95c | ISSUE 14 | SEPTEMBER 2012
PUBLISHERS OF
NEWS, WHAT’S ON INFO FOR AUDE, GARD, HERAULT, LOZERE, PYRENEES-ORIENTALES
Confusion and anger over new tram route by SAMANTHA DAVID
LANGUEDOC WINE MAKERS KEEP FINGERS CROSSED Page 7
AN extension to Montpellier’s city tram network is causing confusion and frustration among many passengers who claim the routes are too slow and unreliable. Since the inauguration of Lines 3 and 4 – built at a cost of €530million – delays, mis-information, and breakdowns have seen tempers flare and police called in to calm passengers. Earlier this summer, TaM, which runs public transport in Montpellier, gave away 12,000 cups of coffee and croissants to passengers to “thank them for their patience” faced with a multitude of problems. The tramway has been dubbed the slowest in France, partly because the automatic signalling is so unreliable that the drivers repeatedly have to get out of their trams and change the signals manually. The tram has also been limited to travelling at only 10kph in some areas. However, the most common complaint is that Line 3 was supposed to connect the Languedoc capital to the sea. New users taking the tram expecting to end up at the beach have been disappointed that it stops 2km away from the coast
Photo: Montpellier Sud Reportage pour TaM
RIVER rats are thriving in the Camargue and the Hérault - so much so that rangers are having to work all year round to keep their booming numbers down. Coypu are native to America but have spread across Europe as a result of deliberate releases and animals escaping from fur farms. The colonies in the area enjoy the isolated, marshy landscape which gives them plenty of space for swimming, digging and constructing underground tunnels which can run to up to 7km long. The problem in France is that the coypu’s natural predators have either been exterminated (wolves) or are not native (crocodiles). Apart from trappers and hunters, the main threat to the river rat population is being hit on the road and many are killed this way. However, the road death toll is not sufficient to keep the population down. Coypu breed all year round, producing up to three litters of seven young each time. They cause nuisance because in the Camargue they eat the roots of the bamboo plants, which are also a favourite treat for the famous white horses. They also destroy riverbanks by tunnelling under them extensively.Î Turn to page 4
Photo: Louise Hurren
Mass cull to stop Hérault river rats
Line 3: does not take passengers to beach in a run-down area in Pérols, on the edge of a busy roundabout. After a 25-minute ride from the city centre, travellers have to take a bicycle, pony or bus to reach the seaside. Î Turn to page 2
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2 News PAGES
September 2012
Minister promises more help for forest firefighters
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Contents News What’s On Feature Leisure Time
1-7 8-11 12-13, 24 14
Food and Pets 15 Directory 16-17 Home and Gardening 18-19 Property and Finance 20-23
Useful Numbers La Rovère, 48000 MENDE Tel: 04 66 49 60 00 | Pyrénées-Orientales 24 quai Sadi Carnot, 66951 PERPIGNAN CEDEX Tel: 04 68 51 66 66 OTHER HELP IN ENGLISH COUNSELLING IN FRANCE: for a qualified therapist near you or counselling over the telephone; www.counsellinginfrance.com SOS HELP: similar to the Samaritans, listeners who are professionally trained; Tel 01 46 21 46 46; www.soshelpline.org NO PANIC FRANCE: for help with anxiety disorders; Tel: 02 51 28 80 25; www.nopanic.org.uk ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS: Aude - Regular meetings are held (in French) in Carcassonne | Gard - Regular meetings are held (in French) in Nîmes, Alès and Cèze | Hérault - Regular meetings are held (in French) in Sète Agde Beziers, Bédarieux and Lodève. Montpellier: English-speaking group (closed) meets Thursdays at 18:45-20:15, doors open at 18:30. Ganges: English-speaking meeting (Willing to Grow Group), with meetings (closed) Tuesdays 18:30-20:00 in the Foyer des Jeunes, near the Schools on rue E. Gounelle, 34190 Ganges. | Pyrénées-Orientales Céret, Le Barcares-Village, Thuir, Vernet les Bains and Perpignan CANCER SUPPORT FRANCE: for advice and someone to talk to: www.cancersupportfrance.info National Office: email: cancersupportfrance@orange.fr; Tel: 05 45 89 30 05. SOLDIERS, SAILORS, AIRMEN AND FAMILIES ASSOCIATION FORCES (SSAFA): In France: 05 53 01 64 54. Email: france@ssafa. org.uk AVF: help with French life; www.avf.asso.fr OTHER INFO YELLOW PAGES: www.pagesjaunes.fr SPEAKING CLOCK: 3699. WEATHER: 08 92 68 02 + dept. number. LAST INCOMING CALL ON YOUR PHONE: 3131, then ‘5’ if you wish to connect. BRITISH CONSULATE British Consulate Marseilles: 24 avenue du Prado, 13006 Marseilles. Open: 09:0012:00 and 14:00-17:00 Tel: 04 91 15 72 10 (after hours emergency call this number for answer phone emergency service) PUBLIC HOLIDAYS THIS MONTH None
Languedoc Clubs and Associations Allicance Franco-Anglaise du Languedoc Roussillon Association aimed at assisting English speaking newcomers to integrate through conversation classes and social events. Contact Neil Todd: 04 67 37 99 52 www.afal.name Association Echanges Association offering cultural exchanges in French or English and bringing together various nationalities for meetings every two months. Social events for people in the area plus English lessons. The main activity for English speakers is a "pot luck" meal together for informal discussion and games and so on. Contact Emma Tikunova: 04 68 60 38 99 or 06 01 79 97 27 associationechanges@live.com
Appassionata Choir The Chorale Appassionata welcomes new members. We rehearse in the Salle Polyvalente at Bassan,from 19.45 to 22.00 every Tuesday. Membership is international,- we sing everything - classical to jazz. Contact Rhona Goujon 04 67 36 05 83 ESKA English Speaking Kids Association A new non-profit association called ESKA - English Speaking Kids Association which has been set up in the region to bring together English-speaking children of various ages to enjoy different kinds of activities in English. All children of all nationalities are welcome to join in the activities accompanied by their parents or guardians. Meetings take place in LunelViel. 04 67 82 36 62
The Hérault has bought three new Air Tractor 802F planes which can carry up to three tonnes of water or flame retardant THE FRENCH interior minister has pledged that the State will continue to do all it can to ensure there is enough equipment and staff in the Languedoc to continue fighting forest wildfires. Firefighters in the region have had one of their busiest summers in recent years, including a massive fire which raged just across the Spanish border around Perthus, in which four French people died and hundreds of residents were forced out of their homes. Thousands of people were warned to stay at home, and around 15,000 hectares of vegetation was destroyed. At one point the motorway between Spain and France was closed because the
thick smoke made driving conditions too dangerous. On the French side of the border five reception centres were set up in gymnasiums and a school hall. Some 450 French firefighters and seven waterplanes were deployed to help extinguish the fire. M inister Manuel Valls said that the coordination between the countries had worked smoothly. He said the government would continue to support forest firefighters and vigilance and prevention was essential for everyone. The Hérault, which is the only department in France with its own fleet of firefighting planes, is testing three new Air Tractor 802F aircraft with a view to
High-speed plans advancing slowly UNCERTAINTY remains over the future high-speed train line planned between Montpellier and Perpignan. Budget minister Jérôme Cahuzac has suggested certain high-speed projects might not in fact be built at all. Other aspects are also giving rise to debate, for example, whether to have two new stations for Béziers and Narbonne, or just one at Nissan-lez-Ensérune. Local authorities want the line to avoid existing housing at Fabrègues and Gigean, in the Hérault, even though this
Jérôme Cahuzac means encroaching on a protected zone. The plan is for the line to be for both freight and passenger trains – but this means digging a 12.5km tunnel through the Corbières.
updating its stock. The Air Tractors, as their name implies, were originally developed for agricultural spraying, and are very fast and ultra-manoeuvrable. Depending on how much they are used, they will cost the authorities around €2 million a season. The planes are already successfully being used in Spain and Portugal, where they have replaced Trackers. The single engine plane can carry up to three tonnes of water or flame retardant. The Hérault’s current fleet of firefighting planes comprises nine Trackers, 12 Canadairs, two Dash 8s. Another two Trackers are based in Carcassonne for the summer.
Police on standby to calm tram users Photo: Claude Walter/gouvernement.fr
EMERGENCY NUMBERS 18: Emergencies: Calls the fire brigade (Sapeurs Pompiers), but they deal with medical emergencies and are usually the first port of call in rural areas. 112: Emergency calls from your mobile: Be ready with your name and where you are calling from and do not hang up until told to do so. 17: Police (gendarmes) 119: Child abuse. 1616: Sea and lake rescue. 01 40 05 48 48: Anti-poison centre (Paris) 08 10 33 30 + your department number (eg 24 for the Dordogne): Gas & electricity emergencies UTILITIES FRANCE TELECOM Website in English: www.francetelecom.com To report a fault online: www.1013.fr (click on the UK flag). English-speaking helpline: 09 69 36 39 00 (from France); + 33 1 55 78 60 56 (outside France). ORANGE: English-speaking helpline: 09 69 36 39 00. SFR: 1023 (+ 33 6 10 00 10 23 from outside France). FREE: 1044. BOUYGUES: 1034. EDF: 24 hour breakdown line: 08 10 33 30 87; Helpline in English: 05 62 16 49 08; From outside France: + 33 5 62 16 49 08; Email: simpleenergywithedf@edf.fr GOVERNMENT ORGANISATIONS CAISSE D’ALLOCATIONS FAMILIALES - CAF: www.caf.fr; Tel: 08 10 25 14 10. L’ASSURANCE MALADIE (AMELI, formerly known as CPAM – the health service): www.ameli.fr; Tel: 36 46 (MonFri, 8am-5pm) English spoken. URSSAF: English-language website: www.anglais.urssaf.fr - Aude - 20 rue Saint Michel, BP 605, 11876 CARCASSONNE CEDEX 9, Tel: 04 68 11 24 00 | Gard - 6 rue du Cirque Romain, 30923 NIMES CEDEX 9, Tel: 04 66 36 48 00 | Hérault - Quartier de la Mosson, 35 rue La Haye, 34937 MONTPELLIER CEDEX 9, Tel: 08 20 00 34 35 | Lozère - Quartier des Carmes, BP 104, 48003 MENDE, Tel: 04 66 47 23 48 | Pyrénées-Orientales 26 rue Petite la Monnaie, BP 59926, 66021 PERPIGNAN CEDEX 9, Tel: 04 68 35 75 00 PREFECTURE: Aude - 52 rue Jean Bringer, BP 836, 11012 CARCASSONNE CEDEX Tel: 04 68 10 27 01 | Gard - 10 avenue Feuchères, 30045 NIMES CEDEX 9 Tel: 04 66 36 40 40 | Hérault 34 place des Martyrs de la Résistance, 34062 MONTPELLIER CEDEX 2 Tel: 04 67 61 61 61 | Lozère - 2 rue de
Î From
page 1 There is further confusion because one of the connecting buses is free and the other is not, despite serving the same route. Drivers and ticket inspectors have reported almost daily arguments, lost tempers and scuffles during the peak summer season at the terminus in Pérols, to the extent that there is now a permanent police presence there to deal with angry passengers. It is understood that the seaside communes of Palavas,
Mauguio Carnon and La Grande-Motte refused to allow the tramway to be extended all the way to the sea, despite funding being in place for the construction. The mayors reportedly wanted to discourage certain city-dwellers from using their beaches. Montpellier’s tramway was supposed to be the envy of the world when the idea was first mooted in 1996 by the then mayor Georges Frêche. Despite the complaints, plans are going ahead for Line 5, which is set to open in 2017.
Photo: Jordi Paya/Flickr
LANGUEDOC
Languedoc Pages
Languedoc Pages
News 3
September 2012
Seaside resorts fight back against mocking TV advert Photo: Regis Mortier
ANGRY mayors in seaside resorts in Languedoc-Roussillon have hit out at adverts for a holiday company that writes them off as “naff ”. The mayors of Argelès-sur-Mer, La Grande-Motte and Palavas-les-Flots say the advert, for tour firm Degriftours, repeats clichés from the past. They say the resorts are now places to go and be seen. The company, owned by lastminute.com, has withdrawn the ad, saying it wanted to highlight its relaunched business, not taint the image of the resorts. The ad shows a snobbish Parisian couple who get a postcard from the husband’s sports coach and he asks his wife: “So where has this loser gone on holiday this time?” They bet it would be somewhere “cheesey” like Palavasles-Flots, La Grande-Motte or Argelèssur-Mer – before reading the card and seeing the man is in the Seychelles. The crestfallen husband laments: “So it means nothing to be rich.” Jérôme Arnaud, resort manager at La Grande-Motte, said the ad was “stuck 20 years in the past” and the resort was now an upmarket destination, with 70% of its hotel rooms classed as fourstar. Holidaymakers in the resorts appeared calm about the adverts however – with most simply laughing and saying they were having a good time.
Crackdown on big beach parties THE préfet of the Hérault has issued heavy fines and forced the cancellation of several beach parties in the department since the start of the summer. Large-scale events with internationally known DJs have been bringing thousands of clubbers on to the beaches, in excess of the bars’ legal capacity of between 200 and 300 people.
