The Local

Tell us: What are the mistakes to avoid when renovating a French home?

Fri, 26 Apr 2019 14:05:30 +0200

It's the dream of many - to buy an old property somewhere deep in rural France and create a dream home. But as many people have found, renovations can have many hidden traps.

Act 24 and May 1st: What the 'yellow vests' have in store for France

Fri, 26 Apr 2019 12:30:24 +0200

President Emmanuel Macron has promised significant tax cuts as he revealed his long-awaited response to nearly half a year of street protests ... but that doesn't mean an end to 'yellow vest' demonstrations. Here's what they've got in store for France next.

Carte de séjour: Is my work 'genuine and effective' enough for me to stay in France?

Fri, 26 Apr 2019 12:19:09 +0200

As foreigners living in France face the sometimes difficult problem of establishing that they are legally resident, some will need to prove that their work is 'genuine and effective' - but what does this mean? Here's what you need to know.

OPINION: Macronsplaining marathon won't unify France, but may have swung a Euro election win

Fri, 26 Apr 2019 11:29:12 +0200

Macron's plan for Act Two of his presidency needed to unify France, pacify the Gilets Jaunes and boost his European election campaign. John Lichfield examines how he got on with that tall order.

How France's health system will change for you in the future

Fri, 26 Apr 2019 10:54:20 +0200

France is set to give its healthcare system a radical digital transformation in an effort to modernise it and make it more user friendly. Here's a look at some of the most significant changes.

Fifteen million people in France 'will benefit from Macron's tax cuts'

Fri, 26 Apr 2019 10:21:14 +0200

More than fifteen million people living in France will benefit from Macron's tax cuts, the country's finance minister has promised.

Weakened Notre-Dame 'could collapse in winds of over 55mph' claims Paris engineer

Fri, 26 Apr 2019 09:17:36 +0200

The fire-damaged structure of Paris' iconic Notre-Dame cathedral is so fragile that it could collapse under winds of more than 55mph, claims a city engineer.

France and Germany 'not on same page' over Brexit, admits Macron

Fri, 26 Apr 2019 07:57:20 +0200

French president Emmanuel Macron has admitted differences with Germany over Brexit.

Macron responds to protests with tax cuts pledge and a vow to be 'more humane'

Thu, 25 Apr 2019 21:06:51 +0200

President Emmanuel Macron Thursday promised significant tax cuts but also a return to public order in France as he revealed his long-awaited response to nearly half a year of street protests.

What is ENA and why does Macron want to 'abolish' France's most elite university?

Thu, 25 Apr 2019 20:51:58 +0200

French President Emmanuel Macron said Thursday that he intended to scrap one of the country's most prestigious universities, the Ecole Nationale d'Administration (ENA). But what exactly is ENA?

French Word of the Day: aïe

Thu, 25 Apr 2019 17:03:50 +0200

More of a sound than a word but still very common... although hopefully you won't need it too often.

Fake French doctor who killed his family after they discovered his double life to be released

Thu, 25 Apr 2019 15:07:35 +0200

A Frenchman who killed his parents, wife and children after pretending for two decades to be a successful doctor in a case that inspired a book and films, is to be released on parole, his lawyer said on Thursday.

Léa Seydoux is back as a Bond girl: Here's seven things to know about her

Thu, 25 Apr 2019 14:51:58 +0200

French actress Léa Seydoux will be returning as Bond girl Dr Madeleine Swann in the upcoming film, producers have confirmed. Here's seven things to know about an actress who made her name in an steamy lesbian love movie.

Why are there so many roadworks in Paris right now?

Thu, 25 Apr 2019 13:37:35 +0200

Roadworks are the hot topic of the moment in the French capital, with green and grey barricades clogging up the city's streets and public spaces, making it difficult to navigate around. So why are there so many roadworks going on in Paris at the moment?

'I'm sick of the way my fellow Frenchmen treat women'

Thu, 25 Apr 2019 12:38:24 +0200

Sex jokes, watching pornography in the office and degrading comments to female colleagues - one male French employee has spoken out about the shocking culture at his workplace.

Fed-up Paris Metro commuters launch fresh campaign against sexual harassment

Thu, 25 Apr 2019 11:37:37 +0200

Fed-up female commuters in Paris have launched a fresh assault on the age-old problem of sexual harassment on the Metro.

Are you a concubine in French law? (It doesn't mean what you think it does)

Thu, 25 Apr 2019 09:28:47 +0200

One word that crops up on official documents in France never fails to raise a smile or laugh from an English speaker. Here's a look at what "concubine" really means in French and why the authorities want to know if you are one.

Jealousy and steel balls: My year of dating French men in Paris

Wed, 24 Apr 2019 17:24:18 +0200

Many foreign women might well dream of a year spent dating Frenchmen in the so-called most romantic city in the world. But as one international resident of Paris aged in her 40s - who understandably preferred to remain anonymous - told The Local, it's not all it's cracked up to be.

Why viaducts are so important to the French in the month of May

Wed, 24 Apr 2019 17:10:57 +0200

The month of May in France is the month in which we celebrate work, the history of France, the world and religion. But let's be honest the French appreciate the month of May for its bridges and viaducts - and we are not talking about river crossings.

Ten key French phrases that will make you sound like a local

Wed, 24 Apr 2019 16:39:07 +0200

These 10 expressions will help you add the native touch to your spoken French skills.