Letters and comment

What happened when I sent my parents to explore Villefranche-sur-Mer

Connexion writer Sophie Parsons had fun sending her parents to visit the beautiful Côte d'Azur town

Pink St Michel Madeleines advertising car driving past spectators on a mountain road.

Grab a roadside seat to see the best of the Tour de France

The Tour de France holds a special place for many but cycling journalist and author Isabel Best says the TV version is a pale imitation and the race is best seen alongside the millions of fans on the roadside

Assorted raw beef cuts on a tray with a label for bourguignon stew.

French beef is too tough and this is why

Former superstore manager also says some cuts are unavailable in France

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Your feedback on anti-mosquito products in France and tips

Connexion readers share their advice for keeping the pests at bay and to stop bites itching

What do French buyers actually want in an old farmhouse?

Columnist Samantha David prepares to sell her home

Crowds of travellers queue inside a Paris airport passport control area beneath overhead signs.

Lack of e-gates adds to EES ‘shambles’ in France

Readers ask why new system has been so challenging to deliver

Young,Stylish,Woman,In,Red,Beret,Having,A,French,Breakfast

Do France's traditions get more admiration than they deserve?

Columnist Cynthia Spillman questions the value of café culture, intellectualism and... bureaucracy

A view of an Urgences hospital sign in France

France’s healthcare paradox: too few doctors, too many treatments

Columnist Sarah Henshaw tries to manage a medical problem without a GP

France should not fall for Kremlin propaganda

Political commentator Simon Heffer examines reasons for growing sympathy toward aggressor

Protester in Paris holds a purple sign reading 'Pas d'excuse pour les prédateurs' at a demonstration.

France's reckoning over child protection is long overdue

The case of 11-year-old Lyhanna is becoming a watershed moment

Updated: your experiences of Brexit card renewal by prefecture

Périgueux and Limoges offer ‘faultless service’

Close-up of a four-nozzle petrol pump at a service station that dispenses B10 Diesel (yellow), B7 Diesel (orange), E85 'super ethanol' (blue) and E10 petrol (green).

Ethanol swap was great for me in France

Reader is 'chuffed to bits with the conversion'

Why the French phrase ‘je vous écoute’ opens doors

President Macron recently called on a disruptive audience to listen better while attending a conference in Kenya

Two people laughing and holding a drink on a sofa in France.

How slowing down makes you love life in France

Columnist Cynthia Spillman examines the surprising benefits of taking it easy

France falls short on LGBTQ+ inclusion despite victories

France celebrates le Mois des fiertés (Pride Month) in June

Orange office building next to close-up of glowing fibre optic cables

Orange does not take France's fibre network seriously

Reader is not impressed with the company's service

Pellet stoves in France: are they worth it? Real user experiences compared

The stoves can prove surprisingly complex

Updated: We should all be able to vote in France

Readers argue that their contribution to society justifies their right to take part

Updated: French passport queue rules not being applied consistently

French residency card holders share their passport queue experiences

Why French astronauts don’t get the same hero treatment as in the US or UK

The first female French astronaut was met with a rather muted reception at home

The problem of neighbours feeding your cat in France – and why it happens

Spoiling someone else’s pet is better than abandoning their own, says columnist Samantha David

Jordan Bardella smiling in a suit at an indoor launch event

Princess photoshoot does not guarantee French far right a fairytale ending

Columnist Nabila Ramdani examines the cynicism of spin doctors

Running a gîte in France: why being on site matters for success

A reader argues that having a presence brings better feedback and satisfaction

Motorway with lorries entering tunnels by a rocky hillside near the France border sign.

Why driving in France can cost more than in the UK

A reader writes about his driving experiences in both UK and France

Centre-right's candidate is a poor copy of French far-right leader

Columnist Simon Heffer is not impressed by Bruno Retailleau - the candidate of Les Républicains for next year’s presidential election

France's concrete road barriers are safer than metal ones

Concrete barriers are thought to be more durable in the event of an impact

Learn to love the complexities of the French language

Reader argues that weird spellings and homophones are part of the soul of a living language

Dordogne bin collection: non-recyclable waste limits need a rethink

Reader says that the limits should not be on frequency but rather on volume

Manvieux;,France,-,July,18,2017,:,The,City,Hall

France's mairies are both a help and a hindrance

Two readers express their views on local government

Can you help? Mairie in Normandy is looking for missing British couple

Owners of French property have not been seen for a decade

France,,1,July,2024:,Red,Car,Driving,On,A,Countryside

My car broke down - and the reality of life in rural France hit me hard

Columnist Samantha David laments a lack of understanding about travel challenges in rural France

Readers’ feedback on Orange two-step authentication issues

Reader Peter Cracknell recently wrote to The Connexion sharing his frustration with accessing his orange.fr emails while visiting the UK. A wave of readers quickly came to his aid

Moving to France – what we wish we had known

Readers who have already made the move share their experiences

Woman,Relaxing,At,Home,In,Evening,And,Watching,Tv

European TV is a necessary cultural corrective

Columnist Nick Inman argues for a more open-minded approach to viewing

Close up image of hands holding mobile phones

France moves to limit screens for children – but are schools going the other way?

