Magazine

Property watch: See what €50,000, €150,000 and over €1m buys in Haut-Rhin

The north-east department is known for its strong German influences

Letters: The French are not always above petty xenophobic jibes

Connexion readers argue that British 'insults' towards the French are made in goodwill

Photos: The secret wildlife hidden in French cities

Photographer Nicolas de Vaulx reveals the surprising urban habitats of France's diverse animal life

magazine

How a family embraced living on a bus in France

Kevin and Olivia Cadorne purchased an old bus, turned it into their home and set out to explore France with their three children

Letters: We have been without a GP or dentist for years in France

Connexion readers share their experiences of living in a 'medical desert'

Paris Nuit Blanche 2025: join in this weekend’s ‘all night’ free culture festival

Dozens of galleries, museums, and art spaces are holding events and tours

Letters: Walking in France is impossible due to hunters

Connexion reader says he has given up as it is 'just not worth the risk'

Tips on how to manage a French chateau - and how to get your own

Chateau owners Lionel and Claire Cherruault share their experience

How I became a ghostwriter after moving to France

Tracy Stewart, 58, a risk specialist, moved to France in 2014. Her life took an unexpected turn, leading her on a new career journey within the publishing industry

Learning French: can you guess the film behind these translated titles?

Paris' Nuit Blanche 2025 shines a spotlight on cinema – here we look at the some of the surprising choices for translations of film names

The best places to live in 2025 in France

According to the Ville de Rêve rankings – accounting for education, green spaces, living conditions and more

Interview: How we determine the right town for you in France

Ville de Rêve uses data to reveal the best places to live in France – its director Jérôme Devouge explains

Exploring Vienne's beautiful ancient towns: Chatellerault, Chauvigny and Montmorillon

Visit castles, admire medieval architecture, explore the local history, and uncover cultural gems

Vienne attracts tourists with theme parks, zoos and hot air balloons

There is no shortage of activities for adventure seekers, such as bungee jumping, rock climbing, and thrill rides

Poitiers: a pocket guide to Vienne's capital city

From transport links to educational excellence, find out about this historic city in west-central France

Comment: French passengers applaud the pilot for more than just relief

The tradition persists in France much to the bemusement of travellers from the UK and US

'You don't have to be a big guy to do it', says Brit who led France's dry stone wall renaissance

Cathie O'Neill, speaks about her love for the craft, its links with the UK, and how it has evolved in France

Killing wolves in France is ‘counterproductive’ amid livestock attacks, say experts

Wolf sightings are on the rise but the killing of these animals remains a divisive issue

'We founded a musical theatre for young people in France'

Juliana Rambaldi, 60, and her husband Victor Benedetti, 56, are both professional classical singers. They moved from Seattle with their two children in 2011 intending only to stay for a year…

Comment: US-style hen parties are one import Paris can do without

Columnist Nabila Ramdani is sceptical of a decadent new trend among American influencers

Did you know that Pope Leo XIV has several famous French relatives?

The new pontiff has significant family links to France, including to some well-known names

Has butter become a luxury in France?

Price rises set to continue as milk production falls

From baguettes to oysters: France's vending machine industry is booming

We test the automated food dispensers that are popping up in car parks and lay-bys around the country

'We cannot keep up with demand': French Savoie wines are thriving in the US

Once overlooked in France, the region's offerings are now popular with Americans

Comment: Leaders of France and Britain start to talk tough on immigration

Columnist Simon Heffer notes that public opinion appears to have shifted on both sides of the Channel

Learning French: How to introduce yourself to a stranger in France

Practise key phrases and vocabulary for meeting new people, in this practical French lesson from the Little Language School

Letters: French vehicle hire is a minefield

Readers share their mixed experiences with rental cars in France

Embrace the summertime blues in your French garden

Sarah Beattie loves a blue flower – here she provides tips for growing your own

We see his French family more than mine – does it matter?

Columnist Cynthia Spillman offers advice on how to split your time between your loved ones

A French ‘cop thriller’ film recommendation

The Connection starring Jean Dujardin and Gilles Lellouche is based on a true story

Letters: Our French neighbours feel standoffish

Reader says despite exchanging friendly greetings and Christmas gifts they have never shared an invite

Learning French: the origins and meaning of c’est le serpent qui se mord la queue

Use this phrase when you find yourself in a catch-22

Tourteau fromagé: The French delicacy known as 'the cheesecake of Poitou'

We speak to a tourteau specialist to learn about the history of this beloved French delicacy... and how to bake one

La Fête des Mères: 10 French expressions about mothers

'Mamie-gâteau', ‘mère courage’... we share some of our favourite mum-themed words and phrases

Letters: French driving tests are old fashioned and need updating

Reader notes that Canadian tests are strict in comparison

Two superb French gardens to explore - just five minutes apart

Meet two Open Gardens hosts in the Auvergne department whose stunning gardens are open to visitors on June 1 this year

Yvoire: photogenic lakeside gem in France

Overlooking Lake Léman, this former fishing community in Savoie is famous for medieval buildings and flower-lined streets

Learning French: Chapeau if you know these 10 clothing-themed phrases

Porter le chapeau, prendre une veste, lâcher les baskets, and more...

