French citizens of Market Drayton's twin town are set to visit Shropshire this summer Watch more of our videos on ShotsTV.comand on Freeview 262 or Freely 565 The north Shropshire town is twinned with Pézenas in the south of France Residents are set to jet over to England and arrive in Shropshire this July They will be greeted by members of Market Drayton Twinning Association and locals At a full council meeting of Market Drayton Town Council last week councillors discussed conversations between themselves and the group It was announced that approximately 18 members of the twin town delegation will visit for a week in July Members of the association recommended holding a reception for the twin towners with wine on arrival Town councillors are expected to be present and plans are being put in place for a welcoming ceremony with literature to be printed in both French and English The working group also discussed having a buffet and possibly a band at the welcome event as well as servicemen and -women Members of the twin town will visit the town's market see local businesses and other tourist sites in the county Market Drayton Twinning Association jetted off to Pezenas in 2022 for their first trip since before the Covid-19 pandemic Their special visit involved a trip to Valmagne Abbey in Villeveyrac a visit to an oyster farm and a guided tour of the Palace of the Archbishops in Narbonne Market Drayton Mayor Roy Aldcroft is looking forward to the special occasion He said: "We are looking to welcome a group from our twin town of Pezenas in July There will be a formal reception at the Royal British Legion and during their stay our French visitors will have the opportunity to visit our markets see some of the industry in the town and visit other tourist sites in the county." Deputy Mayor Tim Manton added: "It's fantastic news Our town's twinning with Pezenas isn't probably spoken about enough it is a great thing and to have that relationship with them "Representatives from Market Drayton went over there last year and were welcomed with open arms and we are going to have a reciprocal thing this year and welcome them to the town "It is very important and we really look forward to it We are going to put on a bit of a show for them and welcome them with open arms." usually mundane architectural feature that doesn’t attract much attention It’s a prelude to the main attraction on the other side that moment of suspense before it opens to the unknown I came here just to see the city’s elaborate medieval doors navy — but also fire-engine red and new-leaf green which is a big tourist draw with its collection of medieval doors and hardware including massive hand-crafted iron hinges iron and brass locks that require enormous skeleton keys and the rock stars of door accoutrements — the heurtoirs the Door Museum itself has a rather plain door painted a pale celery >>RELATED: More travel stories The doors of Pézenas are photo-ops, at least for me and other like-minded visitors walking in the historic district, a labyrinth of twisting narrow lanes lined with bakeries, art galleries, small tapas cafés, potters and costume-makers for festivals. We all came to a halt in front of a particularly ornate fire-engine red door and took photos of the door framed by columns carved in stone. We took close-ups of ornate black iron door knockers and key holes in huge metal plates that looked like the skeleton keys were probably a foot long. Dogs and cats have their own doors set in the big doors. My favorite had the sign “Attention: Chat Lunatique.” Beware the crazy cat, and, of course, we were immediately en garde for this fierce feline. Many of the doors are covered in pointed iron studs, which in medieval times were used to damage foot soldiers’ axes, halberds and swords. The studs and iron bands also held together multiple layers of wood, and added decoration. On the other side of most of these doors are grand multi-level townhouses, built from the 16th to 18th centuries by wealthy merchants and French aristocrats when Pézenas was the seat of government of Languedoc. There are grand stone staircases and stone balusters, balconies and arched brick ceilings, statues, fountains and courtyards with small gardens. Some of the houses, including the Lacoste Mansion, built from the 15th to 17th centuries, are open to the public. I didn’t miss the opportunity to see behind this particular door. The government lists 116 buildings as historic and many of those are on the protected list. While walking around the Old Town, I looked for the town’s most historic buildings including the Consular House, built in 1552 with an 18th-century front featuring intricate wrought-iron work. It now houses the Maison des Métiers d’Art, which sponsors art and crafts exhibitions. Other historic buildings include the 18th-century Collégiale Saint-Jean church; the Romanesque-style Church of Saint-Jean-de-Bébian; and the Church of Sainte-Ursule, built in 1686. A 19th-century statue of Saint Roch, a patron saint of dogs, stands high above the street on the side of a building. Besides its doors, the city is most famous for French playwright Molière, who lived here for several periods in the 17th century. The theater festival dedicated to Molière is a big annual event along with the Carnival celebration. The historic town, home to 8,300 people, is also known for wine. It is in the heart of the wine-growing region of Languedoc and only about 20 minutes from the Mediterranean. There are plenty of outdoor cafés, and it was wonderful to enjoy warm breezes in winter. I easily found the two Pézenas food specialties — the petit pâté de Pézenas, a crispy pastry made with mutton, lemon and brown sugar, and berlingots de Pézenas, candies flavored with anise. In Pézenas, I sampled wines at wineries, went to the beach, and ate breakfast, lunch and dinner in restaurant courtyards in the shade of wisteria and bougainvillea canopies. During one lunch, I looked through my door photos. Who knew I would become such an admirer of doors? I promise when you go home after a visit to Pézenas, you will stand before your own ordinary door and consider how you could make it wonderful. Accommodations in Pézenas range from a 10-bedroom, seven-bath, 17th-century château on 15-acre grounds with modern updates and a swimming pool (www.purefrance.com) to luxury bed and breakfasts in the heart of town to inexpensive modern inns. Or you can buy your own magnificent historic castle in or near Pézenas (properties.lefigaro.com/announces/chateau-herault-languedoc+roussillon-france/) Les Suites de Peyrat: This atmospheric inn has spacious suites with modern baths, and an excellent restaurant. It’s a 10-minute walk from the historic center. Rooms start at about $100. Use your usual hotel booking sites such as booking.com, hotels.com, expedia.com etc. for reservations Vigniamont Bed and Breakfast: In the heart of Pézenas, this is your chance to experience a 17th-century house but with modern amenities. Ask for the grand suite, king or queen suite. Breakfast included. Rates start at about $144. Garrigae Distillerie de Pézenas: A short walk from the Old Town, this inn is a modern hotel with spacious suites with balconies. Rooms start at about $120. Le Grand Hôtel Molière: A modern bare-bones hotel but with sleek French style. Rates start at about $75. Musée de la Porte: The museum is open 10 a.m. until noon, and 2 to 5 p.m. daily except Mondays when it is closed. 