Magazine

Learning French: the origins and meaning of faire le mariole

Acting the goat or fooling around, we explore the French phrase to describe the class clown

Letters: Le Tour de France is more about big business than national identity

A reader takes issue with our columnist's view that the Tour De France reflects 'the state of France itself and its illusions of grandeur'

Five things they don't tell you about… schools in France

From La dictée to Les devoirs...

magazine

Letters: Brexit voters in France cannot blame the Remain campaign

Connexion readers argue that those who regretted voting Leave should take responsibility for their choices

Learning French: what does à fond mean and when should it be used?

An enthusiastic and thorough adverb

Vernet-les-Bains: France's only flourishing 'Village d’Arboretum'

Explore exotic trees, walking routes and local legends in this unique corner of the Pyrénees-Orientales

Recipe: chickpea salade niçoise

Hearty potatoes, seasoned chickpeas, colourful vegetables, and crispy lettuce... a taste of the South of France

French property: See what €50,000, €150,000 and over €2m buys in Bas-Rhin

This small department on the German border is home to the historic city of Strasbourg

Acronyms explained: What is France's RATP?

We also look at other key French transport acronyms: SNCF, TER and TGV

Recipe: vanilla, rum, and orange zest cannelés

Japanese pastry chef Mori Yoshida creates refined cakes and desserts, some in the classic French style, others with a unique flourish or twist

'I moved to France and became an estate agent for luxury homes'

Former probation officier and mum-of-three Leila Bodross, 44, now sells premium properties on the Bretagne coast

Learning French: the origins and meaning of être dans la force de l’âge

A saying to describe being in the prime of life

Letters: Visas are so much trouble that we will not visit our second home in France

Connexion readers share frustrating visa challenges to access their French properties

Career change in France: from plastics to creative recycling

Bob Hope explains his decision to leave a job in the chemicals industry to breathe new life into everyday objects

'My French property is overwhelming me and I may leave'

Columnist Cynthia Spillman advises a reader whose French dream has turned sour

Comment: French rugby offers a community like no other

Columnist Sarah Henshaw tells how her small-town club in rural Nièvre welcomes newcomers and with an unmistakable sense of belonging

Comment: French solidarity is the antidote we need against ‘Thumpism’

Columnist Nick Inman argues that community cohesion is now more important than ever

Letters: End of BBC Sounds is too cruel for listeners in France

Connexion readers say putting the service behind a paywall would be a better option

Spring reading recommendations: books about France in English

A heartwarming autobiography, an intriguing war story, and a cookbook of delicious French recipes...

How to cope with a break-up while living in France

Columnist Cynthia Spillman gives her advice on how to avoid feeling isolated and get on with your life

Learning French: when and why do we say qui se ressemble s’assemble?

This rhyming expression is all about highlighting similarities between people

Comment: How caring for my cats taught me neighbourly etiquette in France

Columnist Samantha David discovers the delicate balance of gratitude and friendship when asking for help from neighbours

Spelling and pronunciation make odd bedfellows in English as in French

Here are some tips to navigate common quirks

Quoi de neuf? Products, designs and ideas from around France

Discover this month's new French products including urban shoes, eco-friendly bags and stylish trays

Five things you may not know about florists in France

They still play a unique role in French village life and many act as parcel delivery hubs

'I don't want my sister to move to my French town'

Columnist Cynthia Spillman offers advice to a reader who is worried her sister may disrupt her dream life in France

Did you know? Marrying a dead person is possible in France

Posthumous marriage is permitted in a unique legal arrangement

Comment: France needs to rethink Le Pen's ban from political office

Columnist Simon Heffer says the court decision looks too much like a political hit job

Guess the French region with the help of this clue: A grave situation

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

Comment: Anti-French bravado is an embarrassing British anachronism

Columnist Nabila Ramdani notes that the xenophobic jibes now only appear to go one way

Why your accent should not hold you back when speaking French

Columnist Nick Inman notes that some French people are harsh judges of foreign speakers

'My language skills mean I am just not funny in French'

Columnist Cynthia Spillman gives advice on how to convey your humour while learning French

Letters: France's threatened birds must be treated with respect

Reader says it is wrong to make light of swallows at a time when nature is under huge pressure

‘We have never been so close’: Why France may soon legalise assisted dying

Anne Raynaud, from the Association for the Right to Die in Dignity, says that France is behind other countries - but change may be coming

Learning French: what does sacquer mean and when should it be used?

