The Bugle Dordogne - Aug 2018 by The Bugle

Local backlog for Carte de séjour applications As expats clamour for residency permits, Brits in the Dordogne struggle to find application appointments >> Page 5 November 2016 - Issue #85

Dordogne

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August 2018 - Issue 62 - FREE!

France moves to ban single-use plastics Bastille Day celebrations don't quite go to plan - page 10

In the face of growing pressure from environmental groups and an increase in public awareness, France has taken steps towards an outright ban on single-use plastics

Next under the spotlight will be everyday objects such as straws, cotton swabs and cotton buds. “We must eliminate all of these products, because they have biodegradable alternatives. Of course there are substitutes. We can create biodegradable products that have the same advantages and characteristics of plastic,” Mr Hulot said. It is estimated that 10% of all single-use plastics currently end up in the country's oceans and according to the US journal Science magazine, eight million tonnes of plastic are dumped into the Earth's oceans and seas each year... that's 250 kg every second! Plastic straws have been

>> continued on page 7

President Macron visits the Dordogne - pg 3

The border town with too much money - pg 8

Diverse French team win World Cup - pg 9

The Bugle Business Directory - pg 13-16

Twitter: Keraunos‫@ ‏‬KeraunosObs

t has been a hot topic for years and France has now taken its first steps towards banning single use plastics. Environmental activist and Minister for Ecology Nicolas Hulot has announced plans to ban dozens of singleuse plastic objects in France by 2025, in a bid to replace them with biodegradable alternatives. The government's stated aim is to have “zero plastic thrown in the oceans by 2025”. France has already banned single-use plastic bags from large retailers and the government has also passed legislation that will outlaw plastic cutlery, cups and plates that are not biodegradable.

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ell, after a few weeks of agonising hope for England fans, football isn’t coming “home”, but on the plus side, it is coming to the second home for many of us. I’ve spoken before in this column about the fact that I will always be an England fan and it is something that I don’t feel the need to apologise for. I suspect that I will always cheer for the country of my birth and as a rugby fan, it is particularly sweet when England beat France, given the history between the teams. That does not take away from the pride I feel for my second home, however, and I have no problem marrying the two ideas. I believe that Charles de Gaulle once said “Le patriotisme, c’est aimer son pays. Le nationalisme, c’est détester celui des autres”... “Patriotism is loving your country, nationalism is hating everyone else’s”. I agree with this wholeheartedly and would consider myself both a patriotic Brit and card-

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carrying francophile. So I was able to enjoy France’s victory. But even those who are indifferent to sport or actively dislike French teams must surely have been warmed by the unbridled joy that swept through the country over Bastille Day weekend. In actual fact, I was in a very lucky position as before moving to France, I spent five years in Brussels and have a very soft spot for the Belgians, so I had a stake in three of the semi-finalists! What was harder for me was the obvious confusion on my eldest daughter’s face at the start of the final when France scored an early goal. I should add at this point that she is not a huge sport fan, but knows that I am. She had gone to bed with a few minutes left to go in the England semi-final and didn’t realise that Croatia had gone on to win. In that moment, she was happy that the country of her birth had scored, but was conf licted because she thought the country of her family were losing. When I explained that France were in fact playing

www.chateau-lestevenie.com 06 48 62 23 73 Croatia, she was delighted and we went on to spend a wonderful afternoon watching “our” team win the World Cup. It occurred to me that my daughter is a French girl who has been immersed in British culture, not a British girl who gets the French. That is perfectly normal when you think about it - when she talks in her sleep, it is normally not in English! - but it was strange to see it manifest before me like that. Either way, it can only be a great thing for this country to have won the World Cup. It lifts the spirits of the nation and, if you believe the number crunchers, it also provides a shot in the arm of the economy! There were plenty of interesting opinion pieces about the diverse nature of the French World Cup squad (19 of the 23 are migrants, or the sons of migrants) and I would like to think that moments like this will have a positive effect on wider society. I think that the Obama quote in my article on page 9 sums this up perfectly. Unfortunately so too does the fact that the US can finally elect a black president, whilst racism and nationalism remains alive and well across the Atlantic! I’ve never understood “nationalists” (in the de Gaulle sense) who can cheer for Mo Farah, Jeremy Guscott, Linford Christie and Viv Anderson and not see the contradiction. My

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children do not really seem to “notice” skin colour and other physical differences and are still young enough to just think that everyone is the same. I will not be teaching them otherwise and I wonder if it isn’t just a case of waiting for their generation to grow up and look back with pained nostalgia at some of the things that happen today. I guess it has always been thus. I would much rather look at the national side and see a diverse mix of people from different backgrounds coming together to form a team. Ultimately that is what has made both France and Britain great over the years. To think otherwise, as a foreigner who has chosen to make this country my home, would make me a massive hypocrite! Until next month and Vive la France! Steve Martindale, Editor

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INSIDE this edition 3-5 Local News 6-10 National News 10-12 French Life 13-16 Directory 17-20 What’s On Copy deadline:

15th August for September’s print edition

LOCAL NEWS ♦ 3

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Ryanair cancels Macron visits the Dordogne extra London flights

in Boulazac, just outside Périgueux, where 950 million stamps will be printed annually bearing the new Marianne design. Although it had been longpublicised that Macron would be releasing a new Marianne, there had been much speculation over where he would be visiting in the afternoon. In the end Macron inaugurated a new maison des Services au public in Sarliac-sur-l’Isle, fifteen kilometres from Périgueux. The €770,000 building represents a huge investment in the commune of just 1,100 people and is one of

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the airport and the wider tourist industry and will result in a decrease of more than 15,000 passengers over the summer months, a figure which could well see annual numbers once again drop below the 300,000 mark. This “unilateral” decision will apparently affect “all French destinations” and the company has put the move down to “difficulties guaranteeing sufficient levels of staff across all flights”. The fact that the decision to reduce the number of flights is not down to a lack of demand bodes well for the future and airport bosses are confident that the extra summer flights will once again be on offer from summer 2019. The news comes in the same month that IG Avion has said it will not follow through on a planned line between Bergerac and Lyon, citing a lack of ticket sales. In better news, however, the airport saw 37,887 passengers pass through customs in June, a record for the month! ■

a number of such government buildings springing up in rural areas across the country. High-tech and energy-efficient, it brings a number of public services under one roof, such as postal services, a meeting place for assistantes maternelles (child minders) and a medical centre.

@ChassaingPh (Twitter)

t has been a good few years for Bergerac Airport, with annual passenger numbers blasting through the symbolic three hundred thousand mark in 2016 (305,323) before rising further in 2017 to 315,410. The rise in passenger numbers is, of course, linked to a gradual increase in the number of flights scheduled from the airport in the south of the Dordogne, flights that provide a vital link for expats returning home or welcoming visiting friends and family. In a rare piece of bad news, however, Ryanair have pulled a number of extra Stansted flights usually run over the summer months, announcing in a press release: “Ryanair, the Irish airline which accounts for almost 75% of all passengers at Bergerac Dordogne Périgord, has decided not to provide extra flights between Bergerac and London this summer as they previously did last year.” The decision is a blow for

resident Emmanuel Macron came to the Dordogne in June for a visit that was ultimately over-shadowed by the emerging Benalla scandal, in which the president’s chief of security was caught on camera assaulting protesters while dressed as a police officer. Macron was repeatedly quizzed about the scandal by travelling journalists on the busy trip which saw him unveil the latest Marianne design and open a new government building in Sarliac-sur-l’Isle. In the first stage of the visit, the president was in the BasToulon quarter of the department’s capital Périgueux, where a giant new image of Marianne was unveiled on the wall of an HLM (social housing) building. Marianne is a national symbol of France, the personification of liberty and appears on government documentation as well as the country’s stamps. The latest image was designed by artist YZ and chosen by the president because, “it is a piece of street art, modern art, free”. After unveiling the image, the president visited the print shop

During his visit, despite a blazing sun and high temperatures, Macron was met by enthusiastic crowds and spent much of the day pressing the flesh and posing for selfies with members of the public. ■

4 ♦ LOCAL NEWS

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School holidays

lanning holidays can be tricky if you have children, with many tourist destinations ramping the prices out of term time and roads becoming jammed. To combat this, France has traditionally staggered a number of its school holidays, with each of the three defined “zones” taking holidays lasting 2 weeks in periods that overlap to create one “school holiday” of four weeks. This staggering of the school holidays spreads the load that is placed on the country's transport system and tourist industries and reduces the spike in holiday and travel prices often seen in the UK during, for example, the Easter holidays.

