Plurelising the mountains

Question

In the sentence J'adore la vie à la montagne, I translate that as I love the life in the mountains. I was wondering why it isn't J’adore la vie dans les montagnes. Could anyone explain please?Merci beaucoup

Céline Pickard · Accepted Answer

Bonjour Martin,
J'adore la vie à la montagne = I love living in the mountains
 -> the general place (just like you would say "at the seaside" -> "à la mer")
J’adore la vie dans les montagnes = I love living in(side) the mountains
 -> "inside all them" (just like you would say "il y a une souris dans le placard" = "there is a mouse inside the cupboard")
I hope this is helpful.
Bonne journée !

Maarten Kamp · Answer

"à la montagne" is a fixed expression. It is used in the same way that you would say "J'adore la vie à Paris", or "J'adore la vie en Frace", speaking in a general (almost abstract) sense about a place, region etc

The lesson on using dans/en linked below is pertinent here, I think.

https://www.wordreference.com/fren/à%20la%20montagne

En vs Dans with locations (French Prepositions of Location)

Maarten Kamp · Answer

Céline and my answers seem to have hit at the same moment !