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Best French communes to live in named in 2026 ranking?

Criteria include beauty, heritage, health, nature and accessibility by public transport

Renault Clio tops France’s new car sales in 2025 by a wide margin

Popular model widened its lead over rivals with sales far outstripping the Peugeot 208

Health mutuelles banned from raising rates in 2026 – what to do if yours does

Ban comes despite top-up providers warning that costs would rise again this year

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France finally passes 2026 budget - what it means for residents

Budget has measures to help homeowners and low earners but is more punitive to business and local authorities

French GPs angry at proposed fines over online paperwork

Law will see fines of up to €10,000 a year from 2028 if admin for the dossier médical partagé is not completed

‘No time to react’: mini-tornado damages homes in Gironde, west France

Violent weather rips off roofs and uproots trees. Around 300 properties impacted

Immigrants now make up 11.3% of France’s population, new figures show

2.6 million (33% of the immigrant population) had obtained citizenship

Unesco listing sought for French bistros and cafés

President Macron wants the establishments to be celebrated internationally

'Lunatic': proposed EU baggage rule will drive up prices in France, says Easyjet boss

If approved EU rule would give all airline passengers the right to an extra free cabin bag

Bergerac airport injects €30million a year into Dordogne

Holidays and weddings in the region accounted for much of the tourism

French justice minister supports freeze on immigration: who would be affected

Plan could halt dream of moving to France for tens of thousands, but how likely is it?

French senator backs foreign retirees refused citizenship over pension income

Refusals have been worded as due to income coming mostly from abroad

Why France’s EES border checks are increasing

Many more travellers are undergoing fingerprinting and facial scans

16 recent and upcoming changes in France you may have missed in January

Changes include a ban on chimney use, a rise in the minimum wage and increased medical fees

Ryanair boss warns French strikes will cause summer travel ‘mess’

We look at your rights if strikes do occur as predicted by the low-cost company

French farmers begin major protest in Strasbourg

More than 700 tractors expected to park outside EU Parliament in two-day protest

Prime Minister to force 2026 budget through without a vote

Use of controversial Article 49.3 opens government up to vote of no confidence but opposition MPs unlikely to find enough support

Homes evacuated and cars submerged as flash floods hit south of France

Alerts continue as schools and roads are closed. Several rivers have burst their banks

French weekly weather forecast January 19 - 23: colder and lots of rain

Flash flood alerts are in place on Monday January 19 in Corsica, Aude and Pyrénées-Orientales

‘Trustworthy’ media label idea from Macron causes political storm in France

Comments prompted fierce political backlash from right but government insists it was taken out of context

Banking fees in France: nearly €72 a year on average for low use in 2026

Account holders have seen fees increased at levels significantly above inflation

Brexit residency card renewals: 12 confusion points and solutions

We look at timing for applications, documents needed (and not needed) and what rights if card is delayed

Which internet provider is best for fixed and mobile coverage in France?

A recent study evaluated criteria including speed, uploads, latency, and streaming performance

Farmer protests in France: more blockades as ‘emergency law’ announced

Local union branches are protesting nationwide but unions are divided on next steps

France’s 2026 census begins: Who must do it and how?

Census is carried out each year but only some residents need to complete it. English-language assistance is available

French rail strike: no disruption to TGVs but local Occitanie and Paris routes impacted

Unions are calling on workers to walk out as negotiations with management begin

French farmer protests: renewed road blockades and demonstrations as Mercosur anger remains

Farmers from all unions are protesting, with new action including truck inspections at Le Havre port and on motorways

French doctor strike will intensify, warns union

GP activity nationwide was down 19% last week according to electronic healthcare data

Flu epidemic in France: how long will it last?

