Motto:
Liberté, Egalité, fraternité (French - "Liberty, equality, brotherhood")
Language:
French
Population:
62.3 million (UN 2009)
Brief history:
France today is a leading economic countries in the Europe. The French Revolution in 1789 ended centuries of monarch rule to establish the French Republic under renowned military leader Napoleon Bonaparte. During 20th century France endured devastating human and economic losses of World War I and World II. In 1951 France joined other European nations to lead the formation of European Economic Community (EEC) in 1957.
France is made up of 26 regions including mainland France and Corsica plus 100 departments such as French Guiana, Guadelope and Martinique that are geographically distant from Europe. France is a multicultural nation with more than 5 million Arabs and African people which from former French colonies.
"France has produced some of the continent's most influential writers and thinkers from Descartes and Pascal in the 17th century, through Rousseau and Voltaire in the 18th, Baudelaire and Flaubert in the 19th to Sartre and Camus in the 20th.
In the last two centuries it has given the art world the works of Renoir, Monet, Cezanne, Gauguin, Matisse and Braque, to name but a few. " (BBC Country Profile)
France is also famous for its strong culinary tradition. The country produces more than 250 cheeses and some of the world's best-loved wines.
French films recommended by Unieros Friend Sebastien
1. Director Claude Lelouch, "Itineraire d'un enfant gate"
2. French comedies "Camping" and "Les Ch'tis"
World Music:
Food:
Read our interview with Unieros friend Sebastien about L'apero Mensuel monthly French wine tastings in Chicago