Summer, October half-term and Christmas holidays in France are taken at the same time across the whole country. In the past, many neighbouring departments found their schools on holiday at different times. Since the number of regions was reduced to 13, this has been less of a problem and today, all schools across the expanded Nouvelle-Aquitaine region are off at the same time. La Rentrée: Mon 3rd Sep 2018 Vacances de Toussaint: Sat 20th Oct to Sun 4th Nov 2018 Vacances de Noël: Sat 22nd Dec 2018 to Sun 6th Jan 2019 Vacances d'hiver: Sat 16th Feb to Sun 3rd Mar 2019 Vacances de printemps: Sat 13th Apr to Sun 28th Apr 2019 Pont de l'Ascension: Thu 30th May to Sun 2nd Jun 2019 Grandes vacances: From Sat 6th Jul 2019

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Local property security schemes

oing away on holiday is supposed to be a relaxing time, but how many of us have lay by the pool and worried about the security of our home. Many will leave keys with neighbours or ask a friend to check on the house and feed the cat, but there is always the niggling worry that less wellmeaning people will notice that your house is empty. It is for this reason that the Police Nationale and Gendarmerie Nationale run a programme called Opération tranquilité vacances throughout the year. Under this scheme, homeowners can inform the local police that they are going away on holiday and officers will perform regular checks on their property. The system works well and statistics show that your house is less likely to be burgled during your absence if you take part, and from this year local police and gendarmes now have a digital tool at their disposal to further improve the efficiency of the scheme. The new application “Néogend” allows officers to see the location of the properties they are keeping an eye on in real time. “As well as showing us where a property is, the application also allows us to see when it was last checked,” explained local gendarme Régis Bourdoux. “We can now see if a

property was last visited 24, 36 or 72 hours ago. This allows us to effectively prioritise our routes.” If you are going away on holiday, the advice from police remains the same: ask someone to regularly pick up your mail; put a bit of life into your house by having a neighbour open the shutters every once in a while; and don't leave a message on your answer phone saying when you will be away. In these days of social media, there is one final piece of common sense from the Gendarmerie: “Don't announce your holiday on social media. These days burglars are patrolling the internet for targets.” Another security solution being adopted by local authorities which has proved more controversial is the “Participation citoyenne” scheme being backed by central government. This citizen-led security scheme involves voluntary local référents (literally “informers”) liaising with the local mayor and Gendarmerie to keep an eye on specific areas. “It is absolutely not a question of tracking what your neighbours are doing,” explained René Arnaud, the mayor of one Nouvelle-Aquitaine town, which has recently introduced the system. “The transfer of information about people's private lives is completely excluded.”

The idea is to encourage people to get to know their neighbourhood and invest in their own security. “My job is to reassure my neighbours by keeping an eye on the surroundings of their properties,” explained one such local référent. “In my road, I know everyone and everyone knows me.” Not everyone agrees, however, with a resident of one street covered by the scheme less than impressed. “Seriously, where are we going with this, why not have local militia while we're at it!” La Ligue des Droits de l’Homme has similar concerns that the scheme could be open to abuse. “How much power will these neighbours believe they have and based on what criteria? What information will they be passing on to the police about people's private lives: political leanings, unions status, religion?” Whatever your feelings, we are fortunate to live in a very safe part of the world and as is often the case, a bit of common sense can go a long way. Getting to know your neighbours, informing a trusted contact of your movements and avoiding obvious signs of absence will help to keep your property and possessions safe. To take advantage of Opération tranquilité vacances, contact your local Gendarmerie or register online via www.service-public.fr. ■

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Applying for a carte de séjour in the Dordogne

s question marks still hang around the future rights for expats post-Brexit, many have opted to apply for a carte de séjour (residency permit). There is no legal obligation for Brits in France to get one; as EU citizens they are perfectly entitled to be a permanent resident in France without having to obtain an official permit but Brexit has obviously complicated things and the campaign group Remain in France Together (RIFT), France’s Ministry of Interior and the UK Embassy have all urged British nationals to apply for the French residency permit as soon as possible. “If the draft withdrawal agreement is eventually ratified, it includes the agreement that holders of a carte de séjour will be able to swap them for whatever new special residency card may be required for Britons in future, with only production of ID and a criminality

check,” explained Debra Archer from RIFT. “There will be no fee involved. There are at least 150,000 British people living in France, probably more, so there could be long delays in dealing with applications for cards in future. Applying now will spread the load and ensure a smooth transition to whatever new system is introduced to document our rights to stay in France.” It is believed that around 15,000 British expats have already applied for a French residency permit, i.e. just 10% of all expats. Given that prefectures around the country are not used to receiving requests for Brits, the system is already struggling to cope, a situation that is probably only going to get worse as Brexit-day approaches. Indeed, so unusual is a carte de séjour request from British expats that many were initially told they were not eligible and should come back once Britain has left the EU. In fact this is not the case

and the French Interior Ministry has sent out a memo to all prefectures to inform them that Brits have the right to the cards as EU citizens. As awareness has gradually been raised, applications are now being processed relatively smoothly. In the Dordogne, however, which has a relatively high density of expats, there are already large backlogs. Applications in the Dordogne are submitted via a new online appointments system, but this is now fully booked out until the end of October and no new dates have currently been made available. The general secretary of the Dordogne, Laurent Simplicien, said that there are no more spaces at present for “Europeans” until they launch bookings for a further three-month period later, around the start of October. He warned those that have booked slots as “non-Europeans” that this was not correct, their application will not be processed and that they should

cancel it. The new online bookings system launched at the end of June and is intended to modernise and streamline the way foreign people visit the prefecture. “It was a major reorganisation for us, which allows us to reduce, indeed completely get rid of, the queues, to meet people at a set appointment time and know why they are coming, allowing the officials to prepare in advance,” explained Laurent Simplicien. “It has allowed us to avoid having overcrowded waiting areas and our agents know what is needed when the person arrives. It’s a better-quality experience both for the users and our agents and it’s something the Interior Ministry and the prefectures have been working on for some time.” Whilst the availability of appointments is currently being far outstripped by demand, officials have urged expats not to panic and said that the department would honour all requests.

“We will respect people’s rights, there is no need for worry and we will manage the situation. Applications can’t be dealt with instantly, however, and we can’t issue a whole lot of cards to a lot of people all at once. At our local level, the details of the Brexit negotiations do not concern us - that is dealt with at the national level - but we are attentive to the British community because we are a department where there are a lot of Britons.” Officials have a vested interest in avoiding a rush to obtain documents by large numbers of Brits and are keen to help. A spokesperson for the Direction Générale des Etrangers en France (DGEF), the part of the Interior Ministry dealing with foreign residents, said: “Whatever the outcome of the Brexit negotiations, the Interior Ministry will prioritise solutions which allow us to avoid a rush of British people to the prefectures concentrated over a short period of time.”. ■

6 ♦ NATIONAL NEWS

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ne and two-cent coins could become a thing of the past if a proposal put forward by a government think tank is put into action. The plan would bring France into line with Belgium, Finland, the Netherlands and Ireland. The Comité d'action publique 2022 (CAP 2022) think tank published the report in July recommending that the two smallest denomination coins should be abolished in the near future as the first step towards creating a zero-cash economy in France. “We propose to gradually move towards a society without cash like Sweden,” said the report. “We could start in the short term by putting an end to the circulation of one and two-cent coins.” The suggestion comes as part of the government's plans to make €60 billion in savings by the end of this presidential cycle in 2022. Not only do one and two-cent coins clog up your pocket or purse, they are also expensive to produce: a one-cent coin costs 1.2 cents to make! Opponents of the propos-

als have said that retailers will simply round up their prices. “If these coins are removed, prices will be rounded to the next unit and the population will feel a rise in prices,” said Christophe Beaux, CEO of the Paris Mint in 2015. Full details have not been revealed, but if France adopts the Irish model, this should not be the case. In Ireland, rounding only occurs on the total of a bill, so individual items can still be priced at 99 cents. If, for example, the total of your bill comes to €5.37, you will pay €5.35 in cash. If your bill is €5.38 you will pay €5.40. The result would be that, on average, no one would be out of pocket. Furthermore, rounding does not apply when bills are paid electronically, such as by debit or credit card. The move has been a huge hit in the Emerald Isle, where consumers were firmly behind the changes, and according to a Eurobarometer poll carried out in December 2017, nearly twothirds of all Europeans are in favour of ditching the low-value coins. France has made moves to re-

Credit: Lynn Greyling

France plans to phase out 1 and 2 cent coins

duce the number of cash transaction in recent years, with an increase in contactless payments playing a significant role. It is estimated that 55% of commercial transactions in France currently take place in cash, compared to 60% in England, 75% in Italy and 89% in Germany.

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In the same report, the think tank also suggests phasing out the use of cash, cheques and stamps for tax and social security payments over the next two years, and advises replacing these with bank cards and electronic transfers in order to cut down on fraud.

Last year, the Governing Council of the European Central Bank decided that it would phase out the €500 note to curb terrorist financing and money laundering. It became the first and only euro denomination to be completely discontinued since the euro's introduction. ■

NATIONAL NEWS ♦ 7

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overnight. Environmental campaigners claim that biodegradable plastics are not necessarily the magic solution everyone hopes for. “People think that biodegradable means nothing is dumped in nature. But that's not the case at all,” explained Virginie Le Ravalec of the French Environment and Energy Management Agency. “Over periods of days, weeks or even months, a bioplastic item could present just as much threat to marine life as a conventional plastic item,” added Fiona Nicholls on behalf of Greenpeace. One French business that has seen opportunity in the changing political and consumer attitudes to plastics is the Breton-based manufacturer Algopack, which has become one of the first in France to work on technology using algae. Described as an “almost infinite resource”, algae can be used to create a completely natural material that looks and behaves similarly to “normal” plastic, and can also be made for a similar price. While traditional plastic will take centuries to degrade in nature, algae-based equivalents will decomposes in 12 weeks on land, and just four hours at sea. ■

>> continued from pg 1 the focus of numerous campaigns in recent years and the increased pressure on large retailers is gradually taking effect. In the UK and Ireland, McDonald's has already pledged to complete a transition to paper straws by 2019 and in France, the burger giant is currently “testing alternatives”. In June, coffee chain Starbucks announced that it would eliminate single-use plastic straws by 2020 and the Hilton hotel giant has vowed to remove plastic straws from its 650 locations by the end of this year. “Laid end to end, the straws saved each year in Europe, the Middle East and Africa would exceed the length of the River Seine,” the hotel chain said in a statement. Carrefour, Lidl, Costa Coffee, Marriott International and Ikea are also making moves to ban single-use plastics. The battle is bad news for Frenchbased Soyez, Europe's largest straw manufacturer. “The problem isn't new and it is serious, so we obviously need to find alternatives. We've been working on this for several months,” said the company's director Pierre Soyez, adding that it was “really complicated” to try to make the shift

