La Réserve Naturelle de l'Étang de la Mazière - Nature Reserve near Painting-Photography-France.com - painting and photography holidays in the beautiful Lot-et-Garonne - South West France<title> </head> <body link="#000000" vlink="#000000" alink="#000000" style="font-family: Arial (sans-serif); font-size: 10pt"> <div align="center"> <center> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse" bordercolor="#111111" width="850"> <tr> <td colspan="3" width="850"><img border="0" src="images/header.jpg" width="850" height="218"></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="190" valign="top"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse" bordercolor="#111111" width="190" background="images/flag-back-new.jpg"> <tr> <td width="8"> </td> <td width="182" height="20" background="images/flag-back-new.jpg"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="8"> </td> <td width="182" height="20" background="images/flag-back-new.jpg"> <span lang="en-gb"><b> <font 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<font color="#000000">Make a Booking</font></a></font></b></span></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="8" height="20" background="images/flag-back-new.jpg"> </td> <td width="182" height="20" background="images/flag-back-new.jpg"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="8" height="20" background="images/flag-back-new.jpg"> </td> <td width="182" height="20" background="images/flag-back-new.jpg"> <span lang="en-gb"><b> <font face="Verdana" size="2"> <a style="text-decoration: none" href="schedule-painting.htm">Painting</a></font></b></span></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="8" height="20" background="images/flag-back-new.jpg"> </td> <td width="182" height="20" background="images/flag-back-new.jpg"> <span lang="en-gb"> <font color="#808080" face="Verdana" size="1"> <font color="#000000"> <a href="file:///C:/FrontPage%20Webs/Paint-Photo-France/topics-painting.htm" style="text-decoration: none"> </a></font><a href="file:///C:/FrontPage%20Webs/Paint-Photo-France/topics-painting.htm" style="text-decoration: none">- </a></font><font face="Verdana" size="1"> <a style="text-decoration: none" href="topics-painting.htm">Topics covered</a></font></span></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="8" height="20" background="images/flag-back-new.jpg"> </td> <td width="182" height="20" background="images/flag-back-new.jpg"> <span lang="en-gb"> <font color="#808080" face="Verdana" size="1"> <font color="#000000"> </font><a style="text-decoration: none" href="schedule-painting.htm"><font color="#000000">- Example Schedule</font></a></font></span></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="8" height="20" background="images/flag-back-new.jpg"> </td> <td width="182" height="20" background="images/flag-back-new.jpg"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="8" height="20" background="images/flag-back-new.jpg"> </td> <td width="182" height="20" background="images/flag-back-new.jpg"> <span lang="en-gb"><b> <font face="Verdana" size="2"> <a style="text-decoration: none" href="schedule-photo.htm">Photography / Video</a></font></b></span></td> </tr> <tr> <td 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background="images/flag-back-new.jpg"> </td> <td width="182" height="20" background="images/flag-back-new.jpg"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="8" height="20" background="images/flag-back-new.jpg"> </td> <td width="182" height="20" background="images/flag-back-new.jpg"><span lang="en-gb"> <b> <font face="Verdana" size="2"> <a style="text-decoration: none" href="hosts.htm">Your Hosts</a>...</font></b></span></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="8" height="20" background="images/flag-back-new.jpg"> </td> <td width="182" height="20" background="images/flag-back-new.jpg"> <p align="center"> <font face="Verdana"> <a href="hosts.htm"> <img border="0" src="images/pete-jill-compo.jpg" alt="Peter Evans and Jill Fellows" width="159" height="83" vspace="5"></a></font></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="8" height="20" background="images/flag-back-new.jpg"> </td> <td width="182" height="20" background="images/flag-back-new.jpg"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="8" height="20" background="images/flag-back-new.jpg"> </td> <td width="182" height="20" background="images/flag-back-new.jpg"> <span lang="en-gb"><b> <font face="Verdana" size="2">Other Information</font></b></span></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="8" height="20" background="images/flag-back-new.jpg"> </td> <td width="182" height="20" background="images/flag-back-new.jpg"> <font face="Verdana" size="1"> <a href="examples.htm" style="text-decoration: none"> - Why the Lot-et-Garonne?