France is a place where the amount of beauty and style per square meter just rolls over. If you add to this an eventful history and amazing cuisine, you get a country that can be explored endlessly.

To obtain a French visa, you will need the following documents:

1. Reservation or forms of round-trip air tickets
2. Reservation or voucher for a hotel, or written confirmation of a reservation for an apartment, or an agreement for renting an apartment
3. Standard medical insurance for the entire duration of the trip with a coverage amount of at least 30,000 euros per person
4. Certificate from the place of work of the established form
5. Certificate from the bank on the presence of savings in the account
6. Copies of completed pages of the Russian passport
7. Two photographs 3.5*4.5 cm on a gray background
8. Completed application form for a Schengen visa in two copies

You can familiarize yourself with the requirements for paperwork on the website of any of the Russian visa centers, whose representative office is in your city. There you can also ask any questions by phone and get step by step instructions by filling out the questionnaire.

Provence - France with the smell of lavender

Provence is the most typical and traditional France you can find. The locals have been preserving the traditional way of life for centuries, and the Provence style is known throughout the world both in decor and in cooking. Rest in Provence is a rest in a typical hinterland, where there is a lot of silence, space and simple home comfort.

What to see in Provence?

• Marseilles. Chateau d'If (yes, the same one) old port, Notre Dame de la Garde Cathedral and many museums. Historical part The city is built up with characteristic architecture of the Renaissance. The most beautiful street in Marseille is Garibaldi Boulevard. The most memorable thing about Marseille is the atmosphere of a typical port city

• Avignon. The largest Gothic palace in Europe - the Papal Palace (the former residence of the Pope), old bridge Saint-Benezet, Saint-Pierre church with unique wooden gates, city ​​wall XIV century, an annual theater festival that attracts theater troupes from all over the world

• The small towns and villages of Provence are very interesting - there are no special sights here, but they are very colorful, and each is unique in its own way. The most remarkable place Eze village

• Blooming lavender fields in Provence- an unforgettable picture. Lavender begins to bloom in late June - early July and finishes blooming towards the end of August. The duration of flowering is highly dependent on the weather and geographical conditions of the place.

Grasse - the perfume capital of France

• Grasse is the perfume capital of all Europe. It is located in the Provence region, just half an hour from Nice by bus. It's vintage medieval city, mostly exclusively pedestrian because the streets are too narrow for traffic
• The atmosphere of medieval Grasse is beautifully described in Patrick Suskind's novel The Perfumer. In the XIV century, there were up to 400 perfume shops. For their time, their owners were akin to alchemists who knew the magic of turning ordinary garden flowers into marvelous odorous essences.
• Before today more than 30 factories have been preserved here, which produce raw materials for the most famous perfume houses in Europe. Some factories are open to tourists, such as Fragonard, Galimard and Molinard (the latter two are located in neighboring Eze)

• It sells all sorts of fragrances from the classic Chanel No. 5 (which was invented in Grasse) to modern controversial combinations using the flesh of the genitals of a beaver or the feces of a sperm whale. You can buy a very decent fragrance at very low prices.
• For an additional fee in Galimard you can create your own fragrance under the guidance of an experienced perfumer
• The exposition of the International Perfume Museum tells about the stages of development of perfumes from ancient times to the Renaissance, and recreates the production technologies of perfumes from different centuries
• The old part of the city is very similar to a traditional Mediterranean village, where clothes are dried on ropes stretched directly over the heads of passers-by, and in public gardens, local pensioners play the game “petanque”, traditional in these places.

Cote d'Azur and bohemian life in France

The French Riviera has been the most fashionable resort in Europe since the 18th century. Tyutchev and Chekhov, Bunin and Kuprin, Mayakovsky and Nabokov rested here. This is the most "Russian" region in all of France, since it was here that the main part of the Russian noble emigration settled after October 1917.

• Antibes Beautiful Old city, Picasso Museum, Napoleon Museum, Marineland water entertainment center, Kid's Island children's park with a touching family of live lemurs, pleasant landscapes, the largest yacht parking on the entire coast, vibrant nightlife for every taste

• Cannes
• Palais des Festivals (site of the Cannes Film Festival), Avenue of Stars with celebrity handprints, Croisette - business card city, gorgeous views from the Souquet square in the old part of Cannes, the Castres fortress and the old port, as well as the Notre-Dame d’Esperance cathedral
• Separately, it is worth highlighting the Church of Michael the Archangel, located on Alexander III Street ( Russian emperor)
• In the vicinity of Cannes, it is worth visiting the oldest local monastery, Lerins Abbey, the house of Pierre Cardin and the Museum of the Sea on the island of Saint-Marguerite

• Saint Tropez. The citadel of the 16th century, the Butterfly House Museum, the Museum of Impressionist Artists, the beautiful embankment of Saint-Tropez, where there are many street artists and musicians, and Pampellon Beach, closed to mere mortals, where top world politicians, Hollywood mega-stars and people from Forbes list

• Saint-Paul-de-Vence is a small village famous for, which was a favorite vacation spot for artists of the early 20th century. Here, for example, there is a church painted by Henri Matisse and a mosaic panel by Marc Chagall.

France Nice

Nice is the largest city on the Côte d'Azur and the second largest city in France after Paris. There is an outdated opinion that holidays in Nice are expensive, but over the past 100 years, many hotels and restaurants with reasonable prices have appeared here.

