Mark Twain, the great American writer was spot on when he claimed: “too much of anything is bad, but too much Champagne is just right”. Ever since it was “discovered” in France in the 17th century, just about everyone has fallen under the spell of the effervescent wine. It can only be made in Champagne, […]
“Grasse didn’t always smell this nice. It used to stink,” my Nose told me. “It was a leather tanning town and the stench was unbearable. The first fragrance produced was for designer gloves. Rose water to mask the ghastly smell. Catherine de Medici endorsed them. And Grasse quickly became the perfume capital of the world.” […]
Your chance to win return ferry tickets with DFDS – the world’s leading ferry operator We’ve got a set of return tickets for use on DFDS’ Ferries Dover/Calais (1 hour 30 minutes) or Dover/Dunkirk (2 hours) route for a car and up to 9 passengers. * DFDS are one of northern Europe’s biggest ferry operators […]
When you visit Bordeaux city, it sometimes feels like there are a series of villages, each a little different from the other. Exploring them is a lot of fun, from the historic centre and the trendy St Pierre district to the vibrant Saint-Michel neighborhood and lovely Chartrons… Chartrons Bordeaux Chartrons, one of the northern districts […]
La Petite Maison Devine, once a farmer’s cottage (built in 1790 – before the French Revolution) has been renovated by an architect to keep its authentic charm whilst offering a comfortable stay in a stunning location. This pretty town house has three floors of spacious rooms in the medieval village of Laurac le Grand, UNESCO […]
Welcome to the winter issue of The Good Life France Magazine. It’s a bumper issue and will definitely satisfy your French fix through the winter months! There are loads of fabulous features about some of the best places to visit in France including marvellous Marseille, home of Pastis, and brilliant Bordeaux which you can […]
A look at some of the top events in France in January 2019 – just because it’s cold out doesn’t meant there’s nothing going on! Celebration days in January in France New Year’s Day 1st January is a national holiday in France Top Events in January in France Throughout France on 6 January its time to […]
Yachts are a symbol of luxury. They’re expensive to buy, store and maintain which puts them out of the reach of most people. Luckily, there are yachts that can be privately chartered if you want to experience the high life on the seas. Worry About Nothing but Your Enjoyment As there are several options when […]
I saw its swirling shape shimmering on the horizon from the train as I arrived in Bordeaux from Paris. A giant shiny coil on the landscape, futuristic and fabulous. What to see at the Museum of Wine Bordeaux La Cité du Vin is the first place I visited when I arrived and dumped my luggage […]
La Maison Noilly Prat’s location is superb, next to Étang de Thau, a large lagoon in Marseillan, one of the oldest fishing villages in France. A few weathered bars, bistros and shops line the small multi-hued port. It’s a French Provencal postcard town come to life. The History of Noilly Prat Pascal, our guide, introduced […]
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 […]
The French R is the most notorious of sounds in French pronunciation. There are multitudes of tutorials on the French R and yet it still eludes many non-native speakers. Well, today I’m going to demystify the French R and show you a simple trick that will get you on your way to mastering this infamous […]
Le Mot Juste: How to Impress Tout le Monde with Your French A tiny but fabulous book of words – French words. The sort of words that roll of the tongue and sound delicious, romantic and so… well French! Imogen Fortes has pulled together a list of fabulous French words that are used in every […]
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 […]
Gravelines is a bright if sleepy little town which rests between the two great harbours Calais and Dunkirk. Once an important entry port to France in its own right, the origins of Gravelines go back many centuries. History of Gravelines It was the primary commercial entrance point for the City of Saint Omer which lies […]
The Chateau d’Anet, in the town of Anet, in the Centre-Val de Loire, 78km from Paris was the family home of Diane de Poitiers. It’s one of the most beautiful chateaux that you’ve probably never heard of… Chateau d’Anet, the home of Diane de Poitiers Diane de Poitiers was the mistress of King Henri II […]
Dropping “my last ski trip was a short break in Arêches-Beaufort” into any ski based conversation is a bit of a polarising moment. The enlightened will beam from ear to ear, talk about the charm of the village, the enviable quality – and quantity – of the snow. And, inevitably, the wonderful cheese cooperative in […]
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 […]
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 […]
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, […]
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 it’s been proper frosty in the mornings and very cold, even during the day the frost has stayed thick on the ground, sparkling when a ray of sun manages to get through the clouds. I have had to carry buckets of water down to the bird pens […]
The Hunchback of Notre Dame is one of the most famous characters in French literature. But how did he get the unusual name of Quasimodo? For centuries, French law strictly limited the names that families could give their babies. They had to come from an approved list made up mostly of Catholic saints. The laws […]
A short drive from Calais brings you to the town of Bethune in the Hauts de France region, department Pas de Calais. It’s not that well known on the tourist map, overlooked for its larger neighbours Lille and Arras as well as arty favourite Lens with its swanky branch of the Louvre. Bethune, northern France […]
The Hunchback of Notre Dame is one of the most famous characters in French literature. But how did he get the unusual name of Quasimodo? For centuries, French law strictly limited the names that families could give their babies. They had to come from an approved list made up mostly of Catholic saints. The laws […]
We talk to Suzanne Sutton who left the UK for Languedoc Roussillon, southern France. She’s an agent for the award-winning Leggett Immobillier French Estate Agents and says this sunny area is great for expats to live. Where do you live in France? I live in a little village of around 90 residents, called Granès, in […]
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 […]