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TABLE GEOGRAPHY LOCATION OF FRANCE...(03) FUN FACT...(04) TOURIST ATTRACTIONS...(09) OF CONTENTS 1 2 3 4 CULINARY...(07) 5 FASHION...(15) CULTURE...(22) 6 7 HISTORY...(24)
Geography Location of France France, officially called the Republic of France, is a country located in Western Europe. The country also has several overseas territories and islands around the world, but the mainland of France is called Metropolitan France. It stretches north to south from the North Sea and the English Channel to the Mediterranean Sea and from the Rhine River to the Atlantic Ocean. France is known for being a world power and has been an economic and cultural center of Europe for hundreds of years. The geography of France consists of a terrain that is mostly flat plains or gently rolling hills in the north and west and mountainous in the south (including the Massif Central and the Pyrenees) and the east (the highest points being in the Alps). Metropolitan France has a total size of 551,695 km2 (213,011 sq mi) 03 | Geography Location (Europe only). It is the third largest country in Europe by area (after Russia and Ukraine) and the largest in Western Europe. Wide fertile plains dominate most of the north and west, making France the agricultural epicenter of Europe. The sprawling, forested plateau of the Massif Central, a range of ancient mountains and extinct volcanoes, occupies France's southern interior.
Fun Fact of France The second largest film producer in the world. The exoticism of the French nation on various fronts has made this country the second largest film producer in the world Many action and romantic films were born in France, because in addition to the beautiful environment that supports filmmaking. Ranked 17th in the world in carbon dioxide reduction. This achievement has been built with policies that are pro-environmental, one of which is as described above that in using fuel alone, they use materials that are friendly to the environment, use nuclear which does not produce carbon dioxide. Before the Louvre Museum became a museum, it was a fortress built in the 12th century and then renovated into a royal palace in the 16th century. Many people claim that the Louvre Museum is haunted due to its age and complicated past. | Fun Fact The Louvre Museum in Paris, France is the largest art museum in the world. This museum is so big that if you wanted to spend 30 seconds looking at each piece of art, it would take you approximately 100 days to get through the entire museum. 04
Did you know that in France over 25,000 tons of snails are eaten every single year? That is a lot of snails! On average, a resident of France eats approximately 500 snails per year. The French consider snails to be a delicacy and they are often enjoyed during holidays. In France, snails are referred to as “escargot”. While there are several different types of escargot that you can eat, one of the most common ways to eat snails in France is cooked in butter and garlic. The best way to eat snails in France is to do so at a French restaurant. Snails are often eaten as an appetizer, and to eat them, your waiter should provide you with special utensils to help crack the shell. | Fun Fact The French believe that placing a baguette (or any type of bread) upside down on a table can cause bad luck. This legend dates all the way back to the Middle Ages and has never gone away. Back in the Middle ages, the town executioner would often not have time to pick up their bread in the morning. The baker would hang a loaf upside down for the executioner to pick up later on in the day. Because of this practice in the Middle ages, over time, upside-down bread became a symbol of fear and death. People would avoid any upside-down bread to avoid misfortune. 05
Of all the countries in the world, France consumes the second-largest amount of wine. In total, the French consume approximately 25 million hectoliters per year. They are second to the United States, which consumes about 30 million hectoliters. In addition to consuming a ton of wine, France is also known for creating the most expensive wine in the world. This bottle of wine costs around $21,000! While you probably won’t get the chance to try the most expensive wine in France, you may get the opportunity to try some French wine. | Fun Fact France is a country that is full of history, culture, and amazing experiences. There are so many fun facts about France that it is impossible to cover them all. If you want to experience all that France has to over, then you should book a trip to Europe’s largest country right away! It is the most popular tourist destination for a reason. If you love traveling and want to see more posts like this one, be sure to check out our destinations section for more travel inspiration. 06
Plain baguettes generally have a bland taste with a bit of a savory taste. Not just being devoured right away, there are various ways to eat French bread baguettes that look unique with a more luxurious taste. Some are processed into food, some are simply spread. Usually this bread is made garlic bread. LOTS OF FRANCE FOOD! Ratatouille is a vegetable preparation that is seasoned before being grilled. In the past, this food was known as a summer food for farmers. However, now Ratatouille is widely known and is often served with bread, potatoes or rice with modified spices and ingredients. Coq au vin has a taste very close to Asian food. The mixture of red wine and onions makes the sauce taste savory and sweet, like sweet soy sauce (with a lower level of sweetness). Recipes for this dish vary so that the taste differs from one another depending on the portion and the chef's additional spices. But globally it tastes similar to chicken satay or whole. COQAUVIN | CULINARY 07 BAGUETTE RATATOUILLE
SOUPEAL'OIGNON BEEFBOURGUIGNON CONFITDECANARD Ratatouille is a vegetable preparation that is seasoned before being grilled. In the past, this food was known as a summer food for farmers. However, now Ratatouille is widely known and is often served with bread, potatoes or rice with modified spices and ingredients. Soupe a L'oignon is a typical French soup that has a thick texture and savory taste. Soupe a L'oignon is made from rich beef broth and is prepared with garlic, grated cheese, and also chicken, Soupe a L'oignon is a typical French soup that has a thick texture and savory taste. Generally, this typical French dish is served with garlic bread. This food is famous because it has a thick texture and has a savory and delicious taste. | CULINARY 08 Confit de Canard is a typical French dish that is suitable for you fans of processed duck meat. Seasoned with various spices typical of French cuisine, the duck meat is then marinated for 24 hours and cooked for at least 36 hours before being grilled or fried. This long cooking process makes the savory seasoning taste and delicious aroma really absorbed into the duck meat The process of making food, which is not short, makes this food have a savory taste and also a very delicious aroma.
