History

Large tree beside a pond with cottages and reflections under a cloudy sky.

Tulip tree from George Washington uncovers hero in France

Dutch historian brings new nuance to the US's 250th birthday

What to see and do in Confort-Meilars, the Brittany village with a 1560 Calvary

Historic gem hosts an annual horse show and is set in the lush Finistère countryside

'It was like a hallucination': French curator tells how he found Mozart manuscript by chance

Composition written by Mozart and his student given world premiere earlier this week in Paris

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Who is Marc Bloch, the next French citizen to enter the Panthéon?

Academic and Resistance fighter is central figure of the sixth interment ceremony under President Emmanuel Macron

Meet the reenactment groups bringing history to life in France

World War Two and Napoleonic reenactment groups help bring the past to life

Stone church with a tower in a grassy area among bare trees.

How I challenged a history myth in my French village

Nick Inman's book takes a new perspective on a Huguenot army's 'destruction'

Over 1,000 events in France for European archaeology festival 2026

The 17th edition of Journées européennes de l’archéologie will be held this weekend (June 12 - 14)

Black and white image of a quiet village street lined with stone buildings and a small chapel in the distance.

How to trace the history of your village in France

There are many resources available for amateur historians

Historic houses with brick facades and shuttered windows along a quiet street.

Gerberoy: the smallest town in France through royal recognition

Picturesque town near Beauvais is known for its roses, gardens and historic battles

A little piece of Spain set in the French countryside

Why Llívia is a Spanish enclave inside France, how a 1659 treaty created it, and why road access and border rules still cause tensions today

Saint-Gervasy: a spiritual place ideal for those drawn to art, religion and nature

The Gard village first mentioned nearly 900 years ago is set in a rugged landscape brimming with notable flora and fauna

The real history of Mother’s Day in France

The French Fête des Mères takes place on the last Sunday of May most years

A legacy of history: why are there unique laws in Alsace and Lorraine?

Legal and cultural exceptions stem from historical ties with the German Empire, including differences in secularism, healthcare and holidays

Saint-Malo: exploring Brittany’s city of corsairs

For a few centuries Malouin privateers were the bane of the English

Interview: Stéphane Bern, the face of French heritage with royal connections

Discover the historian's influence on French culture and heritage, his thoughts on the British royal family, and his impact on tourism

Saint-Aubin-des-Châteaux: rural French village with historical and natural charm

Step back in time to explore Neolithic, Roman, and Templar traces... but you will not find any châteaux

Owners of French mill seek help tracing history

'We are looking for old photographs from before it closed,' say couple who restored the building

One of the most notorious meals in the history of French gastronomy

How hard times inspired an outrageous festive feast in 1870

Brouage: inland fortified French village was once a major European salt port

Some 400,000 tourists visit every year - many of whom are Canadian

A view of the chateau, keep, gardens, and river

The Paris region has one of France’s ‘most beautiful’ villages

It is an official ‘plus beau village de France’

Corrèze village was the last independent fiefdom in France

Turenne is known for its powerful history, hilltop views, and charming chateau

Unpublished drawing by Michelangelo pupil discovered in western France

Artwork valued at €500,000 but sold for €3.1 million at Paris auction

Locronan: Brittany’s movie-set village with a rich history of its own

Local traditions stemming from Celtic legends are still practised today

guillotine on display was constructed in 1872

1872 guillotine on public display at French museum

Execution tool has been on show only three times since France abolished the death penalty in 1981

Rouffach: tower marks spot where witches once gathered

We recount the dark history of the Haut-Rhin village which burned 60 people at the stake for practising witchcraft

Explore the historic battlefields and memorials of Verdun

Guided tours and visits to forts, cemeteries, and the Citadelle Souterraine de Verdun

Discover this amazing mosaic house - the life’s work of a cemetery sweeper in Chartres

Maison Picassiette is a mosaic masterpiece of naïve art

Heritage Days in France: ideas for visits this weekend plus photos

Over 2,000 sites are set to welcome visitors for free on September 20 and 21

Photo of honorary mayor Jean-Pierre Laparra at memorial

‘I am a gatekeeper of this village’s memory’ – French honorary mayor

Mayor Jean-Pierre Laparra talks to us about representing a town that was wiped out in the battle of Verdun

Test your knowledge: 3 fun French invention facts

Explore the intriguing stories behind three French innovations: the first camera phone photo, Napoleon's canned food solution, and the evolution of the pencil

French architecture: the church that is not a church

Explore the intriguing story of Sainte-Thérèse-de-l'Enfant-Jésus, the unfinished church in Léojac

Five curious facts about Napoleon Bonaparte

Discover five intriguing facts about Napoleon Bonaparte, from his card game antics to his unique accent and more

Why are so many places in Normandy named -ville?

