2. History of France
France is the third largest country in Europe
(after Russia and Ukraine) During the
centuries France has been part of two Worlds
Wars It has, however, survived and emerged
from the ruins of World War II to become an
important world supplier of agricultural and
industrial products. (Ian C. Mills, 2014)
French History Facts:
• The Celtics Gauls lived in the region from about
1,500 to 500 B.C. Julius Caesar took over around
55 BC (Destination360.com, 2014)
• France remained under Roman rule until the 5th
century, with Lyons becoming the second largest
city in the Roman empire.
• Between the 5th and 10th centuries the dynasties
of Merovingian and Carolingian ruled France
(Destination360.com, 2014)
• The Hundred Years' War ravaged France, from
1337-1453, as the English invaded. Joan of Arc
attempted to expel the English, and was later
burned in Rouen, in 1431, for heresy.
(Destination360.com, 2014)
• The history of France was forever changed during
the Revolution in the 18th century. Napoleon
Bonaparte become the most distinguished emperor
in French history, putting an end to the unrest and
uniting the French.
• After all the fighting and wars ended France was
left in ruins and in need of rebuilding.
• Today France is one of the leaders of Europe and
is known for elegance, sophistication and its
history and historic land marks.
3. Languages spoken in
France
French is spoken by 88% of the population.
Italian is spoken by an estimated 1 million people/ 1.7% of the
French population.
German is spoken by 3% of the French population.
Flemish is spoken by around 90,000 people in France.
Basque is spoken by 0.1%.
Catalan dialects are spoken in the French Pyrenees by around
260,000 people or 0.4% of the French population. (Bbc.co.uk,
2014)
The Celtic language, Breton, is spoken by 1.2%.
In the South of France, over 7m speak Occitan dialects,
representing 12% of the population of France.
Arabic, is spoken by around 1.7% of the population.
Other immigrant languages from the former French colonies
include Kabyle and Antillean Creole. (Bbc.co.uk, 2014)
French, the official language, is the first language of
88% of the population. Most of those who speak
minority languages also speak French, as the minority
languages are given no legal recognition.(Bbc.co.uk,
2014).
However many languages are spoken around France.
Take a look at the following list to see what languages
are spoken and by how much of the population
speaks them.
4. French Customs
Religion in France:
- 80% of people living in France about identify themselves as
Catholic.
- Other main religions include Islam, Protestantism and Judaism.
Value's of French people:
- Visitors to France often find the French to be ‘rude’ towards
tourists as they take great pride in their country and their
government, and don’t take to well to any negative comments
made about either.
- The French embody romance and passion, and there is an
open attitude toward sex outside of marriage. Even the
country’s top politicians have been known to carry out
extramarital affairs without making an effort to conceal them. As
a reflection of the country’s secular nature, about half of children
are born to unmarried couples. (Zimmermann, 2014)
French Foods:
- The French community are very social and often enjoy lengthy
meals with friends and family members.
- Bread and cheese are often centre pieces at any meal.
French Clothing:
- French people dress in a sophisticated, professional and
fashionable style.
- Paris is known to the world for being hot on the heels of fashion
and design.
Most people associate French culture with Paris,
which is a centre of fashion, cuisine, art and
architecture, but life outside of the City of Lights is
very different and varies by region. (Zimmermann,
2014)
5. French Highlights
and Attractions
Throughout France there are many, many highlights and
attractions to visit. France offers a range of experiences for
every one. It offers:
Cathedral's – Notre Dame Cathedral –Paris
- Customer review: Nothing could put into words how beautiful
this place is! (Tripadvisor.com.au, 2014)
Disney Land for families
Museums – Musee Du Louvre in Paris, Musee de la
miniature in Corsica, Musée d’Orsay, etc.
Beautiful Cities – Nice, Bonifario Citadel (South France),
Lyon and many more (Tripadvisor.com.au)
The Eiffel Tower - As one of the most visible icons of Paris,
the Eiffel Tower is an iron lattice tower built in 1889 by
Gustave Eiffel for the 1889 World's Fair and located on
Champ de Mars. At 324 metres its the tallest building in
Paris and one of the most visited monuments in the world
(Tripadvisor.com.au, 2014)
Historical sites, gardens and walks. Such as: Luxembourg
Gardens, Palais Garnier – Opera National de Paris, Arc de
Triomphe, etc.
Plus many more highlights and attractions
