Homo sapiens began to inhabit Europe around 200 thousand years BC, but he died 30 thousand years ago, presumably during a period of cold weather. Around 2500 BC. The Celts came from Central Europe and settled in Gaul (French Gaul). The Celts were "iron" workers and dominated Gaul until 125 BC, while the Roman Empire began to dominate the south of France. The Greeks and Phoenicians established settlements along the Mediterranean Sea, especially at the site of modern Marseille (Marseille). Julius Caesar conquered part of Gaul in 57-52 BC, and it remained until the Roman Franks invaded in the 5th century AD.
Gaul was divided into seven provinces. The Romans feared for the population and began to force them out to avoid a threat to Roman integrity. This is why many Celts were transferred and driven out of Gaul. Many changes occurred during the course of cultural evolution in the Roman Empire, one of which was the change from Gaulish to Vernacular Latin, the similarities between one language and the other influencing the transition. Gaul has been under Roman control for centuries.
In 486, Clovis I, leader of the Franks, defeated Syagrius at Soissons, and thereafter united northern and central Gaul under his rule. Christianity in France began to develop when Clovis I adopted the Roman Catholic form of Christianity in 496. On the one hand, the reign of Clovis I brought stability and unity to France, but on the other hand it led to disunity, as Clovis I divided the territory as gifts and rewards.
Charles Martel was the first leader of the Carolingian dynasty and was responsible for expanding the Frankish kingdom and stopping the Muslim invasion. Charles was not only a military leader, but he was also a great supporter of education and the arts. During the reign of Charlemagne there was a period of Carolingian revival, but soon after his death the kingdom was divided.
Hugh Capet was elected to the throne of France, thus ending the Carolingian dynasty and beginning the Capetian dynasty. In 1066, William, Duke of Normandy invaded England and was crowned King of England on Christmas Day 1066. With the marriage of Eleanor, who was married to King Louis VII of France (French Louis VII) and married King Henry II of England (French Henry II), the western part of France came under British rule.
After death the last king Capetian dynasty Charles IV (French Charles IV), King of England Edward III ascended the throne and started the Hundred Years' War in 1337. With the help of the French peasant girl Joan of Arc, Charles VIII was victorious and drove the English back to Calais.
France became a centralized state, where an absolute monarchy was created with the doctrine of the Divine Right of Kings and the unequivocal support of the established church. The long Italian War (1494-1559) marked the beginning of early modern France. When Francis I was captured in Pavia, the French monarchy was forced to look for allies, and found Ottoman Empire. The Ottoman Admiral Barbarossa captured Nice on August 5, 1543 and handed it over to Francis I. In the 16th century, the Spanish and Austrian Habsburgs were the dominant power in Europe, controlling several duchies and kingdoms throughout Europe. Despite this, French became the preferred language of the European aristocracy.
IN early XVI century, Francis I strengthened the French crown. He also invited many Italian artists to France, such as Leonardo da Vinci, who was an Italian polymath: scientist, architect, mathematician, engineer, inventor, anatomist, engineer, painter, sculptor, musician and writer . Their influence guaranteed success in the Renaissance style.
From 1562 to 1598 there was an increase in the number of Protestants, which led to a war of religions between Catholics and Protestants. Catherine de Medici (French: Catherine de Medici), Queen of France, wife of King Henry II of France, ordered on St. Day. Bartholomew's massacre of hundreds of Protestants. Henry IV, of the Bourbon dynasty, issued the Edict of Nantes (1598), granting religious toleration to the Huguenots (French Protestants).
The 17th century was a period of extravagance and power for the French monarchy. King Louis XIII (French: Louis XIII) and Cardinal Richelieu (French: Cardinal Richelieu) transformed the French feudal monarchy into an absolute monarchy. The French king most associated with this period is Louis XIV.
Also known as the Sun King, Louis XIV consolidated his power over all the local princes and lords, where he administered the complex judgment of life in his palace at Versailles. The purpose of this court of life is to maintain power over the local princes and lords and not undermine Louis's power. This period is also famous for the brilliant writers, architects and musicians who were promoted by the royal court. The extravagance of Louis XIV, expensive external wars, which weakened the government, plunged France into economic and financial crisis. Louis XIV died in 1715 and Louis XV ascended the throne. The bourgeoisie began to demand more political rights, and this became a big problem for Louis' successors.
France was the scene of many battles during french revolution in early 1789, and also created the first Republic and the period of authoritarianism of Napoleon Bonaparte (French: Napoleon Bonaparte), who successfully defended the nascent republic from the enemy, and then became first consul in 1799 and emperor in 1804. Congress of Vienna(1815) tried to restore the pre-Napoleonic order in the person of King Louis XVIII, but industrialization and the middle class, dominated by Napoleon, they demanded change, and finally Louis Philippe, the last of the Bourbons, was overthrown in 1848.
In 1852, Prince Louis Napoleon, nephew of Napoleon I, declared the Second Empire and took the throne as Napoleon III. However, Louis Napoleon was against the growing power of Prussia, and that broke out Franco-Prussian War(1870-1871), and when the war ended with his defeat and he abdicated the throne.
Thus, the monarchy in France came to an end by 1871 and the Third Republic was created. In 1889, what are now some of the most impressive and visited monuments in the entire world were built. The Eiffel Tower was built to celebrate the centenary of the French Revolution. Great and important contributions in the nineteenth century were made by impressionist paintings, art nouveau, the satirist Emile Zola and the novelist Gustave Flaubert.
First World War French troops and army suffered heavy losses, the north-east of France was turned into ruins, but despite this France gained European power. Beginning in 1919, France's goal was to keep Germany as far away from its territory as possible, and a system of border defenses and alliances was developed. But, unfortunately, this was not enough, and on May 10, 1940, at the beginning of World War II, the Nazis attacked and occupied Paris, the Italians entered into by German troops. On July 10, 1940, the Vichy Government was created. In August 1944, France was finally liberated by Allied forces, and the provisional government of Charles de Gaulle was created. The Fourth Republic was formed on December 24, 1946. France joined NATO.
But in May 1968, many violent student protests and factory strikes undermined the government of Charles de Gaulle. The following year, de Gaulle's policy was changed by his successor Georges Pompidou to a policy of non-intervention in relation to domestic economic issues. The conservative, pro-business climate contributed to the election of Valery Giscard d'Estaing as president in 1974.
On presidential elections In 1981, socialist Francois Mitterrand won. In the first two years of the government, there was 12% inflation and a devaluation of the franc. In 1995, a new president, Jacques Chirac, was elected. French leaders are increasingly linking France's future to the further development of the European Union. France is one of the founding partners of the European Union, as well as the largest site of all partners. During his tenure as president, Mitterrand emphasized the importance of European integration and advocated ratification of the Maastricht Treaty, a European economic and political union narrowly approved by French voters in September 1992. In 2002, he was re-elected for a second term.
