Practical

Property slump eases in France but sellers still need to be patient

The drop in prices is steadying but the situation is not the same across the country

French eco-friendly cargo sailboats to set sail by 2026

French company raises €40million to build Cutty Sark-sized sailing vessels, promising faster, eco-friendly trans-Atlantic shipping

What are the most useful mobile apps for getting by in France?

Your phone can be your portable guidebook for restaurants, culture and travel

practical

14 recent and upcoming changes for living in France

We cover changes to doctor's fees, speed limits and the new limited traffic zone in Paris

What would it mean for France if the euro is weaker than the US dollar?

The exchange rate is at levels not seen since 2022 since the re-election of Donald Trump

Marathon effort boosts cancer support in France

Runners join Nice-Cannes Marathon to fund English-language cancer support services in Alpes-Maritimes

Smartphone SOS alert saves driver's life in France after crash

Crash Detection system is triggered by violent movement and sends message to emergency services

EU faces legal challenge from French lawyer over weedkiller sale decision

Corinne Lepage fighting decision to allow glyphosate to be sold in Europe for another 10 years

Child health booklets in France will be updated to include risks of screen time

Report by experts recommends banning screens for children under the age of three

Will roadworthiness tests penalise drivers in France for removing emission-limiting liquid?

AdBlue converts nitrous oxide particles, but has been criticised by drivers who believe it damaged their vehicles

Many French hospitals trial fingertip test for heart disease

Test takes 15 minutes and can detect early signs of the disease

Ignoring this increasingly common French road sign could cost you €135

New driving rule relates to areas designated a zone à trafic limité

2024 Map: see where in France road speeds are reverting to 90km/h limit

Several departments have made changes with more currently considering doing so

French study tests psychedelics in alcoholism therapy

A groundbreaking experiment explores how psilocybin can be used to combat depressive symptoms in alcohol recovery

French carmarker provides solution for noisy roads

Engineers utilise vehicle noise-cancelling data to identify road noise and reduce environmental impact

Are eyesight rules for drivers the same for licence-free cars in France?

It can be advisable to get an eye test before purchasing a voiture sans permis

Free data leak: is it possible to change French bank account number?

There are different numbers associated with your bank account

Will my children’s university expenses be liable to French gift tax?

Children may still be 'attached' to their parent's residence for tax purposes whilst at university

Moving to France: how does a retiree apply for a health card?

The card is linked to your social security number, which you must apply for first

How a builder's creative tip helped me in my farmhouse renovation

Nick Inman continues with his project to restore an old farmhouse

Learning French: When do we say bonjour, bonsoir and adieu?

Understanding their crucial role in French social interactions

What you can challenge on a French taxe d’habitation bill - and how to do it

Over €700 million was erroneously collected for the property tax last year

Strikes and protests intensify in France: flights, trains and roads impacted this week

More action is also set to take place in December, including over Christmas

EU citizens have difficulty obtaining French digital health cards

The paperwork required to sign up for the service is available to residency card holders and French citizens but not to other EU residents of France

Third online bank to close amid competitive market in France

'Ma French Bank' only opened in 2019. We look at what customers need to do

I now sell my art at local French markets

Annaliza Davis explains how she started selling her paintings and what she has learned from the experience

Armistice Day films, documentaries and remembrance events to watch on French television

Includes President Macron’s visit to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier on November 11 as well as films and documentaries through the week

What are the documents that a landlord cannot request from a tenant in France?

Renters can refuse certain invasive demands from property owners

Properties: see what you can buy in Orne in rural France for €40,000 and €1.123m

Explore Orne's scenic routes, traditional sausages, and surprisingly affordable property market

French hospitals’ revolutionary exoskeleton enables wheelchair-bound patients to walk

The technology improves their health and independence - and may soon be available for use in homes

France identifies undeclared pools with satellite technology

A total of 100,000 properties face fines if they do not decalre their swimming pools to the tax authorities

Citroën faces backlash in France over airbag delays

Cars were recalled and drivers warned over faulty airbags

How many electric vehicle charging ports are in France and where?

