Magazine culture

Bordeaux's hidden stories revealed by hand-drawn maps

Architect Nicolas Coury captures Bordeaux's essence through a community-driven, memory-filled map.

Why are so many places in Normandy named -ville?

Unique history of region sees many settlements with same name ending

Six films and TV shows to improve your French this rentrée

From cultural references to new vocabulary, watching films in French is essential for your progress

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Unmissable September events in France: antiques, art and cinema

Explore top attractions this month, including Lille's antiques fair and Le Havre's art festival

Why rap artists are the new French poets

Julien Barret - an author with a particular interest in rap music and the French language - tells columnist Théophile Larcher how the meaning of words is shaped by culture

Podcasts and exhibitions: four French cultural ideas

Find inspiration for outings and a way to deepen your knowledge of France

Basque houses have timeless appeal, cultural significance, and historic charm

These traditional houses in the western Pyrenees are known as etche or etxe in local dialect

Three French-themed books to read in August

A novel set in Provence, a recipe book and a French language-themed colouring book

Toulouse exhibition celebrates the elegance of French air travel

New exhibition shows off the enduring style of Air France

Uncovering France's Easter Island statues

There are five statues in various locations across France

Exhibition: see inside the iconic pavilion of a French prefab architect

Ferdinand Fillod was a French pioneer of prefabricated metal buildings. One of his most famous creations was rescued from ignominy and put on display not far from Perpignan

Breton name bowls: 'People are no longer interested in the traditional craft'

These bowls have become a staple of French cabinets and breakfast tables, but how are they really made?

Five things to do in France in August

A photo festival, a light show, and a fashion exhibition... we suggest four upcoming events for your cultural calendar

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

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

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

Paris Nuit Blanche 2025: join in this weekend’s ‘all night’ free culture festival

Dozens of galleries, museums, and art spaces are holding events and tours

From chicken-shaped cabins to alcoholic seafood soup: eight quirky facts about Vienne

This department, located in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region, has some interesting, yet unexpected features

Magic of 800-year-old natural light display returns to historic French abbey

Art historian Dr Julia Faiers discovers how a medieval PR campaign about a saint’s holy relics determined the rags-to-riches story of Vézelay Abbey in Burgundy

Tourteau fromagé: The French delicacy known as 'the cheesecake of Poitou'

We speak to a tourteau specialist to learn about the history of this beloved French delicacy... and how to bake one

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

Jane Austen wins more French fans thanks to new translation

'I wanted to find a way to give the French public a different perception', says translator

Iconic Paris cinema restored to its Art Deco glory

Architects set out to modernise Le Grand Rex while respecting its original design

Ballet lessons bring health benefits to over-55s in France

Online classes with the Silver Swans are transforming lives of older adults

Chauvet cave in south of France is slowly revealing its secrets

3D technology is revolutionising our understanding of 36,000-year-old paintings in the Chauvet Cave in Ardèche

Five famous April Fools' pranks played on the French public

The French media have pulled some classic ‘poissons d’Avril’ - here are five of the best

How does France’s April Fools’ Day differ from that in UK or US?

It is in schools where we see a real French peculiarity

Three French art and culture recommendations

Impressionist masterpieces in Aix-en-Provence, a stylish Louvre exhibition, and a crime series to watch

English-language poets in France showcased in new anthology

29 poets from a stanza group worked together on the collection

How France looks after its historical treasures

Emmanuel Pénicaut, director of collections at Mobilier national, explains the organisation’s vital role

Photos: Paris exhibition explores what people do alone at home

Behind the curtain: L’Intime Expo takes a fascinating look at people's private lives

Comment: French plan to upgrade Louvre is long overdue

A €900million revamp of the the museum has been announced by President Macron

'Montpellier is an international city, so it should have an international opera house'

This American in France is the youngest ever music director of the Opéra Orchestre national Montpellier

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

Exploring the unique blend of courtesy and obstinacy behind French counters

PHOTOS: French villagers had no idea their neighbour was an acclaimed American artist

Frances Butler exhibited in some of the world’s leading museums, including the Victoria & Albert and British Museum in London

Photos: These are France’s top five most visited national monuments in 2024

How many have you been to?