Designed by Gustaf Eiffe, a French engineer and architect and a specialist in metal structures. So do not be surprised if the tower as a whole is made of iron, weighing 7,300 tons. The first and second levels are accessible by stairs and elevator. A ticket booth in the south tower sells tickets to the steps that start there. On the first platform the stairs continue up from the east tower and the third level summit is only accessible by lift. From the first or second platform the stairs are open to everyone going up and down depending on whether they have purchased a lift ticket or a stair ticket. The number of steps is 9 to the ticket counter on the ground, 328 to the first level, 340 to the second level and 18 to the lift platform on the second level. When exiting the elevator on the third level there are 15 steps up to the upper observation platform. The number of rungs written gradually on the side of the stairs to give an indication of the ascent. Most of the ascent provides a view directly beneath and around the tower although an additional short flight of stairs closed. EIFFEL TOWER An iron tower built on the Champ de Mars on the banks of the river Seine. This tower has indirectly become a global icon of this country, as well as being one of the famous structures in the world. Built in 1889, with a structure height of 325m and an antenna length of 24 meters, if compared to a conventional building, it is the same as an 81-floor building. | TOURIST ATTRACTION Welcome to PARI S 09
Versailles, while this palace building was only a place to hoard royal treasures. After changing its function and name several times, finally on August 10, 1793 this magnificent building was designated as a museum displaying the nation's works. At the time it opened, there were 537 paintings on display here. Most of the paintings and art items in the museum's collection are church and royal property confiscated by the French government. As of 2008, the museum collection is divided into eight curatorial departments: Ancient Egyptian Collections, Near Eastern Antiquities, Greek, Etruscan, Roman, Islamic Art, Sculpture, Decorative Arts, Painting, Prints and Drawing. One of the highlights of this museum is the Louvre Pyramid which is a large glass and iron pyramid, surrounded by three small pyramids, in the Louvre Museum garden, the main pyramid acts as the main entrance to the museum, and was completed in 1989. Initiated by the President French François Mitterrand in 1984 due to various problems with the Louvre's original main entrance, which could not handle the large number of visitors each day. Now the Louvre Museum is home to 35 thousand works of art. | TOURIST ATTRACTION 10 Musee du Louvre, the largest museum in the world, and has the most complete collection from around the world, this museum was once a palace and fortress. Palais du Louvre is a span built in the 12th century under Philip II. Then this building was developed again into a palace as it is today, but in 1682, Louis XIV left this palace and lived at the Palace of LOUVRE MUSEUM
At first Disneyland Paris had the name Euro-Disney. This family playground itself has been operating since April 12, 1992. As technology develops, Disneyland Paris now offers a variety of exciting rides with more advanced technology. At Disneyland Paris, tourists can see various kinds of favorite Disney characters such as Mickey Mouse, Toys Story, Lion King, Alddin, and many more. You can enjoy various exciting attractions, starting from Adventure Isle, Big Thunder Mountain, Meet Mickey Mouse, and many more. Not only that, Disneyland Paris also has many festivals, starting from The Lion King and Jungle Festival, Disney Halloween Parties, Frozen Celebration, and many more. Disneyland Paris also has many food restaurants and cafes with Disney themes, of course add unforgettable experience for children. | TOURIST ATTRACTION 11 Musee du Louvre, the largest museum in the world, and has the most complete collection from around the world, this museum was once a palace and fortress. Palais du Louvre is a span built in the 12th century under Philip II. Then this building was developed again into a palace as it is today, but in 1682, Louis XIV left this palace and lived at the Palace of Versailles, while this palace PARIS DISNEYLAND
