Be warned, France’s strike calendar for September is quickly filling up as various unions announce industrial action that could impact, well, pretty much all aspects of life in France. We’ll look at just how much disruption and political discord lie ahead over the next few weeks in France.

And remember this could be the last Talking France episode with Francois Bayrou as Prime Minister. We’ll explore whether France has simply become ungovernable these days.

We’ll also find about one French town that has slapped a ban on people buying up property to be used as a second home. Could this be the star of a nationwide trend?

And speaking of homes, a story on The Local France has gone viral in recent weeks about a French town selling homes for just one euro. But surely there’s a catch? We’ll find out. 

And the big exposé this week is to reveal which of France’s smelly cheeses is the king of stench, the most pungent of them all. The competition is tough but we’ll name the winner.

Im Ben McPartland and with me this week will be the team from The Local France, Emma Pearson, Gen Mansfield and John Lichfield.

Essential reading:

• KEY DATES: Strikes planned in France in September 2025
• How to challenge your 2025 French property tax bills
• LISTED: New flights to and from France in autumn and winter 2025
• Phone ban and sex education: The changes in French schools from September 2025
• Brittany town bans second homes amid housing shortage
• 5 things you need to know about France's one euro homes
• VERDICT: What is the smelliest French cheese of all?

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