In honour of Remembrance Day 2022, I'm hopping on to the blog today to recommend some of the best books* exploring WWI in France through the eyes of historians, academics and amazing writers and soldiers of the era. Exploring the classics, finding the unusual and discovering different perspectives is the goal today. Have you visited the moving memorials and places across France? Let's explore some great books and some links you can use to plan visits to the Hauts-de-France region as well as Belgium. Gabriel Chevalier's classic book is a literary masterpiece bringing real-life experience of th ..read more

Whether your dreaming of retiring to France, starting a new life as a singleton, couple or family, France has enormous variety to tempt you. From its amazing cities, beautiful beaches, varied countryside and regional cuisine, there are so many reasons to love France. Do you love it so much you'd like to live there? Town or country, north or south, today I'm recommending some of the books that have helped me to consider a move to France. From the memoirs that really bring home the massive change you undertake when you move to a new country to the practical guides to be on hand when you need the ..read more

Leaving Paris can be hard. Can you tear yourself away from the avenues, the sights, sounds and attractions? If so, it's great to remember that there are so many wonderful places to visit in France beside the city of light. Paris is the centre of the French rail network, so it is a brilliant place to start a journey! Explore the amazing options for rail travel from the city either to see more of France or across the European rail network. In this week's Postcard From France, we explore an Orient-Express-like train that linked Clais with Menton, its namesake restaurant of Belle Epoque beauty and ..read more

It's that time of year again. Cannes is back! What images does Cannes conjure for you? Whether you have images of the red carpet staircase or the film premières, award ceremonies like the Palme d'Or (read a brief history of the award) or a version of the Cannes festival brought to life in the hilarious season one finale of Dix pour cent / Call My Agent! (...Juliette Binoche performs every scene to perfection) this is the festival that brings cinema to the fore. Perhaps instead you can imagine the jury for the prize? This year's jury includes: Vincent Lindon, president of the Feature Films Jury ..read more

The Postcards from France have been stacking up in the postbag but haven't made it on to the blog. Oh dear! If you've been wondering what's been going on, join us in the Newsletter community to be in the know about France Where You Are the podcast and blog bringing France to you. Life has got in the way! Recently, I read a book about Not Trying Too Hard. It resonated with me and my perfectionism (it's a superb read, much like a Francophile Alain de Botton book and a great tonic for all those books telling you to be "like the French" and be thin/parentally autocratic/terribly chic.) The overhwl ..read more

2022 marks the 40th anniversary of the wonderful association which has brought so much joy and interest to Francophiles and French people alike. Showcasing The Most Beautiful Villages of France seems like a brilliant idea, non? Preserving heritage and enhancing rural communities are part of the aims and successes of the association Les Plus Beaux Villages de France. Now celebrating forty years of awarding their label to villages according to a clear application process, 27 evaluation criteria and a final decision by the Quality Commission. It has inspired many international associations to spr ..read more

Have you driven in France? Do you love the idea of a classic car to explore the smaller roads of this beautiful country? While the coach drivers on my many school trips bore the brunt of the speed limits and braved the chaotic blend of cars all seemingly going in differing directions around Paris, I could sit back and relax! Nowadays I'd rather be driving along a quiet country road or a near-empty toll road in a classic car. I'm still not too sure about the hairpin bends though. One thing I am sure of though is how the cars we're exploring today are iconic French creations! Surely some of the ..read more

Marcel Pagnol, the famous writer and film director once called pétanque the most beautiful game ever created by (hu)man (my parentheses). What do you think? Is pétanque a beautiful game? I know many football (soccer) fans who would be shaking their heads right now. I'm inclined to agree with Pagnol and whether I catch a glimpse of a casual game played in a village square, or by players in Paris, Marseille or Rennes, it's always such a delight. It may not yet be summer in France but there is always pétanque to remind us of those hot, bright sunny days. The clink and clunk of the metal boules, t ..read more

Have you seen the The Great British Bake Off (GBBO)? Perhaps where you are it's called The Great British Baking Show, but it's the same! Maybe that is an odd way to start a blog post here at France Where You Are, where frankly everything is really about, well, France. Whether you're a Baking Show / Bake Off newbie or super fan or you've only seen the French Bake Off called Le Meilleur Patissier, there's something for you to enjoy today as I break down the similarities, differences, quirks and charm of both shows. On the blog today is The Great British Bake Off versus the French Bake Off. Are y ..read more

Do you love reading about France? I absolutely do! I also like to read French classics in my own time but reading has to be its own pleasure and I have gradually become one of those readers who will put the book down if it just doesn't work out for me. I no longer plough through hoping that by chapter 23 it's going to improve. I read a LOT of books about France as I build my Francophile library and so that I can share great books with you, my dear reader! I've shared the Top 10 French cookery books on the blog for those who want to explore regional French food and baking. I'm working on a few ..read more