17 Interesting Facts About France And French Culture You Won’t Know

Last updated on March 18th, 2024 at 10:05 am

Ready to find out more about France with these fun facts?

I hope so because one of my favourite things about living in France is discovering the facts, stories and traditions they have. And there are plenty of interesting facts about France to keep me occupied.

The French are a superstitious lot and have some of the most random and bizarre superstitions, such as wearing clothes on Friday bringing bad luck. Don’t ask!

Anyway, I find it all rather endearing, and the more I started to research my facts, the more interesting it became.

It’s impossible to list everything I’ve found over the course of the 7+ years I’ve been living here, but I’ve gathered a few I think you’ll enjoy. 

They cover the funny and ridiculous to the cultural and historic, so let’s dive in.

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Did you know these 17 Interesting Facts About France?

It’s a standing joke with my family that when I start a conversation with, “Did you know?” I’m likely to turn into a French encyclopedia and tell them all about my latest discovery.

My Mum loves it and actively encourages me to share, but hubby, not so much. He nods in the right places and tries to arrange his face into what he thinks is an interested looking expression.

Who knows what he’s actually thinking about as I rattle off things such as the last words Marie Antoinette said before her head was chopped off. Or why they celebrate the omelette every year in Bessières.

Anyway, all that said, I’m starting off with some fun facts about France to hopefully get you smiling.

Funny Facts About France

No. 1 Being a prostitute isn’t illegal in France, but hiring one is

This little gem popped up when I was researching why Paris is called the City of Love. At the time of Napoleon III, prostitution wasn’t illegal, but it was highly regulated. It was during a big period of change in France when he instructed Baron Georges-Eugène Haussmann to modernise Paris.

He wanted the slums cleared out, and Paris rebuilt using inspiration from the architecture and styles he’d seen in England.

This meant the prostitutes in the slums were moving out into other areas of the city, and more workers were being brought in. And those workers were looking for ‘entertainment’.

The French authorities adopted a system that controlled prostitution through a system of licensing, health checks, and designated brothel areas known as “maisons closes” or “closed houses.” 

This system was based on the belief that prostitution was a necessary evil that could be managed but not eradicated.

Even today, the act of prostitution itself is not illegal. This means individuals who sell sex are not committing a crime by doing so. 

On the flip side, France has laws against purchasing sex. This shift came into effect in April 2016, when the French National Assembly passed a law penalising the clients of prostitutes. 

So, as a client of a prostitute, you could land in jail with a hefty fine, but as a prostitute, you won’t.

No. 2 There was a law stating you can’t kiss on a train station platform

In 1910 a rule was passed to prevent people from kissing on a station platform in France. It was made to address practical concerns rather than moral or social ones.

The issue was the delays and disruptions it caused in train schedules. Couples taking their time to say their farewells with prolonged kisses were causing delays.

In response to the regulation, some train stations, most famously the Gare de l’Est in Paris, designated specific areas where couples could say their goodbyes, known as “kissing zones.” They could say their farewells without worrying about breaking the law.

Nobody can tell me what would happen if you broke this particular law. Or how it was policed. But it’s no longer enforced, so no need to panic.

Facts About The History Of France

No. 3 The 100-year war lasted for more than one hundred years

It might be called The Hundred Years’ War, but that’s not how long it lasted. Despite its name, it spanned 116 years, from 1337 to 1453 and was a series of conflicts fought between England and France, along with various allies on both sides and was primarily over claims by the English monarchy to the French throne. 

The roots of the Hundred Years’ War can be traced back to the complex feudal ties and disputes over territories. The most direct cause was the claim to the French throne by Edward III of England following the death of Charles IV of France in 1328. 

According to French succession laws, the throne could not pass through the female line, which excluded Edward III, who was Charles IV’s nephew through his mother.

This led to the ascension of Philip VI, the first king of the Valois dynasty, and Edward’s subsequent claim to the throne, sparking the conflict.

And as someone who loved history, I couldn’t leave it there. The war can actually be broken down into phases, but it’s still over one hundred years, whichever way you look at it.