Council pays for port growth study LANGUEDOC regional council will fund studies into the viability of enlarging Port-la-Nouvelle, putting some €600,000 into the project. Currently the Mediterranean’s third largest working port, it is owned by the region and its expansion is estimated to cost around €200m, of which 70% would be paid by the regional council, 15% by the Aude department and the remainder by Narbonne city council.
Unemployment up 10% in a year
Local authorities said that the image given of La Grande Motte was ‘stuck 20 years in the past’
THE Languedoc remains the worst region in France for unemployment, with a record rise of 10.2% from June 2011 to June 2012. The figure represents an extra 15,000 people signing on in the region.
Photo: Regis Mortier
La Grande Motte: ‘Boating is the main activity’
Boat users get priority in dispute over fishing LOCAL authorities have banned fishing in a stretch of water between two pleasure boat ports because of a growing number of angry exchanges between fishermen and boat users. Sailors reported getting tangled up in fishing lines and having stones and insults thrown at them when they tried to negotiate the narrow Passe des Abîmes canal between La GrandeMotte and Le Grau-du-Roi. Authorities have now enforced a ban on fishing along the dyke. It had been in place since 2000 but fishing had been tolerated here, until a growing number of incidents this summer.
Eric Pallier of the La Grande Motte port authority said the silting up of the canal is at the root of the problem, obliging pleasure craft users to sail close to the shore on one side of the canal, where some have become entangled with fishermen’s lines. Mayor Stéphan Rossignol added: “The port authorities and police were getting increasing numbers of complaints – stones were being thrown and insults traded. My responsibility is to allow boaters to reach the port in safety. Boating is the main activity – fishing is something that has evolved alongside.”
€600m plan against sea pollution A €600million action plan has been drawn up to reduce the amount of pollution from rivers flowing into the Mediterranean. It comes after a study found the Med was being slowly but surely polluted by the rivers that run into it, particularly the Rhône. The Languedoc’s rivers also play their part, pouring 16% of all ammonium, 8% of phosphates, 6% of nitrates and 8% of heavy metals found in the Med.
A European directive aims to rectify the situation by 2020 at the latest. The new plan of action has been devised that will see €600m invested over a six-year period, with three quarters of the financing directed towards reducing pollution from rivers. French sea research institute Ifremer said the waters of the Gulf of Lion are five to eight times more contaminated by noxious substances than those of the Bay of Biscay. Sea life
has been shown to be highly affected too, recording levels up to twice as high as those found in the worst-contaminated cod of the North Sea. The Agence de l’Eau Rhône-Méditerranée et Corse said that more than 90% of all contamination in the Med comes from rivers, with the Rhône accounting for 67% of the problems and contributing 5,000-6,000 tonnes of heavy metal and pesticides each year.
Worried about the Euro debt crisis? Talk to Siddalls about how to structure your finances in these difficult times Contact your Regional Manager French Head Office: 05 56 34 75 51 Email: bordeaux.office@siddalls.net
www.siddalls.fr French finance in plain English Siddalls France SASU, Parc Innolin, 3 Rue du Golf, 33700 Mérignac - RCS BX 498 800 465. C.I.F. No E001669 auprès de ANACOFI-CIF association agréée par l’Autorité des Marchés Financiers et Courtier d’Assurances, Catégorie B - ORIAS 07 027 475. Garantie Financière et Assurance de Responsabilité Civile Professionnelle conformes aux articles L 541-3 du Code Monétaire et Financier et L 512-6 et 512-7 du Code des Assurances.
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Languedoc Pages
September 2012 Photo: Petar Miloševic/Wikimedia
Did you know?
Aude among top locations as Pyrenees bear numbers grow Photo: Jean-Noel Lafargue/Wikimedia
IF you go out to the Languedoc woods today, you may easily get a big surprise - wild bears are repopulating the region. In 1995 across the whole of France there were only five bears - all living in the Pyrenees – but according to the French hunting and wildlife authorities (Office National de la Chasse et de la Faune Sauvage - ONCFS), in 2010 there were 19 bears, and by the end of 2011 numbers had increased to at least 21, including three cubs The area they inhabit has grown too. They have been spotted in five departments: Pyrénées-Atlantiques, HautesPyrénées, Haute-Garonne, Ariège, and Aude. There are also brown bears living in the Spanish Pyrenees meaning they are ranging across nearly 4,000 square kilometres of land. There are a whole range of indicators which confirm the presence of bears in an area including finding traces of fur, paw prints, the remains of bear meals, bear droppings and, of course, actual sightings of bears. The dominant male is known as Pyros and is approximately 24 years old, but genetic traces showing the presence of four other males of breeding age have also been found. Not everybody is thrilled by this
Coypu destroy bird nests and undermine river foundations
River rats are local menace
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A brown bear in captivity at the Parc Animalier des Pyrénées news, however. In 1997, local hunters killed an adult female and another was shot by hunters in 2004. Bears are a protected species and it
is illegal to hurt, trap, maim, chase or kill them. The French government however, remains committed to the reintroduction programme.
page 1 The river rats damage the foundations of hydraulic power installations, eat crops including cereals, rice and forage and upset the biodiversity of French rivers and lakes by eating their favourite plants into extinction. They also destroy the nests of aquatic birds. For all these reasons, they appear on the official list of pests in France. It is therefore permitted to shoot them with guns as well as bows and arrows, to trap them and dig them out. It is forbidden, however, to poison them as this can kill other species including humans. Coypu have now been identified as living in 70 departments across France, mainly in the south as they do not
like extreme cold. There are large colonies of them in the marshes of Poitou and a smaller colony in Landes. They are particularly thriving in Lot-et-Garonne, Pyrénées-Orientales, HautesPyrénées, Aude, Gard, Hérault, Tarn, HauteGaronne, Vaucluse, Var and Bouches-du-Rhône. Coypu are not normally aggressive towards humans but can bite if they feel threatened or cornered. In theory, the rats could carry rabies, so anyone bitten by one should get medical attention within 24 hours They may not be kept either as pets or as meat/fur animals unless a certificat de capacité has been obtained from the préfecture before the acquisition of the animal.
Major photo project to raise canal funds Photo: Gersande Bignon
THREE men are to spend more than a year sailing the length of the Canal du Midi in a traditional Dutch barge, taking photographs and talking to local residents to help raise funds for the canal’s disease-stricken trees. Journalist Gersande Bignon, photographer Gauthier Fleuri and ship’s captain Frédéric Journo say they will not come home until they have accomplished their mission, which is not just to see the first trees replanted, but to launch fundraising schemes all along the route of the canal and get local authorities involved. The crew of the boat, called the Transporteur d’Images, set sail from Sète in August and headed for Marseillan, the first stop on their adventure. They hope to raise funds for replanting by asking the mairie of each commune they sail through to finance one or two large plastic sheets on which will be printed Mr Fleuri’s photos that he takes in each commune. The idea is that these large-scale photos will form an itinerant exhibition of all the communes bordering the canal and attract visitors and funds. They have already designed 80 posters. Mr Fleuri said: “We’ll even give them reproduction rights of the photos.” Mr Journo added: “We want to get all the mairies involved and then invite them all to Toulouse next spring where we will exhibit the photos”. During the journey, the pair plan to sell sets of postcards and posters of the Canal du Midi and hope to be able to email people to let them know which tree their money helped to plant. They say it is a vital project because without the trees, the canal’s Unesco heritage status could be threatened. The famous plane trees which line the banks of the Canal du Midi have to be felled because they are infected with Ceratocystis platani, a fungal canker which is resistant to all treatments and which kills trees within five years of them becoming infected. The felling has started, and there is broad consensus that they should be replaced with other species, but arguments are still raging
Transporteur and captain Frédéric Journo about who should pay to replace them. A plan to ask the landowners along the banks of the canal to help pay the costs met with silence and the impossibility of forcing people to plant trees on their own land if they do not want to. Another plan to raise money is to increase the price of the tax discs people have to buy in order to navigate on the canal, and there have been other propositions for re-organising the management structure of the canal in order to facilitate financing the cost of replacing the trees. They cost around €400 each and eventually about 42,000 trees will need to be replanted.
Languedoc Pages
News 5
September 2012
4 out of 5 sick workers not home INSPECTORS are visiting more homes in Languedoc to check that employees who claim sick leave are really ill. It comes after a reported rise in fraud as some people see taking time off ill as a way of extending their holidays. Those who receive sick pay are required to be at home during certain hours of the day. However, a recent check found that only one person in five was at home when the inspector called.
Hospital hit by financial worries
Shop closes for the first time A 24-hour convenience store in Montpellier has been forced to close its doors for the first time in 25 years because of new rules on night-time trade in the suburb of Figuerolles. Mounir Lataief, who led a group of traders challenging the restrictions in court, says takings are down 40% following the ban on opening between 2.00 and 6.00. Police acted after complaints of noise and drunkenness, but Mr Lataief said having open shops helped reduce crime and make people feel safer.
Wrong way driver imprisoned A MAN has been jailed for 10 months for making a Uturn on the A75 motorway in the Lozère and travelling in the wrong direction at 186kph while fleeing police. The 24-year-old then left the motorway and sped through a village before trying to escape on foot on August 2.
by SAMANTHA DAVID THE controversial but long-serving former mayor of Montpellier, Georges Frêche, may have died of a heart attack in 2010, but the inauguration of a new set of statues commissioned by him before his death shows his legacy is still stirring up the sort of trouble he delighted in. The statues of left-wing politicians have been greeted by amusement, admiration, derision, disgust and anger in almost equal measures. Alongside newly unveiled statues of Nelson Mandela and Mahatma Gandhi stands Chinese communist revolutionary Chairman Mao, Egypt’s Gamal Abdel Nasser and Iran’s Golda Meir. They complete a collection which was first unveiled by Georges Frêche in 2010, just a month before he died, and which already contains Jean Jaurès, Winston Churchill, Franklin Roosevelt, Charles de Gaulle and Vladimir Lenin. He originally planned, in 2008, to include Stalin in the statues but was dissuaded from doing so out of respect for French victims. George Frêche leaned to the far-left all of his life, although for most of his
Georges Frêche: unveiled first set of statues shortly before death in 2010 political career he was officially a member of the French Socialist party. He had a vision for Montpellier and, in a period of about 30 years, steered the city from being a sleepy backwater to being the fastest growing city in France, voted as being the one most French people would love to live in.
Traffic improvements sought for the suburbs Photo: Alexandra Gl - Fotolia.com
BANKS have refused to lend more money to Montpellier university hospital (CHU) after ratings agency Moody’s downgraded the company’s credit rating. Last year the hospital owed almost €12million. It normally has an overdraft facility of €20m but this has been cut to €5m, leaving the hospital in financial difficulties. A spokesman confirmed that they were having to juggle payments, although employees and suppliers are still being paid. It is reported to be one of the most indebted hospitals in France following a major renovation programme and the purchase of new equipment.
Mayor legacy lives on with leader statues Photo: Esby/Wikimedia
GAY marriage is set to become legal in France in 2013, but LanguedocRoussillon’s capital city Montpellier set the tone last year, with mayor Hélène Mandroux playing a significant, symbolic role in the push for change. In February 2011, Mandroux officiated at France’s first gay marriage ceremony, despite it being illegal at the time. She welcomed the new law, saying: “This will give all French citizens the same rights and is symbolic of the changes being introduced by François Hollande and his government.”
Suburbs are priority for new plan to cut car use PLANS are under way to improve traffic flow in Montpellier, with the town council setting itself the objective of reducing car use by 11% and greenhouse gases by 23% across the greater Montpellier area. Solutions are being sought by encouraging the use of more eco-friendly methods of transport such as buses and the existing network of Vélo’magg hire bikes. Within the city of Montpellier itself, the fourline tramway system has reduced traffic levels, but beyond the confines of the city there is still progress to be made. Funding of €3.6m is to be granted to the Montpellier satellite town of Baillargues to improve its TER regional train
Photo: ©PHOTOPQR/LE MIDI LIBRE/MICHEL PIEYRE
Languedoc leads way for gay union
station and provide better facilities and services for public transport users in the area. Meanwhile, new research by consumer association CLCV has found that the Aude and Lozère are among the most expensive departments in France for petrol. The Lozère has among the fewest petrol stations per 100 square kilometres in the whole country, which CLCV said was having an impact on local competition and prices. The region as a whole is more expensive than others because the LanguedocRoussillon councils apply a petrol tax of 2.5 centimes per litre on fuel which is not levied in other areas such as the Poitou-Charentes, for example.
Chickenpox up as rentrée nears DOCTORS in the Languedoc have reported a rise in the number of children with chickenpox ahead of the back-toschool period. GPs’ network Sentinelles-Inserm reported 89 cases per 100,000 population in August – the highest proportion out of all of the regions in France.
Protestors attended the unveiling of the new statue of Chairman Mao
Minister says no shale gas fracking in region ANTI-shale gas campaigners in the Languedoc have welcomed news that plans for drilling in the region appear to be on hold. Ecology and energy minister Delphine Batho recently confirmed that the government did not plan to revoke the ban on hydraulic fracturation (known as “fracking”) put in place by Nicolas Sarkozy. In a television interview, she said: “The government will be most definitely upholding the ban on shale gas extraction by hydraulic fracturation. “It remains to be proved that this method can be used without causing considerable damage to the environment and serious health risks,” she added According to the minister, the problem associated with the fracking procedure revolves around the use of “chemical products which then go into the water table”. She also said that the government did not intend to grant any new exploratory drilling permits.