5 rue Montmorency. Admission is free but visitors are encouraged to leave a donation. Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice The antique town of Pézenas is one of the quiet glories of southern France What you see at the outset is a glorious place of elegant 17th- and 18th-century houses constructed in mellow honey-coloured stone and graced with balconies and twirling wrought-iron These gracious buildings exude a refined atmosphere and have an edge of grandeur entirely in keeping with Pézenas’s past as the capital of Languedoc The town lost its political power in the late 17th century but it continued to thrive as a market centre and it continued to expand over the ensuing century Stroll the broad thoroughfare of cours Jean Jaures and you’ll take in some of the most striking of the townhouses The northern side of the road was built on the old town walls that had been constructed to protect an ancient At the north-west end of cours Jean Jaures walk through the gateway adjacent to place Ledru Rollin and you step into a palpably different world It is a car-defying maze of alleys lined with dwellings that have over the years been added to and augmented so that you see a 14th-century arch here a 17th-century façade complete with carvings fronting a building a good 200 years older Adding to the intrigue is the absorbing history of this atmospheric tangle of an old town Immediately to the left of that opening archway is another arch with a sign above it announcing that thiswas the medieval Jewish quarter It is a small space of just one short road with some of its buildings still adorned with Jewish emblems – yet it is quite remarkable particularly given that the Jewish community in France was expelled in 1394 on the order of King Charles VI They are thought to have lived amicably here unconcerned by the presence of the Knights Templar a huge challenge to the French royalty and under pressure of King Philip IV of France the property passing to the Knights of St John occupies some of the site of the original complex constructed by the Knights Templar in the 12th century the hey-day of the town as an important centre So it was that in 1646 Jean-Baptiste Poquelin Over the course of the next 12 years he and his troupe of actors toured the region extensively You can find out about Molière’s life and times at the tourist office which stages a lively 3D film about the actor-playwright The building alone is well worth visiting in its own right Hotel Peyrat is a complex property that in the course of time has housed the town prison as well as offering more elegant accommodation to aristocrats free exhibition on crafts in Pézenas while the upper floors house another free display this one devoted to the town’s eclectic architecture But for all the well preserved history here A Jewish museum is currently being mooted and will probably be housed in a building by the old Jewish quarter A luxury apartment hotel is under construction in a former distillery The 46 suites of the Garrigae Pézenas are due to open next summer Pézenas has a tradition of fine craftsmanship and this year a new initiative of craft displays will be taking place It starts with workshops and displays at the craft centre in the old town at place Gambetta on 2 April – which has been designated as national craft day in France And it will continue in July and August when craft shows will be staged daily (except Sundays) For more information contact the tourist office Scenovision Molière (00 33 4 67 98 35 39; scenovisionmoliere.com) The 3D film show in French and English is presented on the upper floors of the tourist office (see below for details) daily 9am-noon and 2-6pm (from 10am on Sun) with extended hours over the peak summer season; adults €7 Pézenas Tourist Office, Hotel Peyrat, Place des Etats du Languedoc (00 33 4 67 98 36 40; pezenas-tourisme.fr) Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies Research & Innovation The discovery of the gegenschein—a faint nighttime glow that appears as a diffuse brightening at the anti-sun the point in the sky exactly opposite the sun—has usually been attributed to French Jesuit astronomer Esprit Pezenas in 1730 physics professor emeritus and Texas State University System Regents' Professor Donald Olson has applied his distinctive brand of celestial sleuthing to the question and determined that Danish astronomer Theodor Johann Christian Ambders Brorsen was actually the first person to observe and record the elusive gegenschein in 1854 more than a century after the supposed discovery by Pezenas Olson publishes his findings in the October 2021 issue of Sky & Telescope magazine "I've long been interested in three related night sky phenomena—zodiacal light which is pyramidal shaped and seen in the evening or morning twilight; the zodiacal band which can extend across the entire sky and is very difficult to see; and the gegenschein which is a brightening in the zodiacal band at a point in the sky that is exactly opposite the sun," Olson said "The gegenschein is one of the most elusive faint glows in astronomy." is related to zodiacal light and the zodiacal band – night sky phenomena that all have a common origin in sunlight reflected and scattered from dust in or near the plane of Earth’s orbit around the sun Observation of the faint gegenschein requires a dark site with clear transparent skies during the periods of late September-November and February-April when the anti-sun is relatively far from the Milky Way in the sky and the brighter glow of our home galaxy cannot overwhelm the much fainter gegenschein The best time of night to view the gegenschein is always near local midnight when this faint glow appears as an oval patch in the zodiacal constellation then highest in the sky and farthest above the atmospheric absorption that prevails near the horizon Pezenas being credited for the discovery can largely be traced to an influential two-volume set on the history of astronomy completed by Swiss astronomer Rudolf Wolf in 1893 "In 1730 Pézénas discovered the so-called 'Gegenschein,' the brightest part of which is opposite the sun’s location see the Mémoires of the Paris Academy for 1731." other astronomers expressed