and the vigour of the present market is in no small measure the result of their success.

The France quiz 6 SCIENTISTS are to build the world’s biggest optical telescope in which French department?

1 A MAN in Pérols, Languedoc, is suing fast-food giant KFC after finding what item in his Tower chicken burger?

7 THE DOG star of which French film has been given a special invite to the White House for a dinner with President Obama?

2 HOW many candidates were there in the first round of the French presidential elections?

8 ACCORDING to a recent survey by recruitment firm Apec, which is the best region in France to live in?

3 WHAT French vegetable has been at the centre of a price fixing scandal?

4 WHICH well-known French actor has agreed to play Dominique Strauss-Kahn in a movie – but only because he does not like him?

9 WHAT French product are farmers in the Hérault feeding their cows in a bid to make them happier, and their meat more of a delicacy?

5 WHICH French theme park has been named the best in the world by the American Themed Entertainment Association?

Puzzles by websudoku.com

Intermediate

Difficult

CROSSWORD ANSWERS. Across: 1 Léotard; 4 Assad; 7 plaid; 9 nasal; 10 Tati; 11 Born Free; 13 Tycoon; 14 chaser; 17 Rabelais; 19 alto; 21 youth; 22 Boney; 23 eyrie; 24 tranche Down: 1 Le Petit Prince; 2 Aude; 3 Danton; 4 absinthe; 5 solar; 6 daguerréotype; 8 attic; 12 Toulouse; 15 salon; 16 pichet; 18 Boyer; 22 Abba FRANCE QUIZ ANSWERS. 1. A screw. 2. Ten. 3. Chicory. 4. Gérard Dépardieu. 5. Puy du Fou, Vendée. 6. Alpes-de-Haute-Provence. 7. The Artist. 8. Rhône-Alpes. 9. A litre of wine a day.

Sudoku

by John Foley

Languedoc Pages

Food/Pets 15

May 2012

Rich nutty grains that make a lovely loaf

Quick spelt bread

CUT OUT & KEEP!

After winning the first BBC MasterChef in 1990, JOAN BUNTING was soon writing a food column and doing local radio for the BBC. Now she has retired and moved permanently to her home in France, but she is still keen to tell readers about good food

This bread keeps well for 2-3 days and is delicious with cheese or toasted. It is suitable for some wheat-intolerant people INGREDIENTS 750g épeautre flour 1 packet easy blend yeast (lévure de boulanger – found in the same section as flour etc in small sachets)

ate soft brown bread with a nutty flavour and texture quite unlike any I had tasted in France. Chef told us that he had made it with épeautre flour. Now that I knew what to look for, épeautre grains and flour popped up all over the place: supermarkets, markets and specialist épiceries.

I still assumed it was exclusively Provençal. But a couple of years later, in the UK, the link was made. I was sent a sample of flour, produced from an ancient grain called spelt. As chance would have it, I had that morning also discovered an English reference to épeautre. Over the years, the rise in popularity of organic (bio) and whole foods has seen the availability of spelt/épeautre grain and flour in many health-food shops and supermarkets throughout France and the UK.

Photo: Joan Bunting

ON THE high plateau, below Mont Ventoux, the Romans left a legacy every bit as interesting as their architecture – spelt grains that supplied the flour thought to have been the original ingredient of macaroni.

The Romans knew that on thin, stony soils in a savage climate a variety of wheat called triticum spelta flourishes far better than other grains, and the first written reference dates back to 301AD. Many years ago, we had hare civet accompanied by what I thought was brown rice. The grains were deliciously nutty and chewy, a perfect foil for the rich meat. Madame explained it was épeautre, a traditional grain grown on the plateau and used in Provençal cooking centuries before rice was grown in the Camargue.

In another restaurant, we

2 tbsp olive oil 1 tbsp salt 500ml warm water

METHOD Mix the flour with the salt and yeast, then stir in the oil.

Add water to make a firm, but not too stiff dough.

Turn onto a floured surface and knead until the dough is smooth and elastic.

Return to an oiled bowl, cover and leave in a warm place to double in size.

Knead briefly again then

divide into two pieces and form into cigar shapes or put it into a loaf tin.

Either slash the top or sprinkle with some crushed grains.

Cover again and leave to prove and set the oven to 220°C When doubled in size, bake the loaves in the pre-heated oven until they sound hollow when tapped on the base.

WHICH WINE SHOULD I DRINK WITH THIS? The nutty taste of épeautre goes well with red wines.

Or, if you are enjoying it with cheese, try a Sauternes (white)

Helpful tips to ward off harmful ticks

THE PET care industry in France is worth an eye-watering €125m each year. Much of this is spent during the spring and summer seasons, when the annual pet budget is taken up with the preventative treatment of fleas and ticks.

Ticks (tiques) are one of the major hazards for pet owners who live in the French countryside or close to rural areas. They are small parasites that feed off other animals’ blood.

Disease can be transmitted through the blood from the bite of an infected tick – therefore it is prudent to use preventive treatment against them.

The onset of tick fever can be rapid and often prove fatal for your pet. Symptoms include fever, blood in the urine, weight loss, lethargy

Photo: CallallooFred - Fotolia.com

Tick and flea treatments are a wise investment to avoid your pet getting infected. SAMANTHA BRICK looks at what is available – and how to treat an existing problem

Pet Care and loss of appetite. Call your vet immediately if you suspect your pet has contracted this disease.

Get into the habit of checking yourself and your pets thoroughly for ticks when you get home from a walk. If you find a tick on yourself or your animal, remove it with a specially designed tick remover. You can normally buy these devices at the pharmacy or the vets. Sold as a twin pack, they typically cost less than €5.

