Living in france

Senators vote for €5 tax to be levied on small parcels sent to France

Government wants the tax fixed at €2 as higher amount risks being overturned

What level of wealth is needed to be considered rich in France?

Opinions differ over whether calculations should refer to income only, or total wealth

Christmas 2025: festive concerts, carols and markets across France

From traditional English-language church services to local Christmas markets and seasonal theatre, here are the highlights of Yuletide events organised by Connexion readers

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French pet owner fined whenever cat goes onto neighbour’s property

Feline triggers penalties if crossing the boundary after an alleged series of misdemeanours including leaving paw prints...

Casino to open over 400 new stores across France: see where

The retail group runs Casino, Vival, Spa, Naturalia and Franprix brands

Christmas warning over French postal customs fees

Anyone sending or receiving cards and parcels from abroad during the festive period should take care

I need to leave my husband in France but have no money. What can I do?

There are many potential sources of help, by phone or in person

Voluntary national military service to return to France

Proposal has widespread support across political spectrum and public in a poll

Can neighbour legally fly their drone over our property in France?

Drones are popular hobby but cannot be used everywhere

ChatGPT told me to move to a small town in southern France to cure burnout - so I did

44-year-old American had never previously set foot in Uzès

France’s official public survival guide - what does it contain and where can you get it?

‘Everyone responsible’ guide offers advice for dealing with catastrophic events

Graph: French inflation levels among lowest in Europe

Annual inflation of 0.8% is far below Germany (2.3%) and UK (3.6%)

A comprehensive guide to living in Montpellier

A guide to transport, property and lifestyle in the popular Southern city

How to reserve a French cemetery plot - and what does it cost?

The majority of cemeteries are run by mairies

Why your parcels may soon become more expensive in France

End of customs exemptions for small parcels imminent as EU addresses overseas e-commerce firms

Map: How French groundwater levels are faring in November

Replenishing begins but remains below 2024 levels

I became a published psychic medium after moving to France

Reader Claudia Amendola Alzraa, 37, explains how she found her calling

What is considered a ‘modest income’ in France?

12.6% of people were in this category in 2021, according to recent research

Royal British Legion poppy seller marks over 30 years of fundraising in France

Campaign stalwart Catherine Curtis, 81, is still selling Remembrance poppies

Why I love where I live... on Réunion island

Reader Barry Kacher, 65, moved to France from the UK for work in 1982. Since then he has settled on France's overseas department in the Indian Ocean

Homeowner finds gold worth €700,000 buried in his French garden - and can keep it

Gold coins and ingots were discovered as he began digging to put in a pool

Long queues for opening of Shein store in Paris despite child sex doll row

World-first physical store for Chinese e-commerce giant embroiled in controversy

What are the rules on metal detecting in France?

Focus on protecting potential archaeological finds means lack of clarity for amateurs

What do I need to do if my partner dies when we are at our second home in France?

Several steps must usually be taken in first 24 hours

Village gives free rat poison to tackle infestation in southern France

Local authorities hope the measure will greatly reduce rat numbers in the area

What to do when family or friends need help while you are in France

Assisting loved ones means setting boundaries, says columnist Cynthia Spillman

How Verteillac's mayor revived a French village through community engagement

Connexion meets Régis Defraye, a Dordogne mayor who has brought a dying village to life using collaboration and apolitical thinking

French supermarkets revamp to retain custom

Smaller floor areas, lower shelves and more specialist counters among new features

Key practical and cultural dates for your diary in France for November 2025

Including the start of more Entry/Exit System checks, Armistice Day and changes for Ryanair passengers

My husband is far too fussy with French food

Columnist Cynthia Spillman on how to encourage more adventure in culinary matters

Wood heating costs rise again this winter - as do the risks for buyers

Over seven million households heat with wood

Household confidence is on the rise in France

Record-high rating for importance of saving money backed by perceived increase in ability to save

Britons ordered to leave France over bad first year of work lose court appeal

Order was upheld despite their Dordogne gîte business now doing better. They say they have ‘absolutely nothing to go back to in the UK’.

