Everyday life

Shop olive oil: French consumer group names cheapest healthiest option

It is now rare to find a litre of olive oil for less than €10

Who can I appoint as my power of attorney in France

Antonia Ridley-Hughes of Ashtons Legal, answers a reader query

Foreign couples and French marriage regimes: key points to know

A look at how marriage laws in France can impact property ownership and inheritance

news

Five things they don't tell you about… apéros in France

Pointers from courses to socially acceptable drinks

French benefit explainer: ‘Allocation de rentrée scolaire’

We look at who is eligible for the ‘back-to-school’ grant in 2024, how to apply and how much is available

Letters: I have four addresses for the same house in France

Connexion reader responds to a recent article on rural properties not having a proper address

Options and rates for prepaid SIM cards in France as Bouygues cards end

You can transfer your old phone number to a new operator. We look at the options

Opinion: France's new addresses lack imagination - but they do help

There is no longer anywhere to hide in rural areas

38 communes in south France recognised as new drought disaster zones

People affected can now claim on their catastrophe naturelle insurance, but the issue looks set to reoccur this year

Save hens from French slaughterhouses – and get free eggs in return

Company says the chickens it rescues can help recycle household waste

Five things to know to understand the French mindset

Why being polite means not being too friendly and arriving late is sometimes best

Five things they don’t tell you about… school kermesses in France

We look at how fundraisers for the local church turned into annual school parties that are a huge part of French village life

Letters: Cold callers are are big nuisance in France

Reader says it is difficult to avoid calls or even to find out information about them

Residency card delays: French authorities pledge to reform system

The slow process for people living in France to apply a residency card could be cut after French authorities have promised to reform the system

How to handle disputes with your neighbours in France

Problems due to messy gardens, noisy children and unauthorised constructions can easily spiral out of control

Why household water bills are set to soar in France

Costs could rise by as much as 50% over the next five to 10 years, say water firms. There could also be a crackdown on people with wells and boreholes

Which cigarette packets rise in price in France on June 1, 2024?

Predictions show a €25 packet could be on the way

Tips for those wanting to move to France but blocked by doubt

How determination, planning and a positive attitude can overcome the barriers to living in France

Tips to make the most of retiring to France

From choosing where to settle to staying resilient

112, 15, 17: Do you know the emergency numbers to use in France?

There list the many different numbers and situations of when they should be called

French homeowner wins case over smart water meter installed in absence

The woman had asked for information but the company simply installed the meter instead

Above-ground swimming pools in France: rules, prices, installation

They are cheaper and easier to install, but above-ground pools must still meet regulations

When is Mother’s Day in France this year? Is it well celebrated?

The first official Fête des Mères took place in Artas, a small village in Isère, on June 10, 1906

18 recent and upcoming changes in France - May 2024

We cover ambulance sharing being made mandatory, cracking down on shrinkflation, changes to free samples and more

Casino supermarket boss pledges massive price reductions in France

Prices up to 20% cheaper are just one of the measures announced as part of the overhaul

New rise in gas prices for homes in France in June

It comes after a rise in the ‘benchmark’ price

The biggest culture shocks for Americans in France

From snack flavours to holiday allowance, Americans moving to France should prepare for some big differences

Many Casino supermarkets to become cheaper Intermarchés: where and why

Find out which supermarkets are due to change and if there is one near you

What surprises people when they move to France?

From not being immediately entitled to holidays to the national obsession with yoghurt

2024 bank holiday dates in France and how they are celebrated

There are technically 13 statutory holidays in 2024 in France - although some are only celebrated in one area. Here are the dates to note

Gardening, DIY: what you can and cannot do on a bank holiday in France

We also look what to do if your neighbours do not abide by the anti-noise rules

RANKED: France's 10 most dog-friendly towns and cities

Criteria used include number of dog parks, dog-friendly public transport policies, and help for vulnerable owners and animals

How to be reimbursed for lost or stolen parcels in France

Here are the steps to take if your item never shows up

Advice for the newly separated in France

When your relationship breaks down, how do you cope in France and should you stay?

Advice for the newly bereaved in France and English-speaking help

When the worst happens, how do you cope in France?

10 days off for just 3 holiday days: Why French workers love May

We also look at where people are planning to go during this added holiday time

More than 31,000 in 2024: Spectacular rise in centenarians in France

Women in particular are living longer, a new report shows

How do people change when they move to France?

From embracing a sportier lifestyle to keeping their brains sharp

READER FEEDBACK: What you wish you had known before moving to France

See recommendations from those who have taken the plunge

Innovative ideas to tackle people’s feeling of loneliness in France

Social isolation is hitting young people in particular, a study shows - we look at some innovative solutions

French AI system can see inside bin bags: what is it being used for?

