2. Introduction France (pronounced /fr ɑ ns/), is a country whose metropolitan territory is located in Western Europe and that also comprises various overseas islands and territories located in other continents. French people often refer to Metropolitan France as L'Hexagone (The "Hexagon") because of the geometric shape of its territory. France is bordered by Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Monaco, Andorra, and Spain. Due to its overseas departments, France also shares land borders with Brazil and Suriname (bordering French Guiana) , and the Netherlands Antilles (bordering Saint-Martin). France is also linked to the United Kingdom by the Channel Tunnel, which passes underneath the English Channel. The name "France" comes from Latin Francia, which literally means "land of the Franks" or "Frankland".
3. France extends from the Mediterranean Sea to the English Channel and the North Sea, and from the Rhine to the Atlantic Ocean.
4. The French flag is composed of three colors; blue, white and red.
5. Traditional events The Tour de France started in 1903, and is the world's largest cycling tournament/race. It is a 23-day, 21-stage road race that is usually run over more than 3,000 km (1,864 mi). The route traces a circuit around most areas of France, and often passes through one or more neighboring countries. The race is broken into stages from one town to another, each of which is an individual race. The time taken to complete each stage is added to a cumulative total for each rider, to decide the outright winner at the end of the Tour.
6. Holiday’s Date English name Local name Remarks 1 January New Year's Day Jour de l'An moveable Easter Pâques Sunday, date varies moveable Easter Monday Lundi de Pâques Monday after Easter 1 May Labour Day Fête du Travail 8 May V-E Day Victoire 1945 End of World War II moveable Ascension Day Ascension Thursday, 40 days after Easter moveable Pentecost Pentecôte Seventh Sunday after Easter moveable Whit Monday Lundi de Pentecôte Monday after Pentecost 14 July Bastille Day Fête Nationale National Day 15 August Assumption of Mary Assomption 1 November All Saints Day Toussaint 11 November Veterans Day Armistice 1918 End of WW I Armistice Day Remembrance Day
7. Do you know any French Native stories? Here’s one: Quackling Told by Aaron Shepard http://www. aaronshep .com/stories/042.html
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9. Artwork At The Louvre in Paris, France, is the one of most famous and visited museums in the world. This art museum is located on the Right Bank in the 1er arrondissement between the Seine River and the Rue de Rivol The Musée d'Orsay which is located in Paris, France, on the left bank of the Seine, housed in the former railway station, the Gare d'Orsay. It holds mainly French art paintings, sculptures, furniture, and photography, and is probably best known for its extensive collection of impressionist Monet and Renoir. Many of these works were held at the Galerie nationale du Jeu de Paume prior to the museum's opening in 1986. The Notre-dam (a famous cathedral)