6 National News SWEET mirabelle plums from Lorraine have just hit the shelves and should be enjoyed during their short season – which ends in the middle of this month. Lorraine is today responsible for 90% of the world’s production of the small and round fruit, which was a minor part of the region’s agriculture until it was relaunched in the 1980s. The increase in demand that this caused saw 1,500 hectares of new mainly organic orchards being planted and led to the Lorraine Mirabelles being the first fruit to receive the European IGP quality label, in 1996. If they carry the IGP logo the fruit must be cultivated according to traditional, mainly organic, methods, with the use of manure and other natural fertilisers preferred to chemical ones. This means worms, which aerate the soil, are encouraged, as are bees and butterflies. Chemical treatments to protect the trees are allowed only in the winter.
Hollande lets train take strain for hols PRESIDENT Hollande returned to Paris by TGV after his two-week holiday in the Var – making the TGV his favoured mode of transport as he had also set off by train for the presidential residence at Fort Brégançon. He had stopped to buy some DVDs in Fnac before starting his holiday with partner Valérie Trierweiler and his return was the fourth time he has travelled by train since becoming president. This was said to be an attempt to distance himself from the “bling bling” image of his predecessor, Nicolas Sarkozy. However, it is a costly security exercise for the SNCF, which is required by law to have a police guard on every bridge under which the train passes. Hollande told reporters it was “an important gesture” at a time when “a
Photo: m-laurent
Photo: c-p philippot
Enjoy mirabelles in their short season
Languedoc Pages
Mirabelles are glorious in a tart or conserve
Known as greengages in English, the Lorraine mirabelles are particularly enjoyed for their luscious flavour lot of French people want to go on holiday but cannot do so”. However, while enjoying his break he notched up his 100 days in office and saw his popularity slump to 46% from 56% the previous month. In voters’ eyes Hollande has not moved fast enough to improve the jobs situation or stop closures.
Eiffel Tower is worth €434bn in revenue EUROPE’S most valuable historic monument has been named as the Eiffel Tower – which is said to be worth €434billion in tourist and associated revenues. The figures calculated by the Chamber of Commerce of Monza and Brianza, a small province near Milan, puts the value of the tower at around one-fifth of France’s gross domestic product each year. Monza and Brianza chamber estimates that the tower is worth nearly
five times more than its nearest competitors, the Colosseum in Rome (€91bn) and Gaudi’s Sagrada Familia cathedral in Barcelona (€90bn). The Tower of London is claimed to be worth €70.5bn, while Stonehenge is a mere €10.5bn. The study was not on the monuments’ material value but on their image, branding and attractiveness.
Mont Saint-Michel visitor numbers fall VISITOR numbers at Mont SaintMichel have fallen by a quarter compared to last year after changes were made stopping people from parking on the causeway next to the famous landmark. Now, as part of agreements with Unesco to safeguard the setting of the World Heritage Site, people have to park 2km away and take a shuttle bus – but there have been complaints that the new car park is some ©PHOTOPQR/LE COURRIER PICARD
One of the vehicles that was set on fire. The damage from the rioting is estimated to run into several millions of euros
distance from the bus stop and is also too expensive. The tourist office at the Mont say there were 24% fewer visitors in July compared to last year. However, this figure differs from figures from the office for national historic monuments, which puts the drop at 9%, following a 16.5% fall in June. Unesco says that the Mont usually attracts about 3.5 million people a year. Tourist office head Emmanuel Villain said there could be several factors including the new shuttle, the economic crisis and poor weather – the Manche departmental tourism body says tourists were down 7% in general in July. Mont Saint-Michel abbey administrator Jean-Marc Bouré does not agree and said the Mont was not usually affected by the ups and downs of the economy, and bad publicity about the shuttles was mainly to blame.
Young men arrested after Amiens riots injure police FIVE men aged 15 to 30 were arrested in connection with riots in Amiens, although two were later released without charge. Sixteen police were hurt and three public buildings, including a school and a newly-built gym, were torched during violent confrontations in the Fafet district of the northern city where several officers were hit by shotgun pellets.The cost is estimated to run into several million euros after buildings were attacked, windows broken and vehicles set on fire. Interior Minister Manuel Valls – who was barracked and jostled by youths when he visited the city – ordered heavy police reinforcements to restore order. He later said 500 extra police posts would be created each year to police new Security Priority Zones. This would help cover the gaps left after 12,000 police jobs cut in the last five years. The prefecture has also ordered an inquiry into the causes of the disturbances. Some residents had blamed heavy-handed policing during a memorial ceremony for a 20-year-old killed in a scooter crash.
September 2012
Assumption prayer prompts gay row MANY French Catholic churches marked Assumption with a prayer containing strong support for traditional marriage – as the government promised to legalise gay marriage. The “prayer for France” from Cardinal André Vingt-Trois called for support for the victims of the economic crisis and for the young but also said children should “cease to be objects of the desires and conflicts of adults and fully benefit from the love of a father and a mother”. The government has said it will legalise same-sex marriage in 2013 and the prayer was addressed to “those recently elected to legislate and govern” adding the wish “that their sense of the common good will overcome special demands.” Gay rights groups attacked it as an intrusion by the church into politics with Act Up saying it was an “attack on homosexuality.” Michael Bouvard, of SOS Homophobia, said the message was “a breeding ground for discrimination and homophobia”. Assumption is a national holiday across Europe to celebrate the raising of the Virgin Mary to heaven. Opinion polls have said that 65% of people support same-sex marriage. Same-sex civil unions have been legal since 1999.
Five hit by lightning on treetop trail FIVE people were injured, three seriously, after being hit by lightning in a forest park in the HautesPyrénées. They had been amongst groups in the forest canopy at the Chloro’fil aerial adventure park at Argelès-Gazost when hit. It is thought lightning hit a tree and cables for the aerial pathways on the “accrobranche” network where visitors were walking. One child was knocked unconscious and another received burns along with a 20-year-old park monitor who had leg burns. Days earlier two women survived being hit by lightning on a beach on île d’Oléron in Charente-Maritime. Each year in France around 100 people are hit by lightning strikes, generally in open or high country and the advice is to lie flat on the ground if lightning is about.
Thief steals plans for the Elysée Palace A THIEF has stolen plans for the Elysée Palace, the Interior Ministry and the Paris Préfecture de Police which were on a USB stick taken from a technician’s car. The man, who had been working on installing fibre-optic cables in the buildings, had parked outside the Gare de Lyon and his briefcase with the USB memory sticks and hard disks was stolen. Le Parisien, which revealed the theft, said data on more than 9,000 buildings was included on the memory stick and hard drives. The details were confidential but not secret and were not encrypted and did not show who used which office.
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Languedoc Pages
News 7
September 2012
Grape expectations as wine makers keep fingers crossed
At the mercy of the elements
Karine and Nicolas Mirouze say temperatures have been encouraging
“
At harvest time, Languedoc growers will see the pay-off for the care and attention invested earlier in the year. It’s all about the health of the vines
Jean Natoli Languedoc-based oenologist
Photo: Ken Payton
A LOCAL saying is that “one year follows another, but no years are ever the same” and according to winegrower John Bowen, nothing could be more true for 2012. The particular challenge he has faced in the Corbières area this year is trying to master his century-old Carignan vines, which, thanks to somewhat unusual weather patterns, “have taken on the look of virgin rainforest”. The other distinguishing feature of 2012 has been the amount of hail experienced in France in general: at the time of writing, there have been no fewer than five episodes in the HautesCorbières area. Mr Bowen says: “At the beginning of July the hail fell dry, hard and brief. It means that we will need to be more vigilant than ever in following ripening, and setting harvest dates, and later on when we have to select the grapes that come into the winery.”
Filming a year in the vineyards Photo: Louise Hurren
John Bowen says he is trying to control the vines which have taken on the look of “virgin rain forest” Photo: Xavier Kat
AS the vendanges get underway, wine growers are watching the sky and their vines and hoping for a trouble-free harvest. Historically, the gathering of Languedoc’s grapes starts from August 15 onwards, depending on the location of the vines in question, the grape variety grown – some mature earlier than others – and, of course, the grower, who can choose to let his crop “hang” for longer to get greater maturity. According to the weather conditions during the year, some vintages start earlier than others: Languedocbased oenologist Jean Natoli predicts a slightly later start to the 2012 vendanges. As a consultant, he runs a team of oenologists who over-see and shape the progress of wine growers’ vines, both in Languedoc and further afield. He says: “Compared to 2011, I think this year we can expect the harvest to be about a week later.” However, the longer the harvest runs into autumn, the greater the risk of adverse weather conditions, which can ruin an entire year’s work in the vines. “Typically, in the south of France, the vendanges can span a twomonth period, from around midAugust to mid-October,” he explains. “”White grapes are picked earlier, as are grapes grown on hotter sites, because they reach their maturity earlier than those in cooler sites such as the higher parts of the
Photo: Liz Bowen
Winegrowers are staying alert and this year’s grape harvest may run later into the autumn. LOUISE HURREN reports on how the Languedoc 2012 vintage is looking at this stage
Pic Saint Loup and Terrasses du Larzac appellation areas. “At harvest time, Languedoc growers will see the pay-off for the care and attention invested earlier in the year. It’s all about the health of the vines: the producer has to do his best to get them into optimum shape, so that when the grapes start to grow, they can ripen without issue.” According to Mr Natoli, diseases such as mildew and oidium can be a problem in Languedoc; grape varieties typically grown here such as Chardonnay, Carignan, Roussanne and Marsanne are particularly susceptible to oidium, and his team has seen a few cases this year. The need to be ever-vigilant is borne out by Catherine Wallace of Château de Combebelle, in the Saint-Chinian area north-west of Béziers: “Overcast, humid days in spring and summer have meant that we’ve had to be more proactive in protecting the vineyard against oidium and mildew. “The latter has affected the vineyard in a small part, but we have been managing this and it’s not widespread or causing us a problem at present. “Harvest will probably start around September 23-25, which is normal for us. We’d prefer not to have too much rain until then, just a little drop to keep the grapes plump would be ideal.” Further south, in the Aude, Jon and Liz Bowen run Domaine Sainte Croix, in Fraïsse-Corbières. Like
CALIFORNIAN wine writer and filmmaker Ken Payton has been spending time in Languedoc this year, researching and filming a documentary about the fortunes of 12 winemakers from across the region. Entitled Les Terroiristes du Languedoc, his feature-length film follows the growers’ progress through the year, culminating in the harvesting of the 2012 crop in autumn. Mr Payton says: “I believe the time is right for a focused look at the many extraordinary changes that have swept through the vineyards of LanguedocRoussillon in recent years. My film puts the spotlight on this dynamic region, the enormous diversity and potential of its terroirs, and its pioneering wine producers.” Plans are under way for the film to be premiered in the Languedoc in early 2013. Château de Combebelle, they farm their grapes organically and so work done in the vineyard earlier in the year is key; unlike conventional producers, they cannot resort to synthetic chemical products to rectify problems when they arise. Prevention is the name of the game: “A cold, fairly rainy winter and a hot April, followed by an unusually high number of weather systems coming in off the sea has resulted in the need for great vigilance in the vineyard to prevent downy mildew and to ensure the complete and regular ripening of the fruit,” says Mr Bowen. Fellow vignerons Karine and Nicolas Mirouze of Château Beauregard-Mirouze are quietly confident about their 2012 harvest. Situated on the Fontfroide massif, their vineyards are in good health, thanks in part to the regular rain showers of spring which compensated for for the dry winter. Their vines flowered at their usual date, and periods of humidity were followed by winds that had a beneficial, drying effect. In early August, the vineyard was roughly a week later than normal in its growing cycle, due to a relatively cool month of July. Ms Mirouze says: “So far this summer, the nights have been quite cool, even if the days are hot and sunny, and that marked difference in temperature has always been a sign of a great vintage for us, so we’re really looking forward to starting this year’s vendanges.”
8 What’s On
Languedoc Pages
Hérault
Montpellier
Photos: © JM Lubrano
September
September 2012
From September 29 Les Internationales de la Guitare – Montpellier's annual celebration of all things guitar includes an eclectic range of concerts from jazz singer Barbara Hendricks, Carmen Maria Vega, British group Tindersticks and many more in venues around the city and the wider region. Events run through until October 20 with a final concert by smoky-voiced Juliette Greco in the Opéra Berlioz. Most of the performances are in the evening but some events are spread throughout the area – with, for example, electro-swing group Caravan Palace playing the Remparts Sud at Aigues Mortes on September 29. Prices range from €20 to €45. For more details, see www.internationalesdelaguitare.com
Juliette Greco will sing on October 14
MUSIC
Photo: © JM Lubrano
Stanley Jordan plays on October 14
British band Tindersticks play Montpellier Rockstore on October 17
Aude
Photo: © Matthias Edwall
Citou
Barbara Hendricks
The Internationales de la Guitare events always attract passionate audiences
Lozère
FOOD
SPORT
Photo: © romvo - Fotolia.com
September 2 Foire de l’Oignon Doux – Celebrate all things onion-related at this annual festival in the Haut-Minervois village of the Citou in the heart of Cathar country.The festival is FREE and the tourist office number is 04 68 76 34 74
Mende
September 22-23 Tour Cycliste du Gévaudan – A two-day bicycle race through the region, clocking up more than 315km in total. Stage one is from Châteauneuf-de-Randon (Lozère) to La Grand-Combe (Gard) and day two is a circular route beginning and ending in Mende. Call 06 85 31 85 17.
