France's Fête de la Rosière embraces modern values This traditional festival now celebrates civic engagement, moving beyond its historical focus on virtue
French team build faithful replica of William the Conqueror’s warship Visitors to the Normandy site can experience a voyage on La Mora in virtual reality
Five things they don’t tell you about… school kermesses in France We look at how fundraisers for the local church turned into annual school parties that are a huge part of French village life
magazine Films and series to watch to improve your French in July Work on your language skills and celebrate the annual Fête du cinéma
Fête du cinéma to open with new adaptation of classic French novel The 2024 event will feature 44 films including a mix of local and international releases
French heavy metal music festival launches kids spin-off Organisers hope special event at Hellfest will inspire interest in the genre for 'the younger generation'
June 2024: Catch up with French history: 10, 50 and 100 years ago From the presidency of François Hollande to that of Gaston Doumergue with an erotic film between them
Fête de la musique 2024: France’s giant June 21 street party Musical performances up and down the country will celebrate the nation’s rich musical heritage
How France's Cluny abbey shone before its downfall Do you know the story behind this majestic abbey's decadence and subsequent demise?
Iconic 'French liberty' painting returns to the Louvre Symbol of France returns to museum after six months of repair work
How you can fly to Nice, Paris, Marseille, or Bordeaux from the cockpit Flight simulators are becoming an increasingly popular activity or gift, as Samantha David found when taking a plane for a virtual spin along the French Riviera
Watch: the UK and US celebrities that speak excellent French From Johnny Depp to Serena Williams, listen to these English-speaking celebrities who have impressive level of French
5 films and series to watch to improve your French in June From gruelling documentaries to heartwarming comedies, there is something for everyone on our list
D-Day commemorations: What events are happening around France? In France, do you know your porcherie from your pigeonnier? How to give one hour a month to your local community in France French idea lets you read social media family news in print format
Chance to discover France’s opera houses - and music - for free Opera weekend provides all-ages access to a different cultural world and the different workers behind performances Five things they don’t tell you about... coffee in France TV and films to improve your French in May Opinion: Another week off – how I love living in France How to deal with small French village mentality Influence of war’s Vichy regime still present in France
One of France’s main music festivals at risk of closure ‘If nothing changes the 2024 edition could be the last’ say organisers of Les Vieilles Charrues
What is the #PasDeVague movement in France? A new film starring François Civil in cinemas focuses on viral social media movement, but what is it actually about?
‘Beautiful’ Benjamin Franklin letter from France for sale in US The founding father was in France to garner support for the American revolution
Eating faux-pas: habits to avoid when dining in France From ignoring fellow guests to hogging the cheese board, we take a look at the ultimate no-nos when dining in France.
Why you won’t be hearing church bells much in France for a few days A trip to Rome, a visit to the Vatican, and lots of chocolate eggs: Where the bells go at Easter
La politesse: what habits can make you seem rude to French people? Sometimes it can be all too easy to commit a cultural faux pas without even realising it. We look at some of the most common
French photographer who captured US history gets retrospective in Nice The exhibition details how Henri Dauman made a name for himself without expensive equipment or even press accreditation
What would you include if compiling a quiz about France? Columnist Nick Inman prepares a syllabus to help you become a French quiz whizz
6 films and series for February to improve your French Dramas, thrillers, and cult comedies all make this month’s list
Oscar-nominated Anatomy of a Fall is masterclass in multilingual life The film’s memorable scenes show how speaking multiple languages can be a symbol of compromise, challenges, and power dynamics
Five things they do not tell you about the bourgeoisie in France From fashion to holidays, we take a humorous look at the bourgeois life
Golden Globes awards for French film Anatomy of a Fall The multilingual drama picked up two awards at the glittering ceremony
2023 was a good year for French cinemas: The top ten films French-made films also did well during a bumper year for post-Covid cinema seat sales
French Palaeolithic cave art shows deep human connection with animals Nature watcher Jonathan Kemp goes underground to marvel at the bison, deer and aurochs drawn 14,000 years ago
President opens 'first-ever’ centre dedicated to French language The chateau where François I ruled that French, not Latin, should be used has been renovated to celebrate the fun and vitality of the language
7 places to visit in France for free with this weekend’s Heritage Days We list some sites that are not yet full for reservations - but be quick
Paris’s ‘Love Lock Bridge’ closed for repairs but won’t deter couples Pont des Arts, which once partially collapsed under the weight of padlocks, is to have rotten planks replaced in the latest chapter of its fascinating history
Where some of world’s best-known artists found inspiration in France From Nice to Rouen via Arles, we look at the French locations that fired artists’ imaginations
Centre yourself in the wine-making, historical heart of France We explore the central department of Cher, where visitors can step back in time in the medieval city of Bourges, mess about in boats, or sample some world-famous wine
From bagpipes to bicycles: up and coming arts and culture in France We look at some of the events and happenings coming up this summer
Scottish organisation dedicated to alliance with France We talk to the Head of the Scottish Government Office in France
Celebrate haggis, whisky, and the Auld Alliance in France Discover the ancient friendship between Scotland and France lives on through a host of festivals in the Hexagon, with traditional music, games, and men in kilts
