Dordogne - April 2010

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April 2010 - Issue 14

THE VÉZÈRE Valley, home to 15Unesco world heritage sites includingthe caves at Lascaux, is to be giventougher protection in a plan to open upthe valley to tourists and protect itfrom unsuitable development.

Philippe Lagarde, mayor of LesEyzies, which is in the heart of the val-ley and hosts nine Unesco sites, saidthe project was “very good news”.

Part of the plan involves clearing veg-etation from the cliff-faces.

Mr Lagarde said: “At the momentthere is so much vegetation on the cliffsit is impossible to see the sites.”

He said it was important to protectthe area’s heritage: “Building regula-tions will be tightened so anything builtalongside the valley will be sympatheticto what is there already. This is impor-tant in preserving our prehistoric her-itage and the beauty of our valley.”

DIREN (Direction régionale de l’envi-ronnement) Aquitaine has done a studyof what is needed to protect the valley.

At present, only a patchwork of areasare protected – those within 500metresof heritage sites and some others whichare ecologically important or those that

New plans protectthe Vézère Valley

LES EYZIES: Mayor Philippe Lagarde is delighted at the plans to do more for the valley’s heritage

EASY ACCESS: France Télécom will finish work

€€9m BOOST FOR FASTER BROADBAND

WORTH

€€5

NINETY communes are to receive high-speed broadband access for the first timewith a €9million investment in building aseries of new mini telephone exchanges.

Currently 93% of Dordogne residents canget broadband (512kb or higher) but 35,000residents are missing out on access thatallows instant internet communication likewebcam chats with family – even the ability

to fill in the tax return online – and for someholiday gites, the commonplace internetaccess demanded by visitors.

The move will clear “shadow” areas zonesd’ombre that the conseil général says areslowing economic development. CG techni-cal director Matthieu Druillole said that bysummer 2011 98% of Dordogne residentswill have ADSL broadband. Satellite or WiFi

should also be available for other residents.A total of 160 households in Mauzens-et-

Miremont were the first to get the newaccess as France Télécom completed work.

Gite owner and municipal councillorRobin Fenton in Les Brunies near Savignacde Nontron, says he has lost custom as hisholiday gite has no ADSL connection.

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The Advertiser, Dordogne April 20102 News

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TESTS on cracks found onBergerac Airport runwayare still going on but themanagement believe theymay be able to avoid havingto close for repairs.

Managing director OlivierGribelin said that they werelooking at doing work thismonth or next and woulddo it at night if possible toavoid any disruption.

He said they would doeverything they could toavoid working at peaktimes.

“It looks like we will haveto re-lay a certain part ofthe runway, but we shouldbe able to do that at night.

“We are still getting testsdone but we hope we willnot need to close the run-way. It is really too early tobe definite.”

The possible respite forBergerac comes as Brive-Vallée de la Dordogne air-port confirmed it is still setto open on June 15 with thefirst flight being the regularAirlinair service to Pariswhich is being transferredfrom Brive-Laroche airport

Airport boss DanyBlanchet said talks were

continuing with a numberof airlines to introduce aUK route this summer.

However, he was opti-mistic despite the factRyanair has pulled out ofAngoulême and the proxim-ity of Bergerac, Limoges,Agen and Bordeaux airportswhich have regular flightsbetween the UK and France.

Mr Blanchet said: “We areexcellently situated withPérigord Noir, the north ofthe Lot and the south of theCorrèze close by.

“There are 10 sites ofinternational tourist impor-tance within easy reach andthere are a large number ofUK and Dutch residents inthe area.”

He said low-cost airlinesdo not sign up until the lastminute – and so he is stillhopeful for this summer.

He added: “We are stillplanning for the future onrunning two to three inter-national flights – to the UKand to the Netherlands.”

Ryanair stopped its servicebetween Angoulême-Cognac airport and LondonStansted after the airportrefused its demand forincreased “marketing fees”.

Flights from the Charenteairport were said to be 87%full – one of the best figuresin France – and bosses arein talks with other low-costcompanies to offer flights toLondon and Marseille.

Airport may notclose for repairs

A DORDOGNE nun has beenhonoured posthumously byGordon Brown for her work in sav-ing a family of Jews from the Nazis.

Sister Agnes Walsh, who wasbased in the Daughters of Charityretirement home in Cadouin,which was a convent, had taken theCremieux family into the conventafter they asked for help in 1943.

They were constantly in dangerof being denounced as peopleknew Sister Agnes was English,despite having an Irish passport.

After getting a warning from themayor’s office that their “friendsfrom Paris” should not be in theconvent for the next Nazi inspec-tion the Cremieux family left andwere hidden in Villeneuve-sur-Lot.

The Prime Minister last monthpresented a medallion inscribed“for services to humanity” toDaughters of Charity sisters at theceremony for British Heroes of theHolocaust in 10 Downing Street.

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BERGERAC: Repairs to be carried out during the night

The Advertiser, Dordogne April 2010 News 3

Gendarmekilled inspeed trapaccidentINTERIOR minister BriceHortefeux has condemned“irresponsible idiots whodrive on our roads” as hepaid tribute to a gendarmewho died when hit by amotorbike at a traffic control.

Jacques Montouillout, 49,from the Bergerac GendarmeUnit was killed while man-

ning a speedtrap at St-Juliend’Eymet.

MrHortefeuxhas con-ferred theLegiond’Honneurposthu-mously onhim. He is

survived by his wife.Farm worker Jean-Jacques

Pée-Nouque, 50, has beenjailed awaiting trial for invol-untary homicide and failingto stop at a control. He alsofaces three charges of cross-ing a white line and a chargeof having a numberplate thatdid not conform to the law.

A RAILWAY pressure groupfighting to ensure Paris-Limoges-Toulouse trains con-tinue to serve people in east-ern Dordogne has gained8,400 signatures in a day.

Tous Ensemble Pour LesGares de Gourdon-Souillacwants Teoz trains to stop atSouillac and Gourdon andreceived massive supportfrom people when they tooktheir campaign to the streetsof 50 communes and at Sarlatand St-Genies markets.

The group has been activesince SNCF first cut servicesin 2007 and has so far seen10 of the 15 stops re-instated.

However, it wants morestops reinstated and is con-tinuing action which hasalready seen protesters goingon to the lines at stations toforce trains to stop.

The group, whose website isat www.bataildurail.com hascalled for a demonstration atGourdon and Souillac sta-tions on April 2 at 18.00.

MORE THAN 30 pairs ofperegrine falcons have beenspotted nesting in cliff sites inthe Dordogne.

Environmental groupSepanso said the birds haddisappeared from the depart-ment for about 20 years andonly reappeared in the 1980s.

The birds, the fastest animalin the world, have been timedat 242mph in a dive.

Sepanso also says that sixpairs of eagle owls have beenseen in the valleys of theVézère and the Dordogne.

Plansforthreesolarfarms

Plansforthreesolarfarms

REACTION in Thenon tonews of a solar farm near thetown seems to be favourable.

Shoppers at the Tuesdaymarket had, for the most part,not heard of the scheme butthought it could be positive.

Karinne Nolibos fromThenon said she was infavour: “It has got to be agood thing and, even thoughit might not be very attrac-tive, nothing could be worsethan a nuclear power station.”

André Joffre, a retiredfarmer, knew nothing about itand though sceptical aboutthe changes he’d witnessed inThenon thought this might bea good idea: “We may have toget used to the idea that thisis what we will need in thefuture.”

Ecologist Jacques Picardsaid he would back the proj-ect, but felt there were somedrawbacks: “I know it is tech-nically difficult to store theelectricity produced so itmeans the easiest option is tosell it on to EDF but it would

be better if there could besome direct use of the powerin the local area.”

Shopper Edouard Ouakisaid it would be a good thing.As for the aesthetics, he said:“Well I don’t think Thenon isall that beautiful, so I don’tthink we can start complain-ing about the look of a solarfarm. What matters is beingable to produce electricity inthis new way.”

Two other shoppers whowould not be named said theyhad had enough of “all thisecology talk”. They liked elec-tricity – it allowed them tohave a washing machine, runa vacuum cleaner, have a TVand “when the ChampsElysées is all lit up it looksreally beautiful – you wouldnever get all that power froma solar farm”.

However, another womanwho had heard about thescheme thought it was a verygood idea: “I would back theproject. It is good to get ourelectricity from the sun.”

8,400 signpetition tokeep trains

More falconsspotted on cliffs

KARINNENOLIBOS:Market-dayshopperGreeted thenews of thesolar farm forThenon

GENDARME:JacquesMontouillout

DORDOGNE is set to get its first solarfarms – and they should give enoughelectricity to power the equivalent of4,500 homes. However, the power willnot go directly to local residentsbecause of storage problems - it willinstead be sold to EDF’s national grid.

Three communes have submittedplans in areas where the land has noagricultural value. The largest is atLanouaille in the north-east.

Mayor Jean-Pierre Cubertafon says itis a private project with 19 landownersover 34 hectares with a potential out-put of 11.2 megawatts.

His commune backs the plan. Hesaid: “I don’t see why small communescan’t lead the way in showing theexample for the future.”

Another scheme is at Plazac near St-Leon-sur-Vézère, a village with astrong ecological commitment.

It is also a private venture and AlainGalinat, the councillor responsible forthe plans, said it was a 15-hectare sitewith only five hectares covered in solarpanels. It can make 4.5 to 5 megawatts– enough for 900 people.

The final project, at Thenon in theeast, is part-owned by the town andinternational company, Vinci, whichbuilt the nearby motorway.

Mayor Dominique Bousquet says itwill use Vinci land beside the motor-way. It could be up to 25 hectares, pro-ducing 10 megawatts.

“It has a double interest to us,” hesaid. “Firstly the attraction of produc-ing one of the new energies and sec-ondly, having an international compa-ny in our commune which wouldattract other businesses.”

The panels will be installed byGerman company, Juwi, which is over-seeing many projects in France. It says

that covering 0.5% of France’s landwith solar panels would give enoughelectricity for all its needs.

Dordogne Chamber of Agriculturepresident Jean-Pierre Raynaud said thepriority for land usage must remainagricultural “even the poorest land canoften be used for farming in some way– for example truffle oak trees”.

The Chamber is not against solarpower production and has helped farm-ers to produce and sell to EDF but saysthat changes in EDF pricing have madesome schemes less attractive. “Panelshave been put on the roofs of existingbuilding – now any scheme must belooked at very carefully.”

The solar farm projects are at a veryearly stage and it is not expected thatany will see sunlight before the end of2011 or the beginning of 2012.

By Jane Hanks

“I don’t see why small communes can’t lead the wayin showing an example for the futureLanouaille mayor Jean-Pierre Cubertafon

Shoppers back bidto give free power

SOLARPARK: TheDordogne

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Broadband boost for 90 communes

have certain flora or faunawhich can come under localor EU-wide protection ofNatura 2000.

It is often described as thecradle of mankind as there isevidence that people were liv-ing in caves along the banksof the Vézère more than70,000 years ago.

However, in modern timesthe limestone cliffs havebecome overgrown and one ofthe criticisms when DIRENcommissioned a report intothe valley was that the Unescosites were often only spottedby tourists when they reachedthe site car parks.

In fact, tourists could onlylocate the sites from a dis-tance by spotting the com-mercial infrastructure.

Mr Lagarde said: “Once theexcess vegetation has beenremoved visitors will be ableto view them in all their gloryfrom some distance.”

DIREN reviewed the valleyas part of its strategy to pre-serve sites of historic and cul-tural interest throughout theregion and it is hoped one daythe valley will qualify as oneof the Grand Sites de France.

It commissioned a team of

architects, Mandragore deTheil-Rabier, and their 109-page report concluded that acoherent approach was need-ed to maintain the valley andsuggested extending the pro-tection currently only award-ed to the area round theUnesco sites to include thewhole valley.

Sarlat sub préfet BernardMusset moved quickly andcalled on the mayors of thecommunes through which theriver flows to join an “opera-tion grand site”.

Now work to improve theVézère will begin in autumn.

Vegetation removal will startin Les Eyzies, the heart of theVézère Valley, which hasalready seen some work start-ed on sites where the ownershave given permission.

The report also highlightedthe need to safeguard tourismin the area; it is the majorsource of revenue for the val-ley and its residents.

Mr Lagarde said that, asidefrom being good for tourism,the protection of the Vézère

Valley would benefit everyonein the department.

Pressures for developmentwere also covered and thereport said there needed to bemore thought on the visualimpact of projects in a valleylandscape.

Les Eyzies Unesco sites areFont de Gaume, Combarelles,Grand Roc and La Mouthecaves, and the shelters of theLaugerie Haute, LaugerieBasse and La Micoque; plusthe Abri de Poisson and abride Cro-Magnon.

Vézère Valley saved fromvegetation and development

He said: “We have had ADSLat our own house for years.Managing without it is incon-ceivable but in the house werent out, which is only up theroad, it has been a real pain.We lost custom as a result.

“The conseil général assureme they have ordered theequipment and it is simply acase of installing it so ADSLshould be up and running inthe autumn.”

Daniëlle Kees, who runs LaRhue holiday complex andsalle de spectacle nearJumilhac le Grand whichhosts regular musical events,is in part of the communewhich already has broadbandand says: “I don’t think wecould manage without it.

“We are always searchingthe web for musicians, check-ing our bookings, replying tocustomers.

“We are on it all day.“Lots of people at our musi-

cal events don’t have it yet;two musicians we know makea weekly trip to their nearestmairie and sit outside withtheir laptop just to check theiremails (using WiFi).

“I can’t imagine that; for us,it is essential.”

Like Jumilhac le Grand,many communes have partialbroadband cover but forbroadband to work propertieshave to be no more than 5kmfrom a telephone exchange.

Now 92 new mini exchangeswill ensure full coverage.

Several telecom suppliersoffer ADSL packages, includ-ing SFR/Neuf, Orange, Aliceand Free who offer differentdeals depending on whetheryou in an area dégroupée ornon-dégroupée (not restrictedto France Télécom.)

Monthly prices start at€14,90 with SFR (dégroupée)without a modem, this costs

around €40 although cheaperdeals are available online ormodems can be rented fromthe companies e.g Neuf-box,Alice-box or Livebox foraround €3 per month.

Deals involving phone andTV packages are dearer andeligibility will depend on yourconnection speed.

The new exchanges arefunded by the conseil général,the EU and Aquitaine region.

From Page 1

LES EYZIES: Heart of the Vézère Valley and home to nine Unesco world heritage sites

COMMUNES set to benefit (dates are approximate):March-June 2010:Grun, St-Geyrac et Bars, St-Raphaël, Monsac,Bouteilles-St-Sébastien, Lamonzie-Montastruc,Preyssac-d'Excideuil, St-Germain-des-Prés, Nantheuil-de-Thiviers, Cherveix-Cubas, Campagnac-lès-Quercy,St-Antoine-de-Breuilh, St-André-de-Double, St-Paul-de-Serre, Thénac, Montagnac-la-Crempse.July-September 2010:Fleurac, Proissans, St-Avit-de-Vialard, Simeyrols, St-Martial-de-Valette, Mensignac, St-Amand-de-Coly,Bouzic, Brouchaud, Lembras, Cendrieux, Belvès, Coux-et-Bigaroque, Busserolles, St-Pancrace, Angoisse, St-Pierre-de-Frugie, St-Just, St-Michel-Ecluse-et-Léparon,Singleyrac, La Douze, Goûts-Rossignol, St-Avit-Sénieur,Nanteuil-Auriac-de-Bourzac, Les Eyzies, Champagne-et-Fontaine, BussacOctober-December 2010:Boisse, Beaupouyet, St-Laurent-des-Bâtons, Grives,Montpon-Ménestérol, Pezuls, St-Chamassy, St-Martin deFressengeas, Savignac de Nontron, Faux, Ménesplet,Pressignac-Vicq, Maurens, Varaignes, Liorac sur Louyre,Bassillac, Bergerac, Léguillac-de-Cercles, Plaisance,Cadouin, Lusignac, St-Front-d’Alemps, Pomport,Terrasson, Ponteyraud, Fossemagne, Prigonrieux, MeyralsJanuary-March 2011:St-Laurent-des-Vignes, Sourzac, Paussac-St-Vivien, St-Martin-le-Pin, Naussann, Tamniès, Jumilhac, St-Nexans,Bussière-Badil, Veyrignac, Mauzac-et-Grand-Castang.April-June 2011:Sarlat, Hautefaye, St-Mesmin, Bonneville-et-St-Avit-de-Fumadières, Chalagnac, Peyrillac-et-Millac, Brantôme.

BROADBAND TIMELINE

“ADSLshouldbe upand runningby theautumnRobin

Fenton

LAST DAYS: Many women lost their jobs in Bata closure

FORMER workers at theMarbot Bata boot-makingfactory at Neuvic, nearPérigueux have accepted thattheir jobs are gone after thecompany lost its major con-tract to supply Ranger bootsto the French army.

They negotiated a nine-month paid leave congé fromthe company in which to hunta new job or start a new busi-ness. The factory closed lastDecember but the 73 employ-ees, including many women,had been given notice inSeptember.

The social plan has still tobe agreed by the Tribunal deGrand Instance – which hasput back a decision until May

– but the workers say theyhave won a “worthy” deal fora Plan de Sauvegarde del’Emploi job security package.

France is looking towardsGerman company Meindl andFrench firm Argueyrolles fora new-style trekking boot thatthe military favours – to bemade in Romania or Tunisia.

The Neuvic factory has beenmaking army boots for morethan half a century and the€10 million contract was 70%of its business.

Former Périgueux mayorXavier Darcos, the Employ-ment minister, has promised€2m to kickstart the area’seconomy, which has 15,097out of work.

From Page 1

Army boot-makingfactory finally shuts

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The Advertiser, Dordogne April 2010 News 5

‘Quality of life’ promises sweep Socialists to local win

Find English-speaking businesses at Abjat showRENEWABLE energy specialists will be joined by web and printmedia, electricians, currency experts, satellite TV firms andmany more at an English-speaking trade fair in Abjat-sur-Bandiat this month. The event will held in Restaurant Berthet inAbjat, near Nontron, on April 25. It is a chance to have a look at any projects you may have for

2010 and speak directly to local tradespeople to get easy-to-understand advice on how to move ahead.

A representative of The Dordogne Advertiser andThe Connexion newspapers will be there to meet visitors -please look us out and say hello. Doors open at 10am until 16.00and entrance is free. For more information contact show organ-isers Angel Traders directly on 06 85 60 37 26 or [email protected] See www.angeltraders.net

A RESOUNDING first-round regionalelection victory has left the PartiSocialiste secure in Aquitaine with themajority of the 85 seats – and analliance with Europe Ecologie and Frontde Gauche to consolidate the rejectionof President Sarkozy’s UMP party.

Socialist leader Alain Rousset took37.6% of the first round votes with theUMP, led by former Périgueux mayorXavier Darcos, trailing on 20%. Thecentre Modem party, led by JeanLassalle, took 10.4% of the vote.

However, with more than 50% of

voters abstaining the UMP has deniedthe result is a verdict on its policies.

In Dordogne, Mr Rousset won 37%of votes, Mr Darcos 24%, EuropeEcologie 9.2%, Front Nationale 8.7,Front Gauche 8% and Modem 7.1%.

