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A medieval catholic cathedral known for its French Gothic design and large stain glass windows, one of the most well known church structures in the world.

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Once the seat of royal power in France, it is now open as a museum and is a very popular tourist attraction. Historically, it is a relic of the opulence of the monarchy, of France’s rising power, it’s interest in culture and fashion, and the beginning of the dramatic revolution that saw the decline of the monarchy.

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Commissioned by the French emperor, Napoleon, in 1806 at a time when the Grande Armee had conquered most of Europe and their power was unmatched, nigh invincible. Napoleon wanted his army to ride through a arch of triumph as they returned home from their battles.

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An iron lattice tower designed for the World’s Fair in 1889, meant to honor the 100th anniversary of the French Revolution, originally temporary, but it looked so strange and became so popular it remained.

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Begun as a fortress in the 12th century to fend off potential Viking attacks, converted to a residence, and then finally museum in the expanding Paris landscape, today it is the world’s largest art museum and a historical landmark in Paris.

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Paris is France's capital. It’s a major European city and a global center for art, fashion, and culture. Its 19th-century cityscape is crisscrossed by wide boulevards and the River Seine.

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Stylized emblem, often associated with the French crown, legend says it was the lily given by Virgin Mary to the king of the Franks at his baptism, symbol of purity adopted by the Roman Catholic Church

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Period of time in France from 1789 when the people of the middle class (third estate) overthrew the monarchy and took control of the government. Spurred onward by Enlightenment ideas about unalienable rights, along with the opulence and excess of the royal lifestyle and power of the clergy over the middle class.

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They begin with two separate invitations - those invited to the ceremony (“un faire-part”) and those invited to the reception/dinner (“repas de noce”). There are no groomsmen or bridesmaids but there are flower girls and flower boys. Many other traditions are similar to US norms.

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Sometimes a journal is posted to the door of the deceased family home for neighbors and friends to leave consoling messages for the family. Sometimes a journal is posted to the door of the deceased family home for neighbors and friends to leave consoling messages for the family. Most other customs are also similiar to the US.

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It is a universal health care system, generally paid for by the French government as the health insurance provider.  It is a compulsory system that as a citizen you are required to pay and are taxed at a high rate for. The system allows most people to choose their own doctors and treatments. French health care is considered one of the best in the world.

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After WWII, even though the Fourth Republic carried out reconstruction successfully there was a housing crisis for some time. Construction was and still is encouraged mainly through loans and tax incentives. In the 70s, the process for private construction building permits were greatly simplified. Through the years of suburbanization, more emphasis has been put on building single family homes rather than apartments. In today’s market, the focus has shifted to rehabilitation of any aging housing from rural areas to urban central areas.

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French parents tend to not accept that children just have inherent likes and dislikes. They believe that through proper exposure of a variety of tastes they will have a more well-rounded appreciation for all types of things. There is always the presence laissez-faire in all aspect of French culture, including that of child rearing. This might seem to the outsider to come across as less interactive or attentive with children overall, but many French see this as a sense of balance. Not one area of your life should outweigh the other.

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The history of France is heavily Roman Catholic and most of the population is Catholic. The country does identify itself as secular in the sense that it does not promote one religion over another. There has been conflict between Protestants and Catholics in the past. The French Revolution was partly a rise against the power and wealth of the Catholic church. Church and State were officially separated in the 20th century.

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Wine and cheese are sources of national pride. Also common is baguette (french bread), croissant, escargot (snail), cooking with garlic and butter, roast duck, rabbit.

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Most of French musical genre migrated in from other places and there is no true French traditional folk music per se. The French adopted opera during the 17th century. Later, Italian-style opera began to become a popular pastime as well. Also, during the Romantic period in the 19th century, classical music as a whole took a strong hold in France. Modern French music is a amalgamation of many different pop styles and sounds, similar to modern music many western countries.

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The official language of France is French, which was made official in 1539.  Several government departments were created in 1972 to construct French words that could replace foreign loanwords, and the use of French in many professional settings was made a legal requirement in 1975.

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Primary education (first stage) is defined as pre-elementary and elementary education, including special education. 6.8 million students as of 2015, pre-elementary classes have 25.5 students/class in public and 27 in private, 23/class in elementary.

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Secondary education is broken down by first and second cycle. First cycle is middle school, second cycle is high school. Secondary education is tracked: there are general, technological, and professional tracks. Grades are actually listed in descending order, middle school is 6th-3rd grades and are called colleges. After finishing middle school, students can choose vocational high school or a traditional one that supports the general and technological tracks.

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Foreign languages receive a lot of focus, with students receiving familiarization training starting in kindergarten, beginning study of a foreign language in elementary school, and adding a second language in middle school. All students are required to be able to use at least two “living languages” by the time they graduate.

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Students are obligated to respect the rules of their school, but they also have freedom of information and freedom of expression, as long as it does not interfere with teaching.

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The typical teacher in France is experienced, passionate about their subject, explains a lot and speaks clearly, and uses questions and discussion to engage and involve students. They are strict with regards to rules and classroom management, yet are patient, available to students, and display a sense of humor.