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France Facts

France Facts
France, or the French Republic, is the largest country in both the European Union (EU) and Western Europe. France is one of the oldest states in Europe, founded in 843. Its history dates back much further however, to 600 BC when the colony of Massalia was founded by Ionian Greeks. Today this area is known as Marseille. Further settling of the country took place as Gallic Celtics and Romans settled areas of France. With 66 million citizens, France is also the third-largest country in terms of population. Paris, which is France's capital, is home to approximately 2.2 million of its people. France is home to a great many attractions, including castles and historic villages that have been in existence from France's early beginnings. France is so popular with tourists that approximately 83 million visit the country each year. It is the most visited country in the entire world.
Interesting France Facts:
Celtic Gauls arrived in France in 700 = 500BC.
Julius Caesar, the Roman Emperor, defeated the Gauls in 58-50BC, and France was part of the Roman Empire until 472AD.
Until the French Revolution in 1789, when the storming of the Bastille occurred, the country was ruled by kings.
Napoleon Bonaparte then became the Emperor of France until being sent to exile.
The official language in France is French, and it is also the second most popular language used in Europe.
The French language originates from Latin.
'France' originates from a Germanic tribe, the Franks, who settled there in the 2nd century.
The Eiffel Tower in Paris is named after the engineer responsible for its design, Gustave Eiffel.
France's motto is 'Liberte, Egalite, Fraternite' which means Liberty, Equality, Fraternity.
The world's tallest bridge is located in southern France. It is called the Millau Bridge and is 1125 feet tall.
The second Olympics were held in Paris, France in 1900. In 1924 they were again held in Paris.
The Tour De France, the world's most famous bicycle race, is held in France.
Louis Pasteur, a famous chemist and microbiologist, was born in France. Pasteurization was one of his inventions.
Checks are still the favored form of payment in France.
If the President of the Republic of France gives the okay, it is possible to marry a deceased person.
From 1066 until the early 1400s, French was also England's official language.
Three countries have Mediterranean and Atlantic coastlines, including France, Spain and Morocco.
In France, cars drive on the right.
France has some of the highest living standards in the world when it comes to health care, education, and life expectancy.
France is one of the five UN Security Council permanent members.
France is one of the founding members of the United Nations.
Freedom of religion in France is a constitutional right. The predominant religion in France is Catholicism.
There are approximately 47,000 buildings of a religious nature in France.
France is famous for having some of the best cuisine in the world. They are renowned for their cheese, wine, and methods of preparing/cooking meat and vegetables.
There are many famous artists born in France. The most famous art museum in the world is the Louvre, located in France, and it is home to the Mona Lisa painting.


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