Why glasses cost so much in France – and how to find cheaper options

Price of seemingly similar glasses can vary by as much as double

Self-employed in France can claim state benefits if business fails

Allocation des travailleurs indépendants applies if certain conditions are met

I'm not confident enough with my language skills for French interviews

Columnist Cynthia Spillman advises a reader on how to get to grips with learning

French village latest to end door-to-door rubbish collection

The €1 million project is intended to ‘reduce anti-social waste behaviour’

Could France soon become cashless?

Cash use is declining except in certain specific situations

What are the proposed changes to child allowance rules in France?

Over two million families could see a change to their allocations familiales if measure is approved

French etiquette guide: greetings, gifts and when to use 'vous'

Understanding a few simple customs goes a long way to help you fit in

Photos: village’s creative letterboxes delight visitors

A Rubik’s Cube-themed letterbox has been crowned winner of the 2025 Fête des Boîtes aux Lettres in the Loiret village of Saint-Martin-d’Abbat

What you need to know when collecting rainwater in France

The rules are complex and depend on what you plan to do with it

A comprehensive guide to living in Verdun

A guide to transport, property and lifestyle in the historic town

You know you are in France when... champagne is on the hospital menu

Australian spotted the drink at the American Hospital in Paris

How I got involved in dog shows after moving to France

Reader Jacqueline Reddin-Williams has been in France for 31 years

‘It’s time’: why we chose to move back to UK from France

Columnist Gillian Harvey reflects on making the big decision

Why France endures a costly commune problem

The country's 34,875 communes, many with fewer than 500 inhabitants, create financial strain and hinder decentralisation efforts

'I became a photographer and pet portraitist after moving to France'

Connexion reader Loraine Dennison has moved to France from the UK twice

Join The Club: Dordogne Ladies Club International

A vibrant community for women in Dordogne and beyond, offering social events, networking opportunities, and support for local charities

How to get help with French admin from France services

Free advice is available on everything from tax queries to job hunting

Map: what are France's groundwater levels at start of autumn 2025 ?

Water-saving measures were in place throughout the summer

Car hire in France: supermarket rentals, peer-to-peer options, and how to save

Popularity has risen over the past decade with convenient and affordable options

French La Poste launches a croissant-scented stamp

Limited edition stamp is a celebration of ‘French people’s favourite pastry’

Should I feel guilty about wanting to move away from France?

Columnist Cynthia Spillman advises a reader who is missing his family

Is there a place to find your ‘correct’ French address?

Thousands of rural addresses were changed last year

Are workplace affairs a sackable offence in France?

Two executives in the United States recently drew international media attention after being caught on a 'kiss cam' at a Coldplay concert

Key practical and cultural dates for your diary in France for October 2025

Including the start of the Entry/Exit System, daylight saving time and open days in French chateaux

Graph: how September’s inflation affects household budgets in France

Tobacco and service costs rose well above average

How to manage tricky family visits after moving to France

Columnist Cynthia Spillman shares tips on how to cope with challenging visitors

France’s ‘Service Public’ online information portal changes web address

Update provides additional authenticity to help fight fraud

How to renew a five-year Brexit WA residency card online in France

Interior Ministry asked prefectures to set up standardised sites: several, but by no means all, have now done so

How I became an interior designer after moving to France

Reader Sylvana Delvalle used her creative background to carve out a new career redesigning people's homes

Electric cars, solar panels, bank payments: six changes for residents in France in October 2025

Some benefits are also increasing

From Largeasse to Montcuq: amusing France place names

A list, compiled by holiday rental site Toploc, focuses on signs guaranteed to amuse

14 recent and upcoming changes in France you may have missed in September

Including latest on Mont Blanc tunnel closure and changes to chèque énergie

It frustrates me that my parents do not want to learn French when they visit

Columnist Cynthia Spillman advises a reader living in France on parental education

Explained: How to go to a French university as an overseas student

Final submission deadlines are in December-January to start in the following autumn

A comprehensive guide to living in Lyon

Discover everything you need to know about living in the city, from transport options and safety tips to housing prices and education opportunities

Graphic: One in five French workers employed in state sector

There are nearly six million workers in the ‘fonction publique’ in France, covering several areas

I moved to France and became a fluent French–speaking heating engineer

Reader Stewart Paterson, 62, tells us how he retrained and learned the language

How a Brittany commune hopes to get strangers talking

A conversation bench is one of many initiatives being trialled to develop a spirit of friendship

Why I love where I live... in Biarritz

Reader Alex Gaines, 42, from North Carolina, moved to the south of France in 2013 for studies and surfing, and has never looked back

I hate it when the French get my name wrong

Columnist Cynthia Spillman offers advice to a reader who is frustrated by mispronunciation

How do bailiffs organise their work in France?

