Interview: Charlotte Gainsbourg, the daughter of Serge and Jane Birkin, on her wild childhood and her sister’s death

The daughter of France’s sauciest couple has always struggled with the glare of publicity. As Charlotte Gainsbourg releases her most confessional album, she tells Elizabeth Day about her wild childhood and, for the first time, how she still struggles with the untimely death of her sister [ . . . ]

More: Interview: Charlotte Gainsbourg, the daughter of Serge and Jane Birkin, on her wild childhood and her sister’s death

Paris Already Canceled Its Christmas Market This Year—Its Ferris Wheel Might Be Next

The wheel isn’t part of France’s history.The mayor of Paris wants the city’s tourist attractions to reflect its heritage.

The mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, has announced a host of changes in the French capital this year, including a plan to ban gas-fueled cars. While that won’t happen until 2030, City Hall’s most recent project will have a more immediate effect. Paris will no longer host its annual Christmas Market on the Champs-Elysées, and the mayor wants to pull down the big ferris wheel that stands nearby at the Place de la Concorde.[ . . . ] More: Paris Already Canceled Its Christmas Market This Year—Its Ferris Wheel Might Be Next

14 Essential French Foods to Know (Slideshow)

When trying French foods, this is where many people draw the line. Eating snails sounds more like something little kids would mistakenly do while playing outside, not something that takes place in fancy restaurants. But give it a shot, and you might be surprised. Typically served as an appetizer, the snails are removed from their shells, cooked (usually in garlic butter, chicken broth, or wine) and then placed back into the shell with more butter and sauce [ . . . ]

Watch the slideshow at: French 101: 14 Essential French Foods to Know (Slideshow)