Countries regions and places

Cockerels, farms smells: new law protects country habits in France

It comes after multiple complaints from new residents about countryside ‘disturbances’

Villagers surprised by soldier invasion during French army exercise

Resident: ‘I opened my shutters and saw soldiers firing right in front of me’

Poll finds French no longer 'sexiest' language in the world

But the study did find that Britons are most likely to vote French as the ‘most romantic’ language

The five best places to live in France, according to new ranking

The ranking used a vast array of data and criteria to sort more than 34,900 towns nationwide

‘Hyper-aggressive' seabirds force Marseille to take action

Some say the gulls ‘represent the city’ but authorities now have permission to act to reduce their number

Cockerel in French village must leave as it crows too loudly

‘He’s just doing his job as a rooster!’ claims the bird’s owner but neighbours say they cannot sleep

VIDEO: new film released of bear and cubs in Pyrenees before winter

The shots were collected in September and November and are part of analyses into the state of the bear population

Normandy town refuses to have Olympic torch pass through

The department has said it is very ‘sad’ about the decision

Call for action over disappearance of rural footpaths in France

Campaigners say the paths are part of France’s heritage but are are at risk from farmers, residents and developers

PHOTOS: See the places voted ‘Ugliest in France’ in 2023

From Paris to historical Morbihan, the list urges people to ‘not become accustomed to ugliness’

Bears in Pyrenees prepare for long winter sleep - how many are there?

Technically, the bears do not hibernate but instead ‘overwinter’ and do still come out occasionally

Brittany regional president bids for autonomy in wake of Corsica move

Local official criticised ‘backward-looking centralism’ and demands parity with the deal promised to Corsica

Two more villages awarded prestigious ‘most beautiful in France’ title

The Plus Beaux Villages de France judges carefully consider 32 criteria across heritage, history, architecture and the environment

Sadness as first giant panda cub born in France set to leave for China

Yuan Meng was born in August 2017

Angers and Guéthary ranked best town and village to live in France

The Loire Valley town and Basque Country village have taken the top spot this year, in a ranking that considers 187 criteria across nine categories of local infrastructure and facilities

Why do the French treat Quebec as a country?

Why do the French treat Quebec as a country? In the Petit Larousse Illustré dictionary the flag of Quebec appears among the flags of the world and on TF1 television today I saw the flag of Quebec presented as being that of a country as well. I believe Quebec is a region of Canada just as Brittany and Occitanie are regions of France. M.A.

Protests against second homes in Brittany as housing debate continues

Protester demands include only allowing permanent residents to buy housing, and a limit on short-term rentals - but one local official called the stance ‘an attack on individual property’

Rural France: Success for mobile vans offering crucial services

Fleets of mobile fruit and veg sellers, dog groomers and doctors are becoming increasingly common in France, as entrepreneurs flock to remote and rural areas

Backlash against French ‘visit Belgium without health pass’ article

The news article listed the top five places to go in Belgium that do not require a health pass, but social media users hit back, saying “you can keep your anti-vaxxers in France”

Mont Ventoux: Tour de France 2021 climbs the 'Bald Giant' today

As the riders prepare to summit the infamous peak, we explore its history and other ways to visit the redoubtable region

Historic French river bridge rebuilt too low for barges to pass easily

The €8million restoration project to boost water transport of goods ended with the bridge being 38 centimetres lower than previous version

Marseille officials want to stop tourist promotion to limit crowds

The tourist office however says it has put anti-crowding measures in place

Top 500 best places to live in France - is your commune on the list?

The 2021 list considered 34,837 villages, towns and cities according to 183 criteria including quality of life, safety, shops, services, and transport. Annecy, Bayonne, and Nice all made the top 10

Rodez, a tale of two cities in the pink

In her series on the cultural history of France, art historian Julia Faiers marvels at the medieval treasures of Rodez, a city in Aveyron once split in two

France launches two mass-testing Covid campaigns today

The two towns are the first to roll out free mass testing ahead of Christmas as part of the government’s ‘test, alert, protect’ push. We explain

A window to heaven: 800 years of Metz cathedral

In her series on the cultural history of France, art historian Julia Faiers explores Metz cathedral’s turbulent and illuminating past

France in ‘critical’ Covid-19 second wave amid record cases

The scientific council president issued a warning, as cases of Covid-19 reach record levels and the Grand Est region prepares for a possible second lockdown

Nice may become 10th city to impose curfew

The Covid-19 situation is deteriorating, local authorities have said, with a curfew from 21:00-06:00 becoming increasingly likely

Tour de France 2021: First four stages in Brittany revealed

The race will start in Brest and remain in Brittany until June 29, before moving to Mayenne for stage five.

