France - culture and geography
Arles; southern; Van Gogh
..... is city on the Rhône River; pop. about 53,000; in the Provence region of ..... France; inspired paintings of Dutch painter Vincent ..... ; Once a provincial capital of ancient Rome, this city is also known for many remains from that era, including amphitheater les Arènes d'(city), now hosting plays, concerts and bullfights
French Guyana (in South America), Guadeloupe and Martinique (in the Caribbean), La Reunion and Mayotte (in Africa in the Indian Ocean)
5 ROM ('régions d'outre mer' or overseas regions) also belonging to France: ..... in South America, ..... and ..... in the Caribbean, ..... and ..... in Africa in the Indian Ocean
Alsace
A narrow strip of land on the border between Germany and France that was conquered by the Germans in 1874 and recaptured by France; known for German cuisine; its capital (Strasbourg) known for Christmas Markets
Versailles
A palace renovated by Louis XIV (the Sun King) outside of Paris; it was home to Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette; known for gardens and Hall of Mirrors; was principal royal residence of France from 1682, under Louis XIV, until start of French Revolution in 1789, under Louis XVI; located in department of Yvelines, in region of Île-de-France, about 20 kilometres southwest of center of Paris; originally built by Louis XIII as hunting lodge; kings moved here from Louvre; WWI treaty signed there in 1919
Normandy
A region in northwestern France and the site of the D-Day invasion on June 6, 1944; known for dairy products; land is "green like a salad bowl"; people are cautious and economical; home of author Guy de Maupassant
marchés de Noël
Christmas markets
Giverny
Claude Monet's house with bridge over pond with lily pads; impressionist painter
Brittany
France's northwesternmost region; hilly peninsula extending toward Atlantic Ocean; long, rugged coastline with beach resorts such as chic Dinard and walled Saint-Malo, built on rock in the English Channel. The Pink Granite Coast is famed for its blush-hued sand and rocks; known for prehistoric menhirs (a type of megalith) at Carnac
ratatouille
French Provençal stew from Nice made with vegetables (eggplants, zucchini, red peppers) fried in a tomato sauce and onions; also name of Walt Disney cartoon of a rat who dreams of becoming a chef
Grand Prix / Le Mans
French automobile races
Peugeot, Renault, Citroën
French car brands
The flag of France is a tricolour flag featuring three vertical bands coloured blue, white, and red. It is known to English speakers as the French Tricolour or simply the Tricolour.
French flag
July 14th / Bastille Day
French independence day; celebrated on the Champs-Élysées in Paris with a military parade
300 million
French is spoken by more than ..... people around the world as first or second language
SECOND
French is the ..... most studied language in the world after English
Burgundy
French region that sided with the English in the 100 years war; center of country; known for beef; historical region in east-central France; crisscrossed by a network of canals and grand châteaux; The capital, Dijon, of mustard fame, is home to the imposing Palace of the Dukes, where the distinguished Musée des Beaux-Arts was established in 1787
Michelin
French tire company
6:00PM
If it is 12:00 noon in Pennsylvania, it is ... in France.
Gorges du Verdon
In the far-southeast, directly to the west of Nice and dissected by a river; massive canyon is up to 700 meters deep; about 11 miles long; Carved by the ..... River; white-water rapids and cliffs; Paths include the Blanc-Martel trail, ending at Point Sublime lookout; Natural Regional Park containing village of Moustiers-Sainte-Marie with 12th-century Notre Dame de Beauvoir Chapel and ceramics at the Musée de la Faïence. South, the Musée des Tourneurs sur Bois shows local woodwork.
