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Ultra-light solar car takes to the road in Brittany
Adjustable solar panels enable the vehicle to run largely on its own power
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Wartime barracks inspire themed B&B in Normandy
Guests can book the air force structures for a fully immersive 1940s experience
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Tips for choosing where to live in France
Selecting where to live in France requires careful thought
Do residents have right to be buried in their village?
If I live in France do I have automatic right to be buried in my village? J.H.
You do, and your nationality makes no difference, assuming that there is a public cemetery with available plots.
As a rule, residents of France have the right to be buried in the cemetery of the commune where they lived, where they died or where they have a family tomb.
It may be possible in other communes (especially if you lived there at some point or you have family there) but the mayor can refuse, giving reasons, for example because you have no demonstrable link with the area.
It is not generally possible to be buried on private property, though it is sometimes allowed, on permission of the regional prefect. Practical reasons also usually make it inappropriate – for example, if the property is sold a right remains for relatives to visit the grave.
It is possible to reserve a burial plot in your lifetime, and this may simplify matters for relatives. You, or your relatives if you did not do this, would talk to the mairie or, in some larger towns, the bureau des cimetières. Costs vary on the timespan, from around five years to perpetuity.
