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France
like other European
nations, is a phenomenon born out of conscious striving rather than
from the natural affinity of its parts. Conflict has characterized it
throughout its history. Read this Extract |
Eiffel Tower
On its completion in 1889, the Tower of Eiffel
was, at 300m, the
tallest building in the world. At the time, it incited some violent
reactions. [1]. Read
Eiffel Paris |
Arc de Triomphe
"The Arc de Triomphe is 2.2km
north west of place de la Concorde in the middle
of place Charles de Gaulle (also known as place
de I'Etoile), the world's largest Read
Arc De Triomphe Paris |
Main Land Region
French is blessed with fertile soil and a pleasant climate.
A great diversity of land forms exist: snow capped mountain
ranges, broad plains, dense forests, windblown seacoasts, Read Geography |
History: Early Settlers, The Middle Ages,
Two themes
dominate French history. One is the drive to forge a unified nation out
of diverse peoples; the second is the quest for glory. French
wanted, and still wants, to embody
Read History |
Impressionism
The
word impressionists was first used mockingly by a
journalist to
describe a painting by Claude Monet in 1874 entitled Impression:
Sunrise. Many artists recognized their style in
Read Impressionism |
French People: Napoleon Bonaparte
The Reign of Terror came to an end in 1799 when a brilliant
young general named Napoleon Bonaparte arrived in Paris
determined to restore order. A great politician and popular
leader,
Read People |
French
Language, Literature, Culture
Because It
was once a strong colonial power, many countries in Africa and
Indochina still use French as an official language. Since 1986, French
speaking countries
Read French Language, Culture |
Louvre Museum
"The vast Palais du Louvre
was constructed around 1200 as a fortress and rebuilt in the mid 16th
century for use as a royal palace. It began its career as a public
museum in 1793.
Read Louvre |
Mont Saint Michel
An isolated piece of granite rises out of the sea. This island stands
at the mouth of the river Couesnon and lies on the border between
Brittany
Read Mont Saint Michel |
Notre Dame Cathedral
"The Cathedral of
Our Lady of Paris
, is the true heart of Paris,
NotreDame is not only a
masterpiece of French
Gothic architecture,
Read this Extract |
Musee d'Orsay Paris
Close to the Musee Maillol
on the riverfront, in a former railway station whose stone facade
disguises a huge vault of steel and glass, is the Musee
d'Orsay,
Read Musee d'Orsay |
Language
Because France
was once a strong colonial power, many countries in Africa and
Indochina still use French as an
official language. Since 1986, French speaking
countries have come
Read Language |
French River, Climate, Flora and Fauna
France's important rivers include the Loire, the Seine, the Rhone, the Garonne,
the Rhine, the Somme, the Saone,
and the Marne. The Loire is the longest french river entirely
Read this Extract |
The Search for Stable Government
After Napoleon's defeat, Austrian, Prussian, Russian, French and
British delegates reorganized Europe during
the Congress of Vienna (1814-1815) and restored the French borders
Read this Extract |
Arts
The early nineteenth century witnessed the musical
genius of Hector Berlioz and Chopin. The inventor of modern
orchestration, Berlioz's works sparked a musical rebirth in
France.
Read this Extract |
Perfume
The perfume industry in France has flourished since King
Louis XIV's reign. The Sun King and his courtiers did not take
much care of their personal hygiene.
Read this Extract |
Food
Each region in France has its food specialties, based on the produce available. In general, the cuisine of the north
uses butter and dairy products, while southern dishes
Read this Extract |
Fish Recipe: Mullet with a Mustard Crust
Nothing could be easier than this fish recipe, Rouget a la Moutarde, but it is important
that the fish is fresh from the sea to retain that perfect flavour.
Read this Extract |