Nicolas Sarkozy, the 23rd president of France, was elected president on May 6, 2007, replacing Jacques Chirac as head of state. In the Presidential elections on May 6, 2012, he lost to the socialist candidate Francois Hollande. Nicolas Sarkozy is preparing to nominate his candidacy in the upcoming 2017 presidential elections in France. Francois Hollande defeated Sarkozy in the second round. On May 15, 2012, he took the oath of office at the Elysee Palace, thus becoming the 24th President of France and automatically the 7th President of the Fifth French Republic.
France is a developed country with the sixth largest economy in the world. Its fundamental ideals are expressed in the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen. France is also a founding member of the United Nations and a member of the Latin Union, countries French and the Big Eight. France is one of the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, possessing the right of veto, and is also a recognized nuclear power. It is considered one of the great powers after World War II. France is the most popular international tourist destination in the world, visited annually by over 75 million foreign tourists.
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A Brief History of France
The ancestors of the modern French people were Germanic tribes Franks who lived on the banks of the Rhine in the 3rd century. However, the history of the French territory began much earlier, in the prehistoric period. Research has shown that Pithecanthropus inhabited the lands of Gaul about 1 million years ago. Over time, they were replaced by homosapiens, that is, the ancestors modern man. There is practically no information about this period.
The Celtic period in France began around the 10th century BC. and lasted for several centuries. In the 2nd century BC. The Roman era began. Since the Romans called the Celts Gauls, the country began to be called Gaul. Gaul occupied vast territories, from the Atlantic Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea. With the arrival of the Romans, the Latin language and Roman way of life came into use, but Celtic culture and art survived.
In the middle of the 5th century, the power of the Roman governors weakened, Early Middle Ages. During this period, France broke up into dozens of small kingdoms. The Rhine region was ruled by the Burgundians, the Franks in the north, and Roman rule still remained in the east. Unity in the country was achieved only under Charles I. This ruler was called the Great during his lifetime. IN 800 year he was elected emperor of the Roman Empire. Unfortunately, after his death, his descendants began to fight for the inheritance, which greatly weakened Western Europe.
The Late Middle Ages began in the 12th century, a controversial era for the French people. On the one hand, it was a time of heyday for art, poetry, and architecture, but on the other hand, serious crises were observed. Thus, in the 14th century, plague epidemics broke out everywhere, and the Hundred Years' War with England began. However, the strife in the country did not end after this war. During the reign of the Valois dynasty, clashes began between Catholics and Huguenots, ending with the Night of St. Bartholomew 24 August 1572. That night, about 30 thousand people died in the massacre of the Huguenots.
After Valois, the Bourbons came to power. The first king from this dynasty was Henry IV (1589-1610). During his reign, a law on religious tolerance was adopted. Cardinal Richelieu, who had actual power during the time of Louis XIII, did a lot for the good of the country. He managed to raise the prestige of France in Europe. The following rulers significantly weakened the country's economy through wars and thoughtless amusements. As a result, a revolution began in the country, the result of which was a coup 1799 of the year. From this moment the period of Napoleon's reign began. After conducting several successful and then failed military campaigns, he was overthrown.
WITH 1814 The period of restoration of the monarchy began. First Louis XVIII came to power, then Charles X, and after him Louis Philippe d'Orléans. In the middle of the 19th century, another revolution took place, after which power passed to the Provisional Government. This change of rulers occurred until France received the status of a republic for the fifth time and appointed General de Gaulle as president. (1959-1969). It was he who was involved in liberating the country from the German occupiers and restoring economic balance.
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France, official name French Republic. France is a country in the west of the Eurasian continent in Western Europe.
The capital of France is the city of Paris. In the west, France is washed by the Atlantic Ocean with its seas and bays and straits. In the west by the Bay of Biscay, in the northwest by the Celtic Sea, in the north by the English Channel. In the south, the French shores are washed by warm Mediterranean Sea. The territory of France is 547,030 sq. km, with overseas and dependent territories 674,685 sq. km. France ranks 48th in the world by area, 3rd in Europe and first in Western Europe. In the south-west, France borders on Spain and Andorra, in the east on Monaco, Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Luxembourg and Belgium.
In the north, France, divided by the English Channel, borders Great Britain. Administratively, France is divided into the metropolis (the continental part of the state), and overseas possessions and dependent territories belonging to France.
Administrative divisions of France:
The cities of Paris have 20 arrondissements, Marseille 16, and Lyon 9 arrondissements.
Paris, as the capital of France, is a separate department and consists of a single commune.
The overseas regions of France (Guadeloupe, Martinique, French Guiana, Reunion, Mayotte) consist of a single department.
The island of Corsica, which is also a separate region, includes 2 departments and has a special status as an administrative-territorial entity, different from other regions of the metropolis (continental France). It has independent governing bodies that are not subordinate to the center.
In 2003, a referendum on the unification of the two departments of Corsica failed. All these regions are part of the European Union.
Regions of continental (Metropolitan) France:
Overseas regions:
France is a highly developed European country with a high standard of living, a successful population and one of the world leaders in economic, scientific, technical, industrial, educational and humanitarian fields.
France has an important political and economic importance both in the world and in Europe. In Europe, France has the second largest economy after Germany. France is a nuclear power with both nuclear capabilities and delivery systems nuclear weapons. France is a member of the UN and is one of the five permanent members of the UN with veto rights. France, with its developed economy, is also one of the most important members of the EU.
France is also a space power, having its own spaceport in French Guiana from which it launches its rockets.
Also in French Guiana in joint cooperation An additional Russian-French launch complex is being built with Russia for joint launches of Russian missiles. Along with all the scientific, technical, industrial and political-economic achievements, France has unique cultural and historical values of world significance accumulated over many millennia of development of European civilization.
France has given the world many great names in all fields of human activity.
Many world-famous museums and libraries in France contain world masterpieces of painting, sculpture, music and literature from all over the world. The Louvre alone is worth something with its priceless collections of world culture. France is also a world tourism power. Hundreds of millions of tourists visit French attractions every year. There is probably not a single tourist who would not take a photo against the background Eiffel Tower, which is both a national treasure and a calling card of France.
France is also famous for its Cote d'Azur on the Mediterranean coast with its unique resorts that annually attract tens of millions of tourists from all over the world to pamper their bodies under the warm, gentle sun.
France also has many natural attractions both on the coast and in the central and mountainous regions of the country.
Home / Countries / France / History of France
People inhabited the territory of France, presumably, 1.8 million years ago.
In France, many cave paintings have remained since the Paleolithic era. The first colony on French territory was founded by the Greeks in 600 BC.
in the city then called Massalia, now called Marseille.
The expansion of the Celtic Gaulish tribes into France occurred between the fifth and third centuries BC, during which much of the borders of modern France were drawn.
The area was then known as Gaul, and its inhabitants, the Gauls, were at odds with the Romans until the Romans captured the southern part of their country (Provence) in 125 BC.
The Franks, an ancient German pagan tribe from which the name "France" originated, settled in and later conquered Gaul, dividing the territory into four regions for the sons of the Frankish king Clovis I. These kingdoms were later united by Charlemagne.
France played an important role during crusades between 1095 and 1291.
