Magazine

Couple sitting on precipice looking over mountains

France’s top hiking routes compared: from Corsica’s GR20 to the Pyrenees' GR10

Four readers share their standout experiences

When and why do we say être ravitaillé par les corbeaux?

Crow-bar this phrase into conversation when referring to a remote location

Young girl reaching up beside a painted cityscape mural on a wall

I moved to France and became a maths teacher and professional photographer

Reader Philipa Daria shares her passion for photography

magazine

How I created a thriving no-dig vegetable garden in France

Reader Evie Eldridge shares her tips on organic gardening

Hosting family in France can make for healthier relationships

Old grievances can be healed by sharing your time and space

Saint-Samson Cathedral in Dol-de-Bretagne framed by trees and a foreground fountain

Looking for the French National Trust? That's us!

The Fondation du patrimoine hopes to emulate the British institution

Avoid linguistic 'blind spots' with a reliable word

Add this new word to your vocabulary for use in conversations about reliability

Mature woman arguing with an unhappy young couple at a flat doorway

French neighbours turned nasty since daughter's party

'Dispute is ruining our life in France', reader says

'Wildlife is all around us': why we love living in the Côte-d’Or

British couple swapped London for Burgundy and say they have no regrets

Spoken French is harder to understand than other languages

Reader notes that French has many peculiarities

Au pif and seven more French estimation phrases

You may know the common phrase à peu près, meaning roughly, but how many of these other six similar phrases do you know?

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

Never underestimate the importance of ‘hello’ in France

Without it you risk being categorised as a visiting holidaymaker or city type

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

The stoves can prove surprisingly complex

Explore the new ‘Tour de Haute-Garonne’ cycle route

The scenic 665km cycle route in Occitanie features 13 stages and stunning beauty hotspots like the Canal du Midi and the Pyrénéen foothills

Guess the French phrase behind this photo clue...

Can you work out which idiomatic expression is depicted below?

Why France still has millions of nightingales while UK numbers fall

The rossignol returns in spring - here is where to listen for it

Red vintage-style convertible car parked on a gravel roadside near pine trees

How France’s classic Citroën 2CV became a British-style retro sports car

The model is one of very few kit cars available in France, as regulations ban amateurs from building them

Cherry clafoutis pie sliced in a glass dish with whole cherries on top.

Travel France from your kitchen: clafoutis recipe

The historic Limousin region - now part of Nouvelle Aquitaine - offers up this classic French desert

A clock on a businessman’s desk set to 2:00

When and why do we say on va pas chercher midi à quatorze heures?

Find out what this amusing French expression means so you can start to use it in your conversations

Jordan Bardella raises his arm at a rally, amid supporters in tricolour sashes

Jordan Bardella is too young to be President of France

Columnist Nick Inman argues for the benefits of experience and age in French politics

What exactly is a quality wine and do the experts know what consumers like?

Price has a very loose relationship with how good a wine tastes

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

Guess the French region with the help of this clue: a relatively recent addition to the phare side

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

The origins and meaning of être frais comme un gardon

Use this fishy French phrase when someone is looking fresh-faced

Roasted asparagus on a lined tray with grated cheese, lemon wedge and bowl of sauce.

Chèvre season: a simple recipe pairing goat's cheese and asparagus

Explore its artisanal production in regions like the Loire and Ardèche

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

US woman moves to France and cuts annual asthma drug cost from $36,000 to $3,500

'The difference was immediate and life-changing,' says writer Hilary Hodge

Jordan Bardella smiling in a suit at an indoor launch event

Princess photoshoot does not guarantee French far right a fairytale ending

Columnist Nabila Ramdani examines the cynicism of spin doctors

La Roque-Gageac: a picturesque village in the Dordogne Valley

Riverside gem is known for its limestone cliffs, historic architecture and river cruises

'Breathing life back into' Mediterranean homes

We visit two properties and meet a ceramicist in Uzès, as featured in Mediterranean Living by Laurence Dougier

Frustrating,Phone,Call,,Receptionist,Or,Business,Person

How to make polite requests in French

While English speakers start a request with ‘please’, French requests often begin with merci de

'The magical day I saw an otter in my Aude garden'

Jonathan Kemp on the otter conservation efforts that have led to their return

Recipe: buckwheat-almond praliné chocolate tart

A delicious French dessert with a twist

Five French films and TV shows for May

From thrillers to comedies, make learning easy by incorporating French media into your everyday life

Guess the French phrase behind this photo clue...