Sacré-Cœur in Paris set to finally become historic monument

The project to have the famous Montmartre basilica officially recognised was launched this week

Top 50 French towns for retirees revealed

Best towns to retire to in France announced by leading French media - factoring in housing, weather, social life and services for seniors. We take a look at the top 10.

French village installs ‘countryside sounds’ sign

The sign, reading ‘Beware, you are in the countryside’ has been installed in the village square, and references sounds such as cow bells, cockerel crowing, and church bells.

Covid-19 France: More cities on ‘max alert’ amid new rules

Health Minister Olivier Véran and Economy Minister Bruno le Maire confirmed stricter rules for more cities, extended aid for stricken businesses, and issued a warning before the Toussaint holidays.

France to impose stricter measures amid record Covid cases

Health minister expected to make an announcement today as a record 18,746 new cases are confirmed in the past 24 hours.

Southeast France on red alert as Storm Alex wreaks havoc

Southeast France is on red alert today (Friday October 2) as Storm Alex continues to wreak havoc, with rain and high winds of up to 180 kph already causing loss of power for 80,000 homes in Brittany.

Italy requires Covid tests for travellers from France

People travelling to Italy from certain regions in France - including Paris, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur and Nouvelle-Aquitaine - are now required to take a Covid-19 test to cross the border.

French Lascaux caves ‘doing well’ 80 years after discovery

France’s famous Lascaux caves are “doing better” thanks to confinement, the conservation manager has said, on the 80th anniversary of the discovery of the sometimes-fragile heritage site.

Parking charges in Bordeaux may be means-tested

Bordeaux may soon charge residents for city parking based on their annual household income, in a move being dubbed “social and supportive” by the newly-elected mayoral team.

Ibex wild goat returns to the French Pyrenees

A cousin to the native Pyrenean ibex - which went extinct in 2000 - has been introduced to the Pyrenees with great success.

EU works to avoid border ‘chaos’ as Covid continues spread

EU countries are working to enact a coordinated approach to any possible border closure policy within the Schengen Area as Covid-19 continues to spread, in a bid to avoid mismatched rules and border “chaos”.

Funny moment as TGV train ‘misses’ station in south France

A driver of a TGV train travelling between Toulouse and Lyon missed a stop in the southern station of Nîmes Pont-du-Gard (Occitanie) this week and was forced to reverse the train - causing delays of over half an hour.

Brittany Ferries cuts routes as UK-France quarantine hits

Brittany Ferries has today confirmed changes to its schedule for August and beyond which will affect 50,000 passengers as demand drops following the UK’s decision to impose a quarantine on arrivals from France.

France on heatwave alert and water limits as drought worsens

Water restrictions are in place in 72 departments across France and a red heatwave alert is issued for 15 departments, as the drought worsens, meaning many endangered river fish have needed to be moved.

EU considers border safety amid fear of Covid-19 second wave

The European Union is considering how to adapt its safety measures as a “second wave” of Covid-19 threatens to appear, in a bid to avoid a reclosure of interior borders at the height of summer holiday season.

More French cities make masks mandatory amid public support

Masks may become obligatory in certain public places in Paris as mayor Anne Hidalgo pushes for the measure, as other cities such as Toulouse introduce it, and the public is largely in favour of the move.

Coronavirus: which parts of France are seeing more cases?

Health authorities in France are warning of a “worrying development” of the coronavirus, as new clusters are reported across the country, and the crucial “R” transmission rate rises above 2 in Brittany, and 1 elsewhere.

Belgium bans ‘non-essential’ travel from parts of France

Belgium has banned “non-essential” travel to and from Mayenne (Pays de la Loire), introduced tests for arrivals from there - and recommends quarantine and tests for travellers from certain other areas in France.

Nantes Cathedral fire: Man questioned as enquiry continues

A man is being questioned in connection with the fire that started at the Saint-Pierre et Saint-Paul Cathedral in Nantes (Loire-Atlantique) yesterday (Saturday July 18), as investigations into the incident continue.

EU external borders now open to some countries, but not US

The European Union and Schengen Area have today (July 1) opened external borders to 15 countries, including Canada and Australia; but notably not the United States, Brazil, or Russia.

Graffiti artist brightens French streets with tile art

A French street artist is brightening up the streets of Rouen (Seine-Maritime, Normandy) by painting tile-like traditional designs onto pavements, to make them “more charming” than the usual concrete.