Photo: © Hunta - Fotolia.com
Le Vigan FESTIVAL
August 31-September 2 Là-Bas, Vu d'ici – Le Vigan in the Cévennes celebrates world cultures every year, and this year’s theme is Mongolia and the Central Asia.Three days of conferences, exhibitions, screenings, concerts and workshops showing the culture and landscape open on August 31 in the Hôtel de la Condamine gardens.There are readings on the Saturday morning, films in the afternoon and an open singing workshop on Sunday in the chapel. Some events are free, others have a nominal entry fee. Check labasvudici.jimdo.com or call 04 99 92 21 42
Hérault
Montpellier
CULTURE
September 7 Guided tour of Montpellier – Enjoy an evening visit to the historic city centre, a guided tour in English and a wine-tasting session, all organised by Montpellier tourist office. The tour will take you from the Place de la Comédie to the Arc de Triomphe and via the night-time market, Les Estivales. Meet at the tourist office at 19.00. Free.
Photo: © gloriette - Fotolia.com
Gard
Languedoc Pages
What’s On 9
September 2012
Hérault
Palavas-les-Flots
Pick of the rest in Languedoc
FESTIVAL
Photo: Cauldron Graphix/Flickr
September 21-23 Féria d'Automne – The Hérault seaside resort of Palavas-les-Flots hosts its autumn feria, with Spanish-influenced music, dance and more in the seafront arena on Avenue Brocardi.The highlight of the festival is the traditional Languedoc abrivado (horse and bull chase) on the beach on Sunday at 11.00. Call 04 67 50 39 56
Gard
Nimes CULTURE
Conat
Griffon vultures can be seen in the park
September 15 Randonnées-Spectacles – The Parc Naturel Régional des Pyrénées Catalanes offers visitors a themed three-hour walk through the Conat nature reserve, with stops on the way featuring music, singing, dancing, circus and acrobatics. It is a relatively easy route, suitable for children over seven and people with mobility problems. The event is free and starts at 9.30 but registration is essential. Elsewhere, the park is known for its griffon vultures which can be seen soaring above the crags or the Pyrénéan brown bear which keeps its feet firmly on the ground Call 04 68 04 97 60 or email contact@parcpyrenees-catalanes.fr
owners, restorers, potential buyers and fans from around the world gathering to share their passion for the VW Beetle. Vehicle-owners pay €40 to take part, visitors go free.
Until September 7 Estivales de Montpellier – A nocturnal market featuring more than 150 merchants selling artisanal products, second-hand books and local wines and food on Friday night on the Esplanade Charles de Gaulle, near the tourist office. Open 18.00-00.30.
September 8-9 Braderie Le Cap d'Agde (Hérault) – Late summer jumble sale on the port side, with more than 150 stalls selling second-hand goods at cheap prices.
September 7-8 VW Beetle meeting Le Cap d’Agde (Hérault) – The local “bug club” organise this friendly festival every year, with
Until October 6 Summer festival in Villeveyrac (Hérault) – The Abbaye de Valmagne is the venue for classical and jazz concerts every Thursay evening at 21.00. Tickets range from €10 to €25. See www.valmagne.com
OUT AND ABOUT Photo: Luc Viatour / www.Lucnix.be
Lozère
Photo: © FroZman - flickr.com
September 13-16 Féria des Vendanges – Nîmes celebrates the vendange wine harvest with four days of bullfights and partying in the amphitheatre. Call the tourist office on 0891 701 401.
September 4 Foire au Miel – Honey festival in Vernet-les-Bains (Pyrenees-Orientales) in the shadow of the Pic Canigou. A day of activities based around the making of honey including tastings and various shows.
8 The
European routes
Sunny Airport
www.beziers.aeroport.fr
New
London
with Flybe. Corresponding Áights : Belfast, Dublin, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Manchester, Newcastle, Jersey, Guernsey
30 BUS
www.beziers.aeroport.fr Services at the Airport : Shuttle bus to Béziers and Agde/Cap d’Agde running on each departing and arriving flight. Parking : 30 minutes free, 1 day of parking offered per week paid. Free Wifi Zone.
FREE ZONE
MN GRA E MIN. FRETUIT E
10 What’s On
Languedoc Pages Photo: © bunyos - Fotolia.com
PyrénéesOrientales CULTURE Sainte-Marie-la-Mer
Photo: Slaunger
Photo: Rundvald
September 8-9 Les Citronnades à Sainte Marie – A two-day gathering for owners and fans of the classic French Citroën Traction cars in Sainte-Mariela-Mer. There will be displays of many different types of Citroën, plus customised models, competitions, a spare-parts exchange, evening entertainment, a tombola and tours of the town. There are two main guests of honour for the event: French rugby prop Nicolas Mas – and the iconic DS car with organisers hoping for many different examples to enjoy. Citroën historian Olivier de Serres will also attend. To register your car, email citronnades@yahoo.fr Get more information from http://citronnades.tumblr.com/
Many classics will be on show, with perhaps a Citroën DS21 cabriolet...
or maybe one that they made earlier, the Citroën Traction cabriolet
September 2012
Community event
Pet lovers can share a cuppa and raise funds FUND-RAISING events usually fall away in the summer but the Brits in Carcassonne group are aiming to issue a welcome back to the holiday-makers with a charity event for the SPA Animal Refuge. The British Market on September 2 is the perfect chance to meet up with old friends and grab a cuppa while also stocking up on English books, Avon products, home-made cards and produce, cup-cakes – plus fish and chips and onion bhaji wraps. There will also be a raffle for prizes including a winetasting, a hair appointment, a garden nursery voucher, a meal for two... and €20 worth of sausages. The British market is being held from 10.00 to 16.00 in the Club Canin of Carcassonne, Stade Gilbert Benausse (Ex Romieu). For further information on the event contact the group at: britsincarcassonne@ hotmail.fr
Languedoc Pages
What’s On 11
September 2012
What’s On in the capital
September 28-October 1 – Enthusiasts race their precious vehicles from Place Vendôme to the Normandy seaside resort of Deauville each year. Before the race, there is an exhibition of pre-1940s vintage cars, and coupés and cabriolets designed before 1960. www.deauville.org/en
On the run September 9 – The La Parisienne 6km women’s race is back for its sixth year, starting at the Pont d’Iéna and taking in the Trocadéro and Eiffel Tower before reaching the finishing line at the Ecole Militaire. Registration is closed, but come and cheer from 09.45. www.la-parisienne.net
SPORT
Ile-de-France music festival September 8-October 14 – Each year, the Ile-de-France Festival offers a varied programme of music ranging from classical to contemporary, from traditional and folk to cutting edge electronic music, at venues ranging from central Paris to Fontainebleau.All the venues are places of outstanding cultural heritage within the region.The festival will this year once again offer some 40 concerts of baroque music, world music, jazz, electronic music and so on, as well as visits, meetings and conferences which address issues that are at the heart of life in the region.The full programme can be found at www.festival-idf.fr
FESTIVAL
Two hours of fireworks
Climbing Bercy Photo: So_P/Flickr
From September 13 – A new exhibition celebrates Montmartre’s famous avantgarde cabaret Le Chat Noir, taking visitors on an audiovisual tour of the musical and theatrical performances that wowed audiences from 1880-1910. Musée de Montmartre, €8. Discounts for under 24s. Open every day 10.00-18.00 at 12/14, rue Cortot (18e, metro Lamarck-Caulaincourt). See museedemontmartre.fr or call 01 49 25 89 39. While in the area, head round the corner to Rue Saint-Vincent for a peek at Paris’s only vineyard.
and sustainable development. Headlined by Pete Doherty, it is back for a second year and is described as “a heartfelt call to attention and at the same time a move to invent a new way of living in harmony and respect for the environment”. It takes place in the Bagatelle park on the edge of Paris, in the Bois de Boulogne.Tickets €38.50. www.welovegreen.fr
OUTDOORS
Photo: Gerard Cohen/Wikimedia
Celebrating the city’s famous cabaret
Classic cars Go green for weekend meet for September OUTDOORS Deauville 14-16 – We Love Green is a forward-thinking music festival that combines performances with race workshops on environmentally friendly living
Photo: Ted Drake/Flickr
Until September 30 – The Musée du Quai Branly in Paris invites you to discover an exhibition about gastronomy and the culinary arts in China. Cooking, dishes, table manners – you will discover some fabulous artefacts including ancient bronze dishes and imperial porcelain, as well as different techniques, various inventions and many menus outlining a brief history of Chinese culture. Entry €10. www.quaibranly.fr
EXHIBITION
September 22-23 – For two days, the Fête des Jardins à Paris presents a programme of varied entertainment in the city’s green spaces. Hundreds of free events take place throughout the capital – from guided tours and walks to concerts and exhibitions. Particularly recommended are the Parc de Bercy, Parc de la Villette, Jardins du Luxembourg, Jardins des Tuileries and Jardin des Plantes (pictured) where gardeners will reply to visitors’ questions and give guided tours.This year’s festival emphasises the importance of sustainable gardening. Entry is FREE.
Photo: Rama/Wikimedia. Inset: John Robert Charlton
Chinese culture through its food
Hundreds of special garden events
September 12-16 – Some 500 athletes representing 60 countries take part in the 12th World Climbing Championships and 15,000 spectators are expected. €32. worldclimbing2012.com
SPORT
Outdoor opera September 11-15 – Open air performances of Verdi’s Aida each evening in the grounds of the Hôtel des Invalides, where Napoleon is buried. Tickets from €39. www.operaenpleinair.com
MUSIC
September 8 – The Grand Feu d’Artifice de Saint-Cloud is billed as the world’s biggest and longest fireworks display, lasting over two hours and watched by 23,000 people in the Domaine de Saint Cloud park.Tickets range from €26 to €78. www.le-grand-feu.com
Photo: BenH/Wikimedia
Leonard Cohen, Lady Gaga in town
Throughout September – Paris attracts some of the biggest acts in popular music this month, with a Stade de France gig from Lady Gaga (pictured below, September 22, from €50) and, at the end of the month, legendary singersongwriter Leonard Cohen playing three nights at l’Olympia, Boulevard des Capucines (metro Opéra) from September 28-30, with tickets starting at €100 from all the usual outlets. Pop-rock supergroup Coldplay also play the Stade de France on September 2, but it is sold out.
