Magazine

How one man built his dream cottage on a Brittany clifftop

Ambroise L’Hénoret tells the story of La Maison d’Ambroise, situated on a coastal path between Le Loc’h beach and Pors Loubous

Join the club: the American Club of Lyon

Connect with fellow US expatriates, celebrate American traditions, and integrate into French society – explore membership benefits and activities

Roadside sculptures: France's motorway art

Explore the history of the 1% artistique scheme that publicly funds artworks

magazine

Understanding enantiosemes: words with two, opposite, meanings

Un hôte, un crépuscule, un écran and more

Property watch: see what €50,000, €250,000 and over €1m buys in Savoie

With ski slopes and lakes, this area is an idyllic spot

Bidding, fees – and candles: property auctions in France explained

We look at the two main types utilised by buyers

Eye care in France: more hassle than it is worth

A visit to an ophthalmologist is required for prescription lenses

Three reading recommendations: books about France in English

Discover captivating French culture through books on cooking, history, and floral art

I became a published psychic medium after moving to France

Reader Claudia Amendola Alzraa, 37, explains how she found her calling

The origins and meaning of mettre la charrue avant les bœufs

A phrase for when someone gets ahead of themselves

Florent Pagny returns with new album and tour after cancer remission

Singer and The Voice star is back with 22nd album 'Grandeur Nature', following his lung cancer remission and vocal recovery

Film review: My Best Friend’s Girl

Discover the charm of Bertrand Blier's delightful romcom set in Courchevel – perfect for winter skiing holiday vibes

Which UK Celebrity Traitors star loves Nice and has a flat there?

An apartment overlooking the sea is a home-from-home for one popular contestant

Test your French knowledge: from Astérix inspiration to a famous Queen record cover

Do you know any of these quirky cultural connections?

Discover the five most iconic French songs everyone loves

From Charles Aznavour to Edith Piaf – find out which tunes made the list

Readers share their experiences of moving pets to France

Both took the difficult step of bringing their cats from the UK

Why embracing French culture means soup – and village apéros

Columnist Samantha David examines how the French put food at the heart of everything

The meaning of auto-tamponneuses and more fairground vocabulary

Language differences reveal unique perspectives on bumper cars

Are you a French wine geek, snob or quaffer?

We take a humorous look at the three main categories of wine consumers

Discover the unique flavours of French chestnuts and their culinary uses

Explore châtaignes and marrons, plus try a simple recipe for chocolate chestnut tart

Discover the iconic tarte Tropézienne, a French Riviera delight

The luxurious cake from Saint-Tropez is celebrating its 70th anniversary. Learn about its origins and celebrity connections

Recipe: French onion soup with Comté toasts

Featuring a rich broth and nutty, creamy-textured cheese, this is perfect for a comforting meal

French farmers need to adapt to the modern world - but we should too

Two Connexion readers eye the ongoing crisis in French agriculture

When and why do we say à faire pleurer dans les chaumières?

Use this phrase to describe a moving or tragic tale

Recipe: Raclette over roasted potatoes with garlic, shallots and rosemary

A delicious twist on a classic raclette – perfect for a comforting winter meal

France green news: Fishing rules, first hybrid building and pesticide risks

Discover a groundbreaking building in Rennes and more

Five French films and series to watch in November

Using stories and shows you are already familiar with can be a big help when learning French

How endangered Iberian ibex is thriving after French Pyrenees comeback

Species is booming after a successful reintroduction programme, enhancing biodiversity and ecosystem health

What to do when family or friends need help while you are in France

Assisting loved ones means setting boundaries, says columnist Cynthia Spillman

The decline of turtle doves and memories of summer birdwatching in France

The dramatic fall in turtle dove numbers due to Mediterranean hunting, plus discover the unique sounds of birds like the nightjar and bee-eater

My French garden: practicing patience with handkerchief trees

Find out how this flowering tree was discovered in China by a French priest

Savoir-faire savvy: the rise of business tourism in France

The expansion of behind-the-scenes tours at big businesses and artisan producers

French winter warmer recipes: tarte Tatin

A happy accident resulted in this classic French dessert

Contesting French speeding fines is a nightmare

Connexion reader describes his experiences with the courts

The meaning and origins of ‘staircase wit’

