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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

Small drop in percentage of French visa applications being declined

Roughly one in every six visa requests refused in 2024

Tourist dies and several injured as Storm Benjamin batters France

The father was swept away while swimming with his children in a river in Corsica

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Tour de France 2026 route revealed - does it pass near you?

Both the men’s and women’s races will begin outside of France

Most French departments on alert as Storm Benjamin arrives

One reported dead and several injured due to river flooding and gales as 140,000 homes lose power

Two thirds of people polled say they struggle with online French admin

The problem has worsened in the past 10 years as more and more services ‘go digital’, finds study

Storm alert: winds up to 130 km/h to hit France

Heavy rain and high waves will touch the north and west of the country

Video: Tornado near Paris leaves one dead and four people badly injured

Three construction cranes fell on homes and health facility

Reader wins €1,600 refund over French social charges and UK pension

Couple do not know reason for what they describe as a 'u-turn'

Long waits reported elsewhere but France limits EES to two hours a day

The French approach has been to start low key and without ‘travel questions’

Ryanair summer services between UK and Béziers return

Flights to London, Bristol, Manchester and others can be booked

French weekly weather forecast: lots of rain and some storms

Temperature, however, will rise to be significantly higher than seasonal averages

Why hundreds of thousands of number plates in France are turning pink

New government measures target temporary plates

French PM survives two votes of no confidence

The far-left motion came very close to toppling the government

French flights worst in Europe for delays

Air traffic controllers in France are responsible for almost a third of flight delays, says European air traffic management body

Most departments in France using private unmarked radar cars, more to follow this month

Vehicles are switched frequently between areas

Calais to start EES digital border checks from October 12

The port will gradually increase its use of the new system in the first months

Why you may still have mosquitoes in your French home… in autumn and winter

Record number of native cases of the mosquito-borne disease Chikungunya were recorded in France this year

French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu resigns after record-short stint in office

The new cabinet announced by Sébastien Lecornu over the weekend faced widespread criticism

French weekly weather forecast October 6 - 10: calm conditions, above average temperatures

Rain is not expected but there will be periods of cloud coverage mainly in north

French air traffic control strike called off, Ryanair reinstates flights

Low-cost airline boss asks European Commission to reform sector, calling its president Ursula ‘von Derlayed-Again’

EV grants, low-emission zones, winter tyres: seven French driving updates for October

Including EV leasing returns, recalls, malus changes, and winter tyre rules

French PM promises not to force through 2026 budget, urges compromise

Sébastien Lecornu outlining budget approach in first televised address

French weekend weather forecast October 4-5: 5C temperature drop

Strong winds and rain from powerful storm from UK will touch the north

Lower turnout for second day of strikes in France but anger remains

Up to 350,000 people will join union demonstrations today, estimates the Interior Ministry, but only around 85,000 were on streets at midday

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

October 2 strikes in France: what action to expect

Transport and education sectors set to be the most impacted

French property renovation grant system reopens in reduced form

Rules are tightened for MaPrimeRénov’ scheme that offers funds for eco-renovations

France launches winter 2025–2026 flu and Covid vaccination campaign

Millions are given free voucher for flu injections - or you can pay independently

Simplification of French visa process in the pipeline

More 'digitalisation' expected for UK applications as some US applicants now benefit from postal option

Photos: rare fallstreak cloud spotted in skies over southern France

A passing plane is thought to have caused the spectacular phenomena

French weekly weather forecast September 29 - October 3: Dry and chilly

Temperatures will drop over the week in most areas

French firm Virbac launches first medicated kibble to treat kidney disease in cats

Pet owners often struggle to make their pet swallow medicine

UK probes French charges on government pensions

Some French tax offices may have wrongly applied social charges on UK government service pensions, despite international rules that normally exempt them.

