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GUEST INFORMATION MANUAL

Les Hirondelles

Contained within these pages you will find useful information on the house, local shops and restaurants, the skiing, the local area and further afield. There is a section, with images, to help with the operation of

all appliances and a small information sheet if you have dogs with you. NB- It is important you read the AROUND THE HOUSE section as it contains important information and some General Instructions.

We hope you find this helpful

CONTENTS Page

Welcome Message.............................................................................................................2

Introduction........................................................................................................................3

About Clignon.....................................................................................................................4

About Colmars les Alpes....................................................................................................5

Restaurants and Bars in Colmars......................................................................................7

Other Facilities in Colmars.................................................................................................8

In the Valley d’Haute Verdon.............................................................................................9

Geology and Fossils........................................................................................................11

Some Walks.....................................................................................................................11

Lac d’Allos........................................................................................................................13

Cycling.............................................................................................................................13

Road Trips........................................................................................................................14

Further Afield....................................................................................................................16

Skiing...............................................................................................................................18

About Dogs......................................................................................................................20

Around the House............................................................................................................21

Appliance Instruction Manual

The Oven.........................................................................................................................24

The Washing Machine.....................................................................................................25

The Microwave.................................................................................................................26

About Satellite TV and Use of TV Remote.......................................................................27

The Ross Satellite Receiver Box......................................................................................29

The CD/DVD Player.........................................................................................................30

The Dishwasher...............................................................................................................31

Lighting the Fire and Operation of Vents.........................................................................32

Cleaning the Fire Out.......................................................................................................33

The iPod Dock, The Heater in the Toilet..........................................................................34

Radiators and Light Switches...........................................................................................35

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WELCOME TO LES HIRONDELLES

Thank you for choosing to rent Les Hirondelles for your holiday. We realise how important

it is that you enjoy your stay and have put together this information manual to help you find

your way around the appliances in the house, the local area and further afield.

We do not classify our little house as merely a holiday home, but as our ‘home’ in France.

Indeed it took us many years to decide to rent it out and let other people into the secret that

is our little corner of France. We come here often with our family and friends, many of

whom have bought ‘presents’ for the house. These small things remind us of happy times

shared. We have tried to make our little house as comfortable and as homely as we can.

We really hope you like it and would ask that you respect it and look after as much as we

do.

Should you have any queries that are not answered in this manual, then you can contact us on +44 (0)1527 854019 and we will do our best to help. Or email [email protected]

If there is a genuine emergency we will endeavour to contact our housekeeper.

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INTRODUCTION

The following pages provide information on the house, contents and appliance use, the locality, shopping and restaurants, skiing, walks and drives.

We have a strict No Smoking rule. Could we also ask that you leave the house clean and tidy when you depart. Thank you.

We find that our valley is the most wonderful escape from modern life. With on average, 300 days sunshine per year, you can choose to totally relax, take walks in stunning scenery, enjoy the local restaurants (and wine) and if here in the winter, enjoy the snow and the wonderful skiing.

Should you wish to make contact with the world outside the valley, the local Tourist Information in Colmars les Alpes has free WiFi and they don’t mind people wandering in and sitting quietly with their phones, tablets or laptops. The signal is strong enough to be utilised outside the premises. In summer, we sit alongside others on the benches or walls and in winter, park the car as near as possible and keep warm while emailing or catching up on Facebook. In the small ‘trunk’ by coffee table, there are a selection of brochures and books to help with your stay.

Now it’s time to start your holiday. It’s a good idea to leaf through this manual first and if it’s warm enough, sit outside after your long journey and may be have a glass or two while you do this. If its winter, then get the logs on the fire and settle down for a cosy night while you decide on what tomorrow may bring.

One last thing. We would be eternally grateful if you could place your comments in the visitor’s book before you leave. It’s always good to get feedback. These comments may be placed on our website.

Many thanks and have a wonderful holiday.

Jane and Rob Smyth

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CLIGNON

Clignon Bas (Pronouced Clinyon Ba) is a commune of Colmars les Alpes. The village seems to be owned entirely by the Giraud family who also own most of the land and have done so for several generations.

