These charming little dogs with their wrinkly heads and shoulders are a favourite breed of lapdog in France and it is hardly surprising that owners all over the world love the clownish behaviour the breed is known to have. It…

Francois Truffaut was to become one of France’s most influential film critics, but he was also a superb film producer too, being one of the founders of the French New Wave. For over 25 years he made many films that…

The Cannes Film Festival is an event that attracts Hollywood stars, film directors and producers as well as so much world attention. It is one of the industries most prestigious affairs that started back in September 1939. During the Second…

The first ever car I owned was a Peugeot, a 404 and I absolutely adored it. As far as I am concerned this little French car was the most reliable vehicle that I have ever owned. Being a young student…

French Impressionist first appeared on the scene in the late 19th century and early 20th. This group of artists all had the same ideas, techniques and perceptions of how they saw a painting should be created. They used certain small…

The story of how two brothers came up with the idea for removable pneumatic tyres is fascinating. It is sometimes the case when one simple thing happens that then leads on to bigger things, and this is so true of…

For many years now people have been flocking to France to get away from the hectic and sometimes humdrum lives they lead. People have loved to retire to a region in France so that their pace of life slows down…

This long period of history when France and England fought many battles started in the reign of William the Conqueror. He ruled both England and Normandy which he had united after the Battle of Hastings in 1066. This continued right…

Having grown up in the wonderfully sunny southern part of France, I like many other children loved the adventures of Asterix and the Gauls. Their continuous battle against the comically depicted Romans was a source on constant amusement for me…