Those who spend time with me will know that all I speak of at the moment is the trip I am planning to France in June 2011.
So much is the trip on my mind that I have recently had some dreams about the Northern Sky. In one dream I wake up in an ancient stone building at night, I wander outside to be confronted by a sky I do not recognise at all....and then all of a sudden I realise I am on the other side of the world, looking at the Northern Sky. It is glorious but frightening for its unfamiliarity.
It turns out that I will be landing on France just before New Moon, and after spending a few days in Paris, I will be heading south to kick around the Bourges area for a few days - this is where my forebears are from, so I want to try to engage with my past a bit, and get the French language skills refined a bit...Anyhow, the plan is that I will try to do some Northern sky observing from somewhere near Bourges. (I will then be heading further south for about 10 days near Avignon in Provence, then 3 days in Marseille).
I know it is a long-shot, but does anyone have any knowledge of astronomy observing clubs in Bourges area???? Any help you can provide will be gratefully received, merci!
Unfortunately I haven't got any astro club contacts in France. Bourges is fairly central with darker skies towards Clermont-Ferrand. But as you mentioned you were heading SE towards Avignon if you get a chance go to the Durance Valley past Manosque and you'll get some real dark skies there. I'd give Marseille a miss TBH but worth having a quick browse I guess if you've never been there. Depends what you're after. The coast is very touristic (St Tropez, Nice, Cannes, Monaco). As an analogy, going there only would be like a trip to Oz then go to Bondi and Cronulla and miss all the other fantastic beaches 1 or 2h out of Sydney.
If you like to go outside the beaten track a bit I'd recommend Aix-en provence, Pertuis (Vaucluse), Avignon, Sisteron, Dignes-les-bains. I grew up in Provence, My brother was born in Dignes and my boy also was born around Aix (Pertuis) although he's an Aussie now and tells me I talk funny. so if you need any more details just PM me.
I love the South of France, was there three years ago and stayed in a villa in Lourmarin, that area is stunning. Agreed with Aix, and we bought groceries at Pertuis. Wonderful place, wonderful people.
Gary
I love the South of France, was there three years ago and stayed in a villa in Lourmarin, that area is stunning. Agreed with Aix, and we bought groceries at Pertuis. Wonderful place, wonderful people.
Gary
Lourmarin is at the bottom of the Vaucluse. I was living in the area for 3 years. If you go there you have to try the 'rose' which is the local pink wine. Any spot in the Durance valley will give you a bit of elevation as you're going towards the alps. The seeing can be unreal up there.
You might try the French site "optiques unterlinden" (best Google to make sure I've got that right). Its a shop, but from memory contains links to clubs and such.
It sounds like a wonderful trip and at the perfect time of year. So jealous.
Bon Chance!
Last edited by h0ughy; 16-12-2010 at 10:52 AM.
Reason: remove reference at request
Unfortunately I haven't got any astro club contacts in France. Bourges is fairly central with darker skies towards Clermont-Ferrand. But as you mentioned you were heading SE towards Avignon if you get a chance go to the Durance Valley past Manosque and you'll get some real dark skies there. I'd give Marseille a miss TBH but worth having a quick browse I guess if you've never been there. Depends what you're after. The coast is very touristic (St Tropez, Nice, Cannes, Monaco). As an analogy, going there only would be like a trip to Oz then go to Bondi and Cronulla and miss all the other fantastic beaches 1 or 2h out of Sydney.
If you like to go outside the beaten track a bit I'd recommend Aix-en provence, Pertuis (Vaucluse), Avignon, Sisteron, Dignes-les-bains. I grew up in Provence, My brother was born in Dignes and my boy also was born around Aix (Pertuis) although he's an Aussie now and tells me I talk funny. so if you need any more details just PM me.
PS: June will be nice and hot.
Hey Marc, great to hear from you, your local knowledge is much appreciated, and I will take you up on the offer of Pm-ing in the coming months.
I am hugely drawn to the Vaucluse area of Provence area, which is why I am planning to spend a large chunk of my holiday there. The main places on my list to visit in that area at the moment include Chateauneuf du Paps, Carpentras, Vaison la Romaine, Gordes (including the Abbaye de Senanque), Menerbes, and St Remy de Provence, as well as Avignon itself. I am also planning to visit Nimes and the Pont du Gard to the west of Avignon. I will keep in mind the Manosque area to the east that you mention, too, so thanks for that suggestion.
