Magazine

Longer stays and luxury experiences: could France’s ‘upgraded’ tourism strategy combat overtourism fears?

France is increasing investment in tourism despite already being the world’s leading tourist destination

We missed opera in France – so we brought it to us

Columnist Peter Bear tells how he introduced rural opera to his French home

Learning French: when and why do we say entre chien et loup?

Use this saying to describe the moment after sunset

magazine

Orne of a kind: the ‘Cotswolds of France’ that remains a hidden gem

Often overlooked by tourists and second-homers, this region in north-west France has so much to offer

Living in Orne: all you need to know about this department of northwest France

From transport to healthcare, what is it like to live in this charming Normand department?

Eat like a local in France: tripes en brochette de La Ferté-Macé

Get a flavour for the history of this delicacy from the Orne region and learn how it is made

Eight examples of French romanticising everyday language

From death and black eyes to cooking and moving forward, French has a way of romanticising life

Learning French: avoir la pêche and other fruit expressions

With France's summer fruit season upon us, we pick out some of our favourite fruit-based French phrases

Letters: Your feedback on ‘no children venues’ in France

A new label promoting spaces as ‘child friendly’ is set to be launched soon

Five famous historical French figures who were exiled to Britain

From Voltaire to De Gaulle, we share the stories of five exiles who fled across the Channel

Letters: Essential checks before renting a car in France and abroad

Connexion reader says to ensure vehicle and documents match to avoid legal issues and extra charges

From cheese to sewing needles: nine facts about the French department of Orne

Did you know that the world's largest cheese factory is the Camembert Président factory in Domfort?

Recipe: garlic anchovy roast lamb

Adding a few flavourings to lamb before roasting is a simple step that transforms this classic dish

This French hilltop village sits between heaven and earth

Art historian Julia Faiers unpicks the threads that weave together the Roman and medieval settlements of Saint-Bertrand-de-Comminges in the Pyrenees

Learning French: 12 words and phrases that are untranslatable in English

From faire du yaourt to l’esprit d’escalier, here are some words that have no direct English equivalents

La Fête Nationale: 14 facts about France's national holiday

The July 14 'Bastille Day' celebration features a military parade in Paris and means a day off work

Learning French: test your Bastille Day vocabulary

From fireworks to military parades, do you know these words related to France’s fête nationale?

How a post-1918 ‘adoption’ scheme of French towns left its British mark

A UK project to help rebuild devastated French towns after World War One was not without controversy

Why I love where I live… in Strasbourg

How roller derby helped Australian Carlie Bonavia settle into French life

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

From the classic French style to the wild English one

How does France mark July 14, and where are the best firework displays in 2025?

Paris, Lyon, Cannes and Strasbourg are among highly-rated displays

Plouray: a Brittany village with its own Buddhist centre

This small rural village near Lorient has previously played host to Buddhist figures including the Dalai Lama

Learning French: the origins and meaning of ce n’est pas la mer à boire

Say this when something is easy-peasy

New virtual reality Napoleon experience a hit in Bordeaux

Connexion columnist Samantha David visited Napoléon, L'Epopée Immersive – a 'fun and fascinating' way to explore the historical events surrounding the French general

New to bandes dessinées? Start with this expert-picked list of beach-worthy reads

BDs can be easy to read for French learners because they usually don't use advanced vocabulary

Letters: My French neighbours amazed me with their love and support

Connexion reader shares her positive experience of being embraced by her community in France

Letters: These tips can help you access your Orange email outside France

Readers share their differing experiences with their orange.fr email accounts

'Beyond my wildest dreams': French mayor tracks down long-lost American brother

Two men discover their sibling bond through genetic testing, challenging France's 'sous X' adoption laws

Recipe: roasted butternut squash, beetroot and goat’s cheese salad

A fresh summer dish packed with sweet veggies, tangy cheese and crunchy salad leaves

The French do not follow Brits in their ‘faux’ road-crossing habit

Pedestrians in France do not tend to hurry across zebra crossings

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

Say this when someone is putting on an act

Letters: It would be wrong for the EU to impose its inheritance rules on France

Reader says proposal to exempt foreign nationals from France's forced heirship rules is problematic

Meet the farming family growing diverse vegetables in west France

'We aim to be harvesting at least 10 different vegetables every month all year round'

The future of French wine: cultivating disease-resistant grape varieties

Expert vigneron explains challenges and innovations in combatting vineyard pests

The house we bought in France is just too big for us and we can't afford the upkeep

Columnist Cynthia Spillman gives her advice on a common dilemma

Our French gîte: Couple combine farming with tourism in Burgundy

Owner Ghislaine Bentley explains why juggling a beef farm and popular chambre d’hôtes is worth the hard work

Seasonal reading recommendations: books about France in English

A frank Parisian memoir, a humorous language-hacks how-to guide, and a Champagne-themed historical novel

Guess the French phrase behind this photo clue...

