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Mont Saint-Michel is an island in Normandy, France. The island is best known as the site of the well-preserved Norman Benedictine Abbey of St Michel at the top of the island, surrounded by the medieval  streets and reinforcments. The bay of Mont-Saint Michel undergoes the constant flow of the sea because of the tides. Le Mont Saint-Michel is home to some of the strongest tides in all of France. The constant flow of the tide has formed several quicksand pits in the bay. Le Mont Saint-Michel is a cone-shaped island in northwestern France, in the Gulf of Saint-Malo, connected by a causeway with the mainland. The construction of the monastery on top of the cone
shaped island began in 708 A.D. When, according to legend, Archangel Michael, leader of God’s army, instructed a bishop to build a church in the his honor. Aubert, the bishop, ignored the Archangel’s request. It has been said that several miracles convinced Aubert, and on October16th, 709, he built a church, devoting it to Archangel Michael. It is now one of the most visited sites in France.

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July 5 is celebrated in Algeria as Independence Day, in remembrance of actual independence from France in 1962. After being taken by the French in 1830, Algeria remained under France’s control for 132 years. The fight for independence began in 1954, and was led by the National Liberation Front. (FLN) The fight for independence was long and bloody, with France responding to liberation forces with counterattacks and counter violence. France’s use of harsh tactics and  violence and torture against Algerians won mass support for the insurgency of the FLN and criticism internationally. Following major demonstrations calling for independence, the UN called for a resolution in 1960 recognizing Algeria’s right to independence. This would lead French President Charles de Gaulle to open a series of negotiations with the FLN who refused any loose association with France and refused to end the fighting without full independence. Eventually the Evian Accords were signed in March 1962 and the war was brought to an end. Now Algerians celebrate their independence with parades, a flag hoisting ceremony and they sing patriotic songs to remember the people that were lost while Algeria was fighting for independence.

https://www.everyculture.com/A-Bo/Algeria.html

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The Chateau Frontenac is an iconic and historic hotel located in Quebec City, Quebec. The hotel is located in the Old Quebec in Upper Town. The hotel opened in 1883, and was expanded upon in 1899 until 1924. The chateau's history begins before the hotel's inception. The hotel takes its name from Louis de Buade, count de Palluau et de Frontenac, a key figure in New France history. Frontenac was the governor of the colony from 1672 to 1682, and again from 1689 to 1698, and is recognized for having defended it against British and Iroquois attacks. The Château stands on the Saint-Louis Forts and Châteaux archaeological site, which was, for over 200 years, the official residence and seat of the French and British governors. The First Québec Conference was held at the Château Frontenac in 1943. British prime minister Winston Churchill and American president Franklin D. Roosevelt were hosted by Canadian prime minister Mackenzie King as they agreed on plans for the upcoming allied invasion of occupied Europe. The chateau is considered the most photographed hotel in the world.

https://www.britannica.com/topic/Chateau-Frontenac/media/1075395/98073

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French is one of the five most spoken Romance languages. The original area that French rose out of was the ancient region of Gaul, which is now modern day France and Belgium. The Gauls spoke Gaulish, and this language really hasn't impacted the formation of the French language, but the Roman conquest of Gaul in the 2nd century spread Latin to the region. In fact, "Romance language" really means "to speak in a Roman fashion." During this conquest, the Gaulish language was incorporated into the Latin language. As the Roman Empire expanded, many dialects arose and transformed the Latin language. One of these dialects, Vulgar Latin, gained traction in the Gaul region and became it's own language. The Germanic invasions which followed after the fall of the Roman Empire- known by the Romans as the "barbaric invasions" - had a big impact on the French language. When the Empire's frontiers collapsed and Gaul fell into the hands of the Franks, Vulgar Latin was further diluted by dialects from the different regions. The German invaders were incorporated into Gallo-Roman society and the Germanic languages and Vulgar Latin somewhat meshed together to create the initial groundwork for the French language. Around the 15th-17th centuries French began to morph into the more modern French language that we see today.

