{"id":679,"date":"2024-12-04T00:27:30","date_gmt":"2024-12-03T16:27:30","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/gagner-des-cadeaux.org\/index.php\/2025\/03\/07\/virtual-vacation-france\/"},"modified":"2025-11-23T09:56:00","modified_gmt":"2025-11-23T01:56:00","slug":"virtual-vacation-france","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gagner-des-cadeaux.org\/?p=679","title":{"rendered":"Virtual Vacation: France"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

Being in social isolation doesn’t stop us dreaming of all the places we’d like to visit; in fact now we’ve got even more time to daydream. Escape on a virtual vacation to bring a little piece of France to your living room.<\/p>\n

Whether you\u2019re after passion and fashion in the capital, picture-perfect rustic rural villages, or sweeping historical and gastronomic tours, France\u2019s culture, countryside and cuisine make it one of the most visited countries in the world.<\/p>\n

While you may not be able to hop on a plane for a romantic break, a week by the sea or a wine tour right now, luckily for us, there\u2019s a huge choice available when it comes to French film and literature in particular. So start your French day off right: put a croissant in the oven (or some hot chocolate in a bowl) and curl up with one of our suggestions below.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\nAdvertisement\n<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n

<\/astro-ad><\/p>\n

\"LP
Ch\u00e2teau de Castelnaud \u2013 built between the 13th and 17th centuries \u2013 looms over the Dordogne Valley \u00a9Andrew Montgomery\/Lonely Planet<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Our editors independently select the best products to help you have amazing experiences. If you purchase through links on our site, Lonely Planet may earn a commission from the retailer.<\/em><\/p>\n

Light Relief<\/strong><\/em>
Am\u00e9lie (2001):<\/strong> This French rom-com starring Audrey Tautou as a young Parisian is charming, emotional, and funny. Its message about taking joy from the simple things in life \u2013 popping bubble wrap being one example \u2013 is one we can all hopefully take something positive from at the moment.
A Good Year (2006):<\/strong> This Ridley Scott film staring Russell Crowe, is based on the book of the same name by Peter Mayle. The tagline is “Sometimes it takes a change of scenery to have a change of heart.” And there\u2019s no doubt that the scenery is beautiful. It will seduce you even if Russell doesn\u2019t.
The Chorus (French: Les Choristes<\/em>), (2004): <\/strong>This is a sweet and enjoyable film set in a French boarding school, whose story is inspired by the origin of the boys’ choir The Little Singers of Paris. It may be a little predictable, but it\u2019s definitely heart-warming and the soundtrack will make you feel like you\u2019re the inhabitant of a small French village at a local choir recital.
I Lost My Body (2019):<\/strong> This French animated feature has an unusual plot: it\u2019s the story of a disembodied hand trying to reunite with its body, traveling through Paris to find its owner. Based on Guillaume Laurant’s book, Happy Hand, it\u2019s an original and uplifting story that you won\u2019t forget in a hurry.<\/p>\n

\"Moulin
The Moulin Rouge by night in Paris \u00a9MaxOzerov\/Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Tear Jerkers<\/strong><\/em>
Moulin Rouge (2001): <\/strong>More than a vehicle for Ewan MacGregor\u2019s singing voice, and set in a seedy cabaret (which you can still visit in Montmartre), this musical depicts a darker Paris, one of glamour but ultimately tragedy. With great performances from the stars and incredible costumes, this is everything you\u2019d expect from a Baz Luhrmann film and more.
Untouchable (French: Intouchables<\/em>) (2011):<\/strong> A huge box office hit in France, this film tells the tale of an unlikely friendship between a wealthy quadriplegic and his unconventional caregiver. Inspired by a true story, it tackles issues of race and disability, and it’s firmly in the category of “feelgood.”<\/p>\n

Darker Viewing<\/strong><\/em>
Rust and Bone (French: De rouille et d’os<\/em>) (2012):<\/strong> Set in Antibes and based on a short story collection of the same name by Craig Davidson, this is French-Belgian romantic drama film has a distressing storyline but is incredibly powerful. Marion Cotillard suffers a terrible accident in her workplace and the film charts her survival and her relationship with her friend, a single father played by Matthias Schoenaerts.
A Prophet (French: Un proph\u00e8te) (2009): <\/strong>This hard-hitting French crime drama tells the story of a young Muslim man, incarcerated in a prison in Marseilles. Winner of the Grand Prix at the 2009 Cannes Film Festival, this is a gritty look at the prison system in contemporary France, with a glimmer of hope contained in its illiterate but intelligent protagonist. If you like crime dramas and are looking for a bingeable TV series, we recommend Engrenages<\/em> (Spiral<\/em>), a French police drama set in Paris.<\/p>\n

Edith Piaf<\/em><\/h3>\n

Edith Piaf is probably the most famous French singer of all time, and “Non, je ne regrette rien” is one of her most famous recordings. It\u2019s a wonderfully melodramatic song to sing along to. You may be tempted to go down a Piaf rabbit hole and watch La Vie en rose<\/em> (2007) which charts her life.<\/p>\n

