Describing a country

Geographical information

 France is known as L'Hexagone

The French affectionately refer to their country as “L’Hexagone” ("the hexagon"), due to its geometrical
shape. Of course, the hexagon only covers the mainland – let’s not forget Corsica and France’s overseas
territories!

 France is the largest country in the EU

France has a land area of 547,000 square kilometers, making it the largest country in the EU.

 The Name “France” Isn’t French

Ironically, the name France is technically not French. France is actually from a Germanic tribe and the
original name was actually Frank. This word meant “free” which is why it was chosen for this beautiful,
progressive country.

The original name of France was Gaul, however, when the Germanic barbarian tribe destroyed the
Gauls, the name France came into existence. This tribe was called Frank, hence the name of the free
tribe which now owned France.

Culture
 The Tour de France cycle race has been running for over 100 years

The world’s most prestigious cycling race was first held in 1903. It has run every year since, save for the
two world wars. In 2020, the race was delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic – but it still went
ahead!

 The camera phone was invented in France

That’s right, the camera phone was invented in France in 1997 by an enterprising Parisian called Philippe
Kahn - a very surprising France fact. The first photo he took was of his new-born daughter, Sophie, which
he sent to his family and friends.

 France has won the most Nobel prizes for literature

Since French writer Sully Prudhomme won the first ever Nobel Prize for Literature in 1903, the country
has taken the accolade a further fourteen times (the USA and Great Britain come in second with twelve
prizes apiece). The winning writers include Jean-Paul Sartre, who won the prize in 1967 but declined it.
He described his reasons for declining the prize as being both “personal and objective”.

 Women Are Finally Legally Allowed To Wear Pants

While this law was not actually enforced consistently, Paris, France was a little behind on the women’s
empowerment movement. This was probably because no one in France truly paid attention to it
anymore, but just the same, the law needed to be updated!

According to the law, women needed to gain permission from the local police if they wanted to “dress
like a man” and wear trousers. Thankfully, in 2013, the French government overturned this very
outdated law and now, Parisian women are free to wear whatever they want.

Foodie facts
 Turning a baguette upside down is unlucky

There are a number of different origin stories linked to this French superstition, but the most likely dates
back to medieval times. When an execution was scheduled in town, legend has it the executioner
himself would not have time to pop to the bakery before work. The baker would therefore reserve his
loaf by turning the bread upside down. Thus, turning a baguette on its head came to be associated with
death and misfortune – and the superstition lives on.

 It is illegal to throw out food in France

It's time to dazzle your recycling-loving friends with this fun fact about France! It seems fitting that a
country that loves food as much as France should be the first to pass a law making throwing away good
food illegal. As of 2016, any unsold but edible food must be donated rather than thrown away, or you
could come up against the long arm of the law.

 The average French citizen eats 500 snails each year

Snails – or escargots – are a popular French delicacy, traditionally served as an hors-d’oeuvre with garlic
butter. If you’ve mastered snails, move on to frog’s legs!

 There are over 400 kinds of cheese made in France

Move over, snails. The French are the highest consumers of cheese on the planet, with almost half the
population eating the stuff on a daily basis. And that means hundreds of different types of cheese
produced on home soil, with some seriously good produce.

 The French consume 11.2 billion glasses of wine per year

Wine is the tipple of choice in France, accounting for almost sixty percent of the country’s total alcohol
consumption. The population’s penchant for a glass (or two) of wine might have something to do with
the fact that France is one of the world’s biggest wine producers, creating some of the best varieties on
Earth. Champagne, Burgundy and Chablis, for instance, are all home-grown.

Now, tell the class about your hometown 