Langres in the Haute-Marne region of Champagne is a sleepy sort of a town where people are friendly and say hello to strangers. It wasn’t always so. The original Chateau de Pailly which was built in the 11th century was destroyed by the people of Langres. They acted in retaliation for the Burgundian owner’s support […]
A week in Morzine – it’s not all about the snow The Portes du Soleil area is one of the largest ski areas in the world. It includes 13 resorts (both Swiss and French) and roughly 650 km of marked ski and snowboard runs. There are 14 valleys and nearly all of the runs are […]
From 22-24 September 2017, France celebrates the annual ‘Fete National de la Gastronomie’. It’s a nationwide annual festival of French cuisine, now in its seventh year. The idea was born when the gastronomy of France became UNESCO listed under the banner of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Fete de la Gastronomie France All over France, […]
I’m thrilled to share with you the Autumn issue of The Good Life France Magazine. It’s completely free to read online, free to download a PDF and free to subscribe to – and it always will be. The Good Life France Magazine Autumn issue Click here for: The Good Life France Magazine Autumn 2017 This […]
To many, the sound of gypsy jazz, or Jazz manouche in French, is the quintessential sound of France. Upbeat, uplifting, joyful and oh so French. When you hear the lilting music, it instantly conjures up an image in your mind of a 2cv clattering down an empty road, chickens at the window, sunflowers in the […]
A trip to Provence is often the trip of a lifetime. It’s a very special place and when you visit, you want to have a very special time and to create unique experiences and memories that you’ll cherish for ever. Martine Bertin-Peterson at Gout et Voyage puts it this way “if you want to experience […]
Vaux-Le-Vicomte is a chateau with a dark past. It was once the home of a favoured Minister of Louis XIV who only got to enjoy its beauty for a very short while. Nicolas Fouquet was the Finance Minister of the King and a man who appreciated the finer things in life. He commissioned the design, […]
Join a once in a lifetime experience. Exclusive, luxurious with the best French wines, gourmet food and Michelin star restaurants in enchanting Burgundy and Provence. This is a 6 star trip for those who really want to experience the luxury lifestyle. Don’t expect a regular cruise with half a day at a port here […]
In days long gone, wallpaper was made by hand. It was time consuming and specialist and these days wallpaper is made by machines. But, there are still two companies left in France where the 17th century hand and wood block form of printing is still used as it has been for hundreds of years. Atelier […]
Olive oil is at the heart of French cooking, particularly in the south of France. The great French chef Alain Ducasse said “If my cuisine were to be defined by just one taste, it would be that of subtle, aromatic, extra-virgin olive oil”. He didn’t specify that it should be French but we’re sure he […]
I could tell you that Avignon is the heart of Provence – it is. I could tell you that it’s a place of history and culture – it is. But what you might not know is that Avignon is a place to savour – quite literally I mean, because this is a town that’s full […]
Avignon is a fabulous foodie destination. The sunny city, the heart of Provence has bars, cafes, bistros and restaurants galore. Just wander and you will find places that are feast for the eyes and the soul as well as the stomach, such as these 10 restaurants and bars that the locals love… Appeals to all […]
In French, even a simple word sounds so classy and chic that many non French speakers fall in love with the language. It also has some beautiful ways of getting a message across. For example, in French we do not say “I miss you” instead we say “Tu me manques” which means “you are missing […]
So, what would YOU do if you lost your house? Panic, desperately search for another one and then take anything you can get? Well, when this happened to Americans Michael and Lisa, they decided to take the glass half full approach. When their rental home was no longer available, they put their furniture into storage […]
Most people visit the Loire Valley for its stunning chateaux, wonderful vineyards, historic cities, gorgeous gardens and beautiful villages. But for something different you might like to pop to the Fondation du Doute (which translates as the Fondation of Doubt) in Blois. In the shadow of the castle that dominates this town, you can’t miss […]
Happily, one-of-a-kind bookshops are alive, well and thriving in Paris, and everyone seems to have their favorites. More than just stop-offs to find a good read, these three are slightly off-the-radar and provide just enough zip and zing to keep me coming back. LIBRAIRIE ALAIN BRIEUX It is no accident that Librairie Alain Brieux is […]
Avignon has plenty to offer everyone whatever their age. From the Palais to the Papes to the famous Pont d’Avignon there are grand monuments and small in this lovely ancient city. If you’re looking for family activities for you and the kids, Avignon doesn’t disappoint. Little train tour of Avignon Visit Avignon in a fun […]
