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! Read More…
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. Read More…
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! Read More…
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. Read More…
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. Read More…
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. Read More…
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. Read More…
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. Read More…
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! Read More…
.jpg)
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… Read More…
We continue the world tour of the French-speaking world. This week, the Alliance française de San Francisco takes you to Tunisia! Read More…
.jpg)
Visit Ajaccio
The theme of the week is Corsica, so we take you to visit Ajaccio, the biggest city of the « island of beauty » (l’île de beauté). Called "the island of beauty" for centuries, Corsica is full of places to visit. Already in ancient times, the Greeks referred to this mountain in the sea as the most beautiful island in the Mediterranean.
The third largest French-speaking city in the world, cultural and commercial hub and a hot spot for good food and music, Montreal is definitely worth visiting. Montreal is the second most populated city in Canada, founded in 1642, now part of Quebec province. Despite the city’s size, the parts of Montreal that mostly interest tourists are in relatively compact neighborhoods. Here are some tips for what to see during your visit in this city. Read More…
Eiffel Tower: 5 things you didn't know
The symbol of Paris, for many also a symbol of France. La Tour Eiffel was built in 1889 for the Exposition Universelle, a world’s fair to celebrate the anniversary of the French Revolution. It has become a global cultural and architectural icon and one of the most recognizable structures in the world. These are some basic facts, now let’s find out about the things that you surely did not know about the Tower... Read More…
La réunion
;✈️This week, the Alliance Française takes you to visit Reunion Island! La réunion is a french department in the Indian
Ocean. Its tropical and volcanic landscapes make the islands a unique place in the world, at the crossroads between Europe, Africa and
India.
Read More…
The Elzévir Apartment newsletter #3
You may have already seen some of his black and white photographs in the AFSF's corridors and staircase. Bill speaks fluent French and visits Paris at least twice a year, and he has been a regular student of the Alliance Française de San Francisco for almost 20 years. It is a pleasure to share some news about his last trip to Paris with you! Read More…
The fourth largest island in the Mediterranean Sea and the smallest metropolitan French region by population: explore beautiful Corsica with us. Read More…
✈️This week, the Alliance Française takes you to visit Louvre Museum! Arguably the most famous museum in the world, the Louvre has had an interesting history in Paris. With 10 million visitors per year, it is the most visited museum in the world. Here are some facts about this museum with a worldwide reputation. Read More…
This week, the Alliance Française takes you to visit Lebanon! discover this French-speaking country in the middle of the Middle East ! Read More…
Bordeaux, Provence, Burgundy: Short Guide to French Wines
Do you know anything about French wines? This is your introduction to start understanding where Merlot, Pinot Noir or Châteauneuf-du-Pape come from in France! Read More…
Is Strasbourg worth visiting ? the answer is obviously yes!
On the German border, Strasbourg offers its visitors a typical Alsatian architecture that cannot be seen anywhere else in France. This
medieval city is full of history and emblematic places that we suggest you discover in this article.
Read More…
This week, we take you to visit New caledonia! The archipelago and islands that make up New Caledonia are located in the heart of the Coral Sea, in the South Pacific. These magnificent islands are full of natural wonders and dream beaches. Read More…
It's that fall time of the year when the fleeting summer is over, everyone comes back to their homes.
Back to school is "La Rentrée"!
Read More…
“In order to be irreplaceable, one must always be different”
Find out everything about the fashion icon of the 1920s!
Read More…
Visit Dijon
This week, the Alliance Française takes you to visit Dijon! Famous for its gastronomy and architecture, Dijon is located in the center of France, 3 hours from Paris.
If Silicon Valley remains the Eldorado for entrepreneurs, France is not to be outdone in developing its own entrepreneurial ecosystem. Over
the past decade, French Tech has come a long way to establish itself as one of the most dynamic countries in the global tech industry.
Read More…
The Tour de France is over: Find out about the Tour’s evolution throughout its almost 120 years history.
Read More…
Visit Morroco : the pearl of the maghreb
This week, the blog takes you to visit morocco!
The gorges of Verdon : a summer in south of France
Located in south of France, Gorges du verdon offer landscapes worthy of being on a postcard. for nature and sport lovers, this place is perfect for you ! Read More…
Discover Réunion: Volcanos, biodiversity and grilled chicken
Did you know there is a little piece of France 6,000 miles away from France?
Read More…
6 things to do in Marseille in summer
Have you ever been to Marseille? No? It’s high time you fixed that! French second largest city in the heart of Provence will
definitely steal your heart. Colorful neighborhoods, lovely restaurants and bars, beautiful views, Mediterranean vibe - there is
nothing else you need! Here are our six tips for what to do in this city.
Read More…
Why walk on one of the “Chemins de Compostelle”?
Going on one of the “Chemins de Compostelle” is an opportunity to get your body used to walking again, to visit places full of
history and to have meaningful encounters.
Read More…
5 things to know about Andorra
Andorra is a small country located between France and Spain. However, this micro-state is neither completely French, nor completely Spanish!
We tell you everything about this French-speaking region like no other!
Louis XV: Tales of love and cookery
If Louis XIV was known to eat alone in public, according to the royal protocols, his successors, on the other hand, tried to escape from it.
The last years of his reign saw the emergence of the fires of conversation, the pleasures of gastronomy, and the presence of women at the
table, exploding the stuffy and rigid atmosphere of the royal dining room!
Here are a few portraits of women (and dishes) that shaped the royal life!
Togolese idioms: French as you've never seen it!
Although Togo is indeed a French-speaking country, the local population is no less creative in the use of our good old French. Grab your pens and notebooks, it's time to discover the flowery expressions and subtleties of language typically Togolese!
