Magazine culture

Opinion: Another week off – how I love living in France

One of the many things I adore about the French is their attitude to time off.

How to deal with small French village mentality

What can be done when that warm welcome from the locals begins to turn frosty?

Vichy laws still endure in modern-day France

Legislation introduced by the Vichy regime in World War Two is still being applied in France today, a historian who specialises in the period has pointed out

Eating faux-pas: habits to avoid when dining in France

From ignoring fellow guests to hogging the cheese board, we take a look at the ultimate no-nos when dining in France.

Why you won’t be hearing church bells much in France for a few days

A trip to Rome, a visit to the Vatican, and lots of chocolate eggs: Where the bells go at Easter

La politesse: what habits can make you seem rude to French people?

Sometimes it can be all too easy to commit a cultural faux pas without even realising it. We look at some of the most common

French photographer who captured US history gets retrospective in Nice

The exhibition details how Henri Dauman made a name for himself without expensive equipment or even press accreditation

What would you include if compiling a quiz about France?

Columnist Nick Inman prepares a syllabus to help you become a French quiz whizz

6 films and series for February to improve your French

Dramas, thrillers, and cult comedies all make this month’s list

Oscar-nominated Anatomy of a Fall is masterclass in multilingual life

The film’s memorable scenes show how speaking multiple languages can be a symbol of compromise, challenges, and power dynamics

Five things they do not tell you about the bourgeoisie in France

From fashion to holidays, we take a humorous look at the bourgeois life

Golden Globes awards for French film Anatomy of a Fall

The multilingual drama picked up two awards at the glittering ceremony

2023 was a good year for French cinemas: The top ten films

French-made films also did well during a bumper year for post-Covid cinema seat sales

Paris’s ‘Love Lock Bridge’ closed for repairs but won’t deter couples

Pont des Arts, which once partially collapsed under the weight of padlocks, is to have rotten planks replaced in the latest chapter of its fascinating history

Orient Express deluxe renovation is project of French national pride

Discovered original carriages are being restored in France to their Art Deco splendour ready for passengers in 2025

The French obsession with how long baguettes are baked for

Whether ‘blanc’ or ‘bien cuite’, a baguette’s cooking time is an increasingly divisive topic for the French

How French chocolate bars inspired Willy Wonka

One of the oldest chocolate brands in activity, Bonnat’s first factory opened in 1884

La dictée: How a spelling test took over France

A simple dictation exercise for schoolchildren was central to the construction of the French nation

The only six women in history to be ‘reburied’ in the French Panthéon

We celebrate the women deemed worthy to lie in Paris’s special ‘hall of fame’

Poto, ami, le sang de la veine: How to say friends in French

Fluent French speakers have countless words to express a friendship with each other. The Connexion helps you avoid a faux pas

Straight to the (needle) point in Alençon, France

We unpick the history of the Queen of Lace and Lace of Queens in Alençon

Five French civil wars - from Charlemagne to the Paris Commune

We look at five of the most important conflicts fought on French territory

Olympics, carnival, Tour de France: Cultural events in France in 2023

We look at how to get Olympics tickets, the mascot controversy and other events to look forward to

France’s mediaeval ‘bear hunt’ festivals added to Unesco heritage list

The Fête de l’Ours now takes place in just three villages in south-west France each February, and celebrates the end of winter

Arts and culture France: singer tours aged 93, Marie-Antoinette series

A round-up of the stories creating a buzz in French art, literature and entertainment

Longest name, furthest from Paris – five facts about French communes

Your commune is an important part of living in France, we share some interesting commune-related trivia

Arts and culture France: Rolling Stones plates, arthouse cinema threat

A round-up of the stories creating a buzz in French art, literature and entertainment

Books with a link to France November 2022 - The 20 minute review

We read recent releases with a link to France. To be fair, each gets 20 minutes’ reading time

Five famous historical French figures who were exiled to Britain

Some loved it, some hated it, we share the stories of five exiles who fled across the Channel

