The 70th Anniversary of D-Day and the Battle of Normandy

To mark the occasion of the 70th Anniversary of the D-Day Landings and the ensuing 100 days of the Battle of Normandy, from March to September, Normandy will be hosting an impressive calendar of special events including historical re-enactments, firework displays, military processions, concerts, exhibitions and much more. New museums are now open, existing museums are opening new exhibition spaces and GPS tours and downloadable apps have been developed to enhance the visitor experience.

2014 may be the last time that a significant number of veterans gather in Normandy and thus, the last time that 21st century children have the opportunity to touch living history and hear first-hand accounts of the immeasurable courage and heroism of these men.

The official commemoration ceremony of 6th June will take place at Sword beach in Ouistreham. This event will be reserved for veterans and heads of state. More information here: the70th-normandy.com

Highlights from the special events calendar include:

• June 2nd - 4th, The Freedom Tattoo, Saint-Lô
• June 6th, Concert for Peace, Sainte-Mère-Église
• June 7th, Giant picnic on Omaha beach, Siant-Laurent-sur-Mer
• June 8th, Parachute show in La Fière near to Sainte-Mère-Église
• June 28th, Liberation Ball - 40s meal and dance, Fermanville
• July 12th - 13th, Freedom Celebrated, festival, dance and firework display, Bolleville

Many events are still being confirmed so check the dedicated website for more information: the70th-normandy.com 

Strasbourg - the best Christmas market in Europe

STRASBOURG has been named the place with the best Christmas market in Europe in a poll of tens of thousands of voters. 

The local tourist board calls the city "the capital of Christmas" and has a long history of hosting open-air festivities during the holidays. Its first Christmas market dates back to 1570. 

Read more about Strasbourg generally @ 
http://www.france-travel-guide.net/Strasbourg.html

Read an essay about the Christmas market @ 
http://www.france-travel-guide.net/Strasbourg-essay.html

Eurasian lynx spotted

ENVIRONMENTALISTS are excited by reports, backed up by images, of a Eurasian lynx, seen near Besançon in the Franche-Comté region. 

This suggests the presence of a colony in the area, which is thought to include about 30 animals. There are already populations of lynx in the Jura, the Vosges and the Alps.

Lynx are not dangerous to human beings, but have been known to attack sheep and goats.

See more at: http://www.connexionfrance.com/lynx-colony-sighting-besancon-franche-comte-15310-view-article.html#sthash.p8lNBUbD.dpuf

No white Christmas for France

Storms with winds of more than 100kph (60+mph) are expected to hit the west of France and the Channel coast at the start of Christmas week, washing out any hope of a white Christmas.

Forecasters at Météo France say Monday and the following days could see rainstorms gusting up to 120kph  (75mph) over an area from the Vendée to south Brittany and the Channel. - See more at: http://www.connexionfrance.com/Storm-Christmas-snow-gusts-rain-Brittany-15312-view-article.html#sthash.t0EnFTg6.dpuf

Paris-Barcelona TGV link

A DIRECT TGV service between Paris and Barcelona entered service on December 15, 2013.

The two countries’ high-speed networks were linked earlier this year but passengers still had to change trains at Figueres, near the French border, a manoeuvre that added 20 minutes to the journey time. Previously, rail passengers had to take an overnight train to make the trip. Spain’s RENFE railways operator and France’s SNCF will run the line together.

SNCF said the new daily services comprised two return trips between Paris and Barcelona, one return trip between Lyon and Barcelona and one return trip between Toulouse and Barcelona.

There will also be one daily return trip between Marseille, Barcelona and Madrid. Railway authorities in Spain and France approved the use of the double-decker high-speed trains on each nation’s tracks at the end of November. The final goal is to cut the Paris-Barcelona travel time to 5 hours and 35 minutes once the track from Perpignan to Nîmes in southern France is upgraded for high-speed travel, not expected until at least 2021.

Spain now boasts 3,000 kilometres of active high-speed lines, the second longest such network in the world.

On the current service, a one-way from Paris to Barcelona costs between €110-€200 - See more at: http://tinyurl.com/tgvlink.

All change at RailEurope

Rail Europe Ltd. the UK’s leading provider of European rail tickets and passes has rebranded to become Voyages-sncf.com. In a move designed to highlight the benefits of travelling by train and take the complexity out of booking rail travel to the continent, the company has recently unveiled its new website and brand identity: www.voyages-sncf.com.