Is it true that France invented the hot air balloon? Is it really forbidden to kiss on the platform? Learn 30 interesting facts about France.
Whether you live in France or have just visited, you can get to know the country better by learning a few facts about it, not forgetting to impress your friends at your next quiz night. Get ready to test your French skills by sharing 30 facts about France that might surprise you.
France is the largest country in the EU, sometimes referred to as the hexagon.
France is the largest country in the European Union, with a total area of 551,695 square kilometers. However, it is only the third largest country in Europe after Ukraine and the European part of Russia. About a third (31%) of French territory is covered by forests, making it the fourth most forested country in the EU after Sweden, Finland, and Spain. The country is also sometimes called a hexagon because of its hexagonal shape.
France is the most popular tourist destination in the world.
It might be time to brush up on your French skills because according to the latest travel data, France is the place to be. In 2018, 89.3 million people visited the country, making it the most visited destination in the world. The capital of the country, Paris, is also the third most visited city in the world after Bangkok and London. It's time to pack your bags!
French was the official language of England for about 300 years.
It's hard to imagine that French was the official language of England between 1066 and 1362. But after William the Conqueror led the Norman conquest and subsequent occupation of England in 1066, he introduced Anglo-Norman French into the nation. It was spoken by the royalty, aristocrats, and dignitaries, some of whom didn't speak English! However, in 1362, Parliament passed the English Language Act, making English the official language of the government. Indeed, Norman French was used for pleading but was largely unknown to the English people, who didn't understand what was being said in court.
Louis XIX was king of France for only 20 minutes, the shortest reign in history.
Yes, you read that right. The King of France had only 20 minutes of royal glory after his father Charles X abdicated, leaving him to ascend to the throne of France in July 1830. After this brief period, Louis-Antoine also abdicated in favor of his nephew, the Duke of Bordeaux. This makes him the shortest-reigning monarch in history. He shares this incredible record with Crown Prince Luis Filipe, who officially became king of Portugal after his father's assassination. But 20 minutes later, he also died from his injury.
"Liberté, égalité, fraternité" or "liberty, equality, fraternity" is the national motto.
The famous motto first appeared during the revolution (1789-1799) and was inscribed in the constitutions of 1946 and 1958. Today, you can still see it on coins, postage stamps, and government logos; often alongside "Marianne," symbolizing the triumph of the Republic. The legal system in France is still largely based on the principles laid out in Napoleon Bonaparte's Civil Code after the revolution of the 1800s.
The French army was the first to use camouflage in 1915 (World War I).
Here's an interesting fact about France. The word "camouflage" actually comes from a French verb meaning "to disguise." Indeed, the French army was the first to create a special camouflage unit in 1915. Weapons and vehicles were painted by artists called "camofleurs." The following year, the British army followed suit and created its own camouflage department under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Francis Wyatt. It was known as the Special Works Park RE (Royal Engineers).
In France, you can marry a deceased person!
A rather shocking fact about France is that under French law, you can marry posthumously in exceptional cases. This is provided you can prove that the deceased intended to marry you while alive. You also need to obtain permission from the President of France. The last approved case dates back to 2017 when the partner of a homosexual police officer shot by a jihadist on the Champs-Élysées in Paris was allowed to marry his partner posthumously.
The French invented tin cans, a hairdryer, and a hot air balloon.
It turns out we have the French to thank for many useful inventions we know and love today. For example, in 1809, French inventor Nicolas Apper came up with the idea of using closed glass jars placed in boiling water to preserve food. Later, Pierre Durand invented the tin can. Braille was also developed by Louis Braille, who became blind in his childhood. Meanwhile, physician René Lannec invented the stethoscope in a Parisian hospital in 1816, and Alexandre-Ferdinand Godefroy patented the world's first hairdryer in 1888. The majestic hot air balloon was also introduced by the Montgolfier brothers, Joseph and Etienne, who showcased the world's first public demonstration of a non-tethered balloon in 1783.
France was the first country in the world to ban supermarkets from throwing away food.
Here's a French fact we can be proud of. In February 2016, France became the first country in the world to ban supermarkets from throwing away or destroying unsold food. Stores are now required to donate surplus food to food banks and charitable organizations. Supermarkets over 400 square meters caught mixing good-quality products nearing their expiration date face heavy fines of up to €75,000 or two years in prison. Additionally, all French supermarkets also prohibit food destruction to prevent "dumpster divers" from scavenging for food in trash bins. Bravo France!
The first public film projection was organized by the French Lumière brothers in 1895.
