The French Tour Co

Best wine caves in Perpignan

2010-06-03T07:44:00.000-07:00

Article as appears in Accents Southwest magazine
Spoilt for Choice

We are lucky to be living in the largest vineyard in the world. The Languedoc Roussillon is the biggest vineyard in the world, producing more wine than Bordeaux, Australia and Chile combined. With over 2800 vignerons and over 30 different appellations, we really are spoilt for choice.

The challenge is to find the diamonds in the rough, as, just like any other wine growing region, there are some very fine wines out there and also, some very mediocre ones.

I have handpicked ( pardon the pun!) my favourite cavistes in the Perpignan area who will help you choose the right wine for the right occasion. Buying wine in a supermarket is fine and handy dandy, but it is nice to support the local economy by purchasing from a local caviste or a local vigneron. I think you will be very pleasantly surprised at the quality and price..

Maison Gulhot

You are always assured a very warm welcome from proprietor Georges Guilhot in his new cave in the historic centre of Perpignan. Previously the manager of the Parisian franchise ‘Nicolas’ in Place Repuplique, he has just returned from four years in Tahiti where he learnt about New World Wines in nearby Australia and New Zealand.

His new cave is stocked with lots of local goodies – 80% of his wines come from the Roussillon region. Georges sources his wines from interesting independent vignerons and chooses with care. He is passionate about wine and food and a visit to his shop is always full of anecdotes and laughter , along with a taste of his favourite tipple of the day. His wines range in price from 3€50 for a bottle of VDP Cote Catalans, ROC du Gouverneur 2007 to his most expensive bottle at 290€ for a Chateau Rothschild and then everything in between.

Once a month , he organises soirées gourmands, sumptuous wine and food matching nights in conjunction with chef, Bruno Léger. Having attended a couple of these delightful evenings, there are worth going on the short list for!

Georges can also organise private evenings in his cave – he can cater for about 20 people or if you want to organise an evening at a different venue, he can cater for this also.

Georges has over 15 years experience in the restaurant trade in England and the US and speaks perfect English.

He also stocks a selection of fine champagnes and whiskies.

Georges offers a 10% discount to all Accents Southwest readers. Mention Accents Southwest for your 10% discount.
Maison Guilhot
13 place de poilus
Perpignan 66000
Tel : 0678445480

Aux Vins 4 Canons

An old armoury situated at 24 bd Clemenceau ( hence the jeu de mots with the name), Fabien Plane and his Mother Francoise head up this beautiful cave on the snazziest Boulevard in Perpignan. Fabien opened the wine shop in 2006 and has developed the cave as a serious platform for biodynamic wines in the region. Specialising in biodynamic, natural and organic wines, mostly from the Roussillon region, he has carved a niche in the market for himself, offering the largest selection of biodynamic wines in the region.

Every Tuesday evening, he invites a vigneron to the cave for a chat and tastings – numbers are always limited .

Thursday evenings, the cave is transformed into a bar where you can purchase a “formule” ; a glass of wine with charcuterie, fruits de mer or even pizza ; they have a different theme each Thursday. Price is usually 8€. Kick off is 19h30 every Thursday evening and the atmosphere is relaxed and friendly as people ease themselves into the weekend.

They also sell a lovely selection of organic charcuterie as well as some interesting artisanal icecream.

Francoise Plane, a renowned sculptress in her own right, fronts the show at the moment. She speaks excellent English.
Vins 4 Canons,
24 bis bd Clemenceau,
66000 Perpignan
0468809470

V and B
Vins et Bieres

Situated in the centre commercial in Mas Geurido, this cave offers a unique experience in Perpignan with it’s extensive range of beers and wines from around the world. Doubling as a cave and a bar, the cave a vins offers more than 250 wines from all around the world. The cave a bières boasts over 350 beers from Belguim, Germany, Ireland, England and Argentina.
Parking is not a problem in Mas Guerido which is a huge bonus for people popping in after work or at lunch time for a nice cold beer before heading off home. The atmosphere in the bar is family orientated ( Think Cheers!), everyone seems to know each other and with an early closing hour of 21h00 , the ambience is chilled out with no messy clients.
The huge bar is open for private functions and owner, Romuald , is keen to open his doors for private soirées .. he also holds wine and beer tasting nights on a regular basis.

The terrace, currently under construction will add another new dimension to the bar and Romauld is planning on having barbeque nights and parties there – as you are in the middle of a non residential area, you can make as much noise as you like!

With the mercury rising and barbeque season now in full swing, what better accompaniment than an ice cold beer. On offer in V and B at the moment is a caisse of beer , 20 bottle of 50cl German Schonberger Export beer for 15€.

V and B is also open for important sporting events and will expecting a big crowd for the USAP – Clermont Ferrand Rugby final.

Allez USAP!
V and B
22 rue Michel Carre
66330 Cabestany
Tel : 0468863668
Web : www.VandB.fr

Cave Gustumo

A relaxed cave in the centre of Canet plage, this cave has over 350 wine references and is always on the look out for new and interesting wines. Jean Phillipe Agen, the owner is very knowledgeable about wine and is very enthusiastic about his local wines and terroir. He speaks good English too.

You can also order on line for collection or delivery at very competitive prices.

GUSTUMO
11 avenue de la Méditerranée
66140
Canet-en-Roussillon

Cheers and Happy Holidays to you all!

Wine tasting and food matching

2010-05-13T13:35:00.000-07:00

Maison Guilhot

I had the pleasure of being invited to a soirée at Maison Guilhot in Perpignan last week where Olivier Pithon was present and spoke openly about his journey into wine in the PO. Originally from the Val de Loire where his brother produces some fine wines also, he moved to the Pyrenees Orientales over 10 years ago, inspired solely by Gauby whom he considers to be 'la référence' regarding quality wines in the Roussillon region.
You know it's going to be a serious evening when the proprietor and the chef introduce the night saying that they live for wine and food pairing. It is their all consuming passion they proudly declared .. oh and as well as their families they hastily mumbled.
The soirée was held in George's cave, in the centre of Perpignan, where he has a long ancient table which sits about 14 people at the back of the shop. Très convivial!

The wine and food menu was as follows ( in french):

PITHON, deux frères, deux terroirs:
Cuvée Lais blanc
Tartine de saumon fumé, crème épaisse au wazabi.

Chenin Blanc,Pithon-Paillé
Soupe de crevettes au safran.

D 18 blanc
Supions à l'ancre, sauce tomate séchée concassée.

Cuvée Lais Rouge
Brochette Agneau Orientale au Razalhanut.

Bourgueil Pithon-Paillé
Cassolette de moungettes cremeuses, dés de magret de canard , poivre de Madagascar, coulis de poivrons rouges.

"Surprise"
Fromages.

Le Pilou rouge
Ganache légère au chocolat, coulis de poivron, framboise et son petit gâteau au chocolat.

Every course had been meticulously researched to match the wine exactly and that it did. One of Pithon's fans was completely awestruck and one stage blurted out ' I have not cried in 15 years, but I think I am going to cry now" while tasting the Cuvée Lais Rouge. Ok, at that stage, my companion and I had to hold back the giggles at his flagrant prostration but it was damn good for all that..

Sister Act

2010-05-05T10:44:00.000-07:00

Article as appears in the Herald, Ireland
By Katie Byrne

Tuesday May 04 2010
Sisters Suzanne and Karen O'Reilly (below) hail from Limerick. Suzanne left Ireland at 17 to au pair in France. Karen, a qualified accountant, followed her over in 2002.
"When I visited Suzanne in 2002 she was just setting up her own company and I jumped at the chance to join her. We ran the very successful property business, Bidsinfrance, for more than six years and then we diversified and set up The French Tour Co. Wine tours are our most popular. It's a fun day out and we visit three or four vineyards and dine with vineyard owners.
"We also run other tours for larger groups: adventure tours, art and history tours, even 'Why French Women Don't Get Fat' tours! About 40pc of our clients are Irish. They are by far the easiest clients, quicker to laugh, spend and enjoy themselves.
Being fluent in French helps, although we have come across some extremely difficult bureaucrats. France does not really follow Europe, so European laws can be flagrantly abused when it suits them. I would advise anyone thinking of moving here to set up a business to get fluent in the lingo"
Karen and Suzanne O'Reilly run the French Tour Co, www.thefrenchtourco.com. They are currently writing a book, 'Wake up and Smell the Croissants'. Follow them on their blog getrealfrance.blogspot.com

Things to know about restaurants in France

2010-04-14T13:18:00.000-07:00

Article as appears in Accents Southwest

I love my food and I love going out to restaurants and am rarely disappointed by what my little adopted corner of France has to offer.
One of Frances many draws for the tourist is her renowned culinary delights, but there are a few things the unsuspecting tourist should know about restaurants in France in general and about restaurants in the PO, in particular:

1) Opening hours.
Unlike Spain, it’s laid back, relaxed and laissez faire neighbour, France is strict on timekeeping. Lunch is served between 12h00 and 14h00 and dinner between 19h00 and 22h00. Pile poil. I have often arrived at empty restaurants with a gang of friends at 13h55 to be greeted with “ah, mais la cuisine est fermée madame”and no amount of cajoling or bribery will make them change their minds. It’s frustrating and refreshingly uncapitalistic in some ways … and you get used to it very quickly! Many restaurants are also closed on Mondays.

2) Vegetarians beware
France is not a country that warms to the vegetarian. In fact , in many restaurants , you will be treated as if you have a contagious disease as the waiter scurries into the kitchen to tell the chef that there is one of “those that do not like meat” on the premises. Be prepared to be presented with a plate of boiled veg and a Gallic shrug of the shoulders!

3) Children should be seen and not heard
As a mother with two small children, I am flabbergasted at the obedience and docility of French children. One can be in a restaurant surrounded by hordes of French children dining with their parents and not be aware that they are even there! From a very early age, table manners and etiquette are literally drummed into French children and they are expected to behave properly and will demurely sit through a 4 course meal without budging. Your dog will be more welcome than unruly “normal “ children.

4) Les toilettes!
Since I moved here over 8 years ago, I’ve seen a huge improvement in the quality of the WC department of restaurants. However, you can still expect dirty holes in the ground, particularly in the city centre of Perpignan. Unisex toilets are popular.

5) Russian roulette
Most menus in French restaurants will be, surprisingly enough, in French and there may not be someone to translate or explain. Bring your dictionary or ordering may be like a game of Russian roulette!