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Carrefour and Tesco team up Bid to reduce paper waste

n a surprising example of entente cordiale, Carrefour and Tesco, two of Europe's largest retailers, have announced that they plan to form a purchasing alliance to increase their leverage with suppliers in the notoriously competitive supermarket sector. The deal, which will last for three years, is expected to be concluded “within the next two months,” the two companies said in a statement. The companies claim that the deal to supply a total of 19,000 stores will lead to greater choice and lower prices for customers, but analysts believe the planned alliance between two retail powerhouses would squeeze already stretched suppliers even further, as the supermarket industry fights back against the rise of Amazon and discounters such as Aldi and Lidl. “By working together and making the most of our collective product expertise and sourcing capability, we will be able to serve our customers even better,” said Tesco's chief executive Dave Lewis. Analysts place the combined buying power of Tesco and Carrefour at more than €80 billion annually and believe the groups could see total savings of €400 million from the alliance. The strategy could lead to more British products available in Carrefour supermarkets and conversely to more camembert, wine and other French products being sold in Tesco stores, although details have yet to be finalised, according

to a Tesco spokeswoman. Both retailers are under pressure from Amazon, which has moved into the traditional grocery retailing market with the acquisition of Whole Foods and has already launched an online delivery service, Fresh, in the UK last year. “An entente cordiale between the two giants of British and French retailing is yet another sign that squeezing the cost base is the biggest priority for supermarkets as they seek to contain the discounters and protect margins,” explained Neil Wilson, chief market analyst at Markets.com. “On both sides of the Channel, rising costs are putting pressure on margins. Meanwhile, every retailer is looking over their shoulder at Amazon and the potential disruption it could still cause in the grocery sector.” Carrefour has been through difficult times in recent years and is slashing thousands of jobs and other costs while ramping up digital investment after profits fell for the second year in a row. It is not the only French retailer to seek partnerships with rivals in an attempt to reduce supply costs. In June, France's Auchan, Casino and Schiever groups announced that they would be combining forces with Germany's Metro for purchasing. Tesco's involvement is in part a reaction to Britain's second and third-biggest supermarket chains, Sainsbury's and Walmart-owned Asda recently agreeing to merge. ■

town in southern France has been ordered to stop charging its residents local taxes as the council is “too rich”. Le Perthus, a village of just 586 that straddles the French-Spanish border in the Pyrenees, was found to have a surplus of more than €1 million in its coffers. The town's income is largely due to its geography and ample parking. Bargain hunters flock to the town, where they can pay to park on one side of the road, before crossing the street on foot to arrive in Spain, where prices are generally cheaper. The parking fees alone generate three quarters of a million euros per year for the town - that's over €1,200 a year per resident - which has led state auditors to urge the village officials to abandon the local foncière and habitation taxes. With the town effectively bringing in money

faster than it can invest it, the local council has found itself in the “very unusual” situation of finding it “impossible to agree” on how to spend its cash. Disagreements at council level over the budget mean the local authority spent just €5,000 of the €268,000 it had available for public facilities last year. The town's mayor, Marie-Hélène RuartLucquin, said opposition councillors had blocked plans to invest in the likes of a medical centre and children's play park. “For the past two years, I’ve had opposition councillors who vote against projects and so we can’t make investments for the community.” “The council is suffering the consequences of this dysfunctional lack of agreement on spending,” a spokesperson said and called on Le Perthus’ elected representatives to “question the relevant level of tax to be levied from

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No tax for "too rich" town

inhabitants”. André Pezziardi, head of the Occitanie Audit Office, said: “We concluded that local taxation should be reduced to zero for council and property taxes because the contributions of citizens must have a quid pro quo, and that of course is expenditure.” Part of the main road through Le Perthus, Avenue de France, is in both France and Spain, leading to discount stores shooting up on the Spanish side of the road selling the likes of alcohol, tobacco and perfume at considerably cheaper prices due

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to differences in taxes. According to the Office for National Statistics, France has higher prices for tobacco, alcohol and clothing than in Spain where all of those products cost far less compared to EU averages. A pack of cigarettes costs on average up to eight euros on the French side and about five euros on the Spanish side. A litre bottle of Smirnoff vodka is 18 euros in France compared to 10 euros just metres away over the border. ■

s many readers will be painfully aware, more and more publicity material is being pushed through the country's letterboxes. Despite the increase in internet shopping and online transactions, retailers now distribute an average of 2.3 kg of magazines and flyers to every household each month, an increase of 15% over the last 14 years. One frustrated retiree has spent the last 12 months collecting every piece of marketing material delivered to his door, arriving at a staggering total of 28.3 kg, which he claimed was mostly made up of supermarket advertising. This figure has been backed up by statistics revealed by consumer group UFC-QueChoisir which shows that the national average is 28 kg. Alain Bazot, president of UFC-Que-Choisir, explained that as well as causing excess waste paper, free publicity is also ultimately paid for by the consumer, with the cost being reflected in the price of goods. The group has calculated that the price of all this marketing material is as much as €200 for a house of four people, not including the cost of disposal and recycling. “If you said to the average person, ‘Would you like your €200 to go towards adverts in your letterbox?’, I am practically certain that people would say no,” Mr Bazot said. The worst offenders by far are the country's supermarkets: the Carrefour and E. Leclerc groups each put an average of 7 magazines through every letterbox in May this year alone! Costs aside, there is also a significant environmental impact: the 28 kg per household represents one quarter of all the paper consumed in France each year!

Despite many homeowners being frustrated by this obvious waste, only one in five people currently take advantage of the government's free “Stop Pub” programme. The scheme - created by the Environment Ministry in 2004 in a bid to reduce paper waste - encourages residents to simply place an official “Stop Pub” notice on their postbox or door to alert senders that they do not wish to receive excess paper publicity. These stickers are widely available for free, often from your local Mairie, or an image can be downloaded from the government website. ■

Buying or Selling French Property? Legal advice from English-speaking lawyers Also the #1 portal for property auctions

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NATIONAL NEWS ♦ 9

World Cup win highlights diversity © Russian Presidential Press and Information Office (WikiCommons)

t's coming home! There was widespread delight across the country as France lifted the football World Cup for a second time, 20 years after first doing so on home soil. There were scenes of jubilant fans at iconic locations, parties raged throughout the night and the returning players were met by huge crowds. The trophy was paraded through the capital in front of hundreds of thousands of delirious supporters while air force jets performed fly-bys. Macron hosted the team at the Élysée Palace and the players and coach were all awarded the nation's highest honour, the Légion d'Honneur. In total, 3,000 members of the public people were invited to a private party at the palace “in order to welcome Les Bleus”, including 1,000 youths from football clubs around the country such as Bondy, the poor Paris suburb where 19-year-old forward Kylian Mbappé first started his career. In the palace gardens, Macron thanked the footballers for “having made us proud” and told them to “Never forget where you come from: all the clubs across France that trained you”. As the dust settled on a famous day, it was this last sentiment that resonated for many and gained increasing traction across the country's - and the world's - media. Of the 23 players in the French squad, 19 are migrants or the children of migrants, many from the poor banlieues (suburbs) around Paris, a fact that was not lost on observers. Under the strap line “Liberté, Égalité, Mbappé!” a recent Guardian article asked the question: “After this World Cup victory, can France finally throw off racism?” Several Muslim players prostrated themselves in prayer after the final whistle, leading the paper to also ask: “How could a country so riddled with prejudice towards minorities get behind a team that reflects all its own

contradictions back at it?” Former US President Barrack Obama also noticed the team's diverse backgrounds. During a speech celebrating 100 years since the birth of late South African icon Nelson Mandela, Obama said: “It is a truth that lies at the heart of every world religion. That we should do unto others as we would have them do unto us. That we see ourselves in other people. That we can recognise common hopes and common dreams. And it is a truth that is incompatible with any form of discrimination based on race or religion or gender or sexual orientation. And it is a truth, that - by the way - when embraced, actually delivers practical benefits, since it ensures that a society can draw upon the talents and the energy and skill of all of

