La Belle Vie: What to do in France this summer and the benefits of a 'microclimate'
La Belle Vie is our regular look at the real culture of France – from language to cuisine, manners to films. This newsletter is published weekly and you can receive it directly to your inbox, by going to your newsletter preferences in 'My account'.
It seems to be a rite of passage for French interior ministers to talk a big game about how they will make the rules stricter for people applying for French residency or nationality.
Most recently, interior minister Bruno Retailleau sent out a special kind of memo - called a
circulaire
- to préfecture and interior ministry staff about how they ought to interpret and apply the 2024 immigration law.
In reality, the memo will not lead to sweeping changes, but it does mean that some enforcement of existing rules could be stricter moving forward. There is one thing that remains - the dreaded French citizenship interview. Personally, I found my interview to be quite challenging.
The
fonctionnaire
who asked my questions wanted to know things like the date that the Banque de France was founded, as well as how I see a lasting impact from Napoleon in modern life (aside from the Code Civile). It's never too early to start preparing.
QUIZ: Could you pass the French citizenship interview?
For readers who are considering applying for French citizenship - if you ever decide to do so, prepare yourself for a long wait. The process is slow and it involves lots of time spent refreshing the ANEF timeline page. I was told that after the interview it could take anywhere from seven months to a year to get a final answer.
At earliest, that would mean that this summer I'll get to host a 'citizenship party'. I don't want to get ahead of myself, but if everything works out I want to have a big fête where I invite every French person I know to cook a dish or dessert that is typical of the region they come from. On second thoughts, I might do this even if the citizenship thing doesn't pan out.
There are plenty of other things to look forward to this summer in France, from time spent sipping rosé
en terrasse
to picnics at the local park.
9 of the best things about summer in France
Summer festivals are another highlight of the year. While I am sad that I'll be out of town for the main nighttime culture event - Fête de la Musique - I am looking forward to celebrating Nuit Blanche.
For those who are considering a trip to the capital region, I highly recommend scheduling it for the weekend of June 7th. Nuit Blanche is the one night of the year where museums stay open all night long. This year there will be films screened outside, as well as the usual nighttime art exhibits and shows.
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29 unmissable festivals and events in France this summer
One of the big events in the French cultural calendar is the Tour de France. I am always surprised to learn how many viewers the Tour de France gets on television each year.
I decided to tune in for the first time last year - at the behest of The Local Europe's editor, Ben McPartland - and while I enjoy the cycling, the best part to me is the stunning French countryside on display.
The Tour de France route this year goes through Normandy and Brittany in western France. Then, it snakes through the central Auvergne region, down to the south-west and the Pyrenees, and back up through the Alps for a grand ending in Paris.
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The race will pass right by the central French city of Clermont-Ferrand, which was in the news recently. The city's mayor has sounded the alarm bells about the ground being 'Swiss cheese'. Here's what that means.
'Swiss cheese': Why this French city is worried about sinkholes
The Tour de France tends to go through more remote villages in France. Oftentimes, when I try to find an illustration image for an article of a small French town, there might be four or five photos, with half of them being from that one time the Tour de France passed through.
This has been especially true every time I have looked for photos to illustrate villages or rural life in the sparsely populated Ariège département.
REVEALED: Where are the most remote parts of France?
And finally, one topic of conversation I have found comes up from time to time when discussing where to buy a home in France is the 'microclimate'. Of course, microclimates are real, but it is a selling point I have heard used for many different parts of France (more so than other countries).
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Previously, I had heard assertions that Brittany has several microclimates, including the southern and comparatively sunnier Morbihan département.
Most recently, I learned that many consider Nice to be a microclimate, and that includes the city's own tourism website.
Does Nice really have a microclimate?
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