Thinking about France, you involuntarily imagine things, objects, architectural monuments and even food, because this country can also boast of gastronomic delights. Most ordinary citizens will remember France after such words as the Louvre, the Eiffel Tower and Montmartre, limited only to Paris.

Other more experienced travelers will associate France with patriotism, frogs, any monuments of architecture and art, and historians, for example, will immediately remember the Orleans maiden Joan of Arc, the Musketeers or Marie Antoinette with Versailles.

For its centuries-old history, France, located in the heart of Europe, has been able to preserve its originality as much as possible and stand out from other European countries.

The most recognizable symbols of France

The most unusual and controversial symbol of France - the Eiffel Tower

Not a single person will forget the most unusual and controversial symbol not only of Paris, but of all France - eiffel tower. It was created specifically for the world exhibition at the end of the 19th century and was only in the nature of the scenery, which had to be removed after some time.

She became the most visited place in the world, but the French themselves did not like her passion, believing that the tower spoils the view of the city. However, over time, the Eiffel Tower found its use not only for practical purposes, but also became a real symbol of France.

Another unusual in our opinion, but really important symbol of France, especially the French, is rooster.

The personification of the rooster as a symbol can be attributed to the era of the Gauls, who greatly influenced the history of the whole of France. Gall in translation means a rooster. And already with an eye on all the French revolutions, we can say with confidence that the cock spirit is in the blood of the French. The love of freedom and the warlike spirit of France is really best symbolized by a rooster.

Of the gastronomic symbols, any person who has not even been to France will highlight croissants, which have become a favorite delicacy of local residents and an indispensable attribute of all breakfasts.

However, the strangest food that can symbolize the country has become famous frog legs, the French themselves do not distinguish them as something integral and often did not even try this dish.

But french wine really considered the standard of winemaking and a symbol of the country, along with cheeses.

Returning to culture, we must not forget about the world-famous Notre Dame Cathedral, which now attracts millions of tourists a year.

Famous all over the world - Notre Dame Cathedral

However, this masterpiece of architecture would not be so remarkable without the characters from the work of the same name by Victor Hugo, who drew the attention of not only the townspeople, but the whole world to this Gothic cathedral, which had once fallen into decay. Therefore, the Hunchback of Notre Dame can also rightfully symbolize the country.

Historians and avid travelers in the squeak of unusual phenomena will definitely remember about Abbey of Mont Saint Michel. This place is famous all over the world thanks to the regular tides that make the castle on the rock an island, separated from the mainland and civilization for several hours.

This can be called a real miracle of nature, because the life of the abbey is subject to a strict daily routine, which depends on the forces of the elements. Such a stunning spectacle also cannot be attributed to the symbols of France.

No less famous throughout the world are the palace and political coups of France, and for many it will be associated with brave musketeers, about which more than one book has been written and more than a dozen films have been shot.

Another historical figure who tragically glorified France during the Inquisition in the Middle Ages was a warlike maiden. Joan of Arc, who participated in hostilities along with all men, recognized as a witch and burned publicly at the stake.

Later, she was canonized as a saint and she began not only to symbolize an independent and freedom-loving France, but also to patronize as a religious character.

No less glorified the country the great Napoleon Bonaparte, who more than once wanted to conquer Russia, from this, perhaps, the character so famous in our country.

In the field of education, France also stood out as one of the most ancient universities, the Sorbonne is still considered the most prestigious and largest educational institution not only in the country, but also in the world, symbolizing the worship of the knowledge and sciences of the French since antiquity.

In addition to worldly and everyday symbols, France has a number of national symbols, like any country. They are inalienable tricolor flag of the country and the great song of the Marseillaise, which became the anthem of the country and glorifies the French Revolution and the independence of the country.

No less symbolic for the French is their own language, which they are proud of and neglect the global recognition of the English language. After all, it's not a secret for anyone that the inhabitants of the French province will not answer you in English at all, even if they understand.

The French language, as in principle it should be in every country, is truly a symbol of France.

Symbols of France – VIDEO

Listen to the Marseillaise (fr. La Marseillaise - “Marseille”, “Marseille”), which has become the country's anthem again since 1944 (during the Second World War - it was banned) and glorifies the French Revolution and the country's independence, performed by Mireille Mathieu, a French singer .

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France is so peculiar and amazing that no matter how many years you live there, you never get tired of admiring it. This is one of the most visited countries in the world - the annual flow of tourists is approaching 100 million people. To get into the spirit of this country, we present to your attention some interesting facts about the country and the French.

Attractions

To date, most of the castles in the world - 4969 pieces are located in France.

Some of the world's most visited attractions are in France: Notre Dame de Paris Cathedral, the Eiffel Tower, the Champs Elysees, Versailles, the monastery of Mont Saint-Michel.

For almost 10 years, from 1925 to 1934, the Eiffel Tower was a huge advertising medium. The founder of the Citroën concern paid the rent and installed a night illumination of more than 100,000 light bulbs on the tower. The name of the company, the signs of the zodiac, and the rain of stars shone on the tower.

One of the famous symbols of France is the Gallic rooster. In Latin, the word gallus had two meanings: a cock and Gauls - tribes that lived in the territories of modern France, Germany and Switzerland. The French love this symbol, because the rooster means pride, courage, and boasting can be forgiven.

The ancient palaces and castles of France, such as the Amboise castle, are famous for their wooden fireplaces. For their construction, special "fireproof" trees were used, growing in France - cedar and juniper. Local pine nuts are several times larger than Siberian ones and cost only 25 euros per kilo.

Social life

The French refused to accept the draft European Constitution and standardize production. That is why France produces more than 480 types of cheeses with unique flavors, about 1000 varieties of wine, and cider is not an alcoholic drink.

France is one of the most agricultural countries in the world. In terms of production volume, it ranks 1st in Europe and 3rd in the world.

