Digital ressources

Download books for free through the exciting "Project Gutenberg"

Project Gutenberg offers legally over 40,000 free ebooks: you can choose among free epub books, free kindle books, download them or read them online. The Project Gutenberg carries high quality ebooks: all ebooks are previously published by bona fide publishers. The project then digitized and diligently proofread them with the help of thousands of volunteers. No fee or registration is required to access the Project Gutenberg, but if you find it useful, you can of course support it with a small donation, so they can buy and digitize more books.

Discover the French photography with Arago

Arago is the online museum of the French photography. Aiming to offer a free, direct access to every single collection of art photography kept in France, the web portal is in the process of digitalizing the collections of numerous museums, libraries, foundations, companies and even artists photographers or their legal successors. Arago's mission is thus to highlight the tremendous role of France in the history of photography since its discovery and to ensure that French photographers and collections are properly showcased. Start your visit here...

A website on Pierre Savorgnan de Brazza, mysterious founder of the French Congo

Since 1999, the French delegation for national commemorations has built a network of websites dedicated to specific anniversaries and commemorations. In this regard, an amazing website about Pierre Savorgnan de Brazza, mysterious founder of the French Congo, was created for the centenary of his death in 1905. Embodying one of those majestic heroes, serving the greatness of France in its remote exotic colonies, Brazza was seen at the time in France as an anti-slavery icon, an apostle of peace and civilization. But Brazza was also engaged in a fierce battle for the control of Congo with Stanley, his arch-enemy. Their strife contributed to the division of the territory that still prevails today... Behind the personal fate of Brazza, this website thus offers in insight on the entire history of central Africa.

A website dedicated to Henri the 4th, one of France greatest king

A very rich website commemorates Henri the 4th of France, a key figure to understand the economic, military and cultural prowess of France during the 17th century. The country was ruined by a terrible war of religion between Catholic and Protestants when he ascended the throne of France in 1589. Himself a Protestant, he had to abjure his Calvinist faith to become France's king. Despite these troubled circumstances, Henri became one of the most popular French monarch both during and after his reign. He showed great care for the welfare of his subjects and, as a politique, displayed an unusual religious tolerance for the time. He was assassinated by a fanatical Catholic in 1610. 4 centuries later, the Archives de France commemorate his incredible achievements through this website.

The rich and numerous websites of the French delegation for national commemoration

Since 1999, the French delegation for national commemorations in partnership with the higher education department has built a network of websites dedicated to specific anniversaries and commemorations. From the brilliant reign of Henri the 4th to the history of the Garamond typeface, from the great philosopher Alexis de Tocqueville's travels to the famous Dreyfus' case, the websites propose a unique insight on French past and shared memory. These original journeys are enriched with the infinite possibilities of the internet: digital images, archive documents and virtual exhibitions.

The French publisher's agency

Discover in one glance the hottest of French contemporary literature with The French Publisher's Agency. Based in NY'c, the French Publishers' Agency is an affiliate of the Bureau International de l'Edition Française (BIEF), which is responsible for the international promotion of French publishers. It represents an average of sixty French publishers in any given year, many of whom have been with the agency since the beginning. Not just an outlet for the big names in literature, literary criticism, philosophy, history, and sociology, the French Publishers’ Agency also opens doors for contemporary novelists and new, provocative thinkers including Muriel Barbery, Emmanuel Carrère, Philippe Claudel, Assia Djebar, Laurent Gaudé, Anna Gavalda, Alain Mabanckou, Philippe Némo, Amélie Nothomb, Michel Onfray, Daniel Pennac, Gilbert Simondon, Hervé This, and Louis-Georges Tin.

Get your news from the heart of Europe: have a look on some Belgian Francophone newspapers

Located at the heart of the European Union, the little kingdom of Belgium has a striving press industry that gives you daily news about Belgian and European topics. Its two main dailies are Le Soir (centre-right newspaper with a strong Brusselian identity) and La Libre Belgique (centre-right, catholic oriented). If you are interested in sports news, with a particular attention to European football, then La Dernière Heure - Les Sports is made for you. Belgium counts also qualitative Francophone news weekly, as Le Vif - L'Express (belonging to the same press group as the French L'Express) or Trends - Tendance, specialised in economic news. And if you prefer having a comprehensive tour of the Belgian press in one glance, you can always go browsing in the world's first electronic kiosk "Gopress.be".

A question about (almost) any topic? Ask a librarian...

You are drafting a report for school but cannot find the information you are looking for? You are preparing an important presentation and would like to get your facts checked? In France, several bilingual services provided by public libraries can help you. BiblioSésame is a free Q&A interface where you can post questions in English or in French about any topic of general knowledge trough its "Ask a librarian" form. The platform will then dispatch your question in its network of participating public libraries to a librarian specialised in the field of your question and you should get an answer in 3 days.
SINDBAD (Service d'INformation Des Bibliothécaires A Distance) is another free reference service provided by the BNF (Bibliothèque Nationale de France). It provides you with document references (books, journals, music CDs, films, etc.) on all subjects and factual information : biographical elements, facts, figures and dates. Up to 15 bibliographical references can be provided ; maximum time allocated to searching is 1 to 2 hours per answer; and your response will be sent within 3 business days to questions asked using the form.
With BiblioSésame and SINDBAD, you will never have to search alone any more!

