If you own property in Brittany, it is likely that you will undertake some building or renovation work on it at some point, and that you will need some advice or the help of a professional to get it right. From new builds to restorations, there are…
Many of us dream of making a living from our creativity, but France is not the easiest place to run your own business, let alone in artistic work. So how can you make it succeed? Annaliza Davis talks to Nathalie…
Bobo is the contraction of two very contrasting styles of living, the bourgeois and the bohemian, or bourgeois-bohème, reflected in everything from fashion to food and, of course, also reflected in the the way to style the home.
We interview reader Nigel Fletcher, an artist who lives in the Limousin, painting en plein air and teaching others how to capture the charming châteaux, villages and markets in watercolour.
It is a well-documented fact that my trips to Giverny have been sabotaged for over ten years now. I’m hoping that this coming summer will be my time for Claude Monet’s spirit to sit atop my shoulder and finally guide…
A little help goes a long way. Whether you need a a copper tube, double-glazing, paintbrush or electric drill, find the right word for the job.
Sarlat-la-Canéda is the heart of the Dordogne Valley and the capital of the Périgord’s gastronomic specialities: walnuts, black truffles and, most of all, foie gras. Florence Derrick ‘takes a gander’ at the town’s annual celebration of goose-based cuisine, Sarlat en Périgord Fest’Oie
While engaged in a conversation discussing the recent terrorist events in Paris, I was asked if I was going to move forward with my plans to visit France later this year. The question caught me slightly off guard. Of course…
No matter how prepared you are, those thoughftul final details make all the difference. Find inspiration in these simple and effective ideas.
A traditional French dessert served after the main Christmas dinner is la Bûche de Noël, a roll of light sponge cake, covered in chocolate or coffee butter cream textured to resemble bark as an evocation of the ancient tradition of burning the Yule log.
Best-selling author Mireille Guiliano demystifies one of the ultimate luxury foods. Follow her elegantly simple approach to how to taste an oyster, then decide for yourself whether you like them or not.
I arrived in Cannes (pictured above) a few days before the Film Festival started. Every time I visit there seems to be a new adventure awaiting me and I always manage to discover new dimensions to this luxurious city. I…
This October on TV5MONDE there’s fantastic foodie TV on the menu with our top gastronomy programmes all subtitled in English for everyone to enjoy – Sky 796 / Virgin 825
French Home Decoration Welcome to our comprehensive guide to French home decoration, including interior design tips for your French home. Here you will find everything you need to know about interior design for your house in France, whether you are…
So many things today are labelled shabby chic. The style is everywhere and usually thought to have originated in France – hence the term ‘French shabby chic‘. It might therefore be surprising to learn that the concept actually began in…
Dora Versus Picasso Cecil Jenkins, Matador, £8.99 Part-biography, part-fiction, this novel charts the tumultuous relationship between Pablo Picasso and his lover – Surrealist photographer Dora Maar – to the tense political backdrop of the interwar period in Paris. This makes interesting…
Here’s a word that can serve as a passe-partout to describe a certain intangible or undefinable quality. In English we have one word for mind and a different word for spirit, but in French l’esprit can take on different meanings…
‘New build’ refers to property that is built by a developer, and which is then offered for sale. Other phrases such as ‘off-plan’ and ‘new developments’ mean essentially the same thing. Here is a true account about buying new build in France…
On the calendar of unmissable events in Paris, the week of September 9-15 has its own reserved spot. Everybody is back from their congés, refreshed, tanned and detoxed, and ready to exercise some of that unique brand of Parisian élan.
Brocantes and vide-greniers are addictive! A few well chosen, good quality vintage pieces can mix well with all kinds of décor.
Image not found.Learning French is one thing but learning French property purchasing and building language is a whole new adventure for would-be buyers and restorers. Here are some words and terms to get you started.
For those sunny days and long evenings, perfect for entertaining à la belle étoile …
A French style bedroom evokes thoughts of love and romance and with good reason. Colors and textures balance each other in a sumptuous invitation to the senses.
In France New Year’s Eve is called la Saint-Sylvestre or la fête de la Saint- Sylvestre, named after the saint of the day – a pope from 314 to 335 AD. It is traditionally celebrated with a special meal,…
According to French tradition, a proper meal on New Year’s Eve will bring prosperity to the house–in which case all the effort that you put in to making it a success will definitely be worth it.
After 10 years spent living and working in London as a painter and decorator, Giles Stonor moved to France and established himself as an artisan. Amongst his biggest projects was the restoration of a Chartreuse in the Dordogne. Here Giles tells FrenchEntrée his story.
