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LIVING IN FRANCE

Wildfire rules, digital ID and retirement: 6 essential articles for life in France

Rules you need to know if you life in a wildfire-risk area of France, the practicalities of the semi-retirement gîte dream, how to get your digital ID, driving regulations and the history of the uniquely French “chanson” style of music - your latest must-reads from The Local

Published: 23 April 2023 08:50 CEST
Wildfire rules, digital ID and retirement: 6 essential articles for life in France
The climate crisis is increasing the wildfire risk in France. (Photo by PHILIPPE LOPEZ / AFP)

As wildfires become more of a risk across France during the summer months, the government is reminding property owners of their legal obligations to complete certain fire-prevention works.

Wildfire prevention: The legal obligations for French property owners

For many who are ready to give up the day job but want to remain active (and earn some money), “retiring” to France and opening up a gîte, B&B or similar holiday rental has long been a popular option.

But Brexit has made this more difficult for Brits. Here’s our guide to the options for people moving to France and those already in France – whether they are EU or non-EU citizens.

Reader question: Can I retire to France and open a gîte?

Ah, bureaucracy. Can’t live in France without it … and, that’s about it, really. These days, when using France’s many and varied administration services, you are increasingly likely to be asked for your Identité numérique – here’s how this digital ID system works and who can use it.

Identité numérique: What is the new French digital ID and do you need one?

French drivers don’t exactly have the best reputation, and the government’s plan to cut the penalties for low-level speeding offences probably won’t help, but that doesn’t mean that there are no rules in place on the roads in France.

Here’s a guide to driving offences and how many points they will cost you if you have a French licence.

Driving in France: What are the offences that cost you penalty points on your French licence?

We wrote about the realities of living in Paris last week – with its cafés and rats, and its own personal city slicker syndrome – so it seemed only fair to delve into life in smaller French towns and villages and their beautiful countryside, plentiful and cheap wine, and quaint markets … though there are some negatives you need to prepare for.

Dodgy internet but great neighbours: What it’s really like living in small-town France

French popular music frequently gets a bad press – and with some justification. But there are some giants of a very particular niche genre that you probably know about without even knowing about it. Here, then, is the history and legacy of an oh-so French artform.

Chanson française: 5 things to know about classic French music

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LIVING IN FRANCE

5 tips to have the best possible night at France’s Fête de la musique

It can be the most fun day of the year - when France goes music crazy and bands suddenly appear on every street corner - but there are some tips to make your Fête de la musique experience as good as it can possibly be.

Published: 24 June 2024 11:26 CEST
5 tips to have the best possible night at France's Fête de la musique

First, a caveat – this is an entirely personal manifesto based on the things that I have enjoyed over my Fête de la Musique outings over the years. It’s not intended as any kind of hard-and-fast rule and plenty of people will have different experiences.

Feel free to disagree and/or share your festival tips in the comments section below!

1 Ignore the big-name artists

There are always a few big-name artists or concerts in major venues on the Fête de la musique (which happens every year on June 21st).

Ignore them. Sure, stadiums gigs can be great and huge venues can have a wonderful atmosphere – but you can do that any night of the year. It’s not what Fête de la musique is about.

The true spirit of the Fête is the smaller acts who play on street corners, in bars and community venues. They’re free, you can wander between them and stay as long as you like – and there is always something else around the corner.

2 Ignore the big towns

You might think that the big cities have the best music, but if you have the choice, go for a small town or a suburb.

I’ve enjoyed some good Fêtes in Paris, but the best experiences had have been smaller towns or the Paris’ suburbs (Montreuil is good – a commune that carefully cultivates a small-town / village vibe, albeit a very diverse small town where everyone is a hippy, a leftist, or both).

It’s partly a practicality thing – in big cities the acts are spread out and you have to make plans to see something and meet up with friends. In small towns, you just wander along to the main square, then when you’ve seen the acts there, you can saunter up the side streets, each of which will have dozens of bands playing, pausing only to grab a beer and snacks.

But it’s also the vibe; in big cities you can hear good live music all the time and the population is consequently complacent – small towns truly appreciate the Fête de la musique and properly go wild.

Once, in Paris, I was watching a blues band play in the street when a woman tipped water on their heads from her apartment window because she was tired and wanted to go to sleep. Small towns appreciate it when bands play for them.

3 Experiment

There’s a lot of variety on the night, so take advantage – this is your opportunity to hear all kinds of live music from rock to swing, jazz to classical, choirs to DJs.

Didn’t think that a five-piece oud band is your thing? Fête de la musique may change your mind. It’s the night of the year when anything goes, musically, so it’s also the night to try something new.

If you hate it – well it’s free and there’s another band down the street that might be more your thing. But you might discover a lifetime passion for oud music – in fact, by this time next year you might be playing in the oud band. Thanks to the Fête de la musique.

4 Don’t insist on quality

You’ll hear some great bands, but you’ll also hear some that are more about enthusiasm – and that’s all part of the fun.

You’re going to be hearing everything from classic rock to reggae to blues to the above-mentioned five-piece oud band, and as well as the styles the quality may be variable to.

For me, the true spirit of Fête de la musique is the 50-year-old accountant rocking out on his guitar and enjoying the one night of the year when he can dream that if only he hadn’t given up on his high school band, he could now be rich, famous and selling out stadiums, as opposed to filing tax declarations in an office above the florist.

5 Dress comfortably

Some people like to dress up for the Fête and that’s great – it’s a party after all – but the key thing is to wear something that is comfortable and allows you to shake your stuff.

Yes, you will be dancing – you’ll be dancing on street corners, in parks, cafés and perhaps on street furniture if things really get going, and you’ll be dancing with kids, dapper 70-year-old gents and everyone in between.

You need comfortable shoes and clothes that you can really move in.

Dance like no-one is watching. They may be watching, but they won’t be judging. Much. It’s Fête de la musique.

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