• The Edwardian Era (1337–1360): Early English victories, such as the Battle of Crécy and the capture of Calais.
• The Caroline War (1369–1389): Named after Charles V of France, this phase saw the French recapture much of the territory lost earlier, thanks to the leadership of Bertrand du Guesclin and the adoption of new military tactics.
• The Lancastrian War (1415–1453): This period included Henry V of England’s famous victory at Agincourt in 1415 and the subsequent Treaty of Troyes in 1420. It disinherited the French heir in favour of Henry V, marrying Charles VI’s daughter, Catherine of Valois. However, the tide turned with the rise of Joan of Arc, who played a pivotal role in lifting the Siege of Orléans in 1429, leading to Charles VII’s coronation and the gradual reconquest of English-held territories in France.

The war officially ended in 1453 with the French recapture of Bordeaux, leaving Calais as the last English possession in France, which would remain under English control until 1558. 

No. 4 France holds the record for the shortest reigning monarch

Lady Jane Grey of England only lasted nine days as ruler, but for Louis Antoine, son of  Charles X,  it was even shorter.

 – In fact, some French/English monarchs barely warmed the throne. The record for the briefest reign goes to Louis Antoine, who ascended the throne in 1830 before abdicating 20 minutes later.

He was technically king the moment his father abdicated, but he never officially ruled or performed any act as king. It’s known as The 20-Minute Reign. 

Although Louis Antoine acknowledged his father’s abdication, he knew it was futile trying to claim the throne under the circumstances, so abdicated himself in favour of his nephew, Henry, Duke of Bordeaux. 

However, given the political climate and the eventual rise of Louis-Philippe as the “Citizen King” of the July Monarchy, neither Louis Antoine nor his nephew would ever rule France.

No. 5 French wasn’t an official language in France until 1539

France in the Middle Ages wasn’t how we know it now. The land was split and divided, and each region had various dialects and languages, including Occitan, Breton, Basque, Franco-Provençal, and several others.

Before 1539, French was primarily confined to the Île-de-France region (around Paris), the court, and among the nobility, while various other languages and dialects dominated other regions. 

Oddly enough, from 1066, the time of William the Conqueror, French was the main language spoken in England until the end of the 14th Century. 

A lot of this was down to my favourite lady, Eleanor of Aquitaine, who, along with Henry II, her second husband, ensured the French language was predominant. Both of them hailed from France, and Richard the Lionheart spent more time in France than he did in England when he was king.

The Evolution of French

• Latin Roots: The French language, originally a dialect known as Old French, evolved from the Latin spoken by the Roman legions and settlers in Gaul.
• Old French: By the 9th century, the Latin spoken in what is now France had evolved significantly, giving rise to what linguists call Old French, which was used in various regions in differing dialects.
• Middle French: Around the 14th century, the language evolved into Middle French, which saw a standardisation of sorts, especially in legal and administrative documents.

The Ordinance of Villers-Cotterêts (1539)

In 1539 the Ordinance of Villers-Cotterêts was issued by King Francis I of France. This ordinance is often cited as a turning point for the French language for several reasons:

• Legal Status: The ordinance mandated the use of French in all judicial and administrative documents, replacing Latin. This was a significant move towards the formalisation and standardisation of French, as it required legal and governmental affairs to be conducted in a language that was accessible to a broader segment of the population.
• Spread of French: While the ordinance did not instantly make French the spoken language across all of France, it significantly increased the importance and prestige of French. It laid the groundwork for the centuries that followed.

Random Facts About France

No. 6 The Parisians hated the Eiffel Tower when it was first built

When the Eiffel Tower was completed in 1889 for the Exposition Universelle (World’s Fair), marking the centennial celebration of the French Revolution, it was not popular. It faced significant criticism from many Parisians, especially the city’s artistic and intellectual elite. 

Many Parisians considered the Eiffel Tower an eyesore that clashed with the traditional architectural landscape of Paris. The tower’s iron lattice structure was a stark departure from the stone facades and ornate detailing that defined the city’s aesthetic.

Many prominent artists and intellectuals of the time voiced their opposition to the tower, viewing it as an industrial blight on the city’s skyline.

