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LIVING IN FRANCE

Real estate, e-scooters and food shopping: 6 essential articles for life in France

The reality of the holiday travel delays between UK and France; what Americans need to know about buying a property in France; where food is more expensive; the truth about Marseille; and e-scooter rules in the capital. Here's our pick of 6 essential articles from The Local.

Real estate, e-scooters and food shopping: 6 essential articles for life in France
The Vieux-Port of Marseille. (Photo by Ludovic MARIN / AFP)

The usual food, drink, family gatherings and egg hunts all feature at Easter in France. But you should probably expect some more unusual traditions, too….

Flying bells and giant omelettes: Eight ways the French celebrate Easter

Once again a busy holiday period has seen long queues in the UK port of Dover as British visitors attempt to travel to France – so what is causing this and is there any prospect of things getting better?

Is Brexit to blame for UK-France travel delays and will it affect every holiday?

For many Americans looking to buy a place in France, the French property buying system comes as a shock. In contrast to the US system of having a realtor who guides you through the entire process, in France – as in most of Europe – buyers are expected to do much of the house-hunting work themselves. Here’s our guide to how the French system works and some tips for American buyers.

Reader Question: Can I find an American-style real estate agent in France?

France has kept its overall inflation rate low by government-sponsored measures such as capping the domestic electricity and gas bills, but this rate hides a larger increase in food prices.

MAP: The cheapest and most expensive places to buy food in France

After another spate of drug-related homicides in Marseille, many are wondering how dangerous France’s port city on the Mediterranean really is.

Does the French city of Marseille deserve its ‘dangerous’ reputation?

Free-floating e-scooters are on their way out in Paris, after participants in the city’s referendum voted overwhelmingly to get rid of them, the city’s mayor, Anne Hidalgo, announced. But does that mean no more e-scooters in the capital? Well, it’s complicated… 

EXPLAINED: What are the rules on e-scooters in Paris now?

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LIVING IN FRANCE

Préfectures, property and Euro 2024: Essential articles for life in France

Buying a property, préfecture problems, buying and selling concert tickets, how and where to watch Euro 2024 action - plus of course what France's snap elections mean for foreigners in France - are all this week's must-reads from The Local.

Préfectures, property and Euro 2024: Essential articles for life in France

We don’t normally do politics here – the ‘Essentials’ newsletter is supposed to be practical and we usually leave that political sort of thing to editor Emma Pearson and her election bulletins.

But there are some things we can’t ignore. And one is that there’s a snap-election coming up, and there’s a possibility that Marine Len Pen’s far-right Rassemblement National party could do well. So – from visas to cartes de séjour and French language tests – here’s a look at some RN’s policies that could affect foreigners living in France, or hoping to move here someday.

What a far-right prime minister could mean for foreigners in France

There are several things to consider before buying property in France. You may want to visit the area during different seasons to be sure that you enjoy it rain or shine, and you will want to consider how much you would end up paying in property taxes, as well as whether or not it will be a main residence or second home.

And then, there are the extra hurdles for foreigners purchasing property here. Here’s a look at some of the restrictions and challenges you will want to be aware of beforehand.

What restrictions are there on foreigners buying property in France?

Many foreigners have experienced problems with their local préfecture – from long delays in processing applications to difficulty getting appointments and problems in making contact with préfecture staff.

If you’re a non-EU citizen living in France then you will need either a visa or a carte de séjour (residency permit) – and in the early years most people will need to regularly renew their cards – this means that you will have to interact with their local préfecture, or sous-préfecture. Here are a few tips to make the process a little easier on the blood pressure…

Top tips for dealing with delays or problems at your French préfecture

A football tournament kicked off on Friday – you may have heard something about it. From TV schedules to bars, cafés and fan zones, here are your options for watching all matches of the Euro 2024 football tournament in France.

How to watch the Euro 2024 tournament on TV in France

If you are buying or selling tickets to events such as concerts, matches or festivals in France, then there are some rules to be aware of, especially as the Olympic and Paralympic Games approach.

The rules for buying and selling tickets in France

From strike action to Olympic disruption, via ‘black days’ on the roads and the €49 rail pass, here’s a look ahead to what to expect if you’re travelling to, from or within France in summer 2024.

Travel to France: What to expect on roads, rails and airports this summer

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