FAQs
It is Europe's most important agricultural producer and one of the world's leading industrial powers. France is among the globe's oldest nations, the product of an alliance of duchies and principalities under a single ruler in the Middle Ages.
What is the full name of France? ›
France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. It also includes overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans, giving it one of the largest discontiguous exclusive economic zones in the world.
What are the old names for France? ›
Gallia and Gaul
Before being named France, the land was called Gaul (Latin: Gallia; French: Gaule). This name continued to be used even after the beginning of the reign of the Franks' Kings Clovis I, Charles Martel, Pepin the Short, and Charlemagne.
What are 3 famous things of France? ›
France is renowned for its iconic landmarks such as the Eiffel Tower, Louvre Museum, Notre-Dame Cathedral, and Palace of Versailles. It is also famous for its exquisite cuisine, fine wines, fashion houses, and picturesque countryside dotted with charming villages and vineyards.
What is France unique for? ›
France is one of the oldest nations on Earth and the most ethnically diverse country in Europe. These deep and broad influences have made France a world leader throughout history in different aspects of culture, including cuisine, philosophy, music, art, film, fashion, literature and sport.
Why France is very famous? ›
Renowned for its iconic landmarks, picturesque landscapes, and long legacy, France has a unique place globally. With its proud heritage as the birthplace of legendary artists such as Leonardo da Vinci, Claude Monet, and Vincent van Gogh, the country stands as a living testament to the evolution of art and creativity.
What do French people call themselves? ›
Yes, the French call themselves "les Français." In French, this is the most common name for the French people.
What does France call Christmas? ›
In France, Santa is called Père Noël (pronounced Peh-r No-eh-l), literally 'Father Christmas. ' As you may have guessed, the word for 'Christmas' is Noël, and it's named after the Saint who is celebrated on December 25. Back before Père Noël became the symbol of Christmas, the French celebrated Saint Nicolas.
Why is Paris called Paris? ›
The name Paris is derived from its early inhabitants, the Parisii, a Gallic tribe from the Iron Age and the Roman period. The meaning of the Gaulish ethnonym remains debated. According to Xavier Delamarre, it may derive from the Celtic root pario- ('cauldron').
What was Paris called before Paris? ›
Beginning in 305 AD, the name Lutetia was replaced on milestones by Civitas Parisiorum, or "City of the Parisii". By the period of the Late Roman Empire (the 3rd-5th centuries AD), it was known simply as "Parisius" in Latin and "Paris" in French.
Notably, in German, France is still called Frankreich, which literally means "Reich (empire) of the Franks". In order to distinguish it from the Frankish Empire of Charlemagne, France is called Frankreich, while the Frankish Empire is called Frankenreich.
What is a French wealthy last name? ›
That said, upper class French surnames often start with "du" or "de". Off the top of my head, some of these are: Devereaux, Dupont, Dubois, Du Hamel, DuPlessis, and Deschanel. Others are Beaumont, Lafayette and Bourgeois.
