Culture

Read articles and news updates about art and museums, architecture, media, theatre, entertainment, cinema, music and more.

Pack-Shot / Brastock / Everett Collection / Shutterstock / Musée d’Orsay

Exhibition showcasing Van Gogh’s last works opens in Paris

The 50 paintings and 20 drawings were made during the two months leading up to his suicide when he was producing a work a day

Interview: French arts support schemes help launch pop career

‘Most British of French artists’ Maddy Street hopes to sign with a record label soon, after awards boosted profile

Discover the aesthetic joys of a super ‘dry’ French Occitanie garden

Cathy Thompson visits a stunning garden in the Aude where layering, minimal watering and constant evolution are wonderfully combined

Princely French residence saved by Englishmen

Charlotte Vignon introduces a new book charting the history of Château de Bagatelle, Parisian getaway villa of kings and royal family members

Sensory sculpture: get in touch with art in Bordeaux

Samantha David reports on an innovative touring exhibition, running in Bordeaux until January 2024, which allows visitors to get touchy-feely with works of art

Charles Meryon’s Paris in black and white

Creative Commons (CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication)

Despite the familiarity of the landmarks Charles Meyron depicted, more than 150 years later his work remains under the radar

10 French songs that have sparked debate over the years

As one of France’s all-time hits is criticised for its right-wing tone, we look at other contested songs

France’s last natural whetstone maker battles to keep trade alive

A growing appetite for sustainable, well-crafted products could see the profession cling on despite competition from synthetic alternatives

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

We look at some of the events and happenings coming up this summer

For the love of kilts, in France

Kilts are traditionally worn in Celtic parts of northern France

100 years of Le Mans: what makes this French car race so special?

We look back at a century of speed, endurance, and crashes. Plus how to party in Le Mans if you don’t have a race ticket

Scottish organisation dedicated to alliance with France

We talk to the Head of the Scottish Government Office in France

Celebrate haggis, whisky, and the Auld Alliance in France

Discover the ancient friendship between Scotland and France lives on through a host of festivals in the Hexagon, with traditional music, games, and men in kilts

Five things they don’t tell you... about hanky panky in France

Is French romance really full of dangerous liaisons and the legendary ‘cinq à sept’?

Native American tribe in new Dicaprio film has link with French town

We explore surprising ties between the Osage Nation and Montauban in Tarn-et-Garonne

Did you know? Lille installed France’s first street heating system

The 1954 experiment was prompted by a severely cold winter that killed many and led Emmaüs founder, Abbé Pierre, to appeal for help

Twitter account devoted to France’s ‘ugliest’ architecture under fire

Critics posting photos of ‘local horrors’ do not appreciate buildings’ social or historic context, say architects

Paris costume warehouse plays key role in world’s biggest movies

We visit France’s largest costume rental service

Bellegarde dig shows France’s evolving approach to archaeology

The discovery of 20,000 BC artefacts highlights how the treatment of archaeological sites has changed

Five things they do not tell you about arguing in France

We explore how to argue, complain and get angry like a French person

Marseille was early ‘Resistance capital’ as new series shows

The Connexion speaks to a leading expert on wartime in the southern port city about what he thinks Netflix got right and wrong

Plain sailing? Not for the Paris art museum inspired by a ship

In our series on the architecture of France we look at the Fondation Louis Vuitton