New Year and looking forward to the sun!!!

New Year is one of the oldest and most observed celebrations in countries all over the world and France is no exception! New Year's Eve is a great opportunity for families and friends to dine together once again at Le Réveillon or Fête de Saint-Sylvestre. At midnight streets fill with everyone moving outside to continue the celebration. In the Midi Pyrenees, where I live, the local tradition is to attend evening mass and then follow a procession to the vineyards and pick grapes at midnight.

Just after New Year, on Twelfth Night, we celebrate with King's cake (la galette des rois) which consists of a puff pastry case filled with frangipane. Frangipane is made with eggs, sugar, butter and ground almonds. The cakes are sold with a paper crown on top. A dried bean, small coin or ceramic figure is hidden in the filling. The person who finds the bean, coin or figure in their portion is 'king' for the day and wears the paper crown.

New Year is also the time when we start to think about our summer holidays and after weeks of snow and freezing temperatures it’s time to think of sun and your family farmhouse in South West France or your modern family villa in the Languedoc.

We have many new properties on our website with more being added daily – from a penthouse in St Jean de Luz to luxury villas in Agadir. As always, our villas and country houses in France, Italy or Morocco are of the highest standard that is the Quality Villas philosophy.

Call us now to discuss your villa holiday or ask for a copy of our new 2011 brochure on 01442 870055 or visit our website www.qualityvillas.com

Gill Woolsgrove
Manager
France & Morocco

Chateaux, chateaux everywhere....

Did you know that there are thousands of Chateaux in the Dordogne, from ones surrounded by moats to those that look like fairytale legends. For those who have never visited the Dordogne then read on and learn about this fantastic region which is visited by thousands every year and you can see why. This region is known as the Perigord and made up of 4 different Perigord covering the north, south, east and west and all offering history, gastronomic delights, chateaux, manoirs, caves and the fabulous Dordogne River and all accessible from your French luxury holiday property, whether a manor house or stone cottage.

The first place I visited when I moved to France was Rocamadour, France’s second most visited tourist attraction after Le Mont St-Michel. This magical town with golden houses clinging to the side of a cliff over the Alzou canyon is reached by a lift which takes you to the top of the town. From there you pass shops and restaurants until you reach the little church at the top. Not far from Rocamadour is the Gouffres du Padirac which is the most famous caves whereby you travel through on a boat – great for adults but even better for children looking at the stalagmites and stalactites. In our portfolio of Dordogne quality rental properties is a delightful chateau called Chateau de la Riviere which simply translated means The Chateau on the River, the river in question being the famous Dordogne river.

Many visitors to this region visit Sarlat, the medieval town of the Dordogne with its famous Saturday market offering excellent local produce and cheeses. In the evening the town has a romantic feel about it with the portrait artists outside the Cathedral St Sacerodos and the numerous restaurants offering the regions famous cuisine – duck!! Without a doubt the Perigord are superb at their duck, from confit du canard to magret (duck breast) to smoked duck salad with local grown walnuts.

Visitors to this region should not think that the Dordogne is mainly for sightseeing and adults but a fab place for children and teenagers. Kayaking on the Dordogne River or cycling on one of the many routes that snake along the river, the list is endless.
I love this region as it is so diverse and whereas it’s busy in the summer months spring and autumn are delightful. When thinking of booking your French family holiday villa then think of what the Dordogne has to offer – you will not be disappointed!!

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 and at the same time ask for a copy of our new 2011 brochure

Gill Woolsgrove
Manager
France & Morocco

Following the black diamonds.....

In South West France there are many markets which vary from Night markets in the summer to Farmers Markets or just plain Bric & Brac markets so it’s a perfect area for your South West villa holiday whether in summer or off season.

The most famous truffle market starting on the first Tuesday of December until mid-March is in Lalbenque which is close to Cahors in South West France. This market is busiest in the month of January, when the black truffles have their highest perfume and in December last year black truffles were sold for about €1,000 per kilo in some farmer's markets. It takes place in the main street, called "La rue du Marché aux Truffes” and is well worth a visit. The market opens on the dot of two o’clock and generally lasts just a few minutes with everyone hiding their “black diamond” treasure under red checked napkins, in paper bags or small wicker baskets.

If you are to make a day of it then arrive before midday and have a truffle omelette in one of the restaurants that line the main street. We have rural French farmhouses to rent throughout the year and within easy reach of this village and many others.

Truffles are strange looking fungi found just below the ground in open woodland, usually under oak or hazel trees, and their pungent aroma attracts many animals, particularly female pigs. The sow is said to be crazy about truffles because the truffle has the same musky smell as the sexual odour of the wild boar. Unlike mushrooms, truffle spores are not spread by the wind so they need animals to disperse them. Pigs need no encouragement to look for truffles. In fact, it requires constant vigilance and firmness on the part of the truffle hunter to prevent them from swallowing the lot. Nowadays, dogs are replacing pigs; they have no natural interest in truffles and can be trained to indicate with a paw the place where they have smelt them. They are also smaller, more manageable, don't tire as easily, and they don't go into a sexual frenzy when approaching a truffle.

I love this area with its rural landscape and rolling hills which is so popular with our clients for their South West France family villa holiday.
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

If you would like a copy of our new 2011 brochure call our office on the number above or order a copy via our website www.qualityvillas.com

Gill Woolsgrove
Regional Manager
France & Morocco

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

Thinking of this old song and watching the news reports of snow in England makes
me think of warmer climes such as Morocco where the temperatures at the moment
are in the mid 70°s. As you sit and shiver and listen to the doom and gloom of more
snow on the way then cast your minds to a Morocco luxury villa right on the beach.

