The Royal Forest of Dean

I popped back home a few weeks ago to see friends and relatives and while I was there managed to get a few photographs together of the old home turf.

It was a pretty brief visit but reminded me of why I love the South of France so much. The truth is where we are now is a bit like the The Forest of Dean, The Cotswolds and The Vale of Evesham all rolled into one.



Throw in the Pyrenees and the Mediterranean coast line with a sunny Mediterranean climate and that I guess is why I am here.

All that said the old home territory definitely isn't too shabby either, all I can say is I have been a bit spoilt with these gorgeous places I have lived in. So for now France has it but a closer call than I thought.

I wrote a couple of articles about the home territory which you can find here The Forest of Dean and Historic Gloucester.

30 free prints of your digital holiday snaps

How often do you go on holiday take loads of great photographs then when you get home, they are left on the card never to be seen again, well this year you can change that and get your digital images printed out.

As a special deal Truprint will give you your first 30 prints for free. This deal is only available on line and for new customers so to take advantage of this offer make sure you click on the banner below and sign up to Truprint.

Also bear in mind that, as a result of my affiliate relationship with Truprint, this is 10 more free prints than the standard 20 prints you get when going directly to their site.

The season to be merry isn't always Christmas

We are well into the holiday season now, the pool is open and the first guests have had their swim and no it wasn't the ducks, although they thought about it.

The sun is shining, well most of the time anyway, and I think this is the time to be merry. My personal feeling is that I really like the late spring and early autumn times of year. Temperatures are typically around 70F to 75F, there is a pretty good to very good chance you are going to get some really nice sunny days and it really is a cost effective time to take a holiday.

Now I realise that coming from soggy Britain that there are a lot of people who are really hankering after some lovely hot sunshine and who just want to laze by the pool or sit by the pond and listen to the water fountain. So for them then June through September is pretty much going to give them exactly what they want and we are very happy to be able to provide that facility.

But this post is for the people who like to perhaps have a more active holiday or want the best photographic opportunities and go exploring a bit as well, not forgetting cycling as a very good mode of transport for perhaps sightseeing down the Canal du Midi.

So for those people you have to be considering the early or late parts of the season. We walk our dog every day now and are discovering more and more great places to walk in the area, most of which we can do without going near a car. But I have to say I actually prefer to do those walks when it is a little bit cooler, might be down to my age these day though, and as we get more into the summer the walks are getting pushed further into the evening in pursuit of the cooler temperatures.

So if you are like me, you will definitely prefer May/June and September/October as your choice for taking a holiday.

My second reason for promoting these months is due to our glorious matriarch 'Mother Nature' in the spring you have all the new growth and the vivid colours that come with it, everything is so green and the flowers are in full bloom. Much the same as the autumn but for the opposite reason, everything is changing as she prepares for the winter months, but the colours are just as spectacular. For a photographer this really is the season to be merry because apart from the landscapes there is also the amazing light show we call the sky, I have never seen so many different backdrops as I have here in the South of France, truly amazing. Take a look at Photographers Corner for a few examples of what I am talking about and if you fancy a holiday in these months, well you will have to be quick for Spring or maybe even too late, but there are some weeks available still at the end of September or in October.

Worth a look because there really are a myriad of activities available here in the South of France, I have named a few and there are others that spring to mind like horse riding, white water rafting and windsurfing but there are still loads of other activities I haven't even touched on.

Visitors Guestbook

We thought it would be a nice idea to let visitors to our gite record their comments about their stay with us on the French Holidays Aude blog.

For the less computer savvy or for those who simply don't like to spend their lives sitting on a computer I am happy to provide the facility of adding the comments to the text as recorded in our hard copy.



For those that have the time and enjoy interacting on the computer, you are very welcome to simply write and post your comments using the blog comment facility below.

2011 Season

"Idyllic location, great weather, lovely pool, lovely hosts. The attention to small details really made our stay enjoyable. Thanks Angela and Brian"

"Perfect few days relaxing in your beautiful house, so peaceful listening to all the sounds of nature, will definitely be returning to this region"

"Le Moulin de l'Argentouire was everything we hoped for.. and more. Your thoughtfulness on everything is much appreciated - merci beaucoup!"