doubt about Pezenas' connection to the gegenschein As early as 1867 the Italian astronomer Giovanni Schiaparelli suggested that Pezenas had perhaps observed an aurora borealis instead of the gegenschein In 1925 Swiss astronomer Franz Flury also expressed skepticism also pointing to an aurora as the phenomenon Pezenas likely observed although Flury allowed that Pezenas may have observed the gegenschein at the same time as the aurora "I first wrote about zodiacal light more than 30 years ago for Sky & Telescope and that led me to wonder – who was the first to describe the gegenschein?" Olson said "The consensus was that Pezenas observed it in 1730 but I wanted to read the primary sources to see exactly what he said imagine my surprise when I read his account While Wolf and several other early authors cite Mémoires of the Paris Academy for 1731 as evidence for Pezenas being credited with the discovery Olson found an earlier account by Pezenas in the May 1730 issue of a more obscure publication FROM MARSEILLE                I noticed on the 15th of February of this year a great light along the zodiac … It extended obliquely nearly according to the position of the zodiac it appeared a bright red which illuminated all the countryside It passed by the heart of the Lion and by Cancer where it somewhat covered Jupiter; it grazed the eastern shoulder of Orion and it passed above this constellation; it also covered the Pleiades and it appeared to be directed towards the Sun This light did not prevent us from seeing the smallest stars even in the northeast where it was denser; it was much as we see them through the tails of comets It weakened in the northeast at 8 o’clock … Its brilliancy was renewed at 9 o’clock and the horizon in the northeast appeared until 10 o’clock just as bright About half past 10 o’clock it diminished imperceptibly as one would expect from an experienced astronomer It also raises several red flags that cast serious doubt on what he actually observed that night he describes it as having a bright red color when colors are difficult or impossible to detect He shouldn't be perceiving bright colors," Olson said whereas the true gegenschein should be most visible near local midnight While Pezenas' written observations are an exceedingly poor description of the gegenschein there should be other contemporary accounts of simultaneous observations they would be strong evidence that Pezenas never observed the gegenschein "I ended up finding dozens and dozens of observations from Feb It turns out there was a great auroral event on that night," Olson said "It was seen throughout Europe and throughout Asia I found observations from half a dozen places in France if Pezenas was not the first astronomer to observe the gegenschein Many of the same historical sources that credit Pezenas with discovering the gegenschein hold that German explorer Alexander von Humboldt observed this elusive glow in 1803 Based on entries in his journal from March 1803 Humboldt later recalled seeing a faint counter-glow in the east counter-glow is "Gegenschein," giving the phenomenon its modern name There's a large "but" to crediting Humboldt as the discoverer Humboldt described luminous pyramids near both the western horizon and the eastern horizon shortly after sunset not near midnight when the oval of the true gegenschein is high overhead rejected outright the possibility that Humboldt viewed the true gegenschein suggesting scholars were focusing more on his early use of the term "Gegenschein" than the German's actual observations the next potential candidate is Danish astronomer Theodor Johann Christian Ambders Brorsen Brorsen published the first clear and unambiguous description of the gegenschein phenomenon in 1854 He studied the zodiacal light and the zodiacal band noticed the brighter patch near the anti‑sun and carefully measured its position among the stars during March and April 1854 “Concerning a New Phenomenon of the Zodiacal Light,” and applied the term Gegenschein to his observations: which consisted of a brighter elongated round patch … the middle of it coincided almost exactly with the point opposite the Sun … a round glow almost exactly opposite the Sun’s location Brorsen continued his observations of the gegenschein into 1855 taking detailed notes that leave no doubt he observed the faint phenomenon repeatedly over the course of a year Pezenas and Humboldt observed interesting astronomical sights but it was Brorsen who first viewed and recorded the elusive gegenschein Jayme Blaschke, 512-245-2555 Sandy Pantlik These findings challenge previous thinking that posited a decrease in biodiversity or even an extinction between the Cambrian and Ordovician Periods The high level of biodiversity observed does confirm the hypothesis of species’ migration toward the Ordovician southern hemisphere seeking refuge from the excessive temperatures of the tropical zones whose findings will be published in Nature Ecology & Evolution (9 February) inaugurates a research program that is to span several years and include large-scale excavations followed by in-depth analyses of fossils The aim is to detail the fossilized organisms’ internal and external anatomies More information on the CNRS Le Journal article and on news from the University of Lausanne.  Demand for vacation rentals skyrocketed and has remained high since pandemic restrictions lifted earlier this summer Michael and Debbie Campbell, a retired Seattle couple who call themselves the Senior Nomads, have stayed in more than 270 Airbnbs in 85 countries over the last eight years Here are their tips for choosing a vacation rental that will meet your needs “I think the reviews are really important. Read between the lines Look at the photos carefully,” says Michael Campbell “We’ve never had a [serious] problem; in 270 Airbnbs we’ve either been particularly lucky or really good at sussing out the right place for us for our budget,” says Debbie Campbell “Location is really important … pay attention to where the place is on the map,” says Michael a central location in a major city so they can take public transportation and walk as much as possible — for health benefits and because they think it’s the best way to see a city The couple always interview the host of potential sites before booking “They’re someone’s homes and the expectations should be tempered in some respects whether it’s run by a property manager or not The nature of vacations is that they are too short You’re “rushing to the airport having had to finish the last project at work and then hurry up and enjoy the next two weeks,” says Debbie Debbie recommends people “build in some stress-reducing time in your travels to allow for serendipity.  