Christmas Eve in Paris – there’s nowhere quite like it. Lights sparkle in the streets and windows twinkle with tempting displays. People with a spot of final shopping to do dash about and those lucky enough to be finished their purchases take a break, wrapped up warm, sipping hot chocolate or perhaps Champagne at a […]
Approach the town of Cassel in the department of Nord, Hauts-de-France, from the flat countryside passing field after field. Cars wind their way helter-skelter-like, up and around the Mont of Cassel until suddenly, they reach the cobbled roads that lead into the small town with big views at the top of this famous hill of […]
Deep in the heart of the rural countryside of Nord, Hauts de France, lies an extraordinary garden. The Jardins du Mont des Récollets is an award winning garden with spectacular views in a most beautiful part of northern France… Owner and gardener extraordinaire Emmanuel de Quillacq took over what was his grandfather’s farm, in 1986. […]
Provence is a beautiful region, rich in history, gastronomy and wine, It’s also a playground for families. The limestone landscape is ideal for both big and small explorers with walking, cycling, mountain-biking, climbing and canoeing – and even caving experiences to enjoy. Daniel Wrightson of www.invitationto.com holiday villas in Europe shares some of his top […]
Christmas markets Paris: Join in the fun, enjoy the ambience and get some fab goodies for the festive season… The Christmas lights will be switched on in Paris on 22 November. Thousands of lights and decorations in more than 125 squares and streets will twinkle, flash and glitter. The ‘Scintillance’ lights display by Blachère Illuminations […]
The Good Life France Magazine Autumn 2018 issue is out – and it’s totally free to read online, download a PDF and subscribe to. There’s no catch, sometimes the best things in life really are free. Just click here to access it: The Good Life France Magazine Autumn 2018 What’s in the autumn issue of […]
On a hot summer’s night, after dinner at the lovely Hotel Le Grand Monarque in the bijou town of Azay-le-Rideau, I decided to stroll through the town’s pretty little streets. I was sure I could take a peek at the famous Chateau through its ornate iron gates, ahead of a visit planned for the next […]
When it comes to celebrating your wedding in France, there’s loads of choice for romantic venues and places that will create the memories you want from your special day. If you want to have a party or celebration of your wedding in France – that’s easy, just pick a venue that’s in the area you […]
National Holiday in France: Christmas Day (Noël) December 25 Licques: Festival des Dindes, 15-16 December 2018 A charming festival where turkeys are celebrated in the little town of Licques Hauts-de-France (Pas de Calais). Held over a weekend, on Sunday morning, hundreds of turkeys are released to “rampage” through the streets accompanied by local brotherhoods and […]
You may not know what a tian is, but if you’ve seen the movie Ratatouille, you’ll be familiar with a version of this presentation of vegetables sliced thinly, cooked and served in an elegant stack. The dish you see in the movie was created by Chef Thomas Keller (of The French Laundry, among other restaurants), […]
The gastronomy of Nice is part of its heritage. It’s one of only two cities in France to do so. Lyon, often called the gastronomic capital of France, is the other one. Lyon had better look out though because Nice is catching up. And, if you ask a Nicois, they will of course assure you […]
This delicious recipe for crème caramel comes from the cook book In the French Kitchen with Kids: Easy, Everyday Dishes for the Whole Family to Make and Enjoy by Mardi Michels of popular blog eat.live.travel.write In her first book, Mardi shows that French food doesn’t have to be complicated. The result is an elegant, approachable cookbook featuring […]
If you really want to improve your French, then a total immersion course in France is the very best way to do it. It’s also a lot of fun when you join Goût et Voyage, the taste and travel company, on their fabulous week long cultural and gastronomic full French immersion course in the heart […]
The river and gorges of the Tarn are well known and undoubtedly it’s worth losing yourself for a while here in what is the deepest canyon in France. But this really is a place where the vastness of nature meets the enormity of human creation. And, if the Pont du Gard transports you back to […]
Do you speak a little French but want to learn how to speak with a real French accent and increase your knowledge of both the language and France whilst having a brilliant time? Or perhaps you’re a beginner and you would love to start your journey of learning French in a fun and authentic atmosphere. […]
When you visit Azay-le-Rideau in the Loire Valley, the number one attraction without a doubt is the Renasissance Chateau. Set on an island in the River Indre, the fairy tale like castle is stunning both inside and out. It’s also worth taking the time to discover the town while you’re there. It’s charming and authentic […]
Aveyron echoes with the past. Every densely wooded gorge and valley, every ancient bastide town and every winding road seems to whisper of pilgrims making their weary way south, of Romans and rebellious Gauls or of Knights Templars, thundering across the plateaux. Part of the Massif Central but also the northern most part of the […]
