La Petite Maison Devine, once a farmer’s cottage (built in 1790 – before the French Revolution) has been renovated by an architect to keep its authentic charm whilst offering a comfortable stay in a stunning location. This pretty town house has three floors of spacious rooms in the medieval village of Laurac le Grand, UNESCO […]
Welcome to the winter issue of The Good Life France Magazine. It’s a bumper issue and will definitely satisfy your French fix through the winter months! There are loads of fabulous features about some of the best places to visit in France including marvellous Marseille, home of Pastis, and brilliant Bordeaux which you can […]
I saw its swirling shape shimmering on the horizon from the train as I arrived in Bordeaux from Paris. A giant shiny coil on the landscape, futuristic and fabulous. What to see at the Museum of Wine Bordeaux La Cité du Vin is the first place I visited when I arrived and dumped my luggage […]
The Chateau d’Anet, in the town of Anet, in the Centre-Val de Loire, 78km from Paris was the family home of Diane de Poitiers. It’s one of the most beautiful chateaux that you’ve probably never heard of… Chateau d’Anet, the home of Diane de Poitiers Diane de Poitiers was the mistress of King Henri II […]
Dropping “my last ski trip was a short break in Arêches-Beaufort” into any ski based conversation is a bit of a polarising moment. The enlightened will beam from ear to ear, talk about the charm of the village, the enviable quality – and quantity – of the snow. And, inevitably, the wonderful cheese cooperative in […]
Bordeaux is often called the “Sleeping beauty” due to the massive transformation it has undergone in the last two decades. From a gloomy port city covered with dirty facades it has become one of France’s most popular metropoles. Bordeaux has long had a reputation for great wine and gastronomy, but it’s also a trendy hip […]
A short drive from Calais brings you to the town of Bethune in the Hauts de France region, department Pas de Calais. It’s not that well known on the tourist map, overlooked for its larger neighbours Lille and Arras as well as arty favourite Lens with its swanky branch of the Louvre. Bethune, northern France […]
Alsace is pretty much where modern Christmas started almost 500 years ago. It was the first place to hold a Christmas market, to have Christmas trees in homes and it’s where the Christmas bauble was invented! Located in north-eastern France, Alsace, like Lorraine, is unlike other French regions in that its culture is heavily influenced by its […]
Atout France, the French tourism agency, are a rich source of information for what’s on in France. For 2019 they put together a long list of events, festivities and new openings and we asked French Connections, the fabulous holiday rental company, to pick some of their favourite events for next year. La Voie des Vignes […]
La Maison Noilly Prat’s location is superb, next to Étang de Thau, a large lagoon in Marseillan, one of the oldest fishing villages in France. A few weathered bars, bistros and shops line the small multi-hued port. It’s a French Provencal postcard town come to life. The History of Noilly Prat Pascal, our guide, introduced […]
You may not know what a tian is, but if you’ve seen the movie Ratatouille, you’ll be familiar with a version of this presentation of vegetables sliced thinly, cooked and served in an elegant stack. The dish you see in the movie was created by Chef Thomas Keller (of The French Laundry, among other restaurants), […]
The gastronomy of Nice is part of its heritage. It’s one of only two cities in France to do so. Lyon, often called the gastronomic capital of France, is the other one. Lyon had better look out though because Nice is catching up. And, if you ask a Nicois, they will of course assure you […]
Le Mot Juste: How to Impress Tout le Monde with Your French A tiny but fabulous book of words – French words. The sort of words that roll of the tongue and sound delicious, romantic and so… well French! Imogen Fortes has pulled together a list of fabulous French words that are used in every […]
If you really want to improve your French, then a total immersion course in France is the very best way to do it. It’s also a lot of fun when you join Goût et Voyage, the taste and travel company, on their fabulous week long cultural and gastronomic full French immersion course in the heart […]
The river and gorges of the Tarn are well known and undoubtedly it’s worth losing yourself for a while here in what is the deepest canyon in France. But this really is a place where the vastness of nature meets the enormity of human creation. And, if the Pont du Gard transports you back to […]
Close to the awesome Millau Viaduct, and providing a surreal backdrop),is the ancient town of Millau. It’s home to a rich history and beautiful architecture, Roman pottery and fine leather glove making. It’s a pretty town and also a good place to stop off to enjoy a leisurely bite to eat and enjoy the stunning […]
Chartres is famous for its Gothic cathedral, a majestic masterpiece which totally surpasses expectations in real life. But there’s more to do and see in this ancient town. The best way to visit the ancient streets of Chartres is on foot. A good place to start is the tourist office which is in a Renaissance […]
The city of Chartres is in the department of Eure-et-Loir, region Centre-Val de Loire, in south west France. It’s famous all over the world for its UNESCO world heritage listed cathedral. No wonder, it is an extraordinary and wondrous gothic masterpiece, a major pilgrimage site to this day. It is the reason why most people […]
