In her beautiful private mansion transformed into a guesthouse located in the heart of Carpentras, Gina, warm and passionate owner, invites you to discover the flavours and traditions of Christmas in Provence and will be pleased to have you as a guest in her home to spend the holidays « among friends » .

From December 23 to 26, 2010, enjoy an unforgettable four days and three nights stay :

Thursday, December 23

By late afternoon you will be welcome home with a welcome drink. The feast begins with a delicious « Truffle dinner ».

Friday, December 24

It is market day in Carpentras. What is worth seeing is the truffle market. Be free to discover the town’s Christmas Market and the Nativity Scenes Fair. In the afternoon, you will meet a truffle grower on his land, which will be the opportunity to bring truffles to prepare a Christmas lunch. Then, back at the house where things finally get serious, but always in a good mood: cooking workshop and« Big Dinner » before the midnight mass at the Cathedral, the visit of Santa Claus and the tasting of the famous thirteen desserts.

Saturday, December 25

It is Christmas day, we get up a little late, then we go back in the kitchen to prepare the stuffed chicken for lunch. After a nice walk in the countryside and the surrounding villages, we can now prepare the the recipe of « l’Aïgo Boulido » , a lean soup from Provence so that we can stay fit for the upcoming festive days by eating a light meal.

Sunday, December 26

Gina had kept aside a few truffles. She will help you prepare a brunch and a brouillade (scrambled eggs with truffles) just for leaving with good and tasty memories .

Useful Information

Price per person: from €395 – including double bedroom, breakfasts, diners, 3 cooking classes.

Not included: wines, drinks and transport

Contact : Maison Trévier ‐ Chambres et table d’hôtes – Clévacances 4 Clés – 36, place du Docteur Cavaillon – 84200 Carpentras

Phone +33 4 90 51 99 98 ‐ +33 6 61 48 02 52

Email : contact@maison‐trevier.com

Website : www.maison‐trevier.com

More information: Vaucluse Tourist Office – www.provenceguide.com

Source : Press release Noël en Provence

We can now start making our Christmas crib. This is an important time for family life in Provence where Christmas crib figures are transmitted from father to son. This beautiful tradition from the Provence region soon spread all over France.

Originally, the crib is a “manger box-shaped more or less long and fitted up, which if necessary could be used as a bed.” The crib is in fact a representation of the ideal Provençe region village where everyone has a place, including pets. The decor is a two-part projection : on the one hand, community life with houses, wells, the oven, water of the mill, snow, pine trees, olive trees and the floodlit sky… and on the other hand, a stable with the Child Jesus, the Virgin Mary, Joseph, the donkey and the ox, the comet-tailed star, which later will guide the Wise Men, and the people who came to visit them.

Walks from crib to crib

• December 22 and 29, 2010

Start from Carpentras bus station at 1 pm. Bus tour towards the villages of Comtat Venaissin commented by a guide.

Price: €4/pers.
Information and booking : Carpentras Tourist Office – Phone +33 4 90 63 00 78 ‐ www.carpentras‐ventoux.com

• From Saturday 4th Decembre 2010 to Saturday 5th February 2011

Start from Pernes les Fontaines for the cribs path: at the Maison Fléchier, the Comtadin Costume museum, the Church of  Valayans. At the collegiate Church of  Notre Dame de Nazareth from December 20 daily from 9.30 pm to 6 pm.
Contact : Touriste Office ‐ Phone +33 4 90 61 31 04 ‐ email : ot.pernes@wanadoo.fr

Beautiful Nativity Scenes

• Grambois

Church of the village ‐ from Decembre 18, 2010 to February 4, 2011 – Phone +33 4 90 08 97 45
All crib figures represent the locals (Graille, the crib figure maker, has been making these for years, including famous characters too)

• Saint Saturnin les Avignon

Church – from December 25, 2010  to January 3, 2011 from 2.30 pm to 5.30 pm and from January 3, 2011to February 1, 2010, every Sunday from 2.30 pm to 5.30 pm. Phone +33 4 90 22 55 16
Discover a Christmas crib over 50 m2 with 25 to 80 cm high animated figures made of carton, stone or wax from the Carmel d’Avignon. A play of light creates day and night effects.