<br> <font color="#808080"> 100+ images of the area</font></a></font></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="8" height="20" background="images/flag-back-new.jpg"> </td> <td width="182" height="20" background="images/flag-back-new.jpg"> <span lang="en-gb"><font face="Verdana" size="1"> <a style="text-decoration: none" href="accommodation.htm"> - Your Accommodation</a></font></span></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="8" height="20" background="images/flag-back-new.jpg"> </td> <td width="182" height="20" background="images/flag-back-new.jpg"><span lang="en-gb"> <font face="Verdana" size="1"> <a style="text-decoration: none" href="rates.htm"> <font color="#000000">- Prices </font>and Dates</a></font></span></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="8" height="20" background="images/flag-back-new.jpg"> </td> <td width="182" height="20" background="images/flag-back-new.jpg"> <font face="Verdana" size="1"> <a style="text-decoration: none" href="rates.htm"> <marquee scrolldelay="180" style="color: #008000">The best value painting / photography holidays available in the European Union! And that's guaranteed!</marquee></a></font></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="8" height="20" background="images/flag-back-new.jpg"> </td> <td width="182" height="20" background="images/flag-back-new.jpg"> <span lang="en-gb"><font face="Verdana" size="1"> <a style="text-decoration: none" href="flights.htm"> - Getting here </a> by air road & rail</font></span></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="8" height="20" background="images/flag-back-new.jpg"> </td> <td width="182" height="20" background="images/flag-back-new.jpg"> <span lang="en-gb"> <a style="text-decoration: none" href="comments.htm"> <font face="Verdana" size="1" color="#C0C0C0"> </font><font face="Verdana" size="1">- Clients' Comments</font></a></span></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="8" height="20" background="images/flag-back-new.jpg"> </td> <td width="182" height="20" background="images/flag-back-new.jpg"> <span lang="en-gb"> <font face="Verdana" size="1"> <a style="text-decoration: none" href="equipment.htm"><font color="#000000">- Equipment</font></a> </a></font></span> <font face="Verdana" size="1"> required/<a style="text-decoration: none" href="equipment.htm">supplied</a></font></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="8" height="20" background="images/flag-back-new.jpg"> </td> <td width="182" height="20" background="images/flag-back-new.jpg"> <font face="Verdana"> <b> <font size="1">-</font></b></font><span lang="en-gb"><font face="Verdana" size="1" color="#006699"><a style="text-decoration: none" href="monet.htm"><font color="#000000">The Monet Connection</font></a></font></span></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="8" height="20" background="images/flag-back-new.jpg"> </td> <td width="182" height="20" background="images/flag-back-new.jpg"> <a style="text-decoration: none" href="stein.htm"> <font face="Verdana"> <b> <font size="1">-</font></b></font><span lang="en-gb"><font color="#000000" face="Verdana" size="1"> Rick Stein's Visit</font></span></a></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="8" height="20" background="images/flag-back-new.jpg"> </td> <td width="182" height="20" background="images/flag-back-new.jpg"> <span lang="en-gb"> <font face="Verdana" size="1"> <a style="text-decoration: none" href="around_and_beyond.htm"> - Around and Beyond</a></font></span></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="8" height="20" background="images/flag-back-new.jpg"> </td> <td width="182" height="20" background="images/flag-back-new.jpg"> <span lang="en-gb"> <font face="Verdana" size="1"> <a href="file:///C:/FrontPage%20Webs/Paint-Photo-France/transport.htm" style="text-decoration: none">- </a> <a style="text-decoration: none" href="transport.htm">Transport </a> while you're here</font></span></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="8" height="20" background="images/flag-back-new.jpg"> </td> <td width="182" height="20" background="images/flag-back-new.jpg"> <span lang="en-gb"> <font face="Verdana" size="1"> <a style="text-decoration: none" href="terms.htm">- Terms & Conditions</a></font></span></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="8" height="20" background="images/flag-back-new.jpg"> </td> <td