British illustrator is a star in the Franco-Belgian world of comics

We speak to Posy Simmonds MBE, winner of one of the most prestigious awards for graphic novelists

Discover the capital of comics books in the west of France

We hear from the advisers of Angoulême's museum ahead of the festival which runs from January 29 to February 2

Photos: Magical images as Lyon launches its 25th Fête des Lumières

Stunning light shows take place in the evenings at 32 different venues

Ancient Gaulish village unearthed in south-west France

Discoveries by local farmers spark significant archaeological excavations, revealing a fortified settlement

Learning French: the origins and meaning of impossible n’est pas français

This patriotic proverb was also a presidential campaign slogan

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

France celebrates a century of naturism

Marseille exhibition lays bare the continuing allure of French naturist culture

Amazon tests free book delivery despite law designed to ban it

E-commerce giant now offers free collection of books from its collection points across the country

Explore the idyllic Normandy village that inspired a tragic literary masterpiece

Shortlisted as one of France’s favourite villages, Ry was also the setting for Flaubert’s Madame Bovary

How France's high-rise housing solution to post-war boom became an urban nightmare

The grands ensembles, high-rise public housing units, were meant to provide desperately needed accommodation in big cities in the 1950s but the plan was abandoned only two decades later

Toulouse bishop consecrates the city as mechanical monsters run amok

A controversial street theatre featuring demonic figures prompts some Christian groups to condemn the 'satanic' representations

Five audiobooks to listen to improve your French

Classic works of French literature will deepen your understanding of the country’s culture and enhance your language skills

Who was France’s fiercest female pirate, the ‘Lioness of Brittany’?

After King Philip VI of France executed former noblewoman Jeanne de Belleville's husband for treason during the medieval Breton War of Succession, she turned to piracy to avenge his death

What does the French word ‘wesh’ mean and why is it being used in UK

Discover the origins of this informal interjection that is now part of London slang

Blacksmith’s historic and unusual home for sale in Rouen

The Maison Marrou, an iconic feature of the city of Rouen, is being sold by online auction

Francophonie: countries with the most French speakers apart from France

France is one of the top five most-spoken languages worldwide

Creative workshops boom in France as people flock to write

Millions are finding inspiration and community in affordable, diverse courses across French cities

Van Gogh’s final years exhibition extended for another year

It will be closed from September 30 to October 18 for additional works to be hung

Foires et fêtes d'automne: get ready for feasting, fun and French food at its finest

Mellow fruitfulness awaits as French towns and cities play host to celebrations of local produce and funfairs

French illusionist explores the magical spirit of the City of Light

Fabrice Ferra shares why ‘the essence of illusionism goes way beyond language and culture’

Which iconic French brands are the most beloved?

It is likely you have products from at least some of these marques in your home, even if you do not live in France

Paris zinc roof workers explain what makes their work so special

Roofers help maintain Paris’ unique skyline and may soon be on Unesco list

Guinguettes back in business as French seek the simple pleasures of life

The waterside restaurants, sometimes with dance floors and made famous in Impressionist paintings from the late 19th century, are flourishing again

Why one Normandy beach has German deckchairs

These ‘strandkorbs’ are popular and often fully booked - and have history dating back to 1880s

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… apéros in France

Pointers from courses to socially acceptable drinks

National heritage guardian helps to make history come alive for millions

The Centre des monuments nationaux has prepared its historic sites for the global spotlight

French crafts in focus: The art of leatherwork

Atelier Chabert in Nice transforms simple leather into exquisite creations

Five things they do not tell you about summertime in France

Another important insight on French life and culture, this time on how the French make the most of the hottest season

Rocketing sales lead to new English bookshop in Nice

Increasing demand leads to new off-shoot of Librairie Masséna

August 2024: Catch up with French history: 10, 50 and 100 years ago

From Macron becoming the fresh face in government, to a tricky balancing act and the first 'Deaflympics'

Profile: Rémi Gaillard, master prankster and the French 'Dom Joly'

The internet trickster has had French audiences howling with laughter for more than two decades

France's Fête de la Rosière embraces modern values

This traditional festival now celebrates civic engagement, moving beyond its historical focus on virtue

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'

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

Did you know: A Frenchman may have composed God Save The King

We speak to a researcher who explains the conflicting theories linking the British national anthem to Louis XIV

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