A group of leading figures, including Charles Gounod, Guy de Maupassant, and Alexandre Dumas fils, penned a letter of protest known as “The Artists’ Protest” to the newspaper Le Temps. They called the tower “useless and monstrous,” claiming it overshadowed Paris’s historic monuments with its “barbaric mass.”

It was only ever intended to be temporary and was supposed to be dismantled after 20 years, but it ended up being popular, despite the initial backlash. Oh, how fickle the public can be because the Parisians wouldn’t be without it now.

No. 7 France is home to more then 45K Chateaux

How are there 45,000 Chateaux in France? This number just sends me into a French history frenzy. If I could, I’d visit all of them, and I’m certainly doing my best. It’s one of my favourite things to do, and a tour of the Loire Valley is on my list.

I’ve seen some stunning chateaux in the Charente, and I’m lucky enough to live just twenty minutes away from two of them.

I’ve also toured some of the wine chateaux in Bordeaux too.

Many of the earliest châteaux were built as fortified castles in the medieval period. These structures were primarily designed for defence against invaders and often feature thick walls, moats, and towers. 

During the Renaissance, French châteaux evolved to become symbols of wealth and power, focusing more on elegance and comfort. Architectural styles shifted to include ornate decorations, elaborate gardens, and an emphasis on symmetry and proportion.

The 17th and 18th centuries saw the emergence of classical styles, with the Palace of Versailles being the most famous example. 

No. 8 The nickname for France is “L’Hexagone”

When you look at a map of France, its borders roughly sketch out a hexagon. To the north, it borders Belgium and Luxembourg; to the northeast, Germany; to the east, Switzerland and Italy; to the southeast, Monaco and the Mediterranean Sea; to the south, Spain and Andorra; to the west, the Atlantic Ocean; and to the northwest, the English Channel. This distinctive shape has made “L’Hexagone” a convenient shorthand for the country.

No. 9 France is the most visited country in the world

To be honest, I’m not surprised that France has more visitors than any other country worldwide. I mean, you just have to look at the cities, the culture and the history to see why.

Granted, most of those tourists don’t come to the Charente, and quite frankly, I’m relieved as I like it the way it is and not teaming with visitors.

It’s home to some of the best bread in the world. It has more cheese than you can shake a stick at, over 400 different ones. And don’t get me started on the wine.

Cultural Facts About The French

No. 10 The ‘Coq’ is a national emblem in France

I love this fact because I live in ‘Chez Le Coq’, which always makes my friends snigger, so childish. But it’s a fact I’m proud of. So much so, everyone in Chez Le Coq has their own version of a cockerel and mine is above.

And just like me, the Gallic Rooster is a symbol of vigilance and bravery. 

Apparently, this is because roosters crow at dawn, symbolising the start of a new day and the dispelling of darkness and uncertainty. I like to think of myself as doing the same with this blog, bringing a little sunshine and sparkle into your day. Just like the Gallic Coq!

No. 11 Every region in France has a regional accent or dialect

Now this one is a biggy. And it’s not to say we don’t have dialects in England, because we do, but in France, it does my head in.

I struggle with my French, it’s no secret, and I have two lessons a week to try and help. But the dialects are a bloody nightmare.

Claude, who is the farmer at the top of our street on Chez Le Coq, has a very broad Charente accent, known locally as le patois. Luckily for me, he always talks about the weather when he sees me, which I can just about handle. 

But that isn’t the only dialect. Here’s an overview of some of the main regional accents and dialects found across France:

Northern France

Picard (Ch’timi): Spoken in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region, Picard, often affectionately known as Ch’timi, has its own distinct phonetic system. It gained nationwide recognition through the film “Bienvenue chez les Ch’tis.”

Western France

Breton: Brittany (Bretagne) has its own Celtic language, Breton (Brezhoneg), which is unrelated to French. It’s a part of the Brythonic language branch, which also includes Welsh and Cornish.

Eastern France

Alsatian: In Alsace, Alsatian, a Germanic dialect, is widely spoken. It’s closely related to Swiss German and dialects spoken in the Baden-Württemberg region of Germany.

Franco-Provençal: This language is spoken in some parts of the Rhône-Alpes region and shares features with both French and Italian.

