France is a country located in Western Europe. It is the largest West European nation and has the third-largest population in the EU.
France shares borders with Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Monaco, Andorra, and Spain. The capital of France is Paris and its official language is French.
Here are ten fun facts about France:
1. France is home to some of the world’s most famous art museums, including the Louvre Museum which houses the Mona Lisa painting by Leonardo da Vinci.
2. The Eiffel Tower in Paris is one of the most recognisable landmarks in the world and was built for the 1889 World’s Fair.
3. Champagne wine comes from the Champagne region of France – it can only be called “Champagne” if it’s produced in this area!
4. There are over 400 types of cheese made in France! Some popular varieties include Brie, Camembert, Roquefort and Chevre (goat cheese).
5. In addition to being known for their fashion sense, French women also have a reputation for being slim – a result of following a healthy diet rich in fresh fruits and vegetables as well as moderate amounts of red wine.
6. Speaking of food…France is renowned for its cuisine which includes such delicacies as escargot (snails), foie gras (fatty duck or goose liver) and truffles (an edible fungus).
7. The Tour de France is an annual bicycle race that covers more than 2,000 miles throughout the country – it’s considered one of the toughest sporting events in existence!
8. Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris took almost 200 years to build – construction began in 1163 and wasn’t completed until 1345.
9. In 1804, Napoleon Bonaparte became Emperor of France after crowned himself at his own coronation ceremony. He would go on to rule for nearly two decades before being defeated at Waterloo and exiled to St Helena island where he died six years later.
10. France was once part of a large empire that included much of North America – at its peak, “New France” extended from Newfoundland all the way down to Louisiana!
