https://feeds.thelocal.com/ Read the latest news and views from France in English en-us news@thelocal.com (TheLocal) webmaster@thelocal.com (TheLocal) TheLocal RSS Feed Dogs will be allowed on one of the normally tightly controlled beaches in Cannes that was renamed on Monday after late film legend-turned-animal rights activist Brigitte Bardot. https://www.thelocal.fr/20260518/dogs-allowed-on-new-brigitte-bardot-beach-in-south-of-france Mon, 18 May 2026 16:35:19 +0200 dogs-allowed-on-new-brigitte-bardot-beach-in-south-of-france They're better for the planet, they won't be cancelled because of jet fuel shortages and you can take your own wine on board (100ml limits? What are they?) - here are some suggestions for a French train holiday this summer. https://www.thelocal.fr/20260428/12-beautiful-routes-for-french-train-holidays-this-summer Tue, 28 Apr 2026 15:49:41 +0200 12-beautiful-routes-for-french-train-holidays-this-summer It's the original and - we dare to say - will always remain the best, so here's a few things you might not know about the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. https://www.thelocal.fr/20260417/11-things-to-know-about-frances-arc-de-triomphe Fri, 17 Apr 2026 17:29:50 +0200 11-things-to-know-about-frances-arc-de-triomphe With May approaching and its many public holidays creating perfect long weekends, here are some suggestions for destinations all within three hours of Paris. https://www.thelocal.fr/20260416/revealed-7-of-frances-best-destinations-within-3-hours-of-paris Thu, 16 Apr 2026 10:39:49 +0200 revealed-7-of-frances-best-destinations-within-3-hours-of-paris French MPs have approved a bill regarding Alsace’s withdrawal from its Grand Est region - but why does Alsace want to leave, and where is it going? https://www.thelocal.fr/20260410/explained-why-does-alsace-want-to-leave-its-french-region Fri, 10 Apr 2026 17:38:05 +0200 explained-why-does-alsace-want-to-leave-its-french-region Food, drink, family gatherings and egg hunts all feature at Easter in France - plus some more unusual traditions. https://www.thelocal.fr/20190415/6-ways-the-french-celebrate-easter Mon, 15 Apr 2019 12:35:33 +0200 6-ways-the-french-celebrate-easter If you're driving on French motorways you will be expected to pay a toll charge - unless you're in Brittany. Here's why: https://www.thelocal.fr/20260402/why-is-brittany-the-only-place-in-france-that-doesnt-have-motorway-tolls Thu, 02 Apr 2026 16:18:05 +0200 why-is-brittany-the-only-place-in-france-that-doesnt-have-motorway-tolls The staircase to the top of Europe's tallest sand dune - located in the south-west France département of Gironde - is making its grand return with the opening of the summer tourism season. https://www.thelocal.fr/20260331/staircase-returns-on-frances-dune-du-pilat Tue, 31 Mar 2026 16:52:22 +0200 staircase-returns-on-frances-dune-du-pilat In Nice, every year since 1960, tons of pebbles have been dumped along the Promenade des Anglais, part of the annual makeover of town's famous pebble beach. https://www.thelocal.fr/20260326/french-riviera-city-of-nice-begins-its-annual-beach-makeover Thu, 26 Mar 2026 10:24:51 +0100 french-riviera-city-of-nice-begins-its-annual-beach-makeover France comes alive every summer, with events and festivals great and small taking place the length and breadth of the country – here’s our pick of ones to visit in summer 2026. https://www.thelocal.fr/20260326/37-unmissable-festivals-and-events-in-france-this-summer Thu, 26 Mar 2026 08:08:08 +0100 37-unmissable-festivals-and-events-in-france-this-summer Airbnb is controversial in large urban centres such as Paris or Nice, but in rural areas or small towns, locals say the platform can be a useful way to attract additional tourist revenue. https://www.thelocal.fr/20260309/everyone-benefits-why-airbnb-is-welcomed-in-certain-parts-of-france Mon, 09 Mar 2026 16:02:53 +0100 everyone-benefits-why-airbnb-is-welcomed-in-certain-parts-of-france To outsiders, France may seem to have any number of things to be proud of - from a strong culture of workers' rights to the art of creating really stinky cheeses - but what are the French themselves most proud of? https://www.thelocal.fr/20260302/revealed-what-makes-the-french-proud Mon, 02 Mar 2026 15:53:50 +0100 revealed-what-makes-the-french-proud If the grey days of winter are getting you down, here is where to go in France that gives you the best chance of seeing the sun. https://www.thelocal.fr/20260225/revealed-the-best-places-in-france-for-winter-sun Wed, 25 Feb 2026 13:25:38 +0100 revealed-the-best-places-in-france-for-winter-sun It sometimes flies under the radar, but for resident Marc Wisbey, Montpellier is the perfect French town. He explains why we should all move there. https://www.thelocal.fr/20201127/seven-reasons-to-move-to-montpellier Fri, 27 Nov 2020 10:43:44 +0100 seven-reasons-to-move-to-montpellier The law in France states beaches belong to the public, yet on many parts of the coast, especially the French Riviera, much of the pristine sand has been privatised. https://www.thelocal.fr/20260213/beaches-in-france-are-public-by-law-so-why-are-there-so-many-private-ones Fri, 13 Feb 2026 09:10:23 +0100 beaches-in-france-are-public-by-law-so-why-are-there-so-many-private-ones The tiny island off the coast of south-west France has some of the most expensive property prices in France - so how did it become an enclave of the super rich? https://www.thelocal.fr/20260204/why-is-property-on-french-island-of-ile-de-re-so-expensive Wed, 04 Feb 2026 12:01:47 +0100 why-is-property-on-french-island-of-ile-de-re-so-expensive It’s cold and a bit dank outside right now, but Spring really isn’t that far away, so here’s what’s coming up in France as the days get longer, the sky bluer, and the sun warmer. https://www.thelocal.fr/20251231/what-to-do-and-where-to-go-in-france-in-spring-2026 Wed, 31 Dec 2025 12:19:33 +0100 what-to-do-and-where-to-go-in-france-in-spring-2026 France's annual 'pancake' festival is coming up, but what is the history of the French crêpe and how did it end up so associated with the north-western region of Brittany? https://www.thelocal.fr/20260126/explained-brittany-and-the-french-crepe-traditions Mon, 26 Jan 2026 14:42:15 +0100 explained-brittany-and-the-french-crepe-traditions From Robert Capa to Auguste Renoir - via Lee Miller and Louis XIV carpets - French museums are preparing their temporary exhibitions for the upcoming year. https://www.thelocal.fr/20260123/15-art-exhibitions-to-look-forward-to-in-france-in-2026 Fri, 23 Jan 2026 16:04:16 +0100 15-art-exhibitions-to-look-forward-to-in-france-in-2026 From pig-squealing competitions to men in bear suits, via the 'world championship of seagull impressions', these are some of France's most bizarre traditional festivals. https://www.thelocal.fr/20221205/bears-lemons-and-pig-squealing-9-of-frances-strangest-festivals Mon, 05 Dec 2022 11:05:13 +0100 bears-lemons-and-pig-squealing-9-of-frances-strangest-festivals