Latest Articles
Paris: The Old Charm of Les Halles — A brief look at the old ‘belly of Paris’
Les Halles: In the 20th century, Paris became busier and more crowded. The grand market at Les Halles remained unsanitary and it took up prime real estate in the center of Paris. So, authorities decided to tear it down in 1969.
Carennac: One of the Most Beautiful Villages in France
Carennac: a village where history, culture, and nature converge. Its well-preserved medieval architecture, rich cultural heritage, and stunning natural surroundings make it a unique destination that offers a deep sense of connection to France's past while providing a tranquil retreat in the heart of the Dordogne Valley.
La cuisine Toulousaine: what and where to eat in Toulouse
As any other region in France, Toulouse has its own specialties and traditional cooking, and there is a vast array of dishes to sample and top class restaurants to try. Here is a list of our favorites.
Features
How to experience France beyond the cliché.
Start here with this constantly refreshed selection of featured articles and series; all from our archives of more than 3,000 articles, and all written for Francophiles.
This is where you can immerse yourself in Guides to France, covering an enormous range from champagne, shoes, art, and literature, music, and philosophy, plus a focus on Paris and other amazing locations and so much more…
Dive in by making a selection – Amusez vous
Arts + Culture
Interview: Emmanuel Fillion, The art of cutting stone — Speaking Materially with Sarah Monk
Emmanuel Fillion: Born in Soissons, France, he went to trade school at the age of 16 to learn how to renovate historical monuments by hand, specialising in granite.
French Music: Jacqueline Taïeb “Le coeur au bout des doigts”
Jacqueline Taïeb was popular at the time, but in recent years, Taïeb's experienced a bit of a resurgence as the 1960s French pop scene has been revisited and celebrated among collectors and aficionados of the period.
My Favorite French Photographer: Capturing old Paris — Part Two
Eugène Atget: My search for Eugene Atget's grave at Cimetière de Bagneux, Paris
Escapades
Paris: The Old Charm of Les Halles — A brief look at the old ‘belly of Paris’
Les Halles: In the 20th century, Paris became busier and more crowded. The grand market at Les Halles remained unsanitary and it took up prime real estate in the center of Paris. So, authorities decided to tear it down in 1969.
Carennac: One of the Most Beautiful Villages in France
Carennac: a village where history, culture, and nature converge. Its well-preserved medieval architecture, rich cultural heritage, and stunning natural surroundings make it a unique destination that offers a deep sense of connection to France's past while providing a tranquil retreat in the heart of the Dordogne Valley.
France: Exploring the Islands of Brittany
The islands of Brittany: From the nearly 800 islands I've chosen to feature three that are a bit more 'sauvage' to discover and explore. On y va? Let's go!
Gastronomie
La cuisine Toulousaine: what and where to eat in Toulouse
As any other region in France, Toulouse has its own specialties and traditional cooking, and there is a vast array of dishes to sample and top class restaurants to try. Here is a list of our favorites.
Food in France: What Do They Call It?
Food in France: French people care about their food. Why no common set of terms? An escargot is an escargot, n’est-ce pas? Well, not quite.
Toulouse: The 5 Best Budget Restaurants + 5 Tips to Eat Economically in France
Toulouse budget restaurants - But first, what is a budget restaurant? And... How can I eat out for next to no money?
Mode + Beauté
The ultimate guide to the best pharmacies in Paris: become an expert!
Read our guide to the best pharmacies in Paris, and how to become an expert French pharmacy shopper
Yves Saint Laurent: 6 extraordinary exhibitions 60 years on
Celebrating the 60th anniversary of his 1st collection, a vast exhibition named 'Yves Saint Laurent aux musée' is being held in 6 Parisian museums
Where do French women buy shoes in Paris? – Insider Guide for shoe addicts – top 13 stores
Discover my top 13 shoe stores in Paris! Stop wondering where French women buy their shoes?
Reportage + Société
QDN? The secret language of French acronyms
Nothing makes you more of an insider than acronyms, those multi-letter abbreviations for things big or small, physical or conceptual, long-lasting or ephemeral.
French Political System Exploration: How & why it’s different to the United States of America
Exploring the French Political System: The long delay seen in France was not a failure. It was just how the French system was designed to work in uncertain situations. It doesn’t just allow the President to govern—it practically demands it.
Striking: a way of life in France — what should we expect during the Paris Olympics?
In the US, we often hear about strikes in the news. By contrast, in France, strikes can impact day-to-day life.
Vie Française
Tell your story: A French village memoir writing workshop experience
Tell Your Story: Most of the tales told by the local seniors were not written down. It was storytelling in the true oral tradition of the “conteurs” (storytellers), an activity still happening today in France.
Female Agents Behind Enemy Lines—Diana Rowden: Part 5
Diana Hope Rowden had a privileged background. Born in London in 1915 she spent her early years at Cap Ferrat and the Italian Riviera where her mother rented a villa and yacht. Coincidentally, the yacht was named the Fearless One, it was a name that would later describe Diana perfectly. After boarding school in England, she returned to France with her mother, embarking on a career in journalism at the Sorbonne.
A Fleur by any Other Name
The importance of your name in France: Why its wise to keep all the documents that confirm our identity in see-thru plastic pocket folders in files that we carry with us to any and all official meetings
