Buying a Property to Renovate in France
Many of the properties for sale come with that key caveat. they ‘need work’. Our expert contributor shares tips for buying a property to renovate in France.
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Property Update: Why French Estate Agents Won’t Give out Addresses
If you are planning a trip to France to view a few houses, you may find that the estate agents refuse to give out the address of the properties you are interested in. We tell you why…
French verb focus: aller, ‘to go’
Aller is a common but irregular French verb. We will look at its use in some of the different tenses here.
The Bereavement Support Network
A group of volunteers offer support to the bereaved or the terminally ill and their families…
Did you ever study in France? Join the club!
The French Ministry of Foreign Affairs has launched a new “France Alumni” social network for former foreign students to keep in touch with each other and keep their connection with France alive.
The Paris Dream – Immersing Yourself in the Culture
What happens when you have a people who are fiercely proud of their culture and a person who is fiercely proud of their individuality? …
Ordering steak in France
In the mood for a juicy steak frites? How to request the ‘doneness’ of a steak in French.
Living and Studying in Paris – Elllie’s Story
Ellie Cobbe spent six months studying in the French capital and met a wealth of different people from all different backgrounds with one shared philosophy: a desire to live and learn in one of the most exciting cities in the world.
Re-Mortgaging and Releasing Equity on French Property
“There is no need to keep all your assets tied up in one property” It is becoming increasingly popular to look at the options surrounding re-mortgaging or raising equity against property in France. During the UK property boom of the…
Regional Property Guide: Aquitaine
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.
Editor’s French Property Pick – Bargain Price Reductions
How about some inspiration for your French property search? There’s something for every lifestyle and budget …
French Car Insurance
Insuring your vehicle in France is not dissimilar to doing so in the UK. There, are, however, some differences you need to be aware of, whether it is your only motor or a second one.
Lead in Your French Home
When do you need a mandatory inspection? Throughout France, an inspection for the presence of lead in paintwork is mandatory when any building built before January 1949 is sold (both common areas and/or areas for private use). The inspection must…
The stress of living the dream
Having lived here for three years, I’d forgotten what a shock it can be coming to live in France. But I’m witnessing at close hand a friend who has just made the move and how hard it is for them to adjust. Any suggestions how I can help?
Divorce in France: Financial and Tax Implications
French law expert Sarah Bright Thomas takes a close look at the divorce law in France and also examines how it can affect property and other financial issues for both parties.
Living in harmony with wildlife in France
One of the many reasons given for moving to France is the beautiful countryside and abundant wildlife. Long-term Limousin resident Kathleen shares some tips on living peacefully alongside wildlife in France.
So what do you do when you find an owl in the bathroom?……….
Interview: Dave Pegg, Fairport Convention
Fairport Convention’s bassist Dave Pegg spends half the year in Brittany and is a big fan of Breton musicians. Gillian Thornton finds out more…
Claiming winter fuel allowance in France
Can you reside in France and still claim the British Government’s winter fuel allowance? The answer used to be yes, but not anymore.
It’s One Big Party in France on June 21st! La Fête De La Musique
An opportunity to communicate and share a very special moment through music. Get out and enjoy the experience! Here’s how to find an event near you…
10 Reasons Not to Move to France
The motivations to move to France get enough publicity. Let’s explore the reasons why the dream might turn sour. More often than not there is a combination of multiple factors rather than one big reason.
Tournedos à la crème: a favourite French classic
This is a favourite recipe with a Charentaise touch, and is a delicious way of serving beef tournedos… and very quick and easy to do! It will quickly become your favourite too.
Mais Aux Patrons
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…
Sell your property privately in France
Market your property and start generating enquiries by speaking to one of our advertising consultants, we will be happy to create a package for you that is quick, easy and cost effective. Why FrenchEntrée? Our database of over 14,000 French…
Promote your holiday rental in France
From a château to a B&B and from Brittany to Nice, with FrenchEntrée you can reach over 300,000 potential customers holidaying and travelling in France. Why FrenchEntrée? FrenchEntrée is the leading online guide to holidaying and property in France with…
Brittany’s Catholic Heritage: Top Religious Sites
Brittany possesses a wealth of religious heritage, including over 300 saints. The region’s Christian identity dates back to the 4th century, when seven founder saints brought Catholicism to its people…
Film review: Looking for Hortense
Director: Pascal Bonitzer Starring: Jean-Pierre Bacri, Kristin Scott Thomas, Isabelle Carré Cert: 12A Running time: 100 mins Damien (Bacri) lives in Paris with his partner Iva (Scott Thomas) and their young son Noé (Marin Orcand Torrès) in a beautiful bourgeois apartment. But when…
Two Aussie blokes in Paris
Two Australian mates who would regularly get together to watch the football and became the unlikely authors of the travel memoir ‘Paris Tragics’ talk about their shared passion for France.
