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Local France
30-05-2025
- Automotive
- Local France
La Belle Vie: Everything you need to know for a successful road trip in France
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'. Sometimes stereotypes are true, and in this case, a recent study has shown that French drivers are really some of the worst in Europe. From over half of respondents saying they have forgotten to use their indicator when changing lanes to a surprisingly large percentage admitting that they have gotten out of their vehicle to yell at another motorist, French drivers do have some room for improvement. That said, I was proud of my neighbours for performing much better than their Scandinavian counterparts when it comes to taking work calls and meetings while driving. Only six percent of French drivers said they had ever done this, in contrast to 23 percent of Swedish motorists. Swearing, honking and tailgating: French drivers some of worst in Europe We asked readers of The Local about French drivers, specifically those in rural areas. While some readers noted increased road safety due to stricter drink driving laws, others still felt French roads were hazardous. Advertisement One reader who has experience driving in Normandy said. "The amount of times we have had to swerve to avoid colliding with them is a joke. I am not sure if they have a death wish, or don't want to slow down, or don't expect anyone else to be on the road." 'They have a death wish': The verdict on French drivers in rural France The discussion about French driving behaviour started when The Local's columnist John Lichfield dared to argue that French roads have become safer in the last 50 years. I do not find French roads to be particularly unnerving. When it comes to the number of distracted drivers on the road, I would pick a French autoroute over an American highway any day, though I can sympathise with the frustrations readers have pointed out. The downside to French autoroutes is the prevalence of expensive toll roads . If you are willing to either accept that as part of the experience or spend most of your visit on the backroads, then France can be a beautiful place for a road trip. Are these the 10 most beautiful parts of France to drive through? If you are looking to avoid tolls entirely, I recommend driving in Brittany, where the autoroutes are free. However, I would consider staying away from the more popular tourist spots, like Île de Bréhat and Saint-Mâlo, during the height of the summer holiday period. Save these locations for the off-season when the crowds are smaller. The 10 French tourist spots most likely to be overcrowded this summer One way to organise your French road trip would be to consider the 'villages étapes' along the way. These are small towns and villages, with less than 5,000 inhabitants, located in close proximity to the autoroute. In order to qualify for the special status, they must offer certain amenities to people travelling through the area, such as a tourist information point and at least one hotel accommodation. Driving in France: What are the French 'villages étapes'? And finally, in contrast to the possible truth behind bad French drivers, I find the 'rude French person' stereotype to be inaccurate and unfair. Advertisement Rude people exist in every country, and in France, the best way to avoid a negative interaction is to be a good tourist. Essential advice for how to be a good tourist in France
Local France
22-03-2025
- Politics
- Local France
Inside France: Playground politicians, French unions and a banana split
Inside France is our weekly look at some of the news, talking points and gossip in France that you might not have heard about. It's published each Saturday and members can receive it directly to their inbox, by going to their newsletter preferences or adding their email to the sign-up box in this article. Playground politics This week in France-US relations we moved to the level of the very childish - a French centre-left politician saying that France should demand the Statue of Liberty back, and the White House press secretary responding by saying 'without us you'd all be speaking German'. That last line was particularly low-rent - and let's not pretend that Karoline Leavitt is the only one to sink to this level; the UK's Brexit 'debate' was also characterised by ridiculous takes on World War II. In fact it seems that this is the main function of that great global conflict in modern discourse. The defining fight of the 20th century, when millions risked everything to defeat fascism - now reduced to a punchline for idiots. How very depressing. Talking France We discuss the latest transatlantic spat in the Talking France podcast, as well as looking at what France gave the USA (although I think that claiming France is responsible for US independence is a bit of stretch). We're also talking about France's earthquake risk, ETA scams and the south-west France département that is aiming to make water out of air. Listen here or on the link below. Advertisement Conclave (not the film) 'French unions walk out of conclave' is a headline that might have given a few people pause this week. No, French unions are not involved in electing a new Pope (the imagination boggles) - in fact 'conclave' is the name given to the consultations on France's 2023 pension reform, which included raising the pension age from 62 to 64. With the breakdown of these talks France could be heading, once again, for protests and/or strikes over pension reform - I'm all for the workers having a strong voice