In France, social assistance is very developed for those who are below the poverty line and the poor. They are given coupons, according to which several times a month they receive food: vegetables, cheese, milk, sour-milk products, chocolate. All products are of high quality and provided by shops and farms.

Help for people suffering from bad habits, anonymous alcoholics, drug addicts, helpline and so on - absolutely free.

Inventions and personalities

One of the most common instruments of the death penalty of the Middle Ages - the guillotine - was invented in France. The last act of the death penalty with its use was committed in 1977. Every year on September 10, France celebrates the day of mourning for the guillotine.

In 1783, the Montgolfier brothers in France invented the first hot air balloon.
France is the birthplace of cinema. It was in Paris in 1895 that the first screening of the Lumiere Brothers Cinematograph took place.

Gothic architecture and the Baroque style originated in France and were originally called "French Art".
There is a lot of controversy about who invented the bicycle. Similar designs were presented by the German professor Karl von Drez and Kirkpatrick Macmillan, but the Frenchman Pierre Lalman officially patented his invention in 1866. It is he who is considered the creator of the bicycle, and France is the birthplace of this transport.

France gave the world such famous people as Jeanne d Arc, Alphonse Daudet, Paul Cezanne, Antoine de Saint-Exupery, Jean-Baptiste Moliere, Francois-Marie Voltaire, Alexandre Dumas, Victor Hugo, Jules Verne, Joe Dassin, Brigitte Bardot, Jacques -Yves Cousteau, Jean-Paul Sartre, Roland Barthes, Yves Saint Laurent and others. There are the graves of representatives of the Russian nobility, the great ballerina Matilda Kshesinskaya, Ivan Bunin.

Gastronomy

The most expensive mushrooms - truffles - grow in France. Their value has no limit. In the season, from November to March, about 600 dollars are asked for a kilogram of unpeeled mushrooms along with the ground.

It is believed that frog legs in France can be ordered at every step. In fact, this dish is considered a rare delicacy and is served only in the most sophisticated restaurants.
Grape snails, used to prepare one of the most exquisite dishes - escargot - are called Burgundy, and it does not matter where they were collected. This is a kind of marketing ploy, since it is Bourgogne snails that are considered the most delicious, largest and are in high demand.

In France, depending on the region, there are about 22 national cuisines. The same dish can have a completely different taste, depending on whether it is cooked in the south or in the north of the country. The French are big fans of culinary arts. From just one potato, they can cook almost two hundred different dishes.

Buckwheat flour used to bake French pancakes is a fairly common product. But the locals practically do not use the groats themselves. You have to look for it in pet stores, in Arab and Turkish shops, as well as in Russian stores at fabulous prices.
The French do not recognize McDonalds at all, considering their menu to be completely unfit for food. However, every parent knows that it is worth losing sight of a teenager, then this is the first place where you should go in search of him.

Eating is a sacred ritual for the French. And the word “food” can only compete with “rugby” or “bike”. Good manners forbid calling during a meal, and being late from lunch is a more valid reason than being stuck in traffic.

Wine

About 250 different fine wines are produced in France. Each wine is produced only in one place, strictly from the grapes that grow in the area. The most famous wine regions are Bordeaux, Burgundy, Rhone, Loire, Alsace, Champagne.

The French themselves say this about wine: "There are only two types of wine - the one you like and the one you don't like!"
The French do not understand such concepts as "dry" wine and "brut" and understand such a separation only in champagne. All fortified wines in France are liqueurs. And wine for the French exists only red, white and rose.

A useful fact for drinkers is that French red wine never gives you a headache.

Despite the abundant consumption of wine and fatty foods, France has one of the lowest rates of cardiovascular diseases. Doctors even set the recommended rate of wine consumption: 3 glasses of red for men and 2 for women. After two glasses, you are even allowed to drive.

The only corkscrew museum in the world is located in Provence.

French

French was the official language of England from 1066 to the beginning of the 14th century.
The longest sentence in French has 823 characters and was written by Victor Hugo in Les Misérables.

French is the official language of France and 30 other countries of the world. However, more than a third of the country's population is fluent in English.
There are two spellings for the word "vodka" in French: "vodka" for Russian and "wodka" for Polish.

Pianos were installed in 100 railway stations in France in 2012. Anyone can play them at any time and for all this time not a single instrument has been damaged.

In France, there is still a ban, according to which it is forbidden to kiss on trains and at stations. It was installed back in 1910 to prevent constant train delays due to couples kissing every time they parted. Today, this prohibition is expressed in the presence of special signs on the platforms, reminding that long goodbyes are not welcome.

As a greeting in France, a kiss on the cheek is the norm, both among men and women. It is believed that the most "loving" in this regard are the inhabitants of Paris, the north of France, as well as the Corsicans.

The first restaurant staffed by blind people opened in 2014 in Paris - Dans le Noir. According to the concept of the establishment, all visitors dine in absolute darkness, which allows them to feel the taste and smell of food more vividly, without being distracted by the visuals. Over time, similar restaurants began to open in many countries and major cities.

Each country has its own symbols - these can be certain objects, images, dates ... Everyone knows them and, most importantly, in the minds of any civilized, educated person, not only a citizen of this country, they are immediately associated with it. This is a word or words that mean certain realities that immediately arise in the mind when a particular country is mentioned. There is a lot national symbols of France. Let's get acquainted with the main ones. These are the flag of France, Marianne, Fleur-de-lis, the Eiffel Tower, the Marseillaise, the Gallic rooster, "Liberty, Equality and Fraternity", Joan of Arc and the Cross of Lorraine. So, what do they mean and where, in fact, did they come from?

Flag of France.

It is the national emblem of France in accordance with the 2nd article of the French constitution of 1958. It consists of three vertical equal stripes: blue - at the pole edge, white - in the middle, and red - at the free edge of the cloth. Introduced May 20, 1794 What do these three colors mean?