IF Verso: a new network to support French books in translation

This tool is like no other! Targeted at book professionals interested in French literature, IF Verso is both a database and a social network. Described by its creators from the Institut français as "a cross between Facebook and Goodreads, without the commercial aspect of the latter", IF Verso provides information on French books waiting to be translated and books already translated. It also proposes to book professionals (translators, publishers, rights managers...) from all over the world to communicate amongst each other and find new contacts. First launched in English and French, IF Verso will soon add other languages to its platform.

Book France: the international French book portal

FranceLivre, the first French website for a global audience, was founded by the Centre National du Livre, in association with the Bureau international de l’édition française and l’Institut français. FranceLivre is the single site for all book businesses and organizations, a joint portal providing access to all the sites. It allows publishing professionals, both in France and abroad, to measure the richness and diversity of French publishing output. It provides them with support and guidance to acquire the translation rights for French works. FranceLivre seeks to be a responsive and comprehensive showcase. Each week, the portal, partner of thirty newspapers and broadcast media, will publish a selection of news from one of these titles.

Discover "M", the new magazine of the French newspaper "Le Monde"

Discover "M", the new magazine of the French daily of reference "Le Monde". With "M", travel into the worlds of fashion, design and beauty. Meet beautiful people with amazing lifestyles and update your agenda with the finest European cultural selection.

Eat in style at Intofrench's best virtual tables

Want to improve your cooking skills and discover some tips and tricks about the French cuisine? Intofrench proposes you a selection of blogs and websites that should help you. Chocolate & Zucchini is a blog written by Clotilde Dusoulier, a 31-year-old Parisian woman who lives in Montmartre and shares her passion for all things food-related. MyFrenchCuisine is another blog about French recipes... cooked up in California. In the same breaking-genre style, French Revolution proposes recipes of the kind of French-American fusion cuisine, aiming to reverse the idea that French food is hard and complicated. And finally, Kitchen at Camont is a website proposed by the published author and cuisine guru Kate Hill about Gascon food, one of the most rich and interesting in France. Bon appétit!

It's summer, revisit you (French) classics!

Any spare time during the summer break? Willing to add the depths of literature to the thrill of fun? Then why not revisiting some French classics... Intofrench has made a short selection of online translated novels that should interest holidaymakers in search of nice reads. Our first author is Alexandre Dumas, the father of serialized novels as famous as "The Three Musketeers", "The Count of Monte Cristo" and "The Man in the Iron Mask". If you prefer fantasy works, you should then turn to Jules Verne, author of the fantastic books such as "From the Earth to the Moon" and "Journey to the Centre of the Earth". And for readers keen on irreverent and savoury renaissance literature, François Rabelais is definitely a must. Try his "Pantagruel" or "Gargantua" to have an idea.

MyFrenchFilmFestival.com, the unique online French Film Festival

MyFrenchFilmFestival.com is an innovative concept to let you discover young French creation and allow you to share your love of French cinema with Internet users across the globe. For its second edition, the festival returns with even more foreign languages (films are available in 14 different languages), new partner platforms and launch previews at the four corners of the world. Access to a selection of ten feature films and ten shorts by young French creators will be open in streaming from 12 January to 1 February 2012. You are invited to score all the films and leave your comments on the website. The prices are 1.99€ for the rental of a feature, 0.99€ for the rental of a short and 15.99€ for the full access pack (access to the festival's entire programming). Enjoy!

Discover Boris Vian, the subversive author and musician who shaped the fifties in France

For the opening of its exhibition on Boris Vian, the French National Library has launched a website on this versatile artist. Unrecognised during his lifetime, Vian's talent was rediscovered after his premature death in 1959. A gifted and passionate artist, he was a genial meddler: Jazz-man, novelist, screenwriter for the theatre, poet, singer... Vian was a fanciful creator in a wide range of artistic fields. The virtual exhibition gives you a unique opportunity to discover (in French) the multiple facets of this unusual artist.

Immigration has its museum in France

The "Cité nationale de l'histoire de l'immigration" - "National museum of the history of immigration" was launched in Paris in 2007. A cultural, educative and public-spirited institution altogether, it aims to recognize and emphasize the tremendous role of immigrants in the construction of France. It also focuses on history by proposing various resources as films and podcast recounting the rich relationship between France and immigration in the past two centuries.

RFI: a French provider of global, high-quality news

Radio France Internationale is an institution among global news providers. In dozens of languages, its network of journalists proposes general information on world's affairs with a particularly well-documented African sub-section. Its website also offers web-documentaries as well as practical exercises on the news' theme for French language learners.

TV5Monde launches "TV5Monde+", its new worldwide platform of catch-up TV and Video On-Demand (VOD)

TV5Monde launches its new worldwide platform of catch-up TV and Video On-Demand (VOD), TV5Monde+, allowing you to (re)watch for free a large range of TV programs broadcast in the last 7 days. It also offers access to numerous archives footages and exclusive contents and proposes a direct access to TV5Monde online videos.

Africultures.com: stay connected to African cultures

Africultures.com promotes and supports African cultures outside of the continent. Visual arts, performing arts or written and spoken arts: the website gives a voice to every form of artistic expression from all over Africa. The section "by country" allows you to browse the articles on a geographical basis and to get directly connected to the cultural news of your favourite country.

Presseurop.eu : a daily pick of fresh news from 200 European press titles

Presseurop.eu is a Paris-based news website publishing a daily selection of articles chosen from more than 200 international news titles, then translated into ten languages (English, German, French, Spanish, Romanian, Italian, Portuguese, Dutch, Polish and Czech).

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