You may be able to guess one of the meanings behind this informal term that sounds just like an English equivalent

An alternative to potatoes: 'My favourite aspect of salsify is its texture'

Laura Washburn Hutton explains how to prepare this delicious seasonal plant

Letters: France's wasteful healthcare system needs a rethink

Reader says it would not be fair to ask people to pay more based on their age

Flowers to flaunt: blooms for cutting from your French garden

Learn about Cutting Patches and growing flowers to harvest solely for display

The culinary delights of dandelions in France

Laura Washburn Hutton shares her top tips for using seasonal tender leaves in the kitchen

One British man's crusade against illegal billboards in France

Tony Smith led a community effort to remove more than 1,000 illegal billboards from roadsides and parks

Learning French: the meaning of ça va le faire

Plus, what other ways can ça be used?

The price of France's Easter chocolate habit revealed

Many French families prefer bunnies and bells to eggs

White storks make strong return in France via nest ‘platforms’ and clipped wings

The Ligue pour la Protection des Oiseaux shares the conservation challenges in saving these birds from extinction

Grand crème, café crème, au lait: how to order coffee in France?

We explain the subtle distinctions between the various terms used in cafés

How birdwatchers are helping bring the black vulture back to south-west France

Plus, wildlife spotter, Jonathan Kemp, shares his experience of searching for bearded vultures around his home in Aude

Letters: The reality of finding a new doctor or dentist in France

Finding a replacement is nigh impossible, says Connexion reader in Lot-et-Garonne

Letters: Ski instructors need to teach good etiquette on French slopes

Connexion reader and long-time skier says he has been injured several times

The magic of mayonnaise: Why a homemade emulsion always woos guests in France

Plus, which shop-bought mayo brand is best?

Recipe: orange blossom crème brûlée

An impressive and delicious dessert, perfect for a spring dinner party

A French film recommendation for spring

A Tale of Springtime directed by Eric Rohmer depicts a blooming, bittersweet romance

Must address on UK driving licence be changed after moving to France?

UK drivers may have to exchange their licence for a French one after moving

Learning French: Have you ever dreamt in your target language?

From passive listening to active speaking, dreaming in French can indicate you are regularly practicing it

Letters: Beware the financial cost of losing a spouse in France

Connexion reader faced unexpected expenses and legal hurdles after their partner's death, which added stress to an already difficult time

Visit the French village of Vouvant: wander along cobbled streets and hiking trails

Explore the rich history and artistic allure of this medieval hideaway, nestled in the heart of the Vendée

Guess the French phrase behind this photo clue...

Can you work out which idiomatic expression is depicted below?

What they don’t tell you about... visiting a hammam in France

A Turkish baths experience could be just what you need – but do some research first

From English teacher to TikTok star in France: 'The way to help students learn is to believe in them'

Toulouse-based Monsieur Prof's educational videos on learning English are a social media sensation

Guess the French phrase behind this photo clue...

Can you work out which idiomatic expression is depicted below?

Recipe: taste this chocolate trompe l’œil salami

Melt any leftover Easter eggs and add shortbread, nuts, cranberries and marshmallows to make this fun treat

'I found my voice when I joined a French choir'

Hannah Pickup from Vendôme (Loir-et-Cher) got involved in 2013 and is now its secretary and treasurer

Learning French: what does fastoche mean and when should it be used?

Plus, can you guess the meaning behind more simple slang terms ending in -oche

Letters: France's language requirements for residency are simply unrealistic

Reader says it takes a minimum of three years study to prepare for France's DALF C2 diploma

Visit Grasse: the picturesque fragrance capital of France

Historian Dr Julia Faiers shares the surprising history of this perfumed Unesco town in Alpes-Maritimes, attracting the likes of Queen Victoria and Coco Chanel

Learning French: when and why do we say montrer patte blanche?

A French fairytale phrase for trustworthiness

Letters: Climate change becomes clear over past 1,000 years in France

Connexion reader says that it takes centuries of climatological data to grasp the full impact

Guess the French phrase behind this photo clue...

Can you work out which idiomatic expression is depicted below?

Guess the French phrase behind this photo clue...

Can you work out which idiomatic expression is depicted below?

How to pick and cook asparagus in France

Columnist Sue Adams explains how to make the most of the vegetable's short season

Learning French: what does pile-poil mean and when should it be used?

Plus, find out how to pronounce this precise phrase

Faudra Tif Hair: Understand the punny names behind French hair salons

Can you guess the slang meaning of the word tif?

