There is nothing like a trip around some Christmas markets to get you in the festive spirit. You don’t need to be tied to only visiting your local markets this year, though, try hopping over tho France for some true Christmas magic!

There are so many beautiful Christmas markets you can visit across the Brittany region this year and, Brittany Ferries sail into Roscoff and St Malo, so you can be at the markets shortly after arriving in France.

Taking your car on the ferry or via Le Shuttle is easy these days, so you can drive to whichever Christmas markets you choose to explore; and you'll have plenty of space in your car for all the festive goodies you pick up.

There are several Christmas markets in Brittany within just an hour's drive of St Malo.

It’s the most wonderful time of the year, especially in France. The French love their Christmas markets and do them very well, and they make the perfect excuse for a seasonal weekend away.

Christmas markets dotted across the country. If you are planning a trip in November or December read on for our pick of the French festive fun.

If you have never visited a French Christmas market before, these are some of the most popular. These are the Christmas markets in France that see tourists and locals revisit them time and time again. Probably because they each offer something a little different from the next, all with that familiar Christmas atmosphere.

The best Christmas markets to visit in Brittany

St Malo, Ile et Vilaine

Dates: 2 - 31 December

Where: At the foot of the Castle, on the Esplanade St Vincent

Head to the picturesque walls of Intra Muros for a variety of chalets selling food and drink such as delicious cheeses, crêpes and mulled wine as well as arts and crafts and lots of gifts. There’s also an ice rink in the town, horse-drawn carriage rides and more.

Saint Suliac, Ile et Vilaine

Dates: 2 - 3 and 9 - 10 December

Where: In the heart of the village, in the little streets at the foot of the church.

Chalets housing artists and craftsmen are perfect for artsy gifts. Musicians, horse-drawn carriage rides and Father Christmas himself add to the festive atmosphere. Be sure to try some of the food - barbecued scallops, soups, doughnuts and other delicacies tickle the taste buds. 

Rennes, Ile et Vilaine

Dates: 24 November - 7 January

Where: Mail François Mitterand

This popular market in Brittany's capital has a great atmosphere and a wealth of wooden chalets to discover. The perfect destination for your Christmas shopping, embrace the festivities in Rennes and head to the shopping streets as well as the markets for a fantastic Christmas shopping experience. Be sure to explore the city centre for more festive fun as there’s much to see and do, including an ice rink.

Dinan, Côtes-d'Armor

Dates: Awaiting dates

Where: Esplanade de la Résistance in front of the town hall

Charming medieval Dinan is a wonderful backdrop for your Christmas shopping and there are plenty of chalets selling regional gastronomic delicacies and handicrafts. To get you in the festive mood there's also an ice rink and illuminations and a Father Christmas letterbox for children.

Lamballe, Côtes-d'Armor

Dates: 1 - 3 & 8 - 10 December

Where: Held at the historic Haras National de Lamballe (national stud farm)

Les Écuries du Père Noël is an annual Christmas event. Around a hundred exhibitors make this one of the best to visit. The stables are transformed into charming stalls that house craftsmen, artists and local producers. Enjoy equestrian demonstrations, carriage rides and lots of great food and drink stalls for a cup of mulled wine and more.

The best Christmas markets to visit in Normandy

Being able to drive straight from the ferry port means you can explore the many markets of Normandy if you choose a sailing into our Norman ports.

As well as being steeped in the history of the D-Day Landings and home to the beautiful Mont St Michel, Normandy is also full of Christmas markets!

From sampling some of the best French gastronomy to finding festive gifts, the Normandy Christmas markets have so much to offer you. What’s more, all these markets are within an hour-and-half drive of Caen or within a two-hour drive from Le Havre.

Caen, Calvados

Dates: 25 November - 31 December

Where: Place de la République, Boulevard Maréchal Leclerc.

Caen's Christmas market has a wonderful selection of gifts and local products in its 60 chalets. Browse the gourmet chalets for fabulous regional delicacies to take home for your festive dinner table. You're sure to find plenty of gifts with stalls selling crafts, jewellery and much more.