Between 1337 and 1453, France and England had a series of conflicts called the Hundred Years' War, followed by several civil wars called the Fronde, while at the same time there was a war with Spain between 1635 and 1659.
During the time of European exploration, France founded colonies in the New World.
Under the leadership of Louis XV, the Seven Years' War (1756-1763) in the New World ended with the loss of the territories of New France and their conquest by Britain. As a result, France became a major ally of the American colonists during the American Revolution as they fought for independence from Britain, eventually leading to the Peace of Paris in 1783.
Between 1789 and 1799, the French Revolution took place, ending with the storming of the Bastille on July 14, 1789, as a result of which the absolute monarchy ended in France and a constitutional monarchy emerged.
The French Revolutionary Wars began in 1792, the same year France became a republic. King Louis XVI was executed in 1793 for treason, as was his wife, Marie Antoinette.
In 1799, Napoleon Bonaparte came to power in the Republic, who later became emperor.
The French Empire began to conquer Europe, under Napoleon's leadership, until his defeat in 1815.
During the nineteenth century, France became the second largest colonial power of all time, with colonies in North America, Southeast Asia, North, West, and Central Africa, the Caribbean, and the Pacific Islands.
Many of these colonies are still part of the French Republic. France played an important role in both World War I and World War II, and was one of the founders of NATO in 1949.
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To the north of Languedoc stretched a country that was conquered in ancient times by the barbarian Franks - it was called Francia or France.
In the 8th century, the Franks were the first to create heavy knightly cavalry, and great emperor Charles subjugated half of Europe - but Charles's weak successors could not restrain the willfulness of the knights.
The once powerful state fell apart into countless duchies, counties, baronies, and each owner of the castle considered himself the master of the area and master over the life and death of his peasants. Castles, which were formerly log towers, turned into stone fortresses with double walls, moats and drawbridges in the 12th century; Above each castle stood an iron weather vane with the coat of arms of the owner - and France had more than ten thousand such owners.
The lords fought among themselves, burned other people's villages, robbed on the roads; in times of relative peace, according to the old custom, they gathered at congresses and enthroned kings. In 987, they elected Duke Hugh Capet, ruler of the Ile-de-France, a region stretching from Paris to Orleans, as king of the Franks.
Hugo Capet was not the master even in his duchy, and his successors had to start with the subordination of the local barons, who considered themselves to have every right to fight with the “king of the Franks.”
Nevertheless, the Capetians managed to retain the crown: they made it a rule during the king’s life to gather congresses of the nobility for the coronation of the heir - and the nobility did not resist this, because they did not take the royal title seriously.
By the beginning of the 12th century, the kings had brought order to their “domain”, Ile-de-France, destroyed many castles and expelled rebellious barons.
Bishops of neighboring regions began to turn to them for help: the church had long tried to stop private wars and establish “God’s peace” - now it had acquired a strong ally, the king. Local cathedrals imposed excommunication on the barons who ravaged the area and called upon the royal soldiers against them, who moved siege towers to the walls of the castles and smashed the gates with battering rams.
The cities, trying to free themselves from the power of the lords, also sought an alliance with the king; with the permission of the king, they proclaimed themselves communes and paid a lot of money for support. Money, in turn, made it possible to hire soldiers - after all, the word “soldier” comes from the soldo coin; hired crossbowmen and mounted "sergeants" were much more disciplined than the vassal knights, whose service lasted only forty days a year.
HISTORY OF THE STATE AND LAW OF FRANCE IN MODERN TIMES
plan
French state of the early period of the 18th century revolution
Gironde Republic
Jacobin Republic
Thermal Republic
Legal monarchy
Another republic
Other empires
Rehabilitation of the Republic
Paris Commune in 1871
Third Republic
The French state of the early period of the revolution of the 18th century.
The beginning of the revolution.
The root, the deep cause of the revolution, was the contradiction between the productive forces and the feudal production coefficients that prevailed in the country that had reached its peak. Feudalism could no longer ensure their further growth and objectively transform into their inhibition. People felt this primarily due to the strengthening of feudal oppression.
Even most of the industrialists, merchants and traders were not satisfied with their situation.
Significant taxes and duties were applied, mainly related to the maintenance of the royal court and privileged ownership.
The government repeatedly carried out the so-called "pressed sponges": the entrepreneur grew up without forgery, mostly illegally, was thrown into prison and released only after giving them a large ransom.
The domestic market was extremely narrow for the industry, since the farmer (the majority of the country's population) bought almost no manufactured goods. A large number of internal customs hindered trade. Production was hampered by trade regulations.
Foreign trade, especially colonial trade, was artificially concentrated in the hands of a small group of privileged traders who shared their income with the aristocratic nobility.
Most of the nobility and the high priest tried to maintain the existing system. The main weapon of its defense is not without reason seen in the feudal absolutist state.
Meanwhile, the country has matured in understanding the need for profound changes. For them, this is also the bourgeoisie, economically and politically the most influential and the most organized and, no less important, educated social group in the protefedalističnem movement.
At that time in France, the bourgeoisie began to refer to bankers, tax farmers, manufacturers, merchants and even big businessmen; Before the bourgeoisie, the bourgeoisie were the indigenous people. Mainly due to financial and other support for the most famous works of the bourgeoisie, the ideologists of the Enlightenment - the theoretical thinkers of the movement, who were the subject of criticism of the feudal view in the world of writing - absolutist tyranny, class privileges, medieval superstitions and obscurantism.
The Enlightened People, on the other hand, are a reactionary ideology with a new political perspective that they wrote meets the demands of universal and timeless reason and justice. They studied the experience of the revolution in the Netherlands, England, and the USA, including the practice of state building in these countries. Their views on a number of problems differed, but were mainly united - in the need for serious state and legal reforms on a democratic basis.
In 1788
France was hit by a deep economic crisis. Due to the subsequent worsening of the harvest, famine was threatened by farmers and poor cities in most countries. Production was limited and thousands of city workers lost their jobs. Rural upheavals began, which soon spread to the cities. What was new about these events was that soldiers in several places refused to move against the people.
Transformation of the general states into a constitutional assembly.
In a situation where, in the words of one of the ministers, “there is no obedience and cannot be persuaded by the army,” the government was forced to refuse concessions. He announced the convening of general states, which had not been formed for more than 150 years.
According to ruling circles, countries should help monarchies overcome financial difficulties by adopting new taxes. But other hopes lie in the “third property” of the common states, which proposed to bring about important changes in the social and national system of France.
The mandates of their deputies - representatives of the great bourgeoisie - require restrictions on royal tyranny, the introduction of the right to approve the budget, supervision of its implementation, the establishment of strict laws in the activities of administrative bodies and courts, the elimination of guild rules, the improvement difficult situation farmers and others.
In May 1789, the General Staff was opened. The ruling circles, which tried to maintain a pro-government majority, demanded compliance with the old voting order - each class has one vote.
Representatives of the third property did not agree with this. They requested that meetings not be held separately in the classroom, but that decisions be made by majority vote. members of the "third estate". Only in this way can they count on the success of their efforts, since the number is equal to the number of members of the privileged classes, and they hope (later events showed that they are not against) in the support of some members of the privileged classes (the liberal nobility and the lower clergy).
