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Bill O'Such photography of Paris

Have you ever noticed these photographs on the Alliance Francaise's walls? Inspired by Bresson, Bill's passion is street photography but also interesting angles of Paris and other cities!

Visit New Caledonia 2

Are you a traveller searching for piece and calm and quietness? Are you tired of the hustle and bustle of the city life? New Caledonia is a heavenly paradise, still quite undiscovered by hoards of tourists, offering gorgeous beaches, rich culture and history and many remote islands.

Six Women in the Paris Panthéon

“To its great men, the grateful fatherland, ” says the inscription at the entrance of the Panthéon in Paris, a magnificent mausoleum honoring many heroes of French history, including Jean Jacques Rousseau, Victor Hugo or Voltaire. Only six of them are heroines though. Let’s uncover who these exceptional women were and what their stories that keep inspiring until today are. 

Aligot

This one is definitely a winter recipe! Aligot is a dish traditionally made in the south of Auvergne from melted Tomme cheese blended into mashed potatoes, often with garlic!

Canadian National Parks

Are you a nature lover? Turquoise lakes, magnificent mountains, never-ending views? If yes, you have to visit Canada and its nationals parks. With over 17.2 million square foot of protected natural land, Canada was the first country in the world that established a national park service!

Crêpes

Every year in February, France observes La Chandeleur, (Candlemas in English). The day is dedicated to eating crêpes, so here is our favourite recipe!

One day in Lyon

UNESCO World Heritage sites, dynamic university, vibrant atmosphere, cobblestone streets, rich culture and history: Lyon, France’s third largest city, has so much to offer!

Parmentier de confit de canard

A real comfort food recipe! This shredded duck confit, topped by puréed potatoes is a must-try dish! 

Marie Curie: First woman to win Nobel Prize

Maria Curie is one of the most important and celebrated scientists not only of the 20th century, but of all time. Curie made noteworthy discoveries in the field of chemistry, physics and medicine with far-reaching influence up to this day.

Ratatouille

Ratatouille is a bright, thick summer vegetable dish, rich in olive oil, a vegetable dish from the south of France, particularly from the Nice region. It’s perfect to bring some summer vibes to this cold weather.

Visit Martinique: Six tips for what to do

Happy January! Wherever you happen to be celebrating the beginning of 2023, today we will take you to a nice and warm island of Martinique, one of the French Overseas Departments located in the Caribbean Sea.

Moelleux au chocolat

An easy recipe for a delicious French style moelleux au chocolat (also called molten chocolate cake), with liquid chocolate inside that runs out when cut... Miam!

Biscuits de Noël

In France too we have Christmas cookies! These are very popular in the Christmas markets in Europe. With a good taste of cinnamon, simple and easy to make, they will delight the whole family for the festivities!

Croque aux figues

A recipe inspired by the famous croque-monsieur, revisited for Christmas!

Four French Christmas traditions that might surprise you!

The holiday season is officially upon us! Today, let’s have a look at how French celebrate Christmas and what are their not so well known traditions during this holiday... Let’s uncover some of the differences between French Christmas and Christmas in other countries! 

Brioche praline roses

This dessert bread, topped with red pralines, is an iconic recipe from Lyon, France. It was made famous by baker Auguste Pralus in 1955!

Recit de voyages - Notre automne ibérique avec des extras !

Follow Susie and John's travel adventures, while improving your French! 

Cocktail clementine spritz

This unique recipe made up of unique flavors that goes perfectly together will please the whole table for Christmas or New Year's Eve!

Pain d'epices

An old-fashioned classic, pain d'epice, also known as gingerbread, are perfect for the holiday season! This timeless and easy to make recipe is very popular in France!

Muffin chorizo

Hearty and tasty, chorizo muffins are perfect for breakfast, lunch.. or even dinner! Healthy and protein-packed, it is one of our favorite recipes!

Traditional French Christmas menu

Foie gras, smoked salmon, oysters, Christmas turkey... Discover what are the main festive Christmas dishes in France!

Camembert aux figues

We forget everything with this recipe so comforting after a long week. A rich, runny, creamy, oven-baked camembert with a little rosemary and its gourmet, sweet touch provided by the figs roasted with honey and walnuts.

Tarte au chocolat

A true classic, the Tarte au chocolat is perfect for the holiday season! 

Advent in France

Christmas is slowly knocking at our door, but there is a period of waiting and preparing for Christmas, called Advent. How is it like in France?