Unique history of region sees many settlements with same name ending

Fort de Brégançon: inside the presidential private island

President Macron is currently enjoying the secluded fortress on the Riviera which has welcomed French politicians for decades

Veules-les-Roses: a floral village home to the shortest river in France

This coastal Normandy village is dotted with thatched cottages, watermills and rambling roses

Underground dwellings: explore the oldest troglodyte site in France

In the 18th Century, half the inhabitants of the small town of Doué-la-Fontaine (Maine-et-Loire) lived in caves

Basque houses have timeless appeal, cultural significance, and historic charm

These traditional houses in the western Pyrenees are known as etche or etxe in local dialect

Uncovering France's Easter Island statues

There are five statues in various locations across France

Split: Voltaire home plaque and sketch of Voltaire portrait

Five famous historical French figures who were exiled to Britain

From Voltaire to De Gaulle, we share the stories of five exiles who fled across the Channel

This French hilltop village sits between heaven and earth

Art historian Julia Faiers unpicks the threads that weave together the Roman and medieval settlements of Saint-Bertrand-de-Comminges in the Pyrenees

La Fête Nationale: 14 facts about France's national holiday

The July 14 'Bastille Day' celebration features a military parade in Paris and means a day off work

How a post-1918 ‘adoption’ scheme of French towns left its British mark

A UK project to help rebuild devastated French towns after World War One was not without controversy

New virtual reality Napoleon experience a hit in Bordeaux

Connexion columnist Samantha David visited Napoléon, L'Epopée Immersive – a 'fun and fascinating' way to explore the historical events surrounding the French general

Bayeux Tapestry to be loaned to British Museum: things you may not know about iconic artefact

The tapestry - which may not be that French after all - is not the only one of its kind. The Connexion speaks to a woman who has spent ten years creating an exact replica

American donates her father’s WW2 photos to French resistance museum

The Musée de la Résistance is set to open in Cahors in early 2026.

Saint-Vaast-la-Hougue: the 'most beautiful harbour in France'

This picturesque coastal town, not far from Cherbourg, has a war-trodden history as an ancient English landing site

Grimod de La Reyière: France’s restaurant review pioneer

The legacy of this French cultural icon reshaped culinary history

This weekend’s European archaeology festival sees hundreds of events in France

Dig sites usually closed to the public will be opened up, many with tours and workshops

Rodez: a tale of two small pink-tinted cities

Art historian Julia Faiers marvels at the cathedral and medieval treasures of this city in Aveyron (Occitanie), once split in two

One of Europe's oldest churches is found in France's 'City of 100 Spires’

Poitiers (Vienne) has a unique blend of medieval charm and modern vibrancy, from ancient churches to bustling nightlife

Magic of 800-year-old natural light display returns to historic French abbey

Art historian Dr Julia Faiers discovers how a medieval PR campaign about a saint’s holy relics determined the rags-to-riches story of Vézelay Abbey in Burgundy

How the Scouting movement took off in France

French scouting and guiding grew steadily after crossing the Channel, with scouts playing an important role in the liberation

French history heroine: the bearded businesswoman of Vosges

Historian Dr Julia Faiers discovers the remarkable story of Clémentine Delait - a trail-blazing woman who refused to conform

The Paris Navigo travel pass also gives culture discounts

Museums, theatres, gardens, cinemas, monuments…the capital’s transport pass can take you further

The war grave gardeners who became French Resistance heroes

Many remained in France during the occupation

Visitors to Normandy American Cemetery must soon book in advance

With more than one million visitors last year, the cemetery is one of the region’s most-visited D-Day sites

Château et Jardins de Losse, Hotel & Spa Château de la côte, Château de Châlus Chabrol, Château de la Meyfrenie

Photos: 94 chateaux open their doors to visitors in Dordogne

The fifth Chateaux en Fête festival offers a chance to look around many impressive properties that are usually private

Martel: the medieval French town home to a 'truffle' train and lavender festival

The small town in the Lot offered refuge to an English throne heir until his death

Brittany lighthouse lens removal leads to public outcry

A petition gained over 20,000 signatures, highlighting the ongoing battle over the buildings' heritage in France

What are the best ways to access French family history records?

Several online resources are available

A split image of one view of the D-Day beaches, and a close-up of some Carcassonne ramparts

Photos: D-Day beaches and Carcassonne put forward for UNESCO recognition

The iconic sites are set to be considered in July next year

Château de Monte-Cristo: French author Alexandre Dumas’ ‘paradise on earth’

The writer regularly entertained friends at the château, which received over 50,000 visitors last year

Unveiling hidden stories of World War One found in French home

After finding a shoebox of postcards sent to ‘Marie’ by soldiers, a British retiree hopes to curate them for posterity

Cheesy royalist or French national treasure?

Profile of Stéphane Bern, who made his name as an ardent royalist, but is now just as well known for his efforts to conserve France’s heritage

Guess the French region with the help of this clue: A lovely composition

The town also featured heavily in English history, particularly during the Hundred Years' War

French artist selected to create Bayeux Tapestry's missing final scene

Hélène Delprat won a competition to create a new panel celebrating William the Conqueror's coronation

The world’s oldest cave paintings discovered 30 years ago in France

A special visit is being held at the reproduction of the ‘prehistoric Sistine Chapel’

Train set and other objects belonging to Charles de Gaulle sold at auction

The auction comes after a historical exhibition that included ‘the most important manuscript in French history’ as well as a vintage train set from the Soviet Union