12 Going green
Languedoc Pages
Save money by going green (while it lasts) The French government’s green tax credits scheme has been extended from the previous deadline of the end of this year, to the end of 2015. Benefits this year include higher rebates for people putting in more than one kind of installation at once. We explain more CERTAIN materials and equipment used to make your home more environmentallyfriendly can be written off against income tax. This is one of the ways the government encourages greener lifestyles to help with its commitments to cutting greenhouse gas emissions and making greater use of renewable energy sources (agreed at international climate conferences in Kyoto and Copenhagen and at France’s 2007 environment summit the Grenelle de l’Environnement). Since it was made obligatory for estate agents’ advertising to display ratings showing how much energy your home uses (from A to G) it has become all the more desirable for your home to be “greener”, as it affects its value and attractiveness should you wish to rent or sell. However it is a good idea to take advantage of the green tax rebates scheme rapidly, as money off tax has been reduced several times already, with this year no exception. Rebates for solar photovoltaic panels, for example, have been slashed especially drastically – they now attract an 11% credit compared to 22% in 2011 and 50% up until autumn 2010. However, the good news this year is that a number of popular items now benefit from higher rates (up to 40%) if you have at least two different kinds of eligible installation put
in at the same time – for example double glazing and solar thermal panels. Another plus is that the scheme has been extended until the end of 2015, whereas it only originally applied until the end of 2012. Tax credits can also now, once again, be combined with the zero-interest “eco-prêt” loan, under certain circumstances, which was not possible last year. The green tax credit Green tax credits were introduced in 2005 and were initially planned until the end of 2012. They will now continue until the end of 2015, apart from for new-build homes. Tweaks have been made to the way they work over the years, including changes to the products that qualify and the amount of tax you can offset against certain items. Work done in 2012 would usually be claimed back as a tax deduction when filling in your income declarations in 2013 (it is possible the new government will make further changes applicable for work in 2013). The basics Carrying out renovation or improvement work
such as fitting insulation, a wood-burning stove or a condensing boiler gives you the right to ask for a tax credit. This is a sum deducted from your income tax bill on the income you earned in the same year that you had the work done. The main difference between a tax “reduction” and a tax “credit” is that with a credit if you fall below the income thresholds to actually pay French income tax you are eligible for a payment via a cheque or directly into a French bank account. Similarly if you do not pay enough tax to deduct your full entitlement, the rest will be paid by cheque. However to benefit you still have to fill out a French income tax form for the year in question. Who is it for? People who rent their home, owneroccupiers, people who let out a home or people who live in a home free of charge. People who are fiscally-resident in France Note that if you are letting the home you cannot both opt for the tax credit and the option of an expenses deduction from your income from property (revenus fonciers) for the same equipment/work. What properties are concerned? A main residence, either house or apartment A residence that you let out to someone else unfurnished. In this case, you should intend to rent it out as your tenant’s main home for a period of at least five years
At least two years old for credits for insulation, regulating equipment, condensing or microgeneration boilers and for a energy efficiency check. The home can be either new or old for equipment using renewable energies or for installation of heat pumps. Note that from 2013 properties built after January 1, 2011 will not benefit from the scheme. This is because they are now meant to be built already at a very high standard of energy efficiency. Main conditions On the whole the credit is for materials or equipment, not for labour (with an exception for wall/roof insulation or the underground heat exchanger that forms part of a geothermal heat pump). The materials or equipment must be installed in the home by a professional firm, which should be the same firm that supplied (not necessarily made) them. In the case of newbuild homes they should be installed by the builder or seller. It is important that you keep the facture (bill) for the work and this must clearly state the cost of supply of materials, with VAT included (fourniture de matériels, TVA comprise). It should also give the relevant technical specifications for the material to ensure it meets the requirements for the credit. These vary according to the kind of material/equipment and are intended to make sure that the tax credit is
Photo: FABIOBERTI_IT - FOTOLIA.COM
Going green 13
September 2012
Reader Feedback
Photo: CYRIL COMTAT - FOTOLIA.COM
I saved €22,000 thanks to the eco home initiatives
Putting in loft insulation is a popular option for making a home more energy-efficient
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People should take advantage of these schemes - there are financial benefits there for the taking - but they should also do their homework Marc Asker
Renewable energy products supplier only given for installations that will have a significant effect on the energy efficiency of your home. The facture should also state on it the address of the property. Having eco-friendly materials professionally installed can often work out even cheaper than DIY, because you may benefit from the tax credit and this kind of home improvement is also often, as of 2012, eligible for reduced VAT (from 19.6% to 7%). Beware pitfalls... THE phrase caveat emptor – buyer beware – is good advice when it comes to renewable energy products marketed as supposedly eligible for tax credits. According to Marc Asker of renewable ener-
gy products firm EcoPower, some DIY stores display products labelled as giving a rebate, with no indication of rules such as the fact that if you buy a product you must also be sure to have the same firm install it. He said: “One person told me how they bought a wood-burner which had a ‘rebate’ sticker on it and had it put in by a local plumber. They then applied for – and received – a tax credit, oblivious to the rule. Years later they were shocked to get a letter from the tax office demanding the rebate – and interest – back.” Even had the customer taken up an option of having the equipment installed by a subcontractor the firm uses, this would still not have been good enough – it really must be the same firm that supplies and installs the goods. Of course that is not an issue if you have it done by a local tradesman who will bill for both equipment and the labour on his facture. Mr Asker added: “In my opinion, despite the fact that legally it is your responsibility to ensure you are not making any false tax claims unwittingly or otherwise, (which could be considered as fraudulent) the supplier has a moral obligation to give you accurate advice. “If they are not prepared to help then maybe they are not the company for you. People should take advantage of these schemes - there are financial benefits there for the taking - but they should also do their homework so they can be secure in the knowledge that they have complied with the rules.”
PIPPA Curtis bought an old farmhouse near Briançon in the southern French Alps in 2003 and moved to the area permanently three years later. Since then she has been busy building up her business offering self-catered Alpine holiday apartments and is constantly looking at ways to make the property more environmentallyfriendly while keeping costs down. Ms Curtis read about the financial incentives for eco home improvements in the Connexion’s helpguide and decided to find out more. “I’m trying to do everything as environmentally friendly as possible. The rules are hard to keep up with as there are changes all the time. I know others, including French people, who gave up before succeeding. I knew about the eco home initiatives before my builder, thanks to Connexion.” she says. She had wall and ceiling insulation and solar panels for hot water installed in 2010 and benefited from a €30,000 interest-free loan from the state, which she is paying back over a 10-year term. “I calculate I will have gained €22,000 €16,000 through eco initiatives,” she says. “€ through tax rebates and €6,000 saved by not paying interest on a €30,000 loan repaid over 10 years. “I’ve been very lucky and fallen on my feet. My builder has formal training in renovating national monuments, so he understands old buildings. Both the builder and the plumber [who installed the photovoltaic panels] have been great and have helped me fill in all the forms.” Her local tax office was less useful at first when trying to find out about the credits
Tax rebates helpguide – updated The Connexion newspaper has published an updated helpguide to tax rebates for eco-friendly products from which the information above is extracted. It contains full details on which products you can claim for, at what percentages and explains how to do so.
Download a copy for €5 at www.connexionfrance.com or call 0800 91 77 56 for a printed version to be sent (postage is extra)
Plumber Hervé Puy and son Gabriel unload the solar panels
Alpine gîte owner Pippa Curtis and her daughter Becky she could claim on her income tax return, and her advice for anyone seeking advice is to be persistent: “It’s difficult to find out how to do it. It doesn’t make it easy for people who want to apply. “I went in the week before the papers were due and the guy kind of shrugged his shoulders as if to say: you’re already getting the interest-free loan, isn’t that enough? I now know you can’t give up. “I handed over all the pieces of paper they might need – just bombarded them. I think they recognised I was putting in the legwork. In the end, bung them every piece of paper you think might apply and let them verify which applies for each year.” She says the solar hot water system will pay for itself in 12-15 years: “I’m doing it as much for the principle. It’s not going to give a quick return.” The environmentally friendly approach has also been good for business. The gîte, called Snowgums, is an inaugural member of Alastair Sawday’s Ethical Collection: “When we were originally inspected to be listed by Sawday, I knew he was interested in environmental things. They were just over 400 properties [in the 2008 guide] of which only seven got the green award and I was one of them.” And Ms Curtis’s plans keep coming: “Hopefully this year we will be creating a new bedroom for my daughter in the attic using environmental and traditional techniques. After that we need to insulate our main room and the stairway from street level to the fourth floor.”
ADVERTISING FEATURE
Professional building and renovations in Aude With a satisfied network of clients throughout the Aude and the Languedoc-Roussillon region, Aude Artisans are happy to complete any renovation, construction or building work in the area, says James Gordon Roe WITH over 26 years of experience in the renovation and construction industry, professional carpenter James Gordon Roe, of Aude Artisans, has all the knowhow required to manage a building project from the start through to completion. Having worked in the Aude region for a decade, James has experience renovating a variety of structures, including listed buildings in the medieval city of Carcassonne. He has completed work for people who live in the region, as well as those who own a second home in Aude but live elsewhere. “We offer a full range of home
improvement, building and maintenance services,” said James. “We understand that having building work on a property can make for a stressful time, especially if the owner doesn’t speak the language or if it’s a secondary home, so we handle the whole process.” Aude Artisans offers a wide range of services, including plastering and tiling, bathroom and kitchen design and installation, joinery, electrical work, floor laying, parquet floor, shop fitting and landscape gardening. “By sourcing all materials and offering
weekly emails with photos that keep owners up-to-date, we try to make the process as stress free for clients as possible,” said James. His personal expertise, however, does not stop at property exteriors - Aude Artisans can also help clients inside the home. As a professional carpenter, James can create a wide range of items for any room in the house. “We manufacture shutter doors, garage doors, stairs, windows and bookcases to
“
We offer a full range of home improvement, building and maintenance services
clients’ specifications,” said James. In addition, James and the team also offer a maintenance service, using their expertise to solve the problems homeowners are sometimes unsure of how to fix. “Properties are always in need of upkeep, so whether the job is to eliminate rot in the railings, or there is a door that needs hanging, we can do the work and source all the materials where necessary,” added James. For more information, or to discuss any building and carpentry needs, call or email James who will provide advice and a very competitive quote. 09 66 42 50 10 06 19 95 87 50 james.gordon-roe@orange.com www.audeartisans.com
Professional building work in Aude
14 Leisure Time
Languedoc Pages
September 2012
Sponsored by French-themed crossword
by John Foley
Across 3. As the drink-themed proverb says, “à bon ___, point d’enseigne” (3) 6. French-derived word traditionally used for a straight tree-lined road (6) 7. Georges _____, composer of works such as L’Arlésienne (5) 8. French frost (3) 10. Period of a hundred years in France (6) 12. Pas beau – in fact quite the opposite (4) 13. For elementary learners, family member who is typically la plume’s owner (5) 14. Salé et fumé – particularly when speaking of a herring (4) 16. Eurostar terminal in Paris, Gare du ____ (4) 17. Paper which produces copies sans avoir à les recopier (7) 18 Memory lapse – ____ de mémoire (4) 19. Medieval city in western Provence about 25km north-northeast of Nîmes (4) 21. There are always these where there are ways (5) 22. Comes in handy when unlocking une porte (4) 23. French verb to warm up, also cool down (6) 25. One of a pair useful in Chamonix and Les Arcs (3)
What’s in a word?
Easy
sabotage
Intermediate
Photo: Jackolan1/Wikimedia
1 FRANÇOIS Hollande’s partner, Valérie Trierweiler, works as a journalist for which magazine?
6 ALAIN Juppé, the former foreign minister, is mayor of which major city? 7 WHICH northern English county is bidding to be the starting point for the 2014 Tour de France?
2 SINCE July 1, drivers in France have been required to carry which item with them? 3 EUROSTAR began train services under the English Channel in which year? 4 THE minimum wage, which recently rose 2% to €9.40 per hour, is commonly known by which four-letter name? 5 THE French football team were knocked out at which stage of the Euro 2012 tournament this summer?
Difficult
CROSSWORD ANSWERS. Across 3 vin; 6 avenue; 7 Bizet; 8 gel; 10 siècle; 12 laid; 13 tante; 14 saur; 16 Nord; 17 carbone; 18 trou; 19 Uzès; 21 means; 22 clef; 23 tiédir; 25 ski; 26 Manet; 27 Nicole; 28 été Down 1 cassis; 2 bête; 3 vegetarians; 4 Villeneuve; 5 pedigree; 9 langoustine; 11 circumflex; 15 Aurillac; 20 sorbet; 24 Dior FRANCE QUIZ ANSWERS: 1. Paris Match; 2. Breathalyser; 3. 1994; 4. Smic; 5. Quarter-finals; 6. Bordeaux; 7. Yorkshire
Sudoku
1. Crème of this mixes well with sparkling wine or champagne (6) 2. A black one of these is a pet hate (4) 3. Diners not usually well catered for in French restaurants (11) 4. Common place name in many departments, originally for a “new town” (10) 5. Genealogical term derived from Old French for “crane’s foot” (8) 9. Clawed crustacean better known in Britain as a Dublin Bay prawn (11) 11. Diacritic nicknamed “petit chapeau” (10) 15. Commune in the Auvergne and capital of the Cantal department (8) 20. Offered in many restaurants as an alternative to a crème glacée (6) 24. High fashion house founded in Paris in 1946 (4)
The France quiz
by Paul Masters
Removing or unbolting these fixings would have the effect of destabilising the rails, particularly at a bend in the track and could lead to the derailing of a train. At one time this was thought to be the origin of the word sabotage. However, modern etymologists reject this explanation and return to the early industrial workforce long before the days of trades unions. If a factory owner was driving his workers too hard, or forcing them to work impossibly long days, the disgruntled workers might throw a wooden shoe into the machinery, which would inevitably grind to a halt. Maybe that is where the English idiom “to clog up the works” comes from. But as an origin of sabotage, this early industrial action seems a likely candidate.
Down
Photo: Wladyslaw Sojka/Wikimedia
SABOTAGE is a word which arouses many emotions. The images which spring to mind might be the wilful destruction of property by clandestine resistance fighters, or for a different generation, a powerful song by The Beastie Boys. But where does the word sabotage originate? In the 19th century, factory workers needed cheap hardwearing shoes. In the north of England they favoured clogs, with a solid wooden sole and leather uppers, which were nailed together round the edges. Never the most discreet form of footwear, these clogs make a particular noise as you walk around in them and this sound is an integral part of clog dancing, which still persists in many parts of the UK and the United States. But in France the traditional wooden shoes tended to be made from a single, hollowedout piece of wood and were called sabots. By extension, the word sabot was also the name given to the steel or cast-iron fixing which secured a railway line to the sleepers below.
26. Artist of Le déjeuner sur l'herbe (5) 27. Girl’s name – once beloved by Renault advertisers (6) 28. Perfect time for les vacances (3)
Languedoc Pages
Food and Pets 15
September 2012
Delicious stuffed tomatoes
‘Surprise’ tomatoes stuffed with polenta and parmesan INGREDIENTS
6 beef tomatoes 200g polenta 350ml vegetable stock 350ml milk 40g butter 60g Parmesan, grated 60g pine nuts, roasted Nutmeg Salt, pepper
METHOD Wash the tomatoes and cut the tops off and keep them to one side.