Don’t schedule every single moment noting that they remind themselves “we are the foreigner.” “Having a high dose of curiosity is what leads to growth and expanded understanding of the world The opinions expressed in reader comments are those of the author only and do not reflect the opinions of The Seattle Times Stay secure and make sure you have the best reading experience possible by upgrading your browser We may receive a commission on purchases made from links The regional cuisine and wines match symbiotically the mountainous regions produce world-class cheeses The Languedoc and Rousillon areas are a culinary playground because many microclimates allow various types of produce to be grown wild mushrooms and chestnuts are essential aspects of the food scene Famous chefs such as the Pourcel Brothers showed the world the regions beauty by showcasing local goods at their 3-Michelin starred spot Even though it sadly shut its doors in 2016 and more folks are taking notice of the impressive gourmet locale We put together some of the most important dishes that all gourmands must try The proximity to Spain has influenced the cuisine in these regions in many ways — one of which is the popularity of small plates, like tapas. Small pâtés, like Les Petits pâtés de Pézenas, are considered starter plates. Pézenas is a historic town in Hérault where they have originated and mastered these sweet and savory appetizers. According to Bloc-Notes Culinaire these are special charcuterie preparation from 18th-century Indian cooks passing through the area It is a baked pie filled with sweet and savory minced mutton filling This starter plate is usually eaten warm at the start of a meal along with regional rosé wine or a Frontignan muscat. Wine-Searcher explains that Frontignan muscat is a sweet or semi-sweet and floral wine made in the Frontignan town It suits the Petits pâtés de Pézenas because it elevates the sweeter flavors of the pâté while balancing the savory bits Another way to go is to enjoy them with a local syrah or red blend to compliment the delicious savory Pro tip: Raw Pézenas pâtés freeze very well so don't feel inhibited when making your batches or buying this delicacy and herbs and sometimes filled with melted bacon fat Some iterations are made with local sausage either alongside or stuffed into the snails You will know they are done when they start to whistle — like an escargot kettle they are served with aioli (as if they weren't rich enough) As this is another example of a tapas-like dish (called apéro in France) they are usually eaten while standing and socializing with a glass of wine or local beer in the other hand and a lovely pairing is a red blend from the region Think of creamy mashed potatoes with the added brine and salt of cod. Cod brandade, which, according to Leite's Culinaria and herbs (sometimes anchovies are added for umami) The mashed potato serves as a filler and enhances the deep sea salt taste of the cod It is typically done as an hors d'oeuvre or small plate but can quickly become a dinner staple by adding a poached egg so drier wines with high acidity are the way to go A simple dish that takes very little time to prepare is anchovies gratinés with herbs. Passion and Cooking explain the easy recipe: Lay the anchovies down in a baking dish (cut in half lengthwise) and then cover with a mixture of bread crumbs This dish is sometimes served alongside a mixed salad in a lemon and olive oil dressing The outcome is a rich and creamy dish that is crispy on top It has a zing from the lemon and tons of umami from the anchovies Anchovies are one of the best foods for cardiovascular health because they are high in omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin B12 In between sips and dips of crusty bread into your bourride, enjoy the gorgeous fizz from Limoux. Limoux is actually where the first sparkling wine was ever made. Reuters explains that these sparklers are vibrant and complex there are differences between crémant de Limoux and blanquette de Limoux but either one will give you the fresh lemon and biscuit notes that will meld with the dish as if they were made to be enjoyed together Gérard Bertrand has worked to put the area on the map with its incredible range of local wines the Cote des Rose perfectly matches your tuna à la catalane Light and bright with summery notes of cassis this wine will bring out the crispness of the dish while giving an acidic backbone and soft fruity notes that will drive the beachy vibe home A sweet and savory dish, clapassade is a traditional stew hailing from Montpellier made with slowly simmered lamb, honey, olives, and star anise, per Taste Atlas A roux is made and then deglazed with local wine — as they say goes together." The lamb shanks are adorably called "souris d'agneau," meaning "mouse of lamb," since the shanks are so tiny Your local butcher can cut larger shanks in half if needed The sanguine flavors of the lamb gain an undercurrent of licorice and sweetness All ingredients are hyper-local to the Montpellier region A trip to the local Montpellier farmer's market (or a few clicks from a specialty shop) can check off the ingredients needed: lightly brined lucques olives réglisse (licorice root that is usually tied in a muslin bag) Snag your favorite wine from Montpellier to go with it. A red from Pic Saint Loup echos the rich and complex flavors of the dish Pic Saint Loup wines are showy with flavors of garrigue and black cherries that elevate the clapassade white kidney beans are submerged with pork products such as smoked ham Cassoulet de Carcassone includes chunks of mutton while cassoulet in Tolousain is all about duck or goose confit A bottle of Corbières red is rich in texture and herbal notes that are sure to mesh with your cassoulet beautifully Another Wine Blog explains the differences and similarities between Mardi Gras in the United States and the Limoux Carnival While Mardi Gras is technically one day (with celebrations surrounding it) Limoux Carnival lasts from January to March while Carnival is unfettered joy and celebration Mardi Gras is typically toasted with cocktails like the popular Hurricane while Carnival is celebrated with the regional sparkling wine — Blanquette de Limoux one thing is the same — King Cake plays a considerable role in both fêtes French "galette des Rois," or King Cake as we know it It is a round or rectangular puff pastry cake filled with frangipane Nearly 20 million of these cakes are consumed in France each year There are many traditions surrounding the King Cake (some less savory than others) but the most well-known is that the youngest person goes under the table and chooses which guest gets each slice (without being able to see it being cut) Whoever gets the piece that has a bean or an ornamental charm inside gets to be king for the day and has to buy next year's cake Croustade languedocienne is a thinly crusted pie that is hand-formed (almost