Vintage Travel is proud to announce ‘Les Platanes’ to its books, a fabulous five bedroom luxury villa in south-west France, close to the River Lot, which possesses all the character, charm and elegance, Vintage Travel’s villas are renowned for.

Situated on the estate of a working farm and nursery – don’t worry, Les Platanes owners assure us that there is no surplus traffic or noise from the farm – the luxury villa in south-west France is blessed by a surrounding haven of trees, shrubs, flowers and orchids.

In fact even the villa’s name, Les Platanes, is derived from the two large ‘Platane’ trees which stand directly outside the house, further evidence of the tremendous natural beauty of the villa, its grounds and the surroundings.

Un-rendered, unpainted and delightfully simple, this stunning and expansive property was originally a large, 19^th century barn, which has been immaculately restored using only local natural materials.

The simplicity of the villa’s construction contrasts tastefully with the many modern features and appliances of Les Platanes. Natural wooden beams, for example, provide a cosy contrast to the stylish modern kitchen designed with creating and devouring some delicious French cuisine in mind.

Les Platanes exterior is equally as delightful as its interior, with an open terrace running alongside the property and a covered terrace providing lunch in the sun or shade – whatever takes your fancy.

Like all Vintage Travel’s properties, Les Platanes has a wonderful private pool, equipped with a shower, cloakroom and fridge, meaning an ice-cold beverage is always within easy reach!

Beyond Les Platanes private oasis are simply tremendous views of fields after fields of vines delimited by fertile hills of evergreen, which are there to be lapped up and enjoyed!

Several charming villages, running along the River Lot, are close to Les Platanes, such as Monsempron-Libos, just five kilometres away. This captivating small village provides all the local amenities visitors need to make their holiday a comfortable one, in the most ‘typically’ French of fashions.

For a more comprehensive choice of bars, restaurants and shops, the slightly larger villages of Fumel and Penne d’Agenais are close by, as well as the medieval village of Puy-l’Eveque. Situated in the wine-growing district known by the appellation d’origine controlee as “Cahors Vineyards”, this picturesque town has two particularly memorable assets – its immense beauty and its mouth-watering wine!

For pricing, availability, photographs and more information about Les Platanes, visit Vintage Travel.

The quaint little town of Angouleme in the Bordeaux region of France is a delightful place to visit any time of the year, but no more so than in the month of January.

Whilst many towns, villages and even cities across Europe aren’t ‘at their best’ during January, for the last thirty years, Angouleme has celebrated the Angouleme International Comics Festival, a festival celebrated with such verve and pulsation, that comics have become a local speciality.

Since it was launched in 1972, the Angouleme International Comics Festival has attracted comic enthusiasts, artists, publishers, writers and cartoonists to gather in this quirky French town during the last week of January.

Talking about the festival’s roots, Dominique Brecheteau , the current director of the Angouleme International Comics Festival, said:

“It all began in 1972 when Francis Groux, a comic’s enthusiast, decided to organise a two-week celebration of comics in the town of Angouleme, and invited artists from Paris. From the onset, the festival received the support of artists from around the world and the town’s inhabitants, and was an immediate success.”

This year’s festival will start on January 26 and will run for three days. It will be the 39^th International Comic Festival and is expected to attract more than 6,000 professional exhibitors and up to 200,000 visitors from around the world. Famous guests to this year’s event will include the legendary comic author Art Spiegelman.

Asides attending one of Europe’s leading international comics’ festivals, Angouleme is a truly inspiring town to visit any month of the year. With its cobbled quarter, awash with restaurants, galleries and boutiques, encircled by boulevards above the old city walls, and with its Romanesque style cathedral, dedicated to Saint Peter, one rarely has time to visit all the interesting sights of this magnificent French town in a single visit.

But it is January, when many places are experiencing a depressing post-Christmas lull, that is the best time to visit Angouleme, particularly if you are a comic’s enthusiast.

For more information on what promises to be an enlightening event, visit: bdangouleme.com.

Why not take a look at Vintage Travel’s selection of luxury villas in south west France?

The New Year is not just about nursing a hangover and pitiful bank balance, but it is about planning your summer vacation. The historical and picturesque region of Brittany in the north-west of France, which used to be a kingdom and is characterised as one of the six Celtic nations, could prove to be a pertinent choice of your 2012 summer holiday destination, particularly if you consider its close proximity to Britain, which has to be advantageous to enduring a lengthy and arduous flight.

Asides from exploring the many megalithic monuments scattered across the peninsula, the interesting and unusual pink granite coast, which stretches for more than 30 kilometres, has been described as being one of Europe’s most ‘outstanding coastlines’, and where the special pink rock can only be found in three other places in the world, China, Canada and Corsica, and being awe-struck by a landscape that has inspired artists for centuries, Brittany is home to a vibrant calendar of festivals and events, particularly in the summer.

