There are some foods which epitomise the essence of gastronomic greatness – truffles are one of them. And good wine is another. The legendary “black diamonds” of Provence are revered as much top chefs as by local families. They’re added to artistic dishes by master chefs around the world and by keen cooks to enhance […]
The far north of France, known as Hauts de France comprising the departments Picardy, Pas-de-Calais and Nord is the perfect road trip destination. A land of castles, seaside resorts, forests and lakes. There are ancient towns and cities, gorgeous countryside and picturesque villages and even Champagne vineyards! If you’re after a road trip that takes […]
If you fancy hopping in the car, taking the ferry or train to France and enjoying a brilliant beach holiday without crowds – you’re in luck. We asked the experts at French Connections to tell us five of their favourite beach holiday locations in France that are uncrowded as well as fabulous. Pack the car […]
Castles you can visit easily in a day trip from Paris include Chenonceau, the gorgeous Castle of Flowers, enchanting Chantilly and fabulous Fontainebleau. If you’re in Paris, we know you’ll have plenty to do and see, but the chateaux of France are super special and when it’s this easy to visit, it really adds something […]
I’m not quite sure if there’s anywhere else you’d see waltzing Frenchmen together with a waiter sporting a furry shark’s head hat and a group of cynical journalists practising tai chi on the dance floor of a luxurious cruise ship floating down the Rhone River. But life on CroisiEurope river cruises in France is anything […]
Welcome to issue No. 25 of The Good Life France Magazine. Click here to download your Free copy or PDF There’s no paywall, the whole magazine is totally free to read online, download or subscribe – and it always will be. Inside The Good Life France Magazine This issue is stuffed full of fabulous features […]
Provence has year round charms. From poppy fields in spring to lavender fields in summer and the ripe vineyards of the fall. But in the winter holiday season, festive magic fills the air. If you love sparkle and Christmas décor, if you love great food and wine, culture and art, then this tour of Provence […]
Welcome in the spring with a most beautiful tour of Provence. Provence in spring is one of the very best times of the year to see it in all its authentic, beautiful glory. Join a small group tour in which you’ll be immersed in the Provencal lifestyle. You’ll enjoy fabulous food and wine. Experience the […]
Of course Paris has plenty to keep visitors happy for weeks on end. But. Sometimes it’s great to get out of the city. To see what else France has to offer. It’s really easy to get around and about by train from Paris. We’ve chosen 10 captivating cities you can easily visit on a day […]
I’d never heard of this apple pie until I visited the beautiful area of Gers, AKA Gascony. Deep in the hear of rural southern France, it’s like the land that time forgot. Rolling hills, vineyards, orchards and lakes, peppered with tiny villages and medieval towns. It’s a land of plenty and famous for its speciality […]
When the great American cook Julia Child first came to France – she wasn’t a cook. She was a curious visitor keen to sample all that France offered. And her first meal in a restaurant was in Rouen in Normandy in one of the oldest restaurants in France, La Couronne. She had sole meunière. And […]
We chat to Laurent Yung of SomMailier.com, a French wine club that brings unique, exclusive and difficult to find utterly delicious French wines to America… Can you tell us a bit about you and where you live? I was born in a small village near Bordeaux, France and I’m the youngest of three brothers. I […]
SEARCHING for FAMILY and TRADITIONS at the FRENCH TABLE BOOK TWO by Carole Bumpus. An amazing culinary adventure through north-west France. This book is so many things, a travelogue, a memoir, but most of all a wonderful celebration French gastronomy. I loved Carole Bumpus’ first book in this series. A celebration of French food, traditions and […]
Lisa Baker Morgan, the author of this memoir is a talented and accomplished woman on several levels. She graduated with a degree in English Literature from the University of Southern California. She has a Juris Doctorate and a culinary degree from Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts. She’s an author and has a travel […]
France has long been famous for its style. The French “look” has developed over hundreds of years reflecting the savoir-faire, know-how and attention to detail that is a particularly French thing. From the refined grandeur of Chateau style to Provencal, Parisian and rustic styles, the French look really does suit all tastes. And there are […]
As you wind your way across the plains of the Vaucluse in Provence (all olive groves, lavender and vineyards), you see Oppède le Vieux hanging above you on the north face of the Petit Luberon. It looks haunting and beautiful… The rise… Oppède le Vieux dates back to at least the 12th century. At the […]
Montpellier, the capital city of Herault, Occitanie was once a tranquil fishing village. Now it’s a cool city with a hip vibe. Our essential guide to Montpellier reveals a city of surprises and beauty. With an average of 300 days a year of sun, a historic centre, architecturally thrilling new town, fabulous bars and restaurants, […]