• Promenade des Anglais- a favorite place for walking vacationers. It stretches for more than 5 km along the coast and at any time of the day you can meet flocks of runners, romantic couples, yoga lovers and bohemians

• Cours Saleya Flower Market. To understand the charm of this place, you need to come to its opening - at 6-7 in the morning. If you want to see the real France with the smell of fresh bread, aromas of flowers and spices, with street vendors full of fruits and vegetables, be sure to come here early in the morning, an unforgettable sight is guaranteed

• Old Nice (Vieux Nice) is a well-preserved medieval town with narrow cobbled streets, family restaurants, private galleries and craft shops. Understanding the intricacies of the streets of Old Nice is quite difficult, so when going here, you need to have some time left in case you get lost, this common problem for tourists

• Matisse House Museum (Musee Matisse) is interesting not only for the works of the artist and the atmosphere that recreates his life. The museum building is an old Genoese villa, whose architectural value deserves special attention.

• Castle Hill (La Colline du Chateau)- an equipped observation deck with magnificent panoramic views of the coast of Nice. The name of the hill came from the old castle, which was once located here, but over time was destroyed to the ground. Currently, in addition to the observation deck, there is a small park.

• Roman ruins- an area on the outskirts of Nice, where the remains of ancient buildings from the time of Roman rule have been preserved. Here you can see the remains of an amphitheater, a temple and thermal baths. AT ancient time the city was called Cemenelum

• Archaeological Museum Terra Amata built exactly on the spot where the first unique archaeological finds were discovered. The exposition of the museum recreates the life and appearance of the inhabitants of the region, from the Neolithic era to our times.

• Rue de France shopping street it is notable for the fact that it consists entirely of fashion boutiques, branded stores of famous brands, antique and book stores and private art galleries. There are also many restaurants and cafes here. different levels, sitting in which you can watch the performances of street actors and circus performers

• Villa Leopolda named after Belgian king Leopold II, who acquired this plot of land for himself, but did not have time to live on it. Nevertheless, the subsequent owners kept the name of the very first owner behind the villa, and built an estate worthy of the level of kings in every sense.

• Cathedral of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker- the largest Orthodox church in Europe. It is located on the site of the death of Tsarevich Nicholas, son of the Russian Emperor Alexander II, on the street named after Nicholas II, next to the boulevard named after the Russian Tsarevich. Indeed, the Cote d'Azur is the most "Russian" place in all of France.

The best places in Paris

A separate article would not be enough to describe the sights of Paris that deserve the attention of a tourist. We will only talk about the most-most must-see places.

Video: All Paris in 2 minutes

• Notre Dame Cathedral (Notre-Dame de Paris)- perhaps the most famous cathedral in France, thanks to Victor Hugo's novel about Quasimodo's love for the beautiful Esmeralda
• The cathedral houses a unique shrine for Catholics - the nail with which Jesus was nailed to the cross. One of distinguishing features cathedral - statues of chimeras (completely non-biblical characters) located on its roof
• Since the cathedral is active, it is closed to tourists from time to time.

• Triumphal arch (arc de triomphe de l'Étoile) erected on the personal instructions of Napoleon Bonaparte in honor of his glorious victories. True, the construction of the arch ended after death.
• As a tribute to Napoleon's ashes before burial, they were carried under the vaults of the arch. Since then, funeral processions of all people significant for the history of France have been stopping here.
• The area where the arch is located is named after Charles de Gaulle

• Montmartre- a historic hill in the north of Paris. Here is the Basilica of the Sacré-Coeur (Basilica of the Sacred Heart), an ancient cemetery where the ashes of many prominent Frenchmen (Dumas, Zola, Ampère, Stendhal, Moreau, Berlioz and many others) are buried.
• The Moulin Rouge cabaret and the red-light district are also located here.

• The Louvre (Musee du Louvre)- the former residence of the French kings and the richest museum in the world. The exposition of the museum gained worldwide fame during the time of Napoleon, who demanded tribute from each defeated country in the form of the most valuable exhibits.
• Recently, the square in front of the palace complex has been occupied by a modern pyramid made of glass and concrete, designed, according to Parisians, to “refresh” general form ensemble

• Center Georges Pompidou- an exhibition of contemporary art and public library in the same building
• A motley audience likes to gather on the square in front of the center, from the homeless to status tourists.
• Also, the square has long been chosen by street circus performers, artists and musicians. The very center often hosts avant-garde exhibitions and complex art installations, understandable only to their authors.

• Galeries Lafayette- the famous shopping center of Paris. The gallery building belongs to the architectural and historical monuments of the city
• All famous brands of clothing, footwear, leather goods, underwear and perfumes are presented here. This is a real paradise for shopaholics.
• On Fridays, fashion designers hold free shows of their collections here. On the lower floor of the gallery, there is a unique information desk, where department store employees provide any background information about mall, including in Russian

• Eiffel Tower (la tour Eiffel)- "the skeleton of Paris", "ugly chandelier", "iron monster" - with what epithets the Parisians did not reward the Eiffel Tower, built in late XIX century for the World Trade Fair
• It was assumed that the tower would be dismantled 2 years after the end of the exhibition, but the design, despite criticism, caused such a stir among visitors that it fully paid for the construction in the first year, and brought huge profits to the owners in the second year
• And in the third year, the tower began to be actively used as a tower for telephone communications. Now the rights to the Eiffel Tower belong to the state

• Latin Quarter (Quartier latin) is a bustling student city in the 5th and 6th arrondissement of Paris. Several higher educational institutions of Paris are located here, the most famous of which is the Sorbonne University, founded in the Middle Ages.
• It is thanks to the Sorbonne that the quarter gained its name and popularity. During the Middle Ages, the Sorbonne attracted students from all over Europe. The international language of communication then was Latin, after which the quarter was named
• Currently, the main public of the quarter is related to the university to one degree or another - these are students, teachers, laboratory assistants and scientists of various calibers

• Marais quarter- an area located in the III and IV districts of Paris, was founded by the Templars. First of all, it is known for its ancient almost untouched architecture.
• Secondly, since the 13th century, Marais has been considered the Jewish quarter, since many Orthodox Jews historically live here, there is a synagogue, its own television and kosher grocery stores.
• Recently, Mare is beginning to gain informal fame as a district for people with a gay orientation, who have been moving here quite actively in the past few years.