Orient Express deluxe renovation is project of French national pride Discovered original carriages are being restored in France to their Art Deco splendour ready for passengers in 2025
The French obsession with how long baguettes are baked for Whether ‘blanc’ or ‘bien cuite’, a baguette’s cooking time is an increasingly divisive topic for the French
How French chocolate bars inspired Willy Wonka One of the oldest chocolate brands in activity, Bonnat’s first factory opened in 1884
La dictée: How a spelling test took over France A simple dictation exercise for schoolchildren was central to the construction of the French nation
The only six women in history to be ‘reburied’ in the French Panthéon We celebrate the women deemed worthy to lie in Paris’s special ‘hall of fame’
Poto, ami, le sang de la veine: How to say friends in French Fluent French speakers have countless words to express a friendship with each other. The Connexion helps you avoid a faux pas
Straight to the (needle) point in Alençon, France We unpick the history of the Queen of Lace and Lace of Queens in Alençon
Five French civil wars - from Charlemagne to the Paris Commune We look at five of the most important conflicts fought on French territory
Olympics, carnival, Tour de France: Cultural events in France in 2023 We look at how to get Olympics tickets, the mascot controversy and other events to look forward to
France’s mediaeval ‘bear hunt’ festivals added to Unesco heritage list The Fête de l’Ours now takes place in just three villages in south-west France each February, and celebrates the end of winter
Arts and culture France: singer tours aged 93, Marie-Antoinette series A round-up of the stories creating a buzz in French art, literature and entertainment
Longest name, furthest from Paris – five facts about French communes Your commune is an important part of living in France, we share some interesting commune-related trivia
Arts and culture France: Rolling Stones plates, arthouse cinema threat A round-up of the stories creating a buzz in French art, literature and entertainment
Books with a link to France November 2022 - The 20 minute review We read recent releases with a link to France. To be fair, each gets 20 minutes’ reading time
Five famous historical French figures who were exiled to Britain Some loved it, some hated it, we share the stories of five exiles who fled across the Channel
Books with a link to France October 2022 - The 20 minute review We read recent releases with a link to France. To be fair, each gets 20 minutes’ reading time
Four albums recorded in France and one song that should have been We look at which bands used French recording studios and the most French sounding song recorded in London
Basque houses have timeless appeal – we look at their history Know your coastal ‘Labourdine’, the ‘Navarre’ style along the Spanish border, and the ‘Souletine’ of the Béarn region
From banking to wine: four surprising Scottish-French ties There is plenty more binding the two nations together than a historic mistrust of the English
Celtic nations descend on France to celebrate shared ancestry Expect big parades, plenty of pipes and a sort of Celtic ‘battle of the bands’ at the Brittany extravaganza
'Paintings from Van Gogh were not designed to float around people' Philosophers express concern over immersive art. Does it dumb down masterpieces and make us more anti-social?
Irish film festival celebrates French cinema with historic French ship A 126-year-old ship, which was classified as a Monument historique in 1984, sailed into Cork and served as the centre of the festival’s opening
Art: France’s long history of copying Old Masters at the Louvre The rules of reproduction today are strict - copies must be a fifth larger or smaller than the original - and there is a two year waiting list
Five regions in France that have not always been French Here are five slices of the modern ‘hexagon’ that used to belong to a different country
Brittany's new 'Stonehenge' site will reconnect us to roots Philippe Abjean’s latest project in Brittany, StoneBreizh, will highlight the region’s cultural history since the Neolithic period
Do you have Breton 'name bowls'? Here is how they are made These bowls have become a staple of French cabinets and breakfast tables
Brexit and Covid mean the last true French Onion Johnnies have gone Ending the 200-year-old tradition of Breton farmers taking their famous onions to the UK to sell. One Onion Johnnie shares his story
Discover this French cobbler’s Harry Potter-esque workshop La cordonnerie du Vieux-Nice , a shoe repair shop, opened in 2019 in the winding streets of Nice’s quaint old town
The story of Paris’ drinking fountains gifted by a UK donor in 1870s Sir Richard Wallace, a 19th century UK philanthropist in Paris, invented the fountains so the poor would have clean water
Paris looks for new ‘bouquinistes’ to run book cabins next to Seine ‘Being a bouquiniste is more about loving people than loving books,’ one owner told The Connexion
Elton John, Bowie, Queen: many A-list stars have recorded in France Hits such as (in part) Pink Floyd’s The Wall and the Bee Gees’ Saturday Night Fever were born at the iconic music studios Le Château d’Hérouville or Super Bear
Brad Pitt to revive legendary music studio based in his French chateau Big names such as AC/DC and Sting have recorded at Miraval Studios in the past. Damien Quintard, who Pitt has asked to manage the studio, tells us about the project
Le Petit Prince manuscript travels from US to France for first time The work, which was intended to help American and French children forget about the hardships of the war, will be displayed in Paris. We look at its popularity, themed-bookstores and amusement parks
Ile-de-France: Navigo pass now used in 300 cinemas, theatres and more Almost four million users of the transport pass can now use it to gain access - and get discounts, offers and gifts - at hundreds of participating venues
Monet museum is named best in France based on visitor reviews The Parisian museum beat world-famous attractions such as the Louvre and Musée d’Orsay to the number one spot
City of Nantes’ transformation thanks to its cultural scene In 1989 when Jean-Marc Ayrault was elected maire, he had a plan: What the city needed was a booming cultural scene
8 ways to appreciate French heritage (and for free) this weekend The European Heritage Days are a great opportunity to discover more about France. Here is our pick of eight activities or visits avalable in different regions, some of which are not often open or accessible to the public