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If you love exploring different cuisines and iconic landmarks of the world, it is hard to overlook facts about France. This country is known for its historical Eiffel Tower, Louvre Museum, the Notre Dame Cathedral, fresh breads, delicious pasta, and wine varieties. However, there is a lot that lies behind these popular tourist attractions. For instance, did you know France boasts the highest number of Nobel Prize winners in Literature? There is more to it. In this blog, you will find a comprehensive list of interesting facts about France in English. Let’s get right into it.
Table of Contents
Amazing Facts About France Country
1. The official name of France is the French Republic.
2. It is often referred to as a hexagon due to its six-sided shape.
3. France is also the largest country in the European Union in terms of area. It also has the EU’s largest population.
4. France is the largest country in Western Europe.
5. Paris is the capital of France.
6. The official language of France is French.
7. EURO is the monetary unit of France.
8. France houses Europe’s tallest peak, Monte Blanc, which is 4,810 m tall.
9. More than 25% of its territory is covered with lush forests whereas 50% has been taken over by the countryside or farmland.
10. It is one of the oldest nations on the planet.
11. In 2010, French gastronomy was awarded UNESCO World Heritage Status.
12. It is a tradition in France to stick a paper fish onto someone’s back on April Fool’s Day.
13. According to estimates, French people eat about 30,000 tons of escargot, a French delicacy made using snails.
Fun Facts About France
1. France follows a presidential and parliamentary system of government.
2. It is among the world’s largest economies.
3. More than 80 million people visit France every year.
4. France is an exporter of automobiles, electronics, and clothing.
5. The President is elected by the people. He is also the head of the state.
6. The President chooses the Prime Minister of the state.
7. French was the official language of France for more than 300 years.
8. On December 28, 1895, the Lumière brothers, Auguste Marie Louis Nicolas and Louis Jean held the world’s first public movie screening.
9. France’s Jeanne Louise Calment is known as the world’s oldest person who ever lived.
10. On 18 May 2013, France legalized same-sex marriage. It became the ninth country in Europe and the 14th country in the world.
Facts About France History
1. Louis XIX was the king of France for 20 minutes.
2. In 1362, the parliament passed the Pleading in English Act, eventually making English the government’s official language.
3. “Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity” was the official motto of the French Revolution.
4. The word ‘camouflage’ comes from the French verb meaning, ‘to make up for the stage’.
5. The French Army was the first to use camouflage in 1915 during World War I.
6. According to French law, you can marry posthumously in exceptional cases. For this, you will have to get permission from the French president.
7. In 2016, France became the first country to ban supermarkets from throwing unsold food.
Facts About French Innovations
1. France has more Nobel Prize winners in Literature than any other country.
2. In 1809, French inventor Nicolas Appert came up with the idea of preserving food using sealed glass jars placed in boiling water.
3. The Braille system was invented by Louis Braille, a French educator and inventor.
4. In 1816, René Laennec invented the stethoscope at a hospital in Paris.
5. In 1888, Alexandre-Ferdinand Godefroy patented the world’s first hair dryer.
6. The hot air balloon was invented by the Montgolfier brothers Joseph and Etienne. They revealed an untethered balloon in 1783.
7. France also holds the record for being the first country to achieve artificial heart transplants and face transplants.
Facts About Studying in France for International Students
1. The cost of living in France is generally cheaper than in other countries like the USA and UK.
2. France is home to many best-ranked business schools such as the HEC Paris, the Edhec Business School, and the ESCP Europe.
3. There are over 155 scholarships for students who wish to study in France including the French Excellence Charpak Scholarship, the Eiffel Excellence Scholarship, and the Legrand Empowering Scholarship.
4. The French government allows international students to work up to 964 hours per year. This roughly translates to 20 hours per week.
5. As of January 1, 2024, the gross hourly minimum wage is €11.65 or €1,766.92 per month. This is according to a legal working week of 35 hours.
6. Students can apply for a Post-study Work Visa to stay and work in France for up to 2 years after completing their studies.
7. Considering the increasing number of international students going to France to study, the number of English-taught degrees is constantly growing.
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FAQs
One unique thing about France is that it is one of the oldest and the most ethnically diverse countries in Europe. It has influenced philosophy, world cuisine, art, music, film, and many other aspects of culture.
Some facts about France are that it is widely called a hexagon due to its six-sided shape, it is among the world’s largest economies, and lastly, it is an exporter of automobiles, electronics, and clothing.
Three unique facts about France are that it is the largest country in the European Union in terms of area, it has Europe’s tallest peak, Monte Blanc, and lastly, France’s Jeanne Louise Calment is known as the world’s oldest person who ever lived.
Hope you like reading these facts about France. If you want to know more about topics like this, then visit our Interesting Facts and General Knowledge page!