The second round was about to takeplace when the Advertiser went topress. The results can be found on ourwebsite www.theadvertiser.fr

Mr Rousset said: “The Socialist Partyhas come out of this election as thefirst party in France, capable of beinga credible alternative to the UMP.”

He said the UMP’s “willingness toconcentrate power” in Paris was

against the interest of the south-westand he highlighted his commitment toincreased spending on transport, qual-ity of life, economic development andeducation and professional training.

Aquitaine has a provisional budget of€1.27 billion and the Socialists saytheir priorities are offering 10,000continued education places to the job-less and those facing redundancy.

They would also double the creationof innovative businesses and helpdevelope eco-friendly jobs – all in anattempt to reduce the carbon footprintby 30% by 2020. It will also help youngfarmers and boost organic farming.

The Socialists see the TGV link toSpain as an opportunity in terms ofthe economy, socially and ecologically– and are maintaining their supportdespite opposition from EuropeEcologie and the Fronte de Gauche.

Priorities in Dordogne are the sameas for the region, but a spokesmansaid: “The impact will primarily con-cern a 30% rise in the TER train serv-ice which is saturated.”

Development of the department’snatural resources and heritage will bea high priority as is strong support forBergerac airport, compared to theUMP whose focus is more on Brive.

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VICTIMS of Sarlet swindler Graham Templeton and SociétéGénérale are no nearer resolving their lawsuit with the bank –although they are delighted the €2 million crook is in jail.

Templeton handed himself in to Fresnes prison near Paris atthe end of February to start his two-year jail term – he servedfive months while awaiting trial. Victim Steve Coleman saidhe and his wife were delighted “to get some good news at last.”

However, Société Générale is still dragging its heels on com-pensation after victims rejected its offer of one-third of themoney lost. It is nine months since Templeton’s trial ended.

ALAIN ROUSSET: Top vote

By Janice Moody

Templeton victims:Still no compensation

TEMPLETON: Jailed for two years for €2 million fraud

The Advertiser, Dordogne April 20106 Subscriptions

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SUBSCRIBE TO The Advertiserby April 30, 2010 and recieve your FREE Bilingual Guide to Vézac.Subscribe by telephoning 04 86 68 50 40 or send back the form below. You willreceive your guide book through the post. Offer applies to new subscribers only.

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Whether you discover an old building that turns out to be a chestnut drying house or a jumble of stones that hides acomplete troglodyte farm, the Vézac bilingual guide offers a glimpse into a fascinating landscape. Rich with interest

and bathed in prehistory and the waters of the Dordogne, this guide to Vézac is a treasure to savour

WORTH

€€5

Prize-winning confiseurNelly Boclet has lived inPayzac for more than 20years and runs two shopswith her husband. She tells LUCY STUBBS

how she became involvedin the creative art of confiserie and how shebecame Championne deFrance de la Présentationde Confiserie Was it always your ambition to be a confiseur?Not really. I grew up in a small vil-lage in the Somme where I met myhusband, Bernard. Initially I trainedas a secretary but when Bernardbecame a boulanger-pâtissier I start-ed working in the bakery with him.

It’s what you do if you marry abaker. I was 19. Soon after I startedworking in the shop, I realised thatmy life would, from now on, essen-tially be that of a vendor.

It is like that for women; in thesphere of the Boulangerie-Pâtisseriethere’s not much for us to do really.

I wanted to do something morewith my life, to find a way to expressmy creativity.

Besides, you have to do what youcan to make money and I thoughtselling bonbons would be yet anoth-er way of making a living.

How did you get started?At first, I helped Bernard makechocolates then I started beinginventive with the packaging; mak-ing sure they looked attractive.Bernard started making caramelsand I started packaging them, too. Inthe end, I contacted the CentreFéminin d’Etudes de la Pâtisserie andenrolled on a confiserie course.

Was it hard to learn?To be honest, I took to it straightaway; the course lasted three days. Iwas only 20 but it really inspired me.

We learned how to work withchocolate and sugar paste, how tomake things with marzipan as wellas the techniques in making edibleflowers and packaging sweets. Theingredients are key; you have torespect them, they have to be of a

high quality and you have to knowhow to combine them. You also haveto know how to chose the appropri-ate packaging.

Once I’d been on the course, I tookall that I’d learned and went fromthere. With confiserie, the only limitis your imagination.

Some of your creations are very elaborate. Do they take a long time?Not too long although, of course, itvaries and I have been doing this formore than 30 years. At the end of theday, confiserie has to be commercial-ly viable so you have to be able toproduce the items people want fairlyquickly. I spend every afternoon inmy workshop and I do have somestaff who help me, especially aroundoccasions like Easter and Christmas

when we get a lot of demand. I put alot of passion into my work; a lot ofwhat I do is made to order so thoseitems are unique. I really enjoy let-ting my imagination run riot.

What sort of things do you make?All sorts really from edible table dec-orations including centrepieces, nap-kin rings and menu card holders tomarzipan roses, bouquets and livred’or to mark special occasions likechristenings, weddings or New Year’sEve celebrations. Often customerswant to stick to a colour scheme or atheme. I also do cake decorations.

You have entered lots of concours. What happens? Are they daunting?A little! Every year the competition

has a theme. Stick to the theme andcreate pretty much whatever youlike; combining sugar flowers withmarzipan or pralines – it is up toyou. Competition at Intersuc SalonInternational de la Confiserie, Choco-laterie, Biscuiterie can be fierce.

I won the fée des dragées (sugaredalmonds or sugared chocolates) in2000 and in 2002, I became theChampionne de France de laPrésentation. I designed accessoriesfor a wedding dress out of sweetsfrom the bouquet to the jewellery.

You use a wide range of sweets. Where do you get them from?They are all made by artisans, myhusband makes the chocolate andmarzipan and there are three grandemaisons who make dragées so theycome from one of them. Sourcinggood ingredients is key. As for thepackaging, ribbon and twine etc, thatis ordered via a specialist catalogue.

Do you still enter the concours?Not any more; after I had won thetop prizes there wasn’t much point incontinuing. What I do now, is teachthe skills to others. So far, I have run

two stages; one on an Easter theme,the other to show people how tomake edible flowers and bouquets.

How do you spread the wordabout your products?I have a website for the business,Nelly Boclet Creation, and it hasmade a huge difference; we have twoshops but there is a limit to howmuch I can display in them along-side all the bread and cake.

With my website I can reach peopleall over the world; I do a lot of workfor customers in the US and Britain.I also have a lot of British customersin the shops; they seem to reallyappreciate my creations.

What are your plans for the future?To keep on creating and developingmy skills; I still haven’t reached mylimit. I’d like to run some morecourses too; it’s good to be able topass the craft on. We’re also lookinginto opening another shop as my sonis about to join the business.

I’m very busy, yes, but I enjoy mywork; I’m pleased to do somethingthat brings people pleasure and thatI feel so passionate about

The Advertiser, Dordogne April 2010 Profile 7

Confiserie national champ saysimagination is your only limit

WINNER: NellyBoclet’s creationshave taken her tothe top of the craftin France, especiallythis wedding outfit

“I put a lot of passion into my work and I’m pleased to do something that seems to bring people pleasure

The Advertiser, Dordogne April 20108 Practical

Mediators pull down languagebarrier to help unhappy families

Volunteersplea to easeconsumerproblems

WHEN relationships break down,dividing up property and possessionsand arranging custody of children canbe difficult and living in a foreigncountry can make things even harder.Now, an English-language service cangive some help.

While many people turn to solicitors,an increasing number are findingFamily Mediation (Médiation

Familiale) canhelp and in theDordogne, theservice is availablein English.

Although theservice is sub-sidised, there is a

small cost of about €5 per session forself referrals.

“Family mediation is impartial, con-fidential and gives everyone involved achance to discuss their future arrange-ments in a way that does not pit themagainst one another,” said MarieMuller, a family mediator.

“We help couples to plan theirfutures; where each of them will live,what will happen to their children andtheir assets.

“We also talk to grandparents whohave lost contact with their grandchil-dren following a family breakdownand help them to sit down with the

parents and discuss they can resolvethe access problem.”

The Family Mediation services areprovided by the Union Départemen-tale des Associations et services desMédiation Familiale (UDASMF).

Mrs Muller explained how to accessthe service: “You'll find informationpacks in any branch of CAF (Caissesd’Allocations Familiales) or you canphone to make an appointment (see

numbers below). The first meeting isfree and lets us tell you about the serv-ice and lets you tell us your situation.

“Some people are referred to us viathe court. Others refer themselves.The first meeting is between a media-tor and the person making the refer-ral. We then contact the otherparty/ies and invite them along.

“Mediation only works if all partiesmeet together but a mediator remains

with clients throughout the session toensure the discussion remains con-structive.”

Typically, mediators will meet with acouple for five two-hour sessions.

All mediators have university diplo-mas and must remain neutral.

Sessions are means tested so costsvary but the average is around €5 asession for self referrals.

Make appointments via branches ofPoint Info Famille throughout thedepartment:

PIF Bergerac, CAF, 24 BoulevardVictor Hugo. Monday-Friday 9.00-noon/13.30-16.00.

PIF Montpon, CAF, 47 Rue Thiers.Monday-Thursday, as above hours.

PIF Sarlat, CAF, 91 Avenue desSelves. Opening hours as Montpon.

Appointments for these branchescan be arranged on 05 53 35 74 13

PIF Périgueux, 1 Square Jean-Jaurès,Tuesday and Thursday 14.00-16.00.Tel: 05 53 54 49 52

PIF Caisse MSA, Excidueil, 8 RueDr Tocheport, Thurday 9.00-noon

PIF Caisse MSA, Nontron, 24 RueCarnot, Tuesday 9.30 -noon,Thursday 13.30-16.00.

For Excideuil and Nontron: call05 53 62 89 15 for appointmentsPIF Thenon, 5 Place Montaigne,

Monday, Friday 14.00-17.30. Tuesday,Wednesday, Thursday 9.00-noon,14.00-17.30. Tel: 05 53 35 09 96

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By Lucy StubbsCONSUMER group UFC-Que Choisir wants to expandits service in the Dordogneand is looking for more vol-unteers. The recession has leftmany people in the depart-ment struggling to cope.

It was already hard-hit withhalf the households under theincome tax threshold.

Georges Robert, presidentof the Périgueux group, saidtheir workload rose by 50%over the past year with anaverage 50 cases each month.

Common problems concerntelephone and internet con-nections or credit and debtissues. The group is expand-ing from its base at CoursSaint-Georges in Périgueuxand has opened in St-Astieron the second Thursday ofthe month beside the mairie.

A Sarlat office will open onthe first and third Mondaysin the Caisse d’Assurance-Maladie office; Ribérac is thefirst and third Wednesdays atthe mairie; Thiviers the sec-ond and fourth Tuesdays inthe mairie and Nontron onthe second Thursday at theCentre Médico-psychologique.The service is free of charge.

Contact: 05 53 09 68 24

The Advertiser, Dordogne April 2010 Did you know 9

Letter to the EditorSome answers are in English, some are in French. All accents should be ignored.

CROSSWORD fans can learn aboutthe Dordogne, brush up their Frenchand get a chance to keep their braincells in action with our bilingual crossword. It uses French and Englishwords and also contains Dordogne references.

We will provide the answers for thismonth’s crossword in the May issue ofthe Advertiser. See page 6 for details ofour subscription offer so you do notmiss an issue.

ACROSS1 Picture postcard riverside village

along the Dordogne river with trop-ical banana plants and palm trees;orage claquage (anag) (2,5-6)

5 Raise your verre to make a toast(eng) (5)

7 Oil of noix quality used in cooking(eng) (6)

8 How many centimes make a euro?(fr) (4)

9 The place to buy your viande; (fr)(9)

11 France’s biggest train robbery wascarried out here by the Resistancein 1944 (6,4)

14 If food is too salé it is inedible (eng)(5)

18 Un ... au feu; cook your casserole inthis (fr/eng)) (3)

19 This town (Upper Périgord) isfamous for its knives which haveboxwood handles (7)

22 Maintenant; présentement; aujour-d’hui (eng) (3)

23 The best prunes in France aregrown here (4)

24 Drink usually served before dinner(8)

25 The gout of your food will deter-mine how good it is (5)

26 A furry burrower (garden pest)(fr);brown (eng) (5)

DOWN2 A white wine produced in the

Bergerac AOC region; a wine grapevariety; a small flower design(fr/eng)(7)

3 Pamplemousse is a fruit often eatenfor breakfast (eng) (10)

4 Piece of cutlery (fr) (7)6 Sauce made of garlic and olive oil

usually used with fish (fr) (5)

8 Salted cabillaud becomes morue(eng) (3)

10 Just another dent in the wheel; unepersonne insignifiante (eng) (3)

12 The English abbreviation for taxesur la valeur ajoutée; a large con-tainer (eng) (3)

13 Popeye’s favourite vegetable (fr) (7)14 Roderick David (born in London)

used to have a house in theDordogne, he had various hitsincluding Maggie May (7)

15 The best things in life are free;indépendant (fr) (5)

16 Cèpe mushrooms (7)17 Famous January truffle market for

gastronomes where you can findout about the “black diamond” truffle at the museum; grosse (anag)(6)

20 Without épice your food is likely totaste bland (eng) (5)

21 The devil lives in a place on fire (fr)(5)

Dordogne Bilingual crossword

LAST MONTH’S SOLUTION

Across: 1 Imagination, 6 Owe, 9 Un bébé, 10 Cents, 12Montfort, 15 Ducks, 18 Vin, 19 Café, 22 Domme, 23 Hen, 24Pécharmant, 27 Echourgnac, 28 Clef.

Down: 2 Albarède, 3 Niece/Nièce, 4 Thon, 5 Nez, 7 Walnuts, 8Bamboo, 11 Tourism, 13 Fondue, 14 Hautefort, 16 Cave, 17Sandstone, 19 Cèpe, 20 Ane, 21 Merlot, 25 Chef, 26 Inch.

Nettled intoaction overfertiliser ban

GIVEN the varied landscape andits many castles it is hardly sur-prising that the Dordogne hasbeen a popular European locationfor film shoots.

Everything from adverts andsmall budget films to block-busters have all been shot in theregion.

In the 1960s locals in Hautefortwould have met David Nivenfilming The Eye of the Devil atthe chateau and a few lucky peo-ple might have caught glimpsesof Johnny Depp and JulietteBinoche filming Chocolat on theDordogne river and in the streetsof Beynac in 2000.

The majority of films shot in

the area have been historical:Why go to the trouble of recon-structing a medieval castle whenthere are many readily available.

Perhaps the most famous inter-national film to use Beynac wasthe 2000 version of Joan of Arc:The Messenger starring MillaJovovich, John Malkovich,Dustin Hoffman and FayeDunaway.

On the French film scene bothThe Visitors I and II were filmedat Beynac. In all, about 18 filmshave used the Dordogne as alocation since the 1960s, themost popular locations being thechateaux of Beynac, Hautefort,Biron and the town of Sarlat.

Paradoxically the film Timeline,based on Michael Crichton'sbook of the same name and setentirely in Dordogne, was actual-ly filmed in Canada.

The 1977 Ridley Scott film TheDuellists was filmed largely inDordogne, around Sarlat, withKeith Carradine and AlbertFinney as the ever-warring sol-diers with the never-endinggrudge.

Budding stars can sign up tobecome extras on the Dordogne’sCine-Passion site which has a listof all the actors, technicians, andextras who are available for workin Aquitaine.

However, the organisation also

puts out early-season calls forextras who are not on its booksand these appear on the websiteat www.cine-passion24.com Youcan also register online there.

Cine-Passion is part of thenational Film France networkwhich gives film-makers detailsof locations, crews, labour ratesand facilities.

500 people from Sarlat and thesurrounding area were used asextras in making the Robin-Hood type film Cartouche, leBrigande Magnifique, when it wasfilmed in Sarlat last year. Manyjust wanted to see themselves onscreen but an added attractionwas the €120 a day pay.

GLORY: Ridley Scott choseSarlat for his first film as

director, The Duellists

CLOTILDE NICOLAS fromEDF said that the companydoes indeed install solar pan-els – but not for free.

They charge competitiverates but are one of a numberof companies around whichinstall solar panels.

Dordogne can get around2,000 hours of sunshine a yearand photovoltaic (solar) pan-els that produce electricitydirectly from sunlight – sowork to some extent in winter– would cost a typical house-hold between €20-€25,000 toinstall, including tax.

Interest-free éco-prêt loans

are available from some banksand anyone filing a French taxreturn can claim a credit of upto 50% of the cost of the parts.

Ms Nicolas said electricityproduced by your solar panelscan be sold back to the gridand added that this was notdependent on EDF installingthe equipment.

At the moment, power from

renewable sources can be soldback to the grid for around€0.55 per unit.

For more details visit: http://tinyurl.com/SellEDFenergy

You can phone their solarpower hotline on: 3929.

The EDF helpline is openfrom Monday-Friday, 9.00-18.00. Calls are charged atlocal rate from most landlines.

Email us at [email protected] or writeto The Advertiser, BP25, 06480 La Colle sur Loup

WE recently got a telephonecall about EDF installingsolar panels free of chargeon the roof of properties inthe Dordogne and wonderedif you had more details.

The caller said they werefrom EDF and asked if wewould be willing for them todo this and they would payus for the electricity supplied by the panels.

This sounds a good ideabut after asking various people about this no oneseems to know of the advantages and disadvantages; e.g. wholooks after the panels.

We own our house butwould EDF own the roofspace and would there belegal complications if we sellthe house later?

Maggie KENTBy email

Free solar panel plan is a no-gobut EDF sales plan is a winner

Get The Connexion Éco-prêt Helpguide for €5 from www.connexionfrance.com

You can be a local hero in films

ONE OF the first things that happened when wemoved to the Dordogne was that our neighbour, aretired farmer, taught me how to make purin d’orties (nettle fertiliser and insecticide).

I was delighted; I had just started growing veg-etables and did not want to douse them in chemi-cals. At that time, his actions were perfectly legalbut had he imparted his wisdom to me today, hewould be breaking the law.

This law is, of course, crazy and an example ofthe French state bowing to the interests of bigbusiness against those of ordinary folk and theenvironment – despite protestations they care.

The government have said they want to halvethe use of chemicals on the land by 2018 but Icannot see how the current ban on natural fer-tilisers will achieve that.

I often berate the Dordogne for a similar lack ofcommitment; last year, politicians expressed adesire to dramatically reduce carbon emissions inthe Dordogne but then did nothing to improvepublic transport – despite cars being a significantcontributor.

Now, however, it looks as if the Dordogne mightactually be blazing a trail.

Périgueux and Trélissac are set to use naturalfertilisers in their towns (see page 28) and havejoined an association which promotes the use ofbanned natural fertilisers and are calling for thelaw to be overturned.

I am watching closely. I hope these towns suc-ceed in overturning the ban for everyone thoughand not just for town council projects. L.S.

SOLAR: EDF will buy electricity from rooftop panels

Find out more on éco-prêt loans

Point of View

The Advertiser, Dordogne April 201010 Food

FairTradeshopsopen

HONEY seems to me to be amiracle of nature with beesalmost like fairy folk. Did youknow honey actually comesout of a bee’s body?

