Magazine

Three-panel image with two portrait headshots and two people holding an American flag outdoors.

Americans in France on being asked 'are you for Trump?'

Democrats and Republicans tell of conversations ranging from rewarding to challenging

Why you should not say le Jour de Bastille

From fireworks to military parades, do you know these words related to France’s fête nationale?

Why does France's July 14 military parade split public opinion?

We look at how France reconciles republicanism with a seemingly authoritarian tradition

magazine

When and why do we say mettre des bâtons dans les roues?

As the Tour de France whizzes across France this month, we look at why people in France talk about sticks and wheels when things do not go to plan

Hauts-de-France locals flock to Belgian stores for cheaper fuel and tobacco

Nearly half of households in Hauts-de-France shopped in Belgium in 2024

Orphaned lynx released into the wild in Jura to boost fragile population

Animal has been released into the wild after rehabilitation by Centre Athénas

Meet the Lidl supervisor who also runs a French village as mayor

The 30-year-old mother of two is mayor of Berviller-en-Moselle

A view of the Olympic flag against a snowy backdrop

Can France repeat Paris 2024 success at the Winter Olympics in 2030?

Sports lecturer Dr Stuart Whigham looks ahead and unpicks lessons learned from Paris 2024

How running clubs help build community in France

Some 13 million people have gone running over the past year, up from seven million in 2017

Which French words are resisting English anglicisms in everyday language?

Language campaigners may worry about rising anglicisms, but some French words are holding firm

French TV series review: B.R.I (The Brigade) Season Two

French crime drama returns with gripping new organised crime storyline

Crowded narrow street in Mont-Saint-Michel with tourists, shops and a Creperie Du Chapeau Rouge sign.

France’s unsung sights are better than tourist traps

Columnist Nick Inman says visitors should aim for the unknown

Megabyte error can cause mega embarrassment in France

Beware of presuming that this word is the same in French

Wine tourism in France: how oenotourisme has changed at French wineries

More wineries offer tastings, events and visitor experiences. Discover how oenotourisme is evolving, and why some vineyard visits are better than others

Artisan cheese of the month, plus Provence speciality soupe au pistou

Enjoy the Burgundian fromage Claquebitou at this time of year

Mangetout: the eel deal and revolutionary cakes

A foodie exploration, from jellied eels and pie shops in London to French Revolution cakes for Bastille Day

Radishes: crunch time on the menu

Butter and a dash of fleur de sel is the best way to serve fresh, peppery radishes – and they’re a perfect apéritif

Mais où est donc Ornicar? Inside France’s strange and memorable school mnemonics

French grammar is notoriously difficult, but children are given clever ways to help them conquer it

France’s heatwaves light up transatlantic debate on AC

This year has seen temperatures rising over 40C

Why are Tour de France cyclists called ‘runners’ in French?

The linguistic reason is long, arduous and surprising - much like the race itself

Les Lunettes de Romans: the French biscuit treat that revives childhood memories

The more sophisticated French equivalent of a jammie dodger comes from the Drôme

How to identify birdsong in France: robins, blackbirds, thrushes and tits

Discover when birds start singing and the key calls to listen for

Antique chairs and table in a decorative room beside a wooden cabinet displaying plates.

Buy and care for French antiques with confidence

In her new book, Sharon Santoni reveals what to collect, how to select, and where to find the French antiques of your dreams

Guess the French phrase behind this photo clue...

Can you work out which idiomatic expression is depicted below?

Baffled by the Tour de France rules? Read these four points

It is one of the most-watched sporting events in the world but do you know what the jersey colours mean and why riders are not only trying to finish in the fastest time?

French music review: Boulevard de l’enfance by Gauvain Sers

A new release from the Limoges singer-songwriter behind platinum debut Pourvu

Garden tips for July, from outdoor lounges to homes for rabbits

The best outdoor rugs for patios, sturdy rabbit hutches and what to harvest or sow in your vegetable garden this month

How to grow biennials: best flowers for a long-lasting cottage garden

You will wait for your efforts, but you will be richly rewarded

What does une gamelle mean in French?

