Magazine

Learning French: when and why do we say faire contre mauvaise fortune bon cœur?

An optimistic proverb to make the best of a bad situation

Learning French: the origins and meaning of être Gros-Jean comme devant

The expression comes from France’s most studied and well-known fabulist

Letters: Readers share the drôleries of getting by in French

From old false friends to the latest translation tech - sometimes everyone gets language wrong

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Beaujolais Nouveau: France’s youngest, freshest and fruitiest wine

Producer Laurent Metge-Toppin shares ten facts to help you appreciate the once-maligned tipple

Learning French: when and why do we say avoir un œil de lynx

This phrase finds its origins in the legend of Jason and the Argonauts

Comment: Trump’s victory paves way for far-right win in France

Columnist Simon Heffer says French voters may look with envy at the decisive mandate of the US president-elect

What is the difference between being bilingual and fluent?

There is a cultural nuance implied in the two terms, whether with French or other languages

Learning French: when and why do we say contre vents et marées?

This is a useful handy phrase for when life is not all smooth sailing

Letters: French GP is charging more than he should for consultation

Connexion reader says her doctor is already asking for €30 per visit

Letters: French vets cannot check EU database for lost pets

Connexion reader points out that pets in France need to have the national ID chips or risk never being reunited with their owners

Young American is on a quest to preserve the stories of all WW2 veterans

Rishi Sharma is on a quest to record every surviving Allied veteran's story, to be kept for future generations

French winter warmer recipes: Boeuf bourguignon

This delicious beef stew braised in red wine is a standard of Parisian bistros

Revered French national icon falls from grace

Celebrated anti-poverty and homelessness campaigner Abbé Pierre was voted France’s most popular person for many years, but sexual abuse accusations have shattered the activist priest’s crusading legacy

France's first national park is an outdoor haven

Discover the breathtaking landscapes and rich biodiversity of Parc National de la Vanoise, in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region

Letters: French banking practices are commercial nonsense

Connexion reader says that spending limits force him to turn to foreign banks

Which came first – the White House or its French lookalike?

Columnist Jane Hanks explores the strong resemblance between Château de Rastignac in Dordogne and the iconic home of US presidents

Learning French: what does tiré par les cheveux mean and when should it be used?

Try saying this the next time you hear a story which is hard to believe

Letters: Post-Brexit reset means easing UK-France border checks

Connexion reader says a reciprocal deal on the Schengen border would help everyone

French winter warmer recipes: Babas au Rhum

Legend tells that this boozy dessert was invented for the King of Poland during a visit to France

Properties: see what you can buy in Orne in rural France for €40,000 and €1.123m

Explore Orne's scenic routes, traditional sausages, and surprisingly affordable property market

My life on the road in France living in a self-built tiny house

Geoffrey Celard, 30, explains why he prefers the simple life

Letters: Strength of the dollar is key factor for Americans in France

Reader notes that last time Donald Trump won he said he wanted a weaker dollar to boost exports

Learning French: when and why do we say la douche écossaise?

This expression can describe someone who is acting ‘hot and cold’

Boulangers battle to save real bread in France

The country is renowned for its artisan loaves, yet there has been a shift towards cheap industrial bread

Letters: French banks act like our money is theirs to keep

Connexion reader says the monthly spending limits are 'incomprehensible'

Learning French: when and why do we say pédaler dans la semoule?

A handy phrase to use when you are struggling to find your words

Letters: Automatic French translations can be so funny

Connexion readers share their experiences of absurd mistranslations

Tributes paid to French Resistance fighter Madeleine Riffaud, who died at 100

As a teenager she survived torture by the Gestapo after killing a German officer

Learning French: when and why do we say enfoncer une porte ouverte?

The expression is a useful metaphor for useless actions

France celebrates a century of naturism

Marseille exhibition lays bare the continuing allure of French naturist culture

Letters: Avoid Bordeaux Airport if you can

Readers call it an 'eyesore', with long queues, few seats and lack of air conditioning

Amazon tests free book delivery despite law designed to ban it

E-commerce giant now offers free collection of books from its collection points across the country

Learning French: avoir l’oreille fine and other ear-related expressions

Master the tricky pronunciation of this phrase

France's sealed scientific secrets are unlocked 100 years after submission

Plis cachetés reveal centuries-old sealed envelopes containing scientific discoveries and inventions

Letters: Our French village fête is literally booming

Connexion reader says traditional festivities have been replaced by three consecutive nights of loud music

Know your cheeses and their seasons: which to eat in France in November

Several French cheeses are good to eat this month - alongside a Swiss classic

Learning French: when and why do we say avoir la poisse?