VIDEO UPDATE: Inheritance Law Changes in France
Video update: An expert weighs in on what action should be taken by owners of French property in view of the inheritance law changes in France on the application of the 2015 EU rules.
Advertise your company in the FrenchEntrée Directories
The FrenchEntrée Directories have grown to become the most popular resource on the web for France. The directories are very popular with our visitors and are highly visible on search engines like Google as well as being heavily promoted across…
Aligot, an irresistible speciality from the Aveyron
Aligot is a fondue-like potato and cheese dish made by skilled men with vast wooden paddles and often served alongside local sausages or spit-roast veal, lamb or pork. Aligot transcends its simple ingredients and tastes best eaten outdoors in a crowded village square on a summer’s evening.
Interview: Richard Ayoade Talks French Cinema
Director, actor, comedian and author Richard Ayoade is a French ‘New Wave’ cinema addict. He speaks exclusively to Florence Derrick about France and the ‘Nouvelle Vague’.
Log Cabins, Chalets and Eco-friendly Property in France
Our growing awareness of the impact we have on our environment has led to a growing interest in eco-buildings as full-time residences. Wood is a sustainable resource and careful husbandry will allow these products to be available long after the plastic, fossil fuel created windows and doors become uneconomical.
Learning French: How to ask a question
VIDEO: in this episode of her popular Comme une Française series, Géraldine helps us with a simple way to ask a question in French. In each of six different way to phrase a question there is a subtle change in the degree of politeness that is appropriate to each situation.
English speaking? Affected by cancer in France? CSF can help
When we pack up and set out for a new life in France, full of eager anticipation, none of us expects to become ill. The medical culture is different, the language barrier becomes even harder, friends and family are far away. CSF can help.
How to order a coffee in France
VIDEO: we understand how challenging it can be to get through the simplest things in a foreign language. In this episode of Comme Une Française TV, we learn how to order a coffee in France.
The Game of Pétanque, a French Institution
Pétanque is one of the most popular pastimes in France and can trace its origins to Provence, where it goes hand in had with animated conversation and an apéritif. The goal is to throw steel balls as close as possible to a small wooden ball called the cochonnet in an attempt to knock the opponent’s boules out of the way.
Paris Posts People’s Valentine Messages on City Billboards
For days people have been entering Valentine’s Day message of 160 characters addressed to the object of their affection and today, February 14, it’s all about romance in Paris as the messages are displayed all day on the city’s public information billboards.
Paris and London Tandem: An Artistic Pas De Deux
The British and French cultural scene create an exciting exchange with the Paris London Tandem 2015.
Fifty shades of French: words of love and intimacy
What could be more romantic than a few sweet nothings whispered softly in the language of love? Here are some key French words and phrases.
Book Extract: A French Romance
Can the English be as romantic as the French? Author Julia Stagg shares a delicious tale of French romance in the mountain village of Fogas, where the characters already feel like family.
Where should you go skiing in France?
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.
Author Charles Timoney on Rowing the Seine
Author Charles Timoney gives us an insight into his vie française – including his thoughts on the Gallic disposition, having bilingual children and rowing the length of the Seine…
Wedding traditions in France
If you are lucky enough to have been invited to a wedding in France, or are planning to get married in France, then here are a few wedding traditions you might not have seen before!
Chestnut and orange crêpes recipe
Popular at any time of year this crêpe recipe incorporates chestnuts – a Limousin speciality. The basic mixture is made separately so you can use your own imagination for the fillings, the possibilities are endless…..
Infographic: foreign buyers of French property
An exclusive survey of foreign buyers of French property conducted by FrenchEntrée to identify buying preferences and trends.
Roquefort cheese from the Aveyron
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”.
Sunshine in a bottle: a winemaker in Provence
Meet Stephen and Jeany, a couple who traded their former lives for a fresh start in Provence, where their wine is making waves.
Black truffles from the Languedoc
The black truffle, also known as the ‘black pearl’ or ‘black diamond’ of the kitchen, is one of the most expensive edible mushrooms in the world. It is harvested from November to February not just in the Perigord, but also in a number of other regions where conditions are favourable, and that includes the Languedoc and Provence.
Up in Smoke: Paris Revokes Ban on Log Fires
Keeping the flame alive! Cosy evenings in Paris by a crackling fireplace are back in the game as Paris Prefecture kills ban on open fires
Boeuf Bourguignon: a French classic
Want to impress your friends? Why not try out the most famous of all French dishes, le Boeuf Bourguignon? Here’s a tried and tested recipe.
