Mowing the lawn might take you a fortnight — but don’t let that put you off. The phenomenal success of the Channel 4 series Escape To The Chateau, in which couple Angel Adoree and Dick Strawbridge take on a huge, 45-room DIY project in North-West France, has been a source of inspiration for millions of … Read more
After more than three months gathering dust and moths in a cupboard, the UK’s red carpet was unrolled yesterday. For the first time since lockdown began in March, Britain had a visitor, a proper one – a head of state no less. The arrival of President Emmanuel Macron of France might not have been quite … Read more
The one lesson I’ve learned from life: Frances Barber says being vain is not always a sin Award-winning actress Frances Barber, 62, is best known for roles in The Split She said she lived in Los Angeles for three years and was used to perfect skin Frances said she has a poster in my house … Read more
There are few places in all of France as forbidding as this abandoned 19th-century prison – as these eerie pictures show. They were taken by French photographer Romain Veillon inside the city of Autun jail, which has a design much-dreaded among prisoners – panopticon, a word derived from panoptes, the Greek for ‘all-seeing’. The cylindrical … Read more
France’s daily coronavirus deaths drop to 395 – the lowest in three weeks – as ‘minuscule traces’ of bug are found in water used for Paris street cleaning France has reported 395 new deaths from coronavirus during the last 24 hours New deaths included 227 patients in hospitals and 168 nursing home residents The latest figures … Read more
Obesity is a major risk factor for those with coronavirus, says France’s chief epidemiologist, backing other studies that say obese patients are at greater risk of severe complications and remain contagious nearly twice as long France’s chief epidemiologist, Professor Jean-François Delfraissy, says being obese is a major risk factor for those infected with coronavirus Delfraissy … Read more
‘Top up?’ inquired my husband, as we sat on the sun-dappled terrace. It’s hard to think of a nicer question. Especially when asked on a balmy afternoon in Beaune, the unofficial capital of Burgundy’s Côte-d’Or region, where we were simply doing what the good people of this dignified town do best – savouring one of … Read more
France’s coronavirus death toll slows to 441 the day after a record 588 were killed by the disease as the total deaths across Europe hits 45,000 Over 440 people in France who tested positive with the coronavirus died today Director General of Health said death toll since start of outbreak was at 7,560 The slowdown … Read more
Draw up a wish-list list for an ideal family skiing holiday — proximity to slopes and ski school, enough altitude for good snow at the start or end of the season (prime school holiday time), no queues — and the list soon shrinks. So I was intrigued when a friend suggested Val Cenis. It sits … Read more
Rolling hills patched together by vineyards and everyone’s favourite fizz: Sailing through France’s stunning Champagne region on a hotel barge The European Waterways hotel barge ‘Panache’ sails down the River Marne and the Canal latéral à la Marne Guests enjoy day trips to the cities of Reims and Epernay and even visit Champagne house Moët & … Read more