Discover Uzès

Spring 2015 real estate outlook

From French Entrée (here). I concur.

Confidence is returning to the property market in France. The estate agent network Logic-Immo conducts a survey of the mood of the market three times a year. In their latest report published in March, over two thirds of buyers felt this is a good timeto buy and have an increased level of confidence in reaching a successful conclusion to their search in the short term. Over three fourths of buyers consider borrowing rates to be attractive, a record percentage since the survey started.

Stabilising

Among the elements attributed by the survey to explain this unprecedented 5-year-high optimism, are three main factors: the perception that the economy is slowly stabilising, the historical low levels for mortgage rates, and expert expectations of stability in property prices. Buyers are increasingly focused on finding the ‘right’ property. What defines ‘right’ is relative to each individual buyer, but in general terms the perception rests on two main elements, the right price, and the right amount of renovation or redecoration work to be done, if any, in relation to the asking price.

Buyer’s Market

A market tension indicator, published by Meilleurs Agents, measured by how many buyers there are for every seller, is still showing the market leans in favour of buyers, although according to a survey of Notaires’ offices, for the first time since the crisis began there is an increase in activity measured by the number of offers signed, meaning that the ratio may be about to start balancing out. For foreign buyers in particular, the currency exchange rates have provided a unique advantage with the dollar approaching parity and the strong pound allowing the overseas buyer’s budget to stretch further.

Prices and Volume of Transactions

The Notaires de France price index published in April shows that prices have dropped on average over the last 12 months by 2% in Paris and 2,6% in the rest of the country. As regards the number of property transactions completed, the last reading in January 2015 shows 700,000 contracts for the last 12 months, 3% fewer contracts versus the equivalent reading taken in January of 2014.

In defense of bullfighting

Today I went to Nîmes to watch the equestrian corrida of the Feria de Pentecôte 2015. Every year I am a bit hesitant to write about corridas – as I am aware of the ambivalence of some about this local tradition. This year I have decide to speak up. To that end, I have looked for what somebody else might have written on the subject that best would express my sentiment – and I found Robert Elms’ piece in The Independent (here), which I have adapted below.

When I saw my first ever corrida – it's not really a bullfight, anybody foolhardy enough to fight a bull would be a goner within minutes – I was immediately smitten. But I know not everybody is.

Much of the antipathy to the corrida comes from the misconception that it is a sport, and a deeply unfair one at that. But this unique event, which is reviewed in the culture section of Spanish newspapers alongside opera, cannot be considered a sport; the end is pre-ordained, the pattern deeply repetitive and the element of competition almost entirely absent.

Of course there are genuine anti-taurine activists whose convictions are real and valid. Groups of a few hundreds of them sometimes gather to protest outside the Roman arenas in Nîmes where I go regularly, but then again 10,000 fans of the corrida are inside.

Picking cherries in Uzège

Again this year, you can go and pick cherries yourself around Uzès. Or go the farmer's market which will be held in Remoulins on Saturday May 23rd from 4pm to 8pm. You will be able to find there cherry juices, cherries jams, cherry beers...

Pick cherries on Sunday May 24th in Montfrin (M. Tremoulet, call him on 06.03.10.08.74) or Remoulins (Ms Dalmolin from La Cabane Rouge, 06.85.15.74.36).

Pick cherries all season in Pougnadoresse (M. Ottalora, 06.28.93.95.48), Saint-Laurent-La-Vernède (Domaine Natura, 06.09.76.84.59) or Vers-Pont-du-Gard (Laurent Lampietro, 06.12.28.26.88).

A new flower market in Montaren

There was one in Aigaliers. Now there is one in Montaren. A smashing success today, if you ask me!

Announcing Jazz in Blauzac 2015

Before Autres Rivages (from July 15 to July 26) and Les Nuits Musicales (from July 24 to August 4), the first summer music festival in Uzège is Jazz in Blauzac which takes place on July 3rd, 4th and 5th. For the fourth time this year, book your nights:

On Friday (July 3): Place de l’Eglise, main stage 20.45 (doors open from 20.15): Banana’n’ jug, from the 20’s /30’s. Singing with several voices. Dirty Blues & Jug music, and later Raphaël Lemonnier with Michel Pastre, Daniel Huck, and « Vocal Special Guest » Tricia Evy for a hommage to Count Basie : « Swinging the Blues » ;

On Saturday (July 4): Rue de l’Hôtel de Ville in front of Le Progrès & Le Central bars ; from 12/noon, free apero jazz concert with the BLAUZAC BIG BAND and their special guests. Place de l’Eglise, main stage 20h45 (doors open from 20h15) Septet TRIO +1, nature Jazz, percutant, full of sun & humour and later BRBB, Homage to Otis Redding - RHYTHM & BLUES in all its splendour ;

On Sunday (July 5): Rue de l’Hôtel de Ville in front of Le Progrès & Le Central bars from 12/noon: Free apero jazz concert with the BLAUZAC BIG BAND and their special guests. Place de l’Eglise, main stage 20h45 (doors open from 20h15): Trio Paquito, Gypsy Jazz, an exceptional virtuosity and later Louis Prima forever, Homage to Louis Prima. A breath taking reproduction by exceptional musicians.

Tickets are 14€ per night, or buy a pass. Visit their site to get more info about bookings.

 

Discover Eric Fraudeau and Cook'in with class

Food in Uzège... Nothing like competition: a number of cooks and food lovers are coming to Uzès, bloggers are talking about Uzès. TV shows come to Uzès. So, introducing another cooking school in Uzège: welcome Eric Fraudeau, owner of Cook'n With Class. Here are a few words from Eric:

"Almost 8 years ago since we opened Cook'n With Class and welcomed our first students - that was  on 17th of July 2007, rue Custine in Paris. Now, we are expanding and we are opening our second cooking school in the south of France. A new chapter in an 8-year old book - so to speak !

A couple of years ago, my wife Yetunde and I fell in love with a small town name Uzès. Some of you have heard of it, some of you, I am sure, have visited it. The town is gorgeous. It is a medieval city full of history, 10 minutes from the very famous Pont du gard... and 5 minutes from another  famous town names St Quentin-la-Poterie... Both towns have markets, on different days, with the many of the same vendors.