When it comes to camping near the seaside in France, there’s a huge choice. From pitching your tent in the dunes, to a cool cabin right on the beach, glamping under the pine trees, parking up in your mobile home or renting a chalet. What’s not to love about the sound of the sea lapping […]
Join a ladies-only small group tour of sunny Bordeaux. This sun baked wine loving region is packed with luscious vineyards, gorgeous little villages and historic towns. You’ll stay in the medieval village of Saint-Emilion, tour the UNESCO world heritage sites of the city of Bordeaux, known as the “pearl of Aquitaine” and visit local vineyards. […]
When you visit Paris there’s so much to see and do, it would be easy to miss the most fascinating bits. But with an insider’s take on the best Paris attractions, an extraordinary visit awaits you. From world class shopping to behind the scenes haute couture houses, perfumeries, cooking classes, wine tasting experiences and more […]
Latour-Marliac is one of the most unique and special plant nurseries and gardens in France. It’s where the water lilies which inspired Claude Monet were grown and where to this day, this exotic plant is revered. When you’re in the area of Temple-sur-Lot, Lot-et-Garonne, southern France, it’s an absolute must-visit destination. Latour-Marliac | Claude Monet’s inspiration […]
When you visit Paris and want to see it at its hidden best, it’s worth seeking out the charming inner city village of Butte Bergeyre in the 19th Arrondissement. Not many people know of it, not even Parisians. It is a hidden enclave in the city, where you’ll discover beautiful houses in streets perched high up […]
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 […]
Roubaix is in the suburbs of Lille, capital of Hauts-de-France (Nord, Pas de Calais, Picardy). It was once famous for its textile production, an industry which had been active in the area since the 14th century. In the 19th century Roubaix was known as the “French Manchester”, one of the world capitals of textiles. It […]
Provence – Tourrettes-sur-Loup, Alpes Maritime, Festival of Violets. The whole village smells of violets, there are farmers markets, and a violet parade with a battle of the flowers! Held annually first weekend in March. tourrettessurloup.com Rhone-Alpes Grenobles 7-28 March 2019: Grenoble Jazz Festival. For more than 40 years this festival has established itself as a premier jazz […]
The Chateau de Chambord is a French Renaissance masterpiece. This jewel of the Loire Valley was begun in 1519, the year Francis 1 became King of France. The flamboyant Francis I loved to put on a show and at Chambord, his imagination ran wild. This grand castle in true Renaissance style was designed to shout […]
Whenever I visit the small town of Buxy in France’s Côte Chalonnaise, you will likely find me at the tiny market held in the centre ville on Thursday mornings. Though there aren’t many stalls, every-thing on offer is absolutely delicious. I especially look forward to stopping by the stand selling honey and French gingerbread, or […]
Taking hardly any time at all to prepare these sweet, crunchy meringues filled with chestnut cream and covered in hot chocolate sauce are a dreamy dessert! Serves 6 Preparation time: 10 minutes 1.5 cups (200g) thick crème fraiche 1 heaped tablespoon mascarpone 2 teaspoons sweet chestnut purée (crème de marrons) 50z (150g) bittersweet chocolate 5 […]
Clafoutis is one of the most versatile French desserts and finds its origins in the Limousin, a lush, green region situated in the heart of the Massif Central. If you’ve never made or tasted clafoutis before, think of it as a ‘custardy’ type of cake. It doesn’t call for that much flour, so there isn’t […]
In 2015 I went to the Lille for the opening parade of Lille3000. I had no idea what to expect. I’d heard from friends that it was a quirky and incredible art “event” but nothing prepared me for the reality. Held every few years, Lille3000 is a huge event with what seems like a strange […]
Wherever you go in France you’re sure to come across a Place Jean Jaurès, a rue Jean Jaurès, Avenue Jean Jaurès, schools and even metro stations of that name in Paris and Lyon. Every French school child will learn about Jean Jaurès. He is one of the most well-known figures of French history, though he […]
Genuine Marseille soap is made by artisans with the provenance, passion and long-standing tradition in their blood to lay claim to makers of genuine Marseilles soap. A bar that contains 72% olive oil – and once tried, you will always be loyal to its soapy concoction. History of Marseille Soap In 1688 Louis IV passed […]
Bordeaux city has several distinct districts each quite different from each other. Pey Berland has a blend of old and new and a hip vibe plus Bordeaux’s only shopping mall. Pey Berland Bordeaux This district is an interesting mix of elegant 18th century architecture and contemporary 1960s construction. It’s home to the administrative center of […]