The Tarte Tropézienne : the darling of French stars
We are all aware, whether we are French or American: the French Riviera is THE place to be all year round. We love this region for its mild
temperatures, sunny beaches and local restaurants with menus between land and sea!
The Tarte Tropézienne is no exception to the rule: learn about the origins of this dessert made famous by the French cinema!
Comorian music: committed and hybrid
The Comoros is an archipelago located in West Africa, in the Indian Ocean. It is a former French colony which included Mayotte until their
independence in 1975.
The national languages of Comoros are French, Arabic and Comorian. This mix of European, Indian and African, and Arab culture has resulted
in a rich and amazing musical heritage and culture!
Discover the Comoros, as you have never seen them before!
Diptyque, an example of French luxury travelling across the ocean
St Germain Diptyque is a luxury French fragrance brand. Based in Paris, the company produces eau de parfum, eau de toilette, scented candles, and perfume oil diffusers. Its original boutique is still located at 34 Boulevard Saint-Germain in the 5th arrondissement of Paris.
Night of Ideas : Where are we going ?
As France takes over the presidency of the European Union in a context of geopolitical upheaval, the Night of Ideas proposes to bring together artists, philosophers, writers and thinkers from all over the world to propose a glimpse of an answer to the question of the time: Where are we going ?
Laos, the Land of a million elephants
Head to Southeast Asia to discover Laos, a country shared between the French and Buddhist culture!
.jpeg)
World Music day : a French-American friendship story
A review of the French and American origins of an international festival!
Thomas Sankara, the Che Guevara of Burkina Faso
On October 15, 1987, Thomas Sankara, an icon of the struggle against colonial imperialism, was assassinated in a coup d'état organized by his own comrades in arms.A brief look at the life of Thomas Sankara, father of the struggle against colonial imperialism.
World Health Day in France: from patient to citizen-user
Every year, on April 7, hundreds of organizations celebrate World Health Day throughout the world with the aim of better informing public opinion about the political and economic mechanisms surrounding public health. This approach is the result of a long term work, especially in France, where the issue of health has emerged during the political and economic history of the country. We tell you everything in this article!
8 customs and traditions only Malagasy people can understand
You probably know the movie Madagascar, but do you really know the island it is based on? Have you heard of the Vodiontry, or the Famadihana? Head to the Indian Ocean, we tell you all about Malagasy customs and traditions!
French woman portrait: Marguerite Yourcenar, or the entry of poetry in the French Academy
Marguerite Yourcenar, born as Marguerite Cleenwerk de Crayencour, is the very first woman to have entered, not without difficulty, the French Academy. Learn more about this talented and yet unknown poetess!
5 things to know about Seychelles
Seychelles, an archipelago of 115 islands is THE paradise in the middle of the Indian Ocean! Known for its beautiful white sand beaches, these islands are full of cultural and culinary secrets of the most amazing!
Celebrate Historical French Feminists on Culturethèque
You can explore complete texts and more about the fascinating French feminists that shaped the history of women's rights in France and around the world on the AFSF Culturethèque e-library. Bonne lecture des feminists française! Read More…
March, Women's History Month
March is Women's History Month! On the occasion of the celebration of Women's Rights Day, here are 10 portraits of women who have marked French history in all fields: war, fashion, politics, writing, art, we tell you everything!
5 things to know about French Guiana
Welcome to French Guiana! France's largest department located in South America is home to as many culinary and cultural treasures! Here are 5 things to know about French Guiana!
Edmond Rostand, the Cyrano of the Basque Country
"It's a rock! ... It's a cape! ... What am I saying? It's a pinnacle!" We all know this famous line from the play Cyrano de Bergerac, but have you heard of his author? We tell you all about Edmond Rostand, 19th century playwright and poet, and father of the famous Cyrano! Read More…
Zouglou: from Ivorian folklore to politically committed variety
Zouglou is THE Ivorian music par excellence! This popular variety was born in the 80s, and today mixes Nouchi, French, and brings up to the present day some wild traditional rhythms. Although mainly Zouglou known for combining tradition and modernity, the history is very closely linked to that of Ivory Coast, we tell you everything in this post! Read More…
The story behind the Chandeleur
Do you know the history of Candlemas? Every year, February 2nd is the date when pancakes delight young and old gourmets. But do you know the history of Chandeleur? What is the origin of this day, and especially why do we eat French crepes ? We tell you everything!
Exploring Senegalese Literature, Music and Science
Did you know that this year’s Prix Goncourt went to a Senegalese novelist, making him the first writer from sub-Saharan Africa to be awarded France’s oldest and most prestigious literary prize? Would you be surprised to learn that Senegal is among the 11 African countries working on the Great Green Wall project to plant trees across the African continent, creating a natural barrier to hold back the Sahara Desert from climate change?
5 things to know about Senegal!
Located on the west coast of the African continent, Senegal is a country bordered by Mauritania, Mali, Guinea, and Guinea-Bissau. Renowned
for the hospitality of its people, Senegal is a crossroads of ethnicities and traditions, as well as a popular tourist destination!
Discover 5 things to know about Senegal!
Get to know: Antoine de Saint-Exupéry and the Little Prince, or one the most famous French stories to this day. Read More…
Catherine Deneuve: An icon of French cinema with an international reputation!
Born in 1943 in Paris, Catherine Deneuve is a French actress as well
as an occasional singer, model, and producer considered one of the greatest French actresses of her generation. In numerous movies such
as
"The Umbrellas of Cherbourg", "The
Young Girls of Rochefort", "Donkey Skin" or
"Belle de jour", she has marked generations of moviegoers...
Here is all you need to know about Catherine Deneuve!