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With all the fuss over school dinners in the UK, and headlines such as “Not fit for a dog” in...

A look at the traditional rice cultivation in the region, and a yummy recipe too! The first cultivation of rice in the Camargue dates back to around 1600. There are now 10,000 hectares of rice grown in the region, much of it exported across the world. "Camargue Rice"

"Camargue red rice"Rice might seem a pretty ordinary food, an item we take for granted. It goes with our curry or risotto, it is more of an add-on than a feature ingredient. But the majority of rice consumed in France is grown right here in the south of France, in the Delta of the Rhône valley. And not just any rice, but many varieties, including the gourmet red rice used by the best chefs. This has a great colour, fantastic texture and nutty flavour.

Following the success of the buy to let as an investment idea, many people have begun to investigate the possibility...

Frequently Asked Questions about Mortgages for French Property Q. How much will I be able to borrow? Most lenders in...

Languedoc-Roussillon is popular with sun-seekers, but this diverse part of the south of France has dramatically different climatic conditions. Here’s how to find the Languedoc home that’s right for you, whatever the weather. "Buying with the weather in mind"

You've bought your dream house, spent a fortune renovating it, said goodbye to the builders, moved in…and then the problems start. A prolonged drought dries out the ground and ...

Whether you need to get over your nerves or take a test to get a French licence, here's some advice to get you started...

[IMAGE-MISSING] If you are travelling around the Languedoc plain you will come across village built in a circular pattern. So, you might ask, why a circle? There are paintings of circular towns dating back to Roman and Greek times, as the circle was considered the ideal form in those days. But was this merely a pictorial ideal? Between the eleventh and twelfth centuries a whole series of circular villages emerged in this region, evidence of a planned architectural model. They only exit, moreover, in the southern part of France, and are thought to be the first example of urban development of the Middle Ages.

Once you’ve enrolled your child in a French school and learnt the differences regarding school days, holidays, and lunches in France,...

Peter and Zoe Scott decided to make their home in Mondounet, near Montcuq in the Lot valley. Fifteen years on, they look back on the choice as one of the best decisions they ever made

In the Languedoc-Roussillon apéritifs are more than something to eat and drink before a meal, they are an entire social custom! Here is our quick beginner's guide to the apéritifs popular in the region including Pastis, Kir, Kir Royal, Muscat, Banyuls, Maury, Byrrh and Noilly Prat. "Apéritif"

In many parts of the country, a pool is perfectly enjoyable in high summer without any added heat, but if you want to start swimming earlier in spring or carry on into autumn, a heating system can significantly extend the season.

Flooding or can be a serious problem in certain areas of the Languedoc. It is therefore vital that all prospective home buyers are aware of flood zones, the legal obligations that exist on vendors, and what to do in the event of a flood. "Languedoc Flood Zones"

Figs can be used in a variety of ways; they are quite delicious served fresh for breakfast with a thick yoghurt or crème fraiche. They are equally delicious poached with sugar and lemon juice and served in the same way. But I like them best when ...

To any visitor the most obvious difference between Brittany and the rest of France is the Breton language. This is not always high-profile in everyday life but everywhere are examples ...

Guests frequently approach us with questions such as; “How long is the Park open for?” “What are the annual Site...

Roger Lee is often asked what he does all day now that he has retired to the sunny south. He used to say "Oh, you know, a bit of this and a bit of that" - he felt a bit lazy to admit how easy it is to fill the day doing absolutely nothing. But, that was before something dramatic happened ...

"Restaurant"A café shares some of the characteristics of a bar, and some of the characteristics of a restaurant. A café provides coffee, drinks and snacks at the bar. These could consist of a Croque Monsieur, pastries, soups or...

Finding a good tradesman in France isn't usually too difficult – finding one who can do the work quickly is quite a different matter! It helps to understand how the building trade functions so that you can comprehend why your builder will take a long lunch hour and disappear at midday on a Friday.

Peter Mayle described Provence as a cold country with a high rate of sunshine and a place where the summers are consistently hot. Both of these comments are also said to be true elsewhere in the South of France - the Lot and Quercy region, but let’s look at some actual figures...

To many English people, the perfect Lot and Quercy home is an old stone farmhouse with a nice view and a Pigeonnier. When Michael and Eileen Fawcett came to the Lot eight years ago, they found a wonderful house – but no Pigeonnier! Unperturbed by this, they proceeded to build one of their own – and not for keeping pigeons. Eileen takes up the story...

[IMAGE-MISSING]A perpetual problem in Brittany (and everywhere I reckon!) being surrounded by farmland certainly doesn't help! I've never seen weeds like it here - 8 years of a garden ...

"Salt Meadow Lamb"Salt meadow lambs are widely available in the "pays d'Armor". Those from the bay of Mont-Saint-Michel and from the Breton Islands (Belle-Île, Ouessant) are particularly sought after...

This region has a well-deserved reputation for producing fabulous quality fruit and has a huge annual production of plums, melons, table grapes and garlic in addition to several varieties of wine ...

Everyone’s heard of Salade Niçoise, it’s eaten at a million tables all over the world every summer. However if you come a little inland you’ll find another regional speciality just waiting to be discovered...

Fruit growing is a speciality of the département which is renowned for its plums (the famous pruneaux d’Agen), strawberries, succulent melons and the pomme d’amour, Marmande tomatoes. Good quality wines are produced in the Duras and Buzet regions, and...

[IMAGE-MISSING]The house that stands out as the most interesting and typical of the rural, agricultural lifestyle of Provence is the old stone mas, or farmhouse...

Breton ciders are a clear or cloudy beverage made from apples, with a fine foamy head and bubbles in the body of the liquid. Delicious summer and winter, and the perfect partner to a galette Bretonne.

A look at the life of an oyster and a visit to an oyster farmer at Gujan-Mestras, on the Arcachon Basin, to find out, among other things, how the oyster parks prepared for the huge French Christmas rush...

Find out the facts on production methods of the controversial foie gras.

Whether you’re seeking a job, setting up a business, or just signing on as unemployed you’re bound to come up against that monumentally inert edifice which is French administration...

How to use the mysterious vegetables that you see in French markets.

Differences between French and British supermarket stock; how it is treated differently, and where it comes from.

A leaseback investment is an arrangement where you buy a house or a flat and then grant a company the right to use it for short-term tourist rentals...

Leaseback - frequently asked questions Where are Leaseback properties available? Leaseback properties are available in many parts of France, including Paris, Normandy, Brittany, the Alps, Cote D'Azur, Languedoc and the Monaco area. ...

One of the reasons I was so excited about moving to France was the French fish markets. The amazing array...

If anyone has done a village grape-harvest in France, you will know that it is generally a day’s work, with...

Looking for a vegetarian place to stay? Or a place that will serve you a delicious vegetarian meal? Take a look at this list of accommodation and restaurants.

Essential French medical words and specialist vocabulary. General Medical Terms in French  surgery – la chirurgieX-ray – une radio(graphie)surgeon –...

Eating no meat or fish in France can make for a trickier life. Here's what you can do to make things easier

Want to know the current weather in France or get a forecast? Or find out about historic rainfall or sunshine hours for different regions? It's all here...

Before you can start looking for your place in France, be it a holiday home or a permanent residence, it’s important to narrow down your search to a particular region, or selection of regions. France is a big place, after all...

If you are moving to France and looking to settle your children into a French school, the first step is...