Can you work out which idiomatic expression is depicted below?

Group of friends raising drinks at a picnic table in a sunny garden

Five things they don't tell you about bank holidays in France

No one works, and precious few people would consider spending them doing jobs around the house

Woman standing under a 'Rue du Climat' sign on a Paris street

Lucie Basch: revolutionising food waste and consumption with Too Good To Go

The co-founder of Too Good To Go is transforming food waste management and promoting sustainable consumption across 20 countries, including the UK and Japan

Three French phrases inspired by other cultures

Explore the origins and meanings behind these French expressions related to foreign people and places

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

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

How much should I pay for mowing at French home?

Costs vary depending on factors such as skill level and the exact service provided

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

Guess the French region with the help of this clue: the Italian job

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

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

Saint-Malo: exploring Brittany’s city of corsairs

For a few centuries Malouin privateers were the bane of the English

Checkmate.,Hand,Of,An,Unrecognizable,Man,Playing,Chess,Defeating,His

Covid pandemic sparks a chess revival in France

Netflix TV series The Queen’s Gambit also brought the game to a new audience

Free building materials in France: how the Cycle Zéro app works

New app relies on unused materials discarded in skips at local construction sites

Cotton balls resting on a pile of folded clothes

Four French cotton-themed phrases

Explore French phrases inspired by a popular fabric

Four men with instruments pose around a classic white car outside an old stone building.

How joining a band can build your community in France

16% of citizens play an instrument ‘often’ or ‘from time to time’

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

From quoi to voilà… verbal tics can puzzle language learners

There are some habits you should not acquire, says columnist Nick Inman

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

Lesser-known French abbreviations to listen out for: just add 'O'

Insights into informal language trends, featuring shortened versions of restaurant, ordonnance and more

Chamonix,,France,-,08.08.2024:,Happy,Hiker,On,The,Trekking,Mountain

French hikes have ‘something for everyone’

Walking holidays offer gentle strolls amid medieval villages to demanding high-altitude hikes

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

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

Guess the French phrase behind this photo clue...

Can you work out which idiomatic expression is depicted below?

Guess the French region with the help of this clue: a chateau with a rule of four

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

A chef sings holding a spatula and a pot

Guess the French phrase behind this photo clue...

Can you work out which idiomatic expression is depicted below?

Guess the French region with the help of this clue: Three Graces in the sun

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

Argeles-sur-Mer: camping hot-spot in the south of France

How this seaside town transformed from a refugee camp to Europe’s most popular area for campers

Guess the French phrase behind this photo clue...

Can you work out which idiomatic expression is depicted below?

Tchin tchin, santé, eye contact: the words and rituals of French apéros

From a Mandarin phrase to mediaeval beliefs, we look back through the history of this evening tradition

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

Paris,,France,,04.09.2025.,Tourists,At,The,Père,Lachaise,Cemetery,In

French graveyard ‘safari’ brings history to life

Père Lachaise tour guide Thierry Le Roi talks to Théophile Larcher about the privilege of sharing the cemetery’s stories

Learning French: the origins and meaning of ne pas avoir un poil sur le caillou

Use this saying to describe someone who is bald

Judy and Dave Kashoff, whose journey inspired her book Five, Ten, or Never

'I moved to France and wrote my first book'

These Connexion readers have put pen to paper since moving to France

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

Owners of French property have not been seen for a decade

Fashion figures: five French female couturières

Discover the legacy of five pioneering female fashion designers who transformed couture and empowered women through innovative style and elegance

What future for smaller French airports?

