Welcome to France

The French are great cycling enthusiasts. The Tour de France is a bicycle race which is held every summer, and is the biggest annual sporting event in the world. It was started by Henri Desgranges in 1903. About 200 cyclists from around the world take part, though the tour is so gruelling that by the end 50 or more cyclists may have dropped out. The Tour lasts 22 days and takes the cyclists 4,000 kilometres around France – through towns and villages, over high mountains, and often into neighbouring countries such as Spain and Italy. Each day a different stage of the race is held, and the person who is winning overall at that point wears a yellow jersey. The person who goes fastest overall in the mountain stages is called King of the Mountains, and wears a polka dot jersey. Before the race begins, people paint the names of their favourite cyclists on the road, and then turn out in their thousands to cheer the competitors on.

Almost every French town or village has at least one place where people gather to play boules. The game is especially popular in the south of the country. First a small metal ball called a pétanque is thrown, and then the players throw bigger metal balls to see who can come closest to hitting the pétanque. Because the ground is usually uneven, the best way to do this is by throwing the ball high into the air. Now someone has invented square boules so that even people who live in hilly towns with no flat ground can play!

France is home to some very exciting modern architecture, including the Georges Pompidou Art Centre. Designed by an Italian-British team of architects and opened in 1977, the building looks almost like it's been turned inside out! It is usual for functional things like plumbing and wiring to be hidden, but in the Pompidou Centre they are there for all to see. Huge colourful pipes snake throughout the building, and escalators run up its side in clear plastic tubes, giving a fantastic view of the city. Although many Parisians claim that they detest the Pompidou Centre, it is the most visited attraction in town.

Impressionists is the name given to a group of artists who lived and painted in Paris between 1860 and 1890. They include Renoir, Degas, Manet, Pissaro, and Monet, perhaps the most famous Impressionist of all. At the time, artists were generally considered great if they were able to achieve an illusion of reality – in other words, if their paintings were a mirror image of their subject. Monet and his friends shocked the art world with their innovative technique. They used sketchy brush strokes, and bold, shimmering colours, to capture an impression of the scene before them – hence the name Impressionism. Also, instead of depicting lofty historic, mythological or religious subjects, the Impressionists painted scenes from everyday life in Paris – the cafés and bars, the city streets and parks, the ballet, and what was even more shocking to the contemporary art critic, scenes of Parisian nightlife, such as the dance halls. It seems strange that the work of the Impressionists was so controversial at the time, given the great popularity of their paintings today.

cinema

The French have always been passionate about cinema. The first ever film was made in the French city of Lyon by the Lumière brothers in 1885. Since the innovative Nouvelle Vague or New Wave period of the late 1950s and early 1960s, French cinema has been regarded as an art form, and its directors as creative artists. New Wave film directors include Roger Vadim, François Truffaut, Jean-Luc Godard, and Alain Resnais. Since the New Wave, French films have tended to be small-scale, intimate portrayals of people's lives. Contemporary directors who have achieved international acclaim include Jean-Jacques Beneix who directed Betty Blue, Luc Besson, director of Subway, and Léos Carax whose work includes Les Amants du Pont Neuf. Recently, French cinema has tackled social issues, such as poverty, race, crime, and drug abuse. Famous French actors include Gerard Depardieu who is known internationally for his performances in films including Jean de Florette and Manon des Sources (1985). Juliette Binoche was the first French actress to win an Oscar, for her performance in The English Patient (1997), although the French have their own awards called Césars, which are more important to them than Oscars. Every year film-makers travel from all over the world to show their latest work at the International Film Festival in Cannes, a luxurious resort on the Cote d'Azur in the south of France.

A wide range of music is popular in France, and as with the other arts, the French government encourages music to thrive. Famous French classical musicians include Ravel, Debussy, and the contemporary composer, Pierre Boulez. Ballet and opera also have a long tradition in France. In the fifties many leading black American jazz musicians spent time in Paris, and jazz is still extremely popular. The French contribution to jazz music includes the work of Gypsy guitarist Django Reinhardt, and his partner, the violinist Stephane Grappelli.