width="182" height="20" background="images/flag-back-new.jpg"> <span lang="en-gb"> <font face="Verdana" size="1"> - </font> <font face="Verdana" size="1" color="#006699"> <a style="text-decoration: none" href="resource.htm"><font color="#000000"> Resource Centre</font></a></font></span></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="8" height="20" background="images/flag-back-new.jpg"> </td> <td width="182" height="20" background="images/flag-back-new.jpg"> <span lang="en-gb"> <font face="Verdana" size="1"> - </font> <font face="Verdana" size="1" color="#000000"> <a style="text-decoration: none" href="contact.htm"><font color="#000000"> Contact Us</font></a></font></span></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="8" height="20" background="images/flag-back-new.jpg"> </td> <td width="182" height="20" background="images/flag-back-new.jpg"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="8" height="20" background="images/flag-back-new.jpg"> </td> <td width="182" height="20" background="images/flag-back-new.jpg"> <a href="faq.htm" style="text-decoration: none"><b> <font face="Verdana" size="1">Frequently</font></b></a><b><font color="#000000" face="Verdana" size="1"><a href="faq.htm" style="text-decoration: none"> asked Questions</a></font></b></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="8" height="20" background="images/flag-back-new.jpg"> </td> <td width="182" height="20" background="images/flag-back-new.jpg"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="8" height="20" background="images/flag-back-new.jpg"> </td> <td width="182" height="20" background="images/flag-back-new.jpg"> <span lang="en-gb"><b> <font color="#000000" face="Verdana" size="1"> <a target="_blank" style="text-decoration: none" href="beginners.htm"> <font color="#000000">Beginners are Welcome!</font></a></font></b></span></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="8" height="20" background="images/flag-back-new.jpg"> </td> <td width="182" height="20" background="images/flag-back-new.jpg"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="8" height="20" background="images/flag-back-new.jpg"> </td> <td background="images/flag-back-new.jpg" align="justify" valign="top" width="182"> <p> <b> <font color="#000000" face="Verdana" size="1"> <a style="text-decoration: none" href="guests.htm">Non-painters & photographers welcomed too! Please click here</a></font><font face="Verdana" size="1"></a></font></b></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="8" height="20" background="images/flag-back-new.jpg"> </td> <td background="images/flag-back-new.jpg" align="left" width="182"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="8" height="20" background="images/flag-back-new.jpg"> </td> <td background="images/flag-back-new.jpg" align="left" width="182"> <p align="justify"> <a href="file:///C:/FrontPage%20Webs/Paint-Photo-France/printing.htm" style="text-decoration: none"><b> <font face="Verdana" size="1" color="#008000">I</font></b></a><font color="#008000" size="1" face="Verdana"><b><a target="_blank" style="text-decoration: none" href="printing.htm"><font color="#008000">f you are thinking of requesting a brochure please click here</font></a></a></b></font></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="8"> </td> <td width="182" height="20" background="images/flag-back-new.jpg"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="8"> </td> <td width="182" height="20" background="images/flag-back-new.jpg"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="8"> </td> <td width="182" background="images/flag-back-new.jpg" align="left" valign="top"> <p> </td> </tr> </table> </td> <td width="17" valign="top"><img border="0" src="images/curve.jpg" width="16" height="20"></td> <td width="643" valign="top"> <div align="right"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse" bordercolor="#111111" width="97%"> <tr> <td width="100%"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="100%"> <p align="left"><font color="#808080"><b><font face="Microsoft Sans Serif" size="3">La R</font><font size="3"><span lang="FR" style="font-family: Microsoft Sans Serif">é</span></font><font face="Microsoft Sans Serif" size="3">serve Naturelle de l'Étang de la Mazière</font></b></font></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="100%"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="100%"> <div align="right"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse" bordercolor="#111111" width="97%"> <tr> <td width="100%"> <p align="justify"><font face="Arial" color="#808080" size="2"> <img border="0" src="images/reserve1.jpg" align="left" hspace="7" alt="Nature