In response to the government's refusal, he accepted new order voting of members of the “third estate” in June 1789, which was adopted by the National Assembly, a month later - in the Constituent Assembly, which, on behalf of the French people, demanded the right to repeal old laws and adopt new ones.
The Tsar and the nobles decided to dissolve the meeting. Troops were assembled at Versailles, where the meeting took place. There seemed to be nothing stopping the government from finding out what was planned.
The Constitutional Assembly saved the people. When Paris knew about the imminent massacre with the anti-feudal movement, the people in Paris rose into armed rebellion. Most of the soldiers soon went over to their side, and almost all of Paris was in the hands of the rebels.
On July 14, they attacked the royal fortress - the prison in the Bastille. The day the Bastille fell was essentially the birthday of the new France and is now celebrated as a national holiday.
A constitutional monarchy. The revolution, which began in Paris, soon captured the entire country. The rebels excommunicated royal officials, and farmers refused to perform feudal duties. In many provincial cities, old local authorities were abolished.
The vast majority of the forces fell under the obedience of the royal generals. The soldiers did not want to shoot people.
Those at the top of the "third estate" (big bourgeoisie), occupying a dominant position in the Constituent Assembly (i.e. in the capital), we used the popular movement to gain political power locally. new local communities were created - municipalities, where main role played by the richest man from the “third estate”.
At the same time, the bourgeoisie began to create its own armed forces.
The recruitment of the National Guard - territorial militia - was announced. Each national guard had to purchase expensive weapons and equipment at their own expense, which blocked access to the national guard for all affected citizens.
The Grand Bourgeoisie financed the acquisition of weapons, training, etc. In the National Guard, they appointed their men to command positions. The head of the National Guard was Marques M. J-Lafayette, a participant in the North American Revolutionary War, who supported moderate reforms, which were very popular in the country at that time.
As a result, the country found itself in the hands of a political group that objectively represented the interests of wealthy bourgeois and liberal nobles.
Its leaders - the Marquis of Lafayette - Abbot Sieys, the scientist, astronomer Bayly, the sociologist A. Barnave, A. Lamet and especially Count Mirabeau - a brilliant orator, but an unscrupulous politician - did not demand the complete elimination of the old system. Their ideal was a constitutional monarchy, which is why they were called constitutionalists.
Their political activity was based on attempts to reach agreement with the nobility on the basis of mutual concessions.
"Abolition of feudalism." At the Constitutional Assembly, the “abolition of feudalism” was solemnly proclaimed. However, the publication of this Law (August 1789) showed that the basic demands of the farmers were not met. This is due to the abolition of relatively small so-called personal feudal rights (service, right to a "dead hand", exclusive right to hunt, etc.). Given the free refusal of them, he easily agreed, especially since they were virtually lost - farmers had ignored them since the first days of the revolution.
Everything else: the rights to the land and the actual payments and benefits associated with agriculture are preserved, the land belongs to the lord.
Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen of 1789 On August 26, 1789, the founding assembly adopted the most important document of the revolution, the Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen.
Compiled as a program of revolution, according to the plan of the creators, they contribute to the world of people, preserving “fraternal unity.”
At the same time, its content largely depends on the specifics of the specific historical moment that the state is experiencing.
At that time, the political forces in the revolutionary camp did not run away, and the interest in the victory of the revolution was predetermined by the general direction of its anti-factional struggle. Some revolutionaries and their ideologists still believed in the possibility of the immediate triumph of the ideals of freedom, equality and fraternity. However, many wanted to see the Declaration as a set of abstract principles to which society should strive, but not necessarily for immediate implementation. “The objectives of the Declaration,” said one of its leading deputies, Dupont, in his speech before the Constitutional Assembly, to express the truth for all time and people.
That means, what if it was contrary to that part of the constitution that would be acceptable to us? “It is important that this statement does not contradict the ruling majority, but at the time of adoption of the declaration it provides an exception in the case of its most progressive provisions.
France is, without a doubt, one of the most interesting countries not only in Europe, but throughout the world. Therefore, it is not surprising that about 80 million tourists visit France every year, who are interested in local attractions, beach resorts on the Cote d'Azur, as well as high-class ski resorts. For each of these tourists, France is not only an “eternally sweet image,” as the Russian poet Nikolai Gumilyov thought about this country, but also an amazing vacation.
France is located in Western Europe. In the north, the English Channel (“English Channel”) separates France from Great Britain. In the southwest, France borders with Spain and Andorra, in the southeast with Switzerland and Italy, and in the northeast with Germany, Luxembourg and Belgium. In the West, the coast of France is washed by the Atlantic Ocean, and in the south by the Mediterranean Sea.
France also includes 5 overseas territories (the islands of Guadeloupe, Mayotte, Martinique, Reunion, and Guiana in South America), as well as overseas communities (Saint Barthelemy, Saint Martin, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, Wallis and Futuna, French Polynesia ), and overseas territories with special status (Clipperton, New Caledonia and the French Southern and Antarctic Territories).
The total area of France in Europe is 547,030 square meters. km., including the island of Corsica in the Mediterranean Sea. If we also take into account the French overseas territories, then the area of France is 674,843 sq. km.
The landscape of France is very diverse, ranging from the coastal plains in the north and west, to the Alps in the southeast, the Massif Central, and the Pyrenees mountains in the southwest. The highest peak in France is Mont Blanc in the Alps (4,810 m).
Several large rivers (Seine, Loire, Garron and Rhone) and hundreds of small rivers flow through France.
Approximately 27% of France is forested.
The capital of France is Paris, which is now home to more than 2.3 million people. According to archaeological finds, on the spot modern Paris a settlement of people (Celts) existed already in the 3rd century BC.
The official language in France is French, which belongs to the Romance group of the Indo-European language family.
About 65% of the French population are Catholics, adherents of the Roman Catholic Church. However, only about 4.5% of French Catholics go to church every week (or more often).
In addition, about 4% of the French population are Muslims, and 3% are Protestants.
According to the 1958 Constitution, France is a parliamentary republic in which the head of state is the President.
The source of legislative power is the bicameral Parliament, consisting of the National Assembly and the Senate. The Senate's legislative powers are limited, and the National Assembly has the final vote.
The main political parties in France are the Socialist Party and the Union for a Popular Movement.
In general, the climate of France can be divided into three main climatic zones:
- Oceanic climate in the west;
- Mediterranean climate in the south and southeast (Provence, Languedoc-Roussillon and Corsica);
- Continental climate in the central regions of the country and in the east.
In the south-east of France in the Alps the climate is alpine. Winter in the French mountains, including the Massif Central and the Pyrenees, is cold, often with heavy snowfall.
Average air temperature in Paris: - January - +3C
- February - +5C
- March - +9C
- April - +10C
- May - +15C
- June - +18C
- July - +19C
- August - +19C
- September - +17C
- October - +13C
- November - +7C
- December - +5C
The coast of France is washed in the south by the Mediterranean Sea, and in the west by the Atlantic Ocean.