like a galette) filled with apple slices that had been swimming in Armagnac and sugar. According to Francoise's Kitchen you can make it with a homemade puff pastry Some iterations include orange blossom water and almonds The apples are drained before being placed in the dough and the juice is then brushed onto the dough halfway through cooking to give the crust a crispy caramelization A glass of Armagnac (brandy made in the Armagnac region) is a lovely accompaniment as its bitter notes attenuate the toothsome flavors and the weight of the brandy is in balance with the croustade a glass of regional demi-sec viognier pairs nicely; not only is it in accordance with fruitiness but the rich floral notes of the wine complement the pectin of the apple and orange blossom water If you are looking for a lighter variation of crème brûlée but this Catalan-inspired version is made using whole milk for the custard rather than the heavy cream that is used in crème brûlée Another difference is that it is made with lemon or orange zest and cinnamon instead of vanilla the crema Catalana is set by chilling rather than being baked in a double broiler like the crème brûlée The top can be caramelized similarly — using a torch to crisp up sugar crystals on top, but another way is to use a round iron device to burn the sugar, says Laylita's Recipes. No worries if you don't have either kitchen gadget — the broiler will do just fine. According to Regions of France some chefs will serve it slightly warmed to bring out the spices and citrus What looks like a doughnut, crunches like a biscuit, and tastes like Christmas? Rousquilles Catalanes, of course! The French Pâtissier explains how to make these delicious tea-time snacks They are round with a hole in the middle like a doughnut but they are soft on the inside and crispy on the outside The name means "little wheels." Some are standard doughnut-shaped it is a creamy farmhouse cheese that boasts a light funkiness due to the speckles of mold Roquefort is well known worldwide and hails from the Occitanie — mainly in the Languedoc This complex and funky bleu cheese is made exclusively with raw whole sheep's milk from a specific breed of sheep called "lacaune." It ripens in the natural caves of the Combalou slope in the village of Roquefort-Sur-Soulzon If you are looking for a milder bleu cheese Senior management was recently walking down the street and took a funny turn With her habitual stoicism she ignored the swelling in her foot for two weeks until I finally persuaded her to go to the urgences (emergency room) at the local Polyclinique Pasteur the town four miles from our village.  Nobody here seems to be waiting 84 hours in an emergency room as one NHS patient recently did in Scotland There wasn’t much they could do about the annoying bone in her foot that was shown to be broken after a wait-free visit to the on-site radiology suite The advice on what to do and not to do is proving effective It took one hour from arrival to discharge and the co-pay bill (for Ibuprofen and paracetamol) was €2.  Already a subscriber? Log in a Nation on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown’ (Gibson Square) Be part of the conversation with other Spectator readers by getting your first three months for £3 Already a subscriber? Log in From pear and gorgonzola in Edinburgh to sour cherry on the Peloponnese Winning tip: Ewe turn, Abergavenny, MonmouthshireShepherds Ice Cream Shop in Abergavenny is a Wes Anderson-styled drop-in complete with classic Neapolitan ice-cream colours and a little hatch to fetch your favourite flavours from the business is run by two generations of a family that has some sort of tradition around a golden scoop Shepherds often pop up with a vintage ice-cream trailer at festivals and events around the UK It’s my family’s year-round Friday treat.Alexia Tucker Tagg makes its own gelato from its organic Jersey herd the flavours change frequently and are all delicious one scoop is not enough and sometimes two isn’t either.Susanna Sherwin A frozen yoghurt from Lola finds favour with one holidaymaker. Photograph: Lisa Foreman/The GuardianLola is just off the main street in Kardamyli an unspoilt little village in the Peloponnese It serves up a small selection of ice-cream flavours that changes daily alongside gorgeously refreshing Greek frozen yoghurt (swirled fresh out of the machine) Colourful pots contain a variety of toppings – sour cherries pistachios and almonds were our favourites The setting makes Lola particularly charming its garden provides a peaceful retreat and shade festoon-lights and jazz make it perfect to wander into for frozen yoghurt when strolling back from a taverna.Cait Crave IcesCrave Ices at Ventnor on the Isle of Wight invents new flavours constantly Fortunately they offer tasters to the undecided while strangers exchange recommendations in the queue Recent highlights include pomegranate ripple blue stilton (served with oatcakes and grapes Once I mentioned a flavour I’d enjoyed the previous year They made a batch especially for me so I could have it again before I left for home.Lucy Marder where you can stroll through sheltered tree-lined paths and gaze out at the spectacular lakeside scenery If you finish your gelato before you get there don’t worry – there’s a stall in the gardens.Clare The Rinkha offers a wide array of flavours. Photograph: AaronThere’s a small shop in Whitehead in Northern Ireland, about 30 minutes from Belfast, called the Rinkha which since 1921 has been selling general goods and the best ice-cream in the world but my grandma Florence loves the raspberry ruffle If you get your ice-cream and go down the road to Whitehead beach you may get a glimpse of Scotland as the Irish Sea air refreshes your senses An absolute must-visit in Northern Ireland (with very reasonably priced and generous portions too).Aaron there is a fantastic range of flavours at only €3.50 for two generous scoops Choose yours and walk one block to the sweeping terrace next to the Real Club Náutico de San Sebastián to enjoy one of the best coastal views in Europe across Concha beach.Sev Every week we ask our readers for recommendations from their travels. A selection of tips will be featured online and may appear in print. To enter the latest competition visit the readers' tips homepage Thank you for your feedback.Aux Parfums D’Italie in Pézenas Photograph: Jonathan Casson/The GuardianCool customers FranceThe ice-cream kiosk Aux Parfums D’Italie (29 Rue de La Foire) It is frequented by locals who queue to buy enormous tubs of homemade ice-creams and by tourists who perch on the rickety red metal chairs and artisan granitas are a perfect way to cool down after meandering around the cobbled streets of this historic town Delphini’s“Che buono! The best gelato al pistachio outside Naples!” exclaimed