If you do not have a tick remover, use sterilised tweezers and gently

The pet column is sponsored by

You should discuss the most appropriate form of treatment with a vet remove the tick by the head. Be warned: try not to crush the body or leave any parts embedded within your animal’s skin as it is these areas that can carry the disease. After removal, clean the area with an alcohol solution.

There are various preventative treatments on the market for sale in supermarkets and online, and prices vary enormously. While it is tempting to buy the cheapest products, it is sensible to discuss with your vet

the most appropriate treatment for your pet, according to where you live and local outbreaks of disease.

Direct application products such as Frontline and Advantix need to be used every month. Tick and flea collars are another option, but may not be appropriate for use in conjunction with certain other treatments, so consult your vet first.

Check your pet’s weight so you know to use the exact strength of drugs too.

Another nuisance comes from fleas (puces). There are almost 2,000 species of them, and unfortunately one of the biggest disadvantages in having pets is the fact that they are an ideal breeding ground for them.

If you are not vigilant, within days, you could be host to a full-blown flea infestation. If your pet is scratching or you notice flea bites on your arms and legs after being in contact with your animal then you need to treat them immediately.

You can get rid of fleas temporarily with a flea comb – drown the fleas captured within the comb by ensuring you have an adjacent bowl of hot soapy water. Unfortunately, combing out fleas is a temporary measure.

The advice on preventative products for ticks is also relevant for fleas.

If your infected pet is in contact with your home furnishings you will need to treat these too.

Conventional products are available from homeware (bricolage) stores.

However, once a flea infestation in your home is under control, it might take a couple more treatments to kill the remaining fleas and those that go on to hatch.

Tel. 06 58 01 82 76 Web. www.seulementnaturel.eu Email. marc.somsen@chardeyre.com

16 Directory

Languedoc Pages

LANGUEDOC

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May 2012

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LANGUEDOC 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.

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VILLASOPHIE Your architect in Languedoc Roussillon Design permits and plans for new builds and renovations

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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.

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Languedoc Pages

Directory 17

May 2012

CERTIFIED TRANSLATIONS All legal translations by FrenchEnglish speaking sworn translator COMPUTER SUPPORT AND HELPDESK http://www.montolieu-it-service.eu Tel: 06 79 99 75 20 Email: montolieu-it-service@sfr.fr Covering AUDE and all Departments within 100 km of CARCASSONNE. Siret :489 920 124 00018

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18 DIY

Languedoc Pages

May 2012

2012 Income Tax Helpguide D I Y t i p s INFORMATION YOU CAN TRUST ON LIFE IN FRANCE Shows how to declare your income such as pensions, rent, ISAs, shares, savings and interest with a visual guide to the French tax forms

O

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Lack of maintenance can turn pools green very quickly MANY things can cause algae to form in swimming pools.

Lack of maintenance and a hot spell are enough to turn the water from blue to green in the space of a few days. Follow these steps and soon the green gunge will be gone.

The first thing to do is to get into the pool and brush off as much of the algae as possible. Next check the pH levels – they should be between 7.2 and 7.6. High pH levels affect how well the chlorine works so it is important to get the balance right.

Once you have assured the levels are correct, turn on the pool filter and add a chlorine based shock treatment that can be bought from DIY stores. Follow the instructions on the box for dosage. You should leave the pool filter running 24 hours a day.

If after 12 to 24 hours there does not seem to be much improvement, add a second dose of shock treatment and repeat as many times as needed until all the algae have died (they should be white or greyish in colour when dead).

Be careful when using the shock treatment. Always put the water in the recipient first and add the chemicals afterwards, never do it the other way round.

The next job is to clean all the dead algae out of the pool.

Start by vacuuming the pool. Try not to let too much of the algae get trapped inside the filter. Thoroughly clean the pool filter to ensure no algae has lodged itself inside. Finish by testing the chemical levels in the pool. To keep the algae away it is advisable to add an anti algae pool chemical once a week.

General maintenance of swimming pools To maintain a clean swimming pool all year round it is necessary to pay careful attention to the chlorine levels. They should never fall below 1.0ppm. Chlorine kills both algae and harmful bacteria.

Daily: If the pool is used intensively in summer then it is good to check pH levels every day. To raise the pH levels, add sodium carbonate. To lower the pH levels add sodium bisulphate taking care to dose according to the recommendations on the box.

Once a week: Skim out any dead leaves or debris that may have fallen in. If not using an automatic pool sweep, vacuum the pool weekly to remove any debris that has settled on the bottom. Brush the sides and bottom of the pool. Clean dirt marks from around the water line especially if sun tan lotion is being used. To do this, use a chlorine-compatible tile and liner cleaner.

Once a fortnight: The longer the pool water is filtered the cleaner the water is, so try to keep the filter running continuously when people are using the pool. It is important to clean out the filter at least once a fortnight.

Once a month: Check alkalinity and calcium hardness.

Check alkalinity monthly

Languedoc Pages

Home and Legal 19

May 2012

Spring is the perfect time of year to experiment with some flower-arranging.

Expert CLAIRE CHALKLEY shares some recommended tips and techniques

Answered by

Photo:© atm2003 - Fotolia.com

WHAT easier way to welcome spring into your home than with flowers? This month you are spoilt for choice. Garden roses have started coming, as have a few of the long tulips, aquilegia, lilacs and bluebells.

