For example, a friend of mine was in search of a French property. He thought that the place in “rue du chateau d’eau” sounded very attractive. It must be close to a chateau, you would think. What better for your French home than to be near one of these magnificent historical buildings?

Well mostly he was right. “Rue de” does indeed mean “the street of”. Unfortunately a “chateau d’eau” is a water tower. Now some people find them very attractive, and they’re an iconic part of the French countryside, but they’re not quite the fairy-tale castle he was hoping for!

It’s an example of how, when you learn how to speak French, you have to take in the whole French phrase not just the individual words.

Of course the individual words can trip you up just as easily. Another friend (who I must say now speaks quite good French) was visiting France on holiday. She came down to breakfast in her hotel and looked at the menu, seeking something typically French. “Pampelmouse” sounded particularly exotic so she ordered that, only to be rather disappointed when half a grapefruit was served!

Any language will always trip you up occasionally – we just can’t know it all at once. If you want to learn how to speak French I would suggest that in addition to any other lessons you always carry a small French to English dictionary with you, or one of the excellent pocket electronic versions now available. It will just give you the ability to check before making those little “faux pas” (that’s mistakes, by the way). You need to look out most for the things you almost think you know but aren’t quite sure of. You wouldn’t, for example, want to put “petrole” in your car – in France you would get paraffin!

Author: Frank English
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If you hope to tour the French wine country, the Champagne region French wine tour is the ideal tour for even the most discriminating wine aficionado. But it’s also enjoyable for people who hope to learn more about wine or those in search of a scenic area with an abundance of natural sights that offer a nice change of pace from city life. This part of the country boasts a moderate climate, particularly in the summer and fall, for the vacationer to visit. It’s also a relatively inexpensive place to tour.

One may partake of the one-of-a-kind nature of the area’s grapes and wineries on a typical tour of the Champagne region of France. This area is located further north than most grape producing regions on earth, and includes five unique wine making districts. It is located near Paris, France’s capital city, making possible tours for visitors to the historic city. Its nearness also contributes to the region’s great success as producers of wine.

Taking a French wine tour in the Champagne region lets the traveler enjoy the renowned sparkling wines that region’s grapes are known for producing. The moisture levels in the soil in this region are highly acidic because of lower temperatures, thanks to the area’s forests which assist in tempering the climate. For visitors, this means that they can enjoy summer temperatures that stay near 70 degrees, a comfortable level to enjoy outdoor tourist activities.

For the person who wants to visit a wine region with a much different flavor than you would get in a Champagne region French wine tour, the Bordeaux region of France also provides a way to see and taste some other popular French wines. The vineyard tours Bordeaux France allows visitors to see a coastal and somewhat warmer climate while tasting the world’s most popular red wines.

Whether you’re a red wine or a sparkling wine fan, or are looking for a great vacation destination outside of the normal tourist areas, taking a tour of the wine growing regions of France is a great way to take a week or two away. The tours of these diverse wine growing regions can be a great opportunity for a traveler to experience a different set of sights and sounds than they would normally see on a vacation.

Author: Summer Wilde
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Travel agencies within France offer specialized wine tours, taking the tourists on a trip to a particular region or regions within France, wherein they can visit exotic vineyards. The agencies may even offer different kinds of wine tours. Corporate wine tours mainly cater to corporate companies dealing with wine, and prove to be quite helpful when the company wants to know more about a particular kind of wine or wishes to invest in it. Then, there are private wine tours as well. These are quite expensive and meant exclusively for real wine aficionados. Travel agencies also offer wine tours for tourists who have interest in wine and vineyards. These are also highly priced but not as much as the private wine tours.

Most of the vineyards offer free tasting of their various wines to the visitors. The visitors can also enjoy conversations with wine experts, thus deepening and enhancing their knowledge of wine. Those who cannot afford the wine tours, can straight away head to the French wine country and visit the villages themselves. Many villages within the wine country have tasting rooms where samples of the different wines are kept. Sometimes, there is a small charge levied for the tasting.

It is however, advised to go on a package tour as the tour guide may help you overcome the language barrier and provide you access to many places within the wineries which may not be otherwise open for individuals. The best time to visit the French wine country is usually between April and May, also the harvest time from mid to late September could be worth every penny spent.

Author: Jimmy Sturo
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There are a large variety of luxury French properties available currently throughout the country including vineyards, villas, castles, chateaux, farmhouses, waterfront properties, apartments, water mills, properties by the lake, restaurants and other properties with business opportunities, hotels, B&B, agricultural land, town houses, manor houses and plenty of other country homes. That is definitely quite a list. So whatever you are searching for, whether it is quite simply for leisure, retirement, a second home, investment or indeed business, it is an absolute certainty that France will be able to off you the perfect property for your needs.

France has always been a popular choice for luxury real estate. French noble architecture is world renowned and with the countryside littered with castles, large country houses and chateaux, there are plenty of luxury properties available both of stunning design and rich history. If a project is what you are after to get your teeth stuck into then France will certainly be able to offer you something suitable as there is plenty of scope for this. There are many remarkable properties including Chateaux that are literally crumbling due to neglect. With plenty of charm and that unmistakable French architecture, why not invest in a piece of history and with a little TLC simply renovate your very own castle back to its former glory. You too could have a beautifully restored home with a large garden, glistening pool and mouth watering views across the French countryside.

For all varieties of luxury French Real Estate then The Philip Hawkes International Real Estate Agency in Paris should be your first port of call. With luxurious and one of a kind properties situated throughout Paris and beyond, you will be sure to find your dream Parisian property in the bustling heart of the city or indeed your rural hideaway in the heart of the countryside. A name that has come to be trusted, the unique quality of being able to provide both country dwelling and city living really makes this agency a one of a kind.

Author: Ian Baker
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