• Séguret

Sainte Thècle Chapel ‐ from November , 2010 to January 31, 2011, on Saturday and Sunday from 2 pm to 6 pm and from December 18, 2010 to Januarty 1, 2011, daily.
Contact: Mr. FARAUD +33 4 90 46 91 08 ‐ Town hall: +33 4 90 46 91 06

• Saumane

80th Crémade great crib ‐ from December 25, 2010 to February 2, 2011. Open every afternoon from 2 pm to 6 pm ‐ Contact: Mrs MONTAGARD – Phone +33 4 90 61 64 74

• Valréas

Church of N‐D. de Nazareth on November 13, 2010 to February 5, 2011 daily from 9 am to 6 pm. Tourist Office – Phone +33 4 90 35 04 71

A 57 m2 crib showing very old figures sometimes hundred year-old figures, from 3 to 120 cm high.

• Pernes les Fontaines

Church of N‐D. de Nazareth – from December 1, 2010 to February 2, 2011. Daily from 9.30 am to 12 and from 2.30 pm to 5.30 pm ‐ Phone +33 4 90 61 31 04

• Carpentras

St Siffrein Church ‐ from December 25, 2010 to February 2, 2011. Tourist Office – Phone +33 4 90 63 00 78

A crib with about thirty wax figures from 20 to 60 cm high on several levels.

• Beaumes de Venise

Saint Nazaire Church – from December 18 to 31, 2010 ‐ Tourist Office ‐ Phone +33 4 90 62 94 39

• Avignon

Saint Agricol and Saint Didier Churches ‐ wax figures from December 20 ‐ Phone +33 4 90 82 25 02

At Notre Dame des Doms – from December 20 – XIXth century figures – Phone +33 4 90 82 12 24

Palais du Roure Chapel  ‐ Location: 3, Rue Collège du Roure – December 11, 2010 – February 5, 2011 ‐ Phone +33 4 90 80 80 88

• Monteux

Nazareth Church – from December 4, 2010 to February 5, 2011 from 9 am to 12 h and on request during the afternoon. Phone +33 4 90 66 21 58

• Sault

2nd Génie Foreign Regiment ‐ December 24, 2010

Worldwide cribs exhibition. Open from 2 pm to 6 pm – Phone +33 4 90 64 01 21

• Blauvac

Notre Dame de Bon Secours Abbey – from December 1, 2010 to January 31, 2011 – Phone +33 4 90 61 81 17

Crib exhibition over an 80m² area

• Châteauneuf du Pape

Notre Dame de l’Assomption Church – from December 14, 2010 to January 31, 2011. Phone +33 4 90 83 71 82

17 figures of about 70 cm high dating back to the 19th or beginning of the 20th century, some of them are made of wax, others of roman carton. For visiting, please contact Father Roux.

More information: Vaucluse Tourist Office – www.provenceguide.com

This year Marseille’s traditional Blue Day (Fête Bleue) will celebrate its fourth anniversary and will be held last weekend of June, i.e. on June 25, 26 and 27, 2010. Local people from Marseille will have the opportunity to celebrate the arrival of summer as well as the birth of their city by founders Protis and Gyptis… all in blue !

A celebration of the city for 3 days… and blue everywhere !

Cultural, popular and sporting events, entertainment, solidarity actions … Blue Day in Marseille is an event aimed at everyone in which everyone can take part.

This event is a celebration of Brotherhood, Solidarity and Local Marseille Identity. The 2010 Blue Day will combine once again genres and cultures, both events for the general public and associations or local initiatives. These will take place in different areas of Marseille, with the support of local neighbourhood associations.

