French Life

Embrace France's joie de vivre with real-life tales and bright ideas ranging from the quirky to the inspirational.

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Edmond Simeoni and the wishes of Corsica

Edmond Simeoni, 82, one of the founders of the Corsican nationalist movement, told Connexion the elections in December 2015 were a real shot in the arm for their dreams of autonomy.

Environmental news in France this November

Solar panel ‘park’ gets backing, new diesel alternative for truck drivers launched and more

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.

How the wine of France’s royal court has been reborn again

A wine served only at France’s royal court until the Revolution has been saved from extinction for a second time, and the grape is being grown once again.

Did you know? Nicotine was named after a Frenchman

The story of Nicotine, and its French namesake...

The Concorde pilot, the King and the ancient French building

The remarkable story of the Grange aux Moines, in Haute-Vienne, which was once owned by King Henry II of England

The eco-friendly French family preparing to live 'off-grid'

The coronavirus pandemic and confinement has made many people think about the way we live, such as this family who, as the 'world faces collapse', are preparing to live their lives off-grid.

Right-to-die activist postpones death, continues campaign

Connexion caught up with right-to-die activist Jacqueline Jencquel, who we spoke to in 2018 and January 2020, just as a French erotic film came out focusing on the same subject. Liv Rowland spoke to her about her new book and to the director and star of the film.

Coronavirus: transnational couples separated by travel bans

Love is stuck in limbo as hundreds of couples are separated by Covid-19 travel bans.

In conversation with world champion kayaker, Manon Hostens

What makes an elite athlete? World champion kayaker Manon Hostens reveals a few secrets in this interview.

Women wearing trousers was illegal in France until 2013

Did you know?

The story behind artist Monet's great passion: water lilies

How to mimic Monet’s pond life: Cathy Thompson on a chance encounter and the artist’s passion for water lilies.

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.

Can a beach holiday still be fun with masks on?

Wondering what a post-lockdown beach holiday looks like? This family went to find out.

Crafts in focus: meet French weathervane-maker Thierry Soret

‘Every weathervane I make has a personal story to tell’ says weathervane-maker Thierry Soret.

How to create an award-winning French B&B

Geneviève Longa's Pornic villa was voted France's Most Beautiful Bed and Breakfast 2019. She reveals the inspiration and philosophy behind her passion project.

Mother’s Day – How it is celebrated in France

Homemade gifts from young members of the family may be thin on the ground this year due to the lockdown - often these are made at school as part of projects - but companies are putting on a special effort to fill any gaps...

The real history of Mother’s Day in France

No, the celebration was not invented by Maréchal Pétain

Covid-19: 'French pro rugby to kick off in September'

Clubs hope to open grounds to public when 2020/21 season begins

Still life: On-the-road with a trade of France past

We meet one of a rare, dying breed of travelling distillers – or bouilleur de cru – who are licensed to make moonshine from other people’s garden produce

France lockdown travelogue: The Room of Life

More than two centuries ago, Xavier de Maistre was placed under house arrest for 42 days - and wrote Voyage autour de ma chambre, a six-week 'voyage of discovery' around his room. Some 230 years later, we challenged our coronavirus confined readers to write their own Voyage round my Room. Here is one of the three winners...