my son’s Italian girlfriend on her first visit to Delphini’s in Totnes Every day there’s a queue outside this gelateria in this progressive south Devon town Delphini’s gelato is made on the premises with organic local milk and cream – also dairy-free and vegan options for Totnes’s alternative crowd mint stracciatella and salted butter caramel Flavours change daily and they do free tasting a trophy asset owned by a sanctioned Russian oligarch is set amidst 32 majestic hectares of artfully tended vines nestled in a beautiful corner of southern France A brand-new climate-controlled production hall has all the mod cons There’s even a Michelin-starred restaurant on the premises where you might entertain clients A château within a walled park in a nearby village may be available by separate negotiation And it’s just 20 minutes away from Béziers airport where you can land your jet Bébian has since 2008 been the property of the Russian oligarch although more recently it’s revealed apparently to also be owned by his son one might reasonably ask the circling sharks to profit from the ghastly tragedy in Ukraine it is on the contrary a method of serving rough financial justice to people whose gains are at best unexplained and not infrequently ill gotten But the complicated situation at Bébian undoubtedly reflects the opaque structures that make it hard to untangle the ownership of Russian assets here Bébian itself has been a gigantic boost to Pézenas ever since Pumpyansky arrived installing the latest digitally-controlled winemaking gear a manufacturer of steel pipes for the oil and gas industry he’s hardly an oligarch of the premier league Pumpyansky’s net worth has been estimated at a modest $2 billion He has one of the more compact ocean-going yachts to the extent that he has spent many millions on Bébian which appears to have never generated a centime of profit in the estimation of authoritative sources is appreciative and considerate to his staff and is genuinely interested in wine At his new dining pavilion he’s installed the Michelin-starred chef Matthieu de Lauzun and created a small hotel with ten rooms decorated by the Marrakesh-based architect Raymond Morel is a splendid effort to upgrade vititourism in a region that’s hardly wealthy Alexander had a local reputation as something of a playboy when the Pumpyanskys arrived even managing to crash a light plane when running out of fuel on the final approach to the local grass airstrip which used to show up for their visits in a convoy of Mercedes G Wagons there was never a lack of money to keep Bébian on the road I’m told Pumpyansky may have used offshore vehicles to hurriedly transfer control of the domain earlier this month to its longtime French manager Although whether there’s subsequently been a legally sound transfer is unclear These steps are very recent and it’s unclear how they might be viewed by the French A local winemaker tells me it’s simply impossible to sell a domain so quickly It’s only a matter of time now until the inspectors show up The trigger for the chaos at Bébian came on Wednesday 9 March when the European Union added the son The family is accused of ‘providing material or financial support to and benefiting from the government of the Russian Federation which is responsible for the annexation of Crimea and the destabilisation of Ukraine.’ ‘Alexander Pumpyansky has let go of all his assets so as not to block the business,’ Benoit Pontenier Although without details this statement raises more questions than it answers He adds that his former owner ‘is a great man.’ Alexander Pumpyansky intends to sell and if successful he will be lucky to get a fraction of what’s been invested like Abramovich’s five private jets and two yachts are easier to hide from western sanctions than real estate but as Bébian shows – and as predators are discovering from Courchevel to Cannes – it may not be so straightforward to buy them Nor will all locals necessarily rejoice at the slaying of the geese that have laid so many golden eggs Subscribe to unlock 3 months of unlimited access for just £3 Members of Market Drayton 's twinning association are 'thrilled' to have visited their friends in France after a three-year delay due to Covid Market Drayton Twinning Association jetted off to the twin town of Pezenas in the South of France this week for their first trip since before the pandemic The special visit involved a trip to Valmagne Abbey in Villeveyrac Association secretary Alison Bates commented on the trip and said: "We’re thrilled to be going to Pezenas again after not seeing our friends there for the whole years "And Pezenas is such a beautiful mediaeval town – a bit like Shrewsbury but with the beautiful warm weather of the Mediterranean became a part of the Confrérie du petit pâté de Pézenas – said to be the equivalent of being given honorary membership of the town The organisation was formed in 1991 to preserve and promote the tradition of Clive of India's pies and the ceremony involved the award of a medieval mince pie made of lamb Clive of India linked the two towns together after his return home from India to Market Drayton in 1767 in which he returned via Pezenas he requested a local bakery to make him up some pies to his own recipe – a meat pie – which were not as common in much of Europe Alison said: "Officially the civic honour is that I will be admitted into the Brotherhood of the Little Pie of Pezenas or La Confrerie du Petit Pate de Pezenas "The ceremony takes place in their beautiful 17th century theatre with great pomp and formality I’m given robes and a hat and a replica “petit pate” on a ribbon "I have to solemnly swear always to uphold the tradition of the pie Then there is a procession through the town with fifes and drums behind the famous 'Poulain' – a very ancient type of pantomime horse supported by members of the rugby club underneath "A model of it flies above Market Drayton Town Hall as a weather vane "And finally there is a formal meal and speeches." The TimesProvence might have the bling-bling of the Côte d’Azur and the lavender of Luberon unspoilt (by hordes of tourists at least) south of France the foothills of the Pyrenees and a sinuous red-cliffed road through picturesque fishing villages that are adored by artists the region’s wines are making a serious comeback along with an accompanying rise in the number of stylish vineyard hotels News and Information From The Heart of Tipperary was once the seat of local Government for the Languedoc region of France one of the prettiest towns to visit in this French region Nestling between the Mediterranean sea and the Haut Languedoc which is rich with the sort of good living for which both the French Languedoc region and county Tipperary Just like Tipperary speciality foods are numerous In Pézenas it’s “Les Petits