I am driving south from Bourges to Avignon through the Drome area, maybe staying around Tournon sur Rhone, I hope the skies will be quite dark on the night I stay in Tournon, I will have a pair of binos with me to look at some of the brighter Northern objects if the sky is clear.
What is it about Marseille that you think is not so good? A few people have said this to me. I am aware it has a lot of migrants from Africa, and is not the happiest place on earth (certainly not compared with Provence etc), but it is part of what is modern France, and it gives me a chance to get to the Mediterranean. Aix is only 25km to the North of Marseilles, so I can do a day trip there comfortably from Marseille, too.
I understand what you mean about the Cote d'Azur. I am not keen to go there on this trip, it sounds overpriced, overdeveloped, and overrun by tourists and faux glamour! Not to mention the crippling traffic!
If I was to abandon Marseilles, and spend three days at some other Mediterranean location, what would you recommend?
Thanks Gary, Phil, Mike and Peter. I will post some comments on Iceinspace during my travels so you guys know what is going on. I am very lucky, indeed!
I will be travelling alone for this holiday, I have not so much freedom since I got married 17.5 years ago, hard to believe, really! Should be a good chance to do something totally different, and I will have no excuse for not making progress with my proficiency in French.
Hey Marc, great to hear from you, your local knowledge is much appreciated, and I will take you up on the offer of Pm-ing in the coming months.
No problem.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rodstar
I am hugely drawn to the Vaucluse area of Provence area, which is why I am planning to spend a large chunk of my holiday there. The main places on my list to visit in that area at the moment include Chateauneuf du Paps, Carpentras, Vaison la Romaine, Gordes (including the Abbaye de Senanque), Menerbes, and St Remy de Provence, as well as Avignon itself. I am also planning to visit Nimes and the Pont du Gard to the west of Avignon. I will keep in mind the Manosque area to the east that you mention, too, so thanks for that suggestion.
All those destinations are great. There is a freeway now that will take you across from Avignon up to Aix > Pertuis > Manosque > Sisteron / Dignes > Gap then you get deeper into the alps. There are some very interesting rock formations just before les mees on the way past Manosque.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rodstar
I am driving south from Bourges to Avignon through the Drome area, maybe staying around Tournon sur Rhone, I hope the skies will be quite dark on the night I stay in Tournon, I will have a pair of binos with me to look at some of the brighter Northern objects if the sky is clear.
Andromeda will be right up so is Cassiopea, Cygnus. The milky way is pretty small and pale compared to downunder though.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rodstar
What is it about Marseille that you think is not so good? A few people have said this to me. I am aware it has a lot of migrants from Africa, and is not the happiest place on earth (certainly not compared with Provence etc), but it is part of what is modern France, and it gives me a chance to get to the Mediterranean. Aix is only 25km to the North of Marseilles, so I can do a day trip there comfortably from Marseille, too.
Marseille is big and polluted. It is a big city. It can be a dangerous place too. If you want to visit go there in daytime go see the old harbour and 'notre dame de la guarde' then stay safe, get out of it and go sleep and stay in Aix-en Provence. Aix is great. There's a massive uni there and loads of english speaking exchange student from the US and all over the world so you'll be right and they can show you around and help.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rodstar
I understand what you mean about the Cote d'Azur. I am not keen to go there on this trip, it sounds overpriced, overdeveloped, and overrun by tourists and faux glamour! Not to mention the crippling traffic!
If you speak English your cup of mocca or anything else will go from x1 to x4 the price. The 'cote d'azur' is a tourist trap so is Paris. Go in the in the smaller towns 10km out of any major city, say you come from Australia because originally people may think you're from the UK. Then they'll mention the word skippy, open the doors and probably even feed you.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rodstar
If I was to abandon Marseilles, and spend three days at some other Mediterranean location, what would you recommend?
You can drive through Marseille, drop in at St Tropez quickly, pass Toulon (naval base/industrial) nothing to see there. Go to Cannes/Nice very nice (promenade des anglais). Can push to Monaco, not very far then back via Castellane then Dignes-les Bains (heading North) Back to the Durance Valley then back down to Aix. You ll need 2-3 days. Sleep in Castellane on the way back. Great camping grounds.
