Day 3217 (Monday) 30th March 2026

This is Saint Agnes, north of Menton

and this is Monaco.

 

It was another lovely sunny but there is still a chilly wind blowing so we still need to wear a jacket. We bought a sandwich from the local boulangerie and headed down to the Darse for a picnic.

The sea looked so clean.

The buds are coming out on the trees, spring is almost here.

We walked back to the Darse and it was good to see the drydock so busy.

There were a lot of people sunbathing on the beach and quite a few in the water – it is not that warm.

We walked along the port and I took my usual photos of the pointus.

As always on a Monday here’s What’s happening in France this week. The Local France.

Cafe terraces in Paris can be extended from this week for the summer. (Photo by Kiran RIDLEY / AFP)

Blockades, a one-day national education strike, the end of the trêve hivernale, plus the usual raft of changes that come in when the month changes - here's what is happening in France this week.

Monday

Blockades — The French hauliers association has announced blockades across France, and other “symbolic” actions to protest at spiralling fuel prices in the wake of the war in the Middle East and to call for government aid, starting on Monday.

Tuesday

Strike — School staff are expected to walk out on strike across the country, as part of a week of action. The strike call, from an inter-union alliance, is in opposition to the 2026 budget, which they consider to be an austerity budget, leading to the suffocation of the public education service and job cuts.

School closures, reduced services and disruption to school and after-school transport are possible, depending on the local education authorities and local councils.

International — French President Emmanuel Macron visits Japan.

Film — The sixth international Reims Polar festival — which focuses on crime thrillers — opens. US director Gus Van Sant is the guest of honour.

Wednesday

Poisson d'avril — April 1st is the day of 'April fish' - when France goes crazy for practical jokes. Basically, France’s version of April Fool’s Day.

Finances — The prime d'activité will increase as part of the 2026 Finance Act. This income supplement may be paid, under certain conditions, to workers with the lowest incomes. It will be increased by an average of €50 per month per beneficiary. 

Students and apprentices can also benefit from it if they receive a monthly net social income exceeding €1,117.26 or if they are solely responsible for one or more children.

Truce — During the winter months, tenants who cannot pay their rent cannot be evicted in France due to the trêve hivernale (winter truce). This ends on March 31st, meaning on April 1st, evictions in France can begin again.

Passover — The Jewish festival of Passover begins. It ends on April 9th, 2026.

Cafés — The city of Paris allows bars and restaurants to extend their outdoor 'terraces' between April 1st and October 31st. The extended terraces can stay open until 10pm every night. 

Courts — Rapper Booba on trial in Paris for racist insults and cyberbullying against two journalists.

Courts II — The appeal hearing for actress Isabelle Adjani, who was convicted of tax fraud and money laundering, resumes.

Thursday

Diplomacy — After his visit to Japan, President Macron visits South Korea.

Friday

Good Friday — The Easter weekend begins here, but only if you live in the north-eastern part of France, where it’s a public holiday. For the rest of the country, it’s just an ordinary working day.

Holidays — Some schools break up for their spring holidays. Pupils in Zone A, which includes both Lyon and Bordeaux, are off from the end of classes and return on April 20th. Zone B, which includes Aix-Marseille, Nice, and Strasbourg, the Spring holidays run from April 11th to April 27th. And then there’s Zone C, which includes Paris, Toulouse and Montpellier, which has holidays from April 18th to May 4th.

Sport — Champions and Challenge Cup rugby returns for a fortnight of knockout rugby action. Castres, Toulon, Toulouse and holders Bordeaux fly the flag for France in the Champions Cup; while Montpellier, Perpignan, Stade Francais, Pau, and La Rochelle are involved in the round-of-16 in the Challenge Cup.

Sunday

Easter Sunday — Christians across France mark Easter Sunday. 

. . . and Monday off

Easter Monday is a holiday in France, so schools and many businesses will be closed.

Brut: The French word that can mean raw, rough or Champagne

Nicolas Feu illatte' s champagne brut. (Photo by PHILIPPE HUGUEN / AFP)

This French word has many different meanings, from Champagne to salaries, via a well known media organisation.

The French adjective brut, pronounced broot, has several different meanings depending on the context.

First it can describe something in its natural state, meaning it has not been processed, refined or modified.
For example pétrole brut - crude oil, or diamant brut - uncut diamond. You might also hear references to l'eau brut - this means untreated water from a well or spring.

In a similar sense, it can also describe data that has not been analysed yet or processed, données brutes - raw data.

It can also describe someone's behaviour. In this context, it means someone rude or blunt, speaking in a direct or harsh way. 
Paul est un peu brut quand il donne des conseils. - Paul is a little rough around the edges when giving advice.

You can also qualify the truth as la vérité brute (the raw truth). It suggests that sometimes honesty may sound harsh when it is presented without any sugarcoating. 

You may also come across the word brut on your pay slips. In this case, brut refers to the amount you are paid by your employer before deductions such as taxes or charges. Salaire

brut means gross salary - the amount earned before all social contributions are removed. Once those are deducted, you are left with your salaire net. 

When a sparkling wine or cider is labelled brut, it means it is very dry and contains very little added sugar. This classification is common for Champagne as well as cider and indicates a crisp, unsweetened taste  - if you want to refer more generally to a dry white or rosé wine you would use sec.

You may also have heard of the media Brut - an online French media founded in 2016, focusing on short video formats that caters to younger people with a strong social media presence, it's name indicates that it is 'unfiltered' or raw.

French expressions with brut

Brut de décoffrage - This expression literally it means “raw from the mould” (from construction, when concrete is removed from the mould). Figuratively, it describes something very blunt, unpolished, or said without tact. For example, if someone gives an extremely direct opinion without softening it, you could say their comment was brut de décoffrage.

À l’état brut - This means in its raw or natural state, without transformation or processing. It can refer to materials, information, or even emotions. For instance, showing des émotions à l’état brut means expressing feelings in a very raw and unfiltered way.

Style brut - This expression can describe a rough, simple, or unrefined style, whether in writing, art, or design. It suggests something authentic and direct, but not polished.