This slang phrase describes someone who is stuck with bad luck

I moved to France and became owner of a reclamation and salvage yard

When Nick Powell, 55, came to France at the tender age of 20, it was to help with a building project on a house close to Poitiers

Letters: French visa proposal for second-home owners sounds like hassle

Connexion reader says he will leave the country if it keeps getting harder to live here

Learning French: the origins and meaning of c’est de la daube

Find out how to express dislike in the manner of a native French speaker

How France's high-rise housing solution to post-war boom became an urban nightmare

The grands ensembles, high-rise public housing units, were meant to provide desperately needed accommodation in big cities in the 1950s but the plan was abandoned only two decades later

Letters: EU's new entry rules will drive UK tourists away from France

Connexion reader feels that the stringent border checks will force people to seek pastures new

PHOTOS: Renovations to our maison de maître have made us YouTube stars in France

Rebecca and Jack Jenkins fell in love with a dilapidated property in Charente, south western France, and fixing it up brought an added bonus

French winter warmer recipes: Choucroute garnie

This simple Alsatian dish of fermented cabbage, potatoes and sausages is best served with beer

Letters: Patou dogs often run wild in France

Connexion reader says owners are dismissive of the danger

Letters: The cost of living is not always lower in France than in the US

Connexion readers share their views on energy, healthcare, education and daily living expenses

Learning French: when and why do we say être sage comme une image?

A rhyming phrase which often describes well-behaved children

French films and TV shows to improve your language in November

Watching shows and films can useful to improving your language learning

Learning French: when and why do we say rendre la monnaie de sa pièce?

This money-based expression can refer to a bid for revenge or a reminder that actions have consequences

Comment: Why hairdressers rule French villages

Columnist Samantha David notes that the coiffeuse is more valuable than a boucherie and boulangerie

First hobby horse club launches in France

Hailed as an exciting new pony club, it combines a love of athletics and horses

Search goes on for body of missing British hiker in France in act of solidarity

Tom Doherty is presumed dead after disappearing on August 6, but search continues in ‘wave of solidarity’

Letters: Brexit benefits for Britons in France

Connexion readers share their experiences

Learning French: the origins and meaning of fada

This regional slang word is connected to fairies and a major French football club

How much does a wine estate in France cost?

Winemaker Jonathan Hesford provides an inside look at the many hidden costs awaiting prospective owners

France's luxury rail adventure set for 2025 launch

Puy du Fou's Le Grand Tour offers an immersive theatrical experience across iconic locations

Comedian who found fame in France talks multicultural comedy

I still feel 80% British in France, says Paul Taylor

Learning French: arriver comme un cheveu sur la soupe and other soup expressions

You might say this when an unexpected guest is out of earshot

Letters: End of Paris Métro ticket books leaves me nostalgic

Reader reminisces about the original carnets, after their replacement is discontinued

Learning French: when and why do we say se jeter dans la gueule du loup ?

This wolf-based phrase could warn someone against making a dangerous decision

Comment: France needs to protect its satirists

Columnist Nick Inman says we need their regard on society - even if we do not like what they say

Toulouse bishop consecrates the city as mechanical monsters run amok

A controversial street theatre featuring demonic figures prompts some Christian groups to condemn the 'satanic' representations

Letters: It is shocking that disabled Blue Badges do not work in France

Reader says the lack of consideration sits ill with the triumph of the Paralympic Games

Nine French false friends that appear in everyday conversation

From sans doute to déception, here are some terms to familiarise yourself with to avoid confusion

French kindness saved my POW father from starvation

The relationship between a German soldier and the French family who accepted him into their family now spans two generations

Five audiobooks to listen to improve your French

Classic works of French literature will deepen your understanding of the country’s culture and enhance your language skills

Comment: French PM's talk of taxing rich is just a gimmick

Columnist Nabila Ramdani notes that France's new right-wing government is not the first to make such plans

France's most ancient oak tree and its two chapels face potential collapse

The 1,200-year-old Chêne d’Allouville, housing two unique chapels, urgently requires preservation efforts

My ten year challenge to recreate the Bayeux Tapestry

Mia Hansson started the project in December 2015 out of boredom and the results have captivated audiences worldwide

Letters: Minority of French motorcyclists think they are in a video game

Reader says that UK and German bikers act more responsibly

Comment: Court ban on Marine Le Pen from holding office would anger French voters

Severe punishment for the Rassemblement National's presidential candidate could derail respect for legal and political institutions, says columnist Simon Heffer