France, slightly larger than Texas, has a population of about 64.8 million, with Paris as its capital and primary language being French. The document outlines key historical events, notable landmarks, cultural practices, and economic data, highlighting significant topics such as French government structure, current issues, and traditional cuisine and festivals. Important figures include President Emmanuel Macron, and the nation plays a significant role in European Union dynamics and global trade.

1. FRANCE
KNOW YOUR COMMUNITY
KNOW YOUR WORLD
A PROGRAM OF GLOBAL TIES AKRON

2. FRANCE ON THE MAP

3. FRANCE
COMPARED TO
OHIO/US
France is slightly more than four
times the size of Georgia; slightly
less than the size of Texas

4. French Facts
Population: 64,756,584
Capital: Paris
Largest city: Paris
Major language: French
Major religion: Christianity (Catholicism)
Life expectancy: Male: 79.75 years, Female: 85.97 years
Monetary unit: Euro
Main exports: aircraft, packaged medicines, cars and vehicle
parts, gas turbines, wine
GPD per capita: $46480.00
(Data from the CIA’s The World Factbook 2023)

5. Significant Historic Events
• 58-51 B.C.: Emperor Julius Caesar conquers Gaul, which would become France.
• 1429 A.D.: Joan of Arc leads French troops into battle at Orléans in the Hundred Years War
against England.
• 1643: Louis XIV, known as the Sun King ascends to the French throne.
• 1789: Peasants storm the Bastille Prison in Paris and overthrow the royal family, starting the
French Revolution.
• 1804: Napoleon Bonaparte crowns himself emperor.
• 1914: WWI begins, much of the fighting takes place in France.
• 1940: Germany invades France in WWII, occupying the country for much of the war.
• 1946-1954: France fights in the French-Indochina war and loses control of colonies in
Southeastern Asia.
• 1994: The Channel Tunnel opens connecting Britain and France.
• 2002: The euro is introduced as the currency for nearly all nations in the European Union.
• (Adapted from Time: for Kids)

6. Well-Known Landforms
and Sites
• Tour Eiffel
• Notre Dame
• Musée du Lourve
• Mont St. Michel
• Château de Chambord
• Mont Blanc
• Lourdes
• Gorges du Verdon
• Plage Normandie

7. Language: French
Hello: Bonjour(Good day), Salut (Hi)
Bye: Au revoir
Yes: Oui
No: Non
Thank you: Merci
You’re Welcome (response to thank you): De rien
Please: S’il vous plaît
I love you: Je t’aime
How are you?: Comment-allez vous?

8. Government
Leader: Emmanuel Macron
Structure: Constitutional Republic
• Executive, legislative, and judicial branches
• Elected President appoints a Prime Minister
• Two chambered legislature
• The judicial branch is very independent of the other two
branches
Voting Age: 18

9. Current Issues and Events
• Immigration
• European Union financial issues
• Spring of 2015 Terrorist attacks in Paris
• protests over pension
• The French generally do not like to discuss politics in friendly
conversation.

10. Economy
currency: the euro
Imports:
• cars
• crude petroleum
• refined petroleum
• packaged medicines
• aircraft machinery
Exports:
• aircraft
• packaged medicines
• cars and vehicle parts
• gas turbines
• wine

11. Traditional Costumes
Brittany
Alsace Lorraine

12. Holidays and Festivals
• Victory in Europe Day: May 8th
. celebrations mark the anniversary of the
defeat of Germany in WWII.
• Bastille Day: July 14th
, a National Celebration of the storming of the
Bastille and the revolution that would eventually lead to the formation of
the French Republic.
• All Saints and All Souls Days: November 1st
and 2nd
, the French honor the
memories of their deceased relatives and the saints.
• Epiphany: Two weeks after Christmas, the French enjoy Galettes du Rois
to celebrate the arrival of the three kings at the Holy Nativity.
• Mardi Gras: The day before Ash Wednesday, carnivals and feasts erupt in
anticipation of the start of the Lenten season.
• Poisson d’arvil: April 1st
, pranksters stick small fish shaped bits of paper
to the backs of unsuspecting friends or strangers.

13. Sports
Most popular:
Football (Soccer)
Traditional:
• Pelota: a variation of tennis played by two teams hitting a ball off a
wall that was created in the Basque region.
• Bullfighting: This differs from Spanish bullfighting in that the bull is
not killed during the match: fighters remove flags from the bull’s
horns.
• Boule (Petanque): The goal of this game is
the throw a small but heavy ball as close to
a target ball as possible, while making sure
your opponent’s ball stays as far from the
target as possible.

14. Food
• Foie Gras
• Crèpes
• Boeuf Bourguignon
• Soupe à l’oignon
• Cheese
• Quiche
• Ratatoille
• Bread and croissants
• Crème Brûlée
• Tarte Tartin
• Soufflé
• Pâtisseries
• Bûche de Noël
• Wine (Bien sûr!)

15. Culture
● France is the home of many high-end fashion brands,
such as Chanel, Christian Dior, Hermes and Louis Vuitton.
● People in France have a very sophisticated style,
including fitted suits, long coats, berets, flowy
dresses, and scarves in their everyday outfits

16. Sources and Links
• http://www.france.fr/en.html
• https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/fr.html
• http://www.traditionalfrenchfood.com/
• http://www.gouvernement.fr/en/how-government-works