White is traditionally associated with the French monarchy. This association has been going on since the end of the 16th century. For the first time, the "royal" color is recorded by the adoption by King Henry IV of a white scarf as the emblem of the royal army. In fact, it was the color of the Huguenot party, to which the king belonged before his wedding to the queen. Henry ascended the throne in 1589 as a Huguenot and did not convert to Catholicism until 1593. So, the white color was introduced when he was not yet officially a Catholic. The Huguenots considered their faith pure, and therefore wore white clothes, white scarves, and had white banners. Thus, the appearance of this color as a royal symbol becomes natural.

In 1590, a white canvas without any drawings became flag of France. Later, gold lilies were embroidered on the royal standard. On clothes and flags, the white cross became the symbol of the French army and remained so until the Revolution.

The colors of the modern French flag were finally formed during the Revolution. This happened after the white sign of the royal family was added as a sign of reconciliation to the blue and red, symbolizing not only heraldic colors, but also revolutionary cockades. The resulting tricolor flag has become a real visual embodiment of the slogan "Freedom! Equality! Fraternity!". Since that time, red represents the flame of the hearts of the French, white is associated with the national heroine, and blue with Saint Martin of Tours, who, according to legend, gave his blue cloak to a freezing beggar. Martinius is considered the patron saint of the French Republic.

Marianne.

Also is nickname of France since 1792. The symbol is depicted as a young woman wearing a Phrygian cap (a soft, rounded cap with the top hanging forward). This headdress has been known since Roman times and was worn by freed slaves. Since then, the Phrygian cap has become a symbol of freedom.

Marianne is the personification of the French national motto "Liberty, Equality, Fraternity". Her sculptural images are an indispensable attribute of government institutions, courts, and municipalities. Her profile is featured on the French state seal; she is depicted on French definitive postage stamps.

Why this particular name? According to one version, Barras (the founder of the Directory) was looking for a beautiful name for the female symbol of the Republic. One day he was having dinner with his friend Jean Rebel. It was a family dinner, which was attended by Madame Rebel, who has beauty and charm. Her name was Marie-Anne. Barras decided that there was no better name for the symbol of the republic.

The history of the symbol itself is interesting - the National Assembly of France in September 1792 decided that the new seal of the state should be the image of a standing woman with a spear, on whose head a Phrygian cap is put on. Many French artists and sculptors depicted her in their works. One of the most famous works is Delacroix's painting "Liberty at the Barricades", written under the influence of the 1830 revolution.

From about 1875, images of Marianne began to be widely distributed in official institutions: departments, municipalities, courts. At first, these were busts depicting a collective female image, but since 1970 a new tradition has been introduced. The Committee of Mayors of French cities began to elect one of the famous beautiful women of the country as the prototype of Marianne:

• 1968 - - film actress


• 1978 - - singer


• 1985 - - film actress


• 1989 - Ines de la Fressange - fashion model


• 2000 - - top model


• 2003 - Evelyn Thomas - TV presenter


• 2012 - - film actress

Fleur-de-lys.

This is the so-called fleur-de-lis. Fleur de lys - "fleur de lys", literally translated as "lily flower". Lily - symbol of france, its coat of arms depicts three crossed lilies, which symbolize mercy, justice and compassion. The image of a stylized lily symbolizes perfection, light and life and traditionally represents the kings of France. According to French legend, Clovis I, King of the Franks, while still a pagan, saw that he was losing the battle, and offered up a prayer for victory to the Christian God. An angel appeared to him with a branch of lilies, saying that from now on he would make the lily his weapon and bequeath it to his descendants.

Clovis won this battle, and he, with all his Franks, their wives and children, was baptized. In another version of the legend, it is stated that Clovis took the lily as his emblem after the water lilies in the Rhine told him a safe place to ford the river, thanks to which he won the battle. In the twelfth century, the heraldic symbol of the fleur-de-lis became the symbol of the French kings. Louis VII used it on his shield, and the French "lys" is also believed to be short for "Louis".

The lily is also found in the coat of arms of Saint Louis IX, but only together with the daisy, which he added in memory of his beloved wife Margarita. The shape of the lily was also given to the end of the scepter, and France itself was called the kingdom of lilies, and the French king - the king of lilies. The French expression "etre assis sur des lys", that is, "to sit on lilies", meant to have a high position, since not only all the walls of the rooms, but also all the seats of the chairs were decorated with lily flowers. The lily was generally considered a very honorary sign on the coats of arms and was even found on coins. Louis XIV put into circulation coins that even bore the names of gold and silver lilies. On one side of such a coin there was an image of a king or a cross decorated with lilies and crowned at both ends with crowns, and on the other - coat of arms of france supported by two angels.

Lily enjoyed great love in France. In aristocratic families, it was customary for the groom to send the bride every morning a bouquet of fresh flowers, where there must have been at least a few white lilies, until the wedding. In 1340-1801, the English kings used the fleur-de-lis on their coats of arms to indicate their claim to the French throne. Since the emblem consists of a triple lily, the fleur-de-lis can also represent the Trinity, the Virgin Mary, the trinity of God, creation and royalty, as well as the trinity of the body, mind and soul of man. Also, the fleur-de-lis is a symbol of the Italian Florence, which is known as the "city of lilies."

Eiffel Tower.

The world famous symbol of France. Named after its creator, the architect Gustav Eiffel. The French authorities decided to arrange a world exhibition to commemorate the centenary of the French Revolution (1789). The Paris city administration asked the famous engineer Gustave Eiffel to make a proposal. At first, Eiffel was a little puzzled, but then, rummaging through his papers, he submitted for consideration the drawings of a 300-meter iron tower, to which he had paid almost no attention before. After the construction, it was for a long time the tallest building in the world (317 meters). In 1986, the exterior night lighting of the tower was replaced by a lighting system from within the tower itself, so that after dark it looked magical and mysterious. The tower has three floors. The first one is at the height of 57 meters, the second one is at the height of 115 meters and the third one is at the level of 276 meters.

