7 Common French Mistakes (and How to Stop Making Them)
Some mistakes come up with almost every French learner, whatever their native language. They often come from translating directly from English, Italian or Spanish. The good news: once you have…
How to Introduce Yourself in French: Useful Phrases, Examples and Tips
Introducing yourself is often the first thing you learn in French, and one of the most useful. At a dinner, at work or in an exam, a few well-chosen sentences…
The Louvre Museum: History, Masterpieces and Visiting Tips
You cannot visit Paris without walking past its glass pyramid. The Louvre is the most visited museum in the world, and one of the largest. But before it housed the…
Les Restos du Cœur: The Story of Coluche’s French Charity
In France, when winter comes, you hear about the « Restos du Cœur » (literally, the restaurants of the heart). This charity has been handing out meals and support to…
The Little Prince by Saint-Exupéry: Why Read It in French
« On ne voit bien qu'avec le cœur. L'essentiel est invisible pour les yeux. » (One sees clearly only with the heart. What is essential is invisible to the eye.)…
Symbols of France: Marianne, the Flag, La Marseillaise and More
Visitors are often surprised by how many symbols represent France: a bust of a woman in every town hall, a rooster on athletes' shirts, three words carved above school doors.…
Lyon’s Festival of Lights: History, Traditions and 2026 Dates
Every year in early December, Lyon becomes a city of light. Facades, churches, squares and parks turn into glowing works of art, and hundreds of thousands of visitors stroll the…
The Angoulême International Comics Festival
Tintin, Astérix, Lucky Luke, Gaston Lagaffe, Titeuf: comics are part of nearly every French speaker's childhood. In France they are even called « le neuvième art », the ninth art.…
The Deauville American Film Festival: Hollywood in Normandy
Every year in early September, the small seaside resort of Deauville, in Normandy, rolls out the red carpet for American cinema. Hollywood stars, independent films and film lovers meet for…
Émile Zola and the Impressionists: A Friendship and a Fight
Émile Zola is known for « Germinal », « L'Assommoir » and « J'accuse… ! », his open letter in the Dreyfus affair. Fewer people know that before becoming a…