Although half of all music albums bought in France are recorded by British or American bands, the French have their own singers of original French songs. This type of music is called Variété Française. Edith Piaf was a popular Parisian singer, whose sentimental ballads were hugely popular internationally as well as in France. The daughter of an impoverished acrobat, Piaf worked in her father’s troupe before going to as a café singer in Paris, where she was discovered by a cabaret owner. Her most famous songs include Non, Je ne Regrette Rien and La Vie en Rose. She died in 1963. The Belgian Jonny Halliday, who was a famous rock star in the sixties, is still well-loved in France, and Patrick Bruel is another figure who appeals to all generations. Serge Gainsbourg was a very famous and respected French singer-songwriter, who was at his peak in the 1960s and 70s.

A new generation of popular music in France combines sounds of Africa, the Caribbean, and Latin America. Cheb Khaled is one of the best-known singers of Algerian raï music, which has become very big in France. MC Solaar is a famous French-Senegalese rap musician. Dance music is also gaining popularity in France, with plenty of home-grown talent including the band, Air.

French people of all ages are fond of dancing. Teenagers dance le rock, which involves jiving with a partner to almost any kind of music. Older people prefer ballroom-dancing which is accompanied by traditional French music known as Bal Musette, in which the accordion is the main instrument.

Throughout the year, people in France celebrate local festivals through music and dance. Some festivals are religious, while others are related to farming or fishing.

Brittany in the north-west of France has its own traditions in song and dance which are quite distinct from those of the rest of the country. In the fifth and sixth centuries the Celts fled from Britain following the Anglo-Saxon invasion. These Celtic roots link the Bretons (people from Brittany) with people in Ireland, Scotland, Wales, the Isle of Man, Cornwall (in England), and the Spanish regions of Galicia and The Asturias. Every summer musicians from these countries come together at Lorient to celebrate their common identity at the Festival Interceltique, a colourful carnival of music and dance.

Bretons enjoy their traditional music all year round at local festivals and parties. The Fest-Noz or Night Festival is an evening of eating, drinking and dancing, which is held in a large village barn or hall. The music is usually provided by a couple de sonneurs – two musicians, who play instruments called the bombarde and biniou. The bombard is a wind instrument – a very old, shortened version of the oboe. The biniou is a Breton bagpipe, similar to Scottish bagpipes. The music is fast, and villagers dance energetically. Sometimes they stop for a rest while a singer performs a gwerz or ballad, which is not accompanied by instruments.

Throughout Europe and North America the title cordon bleu is given to chefs who have reached the very highest standard. This award for excellence in cooking comes from – you've guessed it – the French. The French are world famous for their haute cuisine – the type of cooking done in expensive restaurants. French home cooking tends to be simpler, but is taken very seriously none the less. Every region of France has its own speciality, which is made using local produce. For example, Quiche Lorraine is a pastry dish, with a filling of eggs, cream, and chopped bacon. It is named after the Lorraine region, in Eastern France. Coastal regions such as Brittany and Normandy specialise in seafood dishes made from freshly-caught shrimps, mussels, and oysters. The influence of foreign cooking has also made itself felt in French cuisine, particulary in the cities where there are North African and Asian communities. Given the variety and quality of food on offer, it is perhaps not surprising that the French eat less "fast food" than their European neighbours.

Bread is a very important basic food in France, and is eaten with most meals. Most French bread comes in the form of a long crusty roll known as a baguette. Baguettes are bought fresh every morning from the boulangerie or bakery. They have to be eaten on the same day as they are bought, because they go stale very quickly. As in the UK, the French make "lost bread" to use up bread which has gone slightly stale. In France it is called pain perdu.

For most people in France, the day begins with breakfast, which is known as le petit déjeuner. This usually consists of coffee or hot chocolate which is drunk from a bowl, and pehaps a freshly-baked croissant which is made of a flaky, butter-based pastry or bread. Pain au chocolat is similar but has a chocolate filling. Lunch is traditionally a leisurely affair, and can have several courses. The first course, or hors d'oeuvre, is often a salad, or in winter a bowl of soup. A main dish of meat or fish follows, and the meal ends with cheese, fruit, or sometimes a dessert. At around four o'clock, children who have just returned from school might have some bread with jam or chocolate, and a glass of milk. This afternoon snack is known as le goûter. For many French people, the evening meal is a time for the whole family to gather together and talk about their day. Again, this often consists of several courses (depending on how big lunch was), and for the adults, might be accompanied by a glass or two of wine.