Pates” (a sort of warm mince pie) and “Berlingots” (a unique type of boiled sweet,) an almost inexhaustible range of olives In Tipperary it’s the freshness of our local produce emanating from the Golden Vale not forgetting of course Inch House black pudding Pézenas enjoys sumptuous food emanating from the many restaurants dotted throughout the town which is home to a population of some 8.500 people Pézenas enjoys the arts and an ancient architecture and heritage Thurles native Mr Gerard Connaughton, a regular reader of Thurles.Info is currently enjoying part of his well earned holiday in the Languedoc region Writing to us from Pézenas he states he is “struck by the similarities and saddened by the differences in economic fortunes,” between his native town Thurles & his chosen holiday destination the local market draw French people in huge numbers from all over the Hérault latter a department in the south of France named after the Hérault River “I visited the Saturday market in the centre of town this morning I was astonished by the buzz and business activity I witnessed Pézenas has a population of about 8,500 – similar to Thurles I believe we made a big mistake moving the market out of Liberty Square!” Gerard was kind enough to send us a picture of his morning visit to the market area in question Do you think our now lifeless Liberty Square here in Thurles could benefit with the return of a morning market we need to generate a bit of “buzz and business activity,” in the centre of our town which has presently (I regret to state,) all the appearance of a waiting room in a morgue or as tourism brochures presently label us “Liberty Square Perphaps it is now time to launch an attack on our town & reclaim it from the greedy hands of central government officialdom The idea of the square being a market place is an excellent one Why not move the Farmers’ market there The only trouble is that the shop owners on the Square will not agree They say that they need the parking space They complain that there is no where else to park if the space is taken up The future for the shop owners is very bleak for them unless they adopt some radical thinking (like the market place on Liberty Square idea) Councillor Gerard Fogarty is a huge outspoken advocate of “Thurles the Market Town,” and would champion this cause with both intelligence and sound logic Thanks George for another thought provoking blog post Thurles has historically been a market town The reason the market was moved out and into the Parnell St carpark was because of the nature of the market and it’s set up etc Since my co-option to the Council I have been working to set up a market in the parking bays opposite Supermacs on Saturday mornings when the square is quite I have met resistance from some of the officials on the basis that it would be a public safety hazard however I am continuing to work for a market in The Square and I am confident it will be done soon The successful traders in the Baker St market have agreed to move there I would hope that the producers in the Greyhound Track would be happy to move there too In addition to driving footfall into the Square and to the businesses in it a market in the square would create that vital visual presence for the market The square would be a great location again for the markets Also the space down beside the Ursuline school near Elvery sports that is another spot which would be nice to see some markets/events on Is there someone to champion them and lead Action is required and will the Town Council actively promote such ideas Thanks for highlighting this as a priority for Thurles There is a lot of gloom about the decline of the traditional business centers We can watch it deteriorate further or we can do something It won’t improve by doing nothing – lets turn it around Ah the black isn’t too bad on the bridge though It is the condition of the footpaths that is the real eyesore They should have laid the same concrete slab paths like whats on Cathedral street up to Aldi The final surface is to go on the paths over the next few weeks they have almost completed remedial works to the side and arches of the bridge It will be a durable non slip surface like non slip road surfaces Thats great but will it lift and break away like the last antislip surface they put on the bridge foot paths a few years ago leaving an uneven unsafe walk way that actually was a safety issue Then company who laid it were let off and they did not have to come back and do it again like any normal job Same as resurfacing the dublin road out near coldfields two mile borris no one held responsible.this should change and quickly before more tax payers money is wasted on doing double work That’s another issue which needs to be raised is the conditions of some footpaths Stradavoher,the path running outside Jim Kennedy’s in Parnell Street and about 20 more footpaths in bad and sometimes dangerous conditions They have neglected these footpaths for years I wonder if the 258k Mr Quirke has to pay to the council in order to proceed to build the supermarket in Slievenamon road will any of that money be spent on repairs If you are digging up footpaths whoever Eircom/Upc or the council itself that all patching up is done to the same standards/quality and same materials already used The Council must go out and examine the repair works done and ensure they are of good quality and safe for the public To add the resurfacing on the bridge should have been extended to the castle That box junction has loads of to many poorly filled pot holes While I agree totally on your other comments, we must fallout on the paint colour on Barry’s Bridge This preset colour can be found on the railings of every grave surround in every graveyard in Ireland Get up to Fitzgibbon’s engineering in Mitchell St and get them to run up a few perfectly rounded geometrical objects on their lathe Come on here where are our creative designers gone Have a chat with top local artist David McElgunn who we are aware has an acknowledged creative eye for such matters (Use the money earmarked to send local councillors to Donegal in pursuit of future ‘edumacational’ courses demonstrating the importance of Twitter & Facebook in rural political life.) You can use these HTML tags   Email (will not be published) (required) and website in this browser for the next time I comment Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed To view the daily Masses live streamed from Thurles, visit; https://churchcamlive.ie/thurles/ or https://www.thurlesparish.ie Or tune in to 106.4 FM on your radio to listen Cathedral Mass will take place at 11:00 am & 7.00 pm every day Bothar na Naomh: Sunday’s at 9:00 am Essential Contact Phone Numbers Frank Roche & Sons. Call now (0504) 22313 OR visit online at frankrocheandsons.ie for great gift ideas Categories