• Versailles (Chateaude Versailles)- the former residence of the French kings in the suburbs of Paris, and the vast park complex adjacent to it
• Today, Versailles is a museum of world importance and the place where many historical documents, from the US Declaration of Independence in 1783 to the Treaty of Versailles that ended World War I

• Catacombs of Paris- a system of underground tunnels and caves, which were used during the late Middle Ages as a place for the burial of victims of epidemics, riots, as well as the movement of remains from abandoned graves from the "overpopulated" cemeteries of Paris
• The catacombs of Paris are described in Victor Hugo's novel "Les Misérables"
• The total length of the catacombs, according to the Paris administration, is up to 300 km, they contain the remains of more than 6 million people.

• Champs-Élysées- one of the main avenues of Paris, the central street of the VIII district. On national holidays, the Champs Elysees is a place of mass celebrations for all residents and numerous guests of the city
• This is the final stage of the Tour de France.
• This is the most expensive street in Europe, there are no residential buildings, and only the wealthiest brands and trade marks peace

• Cruises on the Seine- this is one of the mandatory items in the program of everyone who came to Paris. Views from the Aluba of the river boat will allow you to look at the usual buildings from a completely different perspective.
• Some amazing views of Paris are only accessible from the river
• If you take an evening cruise on the Seine, then you may not see any details in the dark, but the lights of Paris at night will create a special mood for you and your companion

Disneyland Paris

• Disneyland Paris is a Walt Disney theme park near Paris. The Disneyland area includes entertainment areas with attractions, a complex of hotels and restaurants, and a studio where cartoon production is demonstrated.
• Geographically, the attractions and show grounds of the park are divided into several thematic zones
• AT "Adventure Land" collected the most famous plots of adventure films: Indiana Jones, Pirates caribbean, Robinson Crusoe and Aladdin's magic lamp

• In the zone wild west all buildings and attractions are made in the style of the time of the development of the New World by Europeans: the sheriff's house, the old railway station, saloons, cowboy tricks, Indian canoes and treasures of gold miners
• Main zone stylized repeats America of the 20s, in which Walt Disney spent his childhood years. There are horse-drawn carriages and copies of models of the first cars, shops and beauty salons of the early 20th century, the city hall, a fire station and restaurants of that time.

• Zone "Animal world" creates the feeling of traveling in the wild with characteristic landscapes, dense thickets and sounds of wild animals such as bears roaring and frogs croaking. The most impressive attraction in this area is a 15-meter-high waterfall, from which visitors slide down at speed free fall in a boat
• "Land of discovery" the world of Jules Verne novels. There is a mock-up of Captain Nemo's Nautilus submarine, the Fantasy Institute optical illusion, fantasy cars of the future for kids, space rockets and a simulated flight on a real starship.
• In the center of the park is Sleeping Beauty Castle, in which the heroes of Disney's favorite children's fairy tales live. The castle is Walt Disney's trademark logo, which can be seen at the beginning of every cartoon. The prototype of the castle was the real Neuschweinstein castle in Bavaria

Production part of the park includes a film set where you can see the "inner kitchen" of Hollywood; replica of Los Angeles' Sunset Boulevard, home to many Hollywood stars; an animation workshop that recreates the production process of cartoons and the reverse side of Hollywood's most famous stunt stunts

Features of visiting the park

• The ticket to the park is valid for the whole day. If you buy a ticket for several days, the cost per day will be cheaper
• The ticket entitles you to free access to all rides and shows in the park an unlimited number of times.
• For children under 7 years old, there is a stroller rental in the park.
• Large luggage can be left in the luggage room
  Children are allowed on the rides not by age, but by height. For example, if only visitors above 120 cm are allowed to ride on the attraction, a child with a height of 110 cm will not be allowed on the attraction. Consider this nuance so as not to stand in line in vain

• A map with the location of the park's attractions and the schedule of thematic shows can be taken at the entrance to Disneyland or downloaded to a smartphone from the official website of the park
• The peak of visitors is at lunchtime. To avoid long queues and unnecessary crowds, come to the opening of the park
• In order not to waste time queuing at the box office for entrance tickets, you can issue them on the Disneyland website. You will need a bank card to pay

• The best dress code for visiting the park is comfortable zip-up shoes and trousers. It is better to put a trifle from pockets in a backpack or a bag on a fastener. Flip flops and flip flops can come off while riding the rides. Keys and small change from open pockets usually fall out there. Skirts are very uncomfortable on many rides. In model shoes, you will quickly erase your feet, as you will have to walk a lot in the park
• Food and drink in the park is quite expensive. If you're on a budget, head to the park after a hearty breakfast
• Be sure to think with the children about how to act if someone is lost. You can give a whistle to small children so that if the parent is lost from sight, he can blow a loud signal

Gastronomic places in France

Lyon

Restaurants here are called "bouchon", they serve only local cuisine. The main local principle: simple, but very well prepared dishes. The main masterpieces of the local cuisine:

• Lyon Saussons- boiled or dried sausages from minced pork or giblets, sometimes with the addition of ears and tails, in a natural casing
• Servel de canute- a type of cold snack, translated as "weaver's brains." Prepared from whipped vtorog and cream with the addition of herbs, olive oil and seasonings
• frog legs deep-fried, richly seasoned with garlic and herbs

Provence

• Ratatouille– classic vegetable stew in olive oil with eggplant
• Buybes- the traditional fish soup of the sailors of Marseille, prepared from various seafood (according to the principle "what did not sell during the day), including exotic species sea ​​reptiles, with the addition of vegetables, lemon or orange zest and garlic sauce.
• Cassoulet- a dish popular in Languedoc, which is a thick bean soup with the addition of meat (any) and greens