The technology uses a camera to detect anomalies, and is already used by 45 communes

More everyday French supermarket products accused of ‘shrinkflation’

Cordon-bleu, yoghurts, and ham are in the firing line, with prices up to 25% higher for lower quality items

Emergency cash, care advice: Nine ways a French social worker can help

We look at the role of social workers in France and the support they offer to those in need

Five things they don’t tell you about the President of France

A humorous look at the position and pomp of the Président de la République

WATCH: Brothers’ battle in French table tennis final ends in tears

Older brother Alexis Lebrun comes out on top - and jumps on the table to celebrate while his brother cries

Covid-19: French state guilty of stopping son visiting dying father

‘The last words my dad said to me on the phone were: “Don’t worry, we’ll see each other again.”’

Benefit controls in France: Criticism of how people are selected

Family associations claim that the ‘scoring’ algorithm used is discriminatory and targets vulnerable people

French people are having much less sex, new poll suggests

There is an increasingly marked disinterest, it claims, citing time spent on screens and less of a feeling of ‘marital duty’ among reasons

Can I write my own will in English in France?

Whatever the language requirements a notaire is not necessarily needed but certain rules must be followed

Moving letter from daughter to late father in US washes up in Gironde

‘You are my legend’: The letter - well-sealed in a glass bottle - allowed the finder to trace the writer, 6,000 km away

UK income threshold plan for British-French families called ‘cruel’

People who left the UK to live in France may not be able to return with their family if British visa minimum income levels double, says campaigner

How can I lower the ‘gift’ tax on a present to a relative?

There are certain ways to reduce the tax you need to pay

Is ‘de’ a sign of being from a ‘posh’ or noble French family?

There is often thought to be a certain cachet to having a so-called ‘particule’

You often refer to a ‘parts’ system for tax in France; what is this?

We explain how this and the regime allows married couples and larger families to pay a reduced amount of French income tax

What girls’ and boys’ names are trending for babies in France?

Short and retro names are popular as are regional and mediaeval names

Father dies after freak fun park accident with daughter, 4, in France

An inflatable ‘bouncy castle’-type structure was picked up by a strong wind and flew around 50 metres away, carrying the pair inside

What do I do with my French livret de famille?

If you recently got married in France or obtained French citizenship, you may have received a livret de famille. Here’s what you need to know

In French inheritance law, what is a pacte de famille?

We look at this French inheritance option and when it is advantageous

More than 800 cousins from same French family gather for a party

A French couple’s dying wishes began the tradition in 1898

Macron's anger after family member attacked in northern France

France’s president said Jean-Baptiste Trogneux was beaten by protesters in Amiens because he was a relation of Brigitte Macron

Son of American WWII pilot retraces father’s escape across France

An event on Sunday will explore the story of Paul Miller and showcase the journey he took to evade capture after crash landing in the French countryside

What happens to a French bank account after a person’s death?

Can a spouse automatically access the funds?

How do I recover funds from my late father’s French bank account?

If a person living in the UK dies and leaves behind a bank account in France, this is more complicated to recover than the UK assets

Explainer: How to bring family to live with you in France post-Brexit

Non-EU citizens can move to France with family – we look at the visas and cartes de séjour that will be needed

EU to review legality of recent French law on children’s inheritance

A British woman has made an official complaint against recent changes on forced heirship rules

‘I swapped hairdressing in UK for family window business in France’

Jane Robertshaw, explains how hairdressing kept her away from her sons. Their move to France brought a new family venture

French forced inheritance rule raises questions about English law

A 2021 law re-enforcing children’s rights to a share of their parent’s estate has caused issues for nationals of countries including the UK

Is it better to lend to grandchildren in France or to make gifts?

There are pro’s and cons when it comes to these options, but you should be aware of the tax and declaration implications

Court ruling raises issues for family members of EU citizens in France

The EU court has ruled on the right to an EU long-term resident’s card for close family members of Europeans living in another EU country

Incest in France: new report does not call for full ban

The government has been advised, however, to pass a law introducing the automatic removal of parental authority from parents committing incest

I deserve a gold star for choosing to raise my five kids in France

With Mother’s Day in France on Sunday (May 29) – Gillian Harvey reflects on her decision to bring up her family in France

Is it true that there are no incest laws in France?

We look into this topic after reports in the British press this year claiming that France is about to ban incest

Recap: Baby gifts, taxi fees, meat labels… 10 recent changes in France

There has also been an increase in motorway tolls and the launch of a new online ‘health space’ for residents

Housing, disability, family: the French state aids people do not know

€10billion in allocations goes unclaimed every year, a new report claims

Care homes in France: Is living with a host family an alternative?

Family hosting, known as accueil familial, is possible and can be an option for older or disabled people, although not if people require constant care