Heritage

Heritage groups preserve the French art of resin extraction

Once a thriving tradition, the ancient resin extraction craft in Lesperon is being kept alive by a 'living museum'

Help choose ‘France’s favourite monument’

Pick your choice and tune in to the live final to see who wins the top spot

Can Unesco save France’s collapsing cafe culture?

Campaigners have failed twice but continue the fight to have French bistros recognised as intangible cultural heritage

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Brittany menhir stone row: Police protect mayor after death threats

The historical value of the stones is disputed. But their destruction has sparked an argument

39 ancient menhirs moved to make way for a Mr. Bricolage in Brittany

Confusion has arisen over how planning permission was granted for the DIY store with a local archaeologist saying the move is ‘totally illegal’

French ‘cannot tell a good baguette anymore’ says bread historian

Bakers are in crisis as French people no longer have a taste for good bread and the problem starts in schools

100 French heritages sites to receive funding through lottery funds

The money will go to sites across the country in need of restoration and repair

How the Revolution gave France a head for heritage conservation

Today, France leads the way in looking after old buildings and sites, but it is largely due to the country’s tumultuous past

French baguette-baking considered for Unesco intangible heritage list

The practice is one of 56 customs and traditions from around the world in the running. French and Belgian funfair culture is also being considered

French heritage: long hunt for lost cloisters leads to the US

Nick Inman joins in historical detective work of tracking down missing cloisters from his village church

Heritage days: How to find out what is on in your area of France

The annual event takes place this weekend, giving people the chance to visit private historic buildings and participate in thousands of cultural events. Many are free

Pop-up museum of everyday objects traces history of French town

Residents of Pluvigner, Brittany donated old farm or household items for the ‘emotional’ display of how life used to be

Finding Lucy with French paleontologist Yves Coppens

Forty-five years ago, a 3.2 million-year-old skeleton was found in southern Ethiopia that changed our understanding of human evolution forever. Paleontologist Yves Coppens was one of the team that found her. Here, he tells The Connexion about his career

Lavoirs: How these communal wash houses changed French culture

Though they are no longer used, you still come across them, typically on the fringe of a village or town

Airbnb pledges millions to save rural heritage in France

Funds will be allocated to preserve architectural treasures in France, promote this rural heritage, and create new opportunities for businesses

France’s Cordouan lighthouse and Vichy waters on UNESCO heritage list

The two celebrated sites were recognised this weekend for their historical and cultural significance

Which of these 14 French monuments is your favourite? Join TV voters

Help decide which of the shortlisted places should be crowned the winner in a new series of TV show Le Monument Préféré des Français

Hidden face of abbey at Mont-Saint-Michel gets a facelift

€7million restoration work expected to last until 2023

Pantheon lights up for France's 'ordinary' war heroes

Tests have taken place for art installation scheduled to take place in September

Secret history of France: Chemin du Puy

Pilgrims’ progress in search of salvation: in her series on the cultural history of France, art historian Julia Faiers explores the Chemin du Puy, a medieval pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela

Brittany seeks funding to save historic timber-frame houses

The heritage buildings date back to the 15th century and are a symbol of the region

Notre Dame: Historic stained glass may be replaced

Archbishop overseeing the rebuilding of the stricken cathedral are debating whether to introduce modern touches to the iconic building, as the restoration reaches a major milestone

Tide turns Mont-Saint-Michel into an island

Video shows how French World Heritage site was cut off from the mainland for several hours

Sacré-Cœur in Paris set to finally become historic monument

The project to have the famous Montmartre basilica officially recognised was launched this week

France celebrates heritage days despite Covid disruptions

The journées européennes du patrimoine will go ahead this weekend despite some events being cancelled due to coronavirus concerns.

Thousands of Heritage Days events cancelled across France

Authorities concerned about the spread of coronavirus

French Lascaux caves ‘doing well’ 80 years after discovery

France’s famous Lascaux caves are “doing better” thanks to confinement, the conservation manager has said, on the 80th anniversary of the discovery of the sometimes-fragile heritage site.

The Concorde pilot, the King and the ancient French building

The remarkable story of the Grange aux Moines, in Haute-Vienne, which was once owned by King Henry II of England

France's Heritage Loto tickets go on sale

Scratchcards offer €1.5million jackpot, plus 'second chance', while five draws leading up to France's Journées du Patrimoine have €2million top prize

Nantes Cathedral fire: Man questioned as enquiry continues

A man is being questioned in connection with the fire that started at the Saint-Pierre et Saint-Paul Cathedral in Nantes (Loire-Atlantique) yesterday (Saturday July 18), as investigations into the incident continue.

What will France's July 14 celebrations look like this year?

Celebrations will still take place in France on 14 July this year, but with some differences due to the Covid-19 crisis.

This is France's 'most beautiful market' in 2020

A market in the coastal town of Dieppe (Seine Maritime, Normandy) has been named 2020’s "most beautiful market in France", according to a competition organised by news channel TF1 .

18 French heritage sites to benefit from lottery cash

A Roman theatre, a lighthouse and a tobacco drying site are among the 18 heritage sites selected this year to receive funds for restoration work from September’s national heritage lottery ( loto du patrimoine ).

France’s favourite village: Which will win tomorrow's vote?

Fourteen villages will tomorrow compete for the crown of "France's favourite village", in the annual competition and TV show to celebrate French heritage.

Genius of French funnyman Jacques Tati never grows old

As a new book sings the praises of funnyman Jacques Tati, The Connexion examines his influence and how it lives on

Secret history of France: Auch

Treasure and tragedy in Gascony’s historic capital: In her series revealing the history of France’s cities, art historian Julia Faiers reveals the cultural treasures tucked away in Gers capital, Auch

Secret history of French villages: Village des Bories

True story of the farmers’ stone houses of Bories...This month we explore the real, hard-life history behind the very pastoral stone huts built by peasant farmers in the Vaucluse

Word on a shell as seen by St-Jacques hikers in France

Did you know?

