Tarte flambée literally translates as ‘toasted tart or fired tart’ – but it’s not a tart, and it’s not toasted, and neither is it flambeed! Tarte flambée is it’s French name, but it’s also known as flammekueche which it’s called in the north of France, having originated in Alsace, north east France. It’s a cross […]
On a day trip from Dover to Calais or Dunkirk, you can easily discover the authentic and beautiful countryside, stunning villages and glorious beaches of the Opal Coast. We think one day definitely isn’t enough to enjoy all the charms of the far north of France but here are a few of our favourite things… […]
Wine, truffles and chocolate! And that’s just to start. Who doesn’t love Provence? You could spend a lifetime here and still not sample all of its rich produce. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try! Weird, wonderful and wickedly delicious Vaucluse If you’re going to try and eat and drink your way through an entire […]
Sancerre is a beautiful, ancient hilltop village wine town. It’s located in the heart of France, in the department of Cher in an area known as Berry Province and you’d be hard put to find a more enchanting town anywhere in France… Maison des Sancerre The first place to head to is the Maison des […]
Nip across the English Channel to discover a wealth of fabulous restaurants and gorgeous hotels for a relaxing and delicious break – and all less than one hour from Calais. Star attractions… 2 Michelin Star restaurant Chef Alexandre Gauthier of La Grenouillère in Montreuil-sur-Mer, south of Calais, is famous all over France. An innovative menu, […]
There’s no doubt that we all love the legends of Paris from the Eiffel Tower to the Arc de Triomphe, the historic museums and incredible art collections. But some of us like to discover the parts of Paris that are not so obvious. The secret Paris that the locals know and love. We asked Annette […]
Finding time to write. It can be a problem. We’ve all been there. We have big plans for a great story and then we have to go to work, we have to cook dinner, pick up the kids, clean the house, entertain guests, go on outings. And then after all of this extra work all […]
If you’ve only got 48 hours in Paris – you can still see and do a lot to give you a fabulous flavour of the City of Light and take in some of the world’s most beautiful monuments. Paris Travel Advice Don’t waste precious time standing for hours in queues – book your tours and […]
A visit to Paris is always a good idea and there’s heaps to see and do. You’ll never be bored that’s for sure. But, sometimes it’s great to get out of the city, to see what else there is, and experience a day trip from Paris to some of the most beautiful sites in France. […]
If someone asked you to name the most expensive foods in the world, you might come up with caviar and truffles and that sort of thing. But you probably wouldn’t think of potatoes. And yet there is a type of French potato that is so rare and delicious that it sometimes fetches a whopping $300 […]
Golden, flaky, buttery croissants… There’s nothing quite like a fresh baked, straight out of the oven, still warm and steaming croissant to make your spirit soar. They’re not super easy to make. It takes time to get it right, and time to chill the ingredients. You might need a few goes before you get it […]
What makes a great gift for your loved one for Valentine’s Day? It’s a question that never gets old. Do you choose a heart-shaped box of chocolates to woo your partner? Or, an exuberant bouquet of flowers? Or better yet – an elegant bottle of red wine or even Champagne? According to a study by […]
When I posted on The Good Life France Facebook page about five of my favourite French films I asked my friends – what’s your favourite film set in France, about France or French? Little did I know that a whole host of fabulous recommendations would be shared. Hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of recommendations to […]
It’s hard to think of anywhere more enchanting than the Dordogne. Around every corner is something that takes your breath away – stunning landscapes, magical chateaux and historic villages. A discovery tour of this part of France is authentic, cultural and downright delicious – it’s famous for its wonderful gastronomy. Take a tour combined with […]
After years having a successful career in Canada, retirement ought to have been something the author, Sue Harper should have looked forward to. However, work-life has structure and purpose; what would life be like without it? Sue’s partner Bonnie, an artist who retired 6 month earlier, was happily enjoying the opportunities this stage in her […]
Brittany has more than 1700 miles of coastline, which makes it a top seaside destination in France. But this region has much more to offer. Medieval cities and picture postcard villages and a hugely diverse landscape both along the coast and in the glorious countryside. There are captivating castles galore, Celtic traditions and more than […]