Can you work out which idiomatic expression is depicted below?

Learning French: when and why do we say se faire des cheveux blancs?

Discover the connection between this worrisome phrase and Marie Antoinette

Profile: French supermarket boss Michel-Edouard Leclerc

Modern-day Robin Hood or merciless manipulator of the market?

French whisky now sells over a million bottles per year

New EU laws have allowed French spirit producers to use their stills for whisky outside of the strictly controlled cognac distilling season

'Our historic Normandy chateau was a World War Two battlefield'

A British couple's dream retirement home was once the site of a key battle for the Allies in 1944

'France is a fantastic place to have a baby'

New mum Therese Nyström speaks about her pregnancy journey and the experience of giving birth in France

Guess the French region with the help of this clue: A prickly past

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

5 podcasts to improve your French this summer

Listening is one of the most important language skills to grasp and podcasts are a great tool

Letters: UK banks are failing customers who live in France

Connexion readers share their experiences of delayed and cancelled cards

American donates her father’s WW2 photos to French resistance museum

The Musée de la Résistance is set to open in Cahors in early 2026.

Grow beautiful hydrangeas in your French garden

Sarah Beattie loves the unfashionable mopheads and has several favourite varieties

Why do members of my family mock my life in France?

Columnist Cynthia Spillman gives her advice on dealing with negativity

Remarkable summer gardens to see in France

Sarah Beattie says gardeners’ downtime presents the chance to enjoy other gardens

Saint-Vaast-la-Hougue: the 'most beautiful harbour in France'

This picturesque coastal town, not far from Cherbourg, has a war-trodden history as an ancient English landing site

Grimod de La Reyière: France’s restaurant review pioneer

The legacy of this French cultural icon reshaped culinary history

I sent my parents to Marseille… this is what they thought

Sun, sea, and rosé are highlights in the up-and-coming city-break location

Recipe: a seasonal apricot and blackberry ‘sunflower’ galette

Food stylist and blogger, Celine Rousseau, invites readers to bring her appealing, whimsical food art to life in their own kitchens

A French 'courtroom drama' film recommendation

An Ordinary Case, starring Daniel Auteuil and Grégory Gadebois, is based on a novel by the late author Jean-Yves Moyart

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: Your Massalia carriage awaits

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

A comprehensive guide to living in Bordeaux

We look at the region's property market, healthcare, education, and transport options

Discover Bordeaux: wine, food and culture

Explore Bordeaux's rich wine heritage, culinary delights and vibrant cultural scene

Bordeaux: from port city to wine haven

Discover how this city in southwestern France transformed from a port to a vibrant wine tourism hub

Learning French: vocabulary to use at a medical appointment in France

Practise key health phrases and vocabulary in this practical French lesson from the Little Language School

Why French gardeners prune and plant trees differently

Columnist Sue Adams reveals the role of history in France's relationship with its trees

How one man's fascination for the Canal du Midi in south-west France unravelled its secrets

A new book, written by former telecoms engineer Gérard Crevon, explores the untold story of Pierre-Paul Riquet's engineering marvel

Letters: France's confusing postcode system is the bane of our lives

Connexion reader uses parcel drop-off points to receive and take parcel deliveries

Reviving rural France: café culture brings a small Dordogne community together

'We are getting more and more English members, so if any readers live in the area, please do drop in.'

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: Concrete ideas

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

Dissecting typical French apéritifs

From blackcurrant Dubonnet to the vibrant Lillet 'sisters'

How I moved to France and took up pottery

Former head teacher Sarah Patterson found a new home and a new passion in her 50s

Fancy fowl and posing peacocks: observe the flamboyance of female birds in France

Jonathan Kemp explores the captivating courtship displays of birds, and explains how you can too

Tarragon, basil, chervil: the 'Holy Trinity' of French herbs

How to buy, grow, store, and use these essential herbs in your cooking

What makes France so French?

