Welcome to the Autumn/Winter 2019 issue of the Good Life France Magazine Click here to download your free copy or PDF Discover three cities that are perfect for a wine themed tour, Alsace (especially with a sprinkling of snow), Bordeaux and Burgundy are fabulous whatever the weather! If you’ve never been to Dinan – you’ll […]
The south of France is defined by its colour. Azure blue skies, the deep purple of lavender fields, olive orchards, bright yellow sunflowers and lemons. Ruby red poppy fields, the turquoise Mediterranean and wine dark grapes in the vineyards. Everywhere you go, the colours of Provence and southern France are captured in a keepsake – […]
A nine-day tour of the south of France in July taking in the lavender fields of Provence which are at their blooming best… Medieval villages, magnificent castles, cafés with tables and chairs spilling out onto cobbled streets and little squares. Narrow streets lined with pastel coloured houses, shops and galleries. Gastronomic good, wonderful wines and […]
Strasbourg in the north east of France in Alsace (now known as Grand Est), is a city of medieval houses, glorious architecture, fabulous restaurants, cultural venues, wine and art, watery arteries and stunning buildings – there’s something for everyone to fall in love with here… The best way to visit Strasbourg is on foot. You’ll […]
Around an hour from the port town of Calais, Montreuil-sur-Mer in northern France is a perfect weekend destination as well as a great stop off point for travellers going to and from the UK. Easy to reach from the A16 main auto route, coming here offers a slice of history and gastronomy as this little […]
The origins of the famous millefuille (which can also be spelled mille-feuille) cake aren’t known though a cake that was somewhat similar was said to have been first made in the 17th century. It wasn’t the millefeuille as we know it today, that took years of perfecting by various chefs including the famous King of […]
Strasbourg, the capital of Alsace, has a dozen museums. Many of them are in historic buildings like the Museum of History which is in a 16th century former slaughterhouse and a voodoo museum (yes you did read that right), in a water tower! There’s a varied range of exhibitions from antiquity to contemporary – something […]
Swap the last minute shopping frenzy, the crowds, traffic and stress – and plan a relaxing break with family and friends in France. Whether it’s a chance to ski in the snow covered alps, a bit of winter sunshine in the south or the fabulous Christmas markets of the north – there’s something to please […]
The Alsace region bursts into festive spirit and shows its wonderful magical side at the beginning of December. That’s when the Christmas markets open in stunning Strasbourg, captivating Colmar as well as in the fairy tale villages that dot the vineyards of this beautiful part of France. The Alsace is also famous for its delicious […]
SomMailier.com is a wine club which brings you boutique wines from France that you won’t find in supermarkets – authentic, delicious and unique. Wine has been called “artwork you can drink” and when it comes to the French wines chosen by Laurent Yung of SomMailier.com you’ll discover exactly what that means. Using his knowledge and […]
You can use this deliciously tangy French recipe for onion and tomato chutney in a ratatouille tart (see recipe here) and in many other ways. It’s lovely spread on toasted baguette, perfect as a pizza topping, goes great with chicken or meat and is utterly scrumptious with goats cheese and basil. Ingredients (makes about 2 […]
Fall, when the markets are overflowing with produce, is probably every cooks favourite season. This recipe, a variation of the traditional ratatouille is a delicious dish any time but especially so in autumn. It takes time and attention – but the luscious results are worth the effort. The recipe includes French onion and tomato jam […]
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 gorges of Ardeche in the far corner of the Rhône-Alpes region, south of France is one of the most popular places to go for the French. But visitors to France are hardly aware of its existence. Roads tend to be of the winding type and you really do need a car to see it […]
The Ardèche with its winding roads and inspiring views is a surprisingly quiet corner of southern France. It’s at the very south of the Rhône-Alpes region, flirting with both northern Provence and the Languedoc. There’s a hint of the Garrigue (aromatic undergrowth) in the rugged landscape. And, you’re just a hair’s breadth from the lavender […]
The Pont d’Arc is a 60m high and 34m wide. It’s a natural bridge carved out of the rock face of the gorge over the Ardèche River in Ardeche, Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes (formerly Rhone-Alpes). It’s a geological wonder and thousands of years of water and wind have eroded the stone into shaping this natural entrance to the […]
Katharine Tasker from London upped sticks in the city and moved to the sticks in rural northern France. With her she brought a sprinkling of urban style to her new build home and thriving new business, a café and shop… Pas de Calais is a region of meadows and forests, the countryside is criss crossed […]
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 […]
The department of Maine-et-Loire is in the Pays-de-la-Loire region, also known as Anjou, its historic name. Located at the crossroads of Brittany, Centre, Aquitaine and Normandy in western France it’s a land of castles and vineyards, historic towns and pretty hamlets. We talk to local estate agent Darren Briers about why Maine-et-Loire is a great […]
British stand-up comedian, mod, expat, goat whisperer (maybe) – and now Chambre d’hote host – Ian Moore’s unique insights into life in the Loire Valley will make you laugh out loud… Hosts, Goats and Chambres d’Hôtes There’s a point in my first or second book, probably both, where my wife, Natalie, and I sit down […]
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 […]
Bonjour, Hope you had a great week. Here it stopped raining for a few hours, long enough for us to get out the garden and stack the firewood – ten wet tons of it, from a sustainable forest nearby. The Wood Man, Monsieur L, likes to try to speak English to me and I like […]
Bonjour, Hope you had a great week. Here, I am still thinking of building an ark as the rain in the north of France has been nothing short of biblical. At least the reservoirs, emptied by a long hot summer are now topped up, and my ducks have enjoyed it. Meanwhile impromptu English lessons continue […]
With more than 2000 hotels to choose from in Paris, it’s not easy so we’ve done the hard work for you. Tried and tested, enjoy our pick of the best hotels in the city of light… Fabulous and chic in the Marais The 5 Star MGallery Hotel Paris Bastille Boutet (above) is close to the […]
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Katharine Tasker from London upped sticks in the city and moved to the sticks in rural northern France. With her she brought a sprinkling of urban style to her new build home and thriving new business, a café and shop… Pas de Calais is a region of meadows and forests, the countryside is criss crossed […]
British stand-up comedian, mod, expat, goat whisperer (maybe) – and now Chambre d’hote host – Ian Moore’s unique insights into life in the Loire Valley will make you laugh out loud… Hosts, Goats and Chambres d’Hôtes There’s a point in my first or second book, probably both, where my wife, Natalie, and I sit down […]
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 […]