Normandy is a land of lush meadows, gorgeous beaches, bucolic countryside, picturesque villages, grand monuments and historic sites. It’s famous for its apples and cheese, delicious gastronomy and friendly people. It is the perfect place to get to know real, authentic France and there’s no better way to do that than with a local guide […]
Colmar, Strasbourg, fairy tale towns like Riquewihr, magical castles like Koenigsgbourg, a beautiful and delicious wine route, amazing gastronomy – Alsace has it all. And then some. If you want to discover the real Alsace, the most enchanting towns, the secrets of its cities, the Christmas markets, how to make famous flammekueche (the most scrumptious […]
Dordogne really does have something to please everyone. And, when it comes to families, there’s heaps to do for the kids too. Accommodation for families When taking kids on holiday, choosing the right accommodation right is a big part of a successful break. Chateau de Sadillac near Bergerac is the perfect holiday home for families […]
When Louis XIV was pondering over how to create the most magnificent palace the world had ever seen, one that truly showed off his glory and absolute power, he can’t have had any idea just how many people would tread in his footsteps and gaze in wonder at his legacy. The Chateau de Versailles is […]
Opera Garnier, Opera National de Paris or Palais Garnier, or more known commonly as the Paris Opera, whatever you call it, it’s generally considered to be one of the most important buildings in Paris. Opera Garnier | the Versailles of Opera Houses It’s actually not as old as you might think. In 1860, the city […]
Welcome to the Good Life France Magazine Summer 2019 – totally free to read and utterly brilliant. Click here to read The Good Life France Magazine Summer 2019 This is a free magazine, written by professional travel writers with a brief to tell it like it is and to seek out the best things to […]
Vanessa Howard and partner William gave up their jobs, sold their home and vintage clothing shop in Suffolk, England and arrived in France in June 2017. They had over several previous trips, built up a wish list for their perfect home. They wanted a house that came with potential for a gite or two, a […]
When it comes to the Cité du train at Mulhouse, you don’t to be a train buff or train spotter, an anorak or a ferroequinologist (someone who studies trains) to get steamed up about a visit. This incredible museum is a fabulous place on so many levels. History, engineering, social history but overall – it’s […]
Lille in northern France is one of the most cultural cities in the country. There are more than a dozen museums and art venues in the city and every three years or so Lille goes arty-party mad with a major several-months-long art festival known as Lille3000 in public buildings and the streets. Palais des Beaux […]
Neon green and more a syrup than the cream the name suggests – crème de menthe is a favourite in France where it was invented by a pharmacist called Emile Giffard. He worked as a dispensing chemist but he was also a gourmet and was intrigued by the digestive qualities of mint. In 1885 he […]
France might have the best bread in the world – baguettes, croissants, brioches, and much more. And don’t forget the pastries! Is there anything better than a rich French éclair? But what if you can’t eat any of it? An estimated 7% of the population has a gluten intolerance of one sort or another. Can […]
Queen Claude’s tart is a classic French dessert and definitely fit for royalty! It’s really easy to make and utterly delicious. The tart is made with plums known as Reine-Claude (greengage). The plums are named after Claude of France (1499-1524), the wife of Francis 1. If you love sweet, fruity tarts – you’ll love this […]
France is the most visited country in the world with a whopping 90 million people coming to discover its charms in 2018. It’s no wonder l’Hexagone as France is nicknamed by the French (due to its shape) is so popular: with a diverse landscape which includes mountains, glorious countryside, beautiful beaches, vineyards, historic cities and […]
Learning French can be difficult for many people. In fact, the internet has plenty of ways to learn French online. We’ve done the research and created a list of the 5 best ways to learn French on the internet. While some of these learning styles are obvious, some of the ways you can learn French […]
Part culinary memoir and part travelogue, Carole Bumpus gathered this compilation of intimate interviews, conversations, stories, and traditional family recipes in the kitchens of French families as she travelled throughout France. Reading Searching for Family and Traditions at the French Table you’ll join her as she explores Champagne caves/wineries and historic cathedrals, local farmers’ markets, […]
The majority of people who arrive at the port of Cherbourg in La Manche in Normandy, hit the road and head south. Or the Loire Valley, or somewhere else. Sometimes they stop at Mont Saint-Michel en route, and who can blame them, it’s one of the most famous sites of France. But, this Norman department […]
Royan in the south west of France, in Charente-Maritime, is a classified “Ville d’Art et d’Histoire”. This holiday resort combines the old world charm of the Belle Epoque with modern architecture, a buzzing port and sea front and plenty to see and do in the town and close by. Here’s what to see and do […]