Restaurants that buck the trend in the PO :
1) Best Flexible hours
Le France
A long awaited welcome addition to the Perpignan eating scene, Le France is open all day long serving tapas, pizzas, sandwiches and more. The venue is impressive, built as it is in renovated historical buildings, dating back to the 14th century where it housed the “consulat de mer”
Opening Monday to Saturday 10h00 to 22h00 and Sundays at midday, 12h00 to 14h30
Le France Café, Place de la Loge, 66000 Perpignan, tel : 04 68 51 61 71

Le Napoli
You arrive in Perpignan on a late flight or train and you’re ravenous. Nothing in Perpignan is open, so it looks like heading back to the gaff to rustle up something inane from the cupboard. Think again , because Pizza Napoli is open until 1am every evening. Serving typical pizzeria fare , with good steaks and always a livelu crowd, if the mood takes your fancy, you can always head downstairs to the nightclub! Yeah baby!
Open Monday to Sunday for lunch and from 19h00 to 01h00
Le Napoli, 3, Place de Catalogne, 66000 Perpignan, Telephone: 04 68 35 35 88

2) Best vegetarian restaurant
Peace and Love, Perpignan
As far as I know ( and I stand to be corrected) this is the only dedicated 100% veggie restaurant in the PO. With a laid back feel and 70s décor, the atmosphere is relaxed and student like. The generous and tasty mains start at €6,50 with some interesting lunch specials as well. It’s open for lunch every day except Sunday and for dinner on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights.
Peace and Love, 40, rue de la Fusterie 66000 Perpignan, Tél : 06 08 33 67 84

3) Best Kiddies Restaurant
Le Rocher des Pirates
Situated in an ugly industrial zone, this restaurant with pirate theme ticks all the boxes for your children. Waiters dressed as pirates, exploding dinners, volcanic eruptions and a spectacle on Sundays, your child will be engrossed. The menu is attractive for adults as well, with barbequed meat, fish , pizzas and some nice salads.
Le Rocher des Pirates, Rue Georges Melies, 66600 Rivesaltes,Tél : 04 68 57 15 84

Beach Clubs
In the summer months, these clubs situated on the main beaches are ideal for dining with your kids. When your kids get restless, they can play in the sand while you can watch them and the sea view from your vantage point in the dining area. Everybody’s happy.
My pick of the bunch would be Naudo Beach Club, Canet Sud– it’s an upmarket beach club. Their cocktails are excellent and the food is above average. Service can be a bit slow though
Open June to September
Naudo Beach Club, Voie des Flamants Roses, Tel : 0468734744 6oses 4

4) Best Toilets
La Villa du Flot, Perpignan
A superbe restaurant which uses local fresh produce inventively and changes it’s menu weekly, this is a special occasion restaurant situated in a 4star hotel on the outskirts of Perpignan. A open dining room leading on to a leafy terrasse and a sparkling pool, the service is unrushed and the ambience relaxed. The hotel permanently hosts art exhibitions of local artists and the foyer is always decorated with interesting artwork. Their impressive wine vault boasts up to 5000 bottles of wine, with 150 local wines to choose from.
The toilets are very nice too!!!
LA VILLA DUFLOT - Rond-Point Albert Donnezan, Perpignan 66000, Tél 33 (0) 4 68 56 67 67

5) Best restaurant in the world
El Bulli, Roses, Costa Brava, Spain
We are privileged to be living on the very doorstep of the alleged best restaurant in the world. Albeit not in France, but just over the border in Spain, El Bulli is the highly acclaimed eatery standing proudly on the winning podium. It’s not easy to get a seat there, with over a million eager enthusiasts on the waiting list , this restaurant is only open for 6 months of the year – for the other 6 months , they experiment and play with food, trying new techniques and approaches to cooking food that puts this restaurant at the cutting edge of culinary experimentation.
El Bulli, Cala Montjoi . Ap. 30 17480 . Roses, Girona (Spain), tel (34) 972 150 457
Bon Apps tout le monde !

Georges is back!

2010-04-08T07:37:00.000-07:00

You are always assured a warm welcome at Maison Guilhot by proprietor Georges who runs the show. Georges enthusiasm for wine and food marries perfectly with his well stocked shop, full of a wine lovers goodies.
As well as a wide selection of local Roussillon wines, Georges also stocks wine from other parts of France and Spain.
A fine selection of champagnes are also available as well as some well chosen whiskies.
Georges speaks perfect English and is great to consult if you having a dinner party or want to find the right wine to match the right food. He also hosts tasting nights with different themes.
Situated right in the heart of Perpignan city, why not call in for a chat and a taste?

Maison Guilhot,
13 place des poilus
Perpignan 66000
Tel : 0678445480

Our wine quotation winner

2010-03-28T12:58:00.000-07:00

"Wine comes in at the mouth
And love comes in at the eye;
That's all we shall know for truth
Before we grow old and die.
I lift the glass to my mouth,
I look at you, and sigh."
William Butler Yeats, Green Helmet and Other Poems.

Roisin McCardle from Limerick, éire, wins a wine tour for two for sending us this one
Well done Roisin! See you soon in the South of France!

Nice feedback

2010-03-28T12:36:00.000-07:00

It was very much a highlight of my trip doing the tours with you and the vignerons, especially the lunch with the French family, whose name I cannot remember at the moment, where we lunched in the 'barn' with Mr. and Mrs., the son and his friend who spoke more English, cooking the pork chops over the grape vines.

As well, we visited Riberach with their grand plans for a hotel etc.. We have received updates via email and they are progressing nicely towards opening this summer. We bought the E11 wine and opened it last year at a dinner with several European guests (France, Denmark) and it everyone was very impressed. Ted's sister and her husband purchased the E31 bottle and found it extremely agreeable. Too bad we are limited to 2 litres!

Maureen Freeman from Canada

Spring was in the air

2010-03-08T01:38:00.000-08:00

A group of us trekked along the coastal paths between Cap Bear and Banyuls on Saturday in tee shirts and shorts. We dined al fresco in a fab restaurant in Port Vendres afterwards and enjoyed a 3 course sumptious feast in La Tramontane for a mere 16euros50. Visiting friends from the UK were astounded at the value for money and the fact that a mere two hours from the UK, they were basking in the sunshine and lashing on the suncream! Coffee in Collioure finished off the day perfectly and we all headed home replete, thinking that summer has arrived.

This morning we woke up to temperatures of 1 degrees and the snow is now falling heavily and sticking. The good news is that it is also snowing in the ski slopes and now that the school regional holidays are over, the slopes will be quiet. Just over an hour from Perpignan, we can be clicking on our skis and enjoying the fresh air of the Pyrenees. Weeee Hawww

It's a lovely time of the year to visit the region and to take in a bit of sunshine, a bit of skiing, a bit of culture and fine dining and of course a little bit of wine.
At the French Tour Co, a wine tour combined with a days skiing can be arranged with all transport, accommodation and meals included. Contact us for further information.
We now only cater for large groups of 10 or more, but do contact us if you group is smaller as we can regroup smaller numbers.

See you on the slopes!

Let's do lunch dahling

2010-03-04T03:24:00.000-08:00

Article as printed in Accents Southwest

If brown is the new black, staying in, the new going out, well then , lunch is the new dinner. With such excellent value for lunch menus in the local restaurants in the PO, it is no wonder that you have to scramble to get a seat in most good establishments once it's twelve bells and the PO effectively shuts down.

We offer all types of tours at The French Tour Co - our most popular being the Wine Tours. However, we also get quite a few requests for our Gourmet Tours - which takes us to Oyster farms for wine tasting, fromageries, olive oil farms, yummy chocolate factories, cookery lessons with Michelin star chefs and other gourmet highlights. Of course, no gourmet tour with be complete without visiting a nice restaurant for a typically long and leisurely French lunch.
Here are the highlights of the coastal restaurants that we have tried and tested in the Pyrenees Orientales:

Leucate - just over the border in the Aude department, the Oyster farm is a MUST for those who like shucking up! Reminiscent of the shanty -like river markets in Asia, the oyster huts where they harvest the beauties, back on to basic restaurants serving Oysters and Mussels, the freshest you have ever tasted. This is not a place to go to if you are
a) a white linen table, sparkling glasses and stylish decor type or
b) you are not an oyster lover.
The restaurants are the basic, plastic tables and chairs variety - there is a string of them all offering unbelievable value :
12 oysters, a quart of wine and bread for 8 euros for example. You can also buy take away or sea food platters.
Situated between Leucate port and Leucate Village , follow the signs for Le centre ostréicole ( same turn off as the naturist resort)

Just South of Leucate, and staying on the fishy theme, we venture into Le Barcarès which boasts one of the nicest fish restaurants in the region; L'Amparo. Fresh fish, cooked simply and at excellent value, this little seafront restaurant, tucked away in front of Résidence La Sardane, is a real find. Reservation recommended, especially at the weekend. This is a local favourite and is open all year round.
L'Amparo Résidence La Sardane 66420 LE BARCARES Téléphone : 04 68 86 10 44

Canet has many many restaurants and eating there can be a bit hit and miss. After having an office there for over 4 years, I think I have tried most of them at this stage! The Rimini cannot be beaten for price and quality. Their lunch menu changes daily and if you like a good hearty lunch , the Rimini is your man. Excellent adventurous pizzas with thin crispy crusts ( try the melo mela with goats cheese, apple slices and raisins). Reservation is recommended for lunch as it is always full. Best pizzeria I have found in the region! Situated at the roundabout with the big fountain as you come into Canet from the Perpignan side :
Le Rimini, 4 Avenue Catalogne, 66140 Canet , Tél. : 0468804587

La Cigale Gourmande , on the sea front in Canet does an amazing lunch as well - for 12€50 , you get starter and main or main and dessert , with a quart du vin and coffee. That’s hard to beat. The food is always imaginatively prepared and the staff are young and friendly. The chef regularly comes and out and does the rounds of the tables to ensure everyone is happy. Michelin star service at Quick prices.
La Cigale Courmande 27, promenade de la Côte Vermeille 66140 Canet, Tél : 09 65 04 12 66

The Mar I Bouddha restaurant on the jetty in Canet Nord is probably the best located bar and restaurant in Canet. Surrounded on three sides by water, this ultra moderne restaurant oozes style and sophistication. With an excellent restaurant on the ground floor favouring Catalan style dishes and lots of seafood, there is also a funky bar on the 1st floor with stunning views of the beach and the prom in Canet. Open all year round, it is advisable to book also :
Mar I Bouddha,1 boulevard de la Jetée , 66140 Canet , Téléphone : 04 68 80 33 21

L'Almandin , situated in the hotel L'ile de la Lagune in Les Capellans in St Cyprien boasts a coveted Michelin Star ( there are not many in the PO) and so for a special occasion, this restaurant is worth a visit. In a gorgeous idyllic setting , with its terrasse overlooking the marina and cool minimalistic interior, this one ticks all the boxes for those seeking la glamour!
L'Île de la Lagune "Les Capellans", 66750 Saint-Cyprien - Tél : 04 68 21 01 02

Moving further south to Argeles sur plage and to the George and Dragon, an English pub run by the lovely Susan and her hubby Franz. You are assured a very warm welcome here at the George and Dragon and if you have been craving curries and English food, Susan offers the most delicious curries in her laid back pub. Interestingly for all you sporty types, they also have all the sports channels : Sky Sports, Setanta, Euro sports etc and all the English and Irish matches can be seen here.
George and Dragon, 24, Avenue du Général de Gaulle, 66700 Argeles, 06 11 65 56 56

