About France by Naira Azzani

So, what do you know about France?

France, officially French Republic, French France or République Française, country of northwestern Europe. Historically and culturally among the most important nations in the Western world, France has also played a highly significant role in international affairs, with former colonies in every corner of the globe. Bounded by the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea, the Alps and the Pyrenees, France has long provided a geographic, economic, and linguistic bridge joining northern and southern Europe. It is Europe’s most important agricultural producer and one of the world’s leading industrial powers.

Location

Map of France

France is located in Western Europe, and is almost twice the size of Colorado. It’s the biggest country in the region. It borders with Germany, Luxembourg and Belgium in the north; the Atlantic Ocean in the west; Switzerland, Italy and Monaco in the east; and Andorra and Spain in the south, making it a superb location for taking up roots and as a traveling starter location, as it makes Europe much more accessible to explore.

Culture

In French culture, there are few social conventions as important as greeting people properly. It’s the number one way to make a good first impression. On the flip side, failing to greet someone properly is also the number one way to offend someone. But don’t worry, once you know the rules it’s easy. 

There's also a lot of festival. Example, on 14th of July they celebrate "Bastille Day".It's the biggest and most important festival in France. It celebrates the storming of the Bastille (la Prise de la Bastille) and the beginning of the French Revolution (la Révolution Française) with a massive parade (le défilé), fireman’s balls, free concerts and, at the Eiffel Tower, some of the best fireworks (le feu d’artifice) you’ll ever see.

At Night

Here are some other France cultures :

Lifestyle

The French follow an attitude of 'live and let live'. So you will find most of the people here are relaxed and fun-loving, but at the same time learn a lot and work equally hard. The younger generation, in no way, judge others, whereas the older generation are more involved in the preservation of the Catholic life in a traditional manner. The generations termed as 'older generation' speak only the French language and expect everyone around them to do so. The people here are considered as light-hearted and they are game for a good laugh. Living in France teach you a lot of things, such as :

1. People Usually Go Shopping at the Farmers Market
2. The Way We Eat Means Everything
3. In French Table : Important to Sit Down

Language

Over 25 regional languages are spoken throughout Metropolitan France and some of these are spoken in neighboring countries such as Spain, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, and Belgium. The regional languages of France are divided into 5 language family subgroups: Vasconic, Italo-Dalmatian, Gallo-Romance, Germanic, and Celtic. The Gallo-Romance language subgroup is further divided into the largest number of regional languages and has the largest number of speakers.

How to Pronounce it

The most widely spoken regional language in France is Occitan, a Gallo-Romance language, which can be heard throughout the southern region of the country. Linguists believe this language originated in the 10th century, when it was used to write poetry. Nearly 1,000 years later, in the late 19th century, a poet attempted to revive the language by standardizing its written form.

Education

The French education system is split into several stages, and your child’s academic level and grades will dictate which specialist streams they can follow in their final years in the French school system. 

The Details

Education in France is organized in a highly centralized manner, with many subdivisions. It is divided into the three stages of primary education (enseignement primaire), secondary education (enseignement secondaire), and higher education (enseignement supérieur).

In French higher education, the following degrees are recognized by the Bologna Process (EU recognition): Licence and Licence Professionnelle (bachelor's degrees), and the comparably named Master and Doctorat degrees. In France, it does not include online school.

You can choose whether to go to a French state school, a state-contracted private school or a fully independent school in France, which includes most international and foreign schools. It is also legal to home school in France under the guidance of the schools inspectorate.

Food

The French love eating out, so everywhere you encounter bistros, bars, streetside cafes and restaurants. In France, there are many traditional dishes, some of which you might know as they are popular all over the world.

Macarons

Macarons are the delicious sweet cookies filled with butter cream. Macarons come in many colours so you can distinguish on the taste of the filling such as pink for raspberry taste, brown for chocolate, yellow for vanilla or lemon, green for pistachio,

Tarte Tatin

Another typical treat for all with a sweet tooth is Tarte Tatin. This 'upside-down' apple tart made with apples which were caramelized in butter and sugar before baking.

Crepes

Our favorite French sweet treats are crepes. The French pancakes are very thin and -this is our favourite- filled with chocolate sauce or fresh fruits. Sometimes they are enjoyed with savoury fillings. Crepes are very tasty, even when only sprinkled with sugar and folded.

Baguette

The French bread loaf is long and thin. This typical French bread is made mainly with white wheat flour but any French bakery (boulangerie) will have many different types of baguette for you to choose from. Now there are also baguettes made out of rye flour, spelt flour or whole wheat flour.

