Heatwaves, Brexit glitches and lavender: 6 essential articles for life in France
heatwave
of what experts forecast will be a
long, hot French summer
should now be starting to dip below sweltering – but how high can we expect the temperatures to get in the summer of 2025?
How hot will it get in France this summer?
On that topic, while this particular hot spell may be breaking, it's obvious that it won't be the last one this year. And that raises the question of how we should keep cool. Some of the solutions might not be what you would expect.
'Avoid iced water and air-conditioning on max' – how the French stay cool in a heatwave
While we're talking about summer, what about places to visit? Known affectionately as 'blue gold', France's lavender fields are a popular tourist attraction every year – here's what you need to know about visiting them.
What to know when visiting France's lavender fields this summer
Every now and then, post-Brexit bureaucracy glitches, and – suddenly – Britons legally resident in France under the terms of the Withdrawal Agreement find themselves, briefly, on the wrong side of the administration.
When this happens, it can be worrying and stressful, but we've got your back with this rundown of where you can go for help and advice.
Brexit residency rights in France: Where to go for help
Advertisement
Foreigners who have residency in France gain extra rights (and
responsibilities
) which are not open to those who simply own property here or visit regularly. Here's a look at what non-residents can and cannot access.
What you can and cannot do as a non-resident in France
Finally, it's human nature to try and find a few shortcuts through France's notoriously tricky residency and tax systems, but as The Local's editor Emma Pearson has seen – taking advantage of 'loopholes' often causes more problems that it solves.
Give up the search for loopholes – French bureaucracy always wins
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Euronews
2 hours ago
- Euronews
France's vineyards begin 2025 harvest early after hot temperatures
French winemakers this year have been forced to bring forward the 2025 harvest earlier after high temperatures have caused grapes to ripen earlier than at the traditional wine harvesting season of September to October. Harvesters in France's Château Carbonnieu have found that temperatures approaching 40C have caused strain to white wine grape clusters. Under hot conditions and a lack of water, berries have ripened ahead of schedule. "The harvest used to begin on September 15, you see, and today is August 19. This global warming phenomenon is now much more reminiscent of Mediterranean climates," Eric Perrin, owner of the Château de Carbonnieux, says. Climate change continues to challenge French viticulture As a result Château Carbonnieu's whites are bearing a "much more Mediterranean than Atlantic signature", Perrin explains. The winegrower has been harvesting since the 1980s, and while he did experience hot summers like the one of 1989 and 2003, high temperatures have gradually increased since 2018 to present day and become the norm rather than the exception. The impact of the heat causes grapes to hold a higher sugar content which, through the fermentation process, translates into higher alcohol content wines. "Before, over ten years, we had two great vintages, about five average ones and about three that could be poor. Now, with this warming, we have much higher quality in our wines," Perrin explains. Grapes used in white wine production, in particular, face a problem here, because France's strict rules for protected designations of origin (AOC) wines also establish allowed sugar contents. Meeting these new requirements is the job of oenologist of the family, Andrea Perrin. The main problem lies in this excess sugar, which is driving the harvest from this 45-hectare area to alcohol levels of around 14%. Apart from clashing with AOC regulations, white wines of such high alcohol content generally are not popular with the drinkers. Fortunately, "this doesn't represent a large area," the oenologist explains. So, Perrin is counting on later harvesting from "the preferred terroirs for white wines," namely the clayey soils that preserve water and acidity. Grapes from there, he hopes, will compensate for the high sugar levels of this first harvest to achieve alcohol levels of around 12 or perhaps 13% in the final cuveé.
Euronews
5 hours ago
- Euronews
Will flying outside the EU subject French to stricter tax audits?
In a much-watched TikTok video, a French-speaking presenter claims that, as soon as a person boards an aeroplane from France to a country outside the European Union, they are signing up for an automatic tax audit upon their return. It is not clarified who exactly would be affected. "Starting on 1 September 2025, every traveller leaving the EU will be systematically reported to the French tax authorities via a new procedure," the author of the video states. The system is referred to by the author as the DVAD (Dispositif de vérification automatique des déplacements, or Automatic Travel Verification System). The video claims the measure was introduced by the French Interior Ministry and announced by reputable French media BFM TV and Le Parisien, which reportedly said passport data will be cross-checked with income declarations and bank transactions upon return. If a discrepancy is detected between a person's lifestyle and their tax forms, they will "receive a summons within 30 days to justify their income". Failing to do so could lead to a €10,000 fine, an immediate tax adjustment, and loss of benefits. Those most targeted would be those who "hide cash"—"fraudsters stashing cash in Dubai or Morocco"; however, the author said even people on holiday will be affected. It then cites franceinfo, saying the well-known media organisation reported that more than 12 million French people could potentially be affected each year. The video, which has been viewed 1.5 million times, was posted on the TikTok account PassionMondialeFR. In the comments section, outrage prevails. "Welcome to the new North Korea," one person said. Another user commented: "The next step is to give each person a counter to see how many hours they have breathed." Others argued the state didn't have the right to gather data in this way. However, the allegations made in this video are completely false. No official announcements No such measures have been announced by the Ministry of the Interior. Euroverify scoured its recent announcements, as well as those made on other ministry websites, and found no information related to these claims. This false measure has also not been reported on by the French media cited in the video, nor by any other media organisation. Additionally, were such a measure to be introduced, it is unlikely it would come from the Ministry of the Interior. While it does oversee the National Directorate of Border Police (DNPAF), it has no jurisdiction over tax matters. Tax matters and audits are, instead, the responsibility of the Ministry of Economy and Finance. More specifically, they fall under the Directorate-General of Public Finances (DGFIP), which is the only authority competent for this type of measure in France. The Ministry of Economics and Finance, commonly referred to as Bercy in France, confirmed to Euroverify that the claims were incorrect and that the country has not introduced these measures. Additional proof can be found that the claims would not be legitimate when looking at other content shared by the same PassionMondialeFR account. Several videos feature AI-generated presenters. This was confirmed by AI detection tools. This trend of spreading fake news by using anchors who appear to have the same enthusiasm, energy and diction as real newsreaders, but are actually AI-generated, is becoming more widespread. Meanwhile, other videos published on the TikTok account claim that shopping for over €100 will have to be justified by low-income households, and that people in France can no longer withdraw more than €200 in cash per week without being automatically registered with the authorities. Online searches again showed that these are non-existent laws. Still, such messages are shared almost daily, and while some videos are watched a few thousand times, others have several hundred thousand or even over a million views.