Average temperature of the Mediterranean Sea near Nice (Côte d'Azur):
- January - +13C
- February - +12C
- March - +13C
- April - +14C
- May - +17C
- June - +20C
- July - +22C
- August - +22C
- September - +21C
- October - +18C
- November - +15C
- December - +14C
In the European territory of France there are 119 rivers that flow into the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. The largest rivers in France are the Seine, Loire, Garron and Rhone.
The lakes in France are not very large, but they are very beautiful. The largest of them are Bourget, Aigblett and Annecy.
People appeared on the territory of modern France 10 thousand years ago. Around the 6th century BC. Colonies of Phoenicians and ancient Greeks were formed on the Mediterranean coast of France. Later, the territory of modern France was settled by Celtic tribes. In the era of Ancient Rome, France was called Gaul. In the middle of the 1st century BC. Most of Gaul was conquered by Gaius Julius Caesar.
In the 5th century AD France was invaded by Frankish tribes, who formed their own empire in the 8th century (this was done by Charlemagne, who took the title of Holy Roman Emperor).
In the 10th century, Vikings began to raid the coast of France and gradually colonized Normandy. Since 987, the kings of France were people from the Capetian family, and since 1328, the Valois.
During the Middle Ages, France waged constant wars with its neighbors, gradually expanding its territory. So, in 1337 the so-called The “Hundred Years' War” between France and England, as a result of which the British were expelled from French lands (only the port of Calais remained with them). During the Hundred Years' War, Joan of Arc became famous.
In the middle of the 16th century in France, under the influence of the Protestant Reformation, the teachings of John Calvin began to spread, which led to many years civil war. The Edict of Nantes in 1598 gave French Protestants (Huguenots) equal rights with Catholics.
As a result of the Great French Revolution (1789-94), the monarchy was abolished in France and a republic was proclaimed. However, after some time, the dictatorship of Napoleon Bonaparte was established in France. Under Napoleon Bonaparte, France extended its power over almost all European countries. In 1815, after the defeat at Waterloo, Napoleon Bonaparte's empire was liquidated.
In the 20th century, France took an active part in all two world wars, suffering millions of human losses in them. After the Second World War in 1946-1958, the so-called The "Fourth Republic", and in 1958, after the adoption of the Constitution, the "Fifth Republic" was established.
Now France is a member of the NATO military bloc and is a member of the EU.
The history of France goes back many hundreds of years, and therefore the French, of course, have a very rich culture, which has had a great influence on the cultures of other peoples.
Thanks to France, the world received a large number of brilliant writers, artists, philosophers and scientists:
- Literature (Pierre Beaumarchais, Alexandre Dumas the father, Anatole France, Victor Hugo, Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, Anne Golon, Jules Verne, and Georges Simenon);
- Art (Jean-Antoine Watteau, Delacroix, Degas, and Jean Paul Cezanne);
- Philosophy (René Descartes, Blaise Pascal, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Voltaire, Montesquieu, Comte, Henri Bergson, Albert Camus, Jean-Paul Sartre).
Every year in France many different events are celebrated. national holidays and carnivals. The most popular carnival takes place annually in March, welcoming spring.
The French have always been proud of their cooking skills. Now french cuisine considered the most diverse and refined in the world.
Each region of France has its own special culinary tradition. So, in the north-west of the country in Brittany, pancakes with cider are popular, in Alsace (near the border with Germany) they often make “la choucroute” (stewed cabbage with pieces of sausage), in the Loire Valley they eat a special fish dish called Lotte (monk fish) , which is found only in the Loire River. On the French coast, seafood dishes (mussels, clams, oysters, shrimp, squid) are very popular.
In some regions of France they prepare exotic dishes for you and me - snails in garlic and butter, as well as frog legs in sauce.
France is famous for its wines. Winemaking in France dates back to approximately the 6th century BC. In the Middle Ages, French wines from Burgundy, Champagne and Bordeaux became known throughout Europe. Now wine is produced in almost every region of France.
A person who has visited France can probably talk for hours about its attractions, because this country has a very rich history. The top ten best attractions in France, in our opinion, include the following:
Eiffel Tower in Paris
The Eiffel Tower was built in 1889 according to the design of the French engineer Gustave Eiffel. More than 6 million people climb the Eiffel Tower every year.
Roman aqueduct Pont du Gard in Provence
Aqueduct of the Pont du Gard, now listed World Heritage UNESCO, was built by the Romans in 19 AD. The aqueduct was used by the Romans as a system for transporting spring water to a nearby city. In the 19th century, the Pont du Gard aqueduct was restored.
Castle Mont Saint Michel
The castle of Mont Saint Michel is located in the sea on small island. It is connected to the mainland by a dam built in 1877. The fortress on this island appeared in the 12th century.
Chenonceau Castle in the Loire Valley
Chenonceau Castle is often called the "Ladies' Castle" because... its history is connected with the names of several famous women. Chenonceau was built in 1513. Diane de Poitiers and Catherine de Medici lived in it at different times.
Medieval fortified city of Carcassonne
The Carcassonne fortress was built in the 13th century by King Louis IX. In the 19th century, the fortified city of Carcassonne was restored on the initiative of the famous French architect Viollet-le-Duc.
Notre Dame Cathedral in Reims
Construction Cathedral Notre Dame in Reims took about 100 years to complete and was completed in 1275. Until the 19th century, all the kings of France were crowned in this cathedral.
Chartres Cathedral
The cathedral in Chartres was built in 1020, but in 1194 it was destroyed by fire. It was restored in the 13th century. Now Chartres Cathedral is considered one of the most beautiful Gothic cathedrals in the whole world.
Megalithic Karnak stones in Brittany
Archaeologists believe that the accumulation of stones in Brittany appeared around 4000 BC. It is assumed that this structure made of stones was of a religious nature. However, some historians believe that the Karnak stones are an ancient astronomical calendar.
The Palace of Versailles was built in the 16th century for King Louis XIV. After the French Revolution, the Palace of Versailles became a museum.
Louvre Palace Museum in Paris
The Louvre Palace Museum was the residence of French kings for several centuries. Now the Louvre is the most famous museum in the world, where more than 35 thousand paintings by great painters from different countries peace.
The biggest French cities– Paris, Marseille, Toulouse, Lyon, Bordeaux, and also Lille.
France is washed by the waters of the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. The total coastline of mainland France is 3,427 kilometers. On the southeastern coast of France (this is the Mediterranean Sea) there is the famous “Côte d'Azur” (French Riviera), where tourists can relax at popular beach resorts. The most famous of them are Nice, Cannes, Saint-Tropez, Hyères, Ile du Levant, and Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat.
In winter, hundreds of thousands of tourists come to France to ski at local ski resorts.
Top 10 best French ski resorts:
Tourists from France usually bring various souvenirs with images of the Eiffel Tower. However, we advise you to buy scarves and ties, chocolate, coffee cups, lavender tea (it is made in Provence), Dijon mustard (there are 50 types of this mustard), French perfume, French wine in France.