Collioure, the jewel in the crown, as they say, but there are many thorns to be found in the eateries here in Collioure, who, with her abundance of tourists, doesn't really have to try too hard to get the punters in the doors. There are a few gems and The French Tour Co's favourite is L'Insolite - a little terrace restaurant, situated just behind the magnificent Notre Dame des Anges church whose most painted clock tower dominates the bay.
L'Insolite ( which is only open when the sun shines , as there is no indoor space) offers great big fresh and tasty salads , crepes and cheap and cheerful dishes served with a smile. A breath of fresh air in Collioure.
L'Insolite 2, Place de l'Eglise - 66190 Collioure, Tél: 04 68 82 08 61

Motoring down south to Port Vendres and onto the marina where La Tramontane is situated - a truly excellent restaurant with an adventurous chef, the midday menu is exceptional value : with three or four choices for every course - three courses costs 15euros. The last time I visited there for lunch, I enjoyed lobster bisque, confit de canard on a cassoulet of lentils and aubergine crumble for dessert. In a word , it was WOW. Highly recommend it.
La Tramontane, 2 Quai Forgas, 66660 Port Vendres , Tél : 04 68 82 01 51

Another very stylish restaurant on the marina front in Banyuls sur Mer, Al fanal is situated on the southern end of Banyuls sur mer, across the road from the Aquariam. Part of the charming hotel, El LLagut, this restaurant changes its menu weekly and so offers very fresh dishes. With an excellent wine list with over 300 wines to choose from, this is a serious restaurant for the gourmet lover. Again , it is lunch time which offers the best deal with menus at 18 - 21 euros. Seriously elegant dining.
La Fanal, Avenue du Fontaulé, 66650 Banyuls sur Mer , Tél : 04 68 88 00 81

Our last port of call, is in quirkly laid back Cerbere , the last bastion of french civilisation before scaling the mountian into Port Bou and diving into all things Spanish. La Dorade is a laid back family run establishment whose terrace spills out onto the street. Everybody seems to know everybody else and the atmosphere is friendly, relaxed and très catalan, just like the food. They pride themselves in their catalan recipes , handed down through the generations by their mothers and grandmothers - Actually , it feels like you are having dinner in your grannies house with your doting granny fussing over you wondering is everything ok. A comforting catalan experience.
La Dorade - Front de Mer, 66290 Cerbère. - Tél : 04 68 88 41 93
Allez , Bonne appetit tout le monde!

Wine Quotations

2010-02-19T10:54:00.000-08:00

After a little break , The French Tour Co are back with a bang , well, a little competition anyway ...
We have a wine quotation every week on our blog and we're offering a free wine tour for two for the person who comes up with the best wine quote.
One of my favourites this week is :

Here's to the corkscrew - a useful key to unlock the storehouse of wit, the treasury of laughter, the front door of fellowship, and the gate of pleasant folly.
W.E.P. French

The French Tour Co are now offering tours for groups of 10 or more. We can also organise any event you are planning on having in the South of France , be it a wedding, a party, a sailing trip, a walking tour or any other eventuality. We are bilingual and highly professional and we have the contacts to make your event a stress free one.

info@thefrenchtourco.com

Bringing art to éire

2009-11-19T06:55:00.000-08:00

We, at the French Tour co have sourced some fabulous original oil on canvas paintings which we will be taking to Ireland to sell in the lead up to Christmas.

The paintings are sold on canvas and are very well priced.
50cm x 60cm are all 55euros
60cm x 90cms are all 75euros

Contact us now if you would like to see the range of paintings we have in stock. A perfect original Christmas present. Limited stock available...
We will also be selling them at the FAB PO Christmas fair on 29th November at the Salle Polyvalente in St Jean Pla de Corts

Bringing wine to éire

2009-11-13T07:23:00.000-08:00

We are so excited to be bringing some of our favourite wines and winemakers to Ireland! On the 10 December, in O'Donovans Hotel in Clonakilty , Domaine Trelaor will be hosting a wine tasting dinner : a 4 course meal matched to their award winning wines.

Book now for Thursday 10 December :

Kick off is a 19h30 with pre-dinner aperitifs
Entree : Ricotta and Spinach Tartlet with seasonal leaves. Matched with One Block Muscat.
First course : Tomato and Roasted Red Pepper Soup served with Garlic Crutons served with One Block Grenache.
Main Course : Irish Pork Steak with an Apricot and Sage Stuffing served with an Apple and Calvados Jus. Vegetables..... Mangetous, Red Cabbage, Garlic Potatoes and Roasted Baby Potatoes. Served with Three Peaks.
Dessert... Lemon Tart served with an Orange Coulis.... served with Fresh Cream or a Homemade Mixed Berry Ice Cream. Served with Muscat de Rivesaltes.

Freshly Brewed Coffee or Tea to finish.

The price of the meal, including all wines and tutored wine tastings from Jonathan, is €50 per head.

You can also reserve a nights B&B in the hotel for €45 per person

Domaine Treloar wines are available to purchase and we are now taking pre orders for same.
Please let us know asap if you would like to attend the wine tasting dinner and / or if you would like to purchase some wines before Christmas : a perfect Christmas gift for a wine lover!

FAB PO Christmas Market

2009-11-09T01:54:00.000-08:00

The FAB-PO Marché de Noël is back!!!

FAB-PO an international non-profit making business network based in the Pyrénées-Orientales, is pleased to announce the return of its phenomenally successful Christmas Market. This year’s market will take place on Sunday 29th November from 11am until 5pm at the Salle Polyvalente in Saint Jean Pla de Corts – make sure you put the date in your diary now!

It promises to be a fun day out for all the family with Father Christmas making an appearance, pottery and facepainting for the kids, wine tasting and French language workshops, carol singing, a tombola with fantastic prizes, stalls selling local produce, cards and Christmassy delights and much much more. Cyberia Café will be serving delicious sandwiches, soft drinks and snacks, and there will be a bar run by local winemakers, so come along and make a day of it.

It’s all for a good cause too as 25% of the profits from the day will be going to Cancer Support France (www.cancersupportfrance.info) , which provides English speaking support to cancer sufferers in France.

See you there!

V off !

2009-09-21T04:59:00.001-07:00

The French Tour Co attend the much more relaxed sister exhibition to Visa pour l'Image, the appropriately named "V Off"
There was a great exhibition of USAP photos in the Rive Gauche gallery in Perpignan centre, celebrating their fantastic years success.
Perpignan is still celebrating USAP's success and, after hammering Montauban this weekend in the Top 14, is looking forward to a another great season.
Allez USAP!

I love Paris in the Springtime,

2009-09-11T05:49:00.000-07:00

I love Paris in the fall,
I love Paris in the summer when it sizzles
But being with the lassies on our college reunion is the best of all!

Wow, what a weekend avec les filles! There is nothing like heading off for a weekend , leaving your cares and troubles behind , a whole three nights sans enfants and hanging out with your mates from college in the most beautiful city in the world, wee hawww!

Paris, and France in general has so much to offer and as the sun shone down on us, we discovered fab restaurants ( La Table d'Anvers , the highlight of the trip), funky cool bars, excellent live music and did what the locals do .. had cafés in bars and people watched...

I was surprised to find a vineyard tucked away behind the Sacre Coeur as we meandered through the cobblestoned streets, soaking up the sights and sounds of our eclectic neighbourhood. According to the blurb pinned to the locked gates, the harvest finishes every year with a huge "fete de vendange", harvest festival with people dancing and singing in the streets.
The small vintage ( they produce about 2000 bottles a year) is auctioned off publicly and the proceeds go to the town hall coffers.
Whether the wine is drinkable or not, is debatable, but the bottles become collectors items because of their scarcity and also the labels - a different artist designs the label every year.

Don't forget our Wine Harvest tour running this October in Perpignan - a great deal for three nights B&B in a luxurious spa hotel, evening meal, one full days wine tour with gourmet lunch, one day at the wine festival and another full day in Collioure, transfers and all local transport included for 379euros
Click here to book online

Well done to the Munster girls team

2009-09-01T01:25:00.001-07:00

Bravo to the Munster womens team who travelled this weekend to the South of France, to play the french champions , Montpellier.
Arriving on Friday for a whistle stop tour , they played local team Villelongue de la Salanque on Friday and Montpellier on Saturday before catching the early flight out of Carcassonne on Sunday. Phew!
There was great support for the victorious Munster team at the match on Saturday with a loud , proud irish crowd cheering them on.
We caught up with the girls that evening where they were wined and dined with gusto in Villelongue's town hall. A huge paella was followed by yummy dessert ( bras de venus) and a delicious cheese platter. The girls were blown away by the generosity of their hosts and the huge welcome they received from the local catalans.
After the speeches, the pourrou was brought out - this is a special bottle with a long thin spout from which you pour the muscat ( sweet wine) directly into your mouth from a height. Good clean fun!
After the pourrou had done its rounds and the vocal chords were truly doused, the singing commenced and the French contingent were regaled to the sounds of Christy Moore, Puc ar Buile, The fields of Athenry etc etc.
We left them at it in the wee hours to party on ..
Bravo Les Filles!

Fine Wines in Ireland

2009-08-28T05:15:00.001-07:00

I'm just back from Ireland (at least a stone heavier ) where we caught up with all our friends and relatives and enjoyed a gastronomical tour of the countryside.
The quality of food , particularly in West Cork, where we were based really is high with so many cottage industries producing food locally. So, if you are based in Clonakilty for example you can enjoy a meal from ingredients sourced within a 10 mile radius for the most part.
Succulent fresh meat, locally caught fish and shellfish, a huge variety of cheeses and breads and organic produce are widely available. The restaurants, too , seem to have pulled up their socks , offering good quality meals at reasonable prices.
A group of us dined at The Terrace in O'Donovans Hotel , main street Clonakilty and all 8 of us were very happy with our meal with dishes like hot mussels cooked with chorizo, roast duck on a bed of lentil cassoulet and millefeuille of vegetable with pistachio topping, it was hard not to be.
However, good quality, reasonably priced french wine was hard to come by ... is it possible to get a nice bottle of french wine in Ireland in the 10 - 12euro bracket?
I'm still looking .... perhaps we will be able to bring some of our favourite Roussillon wines to Ireland in the near future?
Watch this space ..

The Wine Harvest has begun!

2009-08-27T03:03:00.000-07:00

The vines are heavy with grapes here late August in the South of France - reminding me of dairy cows ready to be milked, and it's time for the farmers now to milk their vines ( ok, easy to spot that I'm just back from holidays in Ireland!) and start the harvesting of their precious fruit that they have been carefully tending to for the last 12 months.

It is such a sight to behold , groups of weatherbeaten pickers hunched over the vines, working their way slowly and surely ( and back breakingly) through the fields as they gather up the fruit of their labours.
The old tractors and trailers then come bouncing down the laneways, laden down with mounds of grapes, leaving a trail of grape juice in their wake, to deliver their precious cargo to the wine cellars where the process of making the wine commences.

The time for picking the grapes depends on a number of factors : the grape variety, the weather and what the grapes are going to be used to make.
In my mind, there is no better time to visit the vineyards than now and for the next two months or so. The vineyards are electric with activity, the excitement is palpable, the tensions high and the sights and smells are unforgettable.

With The French Tour Co, we take you behind the scenes on our Wine tours where we get as close to the wine making action as possible.
If you're feeling energetic, a half days picking with vigneron lunch can even be arranged.