The Lumière brothers, Auguste Marie Louis Nicolas and Louis Jean, were known for their cinematograph and the short films they produced between 1895 and 1905. The famous duo organized the world's first public film screening on December 28, 1895, at the Grand Café in Paris. Their first film was "La sortie des ouvriers de l’usine Lumière" ("Workers Leaving the Lumière Factory"). The five-second black-and-white film simply showed workers leaving the Lumière factory and left the audience completely amazed. In 1895, Louis Lumière reportedly said that cinema was "an invention without a future." Oh, how little he knew...
The oldest person ever to have lived was a Frenchwoman named Jeanne Louise Calment.
The longest fully confirmed human lifespan ever recorded is 122 years and 164 days. Jeanne Louise Calment was born in France on February 21, 1875, and died on August 4, 1997. She witnessed the opening of the Eiffel Tower in 1889, two world wars, the invention of television, the modern automobile, and the airplane. Interestingly, in 2018, the life expectancy for women in France was 85.3 years and for men was 79.4 years. France also has the 14th highest life expectancy in the world, with both men and women living on average up to 83 years. Hmmm, there must be something in the water!
France legalized same-sex marriage in 2013.
When President François Hollande signed the bill on May 18, 2013, France became the ninth country in Europe and the 14th in the world to legalize same-sex marriage. Although polls at the time showed that about 50% of French people supported it, not everyone was happy. Indeed, thousands of people defending so-called "family values" took to the streets in protest.
France has more Nobel Prize in Literature laureates than any other country.
With 15 French recipients of this prestigious prize since 1901, it's fair to say that France has produced some of the most influential writers and thinkers in the world. French poet and essayist Sully Prudhomme became the first Nobel laureate in Literature that year. Among the most famous French poets, novelists, and writers are René Descartes, Voltaire, Charles Baudelaire, Blaise Pascal, Gustave Flaubert, and Victor Hugo.
The highest mountain in Europe is Mont Blanc in the French Alps.
Mont Blanc, with a height of 4,807 meters, is officially the second highest mountain in Europe. It takes 10 to 12 challenging hours to climb to the summit. But if you're not up for it, you can take a leisurely 20-minute trip on Europe's highest cable car near Aiguille du Midi for a magnificent view from the top. Explore other amazing places to visit in France.
The world's first artificial heart and face transplant took place in France.
The heart transplant occurred in December 2013 at Georges Pompidou Hospital in Paris. The bioprosthesis, which mimics real heart contractions, is powered by an external lithium-ion battery and weighs about three times the weight of a real organ. French surgeons were also the first to perform a face transplant in 2005.
The Louvre is the most visited museum in the world.
With 9.6 million visitors in 2019, the famous Louvre is the most visited museum in the world. Located in the heart of Paris, the magnificent museum houses approximately 38,000 works of art and artifacts dating back to prehistory. These include the Mona Lisa, the Venus de Milo, and IM Pei's famous glass pyramid, located in the courtyard. It's no wonder the Louvre is one of the most visited places in Paris.
In 2010, French gastronomy was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage.
France is famous for its exquisite cuisine, which was listed on UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage list in 2010. Experts have described the importance of French gastronomy as a social custom aimed at celebrating people's most important moments and groups, as well as emphasizing community by its function of bringing friends and family together and strengthening social bonds.
The most expensive bottle of wine in the world was produced in France.
Of course, France isn't just famous for its cuisine; the country also produces some of the world's finest wines – not to mention the most expensive. A 73-year-old French Burgundy bottle became the most expensive wine bottle ever sold at auction, fetching the incredible sum of $558,000. A 1945 Romanée-Conti bottle sold to a private Asian collector at Sotheby's for over 17 times its initial estimate of $32,000.
On April 1st, you might find a "fish" stuck to your back.
And here's a peculiar fact about France. If you happen to be in the countryside on April 1st, don't be surprised if children try to stick paper fish on your back and call you "Poisson d'avril" (April Fish). It is believed that this tradition originated in the 16th century when the French King Charles XIV changed the calendar, and those who continued to celebrate New Year's at the end of March were ridiculed as fools. So watch your back!
French people eat approximately 30,000 tons of snails per year.
Here's an unpleasant fact about France. According to Reuters, French people consume about 30,000 tons of snails per year. However, around two-thirds of the snails consumed in France come from Eastern Europe and the Balkans. So, if you've eaten snails in France, there's a good chance they've traveled a long way to get to your plate. The classic French delicacy (served with garlic, parsley, and butter) remains a popular item in French cuisine.
Live snails must have a ticket to travel on high-speed trains.