Letters: Readers share their tips on what to do with old baguettes

Including, baking, toasting, freezing and feeding to pigs

Why I love where I live... in north-west France

Roger Mew relocated from London to near Derval (Loire-Atlantique) in 2001 after he had to give up work

Why Madeleines have enduring appeal in France

The light, buttery, shell-shaped cakes that left their mark on French literature are traditional in many regions

How I became a life coach after moving to France

Discover how Patricia Brooks, 57, transformed her life by moving to France and starting a successful coaching business for aspiring expats.

‘Peach walls’ of Paris suburb offer glimpse of its horticultural past

Montreuil may not be the obvious place to house orchards of Mediterranean fruit, but it has supported a booming industry and an unlikely man-made microclimate for nearly 400 years

Cordes-sur-Ciel: The pretty French village in the clouds

A tour through time into the long history of one of southwest France’s earliest revolutionary bastide villages

Meet the French farmers with a 24-hour self-service boutique

The family farm near Chartres organises open days and offers guided tours

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

Food matches for French white wine

Jonathan Hesford shares his top tips for selecting the perfect dry white wine to accompany your menu

Food for thought: asparagus tips and an Art Nouveau brasserie in France

Peter Bear shares his experience of dining at The Excelsior in Nancy - a top spot for French foodies

Learning French: How to write a cheque in France

Practise spelling-out numbers in this practical French lesson from the Little Language School

Learning French: understanding three words originating from Marseille

Have you ever heard someone say tarpin, gâté or tanquer?

Letters: Readers share their experiences of taking the French driving test

Residents call the process 'time consuming', 'expensive' and 'stressful'

Letters: French abbreviations are not always what they seem

A reader recalls making an embarrassing mistake due to a mistranslation

Quiz: guess the 'names' of people who live in these French cities

Test your knowledge of gentilés around France

Letters: Rural residents in France face long waits for letters from La Poste

A reader tells The Connexion that some deliveries are taking up to 10 days

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

From lightsabers to hobby horses: five unusual sports in France

Embrace new and creative ways to keep fit

Guess the French phrase behind this photo clue...

Can you work out which idiomatic expression is depicted below?

Letters: Our French neighbours seem too distant

Connexion reader explains that despite going to lengths to get to know their new neighbours, most do not return the effort

Guess the French region with the help of this clue: Terror and terroir

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

Cassel: the small, charming village with a long, fascinating history in northern France

Discover the medieval history, Flemish influences, and Unesco carnival 'giants' of Cassel, voted France’s favourite village

Learning French: nouns that even native speakers commonly misgender

‘The struggle is real’, says our French writer Théophile Larcher - see if you can score higher than him in our mini quiz

Explore the Alpine village in France where winter is only just ending

The picturesque village of Bonneval-sur-Arc near the Italian border endures eight winter months out of twelve

Guess the French region with the help of this clue: No ordinary square

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

'I helped restore French cathedrals as a female American stone cutter - despite prejudice'

Stella Cheng, who worked on the restoration of Notre-Dame Cathedral, faced sexism and racism

Learning French: when and why do we say avoir le compas dans l'œil?

Say this to describe someone with good visual judgement of size or distance

Letters: Readers trade DIY tips for restoring French properties

Special innovations are often required for older buildings

Visit a Yorkshireman's French garden this May and June

‘I am organic to the core’ says the retired horticulturalist whose fine garden is not far from La Rochelle

'I built my own natural pool in France for only €8,000'

Alex Wells explains how she discovered the health benefits of water free from chemicals

Learning French: the origins and meaning of faire le mariole

Acting the goat or fooling around, we explore the French phrase to describe the class clown

Guess the French phrase behind this photo clue...

Can you work out which idiomatic expression is depicted below?

Thibault Tricole: France's darts revolution

Dubbed 'The French Touch', the player is transforming darts in France, from local clubs to national TV

Letters: Le Tour de France is more about big business than national identity

A reader takes issue with our columnist's view that the Tour De France reflects 'the state of France itself and its illusions of grandeur'

Learning French: what does à fond mean and when should it be used?