Now it is a television tower for everything and the area. On the third floor is showcase cabinet of Gustave Eiffel. At the time of its construction, the Eiffel Tower defied all traditional rules of architecture. 12,000 iron parts are held together with 2.5 million rivets to create a smooth curve. Everyone believed that it would not last long and would soon collapse, so it was tentatively planned to leave it only for 20 years, but this period was extended by 70 years by a government decision in 1910.

The height of the tower at the moment is 318.7 meters, weight - about 10 thousand tons. The fluctuation of the top of the Eiffel Tower during the strongest wind is no more than 12 centimeters. The number of steps of the stairs leading to the lower observation deck is 1652 pieces. The regularity of cosmetic repairs is every 7 years (workers have to use 60 tons of paint in three shades). At the same time, 10,400 people can be on the tower.

Marseillaise.

The Marseillaise became the national anthem of France on July 14, 1795. This revolutionary military song was written in 1792 after France declared war on Austria. While serving in Strasbourg, the French officer Rouger de Lisle composed the "War Song of the Army of the Rhine". The song instantly won love and respect. Quickly spreading in the Republican army, it penetrated Marseilles, receiving the name "March of the Marseilles" (or "Marseillaise"), then in. On November 24, 1793, the Convention chose the Marseillaise as the national anthem of France. The Marseillaise has gone through periods of disgrace and rule by different regimes. In Russia in the 80-90s of the XIX century, among the workers and the intelligentsia, a revolutionary song was sung to the melody of "La Marseillaise", and received the name "Working Marseillaise". The most famous singer performing the Marseillaise is.

Gallic rooster.

The Gallic rooster became a symbol of Gaul and the Gauls, since in Latin "gallus" has two meanings - "rooster" and "gaul". The ancient Romans called the Celtic ancestors - today's French - Gauls. In ancient Rome, the rooster was considered a symbol of arrogance, cockiness. Calling the barbarian tribes that lived on the territory of modern France, the word "Gallus", the Romans put both meanings into it, since they considered the Gauls to be bullies. \The image of the Gallic rooster appeared on ancient coins. During the Middle Ages, the rooster disappeared and appeared already in the 14th century in Germany to represent the national emblem of France, but then it was rejected by Napoleon Bonaparte.

In the 15th century, King Charles VIII chose the image of a rooster as French emblems. During the period of the monarchy, the emblem with a rooster was white, and after the Revolution of 1789 it became, like the national flag, tricolor. Today, the image of the Gallic rooster can be seen on the state seal of France and in the residence of the French president on the fence of the park of the Elysee Palace. As the liveliest of birds (it is worth recalling the famous "cockfights"), the rooster serves as a symbol of struggle and combat. The Gauls wore the image of a rooster on their weapons and banners. In France, even today it is considered a symbol of independence and freedom, as well as cockiness and arrogance.

Joan of Arc.

The national heroine of France, one of the commanders-in-chief of the French troops in the Hundred Years' War. Having been captured by the Burgundians, she was handed over to the British and burned at the stake as a witch. Subsequently, she was rehabilitated and canonized - canonized by the Catholic Church as a saint. Jeanne symbolizes the national spirit of the French, striving for freedom. The traditional date of Jeanne's birth is 1412. Jeanne was born in the village of Domremy on the border of Champagne and Lorraine in a peasant family. At the age of 13, Jeanne first heard the voices of the Archangel Michael, St. Catherine of Alexandria and, as it is believed, Margaret of Antioch, who revealed to Jeanne that it was she who was destined to lift the siege of Orleans, raise the Dauphin to the throne and expel the invaders from the country.

When Jeanne was 17 years old, she went to the captain of the city of Vaucouleurs, Robert de Baudricourt, and announced her mission. But no one believed her, and Jeanne was forced to return to the village, but a year later she repeated her attempt. This time, the captain, amazed at her insistence, was more considerate and sent her to the Dauphin. On March 4, 1429, Jeanne arrived at the residence of the Dauphin Charles. The Dauphin gave her a test, putting another person on the throne and standing in the crowd of courtiers. However, Joan passed the test, recognizing the king, and announced her mission to him. The king gave her numerous tests, which she successfully overcame. Then a large detachment of soldiers was handed over to her and armor was issued. Until the end of her life, Jeanne preferred to wear men's armor and a men's suit, so as not to be recognized by the enemy and protect herself from the claims of the soldiers. Jeanne with a small detachment entered the city of Orleans, the first city on her way to the liberation of France. On May 4, her army won its first victory, taking the bastion of Saint-Loup.

Victories followed one after another, and already on the night of May 7-8, the British were forced to lift the siege from the city. Thus, a task that other French military leaders considered impossible, Joan of Arc solved in four days. After that, hostilities proceeded sluggishly. Jeanne was constantly interfered with by the royal courtiers. An important event of those days was the coronation of Dauphin Charles in the cathedral of the city of Reims, liberated by Jeanne. In May, Jeanne comes to the aid of the city of Compiegne, besieged by the Burgundians. On May 23, as a result of a betrayal (a bridge was raised to the city, which cut off Jeanne's escape route), Jeanne was taken prisoner by the Burgundians. King Charles, who owed her so much, did nothing to save Jeanne. Soon the Burgundians sold it to the British for 10,000 gold livres. In December 1430, Joan was transferred to Rouen, then under the control of the British. The trial began on February 21, 1431.