No, we're not making this up, we promise! According to French law, it is illegal to transport live snails on a high-speed train in France without their own ticket. Indeed, any domestic animal weighing up to 5 kg must be a paying passenger. In 2008, a Frenchman indeed received a fine when the conductor caught him transporting animals aboard the TGV. Fortunately, the SNCF eventually waived the fine.
In fact, the croissant was invented in Austria in the 13th century.
It's true, believe it or not, the beloved French pastry we all know and love is actually an adaptation of a kipferl; a Viennese specialty dating back to the 13th century. According to history, Austrian artillery officer August Zang founded the Viennese bakery in Paris in 1839. He started serving kipferl, and it quickly became popular with locals. So much so that French imitators began creating their own French version, which they called a croissant because of its crescent shape. And the rest, as they say, is history. After all, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.
In France, turning a baguette upside down brings bad luck.
Oh, the French are a superstitious bunch! According to popular omens, if you place a baguette or loaf of bread upside down on the table, those around you will be in danger of misfortune, and worse, death. This strange superstition is said to date back to medieval times when executioners were allowed to grab items in stores without paying for them. That's why bakers left them an upside-down loaf of bread. And if you were to touch the bread or turn the bread upside down yourself, then before eating, you had to mark it with a cross to ward off misfortune. Oh!
France produces around 1.7 million tons of cheese annually from about 1,600 varieties.
Saying that the French love to eat cheese is an understatement. In 2018 alone, the dairy-consuming nation produced about 1.7 million tons of cow's milk cheese. There are also approximately 1,600 different types of French cheeses to try, grouped into eight categories. Fortunately, the French don't keep it all to themselves. In 2018, the country exported over 679,000 tons of cheese, while in 2017, nearly 895,000 tons were sold in the French retail market. Merci beaucoup!
French law prohibits couples from kissing on platforms.
When it comes to seemingly crazy laws and decrees, this one is downright bizarre. Indeed, in France, it is forbidden to kiss when the train is on the platform. This ancient law was instituted in 1910 at the request of railway bosses who wanted to prevent amorous French couples from delaying train departures. All kisses on the platform must now be done before the train arrives. Cue the dramatic kiss in a Hollywood movie!
Paris Gare du Nord is the busiest train station in Europe.
Speaking of trains… Gare du Nord in Paris is the busiest train station in Europe and the world (outside of Japan). Over 214 million passengers pass through it each year. The original station was built in 1846 but became too small to function and was demolished and rebuilt in 1889. Further expansions were made between the 1930s and 1960s. The station is also set to be expanded in preparation for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. This should increase its capacity by an additional 200,000 passengers per day. Best to avoid rush hours!
The French railway network is the second largest in Europe, ninth in the world.
With a total length of 29,000 km, the French railway network is the second largest in Europe and the ninth in the world. France was one of the first countries in the world to use high-speed technology. The state-owned company Société Nationale des Chemins de fer Français (SNCF) introduced the TGV high-speed railway in 1981. French long-distance high-speed passenger transport services are known as Train à Grande Vitesse (TGV), and long-distance standard passenger transport services are called Intercités. The current length of the country's high-speed rail network exceeds 1,550 km. The Tour-Bordeaux high-speed rail project adds an additional 302 km to the network.
The world's largest cycling race, the Tour de France, is over 100 years old.
On July 1st, 1903, 60 cyclists set off for the very first Tour de France from the Parisian suburb of Montgeron. Over 100 years later, the event has become the largest cycling race in the world, with around 198 cyclists covering approximately 3,200 km; mainly around France in a series of stages over 23 days. The 2013 Tour de France was the 100th edition of the Tour de France, and approximately 15 million spectators lined up to watch the 21 stages of the centenary celebrations.
The tradition of wearing a white dress originated from France in 1499.
Most brides dream of strolling around in the evening in a beautiful white wedding dress. But until the 1900s, they rarely bought a special wedding dress and instead opted for their best outfit. In fact, the popular tradition originated from France after the marriage of Anne of Brittany and King Louis XII of France in 1499. In the wedding, she wore a white dress, marking the beginning of a Western folk custom. However, it wasn't until 1840, when Queen Victoria married Prince Albert, that the white dress truly became popular, and this tradition has been upheld ever since.
At least 35% of all music p
layed on private radio stations must be in French.
If you're not a fan of French music, you're better off using your own playlist than listening to local radio stations. After all, over a third of the songs you hear will be in French. The French government initially imposed a quota of 40% in 1994 to protect France from what the government saw as an Anglo-Saxon cultural invasion. However, following a 24-hour radio strike against violence by French radio stations, French lawmakers voted to reduce the quota to 35% in 2016. Foreign music radio stations also have a quota of 15%.
Source: Autobahn