France

Geographical location of France

France is located in Western Europe. It is bordered by Belgium, Luxembourg and Germany to the northeast, Switzerland and Italy to the east, Monaco to the southeast, and Spain and Andorra to the south. To the north it borders the North Sea, where the Straits of Pas-de-Calais and the English Channel, to the southeast the Mediterranean Sea, to the west the Bay of Biscay. France owns several foreign territories and departments: French Guiana in South America, the Antilles of Martinique and Guadeloupe in the West Indies, Reunion in the Indian Ocean and several archipelagos in the Pacific Ocean. The official language in the country is French. It is a Romance language that developed from the Gallo-Romance dialects spoken in northern France. In the western part of France, the local population uses the Breton language. At the beginning of the 20th century, half of Brittany's population spoke only Breton, and by 1950 the number had shrunk to 100,000. Today, the Breton language is spoken and understood by about 300,000 people.

Currency

French franc:The French franc has been the currency in france from the 18th to 20th century but then it changed for the euro in 2002. The euro is the second-largest reserve currency as well as the second-most traded currency in the world after the United States dollar.

Capital city

Paris, a city and capital of France,is situated in the north-central part of the country. The modern city has spread from the island and far beyond both banks of the Seine.Thomas Jefferson once said “a walk about Paris will provide lessons in history, beauty, and in the point of life.”

There’s a reason Paris is one of the most popular cities among travellers. Known as the “City of Love,” the streets of Paris overflow with culture, art, beauty, and history.

Interesting places in the country

1.Mont Saint-Michel in Normandy:

In the quaint pastoral region of Normandy, a landscape of apple orchards, woodlands, and cow pastures dotted with historic castles and picture-perfect towns, Mont Saint-Michel is among France's top tourist attractions and is number one on a list of Normandy travel destinations.

Known as "The Heavenly Jerusalem" and the "Pyramid of the Seas," this little rocky islet off the coast of Normandy boasts a UNESCO-listed abbey built between the 11th and 13th-centuries. The exquisite Gothic abbey church was an important medieval pilgrimage site. Modern-day pilgrims still make the journey here, crossing the Bay of Saint-Michel by foot at low tide.

History

The first written records for the history of France appeared in the Iron age. What is now France made up the bulk of the region known to the Romans as Gaul. Greek writers noted the presence of three language districts in the area: the Gauls, the Aquitani, and the Belgae. The Gauls, the largest and best attested group, were Celticpeople speaking what is known as the Gaul language. Later it became part of the Holy Roman Empire and after that it split to France.

French Culture and Food

There is no typical French meal. Although people often use the broad label French cuisine to describe French food, most French dishes are region-based and thus vary depending on where you are located. The main exception is breakfast foods.

For breakfast, the French often eat a slice of bread, usually a baguette, smothered with a fruity jam. This is sometimes accompanied by yogurt and a croissant, and almost always accompanied by coffee, hot chocolate or orange juice.

Cultural sights

The Louvre is the largest national museum in France and is the most visited museum in the world with 9.3 million visitors in 2013.The building, which in the past was first a military fortification and then a royal residence, is located in the center of Paris, between the River Seine and Rue Rivoli.

It was first opened as a museum on November 8, 1793, during the French Revolution. The museum, covering an area of ​​60,600 square meters, houses almost 35,000 objects from the prehistoric era to the 19th century.

Religion in France

The majority of people in France are Roman Catholic but another majority are atheist.Catholicism is the largest religion in France. During 1787 France was traditionally considered the Church's eldest daughter, and the King of France always maintained close links to the Pope. However it meant policy meant that the king selected bishops. The major religions practised in France include Christianity Islam, Judaism, Buddhism, Hinduism and others.

Environment

The region that now comprises France consisted of open grassland during the Ice Age. France gradually became forested as the glaciers retreated starting in 10,000 BC. These forests were still fairly extensive until the medieval era.In prehistoric times, France was home to large predatory animals such as wolves and brown bears, as well as herbivores . The larger fauna have disappeared outside the Pyrenees Mountains where bears live as a protected species. Smaller animals include , wild pigs, foxes,bats, rodents, rabbits, and difftent birds.

Population

The population of France was about 6.5 million in AD 1000. It reached 16 million by 1300 when the plague reduced the population by about one third. By 1600 it had recovered and increased to18.5 million. Emigration from France to the Caribbean, Mexico, Canada and the United States was significant. Uruguay, Argentina and Brazil were also popular destinations for French emigrants. Migrants from French colonies also made their way to the United States. Despite extensive emigration, particularly by Huguenot Protestants, the industrial revolution propelled the population to 41 million by 1900.

Pop Culture

Through France's vibrant print culture, newspapers, magazines, books, fliers and posters circulate from authors to readers. They spread ideas in the form of stories and news, as well as opinion and commentary about current events.French culture holds a special place for caricature: humorous illustrations with exaggerated traits, which spotlight political commentary. For example, Honore Daumier was both a notable painter as well as renowned caricaturist for a magazine called La Charivari. Though initially the European tradition of charivari took the form of gatherings that reinforced community by ostracizing outsiders, it grew into a practice of political commentary that poked fun at high profile figures.

Natural Landmarks

Surrounded by the French Alps, Gorges du Verdon is a river canyon located in the Alpse-de-Haute-Provence. The Gorges du Verdon is up to 700 meters deep and 25 kilometers in length. As it is considered to be one of the most beautiful gorges in Europe, many tourists come to visit it each year. The water of the Verdon River is a beautiful turquoise color, and pieces of glacial mineral deposits seem to hang suspended in the water. Gorges du Verdon is a popular haven for rock climbing, fly fishing, canoeing, rafting, and paragliding. Be sure to check out the Styx du Verdon, which is linked to Greek mythology and said to be an interface between earth and the underworld.