Epernay, stop for Champagne!

You may not know the town of Epernay, but you know for sure what comes from it: Champagne. Epernay is a small town centrally located in the Champagne region. Despite its size, Epernay is recognized as the capital of Champagne as is home of some of the most famous and luxurious Champagne producers such as Moët & Chandon, Mercier and de Castellane. When walking along the Avenue de Champagne and around, you will encounter well maintained noble buildings from the XIX century, homes of wine growers for the majority of them. Don’t resist to the call of tasting some of prestigious Champagne. Cellars are usually open for visit and eventually proposing tasting either with or without appointment.

Here are some of the main houses open for visitors during week-ends and holidays:

• Champagne de Castellane: Visit of production site, cellars, museum. Tasting.
  
• Champagne Moet & Chandon: Visit of cellars and video about Champagne production. Tasting
  
• Champagne Mercier: Visits of cellars and videos about Eugene Mercier
  
• Champagne Delahaie: Visit of production sites
  
• Champagne Comtesse Lafond: Visit of the Chateau and tasting.
  
• Champagne Achille Princier: Visit of cellars and tasting.

Many more Champagne growers are opening their doors, see November 2009 schedule on http://www.ot-epernay.fr/-Champagne-wines-

And for those who want more of it, some lectures and courses are organized at famous Champagne houses to learn about all subtleties of the bubbling wine. Please contact Action Champagne Tourisme for more information on the offers.

Get ready for Christmas time and go choose your Champagne where it is grown, in Epernay!

Exhibition Louis XIV, man and king

Even though the Palace of Versailles is one of the last French Castle built, it is one of the most glorious. The king Louis XIV obviously wanted it this way to demonstrate to the world the political and cultural power he certainly had at this time. This year the Palace of Versailles is paying homage to his king and organizes for the first time a complete and rich exhibition devoted to the “Roi Soleil” and his cultural impact to the french society. Louis XVI loved art and dedicated time to gather the best architects, musicians, painters and sculptors to generate an extremely rich and precious art collections. The Palace of Versailles is obviously his main achievement. Today, more than 300 pieces of his collection gathered from all over the world are arranged in the rooms of the Palace. The exhibition starts on October 20th, 2009 and will be running until February 7th, 2010. More details can be found on this leaflet: http://en.chateauversailles.fr/resources/pdf/en/actualites/depliant_louisxiv_en.pdf

The Palace of Versailles is open every day except Mondays. Tickets are available online. The exhibition, including the entrance to the Palace and the audio guide is 15 €. If you plan to visit the Palace of Versailles with the Paris Museum Pass, be aware that it does not include the exhibition and an extra fee of 11€ will be asked.

The easiest way to access Versailles from Paris is by RER train. Take RER line C5 from Gare Austerlitz, St Michel, Invalides, Musée d’Orsay or Champs de Mars station direction Versailles-Rive Gauche.

Fine Wine Fair - Le Grand Tasting Paris

If you ask in the street what can be associated to France, we will most probably get « Food and Wine » in the top 3. Well, for those who decide to visit Paris in the coming December, don’t miss the fine Wine Fair or “Le Grand Tasting”, a unique experience where the best wine growers offer their nectars for tasting. This event will be holding in the Carrousel du Louvre, on December 4th and 5th from 10:30 am to 8:30 pm. Book your tickets now if you want to have a chance to taste the best wines currently produced in Bordeaux, Provence, Champagne, Alsace, Bourgogne, Val de Loire, Cotes du Rhone and other regions of France.

Entrance fees are 18 € for one day (Friday), 23 € for two days if you buy your tickets in advance or 20 € for one day (Friday), and 25 € for 2 days if you purchase them the day of your visit.

For 10 more Euro, you also have the opportunity to participate to the “Master Classes”, the “Prestige Master Classes”, or the “Ateliers Gourmand” and learn more about one particular wine or the best way to associate food with wine. These seminars are given in French only. Places are limited and it is highly recommended to book your seat in advance.

For booking and other general information about Le Grand Tasting, please visit http://www.grandtasting.com/

Provins, a medieval experience!

If you are coming to Paris and are looking for an easy but exciting day trip near the capital, the medieval town of Provins is for you. Located 90 km south-east Paris, the 900 years-old market town of Provins offers an adventurous voyage back to the medieval time. The town itself has kept a beautiful fortification within which you will enjoy picturesque monuments (the town possesses 58 listed historical monuments). Overseeing the surroundings, the César tower is remarkable and represents one of the best assets of the town. Don’t miss the Tithe Barn or “Grange aux Dimes”, the famous market house, and the museum which will complete your vision of what was the medieval life in Provins. Or follow one of the guide tours provided by the tourism office.

The Provin Pass’Monuments is adequate if you want to take the full experience of the city for little money. It includes the visit of the Cesar tower, the Grange aux Dimes, the underground galleries and the museum. Plus it may give you reduced prices for shows and special events. But be aware you may not be able to visit all these sites in one day. Also, Provins organizes excellent medieval shows that are well recognized nationwide and highly recommended such as “The legend of the knights” or “the eagles of the ramparts”. More details on this brochure: http://www.provins.net/images/pdf/brochure-provins-uk.pdf

The easiest way to access Provins is by train with the “Transilien” from Paris-Est station (1h24 long for 16.50 euro return, check for departure schedule in advance). From Provins station, bus lines C and D will transport visitors to the tourism office, where tours start.

Chocolate Festival Paris, New York, Tokyo, Beijin, Moscow

Dark, white or milk, with orange flavor, chili taste, or hazelnuts; professionals are developing original and tasteful associations for you to discover all kinds of combinations that make chocolate so special. Today is the opportunity for me to introduce to you the world's most famous chocolate festival organized in Paris every year in October. It is an international “rendez-vous” for the “Maître chocolatiers” to meet with the public, a special moment for professionals to share creativity and for the public to taste chocolate in its simple or more sophisticated form. This year again, chocolate was the central composition of an exceptional fashion show, always impressive in its originality.

The best “chocolatiers” were honored with the famous Chocolate Awards. This year, the 5 Star Awards went to:
FABRICE GILLOTTE (Dijon)
VINCENT GUERLAIS (Nantes)
JEAN PAUL HEVIN (Paris)
PIERRE HERME (Paris)
PATISSERIE LAC (Nice)
PASCAL LE GAC (Saint Germain en Laye)
LA MAISON DU CHOCOLAT (Paris)
PARIES (Saint Jean de Luz)
FRANCOIS PRALUS (Paris, Roanne)

Don’t hesitate to visit their shops and be amazed by their creativity and talent in transforming chocolate into a succulent colorful little cube. Their creations are unique and very original.

The Chocolate festival is now not only in Paris but also in New York, Tokyo, Beijing and Moscow. For more information about the festival and the other awarded “Maître chocolatiers”, please visit http://www.salonduchocolat.fr/.