France Culture, Facts & Travel

Revolutionary government seizes control of Paris – the Paris Commune. Napoleon is defeated at Battle of Waterloo by an allied coalition – ending 23 years of war across Europe – and the Bourbon monarchy is re-established. A pragmatic ruler, he issues the Edict of Nantes, which gives rights and freedoms to Huguenots, in order to end the religious warfare. Up to four million people die from violence, famine or diseases.

There are also regional languages spoken in France, such as Occitan, Breton, Catalan, Flemish (Dutch dialect), Alsatian (German dialect), Basque, and Corsican (Italian dialect). For much of the 21st century, France has been an outlier among developed countries, particularly in Europe, for its relatively high rate of natural population growth; by birth rates alone, it was responsible for almost all natural population growth in the EU in 2006. With an estimated population of 68,605,616 people,k France is the 20th most populous country in the world, the third-most populous in Europe, and the second most populous in the European Union. France has 52 sites inscribed in UNESCO’s World Heritage List and features cities of high cultural interest, beaches and seaside resorts, ski resorts, as well as rural regions that many enjoy for their beauty and tranquillity (green tourism). It also hosts the headquarters of several international organisations, including the OECD, UNESCO, Interpol, the International Bureau of Weights and Measures, and the OIF. As a significant hub for international relations, France has the third-largest assembly of diplomatic missions, behind China and the United States.

Languages

• They are tu, which is used for friends and (by some elderly) for young people, and vous, which is used for people you’re not on familiar terms with, and for groups of people.
• France is divided into 18 regions (located in Europe and overseas), five overseas collectivities, one overseas territory, one special collectivity (New Caledonia) and one uninhabited island (Clipperton) under the authority of the Minister of Overseas France.
• Paris is now a sprawling metropolis, one of Europe’s largest conurbations, but its historic heart can still be traversed in an evening’s walk.
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Moreover, France also possesses 3 of the top 10 luxury goods companies by sales (LVMH, Kering SA, L’Oréal), more than any other country in the world. According to 2017 data compiled by Deloitte, Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessey (LVMH), a French brand, is the largest luxury company in the world by sales, selling more than twice the amount of its nearest competitor. Fashion has been an important industry and cultural export of France since the 17th century, and modern « haute couture » originated in Paris in the 1860s.

Under the doctrine of dirigisme, the government historically played a major role in the economy; policies such as indicative planning and nationalisation are credited for contributing to three decades of unprecedented postwar economic growth known as Trente Glorieuses. In 2010, it banned the wearing of face-covering Islamic veils in public; human rights groups such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch described the law as discriminatory towards Muslims. Since 2020, The Ecologists have performed well in mayoral elections in major cities while on a national level, the New Ecological and Social People’s Union was the second-largest voting block elected to the lower house in 2022. Interwar was marked by intense international tensions and social reforms introduced by the Popular Front government (e.g., annual leave, eight-hour workdays, women in government). The casino offers a comprehensive suite of responsible gaming tools, allowing you to set deposit limits, take breaks, or even self-exclude if you need time away from gaming. As a fully licensed and regulated casino under the UK Gambling Commission, 32Red upholds the highest standards of player protection.

When approaching the locals, always be sure to begin the conversation in French, as assuming that a foreign language will be spoken is considered to be very rude. You can now expect major chicken road hotels and tourist attractions to have staff who speak basic English and other foreign languages (German and Spanish being the most common). French is in the Romance family of languages, along with Spanish, Portuguese, Catalan, Italian and Romanian, so if you speak any of those languages, you will recognise many cognates, particularly in written form. As France is a multicultural society with immigrants from all over the world (particularly from former French colonies), many African languages, Arabic, Chinese dialects (such as Teochew), Vietnamese, Lao, and Khmer are spoken. All this being said, everyone in France speaks standard French and tourists are unlikely to ever need to speak anything else, though you may wish to learn one or two basic phrases or greetings, to show you recognise the region’s heritage.

Food and drink in France

If you have to park your bike in the street, make sure to lock it properly, particularly in larger cities and at night. Local and regional bus services are available throughout France; you can find more details in region and city articles. For regional trains, schedules can be found at ter.sncf.com (choose your region, then « Carte and horaires » for maps and timetables). The French national railway network is managed by SNCF Réseaux, a branch of the SNCF (Société nationale des chemins de fer français).

