Magazine

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

magazine

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

New to bandes dessinées? Start with this expert-picked list of beach-worthy reads

BDs can be easy to read for French learners because they usually don't use advanced vocabulary

Letters: My French neighbours amazed me with their love and support

Connexion reader shares her positive experience of being embraced by her community in France

Letters: These tips can help you access your Orange email outside France

Readers share their differing experiences with their orange.fr email accounts

'Beyond my wildest dreams': French mayor reunites with American brother after decades apart

Two men discover their sibling bond through genetic testing, challenging France's 'sous X' adoption laws

Recipe: roasted butternut squash, beetroot and goat’s cheese salad

A fresh summer dish packed with sweet veggies, tangy cheese and crunchy salad leaves

The French do not follow Brits in their ‘faux’ road-crossing habit

Pedestrians in France do not tend to hurry across zebra crossings

Learning French: what does faire semblant mean and when should it be used?

Say this when someone is putting on an act

Letters: It would be wrong for the EU to impose its inheritance rules on France

Reader says proposal to exempt foreign nationals from France's forced heirship rules is problematic

Meet the farming family growing diverse vegetables in west France

'We aim to be harvesting at least 10 different vegetables every month all year round'

The future of French wine: cultivating disease-resistant grape varieties

Expert vigneron explains challenges and innovations in combatting vineyard pests

Guess the French phrase behind this photo clue...

Can you work out which idiomatic expression is depicted below?

5 podcasts to improve your French this summer

Listening is one of the most important language skills to grasp and podcasts are a great tool

Letters: UK banks are failing customers who live in France

Connexion readers share their experiences of delayed and cancelled cards

American donates her father’s WW2 photos to French resistance museum

The Musée de la Résistance is set to open in Cahors in early 2026.

Why do members of my family mock my life in France?

Columnist Cynthia Spillman gives her advice on dealing with negativity

Remarkable summer gardens to see in France

Sarah Beattie says gardeners’ downtime presents the chance to enjoy other gardens

Saint-Vaast-la-Hougue: the 'most beautiful harbour in France'

This picturesque coastal town, not far from Cherbourg, has a war-trodden history as an ancient English landing site

Grimod de La Reyière: France’s restaurant review pioneer

The legacy of this French cultural icon reshaped culinary history

I sent my parents to Marseille… this is what they thought

Sun, sea, and rosé are highlights in the up-and-coming city-break location

Recipe: a seasonal apricot and blackberry ‘sunflower’ galette

Food stylist and blogger, Celine Rousseau, invites readers to bring her appealing, whimsical food art to life in their own kitchens

A French 'courtroom drama' film recommendation

An Ordinary Case, starring Daniel Auteuil and Grégory Gadebois, is based on a novel by the late author Jean-Yves Moyart

Guess the French phrase behind this photo clue...

Can you work out which idiomatic expression is depicted below?

Guess the French region with the help of this clue: Your Massalia carriage awaits

In which of France's 13 regions was this photo taken?

A comprehensive guide to living in Bordeaux

We look at the region's property market, healthcare, education, and transport options

Discover Bordeaux: wine, food and culture

Explore Bordeaux's rich wine heritage, culinary delights and vibrant cultural scene

Bordeaux: from port city to wine haven

Discover how this city in southwestern France transformed from a port to a vibrant wine tourism hub

Learning French: vocabulary to use at a medical appointment in France

Practise key health phrases and vocabulary in this practical French lesson from the Little Language School

Why French gardeners prune and plant trees differently

Columnist Sue Adams reveals the role of history in France's relationship with its trees

How one man's fascination for the Canal du Midi in south-west France unravelled its secrets

A new book, written by Former telecoms engineer Gérard Crevon, explores the untold story of Pierre-Paul Riquet's engineering marvel

Letters: France's confusing postcode system is the bane of our lives

Connexion reader uses parcel drop-off points to receive and take parcel deliveries

Reviving rural France: café culture brings a small Dordogne community together

'We are getting more and more English members, so if any readers live in the area, please do drop in.'

Guess the French region with the help of this clue: Concrete ideas

In which of France's 13 regions was this photo taken?