Interactive maps can help drivers find available ports

What happens in France on November 11 bank holiday and are shops open?

It is the second public holiday of the month in France

No snow tyre fines in France this winter – but insurers may require them

Tyres are required in mountainous communes, but non-compliance will not be punished this winter

Boulangers battle to save real bread in France

The country is renowned for its artisan loaves, yet there has been a shift towards cheap industrial bread

Do walkers have to wear hi-vis during hunting season in France?

An online rumour suggests the rules for hunters could be extended to the wider public

Does 90/180 day rule affect visiting France if I have Spanish residency?

Rules on spending too long in another EU country are in place for everyone

Is French second-home property tax levied on garages?

Tax may also be levied on parking spots in certain situations

What documents do non-French people require for a Pacs?

Civil Partnerships are usually enacted at the local mairie

Do licence-free vehicles in France require a roadworthiness test?

Law change in April 2024 saw motorbikes require contrôle technique tests

AirBnb rental laws to be toughened in France

Tax reductions will be partially brought in line for long and short-term rentals, with communes having more power over the market

Exploring the complexities of private roads and access rights in France

Droit de passage rules can sometimes lead to decades-long disputes

Popular lunch voucher system to be revamped in France

Scheme faces significant changes amidst digital shift and market competition

Debate rages over freelance worker status in France's hospitality sector

Covid led to many former salaried staff switching to freelance roles

Record rise in driving fines in France: what offences and how caught

There are over 1,000 offences that can result in fines

Driving through fog in France: rules and penalties for infractions

Many vehicles are now equipped with special fog lights

Discover the pros (and some cons) of French civil partnership

Robert Kent of Kentingtons explains the financial benefits and drawbacks of a Pacte Civil de Solidarité

French fire service asks people to check for empty or unused gas bottles at home

Canisters can be returned to points of sale, reducing fire risk

Are drain unblockers for septic tanks commercially available in France?

Supermarkets offer a variety of standard unblockers

Can UK car insurance be extended to provide cover in France?

Standard policies last for 90 to 180 days

Make sense of Crit’Air car stickers in France

We look at pollution ratings, Zones à faibles émissions (ZFE), fines and how to apply for yours

France's sealed scientific secrets are unlocked 100 years after submission

Plis cachetés reveal centuries-old sealed envelopes containing scientific discoveries and inventions

Is it possible to spread French income tax payments across the year?

Property and some business taxes can be spread across a ten-month period

20 million Free clients subject to data leak: what victims should do

Some customers should inform their bank after information stolen

400 French communes declared natural disaster zones after October floods

Property owners have 30 days to make insurance claim

ZTL (limited traffic zone) in Paris: when will fines begin and how much?

Central parts of the city are now closed to many drivers

How much does a house cost in ‘the healthiest department’ in France?

This area scored well in a national study on air pollution, green spaces, healthy shops, and hiking trails

‘Contribution citoyenne’: What is this new residents' charge proposed by French mayors?

Return of taxe d’habitation for main homes has been ruled out but other options are under debate as communes look to raise funding

How to buy a 2024 remembrance poppy in France

The Royal British Legion has several branches in the country. You can also buy a French bleuet

How France's high-rise housing solution to post-war boom became an urban nightmare

The grands ensembles, high-rise public housing units, were meant to provide desperately needed accommodation in big cities in the 1950s but the plan was abandoned only two decades later

Website shares list of cars acting as speed cameras in France

Unmarked vehicles operated by private companies perform the role in many departments

Netflix, BeIN, Disney: half-price deal to mark French TV giant Canal’s anniversary

Deal includes sports channels that show Premier League and Champions League football, NBA basketball as well as access to Disney+, Apple TV+ and Netflix