We take a look at five French traditions on the UNESCO 'intangible cultural heritage' list

Centre Pompidou renovation: get to know this 'inside out' Paris site

Centre Pompidou is one of France’s most recognisable public buildings, but it will be temporarily closed to the public from September

Comment: Brexit 'reset' cannot repair the damage it did to people with links to France

Columnist Nick Inman urges Brexit advocates to own their past promises and address the consequences of their actions

Comment: Jogging is no longer a joke in France

Columnist Sarah Henshaw notes how the once-maligned activity has become a passion in the country

Magazine

Longer stays and luxury experiences: could France’s ‘upgraded’ tourism strategy combat overtourism fears?

We missed opera in France – so we brought it to us

Learning French: when and why do we say entre chien et loup?

Orne of a kind: the ‘Cotswolds of France’ that remains a hidden gem

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EES digital border checks: start date officially confirmed

Brittany Ferries announces 2026 schedule: New France-UK route

EU looks to increase Etias travel authorisation fee from €7 to €20

France’s priorité à droite rule – what it means and when it applies

Storm warnings raised in 21 French departments

What dangerous snakes are in France and what to do if you spot one

Red drought alerts raised in south-west France: restrictions on water usage in place

Living in Orne: all you need to know about this department of northwest France

Eat like a local in France: tripes en brochette de La Ferté-Macé

Eight examples of French romanticising everyday language

Learning French: avoir la pêche and other fruit expressions

Letters: Your feedback on ‘no children venues’ in France

Five famous historical French figures who were exiled to Britain

Letters: Essential checks before renting a car in France and abroad

From cheese to sewing needles: nine facts about the French department of Orne

Recipe: garlic anchovy roast lamb

This French hilltop village sits between heaven and earth

Letters: France should give Range Rover and SUV drivers a break

Letters: France's hunting season puts the public at risk

Learning French: the origins and meaning of avoir la moutarde qui monte au nez

Learning French: 12 words and phrases that are untranslatable in English

Learning French: do acronyms confuse or simplify language learning?

Comment: Get cats sterilised early - even in rural France

France's July 14 military parade: 'a national communion' or out of touch?

Videos: Drone shows replace July 14 fireworks in France - watch recent good ones

In France, do you know your porcherie from your pigeonnier?

La Fête Nationale: 14 facts about France's national holiday

Learning French: test your Bastille Day vocabulary

How a post-1918 ‘adoption’ scheme of French towns left its British mark

Why I love where I live… in Strasbourg

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

How does France mark July 14, and where are the best firework displays in 2025?

Plouray: a Brittany village with its own Buddhist centre

Learning French: the origins and meaning of ce n’est pas la mer à boire

New virtual reality Napoleon experience a hit in Bordeaux

New to bandes dessinées? Start with this expert-picked list of beach-worthy reads

Letters: My French neighbours amazed me with their love and support

Letters: These tips can help you access your Orange email outside France

'Beyond my wildest dreams': French mayor tracks down long-lost American brother

Recipe: roasted butternut squash, beetroot and goat’s cheese salad

The French do not follow Brits in their ‘faux’ road-crossing habit

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

Letters: It would be wrong for the EU to impose its inheritance rules on France

Meet the farming family growing diverse vegetables in west France

The future of French wine: cultivating disease-resistant grape varieties

The house we bought in France is just too big for us and we can't afford the upkeep

Our French gîte: Couple combine farming with tourism in Burgundy

Seasonal reading recommendations: books about France in English

Guess the French phrase behind this photo clue...

Learning French: when and why do we say se faire des cheveux blancs?

Profile: French supermarket boss Michel-Edouard Leclerc

French whisky now sells over a million bottles per year

'Our historic Normandy chateau was a World War Two battlefield'

'France is a fantastic place to have a baby'

Guess the French region with the help of this clue: A prickly past

5 podcasts to improve your French this summer

Letters: UK banks are failing customers who live in France

American donates her father’s WW2 photos to French resistance museum

Grow beautiful hydrangeas in your French garden

Why do members of my family mock my life in France?

Remarkable summer gardens to see in France

Saint-Vaast-la-Hougue: the 'most beautiful harbour in France'

Grimod de La Reyière: France’s restaurant review pioneer

I sent my parents to Marseille… this is what they thought

Recipe: a seasonal apricot and blackberry ‘sunflower’ galette

A French 'courtroom drama' film recommendation

Guess the French phrase behind this photo clue...

Guess the French region with the help of this clue: Your Massalia carriage awaits

A comprehensive guide to living in Bordeaux

Discover Bordeaux: wine, food and culture

Bordeaux: from port city to wine haven

Learning French: vocabulary to use at a medical appointment in France

Why French gardeners prune and plant trees differently

How one man's fascination for the Canal du Midi in south-west France unravelled its secrets