Life in Rural France

There’s nothing quite like the pop of a champagne cork to set the tone for a celebration, is there? From the royal courts of France to the toasts of today’s weddings and grand openings, it is synonymous with the rich and famous.  But what makes Champagne, well, Champagne? How did a little bit of accidental chemistry create the world’s premier sparkling wine? Let’s dive in and reveal the fasci...

We all know that the French are famous for their food, but which are the best food festivals in France? There are lots of great food festivals in France. From truffles, onions and chillies to lemons, strawberries and cherries, the French celebrate them all. And why not?  Attending one of these food festivals is hands down the best way to experience the food culture, meet the local artisans, a...

How did Paris become the city of love? It’s known for being one of the most romantic cities in the world, but what is the true story behind it, and why is Paris the city of love? The French Romanticism art movement flourished here, the Bohemian writers of Montmartre wrote about tortured lovers, and there is even a Wall of Love, but is there more to it than that? You bet there is. There’s a whole h...

Looking for some more unusual places to add to your Paris bucket list that aren’t the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame or Louvre? Living in France, only a two-hour train ride from Paris, I’m there quite often and, each time I go, I discover a new hidden gem. From bookshops in 12th-century alleyways to teashops with views of the Seine River, there is so much to enjoy in Paris. However, if you only have a l...

Ever wondered how you can be a dedicated Francophile whilst living on the other side of the world in Australia, meet my second guest, Loulabelle of Loulabelle’s FrancoFiles She’s a rather special guest because she’s the host of another podcast with a show all about France. We’re doing a swap and guesting on each other’s podcast so we can both share our stories. Loulabelle is an Aussie who loves al...

France is renowned for its cuisine and French food, such as baguettes, croissants, and cheese, is synonymous with this country. But what about the famous food dishes in France? From the seafood dishes of Normandy and Brittany to the hearty casseroles of the Alsace region, every dish tells a story.  We all love to know the origins behind a dish and the French have plenty of stories to tell whe...

Ever wondered why there are so many boulangeries in France or how to order what you want without feeling out of place? Well, don’t worry, you aren’t alone, because so have I. When I first moved here, I was too scared to go into our local boulangerie because I had no idea what to ask for or what to do. It was confusing, not to mention scary, as they are always filled with French people who confiden...

Are you ready to embrace your own version of escape to the Chateau? I hope so because, in today’s episode, we’re going on a virtual tour of the magical world of Chateaux in the Charente region of France. These stunning castles are straight out of a fairytale. You’ll feel like you’re stepping into the pages of a ladybird book and writing your own historic tale, the one where you’re the hero or hero...

This week I'm chatting with the lovely Emily Willetts, a British Expat living in France who is now living her best French life helping run a Cognac estate in the Charente department. From working in the vines to marketing Pierre Lecat Cognac Emily appears to have the dream job. She speaks fluent French and spends her days in the beautiful Poitou-Charente countryside, but is it all it’s cracked up...

Ever wondered if all you’ve read about Marie Antoinette is true? Did she really say "Let Them Eat Cake" and was she indeed the fashion-obsessed woman we've been led to believe she was? So much has been written about the last Queen of France, some of it true, some of it not. And many of the facts about Marie Antoinette aren’t what you’d expect. For all the details and facts on the last Queen of Fra...

If you’ve ever thought about moving to France and living the French dream, you’ll love today’s episode, as that’s exactly what I did in 2016, and I’m about to tell you the whole story. You’ll hear about how hubby and I finally found our dream home, the trials and tribulations of renovating an old French farmhouse and learning to speak French.  Not to mention the real-life history we discovere...

Wondering whether moving to rural France is for you and what some of the pitfalls might be? Well as someone who did just that and left a busy life in the UK in exchange for a life in the country, I'm sharing some of the pros and cons of living the French dream. Most people imagine spending their days drinking great wine, eating amazing cheese and buying fresh croissants every day. Now, whilst ther...

It’s no secret that movies play a big part in where we want to spend our vacations. They inspire us, take us out of ourselves and have us dreaming about visiting the locations we’ve seen in films and on TV. And France has had its fair share of those Hollywood moments over the years, and more recently with TV shows such as Emily in France. But which are the top destinations to visit in France if yo...

The French countryside is full of hidden gems, which unless you know the area, you’d probably never find. The Charente is in the South West of France and very much part of the rural French countryside. So many of the little country villages in this region date back a thousand years or more. Their colourful history takes you through the centuries and allows you to imagine life in medieval France.&n...

Ready to find out more about France with some fun facts? I hope so because one of my favourite things about living in France is discovering the facts, stories and traditions they have. And there are plenty of interesting facts about France to keep me occupied. The French are a superstitious lot and have some of the most random and bizarre superstitions, such as wearing clothes on Friday bringing b...

This short trailer episode will whet your appetite for what's to come on this podcast. Find out what we'll be talking about, how often we'll be releasing our episodes and exactly what you can expect from a French Travel Podcast. I’m Kylie Lang, owner of Life in Rural France, a travel blog dedicated to helping others explore & discover all that France has to offer. On the blog, you’ll discover...