Racetrack plan threatens quiet life in France

Photo Credit The Nontron region. Nontron is also famous for its excellent knives
The Times has picked up on a story which has been on everyone's lips here in the beautiful Dordogne Perigord.

Up to now, every attempt to get permission to develop the track, has failed, but according to The Times Online "French officials are set to rule on the proposal by David Brooker-Carey, a British businessman with a history degree from Oxford, for a vintage car centre on his 85-hectare estate in Périgord Limousin regional park. “The debate is very tough, particularly amongst the English residents here,” said Philippe de Courcel, mayor of Saint Félix de Mareuil, a neighbouring village. “Families are even falling out over this.”
Locals believe tranquility of the Dordogne will be ruined by the car-racing circuit but the Briton behind it says that much-needed jobs will be created

Yesterday, British expatriates swapped their wine glasses for banners to join a protest against plans by a wealthy Oxford graduate to build a vintage car-racing circuit in the grounds of his mansion in the Dordogne. Almost 500 British and French demonstrators crowded into the village of Nontron on Saturday to denounce a “monstrous” project that they claim would shatter their idyllic corner of southwest France.

Mr Brooker-Carey, who made his fortune in aluminium smelting, and Sandra, his wife, a property developer, want to build a 4.6kilometre (3mile) circuit with 24 pit garages and 675 loudspeakers. The scheme also includes a luxury hotel, a spa, a restaurant, a 30-metre swimming pool, an equestrian centre and what is described as the Living Museum of the History of the Automobile.
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The couple say that the centre will attract up to 40,000 visitors a year and create 35 full-time jobs in an area where the unemployment rate is more than 10 per cent. “It is a unique concept . . . which will attract collectors of historic vehicles and those passionate with this sport,” they say on their website.

Heaven forbid!

Their opponents include many Britons who crossed the Channel to enjoy the peace and beauty of the Dordogne. “It’s outrageous that this is even being contemplated,” said Crispin Hills, a Londoner who bought a house about a mile from the planned circuit seven years ago. “It’s a beautiful place and it seems ridiculous to build something like this on it.”

Desmond Kime, a retired biologist, said that the circuit would also threaten “an extremely biodiverse area” that was home to 46 endangered species, including the rare European mink. He said that the pollution, the noise and the felling of 40 hectares of woods to create the racetrack were incompatible with the park in which Mr and Mrs Brooker-Carey live. “The whole thing is monstrous,” he said.




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A few of the Summer Events in Dordogne Perigord Noir

June
23 VEZAC : Vide grenier stade des Magnanas

July
1 LA ROQUE GAGEAC : Méchoui sous la Halle
15 LA ROQUE GAGEAC : Marché nocturne des Métiers d’Art et de Tradition, sous la halle
23 VITRAC : Marché nocturne des Métiers d’Art et de Tradition

August
4 CARSAC-AILLAC : Marché nocturne des Métiers d’Art et de Tradition, sous la halle
5 LA ROQUE GAGEAC : Fête votive, feux d’artifice.
15 BEYNAC ET CAZENAC : Marché nocturne des Métiers d’Art et de Tradition, sous la halle.
15 BEYNAC ET CAZENAC : Fête votive, feux d’artifice.
End of August LA ROQUE GAGEAC : Marché des Gourmands et des Gourmets.


September
Mid-September, COMMUNAUTE DE COMMUNES : Journées Européennes du Patrimoine

Night-time events and displays in Dordogne Perigord Noir

Discover the beautiful villages of the region: A la découverte d'un des Plus Beaux Villages de France. Durée : environ 1 heure.
From mid-June to mid-September, Wednesdays at 21h30

The Gardens of Marqueyssac
July and August, every Thursday evening, candle-lit visits until midnight.

La Roque-Gageac
July and August, every Wednesday evening: pétanque.


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A little wisdom for the day...

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Chateau Lalinde : The perfect venue for your event

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Dordogne - the 'New' Tuscany - A Heaven for Walkers, Hikers, Cyclists, riders, equestrians, and Canoe-ists

Tuscany? Been there? Done that? Tired of the overcrowded walking routes and paths, the now-touristy and commercialised little villages in the hills that were once so attractive to the walkers, hikers and cyclists?
Then the Dordogne is your answer this year.
When looking at the diary for walkers, hikers and cyclists or horse back riders-- and even for those who love to take to the water in canoes and kayaks and explore the magnificent scenery from the this unique vantage point, then you need look no further than the beautiful Southwest of France: The Dordogne Perigord has everything and more to offer those who are looking for something a little extra for their holidays this summer -- and for those who love the idea of an adventure holiday or an activity holiday or a journey of discovery on horseback.

Here are some of the many well-organised and very attractive walks and rides. -- Although most of these routes accessible at any time, some of them include very interesting and worth-seeing areas that are normally not open to the public and some of them have an accompanying guide to inform the walkers about the fascinating local history, fauna or flora. Most of the walks are suitable for children as well. Some are themed around a specific event or feature of the area. The outings are also organised in such a way that you do them at your own pace and in your own way, unencumbered by crowds of people, even though there are facilities and refreshments organised on the way for those who are not used to the more strenuous or arduous exercise. --- And with most of them you will be either sent on your way or welcomed back to the finishing point with a special glass of something delicious.


