CULTURE

Food

French cuisine consists of the cooking traditions and practices from France. French cuisine developed throughout the centuries influenced by the many surrounding cultures of Spain, Italy, Switzerland, Germany and Belgium, in addition to its own food traditions on the long western coastlines of the Atlantic, the Channel and of course, inland.

Art

French art consists of the visual and plastic arts (including French architecture, woodwork, textiles, and ceramics) originating from the geographical area of France. Modern France was the main centre for the European art of the Upper Paleolithic, then left many megalithic monuments, and in the Iron Age many of the most impressive finds of early Celtic art.

Music

France boasts a wide variety of indigenous folk music, as well as styles played by immigrants from Africa, Latin America and Asia. In the field of classical music, France has produced a number of notable composers such as Gabriel Fauré, Claude Debussy, Maurice Ravel, and Hector Berlioz while modern pop music has seen the rise of popular French hip hop, French rock, techno/funk, and turntablists/djs.

Sports

Football (French: Le Foot) is the most popular sport in France. Other popular sports played in France are rugby union, cycling, tennis, handball, basketball and sailing. France is notable for holding and winning the FIFA World Cup in 1998 and 2018, and holding the annual cycling race Tour de France, and the tennis Grand Slam tournament the French Open. Sport is encouraged in school, and local sports clubs receive financial support from the local governments. While football is definitely the most popular, rugby union and rugby league takes dominance in the southwest, especially around the city of Toulouse.

TOURIST PLACES

Eiffel Tower

The Eiffel Tower is a wrought-iron lattice tower on the Champ de Mars in Paris, France. It is named after the engineer Gustave Eiffel, whose company designed and built the tower.

Louvre Museum

The Louvre, or the Louvre Museum, is the world's largest art museum and a historic monument in Paris, France, and is best known for being the home of the Mona Lisa. A central landmark of the city, it is located on the Right Bank of the Seine in the city's 1st arrondissement.

Mont Saint Michel

Le Mont-Saint-Michel is a tidal island and mainland commune in Normandy, France. The island lies approximately one kilometre off the country's north-western coast, at the mouth of the Couesnon River near Avranches and is 7 hectares in area.

Provence

Provence, a region in southeastern France bordering Italy and the Mediterranean Sea, is known for its diverse landscapes, from the Southern Alps and Camargue plains to rolling vineyards, olive groves, pine forests and lavender fields. To the south is the Côte d'Azur (or French Riviera), where the elegant city of Nice and glamorous resort towns such as Saint-Tropez and Cannes line the coast.

SEASON

Spring

A popular time of the year to visit the French capital, spring in Paris starts out chilly with daily highs of around 54°F (12°C) in March. By May the weather warms up to a very pleasant 68°F (20°C) - perfect for spending the day exploring the city’s beautiful gardens and parks.

Summer

This is the height of tourist season in Paris, and it is accompanied by matching high temperatures. Expect daily highs of at least 83°F (25°C), accompanied by brisk nights of around 55°F (13°C).

Autumn

Temperatures cool down quite a bit beginning in October, Daily highs range anywhere from 46°F (8°C) to 62°F (17°C), so pack accordingly

Winter/Cold Season

Daily highs of 46°F (8°C) and night time temperatures near freezing with shorter days and decidedly wetter weather

FESTIVALS

Bastille Day

Celebrated nationwide on July 14, Bastille Day is the biggest and most important festival in the French calendar. It commemorates the day that Parisian commoners and peasants stormed the fortress and prison of Bastille. This provoked events that would end the monarchy and usher in the age of liberty, fraternity, and equality. Celebrations are held all over France, including large-scale public events and parties.

Berck Sur Mer Kite Festival

Each April, the skies of Berck-sur-Mer explode with colour, as kites line up in choreographed displays to perform for the crowds. Pop down to see kite experts and enthusiasts from all over the world come together to display their talents. With Berck-sur-Mer just over 40 minutes in the car from Calais, the journey couldn't be easier.

Menton Lemon Festival

The Fête du Citron is a carnival event organised by the tourist office of the city of Menton, France, and held every year at the end of winter. It is also sometimes called Carnaval de Menton. The festival celebrates the annual production of specialty lemons and other citrus fruit in Menton.

Nice Carnival

The Nice Carnival is one of the world's major carnival events, alongside the Brazilian Carnival, Venetian Carnival, and Mardi Gras in New Orleans. It is held annually in February and sometimes early March in Nice on the French Riviera.