Host Ben McPartland is joined by The Local France's Emma Pearson, Genevieve Mansfield and politics expert John Lichfield to discuss what's going on in France.
This week, our team begins with French President Emmanuel Macron's plans to fix up the Louvre, from more expensive tickets for non-EU visitors to a new room for Mona Lisa, after a leaked letter from the museum's director lamented the crowds and the 'very degraded' parts of the museum.
We also get to the bottom of why the Mona Lisa is so famous in the first place.
Talking France is a free podcast produced by The Local - you can find it on Spotify or Apple, download it here or listen on the link below
Following an announcement from the mayor of Nice about banning cruise ships in the southern French city, we give you an idea of whether or not France could take more steps to restrict cruise ships, plus whether or not they really benefit France.
Then, our Talking France team explains why France is shutting the internet off - or rather the the old ADSL (broadband connection) network. As the country inches closer to being 100 percent fibre-optic, we discuss the state of the internet in France.
On the topic of technology, we also help you understand a strange quirk of French law that means you could get a fine and points on your licence, just for trying to use your phone to pay at a French motorway toll booth.
And finally, we help to answer a key question every foreigner in France is wondering: who decides whether French words are masculine or feminine?
Talking France is a free podcast made possible thanks to the support of paying members of The Local - if you would like to support us by subscribing you can find out more here. You can also help us by spreading the word on social media or just telling your friends and family about us.
Extra reading
- France to raise price of Louvre tickets for non-EU visitors
- Explained: Will other French museums follow the Louvre in charging more to non-EU visitors?
- Is France moving towards a ban on cruise ships?
- Calendar: France begins work to disconnect ADSL internet cables
- Macron responds to French driver fined for using phone to pay at tollbooth
- French grammar tips: Guessing the gender of nouns
Comments