Champagne

• Pote champenois- stewed turnips or potatoes in a pot with the addition of any meat or sausage trimmings, as well as herbs and mustard
• Pig's hooves stuffed with ham and eggs
• Quiche with snails– an open pie stuffed with snails fried in cream, sprinkled with herbs and spices

Alps

• Beef and veal schnitzels, lightly fried on both sides; served with thin slices of ham and cheese, herbs, spices
• Boiled potatoes, fried to a crisp in melted lard, with the addition of nutmeg and cream
• Fondue– hard cheese melted in a special dish with the addition of white wine and spices

Lorraine and Alsace

• Pate Lauren– white wine-soaked bacon slices wrapped in puff pastry with the addition of shallots and baked in the oven under the egg
• Calf's head- a well-boiled calf's head, deboned in broth, is laid out on a dish cut into small pieces, a side dish of boiled potatoes is added, everything is poured with mustard sauce with the addition of capers and boiled eggs
• Pasta- small round medallion cakes, similar in recipe and consistency to meringue

Burgundy

• Homemade ham and smoked sausages with coriander, nutmeg and cumin
• Meat stewed in Burgundy wine with spices and spices
• Snails stewed in white wine, stuffed with a mixture of parsley and garlic and baked in the oven

Brittany

• Schotten- half a pig's head marinated in wine and fried in oil
• Rennes scoop- beef legs, giblets, head and chopped pig skin stewed in white wine
• Dorada fish, baked in a thick layer of large layers together with scales; before serving, the carcass is cleaned of salt, peel, and poured with shallot sauce

Aquitaine

• stuffed cabbage- a stump is cut out of a whole head of cabbage, stuffed with a mixture of meat and vegetables (any that can be found in the house), then the head is tied with a rope and stewed over low heat in a broth with vegetables for several hours
• Lamprey- This is a strange fish, more like a leech. They make a slightly strange and difficult-to-cook dish of fish stew, drenched in a mixture of the blood of this fish and port wine, with the addition of spices traditional for the region.
• Foie gras- a traditional dish made from the liver of fattened geese

Ready tours to France

Ready-made tours are suitable for you if you:

• love an organized holiday accompanied by a guide and a group of cheerful fellow travelers
• don't want (or can't) spend time researching airline and hotel websites
• trust your travel agent as yourself
• we are sure that the services chosen by the manager will meet your wishes
• not using google maps and guides
• can't read French signboards on your own
• do not like to pester passers-by with questions
• ready to overpay for the fact that the travel agent will spend the entire preparatory work and will give you a turnkey trip

Independent trip to France: what you need to know?

A self-guided trip will suit you better than a ready-made tour if you:

• Can't stand pushy guides and talkative bus neighbors
• Don't like to obey general rules and do not want to depend on the schedule set for the entire group
• They are sociable enough to turn to passers-by for help in a difficult situation and explain to them the essence of the problem at least on the fingers
• You are not annoyed by the long and monotonous selection of accommodation and flight options on the Internet
• You know exactly what you want to see while traveling and where to get route information
• You are ready to travel in a foreign country by public transport on your own

What to consider when traveling to France?

• When choosing a hotel, avoid the 17th, 18th, 19th and 20th arrondissement of Paris and the suburbs of Saint-Denis and Cliches. There are a lot of people here from Arab countries, who are often hostile to strangers and do not shy away from making money by robberies
• If you have problems, you should immediately call 24/7 telephone consulates of the Russian Federation to support citizens. Number when dialing from a Russian phone: 8-10-33-0145-040-550, from a French phone - 0145-040-550
• In crowded tourist areas and on public transport, pickpocketing often occurs during rush hour. There are also motorcycle thieves who snatch bags from passers-by at high speed.
• Try not to carry passports and especially valuable things with you. Carry bags so that they cannot be removed on the fly. Be careful with your belongings when there are large crowds of people

• If you are traveling by car, do not leave bags and valuables in the car unattended. Sometimes thieves manage to snatch things from the car even at traffic lights if they are lying in the back seat unattended.
• If you are riding in the front seats, move things closer to you. Lock the doors and close the windows
• In small towns and in the provinces, shops and museums close in the middle of the day for lunch, and may not work at all on weekends
• Bank branches in France at 16.00-17.00 may already be closed
• In small provincial towns, museums can only open at the request of the visitor. If you encounter a closed door, ask someone from local residents where to find a caretaker (usually he is also a guide)

• The same rule applies when visiting small churches: ask the rector, and he will gladly show you the temple where he serves
• If there is a timetable on the door of the church, it means that it is valid and is periodically closed for mass
• July and August are the perfect time to visit small towns and provinces, as this period is the peak holiday season in France itself.
• Provincials go to the capital and major cities for excursions and family trips, it becomes too crowded there, unlike the province
• Tips in France are already included in the bill of all establishments, so you can thank the staff only if you really liked the service. good tone rounding of cents to the amount in euros is considered

• In cafes and small restaurants, a reasonable tip size is no more than 50 cents per serving of coffee. In pretentious establishments, the tip level is higher
• If the bar menu lists 2 prices for a drink, this most likely means that sitting at the bar you will pay less than sitting at a table in the hall (surcharge - for waiter service)
• In most museums and transport there are discounts for children under 18 and students under 26. To be eligible for a discount, you must present accordingly student ticket or passport
• In some cities, you can buy tourist passes - special tickets, the price of which includes not only travel by transport, but also visits to the main museums
• In the schedule of each museum at least once a month there is an open day, when admission is free for everyone

Video: How to save money in Paris?