.. And then there is the collective sigh of relief once the harvest is finished and the grapes are safely indoors. The relief is marked by the Harvest Festivals - a celebration of the successful harvest and of a job well done.

The French Tour Co are organising a fantastic Wine and Pamper weekend to coincide with the Harvest Festival in October. See here for details and to book online.

Wine labels - a straight jacket for French wines?

2009-08-25T08:09:00.000-07:00

Bitch from Australia

Did you know that if you're a french wine producer, making AOC wine, you are severely restricted on what you can put on the label of your wine bottle?

Therefore, if you are producing a AOC wine, you cannot put the grape variety on the label - the logic behind this being the concept of terroir and that the purchaser should KNOW what a Languedoc Roussillon wine tastes like or a Bordeau or a Cotes de Rhone, etc.

However, with the advent of the availability of New World wines and their relaxed labelling rules, Josephine Public has decided that she loves Chardonnay and Shiraz as her favourite White and Red. Josephine goes to the French section of her wine shop and cannot find any Shiraz or Chardonnay so she slips back to the Australian or Chilean section where she can confidently select her favourites.

And so the French Wine Industry suffers. It is true that most Vins de Pays can note the varietal on their label but then vins de pays are not highly thought of outside of France where Josephine Public thinks that this is a second rate wine ( not always the case at all)..

Some French vineyard owners are copping on to the marketing for outside the Republic and there are brands like FAT BASTARD, ARROGANT FROG, ROYAL BITCH proving extremely popular with the Josephines...

Time for the INAO (Institut National des Appellations d’Origine )to lighten up on the labelling rules and help us to choose the french wines we are pretty sure we will enjoy?

Bored with Beaujolais?

2009-08-19T02:24:00.000-07:00

Had it with Nouveau Beaujolais? Check out the Nouveau Roussillon Wine Festival.

The French Tour Co have teamed up with Frogbus.com to offer you an incredible getaway experience during the annual Roussillon Wine Festival in Perpignan. Ideal for wine lovers who also enjoy a little pampering, french cuisine and late summer sun.

Put it in your diary: Thursday October 15th to Sunday October 18th.

The itinerary includes 3 nights B&B in a new luxurious spa resort, 1 evening meal, a guided wine tour with four course lunch and tastings in 3 top vineyards where we meet the vineyard owners, a day in Perpignan soaking up the atmosphere of the Wine Harvest Festival and a day in coastal Collioure, rated one of the most beautiful villages in France.
Transfers from nearby Girona ( 1 hour) are included in the special price of 379euros inclusive ( single supplement is extra)
Full use of all spa facitilies is included in the price.

For more details and to book your place , click here on Perpignan Wine Festival Tour

The Red Beret from Ceret!

2009-08-11T04:30:00.000-07:00

Looking for something to do from Ceret on Monday 17th of August? Love the Roussillon wines and interested in learning more about them? Well, unusually, The Red Beret Wine Tour departs from Ceret this Monday.

It promises to be a superbe day taking in 3 very different vineyards, meeting the owners of the Chateaux, sampling some of the best quality wines from this region, learning how it is made and much much more.

I hasten to add, for you gourmet lovers, there will be a delicious 3 course lunch with wine at the vigneron's table. Best of all The French Tour Co collects and drops you off at your place of stay.

This will be an insightful tour of life as a vineyard owner - come along for the fun, the knowledge and of course, the vino!

Email Suzanne at info@thefrenchtourco.com

Music and Dance in the South of France

2009-07-31T04:48:00.000-07:00

For the 67th time running Amelie les Bains is staging their renowned International Folklorique Festival from August 4th to August 9th.

Folk music and dance groups from Spain, France, Greece, and Columbia promise to make this a very colourful and exciting festival. Each day there are parades, dancing on the streets, theater and lots of live music.

Not to be missed is the Colombian folk group in the medieval village of Palalda on the 4th. Mingle with the locals at an open-air aperitif for all on Wed the 5th with Flamenco Dancing. Dress up for the "Amelie Danse Ball" being held on Thursday night, entrance is free. Friday the Greek take over the show and Saturday if filled with fun for Theater lovers. There is a Grande Finale on Sunday with all participants present from 9 PM at the closing gala.

After all that song and dance - contact the French Tour Co for a relaxing spa tour!

10 good reasons to visit the Perpignan area this Autumn

2009-07-28T03:03:00.000-07:00

The Pyrenees Orientales has it all : ski resorts, sandy beaches, a Mediterranean climate, fantastic scenery, rocky coastline ideal for snorkeling, great food and superbe wines, bustling markets, historical monuments and castles, friendly Catalan people, mountains and plains, lakes and rivers, gorges and caves, rugby and excellent sporting facilities, a good sized town with all amenities, virtually no pollution .. and if you need further convincing, here are 10 good reasons to visit the Pyrenees Orientales this Autumn :

1) VISA pour L'Image - the International Festival of Photojournalism which takes place from 29 aug to 13 september : VISA

2) Munster are coming to play USAP ( Perpignan) in the Heineken cup on 20th December. Promises to be a great match and a great day out with Munsters Red Army

3) The Wine festival in Perpignan on the 15 and 17 October where many winemakers come to Perpignan to share their new vintage. The French tour co will be organising special tours around this

4) Visit the museum of modern art in Ceret for a look at all the painters that have lived in Ceret over the last 100 years. Original art works from Picasso, Terrus, Braque and others are well worth a visit. Running until 31 Oct

5) Take part in one of our gourmet tours where we match food and wine in the company of the experts : wine makers and chefs du cuisine. yum!

6) Visit the medieval market in Place Gambetta, Perpignan - a traditional festival where you travel back in time - 12/13 Sept

7) Come for a swim in the sea - the sea temperatures will be still in the teens up to the middle of October. From Barcares to Cerbere, discover the wonderful coastline on one of our coastal tours

8) Jump out of a plane - sign up for one of our adventure tours and see the region as you've never seen it before!

9) Come for a game of golf in the balmy Autumn weather. Choose from 14 fine golf courses in the Languedoc Roussillon

10)Escape the recession blues - Rent a yacht with your friends with a skipper and take off towards the horizon on a get away from it all few days

Getting to Perpignan

2009-07-28T02:17:00.000-07:00

HOP TO FRANCE FROM SPAIN!
BUS ROUTE: GOOD NEWS FOR our clients using Girona Airport (GRO) in northern Spain as an entry point into France to take part in one of our many tours
Low-cost bus company FROGBUS.com have just launched additional routes connecting Girona airport directly with popular tourist resorts in the Pyrénées-Orientales area of Southern France.
In addition, FROGBUS.com will also operate a once daily service from Barcelona airport (BCN) into France.
New destinations served directly from Girona & Barcelona airports include Argeles sur Mer, Canet, Barcares, St Marie, Les Angles and Font Romeu.
FROGBUS.com will be extending its routes in the coming months to create a network connecting Toulouse and Barcelona (and others) with regular multi-day services. Click here to contact FROGBUS.com

Buying your wedding wine in the Languedoc Roussillon

2009-07-24T02:13:00.000-07:00

Recently we've had quite a few couples on our wine tours doing some scouting around to buy their wine for their wedding in éire or the UK.
It's an excellent idea as alot of French wine , particularly in Ireland, is not of the highest quality at a certain price level.
Here, in the Languedoc Roussillon region, you can purchase a decent quality wine for around the €6 mark or less.
Some of our partner vineyards will ship the wine to a Northern port for easy collection, at no extra cost.

This week, we had a couple from Limerick, Ireland who settled on their red and white - they have a house here and plan to come down and pack up their car with wine and drive their precious cargo back to the ole sod.

Some points to ponder :

You are allowed to bring 120 bottles of wine per person into Ireland for personal use without paying any additional taxes. However, if you have your wedding cert with you , and can prove that your purchases are for private consumption, you can bring as much wine as you like

The wedding experts recommend that a half a bottle per person at a wedding should be enough - however, if it is an Irish wedding : double that!!!! Always buy a little more than you anticipate - well, it won't go to waste afterwards, will it?

Do taste alot of wines - good advice is to opt for middle of the road wines - nothing too adventurous or whacky. Good fun to have a blind wine tasting with some friends

Look at your menu and decide what wines will go with what you have chosen to eat

Get advice from the experts - if you do a wine tour here with us, you will be meeting the winemakers and the vineyard owners who will be very happy to help

After the food for your wedding, the drinks will probably be the other big expense - it's worthwhile to spend a little time to get it right

Negotiate the corkage with your hotel

Relax and enjoy and let The French Tour Co do the driving!

Merci le French Tour Co

2009-07-24T02:05:00.001-07:00

Nice ot get some positive feedback again from one of our happy clients:

Karen and Suzanne were brilliant. At very short notice they managed to arrange everything from airport transfers to a fantastic vineyard tour – all at excellent value. Their patience and humour at all times was greatly appreciated – in itself a miracle considering we were a party of 11 on a stag do... I’ll definitely be looking them up again when next in the the Perpignan region”.
Nico Tuppen. Brighton, England.

Party in Perpignan

2009-07-21T01:43:00.001-07:00

The stag at eve had drunk his fill,
Where danced the moon on Monam’s rill,
And deep his midnight lair had made
In lone Glenartney’s hazel shade.”
- Sir Walter Scott (1771-1832)

Poetry was far from the minds of the stag party I collected on Saturday morning last for our wine tour. I collected the group of 11 gentlemen from their hotel to be greeted by a couple of supermen, a handful of gimps, some Mexican wrestlers and a very attractive wonder woman!

We rang ahead to warn the vineyards that our group was "alternative" and to quickly lock up their gorgeous French daughters! In fairness , the vineyard owners gave the boys a fantastic welcome - Frederic, the owner of the first vineyard we visited even wanted a costume for himself and was sorely tempted to join them in their party plans for Canet that night. We were wined and dined in true Catalan fashion with a fantastic barbeque and lashings of wine.
We also visited Chateau Valmy where all the boys fell under the spell of Madame Carboneil .. we tasted their selection of superbe wines and got to see behind the scenes of their impressive state of the art wine cellar.

The boys partied the night away in Canet and they were a much quieter crowd when we collected them from their hotel to bring them back to the airport on Sunday.

What goes on tour stays on tour!

Best of Luck to Gordon for his wedding in Canada from The French Tour Co xx

There is no such thing as bad weather ...

2009-07-16T03:03:00.000-07:00

Just the wrong clothes ...

The weather continues to be wild and wonderful here in Perpeignan with sparkling sunny days and thundering storms at night - last night I thought the roof was going to cave in as the monsoonal rain battered against our house.
Today is a little overcast - a perfect day for partaking in one of our tours .. there is so much to do here besides hanging by the pool or just going to the beach.
Our wine tours continue to be our most popular tour keeping us on the road nearly every day - second fave is the adventure tours - what's great about these tours is that all the family can partake from age 2 to 92 and everyone goes home happy.
Third favourite tour is the gourmet tour - matching wine and food lunch, visiting the oyster farm, meeting a cheesemaker and visiting a chocolate factory. YUM!
There are also the history tours, art tours, discovery tours, walking tours and the stunning coastal tours.

