People interview

How an American carpenter helped repair Notre-Dame de Paris

Peter Henrikson had never been to France before he started work on the cathedral’s roof after it was destroyed by fire

Alain Delon: French cinema legend dogged by scandal and family feud

We look back at the 88-year-old film star’s colourful life, on and off screen

Fixing France: ‘We must face colonial past and revive shared values’

French-Algerian author Nabila Ramdani tells us why ‘Liberté, égalité, fraternité’ must apply to everyone if France is to repair

‘I tell women to be bold, no field is out of bounds’

The first French woman to go into space shares her thoughts on Mars exploration and her disagreement with Elon Musk

Mimie Mathy: French TV star who turned disability into a driving force

She may be virtually unknown outside of France but outspoken Mimie continues to be one of the country’s best-loved actresses

Frédéric Chopin: the short life of a musical genius

We discover the man behind the piano compositions - a child prodigy, Polish émigré and an unconventional love life

Couple who built a straw bale house in France share their one regret

The Britons have reduced their annual energy bills to €500 by living off-grid and want to pass on the lessons they have learnt

Career change: Africa safari guide to recycled art in France

We talk to Josie Easton about how wildlife still influences her ‘trash-to-treasure’ artwork in Limousin

‘I am learning to read at 43 after running my own business for years’

A successful French entrepreneur tells us how he hid his illiteracy and why he decided to learn to read and write

France’s ‘Iron man’: ‘I had this crazy dream of flying even higher’

He tells us how hard it is to fly and why he keeps inventing despite French bureaucracy and nosy neighbours

16 things you can do at your library in France apart from borrow books

From growing seeds to borrowing art, there is more to your local library than meets the eye

Models with disabilities are focus of photographer’s new French show

Juggling a logistics job and a family has not stopped a UK-born photographer creating her latest exhibition celebrating disability

‘We travel slowly through France in our tiny horse-drawn caravan’

With just 7m² of living space pulled by a horse called Zorba, this Bordeaux couple enjoy being kings of their own clock

‘Rugby is the reason for my move to France’

International rugby referee shares his love of Gers and the difference between French and English rugby

What Americans notice when they move to France

Four US citizens in France explain what they have discovered about life here (apart from struggles with bureaucracy)

Key points of President Macron’s TV interview last night

Subjects included the cost of living, migration, taxes and carbon neutrality as Mr Macron spoke following the visits of King Charles and Pope Francis to France

Rugby exclusive: How France became the team to beat in World Cup

Former national rugby coach Philippe Saint-André tells us how ‘les Bleus’ were transformed into winners

The Franco-Scottish teen on track to break mountain-climbing record

Alasdair McKenzie aims to become the youngest person ever to climb the 14 highest peaks in the world, and he is well on his way

Why Ligue 1 French football club has song that echoes British royalty

Le Havre Athletic Club was founded in 1872 by British expats, making it France’s oldest club in activity

Research and ruches: Paris librarian bringing bees to University

To work with bees, people have to learn to be calm, to work in a group, to notice the mood of the beehive, to think of how their actions affect others, to remain flexible, and to work with people from other disciplines

‘I got a French master’s degree based on my professional experience’

A senior manager, originally from Italy, explains how he converted real-life experience into a recognised VAE qualification

Timing is key when buying French coastal apartments

A study shows buyers could avoid soaring prices by waiting for a sufficient number of newly developed properties to be sold first

France will win Notre-Dame rebuild challenge, says general in charge

Seven tonne oak trusses recently arrived in Paris by barge. We spoke to the project chief, a military man hand-picked by President Macron

$193bn: how did this French businessman get so rich?

Bernard Arnault frequently beats Elon Musk to ‘world’s richest man’ title, we look at his complex relationship with France and what he owns

French choral revival hits all the right notes

The coronation of King Charles III highlighted the rich choral music tradition in the UK

Fête Nationale: French aerobatics team delighting crowds for 70 years

We spoke to a Franco-British pilot in the elite Patrouille de France about how they train for the July 14 display

Fifth book for Perry Taylor whose images feature in The Connexion

The Anglo-Gascon artist’s work is known for its affectionate look at French life – and its ducks and berets

Meet British singer-songwriter Terry Scott Jr, based in Normandy

He got his big break in 1970 playing in front of 600,000 people at the Isle of Wight festival

The pioneering Brit who was French town’s first foreign councillor

Cycle campaigning and city pride were a springboard to role in local politics in Albi

From Nazi war camp survivor to fêted anti-poverty campaigner in France

Meet Nicolas Sarkozy’s former communications chief, Thierry Saussez

He discusses his brainchild Villes & Villages: où il fait bon vivre, and his business that aims to defeat French pessimism

‘I played bad classical music because the male composer was famous’

We speak to a French cellist about her lifelong quest to put a spotlight on forgotten female musicians

French Highland dancer picked to perform at Coronation party

The 18-year-old only took up lessons during lockdown but wowed guests at a British Embassy event in Paris

How to avoid the wait for a driving test in France

France first-hand: Learning to drive - we speak to Libby Abel, who moved to Brittany as a toddler, about her learning to drive experience

Varian Fry: The American who was a ‘Schindler in France’

The journalist, whose story is to be dramatised by Netflix, helped save the lives of some 2,500 people at risk from the Nazis by smuggling them out of France to safer countries including the US

Bistro and bar open at French retirement home to boost social links

The project helps residents foster friendships and feel more sociable. Any profits are reinvested in the care home’s social activities

15 things your French ‘com com’ can do apart from collect your bins

Your ‘communautés de commune’ provides local services and advice to residents

May 1: Who do French people give muguet to and does it still matter?

We speak to young people in France about the tradition of giving lily of the valley flowers on Labour Day, and how it can be hierarchical between grandmothers, mothers and daughters

Community workshops make DIY accessible in France

A growing number of community workshops have sprung up in France offering DIY enthusiasts access to space, equipment and skills to develop their projects

Three women on how they forged their own French lives in Dordogne

We hear how the women broke the expatriate mould to lead independent lives in their adopted country

From California to free life making wine in the 'Kansas of France'

Running an organic vineyard was never on the cards for this American until she travelled to France and fell for a Frenchman

‘The first baby hedgehog we rescued was love-at-first-sight’

We speak to an expert about her hedgehog health centre and how to make your garden more hedgehog-friendly

Paris street cleaner is TikTok sensation with a serious message

We talk to the social media star about getting kicked out of the army, being homeless and his viral litter videos

‘France is no left-wing country - it is time to let go of that myth’

A controversial new film about the French Revolution shows the persistence of right-wing ideas in France, says historian

Career change in France: ‘I never tire of talking about World War Two’

From graphic designer to D-Day tour business - we speak to a Dutch woman who turned her passion for history into a new life

‘Volunteering at French jazz festival was exhausting and exhilarating’

A behind the scenes look at the ups and downs of being an event volunteer in France