Wednesday 11 September 2013

Removals to France: Rugby in France

Whatever your reason for moving house to France, if you’re a rugby fan, you will be glad of one thing: the French are as passionate about their sport as we are.

Your removals to France need make no difference to the amount or the quality of rugby you get to see and/or play; as week in, week out, up and down the country, top class teams featuring famous names turn out to do battle.  In this article we'll be taking an impartial look at France's Top 14 rugby clubs.

Hamiltons Removals offer a bespoke removals service to destinations throughout the UK, Europe, and internationally. We are British Association of Removers (BAR) registered and FAIM accredited. We are also members of the Road Haulage Association (RHA) and are BS EN ISO 9001:2000 registered, so you can rest assured for removals to France you are in safe hands.

Moving House To  France – Click on this link to find out more about our full range of European removal services.

Here we take a look at the top French rugby teams in the order in which they stand at the time of writing.

Clermont Auvergne
35 Rue du Clos Four,
63000 Clermont-Ferrand.

If you’re moving to Auvergne, you are moving to the heart of French rugby. ASM Clermont Auvergne have been plying their trade since 1911, contesting the French Championship on numerous occasions, before finally winning the trophy in 2012. Fielding such great names as Julien Bonnaire, Nathan Hines and the commentators favourite, Aurelien Rougerie among so many others, you are guaranteed a great day’s entertainment.

Toulon
Avenue de la République,
83000, Toulon.

The prospect of moving to Toulon is surely enough to set any rugby nut’s heart racing. With Delon Armitage at full back, the unpredictable but often brilliant Freddy Michalak at scrum half, and a certain Jonny Wilkinson at fly, your weekends at home will be something to savour. The town goes rugby crazy on match days as the fully enclosed 14,700 seat Stade Mayol reverberates to the chant of the Pilou Pilou.

Toulouse
114 Rue des Troènes,
31200 Toulouse

With arguably one of the greatest rugby teams in Europe on your doorstep, moving to Toulouse would be a dream come true for any rugby fan. With the likes of Poitrenaud, Picamoles and Dusautoir, not to mention Clerc and Beauxis, satisfaction is virtually assured. Add the Mediterranean climate and the fabulous shopping and it shouldn’t be too great a hardship for any rugby widow either.

Castres
205 Avenue Charles de Gaulle 
81100 Castres

Moving to Castres in the south of France will bring you into (almost) direct contact with some of the greatest names in world rugby. Scotland's Ritchie Gray, New Zealand's Danny Kirkpatrick, and our own Marcel Garvey, are just a few of the famous international names playing alongside some true home-grown talent. The team have recently been crowned 2013 Champions of France with a win over European champions Toulon.

Montpellier
500 Avenue de Vanières,
34070 Montpellier,

Moving to Montpellier, the capital of the Languedoc-Roussillon will put you within a ticket and a short drive of Montpellier Hérault Rugby. Currently 5th in the table their squad boasts such formidable characters as Trinh-Duc, Chobet and Sébastien Petit and at 1m 87 and 117kg, there's nothing "small" about him. With regular appearances in the Heineken Cup, the Amlin Challenge Cup, and the Shield, silverware is never too far away.

Racing Metro
11, Avenue Paul Langevin
92350 Le Plessis-Robinson, Paris

Irish and Welsh eyes will be smiling in Paris next season as the legend that is Ronan O’Gara has agreed to assist with the coaching at Racing Metro. If you are moving to Paris, you can catch him and other famous names like Jamie Roberts, Dan Lydiate and maybe even "the caveman" Sebastien Chabal as they work their magic for France’s capital city.

Perpignan
11 Allée Aimé Giral
66000 Perpignan

Kit yourselves out in red and gold and you’re sure to fit in just fine if you are moving to Perpignan. At, or near the top of the French Championship for many years, their 14,593-seater stadium is rarely at much less than capacity. Since their Top 14 triumph in 2008/9 they have continued to perform well, making a number of appearances in the Heineken Cup. Look out for Luke Narraway, ex of Gloucester at No. 8, and Richard Haughton on the wing.

Bayonne
Rond point St Léon
64100 Bayonne

Featuring a raft of imported talent from as far afield as Tonga, Fiji, New Zealand, South Africa and Australia, Bayonne’s team sheet reads more like an address to the commonwealth than a weekly work roster. Moving to Bayonne you’ll be treated to the rugby stylings of players such as Vaka Saïmoni, Neemia Tialata, Dewald Senekal, Gert Muller, not to mention the former Crusaders and Blues fly half Stephen Brett.