Explore the origin of the fascinating phrase 'L’esprit de l’escalier', and how this concept reflects a universal human experience

How Verteillac's mayor revived a French village through community engagement

Connexion meets Régis Defraye, a Dordogne mayor who has brought a dying village to life using collaboration and apolitical thinking

A tax system that serves the wealthy undermines French democracy

Connexion reader says it is not fair that ordinary people should face hardship

French gardening tips for November: bird feeders, potager tasks, and sustainable gifts

Seasonal advice to enhance your garden's beauty and productivity

Find out how to be polite – and where to party: tours offer enhanced travel experiences in France

Guides can help visitors immerse themselves and meet locals for a more authentic perspective

Step back in time for some ‘dinosaur’ planting in your French garden

Captivated in the garden this month by one species of plant that dates back 200 million years, and another which is one of the oldest flowering plant families on the planet

November events in France: art, history, and early festive magic

Explore the best cultural events, from John Singer Sargent's exhibition in Paris to festive celebrations at Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte

Interview: Gabriel Zucman on France’s ‘Zucman tax’

Economist says idea is not to make the rich pay more than the rest of the population but rather to ensure they cannot pay less

The spooky story behind on n'est pas sorti de l'auberge

There are two possible etymologies for this expression - and one involves an alleged mass murder and cannibalism

My French is not so good - but that is fine

Connexion reader notes that life is fine with only rudimentary language skills

French ‘Memory garden’ commits couple’s love and travels to stone

The project celebrates the boundless imagination of an extraordinary pair

Interview: Director of Gîtes de France evokes 'rediscovery' of rural dream

The rise of rival web platforms makes the organisation's mission more important than ever, says director Solange Escure

Reports of France’s death are greatly exaggerated

Columnist Nick Inman takes issue with the naysayers

What does lire dans le marc de café mean and when should it be used?

This useful expression draws a connection between coffee grounds and crystal balls

My husband is far too fussy with French food

Columnist Cynthia Spillman on how to encourage more adventure in culinary matters

Guess the French region with the help of this clue: chapel in the sea

In which of France's 13 regions was this photo taken?

Guess the French phrase behind this photo clue...

Can you work out which idiomatic expression is depicted below?

People must work until 66 by 2033 to save France's pension system

Think tank director Agnès Verdier-Molinié says that raising the retirement age further is in the interest of retirees

Guess the French region with the help of this clue: putting the tour in tourism

In which of France's 13 regions was this photo taken?

Adding ing does not make a phrase English

Many terms have been created using this misinformed technique

Erotic ‘bonkbusters’ do not exist in France - but they should

Columnist Sarah Henshaw argues the country would do well to embrace Jilly Cooper's oeuvre

I started playing netball again and made new friends after moving to France

Reader Michelle Bailey, 46, and her partner Paul Parrington moved from Lancashire, UK to Vasles, a village near Parthenay in Deux-Sèvres, in 2009

‘I want to share our gardens – to be able to help charities is wonderful’ says Charente gardener

The Connexion meets two friends whose contrasting gardens that are part of the Open Gardens scheme

Barn for conversion in French Alps on market for €278,000

Exterior dimensions and look must not be changed significantly

Lower back pain in France: how new apps can help relieve it

We take a look at two new services available to support sufferers

Macron plays Pontius Pilate on debt crisis

Columnist Simon Heffer eyes the French government's survival odds

I'm not confident enough with my language skills for French interviews

Columnist Cynthia Spillman advises a reader on how to get to grips with learning

Free public transport in France criticised by judges

At least 46 towns and cities have free buses

What does carré mean and when should it be used?

Being a little square now has connotations of efficiency and competence

November gardening: tips for the perfect 'hot bed'

Great advice for adding some fiery colour to your garden this autumn and beyond

Inside Coco Chanel’s avant-garde Riviera villa

Explore the unique design and history of Coco Chanel's Riviera villa, La Pausa, featuring innovative architecture and modern facilities that reflect her vision of luxury and functionality