reserve" vspace="5" width="150" height="200"><img border="0" src="images/falcon.jpg" align="right" hspace="7" vspace="5" width="213" height="150"></font><font color="#808080"><font face="Arial" size="2">La R</font><font size="2"><span lang="FR" style="font-family: Arial">é</span></font><font face="Arial" size="2">serve Naturelle de l'Étang de la Mazière </font></font> <font face="Arial" size="2" color="#808080">is j</font><font face="Arial" color="#808080" size="2">ust 2 kms across open country from "chez nous". </font></p> <p align="justify"><font face="Arial" color="#808080" size="2">This reserve represents the last vestige of the natural historic landscape of the Garonne valley (i.e. pre-Common Market agriculture).</font></p> <p align="justify"><font face="Arial" color="#808080" size="2"> The environment is unique in the whole of the region of Aquitaine. This may not sound too impressive, until you realise that the region of Aquitaine covers a little over 41,000 square kilometres, an area roughly similar in size to Switzerland.</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="100%"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="100%"> <div align="right"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse" bordercolor="#111111" width="100%"> <tr> <td width="100%"> <p align="justify"> <img border="0" src="images/reserve-sound.jpg" hspace="10" alt="falcon" align="right" width="240" height="281"><font face="Arial" color="#808080" size="2">The reserve is home to 230 species of plants, 500 species of insects,</font><font face="Arial" color="#808080" size="2"> 15 species of fish, 10 species of reptiles and 7 species of amphibians. 195 species of birds are either nesting or migratory/winter visitors here and 72 of these are protected species. There are hides from which you can observe the wildlife. <br> <br> On the right, in a heavily shaded clearing in the woods, a </font> <font face="Arial" size="2" color="#0000FF">Painting </font><font face="Arial" size="2" color="#808080">Photography </font><font face="Arial" size="2" color="#FF0000"> France</font><font face="Arial" size="2" color="#808080"> client singles out the individual call of a nightingale with a uni-directional, parabolic microphone whilst Jill receives an explanation on the bird's habitat from Julian, the reserve's chief guide.</font></p> <p align="justify"> <font face="Arial" size="2"> <img border="0" src="images/reserve-butterfly.jpg" align="left" hspace="5" vspace="5" width="240" height="236"></font><font face="Arial" size="2" color="#808080">Because the reserve is such an important and fragile environment and, because it is a haven for many protected species, public access is strictly prohibited, unless by prior appointment. </font></p> <p align="justify"><font face="Arial" size="2" color="#808080">If you would like to visit the reserve, please let us know well in advance and we will arrange a visit for you. Wildlife is at its most abundant from Mid-August to November (due to migration).<br> <br> <b>Note for photographers </b>: you will need a 300 mm lens as a minimum.</font></td> </tr> </table> </div> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="100%"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="100%"> </td> </tr> </table> </div> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="100%"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="100%"> </td> </tr> </table> </div> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="850" colspan="3"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="3" width="850"> <p align="center"><b><span lang="en-gb"> <font face="Arial" size="1" color="#0000FF">painting-</font><font face="Arial" size="1">photography</font><font face="Arial" size="1" color="#FF0000">-france</font><font face="Arial" size="1">.com and</font><font face="Arial" size="1" color="#FFFFFF"> </font> <font face="Arial" size="1" color="#0000FF">painting-photography</font><font face="Arial" size="1" color="#FF0000">-france.co.uk </font> <font face="Arial" size="1">are protected by copyright</font></span></b></td> </tr> </table> <p>  <script type="text/javascript"> var sc_project=2425142; var sc_invisible=0; var sc_partition=23; var sc_security="ed15200e"; </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.statcounter.com/counter/counter_xhtml.js"></script><noscript> <div class="statcounter"><a class="statcounter" href="http://www.statcounter.com/"><img class="statcounter" src="http://c24.statcounter.com/2425142/0/ed15200e/0/" alt="web statistics" /></a></div></noscript>  </center> </div> </body> </html>