Notorious gangster jailbreak

ne of the country's most notorious gangsters has pulled off a spectacular jailbreak after escaping from prison in a hijacked helicopter. Rédoine Faïd, 46, broke out of Réau prison near Paris with the help of three accomplices who used smoke bombs and angle grinders to make their way into the facility's visiting room where Faïd was talking to his brother. A police source said the helicopter pilot was a flight instructor who had been waiting for a student when he was seized and forced to fly into the prison before being released unharmed, but in a state of shock. The helicopter was later found in a northeastern suburb of the French capital, with a car the fugitives transferred to subsequently being discovered burnt out in a shopping centre car park. The escape came after an appeals court sentenced the career criminal to 25 years for masterminding a botched 2010 armed robbery during which a policewoman was killed. Astonishingly, this is not the first time Faïd has has pulled off a spectacular jailbreak: in 2013, he blasted his way out of a prison in northern France using dyna-

mite. That jail sentence had been for breaking the terms of his parole over a string of past convictions for bank robberies and armed heists. Justice Minister Nicole Belloubet said that drones had been spotted flying near the prison in recent months, prompting speculation that they may have been used for reconnaissance purposes. She also admitted that leaving the gangster in the same prison for “a few months” had been a mistake. “We must be careful not to leave the same people in the same places for too long, when we're dealing with this type of individual,” she said. “The rotation probably needs to be more frequent.” Faïd, who has a cult following in the tough immigrant suburbs outside Paris where he grew up, has made several television appearances over the years to promote the two books he has written about his life of crime. He has said he uses Hollywood movies to hone his bank robbing skills and once approached Michael Mann, director of the 1995 gangster film "Heat" starring Al Pacino and Robert De Niro, at a Paris film festival, telling him: “You were my technical adviser”. ■

its people. And if you doubt that, just ask the French football team that just won the World Cup. Because not all of those folks look like Gauls to me. But they’re French. They’re French!” Many also pointed to an increasing sense of optimism in France. “For a quarter of a century France has been losing its selfconfidence. And then in the last year - since the election of President Emmanuel Macron - there came a turnaround,” wrote Hugh Schofield for the BBC. Whilst admitting that “It would be silly to attribute this to Mr Macron alone - he is certainly not a universally popular figure” the journalist points to “a new sense of unaggressive but unembarrassed patriotism in France”. At a post-World Cup press conference,

the 19-year-old superstar Kylian Mbappé a child of Cameroonian-Algerian parents told Le Monde that all he wanted to do was “embody France, represent France and give my all for France”. “We should be proud to be French. Life in France is good! We eat well. We have a beautiful country and a beautiful national team,” added striker Antoine Griezmann. Similar things were said after the victory of the famous “Black-Blanc-Beur” (BlackWhite-Arab) team of 1998, when pundits prematurely proclaimed the emergence of a new multi-colour nation. This did not prove to be the case two decades ago and only time will tell what effect the victory of this diverse group of players will have on wider society today. ■

10 ♦ NATIONAL NEWS

www.thebugle.eu ○ THE BUGLE ○ AUGUST 2018

Bastille Day blunders

Screenshot

here was a little bit too much red during this year's traditional Bastille Day celebrations in Paris on July 14th with much of it on the organisers' faces. As part of the event, the country's equivalent of the Red Arrows - La Patrouille de France - performed a fly-past while trailing long plumes of smoke in the colours of the French national flag. As the nine Alphajets flew over the ChampsElysées, with the Arc de Triomphe in the background, it became clear that one of the jets had been fitted with the wrong colour - red instead of blue - apparently redesigning the French flag (see front page image). Gallic pride had also taken a knock earlier in the day when, just minutes into the parade, two gendarmes involved in a complex motorbike ballet with

Youths hand over €4k cash

Be honest now, what would you do if you found €4,000 in cash under your seat on a train? I suspect that quite a few of us would head to the nearest travel agent! One group of teenagers are being lauded for their civic pride after finding themselves in this situation... and handing the cash in at the nearest police station. The seven teenagers, from Suresnes in the Hauts-de-Seine, were travelling on an RER train towards the leisure area of Les Étangs de Cergy to the north-west of Paris when they discovered two plastic bags filled with notes. Not only did the youths not pocket the cash, they changed their plans, travelled to the end of the line and found the nearest police station. Whilst praising the teenagers' honesty, officers said that the rightful owner of the money remains a mystery. ■

Metro renames stations

horsemen from the Republican Guard crashed into each other within yards of President Macron. The president managed to keep a straight face and even managed a smile as the drivers struggled to right their heavy vehicles before beating a hasty retreat. Some had suggested that the mix-up with the coloured smoke was deliberate, with the extra red plume representing the loss of life during the First World War which ended 100

years ago, but the air force later confirmed it was a genuine mistake. “La Patrouille de France is normally eight planes, and on July 14, it presents as nine,” explained Colonel Cyrille Duvivier, an air force spokesperson. “The ninth plane is the ‘extra’ and it can take any position. It is the only one to have all three colours. We must ascertain why, precisely, this colour was not correct.” The huge Bastille Day parade takes place

annually and this year featured a fly-past by Thomas Pesquet, the tenth French person to go to Space, in a Rafale jet. Pesquet spent 6 months onboard the International Space Station last year and became popular with the public for his tweets and images of France from space. In total 4,290 military personnel, 220 vehicles, 250 horses, 64 planes and 30 helicopters took part in the day, with no other major mistakes reported. ■

Following France's recent victory at the football World Cup, there were delirious scenes across the country, although some chose to celebrate the team's win in more unusual ways. The Louvre museum tweeted a picture of the Mona Lisa wearing the French shirt and the capital's transport authorities chose to temporarily rename a number of metro stops across Paris, much to the confusion of some tourists! Champs-Élysées - Clemenceau on line 13 was renamed Deschamps Elysées - Clemenceau in honour of the French coach Didier Deschamps, who became just the third person to win the World Cup as a player (captain no less) and as manager. On line 12, Notre-Dame des Champs was similarly changed to Notre Didier Deschamps. Rather than honouring the famous French author, the station Victor Hugo on line 2 was renamed for the team's goalkeeper - Victor Hugo Lloris. And Charles de Gaulle - Étoile was simply named On a 2 Étoiles (We have 2 stars) in reference to the fact that France has now won the World Cup twice and in future their national strip will bear two stars instead of just one. ■

Courgettes

by Julia Watson he French may express disdain for Dis- at a time, in hot vegetable oil till gold on both sides. ney World, but August is a month when Then drain them on paper towels, sprinkle salt over, the French themselves spread the Disney and serve them at once with a dip made from mixing ethos right across the country. You can’t very finely chopped garlic and herbs into a drained move for jousts, water shows, fireworks displays, and seasoned Greek yogurt. medieval processions, and flimsy excuses for gen- Patricia Lousada, in Penguin’s ‘Easy to Entereral excess in the fantasy line requiring the hire of tain’, has a delicious recipe for lovers of coriander theatrical clothing. that makes good use of courgettes. It’s an elegant There’s also excess in the potager, but that is to be soup that can be served hot or chilled and an unusual welcomed as a natural, not contrived, event. Still, stand-by to have ready in the fridge for hot summer what to do with those gluts - of courgettes, in par- evenings to make a change from gazpacho. Don’t ticular. Tomatoes are easy to manage if supply is be put off by the addition of semolina - it’s used as outstripping appetite: just bung them in a bag and a thickener and you won’t know it’s there. And if freeze them, if you’re too summer-saturated to make anyone doesn’t like coriander, make the soup with sauce. When you want to cook them later, drop them parsley instead. It’s courgettes you’re trying to get in a bowl of warm water and their skins will peel off rid of, after all. ■ like tights, though you will have to simmer out more juice than you need to do from a tomato cooked Julia Watson has been a long-time Food Writer fresh. for newspapers and magazines in the US and the As to courgettes, I’m always surprised by just UK. how many plants people are eager to accommodate in their plots, given they instantly forget that these vegetables have a tendency to expand overnight from delicate finger size into aggressive weapons. There is nothing, repeat nothing, to be done with 3 tablespoons semolina Ingredients: a marrow. And if you tell me to stuff it, yes I can, 900ml chicken stock 1 medium sized onion, very finely chopped and no I shan’t - in both senses of the expression. If the only persuasive way to consume a marrow is 110ml thick cream if serving hot 2 tablespoons butter to fill it with some other innocent vegetables gen2 egg yolks 175g courgettes, peeled and chopped tly coaxed into a ratatouille-type stew, or a mix of 250g thick-set Greek yogurt if serving cold minced meats enticingly spiced, I say Why bother 75g fresh coriander leaves, chopped with the marrow? Serve whatever you’ve made to Coriander leaves and toasted slivered almonds Salt and pepper to taste coax people to eat the marrow as the dish on its own to garnish (optional) and launch the marrow into the nearest ditch for night scavengers to enjoy, or chop it up for chickens Sweat the onion in the butter until soft without allowing it to colour. Add the courgettes and coriander and or the compost. stir for a few minutes. Add 900ml water and salt and bring to the boil. Stir in the semolina. Cover and sim Young courgettes, on the other hand, are a thing mer for 20 minutes or until the courgettes are tender. of delight, to be left almost unexposed to rough heat but served very quickly steamed till just al dente Puree in a blender or food processor. Thin by adding the stock. Cover and refrigerate until needed. with butter and parsley or chives so their delicate To serve hot: Reheat soup to just below a boil. Whisk cream and egg yolks together. Stir in two ladles of hot flavour comes through. A little more mature, they soup, then off heat, pour back into the soup, whisking, and heat gently over low heat without allowing it to still have their uses - as a scoop for dips or sauccome near the boil or it will curdle. Garnish with coriander and almonds and a drizzle of crème fraîche and es. Slice an adult courgette into ¾ centimetre-thick serve. rounds, dunk them in a batter you’ve made from beating enough cold water into flour to make a paste To serve cold: Stir in the yoghurt, taste for seasoning and garnish with coriander and almonds. as thick as crème fraîche and fry them, several slices

