‘Ponds in rural France are beautifully maintained but no longer used’ Columnist Peter Wyeth laments that these large, impressive sites, once the fresh-aired setting for family picnics, barbecues and fun, now fail to attract people
Do you agree? Paris politicians ignore rural France at their peril Rural voters are looking for leaders outside the Paris bubble who will protect village life, says columnist Nick Inman
€20,000 houses, rural French lifestyle: why buy in Haute-Marne? Charles de Gaule bought a run-down farmhouse in this north-eastern department that remains intensely rural today Why the new road names in France and who is affected? ‘Clothes cabins’, checks on older people: La Poste is diversifying New law to stop ‘townie’ complaints over French farm smells and noises
Orange to offer French satellite internet service ‘to rival Starlink’ It will be aimed mainly at people living in remote areas who cannot otherwise access high-speed internet. Rates will be €49.99 a month
Call for action over disappearance of rural footpaths in France Campaigners say the paths are part of France’s heritage but are are at risk from farmers, residents and developers
Who is responsible for septic tank in rented French home? Landlords should provide tenants with all technical documents required when renting out a property
Second home anger, hamlet for sale, scams: 5 French property updates Plus, why more people are moving afloat and how to insure your property against bed bugs
UK couple living in remote French barn guided through birth on call First-aid workers had to give instructions to the father in English while a helicopter was on its way as he is reported to not speak any French
French video game in watercolour plays like a love letter to Dordogne A new video game set in south west France and featuring hand-drawn watercolours of the area is proving a hit with residents and tourists
Rural France will suffer most from ‘no new-build’ policy, warn mayors Elected officials lay out why the building ban on undeveloped land will punish small towns and villages
France plans 100 medical buses to improve rural access to healthcare The buses have everything onboard needed to offer the same service as a typical doctor’s surgery
Explainer: the rules around septic tanks in rural France ‘Fosses septiques’ are an unavoidable part of life for one in five French residents
We prefer no phone masts in our unspoilt French valley – and no signal Villagers say they will continue to oppose masts in the Alpine beauty spot and use walkie-talkies instead Millions of French homes cannot access high-speed internet, says study New French law will tackle ‘phoney’ rural noise complaints Grants up to €80,000 available to open shops in rural France
Anti-Airbnb bill, drought damage: Five French property updates We also look at what is stopping people from making their homes more energy efficient, why the idea of a Covid ‘exodus’ from cities to the countryside is false and more Explainer: France’s ZRR schemes and how they benefit rural communities Vending machines prove booming French market for producers and buyers Remote French village reinvigorated by women farmers and Basque pigs Lyon, Nantes, Bordeaux, Toulouse: Where do people move to from Paris? LGBT people in rural France can ‘feel alone’ says Pride organiser
Grants to access wireless broadband to double to €300 in France The aid, which is currently €150, is especially targeted at rural areas and is to help home and businesses with equipment and installation
Internet in rural France: New study shows how bad it really can be Mobile speeds can be 66% lower than in urban areas, a consumer study has shown, with some speeds ‘barely minimum for accessing basic services’
Pesticides near rural homes: French farmers protest over limits The protests began in Paris early this morning. Farmers claim the latest decision on pesticide spreading from France’s highest administrative court will threaten their livelihood
French countryside better connected to fibre internet than cities New figures suggest that the rollout of fibre optic internet has been faster in rural areas, with medium-dense areas getting left behind
Rural France: Success for mobile vans offering crucial services Fleets of mobile fruit and veg sellers, dog groomers and doctors are becoming increasingly common in France, as entrepreneurs flock to remote and rural areas
Prime minister to reveal 171 ideas to improve life in rural France The €8.4billion plans include improving access to public services, supporting village cafes and shops, and reducing delinquency
Property prices in rural France outperforming cities for first time The pandemic and the trend towards working from home are affecting house prices in unprecedented ways according to findings by a leading property website