Magazine

‘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

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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

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

'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

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...

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

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

'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

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

What does a maître cirier do in France?

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

Tips for achieving peony perfection in your French garden

May is the moment for beautiful peonies

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

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

The war grave gardeners who became French Resistance heroes

Many remained in France during the occupation

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

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

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

Curiosities of the French language: The jolly month of mai

The French word for the fifth month of the year shares its pronunciation with several common words

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

Recipe: White soup with bacon, roasted shallot and grilled hazelnuts

Cook like a Michelin chef

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

Magazine

‘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

Trending

Three reported dead, two missing as violent storms hit southern France

New UK-EU deal: What could change for Britons in France?

VPNs ordered to block illegal sports streaming sites in France

Homeowner in France must remove security camera as it records public road

Roads, stations, and airport disrupted as taxi driver protests continue in south of France

Learning French: understanding three words originating from Marseille

UK-EU summit: Will British travellers be allowed to use e-gates in EU?

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

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

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

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

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

Letters: Brexit voters in France cannot blame the Remain campaign

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

'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'

Curiosities of the French language: The jolly month of mai

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'

What does a maître cirier do in France?