The French Streaming Service War
An alliance between France’s three biggest TV networks to protect the country’s art against an onslaught of American entertainment.
France has long defended its ‘exception culturelle' with subsidies, quotas and tax breaks to protect French films, music and television from the ravages of a market economy. Now it is preparing to go to battle against the America-based streaming giant, Netflix.
France’s three biggest broadcasters have set aside their rivalry to form an unprecedented alliance to take on the American colossus with encouragement from the government.
France Télévisions, the state-owned public service network, is joining forces with the main private network, TF1, and M6 to launch a subscription service called Salto next year offering a catalogue of French TV shows and original content.
Despite the negative reception from state-subsidized local media when Netflix launched in France, the service has gained 3.5 million subscribers in the country. Salto’s initial £45 million budget is dwarfed by the £6 billion Netflix is spending on content this year with hopes that Salto can work as long as it doesn’t position itself as a competitor but as an alternative to Netflix. Salto will also need the green light from Brussels, to ensure that it does not breach EU competition rules. Despite their efforts to appease the French film industry by producing content exclusively for France, it didn’t save Netflix from being banned from the Cannes Festival, which ruled that its films could only compete if they had first been shown in French cinemas. In 2017, Netflix had 2 films nominated for the Palme d’Or award: Okja and The Meyerowitz Stories. Under pressure from the The Federation of French Cinemas (FNCF), festival organizers announced that in future only films with a cinematic release in France will be eligible for the prize and in 2018, Cannes officials banned Netflix from the competition. This all stems from The French cultural exception.
In France, cinema tickets are taxed and the funds raised subsidizes the country’s domestic film industry. Netflix’s distribution model would drain the French cinema of their funds. In addition, Under the organization’s regulations, a film must take no less than 36 months from cinematic release to its debut on an online streaming service which would be completely incompatible with Netflix’s business model. In spite of these setbacks, Netflix is continuing to produce more French-language series which will premier in late 2018.
We hope you've enjoyed learning about The French Streaming Service War! Do you think this will help or hurt the French cinema? Join the conversation below!
The Paris Café Preservation
A city-wide movement to preserve the famed cultural melting pots.
A new campaign has been launched to encourage UNESCO to award cultural heritage status to Paris’s bistros and café terraces referencing to the role they played in bringing people together in the aftermath of the 2015 terror attacks.
The dossier will be forwarded to the Ministry of Culture, which is responsible for submitting such applications to UNESCO, this coming September to raise awareness both in France and abroad of "the role that bistros and café terraces play in bringing people and cultures together, and their role as intellectual and artistic melting pots". The new association has stated that following the attacks on November 13, 2015,
"Parisians crowded onto the terraces... to show that they regarded them as places of cultural cross-fertilisation, of freedom and of the art of living."
The association has also said that the culture of Paris' world-famous cafés and bistros was increasingly "under threat", not only from soaring rents in the French capital, but also from multinational companies in the food & beverage industries.
The association's head, Alain Fontaine stated that “In a society that is becoming increasingly standardised, there are still places for families that make a real contribution to popular culture.” Similar campaigns have recently started to put both the French baguette (which can be read about in our previous article, Battle of the Baguette) and the iconic green "bouquinisites" book stalls in Paris on UNESCO's intangible cultural heritage list.
We hope you've enjoyed learning about The Paris Café Preservation! Planning a trip to experience the treasured bistros and café terraces in person? Our culturally immersive classes taught by native instructors will ensure you are able to order whatever you heart may desire with ease! Click below for more info!
Origins of The Patrimony Days
Disneyland Paris is partaking in the cultural celebration this year, but how exactly did they start?
This coming fall, Disneyland Paris will participate in an event titled Patrimony Days: a national celebration of French culture and heritage. On September 15th and 16th, guests will be able to participate in an exclusive experience that focuses on history, architecture, gastronomy, and local artisans in addition to guided tours throughout the park. A mobile app has been developed to aid guests in learning about the inspiration behind Disneyland Park in an interactive way and will be available only for the two days of the event on both iOS and Android.
Patrimony Days (also titled European Heritage Days or EHD) is a joint action of the Council of Europe and the European Commission that involves all 50 signatory states of the European Cultural Convention under the motto: Europe, a common heritage. The annual event includes opportunities to visit buildings and monuments that are not normally accessible to the public and aims to widen access to and foster architectural and environmental heritage.
The event began in France in 1984, with La Journée Portes Ouvertes and in 1985, in Granada, at the 2nd European Conference of Ministers. It was at this time that the French Minister of Culture proposed that the project be internationalized under the Council of Europe. The Netherlands held their first Open Monumentendag in 1987 followed by Sweden and Ireland in 1989, then Belgium and Scotland in 1990. It wasn’t until 1991 these events were united as European Heritage Days at the initiative of the Council of Europe, supported by the EU, and finally in 2010, all 50 signatory states of the European Cultural Convention agreed to participate.
References to European and French culture are abundant at Disneyland Paris from the fairy tales that inspired classic Disney films to the architectural style that honors French sites, along with the art of food that is represented in its numerous restaurants.
We hope you've enjoyed learning about the Origins of The Patrimony Days! Planning a trip to experience the magic of Disneyland Paris during this special celebration? Our culturally immersive classes taught by native instructors will ensure you are able to experience the Patrimony Days to the fullest! Click below for more info!
