Living in france

Hosting family in France can make for healthier relationships

Old grievances can be healed by sharing your time and space

Reportages sur la communauté des Hérons : Ici le festival des deux mains au Solilab sur l'île de Nantes.Ici l'association Moneko et sa monnais locale.photo : Marc Roger

Does your French town have its own currency?

There are over 65 of them around the country

Whit Monday holiday: how it works in France and how much it raises for state

It used to be a simple bank holiday like any other - but the tragic events of 2003 changed everything

practical

New free-delivery offer available for over-65s at Carrefour stores in France

Scheme promises extra help and easier-to-find products in thousands of local stores

How to save money on adult learning courses in France

Get help for language classes, employment, and more

'Wildlife is all around us': why we love living in the Côte-d’Or

British couple swapped London for Burgundy and say they have no regrets

France refused entry to 200 Britons and 190 Americans in 2025

More than 1,100 UK citizens were found to be illegally present in the EU, official data reveals

A view of someone filling a glass of water from the tap

High water consumption letters sent to Dordogne residents in error

Homeowners are warned to be vigilant

Beer overtakes wine in France for first time

Consumers drank around 10 million litres more beer than wine in 2025, industry report shows

French minimum wage to increase by 2.4% on June 1, 2026

It follows rise on January 1 and keeps France’s rate among highest in EU

Recycling alert after battery explodes in waste collection lorry in France

Double check your recycling bins or when using your local déchetterie

Flowers and punctuality do not always pay off in France

A reader shares an embarrassing tale

France passes anti-fraud bill with 100 plus new measures: key points

Crackdown focuses on social welfare fraud. Officials will be allowed greater access to bank statements and healthcare log-in information

Storefront signs for Orange, Bouygues Telecom, SFR and Free telecom brands in France

Mobile data offer in France includes UK and US also

New deal to cover 135 countries starts from €19.99 for some subscribers

‘Silent' phone call scam on the rise in France: what is it and why it is so dangerous

Caller stays silent when the phone is answered

Where in France tiger mosquitoes are found and how to deal with them

The mosquitoes become active in spring, and are now in 83 of 96 departments

Group of friends raising drinks at a picnic table in a sunny garden

Five things they don't tell you about bank holidays in France

No one works, and precious few people would consider spending them doing jobs around the house

Crowds and photographers at the Cannes red carpet for 'Ismael's Ghosts' screening

Key practical and cultural dates for your diary in France for May 2026

Includes key tax dates by department and several bank holidays

Split image of European Commission anf French notaire sign

Is France considering easing its 2021 inheritance law affecting foreign wills?

More than three years have passed since the European Commission first acknowledged receiving multiple complaints

Vehicles refuelling at an E.Leclerc petrol station canopy in Vitry, France

Where does France’s oil come from?

As the price of crude oil rises again we look at France's supply of the precious commodity

Ministry looks to ease foreign income citizenship hurdles

Calls for more flexible guidance to be issued to prefectures with regard to French citizenship requests from retirees with foreign pensions

Water restrictions begin in south-west France: who is affected?

Residents can check restrictions near them using government website

Collage of child posting letter, person walking dog, and night-time street scene

20 recent and upcoming changes in France you may have missed in April 2026

See where the main risk areas for ticks are, flights updates and why scientists are warning about a dog virus

Will food prices increase in France due to Middle East conflict?

Rising inflation from energy prices comes after annual price negotiations close

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Covid pandemic sparks a chess revival in France

Netflix TV series The Queen’s Gambit also brought the game to a new audience

Should we move away from oil-fired heat in France?

Modern condensing boilers are generally considered high-efficiency

ANTS France data leak: up to 12 million people affected

People advised to be on their guard against scammers

Why ‘French Sundays’ are trending on social media

Swap to-do lists for slow, simple pleasures to spend Sundays à la française

Bakers and florists able to open and employ staff on May 1, 2026, says French PM

New bill will clear up legal confusion on the matter

Push to legalise DNA ancestry tests in France

Tests are currently illegal but used by more than 100,000 annually

Ofii Frello app adds convenience to learning French

Service is offered free for a year to relevant candidates

Are there English-language health helplines in France?