I always thought they manu-factured it somehow frompollen and honeydew, butnectar goes through digestiveprocesses to become honey.

The quaint Les Abeilles duPérigord museum at LaBachellerie is fascinating andyou will learn amazing factsthat will leave you in awe ofhoneybees and honey itself:

When worker bees lick thequeen to clean her, they ingestpheromones which controland direct their behaviour;

Queen bees produce about1,500-3,000 eggs every day – alot more than their weight;

Wax comes from glands onbees’ abdomens, and produc-tion is triggered when they fillthemselves with honey andpollen to increase the temper-ature in their muscles, andhang together in clusters

together to retain the heat;Bees collect “propolis” from

trees to use as cement in thehive but it is also an antisepticto help keep the hive clear ofdisease and parasites;

When a new queen is need-ed, selected larvae are fed vastquantities of royal jelly (pro-duced by glands on workerbees’ heads) and the royal jellyturns the creatures from nor-mal larvae into queens.

YOU MAY have heard of thecurrent worldwide fall in beenumbers, with dramaticquantities of colonies dyingoff in the US and Europe –and reports of someDordogne honey producerslosing a disastrous 100% oftheir colonies during winter.

No one yet knows whetherthe loss is caused by disease,climate change, geneticallymodified crops, artificial fer-

tilisers and pesticides in agri-culture, reduced biodiversity,a combination of all of these,or something else as yetunknown.

However, last month’sAdvertiser pinpointed onelocal aggressor – the Asianhornet frelon asiatique thatkills bees to feed its young.

It has formed a large popu-lation in the south-west and isbeing blamed for a large part

of the falling bee population.The authorities are taking

the bees’ high mortality ratevery seriously in theDordogne due to the effect onthe traditional honey industryand the impact on crops andvegetables.

If bees continue to disappearand crops cannot be pollinat-ed then it could be disastrousfor the farming, vegetable andfruit industries.

One positive measure theDordogne authorities are tak-ing is to plant meadow flow-ers on verges and round-abouts – it has the addedbonus of looking far nicerthan shaved grass and gaudyperennials.

Another bonus is that thebee-keeping syndicate in theDordogne (Le Rucher duPérigord) has seen its mem-bership double, from 150 in2000 to 300 now, perhaps thebee-keeping revival will helpto keep us well stocked withlocal honey this year.

Varieties

I have enjoyed tasting honeyfrom all over the world,including incredible tangyAmazonian honey in theBrazilian rainforest. But for aslice of fresh, cinder-colouredpain de Peyrignac with saltybutter, you cannot beat thelocal dark forest honey.

For a white, light baguette,the Dordogne’s fragrant acaciahoney is something special.

All-flowers honey goesbeautifully with roastedpeaches and basil, or withplain yoghurt.

It is ideal to have a full rangeof all sorts of local honey, totaste together and experimentwith flavours.

Gaining knowledge aboutbees seems to make honeytaste even more amazing. Iguess most locals in Périgordwould traditionally have someof this knowledge throughbeing brought up aroundhoney production – and thatcontributes to honey being sohighly prized here.

The sugar content must havehelped, too.

For information: Les Abeillesdu Périgord museum is openevery day in July and Augustand by appointment the restof the year. Honey extraction demonstra-

tions are on Thursdays andFridays from 14.00, duringthe summer.

Contact: 05 53 51 00 91 or see the website at www.lesabeillesduperigord.fr.st

BEIGNETS D’ACACIAACACIA Fritters are the local equiva-lent of the ethereal elderflower fritter.

Elderflower fritters are rarely eaten inthe area whereas acacia ones are a well-known traditional dish. The flowers willbe out at a roadside near you soon.

Acacia fritters are less flavoursomethan elderflower but still delicious - andthey look beautiful on a plate.

They are lovely served with sugar andlemon juice, but substituting the sugarfor acacia honey is ideal.

Imagine – deep-fried flowers with beejuice. How romantic.

Acacia flowersFlourFizzy waterEau de vie, optionalSugar – around 1 dessert spoon per

100g flourPinch of salt.One egg, optional

Leave the flowers to “rest” on the tablefor a while after picking and gentlyshaking them, to give any bugs timeto crawl out.

Gradually mix the water into the flour,until you have a light batter. Local

recipes also include adding egg at thispoint, which will make a richer, heav-ier batter.

Mix in an optional dash of eau de vie,sloe gin or sloe vodka, and stir in thesugar and salt.

Heat a pan of clean, light oil. This recipe will not work unless the oil

is really hot.Test with a drop of batter that it fizzes

and bubbles up immediately, to ensurethat your fritters turn out really lightand fluffy.

Dunk each flower in the batter, makingsure it is well-covered, then put itstraight into the oil.

Fry them in batches, removing to drainwhen golden.

Serve on warm plates with acacia honeyor sugar and lemon wedges.

INGREDIENTS

WHAT TO DO:

Quaint museum takes sting outof learning about our honeybees

Gold awardsfor Dordognechocolatiers

MIRACLE: Bees make honey from nectar as part of their digestive process

TWO Dordogne chocolateshops have won goldenMercury awards in a nation-wide competition by theAssembly of FrenchChambers of Commerce andIndustry (ACFCI).

Pâtissier-chocolatierFrançois Granger in Bergeracand franchisees Céline andFrançois Sellier, of the Jeff deBruges shops in Périgueuxand Trélissac, came out ontop of the competition for thebest shops in France.

Organised by ACFCI, theeconomy ministry andBanque Populaire, theMercure d’Or recognises thework of new companies inbuilding and extending theirbusinesses.

The two Dordogne winnerswere among 23 businesses totake the 2009 awards.

Business minister HervéNovelli and ACFCI presidentJean-François Bernardin pre-sented the awards.

Bees are some ofthe most amazing creatures on Earthand the Bees of thePérigord musum is ahive of information –as GEMMA DRIVERfinds out

TWO fair trade shops with adifference have opened in theDordogne selling local pro-duce at fair prices and with afair return for the producer.

Called Épicerie 24, brancheshave opened in Périgueuxand the nearby Bel Air dis-trict of Boulazac with up to70% of the stock being fromwithin the department.

This includes eggs fromNontron and Mareuil sellingat €1 for half a dozen, fruitjuice from Le Bugue, choco-late and cheese fromTerrasson and honey fromMensignac. Vegetables thatare in season are also sold,with 90% being organic.

Périgueux mayor MichelMoyrand said that the morepeople used the shop, whichwas launched with aid fromthe Conseil Général, themore they would be able tohelp less well-off familieswith discounts on goods.

Plans for the next shop – inCoulounieix-Chamiers – arealready well in hand and theaim is to launch a network ofabout 10 shops and to createfull-time jobs for up to 20people with a jobs spin-offfor the local producers.

SELLING two chateaux in a weekmeans property agent Joanna Leggettis, unsurprisingly, upbeat about themarket in the Dordogne this year –and she genuinely believes it is start-ing to move again.

“It is all change from last year - atone point we’d been looking at possi-ble redundancies and possibly noteven keeping our heads above wateras the market was so tight.

“Now, however, there seems a bitmore urgency and desire to go for achange,” she said.

With one chateau selling for€3.2million and the other for€890,000 she sees some light aheadafter the hard times.

Elsewhere, Charles Gillooley, thepresident of estate agents federationFNAIM in the Dordogne, says thelower end of the local market is stillpretty tight but there is business to bedone if prices are right.

He said: “British people do seem tobe coming back in to the French mar-ket but they are looking to get topvalue for their money – that meansthat in the bottom half of the marketthey are looking in surroundingdepartments where property is reallycheap compared to the Dordogne.

“They can pick up a good propertyhere, with a decent area of land for€200,000 – although far too manythink they can get it for half that.”

Mr Gillooley said buyers and sellersseem to have accepted that the rate ofthe pound was not going to improvemarkedly in the near future and cer-tainly not to the recent highs of€1.40.

However, with property prices hav-

ing fallen then, in effect, they were noworse off.

Mrs Leggett, of Leggett Immobilier,agrees but is also finding that peopleseem to be able to make decisionsnow: “People, especially in the UK,seem to be in a better position to lookto buy abroad: perhaps they have soldtheir house or it is under offer.

“Many are reacting quickly anddoing deals within about three days.

“The big difference as well is thatpeople are not just dipping their toesin the water to see what the market islike – they are taking the plunge: it ismuch more positive than last year.

“The holiday home market wasdead last year as people didn’t know ifthey had a job, never mind a holiday– and when we went to the FranceShow in London last year there were

not many ‘high end’ buyers in sight.“This year we came away with 180

leads – about the same as last year –but the difference is in the type ofclients. People who were looking tobuy a decent property.

“Surprisingly, not so many of themwere looking at buying in theDordogne with a lot of people look-ing to the Côte d’Azur but they areclients definitely looking to buy.”

Mr Gillooley says the bread-and-butter market – first home buyers andpeople moving into the Dordogne forwork – has proved surprisingly stablewith a steady turnover of sales and heis noticing people taking a more real-istic view.

“I was almost tempted to buy onemyself it was so well-priced and if anagent is that interested then it must

have been a good deal. We were inun-dated once it went on the website, sothere are buyers there.

“The market is looking interestingand there are some good-pricedoffers around but sellers have toreflect the current market as over-priced houses will not sell.

“The worst thing that could happenis that people see there is some sort ofa revival – and a very modest one atthat – and if they then pile in on themarket with high-priced new entriesthen they will kill it stone dead.

“The cheap market is really cheap –we have 12 inquiries a day for proper-ty under €100,000.

“But people are all looking to haveenough land round about it as well.That is unrealistic.

“That end is very buoyant and allthe business is going to the depart-ments round about. People are des-perate to spend €100,000 but theyare heading north to Limoges.

“No one buys more expensive, theygo where they can buy more cheaply.”

Mrs Leggett agrees and says sellersare appreciating that if they want tosell then they have to make sure theprice is attractive.

She has seen some remarkablereductions with nearly €1m reducedon one chateau and others ready totake a reduction.

“Some places were over-priced tostart with and with the market havingreduced by about 30% over the pastcouple of years then there are changesto be made.

“I have a chateau that has droppedby €500,000 as the owner is keen tosell and, although it has been redevel-oped, there is still work to be done:now it is a realistic price for a placesomeone could move into and still dosome work to improve.

“Strangely, we have found one ofour most successful marketing ideashas been our swap shop; where peo-ple wanting to return to the UK orhead to France would agree to a swapdeal on their properties.

“While only one swap went aheadwe found many people seemed to getincreased interest in their propertiesand got surprise offers.

“So they were resigned to looking ata swap when there had been no othersign of interest but then the surpriseoffers turned them into buying clientsonce they got a sale agreed.”

The Advertiser, Dordogne April 2010 Feature: Property 11

Priced to sell and selling at a price

PRICE ISRIGHT: Every property willsell if theprice is right– that is the golden ruleof the propertymarket

British buyers are onthe way back to theDordogne – but onlyif the price is right

“We have 12 inquiries a day for property under €100,000 but people are all looking for the property to have enough land roundabout it – that is unrealistic

€€37,000 €€184,000

€€3.2M€€3.2M€€3.2M€€3.2M€€3.2M€€3.2M

April 1 – French dog championships with demon-stration from the gendarmerie’sGroupe d’Intervention de laGendarmerie Nationale, Stade Jean Trémolat, VézacCall 06 81 22 01 50

April 3-5 – Easter celebra-tion, fun-fair and bicycle raceon April 5, Siorac-en-PérigordCall 05 53 28 17 87

April 4 – Orientationgames, 9.30, AudrixCall 05 53 30 36 09

April 5 – Float parade, illuminated at night, bandasgroups and fun-fair, free entry,La-Rochebeaucourt

April 17 – Journée Eco-citoyenne, walk at 10.00,picnic for lunch, afternoonfishing on the banks of riverIsle. St-Front-de-PradouxCall 06 82 73 94 34

April 1 – 8km circuit walkFoulissards forest, meet 14.00at Grand-Castang. Price €2Call 05 53 24 92 57

April 1 on – Discovery walkaround Sarlat, every day at10.30 except Saturday at 15.00,leave from Tourist Office. €5and €3, under 12s free

Call 05 53 31 45 45

Discovery walk ofMontagrier and Tocane-St-Apre, leave from Meyralsschool car park

Call 05 53 29 24 70

Walk around the ponds inChalais, circuit of 9km, meetPlace de la Poste, Thiviers 8.30

Walk and mountain bikecircuit with picnic, Limeuil

Call 05 53 63 30 89

April 17 and 24 – Gourmetwalk around Sarlat, visit thetown and discover regionalfood, leave from the TouristOffice, 10.00. €7 and €5

Call 05 53 31 45 45

Accompanied 10km walkwith a visit to asparagus farm.Picnic and aperitif. Meet 9.30at tourist office, St Cyprien

Call 05 53 30 36 09

April 18 – Marché ducoeur, Mussidan

Call 05 53 81 01 52

April 24 – Nordic Walk ses-sion, Berbiguières, leave 10.00from the Mairie

Call 05 53 30 33 50

April 25 – Walk Boucle deViaduc, St-Germain-des-Près,meet 8.15 Place de la Poste,Thiviers

Call 05 53 52 59 84

Mountain bike circuit, IssacCall 05 53 81 60 98

April 3 – Concert with thegroup Nouvel Zeness, sega,reggae, ragga music, LaCoquille

Call 05 53 52 80 56

Autour du Piano et deChopin, Talk, recital at 20.45,Temple, St-Foy-la-Grande

Call 05 57 46 32 24

April 8 – Claude BollingBig Band, Jazz, 20.30,L’Odysée, Périgueux

Call 05 53 53 18 71

April 9 – Exhibition offlower paintings. 19.00,Château de Masburel

Call 05 53 24 77 73

April 11 – Chopin Concert,16.30 Molières

Call 05 53 23 86 22April 16 – Concert organ-

ised by Au Fils des Voix, La-Roche-Chalais

April 17 – Accordion gala,Fossemagne

Call 06 81 96 01 61

April 23 – Suzette For Everwith the Cantabile LondonQuartet. A capella quartet hasa varied programme fromBrahms to The Beatles andwith a dash of British humour.Salle Paul Eluard, Sarlat

Call 05 53 31 09 49

April 24 – Mozaic Jazzband, 19.30, St-Germain-du-Salembre. See page 16.

Call 05 53 81 03 78

April 9 – Irish dance show,21.00, Coux-et-Bigaroque

April 11 – Ballet. 16.00,Centre Culturel, Bergerac

Call 05 53 57 71 51

April 13 – Ballet Biarritz,Carmen and L’Amour Sorcier,21.00, Salle Paul Eluard, Sarlat

Call 05 53 31 09 49

April 16-17 – Galas EymetDancing and singing gala inaid of two charities withschools from the area takingpart. 20.30 both nights, Sallede Fêtes, Eymet

Call 06 38 20 68 68

April 16, 17 and 30 –Exhibition by artist VincentBabbel, Thenon

Call 05 53 46 43 02

April 17 – Exhibition with a

water theme, Les Magnanas,Vezac

Call 06 71 04 22 73

April 28 – Paintings andillustrations by artist andauthor Grégoire Sobersky,Montpon-Ménestérol

Saturdays – 10.00-noon;15.00-17.30, earthenwaresfrom 18th-20th Century.Mairie, Thiviers

April 2 – Exhibition aboutinsects, Thenon

Call 05 53 05 10 74

April 10 – Workshops onlime-based plastering andwhitewash. €10, sign upbefore April 5

Call 06 14 67 91 70

April 5-6 – Easter agricul-tural fair, St-Genies

April 6 – French as a for-eign language course, 3 hoursper day for one week, PetiteMaison des Langues, Thiviers

Call 05 53 52 49 91

April 11 – Dinner anddance for cancer research.Salle Jacques Brel, Lalinde.Price €25. Book before April 6

Call 05 53 61 14 69

April 17 – Astronomyevening. St-Pierre-de-Frugie.€30 for two hours

Call 05 55 78 88 38

April 9 – Home decorationexhibition, Le Bugue

April 18 – Plant fair, FirbeixCall 05 53 52 82 46

April 23-25 – Fête desSavoir-Faire. Nurseries andplant experts will be on-site tohelp you make your gardencome to life, Salle Polyvalente,Le-Buisson-de-Cadouin

Call 05 53 63 57 10

Fish and chip meal, 12.00,Salle Calypso, Beaumont-du-Périgord

Call 05 53 22 06 09

April 25 – Local Fête,St-Philippe-du-Seignal

April 30-May 1 – La foire dela Latière, Dairy Fair, animalsand products St Aulaye

Call 05 53 90 81 33May 1 – Guyenne artisans’

bring and buy, Les Georges,Route de Bordeaux, Gardonne

Call 05 53 73 14 25

Other

Art

Dance

Music

Out and about

Family

The Advertiser, Dordogne April 201012 What’s On

What’s On Listings

Event listings are free in The Advertiser. Send details [email protected] Check out what events

are happening every day at twitter.com/whatsondordogne

ORCHIDS take price of placefor Salignac tourist office as itputs on another wonderfuldisplay for the start of May.

You will have the chance tosee and buy orchids but thetheme is Japan and there willbe a display and workshopson Ikebana flower arranging.

Other exhibitions willinclude hanging gardens,orchid jewellery, artists andthe French society of orchids.

La Poste will be displayingorchid-printed envelopes.

There will also be work-shops on looking after andgrowing orchids, preservationof wild orchids and walks todiscover them in the sur-rounding countryside.

Journées des Orchidées,May 1-2; 9.00-19.00, Jardins

du Manoir d’Eyrignac

Looking for a local market or the number of yourlocal cinema?

Find the full list of weekly events inDordogne on ourwebsite at:www.theadvertiser.fr

On the web

Search forEaster eggson gardenpathways

Orchids takepride of place

MOTORBIKE fans are spoilt thismonth with two big events takingplace. On April 2-4 hundreds of off-road bikes will arrive in the Bergeracarea for the Grappe de Cyrano endurotrails, so-called because the firstcourse looked like a bunch of grapes.

Now the “track” covers 500kmthrough the Périgourdin countryside –racing from castle to vineyard andthrough villages – with racers from allover Europe. It has become one of themost prestigious off-road races inEurope and attracts around 25,000spectators – who enjoy 200 gallons ofcoffee and 6,000 meals.

For something tamer and quieter, theTrans-Périgourdine rallye touristiquecovers various waypoints over 500kmof Périgord the same weekend. It startsand finishes in St-Avit-Saint-Nazaire.

www.grappedecyrano.com

500kmbike race across theDordogne

AS IN other European coun-tries, chocolate plays animportant part in Easter cele-brations but, unlike the UK,pre-packed eggs are not cov-eted as much as the beautifully hand-made onesfound in patisseries andchocolate shops.

There is no Easter Bunnyand it is the Easter bells, lescloches de Pâques that bringeggs to delight children.

From Maundy Thursdayonwards the bells will besilent all over France as a signof mourning for the death ofJesus. It is said they havegone to Rome to be blessedby the Pope and then returnon Easter Sunday scatteringeggs en route.

The French enjoy tradition-al egg hunts and there areseveral held in the area.

One of the most popularones is at St-Crépin-et-Carlucet where there will bean egg hunt at 14.00 accom-panied by old-fashionedgames.