French food vocabulary from leftovers to lunch boxes

Bordeaux’s Cité du Vin marks 10th anniversary with visitor milestone

More than 3.5 million people have visited the site that presents wine as a cultural and sensory experience

New digital scanner helps Sarthe and Maine hospitals refine cancer diagnoses

The technology helps doctors analyse hundreds of tissue and blood samples more efficiently

Heatwaves, holidays and keeping your pets safe this summer

A vet's expert tips on how to prevent heatstroke, dehydration and car travel risks

French supermarkets accused of higher markups on organic fruit and vegetables

Report says bio shoppers pay more while farmers receive a smaller share

Jordan Bardella smiling in a suit at an indoor launch event

Jordan Bardella is unsuited to be French head of state

Reader lists reasons that far-right politician is not qualified

Senior woman sitting at a kitchen table using a laptop and writing in a notebook.

Can you really learn a language after 60?

How training the brain through repeated quizzes and self-testing can improve long-term recall

July reading recommendations: three books about France in English

Our pick includes some romantic Paris fiction and a gripping wartime art theft novel

Things to see and do this month in Paris, Carcassonne, Rouen, Juan-les-Pins and Aveyron

Our pick of cultural events to enjoy in France in July

Why an Irish lecturer stayed in France: life, work and challenges in Brittany

Grainne O’Keeffe Vigneron explains why she stayed in France, what life in Rennes is really like, and the biggest challenges for Irish people living and working in Brittany

Rouler en chasse-patate and more Tour de France expressions

The 100-year-old annual bicycle race has long-standing traditions and even its own vocabulary

Narrow street with parked cars, motorbikes, and stone buildings under trees.

French cities split over ‘wild’ street greenery

Supporters say it teaches respect for biodiversity

Beer cheat, peeing, Donald Trump: six facts about the Tour de France

We pick out some little-known stories about the famous cycling race

Explore a magical plant garden in Indre-et-Loire

Dominique and Marie-Odile Birault's garden is devoted to the unique properties of many species

British opera star nurtures young musicians with free programme in Lot

Meet the retired singer who is mentoring future classical music stars with a residency programme and free concerts

A visit to the mairie in Normandy that is smaller than a bedroom

It is the smallest in France at just 7.83m²

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

Connexion readers recommend more French novels for summer

Modern fiction joins classics in a fresh selection of novels to improve your French

Why Babybel is proving a huge success in America

Demand for high-protein snacks has driven sales for the mini cheese – and the US is its largest market

Power to the (shy) people: why citizen assemblies could replace career politicians

Writer and academic Hélène Landemore says ordinary people need to be at the heart of the political process

The origins and meaning of lever le coude

We look at how and why French speakers talk about their elbows when inviting their friends for a drink

We moved to France from the US and here are the five emotional hurdles we faced

Homesickness, facing French bureaucracy and learning the language are common obstacles

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

Six films to watch this July to improve your French

Take a break from the heat to work on your language skills in the cool

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

Man spraying his arm with mosquito repellent

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

Guess the French region with the help of this clue: sunshine in the rain

In which of France's 13 regions was this photo taken?

View through a window into Bistrot Bertha, showing tables, seated customers and a hanging chair.

‘It’s Papy hour!’: Bistrots bring new lease of life to French care homes

Outlets have opened in facilities throughout the country, from Flamanville (Manche) to Fontenay-sous-Bois (Val-de-Marne)

Stone gate in front of a traditional house with a garden and blue sky.

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

Learning French: when and why do we say j’peux pas, j’ai piscine?

We look at why people in France talk about swimming pools when saying they are unavailable to make plans

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

Five French novels to read this summer to improve your language skills

France’s rich literary heritage provides near endless pool of novels to choose from

Hands using a laptop with a language choice screen showing British and French flags.

Constantly translating French for all my friends is getting me down

Protecting your time and preserving your energy is not selfish, says columnist Cynthia Spillman

Couple move from Australia to the Somme to save the Lost Diggers house

A trove of World War One photographs was found in the house in Vignacourt

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

Bordeaux-based Briton is mistaken for famous actor

Author, Ian Ogilvie Forth, was invited to speak at a fundraiser - then realised he had been mistaken for TV star Ian Ogilvy

Woman on grassy riverbank pointing at a fish in clear shallow water

Guess the French phrase behind this photo clue...

Can you work out which idiomatic expression is depicted below?

English-speaking Alcoholics Anonymous in Paris: meetings, hotline and support

Learn how expats can access confidential help for alcoholism

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

Guess the French region with the help of this clue: devil in the detail

In which of France's 13 regions was this photo taken?