Tis a tough job, but someone's gotta do it!

To make the very most of your stay in the Pyrenees Orientales, contact us at The French Tour Co : www.thefrenchtourco.com : 0033 607421668

U2 Rocks Paris ....

2009-07-13T03:15:00.000-07:00

And The French Tour Co were there, along with over 80,000 other fans, singing ourselves hoarse to all our old favourites ..
Not being a true blue U2 fan myself, I enjoyed the first few songs from their new album; no line on the horizon, but it when they started playing their old tunes from the 80s and 90s, that the crowd really woke up and the stadium swelled and swayed with the voices of 80,000+ belting out the lyrics and air punching in unison.

Songs like Beautiful day, I still haven't found what I'm looking for, Sunday bloody Sunday , Pride, One, etc would have lifted the roof, if we had a roof! And a little musical homage to MJ, "don't stop til you get enough" was enough the turn the crowd into a frenzy altogether.

A brilliant night out - excellent entertainment value and although Bono is a bit of a langer, he does have one hell of a voice and his showmanship is second to none I've seen performing on stage.

Looking forward to U2 coming to Perpignan!!!! Centre of the world!

Another tough day at the office

2009-07-13T02:29:00.000-07:00

With an adventurous family of adrenaline junkies booked in for an adventure tour and with a relatively free day to myself last Tuesday, I thought I'd join them for the day and partake in the adventurous activities. Sure, how tough could it be? I'm relatively fit, right?
A big fat wrong, apparently .. one week later and I'm still hobbling around with aching muscles ..
We started off the day with a lovely relaxing drive to the foothills of the mountains, where we got harnessed up and were given our safety chat and drill. The guys and gals in the adventure park are strong on safety and we all went through a thorough training program before we were let loose on the "pistes".
The adventure trails are marked like ski slopes , depending on levels of difficulty : green , blue, red and black. The blues were tough enough and once we had them conquered, we crawled over the the reds .. my body was pushed to the limits as we zipped around on sky high wires , negotiated ropes and tricky manoeuvres and sped across rivers over 30metres above the angry waters. Yikes! Exhilarating? yes. Challenging? yes. Pushing yourself to the limits? yes and terrifying? A resounding yes!!!!

We retired to the café for a tasty hearty lunch of catalan saussisson and a few very welcome glasses of the local cote du roussillon.

The planned canyoning was cancelled for the afternoon as there was too much water so we were given the option of the more "relaxing" tubbing .. involving speeding down the rapids in an inflatable tube with a paddle. An hour of hair raising, wild and reckless fun later, we dragged ourselves back to the centre where we shoe horned ourselves out of our wetsuits and went in search of some brandy!

This tour would be a great day out for gang of lads looking for thrills, or an incentive trip or just for fit people who like to push themselves to the limit. A gourmet picnic can also be organised as part of the day out

www.thefrenchtourco.com

"Best Wine Tour Ever!"

2009-07-09T02:46:00.000-07:00

This week , we had a group of young professional scots here on holidays who opted for the Red Beret Wine Tour.
They were a great group, chatty, interested and interesting, and they were blown away by the hospitality they received at all the vineyards.

Here's some of their comments :

"When I came back from Australia after being away for a year, I didn't receive such a big welcome as we did at the second vineyard! "

"The best day by far of our holidays"

"I can't beleive how friendly the people are"

"I've learnt so much today - it's brilliant getting to see behind the scenes and having it all translated as well, as my french is crap"

"the Best Wine tour I've ever done"

"the catalan barbeque was so authentic , it felt like we were in someones house -I loved the way the whole family ate with us as well"

"We will certainly recommend this tour to all our friends"

"I've never laughed so much!"

"Learnt loads about wine!"

Great to get such positive feedback - thanks guys for a great day!

Let your boat of life be light

2009-07-06T06:54:00.000-07:00

Let your boat of life be light, packed with only what you need - a homely home and simple pleasures, one or two friends, worth the name, someone to love and someone to love you, a cat, a dog, and a pipe or two, enough to eat and enough to wear, and a little more than enough to drink; for thirst is a dangerous thing.
Jerome K. Jerome
Three Men in a Boat

We Did It!

2009-07-06T02:24:00.000-07:00

As Dora would say:

We did it
We did it
We did it
lo hicimos!
Hurray!

With our qualified and experienced guide, Christian , we made it to the top of the Canigou, the sacred mountain of the Catalans here in the Pyrenees Orientales.

The peak , which can be seen from nearly every point in the Roussillon plain, dominates the landscape and holds a special place in the hearts of the locals. After living here for nearly 8 years, I felt it was time to get to know this stunning mountain more intimately and off we set, all 18 of us, bright and early on Friday morning 3 July to put our legs to the test.

Our guide, Christian, was fantastic ; cool, calm and collected, he guided us at our own pace to the summit, unobtrusively keeping an watchful eye on us all.

On this trip, we took 4x4 vehicles to "base camp" at Chalet de Cortalets and then started walking from there. It took approx 2 hours to reach the 'pic' from here where we enjoyed a well deserved lunch with amazing views. At the summit, there is a cross , where people have left their flags and momentos - we made our own mark and left the Munster flag flying there. Apparently, the USAP team had been up to the summit the week previous with the Bouclier de Brennus ( the Champion de france rugby trophy!)
It was a great achievement for everyone to make it to the top and we look forward to doing it again , maybe taking a different route the next time.
Most people were dreading the descent, but , guided by Christian , we all made it without a hitch.
An ice cool beer was the perfect finalé to a perfect days walking.

Bravo tout le monde!

Contact www.thefrenchtourco.com for walking tours in the Pyrenees

Accommodation for Visa pour l'image Perpignan

2009-06-25T05:30:00.000-07:00

Salvadore Dali declared Perpignan to be the centre of the universe in 1963 as he was passing through the town, maintaining that he got all his best ideas in the waiting room of the train station!
In September , Perpignan will become centre of the photojournalism universe , when it will host the International Festival of Photo journalism, attracting the who's who of the business to exhibit their work.
The exhibitions, which are housed in beautiful historical buildings dotted around the city , will be held from 29 August until the 13th September.
If you are looking for a place to stay during the festival, there is a gem of villa near Collioure which is available for rent : an artists paradise, the villa is nestled in the hills surrounded by vineyards, with an uninterrupted sea view. This quirky unique villa is off the beaten track with no immediate neighbours, apart from the wildlife and the winemaker who will be harvesting the 2009 vintage at this time.
Contact us for more details at www.thefrenchtourco.com

Beaches in the Perpignan area

2009-06-16T02:15:00.000-07:00

I love the beach and with two small kids, we regularly pack up the car and head East to the beaches near our house in Perpignan. One of the fantastic things about living here is that it's possible to go to the beach 365 days of the year and there are plenty to chose from , all withing striking distance of each other.

Here's my take on the beaches in the PO, starting from the most Northern beach : Barcares , down to the most Southern beach on the Spanish border , Cerbere.

Barcares : Barcares is sandwiched between the lagoon and the med and is a long strip of over 12kms of sandy beach.
Because Barcares gets some wind, it's a popular place for wind water sports on the lake. This long stretch of sandy beach is never really crowded and you'll can find a quiet spot to sunbathe quite easily.

Toreilles : A less developed resort, unspoilt. Not much facilities. One or two very good beach clubs.

Saint Mairie : A small beach with lots of snack bars and pizza joints. You don't go here for the cuisine. It has a nice little promenade with a small cute marina.

Canet plage : 2.5 kms of fine sandy beaches. Definitely the best beach for safe swimming with children, particularly on the Northern end , near the marina. Lovely promenade for strolling, roller blading, pram pushing. A local favourite, it's also got the best bars, nightclubs. It is the party place in the summer. Great market on the sea front every evening in the summer. Some excellent restaurants.

St Cyprien : A long sandy beach sliced in two by it's impressive marina. The second largest marina in the South of France, there are some excellent fish restaurants here. Aqualand also on the Southern end provides entertainments for the big kids. Nice prom again for strolling.

Argeles : Gets VERY busy in high season. Rough sandy beach. Panoramic views. New marina - lovely to breakfast here, watching the boats, just adjacent to the prom.

Racou : Hippy style hang out, reminiscent of Aussie laid back beaches

Collioure : A must visit when you are here, although the beaches are stony and small.

Port Vendres : Beautiful little coves, south of Port Vendres. Take a bit of scrambling to get down to them but worth it. Ideal for snorkeling, picnicking. Very sheltered when the wind is blowing

Banyuls : Another stony beach with a fine marina. Good snack bars on the beach that don't cost the earth.

Cerbere : This border town has a small stony beach - lovely laid back family atmosphere.

Check out our discovery and coastal tours on www.thefrenchtourco.com. For the inside track.

Stag tours in Perpignan

2009-06-16T01:10:00.000-07:00

We had another group of fine gentlemen with us for the weekend , celebrating the finals nights of freedom before the groom to be walked the short walk ...

The 11 lads stayed in Canet , close to the beach and were able to sample the lively nightlife that Canet has to offer. The weather was glorious for them and they enjoyed a weekend of sun, sea, sand and ... water sports

On Saturday , they wanted to do something adventurous , so we organised a full days adventure sports for them in the mountains , near Axat. They spent the morning rafting and the afternnon hydrotubbing down the rapids. Here's what they had to say:

We very much enjoyed the activities. The rafting was good fun. A pleasant introduction, not too taxing but certainly blew away the cobwebs. The hydroglidding was also great fun but much more energetic and we were all exhausted afterwards. Good equipment and supervision and it was lovely in the mountains and on the river.

Thanks also for all of your recommendations for restaurants. They all turned out very well indeed. A tip in return, the nightclub called Dark is best avoided but is your only option when one of your party is dressed as Britney Spears.
Julian Pollock, London, best man

Bonne Chance for the wedding from all thefrenchtourco team xxx

The Bouclier comes home to Perpignan

2009-06-11T02:28:00.000-07:00

Don't ask how or why , but the precious Bouclier de Brennus ( the winners trophy for the French league) ended up in my back garden yesterday evening!
After doing the rounds of Perpignan, it has been engraved at last : 2009, U.S.A.Perpignan and the whole town is in a frenzy of delight!
It's a great boost for Perpignan, the city and USAP the club. The Perpignanaise are really not interested in any other sport, it's a rugby mania town where rugby is a classless sport, a bit like Limerick in Munster, where I am from.
And! more exciting news : Munster and Perpignan have been drawn in the same group for the Heineken Cup next year. This means a home and away match for Perpignan and Munster. We are already been plagued for tickets!!
Don't forget to contact The French Tour Co ( www.thefrenchtourco.com) for all your travelling needs to Perpignan : tours, transfers, rugby tours, accommodation advice - we are Irish and on the ground here in Perpignan and have the inside track

Congrads to USAP

2009-06-08T02:22:00.000-07:00

Wow!
What a match, what a victoire, what a homecoming!
The USAP team arrived back to Perpignan last night to be greeted by 25,000 revellers lining the streets of this proud Catalan town (That's nearly one fifth of the whole population of Perpignan! )
They gathered in their throngs, singing, shouting, crying with joy, as their heroes lapped the city on open top buses, finishing up on the steps of the Castillet to a rapturous reception.

After making it to the finals three times since 1998 and not having won the coveted top place since 1955, this certainly is an event to celebrate!
The final score in the match was 22-13 - poor Clermont ferrand though , one can't help feeling sorry for this team, always the bridesmaid, never the bride: they have made it to the final 10 times, but have never come home with "le brennus"
Oh well, as they say , there's always next year!!
The celebrations will continue for many weeks here in the South of France .. well done boys, we are proud of you!
UUUUUUUUUUUUUUUSSAP!!!!!!!

C'mon USAP

2009-06-04T01:31:00.000-07:00

Perpignan is awash with red and yellow flags; cars , buses, houses, apartments , even prams are adorn with the USAP colours this week as the city prepares itself for the final on Saturday of the 'top quatorze' - the french rugby league.

It's no mean feat for this small town of Perpignan to make it to the French final, knocking some big names like Stade Francais, Toulouse, Biarritz and others to make it down to the last two.
They meet Clermont Ferrand in Paris this Saturday night and the whole of Perpignan will be holding their breath for those 80 crucial minutes! Despite the rumours that are flying around, Dan Carter will not be playing in the final, although he is heavily involved in the training and coaching side of the preparation.
He's been injured since the 31 Jan and he still has 6 weeks convalesence before he can play again.
USAP really have proved themselves by making it to the final without him.

The French Tour Co cheer you on guys! Allez USAP!

Contact us for details on our rugby tours - we have contacts with the local rugby clubs and can organise matches and rugby events for your group.

www.thefrenchtourco.com

Perpignan Airport Transfer

2009-05-28T06:04:00.000-07:00

We are coming into our busy airport transfer period now as people look to get from the airports and train stations to their campsites and accommodation. With approx over 4 million people visiting the Pyrenees Orientales over the next couple of months, we expect to be busy busy busy ...

Our air conditioned mini bus can take 8 people and we also can provide car seats for children and our drivers are all English speaking (ie my sister Suzanne or moi!).

As we have been living here for over 8 years, it's a great opportunity to pick our brains and to find out what to see and do locally and to get the on the ground knowledge.

We meet our clients at the airport or trains station and deliver them safely to their destination in the department, taking the stress element out of their arrival into a new country.

Our rates are very competitive, we will match any other company for price.

Service with a smile.

Five Star Wine Tour

2009-05-26T00:53:00.000-07:00

It's been a while since I've done a Five Star Wine tour and as dining in a Michelin Star restaurant is on the itinerary, I had to check to see what restaurants in the Pyrenees Orientales were awarded this coveted prize in 2009.

After a little bit of research, I discovered there are 5 Michelin star restaurants in our area :

Pascal Borrell in Maury
La Galinette in Perpignan
Parc Hôtel in Perpignan
L’Ile de la Lagune - Saint Cyprien
Le Relais des Trois Mas - Collioure

Collioure and Saint Cyprien both have very pleasant views and are by the coast so it will be a toss up between these two for our tour of 8 yanks visiting from NY City.

So! What makes a Michelin Restaurant so special? According to the guidelines in the Michelin guide it's a combination of :

The quality of the products
The mastery of flavor and cooking
The "personality" of the cuisine
The value for the money
The consistency between visits

Michelin stars are awarded to restaurants offering the finest cooking, regardless of cuisine style. Stars represent only what is on the plate. They do not take into consideration interior decoration, service quality or table settings.

Yum, getting hungry and it's only 10am ! Will report back anon ...

These boots were made for walking..

2009-05-25T02:06:00.000-07:00

And that's just what they'll do
And one of these days
These boots will climb the Canigou!

After living here for over 7 years and admiring the pic de Canigou every day, I am finally going to climb to the summit with a group of friends on 3rd July of this year.
The Canigou, one of the highest peaks in the Pyrenees, is a sacred place, revered by the locals and can be seen as far as Marseilles and all the way down past Barcelona in Spain.
The Canigou stands at an impressive 2,784 metres. Carrauntoohil, Irelands highest peak is at 1014 metres and Scaffel Pike is only a mere 978 metres , to put it into perspective.
So, I've taken the first step (pardon the pun) and I've bought a proper pair of hiking boots. I've got 5 weeks to prepare for the hike , and weather permitting, we will be planting our Irish flag at the summit of Canigou on 3rd July!

Also, this week, along with a qualified and highly experienced local guide, we are introducing walking tours into our portfolio of tailor made tours that we offer. The area is perfect for walking enthusiasts, with the rolling Roussillon plains, the challenging mountains and the stunning scenery on the Cote Vermeille.

Check out our tours on www.thefrenchtourco.com for the inside track

Sophisticated Hen Party in Perpignan

2009-05-22T00:20:00.001-07:00

While the stylish Festival of Cannes takes place just down the road from us on the Cote D'Azur, we have been rolling out the red carpet for a few classy chicks for a sophisticated hen party in Perpignan.

The English bride to be is a mature lady, marrying for the first time and while she wanted to celebrate "l'enterrement de vie de jeune fille"( catchy, eh?), she really didn't want the usual fake boobs and willies in a nightclub scene.

The 8 ladies , ranging from 30 to 55 were here for 3 days and we really celebrated in style.
We started off their trip with a visit to a local spa where they totally unwound, relaxed and pampered themselves - they loved it so much that they decided to start every day with the same treatment!!! This superbe spa is on the outskirts of Perpignan and with blue skies and views of the snow capped mountains and it's no children policy, the ladies were in heaven!

We also enjoyed a Red Beret Wine Tour, ate in suberbe restaurants with sea views, did some rambling on the Cote Vermeille, visited an oyster farm and tasted the goodies and soaked up the atmosphere in wonderful Collioure.
The only prob now is that the bride to be wants to change her wedding and get married here !!! Think there could be a new business in that : wedding planner!!

Best of luck with the upcoming nuptials from all the team at The French Tour co xxx

Happy Hippy Kids in France

2009-05-20T03:27:00.000-07:00

What a wonderful time of the year it is here in the Roussillon - the countryside is blooming , the temps have not yet reached feverish proportions, the beaches are uncrowded and the traffic flows freely.
Ahhhh, heaven.

We've had a good few enquiries from clients who are interested in things to do for their kids while they holiday here, so much so , that we are going to put a "kiddies tour" on our website.
With two little rascals eager to test them out, we'll have fun doing the research!

Watch this space!

Senior tour

2009-05-19T04:58:00.000-07:00

I've just spent a lovely week with a group from a small town called Crewe, East Chesire in England. The group , who were all in their mid to lates sixties, were here for a week and staying in Perpignan.

Their hotel, whilst in the city centre, is on the outskirts of the town , and they were a little bit stranded, so every morning, I would call and collect them to whisk them off for a guided tour.

It was quite a challenging program for me to organise, as a) they couldn't walk very far and b) they weren't interested in wine, walking, adventure tours, spas, mountains, art, shopping and all the usual tours I run.

So! with that in mind, on day one, we visited Carcassonne , a medieval fortified town, steeped in history , which is about an hours drive from here. They enjoyed the visit, and meandered around the cobblestoned pedestrian streets and found some nice little bars to hang out in.

Day two : we headed off to Villefranche sur Conflent, another fortified town and very interesting to visit. From there, I put them on the yellow train and collected them on the otherside for their journey back to Perpignan

Day three : We visited Banyuls sur Mer for the Sunday morning market, tasted some of the beers in the "tour de monde" bar which has 80 different beers for you to taste and had lunch beachside in Canet

Our next day, we took in an amazing coastal tour, starting at Cap Bear, through to Port Vendres, Collioure, St Cyprien and ending in the Casino in Barcares.
They have a free day today and then will be heading back to their home in Crewe after a very enjoyable and relaxing stress free stay in the Sunny South.

Contact us for a tailor made tour, whatever the age group, we will organise a tour for you to remember..

Sexing the Cherry

2009-05-12T02:45:00.000-07:00

Are cherries the sexiest fruit on the planet?

Our neighbours called in last night with a humongeous bag of red cherries which were devoured by my two little rascals in rapid quick fire time.
The generous neighbours picked their crop from their own garden and had too many for themselves ...
Cherry season has officially begun!
The cherries will be in all the shops soon and of course, the cherry festivals will commence ; the biggest one is on in Ceret 'La Fête de La Cerise' on 23 and 24 May.

Don't just go on holiday , have an experience of a lifetime!

Contact us for the local inside track:
www.thefrenchtourco.com

Wild Flowers in the Pyrenees Orientales

2009-05-12T01:55:00.000-07:00

I have never seen the South of France looking as well as it does at the moment. After a couple of weeks of rain, the hills and lush meadows are awash with colour - it really is a pleasure to be driving my tours around with the snow capped mountains, the azure blue med sparkling and the bright colourful flowers greeting you on every corner.

A field of red poppies, begging to be picked, stopped me in my tracks yesterday - Much to the amusement of passing traffic and a few wolf whistles ( me , delighted! - you gotta love French men for their open appreciation!), I picked a huge bunch of poppies and snapped a few photos.
A little secret though : poppies smell like cows pee pee , so best to leave them there for the next passerby to admire . My bus still stinks!

Check out our discovery tours on www.thefrenchtourco.com and we can take you to the hidden delights of the Pyrenees Orientales

Beaches in Perpignan

2009-05-11T02:55:00.001-07:00

Summer has arrived and the countryside in the deep South of France has never looked so beautiful, with dancing red poppies lining the roads and the coutryside awash with glorious colourful flowers.

The mercury hit 28 degrees here last Wednesday ( no school for the little ones on Wednesdays) so we hit the beach. The closest beach to where we live is Canet , a perfect sandy safe beach for children. The kids had a ball, diving and splashing in the warm med ( 22 degrees already) and there was a carnaval atmosphere with all the children enjoying the first 'plouf' of the season.

For the older kids , the beach clubs are all opening soon. This is where it all happens in the summer time and they are the places to be seen. Some of them are already open like La Perla in Le Barcares, le Ludo Bulle and Les Voiles Blanches in Canet Plage. Others like L'Ovalie Beach in Toreilles, La Casta in St Cyp and Le Temple Beach in Saint Cyprien will be opening in the next few weeks.
Time to defuzz the legs and start doing those sit ups!!!!

The region has so much to offer in the way of diverse beaches, with the long sandy beaches of the North to the rocky inlets of the Cote Vermeille ~ there is something for everyone with safe kiddies beaches, good snorkelling and kayaking waters and stunning seaside walks.

Contact us for more details on our coastal tours:

http://www.thefrenchtourco.com/coastal_tour.html

Happy clients

2009-05-09T07:36:00.000-07:00

It's always nice to get positive feedback from our clients - it doesn't take long to drop someone an email or a card if you have been happy with the product. It's something I like to do myself when I feel someone provides a superior service .

Here's a few samples of the feedback we've received from our clients:

Well, Karen... you haven't seen the last of us by a long shot..... We all had a really great time and the service you and yours provided for us was first class.... we had a ball, really chilled out and didn't have to worry about a thing. All vineyard visits were wonderful and the lunch was a great treat, I must say we were all really impressed with the knowledge and passion for wine making .. I'll send you a bundle of photos as I get around to it, so here are some for starters..... I'll be in touch again but am up to my tonsils catching up with work.

Dena O'Donavan, O'Donovans hotel, Clonakilty

First of all, I must say we had a really pleasant stay in France and the wine tour was both entertaining and educating.
You seem to have created a good combination and we are very impressed! To give you some constructive feedback, I think we all enjoyed the first visit the most. It was very interesting to see the wineyards, how the wine is made and to taste the wine at different stages. We also had a great stay at Rachels wineyard. She was very kindly and enthusiastic about the wine telling, and she served a wonderful lunch.

Sveinar Urstad, Norway

Everything was perfect, thank you.
Thank you for all your help, we all had a great time. Indeed, some of the boys want to move out there.

James Thorpe and stag group, London

Hi Karen
Just a quick email to say thanks for a great day on your wine tour on 1st July. Will be back next year - maybe on the Spa Tour and will definately recommend you to our friends. Again, many thanks.

Ber Geaney, Cork

Holiday in the Vineyards

2009-05-07T04:59:00.001-07:00

Many of our clients have asked us if they can holiday among the vines, so we've added an exciting new opportunity to compliment our wine tours in the South of France : a chance to holiday among the vines and help out with the harvest:

Location : Port Vendres Villa, near Collioure

This private and detached villa is surrounded by neighbouring vineyards and boasts an amazing sea view. The proprietor, as a special Harvest Time Offer will welcome you on your arrival with a Bumper Deluxe Local Wine and Cheese Hamper.
What is more, if you are interested in an authentic vineyard visit, the owner of this villa, who lives nearby, will arrange for you to spend a day grape picking with local knowledgeable viticulturists. You will spend the day with bilingual wine enthusiasts and have an ample lunch right in the vineyards with all the crew.

Don’t just go on holiday – Have the experience of a lifetime!

The house sleeps 6 people so at €840 for the week, this will cost only 140euros per person.

See www.thefrenchtourco.com

New Adventure Tours

2009-05-07T03:35:00.000-07:00

With the Mother in law, Sister in law and her two kids ( 6 and 9) visiting us for a couple of days, we wanted to have a family day out that invloved everyone and decided to test out a nearby adventure park.

I invited a few friends with children along and before I knew it, we were a group of 30! We took the scenic drive west of Perpignan with the snow capped Canigou in our sights the whole way and the roads lined with dancing red poppies. The day was glorious ; the temperatures in the early twenties with a pleasant breeze as we enjoyed a pic nic riverside. We managed to get our gas bbq into the back of the minibus so we sozzled sausages and hamburgers while the kids had a ball scampering about.

The adventure course is suitable for 3 year olds to 93 year olds and was fantastic fun - they have different levels of difficulty ; green for the babes, blue , red and black , just like the ski runs.
The "pistes" involved rope climbing, swinging from trees, flying along on zip wires over rivers and some daring maneoveres, some at over 30metres above us in the high tree tops. Not for the faint hearted!!
There is a fab pic nic area by the river in a most idyllic setting with the river babbling along and the birdlife singing. There is also a café where one can purchase snacks and coffees if one feels like just hanging out.

Everybody had the most enjoyable day out and we loved the day so much, that we have added adventure tours to our menu of tours and look forward to going back there asap! A perfect family day out or a bonding day for a business group.

See www.thefrenchtourco.com

Cancer Support France

2009-05-07T02:28:00.000-07:00

After the very successful VIN ART day out at Domaine Treloar, where over 400euros was raised for Cancer Support France , we presented Penny Parkinson of Cancer Support France with her cheque.

In the photo is from left to right : Penny, Rachel from Domaine Treloar who hosted the event, moi who donated a wine tour for the raffle and artist Margaret Dibdin , who donated the wonderful painting.

Cancer Support France is a voluntary organisation which was set up to provide assistance and couselling for English speakers in France who need support, whether it be linguistic, emotional or practical.
For more details, check out their website here :
http://www.cancersupportfrance.info/Cancer_Support_France/index.html

Kids Days Out

2009-04-30T02:32:00.000-07:00

There is plenty to do here in the region for the smallies and we are well placed here to help you make the most of your stay with children on board.

Why not take the stress out of your day and book in for a kiddies tour?

Sample Itinerary

Pick up from your accommodation.

Pic nic breakfast on the beach.

Morning horseriding through the sand dunes

Barbeque lunch by the lake side

Afternoon paddle boating on the lake

Drop off at your accommodation for un grand do-do Zzzzzzzzzzzzz

With small kids ourselves, we know the best parks in the region , the nicest lakes, the English speaking cinemas, the best walks and all the child friendly activities in the region.

Contact us to make your trip to the Pyrenees Orientales a memorable one for all the family.
www.thefrenchtourco.com
Tel : 0033 607421668

Cheap Summer Flights to France

2009-04-28T03:09:00.000-07:00

We are so excited - our holidays are booked to go to Ireland for three weeks in the summer - from 1 August to 22 August, we will be swanning around Ireland visiting all our friends and relatives, yipppeeee!

Total cost of our flights for four adults was 280euros return and this is in high season! There's no excuse for not grabbing a little bit of sunshine and getting your asses down to the Sunny South of France! With Ryanair practically giving the flights away , you can have a credit crunch holiday that won't break the bank.

On another note, we are looking for a house swap in Ireland ( to make your holiday even cheaper!!) So, if you own a house in the West Cork area and would like to do a house/car swap for the first three weeks in August, please feel free to call or email me . Details on my website : www.thefrenchtourco.com

10 Good reasons to visit Perpignan in May

2009-04-27T01:52:00.000-07:00

1. Take part in a wine tour and go behind the scenes to meet the winemakers and vineyard owners. A suberbe day out :

http://www.thefrenchtourco.com/wine_tour_perpignan.html

2. On the 16th May, la "nuit des musées" is on all over France and the museums open up their doors for free. With a wealth of interesting museums here to visit; the museum of natural history, the doll museum, the aviation museum, the Algerian French museum, there is something for everyone

3. If you' re feeling sporty, the 4th annual marathon of Perpignan takes place on the 31 May with the option to do the full distance or shorter courses of 10 and 20 kms

4. Live Music - come and see Ousa Nouvasa , an original band from Ile de la Réunion playing at 21h at Elmediator in Perpignan.

5. Tailor make a tour to suit your group - we can organise sailing tours, walking tours, adventure tours, gourmet tours; we have the contacts and we speak the lingo - contact us to organise a great day out for you. http://www.thefrenchtourco.com/

6. The Flamenco Festival takes place in Banyuls Sur Mer from 21 to 24 May ~ featuring some hot international acts, the town gets ready to rumba!

7. May is a great month to get bargains on your accommodation here - with the mercury starting the rise, uncrowded beaches and the countryside to yourself , it's a great time to visit - check out http://www.fab-po.com/ for special offers

8. Visit UBU La Suite , the funkiest bar in Perpignan, run by Irish girl, Elaine Carruthers. With live music regularly and a very laid back atmosphere, you are gauranteed a warm welcome. She also has the most amazing designer clothes shop alongside her cool bar.

UBU La Suite, Place Rigaud, Perpignan

9. For cheese lovers - the cheese festival in Thuir kicks off at 9am on Sunday 3 May in Place de La Republique . An opportunity to meet the cheesemakers from the region and to taste their yummy produce

10. Motorcycle tour - contact us about our new motor bike tours. Day or week long excursions through the Pyrenees.

Vintage Car Rally Perpignan

2009-04-24T01:10:00.001-07:00

A Car Lovers Delight

Last Saturday , Perpignan hosted it's 29th annual Car Vintage Rally ( La Nuit des Longs Capots) The French Tour Co went along to see what all the fuss was about and even for us girlie girls, the cars were seriously impressive and the atmosphere one of excitement and anticipation.

The rally brings 70 different types of cars manufactured since the 1950s. Organised by the grand prix association 66, it gives vintage car owners the chance to peacock their prized possessions in a very convivial atmosphere.

The departure point was at 10h30 from in front of the Palais de Congres ( where the main tourist office in Perpignan is located) and from there they are given their map and off they roar. The 2009 route brought them from Perpignan to the fortified town of VilleFranche sur Conflent , then back to Mas Vermeil in Perpignan and around again to Ille sur Tet.

Sundays route was from Perpignan to Chateau de Corneilla and back.

Anyone interested in partaking next year 2010, should contact the organiser :

remi.boada@wanadoo.fr

Another great reason to visit the FAB PO!

Discover fine wines with The French Tour Co

2009-04-23T02:45:00.000-07:00

Tomas Clancy from the Sunday Tribune had nothing but praise for the selection of wines we showcased in Ireland at a wine fair before Christmas :

Here's the article from the Sunday Tribune

The enduring wines of France

By Tomás Clancy

French winemakers have an knack of weathering economic storms.They have bounced back from the Black Death, the South Sea Bubble, the Hundred Years War, the French Revolution, the Great Depression and Nazi occupation.
So, as the world economy again comes tumbling down, the French are first out of the traps in refocusing their efforts in producing good wines of exceptional value.
However, at a gathering of French winemakers at Sopexa’s autumn French Wine Fair in Dublin earlier this month, it was two sisters from Limerick who stole the show when they unveiled a number of intriguing wines and business ideas.
Karen and Suzanne O’Reilly are at the centre of a ex-pat web of Irish businesses in the Languedoc, where they live with their partners and children.

In Languedoc-Roussillon, it’s sunny and warm all the time,” saysKaren. ‘‘We can be swimming in the Med in about 20minutes, or skiing in the Pyrenees in about an hour.”

Suzanne settled in France in 2000, after a rollerblading accident left her unable to continue with her job as an air hostess for the Amir of Qatar. She considered a change of career and, with property sales booming, joined a French estate agency.

In 2002, she formed the property business bidsinfrance.com with her accountant sister Karen, and they began selling and renting property in the Languedoc-Roussillon region.

Like generations of Irish merchant adventurers before them, it wasn’t long before working with the vine captured their imagination.‘‘Wine became a passion and we decided to turn it into a business,” says Karen.

The sisters set up the French Tour Company, frenchtourco.com, running English-speaking wine tours around Perpignan, Languedoc and Roussillon.

The company runs daylong Red Berry Tours, which cost from €80 to €100 per person, and three-day tours, which cost €250 per person and include three nights’ accommodation, chauffeur transfers, tours and vineyard visits.

The Why French Women Don’t Get Fat Tour (€95 per person) includes walking, calorie-sensitive fine dining and a spa day.

Whereas its Art Tour (€90) involves museum visits and an art class.

In conjunction with their tour business, the sisters are beginning to import wine to Ireland from their favourite wineries.

Their exhibit at the Sopexa wine fair focused on little-known wines of good value.

The pick of the bunch was the Domaine Treloar, Three Peaks Cotes du Roussillon 2006 (91) which is an astoundingly intense and savoury grenache, syrah and mourvedre blend that would shame many a Chateauneuf-du-Pape.