Video: Districts of Paris. How to choose a hotel to stay?

Even the most fastidious tourist will be satisfied with a holiday in France. The Côte d'Azur and the English Channel are ideal places for beach holiday with pauses for tasting French wines and cheeses. Fans of winter recreation will enjoy the French Alps, where many ski resorts are located. But that's not all, France is a state with many attractions and interesting places, so you should definitely visit its capital, amazing city Paris. In France, the direction of children's recreation is unusually developed. There are many playgrounds and parks. But the most famous is Disneyland, where every child will be delighted to visit it.

About France

It is very difficult to describe France. For this, even a few thick volumes will not be enough, and short review from a few paragraphs and will not at all be able to convey the atmosphere that reigns in this amazing country.

Interesting! Charles de Gaulle once shouted out a short entertaining phrase: “ Better than France nothing has been figured out yet."

Perhaps, on a global scale, this statement can be refuted, but it will not be so easy to do on the European continent. Everything is here! You don't need to go to Germany to see half-timbered houses, they are in French Alsace. Belgium is famous for wine beer, French fries and well-kept villages, but Nord-Pas-de-Calais has it all.

Holidays on the French Riviera

Many can point to the unique English red telephone boxes, the fog, the country houses made of large stones and other sights of the UK, which definitely cannot be found in France. But any Frenchman will point to Brittany - a region where you can find famous telephone booths, and moorlands, and roses weaving along the walls of village houses, and even traditional English fog.

A piece of Italy can be found in sunny Provence, while Spaniards will feel at home in the plains of Languedoc and the mountains of the Pyrenees. Yes, the geography of France is fascinating and the cultural heritage is vast. The country waged constant wars with its neighbors, and the Anglo-French wars almost led to complete enslavement. All this led to settling on modern territory France of other nations that made its culture and history richer.

The Eiffel Tower

Note! France in the past was a great colonial empire, and the French language was spoken on 10% of the earth's land, which the country owned. At present, this has turned into a nuisance, now on the territory of the country there are entire neighborhoods of Arabs, Africans and other peoples who were imperial subjects. Tourists should not go there due to the high crime rate.

But in tourist areas, crime is practically absent, so you can safely hit the road, because there really is something to see here - the Eiffel Tower and the Loire castles, the stained glass windows of Sainte-Chapelle and the gargoyles of Notre Dame, the lanes of Montmartre and the halls of the Louvre. And, of course, the tides at Mount Saint-Michel, often referred to as the eighth wonder of the world. No, for all the audacity of de Gaulle's statement, it is worth admitting that he is right in many respects. Especially when you consider all the interesting facts about France, which will be discussed below.

The most interesting facts about France

Before moving on to the most interesting, a number of the following facts should be noted. For example, a French student in the 11th grade is going through a 2nd year program Russian university and French is more widely spoken in Africa than in Europe. You can list interesting facts about France endlessly, as a result you will get not a top, but a whole report. But it is possible to single out the most interesting ones.

France is a country where marriage with a dead person is allowed

It's really true. The country's legislation provides for such an opportunity, but for the ceremony, you will have to obtain permission directly from the president. The beginning of such a "tradition" was laid in the midst of the First World War, when girls married by proxy for already killed suitors. Thus arose the practice of posthumous marriages. But later it was forgotten, being revived only in the second half of the twentieth century. The impetus for this was the disaster in the city of Frejus, which happened as a result of a dam break. Among 400 dead people was the fiance of a girl named Irene Jodart. She is long time begged President Charles de Gaulle to give permission to marry the deceased, the incident attracted the attention of the media, which supported the heartbroken bride. The head of state surrendered. So there was a law allowing posthumous marriages.

Note! To date, 1,500 posthumous marriages have been recorded in France. But only 5% of applications came from men.

Until the beginning of the 21st century, Parisian women were forbidden to go out in pants

When the whole world met the new millennium, a 200-year-old law was in force in Paris forbidding women to wear trousers. True, people around have not looked condemningly at women who do not wear skirts for a long time, so in 2012 the law was abolished.

So, the law, first announced in 1799, lost its force. But in the XVIII-XIX centuries it was strictly observed, and it was possible to obtain the right to wear "men's clothes" only by filing a petition with the police, arguing it with a fairly good reason.

Additional Information! The ban itself is associated with the sans-culottes movement, which played a prominent role in the history of France.

In France, beauty pageants for children are illegal.

Starting in 2013, a decree came into force prohibiting beauty contests among underage children. The reason for this step was an excessive emphasis on the sexuality of the participants, who are specially painted, dressed up in revealing dresses and lace underwear. In view of this, Chantal Jouannot put forward a bill to ban such contests, considering such hypersexualization of children contrary to the moral norms of a civilized society.

It is worth noting that not everyone accepted the innovation with enthusiasm. For example, Michel Le Parmentiere made a request to review the law, because in many competitions there is no sexualization of the child. As an example, he cited one of the competitions held in Paris, where swimsuit competitions were canceled, and fashion shows in heels and makeup were also banned.

Bridge of Alexander III

The motto of Paris, strange for the Russian ear

The Latin phrase “fluctuat nec mergitur” is translated into Russian as “floats, but does not sink”, although the translation “waves beat him, but he does not sink” would be closer in meaning. This motto appeared in the 16th century, but was officially fixed by Baron Haussmann three centuries later. Over the centuries of its existence, it has lost its relevance and was perceived by Parisians as a kind of attribute of the city. But after the 2015 attacks, he helped rally the citizens, scorn the danger and turn Paris into an island of calm in the ocean of panic that reigned in the country.