France After our first day of cruising the Canal du Midi aboard the luxurious Athos barge, we visited our first medieval town in the South of France, Pézenas. I had my first taste of southern France at the port of Marseillan Out of all the towns we visited on our cruise Pezenas France was quite possibly my favorite of them all Could Pezenas France quite possibly be the most beautiful town in the Languedoc-Roussillon region and lovely little shops with locally made wares Here are a few wonderful things to do in Pezenas which help run this site at no extra cost to you Looking for where to stay?If you’re looking for a hotel in Pezenas here’s a fantastic list at great prices If you’re looking for a perfectly preserved old town It’s likely one of the most historic towns in the South of France it was one of the first town centers in France to be declared a protected monument but I’d be willing to bet that it’s one of the most beautiful towns in the South of France Go for a wander around every narrow alleyway and cobblestone street Our first stop was one of the “hotel particuliers” in town They are brilliant mansions where their extremely wealthy owners lived back in the day We visited the Hôtel de Lacoste to learn a little bit about these mansions I adored the stone archways and staircases in the courtyard where you could look straight up to the sky I tried to imagine what it was like back in the 17th century when the rich and famous visited this home (even Louis XIV!) Pezenas France had a large Jewish population back in the 13th century, as did many towns in the South of France. The two main streets of the Jewish Ghetto are Rue Juiverie and Rue des Litanies. Although the Jews were ordered to be expelled from France by King Charles VI in 1394 Pezenas was one of the last towns to take action on the king’s orders our guide pointed out a Star of David on the exterior wall of a home He noted that the person who recently put up the Star of David by their home was not Jewish themselves The home owner wanted to pay tribute to those who were discriminated against and forced to leave their homes as well as demonstrate the importance of remembering the history of this neighborhood If you walk around and look at all of the buildings you’ll notice so many intricate details It really is like walking through a living museum This is certainly one of the best things to do in Pezenas France Admire every little detail by looking up and around as you go On one corner, there’s the statue of Saint Roch carved into the upper corner of a building and he typically points to a lesion on his thigh It’s a sore from contracting the plague he was forced to move outside of town where his faithful dog brought him bread every day and he recovered and he gained a reputation for helping to heal other people with the plague As I was gazing up at various balconies and decorative railings This could signify that this building was once a brothel back in the day I was admiring this gorgeous little garden and patio of a home when I saw a tiny cat door there was a sign: “Attention Chat Lunatique” Was some sort of insane cat going to leap out and attack me there is a very sweet cat that lives at this house It’s possible that the owner was growing tired of tourists hanging out in front of their house He was curled up inside a planter in front of the house Pezenas France is a town that idolzies Moliere They love Moliere so much that you’ll find restaurants and establishments named after Moliere wherever you turn While I didn’t delve too much into the history of Moliere in the town you can certainly learn more about his role in Pezenas through local museums Moliere did tour Pezenas quite often with his troupe over several years Though he didn’t live there permanently If you’re interested in the history of Moliere in Pezenas head to the tourist office to watch a short 3D film There’s also a Moliere monument in town as well as his armchair at the Musée de Vulliod Saint Germain Shopping is one of the top things to do in Pezenas France Our small group arrived early in the morning before many shops opened for business As the businesses slowly began to open their doors It was actually quite lovely to watch the town come to life There are tons of boutique shops selling fancy hats A flowing yellow tunic caught my eye in a shop window and I couldn’t resist trying it on (and buying it) I also went into a shop selling handcrafted and painted cat figures that were super cute (and I couldn’t resist buying one of those either) One of the local specialties of Pézenas are the Berlingots de Pézenas. These are small, hard candies in dozens of flavors. You can buy these at the Confiserie Boudet Shop right in town there’s a lively Saturday Market in town but I’d love to return in the future for this While I didn’t dine in Pézenas I did see some vegetarian (and quite possibly could be made vegan) options on restaurant signs around town There are so many patios overlooking cobblestone streets and plazas I ended up stopping for a quick coffee at O Ju ex Au cafe (8 rue Alfred Sabatier) It’s such a colorful building with so many fun decorations hanging everywhere They have a cute little patio out front where I sat and enjoyed my cup of coffee Want to see more photos of Pézenas?Check out my whole collection of pictures from Pezenas France Click the “buy” button by any pic If one thing is for certain, you must include it on your bucket list of South of France towns (along with Narbonne, Minerve, and Capestang to name a few) I only skimmed the surface of what this spectacular town has to offer and I’d love to return in the future It’s truly one of the best places in the South of France I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you Lauren is the full-time travel blogger and content creator behind Justin Plus Lauren She started Justin Plus Lauren in 2013 and has travelled to 50+ countries around the world Lauren is an expert on vegan travel as one of the very first vegan travel bloggers She also focuses on outdoor adventure travel and creating amazing travel itineraries for cities and small towns 5 Enchanting Reasons to Visit Marseillan France for an Incredible Day Fonserannes Locks: The Amazing Staircase Locks on the Canal du Midi You are inspiring me to return to France someday I'm a part-time traveler and full time travel blogger and content creator I love writing about outdoor adventures and nature Justin Plus Lauren is one of the first vegan travel blogs I've been vegan since 2009 and vegetarian all my life I love sharing the best vegan food from around the world in my guides I'm also very passionate about sustainable travel and responsible wildlife tourism You'll only find ethical travel experiences on this website You can learn more about me here. 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