Courgette Soup

FRENCH LIFE ♦ 11

AUGUST 2018 ○ THE BUGLE ○ www.thebugle.eu

The wines of Bergerac

by Martin Walker

ann Vergniaud’s blue eyes blaze fiercely as he pounds a fist into his other hand and declares: “I keep on saying that we have to stop whipping ourselves in the Bergerac and whining that we’re the poor cousins of Bordeaux. We can make great wines here and we need to believe in ourselves and our potential.” It is striking to come across such spirit and selfconfidence, above all in a young man who is one of the most adventurous and innovative winemakers in the Bergerac. He is also one of those most attuned to the impact of climate change and the need of the vineyards to adapt to what is becoming a dryer climate with grim implications for Merlot, traditionally one of the main grapes of the region. We were strolling back from his chai at Clos du Breil, his family vineyard at Saint-Léon-d’Issigeac, the most south-eastern of all the vineyards in the Bergerac and close to the valley of the river Dropt. In the chai we had been inspecting the new ovalshaped cuves which Yann had bought, believing them better for the wine than the more usual round vats of stainless steel. At 7,500 euros for the big one, they had better be. It has been a difficult period for Yann. Last year, he lost ninety per cent of his grapes in the great frost of late April. That was a body blow, but he perseveres. “You can almost expect a frost like that every twenty or thirty years,” he says. “But the real danger to us in the Bergerac is drought because that’s going to be a challenge almost every year. We need new varieties of grape, new methods, we need to learn

from winemakers who understand these conditions.” He has planted two unusual new grapes, each known to be resistant to drought. The first is Saperavi from Georgia in the Caucasus, Joseph Stalin’s old homeland. As a former Moscow correspondent who visited Georgia frequently, I became a fan of their Napareuli and Mukuzani dry red wines, each made with Saperavi grapes, a hardy variety which also thrives at higher altitudes. The other is Marselan, a new hybrid variety that is the result of a cross between Cabernet Sauvignon and Grenache, a grape that copes well with heat and dry conditions and is best-known in France from the great Châteauneufdu-Pape wines of the southern Rhone valley. Yann is also innovating with drones, as a faster way to inspect his 15 hectares of vines than walking through them. Moreover, he can compare the results of today’s drone flight with those of previous days and weeks to monitor precisely the development of the grapes. To be sure of his terroir, he dug ditches every 25 metres across his vineyards to assess each wrinkle of difference in the land - one result of which is that he has planted more and more Cabernet Franc. I tasted all his red and his white wines but not his rosé, of which he makes very little. In both red and white, Yann has three types. First is the standard Bergerac at 6.70 euros, which are good wines but not outstanding. Then comes his more special Odyssée at 9.50 euros, made of 90 per cent Cabernet Franc and just ten per cent of Cabernet Sauvignon. It is a wine so good that I bought a case of the 2014 Odyssée reds

on the spot and became a convert to the merits of the oval-shaped cuves of concrete in which it was made. Unlike the stainless steel cuves, there is no thermal shock as the metal cools and warms and the oval shape means that the wine moves constantly in gentle currents. His third brand is called Expression, at 12.50 euros and his 2014 red won a gold medal, an excellent wine but one I’d want to keep for another three years at least. I’d have given the gold medal to his 2014 white, a sumptuous wine with the hint of fatness in the mouth that I remember from a good white Burgundy or one of the rare white wines of Châteauneuf-du-Pape that cost three and four times as much. It had a lovely, luxurious finish that continued long in the mouth. It is so good that you won’t want to drink it too chilled. Yann, the fourth generation on this land, studied geography at university in Quebec and learned his winemaking from his family. And he never forgot that for centuries until the phylloxera epidemic hit in the 1870s, the wines of this region of the Issigeac plains were shipped down-river to be sold and bottled as St-Emilion. Those free and easy days of nomenclature are long gone, but you can be assured at Clos du Breil, you are drinking a better than many if not most St-Emilions at a significantly lower price. ■ Martin Walker, author of the best-selling ‘Bruno, chief of police’ novels, is a Grand Consul de la Vinée de Bergerac. Formerly a journalist, he spent 25 years as foreign correspondent for The Guardian and then became editor-in-chief of United Press International. He and his wife Julia have had a home in the Périgord since 1999 and one of his great hobbies is visiting the vineyards of Bergerac.

Should you keep hold of UK investments in France?

owever well we have settled into our new way of life in France, most UK nationals living here continue with some British lifestyle habits. Whether it is a Sunday roast with all the trimmings, watching UK TV channels and sport, etc. there are some ties we do not like to lose and there is comfort in familiarity. The same applies for UK investments. You may, for example, have accumulated Premium Bonds, Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs), etc. over the years, or bought shares in UK companies, and prefer to hang on to them because they are familiar and feel like a safe option. But are these suitable investments for your new life in France? In particular, once you take up residence in France, the tax incentives provided by Premium Bonds and ISAs in the UK fall away and all income and gains are subject to tax in France. Premium Bonds, ISAs and other UK investments

Premium Bonds were launched 60 years ago and today around 21 million people own some. They do not provide any automatic interest earnings or capital growth – which means their value will be eroded over time by inflation – but the possibility of winning a large prize can make them quite appealing. But what are the chances of winning big? According to MoneySavingExpert’s Martin Lewis, you have a one in 45 million chance of winning the jackpot with one National Lottery ticket, but your chance of becoming a millionaire through one single Premium Bond is one in almost 36 billion. If you’re happy to win £25,000 the chances are still one in 2 billion. One key attraction is that they have always been tax free in the UK – they are not tax free if you live in France though. Although betting and gambling winnings are tax-free in France, this does not apply to Premium Bonds since the

initial investment is never actually at stake. ISAs too are fully taxable in France in the hands of French residents. This applies to income and gains from cash and share ISAs. You also need to look at your other UK investments, such as shares, unit trusts, OEICs and investment bonds, and consider whether they are the most taxefficient way of holding your capital. Since January 2018 most investment income is now subject to a flat rate of tax of 30% (inclusive of social charges). This includes income and gains from ISAs and Premium Bond winnings, as well as bank interest, dividends, capital gains made on the disposal of movable assets, etc. Low income households can choose to pay tax at normal scale rates of tax instead. Note that if you receive interest or dividends from the UK you must declare the income within 15 days of the end of the month and pay 30% of the amount received by that date. This is then offset against the tax due on your tax return. This advance payment can be avoided where your household’s revenu fiscal de référence is below €25,000 for an individual or €50,000 for a couple. In the UK long-term residents benefit from a 5% tax-deferred allowance when making withdrawals from UK investment bonds. This does not extend to French residents. The French rules on such income are different so seek advice if you have these bonds. Some expatriates mistakenly think that since ISAs and Premium Bonds are UK investments they do not need to be declared in France. In fact they do, and with global automatic exchange of information now taking place under the Common Reporting Standard, the French tax authorities will be informed about your UK investments. UK rental income If you are resident in France and rent

out property in the UK, under the UKFrance double tax treaty, the income will be directly taxed in the UK, since that is where it arises. It is not directly taxed in France, but note that you have to include it as part of your taxable income for the year. You then receive a credit equal to the French tax and social charges. It's not all about tax There are very tax-efficient investment vehicles available to residents of France. With specialist professional advice, you could enjoy extremely favourable tax treatment on your capital investments, both for yourself today and your heirs in future. Speak to an adviser who can guide you on both UK and French taxation, the interaction between them and tax planning opportunities. Taxation is not the only reason to review your savings and investments, however. You need to ensure they are

suitable for your life in France (for example, what currency should they be in?) and your future expectations; your objectives (are you looking for income or growth?); your time horizon and, importantly, your risk tolerance. Too many people have portfolios which were built up over the years and are no longer suitable for them today. You need personalised advice from a locally based adviser like Blevins Franks which provides holistic advice covering investments, tax efficiency and estate planning. ■ Tel: 05 53 63 49 19 Email: bergerac@blevinsfranks.com Web: www.blevinsfranks.com Tax rates, scope and reliefs may change. Any statements concerning taxation are based upon our understanding of current taxation laws and practices which are subject to change. Tax information has been summarised; an individual is advised to seek personalised advice.

12 ♦ FRENCH LIFE

www.thebugle.eu ○ THE BUGLE ○ AUGUST 2018

The Grumpy Granny Guide A Day Away: The Far West

e all get into the habit of repeatedly visiting familiar, nearby sites, rarely venturing beyond a 30-40 kilometre radius. We are often, in fact, quite ignorant of what lies beyond our home turf and to a surprising extent, so too are the tourist professionals who seem to know little about what goes on outside their designated area. The Dordogne is very varied and almost every corner of the department has something of interest to offer but we residents keep to home ground and visitors all too often stick to the Périgord Noir. But there is relatively little publicity for areas beyond the south so finding out about the more modest places of interest - and the most attractive roads to get there - takes patience or an insider’s input, the internet notwithstanding. (There will be more on the challenge of finding accurate tourist information in a later issue). Quite overwhelmed by the crowded sites in my own (southern) area, I decided to practise what I preach and see for myself what lies beyond my comfort zone, so recently I set out on the first of several exploratory trips taking Périgueux as a central starting point. I wanted to avoid the well-known Ribérac / Brantôme / Bourdeilles / Puyguilhem route and a contact in Ribérac suggested I take a trip to the Dronne Valley and Pays de Saint-Aulaye on the western fringe of the department, well known for its Romanesque churches and wetlands. So for my first ‘day away’ I arrived in Périgueux and took the road towards Angoulême, quickly branching off onto the D710 signed to Ribérac. After 30 minutes on an uninspiring road through agricultural and lightly wooded landscape I felt pretty discouraged and began to have doubts about the whole enterprise. I stopped in Tocane-Saint-Apre for a restorative coffee on the charming village square and learned that there is an excellent Musée du Costume et de l’Artisanat housed in a handsome ‘hôtel’ on the main street (tel: 06 81 29 55 28) which sadly, was closed that morning. I was directed to the tourist centre 3 kilometres away in Montagrier and from there things began to look up as I discovered the charms of the Dronne Valley with its many mills and waterways. The tourist office housed in the Maison de la Dronne is itself in a restored mill with an excellent