We were lucky enough to have known Gabriel and Marcella who used to live in the house directly below ours. Sadly Gabriel died several years ago well into his 90s. He could recount great stories of World War II and the occupation. He also built the miniscule chapel you can find if you walk along the street below towards the left. The chapel is just around the corner on the right. It’s very dilapidated now and never used.

The building opposite and next to Gabriel and Marcella’s old home is the old school house. This too is owned by the current Giraud farming family and is used as a rental.

Our chalet, those along the terrace, the terrace behind and the one lone house behind that are all part of our ’co-propriete’. This means that we all own the land and the 9 chalets that sit upon it and are obliged to attend a meeting once a year where we vote on important issues such as trimming the hedges, clearing the snow and gaining permission to build a BBQ area! People are friendly here and will always acknowledge you if they drive or walk past.

Many people ask us about the cannon on the wall at the entrance to the co-propriete. We’ve asked and have been told it came from one of the Forts in Colmars. If this is true, then we’re lucky to have it!

There is also a Clignon Haute and you can get to this if you follow the road upwards as it winds its way to the top. You won’t get lost as there is only one road and you will eventually find yourself amongst a small community of houses. A small parking area is located just before this and a sign informing you of the rules and regulations once you enter the ‘protected’ part of the Parc National de Mercantour.

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COLMARS LES ALPES

The original town was built by Vauban in the reign of Louis XIV (dob 4 May 1633– 30 March 1707), a Marshal of France and the foremost military engineer of his age, famed for his skill in both designing fortifications and breaking through them.

The Fort you can see from our balcony, nestled at the foot of the mountain, is the Fort de Savoie. This is still in good repair and is the host of many events. Below this, the entrance to the town is the Porte de Savoie. At the far end of town are the walled remains of the Fort de France and, you’ve guessed it, the entrance (or exit) at this end of

town is called the Porte de France.

The border with the old kingdom of Savoie was literally just up the road from our commune and in the day when Vauban was building fortifications all over France, Savoie was the enemy.

What to See and Do

One of the first things to do is simply to take a stroll around the town ‘entre les murs’ meaning ‘between the walls’. This will orient yourselves and you can see what is open and what is not depending on the season.

The Shops

Within the walls In summer a number of shops appear selling anything from jewellery, limited clothing and even local honey. Once September draws to a close, most shut. The only permanent shop appears to be the brocante which opens and closes at will along with the wine cave (wine recommended – buy a box of rose – delicious!)

The Post Office is found here too and is open all year apart from the traditional closing times (see note)

Outside the walls you will be well served all year round by those shops that are the mainstay of village life. These include:

Two patisseries (one at each end of town) Small supermarket Hairdressers A large DIY store A Newsagent The Tourist Information Office An excellent butcher Garage and car wash A medical centre which also contains the pharmacy A cashpoint.

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A launderette 2 Gift/Souvenir Shops

NOTE: This is rural France and shops hold with their tradition of having a 2-hour lunch regardless of the time of year. All will close at 12.30 pm and not open again until 3.30 pm. They will then stay open until 7.00 pm.

Apart from August, some shops remain closed on Mondays, some on Wednesdays, but all should be open on Sunday morning but always close on Sunday afternoons. Most place notices in their windows of opening and closing times.

France also has an enormous amount of Bank Holidays which will also affect opening times.

The Market

If you’re here in July or August, twice a week there is a very large Provencal market that contains stalls selling fruit and veg, fabulous cheeses, olive oil, sausages, clothing, jewellery, gifts and many more. Generally these are held on Tuesdays and Fridays.

For the remainder of the year, the market will vary in size. Much depends on the weather, though a couple of stallholders will still be found wrapped in layers of clothing on cold winter days.

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RESTAURANTS AND BARS IN COLMARS

Within the walls you will find the Le Crazy Pub. In summer they serve lunch on their little shaded terrace. It also provides tables and parasols outside its doors where you can grab a cold beer or coffee etc. In the low season, it turns into a typical bar and food is no longer served here.

A Creperie is to be found opposite the entrance to the church. They will post their opening and closing times on the door. You can enjoy one outside in summer or inside during wet or cold weather.

La Table Ronde offers a comprehensive a la Carte and an inclusive Menu which changes daily. It’s a tiny little place and the food is typical Provencal fare. No frills, just honest to goodness food sourced locally. Olivier, a bit of local entrepreneur having also run the wine cave, opened this tiny restaurant after the previous owners left. In summer you can sit outside in the small square or indoors on rainy days. He opens from May through to October, but this may change if he feels business is slow.

