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.
shops
Easter in France
During Easter in France, chocolate eggs are just as popular as chocolate fish and bells, as you may have noticed from the irresistible displays in shop windows.
Buying a holiday home in France …?
A holiday home in France is a great idea but like all good things, it takes some planning and a little effort to make it work. Here are a few practical tips to help you get the most out of your maison secondaire
One-Minute News: French property headlines
Highlights of recent property news headlines in the French Media. We comb through the news so you don’t have to.
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?
France Crowned World’s Top Tourist Destination
Once again France comes out on top as the number one most visited tourist destination in the world.
A taste of France: Corsican delicacies
These local specialities provide a real insight into the place they are produced. Ingredients like chestnuts and citrus fruits crop up time and time again… as do names like fiadone and frappes
Shopping in Paris at Christmas
Take a short break in Paris this winter and see if a breath of French air can’t make Christmas shopping memorable for all the right reasons: original gift ideas, money saving opportunities, pit-stops at Ladurée…
Cash Payments in France Restricted to €1,000
From September 1 onwards, residents in France will not be allowed to make payments of more than 1,000 euros in cash, down from 3,000 previously. Payments in excess of 1,000 euros must be made using another form of payment such as cheque or credit card.
French supermarkets must give unsold food to charity
The lower house in France has unanimously voted in favour of measures to reduce food waste, including a ban on food disposal by large supermarkets.
Byrrh – the Famous Languedoc Roussillon Aperitif
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.
Shopping in France: your consumer rights
Shopping is almost a rite of passage when you want to enjoy the French way of life, and any shopaholic can easily get carried away by the fantastic diversity of products on offer in l’Hexagone. To shop with peace of…
Cheques, credit and debit cards in France
While your existing cards will be accepted in most sizeable shops, service stations and restaurants, you may find a few differences in the way bank cards and cheques work in France.
Book review: Paris Gourmet, Trish Deseine
The Paris Gourmet Trish Deseine, Flammarion, £22.50 There are so many restaurants and pâtisserie windows in Paris that someone like Trish – a top food writer who has lived in the French capital for the past 30 years – had to come along to help…
Book review: The French Dog, Rachael McKenna
Photographer Rachel McKenna sets off on a road trip of France to capture breeds like the Brittany Spaniel and the French Briard in the relaxed surroundings of their natural environment.
Interview with an Armagnac expert: “passion and epicurean style is key”
We interview Eric Sendra, owner of Vins, Adour & Fantaisies, a retailer of gourmet wines, spirits and delicatessen goods. Based in southwest France, his cellars include the world’s widest Armagnac catalogue with more than 1,000 references to brandies produced as long ago as 1888.
We’ve Chosen the Winner of Our Photography Competition!
We’re happy to announce that Pia Jakobsen’s photograph of children playing among water fountains at one of the French Riviera’s most popular attractions has been named the winner of our photographic competition. Pia, a software engineer and avid amateur photographer from Oslo,…
An Ode to Romantic French Men
We are all well-versed in the notion that French women don’t get fat. They are also the epitome of chic and have the best, unfussiest hairstyles on earth. With so many articles and books written about the style, elegance, and chicness of…
Shops in France to open on Sundays in tourist areas
France joins the modern world as the Assemblée Nationale voted for French shops in new Zones Internationales de Tourisme (ZTI) to be allowed to open late in the evenings and every Sunday.
Seafood capital: Boulogne-sur-Mer food specialities
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.
Surviving the Soldes
While Papa Noël, Father Christmas and Santa Claus enjoy a well-needed rest after quite a busy holiday season, an even livelier season is taking hold throughout France: the winter sales! Shop and boutique windows everywhere are displaying the word SOLDES!…
A Shopaholic’s Dream Sleepover in Paris
As if spending time in the City of Lights over the soldes season wasn’t splendid enough, there is a chance to win a unique sleepover in Paris in a place that is normally not open to overnight guests.
How to eat an oyster
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.
Useful French phrases: season’s greetings and more
Whether it be season’s greetings in French on Christmas, Easter, birthdays or any other occasion, here is what you need to say. Plus other useful phrases…
France to allow Sunday shopping
A new bill is to be revealed next month that would allow shops to open on Sundays, breaking away from the long-standing French tradition of Sunday rest.
Champagne Etiquette – Decoding the label
Champagne sparkling wine is the king of wines. Understanding the label can help you navigate your way to the best match for your personal taste and budget.
