Especially with the yearly ‘Fun Car’ event in Perreux. ‘Petrol head’ excitement amongst the roaring engines, grating gears, diesel fumes and smoke!

All part of the spectacular day on a farm in the countryside near the medieval village of Perruex in the Roannais, Rhône-Alpes. The battered and basic ‘fun’ or ‘stock’ cars, as they are called, came in all colours, shapes, and sizes. There was certainly plenty of action and drama!

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Developed over the years from the 19th century when on one particular night people commemorated the Virgin Mary by lighting candles in their windows.

The modern four-day event sees millions throng the streets to see marvellously illuminated buildings and an array of multi-media effects. Simply, awesome!

Visit the superb picture show of Lyon’s Féte des Lumiéres featured on the BBC’s dedicated website now. It’s not like being there, but the photos are amazing.

Also visit Purefrancenow’s visual coverage of last year’s event The Bright Lights of Lyon

Lyon’s Festival of Lights

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Some of the world’s top Michelin-starred chefs were invited onto the programme to test and comment on the  3 finalist’s food preparation’s at a special evening at the famous Brown’s Hotel in London.

These top chef’s included Raymond Blanc,  Anton Mosimann, and Albert Roux, and including 3 former Michelin Guide inspectors.

Steve Groves who eventually won the competition was particularly praised for his broad knowledge of cooking techniques, and excellently prepared dishes.

‘In the final the three remaining chefs faced the toughest challenge of their careers – preparing a three-course menu designed by Michel Roux Jr (legendary 2 Michelin-starred chef) for 30 of the world’s leading Michelin chefs.

Then they had one final cook-off at the Masterchef kitchen studios to decide who would be the 2009 champion.

They had to cook the best three courses of their lives for the judges – Michel Roux Jr  and Gregg Wallace.
Londoner Steve Groves was crowned the champion of BBC Two competition MasterChef: The Professionals.

The 28-year-old, originally from Essex, called his win “amazing” and vowed to “become the best chef”, with his own restaurant serving British food.

Over a week of challenges, Groves edged ahead of fellow finalists Marianne Lumb and Daniel Graham.
Competition judge Michel Roux Jr said: “Steve has all the talents required to make it to the top.”
‘Exceptional’
Fellow judge Gregg Wallace agreed, saying: “I have absolutely no doubt that Steve is going to go on and have a very glittering career and will be a serious player in the culinary world.”
He added that Groves possessed the perfect foundations to be an “exceptional chef”.
The finalists’ ultimate challenge was to create and prepare a three-course meal for the judges.
Groves’ winning menu consisted of a starter of roast quail with scotch egg, morels and asparagus, a main of venison loin with potato rosti, watercress puree and roasted beetroot.
He finished off with a dessert of millefeuille of raspberries and bitter chocolate with lavender and honey ice cream.
He said his late father – who motivated him to carry on cooking – would have thought his success was “unbelievable”.’
(courtesy of the BBC). Visit the BBC website:  Masterchef and Brown’s Hotel, Mayfair, London

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There were also plenty of ‘collector’ items from the past, including old copies of original and famous Michelin Guides- there was even a copy of the very first 1900 edition! WOW!

The famous, 3-Michelin starred, Maison Troisgros was also at the top of the celebratory list, with Michel Troisgros personally presenting a special demonstration of two of his latest Italian dishes from his recently published cookery book called “Michel Troisgros et l’Italie”

There were also several other reputable regional chefs demonstrating their cookery skills and ideas to a packed house of interested and thrilled visitors.

The show was well organised with a cookery school for children, and exhibitions and information on the origins of food throughout the world, and quality of diet. To be honest, a thoroughly superb and entertaining event with both an abundance of facts and fun.

Samples of fascinating past menus from the Troisgros restaurant were on display, showing, once again, the empathy of art and good food.

Maison Troisgros and BBC Masterchef

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Purefrancenow Roannais Directory

Gourmet Weekends in the Roannais

Of course, France is full of beautiful château’s of different architectural styles and merits, both large and small. Château Bouthéon is a particularly fine example of well-preserved history, beautifully landscaped gardens, and collection of farm animals.

All open to the public, and great for families to visit and learn a little more about country life, flora and fauna.

Close to Saint Etienne situated between the Rhône Valley and the Central Massif, overlooking the plains of the Loire Valley, the Château de Bouthéon has been given a new lease of life which is very much in line with the region’s current concern to protect and enhance local heritage.