France is a state in Western Europe. The motto of the Republic is “Liberty, Equality, Fraternity”, its principle is government of the people, by the people and for the people. The capital is the city of Paris. The name of the country comes from the ethnonym of the Germanic tribe of the Franks, despite the fact that the majority of the population of France is of mixed Gallo-Roman origin and speaks a Romance language.
France is the most big country in Western Europe, it is washed by the Atlantic Ocean (Bay of Biscay and the English Channel) and the Mediterranean Sea (Gulf of Lyon and the Ligurian Sea). In the east it has borders with Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, Switzerland, with Spain and Andorra in the southwest, with Monaco and Italy in the southeast.
The French Republic includes the island of Corsica in the Mediterranean Sea, overseas departments: Guadeloupe and Martinique (Caribbean Sea), Reunion Island (in the Indian Ocean) and French Guiana (north-eastern South America), Overseas Communities: Mayotte Islands (Indian Ocean), Saint-Pierre and Miquelon (Mayotte, Saint-Pierre, Miquelon) and overseas territories in Pacific Ocean: French Polynesia, New Caledonia, Wallis and Futuna Islands. The topography of France is dominated by plains. The Pyrenees Mountains, the Jura Massif and the Alps form natural borders with Spain, Switzerland and Italy respectively.
Summer is quite hot (in July-August from +20 C to +25 C), winter is mild (in January from 0 C to +3 C), and it rarely snows. The ideal time for tourism is spring and early autumn.
The official language is French. Many residents speak Spanish. It should be taken into account that in the provinces household level Local languages and dialects that differ significantly from each other are used: Basque and Catalan in the Pyrenees, Breton in Brittany, Provençal in Provence, German dialects in Alsace and Lorraine. Mini-phrases are sold everywhere, and, as a rule, tourists do not skimp on them, wanting to make it easier for themselves to communicate with the hospitable residents of France.
Russian citizens need a Schengen visa to visit France. Requirements are “general Schengen”: passport validity reserve - 3 months, ticket reservation, hotel reservation and documents confirming financial solvency. One of the features is the mandatory presence of three blank pages in the passport. Submission of documents is possible only by prior appointment online. In addition to the visa fee of 35 EUR, you will also have to pay a service fee - a thousand rubles and kopecks.
The French authorities encourage the birth of children in the family. After the birth of their first child, a working family is provided with preferential municipal housing. When buying a house or car, families with children are given significant discounts. After the birth of a child, the family receives an impressive cash allowance, which, if desired, can be used to purchase household appliances, furniture, garage, car. This is a purely local, French law, and you must agree, it is very interesting.
The country's population is about 66 million people, largest cities: Paris, Marseille, Lyon, Toulouse, Nice, Strasbourg. Average density population about 107 people per sq. km. Ethnic groups: French - 94%, Portuguese, Algerians, Italians, Moroccans, Turks. Average life expectancy: 74 years for men, 82 years for women. The number of immigrants is constantly growing, and today this process is of concern to the native French. Often people belonging to a different culture cannot adapt to European realities due to a different mentality. As a result, many immigrants do not work, and therefore they are often the ones who cause problems for the police. Tourists can be advised to be more careful and try not to unnecessarily enter areas populated predominantly by immigrants.
The French are very hospitable, spontaneous, and optimistic. To the question “Koman sava?” (“How are you?”) they invariably answer: “Sava bien” (“Good”). Inner freedom, their emancipation is combined with law-abidingness. External openness does not mean that an outsider is allowed to pry into other people’s personal affairs. The French have a ritualistic attitude towards food and conversation during meals. For example, a day off is often spent entirely in a gourmet restaurant or on some farm 100-200 km from where you live.
The French are sophisticated in their clothing and, like children, love gifts. It is customary to unwrap a gift immediately upon receipt, thereby showing interest in it and gratitude for your attention. It is best to give flowers and sweets. If there are children in the house, then gifts for the kids are mandatory, otherwise far-reaching conclusions will be drawn. You can only come to visit with your own wine if the wine is of the highest category, otherwise you may even offend the hosts. In a restaurant, the inviter is paid, but then they will repay him in kind. An invitation to 17.00 means “to tea”, and you should not stay until dinner (after 19.00). The best gifts from Russia are matryoshka dolls, caviar, vodka, and modern Russian painting.
There are always a lot of police on the streets and everywhere. They are ready to help any passerby, including tourists, suffering from an attack of topographical inferiority. You can contact them with any question.
The first floor in France is called “re-de-chausse” (in elevators it is designated “0” or “rez”). The French 1st floor corresponds to the Russian 2nd: in other words, if the apartment you need is on the 5th floor, then in fact it is on the 6th.
France is famous for its cuisine and fine wines. Human life Probably not enough to try all the dishes of this cuisine. The processes of preparing and eating food are as important here as love and the ability to carry on a conversation. Cooking is undoubtedly also a kind of art. A beautiful and tasty dish is a source of pride for any cook. By the way, many names of dishes came to Russia from France: roll, cutlet, meatballs, entrecote, mayonnaise, omelet.
Alsace and Lorraine are the birthplace of the delicious choucroute (sauerkraut with boiled smoked meats). Shukrut is made from special light cabbage combined with fatty brisket, slices of bacon and ham. Alsatian sausages enjoy well-deserved fame, especially those with pate filling or baked in dough (according to the recipe of Careme, Talleyrand's cook). Snails from Burgundy (“escargot”) have been widely known since the 3rd century! They are prepared with butter, garlic, onion, parsley, lemon juice. It is impossible not to mention red crayfish sprinkled with lemon juice, and a real delicacy - French gray frogs (only their thighs - “cuiss”) are eaten. The province of Brittany has its own National dish- pancakes (crepe). The word “crepe” in various variations appears on the menu of almost every restaurant. Often savory pancakes are offered as a main course, followed by sweet pancakes with whipped cream for dessert. Charente-Maritime is famous for its greenish, fattest and most delicious oysters. Province of Charron - mussels. In addition, specialties in France are mouklade (mussels in a thick curry sauce) and eclade (mussels fried on pine needles). Provence is the birthplace of delicious soups. Exotic fish are used to prepare bouillabaisse soup: sultana, monkfish, trigla. The local fish soups - “burrida”, “aioli”, “pistu” - received national status. But only in Provence, according to honest local fishermen, are they prepared according to all the rules. Parisians are proud of their onion soup. An asparagus dish is an expected surprise at any dinner or reception in the capital. When, for example, lightly baked asparagus appears on the table, served with béchamel sauce and grated cheese, guests tend to start salivating.
In cooking, the term “Parisian style” (or “Parisian”) has a specific semantic meaning. This is the name given to traditional French cuisine based on butter, mayonnaise, aromatic herbs and “macedouane” (a mixture of pieces of vegetables or fruits). In France they prepare a huge number of sauces. The top 100 in popularity lists are headed by bordelaise, béchamel and bercy, which contain shallots and white wine.
