WHERE ARE WE? « The hexagon » as we call it, is separated from the United Kingdom by the English Channel. We can offer the tourists 3427km of beaches! Area : 543 965 km2 ;3rd largest european country after Russia and Ukraine, and 48th in the world. We have natural borders with Italy (the Alps), Switzerland (the Jura), Germany (The River Rhine) and Spain (the Pyrénées). Luxemburg and Belgium are also our neighbour countries. Population : 64 102 000 inhabitants. France is a country of mixed cultures due to its numerous immigrants from everywhere in the world and to the migration from its colonies overseas. (Corsica, Saint Pierre- et- Miquelon, French Guyana, The French West Indies (Martinique, Guadeloupe, ) Mayotte, La Réunion, in the Indian Ocean, French
Transcript
WHERE ARE WE?« The hexagon » as we call it, is separated from the United Kingdom by the English Channel. We can offer the tourists 3427km of beaches!
Area: 543 965 km2 ;3rd largest european country after Russia and Ukraine, and 48th in the world.
We have natural borders with Italy (the Alps), Switzerland (the Jura), Germany (The River Rhine) and Spain (the Pyrénées). Luxemburg and Belgium are also our neighbour countries.
Population: 64 102 000 inhabitants.
France is a country of mixed cultures due to its numerous immigrants from everywhere in the world and to the migration from its colonies overseas. (Corsica, Saint Pierre- et- Miquelon, French Guyana, The French West Indies (Martinique, Guadeloupe, ) Mayotte, La Réunion, in the Indian Ocean, French Polynesia (Tahiti), New Caledonia, Wallis and Futuna).
Regions and « départements »France is divided into 22
administrative regions.
Each region is composed of several « départements ».
Each « département » provides for local expenses.
Our region is « Languedoc-Roussillon and our « département » is « Lozère »; Langogne is north of Mende.
Our flag and symbols (1)• On the 14th July 1789 the Parisians
assaulted « La Bastille », a state prison, the symbol of despotism of the Ancient Regime.
• The high taxes imposed on them by Louis XVI triggered off the riot.
• The French flag has existed since the French Revolution: 14 July 1789.
• Our National Day, 14 July, commemorates the storming of « La Bastille ».
• « Blue and red » stand for the colours of Paris, the capital of France.
• « White » stands for monarchy.
• The bust of « Marianne » is a symbolic representation of the motherhood spirit:
healing, peaceful, nourishing and protecting. She is present in Town Halls. She also figures on coins and stamps…
Riot on 14th July 1789
Laetitia Casta, top model and actress, was the model for this « Marianne »
More symbols« Liberty, Equality, Brotherhood »: this motto is the principle of the Republic.
« The cock » symbolizes Gaule, the name given to our country before it was called « France ».It comes from the latin « gallius » which means « a cock »
« The Marseillaise », 1792: our national anthem. It is a war song for the Rhine Army.
« The Declaration of Man and Citizen’s Rights »: it was written just after the Revolution.
French « haute cuisine », high quality wines (Bordeaux, Bourgogne…) and Champagne!
