Merry Christmas and happy new year

Connexion wishes readers and advertisers a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Published Wednesday 30 November 2016 - 15:47 Modified Wednesday 30 November 2016 - 15:47

Connexion wishes readers and advertisers a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Our offices will be closed from December 22 until January 2 for the festive break – but our website will continue to be updated on weekdays and our weekly newsletter will continue to inform you on events in France.

See our website at www.connexionfrance.com for details of carol services and Christmas events in your area.

Centrist François Bayrou announced as new French prime minister

The veteran politician is currently mayor of Pau and a key Macron ally in parliament

Rise in number of French business failing

It means 44,000 jobs will be lost by end of year. We look at what help is available for small business owners

French weekend weather outlook December 14 - 15: gloomy and chilly in the north

Cloudy skies are expected to dominate in the north, but in the south temperatures will still reach double figures

Chronopost, Colissimo, and Mondial Relay: Beware delivery scams in France

The surge in Christmas shopping always leads to an uptick of scams at this time of year

Police appeal for help as thefts of internet and phone cables increase in Brittany

‘These acts of vandalism threaten access to the telephone and internet network’, say police

Flu spreads in France: Four regions at epidemic level

All of the country is affected as the number of influenza cases rises

Cyclist stabbed in row over road rights in Lyon

The argument with two men on an e-scooter reportedly broke out over right of way

Man leaves €10m to Normandy village just because of its name

Roger Thiberville is not thought to have ever visited Thiberville. ‘It is a lovely surprise just before Christmas’ said the mairie

French road sign expands to Spain - but most drivers unaware of its meaning

Road sign is only in use for specific weather conditions

Letters: Can Hybrid cars leave you stranded without a spare wheel in France?

Readers share their experiences - their and solutions - over what to do if you do not have a spare in case of a flat tyre

Photo: French police stop driver over car covered in Christmas lights

Officers were appreciative of the decorations and took photos - but demanded that they were all removed

Properties you can buy for under €50,00, €150,000 and €1 million in Pas-de-Calais

One of France's most densely populated departments is reinventing itself to appeal to tourists

Drinks mis-sold as traditional kefir ‘mislead’ consumers in France

Many ‘kefir’ drinks do not contain the right ingredients, a consumer association says

Bees protected from Asian hornet attacks by award-winning French device

Frédérique Ripet has won a top business award for creating a device that protects hives from deadly attacks

Bordeaux-Ireland flights: Aer Lingus to replace Ryanair

The three flights per week will replace a service previously offered by Ryanair, which has now stopped all flights to and from Bordeaux

Why is Bordeaux also known as the ‘port of the moon’?

The nickname hints at the long maritime history of the World Heritage city

Discover French magical Christmas châteaux in the Loire valley

Chateaux in the Pays de la Loire work together to provide festive cheer and local towns join in the festive fun

Few French newspapers were founded before 1945

Many newspapers were deemed to have collaborated during World War Two

Try out this Chartreuse and walnut macaron recipe

This tasty treat combines the liquer from Isère with a nutty flavour to create one France's favourite confectioneries

New pollution bans from January: Which cars and which cities in France?

Changes mean vehicles with Crit’Air level 3 will be banned in four cities

Interview: French cheesemonger on what it takes to become the best in the world

Vincent Philippe describes the effort that it took him to achieve the title of World's Best Cheesemonger, some of his favourite cheeses and France's biggest strengths involving cheese