Provence is famous for its charming hilltop villages, brilliant sunflowers, and fragrant lavender. It is also where you can find some of the best Roman ruins in all of Europe. This is because Provence was once an important part of the Roman Empire. The Romans even gave it its name: “Provence” comes from the original […]
There are some places that are so special you have to pinch yourself to make sure they’re real and not a dream. Aveyron in southwest France is one of those places. It’s a land where you’ll step back in time and discover beauty on every corner. Pickled in the past, picture postcard pretty medieval villages, […]
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 Dordogne area is one of the most popular with expats seeking a dream home in France. We talk to expat Brit, now local, Angela Martyn from London about what it is about Dordogne that’s so alluring… What inspired you to move to Dordogne I came on holiday to France with my architect husband and […]
The Pyrénées-Atlantiques department is in the far southwest of France in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region. It borders Spain and includes the seaside superstar Biarritz, mountains and glorious countryside. Taking its name from the Pyrenees mountains and the Atlantic Ocean, the department is roughly half Pays Basque Country and half Béarn. We talk to Charlie Ellis, an […]
Pyrénées-Atlantiques is a department in the southwest corner of France. It takes its name from the Pyrénées mountains and the Atlantic Ocean. The region is split between two distinct areas: Pays Basque Country and Béarn. We talk to local property agent Charlie Ellis to get an expert view of property in the region… What areas […]
We talk to British expat Tony Brown who lives in Vernantes, Maine-et-Loire in the Loire Valley where he owns a gite, writes and gardens… Can you tell us a little about you and where you are from? After a working life in the building industry in southern England, I decided that France was less cluttered […]
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 […]
Bonjour I truly hope you and yours are well. What a difference a week makes. Since I last wrote to you, France has gone on full lockdown in a bid to halt the progress of the virus which is now impacting all of our lives on a global basis. The hope in France is that […]
Bonjour, and welcome to the March 14, 2020 newsletter from France. Now I would normally say I hope you had a good week, and of course I still hope that, but I know that many are worried about the COVID-19 situation, and many who have flights to and holidays booked in France are worried about […]
In September 2020, a very special writers retreat will take place in Bordeaux. With three great writing instructors on hand including Cara Black, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of 19 books, this one week course is designed to help and support writers of all genres and all levels. Whether you’re a writer […]
.
.
Châteauneuf-du-Pape, in Provence, in the south of France, is famous for its wines. The town’s name means “the pope’s new château” because many centuries ago a summer papal palace was built here. The main Palace of the Popes was in nearby Avignon. Popes need good wine to drink, so vines were planted, barrels were crafted, […]
La Meuse is a winding river which meanders its way through the French Ardennes and on into Belgium. It’s a haven for cyclists, especially if you enjoy cycling on the flat. A cycle path follows the Meuse for over 50 kms with incredibly scenic views on either side of the river where hills descend sometimes […]
On summer evenings, the swallows dip and swoop in nervous arcs as if anxious to protect, or preserve, the close of day in its melancholy stillness. A light hovers over Collioure, on the Vemillion Coast in the Pyrenees-Orientales. Caught in a pale brushstroke of watercolor blue, a wash which holds the houses together as they […]
Paris is an ancient, time-shifting, secret society. I made it to the ripe old age of 61 by creating plans and organizing my life around them. This should come as no surprise. The clearest memory I have of my father is him sitting at the breakfast table looking from my sister to my brother then […]
In the centre of Paris you can visit a café that’s also a cosy refuge for abandoned cats. Highly recommended for cat and coffee lovers! Margaux Grandelon opened her first Cat Café in 2013 in the Marais district. I visited her second little establishment close to the Bastille monument at 9, Rue Sedaine and enjoyed […]
In August 2014, I gave up my job teaching English in Lyon to house-sit a farm in Vienne and write a novel. I wasn’t particularly looking for the literary good life. I just wanted a break from the city. Six months later I finished it. But the elation was short-lived. I didn’t like it at […]
We chat to Rosy Rabson, a British expat who retired to Burgundy and run a gite from which all proceeds go to charity. Based in the Morvan area, with its regional natural park, a land of ancient castles, picturesque villages, forests and lakes, it is a largely undiscovered by tourists part of France – and […]
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 […]