Saving The French Cinema
Down with Putlocker: Le Cinéma vs. Les Pirates, starring Françoise Nyssen.
France’s Minister for Culture, Françoise Nyssen, is working to ensure that measures are taken to blacklist websites that engage in piracy affecting French cinema. As you may remember from our previous article, GOING UP IN SMOKE, the cinema is possibly France’s most cherished export (behind the baguette of course) which may explain why Nyssen is so dead-set on taking care of this “scourge” once and for all.
She has stated that “We must impose the same financial obligations on these players as those traditionally established in France, and we must impose a quota of European works on video on demand platforms” and has vowed to create regulation to aid in the fight against piracy and, effectively, put France at the head of the spear. She has described piracy as “an absolute scourge,” and that it destroys the “worth, power and duty of dissent” of France.
“I hope that ‘blacklists’ will be established by HADOPI [Haute Autorité pour la Diffusion des Œuvres et la Protection des droits d’auteur sur Internet (Supreme Authority for the Distribution and Protection of Intellectual Property on the Internet)], to allow advertisers, payment services or search engines to recognise illegal sites and to stop their dealings with them,” she said.
According to Nyssen, most of the government’s power in combatting piracy is being used ineffectively by focusing on peer-to-peer downloads, while nearly 80% is perpetrated by streaming or direct download.“The fight against piracy is one of the great challenges of the century for cinema. France will be on the front line in supporting it,” she declared.
A major financier of French and European cinema (with €500 million in direct investment), The Canal + Group has received the Minister’s proposals with open arms as it also holds a place at the forefront of the piracy war. In a statement by the company, they hope to “By tackling illegal streaming and downloading, placing the priority directly on the fight against pirate sites and their mirror sites in a dynamic way, creating the conditions for a rapid and lasting suppression of the sites concerned in connection with the judiciary, this plan shows an encouraging ambition and a pragmatic adaptation of certain good practices that have proven effective abroad.”
We hope you've enjoyed learning about how the French government, especially, Françoise Nyssen is working to Saving the French Cinema. Do you think the efforts will be successful, or is piracy an inevitable byproduct of the digital age? Let us know what you think below!
Taking on Tobacco
France moves forward with raising tobacco prices in hopes of curbing its use.
There is a war happening in France between the government and the tobacco industry. As you may remember from our previous article, Going Up In Smoke, the French government proposed a law to outlaw on screen smoking in an effort to curb it’s appeal amongst young citizens. On the 1st of March a singular euro increase in the price of cigarettes will bring the average price of a pack to 8 euros, or $9.80 USD with the plan being to increase the price to 10 euros ( or $12.25 USD) before the end of 2020.
The plan, proposed by Health Minister Agnès Buzyn states that there will be 6 price increases in total and that 80% of that price goes to taxes worth more than 14 billion euros annually to the treasury. Buzyn stated that "These increases spread over time will allow people to prepare, to find ways to stop smoking.” According to the president of the anti-smoking group Droits des Non Fumeurs, Gerard Audereau, more than 47 billion cigarettes are smoked in France every year, and smoking is a key factor in 78,000 deaths each year in France which makes it the country's leading cause of premature death.
Comparatively, approximately 28% of French adults smoke versus 17% of U.S. adults, according to the Center for Disease Control and manufacturers are estimating that the drop in French sales in 2018 will be 10-15%
Late last year, French Socialist senator Nadine Grelet-Certenais accused France’s film-makers of continuing to advertise for the tobacco industry when she stated in the parliament that “Seventy per cent of new French films have at least one scene of someone smoking. This more or less helps to make its use banal, even promote it, to children and adolescents.” The government has planned to raise the price of cigarettes and tobacco in an effort do de-popularize it for the younger generations of French citizens.
There is, however, a silver lining to the smoking crisis as public opinion surveys that show increased numbers of French citizens intend to quit and that the sales of nicotine patches and nicotine chewing gum have increased by nearly 30% as a result of the new measures.
We hope you've enjoyed learning about the French government's efforts of Taking on Tobacco! What do you think about the proposed price hike? Comment below with your thoughts!
Mobile Phone Prohibition
Get caught using your phone in the driver's seat and pay up to $150.
A French court has ruled that it is now illegal for drivers to use mobile phones in their cars and that drivers can be punished for using a mobile device any time the vehicle isn't parked in a designated parking area, including a car park or private driveway with a fine of up to €135 (approx. $150 USD) along with 3 points on their driving license. The law does not apply to hands-free devices (but does restrict wireless headsets), and it makes exceptions for emergency calls, like being stranded on the side of the road.
The decision came after a driver appealed a fine he received in 2017 which punished him for using a phone while he was parked at a roundabout with his hazard lights on. However, there is one exception that allows drivers to still make calls if they break down at the side of the road.
The efforts are all of a program that the French government implemented in order to tackle the rising number of automobile related deaths. In 2015 some 300,000 drivers in France were fined after being caught using their phone and a recent survey revealed that 9 out of 10 drivers in France admitted using their phone while driving, thus contributing to the death toll in 2016 that reached 3,469 victims. A study conducted by Sécurité Routière, has concluded that about 10 percent of the country’s road accidents are caused at least in part by telephone use.