Scoop out the tomato insides with a spoon taking care not to make the sides too thin. Discard the flesh and seeds. Season with some salt. In a pan bring the stock to a gentle boil and integrate the milk and butter, then gradually mix in the polenta until its combined. Bring briefly to the boil then remove from the heat and leave to stand for 15 minutes until all the liquid is absorbed. Preheat the oven to 180°C or Gas Mark 6 Mix in the parmesan, pine nuts and
Photo: Rivière/Photocuisine
slight acidity helps prepare the digestive system for the meal that follows. Smaller varieties (cerise, cocktail or grappe) are great for salads, but it is the bigger, rounder, beef tomatoes (côtelée or cœur de bœuf) with their meaty texture that work best for grilling and stuffing. The biggest producers of these are the Lot-et-Garonne and Bouches-du-Rhône. Hollowed out and stuffed, the possibilities are endless: whether rice or cous-cous, goats cheese or ricotta, tuna or saucisson. Go for firm tomatoes with wrinkle-free skins and a noticeable tomato smell. Avoid putting them in the fridge unless they are very ripe and you are not planning to use them for several days – chilling tomatoes mutes their flavour. Give them a good wash before use.
Serves: 6 Preparation: 15 minutes Cooking: 30 minutes
The French tomato season is at its peak in September following the summer harvest. The versatile fruit is an essential ingredient in many salads, stews and pasta sauces – but here we explore how it can also make a main dish in its own right, hollowed out, stuffed with savoury items of your choice and cooked FRANCE produces more than 550,000 tonnes of tomatoes every year, in regions spanning from Brittany and the Loire Valley to the northeast and the Mediterranean and the average person consumes about 13kg a year. Originally from central America, they arrived in Europe in the 16th century and were referred to as pomme d’amour or pomme d’or (the Italians still do, with pomodoro). A staple of Mediterannean cooking, they are an excellent source of fibre, vitamins A, C, E, minerals, carotene and antioxidants which help boost the body’s immune system – and cooking them brings out more of their good properties than eating them raw, not to mention more of the taste. They make an ideal apéritif or starter as their
CUT OUT & KEEP!
nutmeg into the polenta and season with some salt and pepper. Whilst still warm, fill the tomatoes with the polenta. Replace the tomato tops. Place the tomatoes in a lightly greased oven proof dish. Cook in the
middle of the oven for about 15 minutes, then remove and serve. Serve as a main dish with a salad and a yoghurt dressing or alternatively as a side dish with a hearty meat such as lamb.
Do your bit to keep rabies out of France
RABIES used to be endemic in France but thanks to range of actions including vaccinating both domestic and wild animals, it has been stamped out. France was declared free of rabies (in non-flying species) in 2001 and there has not been a case of human rabies contracted in France since 1923. However, there are still occasional cases because it is all too easy for people to bring unvaccinated animals into the country by road. Since 2001, nine rabid dogs and puppies have been illegally imported into France. A typical story unfolded last year when, on July 11, a French family found a stray Jack Russell puppy in Rabat, Morocco. They adopted it and three weeks later, illegally brought it back to the Vendée in
Photo: Gorilla - Fotolia.com
Rabies has been stamped out in France, but there is no room for complacency and your pet must be vaccinated before travelling, says SAMANTHA DAVID
Pet Care their car, where it got ill. On August 6 they took the puppy to the vet. It died the next day and tests showed that it had died of rabies. Three members of the family had been bitten by the dog, and 19 other people had been in contact with it. All had to have rabies prevention treatments, and happily all of them survived. The family’s original pet dog had been vaccinated against rabies, so was not affected, but the family’s cat and her kittens were not vaccinated and had to be humanely destroyed. In 2004, someone took an illegally
This column is sponsored by
It is vital to have your pets micro-chipped and vaccinated each year imported rabid dog to a series of music and theatre festivals across south-west France resulting in 187 people receiving anti-rabies treatment. In 2008, a rabid dog wandered into a school yard: 152 children received anti-rabies treatment and France lost its rabies-free status. The infection was traced back to an illegally imported dog which, having been abandoned had infected a whole chain of other animals.
France’s rabies-free status was regained in 2010. None of these cases resulted in any human deaths, but could easily have done so. The lesson is clear. Never be tempted to import animals illegally into France or anywhere else in the EU. Never touch animals you don’t know personally. Certainly never touch an illegally imported animal. And, of course, it is vital to have
your own animals micro-chipped and vaccinated against rabies every year. The micro-chip is the legal way an animal can be identified and therefore proven to have been vaccinated. It is not expensive, in the region of €20 and can be injected alongside the usual vaccinations. Make sure your pet’s health card has the sticker from the vaccination bottle in it and the stamp/signature from your vet, just in case you have to prove your pet is vaccinated. As for “flying species” this refers to bats, which are protected animals and cannot be exterminated. They still carry rabies in all European countries, including France and the UK. However, the World Health Organisation considers that the chance of another mammal catching rabies from a bat is extremely remote. It would clearly be unwise to handle a bat, either dead or alive, and if by some mischance you, or one of your pets, is bitten by a bat, seek medical attention as soon as possible – at least within 24 hours. World Rabies Day is September 28. For more information, see www.worldrabiesday.org
Tel. 06 58 01 82 76 Web. www.seulementnaturel.eu Email. marc.somsen@chardeyre.com
16 Directory
Languedoc Pages
September 2012
Advertise here ALL YEAR from just €75HT Call free on 0800 91 77 56 or email directory@connexionfrance.com
LANGUEDOC DIRECTORY English-speaking firms near you For your security, we check that the French businesses in this section are officially registered with the authorities
Find registered tradespeople quickly and easily By advertising in our directory you get the chance to run advertorials (the articles you see on these pages). We are currently offering these at a two for one price, so two x 1/4 page advertorials, maximum 400 words plus photo, costs just €200HT. A minimum two month break between publishing applies and the second advertorial is a repeat of the first. If you wish to change the second there is a €25 fee together with a €15 fee if you want us to provide a photo.
We will keep you up to date with features and special events in your area of France in all our publications which could help to boost your business. We include the text from your advertisement in our online directory for no extra charge. Want to advertise in our national paper The Connexion or sister papers in other regions? Call our sales team for more information.
ADVERTISING FEATURE
Spend winter wrapped in the fibre of the Gods There is no need to subsititute style for warmth this winter, as Polfages transforms luxurious alpaca wool into functional and fashionable accessories WITH winter fast approaching, now is the time to think about keeping warm. According to Jane Potts of Polfages Alpacas, there is no better way to do so than by wearing luxurious Alpaca wool, which also keeps people dry and comforttable even in the wettest, coldest weather. Jane moved to Languedoc in 2008, bringing her herd of alpacas with her. Leaving behind her computer company in Herefordshire, she moved into a farmhouse with seven hectares of land where she and her Huacaya alpacas now reside. “Alpaca wool - which is often called the fibre of the Gods - is as fine as cashmere, second in strength to silk, and has a very
soft luxurious feel to it,” said Jane. “The wool is hypoallergenic and has a non-prickle factor, so it is ideal for those who are unable to wear other types of wool. Another interesting fact is that it has a unique structure, so it can absorb moisture which allows the skin to breathe and helps retain heat.” The alpacas are shorn once a year, and their wool - which comes in white, grey, fawn, brown and black - is sent back to England where it is made into knitting yarns and throws. From now until December, Jane will be holding monthly open days at Polfages for people to come and see her herd of
PETER JOHNSON SARL Business & Financial Services French taxation specialists (25 years experience)
Mobile: 06 21 04 89 37 Office: 04 93 29 34 32 Email: peterjohnson@wanadoo.fr Siret n° 479 554 784 RCS Grasse
Le Palais des Chats Exclusive hotel for cats 35 minutes from Perpignan Collection/delivery available Carol and Stuart Metcalfe
alpacas, of which the two new additions were born in June. “Some of the accessories have been hand knitted from the wool of the alpacas and we also stock popular walking and stripy socks, colourful scarves, hats, gloves and knitting wool,” said Jane. "This winter we have some newly designed hats, scarves and gloves, as well as some beautiful, coloured alpaca wool." The open days will be held on the following Saturdays; 22 September, 20 October, 24 November and 15 December. Jane also has many of her products for sale in Quillan, at Tatie Divine, 2 Rue de l'Eglise. For more details contact her by phone or email, or visit her website. 04 68 60 48 90 jane@polfagesalpacas.com www.polfagesalpacas.com
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Ward Building Services Renovation to Decoration Extensions, Kitchens, Bathrooms, tiling, stonework, Patios, terraces. Free estimates Tel: Mike 04 68 24 45 05 / 06 33 28 48 72 Email: frbuilder@yahoo.com Siret: 50400085200013
COMPUTER SUPPORT AND HELPDESK http://www.montolieu-it-service.eu Tel: 06 79 99 75 20 Email: montolieu-it-service@sfr.fr Covering AUDE and all Departments within 100 km of CARCASSONNE. Siret :489 920 124 00018
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Directory 17
September 2012
- Regions covered: All
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Tel: 04 67 77 19 06 www.wicmediterranee.org
DICK FOWLER CONSTRUCTION Pool design and build Also other house renovation and construction works fowlerbatiment@gmail.com Phone: 06 70 91 12 17 Ad No. 18691
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Need someone to help with property maintenance problems, home improvements, renovations, Exteriors, Gardens & Pools. Contact Anthony Main 0033 (0)468 783 696 email: anthonymain.fr@gmail.com www.midibuilder.com Siret 4846 8735 500012
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18 DIY
Languedoc Pages
2012 Helpguide to Local Taxes
September 2012
D I Y tips Sponsored by
PROFESSIONAL
INFORMATION YOU CAN TRUST ON LIFE IN FRANCE Whether you own or rent a home or holiday home in France, you will be subject to French
BUILDERS
Get to work on building an office Photo: Monster - Fotolia.com
local taxes. This guide explains who must pay, how to pay and who is eligible for reductions or exemptions.
Especially written for Britons living in France. Published September 1, 2012
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A basic home office need not take up a lot of space AS YOUNG people go back to school and life moves indoors again after the summer, creating office space for homework (and planning DIY projects) is a rewarding task. If space is at a premium, check the possibilities of landings, halls, alcoves and under the stairs. A wellarranged desk need not take up huge amounts of room. A very simple desk can be constructed by putting a desktop over two filing cabinets. Measure the tops of the cabinets and use batons to construct a wooden frame for each one on the underside of the desktop. That way, when the desktop slots into place, it will not slide about. Remember to cut a fist-sized hole somewhere at the back of the desktop so that you can run cables, wires and plugs through it. To ensure that you get wi-fi into your new office space, look at obstacles such as thick stone walls and fireplaces, and fish tanks. Are they your problem? Large volumes of water can block a wi-fi signal. If the walls are too thick for wi-fi, the latest solution is running ethernet connections through your existing electrical wiring via a special plug. Modular shelving systems are possibly the easiest and quickest to install, and a wide choice is available from DIY stores. But if building your own pay attention to the height of the books and files destined for each shelf – measure carefully before you start – and include enough vertical supports to prevent the shelves bowing under the weight of the books. For simple storage units, first buy a series of boxes or crates and then construct the unit to house them. You can build this exactly like a bookcase, but with dividers to give each crate its own space. Putting doors on bookshelves turns them into cupboards – suddenly the contents stay dust-free and the room looks more organised. The trick to hanging a door is starting with a level floor and a frame consisting of four right angles. Construct frames along the front of your book case and then hang the doors. Ensure you mount the hinges in a straight line on the edge of the door and then keep them absolutely parallel to the upright on the doorframe and it will be plain sailing. If, however, the frame is crooked, the easiest approach is to correct the frame before proceeding rather than attempting to hang a door from an off-centre frame. Lighting in office spaces needs to be bright without glaring off computer screens, and multiple light sources achieve this best. If the room has a central light but the desk is over by the wall, you can easily move the centre light by replacing the cable with a much longer one which you then run over a cup-hook screwed into a rawl plug in the ceiling. This is not perhaps the most elegant solution but certainly a fast one, and one which is easily reversible if the room is rearranged.
