What exactly is French art de vivre? In this petite podcast episode, we explain all, where it comes from, what it is and how to practice art de vivre, a fundamental part of the French psyche and a way to elevate the ordinary things of everyday life to the extraordinary.

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Today we’re going to be talking about something very French, wine. 

France is of course one of the best wine making countries in the world and beyond, according to one of us on this podcast! Though extra-terrestrials probably won’t be sipping the famous red wine of Chateauneuf-du-Pape in Provence because the town has a law that states that UFOs cannot land there. 

Discover the history, fascinating anecdotes and fun facts about French wine and Champagne.

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France is the world’s most visited country, Paris is the world’s most visited city, and several of its monuments, museums and metropolises are on the world’s top list for visits. 

But it’s not just the places or the buildings of France that tug at our heartstrings – what makes us fall for France goes beyond bricks and mortar and boundary lines. 

There are many reasons that people fall in love with the Hexagon as the French affectionately call France – because it’s sort of Hexagon shaped – so let’s delve into the reasons to love France – we’re all Francophiles here! 

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We love Paris, but today we’re going to escape the city’s hustle and bustle. Join us as we discover historic, delicious, fascinating and enchanting destinations you can reach from Paris by train on a day trip. And we’ve made sure that nowhere takes longer than 2 hours by train. We’ll share what to see and do, the must-sees, the secrets and some top tips and fun facts.

Discover Claude Monet’s house and gardens in Normandy, captivating cities like Bordeaux, Lyon and Strasbourg, magnificent castles including dazzling Chantilly and fabulous Fontainebleau, and many, many more amazing places that are easy to reach from Paris in a day and all by train. Ready to explore? Let’s go!

Plus a listener asks “What is the Frenchest of French food?” We reveal all…

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Queen Marie-Antoinette's life was a blend of luxury, controversy, and tragedy. Her story is a fascinating glimpse into the complexities of royal life and the turbulent times of late 18th century France – no wonder we remain fascinated with her tale.

We talk about some of the most important times in her life, her marriage at just 14  years old, fashion style – and big hair (really big hair, with things hung in it), her spending habits, bathing practices (which were unusually regular in a day and age when the French nobles pretty much just washed the worst bits when they had to, and her husband recorded he took 43 baths in 26 years), her astonishing shoe collection, motherhood and her family including several children she adopted.

We’ll also share where to find traces of her legacy in France, from her favourite castles including one with a room for sulking in, to the shops she frequented…

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When you’ve ticked off those must-see sites on your list – the Palace of Versailles, Mont-Saint-Michel in Normandy, a dazzling little island that makes you feel you have stepped back centuries, the Louvre, the world’s most visited museum and the sun-kissed French Riviera, the boulevards of Paris and the majestic castles of the Loire Valley - there are a million more thrilling sites and places to discover – prehistoric caves, troglodyte villages, the steep cobbled streets of Saint-Emilion in Bordeaux, the medieval town of Annecy in Haute-Savoie and Claude Monet’s house and garden in Giverny, Normandy.

So let’s talk about how you’ll get there… 

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In this episode we’re going to be uncovering Paris to explore some of the most amazing hidden gems, the secret places you might miss if you don’t know they are there. 

It's not just the landmarks, like the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre museum, that make us fall in love with Paris. It’s also the little moments: finding a jazz band playing in a cosy café or in a cobblestone alley, the smell of fresh pastries from a boulangerie – there are more than 1700 in Paris, so you’ve got a lot of choice - or a sunset view from the bridges over the Seine. 

Paris really is a city where every street corner has a story. We go beyond the guidebooks to bring you secret Paris – where every street corner has a story to share.

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How much do you know about France?

In this episode we’re doing a quiz that everyone can join in with! We’ll ask some questions on all sorts of topics – gastronomy, history, culture, language and more, and we’ll give you the answers and if you got the question right, you can award yourself some points! We’ll also share some fascinating and extraordinary facts that bring history alive as we go.

There are a million points up for grabs – who wants to be a millionaire! 

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A tour through the charming, amusing, and sometimes misunderstood world of French stereotypes. 

We’re going to take a light-hearted look at some of the common stereotypes about the French - from fashion to rudeness and smoking like chimneys. From the famed French culinary prowess to reputation for romance. A land where people apparently say 'Oh là là' every five minutes and eat frogs’ legs at a drop of a hat (or beret).

Let's separate the fact from the fiction and have some fun along the way… 

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Bread in France is more than just food; it's a cultural cornerstone. It’s about community, tradition, and the French way of life. 

We'll discuss the role of bread in daily French life and how it reflects the values and rhythms of French society. 

In these crusty chronicles we’ll explore the history of bread and especially the UNESCO-listed French baguette. The French are besotted with baguettes, UNESCO says that eating a baguette is “a sensory experience” (someone at UNESCO really likes baguettes!).

In France bread is art, bakers are artists – and every loaf is a masterpiece…

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