|
||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||
 |
 |
|
|
|
||
 |
 |
Culture, history and the world's finest cuisine; France is the world's most popular tourist destination attracting over 75 million visitors each year.
Food & Drink
France is renowned worldwide for its spectacular cuisine, which is undoubtedly a strong draw to visitors to the area. Thousands of boulangeries across the country open in the early hours and fill the air with the smell of freshly baked baguettes, croissants and pastries every morning.
Lunch is no short affair, with three course meals being served in most restaurants and enjoyed by visitors and workers alike. A standard two-hour lunch break is taken daily by French employees, and locals use this time to dine slowly, enjoying the experience and spending a relaxed time with family and friends.
Evening meals are mouth watering and often comprise of succulent meats superbly prepared and complemented by a rich sauce as well as potato or rice dishes and a small salad. The cheese course is not to be missed and it’s a great experience to see a restaurant’s cheese selection presented to you, being given the choice to select your preference of a delicious range of sheep, cow and goat cheeses.
Last but not least, let’s not forget the wine! France has the world’s second largest total vineyard area and currently produces more wine than any other country in the world. An incredible seven to eight billion bottles of wine are produced in France annually! A wide range of grape varieties flourish in the country and traditional wine-making practices have been improved over time to produce a stunning array of spectacular vintages.
Language and Culture
The main language of French is spoken by nearly all residents in France, though many people, particularly in tourist areas, are able to string together a sentence or two in English. Regional dialects are also popular, though the majority of the population speaks French most of the time.
With a passion for food and a base of solid family values, France is a friendly nation and you’ll regularly hear the customary ‘bonjour’ or ‘bonsoir’ from local people. The handshake is a common form of greeting and friends also greet each other by lightly kissing on each cheek.
History
France is the third largest nation in Europe, with only Russia and Ukraine being larger. In ancient times France was part of Gaul or Gallia (a Celtic territory). The name 'France' is taken from the Latin 'Francia', meaning 'country of the Franks' who were a nation of Germanic descent who conquered the area during the 5th century, at the time of the fall of the Western Roman Empire. It became a separate country in the 9th century.
Since the 17th century, France has played a major role in European and world events. In the 20th century, it experienced numerous crises, including the devastation of two world wars, political and social upheavals, and the loss of a large empire in Indochina, Algeria and West and Equatorial Africa. It has, however, survived and emerged from the ruins of World War II to become an important world supplier of agricultural and industrial products and a major partner in the EU.
Economy
France has long been one of the world’s wealthiest and most developed national economies and is currently ranked as the world’s fifth largest and Europe’s second largest economy. The country’s stable financial climate makes it ideal for investment.
Energy production is key to the nation’s economy and as the world’s second largest agricultural exporter, France ranks just after the United States in the industry. The world’s most popular tourist destination, with an average of more than 75 million visitors annually, tourism also contributes strongly to the country’s economy.
| About France | Climate & Tourism | Location & getting there | Food & Drink | Language & Culture | History & Economy | Property in France |
