daily life in france

This site has plenty of information about destinations, about we the French (and our foibles), and about our history and culture. But sometimes there are things that don't anywhere else but that are a part of everyday life here: this is where you'll find them.

Going to the market

Even the smallest towns in France have a weekly market, and while we often go to the supermarket, we haven't lost our market habit. I have two markets a week in my town: I go to one for my fish, and to the other for my cheese.

We also have a passion for flea markets, and can spend many a Sunday in summer rummaging through these semi-professional stands.

Made in France

France is very proud of its know-how, whether handicrafts or technology, and real trade and artistry is often protected by laws.

• Made In France: Creations, Crafts And Creativity
• The Art Of Shopping In France Like An Artiste
  
• Best Of France Know-How And Ingenuity

Leisure

• Wellness In France: How To Choose The Perfect French Spa Stay
• The Best Books About France You'll Ever Read

Weird things

• 19 Weird French Laws Thought Bizarre Even In France
• 24 Weird French Foods We Still Love In France

Language and Pronunciation

• How To Say Breakfast In French (And Other Yummy Phrases)
• 12 Polite Ways To Ask For The Bathroom in French [+Audio]
• Loire Pronunciation And Other Loire-Related Things To Confuse You

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Bonjour! I’m Leyla! I was born in Paris and now live in the bucolic mountain foothills of Eastern France between Lyon and Annecy. 

I'm rediscovering my own back yard after years of living abroad in Canada, Spain and Switzerland as a journalist and a diplomat － and I'm loving every minute.

Passionate about history and culture, I’ve created Offbeat France to seek out my country’s mysteries and legends, less-traveled destinations, along with plenty of food stops and many castles － I am French, after all!

Read more!

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