Blue Day programme

• Saturday 26 June: « One More Time », Ballet by Jean-Charles Gil – 11 dancers – 30 minutes (Location: Quai d’honneur).
• Sunday 27 June (from 4pm to midnight): FG Podium Night presents special renowned artists: Bob Sinclar, Junior Caldera, Antoine Clamaran, Joachim Garraud, Hakimakli, David Vendetta, DJ Paulette and Sébastien Benett. (Location: Quai d’honneur).
• But also there will be a great many of different activities in most of the city’s areas : passers-by will have the chance to enjoy the nice blue lightening in the city, music lovers will appreciate the “Family One” Gospel by the Auteuil Foundation (80 singers cominf from all over France) and for the most curious ones will be held an exhibition showing blue items at the Natural History Museum as well as a visit of the Chasseur de Mines Tripartite called « Lyre ».

More informations : Blue Day in Marseille – www.fetebleue.com

Source : presse release “Fête Bleue 2010″

Come and attend one of the numerous Christmas festivals.

To access some of them the entry fee can be a toy so that the most disadvantaged children can have a present for Christmas. Others will even make your toys. Others will make you dance (metal, rock, etc.).

Let’s discover our selection !

« Les rockeurs ont du cœur » Festival in Nantes…

… is a three day concert festival taking place in three different places. The entry fee is a €10 toy. The toys collected will be given out to the region’s disadvantaged children by French charity « Les Restos du Cœur ».

The programme : well known French artists and bands such as Jeanne Cherhal, Chasseloup, Monsieur Mouch, Lili Marto, Le mystère des voix de garage and a guest star…

More information:

« Les Rockeurs ont du Cœur » Festival : www.lesrockeurs.com

For toys lovers…

« Noël au Pays du Jouet » Festival in the Jura region

« Noël au Pays du Jouet » is an artistic, educational and playful event especially dedicated to children and takes place from Friday 18th to Sunday 20th December.

This event conveys the cultural identity of the region with an original programme : more than 30 shows with a focus on tales, music, puppet shows and creations from a dozen artists (Zic Zazou, Carton Louf, 7Zarts, Les Zanimos, Gérard Dalton, etc.).

Educational and playful workshops for children (from 4 years old) will stress on discovering, creating and experimenting. At the end of the workshop session, the children will be able to take their work with them as a souvenir of this memorable event.

The Christmas market remains a must-see attraction with local foods and items, brass bands, cultural exhibitions and many other surprises.

More information:

Office de tourisme Jura Sud : www.jurasud.net

Contact : office.tourisme@jurasud.net

Adresse : 2, place Robert Monnier – 39260 Moirans-en-Montagne

Phone : +33 3.84.42.31.57

And also…

Limoges 17^th Christmas Festival :

This festival, organised by the execution management association and the local cultural centre, is dedicated to discovering metal music on December 18^th and 19^th at the John Lennon cultural centre.

The programme:

December 18^th: let’s rock with local groups such as Dark Night, Exorciser, Unsafe, Land of Unicorn and Jam’s année 80

December 19^th: Top billing folk-metal band ELUVEITIE will make you tremble as well as progressive trash modern band HACRIDE, trash death metal band DESTINY and also two guest stars !

Prices:

€20 full price

€17 with a booking and for the members of the cultural centre

More information:

Cultural Centre: +33 5.55.06.24.83

The « Jeune Public » Festival in Serre Chevalier, from December 21^st to 25^th

For one week, the town of Serre Chevalier will be fully decorated for Christmas and will give way to imagination, dream in relation with the theme of Santa Claus. The « Jeune Public » festival, this year focused on « the Wonderful World of Christmas », is the opportunity to discover every year renowned artists for children.

More information :

Serre Chevalier Tourist Office: www.serre-chevalier.com

Phone: +33 4.92.25.55.00

Rock for Christmas, December 19^th in Berck sur Mer

The Rock en Stock association offers an international programme with 4 bands: PAPERBACK FREUD, a heavy rock’n'roll Swedish band ; DEE’N DEE, a French band ; JOHN CARRIE, an Irish band (mix of rock, pop, blues and roots) ; LES SPLENDIFICS, a French band.