Hotel le France is just outside the walls near the Porte de France. It is open all year. In summer it has numerous tables set out under the shade of the trees and opens up a temporary wood fired pizzeria. At other times of the year, you can still get a traditional cooked lunch here, eating inside, but they do not do dinner in the evenings or pizzas. Whatever time of year you can sit and watch the world go by with a coffee or beer.

Le Gaulois is an excellent take away pizza business. The owners used to be in the premises now inhabited by the Creperie, but have moved to one near the little school. Their current published open times are 17.30-21.00 hrs Mondays and Thursdays and during July and August are open every evening from 17.30-22.00 hrs.

NOTE: Things do change as businesses come and go over the years.

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OTHER FACILITIES - COLMARS

There is a small museum within the walls of the town that provides a brief history with examples of military hardware, uniforms etc.

The Tourist Information is an excellent resource for everyone unfamiliar with the area. As mentioned, you have free WiFi but also a plethora of free leaflets and brochures that provide in-depth information about the valley.

The Municipal Outdoor Pool is open during summer. It is positioned on the north end of the town outside the Porte de Savoie. Be warned there is no shade, so take your own and remember the sun cream!

The Fete Medieval is probably the biggest fete during the year and is held in August (usually the first or second weekend). With townsfolk dressed in medieval costumes, a huge market with specialist stalls and a host of entertainers this is a must for visitors. The whole thing is brought to a close at 10.00 pm on Sunday night with a huge firework display. We always watch it from our balcony as the fireworks are set off at the Fort de Savoie so we get a fabulous view.

The Transhumance takes place in October. This is the time of year when the shepherds move their flocks of sheep from the high peaks to lower levels before the snow sets in. If there in October, you may well catch part of it as the sheep are driven by the dogs, shepherds and sometimes horses. If you’re unlucky, you get stuck behind it! In spring it happens in reverse.

There are many other events held throughout the year and notice boards around the town will advertise these as well as the Tourist Information Office.

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IN THE VALLEY D’HAUTE VERDON

Turning left on to the main road from the house, the small villages of the valley consist of Colmars les Alpes, and heading south, Villars Colmars, Beauvezer, Thorame Haute and Thorame Basse.

Villars Colmars has a Casino supermarket and one of our favourite restaurants Le Martagon.

Just outside Beauvezer just off the main valley road is La Lacustre. This is another favourite as it does great pizzas for takeaway or eat in. It is also a restaurant proper. Beauvezer also has a small outdoor public swimming pool.

It’s a nice little road trip to Thorame Haute, passing by a fishing lake en-route. Thorame Basse is more a community of properties but it does have a micro brewery producing Cordeil beer. Call in and try some. Continuing through the village following the road, you will enter the Valley d’Asse. This crystal clear small river is great for cooling off in the heat of summer.

Continuing further on along the road, you will come to St Andre les Alpes and the north end of Lac Castillon. Here, in summer, you can swim in its clear blue waters and if you continue heading south towards Castellane, travelling over the dam, there is an area dedicated to water sports, sunbathing and swimming. Once summer is over, EDF use the water from the lake to produce electricity, leaving a lot of the lake bed exposed and the original little bridges that the River Verdon used to flow under.

There’s More!

Horseriding is available near Beauvezer and a rope adventure course high in the trees. You will also find an outlet that sells ‘Produit du Valley’ (products of the valley) which is also worth a visit. Visit the Lavender Distillery, signposted off the road to St Andre.

There are also many areas where you can gain access to the river for paddling or fishing, but you will need a permit for fishing.

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Allos Village

Turning right on to the main road from the house, you will come to Allos, the biggest village in the valley. It was originally part of Savoie, so has its own medical centre and Tourist Information Office. Even though the kingdom of Savoie no longer exists, Allos still sees itself as different.

The town has numerous shops, a supermarket, small hotels, restaurants, a great pizza takeaway van and also the Parc Loisir. This is a large area dedicated to the enjoyment of a holiday in the mountains. The Parc contains a large, purpose built swimming lake with a diving platform, water slide and pedalos. These activities are open in the summer. They include:

crazy golf tennis courts table tennis tables horseriding skate park a restaurant a children’s adventure park Large grassy areas for relaxation and

sunbathing

There is a charge for entry, but this is not unreasonable and most activities are free.

