France

The deep green landscape of the Orne département rolls plump with cattle and shire horses, and is at its most magical in autumn.

[brittany-ferries.co.uk](https://www.brittany-ferries.co.uk/ferry-routes/ferries-france/portsmouth-caen/about)), or the Eurostar to Paris ( [eurostar.com](http://eurostar.com/)), and hire a car. Bang on the lake, the three-star Le Béryl ( [hotel-bagnoles.com](http://hotel-bagnoles.com/)) is remarkably welcoming, has a swish of class, good restaurant, plus a sauna and indoor pool. I sat on my hotel balcony, drinking a young calvados with ice and looking out over the lake, parkland and settled centre. The harvest is in full swing as we speak. Around 1028, this was the birthplace of William the Bastard who, 38 years later, evolved from “Bastard” to “Conqueror”. That the Dives valley is now as serene and sleepy as a Sunday afternoon is maybe nature’s way of compensating. Arrested in her classroom in 1942, she was sent to the camps, survived to the end of the war – then died in the train on the way home. The château is monumentally intact – bristling like a brigade of old warriors – but, should you want to honour one of Charles III’s more distant ancestors, best be fleet of foot. The full experience of the occupation, and civil suffering, is centre-stage in the Civilians’ War Museum in the town of Falaise itself ( [memorial-falaise.fr](http://memorial-falaise.fr/)). So you should have to yourself the field of explaining to the French the brilliance of monarchy. Our Henry II was born in 1133 in what is now the town hall. I’d suggest Franck Quinton, Michelin-starred chef and co-owner of the Manoir-du-Lys hotel just out of town.

France's defense minister sought to dispel doubts over plans to build the next-generation European fighter jet, saying the project "will be completed."

The French minister said he and Lambrecht agreed on “future timescales on tanks,” adding that “proposals” to move the project forward would be made at a Franco-German meeting of ministers at the end of October. The need for foresight was as urgent for jets as it was “for the tank of the future,” he said. Despite the difficulties, “we need to think about what the fighter of the future will look like, because we will need it,” the French minister said.

Kylian Mbappe scored a stunning opening goal as France shook off injuries to a host of key players and a series of off-field issues to claim a welcome 2-0 ...

Mbappe had the ball in the net inside 90 seconds only to be denied by the offside flag, and he was a constant threat in the first half. France's failure to win any of their four games in June is the reason for that, but the priority for Les Bleus now is the World Cup, with the first game of their title defence in Qatar exactly two months away. Mbappe showcased his phenomenal pace and strength on the way before finishing emphatically to put the reigning world champions ahead in the 56th minute at the Stade de France.