Screentime is limited in French schools - but the battle is far from over

Charles,De,Gaulle,Airport,,Paris,,France,-,December,11,2024

EU’s 90/180 days rule: Readers challenge common views on France visits

Some find the number of days permitted to be sufficient for their needs

Guns, healthcare, culture: why my children are better off in France

Novelist and former professional skateboarder Scott Bourne, 53, from North Carolina, fell in love with Europe – and Paris in particular

Local elections underline deep divisions in France

Columnist Simon Heffer looks for the winners and losers of the March vote

Fibre installation in Alsace: delays, errors and billing issues

Connexion reader is still struggling to get high speed internet after 18 months

My experience with a pellet stove in France: breakdowns, costs and hard work

Reader notes the 'significant drawbacks' of the system

Prepare for questions if calling UK over life certificate issues from France

Reader highlights information needed to ensure pension payments resumed during phone conversation following missing letter issues

Is email from French electricity supplier Enedis a scam?

Connexion reader receives unsolicited email about their online account

Pellet stoves in France: after-sales support is costly and unclear

Connexion reader reports lack of transparency and the protectionist practices within the sector

Safety,Ski,Mom,Putting,A,Helmet,Areches,,Savoie,,France

Helmets are not the answer to bad habits on French ski slopes

A reader expresses their thoughts on the debate

French,Falling,Birth,Rates.,Demographics,And,Pregnancy,In,France,Concept.

France’s baby push: Why government efforts to boost births backfire

Columnist Nabila Ramdani argues against state involvement in birth rates and fertility

Cassis,,France,,Sept,3rd,2025,,View,Of,Some,People,In

Happy holidays or harsh realities? The truth about living in rural France

Columnist Samantha David examines the contrast between holiday and day-to-day life

Should cats really have the 'right to roam' in France?

More readers write in with their views on feline transgressions

Votes for foreigners: why is topic so controversial in France?

Two academics talk to The Connexion about the issues at stake and what is done in neighbouring countries

The electorate is to blame for France's political mess

Connexion reader argues that criticism of President Macron is unfair

Tired,And,Bored,Boy,Sitting,At,Desk,In,Classroom

Creativity is the key to fixing France's education system

Classes are too often characterised by rote learning and rigidity, says Céline Haller - named one of the world's best teachers

French wood pellet stoves are far more expensive than they first appear

Reader says the machines are complex and require costly maintenance

A,Town,Hall,And,The,French,Flag,With,The,Mayor

France is lucky to have its dedicated mayors

Columnist Nick Inman stands up for local officials

How Lyon death is reshaping French politics ahead of 2027 elections

Columnist Simon Heffer says the killing of far-right student activist Quentin Deranque will have reverberations around Europe

Tipping in France: Are card machine tip requests going too far?

Payment terminals increasingly ask if customers want to pay an extra amount

Father teaching his young daughter to ski

The chaos on France's ski slopes is so sad, says retired instructor

Reader says she refused to teach children not wearing safety gear

Indian,Naan,Bread,With,Herbs,And,Garlic,Seasoning,On,Plate

Where to find good Indian food and curry ingredients in rural France

Connexion readers share their tips on finding spices that hit the spot

Ski helmets should be compulsory in France

Two readers share their views on risk and danger on the slopes

We went to a French curry house but it didn't hit the spot

Columnist Samantha David laments the lack of decent meals in the style of the subcontinent

Happy,Romantic,Couple,Hugging,Near,The,Eiffel,Tower,In,Paris,

From 'romantic Paris' to dating apps: love is changing in France

Researcher Aziliz Kondracki explains the role that romance plays in modern France

My tips for bird nesting season in south-west France

Some species begin building nests as early as February, including collared doves, mistle thrushes and song thrushes

What I miss about France after moving back to UK

Columnist Gillian Harvey, who returned to the UK in 2024, explains what she misses – and what she has gained in the process

Auvergne region is neglected by government

Government agencies and the SNCF shun the area 'time and time again', says reader

A,Retro,Vintage,Quad,Roller,Skate,At,A,Roller,Disco

France’s 1970s roller disco craze is back – and we tried it

Columnist Sarah Henshaw feels a yearning for a certain kind of retro fun

President,Donald,Trump,Speaks,During,Cabinet,Meeting,In,The,Cabinet

Trump’s rhetoric feeds France’s long tradition of national decline

Columnist Nabila Ramdani offers a view on the American president's impact on French culture

French,President,Emmanuel,Macron,Hosts,Gurbanguly,Berdymuhamedov,,

Is President Macron the problem with France?

Readers write in with their perspectives on the president

Why France’s small rural communes still matter

Columnist Nick Inman makes the case against 'Doge-style cost-cutters'

Paris,,France,-,November,10,,2018,:,The,French,President

Macron, Trump and Davos: how Franco-American relations hit a new low

Renowned political commentator Simon Heffer examines the French president's dilemma

A view of someone holding a green carte Vitale for the French state healthcare system

Readers share experiences adding their carte Vitale to the new app

Readers write of their experiences – good and bad

I moved to France for the cake – and then learned to love British baking

Columnist Sarah Henshaw rediscovers the British baking tradition of comfort, jam and just having a go

Teenager,,Group,And,Portrait,In,Park,,Girl,And,Diversity,On

Is it time to shorten France's school holidays?

Pascal Bressoux, professor of educational sciences at the University of Grenoble Alpes, explains why the school timetables need a rethink

Savoyards poke fun at Parisians over snow disruption

A few centimetres shut down capital but for those in Savoie ‘it’s time to clear the chalet steps so no one slips after an apero’

A view of a computer with an alert symbol on top to suggest a scam

Lookalike La Poste site accused of misleading users in France

Reader says he was overcharged by poste-en-ligne.com and his letter did not even arrive

French eye care system: readers’ experiences

Two readers have a differing opinion of the system

Why calls for Emmanuel Macron to resign as president of France are misguided

The president should stay put, argues columnist Nick Inman

Readers report high customs charges on gifts sent to France

The cost of receiving gifts is sometimes higher than their value