Bayeux, Calvados

Dates: 15 - 23 December

Where: Place de la Liberté

Gourmet and artisanal chalets nestle in front of Bayeux's stunning cathedral selling scarves, jewellery, cosmetics, sweets and local products making a wonderful setting for your Christmas shopping. Bayeux’s shops will be open on the Sundays that the market is in town too.

Le Havre, Seine Maritime

Dates: 25 November - 31 December

Where: Place de l'Hotel de Ville

Le Havre's Christmas market is a large market selling everything you could want for Christmas. Illuminations, a Ferris wheel and a chance to meet Father Christmas on his sleigh will keep the little ones entertained! The Parade Blanche attracts thousands every year and is a beautiful Christmas parade that you won't forget.

Rouen, Seine Maritime

Dates: 23 November - 24 December

Where: Place de la Cathédrale

The Rouen Givrée is the place to go if you want lots to see and do with your Christmas shopping. Normandy's capital really knows how to celebrate Christmas! Around 50 traditional wooden chalets selling all kinds of quintessential Christmas gifts and fine local delicacies blend into the environment. The atmosphere here is one that will really get you in the Christmas mood with street entertainment and musicians, a Ferris wheel - and you may even see Santa making an appearance!

La Pin au Haras, Orne

Dates: 9 & 10 December

Where: The famed Haras National du Pin (national stud farm)

A variety of stalls will be set up in the stables with all kinds of gifts and gourmet produce. Normandy is renowned for its love of horses so this market at one of France's most famous national studs is perfect for horse lovers - there's even the opportunity for little ones to have their first ride on a pony.

With so many magical Christmas markets to discover in France, what's stopping you?

Make your Christmas shopping experience extra special this year by visiting the Christmas markets of France.

Please note, the details of these markets are subject to change. Before making any travel plans, we suggest checking dates.

Thanks to Brittany Ferries for providing the background to this blog.

For everything you need to know about French property visit www.clefrance.co.uk

Ho Ho Ho! Its Competition Time!

Here's your chance to win one of our amazing prizes!

It's the most wonderful time of the year when we get to eat amazing food such as Mince pies, Turkey, Chocolate Selection Boxes etc.

Clé France Great Giveaway,
This year, to celebrate Christmas we've decided to give away some amazing Amazon voucher prizes.

Prizes are as follows:
Grand Prize of £200.00 voucher
2 x runner up prizes of £50.00 voucher

HOW TO ENTER
To be in with a chance of winning, all you have to do is register for a free currency exchange account & make a currency trade with us at Key Currency before the 22nd of December.
Minimum trade £10k.

Click on 'Get a Quote' to register, click below.

Have you seen David's YouTube Short Video talking about our Christmas Competition.

For everything you need to know about French property for sale visit www.clefrance.co.uk

Beaujolais Nouveau Day is marked in France on the third Thursday in November with fireworks, music and festivals.

Under French law, the wine is released at 12:01 am, just weeks after the wine's grapes have been harvested.

Parties are held throughout the country and further afield to celebrate the first wine of the season.

The Gamay grapes that go into Beaujolais Nouveau are handpicked in the Beaujolais province of France. The wine actually originated about a century ago as a cheap and cheerful drink produced by locals to celebrate the end of the harvest season.

Perhaps the most well-known producer of Beaujolais Nouveau is Georges Duboeuf, who is credited as one of the marketing geniuses behind the wine. Selling this young red was viewed by some vintners as a means to clear large quantities of wine at decent profits, which would create a much-needed cash flow shortly after harvest. 

The idea of a race to Paris carrying the first bottles of the new vintage was conceived and this attracted much media attention. By the 1970s, the race became a national event. The races spread to neighbouring countries in Europe in the 1980s, followed by North America, and in the 1990s, to Asia.