Books with a link to France October 2022 - The 20 minute review

We read recent releases with a link to France. To be fair, each gets 20 minutes’ reading time

Four albums recorded in France and one song that should have been

We look at which bands used French recording studios and the most French sounding song recorded in London

Basque houses have timeless appeal – we look at their history

Know your coastal ‘Labourdine’, the ‘Navarre’ style along the Spanish border, and the ‘Souletine’ of the Béarn region

From banking to wine: four surprising Scottish-French ties

There is plenty more binding the two nations together than a historic mistrust of the English

Celtic nations descend on France to celebrate shared ancestry

Expect big parades, plenty of pipes and a sort of Celtic ‘battle of the bands’ at the Brittany extravaganza

'Paintings from Van Gogh were not designed to float around people'

Philosophers express concern over immersive art. Does it dumb down masterpieces and make us more anti-social?

Irish film festival celebrates French cinema with historic French ship

A 126-year-old ship, which was classified as a Monument historique in 1984, sailed into Cork and served as the centre of the festival’s opening

Art: France’s long history of copying Old Masters at the Louvre

The rules of reproduction today are strict - copies must be a fifth larger or smaller than the original - and there is a two year waiting list

Five regions in France that have not always been French

Here are five slices of the modern ‘hexagon’ that used to belong to a different country

Brittany's new 'Stonehenge' site will reconnect us to roots

Philippe Abjean’s latest project in Brittany, StoneBreizh, will highlight the region’s cultural history since the Neolithic period

Do you have Breton 'name bowls'? Here is how they are made

These bowls have become a staple of French cabinets and breakfast tables

Brexit and Covid mean the last true French Onion Johnnies have gone

Ending the 200-year-old tradition of Breton farmers taking their famous onions to the UK to sell. One Onion Johnnie shares his story

Discover this French cobbler’s Harry Potter-esque workshop

La cordonnerie du Vieux-Nice , a shoe repair shop, opened in 2019 in the winding streets of Nice’s quaint old town

The story of Paris’ drinking fountains gifted by a UK donor in 1870s

Sir Richard Wallace, a 19th century UK philanthropist in Paris, invented the fountains so the poor would have clean water

Paris looks for new ‘bouquinistes’ to run book cabins next to Seine

‘Being a bouquiniste is more about loving people than loving books,’ one owner told The Connexion

Elton John, Bowie, Queen: many A-list stars have recorded in France

Hits such as (in part) Pink Floyd’s The Wall and the Bee Gees’ Saturday Night Fever were born at the iconic music studios Le Château d’Hérouville or Super Bear

Brad Pitt to revive legendary music studio based in his French chateau

Big names such as AC/DC and Sting have recorded at Miraval Studios in the past. Damien Quintard, who Pitt has asked to manage the studio, tells us about the project

Le Petit Prince manuscript travels from US to France for first time

The work, which was intended to help American and French children forget about the hardships of the war, will be displayed in Paris. We look at its popularity, themed-bookstores and amusement parks

Ile-de-France: Navigo pass now used in 300 cinemas, theatres and more

Almost four million users of the transport pass can now use it to gain access - and get discounts, offers and gifts - at hundreds of participating venues

Monet museum is named best in France based on visitor reviews

The Parisian museum beat world-famous attractions such as the Louvre and Musée d’Orsay to the number one spot

City of Nantes’ transformation thanks to its cultural scene

In 1989 when Jean-Marc Ayrault was elected maire, he had a plan: What the city needed was a booming cultural scene

8 ways to appreciate French heritage (and for free) this weekend

The European Heritage Days are a great opportunity to discover more about France. Here is our pick of eight activities or visits avalable in different regions, some of which are not often open or accessible to the public

France now has oldest working cinema in world, dating to 1899

The Eden Théâtre, which was built before the word cinema existed, has now been recognised by Guinness World Records as the oldest in the world still in operation