Letters: The clash of 'America First' with French allies is a nightmare

Connexion reader notes with dismay the growing isolation of USA under President Trump

Recipe: rich lamb shanks with vegetable tian

This dish would make the perfect centerpiece for Easter lunch

‘The first baby hedgehog we rescued was love-at-first-sight’

We speak to an expert about her hedgehog health centre and how to make your garden more hedgehog-friendly

Recipes: real French charcuterie of rabbit rillettes and pork liver pâté

We look at the history and techniques of pâtés, terrines, sausages and ‘farcis’

Experiences: Why I love living in Paris

Karen Bussen tells how she moved from New York to the French capital and found love

Magazine

Learning French: the origins and meaning of faire le mariole

Letters: Le Tour de France is more about big business than national identity

Five things they don't tell you about… schools in France

Letters: Brexit voters in France cannot blame the Remain campaign

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Paris to commemorate 80th anniversary end of WW2 in Europe

Is there any gardening work I cannot do in France on a bank holiday?

French MPs back plan to make new doctors set up in underserved areas

Tougher rules for nationality: rights watchdog criticises already ‘complex’ process

Tested for you: Google’s free AI personalised French lessons

Learning French: what does à fond mean and when should it be used?

Major French rail union calls for more strikes in June

Learning French: what does à fond mean and when should it be used?

Vernet-les-Bains: France's only flourishing 'Village d’Arboretum'

Recipe: chickpea salade niçoise

French property: See what €50,000, €150,000 and over €2m buys in Bas-Rhin

Acronyms explained: What is France's RATP?

Recipe: vanilla, rum, and orange zest cannelés

'I moved to France and became an estate agent for luxury homes'

Learning French: the origins and meaning of être dans la force de l’âge

Letters: Visas are so much trouble that we will not visit our second home in France

Career change in France: from plastics to creative recycling

Iconic Paris cinema restored to its Art Deco glory

Learning French: what does recevoir une note salée mean and when should it be used?

French strawberries: the best varieties and when to eat them

'My French property is overwhelming me and I may leave'

What does a maître cirier do in France?

Tips for achieving peony perfection in your French garden

Guess the French region with the help of this clue: Island life

The war grave gardeners who became French Resistance heroes

Letters: People in France must stand up to Trump's tariffs

Comment: French rugby offers a community like no other

Comment: French solidarity is the antidote we need against ‘Thumpism’

Letters: End of BBC Sounds is too cruel for listeners in France

Spring reading recommendations: books about France in English

How to cope with a break-up while living in France

Learning French: when and why do we say qui se ressemble s’assemble?

Comment: How caring for my cats taught me neighbourly etiquette in France

Spelling and pronunciation make odd bedfellows in English as in French

Quoi de neuf? Products, designs and ideas from around France

Five things you may not know about florists in France

'I don't want my sister to move to my French town'

Did you know? Marrying a dead person is possible in France

Comment: France needs to rethink Le Pen's ban from political office

Guess the French region with the help of this clue: A grave situation

Comment: Anti-French bravado is an embarrassing British anachronism

Why your accent should not hold you back when speaking French

'My language skills mean I am just not funny in French'

Letters: France's threatened birds must be treated with respect

‘We have never been so close’: Why France may soon legalise assisted dying

Learning French: what does sacquer mean and when should it be used?

An alternative to potatoes: 'My favourite aspect of salsify is its texture'

Letters: France's wasteful healthcare system needs a rethink

Flowers to flaunt: blooms for cutting from your French garden

The culinary delights of dandelions in France

One British man's crusade against illegal billboards in France

Learning French: the meaning of ça va le faire

The price of France's Easter chocolate habit revealed

White storks make strong return in France via nest ‘platforms’ and clipped wings

Grand crème, café crème, au lait: how to order coffee in France?

How birdwatchers are helping bring the black vulture back to south-west France

Letters: The reality of finding a new doctor or dentist in France

Letters: Ski instructors need to teach good etiquette on French slopes

The magic of mayonnaise: Why a homemade emulsion always woos guests in France

Recipe: orange blossom crème brûlée

A French film recommendation for spring

Must address on UK driving licence be changed after moving to France?

Learning French: Have you ever dreamt in your target language?

Letters: Beware the financial cost of losing a spouse in France

Visit the French village of Vouvant: wander along cobbled streets and hiking trails

Guess the French phrase behind this photo clue...

What they don’t tell you about... visiting a hammam in France

From English teacher to TikTok star in France: 'The way to help students learn is to believe in them'

Guess the French phrase behind this photo clue...

Recipe: taste this chocolate trompe l’œil salami

'I found my voice when I joined a French choir'

Learning French: what does fastoche mean and when should it be used?

Letters: France's language requirements for residency are simply unrealistic

Visit Grasse: the picturesque fragrance capital of France

What does a maître cirier do in France?