The 40 years since four-year-old French boy Grégory Villemin died have been marked by revenge, dashed hopes, anonymous taunting phone calls, and mystery. With the case back in the headlines, we look at France's most haunting unsolved murder.
A specialty French cheese has provoked a cross-Atlantic row after US customs officials refused to allow almost a tonne of it into the country, citing concern over “allergies”.
For decades, the working summer in France has been an unforgettable expat ritual. But whether pulling pints, working with kids at a campsite, or picking grapes in the great outdoors, there are some perks and pitfalls to watch out for.
Former Budget Minister Jérôme Cahuzac's was jailed for three years on Thursday. Here is a look at how he became a political pariah in France after being charged with tax fraud and kicked out of the government in 2013.
The French are dangerously unprepared for the natural disasters that most of the country is exposed to, experts and surveys say. As it’s only a matter of time before France sees a repeat of deadly flooding, storms and forest fires, we look at where the dangers lie.
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.
Reality TV star Nabilla Benattia - the self-dubbed French Kim Kardashian - was arrested near Paris on Friday on suspicion of attempting to murder her boyfriend. Here's a closer look at the how the infamous Made in France star rose to prominence.
Have you made a New Year's resolution to see and do more in France? Or are you organizing your holidays already? The Local is on hand with these unmissable events and essential dates for your diary in 2014. What are you looking forward to in France this year?
Parts of the western region of Brittany were submerged under flood waters on Friday with the department of Finistère set to remain on red alert, the highest warning level, until Saturday. There are fears that high tide could make matters even worse.
One person died and 15 were injured after a cyclone packing winds of 150 kilometres (95 miles) an hour brushed by the French Indian Ocean island of Reunion, officials said on Friday. Parts of Brittany, meanwhile, have been hit by severe flooding.
Plenty of revellers around the world would have woken up in strange places on New Year’s Day, but at least they got to enjoy a night out first. Not so for one unlucky Frenchwoman who spent the entire evening stuck in a toilet.
Les Bleus just scraped through to this summer's World Cup in Brazil, but optimism is on the rise, thanks to a subtle change of direction on the team's new strip, which more superstitious fans will welcome.
Authorities in the southwestern French town of Montignac are investigating the extraordinary possibility that, just 4km from the famous Lascaux caves, there may exist another set of prehistoric paintings hidden away in a separate underground cavern.
Wednesday sees a raft of measures affecting the daily lives of French workers and home-owners. From buying stamps and cigarettes to VAT on cinema tickets, here’s our breakdown on what changes in 2014.
The last year was full of weird and wonderful stories from France, from revelations about women's underwear to naughty royalty and naked hikers. So as 2013 draws to a close, here's a countdown of the ten most popular stories from this year that you wouldn't want to miss.
French Interior Minister Manuel Valls on Tuesday announced the deployment of 89,000 police and emergency services personnel to keep order on the streets and roads of France amid what are expected to be raucous New Year’s Eve celebrations.
Between seeing the world through the eyes of an eagle, and watching the very first moments of life, we had some astonishing stuff to watch in France this year. Whether moving, shocking, or very, very funny, here are the Top 10 videos you watched most in 2013.
French footballer Nicolas Anelka's "quenelle" salute has been condemned as anti-Semitic, something he himself denied, saying it was just a gesture of support for French comedian Dieudonné. But who is the controversial comic who France now wants to ban?
2013 was a momentous year in France. We had scandal, war, national triumph, and tragedies at home and abroad, so as we turn the page on to 2014, The Local has picked out the 12 Biggest Stories of 2013 in France.
A motorist in southwestern France may be a late entrant for "understatement of the year", calling police on Thursday night to tell them he was “lost”, after driving drunk on train tracks for nearly two kilometres.
You can tell a politician is lying when he moves his lips, or so goes the old joke. But one election candidate in south-western France appears to have taken this literally, with a bizarre new campaign ad. See for yourself.
Christmas got off to a tragic start in a picturesque village in the south of France on Sunday, as an elderly man allegedly shot and killed his friend and neighbour, reportedly after an alcohol-fuelled argument over, of all things, Christmas decorations.
The French government was urged on Monday to overturn a ban on Muslim mothers wearing the Islamic veil while helping teachers on school trips. The move comes amid criticism of France's strict application of its secular principles.
Northwestern France is bracing for gusts of up to 140 km/h on Monday, after 14 departments in Brittany and surrounding regions were placed on orange alert for winds and flooding. See if you’re affected.
For the French this Christmas, it’s a case of “Merci, mais non merci”, with a new poll finding six out of 10 admit they would sell any unwanted gifts, especially from extended family and workmates. But which presents are most likely to be sold off?