The French Pyrenees are a mountain range unlike any other. Situated along the French-Spanish border, these mountains have a distinct medieval history. Although they are less famous than their eastern sisters the Alps, their relative obscurity gives the Pyrenees a distinct peace. Robynne McTaggart of Le Belvedere, a gorgeous holiday rental home in the lush […]
2019 sees a major celebration of the French Renaissance heritage in the Loire Valley and the Centre-Val de Loire region. We look at what sparked the French Renaissance and how the key date of 1519 marks the 500th anniversary with a rich programme of events and celebration… What is the French Renaissance? The finale of […]
There has been a sharp decline in many common garden birds across the whole of Europe over the last 40 years. Winter and early Spring often present bleak and extremely cold conditions, with long periods of sub-zero temperatures in many parts of France. It’s important to remember that birds die of hunger, rather than cold, […]
Robynne McTaggart loves to spend time in France, whether skiing in the alps or enjoying the summer in the picturesque villages and glorious countryside. With a business doing well in Perth, Australia where she and husband Garry live, Robynne decided to find a home of her own in 2006. She set herself a goal – […]
Dick Strawbridge and wife Angel Adoree relocated from the UK in 2015 to do up a run-down 5-storey chateau with 45 rooms in Mayenne, Pays de la Loire, France. “It was cheaper than a one-bedroom flat in East London” says Dick – but it needed a lot of work to transform it into the home […]
The department of Charente in southwest France, is in Nouvelle Aquitaine, previously known as Poitou-Charentes. It’s one of the sunniest corners of France with roughly 25% more sunshine hours than the UK. Served by excellent motorways, airports close by, plus fast trains to Paris from the departmental capital Angouleme. There are plenty of opportunities for […]
Dick and Angel Strawbridge of Escape to the Chateau fame share their top tips for those dreaming of buying a chateau and moving to France. But these do’s and don’t’s are good for anyone making the move to the good life in France… Key things to consider when you move to France Location is key: […]
Lots of us dream of owning our own chateau in France. Some of us take a massive leap of faith to make those dreams come true. It isn’t always easy, especially if you buy a listed property which comes with restrictions, requirements and remits galore. But owning, renovating, bringing a chateau back to life – […]
Bonjour, Hope you had a great week. This week I’ve been in Paris and what a time I’ve had – totally and utterly spoiled, and not only because I didn’t have to get up and feed chickens, ducks and geese, walk the dogs or provide maid service for the cats! I’ve been working on an […]
There’s plenty to see and do when you visit Paris but to get a real feel for its authentic love of the arts – take in a show! From concerts to comedy, circus and cabaret, musicals to theatrical performances – there’s something for everyone of every age and every taste. And, from 25 February to […]
We’re delighted to have teamed up with Mirabeau Wine of Provence to make two wine lovers very happy! All you have to do is sign up to Mirabeau’s Facebook page to go into a draw so they can contact winners. Two winners will be chosen* and each will receive two crates of scrumptious rosé wine […]
.
.
There have been many famous families in history. Take the Curies, for example: Marie Curie won two Nobel Prizes and her husband, daughter and grandson each won one. Quite the talented family! And then there are the Wright brothers and the Brontë sisters. And let’s not forget those comic masters, the Marx brothers. But imagine […]
“They are NOT babies, they are chickens” remonstrated my French neighbour Jean-Claude. He had come to inspect the eight point of lay hens and two “babies” with which I had returned from the local street market. “I’m going to call that scrawny baby one Eaglet” I said “Non, non, non” came the emphatic response “You […]
“When I move to France I only want to have French friends”. This was a line in an email I received from a couple of Brits. They wanted advice on where to move to in France and this was one of their criteria. They also wanted to be near a town that has a market, […]
June 2005 was a difficult month for Peter Friend and his partner Mark. After a change of jobs, relocation and redundancy they decided they didn’t want the sort of stressful lives they were leading in marketing and business development for much longer. Considering their skills, passion for travel, good food and wine, setting up their […]
Stephen Solley, an expat from the UK lives in Beaujolais, Burgundy and says, not only is it a great place to live but it also offers opportunities for would be wine-makers… There must be so many couples, frustrated by all the stresses of daily life, who in an ideal world would like to move their […]
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, […]