Other interesting facts about France

When preparing a presentation about a country like France, it is quite difficult to fit everything in one article. During its long history, it has been able to accumulate a lot of interesting and surprising, often unique. France is a country where Muslims and Jews can forget about centuries of mutual enmity. Proof of this was the horrors of World War II, when Muslim passports were issued to Jews in the main mosque in Paris.

France is a country where humor is valued. For those who do not believe, the April 1st holiday, which originated in France, will be a confirmation. It is also hospitable and receives 80 million tourists a year. According to this indicator, she is a leader. If we take into account all the dependent territories, then the country is in 12 time zones, and not a single state in the world can boast of such an indicator.

Triumphal Arch

Children are loved and taken care of here. And parents of many children who adequately raised their sons and daughters are awarded government medals.

Yes, there have been curious cases, such as the adoption of the law on the prohibition of potatoes, which was in force from 1748 to 1772, or the previously mentioned ban on trousers for women in Paris. The French also changed National flag, deciding that white would be more relevant.

But there was also a place for the individual feat of ordinary Frenchmen. For example, employees of the Eiffel Tower cut the elevator cables so that Hitler, who was in Paris at the time, could not climb the tower. The trip to France itself is comparable to its content. There will be a place for romance and sadness, heroism and love. That is why tourists love it so much.

Paris... You either love it or hate it. But don't rush to form general impression about France only based on Paris. It is a wonderful country with a lot to see and do.
If you love the City of Lights, then try to go beyond this metropolis. And if you are not a fan of Paris, then it's even better?? We will tell you about attractions in France worth visiting for the best beaches and lush views.

1.Nice

Once upon a time, the entire aristocracy of Great Britain gathered on the azure shores of this city, turning it into a resort for the rich and famous. But now, these days, Nice is accessible to all travelers. The Mediterranean location provides ideal weather throughout the year and the opportunity to taste delicious seafood. Incredibly delicious cuisine, nightlife, magical old City and picturesque beaches will not let you get bored.

2. Lyon

Gourmets! Lyon is considered the gastronomic capital of the world, so be sure to visit it! But besides the food, here you will also find many museums, churches, Roman ruins, and most importantly, you can visit the incredible annual festival of light.

3. Cannes

Apparently you know Cannes for hosting an annual film festival... but what else do you know??? All year round Cannes is the center of luxury and glamour. And even if you are not a big gamer, you can still enjoy the luxurious life. Visit a haute couture shop, enjoy yachts in the port, in the company of celebrities.

4. Marseille

The next incredible is Marseille. This place is so rich in history and culture that you will be shocked that you didn't think to visit it sooner. Marseille breathes a multicultural atmosphere. In fact, in 2013 the city was recognized cultural capital Europe. Therefore, artists and historians will enjoy wandering the ancient streets, browsing and visiting museums, while gourmets will be able to enjoy the local variety of culinary arts.

5. Biarritz

Biarritz is an elegant waterfront city located in southwestern France. The city was the secret resting place of Napoleon III and Empress Eugenie, and the spirit of art deco and the Belle Epoque of the Third Republic period still reigns in it. Today it is a favorite place for surfers from all over Europe. Here you can visit interesting museums and churches, or just admire the beautiful waves on the seashore.

6. Champagne

The birthplace of sparkling wine. Champagne is a region of France famous for the production of champagne. In fact, according to French law, only sparkling wines made in this region can be called "Champagne". In addition, a number of scenic spots can be seen in the region, such as Epernay (wine tasting place), Reims and Troyes.

7. Saint-Tropez

Sexy, quirky and opulent, Saint-Tropez is a small, sophisticated waterfront town that gets crowded as soon as summer arrives. Worth a visit even out of season. There are no more representative yachts anywhere than in Saint-Tropez. Stroll the cobbled streets, wander from beach to beach and enjoy the magical scenery, and a visit to the magnificent Hotel La Ponche, where celebrities have stayed, is a must.

8. Chamonix-Mont-Blanc

In 1924, the first took place in Chamonix. Since then, this place has been famous for its amazing mountain scenery and winter sports. From skiing to mountaineering, the Alpine town attracts serious athletes and is considered the European capital of winter extreme sports. Doesn't matter if you're doing downhill on skis, or you are a climber, or just want to enjoy the mountains sitting in the cable car cabin on the cable car, in any case, Chamonix is ​​mesmerizing!

9. Normandy

On the northern coast of France is Normandy, which combines two worlds. Vivid green countryside stretches along the entire coast and converges with the stormy waters of the English Channel (La Manche). There is so much to see, feel and explore in Normandy. and the beach of D-Day (D-Day beaches - landing on June 6, 1944 of the Allied forces), try the Norman cheese Camembert and Neufchatel, visit the Gothic churches in Rouen and the Channel Islands (to be precise, these islands belong British Crown and technically located outside of France).

10. Avignon

An ancient town surrounded by 800-year-old stone ramparts. Romantic Avignon is located on the banks of the beautiful river Rhone and awaits you. Be sure to visit the Papal Palace, which is the largest Gothic palace in all of Europe. And in the summer, the Avignon Theater Festival takes place here, which attracts art lovers from all over the world.

11. Loire Valley

Vineyards, orchards, and attractive architecture. all this is the Loire Valley. Here you can take part in wine tours or ride a bike along the entire valley. Relax while traveling countryside and enjoy the beauty of stunning and impressive castles, such as Chambord Castle (pictured).

12. Carcassonne

This town looks like it just stepped out of a fairy tale. Inside the amazingly fortified city walls lies the island of Cité. lower city(Ville Basse) is considered more modern, you can do a lot of shopping here. These two cities are connected by bridges Pont-Neuf and Pont-Vyuks (Pont - Neuf and Pont - Vieux).