Alternatively, try the after-noons of April 4-5 in thehanging gardens ofMarqueyssac.

Children will love themaze-like trail of eggs around6km of pathways and the150,000 shaped hedges.

There will be egg decorat-ing workshops and woodturning workshops to takehome a longer lasting one.Children must be enrolledbefore April 3.

Call 05 53 31 36 36 or visitwww.marqueyssac.com

HUGE: Race has 600 riders from 12countries and brings in €1.3million

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The Advertiser, Dordogne April 2010 What’s On 13

TWO NEW visitor attractions openthis spring in the Périgord Vert. The Maison du Foie Gras in Thiviers

re-opens this month after substantialrefurbishment with an enlarged, much-improved museum while the long-awaited Grottes de Tourtoirac opens tothe public in mid-May.Both communes hope these attrac-

tions will bring a welcome boost totourism in the region.

The caves under Tourtoirac feature abeautiful and glittering array of stalac-tites and stalagmites and the discoveryin 1995 of large limestone caves wasgreeted with huge excitement.

However, financing the project toopen up the caves to the public and thediscovery of unexpected – and costly –geological complications led to delaysas well as concerns from residents wor-ried about local tax rises.

The Dordogne is known for its richunderground history but theTourtoirac caves are spectacularly richin natural cave decorations which havebeen created over several thousand ifnot a million years.

Work to make the caves safe for visi-tors finally got under way in 2000.

A mairie spokeswoman said: “It hastaken a long time, but the work isabout to finish and the caves shouldopen sometime in May.

“They are a fine example of limestonecaves and there is rather a magical feelto them. We hope people will enjoyvisiting them.”

The Grottes de Tourtoirac will beopen from May-October. Visits will be

by guided tour with tours lasting 45minutes. Adults €7. Reduced rates areavailable for large groups and children.Wheelchair access available.

For further information, phoneTourtoirac mairie: 05 53 51 12 17.

The Maison du Foie Gras celebratesthe importance of foie gras to the townand the region.

Although very little foie gras is man-ufactured in the town these days –most of the department’s foie gras isproduced in and around Sarlat –Thiviers was the official provider offoie gras to the Russian court in theearly 20th Century.

The building also houses the touristoffice and includes information on thecultural history, manufacture, produc-tion and various cooking methodsassociated with foie gras – includingthe controversial technique of gavage(force feeding).

There are also activities for childrenand displays tracing the history ofducks and geese in the Dordogne fromprehistoric times to the present day.

The Maison du Foie Gras opens onApril 9 and will remain open all yearround from 10-13.00 and 14.00-18.00Monday-Friday, 9.00-13.00 and 15.00-18.00 on Saturday, 10.00-13.00 onSunday. Adult tickets are €5 and chil-dren under 10 go free.

Special rates are available for largegroups. and there is a reduced tariff of€2.50 for the unemployed and stu-dents. A lift is available for wheelchairusers.

For information phone: 05 53 55 1250 or visit the Maison du Foie Gras,Place du Maréchal Foch, Thiviers.

GLITTERING: The long-awaited Grottes de Tourtoirac opens in mid-May

THE Masquerade of theBottom Blowers is the literaltranslation of the medievaltradition of the Mascarade desSoufflaculs.

Orginally it was celebratedall over France but today onlySt-Claude in the Jura andNontron in the Dordogneuphold the tradition.

It is more than likely it firststarted as a satirical farcewhere people would dress upand wear masks whichallowed them to ridicule thepowerful and rich people oftheir community, especiallythe priests and monks.

People would paradethrough the streets just beforeLent when there was slightlymore tolerance towards thiskind of behaviour.

Bellows were used, probablywith the intention to blowaway the demons.

The Nontronais, who had areputation of being more friv-

olous and less virtuous thanelsewhere, would hide underthe women’s big skirts henceobtaining the name of theSoufflaculs.

While petering out inFrance it had been exportedto Mexico by a religious orderand was then brought back tothe Jura and Nontron by sol-diers from the failed bid toconquer Mexico in 1865.

There is another theory thatpeople used whistles not bel-lows, with the whistles beingblown energetically in everyplace that would have seemeda likely hiding place fordemons.

Whatever, the Mascaradedes Soufflaculs is an event notto be missed. April 17 sees adinner dance at 20.00 in theSalle des Fêtes with theparade starting at 14.00 at theSalle des Fêtes the next day.

Call 05 53 56 11 90 fortickets for the dinner dance

Markets

Cinema

DATES for your diary – ifyou know of a market wehave not covered, pleaselet us know at [email protected]

April 3, St-CyprienApril 4, Echourgnac;Razac-sur-l’Isle; St-Cyprien; Sarlat;Verteillac; Villefranche-du-PérigordApril 5, Beaumont-du-Périgord; Coulounieix-Chamiers; Issigeac; Le-Change; Neuvic-sur-l’Isle; St-Genies; Vaunac;Verteillac; Piégut-PluviersApril 11, Thenon; St-Léon-sur-L’Isle; St-Pardoux-la-Riviere;Vélines; Montferrand-du-PérigordApril 18, Cadouin;Champagnac-de-Belair;Faux; Lavalade;Léguillac-de-Cercles;Marcillac-St-Quentin;Mussidan; Neuvic-sur-l’Isle; Vergt; GardonneApril 25, Sarlat; Lalinde;Milhac-d’Auberoche; St-Crépin-et-Carlucet

Marché au GrasMarch 4, 11, Terrasson-LavilledieuSarlat, Wednesdays andSaturday morning

Producers MarketsTuesday mornings,Salignac-EyviguesApril 30, La Roque-Gageac

Flower MarketsApril 24, Le-Buisson-de-CadouinApril 25, Le Bugue

Films in English Bergerac Cinéma GrandEcran Cyrano: Adieu Gary,April 13Montignac: Cinéma LeVox: Programme still beingfixed.Périgueux: Programme stillbeing fixed Ribérac Cinéma MaxLinder: The Ghost writer,April 1, 5Sarlat Le Rex: My OwnLove Song; Food Inc bothApril 7. Soul Kitchen, April14.Thiviers: Programme stillbeing fixedNontron: Cinéma LouisDelluc Programme stillbeing fixedMontpon-Ménesterol:Cinéma Lascaux,Programme still being fixed

THIS month’s film in theMy Beautiful Séances festi-val is Adieu Gary byNassim Amaouche.

It will be shown inEnglish with French subti-tles on April 13 at 19.15 inCinéma Cyrano, Bergerac.

Still to come are AndreaArnold’s Red Road on May11 and Asif Kapadia’s FarNorth with Sean Bean onJune 8.

This month also sees aweek-long German filmfestival from April 7-13,which is organised withthe Goethe-Institut in theCap Cinéma, Périgueux.

Fun is the bottomline at Nontron fête

WHOOSH: Have a blast at the Mascarade des Soufflaculs

Town’s underground magicwas million years in makingBy Lucy Stubbs

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Festival

The Advertiser, D14 Spotlight

IT STILL looks as untroubledas always but the riverDordogne faces two majorproblems: dams and farmingchanges.

They have been singled outby Epidor – the group set upto protect the river and repre-senting departments throughwhich it flows – which saysthey have had a massive dam-aging effect on the fish popu-lation and other river users.

Power giant EDF has a net-work of dams on the river –with three in the Bergeracregion and around 60upstream. They are used totop up the national grid whennecessary – which meanserratic usage and constantlyfluctuating water levels.

This hits the fish by expos-ing their breeding grounds orsweeping them away.

Tourism has also beenaffected when the river hasbeen too high for canoes to goout or for swimmers to findbeaches.

A convention on usage has

been signed between Epidor,EDF and the Water Agencybut it is already agreed that itdoes not go far enough.

The dams are coming up fortender and it is hoped compe-tition will raise environmentalstandards.

Bernard Cazeau, the presi-dent of both the DordogneConseil Général and Epidor,says there is an opportunity“to turn the Dordogne into amodel of excellence – theriver’s future depends on it”.

A different problem iscaused by the dams in theBergerac area where the barri-ers have prevented migratingfish from getting upstream.

That has been, in part,solved by the fish lifts (seearticle, right) but the projectsare still in their early stages.

Along the length of the rivermodern agriculture has seenincreased irrigation which hasalso lowered river levels.

That has affected communeswho use the Dordogne fortheir local water supply aspollution is more concentrat-ed and it also means there isless water available.

Increased use of pesticidesand artificial fertilisers has cutthe fish population and theFederation of Fishermen saythat they are forced to restocklocal rivers annually withthree breeds of fish; trout,black bass and pike becausetheir breeding grounds havebeen hit.

This spring they will put onemillion five thousand youngtrout into the rivers.

Technician StéphaneGardrin said: “It is necessaryas these species are vulnerableat the reproduction stage andthey can no longer breed suc-cessfully in our waters.”

Planning projects along theriver are also being challengedby a federation of associationswho have joined to fightunsuitable schemes.

Michel Mabru from theSauvons la Rivière Espéranceassociation, which was set upin St. Julien de Lampon tofight a quarry extension bythe Dordogne, says they arenot short of work.

“Plans for a 230-hectaremotor racing circuit and aquad circuit have already beenthrown out. But there areother projects which goagainst the nature of the area.

“We want to make suredevelopment is kept to ahuman scale to fit in with thecalm and tranquility of thearea.

“We are lucky to live in sucha region – but we must fightto keep it as it is.”

WHEN the dam at Tuilières, St-Capraise-de-Lalinde burst in 2006 itsent five million cubic metres of watersurging downstream.

The accident, caused by a mechanicalfailure of one of the sluice gates at thedam, was seen at the time as an ecologi-cal disaster. As well as the surge ofwater heading towards Bergerac anddumping silt and mud all along theriverbanks and on farmland, the waterlevel upstream dropped by 10 metres.

Fortunately the total water level hadbeen low.

Philippe Robert, president of theFédération de Dordogne pour la Pêche,said: “Most of the fish in the river dis-appeared in one go – and for threeyears we have not been allowed to fish.”

However, Damien Filloux, ofAssociation Mi.ga.do (Migrateurs,Garonne Dordogne) which represents10 fishing federations and three profes-sional angling groups and which works

with EDF towardmigrating fish, sanot a disaster for was still enough wgate upstream.”

Whether seen a

The day the dam burst

EPIDOR deputy directorRoland Thieleke tells theAdvertiser why the riverDordogne should be classedas a Unesco site:What will Unesco classification mean? It will boost its internationalstatus and bring great prestige– it will also make peoplerealise they live in a regionwhich is truly rare and excep-tional and if we are not care-ful we could ruin it.

What makes the Dordogne so exceptional?It is one of the few riverswhich escaped any industrialdevelopment at the end of the19th Century and which hasnever seen any big towns onits banks or any major motor-ways running along beside it.

Despite problems now itremains one of the cleanestrivers in Europe and one ofthe only ones where you canswim nearly everywhere.

What do you need to do to get it classified?There are two conditions.First we must show the regionhas rich and varied species.

In 2009 we drew up thedossier to prove that and

there is an extraordinary widerange of animals, birds, fishand plant life including rareexamples such as the otterand the mink.

Second, we have to showthere is local political will tosupport sustainable develop-ment. To this end we will visitthe 48 riverside cantons andthe regional and departmen-tal authorities in the hopethey will participate.

The request will go toUnesco and we hope to havea result in September 2011.

How important is it to gain this classification?We think it is vital to preservethis precious and beautifulriver. If we succeed it will beby far the largest site of itskind in France – around25,000km – as it covers thewhole of the Dordogne basin,including its tributaries and500km of river from itssource to its confluence withthe Gironde.

We would have the classifi-cation for 10 years and torenew it we would all have tomake sure the river and itsenvironment remained intact– surely something worthfighting for.

Unesco status willhelp protect riverand environment

The Dordogne is one of Europe’s cleanest

and most beautiful waterways and boasts

the most swimmers and leisure canoeists –

Périgord alone has 178km of unspoilt river

flowing through dramatic gorges and

plains. But this could change very easily

unless it is protected and there is a move to

turn it into a Unesco biosphere reserve, giv-

ing it the same protection as the Camargue.

JANE HANKS looks at what is happening

SILTED UP: Mudbanks built up down riverand buried farmland downstream

By Janice Moody

BURST: The Tui

Beauty of theDordogne isunder threat

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RLA ROQUE-GAGEAC: Problems ahead for tourism and other activities on theDordogne if dams, farming and riverbank plans are not handled carefully

Spotlight 15Dordogne April 2010

ds the preservation ofaid: “The accident was

migrating fish as therewater for them to navi-

as an ecological disaster

or not, the dam has recently been visit-ed by EDF president Pierre Gardonneixwho checked on a three-year renovationproject which is reaching its final stagesand which has focused on improvingthe impact of the dam on the local

ecosystem. It has included work to tryto avoid any form of future accident –including protection against earth-quakes and flooding.

Although seismic activity in theregion is moderate, the dam has beenreinforced to withstand it.

All eight original sluice gates havebeen replaced with ones made from amaterial which meets current normsand the operation system has beenupgraded.

Previously it was worked by two eight-ton weights being suspended 30 metresup when the gates were closed. Now,the gates are operated by an automaticchain system.

All metallic and electromechanicalparts of the dam have also beenchanged and access for maintenancehas been improved.

The dam has now been raised by fourmetres so that, in the event of flooding,certain elements such as the bridges totechnical points and the sluice gatesstay out of the water.

AS MANY as 170,000 fishand 24,400 eels get a lift, liter-ally, as they travel upstream atthe Tuilières dam and hydropower station on the riverDordogne.

The dam’s daily operationand its impact on the localecosystem, has been a featureof its operation since itopened in the early 1900s –with particular emphasis onfish preservation and, in par-ticular, salmon and eels, asthey head upstream.

Two different systems wereinstalled initially but theyproved insufficient and in1989 a fish lift was installedwhere salmon (and othertypes of fish) are drawn into acurrent and swim into a hold-ing tank which is then closed.

“The fish are lifted approxi-mately once every hour, andevery half an hour during thepeak migrating season,” saysTim Kestens, environmentalengineer at EDF.

“They are raised up to thehigher level where they arereleased into a channel thatleads them back out into theriver.”

Depending on the period, amaximum of five to sixsalmon are lifted at any onetime. A study of the numberof species by EDF and localgroup Mi.ga.do revealed near-ly 170,000 fish passedthrough the lift in 2005.

The fish lift was not dam-aged by the dam burst in 2006and the one in operationtoday is the existing one,although now renovated.

However, while it works wellfor salmon, it proved less effi-cient for migrating eels and in1997 a 70-metre ramp wasconceived on the other side ofthe river which the eels“crawl” up.

The design of the ramp wasadjusted and finalized in2001. Up until 2005, Mi.ga.dohas counted 24,400 eels.

The eel ramp was not affect-ed during the accident of2006 but it has also beencompletely renovated and willfinally be put back into opera-tion at the end of this year.

Although EDF has takenthese measures in terms ofallowing fish to migrateupstream, much of the prob-lem with the dam up untilnow has involved its lack ofallowance for fish to returnsafely back downstream.

The rebuilding project was achance to find a proper solu-tion and a committee ofexperts carried out researchwhich led, in 2008, to EDFbuilding a 120-metre wallcalled a masque which acts toguide salmon away from theturbines.

It is based on the principlethat salmon swim relatively

close to the surface and thewall guides them eithertowards the nearest sluice gateor towards two surface exitssituated in the wall.

The wall operates once ayear during the period of highfish activity.

“The wall is the first of itskind in France, although asimilar one exists in the US,”said Mr Kestens.

However, this solution doesnot work for eels because theyswim deep and cannot bedeviated by the wall.

Now, in what Mr Kestensadmits is “a huge constraintfor EDF’s energy production,”the company opens some of

the sluice gates and stops theturbines between 18.00 and6.00 during the season wheneels are believed to swimdownstream, between Sept-ember 1 and December 31.

In addition, scientificresearch is being done on eelactivity to enable EDF to opti-mise electricity productionand either cut or modify theclosure periods.

The work is still in thedevelopment stages, however,and in terms of fish preserva-tion Tuilières is still a pilotsite as the power plant wasonly put back into operationthis year and the wall has onlybeen tested once.

An evaluation of its efficien-cy is underway and salmonare being fitted with tracking

devices to monitor theirroutes and activity.

Mr Kestens said: “It is tooearly to know whether or notthe masque is efficient or not.We won’t know until theresults of the studies at theend of 2010.

“However, if they are disap-pointing, adjustments will bemade.”

Damien Filloux, ofMi.ga.do, is positive it willwork: “We are waiting for theresults of the study but fornow we are very satisfied withwhat EDF has done.”

Fédération de DordognePour la Pêche presidentPhilippe Robert is also happythat EDF paid to release 15tons of fish into the river. Hesaid: “We have always been abit against hydro-electricitybut accidents happen.

“EDF have done a great ren-ovation and taken the step toensure the future of migratingfish. It is never enough, that’snot possible, but it is the bestthey can do and today com-pensates us for the loss of fishin 2006.”

Dordogne Conseil Généralpresident Bernard Cazeau,who is also president of inter-departmental river protectionbody Epidor, is more cautiousabout saluting the efforts ofEDF.

“The progress made by EDFover the last few years, on thefish channels and sluice gates,[…] makes me look towardsthe future with a certain con-fidence, albeit with a con-sciousness of the difficultiesstill to overcome.”

For the future EDF will con-tinue to work towards study-ing fish activity, notablyupstream movement. A newtourist information centre isdue to open shortly andMi.ga.do. will be workingtowards repopulating theriver with migrating fish.

and wiped out wildlife

Fish and eels get a free lift as theyhead up the river

FISH LIFT: It takes salmon from the lower level up to thetop – the fish come back down in the water to the left

EXTRACTION: Gravel pit plans have been opposed along the river banks

INSERTION: Fishermen’s group have to restock the river each year

ilières dam has been strengthened since the 2006 event

By Janice Moody

“We have alwaysbeen a bit againsthydro-electricitybut EDF have donea great renovation

PRECAUTION: Chastang in Corrèze can produce grid power in an instant

The Advertiser, Dordogne April 201016 What’s On

ALL CHANGE for the newadvertising and publicitycampaign for BergeracAirport – the destinationmap has been replaced by thenew 2010 Ambassador whowill have the task of enticingmore people to use the air-port to go to the UK, theNetherlands or Belgium.

The new look coincideswith the return of dailyflights to Stansted andSouthampton, the return ofExeter, Bristol, Birminghamand Charleroi and the newroute to Rotterdam.

Gatwick, Edinburgh andLeeds flights will also bereturning in May.

That gives plenty of optionsto enjoy cosmopolitan shortbreaks, shopping and meet-ing up with friends.

Also arriving at the airportare Mr Borras and his familywho, after 20 years atPerpignan and Carcassonneairports, are expanding tohave a shop at Bergerac.

Located between the check-in area and the arrival hall, itwill be open according toflights to sell goods includingnewspapers, books, sweets,souvenirs and late presents.

A cash dispenser will alsobe built during 2010 for pas-sengers’ convenience.

For flight details contact theairport on 05 53 22 25 25 orsee www.bergerac.aeroport.fr.The new spring/summertimetable is now available.

