jen Posted October 22, 2008 Share Posted October 22, 2008 After spending lots of time in France house hunting/holidays in various times from May - October. We are going over to Dordogne, near Perigueux for Christmas. Really looking forward to seeing it in a different time of year, any advice or tips for taking a break during this time of year? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kitty Posted October 22, 2008 Share Posted October 22, 2008 Do you have a wood burning stove? You will need it...EDIT: You don't always need heating during the day. Today, for example, although at 8.30am the temperature was 1 degree C, by 2pm it was 19 degrees C. Even in the depths of winter, the early afternoon can be gorgeously warm. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mint Posted October 22, 2008 Share Posted October 22, 2008 Definitely, take thermal underclothes, hot water bottles, warm clothing generally such as hat, gloves, etc. A supply of whisky or some sort of alcohol for making hot toddies optional! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Just Katie Posted October 22, 2008 Share Posted October 22, 2008 Jen, I have been told that in many parts of France, it is closed shutters during winter, christmas included. That would be heaven for me but not everyone is the same. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scooby Posted October 22, 2008 Share Posted October 22, 2008 The christmas decorations in Perigueux (and the shops generally) are lovely. They usually have an ice rink and fun fair - which my kids love...but take gloves or they won't let you on. Oh and everything they say about the cold is true- flippin perishing but wonderful hoar frosts. Btw we pre-ordered our christmas dinner from the local traiteur - picked it up Christmas Eve so all we had to do was reheat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Just Katie Posted October 22, 2008 Share Posted October 22, 2008 [quote user="Scooby"]The christmas decorations in Perigueux (and the shops generally) are lovely. They usually have an ice rink and fun fair - which my kids love...but take gloves or they won't let you on. Oh and everything they say about the cold is true- flippin perishing but wonderful hoar frosts.[/quote]That sounds lovely. I really hate the UK at christmas or should I rephrase 'christmas' for 'September to December'. Why do people go so mad and grabby? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scooby Posted October 22, 2008 Share Posted October 22, 2008 I agree JK - Christmas in France is much less commercialised. I forgot to mention - I think they have Christmas services at the Abbey at Chancelade (there is also an anglican church at Chancelade that has carol services - with English carols) but I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong. I'm guessing there must also be services at the Cathedral St Front in Perigueux but we have never been. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Panda Posted October 23, 2008 Share Posted October 23, 2008 For me in the last 5 years of being in France the run up to Christmas has got increasingly commercialised and shopping in Bordeaux could be any city in the UK. I went to Toys R Us last weekend and it was full on Xmas and absolutely packed . When we first moved here I was shocked (in a good way) at how the shops didn't seem to change much and there were no queues and no 'grabbiness' as JK described above but I do feel that those days are ending and certainly in the bigger towns it is no different to the UK.I'm off to the Alps for Christmas for the first time, anyone know what that's like at Christmas?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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