A Little Bit of France at Home

I just received the latest issue of one of my all-time favorite magazines, France Magazine. I have been an over-the-top Francophile since my first trip to France twelve years ago, going back whenever my husband and I can manage , and spending a lot of time daydreaming about France when we can't. Every other month when France Magazine arrives, I get in my comfortable country French chair, put on the old reading glasses and get lost in the wonderful photography and fascinating articles about my favorite country to visit.


Its cover touts the magazine as North America's biggest-selling magazine about France, yet it is very much geared to British citizens who vacation and /or buy property in France. I love reading about the ease with which the British go by ferry in their cars and RVs, often caravanning and parking in special campsites. I love the way many of the articles are written with the decidedly English vernacular, describing the beautiful villages, abbeys, towns and natural beauty, which seems to make up so much of France.


Each issue features three or four special regions or towns, explaining the often intriguing history, describing the wonderful scenery, suggesting different or exciting, and always charming sights to see in that locale. These are usually accompanied by beautiful photographs, and often a map showing where the town or region is located in relation to the rest of the country.


One of my favorite features is called Plus Beau Village, which is a special in-depth look at a particularly unique and special little village or hamlet, often with a population of only a few hundred permanent residents. The May issue features a tiny town named Baume-Les-Messieurs, most famous for a Benedictine abbey, with mostly ruins remaining. There is a detailed description of the beauty of the town, its history, and the fascinating record of the history of the abbey. The photos of the town, at the base of stunning limestone cliffs, are breathtaking. There are always one or two photographs of the ubiquitous little charming doorways to the homes, a favorite subject of my husband's photos when we travel. At the end of the article, the small map of France shows exactly where the town is in relation to the rest of the country.


Another one of my favorite features is a language exercise prepared by a French language instructor. She writes a small article (this month's is just four paragraphs) in French, with certain key words translated off to the side in English. I often spend hours trying to decipher the main points of her article, with my trusty French-English dictionary in hand. I am usually not very successful, but it is an entertaining challenge. This month's article was about switching to daylight savings time. I could decipher enough that I am pretty sure she does not like the time change!


Lastly, I enjoy reading about the houses and property for sale in France. Accompanied by photographs, it is a lot of fun comparing housing styles and prices with that of my native South Florida. Many of the houses look like they need a lot of work, and I am reminded of the Italian villa in Under the Tuscan Sun. Others are magnificent chateaux. I will have to keep them in mind if I ever win the lottery!


The cover price of the magazine is $6.95 an issue, but as a returning subscriber, the annual cost of six issues is $32.75 I feel that for me, it is well worth the many hours of enjoyment I get out of each issue. I would definitely recommend this magazine to anyone who loves most things French as I do.


This review is a part of Ifif1938's Fabulous French Finds write-off. I would like to thank her for inviting me to participate in the write-off and to thank her for helping me to appreciate all things French for so many years!