Lourdes floods
Lourdes under flood waters in 2012. Photo: Laurent Dard/AFP
The historic Catholic pilgrimage site of Lourdes in south west France was evacuated on Tuesday after flash floods hit the area. Management at the shrine have told The Local they are growing increasingly concerned as waters continue to rise.
READ () »
An American tourist was stopped between Montauban and Cahors in south-western France for cycling on the A20 motorway next to cars travelling at 130 km/h. File photo: Shirokazan/Flickr
Any foreigner in France can feel out of place sometimes, but one American tourist seems to have been unconcerned after he was stopped by police in southwestern France for cycling on a motorway, as drivers zoomed past at 130 km/h.
READ () »
A nationwide strike by French railworkers has caused significant disruption to national, regional, Intercity and suburban Paris train traffic. File photo: Bertrand Guay/AFP
Just hours after a nationwide airport strike which caused up to 75 percent of flights to be cancelled, travelers and commuters in France have been hit with a strike by railworkers, which is set to cause disruption until Friday morning.
READ () »
Air and rail travelers in and out of France can expect plenty of waiting on cancelled flights and trains this week, as strikes continued on June 12th. File photo: Carl Court/AFP
As French airport strikes enter their second day, up to 75 percent of flights are being cancelled, with officials also predicting widespread delays on Wednesday. Rail strikes (see details below) are also set to begin at 7pm.
READ () »
Air and rail travelers in and out of France can expect plenty of waiting on cancelled flights and trains this week, as strikes began on June 11th. File photo: Carl Court/AFP
France is bracing itself for possible travel chaos this week, as airport and rail workers prepare to go on strike, starting from Tuesday. Up to half of all flights from certain French airports have been cancelled on Tuesday.
READ () »
A tornado looms over the Marina Baie des Anges in the southern French city of Nice on June 9th. Photo: Valery Hache/AFP
Residents and holidaymakers on the Côte d'Azur – France’s Mediterranean south coast – got a big surprise when they looked out their window, after tornados appeared on the horizon for a few hours (see video), it was reported on Monday.
READ () »
File photo of an Air France A380 at Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris. Photo: mariordo59/Flickr
Air passengers face possible flight cancellations from Tuesday onward across France, as trade unions in several EU countries call a partial strike to protest moves by the European Commission to deregulate the aviation sector.
READ () »
Photos: Rie H / Bruce Fingerhood
Imagine the scene – you roll up in your Cadillac convertible, and slurp on a milkshake as the credits start. This is not 1950s America, but a plan to transform Paris’ famous Grand Palais into a drive-in cinema, starting on Monday.
READ () »
File photo of holidaymakers on the Côte d'Azur. Photo: Nicolas Beaumont
Anyone stuck in a big city this summer, suffering through the heat and smog, should check out this year's Pavillon Bleu map, published on Friday. The interactive map (below) helps users find France's cleanest and greenest beaches.
READ () »
Photo: Denis Charlet/AFP
Eurotunnel, the company which runs the Channel Tunnel between the UK and France, is to be stopped from running ferries from Dover to Calais. Their takeover of a French firm could increase consumer prices, a UK watchdog found on Thursday.
READ () »
Do you know where this is? French TV viewers just gave it the title of 'France's favourite village' for 2013. Photo: Russ Bowling
French TV viewers have voted. “France’s favourite village” for 2013 isn't in the sunny climes of the Cote d’Azur, or the picturesque French Alps. It’s tiny, it makes great wine, and you may not have heard of it. And the winner is…
READ () »
Photo: Saturne/Flickr
Trains from Paris Saint-Lazare train station, one of the capital's major transport hubs, were still facing disruption on Wednesday morning after a work stoppage by SNCF train staff over safety concerns, after an earlier attack on a colleague.
READ () »
If you do the crime you must pay the fine... from now on. Photo: Ludovic/Flickr
Have you been flashed by a speed camera in France but never received the fine? You should count yourselves lucky because after a vote in the French Senate this week, next time you break the speed limit you might not be so fortunate.
READ () »
Struggling to know what to do this weekend? Well, summer is officially here so why not head to the ski slopes of the French Pyrénées? Yes, believe it or not a French ski station is reopening its doors to make the most of the unseasonal snow.
READ () »
Ten Tips - Pickpockets
Thieves love "the overcrowded Paris Metro, where pushing, shoving, stumbling and chaos of every variety are always just around the corner." File photo: Thomas Ulrich
You might be a seasoned pro on the Paris Metro, or just visiting for a few days. Either way, you will need to watch out for ingenious pickpockets working the French capital’s underground rail network. Here's a guide on how to avoid being robbed.
READ () »
.jpg&mode=resize&size=300x200)