Visit Haiti: 5 activities to do in Haiti

Mountains, greenery, beaches, historical sites: Haiti is a beautiful country located on the island of Hispaniola, third largest by area and the most populous in the Caribbean, inhabiting almost 12 million people. Haiti declared its independence from France in 1804, but French language still remain to be on of the official ones together with the Haitian Creole. Capital city is Port-au- Prince. Today we offer you 5 tips for what to do if you decide to visit Haiti.

The apple: symbol of Normandy, back on its history

It is said that Normandy is the "orchard of France". Normandy, its apple orchards lined with green grass, as green as an apple! This fruit offers multiple gustatory possibilities and above all, seems to appreciate the oceanic climate of the region. Let's go and meet this fruit symbol of the Normandy region!

Tarte normande aux pommes et à la crème

The Norman pie is a culinary specialty of Normandy. It is an apple pie with a filling of flour, eggs, cream and sugar. In any case, the Norman pie is an essential element of the Norman cultural identity. The production of apples is important in all the territories of Lower and Upper Normandy, and each Norman country prides itself on producing the best Norman pie.

Visit Cambodia

We continue the world tour of the French-speaking world. This week, the Alliance française de San Francisco takes you to Cambodia! Cambodia is a country in Southeast Asia known for its Angkor Wat sites and temples, its heavenly beaches and its Khmer culture. Because of the French colonial past, Cambodia has today 400 000 French speaking people Planning to visit Cambodia? Discover our selection of must-sees to enjoy the many wonders of the land of smiles!

Quiche Lorraine

🍽️ This week's menu: quiche lorraine! The true traditional recipe of the quiche lorraine, it is a beautiful pure butter pastry, eggs, cream, smoked bacon but no cheese. Easy and essential. The first written records of quiche lorraine are found on March 1st 1586 at the Duke of Lorraine's house, then in Nancy just a little later.

Visit Normandy

Marvelous coastline, fascinating countryside, impressive castles and churches and picturesque ancient towns: this week we invite you to explore the French region of Normandy!

Françoise Sagan: life of excess and literature

Françoise Sagan (real name Françoise Quoirez) is a French novelist born on June 21, 1935 in Cajarc (Lot) and died in Honfleur (Calvados) on September 24, 2004. In 1954, when she was only 18 years old, she met the success and the celebrity... Described as a "charming little monster" by François Mauriac, she also published biographies, plays, songs, and collaborated in the writing of screenplays and film dialogues. But she is also known for having regularly defrayed the social and judicial chronicle.

Célion Dion: international French-speaking star

Discover today the biography of Celine Dion, whom you already know for her international career in English. But did you know that Celine Dion is also a French-speaking star? We tell you everything in this article!

Panisses

Discover today one of the specialities of the south of France: the panisses!From Italy to Provence, Panisse is one of the well known specialties of Nice and Marseille.

Beaujolais Nouveau has arrived !

It's almost time to celebrate Beaujolais Nouveau in France! Every third Thursday of November, the French celebrate the arrival of Beaujolais Nouveau. But what does this wine festival consist of? We tell you everything in this article!

Top 5 ski areas in France

France has several mountainous areas, including the most famous, the Alps. And wherever you go, one thing you can be sure of is a spectacular mountain landscape. Among the 232 ski resorts open in France, we have prepared a selection of the best places to spend your vacations.  France has the best of the best in ski areas. From the smallest to the biggest, from the most exclusive to the most authentic, from the festive to the family-oriented, you are bound to find what you are looking for! Let's get started!

Simone Veil the immortal, return on the life of the favorite French politician.

Today, in our series of powerful French women, discover the figure of Simone Veil, probably one of the most important French politicians. Young Auschwitz survivor, Minister of Health at the origin of the legalization of abortion, President of the European Parliament, immortal at the French Academy... A look back at an exceptional career. Discover the story of this woman with an incredible destiny.

Les gougères

The gougère is a Burgundian speciality, composed of choux pastry and cheese, the cheese being mixed with the choux pastry still warm before cooking. The Burgundian gougère is mentioned from "goiere" at the end of the 14th century, with the meaning of cheese pie. The gougère is a dish eaten after the dish, at the time of the cheese, it is today frequently consumed with the aperitif, it is also appreciated during the tasting of wines.

Visit Chalon-sur-Saône

Today, the Alliance française de San Francisco takes you to discover the Burgundy region with the city of Chalon-sur-Saône, located between Dijon and Lyon. 

Discover below a selection of must-do's to discover the city of Chalon-sur-Saône and its surroundings.