L’Apéritif is a national custom in France, which involves setting aside half an hour or so before a meal to share a drink, nibbles, and conversation with family, friends, neighbours, or colleagues. It is a firmly established social activity which is enjoyed by people of all ages, and which forms an important part of home life, of public and private celebrations, and of café and restaurant culture.

France is the second largest producer of wine in the world, and French wine has an excellent reputation. Vineyards line the roads of Burgundy and Bordeaux, the Mediterranean coast, and the length of the River Loire. The Champagne region is famous for the sparkling white wine which takes its name. Champagne is otherwise known as "bubbly", and is generally drunk at special occasions such as weddings and other celebrations. Although similar wines are produced in other parts of France, and in other countries, it is against the law to call them Champagne. Wine is made throughout the country, and the diversity of climate and soil results in the huge variety of French wines available. Wine is taken with most meals, and is always available at social gatherings. Local wine goes best with local food, including of course, cheese.

France boasts more than 365 varieties of cheese – at least one for every day of the year. It comes in all shapes, sizes, textures, and smells. Again, each region of France has its own speciality. Cheese can be made from the milk of cows, goats, or sheep, and the flavour and texture depend on several factors, including the time it is given to age, and the ingredients added to it. Camembert is a creamy, mild cheese. Roquefort is one of the many blue cheeses, so-called because of its veins of harmless blue mould. Like most of the blue cheeses Roquefort has a very strong smell which not everyone likes! Chèvre fermier is farmhouse goat's cheese which can be flavoured in many ways, for example by adding local herbs or peppercorns, or by wrapping it in walnut or chestnut leaves.

crêpes

Crêpes, originally a Breton dish, are a popular snack in France. In cities and towns they are often sold from stalls on the street. They are quick and easy to make, and can be eaten with savoury fillings such as cheese or mushrooms, or as a sweet treat, with jam, chocolate, or even ice cream.

You will need:

Preparation time: 10 minutes
Cooking time: 15-20 minutes

Method:Sift the flour and salt into a bowl and make a well in the centre. Break in the eggs and add 150 ml (1/4 pint) of the milk. Beat in the flour from the sides of the bowl until you have a thick, smooth batter. Gradually add the rest of the milk. Heat a little oil in a frying pan, then pour it off, leaving a very thin coating on the base of the pan. Pour in just enough batter to cover the base of the pan thinly. Tip the pan from side to side to make sure the batter is spread evenly. When bubbles appear on the surface, and the underside is nicely browned, turn the crêpe over with a spatula and cook on the other side for one to two minutes. Make the rest in the same way, re-oiling the pan and reheating it again for each one. To keep hot, place a saucer upside-down on a large plate over a pan of simmering water. As the crêpes are cooked, drape them over the saucer. If you are going to keep them for a long time or are going to re-heat them, cover the plate with a bowl.

Cheese and fresh fruit usually end the traditional family meal in France, but on special occasions, sweet courses are served. Poires au caramel, caramelised pears, are a popular pudding in France.

You will need:

Preparation time: 10 minutes
Cooking time: 50-60 minutes
Oven: 200 C, 400 F, Gas Mark 6

Method:

Peel the pears, leaving the stalks on. Brush each pear with lemon juice. Place in an oven-proof dish. Dissolve the sugar in 150 ml (1/4 pint) water, then bring to the boil without stirring. Boil until the syrup becomes a light golden caramel. Remove from the heat. Quickly pour on the rest of the water, and stir over a gentle heat until the caramel has dissolved. Pour over the pears. Cover with a lid or aluminium foil and cook for 30-40 minutes in a preheated oven, until the pears are soft and translucent. Turn the pears in the syrup once or twice during the cooking time, so that they colour evenly. Carefully lift out the pears and stand them upright in a serving dish. Put the syrup in a saucepan and boil until it becomes thick, then add the butter in a small pieces. Pour over the pears and leave to cool. The pears are delicious on their own, or you can serve them with ice cream or lightly-whipped cream.