An enthusiastic and thorough adverb

Letters: Brexit voters in France cannot blame the Remain campaign

Connexion readers argue that those who regretted voting Leave should take responsibility for their choices

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

From La dictée to Les devoirs...

Magazine

Property watch: See what €50,000, €150,000 and over €1m buys in Haut-Rhin

Letters: The French are not always above petty xenophobic jibes

Photos: The secret wildlife hidden in French cities

How a family embraced living on a bus in France

Letters: We have been without a GP or dentist for years in France

Paris Nuit Blanche 2025: join in this weekend’s ‘all night’ free culture festival

Letters: Walking in France is impossible due to hunters

Tips on how to manage a French chateau - and how to get your own

How I became a ghostwriter after moving to France

Learning French: can you guess the film behind these translated titles?

The best places to live in 2025 in France

Interview: How we determine the right town for you in France

Exploring Vienne's beautiful ancient towns: Chatellerault, Chauvigny and Montmorillon

Vienne attracts tourists with theme parks, zoos and hot air balloons

Learning French: tips for speaking to a mechanic in France

From chicken-shaped cabins to alcoholic seafood soup: eight quirky facts about Vienne

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

Poitiers: a pocket guide to Vienne's capital city

Courtship or rivalry: experience avian mating season in France

How to cope with financial stress after moving to France

I am sick of having to justify my country’s politics to people in France

An ‘unmissable’ 800-year-old natural light display in France this month

Learning French: why do we say le vent d’autan rend fou?

Comment: French passengers applaud the pilot for more than just relief

'You don't have to be a big guy to do it', says Brit who led France's dry stone wall renaissance

Killing wolves in France is ‘counterproductive’ amid livestock attacks, say experts

'We founded a musical theatre for young people in France'

Comment: US-style hen parties are one import Paris can do without

Did you know that Pope Leo XIV has several famous French relatives?

Has butter become a luxury in France?

From baguettes to oysters: France's vending machine industry is booming

'We cannot keep up with demand': French Savoie wines are thriving in the US

Comment: Leaders of France and Britain start to talk tough on immigration

Learning French: How to introduce yourself to a stranger in France

Letters: French vehicle hire is a minefield

Embrace the summertime blues in your French garden

We see his French family more than mine – does it matter?

A French ‘cop thriller’ film recommendation

Letters: Our French neighbours feel standoffish

Learning French: the origins and meaning of c’est le serpent qui se mord la queue

Tourteau fromagé: The French delicacy known as 'the cheesecake of Poitou'

La Fête des Mères: 10 French expressions about mothers

Letters: French driving tests are old fashioned and need updating

Two superb French gardens to explore - just five minutes apart

Yvoire: photogenic lakeside gem in France

Learning French: Chapeau if you know these 10 clothing-themed phrases

Letters: Readers share their tips on what to do with old baguettes

Why I love where I live... in north-west France

Why Madeleines have enduring appeal in France

How I became a life coach after moving to France

‘Peach walls’ of Paris suburb offer glimpse of its horticultural past

Cordes-sur-Ciel: The pretty French village in the clouds

Meet the French farmers with a 24-hour self-service boutique

How the Scouting movement took off in France

Food matches for French white wine

Food for thought: asparagus tips and an Art Nouveau brasserie in France

Learning French: How to write a cheque in France

Learning French: understanding three words originating from Marseille

Letters: Readers share their experiences of taking the French driving test

Letters: French abbreviations are not always what they seem

Quiz: guess the 'names' of people who live in these French cities

Letters: Rural residents in France face long waits for letters from La Poste

French history heroine: the bearded businesswoman of Vosges

From lightsabers to hobby horses: five unusual sports in France

Guess the French phrase behind this photo clue...

Letters: Our French neighbours seem too distant

Guess the French region with the help of this clue: Terror and terroir

Cassel: the small, charming village with a long, fascinating history in northern France

Learning French: nouns that even native speakers commonly misgender

Explore the Alpine village in France where winter is only just ending

Guess the French region with the help of this clue: No ordinary square

'I helped restore French cathedrals as a female American stone cutter - despite prejudice'

Learning French: when and why do we say avoir le compas dans l'œil?

Letters: Readers trade DIY tips for restoring French properties

Visit a Yorkshireman's French garden this May and June

'I built my own natural pool in France for only €8,000'

Learning French: the origins and meaning of faire le mariole

Guess the French phrase behind this photo clue...

Thibault Tricole: France's darts revolution