Brigitte Bardot demands right to keep wild boar as a pet

French actress and animal welfare campaigner Brigitte Bardot is calling on authorities in southwest France to allow a woman to keep a wild boar as a pet. After officials refused permission the boar now risks euthanasia.

Pyrenees bear found shot dead in southwest France

A wild Pyrenees bear has been found illegally killed in southwest France, prompting the ecology minister to lodge a formal State complaint into the crime.

Covid affects far more Brittany residents than thought

The coronavirus that causes Covid-19 has affected up to 10% of residents in Morbihan, Brittany, northwest France - a much higher percentage of people than previously thought - a new blood test study has found.

U-turn: 14-day UK quarantine for arrivals from France

People travelling to the UK from France will be required to self-quarantine for 14 days, in an apparent U-turn on previous policy. It comes as the French interior minister criticises the lack of European coordination on borders.

Macron dubs French chloroquine medic ‘great scientist’

French President Emmanuel Macron has dubbed Professor Didier Raoult, pioneer of using chloroquine against Covid-19, a “great scientist” - as Pr. Raoult controversially claims the epidemic is slowing in Marseille.

French communes work to provide free Covid-19 masks

Communes in France are now working to provide residents with free, handmade, washable, and reusable masks against Covid-19; with some regions including the Dordogne calling for local volunteers to help.

Covid-19: Ile-de-France refunds travel pass holders

Users with season ticket passes for transport systems in the Ile-de-France region - including the Navigo pass - are to receive a refund for the month of April due to the Covid-19 epidemic.

Covid-19 map of France shows spread as cases spike

A map showing the number of confirmed cases of coronavirus Covid-19 in France, region by region, has been published, after cases increased tenfold in just one week.

Mystery rock message in France finally ‘deciphered’

A mysterious inscription on a rock in Brittany is one step closer to being deciphered after a competition named two winners who suggested the most promising solutions.

Trump wine taxes threaten 100,000 jobs in France

At least 100,000 jobs in France could be at risk as the 25% import taxes imposed on French wine by US President Donald Trump continue to affect the industry, wine industry experts have said.

Ouigo TGVs will soon serve central Lyon

Low-cost Ouigo TGV services are to serve central Lyon (Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes) from central Paris from June this year, train company SNCF has confirmed, with tickets starting at just €16 return.

French ski station has snow delivered by helicopter

A ski station in the Pyrenees has had 50 tonnes of emergency snow delivered by helicopter, after high temperatures and a lack of snow caused the station to be otherwise un-skiable.

France restricts Mont-Blanc access to protect mountain

President Emmanuel Macron is to announce measures today to restrict access to Mont-Blanc, to guard against unscrupulous summit attempts, and to protect the biodiversity of the mountain.

French Pyrenees ski station closes due to lack of snow

A ski station in the French Pyrenees has closed due to a lack of snow, days after forecaster Météo France declared temperatures to be “abnormally mild” for this time of year.

French company makes cassette player for 21st century

Analogue music fans will soon have a new way to listen to cassette tapes on-the-go, as a French company is to start selling a modern range of “new generation” portable analogue cassette players.

Breton flag now on Twitter amid campaign push for more

The Breton flag has become available - temporarily - as an “emoji” on Twitter after a long campaign, but supporters are now trying to convince online platforms to adopt the icon permanently.

French patissier jailed in China in 2017 returns home

A French patissier who was imprisoned and then released on conditional parole for two years in China for his part in the 2017 expired flour scandal has arrived back home in France.

New video shows Pyrenees brown bear in good health

New video images have been released showing Sorita - a female brown bear released into the Béarn in the French Pyrenees last year - to be in good health, scratching her back, and perhaps even expecting cubs.

French national park claims €450k in first poach case

A national park in south east France has become the first in the country to bring a case to court to demand compensation - to the tune of €450,000 - from illegal poachers, citing “ecological damage”.

French chocolatier marks Berlin Wall fall in chocolate

A French chocolatier has celebrated 30 years since the fall of the Berlin Wall by replicating part of the infamous structure - using one tonne of solid chocolate.

Planet Mercury Sun event to be visible from France

The planet Mercury is to pass in front of the Sun early next week, in a rare sight that will be partly visible from mainland France.

Metre-long caiman found in river in south France

A caiman - an alligator-like reptile - has been found in a river north of Toulouse (Haute-Garonne, Occitanie), in the south of France.

Missing French couple found alive and well in Corsica

A couple from Normandy that had been reported missing during a holiday to Corsica have been found alive, with their daughter saying that “their love saved their lives”.

New plans for Nantes airport confirmed

Nantes Atlantique airport is to receive changes to operations - including fewer night flights, and a longer runway - the French junior transport minister has announced.