Letters and comment

A worried woman sits at a wooden desk with a laptop, papers and a mug in a home office.

I had to go on a six-hour Uber ride to collect my 10-year renewal card

Online renewal wasn’t an option for one reader who doesn’t drive

Laundry hangs from a Mediterranean balcony beneath a bright blue sky.

Banning air drying laundry on balconies: a tale of two sides

Our readers offer their opinions on the contentious issue

‘I am beyond disgusted’: Readers react to French ‘riot tax’

Many question why policyholders should foot the bill for damage caused by rioters

letters

French riots are so far away from the France I know

October 17 protests leave reader feeling alienated

Remembering the sacrifices of war in Normandy

Living in France brings one resident closer to where her father fought in 1944

Is it true that it is hard to find good pillows in France?

Readers share their experiences of comfort, quality and where to find the best options

Do French energy ratings overlook natural features of older homes?

Reader questions whether energy assessments are effective for older homes and technology

EU '90-day rule' forces second-home owners to choose between France and Schengen

Reader highlights how efforts to integrate into French communities can limit other travel opportunities

Why UK plumbing and electrics may not be suitable for France

A reader says that using French standards is essential for safety

Standards have gone down at Brittany Ferries

This reader is disappointed with the lack of effort from the company

Plumber on the kitchen floor repairing pipes beneath a sink unit

It's a recipe for disaster to use British plumbing fittings in France

Reader says people should aim to conform to French standards

Readers share memories of Barfleur ferry

They recall decades of crossings and express disappointment at the early closure

US postal votes from France are possible – with perseverance

Reader says US voters in France can successfully mail their ballots

People sitting at a garden table outdoors during a meal, with one man scratching his neck.

Readers reveal their funniest French language blunders

Mispronunciations and misunderstandings are almost inevitable

Case against Normandy Juno Beach turbines is 'spurious'

Reader provides some context amid the debate

France’s Nutri-Score makes a farce of healthy eating

The system was introduced in 2017 to help shoppers improve their diets

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

The UK's Brexit negotiators were arrogant - not Barnier

'The EU has become stronger as a result of the UK’s exit,' says reader

Laundry hangs from windows on a patterned apartment facade in Porto, Portugal.

French town's ban on drying laundry outside is nonsense

Drying outside saves energy - and avoids damp air inside

September is such a relief after France's hectic summer

The holidays and social engagements give way to peace and quiet

Diverse students in school uniforms walking together across a school courtyard.

School uniforms would bring only limited benefits in France

History professor Christine Mussard explains why the idea of mandatory school uniforms is so divisive

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

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

Windmill,Park.,Offshore,Wind,Turbines,Farm,On,The,Ocean.,Sustainable

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

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

Reading up on rules will improve your driving in France

Reader says studying the Code de la route will also improve language levels

Close-up of a France Schengen visa sticker in a passport.

Ups and downs of visa applications in France

Readers share their experiences and advice

Metal tap dripping water with a blurred background.

French plumbing fittings are more expensive

They can cost twice as much as UK equivalents, reader says

Should the EU copy New Zealand for an easier EES?

Reader says the New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority works better

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

Reader says our columnist got it wrong on DIY – he disagrees

Confused,And,Surprised,Young,Professional,Woman,In,A,Tense,Discussion

Think spoken French is hard? Try understanding English

Reader says we should remember few people anywhere talk slowly and with perfect grammar

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

The Tour is an iconic part of French culture able to entrance fans of all ages – as well as first-time spectators

Why many old French houses stay cool without air conditioning

Columnist Samantha David considers the advantages of traditional homes

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

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

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

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