The traditional slogan used in ad campaigns and marketing material - Le Beaujolais nouveau est arrivé (which translates to The new Beaujolais has arrived) was changed in 2005 to It's Beaujolais Nouveau time.

Today, there are several dozen vintners making this popular red. The Beaujolais region is 34 miles long from north to south and 7 to 9 miles wide and home to nearly 4,000 vineyards which produce twelve officially-designated types of Beaujolais known as AOCs. They include some of the finest and priciest grand crus (big vintage) wines around, including Fleurie and Cote de Brouilly. The most common two are the Beaujolais and Beaujolais-Villages, the former of which account for half of the region's annual output.

In 2010, 35 million bottles of the wine were put on the market. Some 7.5 million were sold in French supermarkets and 15.5 million were exported mainly to Japan, Germany and the United States.

Beaujolais Nouveau owes its easy drinkability to a winemaking process called carbonic maceration, also known as whole-berry fermentation. This technique preserves the fresh, fruity quality of the grapes without extracting bitter tannins from the grape skins.

Beaujolais Nouveau - that much-ballyhooed cherry-red coloured vintage that’s best served chilled - is clearly not for wine snobs. This fresh and fruity red is the result of a quick fermentation process that ends up with a tasty, clean wine that is enjoyed by palates the world over.

There are about 120 Beaujolais Nouveau related festivals held in the Beaujolais region. 

The most famous 'Les Sarmentelles' is held in the town of Beaujeu, the capital of the Beaujolais region. Kicking off in the early evening the day before Beaujolais Nouveau, the five-day festival features wine tasting, live music and dancing. During the afternoon on Beaujolais Nouveau Day, a heated tent offers wine and a range of local foods for visitors to sample. There is also a tasting contest featuring all of the twelve kinds of Beaujolais, in which the winner nets his or her weight in Beaujolais-Villages. In the evening, a torch lit parade honours the farmers that made the wine. Fireworks at midnight mark the release of the new wine, which is then drank until dawn. 

Beaujolais Nouveau is meant to be drunk young. Most vintages should be consumed by the following May after its release. However, in excellent vintages (such as 2000) the wine can live much longer and can be enjoyed until the next harvest rolls around.

The region of Beaujolais is known for its fabulous food. The famed Paul Bocuse restaurant is just minutes from the heart of Beaujolais, as is Georges Blanc’s. These great restaurants have plenty of Beaujolais Nouveau on their wine lists. The wine goes well with either haute cuisine or Friday night’s pizza.

Is Beaujolais Nouveau making a comeback?

Beaujolais Nouveau Day was once a national event in the UK. Is it making a comeback, asks Justin Parkinson from the BBC News website.

It's as much a part of 1980s folklore as massive mobile phones, shoulder pads and personal organisers. On the third Thursday of every November the City of London was awash with celebrations for the arrival of Beaujolais Nouveau.

Getting hold of the recently pressed, light red wine as quickly as possible became an annual event. It was usually served chilled.

The Beaujolais Run meant teams competing to be the first to get the first case of Nouveau from Paris to London. One year it got even more "Eighties" than normal, the winner being a Harrier jet. Bars, restaurants, pubs and off-licences held tastings, sometimes lasting all day, as events spread around the UK.

"Sales of Beaujolais Nouveau reached a peak in the late 1980s," says Anne McHale, master of wine at Berry Bros and Rudd. "It was a huge success based on marketing. But it declined in the 1990s when too many producers jumped on the bandwagon and the quality declined, getting weaker and more acidic."

McHale says focusing on Nouveau damaged the reputation of Beaujolais's better-quality products, in the way "Blue Nun did with German wines". Only now are people starting to return to other Beaujolais, which are often sold under the names of individual villages, such as Fleurie, she adds.

Japan is the biggest export market for Nouveau, buying almost 60 million litres last year. UK interest might not be at its peak, but something seems to be stirring. Last year the country imported 2.27 million litres - more than two and a half times the amount for 2012. This happened after Marks and Spencer launched a "carbon-neutral" version.

