Hérault, Occitanie Many folk who have set foot in Pézenas claim it’s like “stepping back in time”. Certainly, the town’s impressive tally of 30-plus monuments historiques and 17th-century hôtels particuliers, with their wrought-iron balconies and grand courtyards, fire the imagination.…
When you hear the name Burgundy it conjures up most of all the fabulous wines that make the area so famous: Chablis, Nuits St George, Meursault and the list goes on….. But Burgundy has much to offer beyond the…
Despite its long and rich history, not many people know of Aquitaine, although many will be familiar with place names such as Biarritz, St.Emilion and Arcachon, or have probably consumed its most famous exports, wine, cognac, and foie gras.
L’Institut de Français is proud of its French heritage and culture, arranging a number of optional excursions to enhance the language-learning experience outside of the classroom setting. It is a win-win situation, set in the jewel that is Villefranche-sur-Mer quieter…
Four members of the French Resistance, two men and two women, were inducted to the Pantheon, in a highly symbolic two-hour ceremony in Paris led by President Françoise Hollande.
The Louvre is the most visited museum in the world. To champion this beloved museum and art gallery, we unveil these 20 little-known facts about the Louvre.
Drive around the villages of the Languedoc Roussillon and you’re bound to see the very strange word ”Byrrh” painted onto the sides of buildings in fading lettering. FrenchEntrée explores the origins of the historic Byrrh apertif, one of the most iconic products of the Languedoc Roussillon.
In certain towns within the Dordogne region, you may notice a new tree planted or tree branches tacked on to the front of local businesses along with a couple of small tricolore flags and a sign annoucing ‘Honneur’. Find out what it means…
The 1st of May in France is a holiday to celebrate labour day, and it also carries the even older tradition of offering a sprig of muguet. But what does it mean?
You’re never far from an opportunity to enrich your cultural cachet in France – the country proudly preserves and shares its heritage. Here are a few ideas to inspire your choice of cultural destinations, whether you’re looking for an in-depth…
Not only did the French introduce the rest of the world to Champagne (and, it follows, Marc de Champagne) but a little bit of research reveals that the chocolate truffle was, in fact, a French invention too.
Author Joanne Harris is best known for her novel Chocolat, which was made into an Oscar-nominated film. Here she tells FrenchEntrée about the effect that France has on her writing
Located on the banks of the Charente, Cognac has a history as rich as its famous drink’s flavour. The area has been inhabited since the Prehistoric era and, even if their origins remain a mystery, there are still relics from…
Just before six in the morning on Sunday, the Château de Fontainebleau, one of the most extraordinary cultural sites in France, was the target of a carefully planned robbery. Priceless treasures from the Chinese wing are missing.
France is renowned for its cuisine, and French chefs have traditionally set the standard for culinary excellence across the world… so what are the tools that French chefs rely on?
Any visitor to Boulogne-sur-Mer is in for a culinary treat as the city’s enormous fishing port is just a stone’s throw from a famous fromager selling hundreds of cheeses. Florence Derrick investigates.
Skiing in France is something of a ‘no-brainer’. France has the biggest ski area in the world, laying claim to an unbelievable 30% of the world’s surface area devoted to the sport.
Roquefort is a flavourful ewe’s-milk blue cheese and is France’s second most popular cheese after Comté. During the Age of Enlightenment, the French philosopher Diderot attributed the title “King of Cheeses” to Roquefort cheese, declaring in 1782 that “Roquefort cheese is without doubt the finest cheese in Europe”.
My first visit to Paris was a remarkable experience, which I will never forget. I booked the Dover-Calais ferry and drove with my wife from London in the cold Christmas weather. We intended to stay until the New Year in…
Art runs through Albi just as the Tarn runs beneath its statuesque skyline. But Rodez, too, now has world-class credentials with its Musée Soulages. Justin Postlethwaite explores two Midi-Pyrénées cultural gems.
France was the birthplace of cinema, and still today has one of the world’s most prolific film industries. The infographic below explores the key players, most popular films and celebrated directors throughout the different eras of French cinema, as well…
I am grumpy and groggy after catching the unfeasibly early red-eye to Limoges as I emerge, bleary-eyed, from its small, neat airport and skulk my way into an already sticky morning in late summer. Whilst I have some exciting visits…
Thinking back to the day that I was finally able to visit Oradour-sur-Glane – I had been reading about it for years – what I now recall most vividly is the heat and stillness of that hot September afternoon. The…
The approach to the town never fails to stir. As you descend into the gentle valley in which this ancient regional capital lies, you sense that something special awaits, the sentinel presence of Mont St Victoire, which looms up over…
With so many delicious French breads and pastries to choose from, this issue we’ve chosen to take a closer look at the deliciously buttery brioche, its history and its uses.
