France

The official name of France is the French Republic. It is located in Western Europe. The capital and by far the most important city of France is Paris, one of the world’s preeminent cultural and commercial centres. France borders Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Monaco, Andorra and Spain. France is a founding member of the European Union. After Russia and Ukraine, it is the 3rd largest country in Europe by area. It is considered one of the ancient states of the European continent. Continental France stretches from the Mediterranean Sea in the south to the English Channel and the North Sea in the north, from the Rhine River in the east to the Atlantic Ocean in the west.

France's extensive maritime borders and the crossing of the Rhine River, the largest transport highway of Europe, have created very favourable conditions for the development of the country's economic relations. France is the third-biggest manufacturing country in Europe. The largest industrial centres are Paris, Marseille, Le Havre, Dunkirk, Lille, Strasbourg, Lyon, Bordeaux, Nantes, Toulouse. Besides being the capital of the country, Paris is also its most important economic centre. Since 2016, France has been divided into 18 administrative regions: 13 regions in metropolitan France (including Corsica) and five overseas.

France reached its political and military zenith in the early 19th century under Napoleon Bonaparte, subjugating much of continental Europe and establishing the First French Empire. The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars shaped the course of European and world history.

Since the Middle Ages, France has been a major contributor to scientific and technological achievement. The University of Paris, founded in the mid-12th century, is still one of the most important academic institutions in the Western world. The mathematicians René Descartes and Blaise Pascal were key figures in the burgeoning Scientific Revolution in Europe. 

France is also famous for well-known French writers of literature and poetry, such as Victor Hugo, Alexandre Dumas, Shakespeare, Dante and Homer.

French cuisine is renowned for being one of the finest in the world. French regional cuisine is characterised by its extreme diversity and style. Traditionally, each region of France has its own distinctive cuisine. Some of the most popular dishes include Terrine, Beef Bourguignon and Bouillabaisse. Beef Bourguignon is a wine-cooked meat dish from the Burgundy region of France. Traditional bouillabaisse includes Mediterranean fish such as red scorpion fish (a type of rock fish), lantern fish, weed, swallow, grouse, haddock, mullet, eel, sea bream. Terrine is a dish consisting of vegetables, meat or fish, a cross between a stew and a pate.

Activity 1: Read the text and answer the questions: 

1. What is the official name of France?

2. What is the capital of France?

3. What countries does France border with?

4. What are the popular dishes of French cuisine?

5. Which seas does France share borders with?

6. Who are some well-known French authors?

Activity 2. Match the words with the correct definitions:

1. preeminent

2. stretch

3. maritime

4. transport

5. industry

a. (of something soft or elastic) be made or be capable of being made longer or wider without tearing or breaking.

b. take or carry (people or goods) from one place to another by means of a vehicle, aircraft, or ship.

c. surpassing all others; very distinguished in some way.

d. connected with the sea, especially in relation to seafaring commercial or military activity.

e. economic activity concerned with the processing of raw materials and manufacture of goods in factories.

Activity 3: Further reading - Go online and find interesting things about France in order to answer these questions:

Trivia questions about France: 

1. Which river has created very favourable conditions for the development of France's economic relations?

2. How many administrative regions is France divided into?

3. Under whose rule did France reach its political and military peak in the early 19th century, subjugating most of continental Europe and establishing the First French Empire?

4. Which mathematicians were key figures in the burgeoning Scientific Revolution in Europe?

5. What are the most popular sports in France?

6. Which type of drink is France most famous for?

7. What famous museums are there in France?

8. What are the largest cities in France?

9. What has been an important industrial and cultural export of France since the 17th century?

10. What are the most popular tourist sites in France?