Magazine

English-French crossword (intermediate): October 31, 2026

All answers are in French. Bonne chance!

November reading recommendations: books about France in English

Explore the French Riviera, village life and gardening in the south of France, and women’s fashion during the Revolution

Five ways to say you have a cold in French

Choper la crève and more sneezing sayings

learning french

Understanding when tu vs vous can cause offence in France

Plus, a handy diagram to help work out when certain ‘rules’ apply

What are the origins and meaning of the phrase dès potron-minet?

You might hear this French saying first thing in the morning

Riquewihr: a medieval fairytale village

Enjoy the cobbled lanes, Dolder Tower, Riesling vineyards, wine tastings and a famed Christmas market

An Aube chateau renovation for all seasons

Discover the restoration of Château de Pouy-sur-Vannes, as designer Juan Pablo Molyneux blends historic architecture, art and gardens.

Crane migration that marks the changing seasons in France

Thousands pass over France each spring and autumn

English-French crossword (intermediate): October 24, 2026

All answers are in French. Bonne chance!

Bee yoga: Inside an unusual wellness experience in south-west France

'It’s about creating a connection with bees and learning to communicate with them'

A French person explains how his family use tu and vous

Etiquette varies whether speaking to loved ones, colleagues, teachers or strangers

Recipe: Multicoloured autumn brassica purées

A delicious side dish from the latest culinary volume from the esteemed Ferrandi Paris cookery school

World War One exhibition reveals how pets provided comfort in the French trenches

Photographs, diaries and stories illustrate how dogs and cats supported soldiers in the Great War

What does caisse mean and when should you use it?

Learn the meanings in French, from a supermarket till and receipt to a crate, bank fund and pension scheme

Modern treasure hunts draw enormous crowds

Games have become very popular after the 'Golden Owl' was found in 2024

Test your knowledge: fun French facts

Try our fun quiz featuring a notorious criminal and the Sorbonne

Why you should wait to be seated and served in France

Commit this faux pas in France at your peril

The US authors finding literary success in France

French publisher champions writers tackling difficult themes

Say non to margarine – why buttery croissants are best

Discover why butter croissants are prized in France, how to tell them from margarine versions, and the baker behind the country’s best croissant

Association France-Grande-Bretagne: how Britons in France can meet local people

Founded in 1916, its local groups, events and membership provide great options for Britons in France seeking connections

How does climate change affect French wines?

Heatwaves, drought, hail and wildfire smoke are reshaping wine in 2026, affecting grape quality, harvest dates, yields and flavour

Artisan cheese of the month: Bleu de Gex, plus dried girolles

Discover the mild AOP blue cheese from the Jura, plus how to prepare dried mushrooms for autumn dishes

Hand holding an open compass on a beach with surf in the background.

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: 250 water lilies

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

Recipe: Pigeon breast and schnitzel with chanterelles

A delicious dish from the latest culinary volume from the esteemed Ferrandi Paris cookery school

French interiors tips for the modern bohemian

Discover bohemian modern interior design ideas, from mixing colours and patterns to styling houseplants, planters and painted furniture at home

Pick-your-own fruit and vegetables near Paris

Visit La Cueillette de Nolongues near Coulommiers for pick-your-own fruit and vegetables from May to October, including pumpkins and apples

Clever shop-name puns and wordplay to spot in France

From a Montauban tearoom to Burgundy sweets, learn why the French love a jeu de mots

What is Toussaint day, when is it and why does France celebrate?

The Toussaint bank holiday falls on a Sunday this year

A tasty history of ravioles du Dauphiné plus an easy courgette gratin recipe

Discover these delicious pasta parcels and try a simple recipe using chilled supermarket packs

When and why do we say ne pas être fute-fute?

A handy phrase to use when describing someone who is not very intelligent

Spotting moths in France, in all their superb variety

Learn how to identify moths, from antennae and wing positions to the giant peacock moth, and why these night pollinators matter in nature

English-French crossword (intermediate): October 10, 2026

All answers are in French. Bonne chance!

Pornic in Brittany prepares to set limits on second-home usage

Plans to require new homes in designated areas to be main residences, using powers under the 2024 Le Meur law

How many of these lycée protest placards can you translate?