Local France
9 hours ago
- Local France
Analysis: Does France have too many restaurants?
France is proud of its gastronomy, which also acts as a major draw for tourists. In 2010, the French 'gastronomic meal' was added to the UNESCO list of intangible world heritage, and the internet has no shortage of lists advising tourists of where and what to eat while travelling to France. But now France is beginning to ask itself a different question: Are there too many restaurants? According to Statista , France is not particularly notable for its number of restaurants - France was third in Europe for the total number of behind Italy and Spain, despite having a significantly larger population than its neighbours. Statista lists 229,226 restaurants in France, and the French government registers the industry as the country's sixth-largest employer. Advertisement A 2024 study by consulting group GIRA gives a much higher figure - 407,000 - but that includes takeaways and fast-food outlets as well as traditional restaurants. The study found that in 2004, France had one restaurant/takeaway per 238 inhabitants, but in 2024, the ratio shifted to one restaurant per 168 people. While that may sound like a good thing to foodies, industry stakeholders worry that the market has become too saturated, particularly in larger cities where people are spoilt for (or paralysed by) choice. More restaurants closing As more restaurants open, newcomers have a harder time surviving. Data from Banque de France found that 7,200 restaurants closed in 2023, a 44 percent increase in closures compared to 2022. It's not just about competition - customer habits also seem to be shifting. This summer, attendance at 'traditional' restaurants dropped between 15 to 20 percent, according to the UMIH, a union representing those in the restaurant and hotel industry. Customers have blamed increased prices at restaurants. A 2024 study by the organisation Food Service Vision found that menu prices have increased 20 percent over the past two years. It also found customers had become more concerned about prices, with 89 percent saying they 'pay attention to prices' at the restaurant, an increase of five percentage points from 2023. But industry stakeholders blame an oversaturation of the market in urban areas, and some are even calling for a cap on restaurant numbers. In Paris, the market is more saturated than the national average. The capital counts one eaterie for every 82 residents. After that, Bordeaux follows with one per 103 people, Nice with one per 103 people, and Toulouse with one per 145 people. READ MORE: 8 tips for finding a good restaurant in France Limiting numbers Frank Chaumès, head of the UMIH hospitality union, has been an advocate for greater regulation. "During the Covid-19 pandemic, we realised that traditional restaurants played an important role in society. They allow us to sit and discuss. Advertisement "And now, everything is coming together to make them disappear, even though they are the ones that create the most jobs. Tomorrow, we will be in a society where we eat on the go, at the office, in the American style, which is not an example to follow," Chaumès told La Dépêche. Chaumès has floated the idea of a cap on restaurant numbers, as well as requirements to demonstrate training before entering the industry, similar to other sectors like hairdressing. Chaumès told RMC in a separate interview that the cap should also apply to fast food restaurants, noting that they are held to the same standards of hygiene and food safety as a Michelin-starred restaurant. Some restaurant owners have also been in favour of greater regulation. In Bordeaux, Paul, who owns an Italian restaurant in the city centre, told RMC that "There has been a huge growth in the number of restaurants in Bordeaux in the last three or four years." Paul told RMC that he has recently put his restaurant into receivership, having lost 50 percent of his previous turnover due to increased competition. Advertisement But others say that the focus must be on quality. Stéphane Manigold, the owner of eight restaurants in Paris, told 20 Minutes: "There are not too many restaurants; there are too many pseudo-restaurateurs who cook dishes in the microwave." Manigold added that he supported greater regulation on demonstrating the origin of products. "If it's homemade, we should say so. If not, we say where it comes from (...) Those who don't want you to know what you're eating are serving you crap." READ ALSO : Bio, artisan and red label: What do French food and drink labels really mean? What do you think? Does France have too many restaurants or is the problem more one of quality? Share your views in the comments section below
