French Trivia
Who wrote 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea?
Jules Verne
What is the world's biggest museum?
Louvre
Who is La Joconde?
Mona Lisa
What form of French do they speak in Haiti?
creole
What do they typically eat for breakfast?
croissant, bread, cafe, jam
Where did the Quartier Latin get its name?
it houses the Univ. pf Paris, or Sorbonne, and they used to speak Latin
Why is it rude to bring chrysanthemums to a dinner party in France?
it is the flower of death (for funerals)
What is the area called where all the tall skyscrapers are in Paris?
la Defense
What was France's name when the Romans occupied it?
la Gaule
What is the name of the French National Anthem?
la Marseillaise
What is the name of the River that runs through Paris?
la Seine
What does the daily winner of the Tour De France win and get to wear the next day?
le maillot jaune (yellow jersey)
Who was the protagonist, and what was his prison number ID?
protagonist of Les Miserables id Jean Valjean, prisoner #24601
What do you call a loaf of French Bread?
une baguette
What did Claude Monet paint most often?
waterlilies from his pond
Who was Jeanne d'Arc?
15 year old who who lead the French army to victory against the English
What is the year that the French Revolution began?
1789
How many arrondissements are there in Paris?
20
How many different cheeses are there in France?
365
Who wrote The Count of Monte Cristo?
Alexandre Dumas
What are the three countries called that encompass le Maghreb?
Algeria, Tunisia, and Morocco
What is the sightseeing boat called that takes tourists down the river through Paris?
Bateau Mouche
What is the coastal region where the inhabitants are linked to the Celtic people of Great Britain?
Bretagne (Brittany)
Which Paris museum houses the modern art exhibits?
Centre Pompidou
What is the name of the largest chateau in France, built by Francois 1?
Chambord
What is the name of the chateau that crosses a river (like a bridge)?
Chenonceau
Who wrote La Marseillaise?
Claude Joseph Rouget de Lisle
Who is the father of French Impressionism?
Claude Monet
What is the city in France that is famous for la moutarde?
Dijon
What nationality is Vincent Van Gogh?
Dutch
Who is the father of pointillism?
Georges Seurat
Who is one of the most famous French actors?
Gerard Depardieu
Name three famous French designers.
Givenchy, Yves Saint Laurent, Chanel
Who designed and built the glass arch that serves as the entrance to the Louvre?
I.M. Pei,
What is the name of the French inspector in the movie Pink Pather?
Inspecteur Clouseau
Who was the Roi Soleil?
King Louis XIV
Which king and queen got decapitated during the revolution?
King Louis XVI and Queen Marie Antoinette
What is the name of the newest modern glass arch in Paris?
L'Arche de la Defense
Name three famous French brands.
Lancome, Chanel, Dior
What three other European countries speak France, besides France?
Luxembourg, Switzerland, Belgium
What is the only hill in Paris called?
Montmartre
Which museum in Paris houses the impressionist paintings?
Musee d'Orsay
Who had the Arc de Triomphe built?
Napoleon Bonaparte
Who occupied France in WW11?
Nazis
What is the area where the allies made a surprise landing in WW11, which liberated France?
Normandy Beaches
What is the capital of France?
Paris, France
What North American province speaks French?
Quebec
What are two other purposes of the Tour Eiffel, besides tourism?
Radio antenna on top and restaurant on top called Jules Verne
Who is the sculptor who made the Thinker and the Gates of Hell?
Rodin
What are Van Gogh's most famous paintings?
Starry Night, Sunflower, and Night at the Cafe Terrance
What famous peace treaty was signed in the Hall of Mirrors?
Treaty of Versailles (ended WWI)
What is another name for the French Flag?
Tri-couleur
What palace did Louis XIV have built?
Versailles
Who wrote Les Miserables?
Victor Hugo
Who cut a piece of his ear off and sent it to his girlfriend?
Vincent Van Gogh
What is ratatouille?
a country stew with vegetables and meat
What does Repas sans pain, repas vaut rien mean?
a meal without bread is not a meal
What was the Bastille?
a prison where the arsenal was stored, which is why the peasants stormed it
What is la Sorbonne?
another name for the Univ. of Paris
What did Edgar Degas paint most often?
ballerinas and racehorses
What do they eat at every meal?
bread
What is the present currency for France, and most countries in the European Union?
euro
When is the Tour de France held?
every summer in July
What does Mardi Gras mean?
fat Tuesday
What holds up the sides of la Cathedrale de Notre Dame?
flying buttresses
When was the Eiffel Tower built, and why?
for the world's fair in 1887
What was the former currency for France?
franc
What do the French typically eat for dessert?
fruit, cheese, yogurt
What sculptures are on top of the cathedral, to scare off evil spirits?
gargoyles
What does the term haute couture mean?
high fashion
What did Paul Gaugin paint most often?
island women from Tahiti
What is France's national holiday?
le 14 juillet, Bastille Day
What is the northwest region of Africa called?
le Maghreb
What is April Fool's Day called in France?
le Poisson d'Avril
What is the name of the world's biggest cycling event?
le Tour de France
What is the most popular mode of transportation in Paris?
le metro
What does Tel pere, tel fils mean?
like father like son
What famous industry is the South of France known for?
perfume
What is France's favorite sport?
soccer
What did the Musee D'Orsay museum used to be?
train station
What cake do they eat on the Epiphany?
un gateau des rois (king's cake);
What cake do they eat at Noel?
une buche de Noel (yule log)
What did Auguste Renoir paint most often?
women and children; people