Vulnerability to the whims of low-cost airlines is becoming more evident

Visa,Application,Form,And,Flag,Of,France

I'm a relocation adviser and these are the five mistakes people make when applying for a French visa

Relocation adviser Louis Bouyala, co-founder of EasyStart, provides some useful guidance

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

Châtelaudren: a Breton village once regarded as France’s ‘second fashion capital’

The picturesque spot in northern Brittany was home to weekly women’s magazine Le Petit Echo de la Mode

French film review: And God Created Woman - Brigitte Bardot's iconic role

Explore the captivating allure of the actress in the film that redefined cinematic sensuality and empowered women

Eating faux-pas: habits to avoid when dining in France

From ignoring fellow guests to taking too much cheese, we take a look at the no-nos when dining in France

'We produce exotic fruits and award-winning rum in Pyrénées-Orientales'

Visit the farm boutique or shop online for a taste of the innovative creations from Les Arts Verts near Perpignan

Magazine

France’s top hiking routes compared: from Corsica’s GR20 to the Pyrenees' GR10

When and why do we say être ravitaillé par les corbeaux?

I moved to France and became a maths teacher and professional photographer

How I created a thriving no-dig vegetable garden in France

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Paris airport strike on June 18: which routes are at risk of delays?

EES flags nearly 7,000 Schengen overstayers since launch

Nice airport letting foreign travellers use e-gates

Where in France you are most likely to see a viper

French heatwave set to continue amid record May temperatures

Whit Monday holiday: how it works in France and how much it raises for state

Explore the new ‘Tour de Haute-Garonne’ cycle route

Hosting family in France can make for healthier relationships

Looking for the French National Trust? That's us!

Avoid linguistic 'blind spots' with a reliable word

French neighbours turned nasty since daughter's party

'Wildlife is all around us': why we love living in the Côte-d’Or

Spoken French is harder to understand than other languages

Au pif and seven more French estimation phrases

Orange does not take France's fibre network seriously

Never underestimate the importance of ‘hello’ in France

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

Do you know your fabophile from your plangonophile?

Why many newcomers understand French but struggle to speak it

The origins and meaning of tomber des nues

Explore the new ‘Tour de Haute-Garonne’ cycle route

Flowers and punctuality do not always pay off in France

Updated: We should all be able to vote in France

French cinema remains a global force – despite growing challenges

The double meaning of brassage

Three reading recommendations: books about France in English

Guess the French phrase behind this photo clue...

Why France still has millions of nightingales while UK numbers fall

How France’s classic Citroën 2CV became a British-style retro sports car

Travel France from your kitchen: clafoutis recipe

When and why do we say on va pas chercher midi à quatorze heures?

Jordan Bardella is too young to be President of France

What exactly is a quality wine and do the experts know what consumers like?

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

Guess the French region with the help of this clue: a relatively recent addition to the phare side

The origins and meaning of être frais comme un gardon

Chèvre season: a simple recipe pairing goat's cheese and asparagus

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

US woman moves to France and cuts annual asthma drug cost from $36,000 to $3,500

Princess photoshoot does not guarantee French far right a fairytale ending

La Roque-Gageac: a picturesque village in the Dordogne Valley

'Breathing life back into' Mediterranean homes

How to make polite requests in French

'The magical day I saw an otter in my Aude garden'

Recipe: buckwheat-almond praliné chocolate tart

Five French films and TV shows for May

Guess the French phrase behind this photo clue...

Five things they don't tell you about bank holidays in France

Lucie Basch: revolutionising food waste and consumption with Too Good To Go

Three French phrases inspired by other cultures

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

How much should I pay for mowing at French home?

Why driving in France can cost more than in the UK

Guess the French region with the help of this clue: the Italian job

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

France's concrete road barriers are safer than metal ones

Saint-Malo: exploring Brittany’s city of corsairs

Covid pandemic sparks a chess revival in France

Free building materials in France: how the Cycle Zéro app works

Four French cotton-themed phrases

How joining a band can build your community in France

From quoi to voilà… verbal tics can puzzle language learners

Learn to love the complexities of the French language

Lesser-known French abbreviations to listen out for: just add 'O'

French hikes have ‘something for everyone’

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

Guess the French phrase behind this photo clue...

Guess the French region with the help of this clue: a chateau with a rule of four

Guess the French phrase behind this photo clue...

Guess the French region with the help of this clue: Three Graces in the sun

Argeles-sur-Mer: camping hot-spot in the south of France

Guess the French phrase behind this photo clue...

Tchin tchin, santé, eye contact: the words and rituals of French apéros

France's mairies are both a help and a hindrance