France to launch flagship arts residency programme in America

€1.2m-a-year artistic residency scheme follows prestigious and centuries-old Villa Medici model

French performance artist locked inside statue of himself for 7 days

The artist is known for shutting himself inside objects and this latest piece sees him sitting inside a sculpture of himself for seven days and nights non-stop

I was one of the 5,000 at France’s first indoor concert since Covid

The Indochine concert in Paris was a medical trial to test whether large-scale indoor events can be held safely. Joanna York was among the 5,000 attendees to experience the historical event

France reopens: Ideas for what to see and do in summer 2021

Culture is back on the table after a long pause due to Covid-19 restrictions

French spreadable cheese La Vache Qui Rit celebrates 100th year

From quirky beginnings in the Jura to international fame and still-soaring sales, The Laughing Cow is just as cheerful 100 years on

Paris Louvre uploads almost entire art collection for free online

The museum remains closed due to Covid but almost half a million major works can be seen online after a super-modern web revamp. Complete digital tours available.

Giant bronze cat statues amuse on Champs-Elysées

The display of huge cats is by Belgian artist Philippe Geluck, bringing welcome humour - but also some deeper messages - to the Paris avenue

Book offers clues to find hidden treasure worth €50,000 in France

Thousands of people are expected to participate in the search for a valuable statue hidden in France

'France-UK tension over Bayeux tapestry repair plans'

The Normandy tapestry is in worse condition than previously thought, throwing potential plans for the UK to borrow it into serious doubt

France to return Klimt art taken by Nazis to owners' heirs

The Austrian Jewish owner of Rosebushes under the Trees died in a concentration camp in 1942, four years after she was forced to sell the piece

Aveyron is home to the world’s biggest bagpipe collection

Maison de la Cabrette in the French village of Cantoin has over one hundred instruments on display, each with its own story to tell

Hidey-hole installation set to wow visitors in Rodez

The massive installation by Gilles Barbier is part of his exhibition ‘Machines de Production’ at the Musée Soulages in Rodez

Christmas in France: The Basque tradition of 'Olentzero'

The mythical Olentzero has featured in the Basque Country winter solstice for over 10,000 years, predating both Christianity and Father Christmas

Behind Provence’s famous traditional festive figurines

Camille Renoux discusses the tradition of santons in Provence, and the firm that was founded by her grandfather

Wrap your way to an eco-Christmas with Ancient Japanese art

Dating back to 8th century AD in Japan, Furoshiki is the art of folding and knotting material to wrap presents or carry belongings

French cultural digest: December 2020

A round up of five arts and culture stories creating a buzz in France in the last few weeks of 2020

French cultural digest: November 2020

A round up of five arts and culture stories creating a buzz in France this autumn

Croissants, cheese, strikes - what makes the French, French?

For nearly 20 years, guidebook writer Nick Inman has tried to answer the question: What makes the French, French? Here, he reveals why he has never quite found a satisfying answer.

The Paris theatre saved by Marilyn Monroe memorabilia

The sale of a piece of memorabilia that once belonged to Hollywood royalty has wiped out a venue’s €300,000 debts. But the tale of the item’s journey to Paris is more remarkable still, as director Attilio Maggiulli tells Joanna York.

Arts and culture news in France for August 2020

From petrol rock to Vincent Van Gogh, here's our round up of the arts and culture stories creating a buzz in France.

What to expect of France's live entertainment post-Covid-19

Like the rest of us, live entertainers in France face a new, post-Covid, normal. Connexion asks two comics what we can expect in future.

The Spy - Paulo Coelho

Was the Mata Hari a feminist martyr?

Magazine culture

Opinion: Another week off – how I love living in France

How to deal with small French village mentality

Vichy laws still endure in modern-day France

One of France’s main music festivals at risk of closure

What is the #PasDeVague movement in France?

‘Beautiful’ Benjamin Franklin letter from France for sale in US

Trending

New UK/France border checks: visas, residency cards and which queues?