We have villas in Aglou Plage and with 3 more villas in the pipeline to go onto our website in this region near Agadir so start thinking about your winter sun holiday now.

Equally, you could start to think about your summer holiday in one of our South West France farmhouses or luxury villas on the Cote D’Azur when our new brochure becomes available just after Christmas.

Whatever you choice you can be assured of a Quality Villa for your winter or summer holiday.

We have been taking bookings for next summer for a few weeks now and some of our most popular houses are getting booked up so hurry and book your French villa holiday or Beachside Morocco villa holiday now!

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

If you would like a copy of our new 2011 brochure call our office on the number above or order a copy via our website www.qualityvillas.com

Gill Woolsgrove
Regional Manager
France & Morocco

Exciting new villas in Oualidia & Essaouira with Quality Villas

I have just returned from another trip to Morocco and this time I visited Oualidia and Essaouira which are on the coast between Casablanca and Agadir.

Due to the success of our Aglou Plage portfolio which features luxury beachside villas in Agadir Quality Villas are keen to expand into additional coastal regions whereby families and adults can experience the long sandy beaches, memorable sunsets and have a wonderful relaxing beach holiday.

Morocco still retains its history and culture and it remains remarkably inexpensive and with its all round sunny climate and high temperatures it’s a must to visit for your Morocco beach villa holiday.

My first port of call was Oualidia with its fabulous lagoon and long sandy beach. The town is small but big in impact and a surfer’s paradise. Fresh caught oysters and crab are a speciality here and a perfect accompaniment with a delicious Moroccan salad. I found two excellent restaurants whereby I enjoyed fresh squid for lunch and in the evening a feast of fish, ranging from sole, dorade and red mullet. Both meals were amazingly inexpensive too! I visited two new villas that I feel will be perfect for our Morocco family villa portfolio.

My next seaside destination was the adorable town of Essaouira with its blue & white painted houses, excellent food, medina and the harbour. A must is to go early in the morning to see the catch come in and then wander to many of the cafes for your morning coffee. Freshly caught fish and seafood is a speciality here as well as many restaurants cooking excellent Moroccan tajines and couscous. The long sandy beach is perfect for families with miles of sand for children to play. I visited a charming Riad which has its own plunge pool, a rarity in Essaouira, and within walking distance to the beach. This Riad will be perfect for your Morocco beach villa holiday.

These new villas will be on our website later this year so keep logging on to our web site www.qualityvillas.com or www.qualityvillasmorocco.co.uk and consider your next holiday in this new and exciting addition to our Morocco portfolio.

Gill Woolsgrove
Manager
France & Morocco

Christmas is coming.....

As Christmas starts to approach (even though it is November!) we forget all about our French family holidays in France we had this year and focus on the festivities. Whereas UK has one long holiday that stretches from Christmas Eve to New Year in France it is quite different!! When I first moved here 17 years ago there was nothing – no Christmas trees, no decorations, no Christmas lights in the towns or villages and no turkeys! Now, it is quite different with all these things but France still retains its own traditions.

Most French homes decorate their homes at Christmas time with a Nativity scene or crèche with little clay figures called 'santons' or 'little saints' that are still made from moulds that have passed down since the 17th century. Christmas markets have now begun and this year marks the second of these in my area of South West France. Generally, the Christmas markets, with their little wooden huts selling gifts were traditionally in the North of France around the Alsace region. Some of our family farmhouses in South West France are available at Christmas & New Year with a roaring log fire and warm home comforts.

Food in France at Christmas time is quite different from UK. However, there is a traditional Yule log-shaped cake called the Buche de Noel, meaning 'Christmas Log.' The main Christmas feast is quite grand and is known as 'Le Reveillon', served as a very late supper held after midnight mass on Christmas Eve. Different regions have different traditional menus and in the South West it is oysters, turkey and foie gras. French families also bake a Three Kings Cake with a bean hidden in it on the Twelfth Day after Christmas. The lucky person to find the bean in their slice is crowned the King or Queen, for the day.

We at Quality villas enjoy our Christmas and New Year but we are still on hand to discuss your 2011 summer holiday. So, when the holiday programmes come on the TV on Boxing Day it will be your reminder to call us to discuss your French villa holiday!!

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

Ships of the desert...

The allure of Morocco goes hand in hand with the images and culture of caravans of camels and their owners trekking across the desert. Even though the camels of Morocco are not used as a method of transport, they have become vital in the tourism industry and to the income of many locals. In Aglou Plage where our luxury beachside villas in Agadir are based, camel trekking along the shore is a pastime most visitors enjoy.

Traditionally camels have two humps on their backs but the camels used in Morocco only have one. Camels in Morocco are therefore known as Dromedaries, are rarely found in the wild and most of those seen walking around the landscape have owners. Often herds that have not been domesticated to a certain degree can be seen, but they will still follow their nomadic owners from one feeding ground to another.

These very gentle creatures are highly intelligent and extremely patient. They have long thick eyelashes and very hairy ears that protect their eyes and ears from the sand. Full-grown camels can stand at a height of between six or seven feet and their lifespan ranges between twenty-five to fifty years of age. Owners and locals respect the Dromedaries for their natures and their ability to survive in the desert with very little food and water. Their amazing ability to survive the desert heat is by being able to increase their own body heat.

So, while the women at Aglou Plage are learning the skills of making a Moroccan tajine, the men are trekking on their camels dreaming of being the next Omar Sharif !
We have new villas in Aglou Plage and on two different domains. All of our Agadir luxury villas are on the beach and with the excellent year round climate is perfect for your winter and spring break.

If you would like to speak to a specialist on a Morocco villa holiday do visit this site on line: http://www.qualityvillasmorocco.co.uk or contact our office or email us.

Gill Woolsgrove
Manager
France & Morocco