Robert  Doisneau is one of the best known French photographers through his famous 'Kiss' or 'Le Baiser de l'hotel de ville' and other outstanding black-and-white images. They capture moments perfectly, whether it is Coco Chanel reflected in a mirror or a couple dancing be bop in a St. Germain nightclub.

A new exhibition, running until December 11^th in Manderen in Moselle has 300 photographs on display. And brilliant and well known as his iconic images are, of equal interest are portraits of artists from Sacha Guitry to Niki de Saint Phalle, his early studies of children, Paris from the 1940s to the 1960s, images of miners' housing that he took in Lorraine and some astonishing colour photographs he took in Palm Springs in the U.S. in 1960.

Practical Information

Exhibition runs to December 11^th, 2011

Chateau de Malbrouck
Manderen
Moselle
Tel.: 00 33 (0)3 87 35 03 87
Chateau website

More information on Moselle

Image: Le baiser de l'hotel de ville 1960 © Atelier Robert Doisneau

The Chateau de Ligny, a fairytale small castle hotel near Cambrai in northern France, is offering a special deal until Mary 31^st. One night's accommodation in a double room in the old part of the chateau, 2 'chef's special' dinners, breakfast and use of the swimming spa are on offer at just 260 euros for two people.

Ligny is a small village near Cambrai in an area which is full of sights and attractions, from the Matisee Museum in Cambrai to World War I memorials and sight, so the castle hotel at Ligny makes a great base for sightseeing.

Practical Information

Chateau de Ligny
2 rue Pierre Curie
59191 Ligny-en-Cambrésis
Tel.: 00 33 (0)3 27 85 79 79
Chateau website
See my review of the Chateau de Ligny

More Sights and Attractions in the Region

The Cannes Shopping Festival, held over Easter weekend from April 21^st to April 24^th, 2011, is yet another reason to visit this glorious, chic Mediterranean resort. It's best known for the annual Film Festival, but there are many other events to attract the high livers.

The 2011 Spring and Summer collections of international designers are on show in the Palais des Festivals and Congresses of Cannes. Every evening there are fashion shows, running from eco-responsible vintage fashion to shows from Galeries Lafayette, Azzaro's ready-to-wear line and from the boutiques that cluster along the major shopping areas, La Croisette and the rue d'Antibes. It's fun as well, with complimentary champagne to help things along. On Saturday  a small free train can take you to the different boutiques in the city.

The hotels are part of this as well, offering a complementary pass to the shows as well as reduced rates on their rooms (this is the beginning of the season and the hotels are not full). Rates start at 90 euros a night (2 star hotel) to 250 euros a night in a top 5-star hotel.

More information

Staying nearby in Antibes

Image: Cannes Shopping Festival © Palais des Festivals et des Congrès de Cannes

P&O's new super huge and extremely comfortable ferry has brought greater capacity to the cross-channel route, so there are good deals around for a trip to France from the UK. From April 15^th to May 8^th, it's just £2 for a day trip for a foot passenger midweek and at weekends a whopping £6.

Calais is really getting its act together for visitors. One don't-miss attraction is the Lace Museum, housed in an old 19^th century lace-making factory. It's a real eye-opener, both for how lace was made and for the exhibitions on haute couture and lace.

Address
135 Quai du Commerce
Tel: 00 33 (0)321 00 42 30
Website

Getting to Calais on P&O

More Information on Calais and the Region