One such event is the Brest 2012 International Maritime festival of the Sea. This popular festival, which is held every four years, attracts a huge crowd of more than 2000 vessels to Brest’s shores, including local fishing boats, coracles from Europe, tall ships from Russia and traditional crafts from Africa.

Although it’s not just maritime enthusiasts who are eager to attend the Brest International Maritime Festival on the Sea, as the festival is a mecca for musicians, photographers, or anyone wanting to be culturally inspired by one of sailing’s most colourful events.

The 2012 International Maritime Festival in Brest will see an abundance of themed parades bobbing across the harbour, including illuminated night parades and a parade of classic yachts, guaranteed to make you feel unashamedly jealous!

Boats and crews from all over the world will make their way to Brest to participate in the festival, including the hugely entertaining Mexican Navy crew, who never fail to amuse the crowd.

If you can manage to peel your eyes away from the harbour, on shore there will be Viking and Russian villages, Cossack dancers, delicious local cuisine, and an array of arts and crafts, crafted by local artists.

The Brest 2012 International Maritime festival of the Sea is being held from 13 – 19 July, and promises to be a fantastic way to really experience authentic Brittany culture.

To really get the Brittany experience, why not consider a Vintage Travel luxury villa in Brittany.

The town of Albi, approximately 50 miles to the north-east of Toulouse, gratifies the cultural and scenic fulfilment of even the most difficult to please of traveller.

Amidst its horde of old buildings, dainty streets and quirky squares, several sites stand out in Albi, of which a visit is imperative.

The first was born from the town’s most famous son, Le Musee Toulouse-Lautrec. Being the birthplace of the famous French artist, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, the museum provides visitors will the chance to witness the legendary artist’s most famous works – perfect for musing away an afternoon spent in Albi.

The other ‘must see’ asset of Albi is the Albi Cathedral, formally known as the Cathedral of Saint Cecilia. Being initially built as a fortress in 1287, this stunning cathedral was under construction for 200 years and is apparently the largest building to be made from brick in the world.

Last year Albi Cathedral was made a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Possessing a stark military exterior, the interior of elaborate ornateness baldly contrasts with the outside of the building.

Asides a trip to these famous Albi landmarks, if you are partial to browsing through French markets, then you may consider Albi to be utopia!

This intriguing French town is home to a host of markets, including a vegetable market every morning, except on Monday, an arts and crafts market on Saturdays, a poultry market also on Saturdays and a second-hand book market on Wednesdays.

With the hustle and bustle, fragrances and noise filling the air surrounding Albi on market day, which is practically every day, there is nowhere quite as potent to experience true French culture as at an Albi market.

January may not be the most ‘conventional’ month to embark on your travels, but why not initiate your year’s travel itinerary with an experience like no other?

Since 1350, the citizens of Barjols have celebrated the ‘Tripettes Feast of Barjols’ in the Provence region of France. This bizarre festivity combines traditional, sacred and antiquated celebratory practices with some deeply profane ones, with the net result being that a visit to Barjols in January is a truly unforgettable experience for any traveller.

Situated in the centre of Provence, this charismatic village is well-known for its abundant sources of water that includes 43 fountains and ‘lavoirs’ – communal wash basins.

As you can imagine, with such a flourishing water supply, Barjols is a particularly verdurous village in this notoriously ‘emerald’ region of rural French bliss.

This ancient yearly ritual of Tripettes Feast of Barjols begun in the sixth century when an abbot called Marcel returned to Barjols after a trip to Rome where he had met the Pope. In the wake of the now prominent abbot’s death, Marcel is elevated to sainthood, with his tomb being the starting place for regular pilgrimages.

In the early 14^th century the village of Barjols was besieged and famine would have albeit destroyed the inhabitants of the village if it were not for a lone cow. Ever since their ‘saviour’, locals have commemorated their ‘sacrifice’, which is regarded as being the actions of their guardian Saint Marcel, each year.

Following the yearly solemn mass, music, dancing and a colourful procession makes its way through Barjol’s streets, emotionally affecting everyone present, even the priest, who never fails to join in the dancing.

Authentic drums and flutes can be heard into the early hours of the morning when muskets are fired into the air and everybody chants, “San Marcel, San Marcel, les tripettes, les tripettes.”

This joyous yet at the same time authentically sombre occasion is the perfect way to discover some of Provence’s purest and most ancient celebrations in a village, which, because of its abundant water supply, been referred to as a place blessed with liquid gold.

If you need to find a luxury villa in Provence, check out Vintage Travel’s collection.