Biarritz
Rue Cino del Duca
64200, Biarritz

If you are moving to Biarritz, you can look forward to the rugby viewing pleasure that is Biarritz Olympique. The BOPB have competed in the Top 14 and the Heineken Cup and in 2011-12, they won the Amlin Challenge Cup, beating Jonny Wilkinson’s Toulon in an 18-21 nail biter. The squad features a number of internationals including American, winger Takudzwa Ngwenya.

Grenoble
Rue Albert Reynier
38100 Grenoble

If you are moving to Grenoble, you’ll be in good company as former England back Olly Barkley is set to join them from Parisian side Racing Metro. The side already features some great internationals including Daniel Kilioni of Tonga, Roland Bernard of South Africa and Australia's Dayna Edwards. Relative newcomers to the Top 14, they recently beat champions Toulouse 15-6 in a dramatic home win.

Stade Francais
Avenue du Général Sarrail
75016 Paris

If you’re moving to Paris and love rugby, prepare to wear pink. Rugby strips don’t come much pinker than that worn by Stade Francais in 2010. It was then president Max Guazzini’s idea to kit his team out in eye-popping pink and since then the players have got used to wearing some pretty amazing Kenzo designed shirts in all sorts of colours. One standard motif however, whatever the colour, is the three bolts of lightning.

Bordeaux-Begles
25 rue Delphin Loche
33130 Bègles

Moving to Bègles puts you in line for some great local rugby. Union Bordeaux-Begles to give them their full title have been a Super 14 club since their promotion at the end of 2010/11. Their newfound status amongst the big boys of French rugby has seen them attract some top class players from around the world including Heinie Adams from South Africa, Rafaël Carballo of Argentina and Australia’s Connor Blair.

Agen
1, Rue Pierre de Coubertin
47000 Agen

Rugby fans moving to Lot-et-Garonne in the lush south west of France and those moving to Agen in particular are in for a real treat. The Lot Valley and infact the entire south west of France, is a hot bed for rugby union and fans of SU Agen follow the club avidly. Promoted to the French Top 14 in 2010, their games are always hotly contested and make for a very entertaining afternoon.

Mont de Marsan
270 Avenue du Stade,
40000 Mont-de-Marsan

Another recently promoted side, Mont de Marsan feature a number of quality internationals in their predominantly French line up. Among them are Canada’s Luke Tait, at Lock and Australia’s Ben Coutts at Prop. In the past they have fielded French rugby legend Thomas Castaignède and the Fijian ex-Tiger Waisale Serevi. With this kind of pedigree, it surely will not be too long before we see a protégé of Dal Maso and Prosper playing for Les Bleus.

About Hamitons Removals


Hamiltons Removals  pride ourselves on our customer service and our attention to detail. Our distinctly liveried removals vehicles are manned by time served, uniformed removals operatives, there to ensure your move to France goes as smoothly as possible.

Click here for a free European removals quote.

Monday 9 September 2013

Removals to France: Adventure Sports

If you are moving to France and have a passion for adventure sports you will not be disappointed! Many of you will have already done your homework. Having researched your removals to France, you might already be looking forward to the challenge of Mont Blanc or to the hiking trails and cliff climbing on offer in the Chaudefour valley. If you prefer to look for your thrills underground, you may already targeted the Cévennes and discovered the caving and potholing there is fabulous. For those of you who like taking to the skies, there are paragliding and sky diving opportunities aplenty in the land of Les Bleus.

At Hamiltons Removals and whatever your sport and however much kit you need to take with you, we will safely pack, load, store, transport and unpack it for you with the care and attention necessary to ensure it arrives in perfect condition, ready to use.

For safe, secure moves from the UK to France, call us today or click here to find out more about our European removals service

Here we look at the top adventure sports France has to offer.

Abseiling or Rappelling

Wherever you find a rock face or even just a tall building, you'll find an abseiling opportunity; but why not be surrounded by some of the best countryside France has to offer on your descent? If you are moving to the Dordogne, you're in luck. The area has some stunning natural rock formations which are ideal for abseiling. Look out for the facilities at Bassignac; there are 20 or so routes available, suiting "abbers" or "rappers" of every ability.

