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[IMAGE-MISSING] If you are travelling around the Languedoc plain you will come across village built in a circular pattern. So, you might ask, why a circle? There are paintings of circular towns dating back to Roman and Greek times, as the circle was considered the ideal form in those days. But was this merely a pictorial ideal? Between the eleventh and twelfth centuries a whole series of circular villages emerged in this region, evidence of a planned architectural model. They only exit, moreover, in the southern part of France, and are thought to be the first example of urban development of the Middle Ages.

In this guide we offer an introduction to the "Calvisson"Gard Department for property buyers. This article reports on the different areas of the Gard, the Haut Languedoc and the Cévennes; property prices and trends in the region, flood zones, mosquito prone zones, and best locations for reaching facilities and transport.

Once you’ve enrolled your child in a French school and learnt the differences regarding school days, holidays, and lunches in France,...

[IMAGE-MISSING]One of the joys of gardening is seeing your garden grow in sheer numbers of plants that you have produced yourself. Obviously there is always the time and ...

Peter and Zoe Scott decided to make their home in Mondounet, near Montcuq in the Lot valley. Fifteen years on, they look back on the choice as one of the best decisions they ever made

It's almost impossible to overemphasise the power that Dordogne property can exercise over the English. Decisions are made with frightening speed, often with scarcely any knowledge of the ...

In the Languedoc-Roussillon apéritifs are more than something to eat and drink before a meal, they are an entire social custom! Here is our quick beginner's guide to the apéritifs popular in the region including Pastis, Kir, Kir Royal, Muscat, Banyuls, Maury, Byrrh and Noilly Prat. "Apéritif"

Vive la difference! To live in the Lot is to be immediately overwhelmed by the sense of space, both public...

Did you know that the Lot has its own, English speaking, local radio station? Part of the Antenne d’Oc network, Britdock is broadcast live every Thursday afternoon from 4 till 7pm. One of the founders and veteran of five years broadcasting, Mike Gardiner takes up the story...

Solar heating Heat your pool with one of the most reliable solar heating systems available for your pool. How does...

Flooding or can be a serious problem in certain areas of the Languedoc. It is therefore vital that all prospective home buyers are aware of flood zones, the legal obligations that exist on vendors, and what to do in the event of a flood. "Languedoc Flood Zones"

The Vaunage is a specific area of the Gard department, west of Nimes, which offers buyers the rural idyll of charming stone houses set in small provencal villages where the pace of life is slow. It is authentic Provence in Languedoc. "Vaunage Property Guide"

Keith and Helen Archibald have been running a successful bed & breakfast and gîte business in the Corrèze since 2001...

A recent study showed that Montpellier is one of just eight cities in France most likely to withstand a fall in property prices in the French market, making Montpellier a relatively safe bet going forward. And with its excellent location, close to the sea under the warm Mediterranean sun of the South of France, it's no wonder that Montpellier is the French city that more French people want to live in than any other! "Montpellier Property"

Figs can be used in a variety of ways; they are quite delicious served fresh for breakfast with a thick yoghurt or crème fraiche. They are equally delicious poached with sugar and lemon juice and served in the same way. But I like them best when ...

When my husband and I decided to come to France for a year in September 1999, we had no idea that five years later we would have a Galerie de Peinture, in Saint Antonin Noble Val, and that Tom would have a book published in English & French ...

Thinking of buying a property in Provence Alpes Côte d'Azur? This article is an introductory guide to the region covering climate, landscape, access, property styles and prices.

[IMAGE-MISSING]David and Nydia Moss have had a long-standing love affair - with their property in Provence...

Amicale Creusoise de Vehicules d'Epoque (23) Local classic car club (vehicles more than 25 years old). Meets regularly in Creuse and welcomes new members.

Tie the beef into shape and put with the knuckle of veal into a large casserole with the salt, pepper and 3 litres of water. Bring to the boil, skim and simmer gently...

The most ancient game of bowls in France is practised in the western part of France, especially in Brittany. The game is also called boule en bois, because the boules ...

The Surrounding Region Just some of the unusual sights jostling for space in this region are: bullfighting at Mont de...

To any visitor the most obvious difference between Brittany and the rest of France is the Breton language. This is not always high-profile in everyday life but everywhere are examples ...

Guests frequently approach us with questions such as; “How long is the Park open for?” “What are the annual Site...

From the UK to France and Back Again Following the sale of our UK house, we realised that the French...

Roger Lee is often asked what he does all day now that he has retired to the sunny south. He used to say "Oh, you know, a bit of this and a bit of that" - he felt a bit lazy to admit how easy it is to fill the day doing absolutely nothing. But, that was before something dramatic happened ...