While blues and greens give a room a sense of calm and tranquillity, vibrant reds and orange are more dynamic, and pinks and lavenders set a romantic scene. Current trends in flower-arranging include monobotanic (all one type of flower) and monochromatic (all one colour). For a contemporary look, put the flowers in groups of uneven numbers instead of dotting them around. But for an English country garden look, mix lots of textures and foliage.

When arranging, the largest and darkest flowers tend to be placed near the base of the arrangement, whereas smaller and lighter ones are put towards the edges. Put the more open flowers at the base – do not stick them at the top of the bunch as it looks unnatural.

Try experimenting with different shapes, textures and colours to bring out certain flowers – placing all your flowers facing forwards can look a bit dull. Little arrangements of just one flower have their place, too, and can be striking.

Lilies of the valley bunched in apéritif glasses look lovely when placed three in a row in separate glasses, for example.

On a practical note, when choosing flowers, ask your florist for the freshest varieties in stock and pick ones that show a bit of colour. If you are bringing

Stainless steel kitchens are usually found in restaurants

Cleaning up on kitchen hygiene WE HAVE been told chambres d’hôtes must have completely stainless steel kitchens. Is that true? A.C. Chambres d’hôtes have to be declared to the mairie and in doing so you agree yours meets basic hygiene standards.

You do not, however, need stainless steel work surfaces (which are more typical of professional restaurants than homes). Gîtes de France – which has an accreditation scheme for chambres d’hôtes – highly recommends, but does not insist on, stainless steel (or melamine) surfaces for ease of cleaning (and says wood should be avoided) in the case of those running tables d’hôtes. This is where you offer lunch and/or dinner as well as B&B. A spokesman said all tables d’hôtes are meant to be declared to the departmental veterinary service, which checks hygiene. These vary in how strict they are, but he was not aware of any who insist on stainless steel. Checks usually relate to matters like effective cold storage, clean worktops and proper disposal of waste, he said.

“

The size of the arrangement should fit the size of the area – small flowers on a huge table will get lost

any of your own flowers in, cut them in the morning before 8.00 or late at night.

When the flowers are cut during the day and have had the sun on them then it is too late and they just do not last as well.

Make sure that the vases are spotless and remove leaves that will be under the water in the vase as they will rot. I advise leaving the flowers in a bucket with water in a cool place before doing anything with them for a couple of hours.

Cut the stems at an angle, as it gives them a greater surface area from which to drink. To keep your flowers for as long as possible, change the water every few days, and make sure that the arrangement is not placed in a room where it is getting a lot of heat or draught, as the flowers will wilt quickly.

When it comes to where to place your

flowers, the size of the arrangement should fit the size of the area – small flowers on a huge table will get lost.

However, if you plan on putting the arrangement on the dining room table, do not have it so high that guests can't speak to those across from them.

There are lots of different, sometimes unusual, ways of presenting them. I recommend going to brocantes to find items – old bottles, little tea glasses, old cafetières, pottery – you do not have to buy a glass vase for it. Things you have already got can also work. The flowers just have to be cut proportionally to the jar.

Claire Chalkley runs Les Couronnes Sauvages florists in Brittany (www.lescouronnessauvages.com).

Interview by Rebecca Lawn

Photo: Brad Pict - Fotolia.com

Photo:© Natalia D. - Fotolia.com

IS IT legal to dig out foxes and badgers and use terriers to kill them? We live in a zone where there is supposedly no hunting, but we have heard and seen this in the woods. If this is illegal who should we contact? J.W. Madline Reynaud, director of wild animal charity Aspas, said this practice, called déterrage, is legal, though Aspas campaigns against it.

You imply, however, that you believe the area where it was taking place may have a hunting ban – it may, for example, be designated a réserve de chasse, which, contrary to appearances, means hunting is not allowed in it. You could check this with the prefecture or mairie. Should the activity be illegal you should report it to the Office Nationale de la Chasse et de la Faune Sauvage, who act as a kind of “hunting police”, Ms Reynaud said.

Red and orange flowers can give a dynamic, vibrant look to an arrangement

Photo: Sander - Fotolia.com

Can dogs be used to drive out foxes and badgers?

Photo: mangostock - Fotolia.com

LegalNotes Darling buds of May

Head to a local brocante for unusual presentation ideas

Keeping it simple: a monobotanic arrangement of tulips

20 Property

Languedoc Pages

May 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 Languedoc Pages. 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 LANGUEDOC

€107,000

€125,000

€137,500

Béziers, Hérault Renovated former village presbytery, with 4 bedrooms and an attic that could be converted.

Nicely located in the heart of the village and with lots of original elements.

Hérault Stone village home offering 3 bedrooms and 2 shower rooms/ WCs, equipped kitchen, courtyard on ground floor, and handsome 'escargot' staircase. Many original elements.

Hérault Stone character home in a lovely peaceful village surrounded by vineyards, offering 80m² of living space including 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms, plus sunny private roof terrace .

REF: 10765-SL131000E

ENERGY RATING = E

REF: 10765-C136400E

ENERGY RATING = C & D

REF: 10765-CR143000EB

€148,000

€186,000

€198,000

Hérault Delightful village house, restored with taste and well-maintained, located in the centre of the village only about 250 meters from the Canal, offering 86m² of living space.

Hérault Charming, fully-renovated and furnished village house with 95m² of living space including 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms, with a sunny terrace. Well located in the a very quiet alley.

Hérault Home dating from around 1900, sunny and airy, including 4 bedrooms, plus 3 outbuildings (2 of which are ideal for creating 1 independent apartment) and around 170m² of outside space.