13. Sep - Few

This port city, completely surrounded by a wall, is located on the English Channel (La Manche). This is a marvel of ancient architecture, the local ports are full of boats. Saint Malo is characterized by yacht races, historic forts, museums and cozy restaurants. The Gulf of Saint-Malo experiences the highest tides in Europe, resulting in crazy waves and hurricanes.

14. Dijon

Dijon is the perfect place to escape! This is original and historical city filled with medieval and renaissance architecture. Here you can see monuments, really very old churches and art museums, and in addition there is the opportunity to visit delicious restaurants, various shops and taste great wines. Dijon is located in Burgundy, which makes it closer to the best wineries in the region.

France is a country of romance, love, sensual emotions, walks until the morning. On its territory you can find everything - the Alps, beautiful beaches Cote d'Azur, the famous Champs Elysees, the Eiffel Tower, Versailles and other attractions.

The great diversity of France makes it an ideal place for tourists to visit. In addition, this country has a rich history and has been one of the most influential in Europe for many centuries!

1. The name of the country comes from the name of the Germanic tribe of the Franks, and the word "Frank" itself meant "free".
2. This country is the leader in attendance. Every year the number of tourists exceeds the population of the country.
3. France is the most large country European Union (643,801 km²). In shape, it resembles a hexagon, which is why it is often called L "Hexagone.
4. The motto of France "Liberté, Egalité, Fraternité", which translates as "Liberty, equality, fraternity", also originated in the era great revolution(1789-1799), and now it can be found everywhere.
5. The unofficial symbol of France is the Gallic rooster. When the Romans came to the territory of France, they called its inhabitants Gauls due to the fact that they had red curls, and their hairstyles resembled cockscombs (in Latin, "rooster" sounds like "gallus"), the country itself was called Gaul. The rooster became the national emblem of France during the French 18th revolution century, when the image of a rooster appeared on a new twenty-franc coin. Since then, the rooster has appeared on stamps, medals, posters, and even became the emblem of the National Olympic Committee of France. The French believe that the rooster best symbolizes their fighting spirit and enthusiasm.
6. Another symbol of France is Marianne, a young woman who wears a cap. It represents the motto of France "Liberty, Equality, Fraternity", and the bust of Marianne is a must-have in all institutions. Over the years, the most beautiful actresses of France were chosen as the prototype of Marianne: Brigitte Bardot, Catherine Deneuve, Laetitia Casta, Sophie Marceau and others.
7. The French rank first in per capita wine consumption, and in terms of the amount of wine produced they compete with Italy, which periodically snatches the palm from France. There are about 450 French wines, with 70% of the adult population saying they don't know much about wines.
8. Everyone knows that the French love a special long and narrow bread - a baguette. According to one version, this type of bread appeared during the construction of the Paris Metro. There were often skirmishes between the workers, and since they carried bread knives with them, everything could end in injury. Therefore, bakers were asked to bake bread that did not need to be cut. The tradition of breaking a baguette with your hands has survived to this day, and in Paris alone, about 500,000 baguettes are sold every day!

1. The flag of France is a tricolor in which white symbolizes royal family Bourbon, and red and blue were the colors Paris Commune, thus the monarchy and the revolution united in this flag.
2. The national anthem is the Marseillaise, written during the Great French Revolution. Despite the name, it was created not in Marseille, but in Strasbourg by military engineer Claude Joseph Rouget de Lisle to raise fighting spirit soldier. The song was called "Military March Army of the Rhine", but the people of Marseille liked it so much that they chose it for their battalion. No one really knew the author of the song, so when the Marseille Volunteer Battalion sang it, entering Paris, everyone decided that the song was written in Marseille. The official anthem She became France in 1793.
3. The French are one of the most depressed nations. They rank first worldwide in the amount of antidepressant use.
4. France has 12 time zones (including overseas territories), which is more than any other country in the world.
5. France has the most laureates Nobel Prize in Literature (15), followed by the USA (13 laureates) and (10).
6. The French army is the only one in Europe where carrier pigeons remain. They are kept in reserve in case of any catastrophe.
7. France ranks first in the world in terms of nuclear weapons per capita. It is followed by Japan and.
8. France is the first country to have a public transport system. In 1660, carriages began to travel at a certain time along 5 routes connecting different quarters of Paris. This system was invented by the scientist Blaise Pascal.
9. Before the Second World War, France lived at the same time as London. During the occupation, the clocks were converted to Berlin time, and this time zone has been preserved to this day.
10. One of the French communes is called Y, and its inhabitants are called Ypsilonians.

1. There are six communes in France where there is not a single inhabitant, but there are mayors. These communes were destroyed during the First World War and mayors are appointed to keep them in order.
2. The festive cuisine of France, with all the rituals and traditions of serving dishes, is included in the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List.
3. France has very strange laws. So, for example, it is forbidden to call a pig Napoleon. It is also forbidden to kiss on railway tracks. And the law banning women from wearing trousers was repealed only in 2012. In the city of Châteauneuf-du-Pape in Provence, the law prohibits flying saucers from landing within the city.
4. About 400 varieties of cheese are produced in France!
5. The oldest Parisian bridge is called the New Bridge (Le Pont Neuf).
6. Contrary to popular belief, the most popular tourist attraction in the capital of France is not the famous Eiffel Tower or the Louvre at all, but Disneyland Paris.
7. In France, you can officially marry a deceased person, and then the newly-made spouse immediately becomes a widower. The permission for such a marriage is signed personally by the President of the country.
8. The croissant, without which it is impossible to imagine a Frenchman's breakfast, is actually not a French dish at all. Croissants came to France from Austria.
9. Until 1964, French women could not open a bank account or obtain a passport without their husband's permission.
10. The famous French dish foie gras appeared in Egypt about 4500 years ago, then came to Ancient Greece, and, finally, together with the Romans came to France.
11. Nicotine got its name from the French ambassador Jean Nicot, who brought tobacco from Portugal in 1559.
12. There are 40,000 castles and palaces in France, and the Louvre is the largest palace in the world.

