Letters and comment

A view of a Ryanair plane at Limoges airport

Ryanair does not owe customers going to and from France any favours

Company must take more than passenger wants into consideration

Assorted raw beef cuts on a tray with a label for bourguignon stew.

French meat is actually of superb quality

This reader is surprised by others' experiences

Close-up of the Eiffel Tower’s iron lattice, arches, columns and lamps against a pale sky.

Female representation in France needs to progress quicker

Columnist Nick Inman argues that it is time to rectify the imbalance

letters

Navigating La Rentrée: My daughter’s first week of school in France

From stationery lists to school insurance, there is a lot to learn about the French school system

D-Day beach: turbines 'forever change nature and atmosphere'

Site significantly impacted by the installation of a large commercial wind farm, says reader

Bikes on trains can be a hard slog in France

A reader writes of their mixed experiences

Hand drawing a red line between the UK and EU

Brexit was about sovereignty, not economic gain

Readers debate the legacy of the split

In times of crisis France always turns to de Gaulle

Columnist Simon Heffer considers the success of a new film on the wartime figurehead

Attacks on Macron's jet-skiing holiday are utterly absurd

Photos of the president in his trunks cause media storm

Runners at a Paris race aid station drinking water and being handed refills.

Why nowhere does water quite like France

From fountains to spas, water shapes everyday French life

Readers share their frustration over US-France postal problems

They describe refused letters, returned parcels and conflicting advice from local post offices

Hand signing a legal document, another hand pointing to where person needs to sign

Readers respond to France's inheritance law update

One reader warns that officials may still find loopholes

Here's why I gave up eating French beef

Reader weighs in on debate over meat's toughness

French meat is often too tough

Readers say supermarket beef is particularly disappointing

Should the EU copy New Zealand for an easier EES?

Reader says the New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority works better

Pine marten standing on a mossy rock in a grassy Scottish landscape.

Our strange encounter with a French pine marten

A reader describes troubling antics of a garden visitor

Thick smoke and flames rise from a hillside fire with trees and power lines in the foreground.

Wanting to help French firefighters is laudable - but counterproductive

Reader says amateur firefighting can hinder rescue efforts

Why does produce taste so much better in France?

Behind this oft-repeated observation lies differing food production, higher standards and even a few outdated stereotypes

It is intolerable that some people in France side with Russia

Readers respond to Simon Heffer's opinion piece

France players celebrate around the FIFA World Cup trophy on a confetti-covered pitch in Moscow.

World Cup failure is so much worse for England than France

Sporting success provides a rare chance for genuine unity

Michel Barnier speaking at a European Parliament committee meeting in Brussels, with an EU flag in the background.

EU lost in the ‘art of the deal’ over Brexit

Keeping the UK as a member was in the EU's interests

Barnier deserves better than Brexit insults

Reader believes EU negotiator was dealt tough hand and lacks so-called 'arrogance'

Lack of mobile phone makes banking in France too difficult

Reader queries why banks send SMS codes instead of using other alternatives

Michel Barnier was too arrogant like all at EU

Reader says EU chief scuppered last chance for UK to remain in bloc

French paperwork is at times worthy of a Kafka novel

Reader is struggling to update address on residency card

France street lighting debate: safety concerns vs light pollution

Many communes turn their street lights off at night

Readers reveal what worked to stop ants invading their homes

Practical suggestions from readers after this summer's surge in household ant invasions

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

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

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

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

Crowd of protesters holding banners and flags during a march on a city street.

International students 'very scared' after France slashes housing aid

The Aide Personnalisée au Logement is no longer available to many non-EU students

Speed camera box beside a road as a blurred car drives past

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

Readers debate the usefulness of radar traps

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

Readers compare France to the UK, US and Canada

France’s heatwaves light up transatlantic debate on AC

This year has seen temperatures rising over 40C

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

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

French beef is too tough and this is why

Former superstore manager also says some cuts are unavailable in France

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

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

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

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

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

Updated: your experiences of Brexit card renewal by prefecture

Périgueux and Limoges offer ‘faultless service’

Close-up of a four-nozzle petrol pump at a service station that dispenses B10 Diesel (yellow), B7 Diesel (orange), E85 'super ethanol' (blue) and E10 petrol (green).

Ethanol swap was great for me in France

Reader is 'chuffed to bits with the conversion'

Why the French phrase ‘je vous écoute’ opens doors

President Macron recently called on a disruptive audience to listen better while attending a conference in Kenya

Two people laughing and holding a drink on a sofa in France.

How slowing down makes you love life in France

Columnist Cynthia Spillman examines the surprising benefits of taking it easy

A view of Macron (left), Bardella (centre) and Mélenchon (right)

The battle between old and new France is now impossible to ignore

Columnist Nabila Ramdani argues that the colonial mindset is still very strong in a country looking to the past

France’s speed cameras are infuriating – and that’s why they keep getting vandalised

Columnist Samantha David says the devices seem designed to catch drivers out

Painted portrait of a royal figure in elaborate dress holding a sword in an ornate interior.

Reinstating the French monarchy makes no sense at all

Columnist Nick Inman argues against a right-wing delusion

Large crowd dancing in Paris with rainbow flags and a decorated float in the background.