Entry: €5, on-site booking

Phone: +33 6.48.71.38.79

More information:

Association Rock en Stock : www.rockenstock.org

]]> http://www.toorismag.com/en/christmas-festivals-let%e2%80%99s-dream-let%e2%80%99s-help/feed/ 0 http://www.toorismag.com/en/let%e2%80%99s-move-in-the-ski-resorts/ http://www.toorismag.com/en/let%e2%80%99s-move-in-the-ski-resorts/#comments Tue, 29 Dec 2009 10:10:00 +0000 Toorismag team http://www.toorismag.com/en/?p=515

Below is our selection of the activities offered in the ski resorts…

7^th « Ronde des Hivernales »:

The mythical cars renowned for driving on ice will compete against each other the Serre Chevalier car racing circuit. Pioneer in the area of ice racing, the Serre Chevalier car racing circuit organised in 1971 the first official ice race called « Ronde Hivernale ». This car racing circuit aimed at offering board sports lovers and vintage motor vehicle amateurs a memorable edition of the « Ronde Hivernale » that will be similar to what it used to be in the past.

The DAF Ice Trophee:

The Serre Chevalier car racing circuit offers to all DAF brand lovers a friendly and memorable endurance and regularity ice race.

Programme:

- Friday 8th january at 6.30 pm : timed trials

- Saturday 9th january fom 9.30 am to 8.30 pm : races

- Sunday 10th january at 9.30 am : races; at 1pm : prize giving

More information:

Serre Chevalier car racing circuit: www.serre-chevalier.com

Risoul 8th French Song Winter Festival, from 3rd to 8th January 2010:

Dedicated to everybody, from music lovers to any passers-by, it is a not to be missed week event in Risoul. An every night concert for six days and one common feature : enjoy yourself !

Lots of artists have come to Risoul : Mathieu Boogaerts, a usual guest star of the festival and Risoul itself, Berry, Mauss, Benoit Doremus, William Baldé, Ben Ricour, Clarika, Les Ogres de Barbacks, and many others.

This year:

January 3^rd: Rose, Alcaz

January 4^th: Charlotte Main, Paris Brune

January 5^th: Emily Loizeau, Siméo,

January 6^th: JP Nataf, Lily Cros and Thierry Chazelle

January 7^th: Barcella, Charlie

January 8^th: Clarika, JJ Nyssen

NB : They are all free concerts, tickets are to be taken the very same day of the concert from 9 am at Risoul tourist office.

More information:

Risoul Tourist Office: +33 4.92.46.02.60

Painters and writers celebrated Provence, in the South of France, the brightness of its light, its mild climate, the diversity of its landscapes and the beauty of its Mediterranean coastline… In 2009, follow the cultural and tourist route starting from Avignon to Antibes Juan-les-Pins, and go off to explore Picasso in the area of Provence Côte d’Azur.

Five museums permanently exhibit the works of the artist along the Picasso in Provence Côte d’Azur tourist route:

• The Angladon museum, in Avignon (www.angladon.com)

• The Réattu museum, in Arles (www.tourisme.ville-arles.fr)

• The Granet museum, in Aix-en-Provence (www.museegranet-aixenprovence.fr)

• The War and Peace Picasso National museum, in Vallauris, (www.musee-picasso-vallauris.fr)

• The Picasso museum, in Antibes, (www.antibesjuanlespins.com)

There are many pieces to discover: drawings, paintings, ceramics and even a chapel vault. All the exhibitions as well as the different places of both life and creativity for Picasso, which are part of this cultural and tourist route, show how the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region inspires artists…

Two major events will take place from 25^th May to 27^th September 2009:

- A Cézanne and Picasso exhibition at the Granet museum in Aix-en-Provence

- Special opening to visitors of the Vauvenargues castle where lies Picasso.

More information:

Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur Tourist: www.decouverte-paca.fr

Picasso in Provence Côte d’Azur website: www.picassoenprovencecotedazur.com

Located in the Rhone alluvial plain and crossed by two rivers, the Meyne in the town centre and the Aigues in the north, the town of Orange always developped around the Saint-Eutrope hill. Due to its location near the Rhone and on the Agrippa road, since the Antiquity Orange has remained an important transit area.

Inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List, 2 Roman monuments dating back to 1st century AD reflect today the town of Orange’s cultural heritage : the Antique theatre and the Triumphal Arch.

• The Antique Theatre : built at the begining of the Christian era, it is renowned for its well-preserved stage wall. At that time, this used to be the town’s major lively area. Acoustics and structure enabled 7000 spectators to attend shows. Nowadays, the theatre receives every year tens of thousands of spectators on the occasion of summer events, among which the famous Chorégies.

• The Triumphal Arch : it is dedicated to the veterans’ glory of the 2nd gallic legion who founded the Roman colony of Orange first, and then extended to Tibère. Thus, this is an extraordinary monument of both Roman and Provençal art. Symbol of distinction, it used to define the boundaries between the deads’ world and the antique city.

]]> http://www.toorismag.com/en/103/feed/ 0 http://www.toorismag.com/en/the-provencal-market-of-vaison-la-romaine/ http://www.toorismag.com/en/the-provencal-market-of-vaison-la-romaine/#comments Thu, 09 Jul 2009 09:34:03 +0000 Toorismag team http://www.toorismag.com/en/?p=96

Land of flavours and smells, Vaison-la-Romaine offers a coloured symphony. Fruits of a high quality and diversified agriculture, regional produce enrich local gastronomy. All year long, local markets liven up this town and offer a large choice of products, which all reflect an ancestral know-how.

The great provençal market, with colours and smells typicals from the South of France, is a place of interest that cannot be ignored in your trip to Vaison-la-Romaine. Indeed, it has been existing for several cenduries and dates back to 1483.

Real meeting spot of provençal food lovers or curious people eager to dawdle through the stalls, the market offers many typical dishes to taste : herbs and spices, honey made of flowers from Provence, mushrooms, wines, French olive salami, tapenade (a local food specialty made of black or green olives, garlic, anchovies and capers), grapes, olives, truffles, fougasse (bread filled with olives, tomatoes, parmesan or bacon), olive oil and Provence herbs. All these local products are definitely a true delight for your mouth. Provençal fabrics, olive tree wooden objects, fruits and vegetables bursting with sunshine or even lavender are also part of this festival full of pleasant scents and colours.

]]> http://www.toorismag.com/en/the-provencal-market-of-vaison-la-romaine/feed/ 0 http://www.toorismag.com/en/vaison-la-romaine-historic-and-artistic-town/ http://www.toorismag.com/en/vaison-la-romaine-historic-and-artistic-town/#comments Thu, 09 Jul 2009 08:41:56 +0000 Toorismag team http://www.toorismag.com/en/?p=93

Located in the Haut-Vaucluse region, Vaison-la-Romaine is ideally situated between the Alps and the Mediterranean. The town lies at the foot of Mont Ventoux, the « giant of Provence », nestling in lush, fertile countryside, excellent for a mellow lifestyle.

Artistic and historic town, Vaison-la-Romaine is renowned for its archeological and cultural heritage, extending from the Middle Ages to modern days, but the name of the town « la-Romaine » is certainly much known and owes its reputation to Antiquity. The Gallo-Roman remains, located on several sites, are France’s biggest archeological area opened to public.

Vaison-la-Romaine is recognised as one of France’s most beautiful place of interest, the town has all the genuine charm of « ancient stones » as well as a cultural and artistic dynamism, thanks to which it gained the European Choral Town label.

As a forward-looking town, Vaison-la-Romaine shows substantial openness, However it definitely keeps a strong and rich heritage. The evidence of its prestigious past heavily influences the modern-day town, which reveals remnants of the ancient Vasio Vocontiorum, the capital of the Voconce people.

Vaison-la-Romaine is a charming area with many places of interest to discover :

• Archelogical sites

• The archelogical museum

• The Castle

• The Roman bridge

• The Cathedral

• The Saint-Quenin Chapel

More information : www.vaison-la-romaine.com

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