REF: 10765-SN158760E

ENERGY RATING = C

REF: 10765-PP186000E

ENERGY RATING = D

REF: 10765-LI236500E

€209,000

€220,000

€274,000

Hérault Great opportunity to own this detached villa offering 110 m² of living space including a separate studio. The property has 3 bedrooms and terraces with panoramic views.

Hérault In a magical location, a true step back in time, beautiful renovated medieval house ideal for yearround or holiday living, including 3 bedrooms, terrace and courtyard.

Hérault Pretty villa including 4 bedrooms, on an easily-maintained plot with an above-ground pool and garage. Located in a quiet and mature residential area, near the Canal du Midi.

REF: 10765-V209000E

ENERGY RATING = D

REF: 10765-BB220000E

ENERGY RATING = G

REF: 10765-CC274000E

€295,000

€320,000

€337,000

Béziers, Hérault The house is well-maintained and in a good condition.

Entrance giving access to the living room, and the kitchen with French doors to the covered terrace. 4 bedrooms, bathroom.

Belpech, Aude A wonderful renovation for this delightful house. Lots of space inside, with 5 bedrooms and spare room in the attic, a barn, garage and a swimming pool.

Laundry room and an office.

Near Carcassonne, Aude This very well-presented 4 bedroomed villa is situated on the edge of a Minervois. Fullyequipped kitchen, large light living room. Enclosed garden with mature trees. Swimming pool.

REF: MLP262

ENERGY RATING = D

REF: 2669

ENERGY RATING = D

REF: 1148

€349,000

€363,000

€365,000

Near Béziers, Hérault Villa of traditional construction with living space including 4 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms, plus a flat, garage, pool and landscaped grounds with open views. In a quiet area.

Near Pézenas, Hérault High-quality villa of excellent construction and finish. There are 5 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms and 3 WCs. The home is configured so that it can easily be divided into 2 lodgings.

Céret, Pyrénées Orientales Beautiful country house with 4 bedrooms or two 2 bedroomed flats with a large garden and stone shed. Land leading to a river with stunning views of the mountains.

REF: 10765-ALU415000E

ENERGY RATING = D

REF: 10765-NNP374000E

ENERGY RATING = D

REF: 2726

€370,000

€379,000

€380,000

Near Carcassonne, Aude Beautiful 4 bedroomed villa in very good condition. Wonderful landscaped garden with mature trees, swimming pool. Large garage and workshop, independent guest accommodation.

Near Béziers, Hérault Pretty character villa including 3/4 bedrooms and 3 new bathrooms, with new kitchen. Nice and spacious. Exposed beams.

On a landscaped and private plot. Two-car garage.

Mons, Gard In the heart of a superb tourist region in a beautiful mediterranean climate. Quiet residential area in the village of Mons.

Beautiful villa with 4 bedrooms and pool.

ENERGY RATING = D

REF: 744

REF: 10765-A405000E

ENERGY RATING = D

REF: 203661

€400,000

€425,000

€493,000

Lodève, Hérault This detached, L-shaped, classy villa from 2002 with indoor garage has all living areas on the ground floor. The house is built with first-class materials and offers total luxury.

Bédarieux, Hérault An authentic and completely renovated “Maison de Maître”.

In front of this unique property is a separate garden with a lovely stone outbuilding which includes a summer kitchen.

Near Carcassonne, Aude Stunning restored mill with main 3 bedroomed property plus 2 independent gîtes.

Garden with stream. Swimming pool. Sold fully furnished. Quiet and private.

REF: LAR-491

ENERGY RATING = D

REF: MLP310

ENERGY RATING = D

REF: 891

ENERGY RATING = E

ENERGY RATING = C

ENERGY RATING = C

ENERGY RATING = C

ENERGY RATING = D

ENERGY RATING = Not given

ENERGY RATING = F

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

Languedoc Pages

Business / Finance 21

May 2012

ANNETTE MORRIS has lived in Languedoc for over four years.

She works as a freelance internet marketing consultant and website developer, helping businesses optimise their online presence. Annette co-runs www.LaFranglaise.com and the Languedoc group of the Survive France network. Last year she started Languedoc Jelly, designed to promote the co-working concept to expats and English-speakers in France. In this regular column she shares her tips for the business community and would welcome readers’ questions and feedback.

The Languedoc has so much to offer, it is no wonder that tourism plays a major role in the region’s economy. France is the most visited country in the world; the Languedoc is one of the top five destinations in France and the tourism industry is one of the largest in the world.

A TOTAL of 70% of Europeans prepare for a holiday online, so if you are running any kind of business in the leisure or tourism sector, it’s more important than ever that your online presence is easy to find and appealing to both international and national visitors.

The Languedoc region is attracting over 10 million visitors per year, and the process

of choosing how to travel and where to stay is now largely taking place online. Of all the web purchases made in France, the holiday/tourism sector attracts the highest spend.

There is a staggering array of options available to support a website or help engage with potential clients. These range from free Google tools, review sites and social media net-

Answered by

Useful Websites www.tourismecanaldumidi.fr www.linternaute.com www.wimdu.co.uk www.marketing-tourisme.net To contact Annette Morris, call 07 86 14 16 39 or email Solutions@LaFranglaise.com

works, to commercial listing sites, online booking portals and search engine advertising.

A new wave of easy to use online forums, multi-media sites and social networks are readily available and easy to implement – including airbnb.com, wimdu.com, Google places, Facebook pages, Foursquare and Qype.