We hope you've enjoyed learning about France's Mobile Phone Prohibition! Want to ensure you're up to date with French culture? Our Private Lessons and Group Classes at JP Linguistics are sure to set you on the road to linguistic fluency and cultural familiarity faster than you may think!
Battle of the Baguette
"Excellence and expertise must be preserved, and that is why it should be heritage-listed," President Macron stated in an interview with French radio as French artisans have voiced concern about mass-produced, low quality imitations of the beloved French bread. "A baguette is the symbol of France, like the Eiffel Tower,"
Battle of the Baguette
The French president Emmanuel Macron has stated recently that the baguette should be listed as a Unesco cultural treasure. In a statement in support of a national bakers’ association, he affirmed that:
"The baguette is the envy of the whole world.”
"Excellence and expertise must be preserved, and that is why it should be heritage-listed,"
Inspired by the success of Italy's Naples pizza, which was protected by the UN's cultural body last year after an intense lobbying campaign (including a petition signed by more than two million Italians), Macron hopes to add baguettes to the coveted list that aims to save traditions from.
The bakers say it is not just the name and shape, but the recipe and ingredients that need to be protected.
"Excellence and expertise must be preserved, and that is why it should be heritage-listed," President Macron stated in an interview with French radio as French artisans have voiced concern about mass-produced, low quality imitations. "A baguette is the symbol of France, like the Eiffel Tower," said Dominique Anract, the president of the national confederation of baking and pastry.
"When I see the the growing dominance of French supermarkets and convenience stores in the sale of bread, I say to myself that we must act.”
The traditional baguette is already protected in France by a 1993 law that instructs that the bread must only be made from wheat flour, water, yeast and salt and can not be frozen or contain added preservatives.
We hope you've enjoyed learning about the Battle of the Baguette! Do you think the legendary bread has earned it's place among the list of Unesco cultural treasures? Leave a comment below and tell us why!
Say No to Crypto!
Bitcoins are not the new Euros.
The chief of the French central bank has today warned on the risks of investing in bitcoin. Governor Francois Villeroy de Galhau warned that "speculative" assets are not a currency and, confusingly, not "even a cryptocurrency." Its value and extreme volatility have no economic basis, and they are nobody's responsibility. In other words, say no to crypto.
The central bank, he said, warned that those buying bitcoin "do so entirely at their own risk.” His sentiments echo JPMorgan CEO, Jamie Dimon’s when he said he would fire any employee trading bitcoin for being “stupid” and that if he found out one of his employees were buying Bitcoin that: “I’d fire them in a second. For two reasons: It’s against our rules, and they’re stupid. And both are dangerous.”
As a bit of background, The Bank of France (Banque de France), headquartered in Paris, is the central bank of France and is linked to the European Central Bank (ECB). Founded in 1800, it helped resolve the financial crisis of 1848 and emerged as a powerful central bank. Its main charge is to implement the interest rate policy of the European System of Central Banks (ESCB). France's original currency, the Franc were convertible to Euros (which the country adopted on January 1st, 2002) until February 17, 2005 at the Banque de France.
This announcement comes amid a media-storm following the price of bitcoin, which climbed back over $12,000 in the second week of January, 2018. The astonishing price gains have prompted a number of notable figures in finance to declare bitcoin a bubble. However, while Bank of France shows no interest in cryptocurrencies, it has shown an interest in the blockchain technology that makes cryptocurrencies possible.
Do you agree with de Galhau's sentiments to "Say No To Crypto?" Comment below and let us know your thoughts!
Words of Wisdom by Bruyere
Here’s some Moralist motivation courtesy of Jean de la Bruyere.
Start the new year with
words of wisdom
courtesy of Jean De La Bruyere: French philosopher and moralist.
Bruyère was born in Paris in 1645 into a middle class family, his father as Controller General of Finance to the Hôtel de Ville. After his father's passing, he received a considerable inheritance. Very little is known of the events of his life as most people perceived him to be a silent, observant, but somewhat awkward man. However, his critical book, Caractères, written in 1688, garnered numerous enemies. Despite that, most notations about him are positive, specifically pertaining to his abilities in satire, humor, and "giving of advice" as seen below in some of his most noted quotes:
“Out of difficulties, grow miracles.”
"Politeness makes one appear outwardly as they should be within.”
"When a work lifts your spirits and inspires bold and noble thoughts in you, do not look for any other standard to judge by: the work is good, the product of a master craftsman.”
"Two quite opposite qualities equally bias our minds - habits and novelty."
"Those who make the worst use of their time are the first to complain of its shortness.”
"To be among people one loves, that's sufficient."
We hope that you've been inspired to continue on courtesy of the Words of Wisdom by Bruyere! If learning a new language is on your list of resolutions this year, our team of enthusiastic native instructors want to help you achieve your language goals and advance your fluency!
Home to the Letters of Love
France, the birthplace of the loterie d’amour, has a long history of celebrating La Saint-Valentin.
As the birthplace of the “language of love” and the loterie d’amour, or “drawing for love,” France has long celebrated Valentine’s Day - La Saint-Valentin - as the day for lovers.