Finding a good wood supplier
Good quality wood not only makes the fire easier to light and maintain—it makes your fireplace safer. Follow these tips to find a good wood supplier.
My village: At home in St-Antonin
I always knew we’d chosen wisely when we bought our house in France, but now everyone can get a flavour of where we live. Our small town, St Antonin Noble Val, is the setting for the recently-released film, The Hundred-foot…
Au revoir to brawny vacuums in France
Starting September 1, powerful vacuums in France with motors rated above 1,600w will no longer be allowed to be imported or sold.
Popular Products and Where to Buy
Shopping in France Welcome to our comprehensive guide to Shopping in France. Here you will find the latest Sales dates, where to find your favourite products, how to return faulty items and much more. View all our articles about Shopping…
French television
Watching local TV is one of the best ways to keep up with what is happening in the country and improve your language skills.
French flavour of the season – courgettes
The abundant and popular vegetable makes its way to many a french menu in the summer. Here’s our recipe suggestion…
Shopping and Sailing on Your Doorstep with These New Homes in Lake Annecy
Villa Méïa, which is planned by leading local developer MGM, will comprise just four apartments within the town’s so-called Golden Triangle, the peaceful pedestrianised heart of Annecy with its cobbled streets and ‘Little Venice’ canal network. The development will be…
Flirt like a Frenchman
Stopping at a crêpe stand for a snack , I recently witnessed a prime example of the art of flirting. As he handed over the thin pancake sprinkled with sugar to a lady who was clearly past the first blush…
The Perfect Guest Room
“Oh isn’t this room just lovely.” Now that’s what you want to hear, whether it’s friends and family or paying guests …
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French seasonal dish …raclette
In our continuing series of delicious recipes using a seasonal star ingredient, for January British chef in France, Chris Lacey, rustles up a quick Menu Rapide and a slower A La Carte dish with tasty raclette cheese
Gourmet hotspots in Paris
Hidden gems have their place, but the French capital boasts many well-known names it would be wrong to ignore. Here are our top gourmet hotspots, from Café de Flore to Fauchon. Paris wouldn’t be the same without them.
Christmas Decorations with a Touch of French Tradition
Twinkling lights, shiny stars and festive candles. Time to dust down the Christmas decorations and prepare the house for the holidays…
My life in France: why I love the Loire
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.
The Cost of Going to the Doctor in France
Need medical attention? Take a look at our guide of what you can expect to pay when you visit a doctor in France.
First Siesta Bar opens in Paris
A French twist on a Japanese concept, a restorative pit stop is now available to tired tourists or stressed locals. The location at the Opera area, where there’s plenty of office buildings and huge shopping emporiums like Galeries Printemps or…
Learning French can make you smarter
There are difficulties tolearning to speak French well. Here are some observations and tips about learning French from an English speaker’s point of view.
French 101: Shopping for Fabulous Fashion in France
There is so much pleasure and entertainment for the fashion aficionado in France, but the language barrier can take the shine off the experience. Never fear. Here is a handy list of vocabulary and a few hints:
Marchons, Marchons… To the Shops! It’s Sales Season in France
The summer sales in France officially start today. There are two official sales season: summer and winter. Each sales period has a definitive start date that is uniform across the country. The timing of the end of the sale is…
French Flavour in JUNE – Cherries
June food – cherries
New homes planned in historic lakeside town
Plans to build state-of-the-art new homes in a majestic French Alpine location which has been inhabited for more than 5,000 years.
A place of Honor for French Eclairs, March 9 to 24
This is an event that may very well go unnoticed. In a rather quiet and dignified manner, all over France pastry chops and chefs are putting on their thinking toques to create innovative and tempting éclairs. The two-week challenge promotes…
Are You Sure You Know Your French Road Signs?
In the past year some new road signs have been incorporated to the Code de la Route and will gradually start making an appearance on a road near you. Here they are (clockwise from top left) Additional information on dead ends:…
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Perfect Winter Cheese
The ring of spruce casing that keeps the cheese together infuses a woody flavour. Try the baked version of this winter favorite.
Champagne Etiquette. How to Decode the Label
Understanding the label or etiquette on the Champagne bottle can help you navigate the shopping aisles to find the best match for your taste and budget. 1.) The first clue is easy and is in the name itself. If it’s…
