Interesting & Fun Facts About France
Want to know some of the most bizarre fun facts about France? Well, this is the article for you. We have curated a small list of the top ten fun facts about France and its citizens. So stick around to know more about France and its bizarre facts.
Fun Facts About France
France is a diverse and varied country that is filled with some of the weirdest stories and legends. In celebration of these bizarre stories and fun facts, we have curated a small list of some of the best fun facts about France.
It Is The Most Visited Country
Do you know which is the most visited country in the World? Well, you guessed it right. France is the most visited country in the world. Every year, approximately 89 million people visit France to experience the magnificence of French Living. Do you know which is the most visited city in the world? You are right again. Paris, the city of love, is the most visited country in the world. In 2023 itself, around 19 million tourists visited Paris, France.
It Is Smaller Than Texas
This might come as a shock to many people. However, the whole of France is just around 547557 sq. Km, while Texas has a total acreage of around 695,662 square km. Trust me, I was in shock as well. The total size of the country is not at all suggestive of the cultural and political dominance of the country. Another fun fact about France is that it is one of the biggest countries in the European Union. Therefore, it is one of the smallest as well as the biggest countries. This makes a weird combination of parallels.
France Has The Largest Art museum
French people love art. Historians believe that France is the biggest contributor to Europe’s artistic sensibility. In fact, the Louvre Museum of Paris is the largest art museum in the world. The museum is so big that even if you spend 30 seconds looking at each installation, you would spend at least 100 days to complete it. Another fun fact about France is that French artists have created approximately 66% of the total artwork of Europe. Some of the most famous pieces of artwork involve the Mona Lisa, Raft of the Medusa, Venus de Milo, etc.
French Love Snails
French people love snails. Every year, the people of France consume approximately 25,000 tons of snails. That is a lot of snails. On average, every French citizen eats around 500 snails per year. In France, snails are called escargot. The best way to eat snails is to cook them with butter and garlic. Snails are best eaten as appetizers. In fact, if you eat snails at a restaurant, the waiter will provide you with specific utensils to crack open the shell.
France Produces 1,500 Types of Cheese
Well, 1500 different types of cheese sounds like an overkill. But trust me, french people love their cheese and baguettes. Therefore, cheese is one of the most prized possessions of the French. France is not only the largest producer of cheese but also the highest consumer of cheese. Approximately 95% of the population eats cheese on a daily basis. Some of the most famous cheese variants include Camembert de Normandie, Brie de Meaux, Reblochon, Fromage Blanc, Roquefort, and Munster. Try sampling these cheese variants at least once.
Supermarkets Do Not throw Away Food
France has specific laws when it comes to throwing away or discarding food. According to the law, French supermarket is not allowed to throw away food that is not expired. Instead, the food has to be donated to the food bank or other charity. France passed this law in 2016, and since then, several countries are trying to come up with something similar. Every year, around 45,000 pounds of food gets donated. A great initiative.
A King That Lasted 20 Minutes
A weirdly interesting fun fact about France is that it had a king that only lasted for 20 minutes. This is one of the shortest reigns by any monarch. Louis XIX of France only lasted for 20 minutes on the throne. The reason behind such a short reign is still not understood, but it is one of the most fun trivia about France.
The French Army Invented Camouflage
It was the French Army who invented camouflage. The French Army invented camouflage during the height of WWI. The French army specifically hired artists to paint their guns, vehicles, and uniforms. After about a year since the French army adopted camouflage, several other countries came up with their own variation of camouflage.
Do Not Turn A Baguette Upside Down
While nobody knows why, the French believe that it is unlucky to place a baguette or any other form of bread upside down on the table is unlucky. Sources suggest that this belief dates back to the Middle Ages and never really went away. It is believed that bakers would often hang a piece of bread upside down for the executioner to pick up after he was done for the day. As a result, the belief has persisted over the years. The belief is so prominent that you can not put baguettes or any other piece of bread upside down in a public space. If you do, people will come up to you and ask you to fix it.
Tour De France Is 100 Years Old
Our most beloved cycling race, Tour De France, is at least 100 years old. While nobody would have guessed it, Tour De France has been on since 1903. Ever since its inception, the race has gone on to become one of the most prestigious bicycle races in the country. It is also one of the longest races in the world. The race lasts for 23 years and covers more than 3383 kilometers.
The End Note.
Well, we have finally reached the very end of our list, exploring ten fun facts about France. While some are downright bizarre, others are actually interesting. Either way, next time you visit France, you can have some great points to have a conversation with the locals.
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