At a recent e-marketing conference offered by L’Office de Tourisme Intercommunal du Canal du Midi, Mathieu Vadot from EmarketingTourisme presented some interesting facts and figures about internet usage in France. He said more than 12 million people book or reserve a holiday online,

there are over 25 million Facebook users and that one in two people in France publish their opinion on a website. It is generally recognised that if Facebook were a country, it would be the 3rd largest on the planet!

A valuable reminder from the conference highlighted the huge volume of national tourist traffic and the importance of marketing your business through French sites, as well as via English sources.

Is your business ready to go mobile?

In France alone there are more than 38 million internet users and 18.3 million people using smartphones.

According to a recent survey, from 2014 in France there will be more phones connected to the internet than computers.

Based on the fact that 88% of internet users in France are influenced by reviews, the smartphone and your business e-reputation have a key role to play in establishing customer confidence. It’s now possible for people to publish their comments, positive or negative, immediately, and globally.

It is undesirable to have to handle criticism, but negative reviews handled with accuracy, confidence and integrity can leave the prospective customer with a positive impression of your business.

Review sites such as TripAdvisor, l’Internaute and CityVox play a crucial role in the tourism e-toolkit.

Here’s a checklist of things to consider for your e-marketing: Visibility – how easy is it to find your business?

Desirability – what gives your business the edge?

Individuality – how do you measure up in reviews?

Saleability – how easy is it to buy from you?

Endorsability – what will your customers be saying about you on the worldwide web and how will you know when they say it?

Mathieu Vadot

Pension questions Photo: © auremar - Fotolia.com

Holidays start with a click

FINANCE

Do couples need to make a French will?

We have just moved from the UK to live permanently in Nimes. Can my husband have his pension tax free lump sum paid into our UK account or French account? Also do we now need to make a French will?

Finally, will we eventually have to declare our UK bank account, building society account and savings?

THE SPECTRUM IFA GROUP REPLIES: THE subject of the tax free lump sum from a UK pension has been under the spotlight for some time. Last year, the French tax office made amendments to legislation and a complicated calculation was announced relating to pension sums. This was then replaced by a flat rate of tax of 7.5%. However a final ruling has been delayed. At this stage, as nothing is firm, we suggest that to protect yourself, you declare the amount received in a separate letter, when submitting your first French tax return. It is then up to the tax office to respond.

You have not stated your nationality, if you have children or step children, what and where your assets are situated, so I can only reply in generic terms. However I would say that the answer is probably yes, you do need to make a will because the European parliament has recently passed a regulation which should eventually allow expatriates in France to dictate in a will that they want the law of the state of their nationality to apply to their estate and not French inheritance law. If you are English, this in effect, means that you could leave your estate to whoever you wish and not be bound by the strict French inheritance rules as at present (i.e. English law would apply which is less restrictive then French). However please note: This new regulation is not expected to apply until 2015. Furthermore, it would not affect French inheritance tax so your beneficiaries would still be liable to French inheritance tax according to their relationship with you.

French tax residents must declare their worldwide assets so yes, you do need to declare your UK assets (including trusts). There has been a new crackdown on undeclared investments, so for residents who have omitted to declare these in the past, we suggest that they do so this year. A new law was ratified in February introducing penalties of a 40% increase in the amount of tax due on undeclared overseas investments. There is already a potential fine of €1,500 for each and every undeclared account. Remember also that your UK assets may no longer be tax- efficient now that you have left the UK. France has its own forms of tax-efficient savings which should be explored with a financial adviser who can provide cross-border advice.

22 Property

Languedoc Pages

May 2012

PROPERTIES AROUND FRANCE

€102,600

€106,500

€112,350

Domfront, Orne This charming bungalow is set in a garden and comes with a garage. The property comprises of an entrance hall, a fitted kitchen, living room, 3 bedrooms and a bathroom.

Merdrignac, Côtes-d'Armor House close to amenities, situated in central Brittany. Living room, kitchen, 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, laundry, WC. Full basement with 1 car garage, boiler room.

Eymet, Dordogne 2 bedroomed stone house with kitchen, living room, dining room and bathroom as well as garden with a shed. The house is set on the outskirts of a charming bastide town.

REF: 42093

ENERGY RATING = Not given

REF: M2011

ENERGY RATING = E

REF: APS2116

€123,050

€127,000

€133,500

Finistère, Carhaix-Plouguer This property is full of character and has been very nicely renovated. Habitable right away, good potential for rentals with the gîte and a 2 bedroom mobile home.

Montpon-Ménestérol, Dordogne Detached house with large brickbuilt barn plus two open barns, workshop, winery and piggery.

There is potential for extending into the large roof space.

Périers, Manche A very pretty village house with large garden and paddock situated in a quiet village location within easy walking distance of all amenities.

REF: M711-22914175

ENERGY RATING = Not given

REF: IFPC19704

ENERGY RATING = G

REF: 13439sdd

€137,500

€148,800

€153,700

Mussidan, Dordogne 3 bedroomed, very spacious, clean, bright and airy home ready to move in now. The house has its own well, a small orchard and mature trees that provide complete privacy.

Pont-d'Ouilly, Calvados Completely renovated village house with courtyard consisting of entrance hall with cloakroom, kitchen, bathroom, sitting/dining room 4 bedrooms, sitting room and playroom.

Saint-Connan, Côtes-d'Armor This delightful farmhouse is set in over an acre of land with 6 outbuildings. The property has excellent links to both ferry ports and airports.

REF: IFPC19305

ENERGY RATING = D

REF: 13537PO

ENERGY RATING = E

REF: 10947-32717749

€159,000

€169,600

€174,800

Mortain, Manche Renovated stone barn in quiet hamlet with beautiful views.

Impressive entrance hall with double staircase leading to minstrel gallery. 3 bedrooms.