Southern France

Occitan: Encompassing a broad area in the south, including Provence, Languedoc, and Gascony, Occitan (or langue d’oc) has several dialects such as Provençal, Gascon, and Languedocien. It’s characterised by its distinct vocabulary and pronunciation.

Catalan: In the Roussillon area, near the Spanish border, Catalan is spoken, reflecting the region’s historical ties with Catalonia.

Central France

Auvergnat: In the Auvergne region, the Auvergnat dialect of Occitan is spoken, with its own unique characteristics that distinguish it from other Occitan dialects.

No. 12 To view every single piece of art in the Louvre would take you 200 days

Now this really is a fun fact. If you were to spend just 30 seconds admiring each piece of art in the Louvre and did so for 8 hours a day without a break, it would take approximately 200 days to see everything. And this doesn’t even account for the time spent moving between exhibits.

That is some stat. But here’s a few more to blow your mind. The Louvre houses more than 380,000 objects and displays over 35,000 works of art in eight curatorial departments. 

Covering an area of 72,735 square meters (782,910 square feet) of exhibition space, the museum’s galleries stretch over several miles. Walking through all the rooms without stopping would already take several hours.

French Food Facts

No. 13 The croissant doesn’t come from France

It might be one of the first things we think about when we think of French food, but the croissant comes from Austria, not France. 

In the 17th Century, when Vienna was under siege from the Ottoman Army, the bakers heard their enemy digging underneath the city. This led to the enemies’ plans of attack being foiled, and Vienna won back the city.

To celebrate their victory, the bakers came up with a special pastry shaped like a crescent to represent the crescent on the Ottoman Army flag, and that’s where it came from.

It’s said to be Marie Antoinette who brought the delicacy with her when she came from Austria to France to marry the Dauphin. She was so homesick when she first arrived that she asked the chefs in the Palace of Versailles to make her some kipferl, the Austrian name for crescent, and so the croissant came to France.

No. 14 Macarons weren’t invented in a French patisserie

Macarons, traditionally associated with French patisseries, actually have their origins in Italy. The word “macaron” is derived from the Italian word “maccherone,” which means “fine dough.” 

The initial version of the macaron is believed to have been introduced to France by Catherine de’ Medici’s Italian pastry chefs, whom she brought with her from Italy when she married Henry II of France in the 16th century.

No. 15 There is a festival to celebrate the asparagus

The French have more food festivals than any other country I know, including one for the asparagus. Held at the end of April in Blayais if you go, you’ll see a variety of asparagus I’d never seen till I came to France, white asparagus.

I’m not actually a fan, to be honest. I’ve had them a few times and they just aren’t as nice as the green ones. 

But the fact there is a festival to celebrate all things asparagus always makes me smile. It goes on all weekend and there are cooking demonstrations, live music and more, all to celebrate the harvest of the asparagus.

No. 16 French Gastronomy was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage in 2010

The French are hugely proud of their food, as they should be and in 2010, French gastronomy was inscribed on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list.

The recognition highlights the unique cultural significance and heritage of French culinary traditions. 

And it’s not for specific dishes or ingredients but for the “gastronomic meal of the French.” They were the first country to receive this award, so it’s official French food rocks. 

No. 17 The French consume around 130,000 tons of oysters each year

Oysters are an integral part of French cuisine and culture, especially during festive seasons like Christmas and New Year, when their consumption peaks. But, annually they consume an impressive 130,000 tons.

I live not far from La Rochelle, one of the main areas for quality oysters, but I have to admit I’m not a fan. I’ve tried them in a variety of ways and can barely stomach them.

My French friend Anne thinks I’m insane and can’t get enough of them. Each to their own I guess.

Some other renowned oyster regions include Brittany, Normandy, and Arcachon Bay near Bordeaux.

Final thoughts: My Favourite French Facts

As I said at the start of this article, there are too many whacky French facts to list them all here, but this highlights a good mixture to get you started.

From traditions such as Le Chandeleur and Galette des Rois to the more sombre tradition of La Toussaint, All Saints Day, there are plenty of great facts to discover.