It is claimed that the first Valentine’s Day card originated in France when Charles, Duke of Orleans, sent love letters to his wife while imprisoned in the Tower of London in 1415, and although card giving is not as popular as it once was, it has been replaced by another wonderful gift - treating one’s significant other to the wonders of the French cuisine.
One of the oldest Valentine's Day traditions in France placed men and women in houses that faced one another where they would take turns calling out to one another and pairing off. Men who weren’t satisfied with their match could simply leave a woman for another, and the women left unmatched gathered afterward for a bonfire. Eventually, the government passed down a decree officially banning the observation of this custom.
The French also came up with reasons to celebrate based purely on nature. One of the theories for why Valentine’s Day is observed specifically on February 14th is that birds and other animals paired off and mated in the middle of February and in France, there was a popular notion that birds start the process of mating around the middle of the second month of the year. Thus, the reason that lovers all over the region started exchanging romantic notes around this time (as they began to consider it opportune for them to do the same).
Today, the French celebrate Valentine’s Day like many others around the world by exchanging cards, small gifts, words of affection, and especially fresh flowers to show their love for one another. Oh, and wonderful French food. Lots of wonderful French food.
Imagining a romantic La Saint-Valentin? While we can't transport you to France, Home to the Letters of Love, we'd love to celebrate with you in NYC with a FREE event! Click below to gain access.
The Most Painted Woman in the World
She captured the minds and hearts of the greatest painters of her time, all while advertising her love of women.
If you had to guess what connected Pablo Picasso, Raoul Dufy, Tamara de Lempicka, Marie Laurencin, and Francis Picabia, other than their status as highly respected artists, would you know where to start?
If the name Suzy Solidor comes to mind...
you might be on the right track.
In addition to being featured in works by each of these greats, she is aptly dubbed:
The Most Painted Woman in the World.
Born Suzanne Louise Marie Marion in 1900 in the Pie district of Saint-Servan-sur-Mer in Brittany, France, Suzy made her name as a prominent singer and actress and opened / owned a popular chic nightclub called La Vie Parisienne. In her cabarets, The Most Painted Woman in the World would sing about not only her desire for women but what she would do to them in explicit detail. The idea that she was mainstream was a wonder in and of itself. As she became more and more famous for her brash antics (imagine an early 1900s Kardashian), fierce opposition to social norms, and openness about being a lesbian, she was able to easily set the terms of her sittings. She would be given each of the thirty-three portraits of herself to hang in her club - a la the most grand Instagram selfie feed to ever exist.
As a result of this persona, La Vie Parisienne became one of the trendiest night spots in Paris. Her fame allowed her to continue operation even throughout the Nazi occupation of France, as it was just as popular with the German soldiers as it had been for French citizens.
After her death in 1983, forty of her favorite paintings were hung in a museum in The Grimaldi Castle Museum in Haut de Cagnes where they are still on display ranging from her youth to her later years where she took on the monicker, The Admiral.
Want to stay ahead of the curve just as French superstar Suzy Solidor once did?
The Future is Foreign, and at JP Linguistics, we can put you on the road to French fluency sooner than you may have ever thought possible. Our immersive group classes and private lessons ensure that you are not only able to speak with ease, but are also exposed to the beautiful culture from which the language stems.
Going Up In Smoke
A move to curb the cinematic allure of a lit cigarette.
This past week, French senator, Nadine Grelet-Certenais, has struck a match in the French cinema world by proposing a ban on film stars smoking on screen. She states makes the habit coveted and provides free advertising to the tobacco industry. Now that Agnès Buzyn, the health minister, has echoed her sentiments, film-makers may have their hopes going up in smoke.
Unfortunately, this may be much more difficult than just banning them outright. Smoking a cigarette and French cinema have always gone together, and not just in the sense of being on the screen.
They are both very effective ways to kill time.
Think back to any famous French film without the hero positioned stoically surrounded by a delicate stream of twirling smoke...
What has kept this cinematic construct alive is not that it "looks cool" but, more importantly that it foreshadows the mortality of the French antihero. However, as a juxtaposition to their many on screen smoking characters, two of the most famous French film stars, Jean-Paul Belmondo & Alain Delon, are still alive into their 80s.
This has been mirrored in American film and television as well, specifically in period pieces such as Mad Men, Mindhunter, Narcos, etc. In order to accurately represent how these characters went through everyday life requires what was, at one time, an essential prop in the real world at that time.
While this topic remains debated feverently, we can only hope French film-makers and politicians can come to a compromise to not only preserve artistic integrity, but be weary of glorifying an unhealthy habit.
What do you think about the possibility of the French cinema going up in smoke? Leave a comment below!
Natural Remedies for Stress - French Style
Essential oils en français to help you find your zen.
This week, we wanted to touch on a subject that is common for many people - stress. Lack of sleep, working too many hours and not eating a healthy balanced diet, these are just a few common causes for stress. When it comes to the cure, we first look towards natural remedies. Thus, this week, we aim to provide a few natural remedies using essential oils (huiles essentielles) that, when placed on various areas of your body (cou (neck), joue (cheek), etc), will help to reduce stress, allergies, & pain relief. For many French people, natural remedies are usually the first step to curing an ailment. Antibiotics & medicine are typically the second. We hope you enjoy this quick list en Français!
For pain relief (allergies or headache), apply 1 drop of menthe poivrée (oil) to the base of your neck twice per day! (See anatomy translations below).
