France's Favourite Village 2025: when and how to tune in We look at the shortlist of 14 villages vying to win the title in today's (July 2) television announcement
Neighbour takes couple to court over cockerel noise disturbance The case is the latest in a long line of objections over cockerels, and reignites the rural-urban debate
Help clear France鈥檚 rural footpaths in national drive to preserve access The often-neglected chemins ruraux are a key part of countryside heritage
news Plan for giant chicken farm divides residents and farmers in France Critics say the plan is 鈥榮ocial and ecological nonsense鈥� but proponents say it will boost French chicken production
Helicopter rescues hiker in Alps after 鈥榩atou鈥� dogs attack The woman was rescued after calling the police and taking refuge in a tree
鈥楾raumatised鈥�: Patou dogs attack puppy and owner in car park in Alps 鈥楳y dog was on a lead,鈥� says the man. The farmer who owns the two Patous says the guard dogs may have been overwhelmed by the soaring numbers of visiting tourists
Cockerels, farms smells: new law protects country habits in France It comes after multiple complaints from new residents about countryside 鈥榙isturbances鈥�
Do you agree? Paris politicians ignore rural France at their peril Rural voters are looking for leaders outside the Paris bubble who will protect village life, says columnist Nick Inman
PHOTOS: Villages selected for new 鈥榝avourite in France鈥� title The public is invited to vote for their favourite on the shortlist in the 12th annual TV contest
The five best places to live in France, according to new ranking The ranking used a vast array of data and criteria to sort more than 34,900 towns nationwide
Cockerel in French village must leave as it crows too loudly 鈥楬e鈥檚 just doing his job as a rooster!鈥� claims the bird鈥檚 owner but neighbours say they cannot sleep
French hunters and cyclists agree to share land after 15-year debate The two groups have created a rota for use of a 1,000 hectare area in the south
Orange to offer French satellite internet service 鈥榯o rival Starlink鈥� It will be aimed mainly at people living in remote areas who cannot otherwise access high-speed internet. Rates will be 鈧�49.99 a month
Call for action over disappearance of rural footpaths in France Campaigners say the paths are part of France鈥檚 heritage but are are at risk from farmers, residents and developers
鈥楬unting in France has changed over the years 鈥� not for the better鈥� Bigger, more aggressive groups and breaches of no-hunting zones are among the main concerns for our reader
French crowing cockerel owner in court after neighbour鈥檚 complaint The resident's holiday home neighbour said that the noise causes him 鈥榬eal suffering鈥�, in the latest in a series of similar complaints
Hunter, 17, questioned after woman shot dead on walking path in France The 25-year-old deceased woman was hiking with her partner when she was hit. The incident has been strongly condemned by a minister and the French hunting federation president
Is noisy barking now legal as part of French countryside 鈥榟eritage鈥�? The new law aims to protect the smells and sounds ('sensory') of the countryside, so an issue of persistent barking would still be considered as before
鈥楬unters should help police rural issues in France鈥� says hunting boss The comments come as recent high-profile accidents have reignited the debate over hunting rules, and some authorities call for more regulation and hunting-free days
French housing minister sparks debate over future of detached houses Emmanuelle Wargon described detached houses with gardens as being an unsustainable model, despite a survey finding that 75% of people in France dream of living in just such houses
Rural France: Success for mobile vans offering crucial services Fleets of mobile fruit and veg sellers, dog groomers and doctors are becoming increasingly common in France, as entrepreneurs flock to remote and rural areas
Villages in France fed up with weak signal install their own internet Locals have found their own solution to combat the digital divide that means many parts of the French countryside are network dead zones
Tarn: France鈥檚 鈥榣ittle Tuscany鈥� in demand among domestic holidaymakers Three other Occitanie departments were also included in an Airbnb list of trending summer destinations, reflecting a growing preference for holidays in the countryside in favour of city breaks
Mont Ventoux: Tour de France 2021 climbs the 'Bald Giant' today As the riders prepare to summit the infamous peak, we explore its history and other ways to visit the redoubtable region
Traps along mountain and country paths in France on the rise Bikers and walkers should be aware of traps including wires strung across mountain bike and rural paths, or upturned nails hidden along popular routes, gendarmerie warn
Rural mayors raise alarm over French medical deserts A study has shown that the number of administrative districts without a doctor in France rose by 62% between 2010-17
Cockerel killer: New court case on countryside noise begins The alleged killer of Marcel the cockerel is to appear in court today as the owner joins fight for legal heritage of 鈥榗ountryside sounds and smells鈥�
New enquiry opens into horse mutilation in France The national police has given an update on its investigations into the incidents as another horse is attacked
Traps on French forest paths endanger bikers and walkers Cables tied across pathways and hidden planks spiked with nails are causing serious injury and even death for bikers and walkers in the French countryside
Brittany: Homebuyers sign contracts accepting country life A new clause in contracts for homebuyers in Morbihan confirms they will accept the sights, sounds and smells of country life
French village installs 鈥榗ountryside sounds鈥� sign The sign, reading 鈥楤eware, you are in the countryside鈥� has been installed in the village square, and references sounds such as cow bells, cockerel crowing, and church bells.
New French study finds 32 toxic pesticides in the air A new study into pesticides found in the air in France has identified 75 different substances, including 32 deemed to be 鈥渁 priority [to investigate]鈥� due to their potential toxicity and links to cancer and endocrine conditions.
