Freak snowfalls and ice stranded more than 15,000 vehicles on Sunday in the French Alps, where two people died in the extreme weather and crowds of skiers, including many British holidaymakers, bedded down at Chambéry airport. Continue reading…
Author Archives: Anne Penketh
Force-fed foie gras loses favour in France
Jars of foie gras are flying off supermarket shelves as they usually do in the festive season, but could it be that the French, the principal producers and consumers of the delicacy, are becoming squeamish about the controversial gourmet dish? Continue reading…
US architect sparks row over Chartres cathedral restoration
Chartres Cathedral in France is an awe-inspiring sight, renowned in particular for its medieval stained glass windows and stone carvings. But US architect Martin Filler has caused an extraordinary row after viewing progress on its restoration, by accusing the project’s architect, Patrice Calvel, of a cultural desecration akin to “adding arms to the Venus de Milo”. Continue reading…
Paris superstar hotels rush to renovate amid palatial competition
The hotel bar where Ernest Hemingway used to while away the hours is now a Starbucks cafe. The swimming pool no longer exists. But the five-star Claridge hotel on the Champs-Elysées has restored the 110 rooms and suites above, where glitterati such as Edith Piaf, Coco Chanel and Marlene Dietrich once stayed, to celebrate its centenary. Continue reading…
Darker side lurks behind crime shows
For the discerning television viewer, European crime series are addictive. But it’s becoming apparent that they share another underlying feature which is more troubling: misogyny. Why oh why, viewers ask from behind the sofa, are all the murder victims women? Continue reading…
Anne Penketh 