exhibition upstairs of model working mills showing the many different water-wheel mechanisms and their uses. This place is a delight for both adults and children and an excellent place to have a picnic or make a pit stop for kids and dog. From there I headed across country through Grand Brassac where you can visit the château in the summer months (tel: 06 74 40 80 35) heading towards La Tour Blanche which was rather disappointing and then to Verteillac where I had an excellent and very reasonably priced lunch at the ‘Cour des Miracles’ on the main square ( tel: 06 64 00 98 86 ). Crossing westwards to Palluaud via Bouteilles-Saint-Sébastien, I dropped south taking in SaintSéverin, Allemans and Bourg-duBost, all with splendid Romanesque churches worth visiting, before reaching Aubeterre-sur-Dronne, just across the border in the Charente. This is a small town full of surprises with its troglodyte church and rich ecclesiastical history and it is well worth spending some time here, wandering through its meandering streets. I then went south to Saint-Aulaye by which time I needed a change of scenery so I headed east for the wetlands around l’Etang de la Jemaye, a popular destination. This area is quite different with distinctive vegetation and topography, a series of small lakes and water courses. Less to see but in the summer a great deal to do, from boating and water sports to nature trails and biking. Saint-Aulaye has an interesting château, now the town hall, but at the end of the day I think I would give that a miss and go straight from Aubeterre via Festalemps to La Jemaye which offers a welcome place to swim, snack or stroll through the attractive parkland around the lake, although maybe not in the height of the tourist season. From La Jemaye I quickly joined the motorway, a short distance away, for a speedy return to Périgueux after a leisurely 6-hour round trip, stopping for lunch but not spending much time in the churches or at the lakeside. My verdict on this day away? Not a trip to do perhaps if you have young children, because there is a lot of driving but thoroughly worthwhile even if you are not terribly interested in visiting churches. The secret to your enjoyment will be a detailed

map and keeping off the main roads, zigzagging along the small byways to discover very different and unfamiliar territory. The views are lovely, the villages radiate a sense of past times and tranquillity and above all this little corner is a welcome relief from the intense tourist pressures in other areas of the Dordogne. It offers everything a day away needs, i.e. interesting places to visit, enough cafés and restaurants, pretty roads and above all people who are genuinely pleased to see you. This area is not one you would normally be passing through and so you have to make a deliberate decision to make a visit. But you will be well rewarded and return home feeling you have become acquainted with a part of the Périgord which has much to offer and which makes a surprising but very welcome change from the more familiar tourist circuits. If any of you have suggestions for visiting your area, do contact me via The Bugle at editor@thebugle.eu. ■ This is part of a series of features devoted to the tourist experience in the Dordogne provided by the website grumpygranny-guides.com which highlights those sites which are comfortable and pleasant to visit and which offer a warm welcome.

Hard to know which tourist sites to visit? Grumpy Granny Guide

The Grumpy Granny Guide® will help you choose if you:

Need practial information Are with young children or a pushchair Are elderly Hate standing in the sun Tire easily and need to sit down Can’t manage any steps or stairs Are with your dog The Grumpy Granny website provides all the information you need to make the right choice for a comfortable experience in the Dordogne Visit us on:

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A word fom Grumpy Grandpa: As you know, Font-de-Gaume has always been one of my pet gripes. Almost aggressively protective of this fragile site, the powers that be have made it a ‘parcours de combattant’ (obstacle course) to get tickets. Since numbers are so restricted and can’t be reserved ahead of time, in the summer season people come first thing in the morning, sometimes in the chill and wet for hours and it upsets me considerably to see children and the elderly treated with such disdain. I feel this is a deliberate policy of eliminating all but the fittest and it gives a terrible impression of local tourism. But admittedly there has been some improvement. Firstly, there is now some seating outside the ticket office which will be a huge relief for many and secondly, the number of places available each day is clearly posted on the door the previous evening. So if you or your guests want tickets, check after 5.30 pm the day before (no, not by phone and yes, this means going there especially!), to see how many places will be available with a maximum of 78 a day but often far fewer. This gives some indication of your chances next day and since tickets are only given to those who are physically present, when you come the next day you can see at once if you will be able to get in. Bear in mind that the queue can begin before 7 am in the summer, that the ticket office opens at 9.30 am, that tickets sold are for times throughout the day, that the last visit is at 2.15 pm and that the only tour in English is at 11.30 am. Apparently many visitors do not approach the office to see the posted number but just tag on at the end of the line and as a consequence the sales staff are frequent recipients of angry and disappointed comments. The only way to circumvent this horrendous hassle is to be a part of a group of 13 or more in which case you can book ahead (fontdegaume@monuments-nationaux.fr). Thirdly, the guides and staff are now much more friendly and helpful than before and certainly better able and willing to speak English. So praise given where praise is due. But now, how about some shelter from the elements and/or somebody selling coffee and croissants to the brave souls waiting at the crack of dawn. Any hope?

Get in touch today to find out how we can put your business in front of

30,000

readers each month SALES24@THEBUGLE.EU

06 04 17 80 93

Worship services in English held throughout the Dordogne: Bertric Burée, Chancelade, Eymet Temple, Limeuil, Négrondes, Sainte Nathalène (near Sarlat). All are welcome!! Please visit our website for more information: www.churchinaquitaine.org Find us on Facebook: English Church Aquitaine

DIRECTORY ♦ 13

AUGUST 2018 ○ THE BUGLE ○ www.thebugle.eu

Business Directory

Your indispensable guide to finding local businesses & artisans Animals & Pets

SHAMPOOCHIENS Dog Grooming Parlour

All breeds catered for 30 years’ experience 24500 Eymet NEW – RAW FEEDING Now stocking a wide variety of raw/frozen meats Details on our website www.shampoochiens.net shampoo@shampoochiens.net

Auto Services

Building Services Architects/Surveyors

MOTOR PARTS CHARENTE

Suppliers of Car & Van Spares & LHD headlights, anywhere in France

Chamber

Architects

P r o v i d i n g A L L architectural services

motorptscharente@aol.com

V ery s ma l l to v ery b i g projects welcome

+44 (0)7830 170761

www.motorpartscharente.com

Blacksmiths

P r e-p u rc h a s e a s s i s ta n c e Feel welcome to ask for a non-binding meeting 05 53 56 52 27 mail a@mon.archi 06 42 86 59 12 (www)mon.archi Based in Périgord vert 24340 A l l o f F ra n c e c over ed

Siret: 499 234 615 00015

06 04 17 80 93

Member

JOHN SOWERSBY

05 53 58 55 38

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NEU DplG ARCHITECTURE

Ironwood Motif Artist Blacksmith Ferronnerie d’Art

www.ironwoodmotif.com Pergolas, staircases, railings, handrails, balustrades, balconies, gates, sculptures, outdoor structures & more. Simple or elaborate, intricate or uncomplicated, small or large, we can fabricate, forge and hand make ironwork customised to your needs.

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At Masterplans.eu we can help guide you through your planning application in France. From initial feasibility to completed dossiers. We will compile all the relevant drawings and complete the necessary paperwork to ensure your application proceeds smoothly. We are equally at home working with clients here in France or those living abroad.

Tel: 05 55 80 72 83 Mob: 06 33 07 29 72 Email: info@masterplans.eu www.masterplans.eu Siret: 790 016 984 00011

CHARTERED STRUCTURAL ENGINEER

Pre-purchase & Structural Surveys. Verbal & written reports. Structural calculations & drawings. Redevelopment ideas & solutions. Tim Haw B.Eng C.Eng M.I.Struct.E

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Web: www.versineer.com Email: enquiries@versineer.com Siret: 498 843 051 00018

sales24@thebugle.eu

06 04 17 80 93 Architectural DRAWING SERVICE

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06 04 17 80 93 Building Services Electricians

BARWICK ÉLECTRICITÉ SHAUN BARWICK QUALIFIED ELECTRICIAN

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Email: barwick.shaun@gmail.com siret: 794 282 368 00016

CONTINUED NEXT PAGE...

ADVERTORIAL

Harlequin Developments - Ventilation Specialists

t's over 40 years since Nuaire invented a cure for condensation dampness, and now the ventilation manufacturer has unveiled the next generation of its iconic Positive Input Ventilation (PIV) range, taking existing PIV technology a step further. Drimaster-Eco is designed to tackle the problem of condensation dampness whilst offering increased energy and cost savings, as well as enhanced con-

trollability, through a host of clever features. A high percentage of households are poorly ventilated, leading to problems with streaming windows, mould growth and poor indoor air quality. People's lifestyles, and energy efficiency measures such as wall and loft insulation, contribute to condensation dampness. Condensation causes damage to both the building fabric, and its contents, at the ongoing cost of the owner. It also causes health problems, including asthma, which has a very negative effect on the occupant's health and well-being. The Drimaster-Eco range solves these problems with minimal energy and cost, and its new features, such as the wireless controls and sensors, mark an exciting change of direction for PIV. The new Drimaster-Eco range boasts four models which offer increasing degrees of performance and energy efficiency to meet the exact needs of the

housing provider. Unlike other PIV systems on the market, the Drimaster-Eco range offers twice as much filter area so the filters are more effective for longer. Small and light, the new unit offers an extended duct length to overcome installation restrictions, and can be fitted at the right height to maximise heat gains within the loft space. Installation is quick and simple, and commissioning can be carried out from the hallway via controls in the diffuser. Both the Drimaster-Eco-Link and Heat models boast the new, enhanced hall control with innovative remote control and sensor capabilities. This is the first PIV system to offer true demand-control through our sensors and controls, and the ability to adjust the fan speed will help owners save energy when the house is unoccupied. The Drimaster-Eco-Heat features an integral heater which is sited uniquely

between the flexible duct and the diffuser. This ‘pioneering design’ uses more of the heat created to temper the air rather than losing 3 to 4 degrees of heat through the duct as per standard PIV designs. ■

Available across SW France from Harlequin Developments, for all your ventilation requirements. T: 06 06 60 46 97 E: harlequindevelopments@live.com

14 ♦ DIRECTORY

www.thebugle.eu ○ THE BUGLE ○ AUGUST 2018

ADVERTORIAL

Houses on Internet: A Global Property Network

ouses on Internet – Global Property Services (hereafter referred to as “HOIGPS”) is the internet/marketing company that helps people sell their French property to buyers worldwide. Richard Kroon, founder and director of the company: “During the last few months we have seen a huge increase in viewings and sales. Most of the buyers don’t live in France, which is why our worldwide advertising is so important. Our marketing efforts are definitely paying off and guarantee a worldwide exposure of your property to buyers wherever they live. “Last year HOI-GPS sold properties to people from 11 different countries, like France, Australia, Belgium, Holland,

Robert Jones Electricité Générale Fully insured, registered electrician with 13 years experience in France Full rewires, renovation, new builds, fuseboards, lighting, heating, A/C and heat pumps, kitchen/bathroom alterations. Reliable and professional service. Lot-et-Garonne.

