Fabulous French Facts!

France has a magic all its own. Europes third largest country is unparalleled in terms of variety, culture and food; whether you want to sample the sights and sounds of Paris or the leisurely pace of Saint Raphael, theres something for everyone. Most Brits can speak a smattering of French and are vaguely acquainted with its history, but theres so much more to it. So whether youre a Francophile or a newcomer, here are some fantastic and downright bizarre facts about France...

Language: French has had an indelible effect on English and no small wonder. Following the Norman Conquest, it was the official language of England for 300 years. Its the second most commonly taught language (the first being English) and one of the only ones to be taught in every country of the world. Interestingly there are numerous French seeming phrases that only the English use; these include piece de resistance, succes de scandale, double entendre and maitre d. So now you know!

History: France has a fascinating and chequered history. From the appearance of the first modern humans (approximately 40,000 years ago), to the region known to the Romans as Gaul, past Charlemagnes court to the bloody French Wars of Religion, the Revolution and Napoleon... Few countries can rival it for drama and incident. To reflect this, there are over one thousand two hundred museums in the country altogether.

Writers: A list of French writers reads like a Whos Who of all time greats. Alexandre Dumas, author of The Count of Monte Cristo, The Three Musketeers and The Man in the Iron Mask, the incomparable Colette (the Claudines and Cheri), Jules Verne, the founder of science fiction (Around the World in Eighty Days and Journey to the Centre of The Earth, amongst others), Simone de Beauvoir, and- of course- Victor Hugo. He might have been irked to learn that many peoples earliest exposure to his two masterpieces was through a musical and a Disney cartoon respectively!

Artists: France has both produced and inspired legions of artists. The Impressionists and Symbolists thrived here; names such as Manet, Monet, Degas, Toulouse Lautrec, Cezanne and Rousseau are inextricably linked with their countrys culture. Gothic and Baroque architecture had their beginnings in France; indeed, the original name for Gothic art was French art.

Comics: It might seem a trivial thing to put in a facts section, but the French take their comics, or bandes dessinees, extremely seriously. To put this into perspective: not only do they print thousands of albums each year, theres an annual international festival in the town of Angouleme. Asterix, Adele Blanc Sec, Lucky Luke, Lulu, Gaston ... it goes on and on. NB: Though indisputably the greatest French language comic, Tintin is actually Belgian. An important distinction.

Religion: Although Roman Catholicism is the most common religion in France (61% of the population at the last estimate), its no longer the state religion. France was one of the earliest nations to adopt freedom of thought and religious tolerance; it was enshrined in the constitution by the 1789 Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen.

French food: French cuisine is deservedly famous. Staple parts of the diet include steak hache, terrines and pates (particularly duck), crepes and saucisson (dried sausage). Considering its a nation of food lovers, it shouldnt come as a surprise that there are over 5,000 restaurants in Paris alone. Theyre certainly fond of their cheese- theyre estimated to eat enough to provide 25kg per person!

Tourist attractions: French tourist attractions are amongst the finest on the planet. The Eiffel Tower, synonymous with Paris, actually began life as the entrance arch to the 1898 World Fair; intellectual heavyweights of the time lobbied against it, calling it hideous. Yet now its the most visited attraction in the world! It doesnt stop there. Why not visit the Louvre, the biggest and most famous of museums? Although its best known for da Vincis Mona Lisa, it contains 35 000 works of art in an area of more than 60,600 square metres. If that isnt to your taste, theres always the jaw droppingly lavish Palace of Versailles. Starting out as a modest hunting lodge in 1624, it expanded to become probably the most elaborate and mimicked royal palace of all time.

French customs: The French set great store by social etiquette. They might seem overly formal or polite to us, but these behaviours are crucial. You dont address someone you dont know as tu (opt for the more formal vous) and you must use courtesy titles such as Monsieur, Mademoiselle etc. You neednt worry about tipping- its law to include it as part of the bill. If invited to dinner, you should bring a small gift- a plant or some chocolates- but never foreign wine. Never eat before the host says Bon apptit and dont pour your own wine- its considered incredibly rude.

Want to learn more? Follow these fab links...

The Connexion: In case you get stuck, here are 100 unusual things to do in France!

Affinity Villas: Provence offers some of the most gorgeous, inspiring scenery in the country. Where better to stay on holiday?

Learn French: Planning a trip but your French is a bit rusty? No worries! This great BBC programme will help you out!