Despite the fact that Jeanne was formally tried on charges of heresy, she was kept in prison under the protection of the British as a prisoner of war. The process was led by Bishop Pierre Cauchon, an ardent supporter of the British. Hoping to break the will of the prisoner, she was kept in terrible conditions, the English guards insulted her in every possible way, the tribunal threatened her with torture, but it was all in vain - Jeanne refused to submit and plead guilty. Cauchon understood that if he condemned Jeanne to death without obtaining a confession of guilt from her, he would only contribute to the emergence of an aura of a martyr around her. On May 24, he resorted to outright meanness - he presented the prisoner with a ready fire for her execution by burning, and already near the fire he promised to transfer her from an English prison to a church prison, where she would be provided with good care if she signed a paper on renunciation of heresies and obedience to the church. At the same time, the paper with the text read to the illiterate girl was replaced by another, on which there was a text about the complete renunciation of all her "delusions", on which Zhanna put an end to it.

Naturally, Cauchon did not even think of fulfilling his promise and again sent her to her former prison. A few days later, under the pretext that Jeanne again put on men's clothes (the women's was taken from her by force) and, thus, "fell into her previous delusions" - the tribunal sentenced her to death. On May 30, 1431, Joan of Arc was burned to death in the Old Market Square in Rouen. Now at this place there is a monument to Jeanne. Only in 1920, all charges were officially dropped from Jeanne by the Catholic Church, and she was canonized.

Jeanne has been immortalized in art. Artistic works dedicated to Joan of Arc were created by Friedrich Schiller, Mark Twain, Bernard Shaw, P. Claudel, J. Anouil and others. In music, the image of Jeanne was recreated by Giuseppe Verdi (opera "Joan of Arc"), Zinaida Volkonskaya, Pyotr Tchaikovsky (opera "The Maid of Orleans"), Arthur Honegger (oratorio "at the stake"), Charles Gounod (music for Jules Barbier's play "Jeanne d'Arc"), Henri Tomasi (opera-oratorio "The Triumph of Joan"). Artists who dedicated canvases to Joan of Arc: Rubens, Ingres, Gauguin, Nicholas Roerich and others. At the end of the 19th century, a large number of monuments to Joan of Arc appeared. Every city in France wanted to have a monument to Jeanne: in 1875, a statue by the sculptor Fremier was installed on the Pyramid Square; in 1882 a monument was erected in Compiègne, in 1891 in Domremy. Jeanne's house in Domremy is today a museum.

Lorraine Cross.

This is a heraldic figure, which is a cross with two crossbars. The name comes from Lorraine - an area on the border of France and Germany. The Lorraine Cross, also sometimes called the Angevin Cross. It began to appear in the symbols of the Dukes of Anjou from the 1430s. The first duke to use the Cross of Lorraine as his official heraldic badge was King René, nicknamed the Good. The unusual shape of the cross is explained by the biblical parable, according to which Pontius Pilate commanded to nail the sign "Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews" over the crucified Christ. It is this inscription that symbolizes the upper crossbar, somewhat smaller in size than the one located below.

The Dukes of Anjou were not the first and not the only secular rulers in whose symbolism appeared Lorraine cross. Initially, it served as an emblem for the kings of Hungary and featured on Hungarian coins and the coat of arms. During the Second World War, the Cross of Lorraine became the symbol of the "Free France" and the antipode of the fascist cross. The proposal to use the Cross of Lorraine as one of the main symbols of the French fighting the German occupation came from Vice Admiral Émile Muselier and was approved by General Charles de Gaulle. Muselier developed a standard with the image of the Cross of Lorraine for ships, and for aviation - a special cockade, on which one could also see a cross with two crossbars.

In particular, the image of the Cross of Lorraine can be found on the Order of the Liberation, established in November 1940, and on the medal of the Resistance. The Resistance movement operating in occupied France also actively used the Cross of Lorraine as an emblem. Ultimately, the cross became a symbol of French national unification in the face of the invaders under the auspices of Charles de Gaulle. After the end of the war and the election of Charles de Gaulle as president (1959), on the flag that adorned the general's official car, an image of the Lorraine cross was placed against the background of the French tricolor flag. The Lorraine cross often appeared on stamps issued during the reign of de Gaulle, as well as on various monuments and memorials. Today, the Lorraine Cross still adorns the coat of arms of Hungary. In addition, it can be found on the coat of arms and the flag of Slovakia. In France, the cross with two bars serves as a symbol of French resistance and an unofficial symbol of the French Republic.

The history of France is full of bright events, great achievements and no less great tragedies. The legends of antiquity have brought us the names of hundreds of bright personalities who created this vibrant history and made France what it is. But even today there are many people working on the image of the country of high fashion, gourmet cuisine and cinema. Let's try to make the TOP 10 most famous Frenchmen.

10. Zenedine Zidane

Zenedine Zidane, a native of Marseille with Algerian roots, has become one of the greatest legends in world sports. Since childhood, "Zizu", as Zenedina was called, was involved in judo and football. In martial arts, the young athlete achieved some success and received a green belt. But the main thing in his life was football. At the age of 22, in 1994, Zidane made his first appearance for the French national team, and in the next few years he became a living legend, winning the 1998 Ballon d'Or, European and world champion and one of the greatest footballers of our time. It is a pity that in the minds of many Russians he was remembered for a headbutt on the head of the Italian defender Marco Materazzi.

9. Louis Vuitton

Louis Vuitton, founder of the fashion house of the same name, was born in 1821 in the family of a carpenter. Having begun to master the craft of his father, Louis decided to move to Paris, since in a country devastated by revolutions and wars, any prospects opened up only in the capital. The young man was so poor that he had to overcome 400 kilometers of the way to the main city of France on foot. In Paris, Louis learns how to make chests and then invents the suitcase. With the light hand of the wife of Napoleon III, newfangled suitcases are becoming more and more popular and Vuitton establishes his trading house, simultaneously inventing a wardrobe trunk and a non-sinking suitcase with an air cushion. The work of the master was continued by his descendants, who later turned the suitcase manufacturing company into a fashion house.

