Magazine

'We founded a musical theatre for young people in France'

Juliana Rambaldi, 60, and her husband Victor Benedetti, 56, are both professional classical singers. They moved from Seattle with their two children in 2011 intending only to stay for a year…

Comment: US-style hen parties are one import Paris can do without

Columnist Nabila Ramdani is sceptical of a decadent new trend among American influencers

Did you know that Pope Leo XIV has several famous French relatives?

The new pontiff has significant family links to France, including to some well-known names

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Has butter become a luxury in France?

Price rises set to continue as milk production falls

From baguettes to oysters: France's vending machine industry is booming

We test the automated food dispensers that are popping up in car parks and lay-bys around the country

'We cannot keep up with demand': French Savoie wines are thriving in the US

Once overlooked in France, the region's offerings are now popular with Americans

Comment: Leaders of France and Britain start to talk tough on immigration

Columnist Simon Heffer notes that public opinion appears to have shifted on both sides of the Channel

Learning French: How to introduce yourself to a stranger in France

Practise key phrases and vocabulary for meeting new people, in this practical French lesson from the Little Language School

Letters: French vehicle hire is a minefield

Readers share their mixed experiences with rental cars in France

Embrace the summertime blues in your French garden

Sarah Beattie loves a blue flower – here she provides tips for growing your own

We see his French family more than mine – does it matter?

Columnist Cynthia Spillman offers advice on how to split your time between your loved ones

A French ‘cop thriller’ film recommendation

The Connection starring Jean Dujardin and Gilles Lellouche is based on a true story

Letters: Our French neighbours feel standoffish

Reader says despite exchanging friendly greetings and Christmas gifts they have never shared an invite

Learning French: the origins and meaning of c’est le serpent qui se mord la queue

Use this phrase when you find yourself in a catch-22

Two superb French gardens to explore - just five minutes apart

Meet two Open Gardens hosts in the Auvergne department whose stunning gardens are open to visitors on June 1 this year

How I became a life coach after moving to France

Discover how Patricia Brooks, 57, transformed her life by moving to France and starting a successful coaching business for aspiring expats.

‘Peach walls’ of Paris suburb offer glimpse of its horticultural past

Montreuil may not be the obvious place to house orchards of Mediterranean fruit, but it has supported a booming industry and an unlikely man-made microclimate for nearly 400 years

Cordes-sur-Ciel: The pretty French village in the clouds

A tour through time into the long history of one of southwest France’s earliest revolutionary bastide villages

Meet the French farmers with a 24-hour self-service boutique

The family farm near Chartres organises open days and offers guided tours

How the Scouting movement took off in France

French scouting and guiding grew steadily after crossing the Channel, with scouts playing an important role in the liberation

Food matches for French white wine

Jonathan Hesford shares his top tips for selecting the perfect dry white wine to accompany your menu

Food for thought: asparagus tips and an Art Nouveau brasserie in France

Peter Bear shares his experience of dining at The Excelsior in Nancy - a top spot for French foodies

Learning French: How to write a cheque in France

Practise spelling-out numbers in this practical French lesson from the Little Language School

Learning French: understanding three words originating from Marseille

Have you ever heard someone say tarpin, gâté or tanquer?

Letters: Readers share their experiences of taking the French driving test

Residents call the process 'time consuming', 'expensive' and 'stressful'

Letters: French abbreviations are not always what they seem

A reader recalls making an embarrassing mistake due to a mistranslation

Quiz: guess the 'names' of people who live in these French cities

Test your knowledge of gentilés around France

Letters: Rural residents in France face long waits for letters from La Poste

A reader tells The Connexion that some deliveries are taking up to 10 days

French history heroine: the bearded businesswoman of Vosges

Historian Dr Julia Faiers discovers the remarkable story of Clémentine Delait - a trail-blazing woman who refused to conform

From lightsabers to hobby horses: five unusual sports in France

Embrace new and creative ways to keep fit

Guess the French phrase behind this photo clue...

Can you work out which idiomatic expression is depicted below?

Letters: Our French neighbours seem too distant

Connexion reader explains that despite going to lengths to get to know their new neighbours, most do not return the effort

Guess the French region with the help of this clue: Terror and terroir

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

Cassel: the small, charming village with a long, fascinating history in northern France

Discover the medieval history, Flemish influences, and Unesco carnival 'giants' of Cassel, voted France’s favourite village

Learning French: nouns that even native speakers commonly misgender

‘The struggle is real’, says our French writer Théophile Larcher - see if you can score higher than him in our mini quiz

Explore the Alpine village in France where winter is only just ending

The picturesque village of Bonneval-sur-Arc near the Italian border endures eight winter months out of twelve

Guess the French region with the help of this clue: No ordinary square

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

'I helped restore French cathedrals as a female American stone cutter - despite prejudice'

Stella Cheng, who worked on the restoration of Notre-Dame Cathedral, faced sexism and racism

Learning French: when and why do we say avoir le compas dans l'œil?

