This document provides an overview of France, including its geography, demographics, history, culture, politics, and economy. Some key facts: France has a population of 66 million people and its capital and largest city is Paris. The official language is French and the dominant religion is Christianity. Historically significant events include the Roman conquest in the 1st century BC and the French Revolution in 1789. Popular landmarks include the Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame Cathedral. The country has a constitutional republic government led by President Francois Hollande. Traditional French sports, costumes, and foods are also described.

1. France
Know Your Community: Know Your World

2. Speaker Profile
(Basic Introduction, information about hometown, family, career, etc…)

3. France on the Map

4. French Facts
Population: 66,259,012
Capital: Paris
Largest city: Paris
Major language: French
Major religion: Christianity (Catholicism)
Life expectancy: Male: 78.55 years, Female: 84.91 year
Monetary unit: Euro
Main exports: machinery and transportation equipment, aircraft, plastics,
chemicals, pharmaceutical products, iron and steel, beverages
GPD per capita: €35936.67 ($40,400)
(Data from the CIA’s The World Fact Book 2014)

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-Know 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: François Hollande
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
• Gay Marriage
• Immigration
• European Union financial issues
• Spring of 2015 Terrorist attacks in Paris
• The French generally do not like to discuss
politics in friendly conversation.

10. Economy
Currency: the euro
Imports:
• fuel
• electronics
• chemicals
• metal products
• machinery
• cars
Exports:
• aircraft
• food
• chemicals
• machinery
• metal
(Adapted from tradingeconomics.com

11. Daily Life
For a student:
For an adult:

12. Traditional Costumes
Brittany
Alsace Lorraine

13. 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.

14. 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.

15. 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!)

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