As an expat in France, when you search for a financial adviser, how can you be assured that they are right for you? In principle there are three categories of adviser: Tied, Restricted and Independent. Tied Advisers in France In France there are insurance company agents working almost in every town – they typically represent just […]
When it comes to celebrating your wedding in France, there’s loads of choice for romantic venues and places that will create the memories you want from your special day. If you want to have a party or celebration of your wedding in France – that’s easy, just pick a venue that’s in the area you […]
Mike Collins from the UK went to France as a young man to study languages. He got a job with a large company and in his job he travelled a lot around France. He loved discovering new places and new tastes and developed a penchant for snails, the very French foodie favourite. On a whim, […]
France’s Atlantic coastline offers something for everyone, from Brittany’s wild and rugged Finistère to the chic beach towns around La Rochelle, to surfing meccas around Biarritz. Liz Rowlinson asks the experts at Leggett Immobillier to pick five tempting places for you to consider… Starting in the north, where Brittany juts far out into the Atlantic, […]
Peter Friend, joint owner of the award winning B&B La Villa Mazamet in the Tarn shares his top tips. The villa has been named France’s top luxurious B&B for several years and, says Peter, there are lots of things you can do to make your own B&B have a better chance of success… Location Location […]
If you could start a new life in France, where would you go and what would you do? Out of the 4 million Brits currently living abroad, around 150,000 live in France. While the majority are over 55, according to an HSBC report, France is rated third in the world for families, partly because school […]
Bonjour Hope you had a great week. I’ve had the sort of week where things don’t quite go to plan. As a result, the winter magazine which I thought would be ready to reach you today, will in fact be next week. I hope the delay creates anticipation which makes it even better when it […]
Le Touquet is a smart, chic and delightful seaside town on the Opal Coast about 45 minutes from Calais. Famous for its lights, shops and art deco covered market place, Le Touquet makes for a lovely Christmas market visit. This year the gorgeous Le Touquet lights will be illuminated on Friday 30 November. The Christmas […]
Those who have discovered the old town of Boulogne-sur-Mer will be aware how very pretty this part of the port town is and at Christmas time it’s even more magical. Enter the old town through the immense stone gates cut into the high walls and discover a real winter wonderland. This is one of my […]
We talk to Suzanne Sutton who left the UK for Languedoc Roussillon, southern France. She’s an agent for the award-winning Leggett Immobillier French Estate Agents and says this sunny area is great for expats to live. Where do you live in France? I live in a little village of around 90 residents, called Granès, in […]
Mike Collins from the UK went to France as a young man to study languages. He got a job with a large company and in his job he travelled a lot around France. He loved discovering new places and new tastes and developed a penchant for snails, the very French foodie favourite. On a whim, […]
Sometimes I get France. And sometimes I don’t. Take the law for instance. In my local café in which the locals gather to gossip, a recent topic of debate was about the misfortunes of a baker who owns a boulangerie near Troyes in the Champagne region. He decided to open his boulangerie 7 days a […]
I first visited the Aude department in 2006 and found a rural area rich in history with great food, fabulous markets and a friendly, welcoming atmosphere. My hosts brought me to the river at Rennes Les Bains where hot water from deep under the ground pours out through a pipe in the wall. In the […]
We talk to American expat and tour guide Sue Aran who tells how her heart was won by a house in Gascony despite many trials and tribulations… My husband and I first travelled from Seattle, Washington to Gascony in May 2006 with a couple of friends, looking for a house to purchase together. All of […]
With its medieval towns and villages, wild impressive coastline and abundant forests, picturesque Brittany offers its visitors so much more than just homemade cider and galettes dripping in ham and cheese. Whole days can be devoted to meandering the narrow cobblestone streets and charming squares lined with crooked half-timbered houses. But, as night falls be […]
Saint Omer cathedral in northern France has grace and beauty. It doesn’t have the conventional architectural detail of sculpture encrusted entrance doors. But, it does contain priceless art works so typical of the great cathedrals of France. Here those artworks hang in dark, dusty corners without pomp and formality. Saint Omer cathedral has it’s own […]
The chances are that if you visit Provence from mid-June to mid-August – you have lavender on your mind and in your sights. Though Provence is well known for the fragrant purple blooms, it is not grown in abundance throughout the whole of Provence, though you will find fields of the purple blooms during your […]