For allergies, apply 1 drop of lavande (oil) on your forehead or cheeks & feet before bed! (See anatomy translations below).
For stress and tension headaches, apply 1 drop of vanille (oil) on your temples! (See anatomy translations below).
AREAS OF THE BODY for ESSENTIAL OILS
COU - Neck
FRONT - Forehead
TEMPE - Temple
JOUE - Cheek
EARS - Oreilles
Have other natural remedies & favorite essential oils you would like to add to this list? Post them in the comments section below (en Français if you can). Don't forget to share this with your Francophone friends online using #jplingo @jplinguistics. Merci et à bientôt!
French Art En Plein Air
An investigation of the famous French art form.
As the colors of summer start drifting into the warm breeze of fall, we wanted to take a moment to appreciate some French Art En Plein Air. For all you art buffs out there, you will enjoy this journey through the impactful things that French artists did to change the course of art history forever. I hope this inspires you and, who knows, maybe we'll catch you in Central Park with your French Box Easel this fall?
En Plein Air is a French expression and term used in Art meaning 'in the open air.' This phrase became popular in the mid-19th century when art schools, such as the Barbizon School, stressed the importance of their oil painters to head outdoors (in natural light) to recreate the nature around them in their paintings. This also became a popular method of painting with the introduction of paint tubes in the 1840's. In that time, artists were required to hand make their oil paints by mixing dry pigments with linseed oil. All of that changed when paint tubes were invented (which is how we buy oil paints in art stores today). These tubes made life easier for artists to travel with their art supplies during en plein air projects and sparked another invention known as the French Box Easel. These boxes could be considered the 'briefcase' for most artists and contained a simple pair of wooden legs and an easel to prop up a canvas to paint on. To this day, a visit to France will likely consist of a gorgeous view and a few artists on the side streets with their wooden box easels painting away.
Try practicing your French vocabulary by listening to the words below and saying them out loud:
En Plein Air - In the open air
Une Toile - Canvas
Peinture à l'huile - Oil Paint
Un Chevalet - Easel
Peindre - To paint
Let's continue to dive deeper and paint a picture of the artists that made French En Plein Air what we know it to be today. Highly celebrated painters such as Claude Monet, Camille Pissarro, & Pierre-Auguste Renoir were among the leaders who fashioned en plain air, making it famous through their independent exhibitions of 'Impressionist' work. Together they created the art movement Impressionism & caused quite a stir in the art community of the time. Working en plein air was outlandish due to the fact that landscapes & portraits were usually painted in a studio. However, they took art further by portraying the transient sunlight depicted through short, visible brush strokes - evoking the feeling of a passing of time. To give you a better idea, take a peak at some of their work below:
Arm of the Seine near Vetheuil - Claude Monet (Image: www.wikiart.org)
Impression Sunrise - Claude Monet (Image: www.wikiart.org)
Road at Eragny, Winter - Camille Pissarro (Image: www.wikiart.org)
Windmill at Knokke, Belgium - Camille Pissarr0 (Image:www.wikiart.org)
Alphonsine Fournasie on the Isle of Chatou - Pierre-Auguste Renoir (Image: www.wikiart.org)
Beaulieu - Pierre-Auguste Renoir (Image: www.wikiart.org)
Today, we celebrate the work of these great artists in numerous art museums around the world. French Art Plein Air & Impressionism are of the most prolific moments in art history and from it, came great masterpieces, oil paint tubes, and French Box Easels. Can you remember the last time you saw some great Impressionist work? Don't forget to tell us all about it the comments section below (all comments en Français get bonus points)!
Looking to learn more French language and culture? Visit our website for our latest Group Class schedule, Private Lessons, and other services - www.jplinguistics.com.
French Tips to Survive the Moulin Rouge
Just because Parisians avoid it doesn’t mean it’s not worth the visit.
While most Parisian natives stay far away from the Moulin Rouge (mostly because it's located in the 'Boulevarde de Clichy' (a commonplace for the sex trade)), it is a very sought after spot by tourists. To shed some light on the topic, we wanted to take a trip on the wild side & send you a few tips to survive the Moulin Rouge from a native French perspective. We hope you enjoy!
Approaching 'Le Moulin'
You will definitely want to watch your belongings while strolling through the Boulevarde de Clichy. Used heroin needles, sloppy newspapers, and prostitutes roam these streets, but look up towards the sky and all of that seems to disappear as you see the bright red lights and spinning windmill of the Moulin Rouge. The staff at this spectacle tend to wear a chip on their shoulder, so it is best to buy tickets ahead of time. If you happen to arrive without a ticket, you should know that performances are usually held at 7PM, 9PM, and 11PM and it's best to arrive 30minutes prior. Also take note that the tickets are around 115€ for regular seats and about 200€ for VIP seats (which include champagne, macarons & more). When you arrive, try ordering your ticket en Français with 'Une entrée pour le spectacle de ce soir, s'il vous plaît' ('1 ticket for tonight's show please'). You can follow up with 'Le Spectacle dure combien de temps?' ('How long is the performance'). We would recommend paying a few extra euros and grabbing the seats with the champagne.
