With students from all over the world descending on Paris this week for the start of a new term, we take a look at the best ways to save money while living in the French capital on a … [Read More...] about How to survive Paris on a student budget
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French artist’s optical illusion makes Louvre Pyramid ‘disappear’
The French street artist known as “JR” has made the Louvre Pyramid in Paris disappear in an optical illusion created by covering the huge glass structure with a trompe l’oeil photo installation depicting the museum that surrounds it. The black and white installation, depicting the east side of the Napoleon courtyard, features on the front […]
Neanderthal stone ring structures found in French cave
Researchers investigating a cave in France have identified mysterious stone rings that were probably built by Neanderthals. The discovery provides yet more evidence that we may have underestimated the capabilities of our evolutionary cousins. The structures were made from hundreds of stalagmites, the mineral deposits which rise from the floors of caves. Dating techniques showed […]
‘Unknown’ French author’s noir crime novels set for UK
Maigret author Georges Simenon and Frédéric Dard were friends. Will Dard now emulate his success? He was a close friend of Georges Simenon, the author whose fictional detective, Jules Maigret, became a TV hit in 1960s Britain. But despite writing 300 crime thrillers and selling 200 million books in his native France, Frédéric Dard remains […]
Eurovision 2016: Amir Haddad will represent France with “I searched” sang in both French and English
It’s confirmed. Amir Haddad will represent France at the Eurovision song contest 2016 on May 14 in Stockholm with the song I searched . This was revealed Monday on Europe 1 Nathalie André, director of France 2’s entertainment division. “A very strong title” Since last June, France 2 had gone in search of the French candidate […]
Teachers protest against academy plan
Teachers’ unions are staging rallies against the government’s plan to force all schools in England to become academies. The National Union of Teachers has organised protest rallies in London, Birmingham, Newcastle and other cities. Kevin Courtney of the NUT said the academy plan was a “disaster for education and local democracy”. The Department for Education […]
Did you know that…? ‘Easter in the UK’
Easter in the UK In the UK Easter is one of the major Christian festivals of the year. It is full of customs, folklore and traditional food. However, Easter in Britain has its beginnings long before the arrival of Christianity. Many theologians believe Easter itself is named after the Anglo-Saxon goddess of the dawn and […]
St Patrick’s day: what do we celebrate and how?
Every year, millions of people wear ginger wigs, green jackets and shamrock-adorned top hats. They then crowd into bars across the world, where they down pints of Guinness from as early as 9 or 10am. They do so to mark St Patrick’s Day , an annual event that celebrates the heritage and culture of the […]
‘Soldes’: the Massive Annual French Sales
It’s shocking for Americans, but in France the dates when stores can have a big sale are regulated by law. The annual Winter Sales ‘Soldes d’Hiver’ and Summer Sales ‘Soldes d’Ete’ are the only two times a year when French shops are legally allowed to sell items for less than cost and use the word ‘Sale’ […]
End of the circumflex? Changes in French spelling cause uproar
Suggested new spellings for more than 2,000 French words have sparked controversy. The Academie Francaise proposed changes in 1990, including the deletion of the circumflex accent (ˆ) and hyphens in some words, but they were optional. Now publishers say they will include the new spellings in schoolbooks. France’s education minister has said the changes will […]
Did you know that… “The Battle of Hastings”
Le 14 octobre 1066, Guillaume le Conquérant, Duc de Normandie, écrasait l’armée anglo-saxonne et le roi Harold à Hastings et s’emparait de la couronne d’Angleterre. Comment et pourquoi un duc normand a-t-il décidé et réussi une telle prouesse ? Guillaume, 7ème duc de Normandie, est un descendant direct de Rollon, qui fut le fondateur du […]