l'Arc de Triomphe
Monument in Paris commemorating Napoleon's victories; on the Champs-Élysées; in the middle of the Place de l'Étoile / Place Charles de Gaulle; juncture of 12 avenues
Emmanuel Macron (1977-)
President of France since 2017; youngest president in the history of France, at 39 years old
Saint Tropez
a coastal town on the French Riviera, popular with artists since the 1960s; in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region of southeastern France; the town attracted the international "jet set" in the 1960s, and remains known for its beaches; la Ponche - former fishing village with cobblestone streets
Montmartre
a large hill in Paris's 18th arrondissement; part of the Right Bank / northern section of Paris; known for artwork sold at Place du Tertre; location of Sacré Coeur basilica
Pont d'Arc
a large natural bridge, located in the Ardèche département in the south of France; Ardèche River flows beneath bridge; canoeing and kayaking area; natural entrance to the Ardèche Canyon; near Chauvet-Pont-d'Arc Cave, containing one of the earliest known Paleolithic cave paintings, about 30,000 years old
baguette
a long, narrow loaf of French bread; bought fresh everyday
Jura
a mountain range in eastern part of central France; mostly in Switzerland; western part in France; extending from the Rhine to the Rhone. Highest peak, Crêt de la Neige, 5,654 feet; hiking, cycling, downhill skiing and cross-country skiing; lookout peaks, caves, gorges
Corsica
a mountainous island and the country's largest island; located 160 km (99 miles) southeast of Nice in the Mediterranean Sea
English Channel
arm of Atlantic Ocean separating Southern England from northern France; links to southern part of North Sea by Strait of Dover at northeastern end; busiest shipping area in the world; fewer ferry boats due to creation of Chunnel (opened in 1994; underground train linking northwest France to southeast England); Chunnel carries high-speed Eurostar passenger trains, Eurotunnel Shuttle for road vehicles and international freight trains
between 7 and 9 PM (or later)
at what time the French eat dinner
Tour de France
bicycle race that finishes at the Arc de Triomphe on the Champs-Élysées in Paris; started in 1903; winning bike rider gets to wear a yellow shirt
Mediterranean Sea
body of water south/southeast of France
la tour Eiffel / Eiffel Tower
built in Paris in 1889; icon of France; built for the Universal Exposition of 1889; designed by Gustave ... ; located on Champ de Mars; "Iron Lady"; three levels; fireworks for Bastille Day and New Years; tallest structure in Paris
Paris (pop. 2 million); north central France; twenty arrondissements
capital of France; northeast/central part of country; major European city and a global center for art, fashion, gastronomy and culture. Its 19th-century cityscape is crisscrossed by wide boulevards and the River Seine. Beyond such landmarks as the Eiffel Tower and the 12th-century, Gothic Notre-Dame cathedral, the city is known for its cafe culture and designer boutiques along the Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré
le Sacré-Coeur (the Sacred Heart)
church in Paris on top of hill called Montmartre; means "Sacred Heart"
Nice
city along the French Riviera in the south; known for pebble beaches, la Promenade des Anglais (English Boardwalk) along la Baie des Anges (Bay of Angels), and Carnival (Mardi Gras)
French Riviera
coast along the southeast of France; along Mediterranean Sea; also called la Côte d'Azur
England (capital - London); pop. 56 million; country that is part United Kingdom; shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north; Irish Sea northwest of England and Celtic Sea to southwest; separated from continental Europe by North Sea to the east and English Channel to the south; Stonehenge, Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, Queen Elizabeth II, Shakespeare
country located to the northwest of France, separated by a body of water (If France were a clock, it would be located at about 11:00.)
Monaco (capital - Monaco); pop. 39,000; second smallest country in the world; known for the car race le Grand Prix and the Monaco Yacht show; wealthy country; considered part of the French Riviera
country located to the southeast of France on Mediterranean Sea; very close to Italy (If France were a clock, it would be located at about 5:00.)
Switzerland (capital - Bern; pop. about 8.5 million; German, French, Italian, Romansh; mountainous Central European country, home to numerous lakes, villages and high peaks of Alps; cities contain medieval quarters, with landmarks like capital Bern's Zytglogge clock tower and Lucerne's wooden chapel bridge; known for its ski resorts, hiking trails, watches, chocolates; Banking and finance are key industries; Lac Léman and le Jet d'Eau; Bernina Express through Swiss and Italian Alps; established Red Cross)
country to the east of central France (If France were a clock, it would be located at about 3:00.)
