Unusual Things to do in France in 2009

Why holiday in France? There are so many reasons, with the Pound regaining some of its strength against the Euro, why not take a break in France and do something a little different. Take a break from the usual theme parks and tourist events; here are a few suggestions to give you a taster of some of the more unusual things to do in France.

Machines de l'Ile in Nantes
Visit an invented world that blends the tales Jules Verne and the mechanical universe of Leonardo da Vinci, and the industrial history of Nantes, on a site of the former shipyards. It's not every day you get to ride on a mechanical Great Elephant, the huge 12-metre high animal can carry forty-five passengers on board. From the inside, you can see the moving gears that power the legs. Passengers can make the elephant trumpet and control some its movements, making it an interactive experience. In this time-travelling carriage, the passengers can voyage to the imaginary world of Jules Verne in the city where he was born. You can also visit the Galleries and see the other machines that have been created, this really is something quite different and well worth a visit. From Monday 20 April to Thursday 2 July the Machines de l'Île are open 6 days a week Tuesday to Friday: 10:00 am to 6:00 pm and from Thursday 3 July to Monday 31 August: 7 days a week 10:00 am to 8:00 pm . And throughout the year at various time and days.

Guédelon adventure - A Medieval Castle in the Making
The Guédelon adventure brings history alive in Northern Burgundy. In the heart of Puisaye, in Yonne, Burgundy, a team of fifty people have taken on an extraordinary feat: to build a castle using the very same techniques and materials used in the Middle Ages. Before the gaze of thousands of visitors, all the trades associated with castle-building: quarrymen, stonemasons, woodcutters, carpenters, blacksmiths, tile makers, basket makers, rope makers, carters and their horses are working together to complete the castle. Guédelon is a genuine building site and not a staged performance so it really does depend on what stage the building is at as to what you'll see. If you want to see the finished product pop 10 minutes up the road to Saint-Fargeau Castle, it was the owner of this Castles brainchild to build a medieval castle from scratch. Guédelon is open from 16th March to 3rd November 2009

The Canal du Midi Festival
The Canal du Midi was built in the 17th Century and took 14 years to build. The canal stretches 240km and links Toulouse and Séte, and has a total of 63 locks. The designer Pierre-Paul Riquet based his design for these locks on the 'water ladder' system invented by Leonardo da Vinci. Béziers and neighbouring towns crossed by the Canal now celebrate the creator of this work of art. This year, on 13 and 14 June, the 1st edition of the Canal du Midi Festival (formerly the Locks Festival) will take place. Exhibitions, a farmers' market with local produce, plays, creative workshops, guided tours but especially, a dazzling Son & Lumière Show by the "OC" group, at the top of the 9 locks of Fonseranes, will be organized by Béziers, Villeneuve-les-Béziers and Cers during these two days.

Puy-du-Fou in the Vendée - A Medieval Theme Park with a difference
There are no rides at this theme park but a mix of large spectacular shows depicting various periods in history including 'The Battle of the Keep' with fantastic horsemanship and jousting. See the Romans alive and kicking in 'The Gladiators'. This has a huge recreation of the Coliseum on an impressive stage, see chariot racing and some pretty gruesome special effects when the Gladiators do battle, but it's all good fun! Treat yourself to something different and have a fun day out with the kids, this has something for everyone.

Music Festivals
They can be found all over France throughout the towns and villages, look through the local papers or you may even find flyers advertising them on your car when you've popped in to town. If you want to visit a bigger festival there is the Nice Music Festival running from 18th-25th July, artists include Madeline Peyroux, Tracy Chapman, Erykah Badu, Gabriella Cilmi, James Taylor, B.B. King to name but a few!

Pig Festival
Who doesn't want to celebrate our porky friends and their tasty products! If you enjoy imitating the cry of the pig, enjoy a feast of various pork products, storytelling and acrobats you'll love this uniquely French local festival in Trie-sur-Baise, north-east of Tarbes.