Brigitte Bardot demands right to keep wild boar as a pet French actress and animal welfare campaigner Brigitte Bardot is calling on authorities in southwest France to allow a woman to keep a wild boar as a pet. After officials refused permission the boar now risks euthanasia.
Rural French property prices to rise post-lockdown? Ever keen to spot a bargain, buyers were keeping a close eye on the property market during confinement. Many are expecting a post-lockdown dip in prices and are prepared to wait to get a better deal.
French departments give 鈧�1m in summer tourist vouchers Two departments in France have proposed giving away up to 鈧�1 million in 鈧�100 vouchers this summer, in a bid to encourage visits to the area and revitalise the local economy.
French farmers protest over no-go zones for pesticide Protesting farmers are demanding the withdrawal of a new law which lays down obligatory no-pesticide zones near housing to avoid contamination.
Trump wine taxes threaten 100,000 jobs in France At least 100,000 jobs in France could be at risk as the 25% import taxes imposed on French wine by US President Donald Trump continue to affect the industry, wine industry experts have said.
MPs plan to protect France's rural noises and smells Bill to be heard this week would make rural sounds and aromas part of the 'sensory heritage of the countryside'
Farmers from across France blockade roads in protest Farmers across France have come together in tractors to block roads into Paris and other major cities to protest against poor economic and social conditions in the farming community.
French court fines farmer 鈧�8,000 over cow farm stench A farmer in central France has been ordered to pay 鈧�8,000 after neighbours complained about the intense and 鈥渦nbearable鈥� smell of his cow farm.
Open 1,000 caf茅s and kick-start rural life in France Mayors of France鈥檚 32,221 small communes are being challenged to join a 鈧�200million bid to open 1,000 rural caf茅s and revive village life.
Plans to help with rural transport in France Airships, car-sharing apps and improved rail services are all part of plans to improve transport in rural areas.
Rural France still 鈥榮uffers from bad public transport鈥� Rural areas in France are still suffering from poor public transport links, MPs have said this week as a report on the subject appears to confirm their complaints.
鈥楽creams for help鈥� in French town actually a cockerel A French resident in Indre-et-Loire called the gendarmerie at dawn this week after hearing 鈥渟creams for help鈥�...but the noise was in fact the crowing of a nearby cockerel.
Another French cockerel owner fights noise ruling Three weeks after Maurice won France鈥檚 heart, the owner of another noisy cockerel has launched a petition to be allowed to keep his bird, despite a court ruling that it needs to go.
French mayor hits back at 鈥榖ee pollen鈥� complaints A French mayor is the latest to become exasperated over complaints by new residents to the countryside, after receiving reports of 鈥渢oo much bee pollen鈥�.
One-stop office is reply to rural France鈥檚 fears New one-stop offices are to be set up in rural and isolated city locations to give people easier access to government services.
Famous French countryside cockerel gathers support Maurice, the most famous cockerel in France - who has become a symbol of the struggle between rural and urban living - will be supported by several other cockerels during his trial this Thursday (July 4).
'Give French countryside sounds protected status' Mayor calls on MPs to make sounds of the French countryside to be listed as part of the country's 'national heritage'
France homeowners warned on forest fire land clearing Homeowners in France are reminded that in some regions and for certain properties, it is a legal requirement to carry out a 鈥渂rush clearing鈥� of surrounding countryside land, to help prevent forest fires.
French dog owners ordered to pay for horse accident The owners of two dogs that inadvertently caused a serious horse-riding accident have been deemed responsible, and ordered to pay 鈧�815,000 in compensation and costs, a French court has ruled.
Remote Breton island seeks organic dairy farmer The Breton island l鈥櫭巐e d'Ouessant (Ushant), which has 800 inhabitants, is seeking a dairy farmer to produce organic milk on the island.
French town: Mushroom pickers must wear high-vis vests A commune in the Savoie has made it mandatory for mushroom pickers to wear fluorescent jackets while out picking, in a bid to 鈥渂e seen and avoid accidents鈥� during hunting season.
Country life 鈥榠deal鈥� but... One in four 麻豆传媒映画 (81%) think country living is the 鈥渋deal life鈥�, a new survey shows. This is despite 46% saying the top factor they link to it is 鈥渟ocio-economic difficulties鈥�.
Who lets their dogs out in rural France? My wife and I have lived happily in rural France for the past 14 years, but the only thing that has detracted from our enjoyment is dogs, or to be more precise, owners of dogs who allow their animals to roam freely, including on the public highway.
Bell moaners are real pain RE: Your online article about the Parisian holidaymakers who complained about nearby church bells ringing at 7am ( French g卯te renters demand time change for church bell ) 鈥� what a bunch of prissy pains they are!
"The traditional rural way of life has thinned out" Author Adam Thorpe speaks to Jane Hanks about French country life and the expat experience
New campaign to boost rural hotels and restaurants A new national campaign has been launched to boost the rural hotel and restaurant industry, and bring new auberge-style 鈥渕ulti-service inns鈥� to country towns with fewer than 2,000 inhabitants.
Photo of the month: April Every month we will be sharing a photograph of a place in France. This month we take a look at the Abbaye de S茅nanque in Vaucluse, Provence.
Take Santa, Christian Christmas and add pagan ritual Dr Tim Blakemore, a former senior law lecturer at the University of Northampton, finds some magic in the air and water of modern-day France where he now lives
Nature parks mark 50th birthday Idea has spread round the world with Chinese asking for advice on protecting natural heritage