The glamorous ladies have departed their summer-long residence on the beach, the millions of grapes once swarming the fields have been picked and harvested, and many of the swanky hotels and restaurants are closing for the winter, but hang on, there is one party still left to attend in Provence – the Chestnut Festival 2011!

The region of Var in Provence has named itself as being the “chestnut capital of the world”. Given its self-admitted stature within the world of chestnuts, it is only natural that an annual Chestnut Festival.

Each year in late October, the villages of Collobrieres and La Garde-Freinet, hold a festival dedicated to chestnuts, which attract thousands of revellers from the department of Var, the rest of France and even further afield.

It does not take a genius to work out that during the festival; visitors can taste and buy chestnuts in almost every shape, taste and form. From traditional sweet and succulent chestnuts, lightly roasted over a flame, to chestnut cakes, paste and pies, chestnut-lovers will be in absolute heaven.

Although surely even the most fervent of chestnut enthusiast would get tired of consuming too much of this quirky delicacy?

Fear not, as other delicious delicacies, both local to the region and branching out from the rest of France and beyond, can be tasted and bought at the festival. From North African sausages to pates made in Collobrieres, visitors can enjoy tasting a dialectic mix of cuisine from around the world, all washed down with some exquisite wine.

If that hasn’t got your taste buds bursting, then perhaps the countryside Provence is blessed with will, which, in October, when the trees having turned a mesmerising hue of reds, golds and browns, the landscape is almost as warming as the delicious aroma of the chestnuts roasting away at every kiosk on the streets on these two charming villages in Var.

This year’s Chestnut Festival in the Var department will be held on Sunday, October 16.

Le Mas du Moulin, a luxury 2 bed villa in Provence (pictured above), would be the perfect base for the Chestnut festival 2011.

Having been described as a “haven of tranquillity”, one would expect something spectacular of ‘Lou Calvel’. And one would not be disappointed, as this two bedroom, three bathroom villa, situated amongst private woodland in the exceptionally pretty Lot region of south west France, really does take the concept of idyllic isolation to new heights.

Renovated to an exceptionally high standard, this beautiful country house is flanked by woodland from every direction, ensuring its large pool, flawless lawns and covered terrace, are well and truly ‘private’. On the inside, Lou Calvel is equally as stunning. With its heavy wooden doors, reclaimed stone basin sink set into the wall of the living area, beamed wooden ceilings and open tread staircase, Lou Calvel is a magnificent, grand and inspirational country house.

This stunning villa is located five kilometres from the village of Cazals and 30km from the large town of Cahors. Apart from exploring the beautiful countryside, bounteous of bluebells, posies and orchids, by either on foot or on bike, the area is full of places to explore which caters for all the family.

‘Le Musee Art du Chocolate’ in Lisle sur Tarn is a particularly popular place to visit, especially with children. This small museum displays the unique sculptures of Michael Thomaso-Defos, whose passion for chocolate resulted in some inspirational works of art, which have been said to be “the answer to the chocolate lover’s wildest dreams”.

Chateau Cenevieres is another ‘must see’ site of the Lot region of south west France. This magnificent chateau is one of the most beautiful Renaissance castles of Quercy, and, with its records dating back to as early a 767, the castle clings on to a wonderfully rich and colourful past.

Chateau Cenevieres is located six kilometres from Saint-Cirq Lapopie and offers a fantastic family day out, particularly in the summer months when art exhibitions and medieval days with re-enacted battles and musical performances are regularly held in the castle.

Alternatively you could just potter around Lou Calvel for the whole duration of your holiday. Either way a trip to the region of Lot and Lou Calvel promises to be a fascinating holiday.

Availability in Lou Calvel begins at the end of June, when a week’s rental costs £795, rising to £1695 in peak season.

Situated on the bank of a river on the Dordogne surrounded by some of the most stunning countryside France has to offer, the town of Bergerac is an especially picturesque and quaint place to visit. Nestled in the heart of a major wine-producing region of France, a visit to Bergerac is a must for all French wine lovers.

Whilst its narrow lanes festooned with many beautifully restored 15^th century buildings and timbered buildings, its fascinating museums, and a statue of Cyrano proudly guarding the town, Bergerac offers a definitive depiction of its long and fascinating past.

Although it is perhaps springtime when Bergerac is truly at its most magnificent.  When the first buds of the year start appearing and the hedgehogs emerge from their winter sleep, Bergerac is a haven to restore, rejuvenate and shake off those winter blues. Not only does the town sprout into a picture of paradise during the month of May, but it also jingles with a pleasant sound of blues notes. As it is during May when the Jazz Pourpre Festival takes place, transforming Bergerac from a pictorially and historically enchanting town, to a jazz lover’s paradise.