Croissant

Croissants are typically used for breakfast, but can also be eaten filled with ham and cheese for a more filling meal later during the day.

French Cheese

The French are known for their love of cheese. There are many delicious cow's milk cheeses ('fromage de vache'), but also goat's milk cheeses ('fromage de chevin'). Camembert, Brie and Roquefort (blue cheese) are some of the best known cheeses and eaten all over the world.

Truffles

Truffles are rare kind of mushrooms. They are very expensive, so only small quantities are used. The dried truffles are grated or sliced over pasta and meat dishes or added to sauces, salads or soups. This mushroom grows near oak and hazelnut trees.

Bouillabaisse 

Bouillabaisse is seafood stew and typically made with fresh bony fish, shellfish, mussels, vegetables, herbs and olive oil. The origins of the dish are the fish stews cooked by the fishermen in Marseilles who used to cook big pots of fish and let the stew boil and then simmer for a long time before eating the meal together with their friends and families.

Salada Nicose

This typical French salad includes lettuce, canned tuna, black olives, tomatoes, onions, hard boiled eggs and sometimes anchovies, caper berries and green beens. It is named after the city of Nice and thus the name means 'Salad from Nice'. It is either eaten on its own as a light meal or as a starter.

Ratatouille 

Ratatouille is a thick stew including tomatoes, bell peppers, onions, garlic, courgettes (also called zucchini) and aubergines (also called eggplants). It is usually mainly eaten as vegetable stew, but there are variations which also include meat.

Tourist Destinations

• Starsbourg
  

Situated right on the border of France and Germany, Strasbourg is the capital city of the Alsace region. The city serves as the seat of the European Parliament and numerous other important European institutions such as the European Court of Human Rights and the Council of Europe. The city’s historic center, Grande Île, is what makes Strasbourg one of the best places to visit in France. Here among a blend of both French and German architecture, visitors can find many museums, shops, cafes and striking attractions such as the stunning Gothic cathedral, which features intricate carvings and a 300-year old working, astrological clock.

• Loire Valley

A popular tourist destination, the Loire Valley is a region in the center of France, regarded for its spectacular scenery, splendid chateaux, picturesque vineyards and historic villages. The Loire Valley stretches 280 km (175 miles) along the Loire River, twisting and turning through some of France’s most beautiful villages and charming chateaux. Some of the most famous chateaux include Chambord, Amboise, Rivau, Chinon and Chenonceau. The valley is home to many wineries that offer tours and wine tastings.

• Luberon

If you want to mingle with the hoi polloi of French society in the south of France, the Luberon is the place to do it. It’s a haven for French society, as well as American and British visitors who come during the summer months to experience charming villages. This region in central Provence took off as a tourist destination after Peter Mayle published his books about life in Provence. With its lush forests, fields of lavender, farmers markets and colorfully painted houses, you’ll soon see why the Luberon is such a tourist magnet. A great souvenir is pottery from the village of Oppede le Vieux that still maintains its Middle Ages ambiance.

• Mount Saint-Michel

Rising up from the midst of vast mud flats and some of Europe’s most powerful tidal waves is the rocky island of Mont Saint-Michel, located off France’s northwestern coast in Normandy. The tidal island is one of the most popular places to visit in France for its construction of medieval structures built as if stacked upon one another and crowned with the star attraction, the Abbey of Mont Saint-Michel. The awe-inspiring abbey was built by devoted monks in 708 AD after the Bishop of Avranches was allegedly visited by the Archangel Michael.

• Eiffel Tower

 Visitors are impressed by the tower's monumental size and the breathtaking panoramas at each of the three levels. Tourists can dine with a view at the first level or indulge at the Michelin-starred Jules Vernes restaurant on the second level. At the exhilarating height of 276 meters, the top level offers a sweeping outlook over the city of Paris and beyond-extending as far as 70 kilometers on a clear day.

• Louvre Museum

Many of Western Civilization's most famous works are found here including the Mona Lisa by Leonardo DaVinci, the Wedding Feast at Cana by Veronese, and the 1st-century-BC Venus de Milo sculpture. The collection owes its wealth to the contributions of various kings who lived in the Louvre.

• Palace of Versailles

More than just a royal residence, Versailles was designed to show off the glory of the French monarchy. "Sun King" Louis XIV transformed his father's small hunting lodge into an opulent palace with a sumptuous Baroque interior. The palace became Louis XIV's symbol of absolute power and set the standard for princely courts in Europe.