There are as many deliciously different Pâtés in France as there are households to make them. Pâté Maison is a traditional family staple. The recipe varies enormously from region to region and everyone has their own version...

"Restaurant"A café shares some of the characteristics of a bar, and some of the characteristics of a restaurant. A café provides coffee, drinks and snacks at the bar. These could consist of a Croque Monsieur, pastries, soups or...

Pineau des Charente was not made by trial and error, utilising various grape forms to produce a magnificent wine. No, legend has it, back in the 16th Century, ...

The English, Dutch and Scandiavians have been enjoying the wines of Poitou Charente since as early as the 13th Century. In the 16th Century the wines were transformed into ...

Many nightmare properties are still being bought by unsuspecting buyers, who are lulled into a false sense of security by comments such as 'here in France we don't have surveys done', says chartered building surveyor Martin Rushton

Finding a good tradesman in France isn't usually too difficult – finding one who can do the work quickly is quite a different matter! It helps to understand how the building trade functions so that you can comprehend why your builder will take a long lunch hour and disappear at midday on a Friday.

Peter Mayle described Provence as a cold country with a high rate of sunshine and a place where the summers are consistently hot. Both of these comments are also said to be true elsewhere in the South of France - the Lot and Quercy region, but let’s look at some actual figures...

[IMAGE-MISSING]"I've done something really stupid", Kate looked at me with tears in her eyes. "You've scratched one of my records haven't you?" I was joking, but I knew in my heart what it was ...

A trip to the weekly market is an essential part of life in France; a chance to shop, chat and soak up the atmosphere. Local photographer Michele Ch'i takes us with her...

Masterchef finalist, Jim Fisher, took his cutting-edge skills and enviable cheffing experience (such as cheffing for Rick Stein) to the rural Dordogne, where, with the help of his wife, Lucy, he has established a thriving cookery holiday business amongst their beautiful stone farm buildings at Bombel. Jim and Lucy invited me to join them and their guests for a week, so that I could find out exactly how the holidays work.

To many English people, the perfect Lot and Quercy home is an old stone farmhouse with a nice view and a Pigeonnier. When Michael and Eileen Fawcett came to the Lot eight years ago, they found a wonderful house – but no Pigeonnier! Unperturbed by this, they proceeded to build one of their own – and not for keeping pigeons. Eileen takes up the story...

Today vintage car enthusiastes Bryn and Lynda Adams are happily ensconced in France - however, their love affair with the country began with a road-side argument with a gesticulating Frenchman...

Kevin Lowe & Sandra Milne left their home in Leicester in 2001 and set off in search of adventure and a new life in France, with only a vague idea of where they were going or what they were going to do when they got there...

After moving to France in August last year with her parents and eleven year old brother, Georgina has had to work hard to make new friends and get to grips with a new language. She tells her story...

[IMAGE-MISSING]A perpetual problem in Brittany (and everywhere I reckon!) being surrounded by farmland certainly doesn't help! I've never seen weeds like it here - 8 years of a garden ...

Are you one of those adventurous types who would dearly love to move to sunny, warm southern France, but just can’t quite squeeze enough together to buy the dream stone farmhouse? Renovation could be the perfect answer...

"Salt Meadow Lamb"Salt meadow lambs are widely available in the "pays d'Armor". Those from the bay of Mont-Saint-Michel and from the Breton Islands (Belle-Île, Ouessant) are particularly sought after...

Mike and Sue Spring came to live in France in 1994 when they bought a small vineyard (Domaine du Garinet) in the village of Le Boulvé of some 200 inhabitants in the département of the Lot. This is their story...

Have you ever fancied living in a castle? Do you sometimes wonder just what it must be like to own your own glorious, gracious pile?

When David Low and Lindsay Nixon bought a semi-derelict barn in the Lot during the summer of 2003, they had visions of sunny days spent gradually renovating their dream home. Eighteen months on and despite several setbacks they are now hard at work turning the dream into reality.

Lindsay Nixon relates her experiences of creating a beautiful and productive garden amongst the stones and weeds of the Causses du Quercy. In the first of two articles she describes the slow transformation of a wilderness into finely tilled soil ready for planting.

In the second of two articles, Lindsay Nixon takes up the tale of her garden with the selection of flowers and vegetables that will be able to grow in the unpromising soil and harsh climate of the Causses du Quercy.

This region has a well-deserved reputation for producing fabulous quality fruit and has a huge annual production of plums, melons, table grapes and garlic in addition to several varieties of wine ...

This is a classic winter dish in southwestern France. Try to buy your goose from a farm or a boucherie that advertises local birds. In the run up to Christmas you will find one easily in the markets...