Germany (capital - Berlin); pop. 83 million; Western European country with landscape of forests, rivers, mountain ranges and North Sea beaches; over 2000 years of history; Berlin - home to art and entertainment scenes, the Brandenburg Gate and many sites relating to WWII; Munich - known for its Oktoberfest; Frankfurt, known for skyscrapers, houses the European Central Bank.
country to the east of northern France and central France (If France were a clock, it would be located between 2:00 and 3:00)
Belgium (capital - Brussels); pop. 11.5 million; Belgium, a country in Western Europe, is known for medieval towns, Renaissance architecture and as headquarters of the European Union and NATO. The country has distinctive regions including Dutch-speaking Flanders to the north, French-speaking Wallonia to the south and a German-speaking community to the east. The bilingual capital, Brussels, has ornate guildhalls at Grand-Place and elegant art-nouveau buildings.
country to the northeast of France (If France were a clock, it would be located at 1:00.)
Italy (capital - Rome); pop. 60 million; European country with long Mediterranean coastline, has left a powerful mark on Western culture and cuisine. Its capital, Rome, is home to the Vatican as well as landmark art and ancient ruins. Other major cities include Florence, with Renaissance masterpieces such as Michelangelo's "David" and Brunelleschi's Duomo; Venice, the city of canals; and Milan, Italy's fashion capital.
country to the southeast of France (If France were a clock, it would be located at about 5:00.)
euro (previously used the franc until 2002); member of the European Union and one of 23 countries in the region that uses the euro (abbreviated €); euro : seven notes in circulation, available in denominations of €5, €10, €20, €50, €100, €200 (rare) and €500 (rare); eight coins in circulation in denominations of €1 and €2, then one, two, five, 10, 20 and 50 cents
currency used in France
Massif Central
extinct volcanoes, mountains, plateaus in the middle of Southern France; highland region; covers about 15% of mainland France
Paris (northcentral), Marseille (south/center along Mediterranean), Lyon (central/east), Toulouse (southwest), Nice (southeast along Mediterranean)
five most populous French cities (from most to least populous)
crêpe
flat pancake, often filled with jam, fruit, chocolate (Nutella)
foie gras
goose liver paste; often spread on slice of bread
croque-monsieur (grilled ham and cheese sandwich); croque-madame (grilled ham and cheese sandwich WITH egg on top)
grilled ham and cheese sandwich; grilled ham and cheese sandwich with an egg on top
Vosges Mountains
heavily forested mountains in the far-northeast stretch along the Rhine River valley; Grand Ballon is highest peak; Schiessrothried, a glacial lake in the Vosges; Mont Sainte-Odile high peak in Alsace named after Saint Odile - contains monastery/convent at top called Hohenburg Abbey and stone fortifications called "the Pagan Wall"
Mont Blanc
highest mountain in the Alps
le Musée d'Orsay (Orsay Museum)
impressionist museum in Paris; used to be train station
Mont-Saint-Michel
island in Normandy (northern France) which can be reached on foot during low tide; former abbey called La Merveille; one of most important pilgrimage destinations; was important pilgrimage of faith during Middle Ages; base surrounded by towers and medieval walls; narrow pathways that go to the top with souvenir stands and food; Most visited French attraction outside of Paris; home to 44 inhabitants, including the monks and nuns that reside in the Abbey
Atlantic Ocean
large body of water to the west of France
Spain (capital - Madrid; pop. about 47 million; Europe's Iberian Peninsula, includes 17 autonomous regions with diverse geography and cultures; Madrid is home to Royal Palace and Prado museum, housing works by European masters; Segovia has medieval castle (the Alcázar) and an intact Roman aqueduct; Catalonia's capital, Barcelona, is defined by Antoni Gaudí's modernist landmarks like Sagrada Família church)
large country to the southwest of France (If France were a clock, it would be located at about 7:00.)
