Facts About France – It’s Not All About the Eiffel Tower
Besides being home to the Eiffel Tower, there may be few facts about France that are common knowledge to many Americans. France is a major player on the world stage, and they have long been a friend to the United States.
A couple historical facts about France you may not know:
> The French army played a major role in helping America win the Revolutionary War.
> The Statue of Liberty was a gift to the American people from the people of France in 1886.
And here are a few more interesting facts about France:
France is on the continent of Europe, and it is part of the European Union. To the east, France is bordered by Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, Switzerland, Italy and Monaco. The Countries of Andorra and Spain border France to the west. The Atlantic Ocean also borders the west coast of France. To the north is the English Channel, and to the south the Mediterranean Sea.
Besides the waters found on its coastline, there are a few large rivers in France, including the Loire, France’s largest river, the Seine, which carves its way through the middle of Paris, and the Rhone, which also flows through Switzerland.
France is the most visited country in the world. Obviously Paris, the capital of France, is the most popular French destination, but there is more to France than the City of Light. There is the luscious Loire River Valley, with its lush landscape and tempting wines, and the beautiful beaches of the South of France are a summer haven to the world’s rich and famous.
Many don’t realize that France is home to the Alps, and the tallest point in Western Europe, Mont Blanc, is shared by both France and Italy. So Switzerland is not the only European country to offer fresh Alpine air and world-class skiing.
A most unique opportunity exists high in the French Alps, where you can board a sky ride in France and enjoy breathtaking views during an hour-long journey that ends in Italy.
The official language of France is French. The population of the entire country is just under 65 million people. The officially currency of France is the Euro, which is also the official currency of the European Union.
> Nearly 400 different types of cheese that come from France.
> France’s TGV train is the fastest moving train on the planet.
> France is connected to England by the Channel Tunnel, also known as the Chunnel, which joins the two countries via a train that travels under the English Channel.
> The Louvre Museum, in Paris, is the largest museum in the world. It played a major role in the feature film, “The DaVinci Code,” and it is home to the Mona Lisa.