Cléguérec, Morbihan Set in a small quiet hamlet, this pleasant, private, renovated house, offers 4 double bedrooms, a lounge/living room with fireplace and insert and fitted/equipped kitchen.

Saint-Cyprien, Dordogne This property is situated in an idyllic, peaceful setting on over 8000m² /2 acres of land. The accommodation is all on a single level, with a large basement.

REF: 13086POJD

ENERGY RATING = E

REF: 293

ENERGY RATING = Not given

REF: FPBC1502L

€189,500

€201,400

€233,200

Guémené-sur-Scorff, Morbihan This home-and-income property is set in the heart of town. It has a restaurant, owner’s accommodation, B&B/self-catering potential and also a self-contained letting property.

Verteillac, Dordogne A taste for country living doesn't have to mean life in a rustic barn, as this 3 bedroomed, architect-designed village house proves. Flooded with light from the huge windows.

Saint-Jean-de-Daye, Manche Two fully-renovated houses with further scope for increase in living space. Set in a peaceful location with views over the marais, yet within only 2-3kms of shops and swimming pool.

REF: 10947-32529757

ENERGY RATING = Not given

REF: 10947-29813626

ENERGY RATING = Not given

REF: 13527scb

€258,500

€260,000

€276,900

Monpazier, Dordogne Restored stone house in private location. The house comprises of a living room, kitchen/dining room, large room, mezzanine, 2 bedrooms, bathroom, WC and dressing-room.

Magny-le-Désert, Orne Beautiful longère in a peaceful setting close to the centre of Ferté Macé. This immaculate house is spacious and light.

Loudéac, Côtes-d'Armor A large Breton house which comprises a hall, kitchen and amnage team, a large living room and dining room with beautiful granite fireplace, 8 bedrooms, bathroom and shower, attic.

REF: FPBC2243M

ENERGY RATING = Not given

REF: 88

ENERGY RATING = Not given

REF: L10034

€285,000

€288,900

€295,000

Torigni-sur-Vire, Manche A unique hideaway property surrounded by farmland in a stunning location overlooking one of Manche’s beautiful protected valleys. 3-4 bedroomed house with wonderful views.

Côtes-d'Armor A fine country house set in 1 acre with fantastic views over its own land and rolling countryside beyond. Professionally renovated to an exceptionally high standard

Monpazier, Dordogne This attractive stone house is situated in a small hamlet overlooking the countryside. The house consists of an entrance hall, living room, kitchen, 5 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 2 WCs.

REF: IFPC22209

ENERGY RATING = Not given

REF: KPS1135

ENERGY RATING = D

REF: FPBR2233M

€300,000

€302,100

€314,200

Ploërmel, Morbihan Located in the heart of the countryside on a no-through road, this property has been fully renovated and restored by current owners. Also two fully furnished gîtes.

Jumilhac-le-Grand This stone-built 4 bedroomed 'Périgourdine' home with parcel of land is located in the Périgord Vert region. Flexible living areas providing possibility of gîte/ chambre d'hôtes opportunity.

Courtomer, Orne The house is fully-renovated and has a double-height living room with mezzanine and woodburner, a dining room with woodburner, an entrance hall, WC, a large kitchen and a utility room.

REF: IFPC21961

ENERGY RATING = B

REF: BVI0005909

ENERGY RATING = D

REF: 130

€318,000

€318,000

€324,000

Fixard, Dordogne Detached stone/brick and slate property, built in 1985, situated in a hamlet, not too far from a village with shops, with a garden and two lakes. Gas central heating. Double glazing.

St-Hilaire-du-Harcouët, Manche Magnificent thatched house with colombage. Established gardens, in peaceful location with lovely views. The house is pristine, keeping the character of exposed beams and stone.

Avranches, Manche A very charming Normandy house full of character, dating from the 18 century, located in a magnificent setting. The house is set in grounds of just 1.19 acres with outbuildings.

REF: FIXARD3151

ENERGY RATING = Not given

REF: 13362POJD

ENERGY RATING = D

REF: DOM1377

€328,600

€330,750

€340,800

Pont-d'Ouilly, Calvados This exceptional thatched cottage with river frontage is situated in an idyllic tourist village. It’s very pretty, enclosed garden of 2000m², will blow you away with its beauty and charm.

Morlaix, Finistère The house includes two massive rooms with impressive granite fireplaces, one in the dining room and one in the lounge, a nice fitted kitchen, a new bathroom with shower and WC.

Les Eyzies-de-Tayac-Sireuil A very well-located Dordogne property with beautiful views towards the local village. Built 15 years ago in the traditional style, this 3 bedroomed house has been well-appointed.

REF: 13408PO

ENERGY RATING = C

REF: M794-22914183

ENERGY RATING = Not given

REF: DOM1338

ENERGY RATING = E

ENERGY RATING = F

ENERGY RATING = Not given

ENERGY RATING = Not given

ENERGY RATING = E

ENERGY RATING = E

ENERGY RATING = Not given

ENERGY RATING = Not given

ENERGY RATING = Not given

ENERGY RATING = Not given

Languedoc Pages

Property 23

May 2012

PROPERTIES AROUND FRANCE

€342,000

€343,400

€344,500

Saint-Romain, Charente A beautiful stone house, restored and retaining lots of character.

The generous garden has stunning views over rolling countryside. A 2 bedroomed gîte is ready for your guests.

Monflanquin, Lot-et-Garonne A lovely character villa which has kept its original features and includes living room, kitchen, bathroom, WCs, 3 bedrooms, 2 swimming pools. It also boasts 2 gîtes.