8. Louis de Funes

The most famous comic film actor of France was born in 1914 in Courbevoie. In his youth he was engaged in drawing and playing jazz. In 1943, he fell in love with Guy de Maupassant's great-niece, married her and lived with her until his death. Louis' film career began immediately after the Second World War, but de Funes played his first significant role only in 1958, starring in the film "Not Caught - Not a Thief" ("Blero"). After that there were "Big Walk" and "Razinya", a film epic about Commissar Juve, "Big Walk" and "Fantômas". France noted the talent of Louis de Funes with the Order of the Legion of Honor.

7. Nostradamus

Nostradamus (Michel de Nostrdam) is one of the most mysterious Frenchmen, whose personality still attracts the attention of mystics and the widest sections of the population. The physician, astrologer and soothsayer is best known for his predictions contained in 942 quatrains, collected in ten centuries. For the first time, the prophecies of Michel Nostradamus were published in the second half of the 16th century, and since then fierce disputes have not ceased around them. Someone sees a successful charlatan in the personality of Nostradamus, someone tries to discern the coming cataclysms and upheavals in his prophecies, and someone is inspired by an extraordinary Frenchman to study the past.

6. Brigitte Bardot

Brigitte Bardot is one of the most famous representatives of French and world cinema, who recorded about eighty songs and starred in almost fifty films. But for Europe in 1950-1960, the legendary Frenchwoman became the main sex symbol of the era, like Marilyn Monroe for Americans. Bardot's film career could have gone on, but at the age of 40, she retired from show business and dedicated her life to helping animals.

5. Gerard Depardieu

Gerard was born into a poor family and in his youth he hunted by stealing and reselling fuel from an American military base, "worked" as a pickpocket and was engaged in other dark deeds. But one day, out of boredom, Depardieu moved to Paris, where, quite by accident, he "stumbled" into the acting environment. In the 1970s, Gerard had already become one of the most famous French film actors. He starred in dozens of films and became a nominee and winner of many film awards.

4. Charles Ogier de Batz de Castelmaur, Comte d'Artagnan

The name of Count d "Artagnan was immortalized by Alexander Dumas, the father, who wrote a cycle of novels about musketeers. Dozens of films were made based on Dumas' musketeer works, and d" Artagnan himself became one of the most recognizable heroes of literary works, along with Don Quixote and Gulliver. The prototype of the legendary captain of the royal musketeers was somewhat different from his book "reincarnation", but his life was no less eventful. The memory of d "Artagnan is immortalized in several monuments. One of them is installed in Osh, in the homeland of the famous Frenchman, one in Maastricht, where he died, one in the 17th arrondissement of Paris.

3. Jules Verne

The personality of Jules Verne, a very prolific and one of the most famous authors in the genre of adventure literature, one of the founders of science fiction, a geographer and popularizer of scientific knowledge, needs no further introduction. Many generations of children in different parts of our planet grew up on the amazing books of the outstanding Frenchman. There is a widespread myth that Jules Verne never traveled or even saw the sea. This is not true. The writer and geographer regularly sailed on his yachts to the shores of England and Scotland, the Netherlands, Denmark and Germany, Portugal and North Africa, Malta and Italy.

2. Joan of Arc

Joan of Arc, known as the "Maid of Orleans", the national heroine of France, who lived in the era of the Hundred Years War, one of the bloodiest and longest Anglo-French conflicts. Joan led the French army in the fight against invaders from the shores of Foggy Albion. Victories followed one after another, but decisive turning point could not be achieved due to the indecision of the king and the obstacles created by his courtiers. Due to betrayal, the Maid of Orleans was captured by the Burgundians and handed over to the British. In 1431, Joan of Arc was burned at the stake as a "heretic". Subsequently, the Catholic Church canonized France's greatest national heroine as a saint.

1. Napoleon Bonaparte

Revolutions, especially as bloody as the Great French Revolution, usually end in mountains of corpses, the collapse of everything and everything, and anarchy. Ultimately, a “strong hand” comes to power, gives slaps in the face to the most zealous revolutionaries and begins to restore order. Sometimes this "new order" becomes even more bloody than the revolution that gave birth to it. This happened in France during the time of Napoleon Bonaparte, the great commander, statesman and emperor, who laid the foundations of the modern statehood of the country.

At the turn of the 18th and 19th centuries, Napoleon received full power in a country tormented by revolutionary terror and began a series of victorious wars. Having almost instantly defeated a number of European armies, Bonaparte drives the British to Foggy Albion and sets up a continental blockade of England. The lucky star of Napoleon has set in the east, in the snowy fields of Russia. Interestingly, at first the emperor did not perceive Russia as a serious adversary. Having invaded the Russian Empire in 1812, Napoleon planned to block Russian-English trade, defeat the Russian army with lightning speed and send his troops further - to conquer the "Pearl in the Crown of the British Empire" (as India was called). It all ended rather sadly for the emperor and his great army, but even today the military and political genius of Napoleon and his personal life attract the attention of historians and filmmakers.

How strange to reduce impressions of France to foie gras, wine, breath-taking cheese, Notre Dame Cathedral and the Croisette! It seems that the tourist wave has turned a great country into a desert, and there is nothing that you can find for yourself. City corners became exhibits, seascapes became photographic pictures. The consequence of this is the feeling, amazing in its fallacy, that you know everything about France.
What naivete! Live here not for a week, not a month - curse and praise thousands of times those guys who erected the tubular Beaubourg on the site of the quarters of the past, count the steps from the old Eiffel forty times and finally find your personal France in some Saint-Genier d'Ole (120 km northeast of Toulouse, 2,034 inhabitants)… Don't like it?
Well, you may like France, you may not like it, you may even leave you indifferent. She doesn't seem to care how she is treated...