Dunkirk. It’s reputation sits alongside Agincourt, Waterloo and The Charge of the Light Brigade as one of the most defining military events in British History. All have been bought to the silver screen with big budget films and Christopher Nolan’s blockbuster ‘Dunkirk’ is the latest. Whilst Dunkirk is a name firmly entrenched in the British […]
Many of you reading this will be no stranger to the vagaries and volatility associated with the currency markets. It is a major consideration in any expatriates’ life unless they have severed all ties with the UK and have fully committed to a Francophile existence and at no time in recent history has it been […]
Tim and Ingrid Bell moved from Lancaster, UK to Auvergne… They took over the Auberge de Chabanettes which has a long and colourful history, a familiar landmark in this part of rural France for over 150 years. In bygone years, it served as a butchers shop, an abattoir and a petrol station, but never lost […]
These days, taking your dog on holiday with you is fairly simple. Plenty of B&B, gites and even hotels are dog friendly. But what if you want to take your dog on a ski holiday in France? It’s not that common but it’s perfectly doable – we tried it! Taking your dog on a skiing […]
So how did you learn to point a barn? My neighbours looked impressed and wide eyed as they spotted me up the local farmer’s ladder, balanced on a timber decking, tapping away at the crumbling stone jointing. But pointing a barn is not so very technical and needs no special courses or experience – just […]
Many of us think of the Cote d’Azur as a place of dreams that we’ll never be able to afford. It’s where the millionaires go – but we don’t all have millions. However, it doesn’t have to be that way. We talked to local agent Tim Clark about property in the area and discovered that […]
We talk to Mathilde de Saint Martin who lives in Landes in south west France. Landes is one of those places that the French love and foreigners rarely hear of. With 100km of sandy beaches and numerous resorts on the Atlantic Coast; inland there are forests and valleys with picturesque villages and Roman ruins. It’s […]
Author Antony Mason shares his reasons to love France and though there are many, the culture, Paris and Ile de Re have a special place in his heart… Where was your first visit to France? Paris, or Maisons-Lafitte to be more precise. I was born in the UK but christened in the Anglican Church of […]
It is often said that to really get to know a place you must get off the main roads and take the quiet detours instead. This is especially true of France, where the main roads are so very efficient at whisking you through whole regions, and where the detours are truly quiet and have many […]
Monday 4 September signals la rentrée in France. I love this time of the year even though it means the summer is over. It’s when everyone returns to work, to school and normality after the long summer holidays and there’s a feeling of enthusiasm and joy in the air. Better yet, the shops are all […]
Tim and Ingrid Bell moved from Lancaster, UK to Auvergne… They took over the Auberge de Chabanettes which has a long and colourful history, a familiar landmark in this part of rural France for over 150 years. In bygone years, it served as a butchers shop, an abattoir and a petrol station, but never lost […]
Author Antony Mason shares his reasons to love France and though there are many, the culture, Paris and Ile de Re have a special place in his heart… Where was your first visit to France? Paris, or Maisons-Lafitte to be more precise. I was born in the UK but christened in the Anglican Church of […]
It is often said that to really get to know a place you must get off the main roads and take the quiet detours instead. This is especially true of France, where the main roads are so very efficient at whisking you through whole regions, and where the detours are truly quiet and have many […]
Monday 4 September signals la rentrée in France. I love this time of the year even though it means the summer is over. It’s when everyone returns to work, to school and normality after the long summer holidays and there’s a feeling of enthusiasm and joy in the air. Better yet, the shops are all […]
10 years ago, we found it, the house of our dreams, and, from time to time, nightmares! Perhaps I should back up and explain where we were coming from. I had spent 30 years of my working life in the Pharmaceutical Industry, a job which had taken my wife and I, and our children, all […]
“If you are lucky enough to have lived in Paris as a young man, then wherever you go for the rest of your life, it stays with you, for Paris is a moveable feast.” Ernest Hemingway, A Moveable Feast It doesn’t just stay with you, you hanker after it forever more… What makes us fall in […]
On a warm sunny day, there’s no better way to get around Paris than with a Velib bike. Bike friendly Paris has installed hundreds of Velib bike rental stations for locals and tourists alike. Author Michael Barry shares his bike riding in Paris experience… Velib bikes in Paris For a small daily or weekly fee, […]
Bonjour I’m astounded to find that it’s almost the end of summer. How did that happen? I feel like it’s gone by in such a whirl this year, perhaps because I didn’t take a break. It’s been that sort of year for me. What with writing a book and getting it published which takes time, […]