News fromBergeracDordognePérigordAirport

Laughingis part ofthe fun atjazz nightsAMATEUR musicians from all overthe Dordogne, with ages ranging from15 to 80 years old, make up the mosaicof talents that is the Mozaic Jazz Band.

Whether you are a fan of jazz or notthe band will soon have you tappingyour feet and joining in their fun,laughing and joking together, and withthe audience, without once compro-mising their considerable talent.

The band was started in 2002, withonly seven musicians, and has grownto having more than 20 members whoget together every Thursday night dur-ing the school year to rehearse at theSt-Laurent-des-Hommes music school.

Saxophonist Stéphane Sécher directsthem and lurking amongst the ranksare four British musicians includingthe oldest trumpetplayer in town,GerrySalisbury.

Those whoknow jazz willprobably haveheard of thisunassuming octoge-narian. Born in 1929 inLondon Gerry started hiscareer at the London

Palladium and while on military serv-ice in the Middle-East was inspired bythe Freddy Rendall group to buy atrumpet – and played his first concerttwo months later.

He has played with the likes ofJohnny Parker, Paul Simpson, Jim

Bray, Bob Dawbarn, MikeCollier’s Rhythm KingsChicago, Monty Sunshine,Diz Disley and SandyBrown then started his ownband.

Today he lives in theDordogne and plays with

the Mozaic Jazz Band and sits at theback of the stage with the trumpet sec-tion, quietly encouraging the young-sters and still blasting out the mostamazing solos.

This year’s dates include:April 10 – Tocane-St-ApreApril 24 – St-Germain-du-SalembreMay 8 – Final Podium Jazz at theAuditorium, BergeracMay 22/June 27/Sept 11 – St-Laurent-des-HommesSept 25 – St-Barthélemy de BellegardeNov 6 – Cartelègue (Gironde)For more details call 05 53 80 08 00.

Book a bargain at Phoenix saleMORE THAN 15,000 books,CDs and DVDs help fund thecare of animals when thePhoenix Association holds itssale in Campsegret.

The sale on April 24 hasbecome one of the country’sbiggest Anglo-French charityevents and a major fund-rais-er for the charity founded byRichard and SheelaghJohnson.

Last year it helped pay forthe care of 211 dogs, 75 catsand 39 horses

Mrs Johnson said: “Thesecret is that we have a trulyincredible collection of tensof thousands of Englishbooks, CDs and DVDs, all ingood to excellent order.

“We sell each item, each cupof coffee or tea and everypiece of cake for no morethan €1 a piece.”

The sale open its doors atthe Salle des Fêtes at 10.00.

Photographicmemory of farms

FARM animals take to thelibrary in an exhibition wheregiant photos give a close-upof a forgotten life.

Pierre Bacogne, of Eymettourist office, said farms wereclosing every day and fewnow had the typical farmyardof animals as it was now doneon a much larger scale.

The exhibition at Eymetruns until April 6.

SWINGING: Gerry Salisbury, left, helps encourage the younger membersof the Mozaic Jazz Band and still plays amazing trumpet solos

Rail line perfectfor gentle walkLINDA AND Ken Garrettwill lead a gentle riversidewalk of about five or six kilo-metres at Nanteuil-en-Valléeon April 9.

The two, members of thePoitou-Charentes Anglicancongregation, will use thegrassy tracks and the oldrailway line for the walkwhich starts at 14.00 in theArgentor car park.

Nanteuil is about 11km eastof Ruffec on the D740. Forinformation, contact Josee 0549 87 64 85, Patsy 05 49 5505 77 or June 05 49 97 00 81

Change of datefor book club

THERE is a change of datefor the Star Inn’s book cluband book exchange with thereading of MarilynRobinson’s Gilead moving toApril 21.

The club, which meets inthe inn at 17 Rue desDrapeaux, Périgueux everysecond Wednesday of themonth at 2pm, offers a freeEnglish book exchange, withmore than 1,000 titles.

Get details of the book cluband forthcoming projectsfrom Tania Rogers on 05 53

52 63 91 or [email protected] Nextmonth’s book is The OtherHand by Chris Cleave andwill be discussed on May 12.

Pros join forVariations datesVARIATIONS Ensemble willbe joined by visiting profes-sional soloists and an exten-sive orchestra for their con-certs this month.

Led by John Jenkins, direc-tor of music at SherborneSchool for Girls, dates havebeen set for April 9 in StAstier church and April 10 inLa Collégiale in Ribérac.

NEDWA sets upnew lunch dateLUNCH gives the membersof North-Eastern DordogneWomen’s Association achance to network on April20 at the Auberge desTilleuls in Badefols d’Ans.

Reservations are essential.Contact Frances Beasley on05 53 50 54 66 or [email protected]

Gardeners get achance to swap

EXCHANGE plants, cuttings,seeds and produce at the Trocaux Plantes in the Salle desFêtes of Breuilh, near Vergton April 18. It is open from10.00. Details http://tinyurl.com/trocplantes orfrom [email protected]

Community notice board

For our regular list of community contacts see Page 26

The Advertiser, Dordogne April 2010 Community 17

A CALL from the mayor inVélines has seen the com-mune’s first internationalgroup being set up with anencouraging turn-out ofdifferent nationalities.

Coinciding with the releaseof new demographic statisticsthat show the south-west ofFrance has around 160,000foreign residents, it was atimely move by the mairiewhich is keen to push inter-cultural links.

More than 60 people attend-ed the meeting organised bymayor Gilbert de Miras –

with the majority beingBritish – but Mr de Miras saida future meeting would alsobe publicised to the Frenchcommunity in the hope they,too, would attend and help toorganise a programme ofactivities.

People spoke about a bigdemand for opportunities topractise conversationalFrench and ways were dis-cussed of how to provide this.

Suggestions varied fromworking through commoninterests and creating craftworkshops, and also drop-in

sessions where cards, Scrabbleand other such activitiescould be offered.

It was decided that the firststep should be to organise acommunal meal where thedifferent communities couldmeet and the mayor’s wifeagreed to take a leading rolewith other volunteers.

A date for the next meetingwill be fixed soon. Anyoneinterested in finding out more– or getting involved in theorganisation of the group –should contact the mairie ofVélines on 05 53 27 50 19

International group launchesWELL-ATTENDED: Our picture captures a small section of the audience at the first event

BIRTHDAY celebrationstake many forms butGourdon man Richard leCouteur has decided tomark his 65th in style –by cycling across France.

His trip starts on April10 from Strasbourg andfollows a previous ridefrom the north to southof the country to mark his60th birthday.

Richard is backed by theRotary Club of Souillacen Quercy and hopes toraise money for breastcancer research. Contacthim at 05 65 41 45 85

Send your communitynews to dordogne@

connexionfrance.com

IF YOU have a problem withthe Régime Social desIndépendants or Unions deRecouvrement de Cotisationsde Sécurité Sociale etd’Allocations Familiales (RSIor URSSAF) then there arevarious procedures to followto get action.

If you receive a bill for coti-sations you don’t think youowe or if you feel the amountrequested is too high then the

standard procedure is to senda letter (recommandée avecavis de réception) to the direc-tor of RSI/URSSAF.

If this fails, then you cancontest it via the Commission

de Recours Amiable (CRA)and you will be able to get thedetails of their contactaddress from your localRSI/URSSAF office.

However, if you are still leftwith a bill you do not thinkyou should pay, what else canyou do?

The Tribunal des Affaires deSécurité Sociale (TASS) is acourt set up by the state tointervene between the socialsecurity bodies (e.g. RSI,URSSAF) and individuals.

TASS can also help if youfeel that you are being deniedaccess to the social securitysystem.

While individual cases vary,you need to get the ballrolling by writing to the courtwith details of exactly whathas happened.

Include copies of all relevantcorrespondence.

The letter must be signed bythe person making the claim.

Send it recommandée avecavis de réception and thecourt will reply and let youknow when your case will beheard. In the case of a con-tested bill you need to contactTASS within two months ofreceiving a decision from theCRA.

For more information, call:05 53 53 32 03 or write to:TASS, 79 rue Claude Bernard,24016 Périgueux cedex.

The Advertiser, Dordogne April 201018 Business

My first year inBUSINESS

What was your first year in business like?Share your experiences with readers at:

[email protected]

PAMGEORGE

PerleLinge de

Maison05 65 20

16 49

How long have you been in business? Perle has been trading in France for just over three years, atfirst with a small retail store in a market village in the Lot.It was developing steadily until 2009 when the financial cri-sis forced us to rethink. We closed our shop at the end of2009 and moved to a home selling and web-based business.

Why did you choose to do it?I bought a property in 2003, and rather than just becomeanother expat living part-time in rural France in retirement,decided opening a business would be a good contribution tothe local economy, and also be a great interest.

Previously, I had had my own business manufacturing,importing and wholesaling bed linen in Australia for 20years and began looking for opportunities to work in con-junction with a new importing and consulting business Iwas working on in Australia.

My research showed a lot of very beautiful bed linen at thevery top end of the market, lots of mass-produced productat keen prices in the supermarkets and chain stores, butalmost nothing in the middle or upper middle end.

I felt there must be people who wanted simple and stylishproduct of great quality at reasonable prices.

As I could not move to France on a full-time basis, a keyfactor was that I had a very good friend and colleague livinghere that I knew would look after things while I was away.

What type of business are you (Sarl, micro auto-entrepreneur) and how much did it cost to set up?We are a SARL small business. We began with a very smallshop in a tiny country market town with two employees. The shop cost approximately €6,000 to fit out. We also had

to pay for our opening stock. We now run on a home-selling and internet marketing

model at www.perlemaison.fr. Our home-sellers are selfemployed and can work as the hours suits them.

We have one employee who co-ordinates the business andorganises the dispatch of orders.

What was your expected income?We did not expect to make a profit for the first three-fouryears. Our object was to reach break-even within that timeand then make a small profit as quickly as possible

What were the hurdles?It is always very difficult to start a business in a foreignenvironment and I had been warned by French friends butwas still very surprised when we started the business.

Coming to terms with all the government restrictions andrules, and with all the related costs and taxes made life quitedifficult.

It was also quite hard to come to terms with, as we wereused to doing business in a much friendlier governmentalenvironment. However, many of the rules and regulationshave been amended over the last 18 months or so. I believeit would be much easier to set up a new business now.

What would you have done differently?It would be easy to say we should have started the businesson our current model from the beginning, but having theshop was tremendous fun, and a great learning exercise, andto be honest – I wouldn’t have really changed a thing. I would really love to be able to establish a small sustainablebusiness that will provide interest and employment to anumber of people in the region. That would be a small con-tribution back to the culture, economy and environmentwhich gives us all so much pleasure – and is in fact the rea-son that we all wanted to live in France in the first place.

A CHANCE meeting at a dinner partyin Domme has led to a firm friendship– and a growing series of bilingualguidebooks to poignant places inPérigord Noir.

The two writers are RomainBondonneau, who grew up on the cliffsabove La Roque-Gageac and is a teacherof history and geography in Sarlat, andMichael Jacobson, an author, formereditor and a long familiar voice to lis-teners to the BBC World Service.

Romain has contributed to severalpublications on the ecology and historyof the Dordogne and Michael, who haslived in La Roque-Gageac for 20 years,has written about the wines of theregion as well as environmental ques-tions and local history.

When they met they realised they hada great deal in common and decided onthe set of guides.

Romain first had the idea whileresearching the commemoration of the50th anniversary of a rockfall in LaRoque-Gageac on January 17, 1957 – herealised there was no definitive bookwritten about the village and that led tothe first in the series: La Roque-Gageac.

Michael says his part is a “transposi-tion rather than a direct translation”and he tries to express Romain’s wordsin the best possible equivalent Englishto convey what he wishes to say.

Occasionally he inserts brief materialto explain references which may befamiliar to French readers but are notnecessarily known to English-speakers.

Romain said: “I am always surprisedby Michael’s extreme professionalism.

“No factual detail escapes him.Everything is checked and corrected.”

The Franco-British partnership works

well and Michaelsays: “There isnever a moment'strouble. Weabsorb a great dealfrom each other.

“For instance,with the explana-tory inserts,Romain will sometimes also adoptthem for the French text and I am veryoccasionally able to contribute snippetsof my own research which are new tohim. But he is the unquestioned leaderand I have learned much from him.”

The partnership works so well thatVézac is the fourth book in the seriesand the two men hope to produce atleast one a year.

Vézac has only 36pages but there isenough detail toenjoy and it is welllaid out with aplan of the area inquestion, photosand drawings.

It begins byexplaining how the river, the stone andland have shaped the history of Vézacand also includes interesting anecdotes.

The four titles in the series are LaRoque-Gageac, Beynac-et-Cazenac,Itinéraires Protestants and Vézac.

Each of the village guides has beensponsored by the Mairie of the com-mune concerned.

This means that for the Vézac guide,as well as those for La Roque-Gageacand Beynac, the best way get hold of acopy is through the Mairie (althoughsome are also carried by newsagents).

For the Itinéraires Protestants contactSHPVD, 6 bis Rue Chanzy, 33220Sainte Foy la Grande ISBN 978-2-9529765-3-4 Price: €5

Friends write bilingual guides

Where to get helpon your cotisations

WORKINGTOGETHER:MichaelJacobson, left,and RomainBondonneauhave producedthe first fourbooks in aseries of guidesto Périgord Noir

Teacher and writer combineto open up the hidden historyof the Périgord Noir

Subscribe to Dordogne Advertiserthis month and receive the guide toVézac, priced at €5 for free. See Page 6 for subscription details.

SUBSCRIBER OFFER

THE following links willtake you to useful web-sites which containinformation if you wantto contest a decisionfrom URSSAF or RSIAquitaine:http://tinyurl.com/challengeUrssaf and http://tinyurl.com/challengeRSI

The Advertiser, Dordogne April 2010 19Advertisement

Well, it's already well advanced…We've already moved the location into the larger hall, with its 3,000 m2...

We already have bookings for stands…We already have requests for seminars…

And, yes, places booked for the Gala Dinner… !!

Franco British Chamber of CommerceDordogne Delegation, c/o Périgord Développement

Cré@vallée Nord - 24060 Périgueux Cedex Tel.: 05 53 35 80 73

Email: [email protected] - www.francobritishchamber.com

So why is this Salon such a draw?Those who did "Success" in 2008 saw the advantagesof taking part in such an event and, learning from thecomments we had from exhibitors, participants andvisitors, we are working towards making it THEprimary networking opportunity in the area.

It's more than an information area, it's more than atrade fair and it's there to help all kinds of people - theinformation you will be able to obtain at this Salon willcover all aspects of life in the Dordogne, where elsewould you find all of that in one place?

How many hours have you spent trying to ring people(we'll be diplomatic and say the authorities …) trying toobtain some information? How frustrating is it sittingthere (and while you're sitting there, you're not doinganything else) listening to the "musak" we are fed onthe phone?

Real people, real subjects …Well, this is where you will get to see people - we can'tguarantee you won't have to wait a little (in 2008, theURSSAF stand was by far and away the most popularstand, and they have already reserved a whole blockof stands in order to assist with enquiries) but we canguarantee you'll get to see someone to help you.

If we were to attempt a kind of "straw poll" as to whatthe main subjects of enquiry will be, then why not just

e-mail me with the subject you would like to seecovered, and then we can adapt our seminars andrefine the information we can offer.

The Salon is for everyone …It's for those who are here, those who are planning oncoming, those who are staying but need answers.There has been a lot of talk in the press about theEnglish packing up and going back to the U.K. - badnews always makes good press. And yet, is it true?

In some ways, yes, there ARE people who havepacked up and gone back but we need to askourselves "why"? Is it because they miss theirgrandchildren, is it because they can't find work, is itbecause when they originally came, the pound wasstrong against the euro? Or is it because they can'tdeal with the paperwork, can't cope with the attitudethey sometimes come across (or at least with whatthey think is an attitude towards or against them …)?But there are those who haven't gone back, who'vestruggled on, coping with all the problems, andmanaging to survive. Perhaps they had planned thingsbetter, perhaps they don't have children (who thenusually provide grandchildren!), perhaps they like it toomuch here ….

A staggering figure …My friends at la Chambre Economique de la Dordogne,based at the new offices at Pont du Cerf, do a sterlingjob in studying the number of passengers arriving atBergerac Airport since around 2003, when 17,000passengers went through the airport. This year, thatfigure is in the region of 300,000. From a sampletaken of those passengers, it has been establishedthat the economic contribution of the English-speakingcommunity (which includes Americans, Australians,Belgians, Dutch and New Zealanders, to mention afew) is in the region of €265 million - and that isbased only on the passengers who go throughBergerac Airport, so what is that figure if you take intoaccount the others who live and work here and don'tgo through Bergerac Airport?!

That single figure alone should be enough toencourage any business to book a stand at "Successin the Dordogne 2010" - if you want to grow yourbusiness in these tough economic times, then why notcall Claire to become a member of the Franco-BritishChamber of Commerce NOW!

Watch this space!!

"One measure of your success will be thedegree to which you build up others who work

with you. While building up others, you will build up yourself."

James E. Casey, American Businessman

Thursday, 22nd April 2010Want to maximise your contacts in the space of a couple of hours?

The Business Speed Dating event means that you can talk for five minutes to a new contact about your business, you can give themall the information you want to give them in the way YOU want to deliver it, you can exchange business cards and then mingle

afterwards over a drink and some nice food. Remember, even if you think you know another member or another business, think abouthow much they don't know about your business...

There will also be an opportunity to talk about the "Success 2010" Salon.So take the opportunity, start writing your "speech" (think of it as a marketing exercise!)

and call me on 05 53 35 80 73 or 06 29 633 062 or e-mail me on [email protected] will be sent to all members and other contacts by e-mail shortly, bookings must be accompanied by cheques made out to

"Franco British Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Dordogne Delegation".

Members 15€€, Non-members 20€€. Any company joining the FBCCI that evening will be offered a special incentive.Call Claire on 05 53 35 80 73 Mobile: 06 99 86 69 57 E-mail: [email protected]

Opération cofinancée par l'Union Européenne - L'Europe s'engage en Aquitaine avec le Fonds Européen de Développement Régional

‘SUCCESS IN THE DORDOGNE 2010’MOVES FORWARD...