Say this to describe someone with good visual judgement of size or distance

Letters: Readers trade DIY tips for restoring French properties

Special innovations are often required for older buildings

Visit a Yorkshireman's French garden this May and June

‘I am organic to the core’ says the retired horticulturalist whose fine garden is not far from La Rochelle

'I built my own natural pool in France for only €8,000'

Alex Wells explains how she discovered the health benefits of water free from chemicals

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

Guess the French phrase behind this photo clue...

Can you work out which idiomatic expression is depicted below?

Thibault Tricole: France's darts revolution

Dubbed 'The French Touch', the player is transforming darts in France, from local clubs to national TV

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'

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

An enthusiastic and thorough adverb

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

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

From La dictée to Les devoirs...

Guess the French region with the help of this clue: A musical martyr

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

Guess the French region with the help of this clue: Fabric of society

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

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

Guess the French phrase behind this photo clue...

Can you work out which idiomatic expression is depicted below?

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

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

A saying to describe being in the prime of life

'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

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

Iconic Paris cinema restored to its Art Deco glory

Architects set out to modernise Le Grand Rex while respecting its original design

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

A salty saying for inflated expenses

French strawberries: the best varieties and when to eat them

Columnist Sue Adams gives her tips on how to get the best out of the long season in France

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

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

Guess the French phrase behind this photo clue...

Can you work out which idiomatic expression is depicted below?

Tips for achieving peony perfection in your French garden

May is the moment for beautiful peonies

What does a maître cirier do in France?

Exploring an ancient craft form at a company founded 120 years ago

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

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

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

Connexion readers say boycotting US-made goods is the best way to respond

The war grave gardeners who became French Resistance heroes

Many remained in France during the occupation

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

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

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

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...

Magazine

'We founded a musical theatre for young people in France'

Comment: US-style hen parties are one import Paris can do without

Did you know that Pope Leo XIV has several famous French relatives?

Has butter become a luxury in France?

Trending

Widow in France facing financial struggle as step-child she never met stakes inheritance claim

MPs vote to end France's ZFE low-emission zones despite government opposition

Briton wins right to be on EU electoral roll in historic French court ruling

63 confirmed chikungunya cases recorded in south-east France as authorities fear epidemic

Second-home market in France grows: who is buying and where?

May 29 bank holiday in France and Monaco: what will be open?

Culture tests for more applicants as French citizenship rules are toughened

From baguettes to oysters: France's vending machine industry is booming

'We cannot keep up with demand': French Savoie wines are thriving in the US

Comment: Leaders of France and Britain start to talk tough on immigration

Learning French: How to introduce yourself to a stranger in France

Letters: French vehicle hire is a minefield

Embrace the summertime blues in your French garden

We see his French family more than mine – does it matter?

A French ‘cop thriller’ film recommendation

Letters: Our French neighbours feel standoffish

Learning French: the origins and meaning of c’est le serpent qui se mord la queue

Tourteau fromagé: The delicacy known as 'the cheesecake of Poitou'

La Fête des Mères: 10 French expressions about mothers

Letters: French driving tests are old fashioned and need updating

Two superb French gardens to explore - just five minutes apart

Yvoire: photogenic lakeside gem in France

Learning French: Chapeau if you know these 10 clothing-themed phrases

Letters: Readers share their tips on what to do with old baguettes

Why I love where I live... in north-west France

Why Madeleines have enduring appeal in France

How I became a life coach after moving to France

‘Peach walls’ of Paris suburb offer glimpse of its horticultural past

Cordes-sur-Ciel: The pretty French village in the clouds

Meet the French farmers with a 24-hour self-service boutique

How the Scouting movement took off in France

Food matches for French white wine

Food for thought: asparagus tips and an Art Nouveau brasserie in France

Learning French: How to write a cheque in France

Learning French: understanding three words originating from Marseille

Letters: Readers share their experiences of taking the French driving test

Letters: French abbreviations are not always what they seem

Quiz: guess the 'names' of people who live in these French cities

Letters: Rural residents in France face long waits for letters from La Poste

French history heroine: the bearded businesswoman of Vosges

From lightsabers to hobby horses: five unusual sports in France

Guess the French phrase behind this photo clue...

Letters: Our French neighbours seem too distant

Guess the French region with the help of this clue: Terror and terroir

Cassel: the small, charming village with a long, fascinating history in northern France

Learning French: nouns that even native speakers commonly misgender

Explore the Alpine village in France where winter is only just ending

Guess the French region with the help of this clue: No ordinary square

'I helped restore French cathedrals as a female American stone cutter - despite prejudice'

Learning French: when and why do we say avoir le compas dans l'œil?

Letters: Readers trade DIY tips for restoring French properties

Visit a Yorkshireman's French garden this May and June

'I built my own natural pool in France for only €8,000'

Learning French: the origins and meaning of faire le mariole

Guess the French phrase behind this photo clue...

Thibault Tricole: France's darts revolution

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

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

Letters: Brexit voters in France cannot blame the Remain campaign

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

Guess the French region with the help of this clue: A musical martyr

Guess the French region with the help of this clue: Fabric of society

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?

Guess the French phrase behind this photo clue...

Recipe: vanilla, rum, and orange zest cannelés

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

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

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?

What does a maître cirier do in France?