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LIVING IN FRANCE

Holidays, numbers, and taxes: Essential articles for life in France

From how to make the most of public holidays when planning your vacation time in 2024 to getting rid of your Christmas tree in France, oyster safety and the sweet treat that marks the end of the festivities in France, we cover a lot of ground in this week’s must-reads from The Local.

Published: 7 January 2024 08:16 CET
Holidays, numbers, and taxes: Essential articles for life in France
Careful planning could extend your holidays this year. (Photo by Pascal POCHARD-CASABIANCA / AFP)

The year 2024 is a good one for public holidays if you work in France – you can manage to have 40 days off (including weekends) by taking just 12 days of paid leave. Here’s how…

Jours fériés: How to maximise time off work in France in 2024

In fact, the beginning of the 2024 holiday planning season is a clear indication that Christmas is over. As the festive season draws to a close, here’s how to get rid of your Christmas tree and ensure that it is recycled.

How to dispose of your Christmas tree in France

And the end of the festivities mean something else that’s less enjoyable – looming tax deadlines. From paying property taxes to making the annual income tax declaration, here are the expected deadlines for 2024.

French tax calendar 2024: What are the deadlines for payment?

As we’re talking figures, here’s an article from the archives in which we attempt to explain French numbers – and why they will never change.

How did the French end up with their ‘crazy’ numbers?

Oysters have long been a staple of Christmas and New Year celebrations in France – but a serious health scare meant people have been warned off buying the delicacy in recent weeks. Are they safe to eat again?

EXPLAINED: Are French oysters safe to eat again?

More food-related writing to round off this week’s round-up. French families need little excuse to indulge themselves, and mark the end of the festive season by scoffing down a pastry fit for kings. Here’s the story of the Galette des Rois – a tart that can make you feel like royalty.

Why the Galette des Rois can’t be avoided in France

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LIVING IN FRANCE

Wildfires, mortgages, and the beach: 6 essential articles for life in France

Wildfire legislation for property-owners, must-visit beaches in the south-west, how digital health space Mon Espace works, how to get a French mortgage, and useful linguistic tics – The Local’s must-reads this week cover a lot of ground...

Published: 2 June 2024 06:26 CEST
Wildfires, mortgages, and the beach: 6 essential articles for life in France

It may be hard to believe, given the weather we’ve had recently, but it was the start of meteorological summer on Saturday. And forecasters, as far as they can, reckon we’re in for a hot summer in France. Parts of the country are highly susceptible to wildfires, and there are strict laws in place for property owners to minimise the risk to property. We explain those rules here.

Wildfire prevention: The legal obligations for French property owners

Speaking of summer, the impending holiday season brings with it a rush to France’s beaches. Unsurprisingly, some are better than others. The Local’s American in Paris Genevieve Mansfield has put together a list of must-visit and must-avoid plages in the south west of the country. 

The best (and worst) beaches in south-west France

Parisians, the 2024 Olympic Games are coming! You may have heard rumours of a little sporting event taking place in the capital this summer. It’s going to have an impact on the city’s public transport system, including – notably – ticket prices for the duration. Fortunately, we’ve got you covered with some ‘hacks’ (as the young kids say) to help you avoid the worst of the price hikes. But time’s running out…

How Paris residents can avoid public transport price hikes during 2024 Olympics

After a slow start, France has gone all-in on the digital world. It’s increasingly becoming easier to carry out a host of administrative tasks, from banking to applying for a driving licence from the comfort of home via your computer or smartphone. Here, we take a look at the online healthcare service Mon Espace Santé, which allows you to keep your medical information in one place and share information with your doctors.

Mon Espace Santé: France’s digital health service explained

France has fairly strict rules for those seeking a mortgage, including tight limits on minimum income and maximum loan length – here’s how it works.

French property: How to get a mortgage in France

You’ve probably already discovered that speaking to authentic French people in real-life everyday situations is nothing like as smooth as textbooks may have you believe. Conversations dive off at tangents, and are littered with verbal tics. Here, we explain what a few of them mean, and how you can use them to sound more authentically French and less like a stunned honour-roll student.

16 phrases to make your French sound more authentically local

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