Fairytale La Rochelle Hôtel de Ville reopens

The Hôtel de Ville in La Rochelle has always been a focal point of the town; its beautiful, fairytale battlements and circular towers must surely have inspired a million Disney movies.

French manoir restoration could win ‘historic’ status

A single-handed restoration of a 14th-century manoir has been done to such a standard that the building and the complex around it are heading for monument historique status.

Where to visit in laid-back La Rochelle

The Connexion advises you to pause for breath in the Atlantic coast’s relaxed ‘White City’

Architecture of France: Bastides

French medieval new towns ageing well. Take a step back in time with some of France’s most beautiful villages

Architecture of France: Firebacks

Hot properties: historic French firebacks are a grate investment

Corners of France are forever England

France is home to more than 10 purpose-built Anglican churches. The Connexion discovers more about some of them

€24m masterpiece must stay in France

A 13th CENTURY masterpiece – Florentine artist Cimabue’s Mocking of Christ – must stay in France after US buyers paid €24.1million for it.

Béarning rubber...in southern France

Although Pau is a dream destination for anyone interested in historic cars, it has plenty of other attractions.

Start your engines to tour France’s motoring heritage

The Connexion sets out in search of car-lovers’ paradise – and finds there’s more than one

MPs plan to protect France's rural noises and smells

Bill to be heard this week would make rural sounds and aromas part of the 'sensory heritage of the countryside'

Architecture of France: Collège de Combrée

School’s out, so what next for abandoned Collège?

Alpinism wins Unesco recognition

Successful 'intangible heritage' bid was submitted by three Alpine towns

More French than the French... in India

A classic book’s mention of Pondicherry, the former French colony in India, prompted Len Williams, a writer with several UK papers and former Poitiers student, to see if it still felt ‘French’ after all this time

Tomb tales restore life to France’s buried past

The cemeteries of France offer more than a brief history of people’s lives, as The Connexion discovers

Fire and murderous fury in medieval French city Laon

In a series revealing the history of France’s cities, medievalist Julia Faiers uncovers the gruesome past of Laon, in Aisne

French village garage’s century of Citroën heritage

It is just a small village garage but it resounds with 100 years of Citroën history.

French cathedral’s colour show for Christmas

The Connexion previews Amiens Cathedral’s astonishing, vivid light show, which runs until December 29

A gardeners’ garden in the Loire

Jane Hanks looks at the diverse array of green-fingered goodies available year-round on the fabled banks of the Loire

Architecture of France: Périgord Noir

Hammering home beauty

Secret history of France: Mont St Michel

Millennium of miracles, faith and tourism: in her series revealing the hidden histories of France’s cultural hotspots, art historian Julia Faiers turns the spotlight on Mont-Saint-Michel

French local history – November 2019

France’s favourite village an ancient English landing site. The Connexion looks back at the war-trodden history of picturesque coastal town Saint-Vaast-la-Hougue, not far from Cherbourg

Chateaux-filled valley marks French Renaissance links

Half-a-millennium after the death of Leonardo da Vinci in Amboise, The Connexion reveals how the Loire Valley is celebrating French links to a stunning period in European history

Crowdfunder-saved chateau enjoys first tourist season

La Mothe-Chandeniers is now owned by nearly 28,000 'châtelains'

Owning a French monument historique has its advantages

If you want to buy a chateau, you will need to know the rules and regulations – but also the financial rewards – of monument historique status.

Architecture of France: remarkable modern architecture

Architecture lovers, draw up!

Secret history of France's cities: Albi

In the second of a series revealing the history of France’s cities, art historian and medievalist Julia Faiers visits Albi, in the Tarn

French entrepreneurs confirm €300m Notre-Dame pledge

Two of the most high-profile French entrepreneur donors, who together pledged to give €300 million to help reconstruct the stricken Cathedral of Notre-Dame, have formally confirmed their donations.

France's old railway stations back on track

SNCF says its policy is to keep these buildings where possible, as they are part of its heritage

French heart of England’s lion-hearted warrior king

To understand the blood-soaked life of the Crusader monarch Richard, history lovers need to start with the story of his battlefield death in France and trace back from there, says The Connexion's Samantha David

Restoration of drama at French chateau

The Connexion reports on the recently completed restoration of Napoléon III’s Imperial Theatre in Fontainebleau

Normandy resort braces for tourist rush after TV vote

Saint-Vaast-la-Hougue was named Village Préféré des Français by viewers of the France 3 TV series this year

Pesticide-free city ready for important honey harvest

Avignon ready for first harvest of honey from hives on top of World Heritage Site the Palais des Papes

€18k Bona-parting

A lock of Napoleon’s hair has been sold at auction for €18,650 in Fontainebleau.

Magnificent men – and women – in their flying machines

The Connexion traces a French-heavy history of powered flight

Fire damages tower in medieval French city Carcassonne

A tower in the medieval city of Carcassonne (Aude, Occitanie) has been damaged by a fire caused by a fireworks display held to celebrate the Fête Nationale on July 14.

New lease of life for 100-year-old French film studios

Nice once hoped to be a ‘French Hollywood’ - and you will have heard of many of the films that were made at its Victorine Studios. The best of those days seemed over but now the studios are set for a ‘renaissance’

Celebrating Citroën’s centenary of innovation

Englishwoman Linda Jackson is helping Citroën celebrate its centenary from a position of power. The Connexion talks cars with the former accounts department worker