Pancarte slogans often feature rhymes, puns and play-on-words

'We sold up and moved to France as a family of three generations'

British family moved to France before Brexit, pooling funds to buy and renovate a Vienne estate into year-round gîtes and homes for three generations

UK artist puts mythical beasts into Mougins

Beth Carter displays 30 mythical bronze sculptures, plus drawings, at the Alpes-Maritimes village's Centre d’Art until November 1

Pink October: boating association sets sail with breast cancer patients

Patients and carers will sail on traditional boats from Six-Fours-les-Plages, Var, during France’s Pink October awareness month

How to get better at understanding French one-to-one

It can be intimidating at first but there are ways to make it easier

Fort Boyard to open to public for first time

Atlantic Coast fort will open in 2028 after restoration funded by donations and the French Heritage Lotto

Autumnal recipe: spiced poached pears

A delicious seasonal dessert from the latest culinary volume from the esteemed Ferrandi Paris cookery school

An American in France: from New Jersey to the Loire Valley

Entrepreneur shares her experience of moving to France, integrating near Angers and advice for US citizens planning a French life

Events offer fine food lovers unique venues

Dîners Insolites are gourmet meals in normally inaccessible Bouches-du-Rhône locations – see how to plan for 2027 events

Brittany campsite becomes first in France to recycle wastewater

Finistère campsite reuses treated shower and washing water, cutting drinking water use by 40%

Two adjacent rooms seen through doorways, one brightly lit with several people and one dimly lit with a seated figure.

Guess the French phrase behind this photo clue...

Can you work out which idiomatic expression is depicted below?

People work and move through a modern glass-walled office with meeting tables and pendant lights.

French false friends: why the word 'office' can be so misleading

This innocuous word does not always mean what you think

Music choice: Kavinsky, French electro icon behind Drive soundtrack

French DJ Kavinsky, creator of Nightcall from the Drive soundtrack, has died aged 50, prompting tributes to a defining figure in France’s electro scene

English-French crossword (intermediate): October 3, 2026

All answers are in French. Bonne Chance!

Film choice: De Gaulle, big-budget biopic of the Free French leader

Review of the two-part French film about Charles de Gaulle’s exile and resistance during the Nazi occupation of France in World War Two

October gardening tips, from leaf blowers to pocket-sized tools

How to choose the right blower, gift ideas for gardeners and vegetables to sow in the potager

Podcasts to improve your French this autumn

Listening to podcasts is one of the best ways to immerse yourself in French culture

The origins and meaning of à plus dans le bus

Do you know the English equivalent to saying: see you later, alligator?

How to use colour in the garden this autumn

Try bold combinations, with bulb, perennial and container planting ideas for blue and orange, pink and green, and red and cream

Open Gardens: explore a forest garden in Allier

Discover Rudy Holierhoek’s ornamental and forest gardens in Hérisson, Allier, with guided autumn tours and edible plants

Smiling woman holding a small shaggy dog in a leafy garden

The Guardian's 'how to make the perfect' food writer talks to us about cycling, fiction and her favourite French eatery

Felicity Cloake will be speaking at a Franco-English literary festival this month

French films and series to watch in October

Diversify your vocabulary and boost your French this month

It is time for France to put its retirees to good use

François Bouchon of France Bénévolat explains the many benefits this would bring

SNCF takes long-term approach to cleaner railway sleeper recycling

SNCF Réseau is replacing toxic creosote with copper oil at its Lot factory, allowing wooden railway sleepers to be safely recycled in future

Things to do this month in Brittany, Rouen, Paris and Verdun

Discover October events in France, from Halloween at a Brittany château and Rouen's funfair to the Cézanne exhibition in Paris and the Verdun museum

Autumn recipes: peperonata and green tomato chutney

Try these easy autumn condiments, which are great for using up end-of-season produce

Do not dwell on individual words... learn through passive listening

Put on a French podcast or talk radio station while you are cooking, tidying or doing DIY

Guess the French region with the help of this clue: a lasting Impression

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

Mont-Saint-Éloi: a very French village that has a British mayor

Explore the fabulous views, cycle paths and twin towers of a spot once occupied by German troops

October reading recommendations: three books about France in English

Discover three books set in France, from a romance and a Paris mystery to Provence food memoirs

Guess the French region with the help of this clue: Petit Prince en pierre

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

Panoramic view of Cuers, with terracotta-roofed buildings and wooded hills in the Var.

How a small town in Provence is adapting to hotter summers

Scenic Var town of Cuers has new plans to keep streets and public spaces cool

English-French crossword (intermediate): September 26, 2026

All answers are in French. Bonne Chance!

Protestors on gilets jaunes demonstration

Eight years of Macron and France is back where it started

Movement that arose in 2018 set to return in October

What French should you actually be learning before moving to France?

Time spent accumulating vocabulary you rarely use may leave you less prepared than time spent learning relevant words and practising real-life situations