French weekend weather forecast September 26-28: cold mornings, clear skies and a warmer Sunday

Increasingly settled weather is to reach most areas over the weekend

How the Entry/Exit System affects French borders

EES rollout started on October 12: we explain how kiosks and tablets work and which sites use them

French police issue national alert over abduction of girl, 12, from Orne

Police are searching for 34-year old man they believe responsible for kidnapping

Graph: See how Covid-19 cases are rising in France

Hospital visits for suspected cases are up 37%

Interview: British couple ordered to leave France due to bad year at work

Couple have invested at least €300,000 in home, wood cabin gîte and farm in Dordogne

Roadside police checks increase in southern France to combat accident rate

Police can ask drivers to pull over to confirm documents or check they are driving safely

French unions call for new round of strike action on October 2

Disruption is again expected in travel, health, and education sectors

French nationality and residency cards: start date confirmed for tougher tests

Card changes relate mainly to newcomers invited to local Ofii offices for French test

France’s A9 motorway to be blockaded this weekend as farmers protest

The blockade will be part of a major day of action

Nice airport: near collision between easyJet and Nouvelair planes on runway

Planes were just metres away from serious crash - inquiry opened

Flash floods hit Brittany and south - one dead

Woman dies as car swept away and streets in south submerged by torrential rain

France set to require amateur sea fishers to declare key catches

Recreational fishers who go into set zones in a boat would need to register specific catches in bid to protect fish numbers

SFR sale may affect millions in France

Telecoms provider has lost nearly one million customers since summer 2023

Heritage Days in France: ideas for visits this weekend plus photos

Over 2,000 sites are set to welcome visitors for free on September 20 and 21

Budget could cut tax reduction for parents of secondary school children in France

Proponents propose a current tax break should instead be channelled into grants

Ryanair new boarding pass requirements: French flights impacted

Airline will no longer accept physical boarding passes on most flights from November 3

French unions issue ‘ultimatum’: new strikes expected

Separate action has already been called by pharmacists, air traffic controllers and teachers in coming weeks

French weekend weather forecast September 20 - 21: storms return but temperatures stay high

Thunderstorms are expected to be violent on Sunday

Pioneering French surgery restores sight to man using part of his tooth

Revolutionary operation allows people to regain most of their vision after their cornea is damaged

Roads blocked, trains disrupted: September 18 strike latest

Up to 90,000 police deployed in largest operation since gilets jaunes

France’s egg consumption soars leading to shortages

Supply of French-origin eggs is struggling to keep up with demand

Self-employed workers in France: new proposals on VAT thresholds

Plans in draft 2026 budget would affect retailers amongst others

‘Black day for travel’: French strikes on September 18 set to bring widespread disruption

Unions and parties on left are calling for massive turnout from workers across multiple sectors

French farmers call for major protest day: key details and impact

Demonstrators expected to target supermarkets and prefectures

More French communes levy additional tax charge on second homes

Over 650 communes voted for the maximum permitted charge

French prefecture threatens to suspend licences for using phone when driving

Motorists could be without licence for up to six months. A trial period next month will decide on course of action

French weekly weather forecast September 15 - 19: A return to summer?

Plenty of sunshine and temperatures of 30C and above in the south-west bring a late summer bloom

New road signs drivers in France should be aware of

Free-flow motorways, level crossings, and ‘stopover villages’ all affected

French weekend weather forecast September 13-14: Rain for most areas

Summery conditions will only be present in the south on Sunday

Air France rolls out free on-board WiFi service

All planes should have technology by end of next year

Will ‘Bloquons tout’ protests continue in France?

Around 200,000 took part in action on September 10 according to official figures

Carrefour store found guilty of presenting foreign fresh produce as French

Widespread checks in 2024 found many shops fall foul of general commerce rules

Roadblocks, protests, arrests: Update on Bloquons Tout actions around France

Strike action is so far not causing the threatened mass disruption everywhere

Meet Sébastien Lecornu, France’s new prime minister

Macron’s close ally has been perennial cabinet figure but inherits political chaos of predecessors

French hunting season 2025-2026 dates by department and species

Organised hunts are set locally and Sundays tend to be the busiest day

French prime minister toppled after vote of no confidence

François Bayrou must resign after 364 MPs went against his government in critical vote

‘Block everything’: France braces for ‘shutdown’ protest on September 10

Major protests are planned in cities and towns across France

France looks to digitalise traffic fines

Online platform set to simplify administrative procedures and end the problem of fines getting lost in the post

More retirees turned down for French citizenship over foreign income tell their stories

A growing number of readers report refusals after minister's prefecture letter called for tougher attitude

When does EES start for Eurotunnel and how will it work?

We look at how lanes and pre-registration booths are being organised

Taxe foncière bills - why many French communes are not raising rates this year

Less than 13% of communes have implemented additional increases