In Winter the swimming lake freezes and you can rent a car to practice your skills at ‘ice driving’. If you want to risk your own car, you can take that too. Horse riding is also available. Gondola lifts run in winter and summer from Allos village and stop at the parc before continuing up to Seignus. (see skiing)

The large car park is down a road on the left hand side just through the main village. If you go further, past the garage on the left, you’ll see a bridge spanning the Verdon. Turning over this and following the road upwards brings you to Seignus (see Skiing). Here, in summer, you can get the chair lift and go to the top of the mountain. We generally use the lifts to go up and take a leisurely walk back down after having a picnic sitting on a rock and admiring the incredible views. There are also easy and level walks from the previously mentioned car park, going both north and south, that run alongside the Verdon river.

La Foux d’Allos

This is the main ski resort (see Skiing) and is at the foot of the Col d’Allos. It is quiet in summer with most people passing through on their way over the Col. NOTE: In summer the Col is closed between 9.00 and 11.00 am on Fridays for cyclists. A large sign is displayed at the north end of Colmars to warn people of this if it is happening.

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GEOLOGY

You may be puzzled by the symbol of the Parc National de Mercantour (seen on the cover of this manual.) It is an ammonite, a sea creature that swam in oceans millennia ago. The whole area from Castellane northwards towards to La Foux is part of the Parc Geologique de Haute Verdon. There are a couple of sites where you can find ammonite fossils, one on the way to Castellane just past St Andre (signposted just over the bridge before the first tunnel, on the right) and another at the far end of Lac Castillon. Just sift through the rocks to find one. There is also another site on the route de Digne out of Castellane, though this is a rock face containing the remains of animals called Sirenians the prehistoric version of our ‘sea cows’.

WALKING

The whole area is riddled with ‘randonnes’, ie registered routes that are numbered and appear on specialist maps of the area. Some are for experienced hikers only, which may take you out for several days either camping overnight or using many of the refuges available in the mountains. Some are easier, but still require care and others are more like long strolls. Here are some we’ve experienced.

Walking from the house to Colmars requires you to take the footpath to the right of the sharp bend down the hill from the bin area. Follow this to the main road. Cross over and head down the road that leads to Chaumont, over the bridge and continue up the hill, keep going and you will see a sign to Colmars. This will take you down an off-road track alongside the Verdon River. It’s a lot easier going down than coming back!

Cascade de la Lance is signposted on the building by the cashpoint machine in Colmars. It’s gently up-hill and very pretty. This is a registered walk, so the Tourist Information can point you in the right direction. It’s easy and good for children.

The Gorge de St Pierre isn’t recommended if you don’t like heights. Once again, it is a ‘randonne’ so ask for information from the Tourist Info. It starts easy enough and doesn’t go steeply up-hill either, but you can see from these images that parts become a little scary! We’ve never ‘done’ the whole walk as it goes for miles, but there is nothing wrong with only going so far and then returning. We would not recommend doing this in bad weather or winter time!

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Col de l’Ecombrette (2527 metres) – This is definitely not for the faint-hearted. You walk from the house up to Clignon Haute and keep following the footpath out of the village. This randonne took 4 hours of solid walking to reach the Col and another hour to walk to the car park at Lac d’Allos for our lift back. The views from the top of Lac d’Allos on one side and the Lacs d’Ecombrette on the other are just awesome, but you need to be fit.

All walks in the area are well marked and you will almost always see a marmotte if you are quiet and remain down wind. Be sure to wear the proper gear if you’re doing a serious walk and remember the weather can change quickly in the mountains.

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LAC D’ALLOS (2220 metres)

If you’re not up to the 4/5 hour walk previously mentioned, you can still get to the lake. If you turn right on the main road and head towards Allos, just as you are about to enter the village, on a bend by a church on the left, turn sharp right (signposted Lac d’Allos) that will take you up the mountain to a large car park.

From here there is a lovely 30 minute walk up a mild gradient to the lake. Lac d’Allos lies entirely within the protected area of the Parc National de Mercantour. It is the highest glacial lake in Europe and is generally only ice free from the end of May through to October and is simply beautiful.