France falls short on LGBTQ+ inclusion despite victories

France celebrates le Mois des fiertés (Pride Month) in June

Drivers' anger is a powder keg in France

Sociologist says drivers are being pushed too far

Crowds and photographers at the Cannes red carpet for 'Ismael's Ghosts' screening

France’s film industry cannot survive without the capitalist it despises

Columnist Simon Heffer considers the revolt against Vincent Bolloré

Passport being handed over an approved application with EU flag on desk

New rules are confusing for UK passport renewals in France

Reader describes excessive bureaucracy when it comes to travelling to UK as dual national

Spoken French is harder to understand than other languages

Reader notes that French has many peculiarities

Mbappé–Bardella clash highlights France's identity divide

Discussions risk becoming less political and more personal, says think tank leader

Orange office building next to close-up of glowing fibre optic cables

Orange does not take France's fibre network seriously

Reader is not impressed with the company's service

Pellet stoves in France: are they worth it? Real user experiences compared

The stoves can prove surprisingly complex

Updated: We should all be able to vote in France

Readers argue that their contribution to society justifies their right to take part

Updated: French passport queue rules not being applied consistently

French residency card holders share their passport queue experiences

Why French astronauts don’t get the same hero treatment as in the US or UK

The first female French astronaut was met with a rather muted reception at home

The problem of neighbours feeding your cat in France – and why it happens

Spoiling someone else’s pet is better than abandoning their own, says columnist Samantha David

Princess photoshoot does not guarantee French far right a fairytale ending

Columnist Nabila Ramdani examines the cynicism of spin doctors

Running a gîte in France: why being on site matters for success

A reader argues that having a presence brings better feedback and satisfaction

Motorway with lorries entering tunnels by a rocky hillside near the France border sign.

Why driving in France can cost more than in the UK

A reader writes about his driving experiences in both UK and France

Centre-right's candidate is a poor copy of French far-right leader

Columnist Simon Heffer is not impressed by Bruno Retailleau - the candidate of Les Républicains for next year’s presidential election

France's concrete road barriers are safer than metal ones

Concrete barriers are thought to be more durable in the event of an impact

Learn to love the complexities of the French language

Reader argues that weird spellings and homophones are part of the soul of a living language

Dordogne bin collection: non-recyclable waste limits need a rethink

Reader says that the limits should not be on frequency but rather on volume

Manvieux;,France,-,July,18,2017,:,The,City,Hall

France's mairies are both a help and a hindrance

Two readers express their views on local government

Can you help? Mairie in Normandy is looking for missing British couple

Owners of French property have not been seen for a decade

France,,1,July,2024:,Red,Car,Driving,On,A,Countryside

My car broke down - and the reality of life in rural France hit me hard

Columnist Samantha David laments a lack of understanding about travel challenges in rural France

Letters and comment

Ryanair does not owe customers going to and from France any favours

French meat is actually of superb quality

Female representation in France needs to progress quicker

Navigating La Rentrée: My daughter’s first week of school in France

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French fishers unite against invasive American blue crab

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Storms and gales of up to 100km/h in France as heatwave alerts to end

Will tighter EES border checks cause long queues?

Thieves break into Renoir museum near Nice, steal paintings worth €9 million

French meat is actually of superb quality

D-Day beach: turbines 'forever change nature and atmosphere'

Bikes on trains can be a hard slog in France

Brexit was about sovereignty, not economic gain

In times of crisis France always turns to de Gaulle

Attacks on Macron's jet-skiing holiday are utterly absurd

Why nowhere does water quite like France

Readers share their frustration over US-France postal problems

Readers respond to France's inheritance law update

Here's why I gave up eating French beef

French meat is often too tough

Reading up on rules will improve your driving in France

Ups and downs of visa applications in France

French plumbing fittings are more expensive

Should the EU copy New Zealand for an easier EES?

Don't try to fit British plumbing parts in French homes

Think spoken French is hard? Try understanding English

I watched the iconic Tour de France and cycled part of it myself

Why many old French houses stay cool without air conditioning

Brexit did not help Britain or France - despite what 'leavers' say

Our strange encounter with a French pine marten

Wanting to help French firefighters is laudable - but counterproductive

Why does produce taste so much better in France?

It is intolerable that some people in France side with Russia

World Cup failure is so much worse for England than France

EU lost in the ‘art of the deal’ over Brexit

Barnier deserves better than Brexit insults

Lack of mobile phone makes banking in France too difficult

Michel Barnier was too arrogant like all at EU

French paperwork is at times worthy of a Kafka novel

France street lighting debate: safety concerns vs light pollution

Readers reveal what worked to stop ants invading their homes

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

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

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

France’s unsung sights are better than tourist traps

International students 'very scared' after France slashes housing aid

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

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

France’s heatwaves light up transatlantic debate on AC

Jordan Bardella is unsuited to be French head of state

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

French beef is too tough and this is why

Your feedback on anti-mosquito products in France and tips

What do French buyers actually want in an old farmhouse?

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

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

France’s healthcare paradox: too few doctors, too many treatments

France should not fall for Kremlin propaganda

France's reckoning over child protection is long overdue

Updated: your experiences of Brexit card renewal by prefecture

Ethanol swap was great for me in France

Why the French phrase ‘je vous écoute’ opens doors

How slowing down makes you love life in France

The battle between old and new France is now impossible to ignore

France’s speed cameras are infuriating – and that’s why they keep getting vandalised

Reinstating the French monarchy makes no sense at all

France falls short on LGBTQ+ inclusion despite victories

Drivers' anger is a powder keg in France

France’s film industry cannot survive without the capitalist it despises

New rules are confusing for UK passport renewals in France

Spoken French is harder to understand than other languages

Mbappé–Bardella clash highlights France's identity divide

Orange does not take France's fibre network seriously

Pellet stoves in France: are they worth it? Real user experiences compared

Updated: We should all be able to vote in France

Updated: French passport queue rules not being applied consistently