Concerts are held in different venues throughout the town, including the Auditorium and the Lembarzique Café. The Jazz Pourpre Festival is now in its eighth year, and with each year escalating in innovation in excitement, 2011 promises to be a week of jazz at its most fantastic.

Following its success in 2010, the open competition for amateur jazz bands will take place, with the final being held at the Auditorium on May 7. Other festival highlights are to include a performance by legendary French composer and pianist Antoine Herver on Thursday May 12, as well as the celebrated American jazz and blues singer, Patricia Barber taking centre stage on Friday May 13. Whilst the following night, jazz trumpet player Eric Le Lann will perform and sure to wow a highly receptive audience.

With stunning vistas, an unusual and interesting history to discover, and quality jazz permeating Bergerac’s quirky venues, can you think of a better location to shake of those winter blues?

For more details and a full listing for Bergerac’s eighth “Jazz Pourpre” visit the festival’s official website: www.jazzpourpre.com.

Check out our extensive collection of luxury villas in near Bergerac.

Christmas in Provence and the Toulon Christmas Fair

Also unlike Britain where the decorations are hastily taken down and Christmas is a vague memory by January 3, in Provence the start of the Christmas period, known in French as the “calendale” is on December 4, and it continues right through December and January until ‘Candlemas Day’ on February 2. Throughout these two months, various rituals, festivities and traditions are upheld and celebrated with a fervour and passion that has remained unaltered for literally centuries.

During the month of December a Christmas fair or markets is put on in every town in Provence. These markets provide a particularly warm, friendly and festive atmosphere, allowing visitors to do their Christmas shopping in the most pleasurable and merry of ambiences. Unique local art and crafts, delicious French gastronomy and some interesting and quirky gifts can be picked up at these wondrous Christmas fair, which typify Provencal customs, cuisine and culture.

The town of Toulon, a picturesque city of ancient fountains, situated to the south of Provence on the Mediterranean coast, is home to a particularly quaint and interesting annual Christmas fair. Each Christmas the Ambassade de Provence organizes Toulon’s town centre Christmas Fair. The market, like Toulon itself and Provence in general, promotes local traditions, with clay figurines from a French nativity play and local gourmet produce such as Provencal Santons, being sold in abundance.

Like most Christmas Fairs in Provence, the Toulon Christmas Fair is free for all the family. For more details about this particularly festive French event visit the Ambassade de Provence official website: http://www.ambassade-de-provence.fr

The impressive Manoir Atlantique sleeps up to 18

With a name like ‘Manoir Atlantique’, one can only excitedly muse that this property is magnificently impressive and someway related with the Atlantic Ocean. Such optimistically grand speculations are not only fulfilled but even surpassed for those fortunate enough to have visited Manoir Atlantique.

Situated to the north of the glam and the glitz of stylish Biarritz, and just 10 minutes from the south west of France’s attractive beaches, with the blustery Atlantic Ocean thrashing across the shores, lies this flawlessly restored, lavish villa, still traditionally French but with a contemporary weave woven throughout.

The house is equally as stunning on the inside as it is on the outside. All nine of the invitingly spacious bedrooms have a television, DVD and en-suite facilities, some with a Jacuzzi or sauna. Most bedrooms boast a four poster bed and private balcony overlooking the manor’s immaculate gardens and woodlands. On the ground floor there is kitchen with all modern appliances, which has access to the grand living room. A billiard room, TV room and dining room with access to a dining terrace, a marble fireplace, oak stairway and original parquet floors, enhance the manor’s lavishly opulent interior.

Manoir Atlantique's impressive pool

Once you have finally managed to absorb the impeccable quality, elegance and unique character of Manoir Atlantique’s interior, a walk through its six acres of grounds and woods is an equally delightful experience.  These extensive grounds include unblemished lawns, a tennis court, table tennis, badminton, boules, croquet, dining terraces, a barbeque area, a summer outside kitchen and a fenced off heated swimming pool with a separate shower room with a hot tub. For those wanting to explore the beautiful countryside that surrounds Manoir Atlantique, including the lakeside town Soustons and investigate the protruding and exciting Cote d’Argent coastline, mountain bikes are available for guests.

Manoir Atlantique offers a unique catering experience by applying a catered chalet in a ski resort principle to a summer vacation property. From May 28 – September 24, Vintage Travel offers the property on a solely Catered Basis. This includes a week’s stay with breakfast, afternoon tea and dinner. In-keeping with the manor’s commitment to high quality and taste, and French cuisine in general, the food and wine served at Manoir Atlantique is of the highest-quality and can rival the even most reputable of French chefs.

Naturally Vintage Travel is extremely delighted and honoured to have such a unique and refined property on our books, and we can guarantee visitors to Manoir Atlantique will be share our excitement.