So many Festivals, so little time...

So, summer is officially here. Or on its way. I get confused. Either way, it's time to start thinking about where to go, what to see and what to do while the sun shines (we at Lagrange are British optimists at heart). However, if you tend to frazzle rather than dazzle as soon as the sun peeps out from behind a cloud, finding summer holiday activities can be tricky. Luckily for all you English roses out there, France has a great selection of truly varied festivals to keep you entertained and in the shade this summer. Whether you’re looking to soak up the culture, rather than the rays or simply fancy doing something a little different this year, read on for a few choice cultural highlights on offer in L’ Hexagon over the coming months…

Jazz à Juan: 14th-25th July, Antibes/Juan les Pins: The 50th Jazz à Juan jazz festival is a must for both jazz aficionados and those simply looking to put a spring in their step who may be planning a stay in the Antibes/Juan-les-Pins area this July. Between July 14th and 25th, Europe’s longest running jazz festival will be celebrating it’s 50th anniversary with musical tributes to those who have previously graced the festival’s fames ‘Pinède Gould’ stage since it’s launch in 1960. With artists ranging from super-smooth crooner George Benson to New York club scene regulars the Brooklyn Funk Ensemble, plus performances from big bands and jazz orchestras, this year’s festival offers something for everyone, and is guaranteed to get toes tapping.

Tickets for individual performances are available from the official Jazz à Juan website, where a full programme of events is also available: http://www.jazzajuan.fr/en/home.html

Lagrange offers accommodation in Antibes/Juan-les-Pins itself in the ‘Les Pins Blues’ self-catering residence, ideal for exploring the resort and sampling all the jazz festival has to offer.

‘Visa Pour l’ Image’ : 28th August – 12th September, Perpignan: Between August 28th and September 12th, Perpignan plays host to the ‘Visa Pour l’ Image’ photojournalism festival. This event offers those who are passionate about photography the chance to see a huge range of world class photojournalism reporting on world events and current affairs, as well as allowing professional photojournalists to discuss the future of the industry. Screenings depicting a chronological review of the year and it’s biggest news stories as seen through the photojournalist’s lens promise to be both interesting and thought-provoking, and might just leave you feeling inspired to start capturing the world on film for yourself. Someone pass me my Kodak…

· Full details regarding all events at ‘Visa Pour l’Image’, including how to register for accreditation, can be found on the festival’s website: http://www.visapourlimage.com/index.do

· Lagrange offers accommodation in Saint-Cyprien in the ‘Residence du Golf’ self-catering residences, just 25 minutes drive from Perpignan, ideal for enjoying sandy beaches and avoiding the higher prices in Perpignan itself during the festival’s run.

‘Normandie Impressioniste’: June – September, throughout Normandy: Art lovers and culture vultures alike should head to Normandy this summer for a feast of Impressionist art being held in museums and galleries across the region from June 5th onwards. This festival will celebrate works by artists such as Manet, Renoir, and Monet to name but a few, as well as exploring contemporary Impressionist mediums. Events will include concerts, photography exhibitions and art installations, all held in the dramatic Norman surroundings and landscapes that originally inspired the Impressionists and their work. Magnifique indeed.

· For a full and detailed programme of events, anyone interested should head to the ‘Normandie Impressioniste’ website: http://www.normandie-impressionniste.fr/en/home

· Lagrange offers self-catering accommodation in Houlgate and Deauville, both of which are ideally placed for visiting exhibitions and events throughout the region.

‘Rock En Seine’: August 27th – 29th, Paris: Summer just isn’t summer if at least one weekend isn’t spent catching your favourite bands in the ‘intimate’ surroundings of a field or park. Held over the August bank holiday weekend in the Domaine Nationale du Saint Cloud on the outskirts of Paris, Rock en Seine offers a cracking line-up in far more civilised settings than most English festivals. The organisers really seem to have thought of everything, from the Mini Rock festival especially for children aged 6 to 10 years, to the headliners finishing in time for festival goers to catch the last metro or RER home rather than camp on site. Rock and indeed roll.

· Rock En Seine is ideal for anyone venturing over to Paris towards the end of August, as day tickets are a mere 45 euros each. Check out the website for more details: http://www.rockenseine.com/en/

· Lagrange offers self-catering accommodation in Boulogne-Billancourt, just minutes from the festival’s site. What better way to end a great day of live music than by knowing you’re heading back to clean sheets and a hot shower?

For details regarding all the Lagrange accomodation mentioned here, check out our website: http://www.lagrange-holidays.co.uk/home.php3?p=1&id=0