A French driver flashing headlights is asserting right of way and warning you of intentions and presence. Most towns and cities were built before the general availability of the automobile and thus city centres tend to be unwieldy for cars. Roads range from the narrow single-carriageway lanes found in the countryside to major highways. The Avenue Verte follows high quality bike trails all the way from the London Eye to Notre Dame, passing through beautiful countryside on both sides of the Channel. On arrival at Calais, you can drive straight on to the A16 (E402) motorway, which heads towards Paris in one direction and Belgium in the other.

However, most modern European appliances are fitted with the hybrid CEE 7/7 plug which fits both CEE 7/5 (Belgium & France) and CEE 7/4 (most of Europe, including Germany, Netherlands, Spain and Sweden) outlets. Current issues that face the country include the further integration of France into the EU and the adoption of common standards for the economy, defence and other fields. The current constitution of the so called Fifth Republic was written after the collapse of the post war Fourth Republic, mostly according to the wishes of Charles de Gaulle. Today, France is a republic with a President elected for a five-year term (quinquennat).

General de Gaulle, undersecretary of war, establishes government-in-exile in London and later in Algiers. The war leads to a broader power struggle involving factions from across Western Europe, fuelled by emerging nationalism on both sides. His descendants gradually unify the country through wars and dynastic inheritance. A key player on the global stage and a country at the political heart of Europe, France paid a high price in both economic and human terms during the two world wars.

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To enjoy cheap international calls from France travellers can get a local SIM card online before they leave or use low-cost dial-around services. Since drug brand names vary across countries even though the effective ingredients stay the same, it is better to carry prescriptions using the international nomenclature in addition to the commercial brand name. There are plenty of sites in both English and French, and the rental properties may be owned by people of any nationality.

The other main legacies of Roman civilisation are the Catholic Church, the codified law system and the French language. Like some of its neighbours (notably Italy, Spain and Germany), France has an extensive calendar of local holidays and saint days, but unlike those countries, these generally aren’t observed by businesses and government. In the locals’ absence, hordes of foreign tourists throng the country’s major attractions and cities, and Paris especially can see room rates skyrocket. Summer is warm and sunny throughout most of France, and there are often many events going on to tempt the traveller, whether they be local festivals, outdoor concert seasons or the annual 14 July national holiday.

The prime minister, who is Sébastien Lecornu since 2025, is the head of government, appointed by the president to lead the government. France is a representative democracy organised as a unitary semi-presidential republic. The country was set to impose a carbon tax in 2009; however, the plan was abandoned due to fears of it burdening French businesses.

As well as police officers, metro and train conductors can and do enforce the anti-smoking law and will fine you for smoking in non-designated places; if you encounter problems with a smoker on a train, you may go find the conductor. Prescription drugs, including oral contraceptives (aka « the pill »), will only be delivered if a doctor’s prescription is shown. Trains and cars coming from countries which have a more lenient attitude (such as the Netherlands) are especially targeted. The law does not apply in situations where answering an appeal for help might endanger your life or the lives of others. Due to the international threat of terrorism, police with the help of military units often patrol monuments, the Paris Metro, train stations and airports. Again, the subject is sensitive as the police have often been accused of targeting people according to criteria of ethnicity.

Throughout France, mainly in rural areas but also in towns and cities, you can find B&Bs and different kinds of gîtes. If you ask directions to the nearest hotel, people in the street will assume you mean guest accommodation, but signs for various buildings called hôtel won’t necessarily be what you’re looking for. Along the autoroute (motorway) network, and at the entrance of cities, you’ll find US-style motels; they are very often reachable only by car. The newer hotels are often part of national or international chains and have high standards.

In 2015 it was described as « the best networked state in the world » due to its membership in more international institutions than any other country; these include the G7, World Trade Organization, the Pacific Community and the Indian Ocean Commission. The parliament is responsible for determining the rules and principles concerning most areas of law, political amnesty, and fiscal policy; however, the government may draft specific details concerning most laws. Since the 19th century, France has received many immigrants, often male foreign workers from European Catholic countries who generally returned home when not employed. During the Cold War, de Gaulle pursued a policy of « national independence » towards the Western and Eastern blocs. This interim government, established by de Gaulle, continued to wage war against Germany and to purge collaborators from office.