1. What is the name of the biggest annual sporting event in the world, which is held in France every summer?

2. Name five of the painters who are known as the Impressionists

3. What name is given to an evening of traditional music and dance in Brittany?

4. Which French actress won an Oscar award for her performance in the film, The English Patient?

5. How many houses of haute couture are there in France today?

6. How many people live in France?

7. What do French people call the first meal of the day?

8. In what year did the French Revolution take place?

9. What name is given to the people who blend scents to make perfume?

10. Who is the current President of France?

1. The biggest annual sporting event in the world, which is held in France every summer, is The Tour de France

2. Renoir, Degas, Manet, Pissaro, and Monet, are five of the artists known as the Impressionists

3. An evening of traditional music and dance in Brittany is called a Fest-Noz

4. The French actress Juliette Binoche won an Oscar award for her performance in the film, The English Patient

5. There are 18 houses of haute couture in France today

6. The population of France is 58.3 million

7. French people call the first meal of the day le petit déjeuner

8. The French Revolution took place in 1789

9. The people who blend scents to make perfume are known as "Noses"

10. The current President of France is Jacques Chirac.

11. The highest mountain in France is Mont Blanc. It is 4807 metres high

12. The French invention which is often seen as a predecessor of the Internet is the Minitel

13. The Pyrénées National Park is home to the brown bear, chamois, lynx, marmot, golden eagle, and bearded vulture.

While France is a predominantly Christian, Catholic country, there are people of many races and religions, including several million Muslims, the offspring of North African immigrants who settled in France in the 1950s. Although there has been a history of discrimination against immigrants, since the 1980s many young French people have supported protests against racism.

Culture and the arts are extremely important in everyday French life. In recent years the French government put laws in place to restrict the broadcast of English-speaking movies and songs, and English vocabulary in general, in an attempt to resist Americanisation and to protect French cultural identity.

Towards the end of the third century BC, Paris was founded by a tribe of Celtic Gauls known as the Parisii. In 52 BC centuries of conflict between the Gauls and the Romans ended when the land was conquered by the Roman General, Julius Caesar. Gaul – or the area which we now call France – was to remain part of the Roman Empire for over 500 years.

The 2nd century AD saw the introduction of Christianity. In the fifth century AD the Romans were conquered by the Franks. Gaul was united as a kingdom by the Frankish king Clovis I, and Paris was named as its capital. Throughout the Middle Ages the Frankish dynasties fought with one another. Charlemagne won many wars to extend the boundaries of his kingdom, and even became the Holy Roman Emperor in 800AD.

France was heavily involved in the Crusades, which were holy wars started by the Christian church against non-Christians. All through the late Middle Ages France fought with England. This led to the Hundred Years War which lasted from 1337 to 1453. In 1429 a 17-year-old woman known as Joan of Arc rallied the French soldiers to defeat the English at the Battle of Orleans. She was later captured and burnt at the stake by the English, who were finally expelled from all parts of France in 1453. In the middle of the sixteenth century France was plunged into a civil war of religion between Protestants and Catholics, which was to last thirty years.

France continued to prosper under its kings, but the wars it was constantly fighting with neighbouring countries were expensive, and the French people grew angry with the monarchy. In 1789 the French Revolution took place. King Louis XVI was executed, and France became a republic.

In the early 1800s the Emperor Napoleon took over, and led France to invade several other countries, though these lands were lost again when the French army suffered defeat at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815.

France suffered heavily during the First World War: over a million troops were killed, industrial production dropped, and large areas of the country were devastated. During the Second World War France was occupied by Germany until it was liberated by Allied Forces in 1944. Every town and village in France has a monument to the people who lived there, who were killed fighting for their country.