A footpath wends its way around the entire circumference of the lake and in summer, a small restaurant opens up (or take a picnic) and there is a tiny chapel set into the rocks not far from it. You cannot access the lake in winter as the road is closed because of snow.

CYCLING

Whether a road cyclist or a mountain biker the area is ideal. The Tour de France came through Colmars les Alpes in July 2015 with the Col d’Allos being the highest point reached on the tour. In spring and summer the roads around the area, whether the Col, routes up to the National Parc de Mercantour, or indeed anywhere in the valley, you will get enthusiasts peddling hard to conquer some very severe inclines.

For mountain bikers, the chair lifts at Seignus stay open in the summer (usually late July/Aug, though can be at other times too). They allow the bikes to be safely attached to

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the chair and both it and the rider are taken up the mountain to attempt the purpose built trails leading back to the village.

For a more relaxed mountain bike adventure, head to Ratery in summer and hire a mountain bike and cycle through the forest enjoying the scenery using the cross country ski routes.

ROAD TRIPS

If walking isn’t your thing, or you just want to get out and about for a day and go a bit further afield, then the world is your oyster!

There are some great driving experiences to be had in the area and a few are given below.

Col d’Allos (2240 metres)

If you drive up to La Foux d’Allos and keep on going you will automatically begin to climb towards the Col. The road is quite narrow in places and can make some people nervous as it consists of a lot of ‘switchback’ turns and quite steep drop offs. However, it is a popular route and lots of camping vans make the journey quite safely. At the top there is parking and as usual you will have amazing views, marked trails and a restaurant.

In winter the road is closed completely, usually from October until the spring thaw around April time.

Barcelonnette

From the Col d’Allos continue northwards and you will find yourself on the long run downhill. Once again the road is very narrow in places but there are passing places provided. (closed in winter). If you suffer with a fear of heights, you might want to keep your eyes shut on parts of this journey as the drops to the side are spectacular and so are the views! Don’t worry the road is lined with small walls and we have taken many friends who suffer with vertigo on this trip and they loved it!

Reaching the bottom follow the signs to Barcelonnette. This is a large town that has links with Mexico. From the mid 1800s to the mid 1900s there was a wave of emigration to Mexico to start businesses. When some chose to return home, now wealthy, they built grand homes called ‘maisons mexicaines’.

There are numerous shops and restaurants here, a golf course and a museum. It is also on the main road routes to many other destinations.

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Col de Bonnette

This is the highest road pass in Europe and is a brilliant run in the car, but it will take all day to get there and back.

It’s too complicated to give directions here, so you’re better off resorting to a good old fashioned road map. All the roads are paved and the route is popular. Once at the top, you can park, get out and walk to an ‘orientation table’. You get wonderful 360 degree views from here.

Col de Cayolle

This is a circular route that will take you over the Col and back to Colmars les Alpes. Initially you head to Barcelonnette, but before your turn left and when at the foot of the descent, you take a right turn and follow the river towards Saint-Martin-d’Entraunes (and eventually Nice).

Just stay on this road and you will revel in the scenery, climbing steadily towards the Col. In summer there is a refuge at the top where you can buy food and drink. Continue over the Col and down the other side where you will see the source of the Var river which heads to Nice and Mediterranean.

Keep going towards a village call Guillaumes. Watch out for the signpost to the Col de Champs. Once again a map will come in handy, though your Sat Nav should locate Colmars les Alpes and help you out! You go over the Col de Champs and down the other side to Colmars coming out, after a very twisty road, just opposite the Fort de Savoie.

You can do the trip in the opposite direction or, if you’ve a lot of time, can choose to extend the trip by not taking the road to the Col de Champs, but continuing straight on towards Nice and travel down the Gorge de Daluis. This will join the main road to Nice but you will turn right to head back. It’s quite a way!

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Col de Champs

Head toward the Fort de Savoie and take the little road on the left. It’s a dangerous turn on the bend for people exiting this little road. It’s signposted ‘Ratery’. The road has some tight switchback turns but eventually brings you to the top. Here you can walk for miles, continue on or turn around and go back.