There is an opinion that it is pleasant to comprehend the geography of France by the names of the wines and cognacs drunk here. Pourquois pa? Is this why the vineyards of Champagne, Bordeaux, Burgundy, and the Rhone and Loire valleys are so widely known? We must remember that repetition is the mother of learning, and then you will remember everything firmly. The process of learning about France is thus facilitated by the rules good manners: For example, it is customary to wash down steak, beef or turkey with certain brands of red wine. White wines are always served with salads and fish. Red wine goes with pheasant. As is well known, they only serve young rosé with chicken.
There are several categories of wines, on the labels they are indicated:
<+>“Vin de table” table wine
<+>“Vin de...“ (follows the name of the province) Local vintage wine
<+>“appellation d' origine controlee” vintage of the highest quality
Each province produces its own signature wine, rich in rare and vital enzymes. In Aquitaine there are famous brands of “castle” wines “chateau”, which cost a little less than a trip around the world! But many tourists can afford exquisite wines like “Cotes-de-Blaue”, “Cotes-de-Castillon”, “Cotes-de-Burg”. In Bordeaux, wines are bottled in special bottles with a capacity of 0.75 liters or in barrels with a capacity of 225 liters. Medoc wines entered the classification in 1955, but have already gained popularity. Rare and expensive wine - “Chateu Petrus” (“Chateau Petrus”).
Burgundy produces red and white wines, liqueurs, as well as “kira” - an aperitif with an amazing taste and composed of one third from blackcurrant syrup, and two thirds from Aligote wine (I wonder if this is where it came from Russian word"kiryat"?). The classic brandy in Burgundy is “Marc de Bourgogne”. The Loire Valley impresses with its variety of white Anjou wines (“Chenin”). The Nantes region is famous for the Muscadet and Pro-Plan brands. Alsace is also rich in wines - people usually take it from here as a souvenir wooden box with seven tasting bottles of the most common brands, among which you will definitely find: dry lung - “Sylvaner”; with fruity taste – “Pinot Blanc” and “Klevner”; very strong vintage – “Tokay Pinot-Gris”; strong, with pear aroma – “Gewurztraminer”; pink lung– “Pinot Noir”.
In Poitou and Charente, don't miss out on the pineau aperitif, which consists of grape juice and cognac. There you will certainly be invited to visit the houses of the main cognac companies - “Hennessy”, “Remi Martin”, “Camus” (the products of the latter were widely known in the USSR narrow circles admirers).
The truth is not only in wine - France can also be studied through cheeses, without which local cooking is indispensable. Cheese is always and everywhere served for dessert. “Camembert”, “Roquefort” are words known throughout the world. The number of varieties of this product probably exceeds the number of stars in the southern night sky.
In Aquitaine, processed and sheep cheeses are used. In Burgundy, they boast that their “Comte” and “Morbier” have a bluish vein, and this is supposedly a sure sign of proper preparation. The exquisitely flavored “Mondor” is prepared on high alpine pastures. Uncooked crushed cheese “Cantal” has a 2000-year history, the best varieties differ in color Ivory. The Auvergne “Bleu d’Auvergne” has been known since the 19th century. - uncooked, with large holes in which blue mold thrives. Mountain “Saint-Nectaire” has absorbed the aromas of herbs. The viscous yellowish “Brie” and “Coulommier” are recognized as works of art.
In Poirtoux and Charente, the best are “Cayad” (cow), “Cabeco” (goat), “Tomme de Braches” (sheep). Pas de Calais is famous for its aged Boulette d'Aven and Coeur d'Aven cheeses. “Vieux-Lille” is the most difficult to prepare, but its taste is simply unearthly! The Champagne-Ardenne region is represented by Chaurs cheese with a memorable aroma. Both Chaumont and Trappist d’Iny are excellent. The masterpiece of these provinces is “Capri de Dieu” (“Caprice of the Gods”). The Pyrenees is the birthplace of the ancient Roquefort. Among the “historical” cheeses, the sheep’s “Fourmat le bête de cosse” stands out, the recipe of which is owned by only a few noble families. In Normandy they make “Camembert”, the most famous varieties of which are “President”, “Henry IV”, “Livaro” (the latter is always tied with reeds, for which it received the nickname “Colonel”), “Pont-evêque” (in the 12th century, monks -the manufacturers called it “Angelot”). In Normandy, Neufchatel is considered the most famous; it is made only at home. In Provence, all cheeses are made from sheep and goat milk. The most famous of them is “Pikodon”. In the Marseille area they make white “Brousse du Rove” from sour goat milk - the smell is guaranteed to be killer. In the Rhône department, cheeses are matured in special tubs covered with cherry or spruce bark, and are essentially made only from full-fat cow's milk. The most delicious of them are “Raciette” and “Reblochon”.
Ernest Hemingway, who settled in Paris in the 1920s, called it “a holiday that is always with you.” The French call their capital the "City of Light". The play of light and shadow here is truly incredible, both day and night. The light either flashes like lightning, then floods everything around like a hot midday sun, then timidly hides in the fog, then twinkles like an unattainable star. The darkness thickens briefly, then retreats, grumbling like a wise old cat, before a burst of rays, then flies up in the wind, like a veil on the hat of a charming Parisian woman. To feel this eternal holiday and take it with you, to bask in the Parisian light or go into the flowing shadow, you need to walk around Paris.
Of course, be sure to take a ride along the Seine on a bateau-mouche, a “fly ship” - a tourist “river bus”. It’s best to do this after dark: the “fly” spotlights magically illuminate the embankments of the Seine, gliding along the river sparkling with reflected lights. Be sure to climb the Eiffel Tower - don't be afraid, you won't have to climb on foot. The elevator will quickly take you to the observation deck, from where - if the day is clear - you will see the entire panorama of the wonderful city. Don't miss out on a walk to the top of Montmartre, to the steps of the Sacre Coeur temple. It is better to do this at the end of the day, closer to dusk: it is at this time that Paris, spread out under your feet, is especially beautiful. After this, of course, walk through the streets of Montmartre, hang out in Place Tertre, densely packed with artists who, for a few tens of francs, will quickly make your more or less believable portrait. But don’t be upset that Japanese, English, German, Swedish, whatever you like, and certainly Russian, will be heard around you. Parisians prefer to meddle here as little as possible.
Then, of course, you will descend into the vicinity of Place Pigalle, into the “nest of debauchery.” Here is the realm of sex shops, peep shows, cheap electronics stores and fake Vuitton leather goods, dark criminal bars and "private clubs", cafes for foreign tourists and famous rock and roll and jazz concert halls. However, real “Parisian debauchery” is not practiced here. Where? Ask the first Pigalle policeman. It is inevitable to walk along Champs Elysees, this Parisian "New Arbat". But it’s better to do it this way: after visiting the Louvre, leaving the glass pyramid behind you, walk under the triumphal arch “Carousel”, leisurely stroll through the Tuileries Garden, exit onto the Place de la Concorde, without turning anywhere (although on the right is the Place Vendôme, and on the left is beckoning Champs de Mars), pass the "Round Place des Champs Elysees" and go up the Champs Elysees to the Arc de Triomphe. The road is straight as an arrow. At the Arc de Triomphe you can take the metro to the futuristic La Défense district. There, in “Parisian New York,” rises the “Great Ark of Defense,” a skyscraper in the shape of the same triumphal arch. From its roof there is a breathtaking view of the whole of Paris and almost half of France.
