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The French People

The culture of France is built from fine cuisine, the trauma of two world wars, the architecture of Corbusier, never-ending waves of tourists, cheeses and wines with protected names, the occupation by Caesar's armies, Provençal lavender, the absorption of Algerians, Vietnamese, and West Africans, the philosophy of Descartes, the impact of modern telecommunications. The list goes on for more than 2000 years. The collected volumes written about the culture of France would number in the thousands. An attempt to fit a worthwhile summary on a single webpage would be folly. And so we offer only...

A Brief Dictionary of Culture

Arrondissement: Paris, Lyon, and Marseille are divided into arrondissements, or districts. Paris has 20 arrondissements, Lyon has nine, and Marseille has sixteen. The last two digits of Paris postal codes are the arrondissement number.
Boulangerie: There are more than 35,000 boulangeries (bakeries) in France. French breads are often named by their shape: baguette (stick), ficelle (string), flûte (flute), boule (ball), épi (spike), and longuet (long).
Cheese: There are 365 varieties of French cheese! Of these, fully 36 are "controlled appellation," having legally-protected names. Every region has its own cheese. Among the most famous are Camembert, Cantal, Roquefort, and Brie. The French say, "A good meal must always end with a good cheese!" And a good wine is an indispensable accompaniment for cheese.
Chirac: Jacques Chirac, the president of France, was elected in May 1995 for a term of seven years. The founder of the Gaullist party named Rassemblement pour la République, or RPR, he was the mayor of Paris from 1977 to 1995. France is a parliamentary democracy with a dominant executive branch. The president is elected by universal suffrage.
Département: France is divided into 95 départements plus the overseas départements, or Départements d'Outre-Mer (DOM). Each is governed by a Préfet (prefect) who heads an administative council.
Gastronomy: French cuisine, the national pride of France, has a worldwide reputation for excellence. Among its great contemporary chefs are Bocuse, Troisgros, and Ducasse. France never misses a meal!
Haute Couture: Paris is the world's fashion capital. Twice a year, the most important designers introduce their collections with sumptuous fashion shows. Among the jewels of French haute couture are the houses of Yves Saint-Laurent, Chanel, Dior, Lacroix, and Givenchy.
Language: The official language of France is French, but there is a long list of regional languages and variations, including Alsatian, Basque, Breton, Catalan, Corsican, and Occitan.
Literature: French literature is among the world's richest. Some of France's most celebrated writers are Victor Hugo, Céline, Proust, Camus, and Boris Vian. The contribution of French writers is an irreplaceable part of the world's heritage.
Midi: This is an expression for the south of France, derived from the word méridional, meaning southern.
National Symbols: Blue, white, and red are the colours of the French national flag. The national holiday is Bastille Day, commemorating the birth of the French republic at the storming of the Bastille on July 14, 1789. France is symbolized by the image of Marianne, seen on the reverse of some Euro coins. The emblem of France is the rooster.
Pets: 51% of French households have a pet. There are more pets in France than in any other country in Europe.
Provinces: France tends to divide itself socially and politically into Paris and "not Paris", also called the provinces.
Religion: 63% of French people consider themselves Roman Catholics, while 30% do not claim a religion. There are many places of worship and all religions coexist in harmony.
Sports: The French love sports. Soccer, called football in French, is one their favorites. The hosting of the 1998 World Cup in France was a matter of national pride. Two of the most popular soccer teams are Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and Olympique de Marseille (OM). Tennis and rugby are also dear to the French. The annual Tour de France is one of the most important sporting events in France, closely followed worldwide.
Television: All of France receives the public television channels France 2, France 3, Channel 5/Arté, and two privately-held stations, TF1 and M6. Additional broadcasts by cable or satellite and premium services such as Canal Plus are also available.
Wine: France has eight great wine regions: Champagne, Bourgogne, Alsace, Val de Loire, Bordeaux, Côtes du Rhône, Languedoc-Roussillon, and Provence. The French are great wine drinkers, although in recent years per capita consumption has dropped. A good bottle of wine is an indispensable part of a good meal.