This year's Cannes Film Festival, the most famous film festival in the world, runs from May 16th to 27nd, 2012. So roll out the red carpet, for this is the month when the world' eyes, well at least those in the movie business or the plain star-struck, are focused on glitzy, glamorous Cannes.

The stars arrive; the mega yachts sit in the harbor; everyone tries to get into the Carlton Hotel to rub shoulders with the great and the good and we all wait to see which film has been awarded the ultimate accolade by the jury, this year led by Nanni Moretti. Better known in Europe and Italy, Moretti's career began when he directed his first film, Io Sono un Autarchico (I am Self Sufficient) in 1976.

Hollywood has a good presence on the red carpet this year with such star-studded films as Walter Salles' On the Road, Lee Daniels' The Paperboy, David Cronenberg's Cosmopolis, Jeff Nichols' Mud and Andrew Dominik's Killing Them Softly, not to mention an out-of-competition screening of DreamWorks Animation's Madagascar 3.

The Brits are there as well, with English actor and director Tim Roth the president of the Un Certain Regard Jury, part of the Festival de Cannes Official Selection.

It's possible to see the stars - and some of the films - even if, like me, you are a mere mortal. See my guide to the 2012 Cannes Film Festival.

Also see my general guide to the Cannes Film Festival.

More information on Provence/Cote d'Azur

Bring out the gypsy in you...well, a gypsy of the well-dressed, luxury-loving, gourmet-style type. Highly suitable for Provence.

La Bastide de Marie is one of Provence's best hotels in the heart of the Luberon. It has all the requisite delightful Provencale decor, a library and tasting vault, two restaurants and a Spa Pure Altitude with indoor and outdoor treatment rooms and two swimming pools. Just the place for wanderers.

Now if you want all that, and a feeling of being away from it all, you can book for their gypsy-style caravan or 'Roulotte'. It's in the grounds of the hotel and is surrounded by vineyards. But this is no ordinary caravan. It has wooden floors, a bed with a gilded wood headboard, a wing chair, no less, and what is described as a 'quaint' washroom.

It's not gypsy prices, but at this level of luxury...sorry authenticity...from 465 euros per night for two people, including b&b, afternoon tea, lunch or dinner, served with an aperitif, wines from the Domaine de Marie, mineral water and coffee, it's pretty good value.

They've also got rather a nice deal on a special lunch. You go shopping at the local market in Coustellet with the hotel chef, tour La Bastide's vegetable garden, have a two-and-a-half hour cookery lesson then lunch at the chef's table. 90 euros per person.

Practical Information

La Bastide de Marie
Route de Bonnieux
Quartier de la Verrerie
84560 - Ménerbes
Tel.: 00 33 (0)4 90 72 30 20
Website

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From May 16th to 20th, Lyon is given over to indie and electronic music.Nuits sonores is a great festival where the young and the enthusiasts come from all over France to listen to (and dance and party along with) electronic rock, hip-hop and electro music, almost around the clock.

60 venues are involved in this urban festival which starts in a former factory built in 1840. Other venues include the Hotel-Dieu and its many courtyards, and La Sucrerie, the former warehouse down in the area below Perrache which is the hip section of a changing city.

Names at the festival include Ricardo Villalobos and Max Loderbauer from Germany, Mudhoney and a whole load of artists whose names will be familiar to those tuned into electronic music. And being France, there's a good children's festival as well.

Information and booking including accommodation on the Lyon Tourist Site.

Lyon is a great city; check out the Lyon Photo gallery

There's nothing quite so peaceful as slipping along the tree-lined canals of France in a barge -- with somebody else doing all the work. European Waterways, the biggest hotel barge company in Europe has just added Alsace-Lorraine to its offerings.

Panache is a 12 passenger, 128 ft Dutch hotel barge taking passengers on a 6-night, all-inclusive journey along the Canal de la Marne au Rhin, between Strasbourg and Mittersheim in Alsace-Lorraine.

On the way you can visit Saverne with its 11th-century Chateau, drive through the Vosges hills along the Route des Grands Crus with a private tasting of local wines; see the Rene Lalique Museum at Wingen-sur-Moder and visit Nancy.

On board it's all comfort with well-fitted cabins and bathrooms with twin hand-basins and showers with massage jets. Public areas have brass and mahogany fittings and the barge has a sundeck and heated spa pool. The energetic can take the on-board bicycles for a spot of towpath cycling, which should work up an appetite for some very good food by the onboard chef. The likes of sea bass with cucumber and smoked eel washed down with a Sulvaner Cuvée Réserve will hit the spot.

Prices start at £2,790 per person in a twin/double junior suite. That includes local transfers to and from the barge; a champagne welcome; accommodation in one of the 6 air-conditioned, en-suite cabins; all gourmet meals aboard and ashore; some great wines; an all day open bar; use of bicycles and spa pool; all excursions and admittance fees, and the services of the experienced crew of six -- the captain, master chef, deck hand, tour guide and hostesses. If you're feeling really flush, then take the whole boat for £25,600.

There's a special offer if you book by May 31st, 2012, on departures from June to October of £500 off per cabin and 10% off the whole boat charter.

Information www.gobarging.com.
European Waterways tel.: 00 44 (0)1753-598-555. Email: sales@gobarging.com.

More on the region

Strasbourg Guide

Rene Lalique Museum Guide

Nicolaus van Leyden Sculpture Exhibition