Caving and Potholing


If you are moving to Languedoc you must check out the caving and pot-holing on offer in the Cevennes near Florac. Over hundreds of years a network of caves and tunnels has been carved out of the limestone, leaving behind some quite wonderful natural features like underground rivers, waterfalls, stalactites and stalagmites.  Give yourself a good 4 to 5 hours to properly appreciate this natural wonder.

Paragliding

Paragliding is very popular in France with over 960 official paragliding sites. If you are moving to Rhone-Alpes, you probably will not go a day without seeing, or at least hearing, one of these machines. There are over 250 sites in this area alone, but when you consider the beauty of the surroundings, it is perhaps hardly surprising. Another favoured destination for paragliders is Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, with just shy of 100 flying stations.

Quad Biking

Quad Biking is popular throughout France, but perhaps nowhere more so than in the south where you can ride around all day posing on a four-wheeler whilst catching a great suntan. Make sure you apply plenty of sun cream though, as the breeze can be deceptively cooling. If you are moving to Cote d’Azur you’ll see quads everywhere. They are readily available to hire, or buy, but you do need a licence to able to ride one on the public roads.

Power Boating

There are 3 different types of licence required, depending on the size and power of your vessel: La Carte Mer, Le Permis Cotier, and Le Permis Hauturier, but for most purposes Le Permis Cotier will suffice. This allows you to pilot any boat, as long as you don’t venture more than 5 miles from the coast. Here's the good news though: if you are moving to France with your own, British registered boat, you will not need any of the above.

Jetskiing

Unlike the Swedes, the French on the whole don’t have a problem with jet-skis - they love them. But you do need to be properly qualified and insured. Here's what you'll need: European Insurance cover, an RYA PWC Certificate, all the ownership documents for your ski, a life jacket, sunscreen and a cool pair of shades. The RYA training doesn't cost much (£150) for a day's tutorial and they even give you a translation letter in 5 different languages.

White Water Rafting

If gritting your teeth and battling to stay upright in maximum turbulence is your idea of fun, and you just so happen to be moving to Alpes-de-Haute-Province, head for the River Verdon. Running through a number of artificial lakes before falling into the Durance close to Vinon-sur-Verdon, it is best known for the Verdon Gorge. A popular spot amongst rock climbers too, France's “Grand Canyon” produces Class II and Class III rapids.

Mountain Biking or VTT

Mountain biking or Vélo Tout Terrain, as it is known in France, is extremely popular. The FFC (Federation Francais de Cyclisme) oversees many of the parks and has graded trails from green for beginners, to black for the most serious mountain bikers. If you are moving to Languedoc-Roussillion, you'll find 10 such parks with more than 100km of trails which are all properly signposted and well maintained.

Sky diving


With more than 60 dropzones (or DeeZee's) offering a mix of tandem, static line and AFF jumps, sky diving is another popular high adrenaline sport in France. There are sky diving schools throughout the country from northern Paris to Pau and Tarbes in the southwest, so even if you are moving to Lyon, with the proper training you could get to jump out of an airplane.

Land Yachting
Call it what you like, land sailing, sand yachting, or Blo-karting, this sport is exhilaration beyond belief. You can reach speeds of up to 40mph and when you consider you're just inches from the ground and you have no brakes, the rush is incredible. If you are moving to northern France and want to take up the sport, you're in luck; it's the world centre for land yachting and almost every beach has a club.

About Hamiltons

Hamiltons Removals offer a range of removal services to suit your individual requirements. Contact us today for your free removals quotation and let us take the strain of your European move.

Thursday 5 September 2013

Removals to France: Michelin Starred Restaurants in France

France is known throughout the world for its gastronomic delights. Flavoursome cuisine and regional delicacies abound here, so you will have little trouble in finding an excellent restaurant in which to celebrate your removals to France. In this article we take a look at some of the best restaurants France has to offer, so you'll know where to head for when you arrive.

Hamiltons Removals have been offering high quality removals to France for more than 20 years. We regularly undertake trips to and from Europe as well as to the US, Asia and  Australia.

European and International Removals to France –  If you are moving from the UK to France, click here to find out more about our removals service.

What is a Michelin Starred Restaurant?

A Michelin starred restaurant is one that is deemed to be excellent in its category. If a restaurant is given two stars the cooking is considered outstanding and it is, in Michelin parlance, “worth a detour”. Three stars is the highest Michelin accolade. It’s awarded to restaurants serving exceptional food worth making a special journey for.