Storms on way for much of France. Will the cold spell continue?

Seven useful informal French expressions you don’t learn at school

Eurostar fares revamp and motorway closures: 6 France travel updates

British retiree in France to take Brexit case to human rights court

How to deal with small French village mentality

Scams in France: watch out for these telephone prefixes

Eating faux-pas: habits to avoid when dining in France

Why you won’t be hearing church bells much in France for a few days

La politesse: what habits can make you seem rude to French people?

French photographer who captured US history gets retrospective in Nice

What would you include if compiling a quiz about France?

6 films and series for February to improve your French

Oscar-nominated Anatomy of a Fall is masterclass in multilingual life

Five things they do not tell you about the bourgeoisie in France

Golden Globes awards for French film Anatomy of a Fall

2023 was a good year for French cinemas: The top ten films

French Palaeolithic cave art shows deep human connection with animals

President opens 'first-ever’ centre dedicated to French language

7 places to visit in France for free with this weekend’s Heritage Days

Paris’s ‘Love Lock Bridge’ closed for repairs but won’t deter couples

Centre yourself in the wine-making, historical heart of France

From bagpipes to bicycles: up and coming arts and culture in France

For the love of kilts, in France

Scottish organisation dedicated to alliance with France

Celebrate haggis, whisky, and the Auld Alliance in France

Orient Express deluxe renovation is project of French national pride

The French obsession with how long baguettes are baked for

How French chocolate bars inspired Willy Wonka

La dictée: How a spelling test took over France

The only six women in history to be ‘reburied’ in the French Panthéon

Poto, ami, le sang de la veine: How to say friends in French

Straight to the (needle) point in Alençon, France

Five French civil wars - from Charlemagne to the Paris Commune

Olympics, carnival, Tour de France: Cultural events in France in 2023

France’s mediaeval ‘bear hunt’ festivals added to Unesco heritage list

Arts and culture France: singer tours aged 93, Marie-Antoinette series

Longest name, furthest from Paris – five facts about French communes

Arts and culture France: Rolling Stones plates, arthouse cinema threat

Books with a link to France November 2022 - The 20 minute review

Five famous historical French figures who were exiled to Britain

Books with a link to France October 2022 - The 20 minute review

Four albums recorded in France and one song that should have been

Basque houses have timeless appeal – we look at their history

From banking to wine: four surprising Scottish-French ties

Celtic nations descend on France to celebrate shared ancestry

'Paintings from Van Gogh were not designed to float around people'

Irish film festival celebrates French cinema with historic French ship

Art: France’s long history of copying Old Masters at the Louvre

Five regions in France that have not always been French

Brittany's new 'Stonehenge' site will reconnect us to roots

Do you have Breton 'name bowls'? Here is how they are made

Brexit and Covid mean the last true French Onion Johnnies have gone

Discover this French cobbler’s Harry Potter-esque workshop

The story of Paris’ drinking fountains gifted by a UK donor in 1870s

Paris looks for new ‘bouquinistes’ to run book cabins next to Seine

Elton John, Bowie, Queen: many A-list stars have recorded in France

Brad Pitt to revive legendary music studio based in his French chateau

Le Petit Prince manuscript travels from US to France for first time

Ile-de-France: Navigo pass now used in 300 cinemas, theatres and more

Monet museum is named best in France based on visitor reviews

City of Nantes’ transformation thanks to its cultural scene

8 ways to appreciate French heritage (and for free) this weekend

France now has oldest working cinema in world, dating to 1899

France to launch flagship arts residency programme in America

French performance artist locked inside statue of himself for 7 days

I was one of the 5,000 at France’s first indoor concert since Covid

France reopens: Ideas for what to see and do in summer 2021

French spreadable cheese La Vache Qui Rit celebrates 100th year

Paris Louvre uploads almost entire art collection for free online

Giant bronze cat statues amuse on Champs-Elysées

Book offers clues to find hidden treasure worth €50,000 in France