Dissecting typical French apéritifs

From blackcurrant Dubonnet to the vibrant Lillet 'sisters'

How I moved to France and took up pottery

Former head teacher Sarah Patterson found a new home and a new passion in her 50s

Fancy fowl and posing peacocks: observe the flamboyance of female birds in France

Jonathan Kemp explores the captivating courtship displays of birds, and explains how you can too

Tarragon, basil, chervil: the 'Holy Trinity' of French herbs

How to buy, grow, store, and use these essential herbs in your cooking

What makes France so French?

We take a look at five French traditions on the UNESCO 'intangible cultural heritage' list

Centre Pompidou renovation: get to know this 'inside out' Paris site

Centre Pompidou is one of France’s most recognisable public buildings, but it will be temporarily closed to the public from September

Comment: Brexit 'reset' cannot repair the damage it did to people with links to France

Columnist Nick Inman urges Brexit advocates to own their past promises and address the consequences of their actions

Comment: Jogging is no longer a joke in France

Columnist Sarah Henshaw notes how the once-maligned activity has become a passion in the country

Learning French: rouler en chasse-patate and more Tour de France expressions

The 100-year-old annual bicycle race has long-standing traditions and even its own vocabulary

Letters: British residents of France spar over residency rights

Connexion readers reveal how visa rules affect visits to their French properties post-Brexit

NFL boss dreams of lifting American football to 'the next level' in France

New COO of the Paris Musketeers, Sebastian Stolz, believes the sport can gain traction in France

How I became a calligrapher after moving to France

When engineer Cristina Urzicaru, 31, moved to Versailles for work, her improved work-life balance gave her more free time to take up the practice

Comment: Cheap dining is hurting French restaurants

Eating habits are changing as people's disposable income decreases

Valjouffrey: visiting France's lowest-ranked village for 'quality of life'

Residents are 'happy' to live in this village on the western side of the Écrins Massif, despite the stats

Comment: Low-emissions vote reveals long-standing divisions in France

Columnist Nabila Ramdani notes that the ongoing fight against pollution reflects class and politics

Bordeaux's iconic lamprey dish faces extinction

A court ban on lamprey fishing threatens the future of a historic French delicacy

Recipe: grilled wild garlic mussels

A rich, tasty way to serve mussels, this offers a great contrast of textures between the crunchy crumb crust and the juicy mussel flesh below

Learning French: what does fou rire mean and when should it be used?

A funny phrase for when you cannot suppress your laughter

Canicross: France's fastest-growing sport

Running with dogs in a team is transforming fitness and social lives across France

What are the current rules for children using booster seats in France?

There are strict regulations on booster seat manufacturing

Comment: France must abandon dream of retirement at 62

Columnist Simon Heffer says it is high time for the country to face economic reality

Five exhibitions to see in France this summer

A round up of events for your cultural calendar

Did you know? France used to put animals in the dock

Pigs represented 90% of the convicted animals

A guide to spicing up French cuisine

Find out where to source 'one of the best chillies around', plus learn how to make a traditional Basque stew

France's centuries-old craft group looks to more diverse future

The organisation of artisans and craftspeople dates from the Middle Ages

Try these tips for learning French when you are in your fifties

Columnist Cynthia Spillman’s husband failed O-level French twice but then passed his GCSE and AS-level aged 52 - she shares the tips that helped him become more fluent

Learning French: jouer à l’oreille and more musical phrases

Fine-tune your music-themed vocabulary for the fête de la musique on June 21

Inside Sir Ridley Scott's Provençal paradise

The acclaimed British film director talks exclusively to The Connexion about his Vaucluse home, the wine he makes there and how French history has inspired his work

Experiences: Why I love living in Lot-et-Garonne

Connexion reader Richard Hall explains why he and his wife Maria settled on the banks of the river Lot

French wine guide: choosing regional reds

Jonathan Hesford says correct pairing with food is the key to your vin rouge selection

A Jardin Ouvert to visit in the Loire Valley: ‘I want it to be a proper garden fête’

Musical performances, flower bouquets, a tombola, art exhibitions and donkeys... Sarah Beattie hears about how a chance twist of fate led to this lovely Beaugency hideaway being part of the Open Gardens charity