Dijon is foodie central. Seriously food is on everyone’s lips, not literally of course, but its the most popular topic of conversation – or at least that’s what it feels like. People in Dijon LOVE good food so there are plenty of eateries from magnificent Michelin starred restaurants to tasty budget bistros. Here’s where to […]
The Dordogne Valley in south west France is special. It’s the sort of place that you go to once and always long to return. Luscious landscapes, rivers and forests, vineyards and orchards peppered with the prettiest of villages and historic towns like medieval Sarlat and lofty Rocamadour. There’s no better way to discover the very […]
If you love food – you’ll love Strasbourg. The city in the north east of France in the Alsace department takes its food, wine, cakes and desserts seriously. There’s a huge choice of restaurants to choose from. In the main tourist areas, they’re touristy of course, that doesn’t necessarily mean bad, you’ll get gorgeous views […]
Small enough to drive from one end to the other in around 30 minutes, Ile de Ré has an intimacy that’s alluring but never leaves you feeling restricted. Despite its size, the landscape appears to unfold for miles. Expect fields of flowers, vineyards, salt marshes and the most glorious coastline plus the prettiest little villages. […]
If it’s your birthday, then Paris is the perfect place to spend it in style. This isn’t the economy version, after all, you only get one birthday a year, I’ve kept it mid-range price-wise but special. Fabulous places to visit, eat, drink and dance – with some free Champagne thrown in… Things to do on […]
Welcome to the Good Life France Magazine Summer 2019 – totally free to read and utterly brilliant. Click here to read The Good Life France Magazine Summer 2019 This is a free magazine, written by professional travel writers with a brief to tell it like it is and to seek out the best things to […]
September in France is teeming with events, festivals and concerts as La Rentrée, the return to work, school and normality after the summer holidays. It’s a time of renewed energy and enthusiasm in France and you’ll find plenty going on to keep you entertained. We take a look at the major events in France September […]
The Alpes-Maritimes department is in the far south of France in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur bordering Italy and the Mediterranean Sea. Think long hot summers, year round temperate climate, the French Riviera and impossibly pretty villages and historic towns in the interior – this is an area that makes for a great holiday destination. What to […]
Join an exceptional and unique ladies only luxury Loire Valley Tour. You’ll visit the most beautiful castles in the Loire Valley and you’ll even be staying in historic Chateaus. On this trip you’ll dine at the finest restaurants, explore charming villages, legendary towns – and live like a queen! Chateaux, wine and gastronomy The big […]
Nothing beats going to a French vineyard and enjoying a tasting, then taking home some delicious French wine to enjoy at leisure. But it’s not always possible to do that, especially if you’re in the US. Luckily for you, SomMailier wine club brings the very best boutique French wines direct to you. Delivered right to […]
The recipe was created in 1930 by the wife of the Mayor of Dijon, Gaston Gerard. She was cooking for an esteemed guest, Maurice Edmond Sailland, AKA Curnonsky, a celebrated writer of Gastronomy in France and dubbed The Prince of Gastronomy. Madame accidentally put too much paprika in a chicken dish she was cooking and […]
The origins of the little French cakes known as canelés remains a mystery, but one of the most plausible theories is that they were invented by the nuns of the L’Annonciade monastery in Sainte-Eulalie, in Bordeaux. When basking them, some people use a silicone mold. But I always recommend using traditional copper molds. Granted, copper […]
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 French call their flag Le drapeau tricolore. English speakers know it as the French Tricolore. It’s one of the most iconic flags in European history. But how did it come to be? The evolution of the French Flag The flag of France before the French Revolution featured the fleur-de-lis on a blue background. The […]
Dieppe is a fishing and channel port along the Alabaster Coast of Normandy. The town sits astride the river Arques and is a popular seaside and tourist resort. Things to do in Dieppe Dieppe is famous for its scallops and has a popular pebble beach. In the centre there is some fine architecture, especially the […]
Capital of the newly-reconfigured Occitanie region, la Ville Rose as Toulouse is affectionately called after the colour of its brickwork really needs far more time than one day. But if that’s all you have, here’s how to spend one day in Toulouse by a local. You’ll find it wont be enough though, and you’ll definitely […]
France is full of gorgeous wine regions. From Alsace and its fairy tale villages to Cassis and its vineyards that nearly touch the Mediterranean Sea. And then there’s Beaujolais. Its vine-covered hillsides are as pretty as any in France. You’ll find it in the south of Burgundy, a region that’s world famous for its wines. […]
If your main home/principal residence is in France and you are a tax resident in France it is a legal obligation that you declare all your world/global income and annual capital gains to the French tax authorities. It’s irrelevant if gains are made outside of France. For example if you have moved to France from […]
When it comes to thinking about your move to France, you may have decided the area that you want to live in, checked schools and transport links. But will organising your finances be further down the to do list when it should be near the top? Before moving to France, there’s no doubt you will […]
Fiona Jones from London fell for a 12th century chateau in the Limousin region. Undaunted at taking on a massive project on her own, she moved to France in 2014 to bring the neglected Chateau du Masgelier back to life. Featured on the superhit reality TV series “Escape to the Chateau DIY” Fiona talks to […]
The rural department of Deux-Sèvres, in Poitou-Charentes (part of Nouvelle Aquitaine) has a landscape of charming small villages and towns, waterways and lush green countryside. The name of the department literally means ‘two Sevrès’ as the sources of both the Sèvre Nantaise and Sèvre Niortaise rivers can be found here. The capital of the department, […]
Inside France is Home Hunts’ annual, full-colour report, providing analysis, insights and recommendations on how to find the best real estate investment opportunities in France. Free to download, it is packed with useful information and advice to help you secure your dream home in France – stress free and at the right price. How much […]
Mayenne is a department in Pays de la Loire. It’s named after the River Mayenne and has three districts, 32 townships and 261 municipalities. The capital and largest city is lovely Laval which features a beautiful chateau, weekly fabulous market, cultural venues and many good restaurants. Mayenne has a warm and temperate climate, stunning countryside […]
Bonjour Hope you had a great week. Traditions are held dear here in France. You only have to look at how popular singer Johnny Hallyday was (The French Elvis Presley) for almost 60 years. In fact he’s still popular despite sadly no longer being with us, his face adorns T-shirts everywhere and there are tribute […]
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 […]
Bonjour Hope you had a great week. It’s been quiet here in the 7 Valleys (far north of France), though that’s pretty normal. There was a flurry of excitement last Saturday night when each village unveiled its straw sculpture entry in the regional competition. There are about 20 villages which take part and it’s a […]
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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 […]
I live part of the year in Provence and one day I was reading Le Monde and a headline about a “sexy politician” caught my eye. “Well, those are two words you don’t see together very often,” I thought. So I read the article and found out that there had been a poll asking French […]
It was lunchtime in the Saint-Germain-des-Prés area of Paris, and I was ravenous looking for a place to eat away from the usual tourist traps. I turned down a quiet street and saw the most unassuming bistro. In fact, I wouldn’t usually have considered going in but I decided to take a chance. As soon […]
Catharism has been described as “the most successful heresy in history”. In Languedoc, “Pays Cathare” signs dot the countryside. One cannot drive far in any direction without coming upon the ruins of a Cathar fortress. Who were the Cathars? “Cathar” is allegedly derived from the Greek word, katharos, meaning “pure”. The Cathars were also known […]