Getting In
Once you are ready to usher through the crowds and into Toulouse Lautrec's favorite playground, you will be taken to your seats. At this point, most people grab their iphones and try snapping a quick photo of the venue. However, the ushers are on high alert for this as photos & video are strictly prohibited. You will hear this phrase constantly 'Les photos ne sont pas autorisées' ('No photos allowed'), at which you can kindly respond 'Désolé! Je ne savais pas" (Sorry, I didn't know).
The Show
If you are the type of person who enjoys contemporary, avant-garde performances then this might not be the show for you. During its heyday, the show was an arousing display of topless women and dazzling costumes that were innovative. For today's standard, this show is more of a mediocre Broadway, than a flashy modern dance. In any case, you will enjoy seeing what brought some of the most famous paintings in art history to life through the live performances that inspired Toulouse Lautrec. Just take note of the amount of 'foreigners' you see dancing on stage during the performance. If you are expecting a cabaret-style line up of Parisian talent, you might be slightly surprised by the majority of Eastern European performers.
After
As discussed, the area just outside the Moulin Rouge has some safety concerns. It's best to head directly to a cozy bar in Montmartre, such as the 'Chez Ammad' (formerly 'The Grand Hôtel de Clairmont'). At this point, you can grab a martini with a friend and engage in one of France's favorite activities, 'la critique.' Common phrases might include 'Qu'est-ce que tu as pensé des costumes ?' ('What did you think of the costumes?') 'Tu as aimé les chansons ?' ('Did you like the singing?') and "Tu as aimé ?' ('Did you enjoy it?'). In any case, you will have plenty of time to discuss as most bars stay open until 2AM or later if they have proper dispensation.
There is much to do and see around Paris and, for obvious reasons, the Moulin Rouge is one of the many landmarks to consider. Many tourists often wonder what actually goes on inside, so we hope this post offered some useful insight. Have you been to the Moulin Rouge or are considering going? Make sure to leave a comment below with your thoughts, questions or with any of your favorite tips!
Everything you need to know about traveling to France
Never been to France? This guide will help you navigate your way through one of the world's most popular countries!
Want to travel to France? Let us make planning your trip a little bit easier. Here is everything you need to know about traveling to France, including where you and your family or friends should visit, how to get around each town and across long distances, and helpful phrases that will make communicating during your stay much more pleasant. We have also provided some tips on what to do in case of an emergency or if you get lost during your journey. Use this as a reference guide to your next trip abroad to France!
Where to go
Unsure of where to go and what cities to visit when traveling to France? This could be the biggest challenge of all, as there are so many incredible cities and historic landmarks scattered throughout the country that it would be impossible to grasp the enormity of France in just a short trip. There are plenty of cities to choose from. Some significant ones are Nice, Strasbourg, Bordeaux and Paris. Each of these cities has a charm all it's own. A few popular sites that can be found all around the country are the Eiffel Tower in Paris, the Nimes Roman Monuments, the tallest bridge in the world -- the Millau Bridge that spans the River Tarn, the Étretat Cliffs, the Reims Cathedral and the Palace of Versailles.
How to get around
An important factor in deciding which locations to visit during a trip abroad is determining how to get around. Luckily, France offers a few different options for getting from one place to the next that are efficient for a multitude of circumstances. Whether visitors are traveling cross-country distances in a short period of time, or if they wish to reach a rural location uncharted by railways and planes, or if tourists simply wish to get around town with convenience, there are options for each situation.
Car
The most charming châteaux and country hotels always seem to lie away from the main cities and train stations. Under this circumstance, automobile travel is the best option. Renting a car is a great way to reach the French countrysides, the Normandy beaches, the Loire Valley, the extravagant vineyards and rural Provence. In order to do so, renters must present a passport, a driver's license and a credit card. It is important to review the insurance policies before going through with the car rental, to ensure your liability in case of any accidents. For those accustomed to North American prices, gas prices in France are expensive, averaging at $5.54 USD. However, the smaller the car the less gas you will need for your trip. It is important to recognize the translations for leaded gasoline, avec plomb, and unleaded, sans plomb, and to be aware beforehand that in France, people drive on the right side of the road. Keep this in mind when comfortably making a decision on which mode of transportation to take. When in need of flexibility when traveling, renting a car is the way to go.
Public Transportation
France's world-class public-transport systems are utilized throughout the country's major cities. There are métros, or underground subway systems, in Paris, Lyon, Marseille, Lille and Toulouse, andthere are tramways, or ultramodern light-rail lines, in cities such as Bordeaux, Grenoble, Lille, Lyon, Nancy, Nantes, Nice, Reims, Rouen, Strasbourg, and parts of Paris. This is a great method of transportation for getting around town without much expense or hassle, and for traveling short distances in no time. Travelers have the option of purchasing single tickets, booklets of tickets and all-day passes for a customized metro experience.
Train
When taking a cross-country journey across France, the best way to get from one place to the next is by train. France has the world’s fastest trains on it's tracks, known as Train à Grande Vitesse, or TGVs, which link some 50 French cities, allowing visitors to travel from Paris to just about anywhere else in the country within hours. Trains also have many amenities such as food and snacks on board, comfortable seating and incredible views of the French countryside. For information about tickets, visit here!