There are several more obligatory tourist routes: a walk along the alleys around Place Saint-Michel, in the Latin Quarter, huddling at the foot of Notre Dame and climbing its belfry, shopping (or, if the wallet is not very plump, “window licking”, as they call it French) on Rue de Rivoli, Boulevard de la Madeleine, Rue Saint-Honoré or Boulevard d'Italia. It is worth walking along the shopping streets of the Left Bank - Busy, Dauphine, Boulevard Saint-Michel, along the embankments near Notre Dame, and gawking at the stalls of second-hand bookstores. There is no need to give up all this under any circumstances.
This is Paris. But if you have free time, use a few of our tips that will allow you to feel even better what “eternal holiday” means. Firstly, you should move away from the center. For example, for starters, to the Bois de Boulogne. Firstly, this is a very beautiful park, where you can understand the “modest charm of the bourgeoisie”: discreet, but incredibly comfortable restaurants with the highest cuisine, horse riding paths, flower beds and lawns. Secondly, the Bois de Boulogne (we reveal the secret of the police) is still a “nest of debauchery.” Here, along the roads, there are crowds of “corrupt women” - mostly male or individuals who have undergone surgical and medicinal operations.
Worth going to reverse side from the center, east, to Vincennes. Here is a very beautiful castle and palace of Louis XIV, as well as relaxation for the soul - magnificent Botanical Garden, one of the best in the world, and the Flower Park, where at any time of the year they smell and show off amazing plants. Lovers of American pleasures in France can head further east to EuroDisney. We would advise going towards America, to the west, and visiting Versailles. At least in order to compare the Russian masterpieces of palace architecture, Tsarskoe Selo, Peterhof and Arkhangelskoye with the residence of the “Sun King”. All the places mentioned are very beautiful.
But even in the heart of Paris there are paths that are still almost unexplored by domestic tourists. We advise you to break away from the tourist crowd at the feet of the Eiffel Tower and stroll along the Champs of Mars. It’s just very beautiful there, and secondly, if you’re lucky, you’ll be able to admire a tanned lady in a Lanvin (or Lacroix) outfit walking a pink piglet (or a dwarf horse) in a collar decorated with emeralds. It’s not a bad idea to go around Notre Dame and go down to the embankments of the Island of St. Louis. These are real Parisian embankments, with clochards, lovers, fishermen and amazing panoramas of the Seine. You can also go in a different direction, admire the flower market near the Palais de Justice, have a coffee on the wonderful Place Dauphine, watch pensioners play the national game "petanque" (which consists of leisurely rolling metal balls), go to the tip of the Ile de la Cité, to the public garden " Ver Galan." There, admiring the branches of weeping willows creeping along the water, it is so pleasant to realize that you are also a poet. This was one of the favorite places of Turgenev and Tarkovsky.
Or you can spend an hour in the Luxembourg Gardens, admiring how children launch boats in a large round pool, how charming students of the nearby Sorbonne, sitting on green openwork chairs, pretend to be studying a Roman law textbook. Or, to understand that Paris still retains its rural features, go up, after passing the exotic Arab-Chinese Belleville, to the Chaumont hill, and watch how the grass makes its way through the cobblestone courtyards of Rue Musaya. Otherwise, plunge into the youth madness raging in the seemingly unremarkable streets around the Place de la Bastille.
The history of France goes back thousands of years, it is full of secrets and mysteries, it has experienced periods of prosperity and obscurantism, wealth and poverty, freedom and oppression. If we talk about the history of France briefly, it is the history of five republics, a long journey during which the country has become one of the most powerful powers in the world, dictating its will to others, having great authority on the political stage and being one of the main forces in the modern world order.
The history of the emergence of France - from the Gauls to the Franks
On the territory of modern France from the 5th century. BC e. Celtic tribes of Gauls lived. In ancient times, the country was called Gaul, but there was no unity, each tribe strived for freedom, they never managed to unite to resist the conquerors. In the 1st century BC e. The Roman Empire conquered the land. Revolts by the Gauls and the invading Germanic Frankish tribes brought an end to 5 centuries of Roman rule. It was the Franks, who initially settled in the north and then conquered all of Gaul, who gave their name to the people and the country.
History of medieval France - history of royal dynasties
King Clovis, who converted to Christianity, is considered the founder of France. Under him, the country took shape as an independent European state, Paris became the capital, the Franks adopted the Christian faith, which later became the state religion. The Frankish Empire lasted for 4 centuries, becoming the predecessor of the future France.
The history of the Middle Ages in France is the time absolute monarchy, royal dynasties of the Capetians, Valois, Bourbons, the hundred years war with Britain, religious wars Catholics and Protestants, the flourishing of troubadour poetry, sculpture, architecture, painting, construction of palaces. In 1328, the Capetian dynasty reigned on the throne, consolidating royal power and annexing many lands. The country experienced significant growth under Louis XIV, becoming a leading European power, conquering colonies in India, Africa, Canada, and the Antilles.
The storming of the Bastille is a turning point in the history of France
In the 17th century, popular discontent reached its limit. Monarchical tyranny, the unbridled extravagance of the aristocracy, chaos in politics, and a decline in the economy became the causes of the revolution of 1789. With the storming of the Bastille, a new period in history began - the feudal system was destroyed and a constitutional monarchy was established.
In 1799, General Napoleon Bonaparte came to power and conquered Europe. The empire he created was governed according to the principles of the French Revolution and even managed to impose them on its enemies. Although his life ended ingloriously in exile, he left behind the Napoleonic Code, which remains the basis of French legislation to this day.
Modern history France - General de Gaulle's greatest legacy
In 1944, after the fall of the Third Republic, there was a difficult period in history, when a series of government crises continued unabated, decolonization began, and the loss of colonies in Africa and Indochina. In 1958, with the election of de Gaulle as president, the era of the Fifth Republic began, which continues to this day. The strong power of the president in the 60s strengthened the country's position in the international arena and granted autonomy to overseas territories.
Recent history France echoes the period when, after the liberation of the colonies, many Algerians came here to work. In the 2000s, the country erupted in flames of cars set on fire, riots, and pogroms carried out by young people - the descendants of those emigrants. Today, the country's entire population is a motley patchwork of which less than half are ethnic French. This is one of the most pressing problems that becomes decisive in the presidential elections.
Modern France, despite general globalization and modernization, has not lost its unique charm, remaining the most romantic country in the world. She is just as changeable, mysterious, attractive, attracting with exquisite aromas of perfume, sounds of chanson, fashionable outfits, expensive wine, gourmet dishes.
An independent republic with a presidential form of government. The highest legislative power belongs to the bicameral parliament. France includes "overseas departments" - Guadeloupe, Martinique, Guiana, Reunion, Saint-Pierre and Miquelon, N. Caledonia, French Polynesia, etc.