Recipe: Butter bean, Brie & crispy caper salad

A quick, flavour-packed salad recipe for a light lunch or summer meal

Why watching sports on TV is good for your French language skills

You may hear more and more anglicisms but there is plenty of opportunity to expand your French too

Military reenactors in brown uniforms and red berets stand at an outdoor camp

Meet the reenactment groups bringing history to life in France

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

Guess the French phrase behind this photo clue...

Can you work out which idiomatic expression is depicted below?

Magazine

Americans in France on being asked 'are you for Trump?'

Why you should not say le Jour de Bastille

Why does France's July 14 military parade split public opinion?

When and why do we say mettre des bâtons dans les roues?

Trending

Why France's 'Cathar castles' will no longer be called Cathar

Red heatwave alerts extended: Up to 41C forecast for millions in France

32 detained in France over suspected forest fire-starting

Live map: Where are wildfires in France today?

Drought map: tap water restrictions tighten in France

EES: 44,000 individuals refused entry to EU since launch

Where are the healthiest places to live in France?

Hauts-de-France locals flock to Belgian stores for cheaper fuel and tobacco

Orphaned lynx released into the wild in Jura to boost fragile population

Meet the Lidl supervisor who also runs a French village as mayor

Can France repeat Paris 2024 success at the Winter Olympics in 2030?

How running clubs help build community in France

Which French words are resisting English anglicisms in everyday language?

French TV series review: B.R.I (The Brigade) Season Two

France’s unsung sights are better than tourist traps

Megabyte error can cause mega embarrassment in France

Wine tourism in France: how oenotourisme has changed at French wineries

Five things they don’t tell you about wine tasting in France

How mispronouncing French words can lead to awkward situations

Speed cameras in France: life saving or just money-makers?

Artisan cheese of the month, plus Provence speciality soupe au pistou

How climate change is helping yuzu lemons grow in south-west France

French peaches, nectarines and brugnons: how to tell these summer fruits apart

How a British couple built a successful glamping and campsite business in rural France

Cost of living: France has lower rent and cheaper, tastier groceries

Recipe: whole baked Dover sole with blistered olives and tomatoes

Mangetout: the eel deal and revolutionary cakes

Radishes: crunch time on the menu

Mais où est donc Ornicar? Inside France’s strange and memorable school mnemonics

France’s heatwaves light up transatlantic debate on AC

Why are Tour de France cyclists called ‘runners’ in French?

Les Lunettes de Romans: the French biscuit treat that revives childhood memories

How to identify birdsong in France: robins, blackbirds, thrushes and tits

Buy and care for French antiques with confidence

Guess the French phrase behind this photo clue...

Baffled by the Tour de France rules? Read these four points

French music review: Boulevard de l’enfance by Gauvain Sers

Garden tips for July, from outdoor lounges to homes for rabbits

How to grow biennials: best flowers for a long-lasting cottage garden

What does une gamelle mean in French?

Bordeaux’s Cité du Vin marks 10th anniversary with visitor milestone

New digital scanner helps Sarthe and Maine hospitals refine cancer diagnoses

Heatwaves, holidays and keeping your pets safe this summer

French supermarkets accused of higher markups on organic fruit and vegetables

Jordan Bardella is unsuited to be French head of state

Can you really learn a language after 60?

July reading recommendations: three books about France in English

Things to see and do this month in Paris, Carcassonne, Rouen, Juan-les-Pins and Aveyron

Why an Irish lecturer stayed in France: life, work and challenges in Brittany

Rouler en chasse-patate and more Tour de France expressions

French cities split over ‘wild’ street greenery

Beer cheat, peeing, Donald Trump: six facts about the Tour de France

Explore a magical plant garden in Indre-et-Loire

British opera star nurtures young musicians with free programme in Lot

A visit to the mairie in Normandy that is smaller than a bedroom

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

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

Connexion readers recommend more French novels for summer

Why Babybel is proving a huge success in America

Power to the (shy) people: why citizen assemblies could replace career politicians

The origins and meaning of lever le coude

We moved to France from the US and here are the five emotional hurdles we faced

French beef is too tough and this is why

Six films to watch this July to improve your French

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

Your feedback on anti-mosquito products in France and tips

Guess the French region with the help of this clue: sunshine in the rain

‘It’s Papy hour!’: Bistrots bring new lease of life to French care homes

What do French buyers actually want in an old farmhouse?

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

Learning French: when and why do we say j’peux pas, j’ai piscine?

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

Five French novels to read this summer to improve your language skills

Constantly translating French for all my friends is getting me down