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France’s Contributions to the World (Part 1)

We know what the Romans did for us and we often see TV shows in our own countries on what our forefathers did for us but what have the French given us in the fields of technology, science and medicine in the last hundred years.

Cle France can give you many reasons why you should buy a house in France and lots of information about the buying process when considering a French property purchase, we can even give you reasons why French neighbours are the best but today and in the following weeks we are going to take a short look at France’s Contributions to the World!

The 20th and 21st centuries have proven to be fascinating periods in history.

There have been greater advances in the last hundred years than in all previous centuries combined. We live in a world where we can communicate with people across the globe in real time; where we can travel to the most remote parts of the planet; and where we can experience first-hand distant cultures that people for centuries didn’t even know existed. We have access to any piece of information, not to mention hours of entertainment, all within the palm of our hand. It’s easy to take all of this for granted but everything we come into contact with has a “history” of its own. It has evolved over a number of years, even decades or centuries to become what it is today.

A plate of Foie Gras, a French delicacy. Image by B. Carlson on Flickr.

The course of human civilization has been tumultuous since its inception. Cultures have taken shape independently from one another. Some have disappeared completely due to wars and disease. Each country or culture that exists today has contributed to the human experience in some way. The luxuries and conveniences we live with were often borne out of necessity but many times out of sheer curiosity. You could spend a lifetime studying the contributions of a single country and still not cover everything.

So what has France contributed to the world? More than you might think. Let’s take a look…

1. La Gastronomie Française (French Gastronomy):

The art of French cuisine has a long and storied history dating back to the Moyen Age (Middle Ages). The stereotypical “French chef” you see in many cartoons is, like many stereotypes, simply an exaggeration of la vérité (the truth). Haute Cuisine (High Cooking) is practiced by the best hotels and restaurants throughout France where food is treated as an art form not only in its preparation but in its presentation. Le Guide Michelin continues to set high culinary standards with its system of awarding stars to the world’s finest restaurants and Le Cordon Bleu (The Blue Ribbon) established in 1895 in Paris is the school to attend for ambitious chefs who want to learn from the best.

2. La Mode (Fashion):

Although the idea of fashion dates back to the earliest civilizations, fashion as we know it today began in France in the 17th century in the courts of King Louis XIV. Haute Couture (High Fashion) became a symbol of prestige and individuality among aristocrats who spent extravagant amounts of money on tailored clothing. Designs elements and coordinated ensembles established in French courts influenced courts in other countries and these styles would eventually trickle down to the masses. Queen Marie-Antoinette became the country’s foremost fashionista during her short reign. Today, many of the most prestigious and renown fashion labels are indeed French: Chanel, Vuitton, Hermès, Dior, etc.

3. Ballet:

Much like fashion, theatrical dance rose to prominence in the courts of Louis XIV. An avid dancer himself, the king established the Académie Royale de Danse (Royal Dance Academy) in 1661 devoted exclusively to the study of ballet. In the 18th and early 19th centuries, France remained at the forefront of ballet education.

4. Littérature (Literature):

Literature cannot be attributed to one country in particular, but France has produced its share of prolific auteurs (authors) whose works have been translated into dozens of languages, made into plays, adapted to the silver screen and have permeated popular culture in many western countries. Victor Hugo is an icon of the Romantic literary movement famous for Les Misérables and The Hunchback of Notre-Dame among others. Alexandre Dumas was another notable figure of literary Romanticism and author of The Count of Monte Cristo and The Three Musketeers. Flaubert, Zola, Balzac, Proust, Verne, Saint-Exupéry, La Fontaine, Baudelaire and many others have penned classics that have stood the test of time and continue to be held in high esteem throughout the Western world.

5. Philosophie (Philosophy):

Philosophy began in the days of Ancient Greece with Socrates, Plato and Aristotle but France has been a great contributor to modern thought over the last four hundred years beginning with René Descartes, a scientist, philosopher and mathematician known as the “Father of Modern Philosophy.” Denis Diderot is responsible for creating the first encyclopedia while François-Marie Arouet who took Voltaire as his nom de plume (pen name) wrote works on history, poetry, prose, and science. Both of these men were forward-thinkers during the Siècle des Lumières (Age of Enlightenment) who advocated for the separation of church and state and became a voice for the disenfranchised populace.

6. Impressionnisme (Impressionism):

Impressionism is a quintessential French art movement that developed in Paris in the late 19th century. Paintings of the Impressionist movement were characterized by the transient use of light and color to portray subjects. Accuracy was eschewed in favor of a more free-flowing style of painting that emphasized the artist’s use of texture and tone manipulation. Famous Impressionists included Claude Monet, Pierre Auguste Renoir, Paul Cézanne, Édouard Manet, Camille Pissarro, and Edgar Degas among others.