"Thanks for a lovely stay and your great hospitality. Can't wait to come back."

"Thankyou so much once again Brian & Angela for a wonderful holiday and wonderful hospitality. We love coming to 'Le Moulin' and have so many great memories of hour holidays here. Thankyou"

"De vakantie was perfect, voor elk wat wils. Rustige omgeving avontuur lyke
wandelingen en gespetter in het zwembad. We've had a fantastic time, made nice walks, the kids liked the pool (and we also :-) ). Thanks and see you next year."

"The house and yard are really lovely. We spent our days exploring the area and relaxing in the yard. And what a beautiful setting with the sunflowers and the creek. Thankyou for such a fine holiday."

"Just one word: Perfect!"
Couldn't have put it better myself


"We absolutely enjoyed our time here in the house & at the pool. The weather was great. We felt really lucky to be here. Thank you for a lovely vacation!"

"A lovely and relaxing week with excellent weather & plenty to do. Made full use of the pool & barbecue and particularly liked the Lac de St Ferreol + waterfall and fountain. Many thanks for a great holiday"

"Many thanks for sharing your beautiful home with us! The children particularly enjoyed playing with Charlie! A really lovely holiday"

"What a wonderful surprise we got, arriving late on the Saturday night, to discover Le Moulin was more than we could have dreamt of. Daylight only increased our pleasure as we discovered the delightful surroundings"

"As always lovely to be back, it feels like coming home. We've had a very enjoyable time and really appreciate your hospitality. Claire is so disappointed to have missed out. Hope to see you again really soon. Perfect x"

"I saw deer and it was a great holiday. Swam every day. A great place for making dams. We hunted for sangliers but didn't find any, but it was fun. Great weather, great walks, great pool, great holiday"

"A beautiful house with all that one needs, lovely atmosphere, right in the fields and forests. Swims, walks and outings were splendid. Thankyou Angie and Brian, we would love to come again"

"We had a fantastic holiday - Thankyou Brian & Angie for all you did to make it so memorable"

2010 Season

"We have had a wonderful stay, the accommodation was a superb standard, the hospitality was fantastic. We had some wonderful walks, it was like walking in Narnia as we had 3 days of snow. The skiing in the Pyrenees was very memorable and a great day out."

"What a spectacular gite, wonderfully appointed and a superb kitchen. A lovely stay. We'll be back"

"Such a child friendly place - the garden was appreciated by all - it is just delightful. BBQ's almost every night despite the occasional thunderstorm. We all appreciated your attention to detail"

"Lovely house, kind hosts but we really missed the sun!! Maybe another time"
(they were really unlucky, it is very rare to have nearly a whole week of overcast weather especially in June, hopefully they will be back and find normal service has been resumed )

"Lovely gite in a wonderful setting, so peaceful, The pool was fantastic and so was the weather, thanks for ordering the sun! Lovely memories"

"Great property with excellent facilities and my kind of pool. Peaceful without being too far from facilities. Many Thanks"

"So lovely to be back again and as ever, thank you for everything. Le Moulin feels like a home from home. Pool is as ever, just brilliant and the kitchen is perfect for Laura, our trainee chef"

"We have had such a wonderful time again! We love this place! The house has everything anyone would ever want! We all love the pool - so refreshing in the heat. Fantastic weather. Thank you so much to for your generous and genuine hospitality and welcome. We'll be back"

"We have very much enjoyed our stay in the gite! Lovely house & great pool which we have all enjoyed very much. Kids had a great week to"

"Heavenly setting amidst wonderful French countryside. Lots to do and fantastic local produce on offer. Gite perfect"

"Delightful place! Comfortable, stylish, great pool. Perfect location for exploring the area. Thank you for a great holiday"

"Beautiful setting & gite. Wonderful hosts -thank you so much for putting up with the 'girls behaving badly'"

"A wonderful place which has given me inspiration to come again with my own family. A totally lovely experience. Thank you"

"Perfect hosts!! Perfect setting. Lots to explore...Great runs!! Thank you"

"So perfect, so still and calm. Loved every minute - superb facilities, home from home. Love your decor. A return visit would be great. Thank you"

"Absolutely perfect, the house is so well resourced . Swimming pool perfect (especially for lilo's) Will definitely be back~but for longer. Thanks"

"Merci beaucoup. Thanks for everything. A wonderful place to get away from it all - really relaxing but close enough for the occasional bit of sightseeing (when we could tear ourselves away from the pool!)"