Ratery

This is a great place if you want to escape and take an easy stroll through the forest. The wide footpaths are really part of an extensive cross country ski trail in winter, but in summer many people take picnics and lap up the peace and quiet. You park in the area provided opposite the building you’ll see on your left. Here you can buy lunch or a drink in the summer months. On the way up you’ll see, on your right, a viewpoint that overlooks Colmars les Alpes. Stop here as it’s worth seeing the village from above.

FURTHER AFIELDThere are so many places to go, that it’s impossible to do them all. However, some suggestions include:

Lac Serre Poncon ( pronounced ‘ponson’)

This is a huge lake (swimming etc) formed by the damming of the Durance river and is not far from Barcelonnette. You can do this in a circular tour either going towards Barcelonnette first, the lake then Digne le Bains (the capital of Provence) and back to Colmars or the other way around.

Entrevaux

This is a walled medieval town on the banks of the Var on the route down to Nice. Very quaint with a long winding stairway to the fort at the top of the hill.

The Gorges du Verdon

Head down to Castellane, drive through the town until you come to a tiny traffic island in the town square. The Gorges are signposted clearly to the right.

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These are breathtaking and a firm favourite with us and our family and friends. Formed by the Verdon river, it has carved one of the deepest canyons in Europe. We recently took some of our US friends here and they thought it more spectacular than the Grand Canyon!

Take the ‘rive droit’ (the right of canyon) and go around the one way ‘route de Crete’ (signposted). Guarantee you’ll be stopping frequently and taking in the views all the way up.

At the end of the Gorges is Lac St Croix. You can swim, kayak, pedalo or fish. The village of Moustier St Marie should be visited as this isn’t far from here and is very pretty. Getting back, you can take the main road or return via the ‘rive gauche’.

Nice

If you need the glitz, glamour, heat and crowds (in summer anyway), there’s always Nice. It takes around 2 hours to drive down but beware, in August there is a tremendous amount of traffic in Nice and parking can be quite a problem. Outside of the high season, things are a lot quieter. Always worth a visit, we usually go down and spend a night or two. This allows for time to explore, shop, eat or laze on the beach.

TRAIN DE PIGNE (The Pine Cone Train)

This marvellous little train runs from its station behind the main railway station in Nice. It’s a narrow gauge railway that started construction in the late 1800’s and is a real feat of engineering when you consider the terrain and the huge tunnels built through the solid rock of the mountains. Travelling between Nice and Digne les Bains, it wends its way through the Haute Provencal scenery stopping at small villages along the way.

The journey will take around 2 hours from Nice to reach our little station at Thorame Haute (pronounced’ toram ought’). Just to confuse the issue, the station isn’t in the village itself but on the main valley road towards St Andre les Alpes.

Not all trains that leave Nice will go as far as Thorame and those that do will continue down to Digne. We have had family and friends fly into Nice and travel up on the train (or back) and we have been there to meet them at the station.

All have loved the journey. You can choose to travel to Nice and back on this little train if you don’t fancy driving. You can get a timetable from the Tourist Information Office or call in at the station.

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THE SKIING

We just love our skiing and when we found our little French home we presumed, wrongly, that the skiing would be a couple of chair lifts and a couple of slopes. How wrong we were. The area is known as L’Espace Lumiere partly because of our many sunshine hours. It is also the biggest ski area in the southern Alpes. There is an extensive system of snow cannon on the main pistes.

Modern ski passes, which are automatically read as you go through the turnstiles, are available from several outlets. Just top them up when needed. A half day starts at 12.30 pm if you don’t want to rush out in the morning after a lie in and a leisurely breakfast!

Like any ski resort, the snow can be good or poor. We’ve been skiing here for many years and only twice has the snow been very poor. In 2014, it was officially the snowiest place in France so you never know.

La Foux d’Allos (180 km of pistes, 11 green, 33 blue, 30 red, 5 black, miles of off piste and several huge bowls to play in)

This resort is linked to Pra Loup (on the Barcelonnette side of the mountain range). In good snow getting over there and back is a day’s outing. If some of the return slopes prove too much, you can always get the chair lifts. However, there is only a drag to bring you up to La Tete de Vescal to allow you to ski back down to La Foux.