Tramer, Haute-Vienne Stone and tiled property with 3 gîtes, situated in a small hamlet, with a garden and swimming pool, terrace and car park space.

Pig sty. Lean-to. Barn with a boiler room/workshop.

REF: N-RJK69

ENERGY RATING = Not given

REF: TR200022

ENERGY RATING = F

REF: TRAMER3117

€346,500

€350,000

€360,000

Plancoët, Côtes-d'Armor Beautiful renovated stone property with lots of character and charm consisting of a 4 bedroom family home and 2 gîtes.

Set in a lovely landscaped garden with views over countryside.

Monestier, Dordogne This interesting property consists of 2 large stone houses, one of which has been divided into a gîte, an apartment, a large dining room and sitting room.

Near Pontorson, Manche A superb 3 bedroomed detached house with a 2 bedroomed gîte attached. Could easily be used as a 5 bedroom family home as there is an internal connecting door between the houses.

REF: 11237

ENERGY RATING = Not given

REF: APS1890

ENERGY RATING = E

REF: IFPC20339

€366,700

€371,000

€378,000

Eymet, Dordogne Stone house with pool and attached gîte set in beautiful, peaceful countryside. Quirky and characterful with a successful gîte and lovely grounds

Rauville-la-Place, Manche Situated on the outskirts of town, this spacious 5 bedroomed house has been lovingly maintained. It has panoramic views across the Normandy countryside.

Callac, Côtes-d'Armor This property is located at the edge of a very pretty little town, in the countryside, with a nice view of a lake. The manoir is full of character and has been renovated with great taste.

REF: 06569

ENERGY RATING = Not given

REF: 700083

ENERGY RATING = Not given

REF: M910-22214193

€383,400

€390,550

€397,500

Sacey, Manche This 5 bedroomed house which is used as a 3 bedroomed home and 2 bedroomed gîte, is situated just 20minutes from Mont St Michel.

Côtes-d'Armor A rare opportunity to acquire an 18th century manoir with 5 bedrooms. The property is situated at the end of a lane where there are no other houses and therefore offers a tranquil setting.

Mussidan, Dordogne This 7 bedroomed property is ideally situated for further commercial exploitation if desired. It has been renovated with style, preserving many features – high ceilings, marble fireplaces, etc

REF: 80

ENERGY RATING = Not given

REF: KPS 1787

ENERGY RATING = C

REF: BVI0006002

€406,600

€424,000

€426,000

Côtes-d'Armor This type of property is a rarity.

An ivy-clad stone house with adjoining garage and workshop and ancient watermill, all set around a courtyard and surrounded by a small river.

Lalinde, Dordogne House built in the Périgourdine style with 5 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, study, living room with chimney, kitchen/diner and a large basement with wine cave.

Lovely mature garden.

Mortain, Manche This beautiful small château is set in parkland, formal gardens and paddocks. Both wings of the château were built in 1591. The complete history of the château is available.

REF: KPS 1571

ENERGY RATING = E

REF: BVI0006650

ENERGY RATING = D

REF: 1907

€434,600

€445,000

€451,500

Mouleydier, Dordogne This property rates very high in many respects and it is the location, overlooking the river just beside the village harbour, that is particularly impressive. 3 bedrooms

Villedieu-les-Poêles, Manche Charming country house with gîte, set in nearly 4.5 hectares of land with pretty garden, and around 3.5 hectares ideal for horses, all with stunning views of the Normandy countryside.

Callac, Côtes-d'Armor An ideal gîte situation comprising 4 houses each with 4 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.

Swimming pool and tennis court. Garage for 3 cars.

REF: FP-24548AI24

ENERGY RATING = Not given

REF: 13752POJD

ENERGY RATING = E

REF: DOM1065

€455,000

€455,400

€464,500

Carcès, Var A perfect family home, with secure pool and childproof gate.

Totally private courtyard overlooking the large pool. Great outdoor eating terraces with mature vines and grass lawns.

Rennes, Ille-et-Vilaine An attractive villa in a tranquil area. 4 bedroomed property with 150m² of living space set in 564m² of grounds. Very nicely presented.

Sarlat-la-Canéda, Dordogne Situated in a very peaceful area but close to Sarlat and all major tourist sites, a very nice Périgordine-style house, with a pond of about 1000m² on land of 5500m².

REF: 8252

ENERGY RATING = Not given

REF: 146071

ENERGY RATING = Not given

REF: FPBR3348C

€479,250

€485,000

€487,000

Fougères, Ille-et-Vilaine At the end of a rural lane, this superb property offers not only an idyllic setting with heated indoor swimming pool, but also proven revenue courtesy of the two charming holiday cottages.

Montpon-Ménestérol, Dordogne 200 year old farmhouse in 6 hectares with luxury gîte, swimming pool, fishing lake, stables for 3 horses, and separate building plot. Originally two cottages.

Touffailles, Tarn-et-Garonne The property has been tastefully renovated throughout with quality materials keeping original features. 5 bedrooms.

REF: 3029

ENERGY RATING = E

REF: BVI0006969

ENERGY RATING = D

REF: 1675

€493,000

€493,500

€495,000

Beaumont-du-Périgord Stone house in the Dordogne consisting of an entrance, 2 living rooms, kitchen, 5 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. Guest house has a living room, kitchen, 2 bedrooms, bathroom and WC.

Le Mesnil-Garnier, Manche The property is approached down a tree-lined drive. On the left is a longère which is in need of renovation, and on the right is the main residence, renovated to a very high standard.