Père Lachaise Cemetery
largest cemetery in Paris; more than 3.5 million visitors annually; most visited necropolis in the world; located in the 20th arrondissement; was the first garden cemetery, as well as the first municipal cemetery in Paris; notable people buried there : Édith Piaf (singer), Oscar Wilde (Irish writer), Jim Morrison (American singer)
Forest of Orléans
largest national forest in France; located in NC France
Pont du Gard
located in southern France; Roman monument built halfway through 1st century AD (finished in 60 AD); main construction in a 50 km long aqueduct that supplied city of Nîmes, formerly known as Nemausus, with water; three-level aqueduct standing 50 m high; allowed water to flow across Gardon river
Jardins du Luxembourg
located in the 6th arrondissement of Paris, France. It was created beginning in 1612 by Marie de' Medici, the widow of King Henry IV of France, for a new residence she constructed, the Luxembourg Palace
Notre Dame
medieval Catholic cathedral on the Île de la Cité in the 4th arrondissement of Paris; dates from 12th Century; along the Seine River; known for stained glass rose window and flying buttresses; Point Zéro (Geographic marker of the starting point from which all distances from Paris are measured)
le Centre Pompidou
modern art museum in Paris; stairs, heating ducts on outside; fountains with shapes in forms of mouths, hats, music notes, snakes; named after former president
Le Louvre
most famous museum in the world; former castle, then royal palace in Paris; glass pyramids designed by Chinese-American I.M. Pei in 1980s; contains Mona Lisa by Leonardo Da Vinci; mummies, potery, sculptures, jewelry, tapestries, paintings
'Liberté, Egalité, Fraternité' (Liberty, Equality, Fraternity)
motto of France
Alps
mountain range in the southeast of France; highest point is Mont Blanc; cities include Grenoble and Chamonix; chamois (goat-antelope), mouflong (wild sheep), ibex; major ski destination; highest mountain Mont Blanc near Italian border - its highest summit is Grande Aiguille du Dru; Mer de Glace volcanic glacier
Pyrenees
mountains in the southwest separating France from Spain; natural border; Stretching coast to coast from the Atlantic Ocean in the west to the Mediterranean in the east; contain small country of Andorra; ibex; French/Spanish Basque country and Basque language; trains in 1800s to connect France and Spain; woods, farmland, hiking; prehistoric caves; highest point is in Spain Pico d'Aneto; main cities include Perpignan and Toulouse
Tricolore (The "tricolore" (three-colour) flag is an emblem of the Fifth Republic. It had its origins in the union, at the time of the French Revolution, of the colours of the King (white) and the City of Paris (blue and red). Today, the "tricolour" flies over all public buildings.)
name of the French flag
la Marseillaise
national anthem of France; originally a battle song; written in 1792 by Claude Joseph Rouget de Lisle in Strasbourg after the declaration of war by France against Austria, and was originally titled "Chant de guerre pour l'Armée du Rhin"
pot-au-feu
national dish of France; stew with meat and vegetables; ingredients - Beef, vegetables (carrots, turnips, leeks, celery, onions), cartilaginous meat (oxtail, marrowbone)
Camargue
natural region in the south of France; known for marshes, white horses, bulls, flamingos; south of its "capital" Arles (known for Amphitheater); between Mediterranean Sea and Rhône River; lagoons, reed-covered marshes, lakes; Étang de Vaccarès (park / salt-water lagoon); ferocious mosquitoes; main crops are cereals and rice
96 departments + 5 overseas
number of departments in France
13 regions + 5 overseas (before 2016 --- 22 + 5 overseas)
number of regions in France
French; is a major language in Europe after English and German
official language in France
(Western) Europe
on which continent France is located
Cannes
pop. about 75,000; resort town on the French Riviera, is famed for its international film festival. Its Boulevard de la Croisette, curving along the coast, is lined with sandy beaches, upmarket boutiques and palatial hotels. It's also home to the Palais des Festivals et des Congrès, a modern building complete with red carpet and Allée des Étoiles - its walk of fame
total population of France has been increasing for years now, reaching 67 million inhabitants in 2020. France is second most populous country in Europe after Germany
population of France
majority - 45% Catholic (40% non-religious; 5% Muslim)
predominant religion in France
Provence
region in southeast with lavender fields and old historic towns like Avignon; located near the French Riviera; bordering Italy and the Mediterranean Sea; contains Southern Alps, Camargue, vineyards, olive groves, pine forests and lavender fields; To the south is Côte d'Azur (or French Riviera) containing elegant city of Nice and glamorous resort towns Saint-Tropez and Cannes
Antibes
resort town between Cannes and Nice on the French Riviera (Côte d'Azur); known for jazz festival at Juan-les-Pins; old town enclosed by 16th-century ramparts with the star-shaped Fort Carré. T; forested Cap d'Antibes peninsula separates it from Juan-les-Pins, a chic resort with the Jazz à Juan music festival