Christophe Ma\u00e9<\/em><\/h3>\n

If you\u2019re in the mood for something more modern and more uplifting, how about some French pop, courtesy of Christophe Ma\u00e9\u2019s Mon Paradis album? Imagine you\u2019re sitting by a pool, Mediterranean sun on your face, sipping Provencal rose and it\u2019s impossible not to feel cheered up. Or for something with more modern and electronic, try Christine and the Queens.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\nAdvertisement\n<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n

<\/astro-ad><\/p>\n

Classics<\/strong><\/em>
Les Mis\u00e9rables<\/strong> by Victor Hugo is the classic French masterpiece, telling the story of ex-convict Jean Valjean. Set in early 19th-century France, it contains stark portrayals of poverty and a memorable cast of characters. It is also one of the longest novels in history and if you\u2019re not feeling strong enough to start it right now, you can also enjoy the 2012 epic film directed by Tom Hooper.
A Moveable Feast<\/strong> by Ernest Hemingway is a memoir of his time as a young writer in Paris in the 1920s while married to his first wife, where he socialized with figures such as Ezra Pound, Gertrude Stein, James Joyce and Pablo Picasso. Hemingway, a Nobel and Pulitzer prizewinner, paints a vivid picture of the people and places he discovered \u2013 many of the latter can still be visited in Paris. (For a more modern, female perspective on Hemingway\u2019s marriage(s), try Mrs Hemingway<\/em> by Naomi Wood).
Tender is the Night<\/strong> by F. Scott Fitzgerald is a beautifully evocative novel, and Fitzgerald\u2019s last. Often read as an insight into the author\u2019s relationship with his wife Zelda, it\u2019s set in the French Riviera, where glamorous couple Dick and Nicole Diver holiday. The Riviera, a playground for the rich and discontented, is a stylish backdrop to the disintegration of their marriage.
Bonjour Tristesse<\/strong> by Francoise Sagan, published when the author was just 18, is the sensuous story of a schoolgirl\u2019s summer romance. It\u2019s thought-provoking with a wonderful opening and caused a scandal when it first appeared.<\/p>\n

Travel Writing<\/strong><\/em>
A Year In Provence<\/strong> is one of the most popular travel books of all time. Written by the author Peter Mayle who also wrote A Good Year<\/em>, it\u2019s a gently amusing memoir that became a bestseller, its depiction of life in rural Provence inspiring many people to follow in the writer\u2019s example and up sticks to the south of France in search of a simpler life.
Down and Out in Paris and London<\/strong> by George Orwell features a gritty portrayal of the two cities. The half set in France will give you a very different perspective.<\/p>\n

Historical Fiction<\/strong><\/em>
Pure<\/strong> by Andrew Miller tells the story of Jean-Baptiste Baratte, a young engineer who is ordered to exhume the vast Les Innocents cemetery in Paris. It\u2019s slightly icky subject-matter makes for grisly reading but it\u2019s a fascinating insight into an underside of historical Paris.
Perfume: The Story of a Murderer<\/strong> by Patrick S\u00fcskind, is also on the grisly side \u2013 a gripping thriller set in 18th century France.<\/p>\n

Join Us in France:<\/em> A Podcast About All Things French \u2013 does what it says on the tin! Episodes cover travel advice, itineraries, attractions, and much more.<\/h3>\n

The Earful Tower<\/em>: Hosted by an Australian expat, will show you round the city and give insights into French life through interviews with inhabitants.<\/h3>\n
    \n
  • \n

    Bonjour<\/em> – Hello <\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  • \n

    Oui, s\u2019il vous plait<\/em> \u2013 Yes, please<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  • \n

    Non, nerci <\/em>\u2013 No, thank you<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  • \n

    Pardon, excusez-moi<\/em> \u2013 Apologies, excuse me<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  • \n

    Parlez vous anglais?<\/em> \u2013 Do you speak English?<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  • \n

    Je ne comprends pas<\/em> \u2013 I don\u2019t understand<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    French language resources<\/strong><\/em>
    Duolingo<\/strong>: specializes in bite-size, quick lessons
    Lonely Planet French phrasebook: a handy tool filled with popular slang and vocabulary<\/p>\n

    <\/p>\n

    <\/div>\n

    <\/astro-ad><\/p>\n

    If this has whet your appetite for a true taste of France, try perfecting the macaron using this recipe. They may require a bit of practice but could a snack be more chic?<\/p>\n

    Though Ernest Hemingway wasn’t himself a Parisian by birth, his passion for the city led him to invent Death in the Afternoon, a cocktail rooted in two of France’s best libations \u2013 champagne and absinthe. You can learn how to make it at home, with this recipe amongst other classic travel-inspired cocktails.<\/p>\n

    The Louvre<\/em><\/h3>\n