Bonjour Rod!!
Yes, also verrrrry jealous. Spent 6 weeks training it around France about 4 years ago and loved it. Had a week in an apartment in Avignon, and visited many of the places on your list. Loved that area - massive amount of pics taken!!
Couple of years prior to that, I spent a few days in Nice, and loved it there - beautiful big boulevards and gorgeous views.
From my apartment in Avignon, I took some pics of Orion. didnt get out to a dark area, as was on my own, but an upside down Orion is always a laugh.
Another little pretty place was Collioure, on coast in southern France, not far from the spanish border - gorg seaside town with castle (Knights of Templar) right in the town. Aah, too much to see. I didnt go to Marseilles because I didnt hear anything positive, and there were too many other 'great' places to spend time out.
A bonus to have Marc to help on some Qs.
Unfortunately I've never been to France, but one destination that would be on the top of my list would be Pic du Midi. This is problably the most famous European observatory, situated high in the Pyrennes, and accessible via cable car. I have a feeling they do observing nights. I couldn't imagine a better location for viewing the northern skies
Funny thing I was just looking at a video of an observing trip to Pic du Midi just yesterday, here it is:
Funny thing I was just looking at a video of an observing trip to Pic du Midi just yesterday, here it is
The cable car trip is great. The second leg is over 2km in the air on one leg, no towers and just one cable hanging. Looong way down. I went up there walking a couple of times as a kid with my grand father. He had a chalet at the bottom of the mountain 10km away and I used to go there every Xmas holidays. Actually my profile picture on IIS (drinking coffee) was taken in the small bistro terrace up there.
Sounds like a great trip, I've had some very nice times in France. Bicycled from Copenhagen (my home town) down through Europe to the Mediterranean a couple of times in the 90's. Have to agree though that the Cote d'Azur is one big traffic jam and hugely overpriced. Provence itself however is fantastic. If you can, then take a drive up over some of the mountain passes that are famous from the Tour de France - it is immensely beautiful and peaceful and yet civilisation is never far away. The Gorges du Verdon/Lac de Sainte-Croix area is also very nice.
Have a great trip!
Thanks for the positive and helpful comments, everyone! Much appreciated.
Marc - I have decided to ditch staying in Marseille. Instead, I will do a day-trip to Marseilles from Avignon. With the Mediterranean coast, I have decided to do a few days in the Languedoc area - staying at Montpellier or Beziers, I might try to get up to Carcasson, which everyone I talk to raves about! With the language issue, I have been learning French for the last 12 months, hoping to be fluent enough to order in French etc, I will also mention I am an Aussie!!
Beren - cheers, mate!
Liz - Merci beaucoup! Thanks for your encouragement. I can't wait to see the night sky, should be fantastic away from the city lights. Collioure sounds a little too far west for where I will be, but thanks for the suggestion.
Terry - thanks for the suggestion of the Pic du Midi. If I had another week to play with, I'd be there, buddy!
H - I am not surprised a land of such visual and sensual beauty would appeal to someone with such a strong sense of the aesthetic as you! I will try to take some arty images for you!
Rolf - thanks for your interest. Yes, I am planning to do a trip out from Carpentras, through Bedoin up to Mt Ventoux, which I believe is part of the Tour de France route.
Mick - thanks mate, that link looks fantastic, it has in fact thrown my accommodation plans into disarray, because it looks so good - I might have to change some plans so I can stay there at least a couple of nights. I will let you know if I end up staying there!
I might try to get up to Carcasson, which everyone I talk to raves about! !
I was going to mention Carcassonne - absolutely beautiful castle, though still pretty packed when there in November. It was a bit further west, from memory, which is why i didnt.
Real Knights of Templar area.
Enjoyed a lovely Cassoulet in Carcassonne.
Couple of pics.
Carcassonne, Cassoulet and Collioure in images.
so if you need any more details just PM me. 
congrats on the planned trip Rod
I went up there walking a couple of times as a kid with my grand father. He had a chalet at the bottom of the mountain 10km away and I used to go there every Xmas holidays. Actually my profile picture on IIS (drinking coffee) was taken in the small bistro terrace up there. 