Toulouse has a reputation for being friendly and sunny, perfect conditions to take advantage of all that’s on offer. It’s also famous for its great food from cassoulet to markets and gastronomic restaurants. Lip-smacking Cassoulet The spicy, meaty, unctuous and utterly mouth-watering stew with haricot beans is one of the most famous specialities of the […]
As an expat in France, when you search for a financial adviser, how can you be assured that they are right for you? In principle there are three categories of adviser: Tied, Restricted and Independent. Tied Advisers in France In France there are insurance company agents working almost in every town – they typically represent just […]
Mike Collins from the UK went to France as a young man to study languages. He got a job with a large company and in his job he travelled a lot around France. He loved discovering new places and new tastes and developed a penchant for snails, the very French foodie favourite. On a whim, […]
Whether it’s French Home and Contents, Vehicle, Legal Protection or Top-Up Health insurance, this handy guide explains insurance cover in France. CA Britline’s experts take you through the different types and levels of insurance: French Home and Contents Cover Protecting your property, whether it’s a secondary home, main home or rented out on a short […]
France’s Atlantic coastline offers something for everyone, from Brittany’s wild and rugged Finistère to the chic beach towns around La Rochelle, to surfing meccas around Biarritz. Liz Rowlinson asks the experts at Leggett Immobillier to pick five tempting places for you to consider… Starting in the north, where Brittany juts far out into the Atlantic, […]
Peter Friend, joint owner of the award winning B&B La Villa Mazamet in the Tarn shares his top tips. The villa has been named France’s top luxurious B&B for several years and, says Peter, there are lots of things you can do to make your own B&B have a better chance of success… Location Location […]
If you could start a new life in France, where would you go and what would you do? Out of the 4 million Brits currently living abroad, around 150,000 live in France. While the majority are over 55, according to an HSBC report, France is rated third in the world for families, partly because school […]
Bonjour Hope you had a great week. Here everything is about commemorating the centenary of the end of the Great War this weekend. Everywhere I go in the north of France there are posters detailing remembrance events. Trees are adorned with poppy and cornflower coverings (you can see a photo here on my Instagram page). […]
Bonjour Hope you had a great week. Here in my little corner of France, where the landscape still bears the scars of two world wars, there are preparations under way across the region to commemorate and honour the lost with a special vigil for Armistice Day 11 November 2018. And, if you’re in the area […]
France honours the end of World War I with a remembrance vigil taking place on the night of 10 November to 11 November 2018. Located on the front line from the end of 1914, the territory of Pays d’Artois was forever marked by those bloody battles. From the French offensives of 1915 to the great […]
Mike Collins from the UK went to France as a young man to study languages. He got a job with a large company and in his job he travelled a lot around France. He loved discovering new places and new tastes and developed a penchant for snails, the very French foodie favourite. On a whim, […]
Sometimes I get France. And sometimes I don’t. Take the law for instance. In my local café in which the locals gather to gossip, a recent topic of debate was about the misfortunes of a baker who owns a boulangerie near Troyes in the Champagne region. He decided to open his boulangerie 7 days a […]
I first visited the Aude department in 2006 and found a rural area rich in history with great food, fabulous markets and a friendly, welcoming atmosphere. My hosts brought me to the river at Rennes Les Bains where hot water from deep under the ground pours out through a pipe in the wall. In the […]
We talk to American expat and tour guide Sue Aran who tells how her heart was won by a house in Gascony despite many trials and tribulations… My husband and I first travelled from Seattle, Washington to Gascony in May 2006 with a couple of friends, looking for a house to purchase together. All of […]
With its medieval towns and villages, wild impressive coastline and abundant forests, picturesque Brittany offers its visitors so much more than just homemade cider and galettes dripping in ham and cheese. Whole days can be devoted to meandering the narrow cobblestone streets and charming squares lined with crooked half-timbered houses. But, as night falls be […]
Saint Omer cathedral in northern France has grace and beauty. It doesn’t have the conventional architectural detail of sculpture encrusted entrance doors. But, it does contain priceless art works so typical of the great cathedrals of France. Here those artworks hang in dark, dusty corners without pomp and formality. Saint Omer cathedral has it’s own […]
The chances are that if you visit Provence from mid-June to mid-August – you have lavender on your mind and in your sights. Though Provence is well known for the fragrant purple blooms, it is not grown in abundance throughout the whole of Provence, though you will find fields of the purple blooms during your […]
You could say that my love affair with France and passion for the French language began in earnest, when, at age eleven, I heard French spoken, loving the soft, musical and even sensual sounds that floated into my ears. But the truth is that the story began before I was born, when my father landed […]