The full name of the Arch de Triomphe de l'Étoile was built in 1806 as a sign of Napoleon's victory against Asutria in the Austreliz war. Inspired by the Arc of Titus in Italy, on every wall is an all-in-one list of French war victories. One of the interesting things about this gate, under the arch there is a tomb of an unknown soldier from World War I, his body was placed here [on Armistice Day (Armistice Day) in 1920, and above his grave was written: "Ici Repose Un Soldat Francais Mort Pour La Patrie 1914 - 1918” (Here lies a French soldier who died for his homeland 1914 - 1918). Above this tomb there is a lantern whose fire never goes out. This fire is in memory of the soldiers who died in World War I & II and they are not identified. On the inside of this gate, you can also take the elevator to reach the top where there is a museum which contains various explanations about this gate from the start of its construction. To reach the roof, you can 'wade' 46 steps, and from there, you can see the area around clearly. | TOURIST ATTRACTION 12 The Triumphal Arch that stands majestically on the Place de l'Étoile. This building was built by order of Napoleon Bonaparte with the aim of honoring the services of his great army. The largest gate in the world measuring 45 x 22 x 50 meters, is decorated with many reliefs and statues depicting the Napoleonic wars. ARCH DE TRIOMPHE
Initially, this square was built by Jaques Gabriel in 1755 with an octagonal or octagonal shape. In the center of it, a statue of King Louise XV was erected in his honor when he ascended the throne, but later this statue was torn down during the French revolution in 1792, and replaced with a new statue named Liberte (victory), and the square changed its name to La Revolution. This square then changed again to the Place de Greve or the grave square, because here was laid a Guillotine in 1793, in a matter of 2 years, this ax has beheaded more than 1300 human heads alive, alive, and one of them is the King Louis XVI on January 21, 1793. After 1979, the ax was removed from the square, and the square was renamed the Place de la Concorde from 1830, to the present day. | TOURIST ATTRACTION 13 A large square located halfway between the Tuileries Garden and the Champ Elysees. Place de la Concorde is the main and largest square in Paris. This square has a long history, from changing names to the 'attractions' held here. PLACE DE LA CONCORDE
French media reported that the student, born in 2007, said he heard voices telling him to kill the 53-year-old teacher of Spanish at the private Catholic school in Saint-Jean-de-Luz. PARIS — A high school student has been arrested for allegedly stabbing a female teacher to death in front of other students Wednesday in a classroom in southwestern France, officials and media reports said. An investigation has been opened for suspected premeditated murder into the incident at a private Catholic school in SaintJean-de-Luz, Bayonne prosecutor Jerome Bourrier said. Investigators were able to interview the suspect on Wednesday afternoon, he added. Teacher in France stabbed to death by high school student, police say The student was not previously known to police and justice services, Bourrier noted. He declined to provide more details amid the ongoing investigation. Education Minister Pap Ndiaye, who traveled to Saint-Jean-de-Luz, said a minute of silence will be held in all French schools on Thursday at 3 p.m. He said about 90 students, including those who witnessed the attack, as well as some teachers, are being taken care of by a psychology unit. French media reported that the student, born in 2007, said he heard voices telling him to kill the 53-year-old Spanish language teacher. French government spokesman Olivier Veran, speaking after a weekly Cabinet meeting, expressed the government’s support for the education community and said the event represents a trauma for the nation. In 2020, teacher Samuel Paty was killed outside his school in suburban Paris by an 18- year-old refugee of Chechen origin. The attacker was angry at the teacher showing caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad in class after the images were republished by a satirical newspaper targeted in a 2015 attack | HOT NEWS 14
Fashion of France From the baroque grandeur of “Sun King” Louis XIV to the 20th-century “King of Fashion” Paul Poiret, who heralded an era of fantastical haute couture, French style has always leant towards the extravagant. Here, we look at how France became the fashion capital of the world. Start Dressing Up Again | FASHION 15
It’s the late 18th century, and ruffles reign supreme as the aristocracy scrambles to live à la Marie Antoinette. Fashion’s primary purpose is to signify wealth; if you have the money, this means splurging on frou-frou layers of tulle, silk and velvet, along with intricate embroidery and heavy embellishment. Women’s fashion echoes one’s status and place in the upper echelons of society and is a visualisation of the adage that “women should be seen and not heard”. | FASHION 16 The Marie Antoinette era This insatiable appetite of the French court for opulent dress drives the country’s textile trade, which, in an act of brazen elitism, has been under sovereign rule since Louis XIV, setting the foundation for haute couture. Louis XVI’s rococo court continues to closely guard an industry of “royal manufacturers”, including Rose Bretin, Marie Antoinette’s “Minister of Fashion”, who is considered the first-ever fashion designer. Catering to the fancies of French royalty and aristocracies at home and abroad, the deluxe dressmakers help cement elite fashion culture.