1. France ranks second in the world after the United States in terms of olympic games which she took (5 summer and 3 winter).
2. Two cooking books are published every day in France.
3. When meeting, the French exchange kisses, and their number depends on the region (one in Brittany, four in the north, five in Corsica).
4. French TGV fast trains are considered the fastest trains in the world with average speed 263 km per hour.
5. An ordinary Frenchman eats about half a thousand snails a year.
6. There are more intersections in France than in other countries of the world (about 30,000).
7. French merchants are not required to give change to buyers, so it is in the buyer's interest to find the exact amount.
8. The perfume capital of the world is located in the French city of Grasse. It is there that perfumers are trained, and it is there that the famous Chanel No 5 appeared.
9. Built in 1889, the Eiffel Tower for 40 years remained the tallest structure erected by man. It reaches 342 meters in height and has 1665 steps.
10. French resorts are distinguished by their poetic names, with most bearing names precious stones: Emerald Coast, Alabaster Coast, Ruby Coast, Opal Coast, Pink Granite Coast. You can also visit the Silver Coast, the Coast of Love, and, of course, the famous Cote d'Azur.

1. French women have the longest life span in the European Union, and French men are in third place on this list.
2. Inventions made in France include calculating machine, balloon, airship, parachute, submarine, ambulance service, photography, cinema.
3. This country is the world leader in the production of fashion accessories, cosmetics and perfumes.
4. At the French cafe Petite Syrah in Nice, the cost of coffee depends on the courtesy of the visitor. If you forget to say hello and say “please”, you will have to pay several times more.
5. France bans beauty contests for children.
6. McDonald's is the largest company in France after the United States. There are about 1000 restaurants in the country.
7. In 2011, after a small concert at Gare Montparnasse, a piano was left that was supposed to be picked up a few days later. The passengers thought it was for fun and started playing it. This idea pleased the management of the railway company, and pianos began to appear at other stations.
8. In France, the guillotine was used until 1981, until a law was passed abolishing the death penalty.
9. In 2016, supermarkets were banned from throwing away unsold products. Now they are obliged to transfer them to charitable societies.
10. In the 18th century, potatoes in France were considered a carrier of the plague and banned for 24 years!

France is an amazing country that attracts millions of tourists every year. There is something to see here - from unique natural resources to incredible architectural monuments. However, to get to know this diverse country even better, it is best to visit it and see everything with your own eyes!

third largest (after Russian Federation and Ukraine) the state of Europe is France. Most of us know a lot about this beautiful country. But still, let us recall the most interesting facts about France.

1. In France, it is customary to say to a person who has just sneezed, not "Be healthy", but "May all your wishes come true." In French it sounds - "a tes souhaits".

2. The type of weapon called "Grenade" was named so by analogy with the Pomegranate fruit. When it was invented in the 16th century, due to its similarity with the Pomegranate fruit, and also because its fragments resembled pomegranate seeds, the weapon got its name. Now everywhere both the fruit and the weapon are called the same - grenade.

3. Without exaggeration, France can be called a country of castles - over the past centuries, about 5 thousand of them have been built there. Agree - after all, this also applies to interesting facts about France.

4. French law allows marriage with the deceased. This is usually necessary if the bride is pregnant and the groom died before the marriage. In this case, registration is possible with the personal certification of the document by the President of France. True, this type of marriage does not give the right to inherit the property of the deceased groom.

5. Many achievements brought fame to France, but fashion and, of course, cuisine gave the greatest fame. Almost 300 different types of cheese are produced in this gourmet country. Truffles - the most expensive mushrooms (1 kilogram can cost 600 euros) also add tourist interest to this country.

6. Many countries have their own name for the popular tune "Dog Waltz". In England it is called the "Flea Waltz", and the Bulgarians call it the "Cat Waltz". There are among the names of this melody both marches and polkas. But the French surpassed everyone, calling this most popular melody "Chop".

7. Not so long ago - in 2000, a book was published in France with the title "99 francs" by the author Frederic Begbeder. The most interesting thing is that they sold it at this price. It is even more interesting that when it was released in other countries, the price of the book was set in a similar way, changing the title as well. For example, in Japan it was 999 yen, in Germany it was 39.90 marks.

8. Tradition christmas decoration Christmas tree traces its history from France.

9. In the 19th century, French society considered oysters to be food for the poor. Since they could not afford meat, the poor replaced it with oysters caught. The colossal catch of shellfish led to their sharp decline, and then a rise in prices. After that, oysters became a delicacy.

10. French Not all numbers have their own names. For example, the French will pronounce the number 70 like this - "Sixty and ten." And the number 80 is even more original - “Four times twenty”, it looks like 90 - “Four times twenty and ten”. Not all of them are easy.

11. What you can't do for a woman, especially for a queen. When Madame Maintenon, wife of Louis XIV, wished to go sleighing in the summer, due to the lack of snow, a track was built for her on the roads of Versailles, using a lot of salt and sugar. Historians claim that the queen was very pleased.

12. Most French people call the "French Kiss" the English Kiss.

13. The substance, as doctors teach, that even kills a horse, was named in memory of the French scientist Jean Nicot, who was the first to build a tobacco factory in 1559.

14. Originated in France Musical direction"Chanson" has nothing in common with thieves' songs, which we classify as chanson. The glory of chanson was created to a certain extent by the famous Edith Piaf, who sang in this genre.

15. The well-known Statue of Liberty was presented by France to America in 1886 in honor of the independence of the United States.

16. The only European Disneyland is located in Paris.

Even more interesting facts about France in Video format. Destroying myths about France: