Sunflowers & Summer Night Markets in South West France

Right now in SW France the sunflowers are beginning to come out and the fields are ablaze with yellow. This year must "Sunflower Year" as almost every field is sunflowers – it’s an amazing sight! Some of them are still quite small and others are the size of dinner plates! If you are on holiday at one of our French farmhouses in south west France then you will enjoy the beauty of these flowers.

They are planted as seeds and when fully grown all face the same way – south east to the sun; hence Tournesol (turn to the sun). In this hilly yet fertile region the sunflowers are a part of South West France as is the Eiffel Tower to Paris.

Now turn your minds to the fabulous night markets that have just started a couple of weeks ago in the South West and the area where I live. So, if you are staying at any of our luxury villas in south west France then make sure you visit one of the many in the region. The one that I go is at St Maurin the Lot et Garonne which is on a Wednesday. The centre of the village is taken over by stalls selling bread, pancakes, salads, pizza, barbequed meats and of course the local wine!! Long lines of trestle tables are laid out in the centre with the stalls dotted around the outside. There is always a band which gets things going and it really is like a street party. I live in Bourg de Visa, in the Tarn et Garonne, which has started the night market trend on Friday evenings and its as good as St Maurin, if not a little smaller. We have family villas around both of these area and some still have August availability.

Why not call us now and ask about our south west France villas waiting to be discovered. If you would like to speak to a specialist on a French villa holiday or where best to visit, do visit this site on line : http://www.qualityvillas.com and contact our office or email us.

Gill Woolsgrove
Area Manager
France & Morocco

Fireworks and fun for "Le Quatorze Juilliet"

Just like America has Independence Day on 4th July, France has the fourteenth. On July 14th every year, the French celebrate their independence day called Bastille Day. This day is an important national holiday to them because it marks the day when the French celebrate the start of the Revolution and the birth of their nation. For those on holiday at one our luxury French villa or French farmhouses the celebrations are the same.

For the citizens of France, July 14, 1789, has come to symbolize liberty, democracy, and the struggle against all forms of oppression. It marked the end of the monarchy and the beginning of the Republic. The storming of the Bastille proved that power was no longer in the hands of the King, but instead in the hands of the people. The storming of the Bastille also marked the beginning of the French Revolution.

“Le quatorze juillet” is a great day of national celebrations throughout France. It is a national holiday where joyous cries of “Viva la France” can be heard at the fabulous firework displays littered right across the country with some even singing the national anthem “La Marseillaise”.

Where I live in the Tarn et Garonne we always have a riverside picnic with champagne waiting for the fireworks to start in one of the many villages that celebrates this important day in French history.

We still have some late availability in some of our French villas and new to our portfolio is Les Pruniers, a delightful romantic cottage set amongst plum orchards which is close to one of these many villages that have fireworks and celebrations. http://www.qualityvillas.com/refPR1091.php

If you would to talk to one of our experienced staff about your luxury villa in France contact our office on 01442 870055 or visit our website www.qualityvillas.com

Gill Woolsgrove
Manager
France & Morocco