Revulsed by the opulence of royalty, an era of “anti-fashion” follows the French Revolution; society adopts a working-class uniform of aprons, clogs and mobcaps. The government draws influence from Greece – the birthplace of democracy – and fashion turns towards flowing Grecian gowns that mirror society’s fascination with egalitarianism. | FASHION 17 Vive la Révolution The cockade (a rosette of ribbons first worn by free men in ancient Greece) becomes the enduring symbol of the revolution, appearing on everything from shoes to hats. However, society’s rebuttal of opulent fashion would turn out to be a trend itself – and one that would be overtaken.
Fuelled by France’s empirical rule and obsession with exoticism, fashion looks further afield for inspiration in the early 20th century. Enter Paul Poiret, the celebrated designer who spins Eastern influences into fantastical haute-couture creations. Gone are austere restrictions of post-revolution France; lavish fashion is à la mode once more as art nouveau sweeps across Europe. | FASHION 18 History of haute couture Inspired by Poiret’s liberated silhouettes, in 1912, Coco Chanel further loosens the constraints of modern clothing, with a debut line of sailor pants and Breton stripes in workaday fabrics. But before Jane Birkin is to add these Gallic tropes into her sartorial cannon in the 1960s, the pendulum of trends swings again. Freeing women of organ-crushing corsetry, Poiret introduces billowing kimonos, capacious harem pants and elaborately decorated turbans and sultana skirts, cementing his reputation as the King of Fashion.
| FASHION 19 Dior’s New Look But, naturally, Dior’s “New Look” soon becomes the old look; the house’s spring 1958 collection is a stark example of this shapeshift. Following Monsieur Dior’s premature death, his young protégé Yves Saint Laurent launches his debut “Trapeze” collection. In a move away from his master’s established silhouette, the “boy wonder” reveals a shape that doesn’t hug the body but captures the changing mood. The 1950s hourglass silhouette is ignited by Dior’s 1947 “New Look” – namely the “Bar” suit, a full skirt and a cinched-in jacket that manipulates curves. It flies in the face of Chanel’s free-flowing silhouettes and evokes Marie Antoinette’s robe à la française.
| FASHION 20 Paris Fashion Week today French fashion has thrived for so long by innovation and through recognising changing societal attitudes – be it Yves Saint Laurent clocking the buying power of Beatniks, Pierre Cardin and Paco Rabanne tapping into 1960s space-race excitement, or, more recently, luxury conglomerates nabbing new talent, including Virgil Abloh for Louis Vuitton and Demna Gvasalia at Balenciaga. This ability to code-switch and commodify what’s cult, coupled with the enduring legacy of French fashion, will likely see people clambering for access like 17th- and 18th-century courtiers for many years to come. Seismic shifts reverberated off the runway and forced the French fashion industry to recognise America as a contender while acknowledging the importance of sportswear and commerciality. The competition also ushered in the era of blockbuster shows. The Battle of Versailles and its frankly ludicrous design sets (Pierre Cardin commissioned a rocket; Emmanuel Ungaro, a gipsy caravan hauled by a rhinoceros; and Yves Saint Laurent, a full-length limousine) set the standard for fashion runway extravagance. Were it not for the Battle of Versailles, we might not ever have seen Chanel’s supermarket, Louis Vuitton’s glittering merry-go-round or any of Galliano’s shows for Dior.
| FASHION 21 The Battle of Versailles Oscar de la Renta, Bill Blass, Anne Klein, Halston and Stephen Burrows arrive at Versailles with an entourage including Liza Minnelli, Broadway dancers and 36 models (10 of whom were Black, in unprecedented diversity). The Battle of Versailles, the brainchild of PR whizz Eleanor Lambert, is designed to fund the restoration of the namesake palace; it has celebrities and high society in a tailspin to grab tickets. The DIY dynamism of the American designers and their coterie (namely high-energy Black models such as Pat Cleveland) forces France to relinquish its crown – at least temporarily. It’s 1973, and the wunderkind is now the establishment. Along with four other French juggernauts – Hubert de Givenchy, Pierre Cardin, Emanuel Ungaro and Marc Bohan of Christian Dior – Yves Saint Laurent is about to have his reign rivalled by five American designers in the fashion competition of the century.