"Lovely gite, gorgeous pool. Very friendly hosts. Restful and relaxing holiday. Couldn't ask for more. Au Revoir"

2009 Season

"I had a wonderful time and hope to see you again"

"Thank you so much for a fantastic week"

"A very quiet and idyllic holiday home, absolutely superb, hope to come back"

" A quiet relaxing holiday. Wonderful countryside, a beautiful setting of the  French landscape."

"Really love Le Moulin. Fab pool, very pretty area and so relaxing, we will be back"

"Lovely gite,great pool - kids had a great time - we will be back"

"Lovely grounds, house and swimming pool. We enjoyed our stay."

"Fantastic pool -especially for volleyball, lovely accommodation - discovered the shutters after the first morning. Very hot weather. We all enjoyed our celebrating Geoff's 65th - many trips to Geant and the bottle bank. Thank you for everything."

"Thank you all for a wonderful holiday. Facilities were exceptional and hosts were fantastic. Loved the pool and thankfully the weather was great. Grounds very pretty and the gite itself is so lovely and homey"

"This has been a truly wonderful holiday in your beautiful home. We have loved every minute, meeting you all and a very special hug for Lily"

"Merveilleux sijour tres repasant meme avec les enfants. Bonne continuation"

"Fantastic gite, beautiful location and great hosts, the countryside was stunning and the towns of Carcassonne and Mirepoix were the high points. Many thanks for a wonderful stay."

"You have created a really comfortable home in which to spend a holiday, relaxing, spacious, lived in, we have had a lovely fortnight"

"A super holiday, we all love the 'Moulin', lots of space & everything we could want. The children loved the toys, the garden and the pool as did we all. The shady terrace meant we could stay outdoors all day. The tree frog was an added bonus."

"Once again we've had a lovely week with the sun shining most of the time. We even sunbathed by the pool. We visited so many lovely places including our favorite 'Castre'. The house is a pleasure to stay in with everything we need."

"We have had a wonderful relaxing week. Brilliant weather has made days out extra special. Just walking in the countryside is wonderful, so peaceful and great views. This is a very comfortable and welcoming house, cosy in the evening aand cool in the day. Fantastic showers. Thanks very much for a great weeks holiday"

2008 Season

"A little gem of a place - full of rustic charm"	"Wonderful location"
"Fantastic area to visit"	"Wonderful days spent eating, drinking and lounging by the superb pool"
"Best holiday for ages"	"The house and pool were wonderful"
"Beautiful gite with all needs considered"	"An idyllic location, we will have many fond memories of our holiday"
"Accommodation first class"	"Had an absolutely wonderful time here"
"This is a beautiful untapped part of France"	"A totally chilled time, great house and great pool"

Find out what I am writing about in Ezine Articles

5 Great Days Out in the South of France By Brian R Stephens

One of the most gorgeous locations for a holiday is the South of France and an area that is hard to beat is the Languedoc Roussillon region. It pretty much has everything a tourist could want, wonderful scenery including the Mediterranean coastline, La Montagne Noire, the Pyrenees plus numerous inland lakes and fast flowing rivers.

There is some fantastic architecture both Medieval and modern, examples of which are La Cite in Carcassonne and the Millau Viaduct near to Montpellier not to mention the famous Canal du Midi.

Add to that the available sporting opportunities, such as skiing, snowboarding, horse riding, cycling, walking and white water rafting, to name but a few, and an area steeped in history that includes the Cathar fortresses, the abbeys and the historic sites of the Albigensian crusade such as Minerve and Montsegur. Then throw in one of the largest wine producing regions in the world, certainly in France anyway, why would you want to go anywhere else

So if you are visiting the South of France in this region make sure you don't miss out on some wonderful opportunities for a day out. Here are a few suggestions to get you started, 5 to be precise.