The rating system was the brainchild of André and Édouard Michelin of Michelin tyres, who came up with the idea in an effort to boost the sales of their car tyres. Hence the reason the awards have a travel related theme.

Since its first publication in 1900, the Michelin guide has become the industry standard and a mention in the annually produced little red book is regarded by restaurateurs throughout the world as the Holy Grail.

Stars can be lost as well as won so the incentive to achieve and maintain standards of excellence is always present. Add this to the fact that visits from Michelin inspectors are always conducted in secret and you have a recipe for consistently great food.

In the latest edition of the guide (2012), France tops the table in terms of Michelin starred restaurants, with 26 achieving the much-coveted 3 star accolade. Imagine that - a different 3 star Michelin restaurant every fortnight for a whole year and who knows, one of them could be just around the corner from your new French home? Here are ten of them just to whet your appetite. We’ll round up the others in a future article on the subject of French fine dining. Enjoy!

Les Flocons De Sel
1775 Route du Leutaz 74120 Megève, Rhône-Alpes.

The newest member of the elite Michelin 3 star dining club, Les Flocons De Sel is headed by chef Emmanuel Renaut, who previously worked at The Hôtel de Crillon in Paris and Claridge's of Mayfair.

L'Arnsbourg
18 Route de Baerenthal 57230 Philippsbourg, Lorraine.

Lorraine in North Eastern France is where you'll find chef Jean-Georges Klein plating up some unusual dishes. Not content to stick with the tried and tested, Jean-Georges delights in creating new and exciting food combinations.

Maison Lameloise
36 Place d'Armes 71150 Chagny, Bourgogne.

Chef Eric Pras has recently taken the helm at this lovely restaurant in the Burgundy region of France. He has managed to successfully bridge the gap between tradition and modernity, presenting dishes with a flair that is all his own.

Les Prés d'Eugénie
334 Rue Rena Vielle 40320 Euganie-les-Bains, Aquitaine.

Michel Guérard is the man in charge here and his restaurant, deep in the south west of France makes no apology for it. His style and presentation are all over this place from the very fabric of the building to the food itself.

Auberge du Vieux Puits
5 Avenue Saint-Victor 11360 Fontjoncouse, Aude.

Gilles Goujon is at the head of this fine table. Here he plays with flavours as Mozart played with notes. He and his wife took over at The Old Well Inn back in 1992 and have transformed it into one of the finest restaurants in France.

Auberge de l'Ill
2 Rue de Collonges au Mont d'Or 68970 Illhaeusern, Alsace.

L'Auberge de l'Ill has been a 3 star Michelin restaurant for over 45 years now and dining here has been described as an outstanding lifetime experience. They achieve their star rating time and time again for an excellent menu and service to match.

La Côte Saint Jacques
14 Faubourg de Paris 89300 Joigny, Burgundy.

Chef Jean-Michel Lorain heads up this jewel in the gustatory crown of Burgundy. The youngest chef to ever receive 3 stars, the restaurant is full even on a Tuesday and offers excellent food, a great range of wines, and first class service.

Michel Bras
Route de l'Aubrac 12210 Laguiole, Aveyron.

Rarely do wonderful views and such great food come together in quite the way they do at Michel Bras. Here in Laguiole, Michel and son Sebastian blend simplicity with sophistication to produce an exceptional contemporary dining experience.

Paul Bocuse
40 Rue de la Plage 69660 Collonges-au-Mont-d'Or, Rhône.

Classically French cuisine and a welcoming service await you at Paul Bocuse. At 87, he is a rock star among chefs but unlike most rock stars, he is not averse to walking the room and posing for photos. From uniformed meet ‘n’ greet to sommelier, the experience is divine.

Le Petit Nice
Anse de Maldormé, Corniche J.F. Kennedy 13007 Marseille, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur.

Here you'll find Gérald Passedat, ex of The Crillon and a contemporary of Michel Guérard. Le Petit Nice is seafood heaven and Passedat's passion for it is obvious. Imagine a 5-course fish menu with wine to suit each dish, coupled with some remarkable sea views.

About Hamiltons

At Hamiltons Removals we offer three main types of service to those looking for removals to Europe. Our dedicated service gives you sole use of a vehicle or vehicles. Our special service allows you to specify the collection and delivery dates, and our part load or groupage service means that several loads for different customers are grouped together and share the same vehicle.

Call our friendly staff today for a competitive removals quotation today and let us take the stress out of your European house removal.

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