Official Name: The French Republic
Population: 64 million
Capital City: Paris
Time Difference: France is +1 GMT, so it is 6 hours ahead of the east coast and 9 hours ahead of the west coast.
National Anthem: La Marseillaise
National Bird: Gallic Rooster
National Currency: Euro
National Flower: Lily
Sports: Whether it’s participating or cheering on their favorite team, the French love their sports! After all, the famed cycling race, the Tour de France, takes place every year in the country. The most popular sport amongst the masses is football, or soccer, and the national team won the World Cup in 1998. Other favorite sports include rugby, skiing, basketball, parkour, sailing, and tennis. Needless to say, if you ever find yourself without anything to do, go out and catch a game!
Geography: France is located in Western Europe and shares borders with Andorra, Belgium, Germany, Italy, Luxemburg, Monaco, Spain, and Switzerland. The geography consists mostly of flat plains and rolling hills, but the Alps in the east and the Pyrenees in the south provide high mountain ranges. The different regions of France experience different climates throughout the year. Paris will be hot and humid in summer and rainy in the winter. In Avignon, you will need an umbrella as rain is common throughout the year, but overall temperatures are pleasant and mild. Sunshine abounds in Aix en Provence, but breezes will cool down the region in the evening.
Famous People: Claude Monet (artist), Claude-Achille Debussy (composer), Gerard Depardieu (actor), Victor Hugo (author), Louis Vuitton (fashion designer), and André the Giant (wrestler and actor).
Great Movies: La Cage Aux Folles; Diva; Cyrano de Bergerac; Amèlie; Entre les murs; Le Roi de Coeur.