La Belle Vie is our regular look at the real culture of France – from language to cuisine, manners to films. This newsletter is published weekly and you can receive it directly to your inbox, by going to your newsletter preferences in “My account”.
In France, la rentrée might technically translate as ‘re-entry’ or ‘return’, but it has a very significant meaning. It refers to the moment of the year when schools start again, politicians return to the spotlight and people go back to work.
With everyone returning to the office, you’ll notice your email inbox filling up again, as people start replying to the messages they missed while on holiday.
While the return in September is a big deal, la rentrée is just one of the many seasons in the French calendar.
La rentrée to Bals des pompiers: The 25 ‘seasons’ in a French year
The next season after la rentrée is an outdoorsy one – time to get outside and forage for some mushrooms.
One of my favourite facts about France is that all French pharmacists receive training in mycology – or the study of fungi, which means they are qualified to tell you whether a mushroom is toxic or not.
This will certainly help prevent any unforeseen disasters when cooking your next gratin de champignons.
What you need to know as France’s mushroom foraging season kicks off
While not officially a part of The Local’s 25 French seasons, the ‘Heritage days’ (Journées du Patrimoine) are another important moment in the year. There are events across the city, in both small towns and big cities.
This year, I plan on finally visiting the Elysée Palace, which is normally closed to visitors. Be forewarned – tickets may be free, but you do have to reserve well in advance (I learned this the hard way last year).
12 places to visit on France’s 2024 Heritage Days
If ‘Heritage Days’ do not sound appealing to you, there are plenty of other autumn festival and events to enjoy – from film festivals to antique markets and grape harvests.
Mark your calendars!
Festivals and events: What’s on in France this autumn 2024?
The month of September is a time when I start to notice a bit more English spoken on the streets of Paris, likely due to the influx of foreign international students studying in France.
Conspicuously, the expensive capital city did not make the top 10 list for ‘best cities in France for students’, but I was not surprised when I saw which town ranked number 1.
REVEALED: The best cities in France for students
And finally, moving to France comes with its share of culture shocks for all foreigners. As a student, a lot of that is adjusting to the French style of teaching and the long hours spent in the classroom.
That said, I found French higher education to be a great stepping stone for French bureaucracy at large.
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