French connections

Dec 05 2024 24 ep. 8 mins 197
French connections Podcast artwork

A quirky, insider's guide to understanding France and the French, from the sublime to the ridiculous. Thursday at 1:45pm. And join us for French Connections Plus on the last Thursday of the month at 4:15pm.

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Paris's 'old lady': Fun facts about Notre-Dame Cathedral

Dec 05 2024 6 mins  
Notre-Dame Cathedral is reopening to the public after a devastating fire nearly destroyed it in 2019. Much more than a place of worship or a popular tourist destination, Notre-Dame reflects the heart and soul of the capital and in many ways its history mirrors that of the capital. In this show, Florence Villeminot brings you some fun facts about what Parisians lovingly call “la v

Paris neighbourhoods: Discovering the 13th arrondissement and Chinatown

Nov 28 2024 12 mins  
In this French Connections Plus, Genie Godula and Florence Villeminot continue their tour of Paris with a stop in the lesser-known 13th arrondissement. It lies in the southeastern corner of the city and was annexed into the French capital in 1860 by Napoleon III. Most Parisians today know the 13th for its enormous Chinatown or its famous animation school, Les Gobelins. But the area

Let's talk about sex: Undressing French bedroom habits

Nov 21 2024 6 mins  
The French have the reputation of being romantic. There’s even the cliché that they are sexually liberated and good lovers. But what are their sex lives really like? The answer is quite surprising. According to a new study by France's National Institute of Health, the French are having sex less frequently and starting later in life than in previous decades. But they are also rep

Paris neighbourhoods: Exploring Père-Lachaise cemetery and the 20th arrondissement

Oct 24 2024 12 mins  
In this edition of French Connections Plus, Genie Godula and Florence Villeminot continue their tour of Paris with a stop in the eastern 20th arrondissement. They take us to the birthplace of French singing icon Edith Piaf and visit one of the most famous cemeteries in the world, Père-Lachaise – the final resting place of Molière, Chopin, Sarah Bernhardt, Jim Morrison and so ma

Hunting: France's divisive, third-favourite pastime

Oct 17 2024 6 mins  
After football and fishing, France's third-favourite pastime is hunting. The ancestral activity is divisive today, with passions running high between those who defend hunting traditions and a growing number of animal rights activists. Though the hunting lobby is strong, a majority of French people have an unfavourable view of hunting. Many are concerned about safety. The government

Is it becoming impossible to drive in Paris?

Oct 03 2024 6 mins  
Buckle up! In this week's show, FRANCE 24's Florence Villeminot takes you on a spin to discover driving culture in Paris. The French capital is famous around the world for its beautiful sights and towering monuments, but it also has the reputation of being one of the worst places to drive. Parisian drivers are the first to admit it can be quite a harrowing experience. Over the year

Paris neighbourhoods: Discovering marvelous Montmartre

Sep 26 2024 15 mins  
The hill of Montmartre is the highest point in Paris. The former suburb of the French capital benefited from the freedom of being outside the city limits, making it a playground for artists, libertines and bons vivants. In this edition of French Connections Plus, Genie Godula and Florence Villeminot uncover the dark history behind the wedding cake basilica of the Sacré-Cœur, visi

Are the French happy?

Sep 12 2024 5 mins  
In this week's show, we focus on a stereotype about the French, backed up by statistics: that they are the world champions of pessimism. That cliché seems to have been turned on its head by the 2024 Olympics, when the notoriously cynical French seemed to turn into a celebratory, fun-loving people. It begs the question: are the French suddenly happy? And if not, what are they so gl

France's executive branch: How power is shared at the top

Sep 05 2024 6 mins  
In the wake of snap parliamentary elections called in June, President Emmanuel Macron took his time naming a prime minister. In this week's show, we take a closer look at how France's political institutions work: what are the respective roles of the president and the prime minister? How is power shared at the top? And does the French President have too much power?

From croissants to macarons: France, a pastry lover's paradise

Aug 29 2024 12 mins  
France is famous for many things, but one of the first that comes to mind is food. The country boasts hundreds of cheeses, sophisticated dishes and incredible wines, but the cherry on top of French gastronomy is all its delicious desserts. France is a sweet-lover's paradise, with shops full of fabulous pastries at nearly every street corner. Where does this savoir-faire come from?