One of our favourite runs is to take the chairs to the Tete de Vescal (2325 metres), ski down to the Agneliers Chair, take the Agneaux piste (red narrowish track) to the T5 Pouret Chair up to the Col de Sestriere (2675 metres). You ski along the spine of the mountain and then drop down to the Source du Verdon piste which brings you back to where you started. The Source is south facing, so in poor snow conditions, this route is closed for safety reasons.

La Foux comes to life during the ski season. It’s very family orientated with a special area for tiny skiers. The ski school caters for both skiers and boarders., There is a boarder park and several restaurants scattered around the pistes. If a lot of snow has fallen, a ski/boarder cross track is put in just below the Tete de Vescal.

For non skiers, there is a brilliant toboggan run on rails and an outdoor ice rink. Non skiers are also welcomed on the lifts if they wish to meet the skiing part of the family in a mountain restaurant.

The town boasts a number of restaurants, food shops, ski and equipment hire, clothing, estate agents, bars and a nightclub (we admit we’ve never been to the nightclub). There is also a cinema under the big on-slope apartment block which shows all the blockbuster films, but in French of course. There’s also loads of parking.

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Snow Shoes (Raquettes)

Great for non skiers. These can be hired in both resorts and in Ratery. Perfect for walking in the snow and exploring some of the scenery in winter. Make it as easy or as hard as you like.

Seignus (50 km of pistes, 9 blue, 8 red, 5 black)

Seignus is a small ski area that isn’t linked to the main resort of La Foux d’Allos. The ski passes are less expensive here, but we think the skiing is tougher and you can see there are no green pistes, making it hard for beginners. However, our granddaughter had lessons here when starting out and managed perfectly well.

Being lower down than La Foux, it often receives less snow, but in good snow conditions it is a lovely little resort with a mountain restaurant and a small cabin for refreshments. At the foot of the front slopes is the village with several restaurants, equipment hire and a ski school. There is certainly enough here to keep most people occupied for the day.

IMAGES – SOME OF THE PISTES AT LA FOUX

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DOGSWe love dogs and that is why we are a ‘dog friendly’ accommodation and welcome well behaved pooches. Indeed, we currently have two wire haired fox terriers who like nothing more than accompanying us on walks, sitting under tables in the many restaurants hoping for any stray titbits, playing in the river or in the snow in winter.

We have provided dog bowls which can be found in the cupboard in the inner hall, but as you are aware, because of the size of the house, we only accept dogs up to 15 kg.

Dogs in the Great Outdoors

We are very conscious that it is imperative to be a responsible dog owner. Be aware, if walking in the mountains in spring and summer you will see large flocks of sheep wandering free. However, these are guarded by specialist dogs that are large and will attack other dogs if they feel the sheep are threatened. For this reason, keep your dog on a lead when in the vicinity of sheep.

Within the protected area of the Parc Nationale du Mercantour dogs are not permitted. This has changed over the years as dogs were once allowed access on leads, but it is because of the carelessness of some dog owners that the rules are now more stringent. The Parc contains all manner of flora and fauna as well as some cattle and the aforementioned sheep.

Dogs Around the House – the Rules

Mucky pooches to be cleaned before entering the house. No dogs on the furniture. Any dog damage or dog hair on furniture will attract an additional

charge. To prevent disturbing neighbours, keep barking to a minimum. Please clean up after your dog at all times whether locally, in town or elsewhere. We have

provided doggie bags for this purpose. Deposits near the house can be collected in the bags and the contents only disposed of down the toilet and flushed away. Elsewhere, place doggie bag in a rubbish bin.

Keep your dog under control at all times and do not leave unattended for long periods.

NOTE: An additional charge of £15 is made for each dog.

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AROUND THE HOUSE – GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS

The following pages contain help and information on such things as operating appliances etc.

ELECTRICITY

France operates a two tariff system. Electricity is much cheaper after 10.00 pm at night and before 6.00 am. Obviously, you cannot do without electricity during the day to keep the house warm in winter, use the kettle, oven, microwave etc. However, we ask that you set the dishwasher to run through its cycle after 10.00 at night and also put the washing machine on after this time if you can. Both appliances have a delay button if you want an early night! Such is the cost of electricity that French rentals tend to charge separately for the amount of power you use during your stay.

HOT WATER

There is a very large water tank under the house and the water heats up overnight for the reasons given above. The water is very hot and remains so all day providing enough water for all your needs.