Modern French politics have been characterised by a left wing/right wing division, although this has recently been blurred. The current President is Jacques Chirac, from the right-wing RPR party, Rassemblement pour la République (Rally for the Republic). Chirac was forced into an alliance with the left-wing Lionel Jospin, when Jospin was elected Prime Minister in 1997. In France the State and the Church are two completely separate institutions, meaning that things which are under State or government control have no religious content – for example, religion is not taught in State schools.

France is the biggest country in Western Europe. It borders six other countries – from the north-east to the south-east these are Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, Switzerland, and Italy. The south of France borders with Spain. France has over 3200km of coastline, with rocky cliffs and sandy beaches. In the north, the Channel Tunnel runs under the English Channel, connecting France with the UK. To the west is the Bay of Biscay, and the south coast of France is on the Mediterranean Sea. Major rivers include the Seine, the Loire, the Garonne, and the Rhône.

The highest mountain ranges in France are the Alps which run along two-thirds of the eastern border down to the Mediterranean, and the Pyrénées in the south, on the border with Spain. The highest peak in France is Mont Blanc in the Alps, on the Italian border. It is 4807 metres high.

Because France is so big the weather varies enormously from one part of the country to another. In Brittany, on the north-west coast, it is often quite mild, with moist winds from the Atlantic Ocean bringing plenty of rain. The north-east has hot summers and cold winters. In the mountainous regions there is lots of snow in the winter, and this can stay on the tops of the mountains all year long. The south has a Mediterranean climate, with mild winters and hot summers. In the spring a very strong, cold wind known as Le Mistral blows down the Rhône valley. It can make life quite unpleasant, and it is sometimes said that people living in the region are bad-tempered at this time of year. Le Mistral is so strong that people have to put stones on their roofs to stop the tiles blowing off. Mischievous villagers sometimes tell foreign tourists that the wind was so strong it blew the stones on to the roof!

The tradition of perfume manufacture goes back many centuries in France, and is extremely important to the French economy. The town of Grasse in the French Riviera has been producing perfume since the sixteenth century, when immigrant Italian glovemakers discovered the beautiful scents of the region's flowers, and began using them to make their leather gloves smell nice. Grasse is now famous as France's perfume capital – its gentle climate, fertile soil, and protective barrier of surrounding mountains make it ideal for growing flowers such as roses, jasmine, and lavender, which provide the raw material for perfume. Huge numbers of the flowers are needed to make small amounts of concentrated perfume – around 4,000 kilos of roses are needed to make just one kilo of essential oil. Scents are blended and perfumes invented by people known as "Noses" for their very sharp sense of smell. Perfumes are carefully named and packaged, and are labelled by the big fashion names such as Christian Dior, Givenchy, and Coco Chanel. Huge amounts of money are spent on advertising, and the most expensive perfumes are launched all around the world. In France, nine out of every ten women, and one out of every two men use perfume. A recent trend is the production of perfumes for children.

Environment

Farming in France varies from place to place. Livestock farming is very important in the north-west, where the climate is cooler and wetter, and grass grows well. In the lowland areas of France, such as the Paris basin, crops such as maize, barley and wheat are grown in huge fields. Further south the warmer climate is suitable for growing fruit such as peaches, melons and cherries. Sunflowers are grown for their oil, which is also used to make margarine. In the south it is also common to see fields of purple lavender, which is used for making perfume. All over France grapes are grown on vineyards to make wine.

The wide range of climates and terrain in France means that it has a rich variety of plants and wildlife. France has a number of national parks, which have set up programmes to protect fragile species. These have been endangered due to intensive farming, the spread of towns and cities, and increasing levels of pollution. The Pyrénées National Park was created in 1967, and stretches for about 100km along the border with Spain. The park covers an area of 460 square km and contains forested areas, several lakes, rivers and brooks. Protected wildlife includes the brown bear, chamois (a goat-like, mountain animal), lynx, marmot, and endangered birds of prey such as the golden eagle and the bearded vulture.

There is an environmental movement in France which tends to concentrate on local-level campaigns, for example, protecting national parks, preventing new roads being built, and reducing pollution. However they tend not to take a stand on issues of national importance. Seventy per cent of France's energy is produced by nuclear power, and yet there is little awareness of the potential hazards of the nuclear industry, and green issues are not of primary concern amongst most French people.