Commissaires de justice have a range of activities

Living in france

Senators vote for €5 tax to be levied on small parcels sent to France

What level of wealth is needed to be considered rich in France?

Christmas 2025: festive concerts, carols and markets across France

French pet owner fined whenever cat goes onto neighbour’s property

Trending

What level of wealth is needed to be considered rich in France?

Civic tests for French residency cards: Official website now open

New anti-cruise passenger tax could affect UK-France ferries

French pet owner fined whenever cat goes onto neighbour’s property

Rare champagne from Charles and Diana’s 1981 wedding to go to auction

More French towns put bans and taxes on new second homes

Speed cameras 'set to flash visibly again' as France's radar network expands

Casino to open over 400 new stores across France: see where

Christmas warning over French postal customs fees

I need to leave my husband in France but have no money. What can I do?

Voluntary national military service to return to France

Can neighbour legally fly their drone over our property in France?

ChatGPT told me to move to a small town in southern France to cure burnout - so I did

France’s official public survival guide - what does it contain and where can you get it?

Graph: French inflation levels among lowest in Europe

A comprehensive guide to living in Montpellier

How to reserve a French cemetery plot - and what does it cost?

American Church in Paris to host baby loss remembrance service

Join the club: the American Club of Lyon

MPs suggest extra tax on fast-food outlets as numbers grow in France

Why your parcels may soon become more expensive in France

French census 2026: how it works, questions asked and must you answer?

Public transport, roads, tap water: French residents’ priorities for local spending in poll

When should you avoid doing DIY in France

What is the French Legion of Honour awarded for – and can foreigners receive it?

Britons lack awareness of their Withdrawal Agreement rights in France, survey finds

Map: How French groundwater levels are faring in November

I became a published psychic medium after moving to France

What is considered a ‘modest income’ in France?

Royal British Legion poppy seller marks over 30 years of fundraising in France

Why I love where I live... on Réunion island

Homeowner finds gold worth €700,000 buried in his French garden - and can keep it

Long queues for opening of Shein store in Paris despite child sex doll row

What are the rules on metal detecting in France?

What do I need to do if my partner dies when we are at our second home in France?

Village gives free rat poison to tackle infestation in southern France

More readers speak out on French citizenship denial over foreign income

What to do when family or friends need help while you are in France

How Verteillac's mayor revived a French village through community engagement

French supermarkets revamp to retain custom

Key practical and cultural dates for your diary in France for November 2025

My husband is far too fussy with French food

Wood heating costs rise again this winter - as do the risks for buyers

Household confidence is on the rise in France

Britons ordered to leave France over bad first year of work lose court appeal

Why glasses cost so much in France – and how to find cheaper options

Self-employed in France can claim state benefits if business fails

I'm not confident enough with my language skills for French interviews

French village latest to end door-to-door rubbish collection

Could France soon become cashless?

What are the proposed changes to child allowance rules in France?

French etiquette guide: greetings, gifts and when to use 'vous'

Photos: village’s creative letterboxes delight visitors

What you need to know when collecting rainwater in France

A comprehensive guide to living in Verdun

You know you are in France when... champagne is on the hospital menu

How I got involved in dog shows after moving to France

‘It’s time’: why we chose to move back to UK from France

Why France endures a costly commune problem

'I became a photographer and pet portraitist after moving to France'

Join The Club: Dordogne Ladies Club International

How to get help with French admin from France services

Map: what are France's groundwater levels at start of autumn 2025 ?

Car hire in France: supermarket rentals, peer-to-peer options, and how to save

French La Poste launches a croissant-scented stamp

Should I feel guilty about wanting to move away from France?

Is there a place to find your ‘correct’ French address?

Are workplace affairs a sackable offence in France?

Key practical and cultural dates for your diary in France for October 2025

Graph: how September’s inflation affects household budgets in France

How to manage tricky family visits after moving to France

France’s ‘Service Public’ online information portal changes web address

How to renew a five-year Brexit WA residency card online in France

How I became an interior designer after moving to France