Magazine

Five things they don't tell you about... summer cooking in France

Less about cooking and more about entertaining, here are five French ways to plan a meal alfresco

How to save money on ferries to and from France

From booking early to being flexible on dates, here is how to cash in on cheaper crossings

Inside my 'stylish, soulful and sustainable' hotel renovation in the south of France

Planning a restoration project? We get some eco tips from the owner of a stunning refurbishment in the Aude

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Your feedback on anti-mosquito products in France and tips

Connexion readers share their advice for keeping the pests at bay and to stop bites itching

Learning French: when and why do we say jeter l'éponge?

A phrase to use when acknowledging defeat

Homemade wins but which is the best mayonnaise brand in France?

Consumer magazine tests 15 brands to determine their winner from those available in shops

'I'm worried my husband will leave me for a younger, slimmer French woman'

Columnist Cynthia Spillman advises a reader struggling with insecurity

Learning French: the origins and meaning of 22 v’la les flics and other police terms

Hearing the number 22 when in France may suggest the police are nearby

How I became an online English teacher after moving to France

Former community safety officer John Mainland, 53, tells how his love of helping others led him in a new direction

Why is good French wine aged in oak barrels?

Jonathan Hesford looks at the types of oak used and the benefits enjoyed by the drinker

Photos: rare otters captured in south of France using nocturnal camera

Recolonisation and protection efforts are paying off in several regions around the country

Spotting storks and egrets in France

Jonathan Kemp observes some familiar birds at Le Domaine des Oiseaux nature reserve near Toulouse

Our French gîte: We swapped UK traffic jams for a simpler life in Burgundy

Caroline and Richard Williams transformed their lives by relocating to run a guesthouse in rural France

Etoile Verte: sustainable cuisine is rewarded with Michelin stars in France

The 2025 update to the Michelin Guide features 10 'green star' restaurants

How France residents can create good memories on a visit back home

Cynthia Spillman gives her tips on making the most of a trip back to native soil

Letters: Professionally installed solar panels are not worth it in France

Connexion reader outlines the economic pitfalls when it comes to solar panels, such as the rate of return when it comes to feeding back to the grid

Recipe: tasty tomato tarte tatin

Swap apples for tomatoes in this savoury twist on a French cuisine classic

Personalised coffins grow in popularity as secular funerals rise in France

Many orders for unusual designs come from British residents

France garden tips: try agapanthus, it is hardier than you think

The evergreen types are ideal for a Mediterranean climate, coming as they do from the western and eastern cape in South Africa

Eguisheim: the French fairytale village that inspired Disney's Beauty and the Beast

Explore the enchanting streets and historic charm of this photogenic spot in France's Grand Est region

10 travel ideas: See the world without leaving France

Some of France's diverse landscapes evoke exotic and far-flung locations

Comment: Cutting bank holidays will not save France's finances

Columnist Nabila Ramdani says the prime minister's proposals are typically melodramatic and pure political manoeuvering

Comment: A tough budget is needed to keep France afloat

Columnist Simon Heffer contrasts Prime Minister François Bayrou's proposals to cut the deficit with the vague plans floated in the UK

Learning French: when and why do we say il y a anguille sous roche?

Find out which Franco-American celebrity used this phrase in a TV interview

Discover the Karbike: France's eco-friendly electric bike with car features

Columnist Samantha David talks to inventor Lucas Vançon, who has helped to develop a new green form of transport which he says is ideal for urban areas

Longer stays and luxury experiences: could France’s ‘upgraded’ tourism strategy combat overtourism fears?

France is increasing investment in tourism despite already being the world’s leading tourist destination

We missed opera in France – so we brought it to us

Columnist Peter Bear tells how he introduced rural opera to his French home

Gardens in France: from dog kennels to swimming pool maintenance

Tips and tricks for keeping cool in your jardin this month

Learning French: when and why do we say entre chien et loup?

Use this saying to describe the moment after sunset

Orne of a kind: the ‘Cotswolds of France’ that remains a hidden gem

Often overlooked by tourists and second-homers, this region in north-west France has so much to offer

Living in Orne: all you need to know about this department of northwest France

From transport to healthcare, what is it like to live in this charming Normand department?

Eat like a local in France: tripes en brochette de La Ferté-Macé

Get a flavour for the history of this delicacy from the Orne region and learn how it is made

Eight examples of French romanticising everyday language

From death and black eyes to cooking and moving forward, French has a way of romanticising life

Learning French: avoir la pêche and other fruit expressions

With France's summer fruit season upon us, we pick out some of our favourite fruit-based French phrases

Letters: Your feedback on ‘no children venues’ in France

A new label promoting spaces as ‘child friendly’ is set to be launched soon

Five famous historical French figures who were exiled to Britain

From Voltaire to De Gaulle, we share the stories of five exiles who fled across the Channel

Letters: essential checks before renting a car in France and abroad

Connexion reader says to ensure vehicle and documents match to avoid legal issues and extra charges

From cheese to sewing needles: nine facts about the French department of Orne

Did you know that the world's largest cheese factory is the Camembert Président factory in Domfort?

Recipe: garlic anchovy roast lamb

Adding a few flavourings to lamb before roasting is a simple step that transforms this classic dish

This French hilltop village sits between heaven and earth

Art historian Julia Faiers unpicks the threads that weave together the Roman and medieval settlements of Saint-Bertrand-de-Comminges in the Pyrenees

Letters: France should give Range Rover and SUV drivers a break

Connexion reader says he is fed up of the mounting regulations

Letters: France's hunting season puts the public at risk

Connexion reader voices fears over unchecked hunting activities threatening public safety in rural areas

Learning French: the origins and meaning of avoir la moutarde qui monte au nez

A mustard metaphor for rising anger

Learning French: 12 words and phrases that are untranslatable in English

From faire du yaourt to l’esprit d’escalier, here are some words that have no direct English equivalents

Learning French: do acronyms confuse or simplify language learning?

We look at common sigles that you might come across in France

Comment: Get cats sterilised early - even in rural France

Columnist Samantha David notes that under the new guidelines you can spay kittens from just eight weeks

France's July 14 military parade: 'a national communion' or out of touch?

We look at how France reconciles republicanism with a seemingly authoritarian tradition

Videos: Drone shows replace July 14 fireworks in France - watch recent good ones

Displays offer stunning visuals without the risk of starting wildfire

In France, do you know your porcherie from your pigeonnier?

These traditional structures have helped small-scale farmers source protein for hundreds of years

La Fête Nationale: 14 facts about France's national holiday

The July 14 'Bastille Day' celebration features a military parade in Paris and means a day off work

Learning French: test your Bastille Day vocabulary

From fireworks to military parades, do you know these words related to France’s fête nationale?

How a post-1918 ‘adoption’ scheme of French towns left its British mark

A UK project to help rebuild devastated French towns after World War One was not without controversy

Why I love where I live… in Strasbourg

How roller derby helped Australian Carlie Bonavia settle into French life

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

From the classic French style to the wild English one

How does France mark July 14, and where are the best firework displays in 2025?

Paris, Lyon, Cannes and Strasbourg are among highly-rated displays

Plouray: a Brittany village with its own Buddhist centre

This small rural village near Lorient has previously played host to Buddhist figures including the Dalai Lama

Learning French: the origins and meaning of ce n’est pas la mer à boire

Say this when something is easy-peasy

New virtual reality Napoleon experience a hit in Bordeaux

Connexion columnist Samantha David visited Napoléon, L'Epopée Immersive – a 'fun and fascinating' way to explore the historical events surrounding the French general