Plumaugat, Côtes-d'Armor Situated in a beautiful and tranquil area of Brittany, offering a great place to live with beaches and cities within easy reach and TVR connections to paris. 6 bedrooms.

REF: FPBS2271M

ENERGY RATING = Not given

REF: 700185

ENERGY RATING = Not given

REF: IFPC22206

€495,850

€498,000

€499,000

Niort, Deux-Sèvres Renovated to a high standard, this property is currently run as a successful B&B with a proven track record. Situated in a village with some services, south of the county town of Noirt.

Dinan, Côtes-d'Armor Beautifully-renovated longère with 2 large reception rooms and 5 bedrooms. Second renovated house with living room, kitchen and 3 bedrooms. Ideal as a gîte.

Lanquais, Dordogne Property comprising a 3 bedroomed main house, barns and studio, all stone-built plus 5 separate, en-suite bedrooms for B&B.

REF: 1638

ENERGY RATING = E

REF: 10316

ENERGY RATING = Not given

REF: BVI0006531

ENERGY RATING = Not given

ENERGY RATING = Not given

ENERGY RATING = Not given

ENERGY RATING = G

ENERGY RATING = Not given

ENERGY RATING = Not given

ENERGY RATING = D

ENERGY RATING = Not given

ENERGY RATING = Not given

ENERGY RATING = G

24 People

Languedoc Pages

May 2012

A passion for the printed word Who you can meet at the show

Régis Penalva, director of the Comédie du Livre in Montpellier

David Lodge – Literary critic whose novels include Paradise News, Deaf Sentence and Nice Work.

Louise Welsh – Glasgow-based author whose debut novel, The Cutting Room, was nominated for the Orange Prize for Fiction.

Marina Lewycka – A British writer of Ukrainian origin whose novels include A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian.

R J Ellory - British writer of A Quiet Belief in Angels. His latest thriller, Saints of New York, was released last month.

Iain Banks – Science fiction author whose 24 books include The Crow Road, The Wasp Factory, and Stonemouth.

Anne Fine – The second Children’s Laureate has more than 40 books to her credit. Her novel Madame Doubtfire was made into the film Mrs Doubtfire.

She also writes adult fiction.

Jonathan Coe – A best-seller in France, he is best known for his trilogy What a Carve Up! The Rotters’ Club and The Closed Circle.

John Berger – English art critic, novelist, painter and author whose novel G. won the Booker prize in 1972.

James Kelman – Glasgow-born writer whose novel How Late It Was, How Late, won the Booker Prize in 1994. One of the judges, Rabbi Julia Neuberger, described the book as a “disgrace”.

Photo: © Louise Hurren

Glen Baxter – An English cartoonist whose work has appeared in the New Yorker, Vanity Fair and The Independent. See cartoon below.

by LOUISE HURREN AT a time when Kindles and e-books are gaining ground, Régis Penalva is promoting the printed word at Languedoc’s Comédie du Livre festival.

When we meet at his office in Montpellier’s brand new city hall, Penalva looks pensive. As well he might: we are only a few weeks away from the start of the 27th Comédie du Livre, a major annual book fair that brings together the general public and more than 350 authors.

Created in 1984, the event is, since 2011, his baby. But Penalva is also three weeks away from becoming a father for the very first time.The three phones on his desk ring throughout our meeting. He is in demand.

As the person responsible for organising the Comédie du Livre, held in downtown Montpellier, Penalva, 33, has his work cut out.

This year’s event on the Esplanade Charles de Gaulle will see more than 300 writers and 50 comic book authors present their books at conferences and debates, in literary cafés and

in booths hosted by independent bookstores.

Each year, the focus is on a specific country; in 2012, the spotlight is on contemporary literature from the UK (a choice made by mayor Hélène Mandroux and her team of advisors).

Penalva is understandably excited at the prospect of hosting 30 anglophone literary talents, including David Lodge, Jonathan Coe, James Kelman, Louise Welsh, John Berger, and cartoonist Glen Baxter (the latter has designed this year’s Comédie poster). For four days, starting May 31, these names will join around 100 French writers to form France’s secondlargest literary festival (the Salon du Livre in Paris is the largest), so running such an event is no small feat.

“I worked in a book store for 12 years before this job,” says Penalva, who obviously knows his authors. “And I do a lot of sport: I run and I play football, to work off the stress,” he smiles.

Promoting knowledge is key to his mission.

The Comédie du Livre takes up two-thirds of his time; running the city’s Agora des Savoirs

programme (a series of free talks on sciencebased subjects, from November to June) and other cultural events takes care of the rest.

Does he see the internet as a friend or foe of literature?

“

You can consider modern technology as a new channel for writers, with people reading e-books and buying Kindles, and yes, the written word can be shared more easily this way.

Régis Penalva

“I can argue it both ways,” he responds. “You can consider modern technology as a new channel for writers, with people reading ebooks and buying Kindles, and yes, the written word can be shared more easily this way.

“But to be honest, as a former bookseller who’s in touch with book store owners, I can tell you: the publishing industry is worried.”

He muses about a recent survey, according to which, one in two Montpellier students does not open a book in the course of a year.

“Is this just a passing phase, or the start of a major trend? Ten years from now, I really don’t know how things will be, but...” he trails off, looking worried. Does he own a Kindle himself? “No, I grew up with books and that’s what I’m used to,” says Penalva, who graduated in Modern Humanities.

Let’s hope that thanks to the Comédie du Livre, literature in print form will continue to exist for a few years more.

For details of the Comédie du Livre programme, go to www.comediedulivre.montpellier.fr.