Outings for Walkers/Hikers:
May 2008
11 Ladornac-Terrasson
18 Campgnac Sarlat
18 Faux
18 Belves
24 Biron
25 Campagne/Saint Cyprien
26 Tremolat
31 Grignols/ Jaure
31 Prats du Perigord

June 2008
01 Bourdeilles
01 Mrcillac-Sarlat
07 Cales
08 Eymet
08 Perigeux
14 Brantome
15 Meyrals
21 Bourdeilles
22 Azerat
28 Valojoux

July 2006
03 Fleix
12 Saint Martin l'Astier
13 Bourrou
13 Montpon
14 Saint Martin de Riberac
16 Saint Pardoux la Riviere
18 La Roche Chalais
20 Lalinde
22 Nontron
22 Domme
24 Saint Meard de Gurcon
27 Orliaguet/ Simeyrols
31 La Tour Blance

August 2008
01 Sigoules Monbos
03 Gadlan
07 Saint Antoine de Breuilh
08 Saint Romain Saint Clement
09 Pezuls (evening walk)
09 Saussinac
12 Jayac
15 La Rochebeaucourt
24 Boulouneix
30 Parcoul
31 Excideuil

September 2008
06 Varaignes
13 Monpazier
14 La Coquille
14 Trelissac
14 Piegut


Equestrian Outings
18/05 Lempzours
25/05 Abjat sur Bandiat
01/06 Saint Sauveur de Bergerac
08/06 Saint Felix de Reilhac
22/06 Lempzours
05/07 Belves
13/07 Bourrou
20/07 Lalinde
27/07 Saint Sauveur de Bergerac
27/07 Castelnaud la Chapelle
17/08 Saint Sauveur de Bergerac
13/09 Castelnaud la Chapelle
21/09 Lempzours

Cycling
24/05 Biron
25/05 Abjat sur Bandiat
01/06 Saint Laurent des hommes
07/06 Marcillac Sarlat
12/07 Saint Martin l'Astier
13/07 Bourrou
20/07 Lalinde
0/08 Parcoul
14/09 Perigeux
14/09 Piegut


Evening or Night Walks
24/05 Biron
18/07 La Roche Chalais
20/7 Lalinde
23/07 Beaumont
24/07 Saint Meard de Gurcon
09/08 Pezuls
12/08 Jayac
12/08 Beaumont
13/09 Monpazier


A feast for the active and energetic of body, spirit and mind!
If you are going to be anywhere in the area during the next few months, be sure to make a note of the outings near there. And if you would like more details about any of these mentioned outings, do not hesitate to let me know -- by clicking on the 'Comment' below and I shall provide all the details and information you need.

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USA losing stature with Bordeaux wine producers

Earlier this month AFP reported on the wine primeur week in Bordeaux.
This is what they reported:
Fewer US buyers than usual turned up in Bordeaux this week for wine primeur week -- when buyers and critics taste the latest wine harvest -- but producers surprisingly are not too concerned.
"America is not the world, it is a bit bigger than that," said Patrick Maroteaux, president of the Union des Grands Cru de Bordeaux, organiser of the annual primeur tastings, which take place six months after the harvest and two years before bottling.
"Europe is a significant market, as is Asia," he said.
Going one step beyond their oft repeated complaint that Americans only buy primeurs in top quality speculative years, so more for profit than drinking, producers now happily say they are no longer dependant on the US market. "It has happened in about the last two years, on the good side people realised there were new customers from Asia, Russia and India," said Didier Marcelis a Bordeaux producer at a tasting in St Emilion on Monday.
"And on the other side there has been the euro dollar problem. So we started realizing we shouldn't rely on the Americans," said Marcelis, who spent 20 years working for IBM and Cisco before buying Chateau Serilhan in Bordeaux's St Estephe region in 2003. "It is not complicated though, it is just Darwinism."
Dramatic changes in consumption patterns are clear in emerging markets.
In 2007, Bordeaux exported 43,000 hectolitres to China, 82 percent more than in 2006. That volume was worth 45 million euros (70 million dollars), an increase of 158 percent.
One Chinese buyer at the Monday tasting, Steven Lu, said he would be buying about double what he bought last year, of both un-bottled primeurs for stock, and bottled wine for the Olympics. Lu, who has a small import business selling to upmarket hotels and restaurants, as well as private clients, says his customer list has doubled in the last two years.
In 2007, Bordeaux also exported 38,500 hectolitres to South Korea, an increase of 40 percent for a value of 29 million euros, up 66 percent, while Singapore got 15,000 hectolitres, a 94 percent increase, worth 23.5 million euro, up 33 percent.
By comparison wine exports to America in 2007 were down nine percent in value, albeit for a more significant sum of 196 million euros.
The US market is driven by point scores though, so a lot will depend on those of US critic Robert Parker, who is in Bordeaux this week to taste both the 2007 vintage, and re-taste the now bottled 2005s.
"If I get a good Parker score, which makes it so easy to sell my wines, that is great," said Marcelis. However if he gets a bad one, or none, sales to the US are very difficult.
Parker's points will not be available for two to three months, and the majority of Bordeaux primeur producers will wait till after their publication to release their prices. So although the Bordelaise may talk about America not being a make or break market any more, it would be unimaginable for them to release prices before the make or break scores of this particular American are published.
As the figures show though, emerging markets on their own will not replace America, which is set to overtake France as the world's number one consumers of wine, per person per head, in the next year or two. So hopes are also high for European and domestic French buyers, particularly those from the supermarkets.
Fabrice Matysiak, a buyer for Auchan, one of France's top three supermarkets, described 2007 as interesting. "We came with lead boots to find, yes some bad wines, but some good ones too," he said. "But they will have to lower their prices from the 2006 vintage," he said, admitting freely that this was inevitably round one of negotiations.
There are producers of course who have welcomed US buyers already this week, and they prefer to say that in 2007, as in 2004 and 2001, all less than great vintages, one sees fewer but better buyers.
Asked his opinion about US markets this year, US-born Bordeaux-based wine merchant Jeffrey Davies put it more straightforwardly. "Frankly, I would imagine that in America people will be reaching for the vodka, rather than the Lafite right now," he said.




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