Photo by © Janne Ford
Welcome to the May/June 2025 Issue!
The first whispers of summer in France are unmistakable — the scent of wisteria and sun-warmed stone, the rustle of market baskets being brushed off and the long and languid evenings stretching just a little later each day. A sense of adventure lingers in the air. Where will the season take us this year?
Here’s a look at where the May/June edition of My French Country Home is taking us…
Popular Early Summer Destinations
For this issue, we set off in search of some sunshine and sea air with a Discovery Guide focused on Île de Ré and Île d’Oléron — two sandy islands located off France’s Atlantic coast, where the rhythm of the tides still dictates daily life.
Creative Takes on Traditional Spaces
For our interior features, we start with an architect couple layering past and present in a forgotten 15th century farmhouse in the Luberon. Meanwhile, in Marseille, an artisan’s home embodies cool, earthy minimalism. Further north, a former Parisian duo has traded city life for Normandy’s Calvados region, opening a guesthouse amid ancient woodlands.
Light and Delightful Recipes
Of course, no summer is complete without good food and good company. Chefs Franck Schmitt and Géraldine Leverd share their fresh, unfussy recipes perfect for apéro hours and light lunches — meals best enjoyed under the dappled shade of a plane tree or beside the glittering sea.
& so much more…
As we turn the page on this new season, we invite you to travel, taste and take it all in.
Read on for a closer look at a few more of this issue’s inspiring features!
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Portfolio: Eternal Flame
The ethereal floating cauldron of the 2024 Paris Olympics set a magical tone for the event that lingered in the air long after the crowds of elated athletes and spectators had dissipated. Its poetic symbolism lifted spirits worldwide – as well as countless camera lenses. In this issue’s Portfolio feature, we feature a collection of some of the most stunning photos taken from the most creative angles last year in honor of the cauldron rising again in Paris this summer.
Destination France: Between the Country and the Sea
Just a stone’s throw from the sea and the D-Day landing beaches of Normandy, a couple of former Parisians recently opened a guesthouse in a quiet Calvados village. For this issue’s Destination France, we head over to a maison d’hôtes (guesthouse) nestled in the heart of a vast wooded park, an ideal place to recharge your batteries in peace.
Gardens of France: Royal Roses
This stately former playground of France’s ruling classes was born of an outlandish royal wager…. A survivor of revolutions and World Wars, the Bagatelle today is an arcadian refuge from the bustle of nearby Paris, famed for its magnificent roses. In this issue, we get a glimpse at the royal rose season captured through the talented lens of photographer Eric Sander.
Recipes: Reinventing French Classics
Contrary to popular belief, “French cuisine can be easy, quick and healthy, all at the same time,” says Géraldine Leverd, who proves this in her debut cookbook The New French Kitchen: Modern Takes on Favorite Classic Dishes. We are delighted to present a selection of fresh recipes from her recently released book, just in time for summer gatherings!
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We hope this new issue of My French Country Home magazine brings fresh inspiration for the sunny new season!