The French are very fond of baguettes, and they often admit this without hesitation. Because of their love for this one bread, it is not surprising that in the afternoon after work you will see them walking with one with two baguettes in hand, with a small portion already bitten off. Eating the bread is another thing. C U L T U R E C U L T U R E Young children enjoying burgers, hotdogs, chicken fingers, and other fried foods in other parts of the world is not a new phenomenon. But in France, we see children eating 'adult' food much more often than not. Lucky children in this country can sample a wide variety of foods, which helps them to appreciate good food from an early age. | CULTURE 22
A woman was just about to step out of the café and a man she didn't know helped her put on her jacket and opened the door for her. In America, this woman would probably be called sexist and shamed. But in France, this would not be considered sexist and would instead be considered French etiquette. To refuse this kind of treatment would be considered impolite in France. This is one of the exemplary habits of the French. This is a habit that is still related to the previous point. The French like to kiss the left and right cheeks of the people they meet as a greeting— just like the cipika-cipiki culture in Indonesia. Twice cipika-cipiki is usually done between two women, a woman and a man, and sometimes even two men, especially for those of the older generation. | CULTURE 23 It's not strange to see two people who don't know each other in France helping each other even in trivial ways. For example, people may offer to help carry a blind stranger across the street, or to help an elderly person carry their groceries.
France has a long history and, according to the U.S. Department of State, it was one of the earliest countries to develop an organized nation-state. As a result of the mid-1600s, France was one of the most powerful countries in Europe. By the 18th century, though, France began having financial problems due to the lavish spending of King Louis XIV and his successors. These and social problems eventually led to the French Revolution that lasted from 1789–1794. Following the revolution, France shifted its government between "absolute rule or constitutional monarchy four times" during the Empire of Napoleon, the reigns of King Louis XVII and then Louis-Philippe and finally the Second Empire of Napoleon III. In 1870 France was involved in the Franco-Prussian War, which established the country's Third Republic that lasted until 1940. France was hit hard during World War I and in 1920 it established the Maginot Line of border defenses to protect itself from the rising power of Germany. Despite these defenses, however, France was occupied by Germany early during World War II. In 1940 it was divided into two sections—one that was directly controlled by Germany and another that was controlled by France (known as the Vichy Government). By 1942 though, all of France was occupied by the Axis Powers. In 1944, the Allied Powers liberated France. Following WWII, a new constitution established France's Fourth Republic and a parliament was set up. On May 13, 1958, this government collapsed due to France's involvement in a war with Algeria. As a result, General Charles de Gaulle became the head of government to prevent civil war and the Fifth Republic was established. In 1965, France held an election and de Gaulle was elected as president, but in 1969 he resigned after several governmental proposals were rejected. Since de Gaulle's resignation, France has had seven different leaders and its recent presidents have developed strong ties to the European Union. The country was also one of the EU's six founding nations. In 2005, France underwent three weeks of civil unrest as its minority groups began a series of violent protests. In 2017, Emmanuel Macron was elected president. H I S T O R Y O F F R A N C E | HISTORY 24
FFrance officially the French Republic (French: République francaise primarily in Western Europe. It also includes overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans,[XII] giving it one of the largest discontiguous exclusive economic zones in the world. Its metropolitan area extends from the Rhine to the Atlantic Ocean and from the Mediterranean Sea to the English Channel and the North Sea,overseas territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the North Atlantic, the French West Indies, and many islands in Oceania and the Indian Ocean. Its eighteen integral regions (five of which are overseas) span a combined area of 643,801 km2 (248,573 sq mi) and had a total population of over 68 million as of January 2023.France is a unitary semi-presidential republic with its capital in Paris, the country's largest city and main cultural and commercial centre; other major urban areas include Marseille, Lyon, Toulouse, Lille, Bordeaux, and Nice. | FRANCE INFO 25
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