If it were on sale here it would be priced under €20.

Let’s hope the O’Reilly sisters find a distributor for it in Ireland.

Elsewhere, the wines shown at the Sopexa fair were mainly the fruit of wineries which endeavour to run green, sustainable and organic businesses and - in the case of Domaine Treloar, Lutte Raisonnée - struggle to work in harmony with the soil and with nature.

Norwegians in Perpignan

2009-04-22T11:52:00.000-07:00

Vin reise inne perpignan

I seem to be getting lots of enquiries from Norway where "La Crise" seems to have by passed the country - they are travelling South in droves because of the cheap flights into Girona and Barcelona and the promise of good weather, fine wines and value for money dining out experiences is a huge draw for them.

So, it was no surprise that my group of 7 Norwegians staying in Fitou, were very " satisfied and contented" with their Red Beret Wine Tour on Monday last.
They were just blown away by the excellent value for money in the wineries where one can buy a hand crafted, lovingly made wine for around the €5 mark.

Their only complaint was that they were limited to bringing 5 bottles of wine back to their home country as is the law in Norway.

We visited three fabulous and different vineyards and indulged in a gourmet lunch with the winemaker as company ..

Starters was a Mediterranean tomato tarte with olive jam
Mains ; a tasty Moroccan chicken dish , served with roasted vegetables and minty couscous
Dessert ; a scrummy home made cake with fresh fruit and lashings of real cream

One word : decadent ! And all this was washed down with the appropriate wines as suggested by the vineyard owner himself. One other word : divine!

It's no wonder they are loathe to head back North!
Lykke og trygt reise ( Safe journey, in Norwegian, I think!)

Press for the French Tour Co

2009-04-21T06:49:00.000-07:00

Article in La Connexion Newspaper 2008

Two sisters start two businesses

Sisters Suzanne and Karen O'Reilly have set up two businesses together in France.
Former French teacher and air hostess Suzanne, 35, got the idea for a property business six years ago. The pair branched out this year to start a second business doing regional tours.

How long have you been in business?
I started in the property business in 2000 when I worked with a real estate agency in Perpignan, learning the ropes for two years. In 2002, I set up business with my sister Karen offering a property-finding service http://www.connexionfrance.com/www.bidsinfrance.com to English speakers. This year we have diversified and our new sister company http://www.connexionfrance.com/www.thefrenchtourco.com provides tours and transfers in the Perpignan area.

Why did you choose to do it?
In 2000, I was happily employed by the Amir of Qatar and flying first class on his private jets around the world as one of his flight attendants. While rollerblading on the Promenade des Anglais in Nice one day, I fell and broke my wrist and so had to find another job as I was unable to fly. While recuperating in France, I spotted a niche in the market to help English-speakers purchase property - at the time, there was nobody else doing this in the Perpignan area and the business took off.
For the tours, we had a huge clientelle in the area and they were always asking us about discovering the region. We just recognised another area of business that complimented our own. We were kind of doing that job for free for a lot of people. We can show people places they wouldn’t get to see - little places and views. A lot of people who take the tours fall in love with the area and think about living here so then we can find property for them.

What type of business are you and how much did it cost to set up?
For the property business we were both set up as agent commercial indépendant. The costs were minimal - about €150 to register with the chamber of commerce. The French Tour Co is a registered SARL - my sister and business partner is an accountant so we did not have to employ a professional to help us set it up.

What was your expected income?
The French Tour Co is a completely new business so we have no idea what our turnover will be. We've bought a minibus and have other vehicles on our fleet, including a convertible - this year we will be happy to break even. What were the hurdles? The social charges were a huge shock to us, it's only really in year three they begin to kick in, in earnest.

What would you have done differently?
We were overly enthusiastic at the beginning and probably didn't do enough research into the whole social charges/taxation system. I would recommend to everyone if they are getting into business to hire a good local accountant and get sound financial advice before launching into the unknown.

http://www.connexionfrance.com/expatriate-news-article.php?art=198

Excursions in Perpignan

2009-04-16T02:44:00.000-07:00

Phew! We've been busy over the last few weeks! With a combination of holiday and some rainy weather, visitors have been looking us up to take part in excursions around the Pyrenees Orientales) and we've been going non stop. Great complaint!

We've had family groups who we took canyoning - we are going to add adventure tours to our repetoire of tours - this will include canyoning, tubbing, white water rafting and abseiling in the picturesque Pyrenees. Not for the faint hearted! This new tour will include a french pic nic with wine on site and lots of fun surprises.

We're also going to be adding motorbike tours to our itinerary and we are very excited about this. These tours can be a day long, 2 days long or a combination week longs touring. You can opt for pillion passenger or bikes will be provided.

The wine tours still continue to be our most popular tour - can't think of anything better to do on a rainy day in the worlds largest vineyard!!

For more details, please feel free to contact us at

info@thefrenchtourco.com

Tel : 0033 607421668

www.thefrenchtourco.com

Perpignan : Stag Destination

2009-04-06T06:19:00.000-07:00

Friday morning, I went to my hotel in Perpignan to collect my group of 10 lads on tour - with Ed, the groom to be dressed up as Frodo from Lord of the Rings, I knew we were in for an interesting weekend!

Day one, Friday , we headed off bright and early for our Red Beret Wine Tour and visited three very different vineyards.
The boys had a great laugh and even learnt some interesting wine facts from our genial hosts along the way.
We finished up our day at a gorgeous chateau, overlooking the med, where the gorgeous female owner treated the boys to some tasty apperitifs overlooking the vines.
Back, we trekked to Perpignan where the boys tasted the nightlife , hopping from bar to bar and limped home in the wee hours...

Day two, we took the London boys on an adventure tour where they tried out tubbing, canyoning and rapid water canoe-ing. They soon got over their hangovers as they were dunked in the freezing waters!
We were very well looked after by French hosts , Victor and Pierre and will be adding this tour to our itineraries for sure..
Another night on the town for the lads on Saturday night as they partied the night away...

Sunday was an absolutely glorious day and the band of party animals took themselves off to the beach where they soaked up the rays and tried some of the trendy bars in Canet , just a short hop from their base in Perpignan.

Best of luck Ed ( Frodo) on your upcoming nuptials from the French Tour Co team xxxx

Dena and the Dynamos from Clonakilty

2009-04-02T02:35:00.000-07:00

Well, never has work been as much fun as it has in the last few days!! A wine club from Clonakilty, Ireland visited us for three fun filled days of wining, dining and some serious good craic!
We started off their trip on Monday with a trip to a relaxing local spa - the girls revelled in the hot springs, soaking up the rays with the snow capped mountains as a backdrop. From there, we cruised down to Port Vendres on the coast and had a wonderful lunch on the marina. Talk about value for money!
The three course lunch for 15 euros comprised of :

Entrée choice :

6 oysters
Lobster bisque
Salad of hot goats cheese

Mains choice :

Confit de canard
Filets or merlan ( white fish)

For dessert , the chef proposed aubergine crumble which, I know, sounds a bit funny, but was abs delicious. Afterwards, we learned that he had soaked the aubergines in wine and sugar, Yum! All of this was , of course, washed down with some very nice cotes de roussillon wines and mopped up with crusty bread.

Collioure was our next stop, where we meandered through the cobblestoned streets and pottered around in some of the lovely galleries and quirky shops.

Dinner in a local restaurant in Perpignan finished off the day nicely.

Tuesday, we awoke to a very Irish day with grey skies and rain - a perfect day for a wine tour! We visited three very different vineyards and the group of 8 wine buffs were very impressed with the quality and divesity of the wines on offer.
We had a delicious lunch in one of the vineyards and our wines were chosen by our very own sommellier - the wine maker and vineyard owner himself!

We dined in another local favourite restaurant in Perpignan where the meat was cooked on an open barbeque. The restaurant is situated in the old quarter of Perpignan and I left the gang to party on after the meal!

Wednesday , we took the scenic route back to Barcelona for their outgoing flight - we coasted down the Cote Vermeille, scaled the Pyrenees into Spain, where we had an amazing lunch in Port Bou right on the sea front. Replete and happy, we sang our way over to Figeuras to visit the Dali museum and indulge in a bit of retail therapy ..

Reluctantly, I said good bye to a fantastic group - the best group I've ever had - Declan, Ada, Dena, Mary, Pat, Jean, Bernie and Margaret - thank you for being a fantastic group - hope to see you here again soon.
A bientôt!

Allez les verts!

2009-03-23T07:31:00.000-07:00

Ireland : Grand Slam Rugby winners!

What a great weekend for the Irish and just what the country needed : a positive boost in these gloomy days...

It is absolutley the worst time to be away from Ireland and the only time we feel remotely homesick - missing the après match celebrations! Even worse, there is no post match analysis and reports on the telly where we could have relived every stressful moment of that match.

Merci Steven Jones!

But , we can't complain here as the mercury frequently hits the mid 20s and we spend weekend pic nicing , cycling through the vineyards near our house , paddling in the med and cranking up the barbeque for the first grillades of the season.

This weekend we had a group of Americans, all the way from New York for our Red Beret Wine tour. Saturday was a perfect day for a wine tour and we visited three very different vineyards : a small french run family establishment, an English owned Domaine for lunch and a gorgeous chateau over looking the med.
The group were great fun and we all swapped addresses at the end of the day! Coming home to watch Ireland win the Grand Slam, was the icing on the cake of a perfect day. Ah, la belle vie en france!

10 Good reasons to visit the Pyrenees Orientales in April

2009-03-12T07:59:00.000-07:00

1. Excellent wine tours run by the French Tour Co. See our Red Beret Wine Tour

2. 11 - 19 April : The kite festival in Port Leucate , attracting worldwide kite surfers to the area and a wonder to watch. www.mondialduvent.com

3. 3 - 11 April : 22nd Sacred Music Festival in Perpignan with lots of international acts ~ Perpignan

4. 10 - 13 April : One of the biggest antique fairs in the South of France ~ Perpignan

5. Stay in fab gites with your bilingual hosts . See www.fab-po.com

6. Easter festivities : the Good Friday Sanch procession in Perpignan and Collioure is a sight to behold

7. Visit the museum of modern art in Ceret and see the works of Matisse, Picasso et al

8. Partake in a "why french women don't get fat tour" in the sunny climes of the south of France while escaping the doom and gloom of recessionary blues

9. Beat the credit crunch : Eat a dozen oysters washed down with muscat wine for less than 10 euros

10. It's sunny, the sky is blue and it's lunch al fresco!

Happy Birthday to the French Tour Co!

2009-03-12T04:10:00.000-07:00

The French Tour Co is one year old today and boys oh boys, have we come a long way in one year! It started off as a journey to the capital of France for the purchase of our bus ( which is a story in itself!) and one year later , we are the leading wine tour operator in the Perpignan area.

We have met some wonderful people along the way, made some great friends and have learnt so much more about the beautiful Pyrenees Orientales we are proud to call home.

We are two Irish sisters, Karen and Suzanne O'Reilly who have been living in the Perpignan area for nearly 10 years. Our love for life in the region comes through in our tours : see our website for details.