Late summer and early autumn is often the busiest time of the year for buyers of second homes in France committing to new purchases. Here we look at two key points to ensure your French property purchase remains on track!…
An Agreement in Principle Why it pays to get your application for a French mortgage sorted out before hunting for your dream home… “When you possess an ‘agreement in principle’ it sends a very clear message to vendors that you…
The Wilkinsons used their aesthetic talents and exquisite taste to return a dilapidated farmhouse in the south of France to its original splendour. Greg Cook finds out how… Barely off the plane, Marianne and David Wilkinson took one…
Rope-grown mussels steamed with Roquefort cheese, white wine, garlic, parsley and bacon lardons. This simple but tasteful dish has a great combination of flavours and is sure to impress any guest! Our quick and easy recipe makes it perfect for…
The ‘Pink City’ is a well-established culinary centre, one which boasts famous specialities that range from cassoulet and Toulouse sausages to violet-flavoured sweets. Toulouse is most famous for its speciality charcuterie sausages – historically made from pork that’s marinated…
Filets de carrelet meunière aux amandes One of the best-known and loved flatfish of all, plaice can be easily identified at the fishmonger’s by its distinctive brown colouring and vivid orange spots. If cooked well, this tasty fish…
There is more than a bridge linking Deauville with Trouville. Both villages on Normandy’s lovely Côte Fleurie have a casino, a beach boardwalk and a film festival… Given its small size and a population of just 4,000, Deauville…
Once mastered, this beautifully light dessert with intense raspberry flavour will be in your repertoire of special dinners for years to come. You might even feel like investing in individual copper pots that are the perfect size for soufflés,…
Nestled between the Atlantic Ocean and the Spanish Pyrénées in the South-West of France is the Pays Basque and it has a much respected culinary style all of its own! As an appetizer, you can’t beat a few slithers…
Provence has triggered many a creative impulse. Patrice Bertrand meets two expats who have drawn on art, and the local fare, to make ends meet “I think I’m probably the most stressed person in Provence, which is a very…
Everybody deserves a little sweet self indulgence once in a while, and what better way to round off a meal than with a delicious French dessert? This is a simple microwave version of the classic French dessert, also…
To create the compagnard, or “country” look, go for useful items without cluttering Would you like to create a touch of French chic in your home without breaking the bank? Interiors expert Mayke Hogestijn looks at how to achieve the…
Rupert Springfield and Franck van der Hooft fell in love with the Dordogne one summer, there and then making plans to return and create their perfect home and business. They’ve turned the fantasy into reality! FRENCHENTRÉE MAGAZINE: How…
We talk to Anna Congratel who, alongside her husband Abel, worked for 15 years to gradually turn a spectacular 19th-century manor in the Lot into a luxurious guest house FE Mag: When – and where – did you buy…
The medieval town of Saint-Antonin-Noble-Val on the Aveyron River boasts a beguiling mix of amazing scenery and fascinating history plus a fantastic local market – it’s a jewel of the Tarn-et-Garonne… 1. Stunning panoramas The first and most obviously…
A variant of the classic French dessert Poire Belle-Hélène, adapted here for a Breton crêpe. Preparation time: 20 minutes Cooking time: 20 minutes per crêpe FOR EACH CRÊPE 80g (3oz / 1⁄3 cup) crêpe batter 2 tbsp chocolate sauce…
Adding a single-storey dining room extension has enclosed the courtyard Bénédicte and Phil Apple left gloomy Britain behind to convert an old mill house in Provence into an idyllic haven. They tell Greg Cook why it’s the best decision they’ve…
The dream of moving to France is often based on a simpler, less costly and more rewarding lifestyle, but is it really a cheaper place to live? START WITH THE FACTS At a glance, the cost of living for…
Attractive property prices make France an appealing proposition. But with house-hunting costs and conveyancing fees to think about, it can all add up quickly… HOUSE-HUNTING COSTS Often overlooked, these initial costs aren’t to be underestimated. There’s getting to…
We head to the green heart of southwest France, where two départements reign supreme… Lot Named after its defining river, the Lot shares its borders with the Limousin, Aquitaine and Auvergne regions. This historically rich area is known for…
Justin Postlethwaite on just what it is that makes the blue-footed Bresse chicken, a living embodiment of the French flag, Le Tricolore, so in demand with amateur gourmands and top restaurants alike… The strutting creatures that you occasionally glimpse…
A recipe from a sumptuous cookbook by Rachael McKenna and Jean-André Charial which celebrates the unique gastronomic offerings and relaxed rituals of midday meals in Provence. Mousseux au chocolat Grand Cru, craquant au grué de cacao, crème glacée au…
A recipe from a sumptuous cookbook by Rachael McKenna and Jean-André Charial which celebrates the unique gastronomic offerings and relaxed rituals of midday meals in Provence. Serves 2 200g lardons 1 small onion, peeled and finely chopped 1 bouquet garni…
A MOVE IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION Relocating abroad is not rocket science, but it does take planning. Tim Davies runs through the basics and shares some handy tips for a worry-free house move Q How can I make…
Strong Basque Influences Cuisine in this département is heavily influenced by Basque culture. You’d be advised to start off with the Bayonne ham. This is a sweet variety of specially cured ham protected by something called indication géographique protégée…
