This document provides an overview of France, including its location in Europe, history, economy, culture, and language. Some key facts presented include that the capital is Paris, the official language is French, and the dominant religion is Roman Catholic. Notable landmarks like the Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame Cathedral are discussed. The economy relies heavily on tourism, airlines, and fashion. French culture is characterized by a focus on food and wine. The education system provides free public primary and secondary school, and nominal tuition at public universities. Living expenses for students are also outlined.

1. Bonjour!

2. France

3. Table of Contents
1. Location
2. History
3. Economy
4. Culture
5. Language
Famous Landmarks:
1. Eiffel Tower
2. Notre Dame Cathedral
3. Louvre Museum
4. Champs Elysees
5. Interesting Facts
6. Some French Landspaces
7. Living in France:The student buget

4. France
Capital City: Paris
Government: Republic
Population: 59 million
Language: French, Alsatian, Breton, Catalan, Provenal & Corsian.
Religion: 90% roman catholic, 25 Protestant, 1% Muslim, 1% Jewish, 6%
unaffiliated
Ethnic groups: Celtic and Latin with Teutonic, Slavic, North African
,Indochinese, Basque minorities
Agriculture: wheat, Cereals, sugar beets, potatoes, wine grapes, beef, dairy
products, fish
Climate: Cool winter and mild summers
Food: bread, cheese and specially wine
Education system: The French education system is reputed to be one of the most
thorough in the world. Public education is free at the primary and secondary
levels and is compulsory from age six to sixteen. Universities are public and
tuition is nominal.

5. History
• National Day: July 14, 1789.
• French Revolution marks the end of monarchy and
establishment of popular democracy.
• Inventions – parachute, submarine, airship and hot air
balloon.

6. Economy
• France – member of the European Union; currency –
euro. One of the richest countries.
• Important industries: Tourism, Airlines and Fashion.
• Tourism: France – most visited destination with 75 million
tourists annually, greater than its population. It offers
mountain ranges, Mediterranean Sea, coastlines, castles
and vineyards. Popular attractions – Disneyland, Eiffel
Tower, Louvre and Notre Dame cathedral.
• Airlines: Air France is one of the biggest airlines of the
world.
• Recently launched Airbus A380 - largest airline in the
world.

7. • Fashion: France – fashion capital of the world.
• Top designers: Christian Dior, Hermes, Jean – Paul
Gaultier and Louis Vuitton.
• Fashion week- held in January to demonstrate latest
trends for Spring and Summer.

8. Culture
• Beer – luxury; Wine – free at meals. French
love eating wine with cheese.
• Popular drink – hot chocolate with bread.
• Cinemas – 4,400
• Historic monuments – 38, 879
• Theatrical productions – 50, 000.

9. • Family-oriented nation: practical about work-life
balance.
• Strikes are expressions of people power - basic
right.
• Favourite pastime for Parisians: sitting at cafes on
the banks of River Seine!

10. Language
• “Salut” means “hello” and “goodbye”.
• Crayola - “oily chalk”.
• “Ananas” – pineapple – is also a French word – L’ ananas.
• Celebrities that speak French: Johnny Depp, Elton John, Halle
Berry, Madonna and John Travolta.

11. Famous Landmarks
• Eiffel Tower
• Notre Dame Cathedral
• Louvre Museum
• Champs Elysees

12. Eiffel Tower
• Built by Gustave Eiffel in 1889 to celebrate the French
Revolution of 1789.
• Height: 950 feet.
• Eiffel Tower – a tower that could be used to climb up and
watch Paris. However, fences and bars were built when
people started committing suicide by jumping over, after the
death of French singer, Claude Francoise.
• Hatred against the Eiffel Tower, sale as scrap.

13. Notre Dame Cathedral
• Gothic, Roman Catholic Cathedral.
• Also known as “Our Lady of Paris”.
• One of the greatest examples of French Gothic
architecture.

14. Louvre Museum
• Historic monument, one of the world’s
largest museums.
• Largest and oldest museum of France.
• One of the most visited art museums in the
world.
• Exhibits 35,000 objects from history.
• Famous art works: Leonardo Da Vinci’s Mona
Lisa and Nike of Samothrake.

15. Champs Elysees
• Widest avenue in Paris
• Bordered by cinemas, luxury shops, theatres and
cafes on its west.
• Used for all major celebrations: Parisians celebrate
New Year’s Eve; military parades are held on 14th
July; the Liberation at the end of World War II and
victory in World Cup Football were celebrated here.

16. Interesting Facts
• Popular sports – football, basketball, handball, rugby league
and rugby union.
• French writer, Andre Gide: “French people are Italian people
in bad mood”.
• France – world leader in luxury goods: perfumes and
cosmetics.
• National pride – wine and cheese.
• France produces over 400 varieties of cheese. Selling of ET
dolls illegal: law against selling dolls without human faces.
• Popular character – Mickey Mouse
• Milk – national drink.

17. Some French Landscapes
Le Périgord
Les Alpes
Langue d’Oc Roussillon
Bretagne
Côte d‘Azur
Côte Atlantique
La Camargue
Le Pays Basque Each region is different !

18. Tuition Fees :
• in universities : €130 to €350 per year
• for the grandes écoles, fees vary greatly : from €300 for public
engineering schools up to €14,000 for certain others
Additional Insurance (Compulsory) :
• health insurance (student social security): €180 per year
• private insurance : from €150 to €550 per year
• third-party liability insurance
• comprehensive housing insurance
Day-to-Day Expenses :
• accommodation : from €150 to €600 per month
(but all students are eligible for student housing benefits)
• food : €130 to €250 per month
• transport : €50 to €130 per month
France is one of the least expensive
countries in Europe, and students can
enjoy a relatively high standard of living :
Living in France :
the student budget