The celebrations have always been commercially motivated. Beaujolais, in France's Burgundy region, south-east of Paris, started promoting its freshly pressed wines as "Nouveau" in 1951. The release date was moved ahead of those for rival wines to maximise publicity. The uncorking of bottles just after midnight became a cause for street parties.

The run to London started after wine writers Clement Freud and Joseph Berkmann held a wager in 1970 over who could get it across the Channel first. This is still going, although competitors vie to transport it via the shortest route rather than in the shortest time, to ensure road safety.

"Nouveau has improved," says Beaujolais Run director Rob Bellinger. "Because of global warming the wine has been getting better every year. In the old days really it was like drinking vinegar."

One place that's never tired of Beaujolais Nouveau Day is Swansea. "It's like a national holiday," says Becky Oliver, owner of the city's No Sign Wine Bar. "Everyone has the day off. It's always been quite big but it's growing every year."

So, with UK sales increasing, is it on the up again? "I would be pretty confident in saying that this doesn't represent a future trend," says McHale. "It's more likely to be the result of a temporary spike in retro-nostalgia. Or perhaps this entire volume is being consumed by Swansea?"

Blog submitted by: Alex at The French Property Network - Cle France.

New Automatic Visa for Second Home Owners

Or at least the possibility of one!

France’s upper house of parliament has decided to approve a bill giving British second-home owners an automatic long-stay visa right without any formalities.

The bill will be debated by députés (similar to British MPs), at the Assemblée Nationale in December. It can only be finalised and approved after that process.

The idea is that British second home owners will be able to spend more than 90 days out of 180 days (currently the maximum time allowed following Brexit), in France without making a formal application for a ‘temporary long-stay visa’.

British second home owners would then be able to travel freely to and from their second home without having to complete costly and complicated forms for long stay visas.

Until the new bill is debated and finalised we don’t currently know exactly what will be required in terms of proof of ownership, or other documentations to qualify, but it is starting to sound like some good news for those with second homes in France! Watch this space…

You can download our guide by clicking the button below.

Kind regards, 
David Evans 
Co-Founder of Cle France.

For everything you need to know about French property visit www.clefrance.co.uk

Like Wine? You Gotta Try the Beaujolais Nouveau!

It’s November, and for those of us in the know, the 3rd Thursday of the month is a big deal. This day marks the release of the Beaujolais Nouveau wine!

South of Burgundy is a wine region known as Beaujolais. The climate is a bit warmer than Burgundy, so the Pinot Noir grapes popular in Burgundy don’t thrive so well in Beaujolais. That’s ok, though – there’s another grape described as a cousin to Pinot that grows very well in the area: the Gamay grape.

The Beaujolais region had always produced a wine celebrating the end of the harvest – basically, they’d make a wine, and it would be aged only a few weeks before being consumed. It wasn’t until World War II that this young wine could be purchased outside of the region. Marketers saw the potential in selling this wine elsewhere, and in the 1970s, the release of the wine had attracted a lot of media coverage. By the 1980s, the wine could be purchased in other countries in Europe, and in 1990s, it made its way to North America and Asia.

Fun fact: La récolte (the harvest) of these grapes is all done by hand! This can take up to 35,000 people working 15-20 days!

I know what you’re thinking – wine gets better with age, so why bother having some that’s only sat for a few weeks? The shorter the wine’s fermentation process, the fruitier it will be. Plus, this quick process means the wine will be less tannin. Qu’est-ce que c’est ? (What’s that?) You know how sometimes when you drink wine, your mouth tastes a bit dry afterward? That’s tannin.

These two characteristics combined produce a drinkable wine that pairs with almost anything. I was in Whole Foods the other day with my friend, and in the wine section, they were passing out samples of this year’s Beaujolais Nouveau. Another customer tried it and commented on how well it went down and how normally he doesn’t like wine. This makes a very nice intro wine!

I’ll drink to that.

Blog submitted by: Alex at The French Property Network - Cle France.