in France, and for the right of ordinary people to express their views through demos, strikes or other peaceful protest actions. But dare I say that another round of pension protests feels a little self-indulgent with everything else that is going on right now? This is the view of John Lichfield, who looks at the latest pension row, and whether it might bring down another French government, in his column this week . Although if you want to talk about self-indulgence, the (male) minister who threatened to resign over the issue of what women wear to play sport is also right up there. Incidentally the choice of Conclave as a title for the pension consultation has proved mildly controversial in France , for secularism reasons. Advertisement Terrible French pun of the week If you're a fan of bad puns, then French media really is a paradise - witness this example from Le Parisien ahead of the Croatia-France football match in Split. In French 'avoir la banane' means to be happy or to be smiling (although France were not smiling by the end of the match). It's a phrase that I learned last summer at a training day for Paris Olympics volunteers when they kept telling us to 'gardez la banane' - I was very confused about why fruit was so important and needed guarding, until I looked up this phrase and realised they were really saying 'keep smiling'. And it seems this is a common francophone trait, when I put this on BlueSky someone told me that in Brussels there is a shop called La Bande Des Six Nez (the gang of six noses) . . . say it out loud and you'll realise it sounds like La Bande-dessinée, and the shop does indeed sell comic books and graphic novels . Inside France is our weekly look at some of the news, talking points and gossip in France that you might not have heard about. It's published each Saturday and members can receive it directly to their inbox, by going to their newsletter preferences or adding their email to the sign-up box in this article.
Local France
14-03-2025
- Politics
- Local France
PODCAST: How France can revive village life and the historic menace lurking under French soil
Host Ben McPartland is joined by The Local's Emma Pearson, Genevieve Mansfield, and John Lichfield to discuss all the latest news in France. This week we look at France's response to international political tensions. Veteran reporter John Lichfield unpacks whether he is simply stoking fear or if Emmanuel Macron could be the perfect person to lead France and Europe through the crisis. We also look at a new French law intended to make it easier to open new bars and cafés in France's rural villages. The Talking France team chats about whether this could breathe life into an often forgotten part of France, or if it will increase alcohol abuse, as critics warn. Next, we talk about a French scheme - the 'Pass Culture' - that helps young people purchase books, go to the movies, and visit museums, and how it will be changing this year. After a 500kg unexploded World War II bomb caused widespread travel chaos last week, the team looks at how many weapons from the two world wars might still be buried under the ground in France. We also hear from Americans in France about why they are angry right now, as well as why more Americans have decided to move to France in the last few years.
Local France
19-02-2025
- Politics
- Local France
Americans in France: The new French budget and how hard will language tests be?
Welcome to The Local's "Americans in France" newsletter for members, featuring all the news and practical information you need as an American resident, visitor or second-home owner in France. You can sign up to receive it directly to your inbox before we publish it online via the link below. Dear Americans in France, As geopolitical tensions between the US and Europe run high, the French presidency is continuing its push for greater European security. I can't help but think back to veteran journalist John Lichfield's analysis shortly after the election in November. Back to domestic politics - if you have been following our work here at The Local, you are probably aware that we have been diligently covering the upcoming changes to French immigration rules, as a result of the 2024 law. Up until now, it has been difficult to find detailed coverage of the new, stricter language requirements for multi-year residency cards and citizenship in the French press, but last week a French Senate report noted that approximately 300,000 people will be required to meet new language requirements. To me, the headline figure was that 60,000 could be at risk of failing the new language tests, and for some people a failure to pass would mean losing one's right to remain in France. It's worth noting that several groups will be exempt from the language tests generally, so before you start to worry, you should read our separate guide to exceptions. France Télévisions decided to do their own experiment, they asked 10 French people to take the B2 test, which will soon be required of people looking to acquire French nationality. They reported that two of the test-takers failed outright, while another five failed the written section (but made up for it with the oral part). Apparently, one of the people stumped by the questions had studied literature. I have some of my own theories about this - I think that these types of tests do of course look at your ability to speak, read and write in French, but I also think that a lot of what is judged is your test-taking ability. It would be hard for anyone - French or not - to pass the B2 test with no preparation. Still, I