France Overview
Country Profile
Known as the most romantic country, France is located in Western Europe, called the French Republic. An area of almost 551,600 square kilometers. Population of 61.7 million, mainly for the French national people, ethnic minorities have Alsace, Brittany, Corsica and so on. Residents are Catholic teaching. French is spoken. Currency is the euro. Capital of Paris (Paris).
France National Flag
From left to right, the French flag has three blue, white and red vertical stripes. This ‘tricolor’ flag was the symbol of French Revolution because the three colors represent freedom, equality and fraternity.
History Summary
In the fifth century, the Franks established the Frankish kingdom. In 843, the country became an independent state. The 17th and 18th centuries saw the reign of Louis XIV and the heyday of the feudal society. On July 14, 1789, there was the outbreak of the bourgeois revolution when the rebels captured the Bastille. Since then, the Republic has established a five once and the two empires. In May 1871, the Paris commune was suppressed. After 1958, de Gaulle established the Fifth Republic. After World War II, owing to the national independence movement, the majority of French colonies gained independence, and the rest was divided into French overseas departments and territories.
Eiffel Tower
The highest building in Paris, the Eiffel Tower is 320.7 m high, has 1,710 steps and weighs 9,000 tons. Designed by the French bridge engineer Gustav Eiffel, it was built to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the French bourgeoisie. Looked at from one side, it looks like an upside down letter “Y.” From the tower, visitors can see the church spire outside the Chatelet tower 96 km southeast of Paris as well as the city other famous landmarks such as the Arc de Triomphe, Champs Elysees and Notre Dame. It has become the most famous Paris attraction.
Napoleon Bonaparte
A most remarkable 19th century French general. Aged 24, he commanded of the Revolutionary army’s siege of Toulon. In 1796, as the army chief, he used his office as bait to destroy the fortress of Mantua large Austrian army, winning a victory in the Battle of interest in Buddhism, he was sent to Egypt, and Muslim prisoners war. In 1798, after the second coalition with France, he hurried back to France to seize power, so that he would arrogate a military and political power to gain freedom. In 1813, the coalition forces defeated Potui in the Battle of Leipzig. In 1815, he returned to Paris and retook the throne. After failure in the Battle of Waterloo, he was exiled to St. Helena and died on the island in 1821.
Economy and Culture Overview
France is western Europe’s largest agricultural producer and is in the world’s top five producers of soybeans, wheat and rapeseed. It has a large iron and steel industry, while the automobile industry is one of the pillars of French industry. Renault, Citroen, Peugeot and others are world-famous enterprises. France is also known for its perfume and clothing industries, and is “the world’s fashion capital” with Pierre Cardin, Chanel and other famous fashion brands.
France’s grape production ranks second in the world, and brandy and champagne are the representatives of French wine. The French drink interesting wine and eat different foods, and have many traditional combinations such as red wine with beef, white wine with seafood and brandy after dinner.
Paris, Lyon and Glasgow are the three major spice production centers in France, and export 25% of the world’s spices. Early human spice industry mainly essence extracted from plants, and now organic chemicals can be synthesized simply does not exist in nature but is a very pleasant odor.
In France, the most popular respect for women’s fashion, the so-called “chivalry.” Men and women to meet, the man reached out to other women only after corresponding grip. By car with men and women, the women make after the first on the next.
Notre Dame
This gothic church was built in the 12th century and is located on the banks of the River Seine in Paris. Notre Dame can accommodate 9,000 worshipers. Both inside and outside many homes are decorated with exquisite carvings. Three great windows are still preserved with 13th century mosaics of stained glass. The French writer Victor Hugo’s novel Notre Dame de Paris uses this distinguished building as the background of the story.
Mona Lisa oil painting
Mona Lisa is the Italian Renaissance artist up • Vinci created in 1503-1506 years, oil painting, which depicts a young girl, charming smile, shows a quiet, serene happiness. Smiling woman painting known as the eternal smile. This painting depicts is said Francisco • Germany • La Gioconda’s wife.
Arc de Triomphe
This is located in the broad square at the end of the Champs Elysees. Extending in all directions from Charles de Gaulle Square, there are 17 boulevards. The magnificent Arc de Triomphe, built in 1836, stands in the square on top of the central island. It has only one arch hole for the barrel vault, and its size exceeds the Constantine Arch in Rome (50 m in height, 45 m wide). Each face is engraved with huge relief, the most famous and most beautiful one is described in 1792 set off the scenes of the volunteer, this masterpiece called “La Marseillaise.” Napoleon’s great victory celebration scenes were carved in relief at the top of the site in another location, at the top of the shield-shaped ornaments engraved with the name of each battle.
Palace of Versailles
This is located in the town of Versailles, has a construction area of 110,000 square kilometers and is representative of classical western architecture. It has more than 700 rooms, of which the “mirror room” is lined with 483 full-length mirrors, reflecting light and shadow changes within the hall. The palace has 100 million square meters of gardens, a garden fountain and more than 1,400 ornate statues.
Louvre
Located in the heart of Paris, the Louvre is the world-renowned art gallery. It houses the world’s most extensive collection of paintings and sculptures with over 400,000 exhibits divided into many categories and varieties and including works from ancient Egypt, Greece, Etruria and Rome. There is medieval to modern sculptures as well as an alarming number of royal curios and paintings. The Louvre is divided into six parts: Greek and Roman Art, Egyptian Art, Oriental Art, the painting museum, sculptures and the decorative Museum of Art. The most famous “palace treasures” are the “Venus de Milo,” Nika” and the “Mona Lisa.”
France Map