Cows may outnumber villagers (or so her daughter believes) in the isolated hamlet of Montanel – but to Ani Moriarty the rural nook is simply heaven on earth Where do you live in France and why did you choose…
A recipe from a sumptuous cookbook by Rachael McKenna and Jean-André Charial which celebrates the unique gastronomic offerings and relaxed rituals of midday meals in Provence. Dos de loup de méditerranée cuit à la plancha, fine ratatouille aux goûts…
From choosing the best vintage (for you) to decanting and making heads or tails of tasting notes, Majestic Wine expert James Godfrey gets down to brass tacks Q Why is wine so much cheaper in France than the UK?…
Ready to make the move? The FrenchEntrée Property Services team reveals its top search areas – on and off the beaten track BEAULIEU-SUR-MER Alpes-Maritimes, Côte d’Azur Beaulieu-sur-Mer, translated as ‘beautiful place by the sea’, lies at the very heart…
This rural department of Pays de la Loire is characterised by wide open fields providing ample room for cattle to graze. Some poor cows live indoors all year round. Not here, where the beef is top notch In this…
from Philippe Mouchel This recipe from renowned Melbourne chef Philippe Mouchel is an ode to his home of Normandy, featuring a medley of seafood, the best butter and cream, and apple cider, which Philippe describes as ‘Normandy champagne’. Philippe starts…
Ready to make the move? The FrenchEntrée Property Services team reveals its top search areas – on and off the beaten track TREIGNAC, Limousin. Standing next to the Vézère river, Treignac is situated in the north part of Corrèze,…
Carolyn Westbrook is a designer known for her love of French interiors and in her book Through the French Door, she shares her romance with beautiful and inspiring interiors, and invites us into some beautiful homes, including her own. Photography…
Serves 6 Preparation time: 30 minutes Cooking time: 3 hours 30 minutes 800g beef chuck or back ribs 3 tablespoons fat 3 large onions 30g flour 400ml beer 600ml stock 1 teaspoon sugar 1 tablespoon vinegar 1 bouquet garni…
Preparation: 25 minutes Serves 4 200g French goat’s cheese Camembert 4 whole pre-cooked beetroots 400g cooked, marinated artichokes 100g pine nuts 150g podded broad beans or soya beans 2 large handfuls of fresh basil 2 lemons 2 tbsp balsamic vinegar…
Ready to make the move? The FrenchEntrée Property Services team reveals its top search areas – on and off the beaten track MAGALAS, Hérault, Languedoc-Roussillon The charming village of Magalas, located just 15km north of the dynamic city…
There’s nothing like a jaunt around France’s many parcs naturels régionaux especially in summer. Next time you’re in the vicinity, why not go and investigate the park life? 1 Vercors Straddling the départements of Drôme and Isère in the…
Alain Ducasse is one of the greatest chefs of our time. His influence stretches across the globe, with more than 20 restaurants in eight countries, and he was the first chef to be awarded three Michelin stars in three different…
With the news that Paris will host the Olympic Games in 2024, 100 years after France last staged the event, those with a keen eye on the property market have been paying close attention to the key sites. Unlike…
Nearly 30 years since she left her native United States for the sun-dappled shores of the Riviera, Lanie Goodman tells us why it’s the best decision she’s ever made Why did you choose to call Villefranche-sur-Mer home? The advantages…
This mostly rural, relatively little-explored region abutting Switzerland is best known for its cheese and charcuterie yet boasts a unique of variety of wine dating back to the Romans. Florence Derrick investigates… One of France’s most underrated regions, Franche-Comté…
Serves 4 Preparation time: 30 minutes Resting time: 1 hour This first-course salad is a marriage of diverse ingredients associated with the area around Lyon. It is found almost everywhere, from the smallest bouchon (a Lyonnais-style bistro which tends to…
Patrice Bertrand meets three expats who realised their dream of owning a vineyard in the south of France – and never looked back Amidst his ten hectares of vines overlooking the picturesque Provençal village of Le Barroux and…
Serves 4 to 5 4 x 350g duck breasts from fattened ducks 500g baby potatoes 25g salted butter 3 shallots, chopped 2 garlic cloves, crushed 15 sprigs flat-leaf parsley, chopped 50g pitted morello cherries Pinch caster or granulated sugar Preparation…
If you’re looking for houses in France, it pays to be prepared. Follow our handy bullet-point guide to making the most of your viewing trip. * Make sure you have appointments booked with agents – don’t expect to just…
Twenty-one miles from England lies France’s Opal Coast. For many school children, this stretch of coastline linking Calais and Boulogne-sur-Mer provides their first taste of France. Eleanor Fullalove advises visitors of all ages to bring back plenty of yummy ‘souvenirs’…
Tim Matthews with chef Alexandre Gauthier In the pretty and petit hilltop village of Montreuil-sur-Mer, something foodie is afoot… Janine Marsh meets a British expat who teamed up with a local superstar chef to put this northern French town…
Situated off the west coast of France, the island of Oléron is accessible via Marennes in mainland Charente-Maritime. Not surprisingly, seafood is the main culinary delight found in this beautiful outpost on the Atlantic, but that’s certainly not all…
A living room that is meant for living is essential to family life, and the relaxed style that this room represents, with slip covered sofas, dreamy pillows and fabulous treasures from the sea, sums up Carolyn’s ethos Carolyn Westbrook is…
The Infantes tell FrenchEntrée how they transformed a beautiful stone mas in the Vaucluse into a tranquil, relaxed-looking home for their family FRENCHENTRÉE MAGAZINE: What brought you to France? ALISON INFANTE: We lived in Hertfordshire near Welwyn Garden…