AUTHENTICCURRIESThe real thing at Abul's

Eymet TandooriRue du Couvent

Eymet, Dordogne05 53 58 65 35

BOUCHERIEA LA FERME

Traditional English familybutchers and farmers in France.Sausages, bacon,gammons, beef,pork and lamb

8 KG mixed produce boxes sentthroughout France

Raymond and Sophie Hicks

www.boucheriealaferme.comTel: 05 55 97 95 66

Mob: 06 45 51 34 58Siret: 509 528 014 00012

Ambiance MarqueesFramed Marquees and

Accessories, Portables Toiletsfor hire. Weddings, Private

and Corporate Events.Tel: 09 63 29 02 69 / 05 57 69 63 81

Mob: 06 30 94 78 28Email: [email protected]

Dep 33, 24, 47, 16, 17Siret: 50997567800012

AXA INSURANCE

J. LECLUZEST HILAIRE DU HARCOUET

50600

HOME - CAR - HEALTHWe insure UK registered cars

ENGLISH SPOKEN(call Angeline)

02 33 49 12 [email protected]

EXECO PARTNERSCertified Accountants (FR)

Serving English Clients in France

Accounting, Payroll, Business Setup and

registration, Individual& Business Taxation

and more...Please feel welcome to contact:

Mr Pierre CHERON(Expert-Comptable)

on Tél: 05.53.54.48.91Email: [email protected]

THE ADVERTISERDIRECTORYTHIS DOUBLE

DIRECTORY COSTS

€252HT for a yearCall our Sales Teamfor more information

Tel: 04 83 93 60 08


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LOST IN FRANCE???Professional Administration,

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Highly recommended

Please contact Giles Rothwell BSc on05 53 52 66 20 or [email protected]

Siret: 45390376700011 APE: 6820AAll of France

RELOCATIONADMINISTRATIONTRANSLATIONS

&PROPERTY MANAGEMENT “23 Rue de la Libération” CAN ASSIST (office in Piégut)

Call: 05 53 56 79 62Email: [email protected]

Siret: 487 597 254 00019

La Petite Maison des Langues

38, rue Jean Jaurès, 24800 THIVIERSTel: 05 53 52 49 91

E: [email protected]: www.lapetitemaisondeslangues.comLearn French and feel at home again !

Small groups, 1to1, weekly orintensive courses and translations

LE FRANCAISCHEZ VOUS

Tailor made tuition in French (all levels)

Fully qualified,bilingual teacherTel: 05 53 50 04 68

www.lefrancaischezvous.comDordogne

CERTIFIED TRANSLATIONS

All legal translationsby French-

English speaking

sworn translator

Property-legal-birthcert., driving licencesAdministrative help

Expat assistanceValid everywhere

with 25 years of experience

Regions : All FRANCEKaren RENEL-KINGTel: 06 18 03 18 38

Email: [email protected]: www.certified

frenchtranslation.comFast and affordableSiret: 38058374000028

WEBSITESBoost your business with anaffordable, high-performance

website that you canedit yourself

www.rob-tomlinson.comTel: 05 62 67 39 98

[email protected]: All France Siret: 419 490 297 00027

PC-TECHNICA Solutions to all yourcomputing needs...

PC Support/Sales & Website Design

Tel: 05 53 59 48 54 Email: [email protected]

www.pc-technica.fr

A WEB SITE FOR YOUR GITEOR BUSINESS From €150!

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Siret in progress

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france 4 savvy people

Penny Graphicswebsites

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75€€including design, hosting

and domain name

pennygraphics.net02 33 90 92 15

PETS PLANETPremium Quality

Complete Dog Food

Costs less than topbrand equivalentsNo Beef Bio Diet

Full range of productsfrom puppy to senior,sensitive & overweightDelivered to your door

Lot-et-Garonne &Southern Dordogne

TEL: 05 53 36 78 [email protected]

SIRET: 503056061 00016

A sponsor of the charityASHA

for horses in needwww.asha-france.org

For aWELL-CARED

and HAPPY dog

LE POUGETHigh Quality Kennel

Airport Bergerac 35 kmBeaumont du Périgord 6 km

Contact us or visitour Web-site

Tel: 06 30 58 41 7905 53 58 20 12

[email protected]

Regions Covered:Dordogne/Lot et Garonne/Lot

Siret: 494 122 468 00023

PATTES ET GRIFFESEnglish owned Boarding

Kennels & CatteryFamily run with 20 years experience

Tel 05 53 91 37 08Email [email protected]

Web www.pattesetgriffes.comSiret No 49991024800024

Clos Fleuri CatteryBright, spacious and lots of care.

Convenient for Bergerac /Bordeaux Airports.tel: 05 53 24 16 08

email: [email protected]: www.closfleurionline.com

Siret 47868863300021

GOLDENWAYINTERNATIONAL PETS

World Wide Pet Transporter /

RelocatorMinistry approved

No. 61195004 – 61195001Offices CDG Airport Paris

Offices and Kennels NormandyTel: 01 48 62 87 25 CDG ParisTel: 02 33 38 41 32 Normandy

www.goldenwaypets.comSiret: 397549551

POORPAWSDOG RESCUE

Many rescue dogsseeking happy homes,from puppies to adults

Call Sue on 0565245303www.poorpaws.com

La Creme de la CremeSmall, Caring, purpose

built DOG FREE catterynear Nontron.

Tel: 05 53 56 05 17email: [email protected]

www.la-creme-de-la-creme.comsiret 51963554400017

WAGS AND WHISKERSBritish owned boarding

kennels and cattery35 years experience

Tel: 05.65 [email protected]

SIRET: 500607858

PAWS FOR THOUGHTPet boutique in Vergt

For dogs, cats & horsesProviding Grooming

Sale of small breed puppiesT: 06 75 05 00 05

E: [email protected]

ANIMAL COURIERSExperienced couriers

specialising in pettravel between France / UK /

Spain or within France. Pet passport advice.Tel: 0044 (0) 1483200123

Email: [email protected]: www.animalcouriers.com

Chenil Les Mille CalinsEnglish Run

5 Star accommodationfor Dogs/Cats

Comprising of underfloor heated kennels Qualified staff

Top Quality food and exercise

Only 45 minutes south of Caen

Convenient Ferry AccessSAFETY COMFORT ANDCARE FOR YOUR PET,

PEACE OF MIND FOR YOUwww.goldenwaypets.comTelephone 02 33 37 49 19Emergency 02 33 38 41 32

Fax 02 33 38 44 16

THE DORDOGNE CATTERY

PENSION POUR CHATSNEAR SARLAT

OPEN-AIR, INSULATED AND HEATED

CONTACT ANNA MASLEN05 53 31 95 88 / 06 86 94 85 78

[email protected]

The Advertiser, Dordogne April 2010 Directory 21

Exclusive online and print listings of tradesmen andbusinesses across the Dordogne that speak English

THE ADVERTISER DIRECTORY

Organised by servicetype - it’s quick and easy to find English-speaking businesses near you

“Our advertorial generated a lot of interest – it made our business come to lifeSophie and Ray Hicks

BOUCHERIE A LA FERME

Advertise here all year from just €144HT

Read what our advertisers say about the results

PERFECTIONPAINTERS ANDDECORATORS

Interior, exteriors - High gloss finishesWallpapering - Specialist effects

15 YEARS EXPERIENCETel: 05 45 65 38 15

Email: [email protected] Covered: 05Siret: 51106548400012

JUST PLASTERINGCeilings, walls, floors

Time served tradesman24, 33, 47, other regions possible

Contact Mike Tel: 05 53 58 17 19


Siret no: 42424381400011

SivaliPainting & Decorating,

Inside & Out,30 years Experience.

Tel: 06 71 04 85 19Regions: 24

Siret: 452 220 015 00021

OAK FLOORING

AND DOORSPre-finished, oiled

and varnished.Wide boards up

to 215mm.Skirting and architraves.Ledged Oak

cottage doors.www.oakwood-import.fr

email: [email protected]: 06 80 33 93 57

siret 49426348

GENERAL BUILDERChris Danaher

20 Years ExperienceFREE ESTIMATESTel : 05 53 05 80 17

Mobile : 06 71 40 35 39Email : [email protected]

Siret: 51064303400018

RON HARRISONGeneral Builder

City & Guilds qualified,35yrs experience, reliable,ALL WORK GUARANTEED

Tel: 0553804291 Mob: +44 7519766381Email: [email protected]

Web: www.lebourgbuilders.web.com Regions: 25km radius Mussidan (24)

Siret: 51352715000017

Quality GeneralBuilder

35 Years ExperienceAll Building Works UndertakenNO FANCY PRICES

Call Roger: 05 57 47 48 19Email: [email protected]

Siret 48271017500019

3D CONSTRUCTIONFamily run building companywith over 30 yrs experience

All constructionworks undertaken

large or smallincl. masonry,carpentry and

roofingBased nr. SarlatFree estimates

References availableTel: 06 31 21 32 04

Email: [email protected]: 505 346 676 00016

PROPERTYRENOVATION

All building worksFamily business

Over 20 years experienceTel: 05 65 41 08 60

Email: [email protected] Regions: Sarlat / Lot border

Siret 343 698 460 00023

C&C CONSTRUCTION SARL

Qualified Builder15 Years Experience

10 Years Insurance GuaranteeAll Building/Groundworks undertaken

Tel: 05 53 62 13 38 / 06 63 84 79 99Email: [email protected]

www.cc-construction.fr

GermanArchitect

Speaks good Englishand French, with newideas concerning allyour comprehensive

renovations.Simply call:

05 53 56 52 27Email: [email protected]

Siret: 508 895 372Regions Covered: Aquitaine

CHARTEREDSTRUCTURAL

ENGINEERBased in Northern Dordogne

Pre-purchase &Structual Surveys.

Verbal & writtenreports.

Structual calculations& drawings.

Redevelopment ideas& solutions.

Tim HawB.Eng C.Eng. M.I.Struct.E

Tel: 05 53 56 72 59Email: [email protected]

Siret: 49884305100018

PARKES et DUCELIER

ArchitectesUK and French

Registered ArchitectsDossiers for Permis

de ConstruireInterior and

Landscape designOrdre des Architectes No. 1867

Tel: 05 53 09 33 45E: [email protected]: www.parkes-ducellier.com

Depts: 16,19,24,33,87 Siret: 488 165 564 00011

anglo-frenchARCHITECTES

[email protected] 75 84 71 7605 53 22 69 78

see our projectsonline at

www.afa-arch.fr

ArchitectRenovation - new construction.

Projects, all phases of construction.Sarl d'Architecture

David Besse Architecte dplgGrange Neuve

24140 Saint Martin des Combes.05 53 82 44 75 - 06 17 51 26 00

[email protected]

LAND ROVER &JAGUAR PARTS

ELECTRONICDIAGNOSTICS

GEARBOX REPAIRSTel: 05 45 62 27 20www.landypoint.netmailorder welcome

Siret: 477 897 565 000 16

HEATHROW LEFT HANDDRIVE CENTRE LTD

75 Laburnum Road,Hayes MiddxUB3 4JY

Tel: +44 (0)208 8487407Mobile: +44 (0)7811 784766

We Specialise inbuying and selling

Left Hand Drivequality vehicles.

We have a variety of cars mostlyon French/Spanish andEnglish registrations.

We have over 11 years of professionalexperience in the motor trade.Web: Heathrowlhdcentre.co.uk


MOLECATCHERMolehills driving you crazy?

Guaranteed resultsusing traditional

moletrapping techniques.

NO MOLE -NO FEE!Call johnthemoleman

tel 05 53 22 07 32mob 06 06 45 96 71

e-mail [email protected] 51249460000012

FRENCH CONNEXIONENGLISH BREAKFASTS

FISH & CHIPS &CHINESE TAKEAWAY

FREE LOCAL DELIVERYWEEKEND

FUSION RESTAURANTST PARDOUX ISAAC

www.frenchconnexion.vpweb.co.ukTel: 05 53 83 61 53 / 06 85 69 35 39

[email protected]

MICHAEL R. CLOWAntiques

Bought & SoldValuations &RestorationsFireplaces &

Staircases RestoredFrench PolishingHouse Clearance

ServiceAntique Tours & Trails05 53 88 26 86 / 06 63 81 73 45

[email protected]

THE ADVERTISERDIRECTORY

THIS DOUBLE COLOURDIRECTORY COSTS


Tel: 04 83 93 60 08



Exclusive Lodgesand Caravan

Holiday Homes byThe Camping andCaravanning Club

Some of the UK’sbest locations,

long pitch termsand great prices.

Call 0844 770 6860or visit

exclusivelodges.co.ukor

clubholidayhomes.co.uk

Get up to £1000 off yourholiday home by quoting CONNEX

MOLECATCHING10 years experience

All SurfacesEcological Treatments

Free QuotesTel: 05 53 31 41 89

Siret: 39750264200010

52 EYMETChambre d’Hote

& B&BWeb: www.52eymet.com

Tel: John or Helen 05 53 61 31 37

The Dubard family lets youdiscover the amazing wines

of a true family estate.Château Laulerie -

Le Gouyat -24610 St Méard de Gurson,

Tel: 05 53 82 48 31,[email protected]

www.vignobles-dubard.com

CCaafféé CChhuurrcchhiinn BBeerrggeerraacc

An English speaking approachto contemporary Christianity

SPECIAL CHRISTIAN EVENTSunday February 28

(Guest - Dave Hankins)

Sunday March 28(Guest - Reverend Philip Halliday)

Sponsored by L'Eglise Evangelique Librede Bergerac, 5 Rue Durou.

Aperitif 11:30amCafé Church until 12:45

For more details contact Rev. Derek & Pam Cook [email protected]

05.53.57.83.30

VISIT OUR NEW WEBSITEwww.churchindordogne.com

ANGIES HELPLINEFrench not good

enough?Want to complain?

Cannot let off steam? Help when things

get serious…

I CAN “PARLEZ 4U”Language Liaison Assistance Secretarial & Property Services05 53 67 66 39 - 06 22 20 40 55

[email protected]

Siret 398324327RM47/RCSAGEN

The Advertiser, Dordogne April 201022 Directory Advertising feature

TRYING to find cosmetics and getthem delivered to France was theinspiration for Louise Willingale toset up her own website to offerlegitimate branded make-up andskincare items.

Problems started for MsWillingale when she moved to theDordogne in October 2008 and waslooking forward to her firstChristmas in her new French home.

She had invited all her family andset about ordering her presentsonline – which seemed sensible asher French is less than perfect.

Like many people, she had previ-ously ordered most of her presentsonline but now found it was notquite so easy as before.

Now, after looking at English-lan-guage websites in the UK and theUS she discovered that it was noeasy feat to find companies overseaswho, firstly, would deliver to France

and secondly, who would notcharge a fortune for the privilege.

The suppliers either wanted tocharge a small fortune for inflatedpostage (£50 in one case for an itemthat could be posted for £10) orthey simply refused to post out ofthe UK altogether.

Possible

In the end Ms Willingale got allher Christmas presents delivered toher parents’ address in the UK andthey brought them all over in thecar – which was not ideal andwould not always be possible.

This experience coupled with thefact that she could never find dis-counted makeup anywhere in herlocal area decided her on starting awebsite selling exactly that.

After setting up as an auto-entre-preneur she now imports branded

makeup and skincare and sells theitems at up to 80% off the RRP onher website.

All products are authentic and areoften end of lines or excess stockwhich she has bought in from bigUS department stores.

Her website is in both French andEnglish and there is no inflatedpostage (you can even collect free ofcharge if you are in the area).

Ms Willingale believes she is fill-ing a gap in the market and thateveryone living in France should beable to take advantage of the dis-counts available to people in the UKand other countries without beingstung for postage costs or not beingable to order at all.

Get 10% off your first order by entering the code

CONNEXION at checkout:www.discount-cosmetics.net

[email protected]: Louise Willingale acted after frustration at ordering problems

Order top make-up brandsonline at discount prices

Phil B EntrepriseAll Building Works

UndertakenInc Electrical, Plumbing and Heating

Based 47, 24Email: [email protected]

Tel: 05 53 84 36 81Mobile: 06 72 02 88 29

JJaarrddiinnss dduu PPéérriiggoorrddGarden Design & Creation

Garden Management &Maintenance

[email protected]

0553 316 883

TW ServicesSPECIALIST RENOVATIONS /

CONVERSIONSComplete start to finish service.

All work undertakenSpecialist Plumbing

FREE QUOTATIONSe.mail [email protected]

Tel: 05 53 55 08 95 / 06 42 38 91 35

www.swansolar.euSupply & Installation of :

• Solar domestic hot water systems • Solar swimming pool systems

• Wood boiler stoves• Plumbing services

Tel : 05 53 63 43 87 / 06 06 41 08 85Email : [email protected]

All depts coveredSiret 50406233200011

If buying or selling, try WWW.HOMES-IN-FRANCE.COM

the easy viewing siteTel: 06 17 15 32 22

Email:[email protected]: homes-in-france.com

Regions: Dordogne, Lot, Burgundy, LoireSiret: 34499255700068


THIS TREBLEDIRECTORY COSTS

€360HT

for ayear

Call our Sales Teamfor more information

Tel: 04 83 93 60 08



Lot andDordogne Fencing

Fencing, Paving, Patios,Decking, Garden clearance,

Tree Felling, RepointingStonework.

Tel : 05 65 27 17 60 / 06 14 58 15 86Email: [email protected]

Siret No 453 419 236 00022

FRENCH MORTGAGESOLUTIONSRates from 1.9%

Professional & Independentsample, 100k, equity release

from 200euros per month*Tele: 06 47 09 07 14

05 53 79 43 62 / 06 84 47 62 76E: [email protected]

* subject to terms

TIP TOP Garden &

Property ServicesGarden Maintenance

Hedge Trimming - TreesCutting - Strimming

General PropertyMaintenance

Property checks/KeyholdingPhoto updates

Contact Barry OnTel: 05 53 29 03 52

Mobile: 06 24 07 31 14E: [email protected] 24 - Radius 50 kms Sarlat

Siret: 49372365400015

HOUSES ONINTERNETDo you wantto sell your

house quickly?Our fee is only 2.5%

Find out how on:

WWW.HOUSESONINTERNET.

COM

Tel: 05 55 65 12 19

BOUCARA CHAUFFAGEPLOMBERIE

PLUMBINGHEATING

BATHROOMSGEOTHERMIE AND

ALTERNTIVE ENERGY INSTALLATIONS

GAS INSTALLATIONSQUALIFIED ARTISAN

QUALIGAZ REGISTEREDFRENCH REGISTERED

BUSINESS12 MONTH WARRANTY

ON ALL WORKFULLY INSUREDDEPT 24, 33 AND 47

Contact. Morris WhiteheadTel. 05 53 58 38 62

Email: [email protected] No. 480 789 197 00013

[email protected]

Tél: 05 53 90 46 34Siret: 4119 419 830Plumbing, Central &Underfloor Heating

Bathrooms, Solar systems,Woodburners.

GAS QUALIFIED INSTALLERS.

PLUMBING & HEATINGINSTALLATIONS

SERVICING & REPAIRSRENOVATIONS, AIR-CONDITIONING

SOLAR SYSTEMSTOTALGAZ APPROVED INSTALLER

Contact: Wayne MerryMob: 06 85 58 64 65Tel: 05 53 64 34 05

Email:[email protected]

PLUMBER(city & guilds)

35 years experience.Bathrooms, kitchens, central

heating. Based St Foy le Grand. Depts. 24, 33.

Tel: 05 53 57 00 16. Mob: 06 61 53 13 50

Email: [email protected]:4974 1837 200019

Kennedy Electricite Services

Installation, rewires and repairs.18 years experience.

Fully insured. No job too small.Contact Justin or Melissa Kennedy.


Regions 87/24 Siret 503 417 04000014

ELECTRICIANExperienced & French Registered.

Available for all types of electrical work.Insured and guaranteed.

Areas: 16,17,24,47Tel: 05 46 86 07 61

Email: [email protected] No. 49376573200015

The Advertiser, Dordogne April 2010 Directory 23Advertising feature

LIVING "off grid" means you haveno mains electricity supply in thetraditional sense – ie. you won't beconnected to, or supplied by EDFwhich also means you will have nobills from EDF (or anybody else) foryour electricity, nor will you bedependant upon them and you willnever have any power cuts.