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

This blog was originally posted on The French Language Blog pages.

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French neighbours are the best

Reports in the British press and on various television channels that the British are getting fed up with the thoughtless, noisy, intrusive, and discourteous people next door, prompt me to list a dozen good reasons why French neighbours are the best.

French neighbours are the best becasue...

1. they always smile, look you in the eye, and say bonjour

2. neighbours in the country will regularly make a gift of vegetables or fruit from their garden - often just leaving it on the doorstep

3. any little disputes are usually settled over a bottled of claret

4. they are always very grateful for any assistance they receive

5. they are always more than willing to help out whenever help is needed

6. they don't laugh at your funny accent and mistakes as you try manfully to master their language

7. they are always delightful company at a soiree

8. they are often a wonderful source of cheap goodies – for example a supplier of excellent Calvados

9. they will keep an eye on your property whether you ask them or not and contact you if ever there is a problem

10. they are always an invaluable advisory service on all aspects of gardening, again whether you ask them or not!!

11. they will always treat a foreigner with nothing but kindness and consideration

12. and finally they are respectful and neighbourly at all times : les voisins parfait!!

You may also like to read "Do the French mind having British neighbours"

If you want more? then follow the links above, in the images, where you can buy Fraser's published books.

Fraser Blake, 70, author of 'Dear Chips' and 'A Rant Too Far?' grew up in Africa, was at school in Scotland, and worked for the British South Africa Police in Southern Rhodesia. He has taught English in Saudi Arabia and sold and renovated hundreds of properties in Northern France.

In 1998 Fraser was selling houses in the Mayenne department of the Pays de la Loire region and so was the obvious choice, when Cle France was started, to be their first agent on the ground in France. In retirement he writes, blogs, cooks, drinks wine, and hosts to dinner unlimited numbers of ex-pats.

Always on hand with a viewpoint, Fraser is going to share his views on France, the French and the British, and other people who buy in France. Sometimes informative, sometimes funny, painfully true, outrageously opinionated but always entertaining so we hope it adds a slightly different dimension to the usual normality of searching through the fantastic properties for sale on the Cle France website.

Watch out for more rants and opinion next week or buy the book today for a rollicking good read.

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Undiscovered Normandy

Really? undiscovered Normandy... is there such a place? Yes and No may have to be the answer but the fact that most visitors to Normandy, British visitors especially, drive through some stunning areas and beautiul corners of France at 80 mph must mean that the areas they are driving through and not staying and discovering more about are in some respects 'undiscovered'.

There is so much to see and do in the Picardy region for example, even Upper Normandy is driven through without stopping as everyone heads towards the Lower Normandy towns of Vire, Sourdeval, Domfront and Flers etc.

Similarly it has always confused me why people seem to land in Cherbourg and head towards the area around Saint Lo as fast as possible as if there is something odd about the delightful Cotentin Pennisula region there are driving through?

There is of course nothing wrong with Lower Normandy, we sell most of our houses in the North-west of France in the departments of Orne and Calvados but I do think people are missing out on the delights of such towns as Bricquebec, Brix, Barneville-Cateret, La Haye du Puit and Sainte Mere-Eglise to name but a few AND being on a Pennisula you are never too far away from the coast!

So lets take a look at these regions and you can see our properties for sale in Cotentin Penninsula, Upper Normandy and Picardy are actually very nice indeed.

Picardy

Picardy or Picardie consists of just three departments, the Aisne (02) capital Laon, the Oise (60), capital Beauvais and the Somme (60), capital Amiens and this is also the regional capital. The southern part of this modern region, virtually all of the Oise department, was not part of the original Province of Picardy, it was added when the region was created in the 20th century.

The triangle between Paris, Amsterdam and London is of course the historic centre of warfare action in western Europe, Picardy is an area with a very interesting history indeed.

Upper Normandy

Seine-Maritime and Eure departments.

With its proximity and excellent transport links with the U.K, Upper Normandy is the ideal choice for those looking for property for sale in France either for a holiday home or permanent residence.

Stretching south 100km from Dieppe to Étretat is the Côte d'Albâtre, where pebble beaches are backed by impressive tall, white cliffs. Along this coast there are small villages and few resorts. Inland Upper Normandy is a land of meadows and orchards, as well as many rivers and brooks. Its half-timbered colombage houses are much in demand. The majority have been modernised and are second homes for both Parisians and the British.

Cotentin Pennisula in Lower Normandy

Hard against the frontier with Brittany, and cut off from the rest of Normandy by difficult marshy terrain, the Cotentin Peninsula has traditionally been seen as something of a backwater, far removed from the French mainstream. By sea, on the other hand, it’s very easily accessible. Beyond the peninsula’s major port, Cherbourg, little ports such as Barfleur and St-Vaast on the indented northern headland presage the rocky Breton coast, while La Hague to the west offers a handsome array of heather-clad cliffs and stone-wall-divided patchwork fields.