Hospitals remain under pressure although signs emerge that the peak may have passed

New night ski train boosts rail travel to French Alps resorts

Sleeper train leaves Paris Gare de Lyon on Friday evenings, arriving on Saturday morning

UK-EU talks raise hopes of easing post-Brexit rules for Britons in France

Several proposals and plans could ease some post-Brexit complications

Storm Goretti hits north France: 213km/h winds, 380,000 without power

Authorities warn of flying debris and train services throughout north disrupted

French ski resorts report excellent Christmas despite less snow than last year

Bookings are up and non-snow related activities are also on the rise

France farmer protests: 100 tractors in Paris, roadblocks remain elsewhere

Farmers continue to blockade a number of routes ahead of Mercosur vote on Friday

Red weather alert issued as Storm Goretti brings 140km/h winds to northern France

Trains in Normandy and Brittany cancelled and ferry services disrupted

Flights cancelled, A8 motorway closed as snow continues to fall across France

Up to 15cm of snow is expected in parts of the north

French tax payment due for nine million households. Will you get it?

Payouts average €600 and will soon be made directly to registered bank accounts

Snow causes transport havoc across France - more expected tonight

More than 1,000 kilometres of traffic jams were recorded in the Paris area. Some roads are closed and flights, buses and trains impacted, with six deaths recorded

French court hands out prison sentences and damages in Brigitte Macron cyberbullying cases

Ten people were found guilty over online comments claiming the president wife is a transexual woman and paedophile

French doctors begin 10-day strike: most GP surgeries expected to close

Patients needing care should turn to pharmacies, on-call doctors, or emergency wards

French weekly weather forecast January 5 - 9: bitter cold and snow

Up to 10cm of snow is due in Brittany and Normandy. Toulouse, Dordogne and the Pays Basque will also see flocons

France santé promises better GP access

The initiative aims to improve GP access and reduce wait times in medical deserts across the country.

Free fraud service for UK homeowners living in France

Owners can sign up for a free monitoring service from HM Land Registry to reduce risk of fraud

New civic tests for foreigners in France launch amid criticism

Applicants for some types of residency cards must now take 45-minute test

Trenitalia targets launch of London–Paris Channel Tunnel trains by 2029

Italian state rail company aims to be first to provide rival service to Eurostar after investment boost from American fund

Flights, ferries, trains: What's new in France in 2026

Changes include new transport links and operator changes for popular routes

Six good news stories from France in 2025

From revolutionary eye surgery and sporting successes, to successful fundraising for iconic French brands, the year was full of feel-good news

French farmer protests: union calls for ‘mass restart’ of action

January 7 is highlighted as day for key action - other unions are yet to commit

UK-France trains back after long night of delays to Eurostar and Le Shuttle

Power outage in the Channel Tunnel stopped all services for several hours

Power outage suspends all Eurostar and Eurotunnel travel

A power outage in the Channel Tunnel has caused mass disruption

New farmer blockade set up in south-west France, others continue

New protest action is at the Foix tunnel and impacts travel into the Pyrénées and January action announced at Cherbourg port

Excessive speeding in France can now result in jail sentence

Over 60,000 cases of excessive speeding were recorded last year

January 1 easyJet strike: French union calls for ‘zero take-offs’

Minority cabin crew union calls for one-day walkout over scheduling issues

'Remove traffic lights and road signs to encourage safer driving', says Louis Sarkozy

Son of former president says it would encourage 'more responsible' driving

Brigitte Bardot, global film star and tireless campaigner for animal rights, dies at the age of 91

She rose to international prominence in the 1950s and 1960s before leaving cinema at 39

More than a quarter of new car registrations in France are electric

EV sales hit new record in November 2025

French farmer protests: major A64 blockades lifted - others continue

Action is also continuing outside mairies and other public buildings in south-west

Over one million in France miss out on flight delay compensation

Growing trend of airlines trying to avoid paying out, research finds

French villages become living Advent calendars with different doors opening each day to give out treats

Local residents each choose a date in December, decorate their door or window and then on the day, open up and hand out hot drinks and edible treats to everyone outside