So many people think that Napoléon Bonaparte was short but in reality, at 5’7″, he was 2″ taller than the average height for adult males at the time. He did however, ensure that his bodyguards were both taller and broader than him, thus giving rise to […]
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In terms of land area, covering 247,367 square miles, France is the largest country in the European Union. L’Hexagone has over 2000 miles of coastline, with access to the Atlantic ocean, the Mediterranean sea, and the English Channel. In 2013, almost 85 million tourists visited France, […]
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Before the rest of the world had the Internet, France had Minitel. The service was launched in 1978, and allowed users to pay their bills, shop, buy train tickets, and check stock prices online. Users also had online mailboxes, and could chat to each other. Sound […]
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While much has been made of the fact that the palace of Versailles had few toilets when it was built, the reality was that they simply were not needed. Guests would bring their own commodes, and chamber pots would be used too. That’s not to say […]
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During WWII, the Great Mosque of Paris was used as a refuge for Algerian and European Jews, hiding from Nazi persecution. As well as shelter, Islamic cleric, and founder of the Great Mosque, Si Kaddour Benghabrit, provided Jews with fake muslim birth certificates to keep them […]
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The Tchankats were French shepherds whose flocks would wander through the foggy marshes of Landes. They needed a way to prevent trench foot, avoid venomous snakes, and be able to keep an eye on their charges. They invented stilts. And as if that isn’t cool enough, […]
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Did you know that nearly 20% of the territory of France lies outside Europe? These regions are known as “DOM-TOM” (overseas departments and territories), and over 2.5 million French citizens live there… unsurprising when you consider that France used to control in excess of 8% of […]
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Before the advent of railway, rivers were the main transportation routes in France. France is home to 24 rivers which exceed 300 km in length, whereas Italy and Britain only have four and two, respectively. So important were these waterways, that out of the 95 metropolitan […]
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French fries are not French. Nor are French toast, French dressing, and French fried onions (French is the name of the fried onion company). And that’s not all; quiche, croissants, parfait, tarte flambée, and baguettes are not technically French either. Kilts, on the other hand, are […]
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Le Procope opened in 1686, and has been in continous operation ever since. Why not take a walk along Rue de l’Ancienne Comédie, in Paris‘ 6th arrondissement, and have a cup of coffee where so many others have done for hundreds of years? Or perhaps, A […]
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