For many visitors the Cotentin’s long western flank, with its flat beaches, serves primarily as a prelude to Mont St-Michel, with hill towns such as Coutances and Avranches cherishing architectural and historical relics associated with the abbey. Halfway down, however, the walled port of Granville, a popular destination with French holiday-makers, is a sort of small-scale mirror-image of Brittany’s St-Malo.

Cle France are French Estate agents with agents across France in most regions and with over 8000 houses for sale in all price brackets and in all styles to suit everyone. This bi-lingual service will help you find the right property for you with the minimum of fuss.

NO HIDDEN FEES: The price you pay is the same as anyone walking through the door of our agency in France, same as the price paid by the French buyer.

All quoted prices are INCLUSIVE OF AGENCY FEES (FAI): with Notaire's fees to be added (these average 7% to 8%).

OUR AGENTS: are all registered and insured in France, they are holders of the 'carte professionnelle'as required by French law.

So when you buy through Clé France: you have the benefit of a bi-lingual support team & can be confident that you are paying no more than the standard commission rates you would pay anyway.

CONTACT US: to discuss your search for property in France, or indeed for any further information you may require on French property sales.

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

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Thank you for putting our minds at rest

Ceri, bon apres-midi.

Thank you so very much for putting our minds at rest regarding the monthly and annual charges.

Your service has been absolutely first class and I will make sure I let people know that.

Be assured, when... note I say when and not if !... we emigrate you will be the person we contact for insurance and not only health but vehicle and home.

Sincere thanks for all of your help.

June and Jeremy.

There is a lot of information on the Cle France website on House Insurance, Health Insurance, Auto & even Holiday Insurance and along with our partners Allainz Assurance we make sure we give good and timly advice, so together we make sure you have the right cover and the best possible service.

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Holiday Home in a small village hamlet

A FANTASTIC OPPORTUNITY TO ACQUIRE this ideal holiday home, easy to run and 'lock up and leave' in a small village hamlet between l'Absie and Coulonges, only 30 minutes south of Bressuire, where there are all shops and services. 90 minutes from the Vendee coast and airports at Nantes and La Rochelle. 4-5 hours from the car ferries in Caen, Cherbourg and Le Havre.

ONLY 54500 euros including agency fees...

A well presented end cottage with attractive rural aspect. There is a small courtyard directly in front of the house with further gravelled garden with outbuildings across the lane. Parking spaces.

Entrance into open plan living room with kitchen area, stairs to first floor landing, good size double bedroom, shower room with WC.

Rooms in more detail:

Ground Floor - Living/Dining/Kitchen - 33.00 m2 - Open Plan, exposed beams, exposed brickwork.

1st Floor - Bedroom - 23.00 m2.

Corridor - 3.00 m2 - landing and large cupboard.

Bathroom - 4.00 m2 - Hip Bath with shower over, WC and basin.

Cellar - 33.00 m2 - head height under living room, storage, sink and electric.

Local Taxes:

Taxe fonciere - 147 euros a year.

Taxe d'habitation : 204 euros year.

Some of the furniture can be left if requeired: Dining Table and 4 chairs, Settee, Cooker (gas bottle), Buffet Unit, SuperKing Bed / Mattress, Other items (to be agreed), Washing Machine (top Loader - new), Misc items / fixtures and fittings.

Outside:

Courtyard, further courtyard with covered terrace and small outbuilding. Parking for 2 cars.

Mains drainage is connected to the property.

Estimated Notaire fees of 4633 euros.

Features: Parking space, Terrace, Outbuilding(s), Courtyard. Living area 62 m2 approx. Living room 33 m2 approx. Shower room (1st floor). Bedroom 1 (1st floor 23 m2).

The department of Deux Sevres is in the Poitou-Charentes region, in the western part of France below the Pays de la Loire region. In recent times this department has become an ever popular destination for French property buyers. Prices are still reasonable and one cannot help being seduced by the diverse cultural heritage, delicious local cuisine, seafood and of course the lovely rolling countryside.

Deux Sevres has a very mild climate, similar to that of Aquitaine and the Poitou-Charentes region, it is the second sunniest region of France where people adopt a relaxed, simple way of life ideal for holidays and leisure activities.

The transport links are very good too, with five international airports, the TGV (high speed train) in Niort can reach Paris in 2 hours, to Bordeaux in 1hrs 30mins and Toulouse in 4hrs 30mins. Good motorway links to Bordeaux, Nantes, Tours and Paris make it a great location.