Gorbio, France is a hilltop medieval village, high-up above Menton, in the south-eastern corner of the Côte d’Azur. This picturesque village is a secret place, seemingly forgotten by tourists. As with other historic perched villages, Gorbio has an impressive view, 354 meters above the Mediterranean Sea. You’ll find it in the craggy mountain side of […]
When Brits Angel Adoree and husband Dick Strawbridge swapped their 2-bedroom flat in Southend, Essex, and bought the fairy-tale-like Chateau-de-la-Motte Husson in Mayenne, Pays de la Loire for £280,000, their adventures were filmed for a British TV Show. Escape to the Chateau was a massive hit. Viewers were captivated as they watched the couple fall […]
Did you know that French banks may restrict the amount of money you can spend on your card. It’s something that regularly catches people out when they’re new to France. We asked the experts at Credit Agricole Britline, the French bank that speaks English, how to avoid this problem and all about French cards… How […]
Avis d’Impot is basically income tax in France. All tax residents of France are required to complete a form for the Avis d’Impot which includes reported income and the requirement for the date of submission may change. A general calendar of dates for tax notices is available online as well as by mail. Understanding your […]
France is renowned the world over for its outstanding collection of historic buildings. Châteaux in particular are strategically scattered the length and breadth of the country. And, many are for sale as private homes and hotels. What does Monument Historique mean? Simple barns, Cistercian abbeys, ancient fortresses and fairy tale châteaux all have one thing […]
The rural department of Deux-Sèvres, in Poitou-Charentes (part of Nouvelle Aquitaine) has a landscape of charming small villages and towns, waterways and lush green countryside. The name of the department literally means ‘two Sevrès’ as the sources of both the Sèvre Nantaise and Sèvre Niortaise rivers can be found here. The capital of the department, […]
Inside France is Home Hunts’ annual, full-colour report, providing analysis, insights and recommendations on how to find the best real estate investment opportunities in France. Free to download, it is packed with useful information and advice to help you secure your dream home in France – stress free and at the right price. How much […]
Bonjour Hope you had a great week. I’m sending you this newsletter from the back of a Harley Davidson as I’m on a road trip round the most northerly region of France. Join me on Instagram where I’ll be posting photos (and even a few videos) from the Chateau de Chantilly – where I’ll be […]
Bonjour Hope you had a great week. Here it feels like autumn is well on the way, there’s a chill in the air in the morning and at night, and the leaves are starting to turn golden in the trees. On my walk with the dogs this morning the signs for fall were clear, the […]
Bonjour Hope you had a great week. Wow – where did August go?! Is it just me or did it seem to whizz by? Here in France we’re all gearing up for la rentrée – the return to work and school after the long summer holidays. You might think everyone would be a bit fed […]
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Making friends in France isn’t difficult I’ve found. They don’t care if my French is not great or I get my grammar all wrong. They don’t even care that much that I am “Flop chef not Top Chef” and can barely grill a bit of French bread without spoiling it. But there are some things […]
Honfleur is a French fishing village in the department of Calvados, Normandy. It sits on the southern bank of the Seine estuary where the great river flows into the Atlantic Ocean. If you love authentic old French towns, then you will find Honfleur one of the most beautiful there is. What to see in Honfleur […]
The Lot-et-Garonne department is in the southwestern of the Nouvelle Aquitaine region (previously Midi-Pyrénées). It’s has been described as “the France that you always hoped existed but could never quite find”. It’s idyllic; a paradise… Discovering Fongrave I looked over at my friend as she was talking feverishly about the still, quiet beauty of the […]
If you’re looking for a fun way to visit northern France, Les Belles Echappees in Saint Omer fits the bill. Located within the peaceful Ferme de L’Abbaye at Clairmarais, this family run organisation hires out restored classic vintage vehicles. Choose from sparkling VW camper vans to prestigious Citroen 2CV cars and VW convertible Beetles. There’s […]
Sur le Pont d’Avignon L’on y danse, l’on y danse Sur le Pont d’Avignon L’on y danse tous en rond Many of us learned that song as kids, about the famous Pont d’Avignon in Provence (real name: Pont Saint-Bénézet). For those of us lucky enough to visit Avignon and see the bridge in all its […]
I love all my animals, five cats, three dogs, four geese, 13 ducks and 25 chickens. They’re part of the family though the birds don’t live in the house with us. At least not permanently. When they’re a bit poorly, I’ll bring them in for some TLC until they’re well enough to go out. Sometimes […]
I live part of the year in Provence and one day I was reading Le Monde and a headline about a “sexy politician” caught my eye. “Well, those are two words you don’t see together very often,” I thought. So I read the article and found out that there had been a poll asking French […]
It was lunchtime in the Saint-Germain-des-Prés area of Paris, and I was ravenous looking for a place to eat away from the usual tourist traps. I turned down a quiet street and saw the most unassuming bistro. In fact, I wouldn’t usually have considered going in but I decided to take a chance. As soon […]