Rhine
river along eastern border of northern/central France; natural border between France and Germany; one of major European rivers; sources in Switzerland and flows in mostly northerly direction through Germany and the Netherlands, emptying into North Sea; flows through Strasbourg in Alsace and five other countries; very important artery of industrial transport in world; Chant de Guerre pour l'Armée du Rhin (predates la Marseillaise)
Loire
river flowing horizontally from the western coast of central/northern France to center then to south 3/4 of the way towards Mediterranean Sea; longest river in France; separates northern and southern France; known for castles; largest castle Chambord; Chartres Cathedral, called "Garden of France" and "Valley of the Kings" (monarchy ruled in valley); center contains forest of Orléans (largest in France)
Rhône
river in southeastern France that extends north-south from the center of France to the south; from Switzerland to the Mediterranean; near the Alps; source of electric energy
Marseille
second largest city of France; a port located on the southern coast along the Mediterranean
hexagon (six sides); also a nickname for France : "L'Hexagone"
shape of France
Garonne
shorter river in southern France flowing diagonally from the Atlantic in the west to the Mediterranean in the southeast; near the border of Spain; near Pyrenees mountains; rough river
Seine
shorter river that flows from the northern coast of western France diagonally towards the southeast; flows through Paris; divides Paris into a left bank (for schools) and right bank (for businesses); provides half the water to Paris; boat rides called Bateaux Mouches; walks along the river banks; Paris Plage beach; inspired impressionist paintings; where Paris began at the time of Cesar when the city was Lutèce
about the size of Texas
size of France
largest country (largest out of 25 Western European countries)
size of France compared to other Western European countries
Luxembourg (capital - Luxembourg); pop. 613,000; small European country, surrounded by Belgium, France and Germany; mostly rural, with dense Ardennes forest and nature parks in the north, rocky gorges of the Mullerthal region in the east and the Moselle river valley in the southeast. Its capital, Luxembourg City, is famed for its fortified medieval old town perched on sheer cliffs.
small country northeast of France, between Belgium and Germany (If France were a clock, it would be located at about 2:00.)
Andorra (capital - Andorra la Vella); pop. 77,000; tiny, independent principality situated between France and Spain in the Pyrenees mountains; known for ski resorts and a tax-haven status that encourages duty-free shopping. Capital Andorra la Vella has boutiques and jewelers on Meritxell Avenue and several shopping centers. The old quarter, Barri Antic, houses Romanesque Santa Coloma Church, with a circular bell tower.
small country to the southwest of France; between France and Spain
Bay of Biscay
smaller body of water located to the west of France; a gulf of the northeast Atlantic Ocean located south of the Celtic Sea; along western coast of France from Point Penmarc'h (in Brittany) to Spanish border, and northern coast of Spain west to Cape Ortegal (northwestern Spain)
escargots
snails; eaten in France; often with garlic sauce and parsley
rooster (symbolizes bravery and boldness as he defends the flock)
symbol of France (animal)
la République Française (the French Republic)
the official name of France
Lyon (pop. 513,000; capital city in France's Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, sits at junction of Rhône and Saône rivers; center reflects 2,000 years of history from the Roman Amphithéâtre des Trois Gaules, medieval and Renaissance architecture in Vieux (Old) Lyon, to modern Confluence district on Presqu'île peninsula; Traboules, covered passageways between buildings, connect Vieux Lyon and La Croix-Rousse hill)
third largest city in France; located in the central part of the country; known for its cuisine
Grasse
town on the French Riviera; in hills north of Cannes; known for perfume industry; perfume celebrated at the Musée International de la Parfumerie; perfumeries such as Fragonard, Molinard and Galimard; former Roman Catholic cathedral contains paintings by Rubens
Étretat
town on the north coast of France in Normandy; known for the striking rock formations carved out of its white cliffs, including the Porte d'Aval arch and L'Aiguille (the Needle), a pillar rising up from the sea
republic (democracy - citizens vote)
type of government
Brie, Camembert, Roquefort
types of common French cheeses; during a French dinner, cheese is served after main course and before dessert; eaten after dinner to aide in digestion, but in a small quantity
stuffed turkey, oysters, chestnuts
typical French Christmas foods
regions are larger than departments; each region contains a number of departments
which is larger : a department or a region ?
fleur de lys
white iris the royal emblem of France