... from the directory "Guide for residence - 2012"

Geography and population
The official name of the country - French Republic. Located in Western Europe. It borders in the northeast with Belgium and Luxembourg, in the east with Germany, Switzerland, Monaco and Italy, in the south with Andorra and Spain. The capital of France is Paris.
France also includes the island of Corsica and numerous overseas territories and departments in different parts of the world. The total area of ​​the country is 643.4 thousand square meters. m.
The relief of the country in the north and west is formed by plains and plateaus, in the center and east - by the mountains of the Central French Massif, the Vosges and the Jura, in the southwest - by the Pyrenees, in the southeast - by the Alps. The western coast of France is washed by the waters of the Bay of Biscay, the northwestern coast by the English Channel, and the southern coast by the Mediterranean Sea.
The climate in France is temperate maritime, in the east turning into temperate continental, on the Mediterranean coast - subtropical. The average July temperature is +23–25 °С, summer is dry and hot. January temperatures are 7–8 °С, rains are typical for winter.
The population in 2009 was over 62 million people. The ethnic composition is dominated by the French (94%), the rest of the population is made up of Arabs, Berbers, Portuguese, Basques, Italians, Turks, etc. The official language is French.
51% of the population of France are Catholics, 31% identify themselves as agnostics or atheists, 4% are Muslims, 3% are Protestants, 1% are Jews, the rest are supporters of other religions.
French currency - Euro. Time is behind Moscow by two hours in summer and 3 hours in winter (GMT+1).