Halloween special: Top 10 most haunted places in France

We go on a ghost  adventure in our special Halloween week, to discover the history of the history of the 10 most haunted places in France. Let's go!

6 things you might not know about Canada

Majestic mountains, frozen glaciers, beautiful cities, great coffee culture and incredible wildlife: Ô Canada! Find about some interesting facts about the second largest country in the world.

Halloween special: Top 10 French horror movies

On the occasion of Halloween week, the Alliance française offers you a selection of French horror films. Warning: sensitive souls should not watch it!

Olympic Games: Paris 2024

In 2024, Paris will host the Summer Olympics for the third time in history. Paris becomes the second city to celebrate the Summer Olympics for the third time, a hundred years apart (1900, 1924 and 2024). The cities of Boston, Hamburg, Rome and Budapest were candidates to welcome the Olympic Games that year. New sports entering the Olympics are surfing, skateboarding, rock climbing, 3x3 basketball and breakdance

Canelés bordelais

A canelé is a small French pastry flavored with rum and vanilla with a soft, tender custard center and a thick, dark caramelized crust. A specialty of the Bordeaux region in France, it is now widely available in pastry shops in France and abroad.

Visit Bordeaux

The visit of the week is Bordeaux! Bordeaux is both a wine region and a city in southwest France. The city was first settled in 567 BC, and some of the oldest ruins in the city, dating back to the 4th century, can still be visited in the crypt beneath the Basilica of Saint-Seurin.

Edith Piaf: I want to make people cry even when they don’t understand my words.

Have you ever heard “La Vie en Rose”? Surely you did. Then you might want to find out something more about the singer of its original, Edith Piaf. Edith was born in Paris in 1915 as Edith Giovanna Gassion. Because of her height of five feet she was nicknamed “La Mome Piaf” meaning little sparrow. Even though her life turned into a tragic one, she is until now celebrated as one of France’s greatest performers.

Annie Ernaux wins the Nobel Prize for Literature, return on her work.

Annie Ernaux just won the Nobel Prize for Literature this Thursday, October 6. It is the occasion for us to make you discover this French author entered the History. The French writer has published some twenty autobiographical novels.

Bouchée à la reine

On the occasion of the week dedicated to the Palace of Versailles, we have found a recipe of the time: the "bouchées à la reine" (or vol-au-vent). 

Visit Versailles

This week, the Alliance takes you to visit THE most visited French castle: le Château de Versailles! The Palace of Versailles is a huge place where art and nature combine perfectly. King Louis XIV is the creator of this unique palace, known for its incredible architecture and French gardens. It belongs at the top of your "must-see" bucket list for the City of Light and is easy to reach for a day trip - or even a half-day visit.

Five Hidden Gems of French Riviera

La Côte d’Azur is one of the most visited parts of France, famous for its magnificent beaches, atmospheric cities, film festivals and beautiful nature. However, it offers much more than just the most popular towns and casinos: from stunning national parks to architectural treasures, modern art museum, centuries-old villages located high in the hills and more. Find out about the less known, but still worth visiting parts of the French Riviera.

Galette salée bretonne

Discover the perfect recipe for Breton buckwheat pancake dough! Easy to prepare, this recipe is full of tricks that will delight your taste buds! You can add the filling of your choice!

Visit Mont Saint-Michel

Our discovery of the week is the Mont-Saint-Michel! Mont-Saint-Michel is a tidal island, in Normandy In 2019, the island had 29 inhabitants. With its 2.5 million visitors per year, this must-see monument of French tourism is full of history!

Croque-Monsieur

Today's recipe: le Croque-monsieur. A croque-monsieur is a hot sandwich, originating from France, made of bread, white ham and cheese (emmental, comté...). easy to make, easy to eat, pleases everyone, this French recipe is within everyone's reach!

Visit Orsay

Want to visit the Musée d'Orsay during you trip in Paris? Very good choice! It is known and recognized all over the world. It is indeed famous for housing one of the most beautiful collections of impressionist works in the world. You are not a specialist in the subject? You will discover incredible works whose authors are known to all: Van Gogh, Monet, Cézanne, Degas, Courbert, Garnier, Guimard…

Tajine Kefta

The word "tajine" comes from the dish used to cook this dish. Everything is cooked in a tomato sauce. If you don't have a clay tagine, no problem. Use a casserole or a large pan with a lid. A simple, complete and comforting dish. The tagine with meatballs, also called tagine of kefta is one of the most popular tagines. Because it is very simple, quick to make and tasty !



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