Number 1 on the list has to be the fabulous city of Carcassonne with it's live and working Medieval fortress 'La Cite' a Unesco world heritage site since 1997. La Cite played a big part in the Albigensian crusades after Simon de Montfort forced the inhabitants of the city to surrender and then used it as his own fortified retreat. Today La Cite along with the lower city (Ville Basse) is a thriving tourist attraction seeing over 3 million visitors a year. There is certainly plenty for the tourist to do on a day out in Carcassonne, with amazing architecture to see, theaters, music to listen to, restaurants, bars, shops and the Canal du Midi, another world heritage site, to visit.

Number 2 is a visit to the Corbieres wine region, the capital of Cobieres is Lagrasse which is a small but beautiful medieval town that sits in the heart of Corbieres country half way between Carcassonne and Narbonne. There is a small river that runs through the town over which you will find some stone built bridges from which you can get a great view of the Abbey of St Mary. Driving through the country lanes to get to Lagrasse you will pass lots of 'degustations' where you can stop for a little wine tasting and perhaps buy a bottle or two to take home or to help lunch go down and Lagrasse is definitely a lovely backdrop for a lazy lunch in the sunshine.

Number 3 is a visit to the Mediterranean coastline via Narbonne, going north to south there is Gruissan, La Franqui and even further south, Collioure. You could spend a whole day in any one of these locations without too much trouble just enjoying the Mediterranean Sea and it's changeling scenery. Gruissan plage is a wide expanse of golden sand while Collioure has a small shingle beach being more of a fishing port. Many a fine artist has resided in Collioure utilising the amazing clarity of light of this region to influence their paintings, this would be your chance to experience why they thought it was so special.

Number 4 is Rennes le Chateau, high on a mountain top going out of Couiza at the start of the Pyrenees, never mind the history of the Knights Templar just take in the views and enjoy the magnificent scenery. When you have had your fill there you could perhaps take a drive down through the Gorge de Galamus and along the river towards Chateau de Peyrepertuse and Chateau de Queribus, both as impressive as Rennes le Chateau in their own way, as is the 600m deep gorge you drive through to get there.

Number 5 is back to wine country but this time through the Minervois to its capital Minerve, another wonderful medieval city that sits on the river that runs through Gorge de Cesse and has the dubious honour of being the first of the Cathar strongholds to fall to Simon de Montfort in the Albigensian crusade at the start of what was to be a 34 year long quest to eradicate the Cathars from the region. The parfaits who refused to renounce their faith were burnt at the stake for their troubles but these days the only burning of the steak that is likely to happen is on a grill at one of the very nice restaurants overlooking the river or in one of Minerve's very quaint little streets.

There are so many other places in the region to write about and I am sure in time I will, but for now I hope that this has given you a flavor of what there is available to visit in this lovely part of France.

You can visit French Holidays Aude for information on our gite in the south of France, where we offer self catering accommodation, and to gain access to some useful travel advice for France and Europe generally plus a travel shop where you can purchase accessories for your travels on line.

To find further details on some of the locations I have written about you can visit my profile on HubPages for a list of places to visit in France.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Brian_R_Stephens
http://EzineArticles.com/?5-Great-Days-Out-in-the-South-of-France&id=2346521

France Financial Upgrade Completed

In my other life as a website designer I have just completed the upgrade and release of the France Financial website.

I did post the fact on my other blog for Moulin Website Designs but that was to advertise the fact that I had completed the website design and was now looking for more work.

The reason I am posting it here as well is because the website has some great advice for anyone looking to move to France on a permanent basis and fits well into my category of 'How to' advice for France. Lots of good information on French Tax, inheritance advice, life assurance, health insurance and much more. So if you need a free no obligation consultation or you are just interested in what the site has to say then go have a look, there is nothing to loose.You can access it by clicking on the banner above.

Oh and if you are looking for a re-vamp of an existing website or a completely new website then have a look at my other blog and give me a shout.