It sounds great, however it's not adecision to be taken lightly. Nic andSara decided to go for it and MarcAsker from Ecopower tells how theyhelped them achieve their dream.

The couple moved to NorthDordogne in June 2009 fromAustralia, bought their house soonafter and began the usual renovationworks all expats seem to "enjoy".

Their 200-year-old farm house hadan equally old electrical system sosome changes were called for.

When they approached EDF to dis-cuss taking over the existing supply,EDF rightly noted the wiring andfuse boards needed replacing.However, the cost that EDF gave forupgrading meters, moving the sup-ply cable etc were more than a feweuros to say the least. For Nic andSara that was the final straw whichtipped their decision to go "off grid".

Whenever any potential customersays "We want to go off grid," thefirst thing I ask is "Are you sure?"

It has its benefits but it alsoinvolves some careful calculationsand maybe a change in lifestyle ifyou want to enjoy the basic creaturecomforts such as hot water, heating,lights and Strictly Come Dancing.

Fortunately Nic and Sara were vir-tually off grid in Australia so theyunderstood the implications.

Nic is an architect by profession sois pretty "clued up" about most thingshouse related. He said: “We knowmost of our electricity is consumedfor heating domestic hot water andboiling the kettle so we need to getrid of these high consumers first.”

Music to my ears - someone whoknows how much electricity they areusing, where they are using most ofit, and what they need to do toreduce this consumption.

Typically the average householdwill use around 15 to 20 KilowattHours (Kwh) per day of electricity.It's shown on your electricity bill asKwh. To explain, if you had a 100watt light bulb on for 10 hours perday this would consume 1 KilowattHour (1 Kwh) of electricity.

Take a typical electric ballon (hotwater cylinder) with a 3kW immer-sion heater; this means that theimmersion heater would use 3 kilo-watts of electricity per hour. As arough guide it will take two hoursfor a 3 kW immersion to heat justone tank of 200 litres of water fromcold so 6 kilowatts – that's a lot ofpower and a large "chunk" of yourenergy bill – so Nic knew "thescore". So what was the proposaland decision?

To begin with they purchased avery efficient wood burning cookerwith a back boiler – this would giveheat, help with the hot water, boil akettle and also provide something tocook on. They have a few acres ofwoodland so in this respect are rea-sonably self-sufficient.

However, on its own this wasn'tenough to do all they required andretain a 21st Century lifestyle. Theymay want to live off grid but under-standably they want the creaturecomforts we all enjoy. Also it's notconvenient or comfortable to keep awood burner running in the warmermonths unless you want to live in asauna.

So, to eliminate their greatest ener-gy consumer, step two – a solar hotwater system. This would providethe vast majority of their year roundhot water needs without any assis-tance from the wood burner.

Next the need for electricity, so

stage three – their own electricitysource – solar photovoltaic andsomething else?

Phase one of the electricity was asolar photovoltaic system of 1,120watts. This is the amount of electrici-ty that the system can produce inone hour of good daylight. In winter(you have to consider the worst casescenario) the system will give themaround 6 kilowatt hours of electricityper day which is enough for theirneeds. And something else?

Fortunately the weather is on ourside. We get less daylight hours inthe winter but the bad weather isnormally accompanied by wind. So,a small wind turbine and voila – all

they need and when they need it.One of the most important aspects

is storing this photovoltaic and windturbine power – so they have a verygood quality battery bank that canstore 7,200 watts of energy.

So; they have power when theywant it, they can store whateverenergy they don't use, they are com-fortable and have no bills for elec-tricity, gas or oil.

There is also another major advan-tage – most fuel based central heat-ing systems, wood, oil or otherwise,require an electric pump to move thewater around radiators and it is thesame for the solar hot water system.No problem, the pumps don't con-

sume much electricity but if there's apower cut Nic and Sara will still haveplenty of power and may find them-selves with a houseful of cold neigh-bours who just "happened" to bepassing.

Nic added: “We did some veryextensive research and chose to workwith Ecopower who were greatthroughout. We felt comfortable andnothing was too much trouble. Weknew what we wanted to achievefrom this project and we got exactlywhat we wanted.”

Contact Marc Asker - Ecopowerwww.ecopower.eu.com

[email protected] 53 62 31 35

READY FORANYTHING:Sara and Nicenjoy theheat fromtheir wood-burningstove. Theyhave a fewacres ofwoodlandround theirfarmhousein theDordogne soare fairlywell off fortheir supplyof wood

No EDF worriesfor couple whosepower is ‘off grid’

SAUSAGELANDHomemade English

sausages & Dry cure baconGammon

Mail Order Now Availablewww.sausage-land.com

Tel:05 53 56 58 26

www.magasinanglais.comBritish food, cards, baby

products, sweets atFANTASTIC PRICES;

order online - FREE local delivery!

tel. number 06 45 36 64 90

Branded makeupand skincare

at huge discounts Secure ordering & fast

delivery. English speaking. [email protected]

siret 518850649

Furniturefor FranceA wide range of quality indoor furniture andsofas supplied and

delivered direct to yourFrench property savingyou time and money.

New showroom "Meubles New Ideas"

near Brive(19) now open.

For full colour brochureplease e-mail

[email protected] or call 0033 (0) 6 46 49 73 45

or 0033 (0) 5 55 25 02 68www.furnitureforfrance.co.uk

SIMPLY BRITISHINDEPENDENT BRITISH GROCERSLarge range of food including

fresh/frozen. Plus books, greetings cards and gifts


Web: simplybritish.frREGION: Shop 09,

mail order throughout France

MeublesAuthentiquesStylish Affordable

Handcrafted Furniture

Unique in Aquitaine300m² Showroom

Route de Marmande24500 Eymet

Tel. 0553 61 88 51www.aquitainefurniture.com

KANGAROO KARDS

High QualityGreetings CardsFREE DELIVERY

*Award Winning Website**Pay Securely Online**Outstanding Service*

*Money Back Guarantee**Many Exclusive Designs*

kangarookards.co.uk

B. L. TRANSPORTREMOVALS

to & from France+44 (0)1702 294691+44 (0)7722 043113

[email protected]

D & KREMOVALS

Removals toand from France.

Best prices, best service.T: + 44 (0) 079705 30723


MOVE IN EUROPEThe removal company even the furniture recommendsUK - Europe - Europe - UK

[email protected]

Tel: +44 121 3503111Home Tel: 05 53 93 75 52

REMOVALS & STORAGEMurray HarperEuropean transport & storage

ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN

Scheduled collection anddelivery service guaranteed

Established 30 yearsin the industry

www.murrayharper.comTel: (0034) 952 793 422 or

(0034) 952 807 [email protected]

ABLE-MOVESMoving to France or UK ?Reliable and Competitive.

PLEASE CALLJames +44 ( 0 ) 7895908245 Or

Steve +44 ( 0 ) 7548200839www.able-moves.com

MOVING TO OR FROM FRANCE?

Weekly services to & from FranceFull or part loads, 4 wks free storage,

25 Years experienceContact: Anglo French Removals

Tel: +44 (0)1233 660 963Email: [email protected]

www.anglofrench.co.uksiret : 48777270900019

SELF STORAGEDOVER

Convenient FlexibleConsolidation Point

Working with the Movers Tel: +44(0) 1304 822844

[email protected]

All France

George White EuropeanTransport

Special rates to S/W France13.6m/45ft trailer - Full/Part loads

Removals/materials/vehiclesOwner driver. RHA memberTel: +44 (0)7768 867 360Fax: +44 (0)1773 570 090

Fr Mobile: +33 (0)6 23 03 85 59www.georgewhiteeuropean.co.uk

DORDOGNEPROPERTY AGENCYwww.dordognepropertyagency.com

The premier Britishowned estate agencyfor buying or selling

a property inthe Dordogne

Périgord region.30 years combined experience

of French Property

Tel: 0033 (0) 5 53 80 62 [email protected]

EAST DORDOGNE All work considered to solvePROPERTY PROBLEMS

French registered artisan.English speaking management.06 27 27 68 56 / 05 53 51 20 23

[email protected]

Energie 33Solar panelinstallationsTop of the range solar systems

• Pool and Domestic water heating• PV systems (selling back to EDF)

• Underfloor heating

Fitted by a qualified engineer(French "Qualisol" and

"QualiPV" trained)

05 57 46 41 36 (Office) / 06 31 90 64 27 (Mob)[email protected]

www.energie33.comSiret 514 504 570 00011

AGENCE CLASSIC FRENCH

HOMESExclusively Prestige Property

€750,000 plus.

Knight Frank Representative For Dordogne, N Lot-et-Garonne

and E Gironde

Floor Plans, VirtualTours, Elevated

Photography as standard

Contact Michelle or Anick05 53 23 32 13

www.classic-french-homes.comSiret: 491 449 328 00021

LOCKES GROUNDWORKS& LANDSCAPINGDigger / driver hireFosse septiques

Excavations, Building, RenovationsDriveways, Fencing, Decking, Pergolas

Tel: 05 53 79 77 61 or 06 42 86 85 31Email: [email protected]

Website: www.lockes47.com

DALTON TERRASSEMENTSAll Groundworks

Fosse Septique, Drives,Patios, Foundations,

Drainage25years ExperienceFREE ESTIMATES

T: 05 53 81 97 52E: [email protected]

Siret: 4921819721802859

PEPINIERES DE JUMILHACENGLISH-OWNED

PLANT NURSERY

Over 250 varieties offlowering shrubs, trees,fruit trees, ground-cover

plants and conifers. Stockists of vast quantities

of leylandii and laurels. Delivery available.

Tel: 05 53 52 56 [email protected]

Dept 24, between Perigueux and Limoges, Fouilloux

(D79E between Jumilhac and Ladignac), 24630

Jumilhac-le-Grand.

EEccooPPoowweerrThe World's

LeadingSolar

SystemsTel: 05 53 62 31 35

www.ecopower.eu.com

General BuildingRoofing, loft and barn conversion

and property renovations.Depts 24, 19, 87

Full team of skilled registeredtradesmen

[email protected]

Tel/fax: 05 53 50 12 39Mobile: 06 84 53 08 39

CDRCONSTRUCTION

DESIGNRENOVATION

ECO Timber Framed Houses

Renovation a SpecialtyLow Energy Consumer

EQUALSIncome Tax Rebates

JULIAN WILKESTel: 05 53 53 96 97

Mobile: 06 72 16 46 26Email:[email protected]

www.construction-design-renovation-24.com

Siret: 403926702

NEW UPVC WINDOWS & DOORSFACIAS & SOFFITS

SUPPLIED & FITTEDCALL FOR FREE QUOTE

Depts 24, 46 & 47Tel 05 53 58 92 13 / 06 79 05 98 85

Email: [email protected] www.hewittbuilders.com

Siret 49899034000016

IMMOBILIERCAUSSES ET VEZERE

Member FNAIM

Anglo-French EstateAgents in the Dordogne

Buying, selling orrenting a French

property? With over25 years' experience

we can help you.

Free valuationsFree homestagingadvice to sellers

Full bilingual serviceto buyers

05 53 35 26 57info@immobilier-causses-vezere.comwww.immobilier-causses-vezere.com

Siret 382 591 766 00029


THIS ADVERTISEMENT COSTS€€216HT for a year

Calll our Sales Teamfor more InformationTel : 04 83 93 60 08Email: directory@

connexionfrance.comwww.connexionfrance.com

S.A.R.L St Pool Piscineset ConstructionConcrete Piscines.

Cost effectively engineered.No expensive over design,

expertly constructedOrder now for 2010.

[email protected] Roberts B.Sc (c.eng)Phone: 05 53 91 45 18

Siret 503932857

Prêt à Plonger Piscine installation,

repairs & maintenance.Bespoke pools, no project

too big or small.

Complete packageincluding groundwork,terracing/decking and

pool security.

Simon & Julia Holt0619 071121 or

0553 [email protected]

Siret: 49397835700017

*STAR DÉCOR* Dulux Paint

Colour MixingService

Over 1200colours!

Collection points acrossthe Dordogne &

surrounding deptsOrders / Enquiries call

Sara & Terry on05 53 80 63 93 / 06 84 09 54 80

www.stardecor.frSiret: 511 268 344 00013

Chimney Sweep

www.chimneysweepinfrance.com

Wood BurningStove

Sales & Installationwww.fireshopinfrance.com

Contact Eddie MatthewsTel: 0033 (0)5 65 23 03 44Port: 0033 (0)6 74 41 71 96

siret: 484 550 298 00026

SECURITY SYSTEMS

Alarm calls up to4 numbers if activated.

NO ANNUAL CONTRACTSOR MONTHLY PAYMENTS.

Wireless or wired.Cameras with 24/7

recording + Internetaccess. Security lighting.

Tel: 06 34 16 47 09 E: [email protected]: www.aquitainealarmes.com

Regions Covered: 24, 33, 17, 16SIRET 50793843900019

DIGITAL INSTALLATIONSWe do not only sell & install

We also repair digiboxesNOW!!

All freesat systems available WITHOUT CARD

For more information call00 33 (0)5 45 98 25 37

FINNINGER & HELBACH GmbhLe Petit Fouine, 16210 Curac

Tel/Fax: 00 33 (0)5 45 98 25 37email: [email protected]

www.digitalsatellitefrance.comSiret: 400 415 246 00026

P.E.J. ENGLISH BUILDERS &

DECORATORSAll Building, Renovation, and

Decorating Undertaken.Phone Paul: 05 53 52 37 68/

06 42 67 44 79Email: [email protected]

Siret:484432455Depts 24,87,16,19,46,82,47

Balcony & Stair Railings

Window & Door Grills.

Manufacture/Repair/Installation.williamsonsteel.com

[email protected] 53 90 20 17

DEMPSEY TREE SURGERYCONTRACTORS

British trained & qualified tree surgeon

All tree work undertaken,specialising in large and

dangerous treesWorking in depts: 16,17,24,87

Reasonable rateFully insured

Plus stump grindingReferences available

Tel: 05 45 65 96 86Mobile: 06 61 90 04 92

[email protected]

Siret: 48930027700014

BergeracRenovation & BuildingFrom groundwork, fosse

septiques, masonary,interiors, to rooves.

Free estimates & adviceTel: 05 53 81 60 73

[email protected]

NATURAL STONE FLOORING

WWW.URRUTIASTONE.COMThe Biggest Choice in France

7/7 by Rendez VousEymet, Dordogne

05 53 57 40 07 / 06 84 24 73 [email protected] 488 654 187 00027

solaire powerrenewable energies

solar systemswood boilers

[email protected]

05 53 56 26 36Regions: Aquitaine Siret: FR 64493914576

AMC RENOVATIONSInterior and exterior painting, Carpentry, Tiling, Partitioning, Dry lining, Wood restoration

28 years experienceTel/Fax: 05 49 67 85 93 Mobile: 06 70 01 47 69

Email: [email protected] 16, 17, 24, 31, 33, 37, 49, 79, 85, 86

SIRET 480 493 352 000 29

IN DEEPPISCINES

Maintenance, leak detection,servicing, repairs

tel: 05 53 22 79 18 / 06 84 68 84 92email: [email protected]

regions: 47, 32, 82, 24, 33siret: 50457680200012

SURFACESPolished Concrete

Floors, Walls, WorktopsSinks & Furniture

STONE & TILERestoration, Colouring, Sealing.

Web: www.surfaces24.comEmail: [email protected]

Tel: 06 82 38 21 12Siret 51500573400014

MINI DIGGERWITH DRIVER

More convenient andCheaper than plant hire

ROY SEVIERTel: 05 65 23 56 84

Mob: 06 78 47 97 17

Departement 46 (LOT) And adjoining

SIRET: 49320210500026

NEED HELP TOSAVE MONEY?

D.I.YDon't know how?

then we'll show youON-SITE TUITION

for all renovation needsSAVE on LABOUR

GAIN on SATISFACTIONFor more details contact

Stefan or Anne - [email protected]

+33 965173152 / +33 545788445Siret: 37831789500050

Hayes, Pester & Burke

AGA-Approved Renovated AGAs

including: Hand-craftedEnglish Kitchens, MagnetKitchens, Wood Burning

Stoves & OkofenWood-Pellett Boilers

Sales, Service & Installationthroughout South-West France

T: 05 46 98 17 06 or 06 35 92 62 64E: [email protected]: www.hpbcuisines.com

Siret: 510 014 98800016 / 503 266 025 00017

The Advertiser, Dordogne April 201024 Directory

Mobile Beauty TherapyAll in the comfort of your ownhome. Dept 24.Tel: 06 78 17 47 53www.piczo.com/[email protected]

TO PLACE ACLASSIFIED ADVERTlog on to www.connexionfrance.com and clickon ‘classified ads’

BACCHUS IMMOBILIER

recruitsFrance based estate

agency seeks representativesfor ALL regions of France.

Carte Blanche Agent Commercial Immobilier and

generous (up to 70%) commission rates offered.

Contact Ivan Tredinnick or Ann Hurly.

Tel: 00 33 (0)5 45 82 42 93Fax: 00 33 (0)5 45 36 27 95

E: [email protected]: www.bacchus-french-property.com

Siret: 48034462100010

JO BS OFFERED

MGFCounseling

ServicesEnglish Speaking Counselor.

M. Glenys Forrester(B.Sc.psych.) (M.Sc. psych.)

Offering individual /couples counseling.(Depression, Stress, illness,

bereavement etc).FREE 1/2 hour

consultation-In Office or by Telephone

without further obligation.Tel: 05 53 50 07 28


Web: www.mgfcounseling.comRegions Covered: All

Siret: in progress

Yoga ClassesIn English

British Wheel of Yoga TeacherMondays: Monteton Wednesdays: AgnacWeds/Fris: Cunèges

Niamh Dempsey BWY(Dip.)Tel: 05 53 22 45 60

Email: [email protected] No: 504754961 00010

We want to help 20 peopleLOSE WEIGHT

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a better quality of life.Call Joyce on - 05 53 23 44 38

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GENERAL

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Regular collection /deliveries from

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DIY products.Friendly professional service.

Tel: 06 04 01 73 59Email: [email protected]: www.aclighthaulage.com

P O O L GOBBLER

Removes allfloating debris fromyour pool surface.

Install it now, forget yourdaily struggle with that heavy

pool net and relax! Tel: 0565 319623 (EN,FR,NL)

Email: [email protected]: www.poolgoods.euSiret: 51214042700018Regions Covered: All

WOODBURNERS.FRTraditional cast

iron multifuel and woodburning stoves.

Option for fireback boilers onmost models.

Delivered to yourdoor or installed.

Also coal nowavailable.

Contact us forrenewable energy

air source pumps toreplace your gas oroil fired systems.

See our website onwww.woodburners.fr

Tel/fax or Email05 53 84 36 81

Mob 06 72 02 88 [email protected]

Siret no 45204687300017

U.K. WOODBURNERS

AARROWYEOMAN STOVAX

VILLAGERFrance Agent

P.E.P Leisure LtdUK 08717174097FR 0553732521

www.pepleisure.comemail: [email protected]

Regions All France


Advertiser Directory Advertise all year from just €144HT

Fill out the form here - or place your advert online at www.connexionfrance.comThe Advertiser Directory pages are adedicated section of the paper whichlist English-speaking businesses thatoffer services and goods in and aroundthe Dordogne.