Are you planning to carry out work on your home in France? Here’s why you should contact the local authorities.
Amy de Leusse fell for France while working there as a teenage au pair. Little did she know then that it would make the dream of owning a French property pretty much inevitable.
Stephen Davies offer an insight into the basics of renovating in France, from the pitfalls to the kinds of property that are currently available to take on as a renovation project
Discover this region of France by sampling some of the dishes that show off locally sourced ingredients and traditional cooking methods. Pigs’ trotters are a delicacy here, though some might prefer to start with a speciality like potée champenoise (a simple stew) instead! We particularly enjoyed the selection of cow’s milk cheese and the pretty pink biscuits from Reims…
If you’ve bought a French property in need of renovation, then it may be worth contacting the local mairie to find out if you are eligible for a grant to help cover the costs.
Are you a green-fingered fan of French gardens? Head to Pays Boulonnais in the country’s northernmost tip to explore five châteaux and botanical gardens to delight horticultural visitors.
Few places in France boast such a rich artistic heritage as Provence, which has long provided a stunning backdrop to the work of great painters. For Justin Postlethwaite, the art angle is just one of many good reasons to head south
The latest in a fairly lengthy line of Anglo-French spats reached the front pages today as the row over ownership of a painting by one Nicolas Tournier came to a head. French authorities have taken the painting of Christ carrying…
As the capital of the Périgord, there are certain things you’d expect to find in Périgueux (Dordogne). It’s got high street shops, an impressive cathedral, students and some pretty municipal gardens… not to mention Roman ruins and an unusual statue of a peg-leg general.
Furniture for France is now into its twelfth year of supplying quality furniture to properties in France. Furnishing your Limousin home can be something of a challenge as it is not easy to find classic and contemporary designs of good quality at the right price.
Terracotta is an attractive, rustic material for both old and new houses. If you’re not careful however, it can be very easy to become a slave to your terracotta floor. Here are some tips on how to avoid potential pitfalls when sealing, protecting and maintaining terracotta tiles.
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Like many of us Sam Parry and her family fell in love with The Limousin on holiday and decided to make it their home. They are currently renovating and plan to set up a cycling holiday business once the work is completed. They has agreed to keep a diary of progress. Conversion Part 2…
Image not found.Buying a property at auction is an exciting prospect, buying an auction property that needs total renovation promised to be an even bigger challenge for James and Vanessa HOPKINS. In the concluding artcile of this two part story, Vanessa describes the renovation work…
“Big mat building supplies in Burgundy”Big mat is a family run builder’s merchants in which you will be sure of a pleasant welcome and lots of pertinent advice when it comes to renovating your Burgundy …
If you’re newly settling into the Pays de la Loire, chances are that you’re going to want to meet people, make some friends, or just get out of the house for a while. There are a variety of different organisations for you to check out, all with different aspects and objectives.
Image not found.The Celtic Herbalist’s gardens are developing on the four and a half acres around a farmstead upon one of the limestone plateaux (or causses) in the Midi, near Toulouse, in S.W. France.
Image not found.Welcome to an update of the work in progress at The Celtic Herbalist’s gardens which are developing on a four and a half acre site on the Causses (limestone plateaux), near Toulouse, in S.W. France.
If you are seeking a real bargain in a lovely and unspoilt region of the south of France, you really should take a close look at Lacaune and around the Sidobre plateau.
Image not found.If you own a property in the Lot or Correze then we may be able to help you. Our aim is to give our customers help and peace of mind with all their property care needs. House cleaning, garden care and landscaping, swimming pool maintenance, holiday changeovers, and key holding are just some of our services…
Not sure what’s available in France? Take a look at our guide to the places to find DIY materials, furniture and accessories
Like Britain there are parts of France with strong immigrant communities. For expat Angela Billows, living among Moroccan emigrés and gypsies makes for a great French life – with plenty of spice!
Over the coming months I plan to keep an ongoing diary of our intended barn conversion. Some of you may wish to follow it as perhaps you are doing the same yourselves, some of you might be just want to have a good laugh at all our mistakes and under estimations as I’m sure there are many ahead…
Not content with buying their own vineyard in the Quercy, nor with winning medals every year for their Coteaux de Quercy wine, David and Sarah Meakin have teamed up with Stuart Jones and set up their own brewery…
When considering what materials to use in your renovation project, take the time to find out about those that were used when your home was built…