The CPAM state healthcare refunds service offers an English-speaking number

French MPs vote in ‘simplification’ law: key points

The law’s proposed ban of low-emission zones is one of its most controversial aspects

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Wife is jealous of my new male French friends

Columnist Cynthia Spillman advises a reader on his spouse's isolation

Why we love France’s long-distance cycle paths

Reader Kate Kirk, 71, moved to France from West Yorkshire in 2008 with her husband Allan

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My husband wants ‘French’ cooking

Columnist Cynthia Spillman helps a reader to encourage her spouse to take a more collaborative attitude

Michael Bettocchi running the Metz Euro Marathon in 2025

French man loses 40kg to run marathon after life-changing decision

Michael Bettocchi was morbidly obese when he signed up for his first run in Metz

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Ikea to open smaller outlets in French towns

Swedish furniture company aims to reach more people

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Five things they don't tell you about… grandparents in France

French family elders have their own lives to live, albeit with much tolerance

Reverse culture shock is another challenge of trips away from France

Returning to the UK from living in France can bring some hurdles

UK DWP considers digital life certificates to simplify pension checks in France

Many readers report problems with the current paper-based system

I moved to France and became an online art teacher with more than 44,000 students

Reader Nicola Blakemore, 72, explains how online courses made web lessons viable

Key practical and cultural dates for your diary in France for April 2026

This month sees the Paris Marathon, the start of tax season and the full rollout of the Entry/Exit System

A family's journey from San Francisco to France

Splitting time between the Ardèche countryside and city life in Lyon offers a balanced lifestyle, cultural enrichment, and social opportunities

Long-distance runner's inspiring fitness journey in France

Sarah Cameron transformed her life through running in the French countryside, achieving remarkable success in marathons and ultra-marathons while representing Team GB

The curious case of Good Friday: why only some parts of France have the day off

Three French departments benefit from two extra public holidays

Toulon naval base to simulate nuclear accident - public to get phone alert

Two-day exercise primes workers and residents for best practices in event of an incident

17 recent and upcoming changes in France you may have missed in March 2026

See where shoppers pay more for food online, how much drivers will pay to register a new vehicle and how many wolves there are in France

Changes in April 2026 for residents of France

Tax season opens, benefits rise and an innovative treatment for HIV arrives in France

Many of France’s new mayors pledge to switch streetlights back on at night

Energy-saving policy introduced during the 2022 surge in electricity prices

Reminder: clocks go forward in France this Sunday

One hour of sleep lost but later sunsets to come

French government clarifies rules for post sent to US

Updated official guidelines for letters, parcels, and gifts

How to reduce bank account fees in France

Online banks often top polls as the most competitive

Queen Camilla meets the veterans at the Aquitaine Armed Forces and Veterans Breakfast Club

Royal seal of approval for group connecting veterans in France

Reader Claire La Roche, 52, explains how she and her husband Mike, 55, founded the Aquitaine Breakfast Club

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Why should I have to kiss to say hello and goodbye in France

Columnist Cynthia Spillman has some sympathy with this reader's issue with la bise

People in France not sleeping enough, says study

France’s lack of sleep has consequences for national health, and is similar to UK and US levels

Leclerc supermarkets in France fail to reduce fuel prices by 30c as pledged

CEO says change due to volatility in wholesale fuel markets

Three young brothers playing rock, paper, scissors

What types of child custody arrangements exist for parents in France?

Family judges are sometimes required to rule on custody cases

‘If I lower the price I close’: fuel station manager in western France defends €2.97 diesel price

The small station in Deux-Sèvres is selling the most expensive diesel in the country amid the ongoing fuel price spike

A view of someone looking at paperwork with a calculator and house model in the foreground

French residential tax debits have not been taken - what should I do?

Many opt for monthly payments from January to October

La politesse: what habits can make you seem rude to French people?

Sometimes it can be all too easy to commit a cultural faux pas

Air pollution warnings raised across northern France

Fine particle spike puts several departments on alert

Demonstrations are a Labour Day tradition in France

France debates allowing shops to employ staff on May 1

Workers in all but essential fields must currently be given the day off as a paid holiday

Make sense of... the role of mayors in France

Responsibilities include maintenance of communal roads, and civil services such as registering births, marriages and deaths

'I moved to France and became a photographer with a great work-life balance'

Reader Anna Leak shares her experiences setting up a business in the creative industries

‘My dream of earning a living through art is coming true’

Planning new projects for spring? Perhaps this artistic Connexion reader will inspire you

Two homes: one in Provence, one in the Rockies

Carolyne Kauser-Abbott and her husband split their time between France and Canada

Mosquitoes are already back in France – see areas most affected

Widespread hatchings reported in several coastal and eastern areas after an exceptionally wet and mild winter

Graph: France’s largest cities ranked for financial stability

All but two saw score decrease since 2014

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I’m an estate agent and these are the five errors that newcomers make in France

'Many overestimate their DIY talents – and underestimate renovation costs'

Unwanted sales calls at record levels in France: how to stop them

Use apps to block calls, respond in English: Connexion readers give tips

What changes for residents in France in March 2026

Major changes for drivers, hospital patients, and property owners

Can non-citizens in France be foster parents?

Famille d'accueil are paid and considered employees

BBC says no plans for content subscription service in France

Broadcaster’s ‘Sounds’ app has been unavailable since July 2025

17 recent and upcoming changes in France you may have missed in February

Changes include income tax bands, flight delay rules and hospital parking fees