What to do in case of emergency
The first thing to do when lost in a foreign country is to stay calm and don't panic. Simply ask the locals for their help and assistance. Let the key phrases below be a helpful guide in finding the way back. Be aware of your surroundings as to not be fooled by pick-pocketers (they are everywhere, especially in tourist-populated areas), and if things get to be quite problematic, contact a police officer. They are there for your help and safety.
Phrases to know
When venturing around a foreign country, it is important to be able to communicate on a basic level, especially in case of an emergency. We have listed a few common phrases that will go a long way in making your visit to France much more pleasant and enjoyable.
Hello/ good day/ good morning, how are you? ----> Bonjour, ça va?
Thank you very much! ----> Merci beaucoup!
How much does it cost? ----> Combien ça coûte?
Do you speak English? ----> Vous parlez anglais?
I speak very little French. ---> Je parle seulement un peu français.
Where can I find the nearest map? ----> Où est la carte la plus proche?
May I have a glass of water? ----> Est-ce que je peux avoir un verre d’eau?
I need help, I feel threatened. ----> Aidez-moi! Je suis menacé(e).
No thank you, I’m just looking for now. ----> Non merci, je regarde.
Where is the ticket window? ----> Où est la vente detickets ?
No/ yes ----> Non/Oui
Where is the restroom? ----> Où sont les toilettes?
Would you please take our picture? ----> Vous pourriez prendre notre photo, s’il vous plait?
Goodbye! ----> Au Revoir!
I hope Everything You Need to Know About Traveling to France will be helpful for your next trip abroad! If you are looking to learn more about French language and culture, make sure to sign up for our new Group Classes at JP Linguistics! Don't forget to tell your friends about Frenchie Fridays so they can receive fun French stories delivered directly to their inboxes - they can sign up HERE.
Merci et à bientôt!
Credit: Frommer.com, pexels.com, wikipedia, Owens and Hugh Llewelyn - Flickr.com
Think You Know France? 3 Quizzes To Test Your Knowledge
Test your knowledge of French culture and historic events with these 3 quick quizzes.
Think you know a thing or two about French language and culture? We're here to test your knowledge with 3 fun and unique quizzes that include historical, linguistic, and cultural elements. Simply select a quiz below and answer as many questions as you can. After clicking 'Bonnes Réponses,' you will see all the corrections. Get ready, set, go!
Select a French Quiz below to get started:
If you have never been to France or are looking for gain French language and culture skills, don't forget to check out our French Group Classes or French Private Lessons. Our native French instructors are filled with fun and useful tips which will help you blend in like a local. Unsure how to get started, have no fear! We are here for you. Feel free to contact us with any questions. Bonne Journée!
5 Best Festivals in France
Nothing’s better than a city-wide party. Here are some of our préféfés.
An important aspect of French culture is the extravagant celebratory festivals. We have cultivated the 5 Best Festivals in France, including the Cannes Film Festival, the Tour De France, the Nice Carnival, Bastille Day Parade and the Monaco Grand Prix -- the majority of which are held during the prime spring and summer vacation months. Keep these celebrations in mind for your next trip abroad, and don't miss out on all the fun!
Cannes Film Festival
The annual Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, France, has drawl visitors from worldwide since 1946 for its dedication to uncovering the best that the film industry has to offer and honoring those with raw passions for film making. Held at the Palais des Festivals et des Congrès, it is considered the most publicized and most prestigious film festival in the world. The festival takes place in May, and previews new films from all over the world and of all genres. Movie stars from Audrey Hepburn to Arnold Schwarzenegger to Marilyn Monroe have attended this glamorous event. Visit here for more information about this year's Cannes Film Festival!
Tour De France
Bicyclists and spectators alike from all around the world travel to France for the Tour De France, the world's most famous cycling competition. This annual multistage race held in France since 1903 is typically held in July, and consists of 21 day-long segments covering 3,500 kilometers (2,200 miles). The route of the race is ever-changing, however it consistently covers some of the most magnificent grounds of France, including the Alps and Pyrenees mountain chains. This is the perfect festival tocelebrate the world's best cyclists while enjoying the country's beautiful landscapes.
Nice Carnival
The Nice Carnival is the main winter event on the French Riviera and one of the largest carnivals in the world. The carnival offers a program of entertainment with over 1,000 international musicians and dancer, and a procession of 16 floats with giant colorful parades that take place day and night each year for one week in February. The earliest mention of the carnival in Nice is traced back to the 13th century, making it the oldest existing festival in the world. The root meaning of the word "carnival" is "away with meat," and was celebrated as a time to enjoy bountiful cuisines before Lent. Today, the event attracts over a million visitors to Nice every year and is celebrated on the Promenade des Anglais.
Bastille Day Military Parade
This festival commemorates the national French holiday Bastille Day, recognizing the historic storming of the Bastille that occurred in in Paris in 1789, and the Fête de la Fédération that occurred on the same day a year later to celebrate peace in the French nation during the French Revolution. Each year on the morning of July 14th since 1880, the French militants parade down the streets of Paris in remembrance of the violent revolution and to celebrate the unity of the French people. The holiday is celebrated throughout the country in a similar fashion to the United States on 4th of July, with fireworks and feasts.