Languedoc Pages
Home and Garden 19
September 2012
Photo: www.doglikehorse.com - Fotolia.com
Gardening Facts
Sponsored by
Photo: Ludmila Smite - Fotolia.com
Prune your fruit trees once you have finished picking
Harvest time in the garden
Feng Shui your home THE ART of Feng Shui is thought to have originated in China thousands of years ago. Feng means wind and shui means water; in Chinese culture, these two elements are associated with good health and fortune. Andrew Laycock, who runs Feng Shui retreats in France says: “Feng Shui is all about promoting balance and harmony in your environment.” The foundation principles of Feng Shui are yin and yang, the five elements, the Bagua (a map which shows how energy moves within your home) and where your house is situated. “The first level is to create balance to ensure that your home is filled with positive energy. This includes creating
Thinking of a major redecoration of your house? The principles of Feng Shui could help you create a beautiful and relaxing living space, as REBECCA LAWN finds out an equal balance between yin energy and yang energy (dark, pale, quiet and light, bright, busy), ensuring the house is well maintained and in good repair, kept tidy and free of clutter and that the four seasons are equally represented in your home. “These are linked to the five elements so spring is represented by wood, summer by fire, autumn by metal and winter by water. The four are then balanced and grounded by earth,” Mr Laycock explains. “The second level of Photo: djama - Fotolia.com
Feng Shui is how you then enhance positive energy in your home in order to attract what you currently desire in your life.” Each area of the Bagua corresponds to an aspect of your life and is represented by different colours, numbers, elements and shapes. For example, the south-west corner of your home is linked to your relationship and is represented by earth, squares and rectangles, the number two and cream, brown and pink. The career area is to the north of your home, and is represented by dark blue, black, grey, freeform shapes, water and the number one. Mr Laycock says: “The numbers on the Bagua map link to the numbers of the Lo Shu Square. The Lo Shu square is an important mathematical principle in Chinese culture.” By using these numbers in certain areas of your home – for example placing nine can-
dles in the south, two crystals in the south west, three plants in the east – you will help strengthen the energy in that area of your home. To put the map into place, you align the bottom edge of the Bagua with the front door of your home. There are also a few simple changes you can make to enhance the energy in your home. For the living room, Mr Laycock advises pulling furniture away from the walls so that energy can flow around it. “Group furniture together so that people sitting down can focus on each other rather than something else in the room, such as a TV,” he adds. In the dining room, the table should ideally be round or oval-shaped as there is no clear head of the table and everyone can see everyone else. As for bedrooms, Mr Laycock adds that beds should be placed so that the occupants have a clear view of the door but their feet are not pointing at it (said to be the death position), nor are they at a right angle to the door as this can lead to a feeling of insecurity. Photo: sergey02 - Fotolia.com
SEPTEMBER is the month to liberate your inner hunter/gatherer. All this month’s fruits including apples, pears and apricots marry well with blackberries, and those stubbornly unripe specimens are ideal for chutney, as is quince. As well as picking fruit and nuts, this is also a good time to plant trees and take cuttings. Once you have finished picking, prune fruit trees. Geranium cuttings taken now and over-wintered somewhere frost-free will avoid the need for buying expensive plug plants next spring. And if you have gaps in your hedge, take cuttings of box, yew and holly now too. If you have ever fancied trying your hand at topiary, this is the month to start trimming that bush into an artistic shape. If your lawn went brown in August, it will be turning green again in September and this is a good month to give it some TLC and get it back in form for the winter. Fertilise it to boost growth, aerate it with a garden fork, and give it a good raking over to remove all the detritus of the summer. Keep raking to keep fallen leaves off the grass (they could encourage it to rot underneath). Re-sow any bare patches. Plant bulbs like daffodils, crocuses and hyacinths. Scatter them across the lawn and plant where they fall. To repair the edges, just cut the edge tile of turf out and turn it round. Then fill in the hole with compost and re-seed. In the vegetable garden harvest roots vegetables such as carrots and potatoes before the ground gets too wet. Leave parsnips until after the first frost, when they will taste sweeter. Sow broad beans and hardy peas for early cropping next year. Harvest the last of the green beans. Put a layer of hay or straw under your pumpkin if you are growing a big one for Halloween. Start forking over parts of the garden which have finished cropping for this year. Check that potted plants have not become root-bound over the winter. Weed them too and add mulch. To keep cats off containers and pots, mulch with the prickly sweet chestnut shells – shell and freeze enough chestnuts for stuffing the turkey at Christmas. Most plants can stay outside for another month, but keep a sharp eye on the weather forecast just in case. Hang sunflower heads up to start drying them out. Pot up herbs such as mint and chives so that you have fresh supplies through the autumn. Make sloe gin by rinsing the sloes (there is no need to prick them), putting them in a large glass jar so that they come half way up the side, pouring in supermarket gin to cover and then adding sugar so that you have a drift about three inches deep at the bottom of the jar. Leave in a cool dark place for three months, taste to see if more sugar is required, then strain and bottle. Do not crush the fruits when straining.
Different areas of your house respond to an aspect of your life and are represented by different colours and shapes
Feng Shui is about balance and harmony – a mix of colours and keeping a well-maintained and clutter-free living space
20 Property
Languedoc Pages
September 2012
Houses for sale across France Buying or selling a property? We can help. Our website www.connexionfrance.com carries details of more than 14,000 homes for sale across France. We also feature properties for sale in this dedicated section of the paper each month. To find out more about any particular property, go to www.connexionfrance.com and enter the ref: code shown under the property.
age costs just €200TTC and gives you three months online advertising as well as a print advert in three editions of The Languedoc Pages. Our 6+6 package is best value at €330TTC and provides the same, but for six months via each channel.
New Consumption and Emission Chart - e.g. Energy rating C & F refers to C for Consumption and F for Emissions
Contact us on 0800 91 77 56 (freephone in France) or email sales@connexionfrance.com
More details on all these properties - and how to contact the seller directly - can be found in the property for sale section of
For sellers, the adverts are also displayed across a range of popular English- speaking websites and are seen by thousands of potential buyers EVERY day. Our 3+3 pack-
www.connexionfrance.com
Simply enter the code under each home to find out more PROPERTIES IN LANGUEDOC
€65,000
€90,000
€121,000
Bessède de Sault Renovated two bedroomed detached stone house with garden. Close to ski station, perfect for holiday home.
Belvis Three bedroomed single storey house comprises kitchen, sitting/dining room, bathroom and garden.
Bouriege This three bedroomed village house includes living room, kitchen, utility space, bathroom, balcony-terrace and garage.
REF: 2010
ENERGY RATING = F & E
REF: 2046
ENERGY RATING = G & D
REF: 700095
€130,000
€169,000
€194,000
Near Capendu Three bedroomed traditional house consists of living room, kitchen, bathroom, office, laundry room, garage and workshop.
Near Uzès Small two bedroomed stone house includes kitchen, dining room, bathroom, vaulted room and a cellar with toilet.
Béziers Lovely four bedroom house with terrace and garage.
REF: 110154281
ENERGY RATING = D & E
REF: 2493vm
ENERGY RATING = D & F
REF: 340631143
€210,000
€220,000
€243,000
Near Générac Three bedroom house with outbuildings.
Quillan Detached five bedroomed house includes sitting room, dining room, kitchen, bathroom, shower room, terrace, garage and garden.
Near Le Boulou Four bedroom traditional build set on 500sqm of land consisting of living room, equipped kitchen, bathroom, two wc, garage and linen room.
REF: A424
ENERGY RATING = F & F
REF: 2049
ENERGY RATING = D & E
REF: 203667
€264,000
€290,000
€315,000
Quillan Lovely villa with two furnished gîtes, single garage, workshop and garage.
Anduze Three bedroom villa comprises living room, open kitchen, bathroom, terrace and garage.
Hérault Recently renovated threebedroomed home with independent studio and swimming pool.
REF: 2131
ENERGY RATING = D & C
REF: F547
ENERGY RATING = D & B
REF: MLP331
€340,000
€366,000
€399,000
Milhaud Without a broker for sale. Four bedroom villa includes lounge/dining room, kitchen, bathroom, workshop, pool house and swimming pool.
Near Caveirac Four bedroom villa with swimming pool.
Lodève Three bedroomed villa comprising living room, large dining room, kitchen, bathroom, shower room, utility room and garage.
REF: Y357
ENERGY RATING = D & E
REF: 264V
ENERGY RATING = C & A
REF: MLP330
€410,000
€425,000
€449,000
Béziers Three bedroomed villa consisting of lounge, dining room, kitchen and bathrooms, Mezzanine which is currently used as an office, outhouse and gardens.
Gard Five bedroomed villa includes large living room, dining room, kitchen, bathroom, garage, garden and swimming pool.
Hérault Five bedroomed stone house includes outbuildings and swimming pool.
REF: 342431375
ENERGY RATING = C & D
REF: 2361vm
ENERGY RATING = D & D
REF: IFPC22414
€475,000
€550,000
€595,000
Céret Stunning four bedroomed property with swimming pool.
Gard Four bedroomed villa comprises large lounge, fitted kitchen, two bathrooms and office.
Gard Four bedroom property offers large living room, kitchen, bathroom, office room, garden and swimming pool.
REF: 2743
ENERGY RATING =
REF: V437
ENERGY RATING = B & C
REF: 391V
ENERGY RATING = F
ENERGY RATING = B & C
ENERGY RATING = B & A
ENERGY RATING = D & B
ENERGY RATING = D & B
ENERGY RATING = D & E
ENERGY RATING = C & B
The adverts above cost from just €200TTC for three months of web advertising and three months of print advertising.
Let our distribution get you a sale. Contact our sales team on 0800 91 77 56 (freephone in France) or email sales@connexionfrance.com
Languedoc Pages
Business and Legal 21
September 2012
ANNETTE MORRIS has lived in Languedoc for over four years. She works as a freelance internet marketing consultant and website developer, helping businesses optimise their online presence. Annette co-runs www.LaFranglaise.com and the Languedoc group of the Survive France network. Last year she started Languedoc Jelly, designed to promote the co-working concept to expats and English-speakers in France. In this regular column she shares her tips for the business community and would welcome readers’ questions and feedback.
Answered by
Useful Websites
Photo: woldike - Fotolia.com
Marketing momentum
LegalNotes
www.languedocjelly.org www.lafranglaise.com www.station-coworking.com www.pinterest.com To contact Annette Morris, call 07 86 14 16 39 or email Solutions@LaFranglaise.com Photo: © Alexander Raths - Fotolia.com
Making your house look occupied will deter burglars
Protecting your home while away I am leaving my French home empty for a while. What can I do to protect it from burglars? R.G.
Now is a good time to look at every element of your business’s marketing and start planning campaigns in advance
Once the school holidays are over, September is a great month to revisit your marketing strategy, both on and offline. To help create some momentum and give yourself some focus, an annual marketing plan based on seasonal events and holidays can often help MOST business-owners are aware which months of the year are the quietest in their own marketplace. Once you have identified the promotions that make sense for your business (and your budget), the real campaign planning begins. As well as national holidays, consider linking your campaign to a local fete, a seasonal food, or a lesser known event in local history. The Languedoc in autumn is brimming with inspirational ideas. Planning campaigns well in advance does take time but will help you streamline your efforts and your expenses. The marketing mix is important so work out how long design and printing will take, how long it will take to update your website or even spruce up your location. Be clear about who you want to reach and the best way to communicate with your intended audience; that may include emails, newsletters, postcards, advertising, social networking, posters and flyers or visits. With the increasing number of homebased workers and
“solo-preneurs” in France, partnership and collaboration is rising consistently. Why not explore who you could join forces with, and perhaps deliver a stronger message for both parties? The number of co-working spaces in Languedoc is on the rise (La Station has just opened in central Perpignan) giving a great opportunity to meet other professionals that will have a wide range of skills. You will find further information about co-working opportunities and regional business networking groups on the
“
Languedoc Jelly website. Consider special offers and competitions and what you can comfortably afford to give as an incentive or to add value. Taking a longer term view, you are interested in increasing sales, so freebies are rarely the ideal option; research your competition and identify your unique selling points first. Conveying your marketing messages can be made much simpler via social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter, so decide how important these channels are to your overall strategy and how much time you really need to be spending online. You may be quite surprised. If you do not already have a blog consider starting one – you can sign up free to Google Blogger, Wordpress or Tumblr. Getting creative
Be clear about who you want to reach and the best way to communicate with your intended audience; that may include emails, newsletters, postcards, advertising, social networking, posters and flyers or visits.
with your campaigns gives you an opportunity to include images and take advantage of the incredible marketing power of Pinterest, a relatively new social network that has zoomed to number three in the global social media chart. For some businesses, use of video can be very influential in winning customer confidence or making a sale. After investing in (or borrowing) a camera and practising your filming skills, create a YouTube channel, and link to your videos from your other websites. During seasonal holidays or celebrations, purchases increase and people respond more favourably to marketing than at any other time of the year. A seasonal strategy is an effective way to create memorable campaigns and increase word-of-mouth referrals. Whatever campaigns you create, be sure you have a way to measure their effectiveness and be careful not to change your messages too much, too frequently, or you may confuse your customers and dilute the effect. Languedoc Jelly update Bored of working at home or want to meet like-minded people? Free Languedoc Jelly coworking events resume in September – keep an eye on the website for dates and locations across the region.
NOW THAT you have bought your nice house in France, you want to be sure that no burglars come in while you are away. Here are some useful tips to prevent this from happening and to make sure you enjoy your time away without worrying. First of all, tell your neighbours that you are leaving and for how long. Then ask somebody you know well to take the letters from your letterbox so that left mail piling up does not show that you are away for a long time. Your house needs to look as if people are living in it, therefore, you can ask somebody to come and open your shutters in the morning. You can also create the impression that you are in the house by using a programmer for lights, TV or the radio. If you use an answering machine, do not say in the answering message that you are on holidays and, if you can, organise a call transfer so that all the calls made to your landline will be transferred to your mobile phone. If you are to be absent during the school holidays, you can inform the police station in your town that you are going on holidays and ask them to keep your house under surveillance while you are away. This operation is called tranquillité vacances and the police should keep you informed if they spot anything suspicious happening around your house. If, in spite of all these precautions, when you come back from your holidays you find that your house has been burgled, you need to call the local police station immediately (dial 17 or 112). While waiting for the police, do not touch anything as there may be evidence that will be used by the police during the investigation. Then you will have to go to the police station and lodge a complaint - you will need your identity card or your passport to do so. If your cheques or credit cards have been stolen, you need to call your bank and stop them (phone number to stop a cheque: 0892 68 32 08; to stop a credit card: 0892 705 705). Finally you need to declare the burglary to your insurer. If there are certain precious items in your house, it is always a wise precaution to declare these specific items to your insurer and if necessary provide an expert’s evaluation. Indeed, many house insurance policies have a limit on what can be reimbursed following theft or burglary and it may be worth the extra time and expense to have these items specifically documented for your insurer.
