Author: Love France
-
The Medieval Village in the Lot That Most of France Has Forgotten
Autoire in the Lot is one of France’s most beautiful forgotten villages — medieval houses, limestone cliffs, and a waterfall few tourists ever find.
-
Why the French Give Strangers Flowers on the First of May
On 1st May, France fills its streets with lily of the valley. Discover the ancient muguet tradition that lets anyone sell flowers on a street corner — no licence required.
-
Why Three French Towns Have Been Fighting Over the Same Bean Stew for Centuries
Three towns in southern France — Toulouse, Castelnaudary, and Carcassonne — have been arguing for centuries over who makes the real cassoulet. The rivalry is fierce, official, and deeply French.
-
The French Easter Tradition That Has Nothing to Do With Rabbits
In France, Easter eggs are not brought by a rabbit. They fall from church bells flying back from Rome — a tradition called les cloches volantes that every French child knows by heart.
-
The One French Greeting Rule Nobody Tells Visitors Before They Go
La bise, the French cheek-kissing greeting, has unwritten rules that confuse every visitor. Here is what you need to know before you go to France.
-
French Surnames of Brittany: Origins, Meanings and Family Heritage
Discover the French surnames of Brittany — their Celtic meanings, Breton origins, and how they spread from France to Quebec, Acadia, and beyond.
-
Why Leonardo da Vinci Spent His Final Years in a French Château
Leonardo da Vinci spent his final years at Clos Lucé in the Loire Valley. Discover why France’s greatest royal invitation changed art history — and why the Mona Lisa hangs in Paris.
-
The Strict Rules a French Village Must Follow to Be Called Beautiful
France has an official list of its most beautiful villages — and the rules for joining are stricter than you’d expect. Here’s what it takes to earn the label.
-
The Vegetable France Grows in the Dark and Devours Before Summer Begins
Every April, French markets transform. Handwritten signs appear, queues form, and crates of pale ivory stalks take centre stage. White asparagus season has six weeks to make its mark — and France takes every one of them seriously.
-
The Salt Farmers Who Keep France’s Most Ancient Coastal Tradition Alive
Discover the paludiers of Guérande — France’s salt farmers who harvest fleur de sel by hand the same way they have for a thousand years along the Atlantic coast.