SHOWERING

As the water gets very hot, do take care when showering. A lever controls the temperature. A tiny adjustment to this will greatly alter it. It is recommended you start with it at a ‘half hour’ position. A tiny move to the left or right of this will determine the temperature you desire. Take special care if you have children.

HEATING

The radiators have a switch on the side to turn them on or off. The temperature can be set by turning the dial. High numbers for more heat. Generally it gets very warm in summer and therefore the heating is not needed. In winter, most radiators will already be at the required setting, but should this be too warm or cold you can alter them to suit.

GAS

The gas for the hob is provided by bottles stored under the house. These will be in operation for your stay. When igniting the gas, you need to hold the appropriate knob down until it catches. If the gas hasn’t been used for a while, you will need to hold it down for longer, giving the gas time to come from the bottle to the burner.

WINDOWS/FLY SCREENS

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All bedrooms and the kitchen window have fly screens on the external side. Should you wish to leave windows open in the summer, please lower the screens and secure in place. Although we do not have mosquitos (house sits at too high an altitude) we do get large numbers of house flies if doors and windows are left open. It is not practical to have fly screens on the external doors but we will always close them when going to and fro. A house full of flies is not pleasant and any that do squeeze in can be dealt with using the ‘tennis’ fly swatter.

OTHER CREEPY CRAWLIES

We are very lucky not to have anything other than the general run of the mill insects you would find at home. However, we do get tiny scorpions from time to time. Don’t be alarmed, they really are small. Over all our time here, we have only had 2 live ones attempting an escape. They don’t move fast and if they sense you there they stop moving altogether. They are completely harmless but will sting (similar to a small bee) if you handle them. We deal with them by brushing them up using the dustpan and brush and depositing them outside to get on with their business.

BBQ

There is a small kettle BBQ for your use. Please be very careful that you place this well away from foliage or grass to prevent any danger of a stray spark igniting it. You MUST be vigilant and do not leave it unattended. DO NOT place it on or near the balcony. We usually place it to the side of the house. BBQ tools are found in the silver box on top of the cupboard in the outside hallway. Please clean and replace after use. Please leave the BBQ clean and cover once cool.

THE FIRE

This will generally only be needed in early spring, autumn and winter – depending on the weather of course. Logs are provided in the log store under the balcony. Keep the glass door shut at all times, other than when lighting. DO NOT touch the glass door once the fire is lit. This gets very hot and will produce a very severe burn. Follow the instructions given in this document.

SUPPLIES

We like our guests to have some ‘basics’ when they arrive and try to ensure a supply coffee, tea, sugar, salt, pepper and cleaning materials. Please feel free to use these.

GLASSWEAR AND CROCKERY

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The wine glasses are crystal and very delicate. Please be careful when handling these. We also have numerous plastic glasses for use outside. These are dishwasher safe, but the rainbow bright ones came with recommendations not to put them on the lower shelf.

There are ample amounts of dinner plates, side plates and dishes, plus additional items. An exploration of the kitchen cupboards will reveal what is available.

OTHER UTENSILS

We have all manner of cutlery, saucepans, large serving dishes etc and a slow cooker. Please note the slow cooker cook pot is NOT dishwasher safe. Please wash by hand.

BED LINEN AND TOWELS

We provide bedlinen. This is located in each room. We supply two bath towels per room. Please DO NOT use outside or remove from the house. The Quilts are found under the beds, except in the large room where it is kept in the wardrobe. There are white quilt covers and matching pillow cases for use when heavy quilts are needed in wintertime or early spring/autumn. In warmer weather a quilt isn’t necessary, so the patchwork bedspreads are used. Please ensure that you sleep between two sheets to protect the quilt and bedcover which will go on top. Tee towels are found in the kitchen drawer.

OUTSIDE FURNITURE

There are two wooden outside tables (one small round table and one larger square table), 4 wooden multi-position chairs, one large glass table and six multi-position chairs, one parasol, 4 sun loungers. Wooden furniture and sun loungers are kept in the outer hall, cushions for the 4 wooden chairs are kept in the hall cupboard. The large glass table and six chairs are kept outside. Please fold chairs and place under the table and cover (as shown on the right) when not in use.

Please remember – NO SMOKING in or near the house – Thank you

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