We have our very own Stonehenge, well almost!

Monteneuf, standing stones

We have our very own standing stones just a five minute drive away.

And unlike Stonehenge, you can touch them, your children can climb all over them and we can all marvel as to just how they got there! And even better it costs nothing to see them and to get amongst them.

A couple of months ago a new visitor centre opened and now there are courses planned in all neolithic skills from stone moving, to making fire from fungi to pottery.

It is a fantastic place to visit.

Click on the video link to get a taste of   The Megaliths, Monteneuf

For more ideas on what there is to see and do in Brittany see http://www.frenchgites.com/Tourism%20Brittany%20Contents.htm

Introducing La Maison Orange

La Maison Orange, sleeps 2

We bought La Maison Orange ten years ago for £4,000 !... When we bought it, it had an earth floor, there weren't any electrics nor water and the first floor was just used to store hay and the only way to the first floor was via a small window above the door!.

Things have changed!..

La Maison Orange, Malestroit, Brittany

La Maison Orange, now there are stairs !!

La Maison Orange is located in a tiny hamlet with three other houses and a total population of two widows with an average age of 94 !.

It is so peaceful, you can really hear the birds sing, in fact that is all you can hear!. There is absolutely NO light pollution and on clear nights the stars are so so bright.

La Maison Orange is located about a ten minute drive from the historic town of Malestroit. Maelstroit is a typical Breton town, the architecture dates back to the 12th century. it's Thursday market is a one of the best in the region, but you need to get there early to snap up a roasting chicken.

Just 40 minutes from the Golfe de Morbihan, there are sandy coves and wild coastlines to explore and you can even take a boat to Belle Îlle.

La Gacilly and Rochefort en Terre are also fantastic towns to explore.

But most of all, at La Maison Orange you will be immersed into the french way of living and I promise when you leave a one hour lunch break just won't be long enough!.

Click on the video to discover more about La Maison Orange

La Maison Orange sleeps 2 and is available to rent from £195 per week. For more details see www.frenchgites.com/french%20gite%20Brittany%20Ruffiac.htm

European holidays getting cheaper and cheaper

The pound has now reached a seven year high against the euro of €1.34 and looks set to keep increasing.

The European Central Bank (ECB) took the ultimate policy leap last Thursday and launched a government bond-buying program which will pump hundreds of billions in new money into a sagging euro zone

Mark Carney, governor of the Bank of England, called the ECB's action a "welcome step" and "absolutely necessary to preserve the prospects of medium-term prosperity in Europe".

The 1.1 trillion euro stimulus plan was launched to tackle lacklustre growth and the spectre of deflation in the 19 nation currency zone.

An increased supply of euros should make borrowing cheaper and encourage businesses and consumers to spend more.

Share markets responded positively with indexes in London, Frankfurt, Madrid and Paris all rising on Friday following gains on Thursday. Shares in Athens leapt more than 5%.

By September next year, more than 1 trillion euros will have been created under quantitative easing, the ECB's last remaining major policy option for reviving economic growth and warding off deflation.

One side effect  of the huge amount of new money being pumped into Europe means much, much cheaper holidays in France. A strong Pound and weakening  Euro equals plummeting costs in France for British holidaymakers- cheap fuel, restaurants, groceries and even ice creams !!!!!!!!!!!

It is OK to snack...but what do you call it !

For the most part, the French do not snack. But when they do, they make it sound so much better. Although popular as an after school treat for children, le goûter – a late afternoon snack – has become part of the French culture as much as afternoon tea is in England.

Le goûter, pronounced “luh goo tay”, happens around 4 PM, when children are getting out of school and workers are heading into the last 1-2 hours of work. At this time, children will rush home in a frenzy to get a delicious treat, just enough to satisfy hunger or a craving, but not enough to spoil the appetite for dinner.

Hoping no one will notice I've eaten the end of the pétitos !!

But you won’t find crisps or sweets during this ritual. For French children,  le goûter typically includes a piece of bread and a square of chocolate or bread and nutella, usually accompanied with a fruit compote.

If you ask a French woman if she snacks, she will undoubtedly say no. Yet, the French woman most likely does practice the tradition of taking le goûter. However, she does not consider this snacking, because le goûter is not considered snacking. It is more like a refined, cultural experience to share with friends, family, co-workers. It works for me !!