The Mayor of Paris officially cut the ribbon today on the improvements made to the first floor in the most visited monument in the world: the Tour Eiffel. The main feature is a transparent viewing panel – look away now…
A team of experts in Lyon lovingly restored and brought back to life H.R. Giger’s iconic piece of cinematic history.
Tony Bennett only left his heart in San Francisco because he hadn’t been to Castillonès first. The Lot-et-Garonne village may not have the international renown of the Californian city, but visitors are drawn back to it year in, year out.…
David Shoestring heads to the prestigious Riviera village to see how the other half live. A visit to St-Tropez last year managed both to confound and to exceed expectations. The boats in the harbour may be somewhat grander than of old,…
The Haute Somme’s varied landscape consists of a high meandering valley, dotted with lakes surrounded by lush greenery and starting points for pleasant walks and bike rides. The historical legacy of the Great War is brought to the fore in…
Walking the Retreat. The March to the Marne: 1914 Revisited Terry Cudbird, Signal Books, £12.99 A specialist in French history, Cudbird’s other passion is walking. Here, he retraces the footsteps of the French and British Armies who in 1914 were…
Boundaries can look like abstract arbitrary lines on a map … until your immobilier informs you that your front garden wall has actually been built on your neighbour’s land.
Watching local TV is one of the best ways to keep up with what is happening in the country and improve your language skills.
I hesitated to accept the invitation thinking there would be jostling crowds, loud music and a blur of lycra whizzing by after an endless wait. But was I ever so wrong! It was, in fact, one of the best ways…
Blood Royal Eric Jager, Little, Brown, $29 A high-stakes novel on the mysterious 1407 murder of Louis of Orléans by the crime writer and medievalist. Using archives and contemporary accounts, Jager unravels the mystery as told by the Parisians who witnessed…
You may hear it when talking about the attitude of a young person blithely launching themselves into a new situation – such as marrying too soon, or entering the workforce as a new recruit in a difficult career – in…
Located in number 142 rue Montmartre –an address dripping with history, where Emil Zola printed his manifest “J’accuse”– lives the 1SQM art gallery, one of the smallest in the world and certainly the smallest in Paris. The building once housed…
Comedian Ian Moore lives in the Loire with his half-French wife and has written a book all about his experiences, À La Mod: My So-Called Tranquil Family Life in Rural France.
While La Poste provides anciliary services like banking and insurance, the primary function of the French postal service remains to distribute mail. Letters for destinations within France usually arrive the next day provided they are posted by the cut-off time…
Two British artists have set out to make 9,000 sand drawings on the D-Day landing beaches in France on Peace Day, 21 September, to represent the civilians, Germans and Allied Forces that died at Arromanches on 6th June 1944 during…
There’s something magical in the air in France each September – a renaissance after the August shut-down, a new beginning after long holidays on the coast and slow summer days at rural retreats. In the blink of an eye, life in France changes.
When Australia was discovered by Captain Cook and French explorer La Pérouse, France was about to close on a glorious era known as the Age of Enlightenment. It is this exciting period of history that French Moments has chosen as its theme for its Intensive Course in Paris for July 2014.
France Media Group has completed the acquisition of FRANCE TODAY magazine. First published in 1985, France Today has consistently provided a regular diet of insider news and inspiring content about France. Under new ownership by France Media Group, France Today…
Julie Kilgallon is a qualified interior designer based on the French Riviera. She grew up in Manchester and was inspired by her mother’s soft furnishing business to pursue a career in interior design.
The southern Gers region in the Midi-Pyrénées is the France of many people’s imaginations; sunflowers and gently rolling hills, medieval bastide towns and classic French farmhouses, vineyards and typical French country restaurants, rivers and lakes, castles and historic villages all of which is set against the dramatic backdrop of the Pyrénées mountains.
Cities, towns and villages around the region are attracting visitors throughout the year thanks to their music festivals, flea markets, local fairs and festive offerings.
Founded in 1974, the history of the House of Rémy Martin is one of a family, the family of five generations of vintners and cognacs driven by the same ambition. Creation of cognac is the work of the Cellar Master, Pierrette Trichet – the fourth person to take on this prestigious role in the House of Rémy Martin and the first woman to ever reach this level of expertise.
With its beautiful landscapes and a plethora of Armagnacs rich in diversity, Gascony is a feast for the eyes and the tastebuds
Australians Sharon and David Stratford fell in love with France on their first visit to the country in 1995. The Stratfords have since gone on to purchase three properties in France and now help other Australians through the French property purchasing process.
Porte de Clignacourt is home to the famous Marché aux Puces. The surrounding streets reveal more covered markets and brocantes where art deco furniture, oversized mirrors, frames and fine art can be purchased.
