Fun Facts About France | Things You Didn't Know!

France is the land where baguettes are crispy, the wine flows, and fashion is always chic. But did you know that France has so much more to offer than just the clichés?

We’ve gathered some really fun facts about France from our own experiences and those of other travelers.

Tourism: France is the most visited country in the world. Yep, 85 million tourists a year! That’s more people than the country’s population.
UNESCO World Heritage: With 48 UNESCO World Heritage sites, 44 in mainland France and 4 overseas, there’s always something special to discover. Every place feels like a museum on its own.
The Louvre: And then there’s the Louvre, the most visited museum in the world. With its iconic glass pyramid standing as a beacon of culture over Paris.
Nobel Prize for Literature: France has more Nobel Prize winners for literature than any other country. It’s like they breathe literature there.
Minister of Gastronomy: Did you know that France has an official “Minister of Gastronomy”? No wonder French cuisine is so legendary.
Electrical Outlets: The plugs are type C and E. So you do need a travel adapter for France.
Poisson d’Avril: On April 1st, people try to stick paper fish on each other’s backs. French humor at its finest.
Croissant: Surprise! The croissant isn’t even French. It was imported from Austria, where it was originally called a kipferl.

French Fries: French fries are actually not French, but come from the French-speaking part of Belgium. They do taste better when you eat them in Paris though.
Cheese Varieties: Over 400 types of cheese are produced in France. That’s enough to try a different cheese every day of the year and still have some left over.
Wine: The most expensive bottle of wine in the world, Domaine Leroy Musigny Grand Cru, can cost around $23,000. One sip and your bank account is empty.
Michelin Star: France is the home of the Michelin star, the holy grail for any chef.
Les Bleus: The nickname for the French national soccer team, “Les Bleus”, has become synonymous with passion and fighting spirit.
European Championship: They have won the European Championship twice, in 1984 and 2000.
Semi-presidential Republic: France is a semi-presidential republic, where the president has more power than the prime minister. A political dynamic that leads to unique situations.
2015 Attacks: After the 2015 attacks, soldiers patrol busy places in France to combat terrorism. Safety first.
Climate Zones: France has four different climate zones: temperate maritime, semi-continental, Mediterranean, and mountain climate. Something for everyone, from sun worshippers to snow lovers.
Trees: More than 140 different tree species grow in France, from majestic oaks to graceful palm trees.
Mont Blanc: France shares the highest mountain in Western Europe, Mont Blanc, with Italy. A mountain that must be climbed.
Thermal Expansion: The Eiffel Tower grows about 6 inch taller during the summer due to thermal expansion. Even icons grow in the sun.
Statue of Liberty: The Statue of Liberty was a gift from France to the United States. Friendship cast in copper.
Baguette: Laws in France prescribe the exact length of a baguette, which is between 21,5 and 25,5 inch. Yes, even the breadsticks are regulated.

Homing Pigeons: The French army still uses carrier pigeons as an emergency communication method. Old-school reliability in a modern world.
No Stop Signs: There are no stop signs in the entire city of Paris, except for one that mysteriously disappeared in 2012. A city that is always on the move.
Marriage with a Deceased Person: It is legal in France to marry a deceased person, provided the French president approves. Love knows no boundaries, not even death.
Road Network: France has an extensive road network of almost a 620,000 miles, of which 17,500 miles are highways.
Paris-Charles de Gaulle: Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport is the largest airport in France with around 70 million passengers a year. A busy hub where the world comes together under one roof.
Lumière Brothers: The Lumière brothers showed the first film in history in Paris in 1895. It was the beginning of an art form that would change the world.
Airbus: Airbus, one of the largest aircraft manufacturers in the world, has its roots in France.
Perfume Industry: The perfume industry in France dates back to the Middle Ages, and famous brands like Chanel and Dior started in the 1920s. France is a pioneer in fragrance and elegance.
Wine Export: France is one of the world’s largest wine exporters, with regions like Bordeaux, Burgundy, and Champagne synonymous with quality and tradition.
Ban on Kissing: In 1910, a French law prohibited couples from kissing on train platforms to prevent overcrowding. A law that says more about French passion than about the crowd.