Lens in the Nord department, a few kilometres south east of Bethune and just to the north of Arras was for three centuries a major production area for the coal mining industry. When production ceased in the late 20th century, Lens for a while, had an air of dejection. Today, that’s certainly completely changed, however, […]
It’s a question that often comes up: “how much income do I need to be able to move to France?” We asked Jennie Poate, a qualified financial advisor in France and the UK to explain about the requirements of an income test for moving to France… Establishing residency in France When I first became an […]
If you dream of living the good life in France – you’re certainly not alone, it’s a popular dream! Expats in France are numerous and from all around the world. Drawn by the diversity of the landscapes, the food, sunshine, wine – there’s lots to tempt. Those who love snow and mountains head to the […]
So, you’ve reached retirement age. After a life time of getting up to the alarm clocks call, going to work every day, maybe caring for your family, and saving for this day – you might be wondering what options you have. And these days, you have plenty of choices including some that are not your […]
The beautiful rural Gers deparment is a little known and forgotten corner of southwest France. For those looking for a laid back lifestyle in la France profonde, a region where the good life is revered, and the people are friendly – Gers is a fabulous place to live. And if teleworking or working from home are […]
The department of Corrèze, in southwest France, region Nouvelle Aquitaine (formerly Limousin) is a land of outstanding natural beauty. Unspoiled countryside, dramatic rivers and forests as well as gentle farmland. It’s a great place to live says British expat Ann McCarthy, you can go skiing in the mountains, go to the beach, a day out […]
Hérault is in the region of Languedoc-Roussillon-Midi-Pyrénées, southern France. It takes in the Mediterranean coast, with stunning fishing villages and renowned seaside towns. Capt d’Agde, La Grande-Motte and Palavas-les-Flots are just a few of its well known resorts. The countryside is glorious, covered in vineyards, with the Canal du Midi flowing through the department. And, […]
Passion for Provence | 22 keys to the la belle vie is a memoir by Gayle Padgett. The author left her home town in America to move to Germany with her husband to be. When they married, their honeymoon took them all round France and en route, they fell in love with Provence. It took […]
As a chicken keeper, I’m always amazed by the antics of my birds. I keep ducks, chickens and geese – they’re pets, not for the pot despite the urging of my French neighbours. I love them all but it’s the chickens who for me are the most fascinating. Ducks fight it out to establish a […]
Some weeks I sit down to write to you and despite not travelling, it feels as if the days have whizzed past – and in other ways I feel like we are all living in limbo land with a long way to go until normality returns for everyone. But, this week there are a few […]
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As a chicken keeper, I’m always amazed by the antics of my birds. I keep ducks, chickens and geese – they’re pets, not for the pot despite the urging of my French neighbours. I love them all but it’s the chickens who for me are the most fascinating. Ducks fight it out to establish a […]
At No. 18, Rue de Paridis, close to the Gare de L’Est is a house of horrors that’s popular with Parisians and visitors alike. Le Manoir de Paris is a theatrical show that’s very unusual. If you want a very different sort of Paris experience from the classic Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, Louvre type […]
A couple of years ago now, we went through a torrid time in what is now called “The Year of 52 ducklings”. It was all my fault. As a city slicker, moving to the countryside of northern France has been a bit of a learning curve to put it mildly. And when it comes to […]
Tarn-et-Garonne in south west France is one of the smallest departments in France but that doesn’t mean there’s not plenty to fall in love with. Named for the two mighty rivers which flow through it – the Tarn and the Garonne, it’s an area of outstanding natural beauty, gorges and forests, fields and vineyards pepper […]
History is full of horrible monsters. The Cyclops terrified the ancient Greeks, the Abominable Snowman haunts the Himalayas, and Godzilla stomps on Tokyo from time to time. The French have their own terrible creature and—unlike the others—this one was real. The mysterious Beast of Gévaudan ravaged the French countryside in the 18th century, killing so many […]
One grey dismal day, I took a day trip to northern France to buy some cheap wine with my dad and my husband Mark. My mum had died two years before and my dad, broken-hearted and bereft, turned to whisky to drown his sorrows. I thought getting him to drink wine would be better for […]
The French Mediterranean village of Collioure is nothing short of enchanting. Travel guru Rick Steves refers to it as “paradise reclaimed” – it’s hard to disagree. These gorgeous photos of Collioure, basking in the sun, are sure to make you want to visit… Collioure is everything that describes an idyllic postcard-perfect retreat from modern stresses… […]
The day came recently when I realised that this year, the year of Coronavirus, I would have time to do the garden and it’s probably going to be a very good idea to make my vegetable bed as efficient as possible. But I am a chicken mum and some of my chickens are as much […]