Monaco Grand Prix
Regarded as one of the most important and prestigious automobile races in the world, the Monaco Grand Prix is a Formula One motor race held in the Circuit De Monaco since 1929. Similar to the Tour De France in respect to the route's breathtaking scenery, the Grand Prix brings in thousands of spectators worldwide for this thrilling but glamorous weekend along the Monte Carlo Harbor. This event lines up perfectly with spring and summer trips, and will be held this year May 26 through the 29th. Click here to find out about tickets and more!
I hope you enjoyed these 5 Best Festivals in France! If you are looking to learn more French language and culture, make sure to sign up for our new Online Classes at JP Linguistics! Don't forget to tell your friends about Frenchie Fridays so they can receive fun French stories delivered directly to their inboxes - they can sign up HERE. Merci et à bientôt!
Credit: stokpic - Pixabay, Wikipedia Commons, Karen Corby - Flickr.com
5 French Vacation Spots for Spring
Five amazing locations to visit while the flowers bloom.
Planning a trip to France this spring, but don't know where to begin? It can be challenging to narrow down which cities to roam when the country is rich with history and authenticity. We have chosen five of our favorite French vacation spots for spring that are sure to satisfy all of your French cravings. Whether you are in the mood for a romantic getaway in the Parisian cafes and the secluded Annecy, or if you would rather enjoy relaxing and exotic beach excursions in Cassis, or if you are eager to sightsee some of the world's most historic ruins and cathedrals in Lyon and Loire Valley, then we have your ideal France vacation nearly planned for you!
LYON
The third largest city in France, Lyon is located in the east-central region of the country and is the perfect location for a sense of French culture. Whether you are in the mood to meander through museums or sightsee some of the oldest Roman ruins, or even if you would rather take a stroll through the town and have a drink among the city's Old World charm, this is the place for you. Some must-see sights are the Gallo-Roman Museum of Archeology, the Parc de la Tête d'Or, which is the largest park in France, or the Presqu'ile District, which is home to the Hôtel de Ville (town hall) and the Place des Terreaux.
PARIS
It would be a shame to visit France and not set foot in the most romantic and sought-after destination in the world. Paris is dense in history, rich in culture, and is likely a vacation in itself. There is plenty to do and there is so little time. Without a doubt, Paris is a complete must-see if you are in the area (a.k.a. if you are in Europe). To narrow down your sightseeing for just a taste Paris, get the Eiffel Tower and Arc De Triomphe out of the way, because those sights go without saying. From there, you have The Lourve, which could easily take up a week of your time if you truly took advantage of all the magnificent artifacts it has to offer; and the Notre Dame de Paris Gothic church is a must. For more must-see Parisian getaways, visit here!
ANNECY
Now, many visitors neglect the countrysides of France and fail to get a glimpse of the authenticity of small towns such as Annecy, situated in a valley beside Lake Annecy in the south-east of France. This is the absolute destination for a quiet and peacefully getaway surrounded by locals. Visitors enjoy the beauty of the mountains in contrast to the crystal clear, blue lake, and relax in romantic cafes, sipping wine and people watching. A must-see in this town is the Château d'Annecy (Annecy Castle) along the Thiou River. Another is Le Palais de l'Isle, which is hard to miss as it is planted in the water and in a central part of the city.
LOIRE VALLEY
Regarded as a popular tourist attraction for its incredible scenery, historic towns, architecture and chateaux, Loire Valley is a picturesque region to visit in spring. Located in the center of the country, Loire Valley is considered the "Garden of France" for its abundance of vineyard, fruit orchards and fields of artichoke and asparagus that line the banks of the river. A must-see sight in this region is the Château d'Azay-le-Rideau, a chateau considered to be the foremost example of french renaissance architecture.
CASSIS
Situated on the Mediterranean coast, Cassis offers visitors a glimpse of life in a quaint Provencal fishing village in the heart of Calanques National Park. Whether you would rather enjoy the city by boat or by strolling along the turquoise coastline from a pebbled beach, Cassis is a must see this spring. The towering cliffs in contrast with the coastline offer breathtaking views to all who visit. For those who enjoy hiking, it is advised to visit the Cap Canaille cliff that lines the water. It is quite a hike but incredible for those who are up for the challenge. It is also a must to visit the calanques, limestone cliffs that plunge into the Mediterranean. Viewing these natural wonders by boat is the most convenient and accessible way to see them up close.
I hope you enjoyed these 5 French Vacation Spots for Spring. If you are looking to learn more French language and culture, make sure to sign up for our new Online Classes at JP Linguistics! Don't forget to tell your friends about Frenchie Fridays so they can receive fun French stories delivered directly to their inboxes - they can sign up HERE. Merci et à bientôt!
For more destinations for your France spring vacation, visit here!
Photo credit by Carlos de Paz - Flickr, www.pexels.com, Mike Brice - Pixabay, Wikipedia Commons, and Dennis Jarvis - Flickr.
Pop Quiz - Can You Answer These 8 Cultural Facts?
Think you know more than thing or two about French and culture? Prove it!
Think you know a thing or two about French language and culture? Take our fun and short 8-question quiz which will test your knowledge on some of the country's most beloved history. Click submit to see the right answers. Bonne chance!
(Please note the source of original content for the quiz above: www.french.lovetoknow.com)
We hope you enjoyed Pop Quiz - Can You Answer These 8 Cultural Facts! For more language tips and French classes visit us at www.jplinguistics.com.