This magnificent residence once home to the Bourbons in the 15th century then the Gadagne family in the 16th century, was extended in the 19th century, and has undergone extensive restoration and refurbishment since ownership was taken over by the town of Adrézieux-Boutheon in 1995.

This exceptional site, emblem of the towns’ past, and indeed, that of the whole Forez region, is steadily staking a claim as one of the prominent tourist attractions of the area, and a signficant factor for its current  fame.

A subtle blend of history, architecture, countryside, the Château offers the visitor a breathtaking vista over the hills of the Forez which, alongside its 24 acres of animal park and botanic gardens, set the landscape off to perfection.

Add to this, special interactive events organised by the Forez Exhibition Centre and soon you find yourself on an unforgettable journey of discovery.

Although also an ideal place for business conferences, meetings and exhibitions, Château Bouthéon  offers more than just a place for relaxation and leisure. The Château has undertaken to protect natural heritage by breeding threatened animal species and growing rare botanical specimens.

A place of wonder and discovery, the park invites you to enter into an animal and vegetable kingdom which is totally in communion with nature. Along its paths you will be delighted to encounter, and at surprisingly close quarters, forgotten species such as aurochs, rare breeds of goats and pigeons, draft horses…which will become as familiar to the contemporary visitor as they were to our forbears.

Laid out in themes, the botanic trail will lead you through the traditional French garden, the fegetable plot, the rose garden, the bamboo collection, an orchard and plots of aromatic plants.

The parkland of the Château de Bouthéon is the living demonstration that concern for the environment produces a harmonious universe of nature and culture.

When you visit the Roannais, here in the magnificent Rhône-Alpes region, a short trip to this fascinating château is obligatory.

www.chateau-boutheon.com

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This is a classic French chateau, absolutely perfect for staging a medieval event with son et lumiere.

A medieval village had been set up in the grounds of the chateau with people in appropriate period costume. The huge, ancient chateau gates were opened at 7.00 pm. revealing a wonderful medieval fête with a variety of activities, stalls, and entertainment.

There was plenty for all the family to enjoy, with fire-eaters, stone masons, dancers, and all manner of medieval crafts, jewellery and hat-makers.

All children had the opportunity of entering the world of the medieval knight by sampling the techniques of jousting, sword fighting, and use of bow and arrow. And after they had gone through their training and rites du passage they were knighted by the king and queen, and given a parchment scroll with their name written into the history of La Clayette – wonderful!

All, of course, done with the easy, low-key, panache, that only the French seem to be able to manage on these occasions.

After the preliminary festivities everybody were gathered and seated (over 300 people) with the stunning backdrop of the ancient chateau walls and turrets setting the scene for the first chapter of the Sorcerers Story and the Magic Sword. The colour, lighting, dress and drama were magnificent, with knights on horseback in all their regalia, and brilliant special effects.

The whole event lasted over two and a half hours! Until 12.30 am. Well worth another visit next year – absolutely no doubt!

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More fun in La Clayette!

The show was exciting, fun, colourful, dramatic, glamorous, and very professional.

Cirque de Moscou on Ice was organised by the ‘Club Roannais de Patinage Artistique’ and staged at the Patinoire Municipale de Roanne – Parc Fontalon.

This new programme of the Cirque de Moscou on Ice is a variety show. The swift change of turns of various genres, breath-taking tricks, youth, professionalism and the emotion of unique artists create a magical spectacle!

The creative career of each artist began in its own way: there are professional figure skaters, graduates from the circus academy, Olympic champions, prominent artists of circus houses.

Cirque de Moscou’s current troupe consists of 30 artists, and the show is in two parts with 20 turns, and lasts for 2 hours.

Often on tour around Russia, the company has also expanded its performances into many other coutries around the world: Moldavia, Estonia, Latvia, Italy, Germany, Israel, Holland, South African Republic, United Arab Emirates, France, Poland, Belgium, China, Canada, and Japan.

Everywhere the Cirque de Moscou visits and performs their shows and artists are received enthusiastically by the public, and always achieve excellent reports in the local press.

” The joy and form of art displayed by the Cirque de Moscou on Ice is clear to audiences of all cities, and of all ages. This dynamic show needs no words or translations.”

It is, simply, worth seeing!

You can find more information about the Cirque de Moscou by visiting their website  at: www.circusonice.ru

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