think this underscores what many feel to be a quest to push people out for imperfect French, despite being well integrated. As the France Télévisions investigation rightly identifies - the people who will suffer the most from these changes will be those at the margins who probably already speak decent French, but may not have benefited from formal schooling (and thus they may struggle with the writing and reading sections). Recently, France's interior minister made some inflammatory remarks, claiming that "when a legally resident foreigner has not mastered French after several years, it's because he or she has not made the effort". The Local France's editor, Emma Pearson, had a strong response, which has caught the eyes of many of our readers. Feel free to add your opinion by commenting at the bottom of the article. In other events, France also finally passed its 2025 budget (a few months late). We've got an overview of the changes, but a few that stand out have to do with increasing costs for plane tickets and a controversial (and now paused) plan to lower VAT thresholds for self-employed people and small business owners. And finally, we love to answer your questions directly - feel free to fill out our ongoing survey with any tips, questions or comments. One reader, Frank, told us that "driving rules and regulations with yearly changes" was one aspect about French life that he would like The Local to help explain. We do have a 'Driving' section which we update periodically. Most recently, we covered a story about a French driver who was fined for using the payment option on his smartphone at a French toll booth. A police officer apparently told him this constituted using his phone while driving. We looked at the rules around phones while driving, as well as how the French President chimed in (on TikTok). Frank also had some tips. He advised: "Do your research before moving. Not every one wants the hassle of a large city." This is true, it is easy to generalise Paris and the rest of France, when the two are actually quite different from one another. Ultimately, life in France is what you make of it, but here are some of the things readers connected with their ' high quality of life ' here.
Local France
15-02-2025
- Business
- Local France
Inside France: Language struggles, French references and VAT controversy
Inside France is our weekly look at some of the news, talking points and gossip in France that you might not have heard about. It's published each Saturday and members can receive it directly to their inbox, by going to their newsletter preferences or adding their email to the sign-up box in this article. Micro managing Before France's 2025 Budget was finally passed (after felling a government on the way) there was a lot of controversy about certain spending cuts, and compromises demanded by various parties. One thing that seemed to fly under the radar, however, was changes to the VAT threshold for micro-entrepeneurs - something that might sound dull but would have a huge impact on 200,000 sole traders, freelancers and contractors. The very people, in fact, that the government promised its tax rises would not hit. Less than 12 hours after the budget was passed, this measure was 'paused' after the outraged response, but how did it come to be in the budget in the first place? And how come nobody realised what a hit this would be to a group of low to middle-earners? Even our politics expert John Lichfield struggles to explain this one, although the political turmoil around the budget is the likely cause. Hopefully after an extensive consultation the government will quietly drop this plan altogether. Talking France here or on the link below. Talking French "When a legally resident foreigner has not mastered French after several years, it's because he or she has not made the effort." That's the view of France's Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau - I strongly disagree with him and after I recounted my own language-learning experiences it was great to hear from so many fellow foreigners in France who are also, despite their best efforts, struggling to master this gorgeous but complex language. France's new immigration law makes this matter more urgent, with up to 60,000 people judged to be at risk of losing their residency rights due to not being able to pass legally mandated language exams. But the main reason that I and my fellow foreigners want to learn French is simply that you have a much richer, more interesting and more fun life in France once you can communicate and understand what is going on. People sometimes ask ' can you live in France if you don't speak French? ' and my answer would be 'why would you want to?' - from chatting with the neighbours to understanding the latest round of protests, via watching great French films and joining in a singalong in a café, learning French opens up a whole new world that the tourists and casual visitors don't see. French puns It also enables you to understand the puns and word-plays that French media are so fond of (like the one below describing the latest 'war on drugs' initiative as 'powder in the eyes' - a French phrase meaning 'smoke and mirrors'). I must admit, I still get a little kick when I understand one of those and don't have to be asked T'as la ref ? — l'Humanité (@ January 27, 2025 at 8:47 PM My final language-learning goal is to be able to understand La Canard Enchaîné, France's satirical newspaper that is densely packed with puns, word play and obscure cultural references. I currently get about half of it. The struggle continues.