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Building Services General

ANGLO SCAFFOLDING HIRE UK scaffolding supplied and erected here in France Qualified and fully insured FREE no obligation quotes Call Ian on

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the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Germany, Norway, Sweden, Canada and Denmark. “The actual work all starts with the presentation of a property. If that’s not good enough, all other marketing efforts are useless. Our photographers usually take 150 to 200 photos of a house and in addition copy any good (summer) photos our clients may have themselves. “About 50 to 60 of those photos are selected, enhanced and presented on the dedicated website we make for each property in English, French and Dutch. “The texts don’t just describe the house, garden and outbuildings, but information about shopping, schools, airports and leisure is given too. “When the website for the house is online, we first con-

nect it to our main HOI-GPS websites which attract over 135,000 visitors from 40+ countries each month. Most of these people find us through Google and additional Google advertising. “To reach an even larger audience, a summary of the presentation of the house is also placed on several other leading property websites. These adverts are also connected to the dedicated website of the house, making it all one big global property network. “As the property market has become a global one, a prospective buyer can be on the other side of the world while the owner is in bed sleeping. With our approach, the buyer does not have to wait and can see the entire property whenever he wants, at the moment he is

CHARKER DAVID

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Please mention The Bugle when responding to adverts

Building Services Painters/Decorators Simon Carter

Painter & Decorator Qualified craftsman with over 25 years UK experience, now based Haute-Vienne/north Dordogne border.

Specialist services: Interior & exterior painting & decorating, wallpapering, plastering. FREE QUOTES

sales24@thebugle.eu

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- Breakdown / Replacement boilers - Emergency plumbing repairs - Full analysed testing

M : 06 72 47 88 00 T: 05 53 20 64 02 E : wellers@orange.fr Registered Artisan - Siret No: 480 857 853 00018

Building Services Sandblasting Sand and Blast We provide a fully operated

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For more information on advertising in the Bugle Business Directory, give us a call or send us an email: sales24@thebugle.eu

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interested in it.” For more information on HOI-GPS or to market your property through them, visit their website. ■

+31 (0)6 41 20 73 69

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before

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Extended wired and wireless networks for homes, gîtes and small businesses. VPN solutions. Windows and Mac OSX.

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Traditional Fish & Chips in a town near you All venues are in the evening between 6pm & 8.30 pm Wednesday: Mauzac, Le Barrage Thursday: Eymet 1st & 3rd Friday: Lauzun 2nd Friday: Ste-Alvère Last Friday: Campagnac-lès-Quercy See our website for full details:

www.thedordognechippy.com 05 53 74 01 91 or 06 19 99 25 62 siret: 444 925 630 00014

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TheiSecret CurryiClub Pop-Up restaurant serving Indian Restaurant Curries

Weihaveiregularivenues in Ribérac, Villeréal, Bergerac, SteiFoyilaiGrandei & Nontron ‘Secret Curry Club Dordogne’ secretcurryclubdordogne@gmail.com

06 84 35 42 73

Siret: 800 525 040 00013

Food & Drink FOR SALE:

Established catering business Specialising in Indian and English food, serving Depts 24,16,46 and surrounding. Easily managed from your home. Sale due to retirement. €25k neg as going concern including commercial equipment, training, etc. Huge Potential. Email for details. rhome2012@hotmail.co.uk

AUBERGE AUX DELICES DE LA TREILLE 24350 MONTAGRIER

05 53 91 12 63 A La Carte or 2 Set Menus Lunchtimes (except Sun and bank hols) Soup+Starter+Main+Dessert - €15 Soup+Starter+Main - €11.90 Soup+Main+Dessert - €11.90 Soup+Main - €8.90 €26.40 Menu Soup+Starter+Main+Cheese+Dessert

DIRECTORY ♦ 15

AUGUST 2018 ○ THE BUGLE ○ www.thebugle.eu

ADVERTORIAL

What happens if my UK pension company can no longer passport into France?

recently attended the British Embassy Outreach Meeting in Périgueux and as you can imagine there were a lot of disgruntled expats wanting answers that, frankly, aren’t really available right now. Understandably, for many living through this turmoil and uncertainty of Brexit, there is a lot to take into consideration and some may even be contemplating moving back to the UK. One issue in particular peaked my attention as a gentleman had a letter from his UK pension

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company informing him that, post-Brexit, they may no longer be able to passport into the EU, which means that they may no longer be able to pay his pension payments directly into his French account. The official response to this was that the Government are in constant talks with the financial institutions to try and resolve this, but there is no guarantee at this point that there will be a resolution and in fact there was an article published this week in International Investment that states the government White Paper “has confirmed that its negotiations with the EU27 over Brexit will see it aim to end passporting rights for financial services”. Now this is a very broad statement and there are moves afoot to negotiate cross-border dealings within the financial

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industry, but if there comes a time when deals are made and passporting is not within that then this could cause a few headaches for many expats that are already receiving their pensions or getting ready to start. There may be a simple solution to this problem, in that you could have your UK pension paid into a UK bank account and then face the issue of fluctuating currency rates when you need to transfer it to your French account, or you may need to consider a more permanent solution and transfer your pension into an International SIPP (Self-invested personal pension) or a QROPS (Qualified Recognised Overseas Pension Scheme). Which of these will suit your needs is dependent on your individual circumstances and it may not be a possibility or in your best interests to do this, but if you are at all concerned about

Retail & Commerce

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La Conciergerie Taking care of your home all year round providing you with a wintering service, managing your summer rentals or organising a happy holiday for you.

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this then please get in touch and we can talk you through your options. All initial consultations are without obligation or cost and we may be able to provide a simple solution that you hadn’t thought about before. I am here to help you. To arrange an independent, professional and impartial consultation, please contact me by email: Rosemary.sheppard@ blacktowerfm.com or call me on 06 38 86 99 70. Blacktower Financial Management has over 32 years’ experience helping expats to make sure that their money works for them. The above information was correct at the time of preparation and does not constitute investment advice and you should seek advice from a professional adviser before embarking on any financial planning activity.

Transport, Removals & Storage

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16 ♦ DIRECTORY

www.thebugle.eu ○ THE BUGLE ○ AUGUST 2018

ADVERTORIAL

“SolarVenti”- the solar solution to damp and humidity

simple solar energy system that runs on its own, even when you are not there! – And provides a free heat supplement in winter. The Solarventi air panel was invented more than 20 years ago by Hans Jørgen Christensen, from Aidt Miljø, with the backing of the Danish government. He wanted to use the sun’s energy for airing and ventilation of the thousands of holiday homes on the West coast of Jutland, - houses that were left empty and unheated for long periods - houses with damp problems, mould and bad odours - houses that left their owners with discomfort, lots of work and expense. He wanted a system that would be safe, simple, without the need for radiators, water and/ or mains electricity. Slowly but surely, the first Solarventi model came together.

How it works The principle behind Solarventi is simple: a small, built-in, solar cell powers a 12V fan that is connected to an air vent, a control unit and an on/ off switch. Whenever the sun shines, the air in the solar panel is heated and the fan, receiving power from the solar cell, introduces warm, dry air into your home at the rate of 20 to 100 cubic metres per hour. The initial models were more than capable of keeping the cottages dry (and ventilated), even with the limited sunshine hours available in Denmark during the winter season. Since that time, the technology has really come along in leaps and bounds. Now, more than 20 years later, the 3rd and 4th generation Solarventi have exceeded all expectations. In Southern Europe, Solar-

venti is not only used for ventilation/dehumidification purposes; with far more winter sunshine hours, it also provides a substantial heating supplement. Several technical and governmental studies show that incoming air temperature can be increased by as much as 40°C. A DIY Solution? The installation process is very straightforward and should only take two or three hours. All that is needed is a drill, hammer and chisel to make a hole in the wall. Roof installations are also possible. In fact, the Solarventi was originally designed to be a DIY product - in Scandinavia it still is. There are no electrical or water connections and it can be safely left running, even when the property is empty. Solarventi requires no maintenance

- if the property is unoccupied during the hot summer months, then it can be left running at low speeds for ventilation and dehumidification purposes or simply switched off. With a range of panel sizes, and the option for wall or roof mounting, Solarventi is suitable for all types of buildings, caravans or even boats!! Following the patenting of its design in 2001, Solarventi has only recently been actively commercialized. Over the last six years, Solarventi units have been installed in more than 24 countries and demand is increasing rapidly. From Greenland to Australia, Solarventi is finally getting the recognition it deserves. ■ Units start from €490 TTC. Several ex-demonstration models available at reduced prices, call for details.

