The Chateau de Vaux-le-Vicomte lies in the lush countryside of Maincy, department Seine et Marne, Ile de France. The famous tapestry makers Gobelins were once based here before being ordered to set up shop in Paris by Louis XIV. They remain in Paris, creating their extraordinary designs to this day. They were not alone in […]
The Norman city of Rouen is brimming with historical gems. Located just a 90-mile drive northwest of Paris, Rouen is perhaps best known for its 4th-century Gothic cathedral that so inspired Impressionist painter Claude Monet. In addition to its architecture, Rouen has a reputation as a great center for the literary arts. Authors Gustave Flaubert […]
Samoens is a charming village in the Haute-Savoie region of France. Not just perfect for skiing and snow fun in the winter, in the summer it’s just like living in a large playground. There is so much to do, the only problem is deciding which activities to pick. Luckily ZigZag Samoëns’ outdoor adventure specialists based right […]
Paris is indisputably one of the best food cities in the world. Its marvelous markets and shops touting eye-popping drool-inducing produce, pastries, chocolates and more, are fodder for thousands of food blogs, and there are enough neo bistros and restaurants to keep food reviewers busy for a lifetime just revisiting old chomping grounds. Writer, foodie […]
Join a fabulous guided tour of Bordeaux and the Loire Valley and discover the wine chateaux and Renaissance castles of these outstandingly beautiful regions. Wine chateaux and Renaissance castles Delight in exquisite landscapes while sampling some of the world’s finest wines. The châteaux on this tour are legendary and the wine is beyond compare. You’ll […]
The Good Life France Magazine – the Spring issue. As always it’s bursting with inspiration, filled with fabulous photos and packed with articles on places, to go, culture, gastronomy and life in France. It’s completely free to read online or download a PDF, you can subscribe for free and share it with your friends […]
Established in 1999 Villas du Monde started out on a mission to become the leading villa holiday agency in France from its office in Paris which was surrounded by numerous foreign embassies a short walk from the place de la Concorde. Given its strategic location and well-presented brochure it was not surprising that many well […]
The Chateau de Blois is one of the great castles of the Loire Valley. This beautiful castle is famous for its residents but also because it presents a unique view of the evolution of French chateaux architecture. Buildings dating from the 13th to 17th centuries are set before you. The stone markers of time from […]
To enjoy Provence in the fall is one of life’s most beautiful pleasures. The shades of autumn colour the vineyards and tree lined squares and avenues. The rays of the sun seem more golden than at their bright summer peak, making everything they touch glow and shimmer like a magical paint brush has daubed the […]
There are thousands of restaurants in Paris and choosing where to go for dinner when you’re only in the city for a short while can be a challenge. Long term American expat in Paris., writer and foodie Barbara Paquet-James reveals where Parisians go when they want to indulge in a luxurious dinner in the city… […]
The perfect side dish for a barbecue, these roasted tomatoes from Provence call for a glass of chilled rosé and some delicious grilled meat or fish. They also use herbs that are classic in southern France, and often called herbes de Provence in France. Prep time: 5 minutes • Cook time: 20 minutes • Serves 4 […]
An elegant interior of marble fireplaces, ceiling high, gilt-edged mirrors, crystal chandeliers and ornate furniture formed an unlikely backdrop for a beer and food matching dinner with a twist. This was no ordinary setting and no ordinary dinner! The Brewers Association, a not-for-proft trade body representing small and independent American craft brewers, was the guest […]
Salvador Dalí loved Paris but few realize the Catalan artist resided for a time, at 7 rue Becquerel in Montmartre. Today close to his former home, there is a museum-gallery which contains hundreds of his works. Espace Dalí museum-gallery The Espace Dalí museum-gallery is located in the heart of the hilltop artists’ village in Montmartre. It contains the […]
Robert Tatin was an extraordinary French artist whose home in the lush department of Mayenne, Pays de la Loire in north west France, became a museum. You may never have heard of him but once you see his house and art, you’re unlikely to forget it. Robert Tatin Robert Tatin was born in 1902 in […]
Artist Susan Faye, a British expat in France, has always been passionate about animals, especially dogs. As a child she says she would bring home any dog she found roaming the streets but wasn’t allowed to keep them until at the age of 16, when her parents agreed she could bring home ‘Shonti’, a […]
If you want to indulge with a delicious ice cream in the city of light, you won’t find any shortage of choice. There are pretty ice cream parlours, awesome artisans shops making unusual and delicious flavours and plenty of scope for a scoop of something to indulge your sweet tooth. Here are some of the […]
The area of Gascony, The Gers, is bordered on the west by the Atlantic Ocean, the south by the Pyrénées mountains, the east by Toulouse and the north by the vineyards of Bordeaux. It’s a region that’s sprinkled with ancient Roman ruins and humble bastides and it remains as historically rich as it was in […]
