Category: Culture & Heritage
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The Corner of France That Has Always Felt Closer to Barcelona Than to Paris
Roussillon, in the south of France, has always felt Catalan rather than French. Discover the villages, food, and remarkable identity of this extraordinary region.
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The French Village That Becomes a Sacred Pilgrimage Site Every May
Each May, thousands of pilgrims travel to a tiny Camargue village for one of France’s oldest and most remarkable traditions — the pilgrimage to Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer.
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Why the French Have Two Words for ‘You’ — and Getting It Wrong Is Unforgettable
The French have two ways to say you — and choosing the wrong one can offend a stranger or feel oddly intimate. Here is what no guidebook tells you about tu and vous.
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The Sunday Ritual That Shows You Who the French Really Are
In France, Sunday lunch is not a meal — it is a declaration. Discover the ritual that holds French society together, one unhurried hour at a time.
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The Afternoon Game That Every French Village Takes Deadly Seriously
Pétanque is France’s most beloved afternoon ritual. Discover the history, the unwritten rules, and why every French village takes this game so seriously.
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The Wind That Has Shaped Provence — and Its People — for Centuries
The Mistral wind is the invisible force that has shaped Provence for centuries — its architecture, harvests, and the moods of the people who live beneath it.
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Why the French Have a Word for Wandering With No Destination
The French word flâner has no real English equivalent. It means to wander without purpose — but not aimlessly. Here’s what flânerie is, where it came from, and how to do it on your next trip to France.
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The One Flower the French Never Give to the Living
In France, chrysanthemums are reserved for one thing: the dead. Here is why bringing them to a French home is one of the most common — and most invisible — mistakes a visitor can make.
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The Region of France That Has Never Quite Decided Whether It’s French
Alsace has changed hands between France and Germany four times in 150 years. It kept the dialect, the half-timbered houses, the choucroute, and the stubbornness. Here is what that looks like today.
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Why the Whole of France Goes on Holiday at Exactly the Same Time
Every August, France empties out. Beaches fill up, trains pack out, and a whole nation heads for the coast. Here’s the story behind France’s great summer exodus.