What is France famous for?
AT 1887 In the same year, 300 artists, including Alexandre Dumas son, Guy de Maupassant and the composer Charles Gounod, protested to the municipality, describing this construction as "useless and monstrous". The creator of the architectural creation, Gustav Eiffel, was not particularly sophisticated and simply called it - a 300-meter tower. Probably, he could not have imagined that after some time this unsightly building would become the most visited and photographed attraction in the world - eiffel tower.
Soft and hard, aged and young, with mold and covered with a crust, from goat's or cow's milk - cheeses are rightfully considered the main snack of all restaurants in the French Republic. It is believed that there are about 500 varieties of cheese. No one can name the exact number.
« Wine for the French is a national treasure. Just like 350 varieties of cheese and its culture.” This is how the philosopher Roland Barthes once described the main passions of his compatriots. Consuming large amounts of fatty foods and wine, the French are less likely than citizens of other countries to suffer from cardiovascular diseases. This is the so-called "French Paradox".
71% of the country's population prefers red wine.
"The Widow Clicquot". The cost of this "lady" sometimes reaches several tens of thousands of rubles. Once this champagne appeared on the tables of European monarchs, including the Russian Empire. Today, the "Veuve Clicquot" can increasingly be found surrounded by just wealthy people.
Singer and actress Edith Piaf, according to legend, was born under a street lamp in Belvgue, has become another symbol of France. Her real name is Edith Javanna Gassion. However, few know her by this last name. For most lovers of French chanson, she is a “sparrow” (piaf - sparrow): small and fragile, with willpower and character that a man would envy, and a voice that is one of the most recognizable in the twentieth century.
Venus de Milo, Nike of Samothrace and Gioconda (Mona Lisa) settled in this French and most visited museum in the world. During the First Empire it was called the Napoleon Museum. However, then he returned his historical name - Louvre.
Moulin rouge. Cabaret, built in 1889 and located in the Red Light District, near Place Pigalle. The Moulin Rouge was visited not only by representatives of the middle class, but by aristocrats and artists, among whom Picasso and Oscar Wilde were noticed. Even the Prince of Wales was not averse to visiting this establishment. Such distinguished guests were attracted here by the famous cancan, as well as striptease. In 1893, for the first time in history, one of the dancers completely undressed on stage.
It is the creation of both man and nature. The first erected a fortress of incredible beauty on a huge rock in Normandy, the second daily turns the rock into an island, towering above the bay and the flat coastline. mont saint michel- the general name of the bay, island, fortress. And Miracle.
What to see in France
See Paris - and die! It is with a visit to the capital that many begin their acquaintance with France. And not only to personally see the Eiffel Tower and the Champs Elysees, visit the Louvre with its world masterpieces of art or climb Montmartre, which has long been inhabited by free artists. Paris is the embodiment of the special charm of France, a city with an indescribable atmosphere, a city of lovers, the capital of world fashion ...
But France is also a world supplier of wines: the provinces of Bordeaux, Champagne and Burgundy. These are the castles of the Loire and the palaces of Versailles. And, of course, these are world-famous resorts - Nice and Cannes on the Cote d'Azur of the Mediterranean Sea, Biarritz on the Atlantic and Courchevel in the French Alps.
You can learn more about the regions, cities and sights of the country in the section. Those interested in French real estate can refer to.
How to get there
To get from Russia to France, you can choose any type of transport. The fastest and most comfortable way is air travel. Airports are located in many large and medium cities of France (in Paris, Marseille, Nice, Toulouse, Bordeaux, Strasbourg, etc.). Regular and charter flights to France are operated by Aeroflot, Rossiya, S7 and Air France, flights are operated from St. Petersburg, Moscow, Kazan and other cities. Flight time Moscow - Paris is 3.5 hours.
To travel by rail, you can use the direct direct train Moscow - Paris. Travel time is about 50 hours. However, the trip can cost more than the air ticket.
There are also numerous bus tours. Travel time will be up to three days. This option is suitable for those who wish to see several European countries on a trip. You can also get to France along numerous routes by private car. The distance from Moscow to Paris by road is 2,905 km.
A visa to France is a Schengen visa (more on this in articles and).
REFERENCE
Political structure of France
France is a democratic republic. The head of state is the president, who is elected for five years. Executive power is exercised by the government headed by the prime minister. The legislative branch of government is represented by a bicameral parliament elected by popular vote.
The country is a member of several international unions and organizations: the UN (since 1945), the EU (since 1957), the OECD, the OSCE, etc.
The administrative-territorial units of France are 26 regions, divided into 100 departments, which in turn include 352 districts and 4039 cantons.
Economy of France
France is a highly developed industrial and agricultural country. The basis of the mining industry is the extraction of iron and uranium ores, the processing industry is mechanical engineering, including the automotive industry, the production of electrical engineering and electronics, aircraft, shipbuilding and machine tools. France is one of the world leaders in the production of chemical and petrochemical products (rubber, plastics, pharmaceuticals). The main export destinations for agricultural products are beef, dairy products, cereals, vegetables, and fish. Famous French wines and cheeses are also supplied to the world market. In addition, France is a world trendsetter: French clothes, shoes, perfumes and cosmetics are world famous.
The most famous French companies are Renault, Peugeot Citroen (automotive production); Michelin Tire (car tires); ALCATEL LUCENT (telecommunication equipment); Thompson (electronic and electrical equipment); L'ambre, L'Oreal and Yves Rocher (cosmetics and perfumes).
If you are interested in starting your own business in this country, please see the contents of the section.
Public holidays (weekends)
January 1 - New Year
One day from March 22 to April 25 - Easter
May 1 - Labor Day
May 8 - Victory Day
July 14 - Bastille Day
November 1 - All Saints Day
December 25 - Christmas
Keep in mind that only Labor Day is an official holiday. Rest on other significant dates is determined by agreements between employees and unions of employers.
History of France
Since the late Bronze Age (1600 BC), the territory of France was inhabited by the Celts. In the 1st century BC. these lands are conquered by Gaius Julius Caesar, the Roman dictator and commander. France becomes part of the Roman state and receives the name "Gallia" (the Romans generally called the Celtic tribes the Gauls).
In the 5th century AD the collapse of the Roman Empire begins. Gaul is conquered by the Franks - an alliance of West Germanic tribes, and its territory is part of the Frankish state. Since 768 Charlemagne has been king of the Franks. Under him, numerous lands were conquered, state borders were fortified, and reforms were carried out in various areas of the country's internal life. Since the 10th century, the modern name "France" has been assigned to the country.
The Roman Catholic Church had a significant influence on France. Thanks to her, the territorially fragmented Gaul maintained unity for many centuries. In 1209-1229, the Roman Catholic Church initiated the Albigensian Wars, a series of crusades against heretics in the Languedoc region in southeastern France. As a result, at least a million people were killed. But gradually the power of the popes weakened: already 1309–1378, the Avignon captivity of the popes dates back, when the residence of the heads of the Catholic Church was not in Rome, but in France.
In 1337-1453, France participates in the Hundred Years' War with England. It was a series of military conflicts, the cause of which was the mutual territorial claims of countries. One of the key figures of the Hundred Years War was Joan of Arc. Appointed commander-in-chief of the French army, she won a series of significant victories. Captured by the British, she was executed. Subsequently, she was canonized as a saint.
In the 16th century in France, as in other countries of Western and Central Europe, a mass religious and socio-political movement was born, called the Reformation. During this period, a confrontation between Catholics and Huguenots (French Protestants) is brewing in the country. The peak of the religious war is considered to be the Bartholomew night of August 24, 1572, which marked the beginning of the massacre of the Huguenots, as a result of which, according to various estimates, from five to 30 thousand people died.
In 1589, the Bourbons, one of the most influential royal dynasties in Europe, take the throne. Representatives of the dynasty in various periods ruled, in addition to France, in other European states.
France takes part in the Thirty Years' War, which lasted from 1618 to 1648, which became one of the first all-European conflicts. The period of the reign of the famous Cardinal Richelieu (1624-1642) also falls on the years of the war.
As a "great century" the era of King Louis XIV, the "Sun King" (from 1653 to 1715) enters history. His reign marked the military power of France, its political weight on the world stage and the flowering of culture.
In 1789, with the capture of the Bastille - the main prison of France, the place of detention of political criminals - the Great French bourgeois revolution began, which led to the establishment of a new form of statehood in the country - the republic. Among the leaders of the Revolution are Danton, Robespierre and Marat, who became the founding fathers of the First Republic.
During these years, a brilliant military career of Napoleon Bonaparte was being built. Having started professional military service in 1785 with the rank of junior lieutenant of artillery, in 1894 he received the rank of brigadier general. Taking advantage of the crisis of power in 1899, Napoleon concentrated executive power in his own hands and in 1804 proclaimed himself Emperor of France.
Having risen at the head of the state, Napoleon made the preservation of the results of the revolution, namely the civil rights and freedoms of the population and the right of ownership of the land of the peasants, the main direction of his domestic policy. The foreign policy of the ruler was aimed at turning France into the most powerful power in Europe. The goal of Napoleon's numerous military campaigns was to conquer Europe and build an empire. However, the campaign against Russia undertaken by the emperor in 1812 was the beginning of the collapse of his Empire.
In 1814, the French Senate proclaimed the restoration of the Bourbon monarchy, with Louis XVIII as head of state. In 1852, Napoleon Bonaparte's nephew Napoleon III came to power.
The Franco-Prussian War lasted from 1870 to 1871. Its result for France was the loss of territories and the payment of an indemnity of 5 billion francs to the victorious side. In 1914-1918, France takes part in the First World War, as a result, France managed to regain part of the territory lost in the 19th century. But participation in the Second World War in 1939-1945 leads to a significant weakening of the country's influence on the global political arena and the inability to maintain huge colonies.
The history of the current so-called Fifth Republic began in 1958 with the adoption of a new constitution. Its first president was Charles de Gaulle, a general who led the French resistance to the occupation of France by German troops during World War II. During his reign, social and economic contradictions aggravated. By 1960, during armed confrontations, most of the African colonies of France gained independence, the conquests of which began in the 17th century.