May events in France
If you are lucky enough to be in France this month, you won’t want to miss these wonderful events.
- May 19th is Museum night (la Nuit des Musées) when museums all over France are open free of charge until late into the night. Created in France in 2005 by the French Ministry of Culture, it is now also called European Museum Night and is celebrated in 40 European countries.
- On May 22nd the French Open International Tennis tournament begins in Paris at the Roland Garros stadium. Fans will get a thrill out of watching their favorite tennis champs compete on the stadiums’ famous red clay courts. Through June 10th.
- The Cannes Film Festival takes place this year from May 16th through
27th. Although this international film festival is by invitation only, you can still take part in the excitement if you’re in town and maybe even get a glimpse of the stars! Visitors can get tickets for the Cinéma de la Plage, a public event which occurs outdoors on a giant screen where cinéphiles will be able to watch movies to their heart’s content. Contact the Cannes Tourist Office for more information.
- If children accompany you to Paris in May, they might just ask, like French kids do, to go to the huge Fair called the Foire du Trône located at the Pelouse de Reuilly in the Bois de Vincennes (Métro : Porte Dorée, Liberté, or Porte de Charenton). This annual event is a traditional carnival fair complete with roller coasters, ferris wheels and barbes à papa (cotton candy). Very popular with French families. Runs through June 3rd.
A newly outfitted RER-C train to Versailles has just been inaugurated with magnificent photo panels of the palace glued to the train’s ceilings and walls. There will be five of these trains by the end of the year outfitted with such panels. If you’re lucky enough to catch one of them on the way to Versailles, it will be the closest you’ll come to that masterful ceiling painted so breautifully in the 17th century by Charles le Brun.
The month of May is always an exciting time in France with the beginning of warmer weather, Labor Day celebrations, la Fête du Muguet and a host of
other holidays.
• May is when temperatures really start to warm up in France. “Avril, ne te découvre pas d’un fil; mai, fais ce qu’il te plaît!” is French for: “April showers bring May flowers.” (Literally: In April, better keep your warm clothes on; in May, do as you like!)
• May 1st is a national holiday, the French equivalent of Labor Day, or la Fête du Travail. Most everything is closed except for restaurants, churches, and some museums and monuments such as the Eiffel Tower. Limited public transportation may be running; however, you just might have trouble reaching your destination due to street demonstrations. Better take to the streets yourself and join the celebrations for workers’ rights (or whatever cause you may fancy!)
• May 1st is also known as la Fête du Muguet, or Lily of the Valley Day. Mais pourquoi? Well, according to legend, King Charles IX received a bunch of these sweet-smelling flowers on May 1st, 1561, as a good luck charm. Ever since, it is traditional for family, friends and neighbors to exchange a small sprig as a goodwill gesture. You may find lily-of-the valley growing naturally in woods and gardens in France, but don’t worry: vendors will be selling bunches of the flower on every street corner.
• Other May holidays include: May 8th, la Fete de la Victoire which commemorates the end of World War II, the Catholic holidays of Ascension and Pentecost, and finally, Mother’s Day, which always falls on the last Sunday of the month.
• If you’re in France during this month, you’ll get to learn the idiomatic expression “faire le pont” (literally, “make the bridge”) which refers to the time taken off on days surrounding a national holiday, exemplifying the French passion for extra leisure time. For example, this year’s May 1 Fete du Travail falls on a Tuesday. Many businesses will close on Monday April 30 to “faire le pont” until Wednesday and make an extra long weekend of it. Ditto for Thursday, May 17, the Ascension: many businesses will close on Friday, May 18 for another long weekend. Sometimes, there are so many “ponts” during the month of May that it’s really more like “faire le viaduc!”
Named for its majestic river and beautiful valley, the department of Dordogne in south west France is one of the five departments making up the region of Aquitaine. Endowed with a soft, gentle beauty (in contrast to the dramatic extremes of Provence, for example), this region is rich with history, scenic landscapes and charming villages, and is one of France’s favorite vacation destinations. Not only a land of mystical troubadours, but one of reasonable thinkers, the area has produced such statesmen and writers as Montaigne, Fénelon, La Boétie and Montesquieu. Other interesting finds in the Dordogne:
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Castles – over a thousand of them, more than any other region in France — are scattered throughout the area: Castelnaud, Montbazillac, Hautefort, Eyrignac….Many of them receive visitors, some cultivate wine, and some even have bed-and-breakfast capabilities. You’ll think you’ve entered a fairy tale!
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Historical towns such as medieval Sarlat, Nontron and Bournat boast
beautiful medieval architecture, pedestrian streets, scenic views and specialty shops. On the scenic Vézère river lies Saint Léon-sur-Vézère, which has been classified as one of the “most beautiful villages of France.” And St-Cirq Lapopie and Rocamadour, perched atop impossible cliffs, are simply breathtaking.
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Prehistoric sites, especially in the Vézère valley, dominate the region. You’ll find the famous Lascaux cave paintings as well as other caves, troglodyte dwellings and prehistoric sculptures. Beautifully preserved and tourist-friendly, these sites make you feel like you’re in a time machine going back centuries, providing a great appreciation for our fellow mankind of yesteryear.
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Delicious regional cuisine, combined with excellent wine, helps to clear your thinking: enjoy truffles, fois gras, duck, garlic soup, and sweet white Bergerac wines as you glide down the Dordogne River on one of the charming gabares which motor indulgently along the river.
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Festivals are celebrated all summer long in each of the towns in the Dordogne. Likely honoring a patron saint, the town dresses itself up, hosts a parade, wine tasting, communal picnicking, a bal musette (accordion songs to which the locals dance), and good general animation. Great fun to attend and watch.
Want to
practice your French while touring this beautiful area? French teachers and other francophones are welcome to join our Extension Tour to the Dordogne July 26-29, 2012 to immerse themselves in the language and culture of this region, while enjoying the subtle beauty and excellent cuisine of the Dordogne.
Click here for details.
Elections présidentielles
It’s election time in France with the upcoming elections known as Les Presidentielles. The French vote for their president in two rounds, spaced two weeks apart, the first round of which will be held on Sunday April 22, 2012. If there is no decisive winner (50% + 1) on the first round, the run-off between the top two polling candidates will be held on Sunday, May 6, 2012. In order to be a legitimate candidate, a person must first obtain the signatures of 500 elected representatives; ten candidates qualified in 2012.
Here, appearing in alphabetical order are the ten candidates for Président (or Présidente) de la République française 2012, their political party affiliation, and the slogan of their campaign. Drumroll…..
• Nathalie Arthaud, 42 years old, from the political party Lutte Ouvrière (Workers’ Struggle). Slogan: “Une candidate communiste.”
• François Bayrou, 60 years old, from the Mouvement Démocrate party. Slogan: “Un pays uni, rien ne lui résiste” (Nothing Resists A United Country).
• Jacques Cheminade, 71, from the party called Solidarité et progrès (Solidarity and Progress). Slogan : « Le sursaut » (The Jump).
• Nicolas Dupont-Aignan, 51, from the party Debout la République (Republic, Rise up) with the slogan: “Pour une France libre” (For a Free France).
• François Hollande, 57, Socialist party, slogan: “Le changement, c’est maintenant” (Change is Now).
• Eva Joly, 68, from the environmental party known as Europe Ecologie, with slogan « Le vote juste » (The Just Vote).
• Marine Le Pen, 43, from the Front National (National Front party), with the slogan: “La voix du peuple, l’esprit de la France.” (The Voice of the People, The Spirit of France).
• Jean-Luc Mélanchon, 60, from the Parti de Gauche (The Party of the Left). Slogan: “Prenez le pouvoir” (Take Power).
• Philippe Poutou, 45, from the party called: Nouveau parti anticapitaliste (New Anti-Capitalist party). Slogan: “Aux capitalistes de payer leur crise” (Let the Capitalists Pay for Their Crisis).
• Nicolas Sarkozy, 57, from the Union pour un movement populaire (Union for a popular movement). Slogan: “La France forte” (Strong France).
This is a closely watched election, and polls vary wildly as to the winner, which currently suggest either François Holland or Nicholas Sarkozy in the second round. Whoever wins will preside over the republic for a five-year term. Vive la République !
Source: Website Franc-parler http://www.francparler.org/parcours/politique_election.htm
Arcachon and the Landes
On the Atlantic coast not far from Bordeaux lies the beautiful seaside town of Arcachon, well-known for its oyster culture, its fishing harbor, and its bathing resort where sea winds mix with the fresh scent of pine trees from the nearby forest of the Landes.
Situated at the base of the Arcachon basin, and originally a vast desert, the city of Arcachon was the brainchild of the barons of power in the 19th century who saw a unique opportunity to create an elite spa-town in this wild and beautiful area. François Legallais decided to create the first hotel in 1823, extolling the virtues of the sea air and the forest pines. His gamble paid off: the city quickly built its reputation as a place to cure tuberculosis and lymphatic disease, becoming a four-star destination for the wealthy Bordeaux residents who created enormous mansions as their second homes in what became known as the “Ville d’hiver”, the winter town. Other areas soon built up, giving the names of the four seasons to the different areas, hence one can also find the summer town, the spring town and the autumn town.
Known for its wild dunes, the nearly 15,000 square kilometers of the area are covered with a thick sand, which, carried by winds, create dunes of varying heights. The inland dunes do not usually exceed 15 meters high and are fixed from moving too much by vegetation.
The coastal dunes, however, are still “active,” and can reach much greater heights 
due to their constant movement. The Dune du Pyla (or Pilat), near Arcachon, is Europe’s largest sand dune at over 100 meters high. It’s quite a feat to climb it, but the view from the top of the Atlantic Ocean and the city itself is breathtaking.
French teachers, join us this summer as we travel to Arcachon from Bordeaux for a lively day’s outing during our workshop for French teachers to be held July 15-26, 2012. Click here for further details.
Alain Juppé, former prime minister of France and long-time mayor of Bordeaux, initiated massive renovations of the city in the 1990’s, bringing the formerly dark and closed city into the 21st century. An efficient and wide-reaching tramway spread over the city, huge restructuring of the quays along the Garonne River, an opening of the Vieille Ville and the cleaning up of many of the medieval buildings have totally transformed Bordeaux into a modern, elegant and bright city. Take a short tour of the new city and enjoy the beautiful architecture on the way.
Start at the Place Quinconces, the largest public square in France. Formerly the home of a medieval fortress demolished in 1820, the Quinconques Square today boasts a 43-metre monument to the victims of the Terror who were guillotined during the French Revolution. Adorned with several dramatic statues of horses representing the Garonne River, the Dordogne River, and the city of Bordeaux, the motto “Liberty Breaking Free from her Chains” expresses the spirit of this proud city today.
From the Quinconces Square, make your way to the Grand Theatre, currently the Bordeaux Opera House, surrounded by arcades and a portico with giant columns, it hosts a lively restaurant and is general meeting place for the Bordelais residents.
Take Tram B a few stops along the Quai des Chartrons to witness the incredible upheaval in
this former portuary area, all cleaned up. Several new shops, restaurants, covered markets and chic boutiques nest in the old warehouses where wine barrels once stood. Always the busy center of town as the main center of the wine trade, the Chartrons boardwalk, a few kilometers long, has been remade as a public garden and follows the banks of Garonne and ends up a the Public Gardens, passing in front of the beautiful buildings of the Bourse and the remarkable “mirror of water”.
Innovative design can be found throughout Bordeaux today, expressing its renewal and dynamism while remaining true to its former glory as the center of the French wine trade.
Part of the enchantment of the city of Bordeaux is its fascinating history. In addition to its excellent location on the Garonne River at the mouth of the Gironde estuary, its turbulent but compelling past may be summed up in three stages:
- Known as Burdigala in Roman times, the city owed its fortune to the creation of the first vineyard along the Atlantic coast during the first century. This gallo-roman city called “little Rome” cultivated an Antique civilization which lasted until the invasion of the Francs and the Normans, beginning in the third century, when the city fell into a period of obscurity.
- During the Middle Ages, the long-lasting political union between the
duchy of Aquitaine and the British Royalty (1154-1443) brought about great prosperity due to the export of Bordeaux wines to the British Iles. By the 14th century the city’s population had grown to nearly thirty thousand, very high for a medieval town.
- The third period of Bordeaux’s prosperity came during the 18th century, again due to its thriving wine culture, especially in the Médoc region. By this time Bordeaux had become annexed to France and was an important port for colonial commerce, trading sugar, coffee and slaves from the West Indies. With its aristocratic parliament and its intellectual elite (including Montesquieu), the 18th century is known as Bordeaux’s “golden age.” French author Victor Hugo found the town so beautiful he once claimed, “Take Versailles, add Antwerp, and you have Bordeaux". In 1856, Baron Haussmann, a long-time prefect of Bordeaux, used Bordeaux's 18th century big-scale rebuilding as a model when asked by Emperor Napoleon III to modernize a then still medieval Paris. Visitors can see evidence of Bordeaux’s classical architecture in such splendeurs as the Place Royale, the buildings
along the quays, and the Grand-Theatre.
Take a guided tour and see how Bordeaux’s glorious past is reflected in the modern city of today. Bonne visite!
Bordeaux – Sauternes
If you have a sweet tooth when it comes to wine, you won’t want to miss the wine region known as Sauternes, located along the left bank of the Garonne river, about twenty miles southeast of Bordeaux. Sauternes are known for their velvety, honey-like sweetness, and they just happen to go well with another French delicacy: fois gras.
Why are Sauternes so sweet? Two reasons: late harvesting and something the French call pourriture noble, or….”noble mold”! For these wines, the grapes must stay on the vine until very late in the season. The autumn sun begins to dehydrate them until a mold called Botrytis cinerea takes over, turning the grapes nearly into raisins. The resulting “grape juice” is very high in sugar and low in water content which produces the thick, viscous quality so characteristic of Sauternes.
The best known vineyard in Sauterne region is the beautiful Chateau d’Yquem which once 
belonged to Eleanor, Duchess of Aquitaine. After she and King Louis VII of France divorced and she married Henry Plantagenet, the future King Henry II of England in 1154, the chateau came under British dominion until the end of the Hundred Years War in 1453, a most royal and British estate. Back under French control in 1593, the chateau has been improved and modified several times under the watchful eye of the Sauvage and Lur-Saluces families, and has produced award-winning wines over the centuries. Thomas Jefferson bought several cases in 1784, proclaiming it the best wine of Bordeaux. Today partially owned by the luxury marketing group LVMH, it possesses approximately 226 acres of vineyards, although not all are in production at any one time, allowing for elimination of elderly vines and replanting in fallow plots. The mix of the grapes is 80% Semillon and 20% Sauvignon Blanc, with none of the permitted Muscadelle. The grapes are harvested by hand in several different batches and fermented in oak, usually about three years per barrel.
Similar-tasting wines from this region which are a little less expensive can be found in the neighboring townships of Fargues, Preignac, Bommes, and Barsac.
Bonne dégustation!
Red wine, anyone?
The Cabernet Sauvignon grape is practically synonymous with red wine, and where else to taste the best of the best, but in the Médoc and the Haut Médoc wine regions of Bordeaux, France.
Just near enough to the Gironde river, conditions here are perfect for what is known as one of the world’s finest wine grapes. Although the wine made from the Cabernet Sauvignon grape is astringent when young due to the tannin it contains, Cabernet wines mellow with age into that delicious, full-bodied taste we all know and love.
Some of the wines made at the famous Château Mouton-Rothschild in the Médoc use a very high percentage of Cabernet grapes – up to ninety percent! Located just outside the village of Pauillac, thirty miles to the north-west of Bordeaux, Mouton-Rothschild is a magnet for the red wine lover. No other vineyard in the Médoc uses more Cabernet Sauvignon than Mouton-Rothschild.
Besides tasting their delicious wine, visitors to the Château Mouton-Rothschild should not miss the wine museum with its collection of “all things wine,” going back to Roman times…
Thirsty yet?
Médoc, Graves, Entre-Deux-Mers, Pomerol, Sauternes, Saint-Emilion…. What do these poetic-sounding names have in common? You are right of course if you answered Bordeaux, France - the greatest wine-producing region of the world!
Located in the Aquitaine region of south-western France, Bordeaux is one of France’s largest cities with a population well over 200,000. It lies thirteen miles up the coast where the Garonne and Dordogne rivers meet, and Bordeaux’s great harbor bustles with maritime traffic from all over the world. It comes as no surprise that the name “Bordeaux” literally means: “beside the waters” (au bord des eaux).
This is one region of France that oenophiles (wine-lovers) will not want to miss, for Bordeaux wines offer something for everyone’s taste: from light, sophisticated red wines to robust, full-bodied ones, from dry white wines to luscious sweet whites, even sparkling rosés and whites produced à la méthode champenoise.
Visiting the famous vineyards of Bordeaux is a must for the thirsty traveler and makes for easy day excursions as they lie all around the city: Pomerol and Saint-Emilion to the east, Entre-Deux Mers to the southeast, Sauternes to the south, Graves to the southwest and west, and the Médoc and the Haut-Médoc to the northwest.
A votre santé!