PASSEPORTE PRIVILEGE

The Office de Tourisme of Gers in the Midi-Pyrenees is offering a 10% reduction for motorhomes staying at some of the campsites within the department. The offer is available at any of 5 different campsites in Gers & full details can be found on their website: www.passeport.tourisme-gers.com

NEW AIRES

The town of Nieul -- 20kms from Limoges, in the Haute-Vienne has recently opened a new aire de service, located in the town centre at Place 19^th Mars which is close to the chateau & its park. There are 10 spaces available as well as an artisanal service point with drainage channel & a toilet building -- all services & parking are free.

In the Lot department of the Midi-Pyrenees, the small town of Catus has also opened an aire de services at the local Base de Loisirs. The aire is close to a lake & has a grey drainage gris, black drainage as well as a fresh water tap.

BRITTANY FERRIES

Don't fancy the long drive to the south of France? In addition to their Plymouth to Santander service, you can now also sail from Portsmouth with Brittany Ferries - the new weekly service makes Spain & southern France more accessible with your motorhome than ever. Both services are operated by their luxurious flagship, mv Pont-Aven, offering the fastest ferry service from the UK to Spain.

The company have also introduced a state-of-the-art  €120 million cruise ferry Armorique that has been designed specifically for use between Plymouth and the Breton port of Roscoff. It entered service in February 2009 & incorporates the very latest technology and will be particularly fuel efficient as well as environmentally-friendly by keeping CO2 emissions to a minimum.

LD LINES FREQUENT TRAVELLER

LD Lines have introduced a frequent traveller scheme whereby "LD Miles" are credited to your account for each ticket purchased, when you have compiled enough LD Miles, you will be able to redeem them against your next return ticket. In order to qualify, you will need to have completed at least 2 return or 4 single motorist trips in the last six months prior to registration. For full details go to: http://www.ldlines.co.uk/loyalty-program.html

GARDENS OF DRULON

To mark their tenth anniversary, the Artistic Gardens of Drulon in the Loire Valley will be opening their gates from Easter weekend onwards. A multitude of spring bulbs ... daffodils, tulips and crocus... have been planted to greet the new season's early visitors in an explosion of colour. Throughout the year, flowers and sculptures will be on show in the Floral Garden, Peony Garden or that of Bacchus. As the months go by, peonies, roses, vines and many others will offer an ever-changing show.

NIGHT SHOW AT BLOIS

From  4^th April till 27^th September, 2009 there will be a night-time show at the Royal Château of Blois that will be using the latest sound and imagery technologies, with a text by Alain Decaux recounted by prestigious actors. The show is in English on Wednesdays.

CYCLING IN FRANCE

Anyone who enjoys cycling in France should be aware that since October, 2008, it is law that you have to wear a reflective waistcoat outside built up areas after sunset & during times of low visibility. Failure to do so can result in a 35€ fine.

MONTPELLIER CITY CARD

If you are visiting Montpellier, then the Montpellier City Card could be a useful purchase; valid for 24, 48 or 72 hours, for both adults and children, the City Card helps you enjoy the city by combining:
• Free entry and discounts at several cultural and tourist sites in the Montpellier agglomeration area, including the Fabre museum and the Video exhibition, city tours and the Amazonian greenhouse.
• Free public transportation.
The Montpellier City Card is sold throughout the year at the Montpellier Tourist Office from 14 Euros per adult (half price for children)

TOUR DE FRANCE 2009

The 96^th Tour de France will start from Monaco on July 4th, 2009. This will be the 17^th time, since 1954 in Amsterdam, that the race will be launched from outside France & there have not been many starts from the south: four in total, and only one from the south-east, from Nice. Full details of the 2009 Tour can be found on the website www.letour.fr

PRINTEMPS DES ARTS IN MONTE-CARLO offers a selection of musical events of international quality, at a time of the year when festivals are few and far between. Particular emphasis is placed on recitals and chamber music, thematic programming is opening the festival to a plethora of styles (jazz, new music, theatre, cinema, plastic arts). The festival runs from 31st March to 18th April, 2009