Following a huge project to expand the site of NAUSICAA, the French National Sea Centre in Boulogne-sur-Mer (France), will from May 2018 be one of the largest aquariums in the world. A truly massive aquarium The new building is in the shape of a Manta Ray. It’s home to one of the largest aquariums […]
Charlotte Field from the UK talks about life as an expat in charming Chinon, Loire Valley where she has lived for eight years and works as a local agent for Leggett Immobillier, the award winning French Estate Agency… Where are you from and how did you come to be living in France? I was brought […]
When it comes to paying tax, for UK expats in France, it can sometimes seem like a complicated process with rules for this and that. We answer some of the most common questions that UK expats ask when it comes to tax in France. Question: I moved to France last year. I have a teacher’s pension […]
When it comes to managing your finances in France, knowing what the rules are is essential. From tax to pensions, savings and investments and more, we look at the most common questions asked by expats. The process of gifting in France Question: I want to make a gift of cash of £20,000 to my son […]
I have a home in the north of France, known for its lush and gorgeous countryside. There’s a reason its so green though, it rains a fair bit. I don’t mind, I’m from the UK, we Brits are used to that sort of weather. Every now and again though, I hanker after a bit of […]
Holiday makers in France often love what they find – the relaxing lifestyle, sunshine and food. Before long, thoughts can turn to creating a long-term relationship with this beautiful country. Finding your home Begin by drawing up the list of things you need to factor into your buying decision. Basic points, such as the number […]
I’m one of those people that loves to search online for property. I am looking for the bargain of the century! I have a little bit of money but not a lot. It’s not earning me any interest in the bank that’s for sure. So, if the right property comes up, I might just be […]
Have you ever seen a ghost in Paris? Many say they have… Paris has ghosts in abundance. We can search for them and find them, then shudder as we feel their closeness to us. The spirits of historical events litter the timeless landmarks of the great capital. Notre Dame Cathedral, the Opera, the parks and […]
Here in France the weather has been absolutely superb, blue skies with no clouds, warm sunshine, blossom everywhere, bees flitting and cuckoos calling. That can only mean one thing in my house – time to get the cement mixer out! It might be perfect weather for a picnic but chez nous, it’s also ideal for […]
Night Nurse Needed – Should be young and pretty. This was the ad Henri Matisse placed with the nursing school in Nice, France in 1942. He was seventy-two years-old and still working while recovering from a serious surgery. He required constant care and needed someone to fill in while his regular night nurse was away. […]
Have you ever seen a ghost in Paris? Many say they have… Paris has ghosts in abundance. We can search for them and find them, then shudder as we feel their closeness to us. The spirits of historical events litter the timeless landmarks of the great capital. Notre Dame Cathedral, the Opera, the parks and […]
Charlotte Field from the UK talks about life as an expat in charming Chinon, Loire Valley where she has lived for eight years and works as a local agent for Leggett Immobillier, the award winning French Estate Agency… Where are you from and how did you come to be living in France? I was brought […]
Night Nurse Needed – Should be young and pretty. This was the ad Henri Matisse placed with the nursing school in Nice, France in 1942. He was seventy-two years-old and still working while recovering from a serious surgery. He required constant care and needed someone to fill in while his regular night nurse was away. […]
France, especially in the north, has long had aeroplanes and aviation entrenched in its genes. There have been many great French air pioneers both male and female. Louis Bleriot was born in Cambrai and he was perhaps one of the greatest exponents. Louis Bleriot, Aviator Bleriot, from his earliest adult days, had an instinct for […]
Paris is the most visited Tourist destination in the world, it’s probably the most photographed too! We never tire of seeing pictures of the beautiful city of light. These photos of Paris are by photographer John Woods from Madison, Wisconsin, US. He and wife Nancy say any time is good to take a photo in […]
The town of Vallespir, Céret, formerly in the region Languedoc-Roussillon, now the newly created super region of Occitanie, has a beautiful stone bridge spanning the river Tech. Built over twenty years between 1321 and 1341, it had, at the time, the longest single stone arch of any in the world. Known as the Pont du […]
We talk to Sandra Iskander, Editor of Where Paris Magazine. She reveals how she moved from Australia to become a Parisienne, and she shares an insider’s view of where to go and what to see in Paris… When was your first visit to Paris? It was back in 2004 that I visited Paris for the […]
Girton, Cambridge. Nice house, good jobs, lovely friends. The most frequent question I’m asked is, ‘Why did you leave the UK?’ The most honest answer is that we left because we could. I mean, why not? We were happy in Girton, but sometimes it’s a case of wanting to do something different, something a little […]