SOLARVENTI - Available in the Dordogne and Lot from Harlequin Developments Tel: 05 55 68 67 56 Mobile: 06 06 60 46 97

Advertising in The Bugle Business Directory Advertising your business couldn’t be easier. Text only, boxed listings are available in our Business Directory from just €12.50/month. Alternatively, why not spotlight your business with an Advertorial, available from 1/6 Page (€50 HT) up to Full Page (€300 HT). Both Directory Adverts and Advertorials represent a cost effective way to put your brand in front of more than 30,000 pairs of eyes each month!!

For more information on any of our advertising options, please feel free to give us a call on 06 04 17 80 93 or send an email to sales24@thebugle.eu

6-Month Contract

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Small b&w Directory Ad

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Small Colour Directory Ad

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All prices exclude TVA (20%)

Directory Advertising is available either in black and white or colour, and in either small (30 words max) or large (45 words max) format. Directory adverts may only contain text (small logos may be allowed when supplied). The minimum contract length is 6 months. Advertising is payable on publication. All prices are HT.

Large Directory Ad 46mm x 71mm (Actual Size) 45 words max Small Directory Ad 46mm x 46mm (Actual Size)

30 words max

AUGUST 2018 ○ THE BUGLE ○ www.thebugle.eu

WHAT’S ON ♦ 17

CHÂTEAU DE HAUTEFORT « La nuit, au château... » Wednesdays (Until 22nd August)

Fête du Cinéma en Plein Air en Dordogne

Explore the castle, at nightfall, in the company of Marquis Jacques-François, the owner of the château in the 17th century, his sisters Catherine and Marie and his brother Gilles. An unusual visit for all the family! Ticket office: 21h-22h (no booking necessary). Tickets: €13; 7-14s €8; free for Under 7s. For more information visit www.chateau-hautefort.com

Ciné-Passion has a programme of mobile open-air cinema for the summer season with movie teams visiting a score of venues across the department. What better way to spend a hot summer’s night?! For programme and venue details visit www.cine-passion24.com

The Autumn Phoenix Book Fair will again be held in Campsegret (24140) on Saturday 22nd September with over 20,000 English and French fiction and non-fiction books (all sorted alphabetically or by category and in excellent/good condition), CDs and DVDs and other wonderful items on sale (Christmas cards, bric-a-brac and winter plant sale) from one euro and up! So come and stock up on your winter reading/listening, and presents and cards for the family and friends! The famous Catering Ladies will spoil you with a wonderful offer of home-made savouries and sweets. Come for the day and bring the family with you! And who knows, you might meet your next furry friend for life! All the proceeds from the Book Fair will go to the Phoenix Association to continue their work in saving, caring for and rehoming abandoned, abused and unwanted animals. The doors will open at 9.30 am (9 am for people with limited mobility) and close at 3 pm. Entrance and parking are free. Donations of books, cakes, CDs, DVDs, unwanted gifts for the bric-a-brac, unused animal items, etc. are very welcome on the day!! For further information go to www.phoenixasso.com

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www.thebugle.eu ○ THE BUGLE ○ AUGUST 2018

Encore Performance for Pianist Anthony Adkins The internationally-recognized pianist, Anthony Adkins, will play in a concert on Wednesday 15th August at 5 pm in Issigeac at Saint-Félicien Church on the square. The programme includes selections from Franz Schubert, Franz Liszt, and Frédéric Chopin. Adkin’s recent performances have taken him to Germany, Poland, and Sri Lanka. In London he teaches a member of the Royal Family. The concert is sponsored by the association Culture Patrimoine Environnement, Issigeac. The concert is free with contributions requested to offset the charge of rental of the grand piano. For information contact Marie-Dominique Gérard-Bot on 05 53 58 72 51 or email fontdargent@orange.fr

For over twenty-five years Sinfonia has established itself as an unmissable event for lovers of Baroque music, with an ever-changing line-up designed to offer audiences a week of unforgettable experiences. Concerts take place from 25th August to 1st September against the backdrop of Périgord’s most beautiful locations. For more information visit: www.sinfonia-en-perigord.com

WHAT’S ON ♦ 19

AUGUST 2018 ○ THE BUGLE ○ www.thebugle.eu

Battle of castillon August 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, 16, 17, 18, 24, 25

Spectacular sound and light show commemorating the last great battle of the Hundred Years War, when France took back Aquitaine from the English in 1453. Performed on a natural arena encompassing 17 acres, within firing range of the original battle ground, 600 volunteers, including 400 actors and 50 horseback riders, re-enact the Battle of Castillon. The 90 captivating minutes, filled with stunts, special effects and explosive expertise are combined with the everyday life of the Middle Ages, including rural scenes set in a farm, scenes from the grape harvest and market day with street sellers and a travelling dentist! The show takes place at the foot of the Château Castegens. Belvès-de-Castillon

is 3 minutes from Castillon-la-Bataille, on the Gironde/Dordogne border. The performance begins at 10:30 pm in July and 10 pm in August. It is recommended that you arrive one hour before. An open-air restaurant offers dinner from 7 pm (reserve online). Light refreshments

and drinks are also available on site and picnics are allowed. The village of Aliénor welcomes visitors from 6:30 pm prior to the show for an evening of entertainment for the whole family: medieval jousting and combat; demonstrations of dance; theatre; traditional games; and a chance to meet the animals that participate in the event. Also present on site are local artisans and shopkeepers as well as wine producers. For more information and tickets: Tel 05 57 40 14 53 or visit www.batailledecastillon.com Tickets: Adults €24; 5-12 year olds €12; FREE for Under 5s. Parking €1.

Concert on Sunday 12th August at 5 pm at Boschaud Abbey, 24530 Villars (nr Brantôme) FestiVillars presents ‘Musiques du Monde’ featuring The Possums from Bordeaux with a concert of rock ‘n’ roll from the 60s and 70s, blues, country and who knows what else? Entry 12 Euros; Under 16s free. For more information visit www.festivillarsenperigordvert.com

Conference on the Troubadours and Jausbert de Puyssibot Friday 10th August, Saint-Pierre-de-Frugie Organised by Lu Pais Do Talis and Lés Lévadès and given by Jean-François Gareyte, cultural mediator for the Cultural Agency of the Dordogne. 17h. Grange de Montcigoux, Saint-Pierre-de-Frugie (Dordogne-Haute-Vienne border). Free entry.

Not to be missed this month is the Nontron Knife Festival, which is one of the largest cutlery showcases in France and Europe, with over 100 exhibitors from all over the world. It concludes a week dedicated to the rich heritage of iron and forges in the region and follows the Festival Forges et Métallurgie at Etouars. Entry to the Fête du Couteau (4th-5th August from 10h-19h) costs €5/ day or €7 for both days (free for under 16s).

The troubadours were composers and performers of Old Occitan lyric poetry during the High Middle Ages (1100–1350). Jausbert de Puyssibot was a Limousin troubadour of the early thirteenth century whose works were first edited and published by William P. Shepard under the title Les Poésies de Jausbert de Puycibot (Paris, 1924).

20 ♦ WHAT’S ON

www.thebugle.eu ○ THE BUGLE ○ AUGUST 2018

France, 1945. En route back to Blightly, a unit of British soldiers find their thoughts turning from fighting to flirting when they stop off in the rural backwater of Messina and meet the charming and beautiful women of the town. A merry war of wits ensues, but as the jokes fly and the wine flows, a darker plan is taking shape in the shadows, threatening to turn happiness to tragedy... Award-winning UK theatre company Antic Disposition return to Périgord and Quercy with a new production of one of Shakespeare’s best-loved comedies. Performed in English in eleven stunning open-air locations, Much Ado About Nothing is filled with sparkling wit, tender romance and atmospheric live music and songs – a perfect evening of entertainment for the whole family. 1st - 13th August. Tickets €20-€40 (cheaper when booked online). 16 and under FREE (maximum 2 per adult). Advance booking strongly recommended. For more information visit www.ad-tour.com

For over 25 years Musique en Sol has been bringing together young talents in the beautiful setting of a magnificent Romanesque abbey. These musicians have quickly gone on to become famous on the biggest stages of music, lyrical art or instrumental virtuosity. For this 27th edition of the festival, four concerts are programmed at the Abbey in Paunat featuring French and Italian performers: baritone Marc Mauillon and harpsichordist Benjamin Alard (Bach, Frescobaldi, Scarlatti, Mancini); The La Scala Quartet from Milan accompanied by the Scagliere Quartet (Schubert, Brahms, Mendelssohn); pianist Roger Murano (Debussy, Liszt and an unknown work by Messiaen); and baritone Edwin Crossley Mercer with the Ensemble “Les Dissonances” (Schubert, Berlioz, Mahler, Schoenberg). Musique en Sol is a team of volunteers and a circle of generous and faithful patrons, without whom these wonderful encounters would not be possible. An unmissable event!! Tickets can be bought from the tourist office in Sainte-Alvère or by phone on 05 53 73 55 85. €35 or €25; Under 16s €15.

Exhibition at the newly inaugurated Hang’Art de Boschaud of paintings (Jean-Marc Bernard), wood carving (Bernard Mazière) and stone carving (Catherine Sobczyk). Until 15th August. Open Thu-Sun from 14h–19h. Free entry. Le Hang’Art de Boschaud, 24530 VILLARS. Parking at the Abbey (100 metres).