22 Property
Languedoc Pages
September 2012
PROPERTIES AROUND FRANCE
€75,900
€88,000
€94,600
Louvigne Du Desert, Brittany One bedroom country house consists of living room, kitchen, shower room, conservatory and garden.
Landelles-et-coupigny, Normandy Two bedroom renovate cottage is currently a holiday home so could be sold fully furnished and ready to use.
Saint-Saud-Lacoussiere, Dordogne Three bedroom house consists of a lounge/dining, fitted kitchen, shower room, separate, toilet, private courtyard, terrace, garden and barn.
REF: MNB01252
ENERGY RATING = G & D
REF: 700043
ENERGY RATING = F
REF: 700549
€97,100
€99,000
€110,760
Notre Dame Du Touchet, Normandy Two bedroom cottage set on 0.55 acre of land includes kitchen, living room, shower room, toilet, garage and outbuilding.
Sainte Alvere, Dordogne The main house includes two bedrooms, kitchen, two living rooms and bathroom. Second house has two levels with basement and a small courtyard.
Corlay, Brittany Four bedroom house includes kitchen, dining room, lounge, bathroom, basement with study and farm buildings.
REF: MNB01307
ENERGY RATING = G & D
REF: 100519
ENERGY RATING = Not given
REF: PLM01316
€128,400
€133,750
€150,000
Falaise, Normandy Charming three bedroom stone cottage comprises sitting room, kitchen and shower room.
Finistère, Brittany This charming three bedroom property comprises large fitted kitchen/dining, bathroom, utility room, conservatory, garden, large workshop and garden shed.
La Chapelle Caro, Brittany Three bedroom charming stone built house renovated comprising large living-dining, new kitchen, shower room, bathroom, two WC and garden.
REF: 13555PO
ENERGY RATING = F & C
REF: M857-7291444
ENERGY RATING = D & F
REF: 83003154029
€160,000
€180,200
€195,800
Issigeac, Dordogne Two bedroom cottage set on 2.2 acres of land with planning permission for two dwellings.
Excideuil, Dordogne Mansion House to renovate is set on 0.37 acre of land comes with large outbuilding.
Briouze, Normandy Three bedroom stone house entirely renovated includes kitchen, living room, office, mezzanine, bathroom, attic suitable for conversion, outbuildings, well and garage.
REF: 46987
ENERGY RATING = Not given
REF: 43987
ENERGY RATING = Not given
REF: XJN02325
€195,000
€224,000
€235,440
Near Josselin, Brittany This three bedroom detached farmhouse built in 1901 comprises kitchen, living room, bathroom, workshop, conservatory, workshop and garden.
Sarlat-la-Canéda, Dordogne Attractive two bedroom house is close to the centre of Sarlat.
Saint-Sever-Calvados, Normandy Seven bedroom stone house tastefully converted to three self-contained apartment with two garages and off road parking.
REF: BRE-642
ENERGY RATING = C & D
REF: 1957
ENERGY RATING = D & B
REF: 700713
€248,400
€265,000
€278,200
Scrignac, Brittany Four bedroom neo-Breton home with a second house that is currently used as a garage/workshop in need of renovation.
Le Guislain, Normandy Four bedroomed detached includes kitchen with breakfast bar, dining room, utility room, en-suite, family shower room, partly renovated barn and garden with small orchard.
Rauville-la-Place, Normandy Three bedroom detached stone house partially renovated set in 3.63 hectares of land with large outbuilding.
REF: 700383
ENERGY RATING = F
REF: 700087
ENERGY RATING = E
REF: 700219
€295,000
€298,000
€318,000
Issigeac, Dordogne Recently renovated three bedroom stone house is set on land of 2500m2 with swimming pool and pool house.
Le Bec Hellouin, Normandy Fully restored four bedroom house boasts many character features set on approximately 1 acre of land.
Ribérac, Dordogne Renovated 18th century building currently divided into two dwellings could easily returned into one large family home.
REF: BVI0005779
ENERGY RATING = E
REF: IFPC16232
ENERGY RATING = D & E
REF: 700565
€320,000
€343,000
€358,500
Near Bergerac, Dordogne Four bedroom detached house includes living Room, dining room, kitchen, study, bathroom, shower room, integral garage, and swimming pool. In need of modernisation.
Pont L'eveque, Normandy Three bedroom property with outbuilding ideal as an artist's studio or to run a business from.
Binic, Brittany Renovated five bedroom stone house includes living room, kitchen, nursery, office, shower room, bathroom, toilet, storage room, garden and mature planting.
REF: IFPC22356
ENERGY RATING = E & F
REF: TRE00350
ENERGY RATING = E
REF: PLM01267
€364,000
€367,500
€372,000
Carrouges, Normandy Restored four bedroom farmhouse set on 2.4 hectares of land with small lake of 3000m2.
Pacy-sur-Eure, Normandy Architect-designed four bedroom house (1984) 146 m2 area with exceptional panoramic view.
Near Le Bugue, Dordogne Two bedroom bungalow includes terrace and outbuildings.
REF: XJN02557
ENERGY RATING = D & A
REF: V5878
ENERGY RATING = E & C
REF: 3375
€395,000
€399,000
€425,000
Bohal, Brittany Restored two detached stone houses and outbuildings set on 6 acres of land with private fishing lake.
Near Champagne-et-Fontaine, Dordogne Fully renovated six bedroom farmhouse consists of terrace, outbuildings and swimming pool.
Saint-Quay-Portrieux, Brittany Fully restored four bedroom consists of living, kitchen, two bathroom, basement with garage, laundry room and basement bathroom.
REF: 83003135486
ENERGY RATING = F & D
REF: AQU-675
ENERGY RATING = D & D
REF: 83003135693
ENERGY RATING = F
ENERGY RATING = F
ENERGY RATING = D & B
ENERGY RATING = D
ENERGY RATING = C
ENERGY RATING = G
ENERGY RATING = B
ENERGY RATING = E
ENERGY RATING = C & C
ENERGY RATING = D & E
Languedoc Pages
Property and Finance 23
September 2012
PROPERTIES AROUND FRANCE
€448,000
Sponsored by
Ordering foreign currency online is quick and easy
ENERGY RATING = G
Photo: Marina Dyakonova - Fotolia.com
€455,800
Answered by
www.worldfirst.com +44 20 7801 1050
ENERGY RATING = D & D
Argentan, Normandy Five bedroom 19th century mansion set on 12.8 hectares of land with stud farm.
REF: 13617POJD
FINANCE
Elisabeth Dobson, head of private clients at foreign exchange company, World First, talks about the euro and other currencies.
Near Terrasson-Lavilledieu, Dordogne Recently renovated five bedroom house with two Gîtes with swimming pool.
REF: V5764
Currency Notes
Photo: Kurhan - Fotolia.com
€460,000
Defining ‘resident’ for UK income tax
Neuvic, Dordogne Restored five bedroom farmhouse includes gardens, tractor shed, workshop and various smaller stone outbuildings attached to garage and swimming pool. REF: IFPC22622
ENERGY RATING = D The number of days you spent in UK can determine tax status
€479,250 Near Fougères, Brittany This ten bedroom superb property offers not only an idyllic setting with two charming holiday cottages, outbuildings and indoor swimming pool. REF: 3029
ENERGY RATING = E & A
€493,500 Saint-Victor, Dordogne Six bedroom Mill fully renovated situated on the river includes two bedroom gîte, garden, stable, swimming pool and exclusive fishing rights. REF: 700524
ENERGY RATING = C
The future of foreign exchange payments is online, says Elisabeth Dobson from currency group World First.
€499,000 Saint-Lô, Normandy Four bedroom detached 'Maison de Maître' with several outbuildings is a former notary's house and office.
REF: BNO-626
ENERGY RATING = D & F
€530,000 Domme, Dordogne Six bedroom manor house includes lounge/dining-room, kitchen, bathroom, terrace, garage, outbuildings and swimming pool. REF: FPBD3356C
ENERGY RATING = E & F
€550,000 Near Bouteilles-SaintSébastien, Dordogne This enormous seventeen bedrooms and seven bathrooms stone country house as four well-equipped gîtes set on 4,900 m2 of land. REF: AQU-573
ENERGY RATING = D & D
Saint-Pierre-sur-Dives, Normandy Le Maison le Moncel is a six bedroom country house set on a 3 ½ hectacres of land includes outbuildings with potential for turning into a gîte complex. ENERGY RATING = D & E
€585,000 Near Montignac, Dordogne This beautiful seven bedroom house comprises furnished kitchen, dining room, two bathrooms, three shower room, private terraces, landscape garden and swimming pool. REF: V5739
IT IS no secret that the speed of modern life means we are constantly under pressure to get things done. In a world where time is an ever-precious commodity, people are looking for fast, secure and effective support when it comes to things like managing their money. Currency transfers are no exception. If you are an expat, living in France, this can apply to anything from cashing in your pension payments to planning a household budget. Getting your head around what you need to spend – and when – is something which can often take up a fair while. The last thing you need is to spend hours on the phone trying to get access to your funds and that is why more and more people are using new online currency platforms to manage their money. With new online systems, specialist currency companies are now able to offer people a high-speed service. Clients can now access their accounts 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and you can also now set and manage rate alerts. Of course, you can still always pick up the phone to have a discussion about any of the more complicated items. However, by using online currency exchange you can keep on top of your money in a much more dynamic way than was ever previously the case. Online accounts are the future of foreign exchange and they are here to stay. Here are six reasons why: You can access live exchange rates Book currency transfers and manage payments View live statements Access the system 24/7 Access economic information and research Reduced transfer fees – for example, World First charges only £10 for amounts under £5,000.
€560,000
REF: IFPC22632
Get online for best currency exchange
ENERGY RATING = C & E
For more information about making international money transfers with World First visit the website www.worldfirst.com or call +44 20 7801 1050
I live and work in the UK and am planning to retire later this year and my wife and I will move to our home in France. We will keep our UK house as we expect to spend a couple of months there each year visiting friends and family, and I will retain my directorship of a small family business and will therefore be involved in board meetings and other management duties from time to time. I have been following HMRC’s UK Residence Review and wonder how the proposed changes will affect me? HMRC is proposing to amend the rules, but the vast majority are being kept unaltered. Implementation is scheduled for April 2013. In simple terms, the proposals provide for situations where Non-Residence (NR) is conclusive, others where Residence (R) is conclusive, and a third set of rules to determine the status of those who do not fit into either of the conclusive situations. Conclusive Non-Residence is either: NR previous three years, present less than 46 days (amended), or R in one or more previous three years, present less than 10 days (amended to 16), or Full time employment abroad, less than 90 days in the UK of which less than 20 working. Conclusive Residence is either: 183 days or more in the UK, or Only one home and that is in the UK, or Work full time in the UK. Since it would appear you do not fall into either category, HMRC would apply the third set of rules and would look at your connections to the UK – family, accommodation, substantive work in the UK, presence in the UK in the previous year and spending more time in the UK than in any other country. If you spend two months in the UK, including working less than 15 days (this definition to mean 5 hours per day, including travel time in the UK), and you maintain a home there, under the new rules you should be regarded as NR, even for the first year of your retirement to France. However, working more than this, or if perhaps your wife spends much longer in the UK, or indeed if you have children who will be based at the UK home in your absence, it is quite likely you could be regarded as Resident in the UK because of these “connections”. So, although HMRC’s stated intention is to make the residence rules more certain but to ensure the results are more or less the same, you might well be worse off and therefore professional advice would appear to be vital. These “rules” are still proposals and may still change. However, despite loud objections to some issues seen as overly aggressive, HMRC are digging their feet in – perhaps not surprisingly in view of the current attitudes to tax-avoidance schemes.
FREE EVEN T The No.1 Event on the South Coast of France Tue 9 October Wed 10 October Thur 11 October Fri 12 October
Opio 06650 La Motte 83920 Nîmes 30000 Brugairolles 11300
• How can we save on exchange rates for international transfers? • What about taxes in France (Inheritance, Wealth, Income)? • Can we move our UK pensions? Le Tour de Finance are bringing experts to expats. A number of speakers will be available to answer your questions after the event.
Le Tour Circuit 2012 Tue 9 Oct
Château de la Bégude Route de Roquefort-les-Pins, 06650 Opio
Wed 10 Oct
Les Domaines de St Endréol Golf & Spa Resort 1 Route de Bagnols en Forêt, 83920, La Motte
Thur 11 Oct
L’Orangerie, Château de Lacoste, 23 chemin de l’Hippodrome, 30000, Nîmes
Fri 12 Oct
Domaine Gayda Route de Malviès, 11300 Brugairolles
1 Opio 06650 9 October 2 La Motte 83920 10 October 3 Nimes 3000 11 October 4 Brugairolles 11300 12 October 3
• Free entry • Free seminars • Free buffet lunch and refreshments
HOW TO BOOK Places are limited, to book your place or to receive additional information about the speakers or locations, please email info@letourdefinance.com or contact Pippa Maile on +33 (0) 489 829 206 or mobile: +33 (0) 672 096 495 www.letourdefinance.com In association with:
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