To advertise in this section costs fromjust €144HT annually.

Each entry is a boxed text advertise-ment with additional space for yourcontact details and siret number.

You may decide that your advertise-

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Alternatively, complete the formbelow and send it with a cheque(made payable to The Connexion) to:The Advertiser, BP 25, 06480 La Colle sur Loup

Deadline to receive adverts and pay-ment is the 5th to appear in the follow-ing month’s Advertiser

For more information call oursales team on 04 83 93 60 08.

Tel:

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Personal Details

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Telephone:

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Please tick if you require a receipt

A Single1-15 words.

€€144HTAnnual cost

C Double16 -30 words.


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Of all our advertising in France,we get the best response fromConnexion. People keep theads pages as a reference forservices and contacts.Bill Leyshon, Ets Leyshon Wide Oak Flooring specialists, St Julien de Mailloc

“

We keep coming back due tothe consistently good response. Chris Harrison, Piscine-plus.com,Gourdon

“

What our advertisers say

Clubs and Associations– Association Culturelle Franco-

Anglaise d’Aquitaine– Association Culturelle Internationale

du Périgord– The Bowls Club– Connect 87– Dordogne Ladies Club International– North Eastern Dordogne Women’s

Association– Anglican Services throughout the

department

Business outlets24– Aéroport de Bergerac– Aéroport de Périgueux/ Bassillac– Agricentre Dumas, Boulazac – AK Wholefoods, Tocane St Apre– Aquitaine Langues, Bergerac– Les Arcades, Monpazier– Auberge Lou Peyrol, St Martin de

Périgord– Au Grenier de Cassandre, Pazayac– Bar du Midi, Ribérac– Bibliothèque Anglaise, Meyrals– Le Bistrot, Beaumont and Hautefort– Black Duck, St Crépin– The Bookman, Eymet and Duras

markets– Boulangerie, Daniel Monté, St Agnan– Bricoloisirs, Bergerac– Bricomarché, Bergerac, Le Bugue,

Montpont Menesterol, Nontron,Périgueux, Ribérac, Sarlat, Terrasson

– Briconautes, Mussidan– Britannia Foods, Augignac– Buggs Car Hire– But, Bergerac– But, Trellissac– Cabinet Allianz Lemarquis, Sarlat– Café de Paris, Eymet– La Calice, Vertillac– Casino, Lanouaille, Sarlat– Centre de Golf Bergeracois– Chabrelle Computer Club– Château de Fayolle– Château de Vigiers– Château les Merles– Chez Edith, Bar Restaurant, Ste

Sabine– Ciné Cinéma, Périgueux– Cinéma le Clair, Thiviers– Club Vermillion, Crepin de

Richmond– Les Deux Venises, Brantôme– Domaine de la Marterie, golf club, St

Félix de Reilhac– The Dordogne Chippy– Entente Cordiale, Abjat sur Bandjat– L’Europe Hôtel, Bergerac– The Fiddlers Rest, Chaleix– L’Imparfait, Bergerac– Intermarché, Chancelade, Montignac,

Ribérac, Vergt– Le Gambetta, Eymet– Gamm Vert, Bergerac– Golf de la Forge, Siorac en Périgord– Golf Public de Périgueux– Harvey’s, Montcaret– The Herb Man– Irish Corner, Périgueux– Jardiland, Bergerac, Chancelade and

Tréssillac – Kismet café, Eymet– Leclerc Port Sainte Foy– Leggett Immoblier, La

Rochebeaucourt– Le Long Chat bar, Villefranche– Leroy Merlin, Périgueux– Meubles Authentiques, Eymet– Monoprix, Périgueux– Monsieur Bricolage, Bergerac– Sara and Terry Cushway Market Stall– O Moulin, Carsac Aillac– The Panier Company, Eymet and St

Crépin– Passion d’Autrefois, St Laurent des

Vignes– Périgord Développement, Périgueux

Chamber of Commerce– Pépinières de Jumilhac– La Petite Maison de Langues, Thiviers– Point Vert, Cenac– Point Vert, Marsac sur l’Isle– Proxi, Excideuil– le Pub, Sarlat– Pub le Celtic, Le Bugue– Reno Reynos, Le Bugue– Ruchi Market Stall– Salon de thé, Thiviers– Le Semillon Snack Bar, Montbazillac– Shopi, Brantôme, Cenac, la Coquille,

Rouffignac, Sigoulès, Thénon– Spar, Mareuil– The Star Inn, Périgueux– Sterling Mail Order– Super U, Nontron– Les Toques Irish Pub, Périgueux– Tout Faire Matériaux, Daglan, la

Roche Chalais, Sourzac– Troc.com, Boulazac– Unique Craft Shop, La Tour Blanche– Urrutia Stone, Eymet– 23 rue de la Libération, Piégut

Pluviers– Weldom, St Cyprien

– 16– Bricomarché, Chalais

– Café de France, Aubeterre– English Bookshop, Zen, St Sévérin– Euro Immo, Chalais– Intermarché, Chalais– Le Perroquet Vert, Chalais

– 33– BNP, Ste Foy– Bricorama, Port Ste Foy – Chez Marian, Gours– Intermarché, Castillon la Bataille– Monsieur Bricolage, Pineuilh– Weldom, Castillon la Bataille

– 46– Bricomarché, Gourdon– Briconautes, Souillac– Casino, Souillac– Carrefour Market, Prayssac– Eddie Matthews, Chimney Sweep

– 47– Le Bastide,Crêperie, Monflaquin– Point Service, Miramont– Bricomarché, St Pardoux– Les Clés School, Miramont de

Guyenne– Country Rock Café, Miramont– French Connexion Café, St Pardoux– Golf de Barthe, Tombeboeuf– Lilys Tearoom and English store,

Monflaquin– Maisonolivia, Miramont de Guyenne– Le Moulin restaurant, Monbahus– Le Moderne, Villeréal– Les Voyageurs, Cancon – Villeneuve sur Lot Golf and Country

Club

– 87– Hyper Casino, St Yrieix– Monsieur Bricolage, St Yrieix– Monsieur Frites, fish and chips

Our distributorsThe Advertiser is available by subscription to homes at €15 for the year to a Frenchaddress(See page 6). The rate for other countries, including the UK, is €24. It can be picked up for free at the following distribution points while stocks last:

Alcoholics AnonymousPérigueux. Ewen: 05 53 05 76 [email protected]

Anglican Church of AquitaineServices: Bertric Burée, Chancelade,Limeuil Haut, Ste Nathalène and Sorges,also in 47, 33. Chaplain Revd Dr PaulVrolijk: 05 53 23 40 [email protected]

Association Cuturelle Franco-Anglaise AquitaineFrench to bridge and get-togethers.Ron Tillyer – www.acfaa.org

Association Culturelle Internationaledu PérigordACIP aims to promote integration.Marie Lacheze: 05 53 06 96 [email protected]

Association Française des SolosMeetings after divorce, bereavement orseparation. Simon Ferrey: 05 57 41 35 [email protected]

Bibliothèque Anglaise MeyralsEnglish books and DVDs.Mon 14.00 to 16.00 and Wed 10.00 to noon 24220 Meyrals. Em Boiling: 05 53 30 30 23 [email protected]

Café Church, BergeracRevd Derek Cook: 05 53 57 83 30Email: [email protected]://www.christiansindordogne.com/

Cancer Support FranceDordogne Est/Lot Jenny Kain: 05 53 59 51 [email protected]

Riberac (Charente Southand Dordogne West) Valerie Wareham: 06 43 67 86 [email protected]

Sud DordogneTony Benstead: 05 53 54 46 [email protected]

Chabrelle Computer ClubCharlie Nott: La Roche Chabrelle24320 St Just 05 53 90 50 39

Les Chemins de la GuyenneWalking group near Eymet, walks on Wed and Sat. Averil de la Rue: 05 53 94 38 28 [email protected]

Dordogne Ladies Club InternationalMeetings and activities in [email protected]

Eymet Cricket ClubDavid Horlock/Clin Bond05 53 24 11 40/05 53 93 00 [email protected] / [email protected]

Centre de Golf BergeracoisPhilippa Thornton: 05 53 58 87 [email protected]

Golf de la Forge24170 Siorac en PérigordBoris Gibert. [email protected]

Golf de la Marterie24260 St Felix de Reilhac 05 53 05 61 [email protected]

Golf Public de PérigueuxAntony Martin: 06 06 54 10 [email protected] http://golfdeperigueux.free.fr/

The Interesting Gardening Club Carol Temple: 05 53 91 19 [email protected] club.org

Maquiz’ArtMusic festivals in Eymet. LaurentPasquon: 05 53 23 82 [email protected]

North Eastern Dordogne Women’sAssociationLunches on last Tuesday of month.Frances Beasley [email protected] 05 53 50 05 64

Perigord Lawn Bowls ClubDick Passmore: 05 45 23 62 17Secretary Sue Carr Competition Secretary Carol Bis www.bowlsinfrance.com

Périgueux Municipal Golf CoursePascal Laillou: 05 53 53 02 53http://golfdeperigueux.free.fr/

Phoenix Animal Rescue In 24380 Vergt. Sheelagh and RichardJohnson 05 53 54 94 81 [email protected]

Pro Musica ChoirMeet Thursdays Ste Foy la Grande, out-side school hols, 8.30pm. Jane Arthur 05 53 88 11 92 [email protected]

Royal Air Forces Association Sud-Ouest BranchBeryl Dennett Stannard: 05 46 95 38 89 [email protected]

Royal Navy Aquitaine Branch

Ken Napier: 05 53 01 72 [email protected]

La Société Musicale de RiberacThursdays, 8.30pm, Ecole de Musique.Michel Lorin: 05 53 90 87 [email protected]

St Aulaye CricketWynford Hicks, 05 53 91 32 [email protected]

VariationsMusic group. Villetoreix, Riberac.Teresa Rekowska: 05 45 67 24 [email protected]

Outside DordogneAlliance Aquitaine EcosseMartin Neish: 05 56 81 38 [email protected]

Association Bordeaux AccueilleMarie-Annick Barker:05 56 81 68 [email protected]

Association Bordeaux-USARegular meetings and events, speaking French and English. Alex Rychlevski: 05 56 48 18 [email protected]

Association DeuxlanguesBilingual (French/English) workshopsfor children and families in Bordeaux.Helen Rullier: 05 56 44 70 97 [email protected]

Association St Hippolyte Aquitaine47210 VillerealKathy Kearsey: 06 19 23 05 26 Marjolein van Altena: 05 53 70 76 11 www.asha-france.org [email protected]

Connect for FriendshipFor English-speaking people of anynationality to meet others who live near St-Yrieix-la-Perche.Colin Byne: 05 55 75 48 [email protected] / www.connect87.info

Friends of the Chamber Orchestra of the GirondeHelp arrange annual concerts in the areabetween July and August. Norma Jarman: 05 57 47 46 [email protected]

SOS HelpTrained listeners, confidential, anony-mous service in English in France. 01 46 21 46 46 from 3 to 11pm daily.www.soshelpline.org

Useful Dordogne Contacts

The Advertiser, Dordogne April 201026 Contacts

Find a stockist near you at www.findthepressinfrance.com or call 04 86 68 50 40

APRIL EDITIONIN NEWSAGENTS NOW Property bargains: What can you get for €100,000?

Healthcare limbo: Expats denied state and private cover

Questions after the floods

Remember me? Interview with Coronation Street’s French romeo Franck Dubosc, now touring France with his own stand-upcomedy show

Like copies posted to you?Subscribe for just €15 a year - that’s less than the price of a cup of coffeeout each month See page 6

AdvertiserThe

DORDOGNE

PLUS: FREE PULLOUTON 2010 TAX FORMS4-page guide on how to declareyour income,when you need to pay,France’s new tax bands and theexchange rate to use for UK income


Ribérac678m2 of development land Ribérac, schools and town centre within walking distance.Town services are available for connection.

REF: IFPC19009

€€28,200

Buying or selling a property in or around the Dordogne?We can help. Our website www.connexionfrance.com carriesdetails of more than 14,000 homes for sale across France. We also feature properties for sale in this dedicated section of

The Advertiser every month. Use the code under each property tofind out more on the website. For sellers, the adverts are also dis-played across a range of popular English-speaking websites which

ensures they are seen by thousands of potential buyers every day. Prices start at just €119TTC for 12 months' online advertising.

Online advertisers can also place their adverts in The Advertiserfor an additional €60TTC for one month, €150TTC for three editionsand €275TTC for six editions. Contact our sales team on 04 83 93 60 08 or email

[email protected] to find out more.

REF: R6393

€€83,200Ribérac2-bedroomed house (needsrenovating), would make an idealholiday home for a family orcouple.

More details of all the homes shown here - and 14,000 other properties for sale across France - can be seen at

www.connexionfrance.com Enter the code listed with the property to take you straight to the information

More details on all these properties - and how to contact the seller directly - can be found in the property for sale section of www.connexionfrance.com. Simply enter the code under each home to find out more

Houses for sale in and around the Dordogne

REF: 06029

€€96,435EymetRenovated 3-bedroom housecomprises sitting room,sitting/dining room, kitchen,family bathroom, 2 terraces and off street parking.

REF: R5941

€€100,000RibéracAttractive 1-bedroom stonehouse with courtyard large atticand garden.

REF: R6434

€€155,000Ribérac2-bedroomed house comprisesamerican kitchen, large sittingroom on 1,300 m2 of land.

REF: 2144G

€€185,000Sarlat-la-Canéda6-bedroomed detached houseideal family property comprisesliving room, kitchen, office,2 shower rooms, bathroom,double garage and garden.

REF: BV00004636

€€190,000Near Issigeac7 bedrooms, originally 2 houses,spacious property requires refur-bishment. There is potential toconvert the barn and attic spaceinto further accommodation.

REF: 23395

€€203,300Piegut Pluviers3-bedroom house is set in 0.8acre of land includes living room,dining room, fitted kitchen, dining room, study and largehangar.

REF: 06047

€€222,558EymetRenovated 3-bedroom stone cot-tage on 4,000m2 of land includesopen-plan galleried kitchen/sit-ting/dining room, family bath-room, study and covered terrace.

REF: FPBF3082C

€€259,200Domme4-bedroom village house recentlybuilt comprises living/diningroom, kitchen, utility room, 2 bathrooms, garage and largegarden.

REF: 2950

€€288,900Bugue4-bedroom périgourdin house inaddition 2 bedrooms in the barn,great potential for a gite.

REF: R6292

€€310,000Bertric Buree4-bedroomed unique propertyon three levels - each with astunning view. It sits on a plot ofmore than 2 acres and has anindoor swimming pool.

REF: 1384

€€345,000MussidanRenovated 7-bedroomedfarmhouse with 2 gites with longletting history, garage, largegarden and swimming pool.

REF: FPBS1123L

€€385,200Buisson-de-Cadouin4-bedroom detached house andapartment includes coveredswimming pool, 2 barns andlarge garden.

REF: R6002

€€404,000RibéracRenovated 4-bedroomed houseincludes 2 barns attached, garagefor 3 cars set on 10,000 m2 ofland.

REF: R6426

€€424,000RibéracCharming 4-bedroom and2-bedroom house set on 2,780 m2

of land with beautiful views.

REF: IFPC19422

€€450,000Mont Saint JeanContemporary restored5-bedroomed farmhouse surrounded by a mature forestand running streams.

REF: 1626

€€465,000Lalinde4-bedroomed farmhouseattached to a restored barn with2 bedroom and a 2-bedroom giteset on 1.5 HA of land.

REF: FPBR3256C

€€447,000Sarlat-la-CanédaRenovated 4-bedroom farm-house situated on 1 HA of land,comprises living room, diningroom, kitchen, bathroom, showerroom, study and workshop.

REF: FPBF3263C

€€498,000Domme5-bedroomed farmhouse and3-bedroom guest house with swimming pool, large gardensand terrace.

REF: R6175

€€499,500Ribérac5 bedroomed house comprises large lounge, kitchen, diningroom, 2nd lounge, office, largebarn, swimming pool (solarheated) and large garden.


PÉRIGUEUX and Trélissachave become the first townsin France to opt for naturally-produced fertilisers ratherthan those produced fromchemicals.

Campaigners have wel-comed the towns’ move asthey hope that it will lead to achange in the law as manyorganic fertilisers are current-ly banned.

Horticulturist Jean-FrançoisLyphout is a long-time cam-paigner for legalisation andsaid he was delighted the twotowns had made the switchand he hoped that Bergeracwould soon join them

He added: “It is very impor-tant. It shows their commit-ment to using organic prod-ucts in their towns and arecognition that this law iswrong. I hope that they willbe the first of many to sup-port us.

“The law as it stands isridiculous and it needs tochange.”

Mr Lyphout is president ofthe France-wide associationAspro-pnnp (Association pourla Promotion du PréparationsNaturelles Peu Préoccupantes)and continues to commercial-

ly manufacture and use purind’orties (nettle fertiliser) at hisplant nursery in Ajat nearThenon – despite the ban.

He said: “It is better than thechemical alternatives and it isbetter for people and theplanet.

“The only reason it isbanned is because the agro-chemical businesses have lob-bied so hard. They are toopowerful in France."

Purin d’orties, known tomany British gardeners asnettle tea, is a traditional

Périgourdine practice whichdates back centuries. Thenitrogen-rich fertiliser, whichalso acts as an insecticide, hasbeen illegal since the 2006 Loid’Orientation Agricole wasintroduced.

The law listed agriculturalproducts – some chemical butmany more organic –described as PréparationsNaturelles Peu Préoccupantes(PNPP), which were to bebanned. Since then making,selling or even exchangingrecipes for nettle fertiliser and

other PNPPs could result in atwo-month prison sentence ora fine of €75,000.

Despite this, many, like MrLyphout, flout the law sayingthe inclusion of purin d’ortiesand others was made to pro-tect commercial interestsrather than in the interests ofeither environment or publichealth.

No cases involving PNPPshave come to court whichcampaigners claim is furtherproof the state knows theseproducts are harmless.

Towns may force end toban on organic fertilisers

16 gendarmes hurt intraining grenade blast

REALISTIC: An armoured truck moves in at St-Astier

SIXTEEN gendarmes werehurt when a grenade wasthrown by mistake during anexercise at the training centreat St-Astier, near Périgueux.

One officer from the mobileunit in Orange, Vaucluse,was slightly hurt on the shinby the blast and 15 othersfrom the same unit were leftwith hearing disorders.

They had been playing therole of demonstrators in anight exercise againstRepublican Guards from the1er Régiment d’Infanterie.

The accident happened

when a grenade, which haslittle explosive but gives amajor blast effect, was thrownnear to the gendarmes bymistake when it should havebeen used in a large concretecontainer where it givessound effects but no damage.

Gendarmes use the St-Astier training centre for fort-night-long exercises as it hasa mock-up town which allowsfor realistic urban situations.

It is the first incident since1996 when a gendarme cap-tain died under the wheels ofan armoured car.

ORGANICFERTILISER:Towns haveopted to usenatural productevenalthough ithas beenbanned

Dordogne - April 2010

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Transcript of Dordogne - April 2010