https://www.rosettastone.com/lp/french/history-of-the-french-language/

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"It's time for realism in EU-Russia ties: France's Macron"

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"It's time for realism in EU-Russia ties: France's Macron"

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France's President, Emmanuel Macron recently spoke to the European Union about what he believes to be outdated relationships with Turkey and Russia. President Macron is a very polarizing figure in France, with the political landscape mirroring many of the issues we have seen in the US. Macron believes that France and the EU have relied on the US for stability and protection for too long. President Trump's "America first" rhetoric has had resounding influence on the way countries perceive their national security. President Trump has questioned the US' future role in NATO, which has many of our allies concerned with their defense capabilities. Macron believes France, and the EU need to build ties with Turkey and Russia, because their relationship has been stagnant since the end of the Cold War. Since taking office, Macron has tried to improve his relationship with Russia's President Vladimir Putin, which could usher in a new era of political relationships in the region.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-france-finland-defense-russia/its-time-for-realism-in-eu-russia-ties-frances-macron-idUSKCN1LF0UP

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When people think of Switzerland they think of their chocolate, knives and cheese industry. Interestingly enough, before World War I, over a thousand different types of cheese were produced in Switzerland. After the War, two types of cheese made up about 92% of cheese exports from Switzerland- Gruyere and Emmental. (which is what we refer to as Swiss cheese) With the outbreak of World War I, Switzerland’s cheese industry was in jeopardy. A lack of hay and fodder was causing a milk shortage. Switzerland responded by establishing the Swiss Cheese Union to protect the national food supply.
After the war, in addition to regulating prices and managing exports, the Swiss Cheese Union began to assess the quality of the cheeses being produced in Switzerland. In the 1920's, the Union sent a letter to Swiss cheese producers and called them out for making crappy cheese. The Union then invested in milk organizations who then artificially created the price of cheese. The Swiss government funded the Swiss Cheese Union, which controlled the Swiss milk associations, which in turn bought cheese from the cheesemakers before selling it back to the Cheese Union. The Union had a stake in every aspect of cheese production, which essentially made it a cheese cartel. In 1996, The Swiss Cheese Union got caught accepting bribes and breaking international trade laws, which led to it's implosion in 1999.

NPR- Money Counts Podcast

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The Casino de Monte-Carlo is one of the most famous casinos in the world and is also heavily tied the peculiar principality of Monaco. In 1850, the House of Grimaldi was desperate for cash and sought to build a casino in hopes of alleviating their debts. The future Prince of Monaco, Charles III, assembled a team of Frenchmen to develop a plan to fund the project, which required 4 million francs. The lack of publicity and public transport failed to provide Charles with the capital he needed, and the casino rights were passed onto Pierre Auguste Daval as a result in 1857. After gaining popularity in the late 19th century, the casino expanded to the facade we see today. he casino is currently owned and operated by the Société des Bains de Mer, and players are offered the chance to attend a variety of gaming events and slot machine tournaments. The most interesting part about the casino is that locals are not allowed to enter or gamble in the casino. Historically, when the casino was built, Princess Caroline did not want locals to gamble away their money, which would then weaken the economy even more. The purpose of the casino is to attract rich foreigners, and to this day the majority of Monaco's income is retained from rich foreigners that vacation in Monaco.

https://www.gamblingherald.com/why-do-monaco-laws-forbid-locals-from-gambling/

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Bruges, Belgium is a city in Northwest Belgium that was a medieval port city that played an important role in the development of the European economy. The river Zwin linked the settlement to the North Sea and it  quickly became an important international trading port.In the 14th century, traders from all over the world to flock to the city to sell their products and to buy luxurious Flemish cloth, which was produced in various cities, including nearby Ghent. Bruges became a key member of the Hanseatic League of Seventeen Cities, a powerful association of northern European trading cities, and the city reached its economic peak. Italian cities such as Genoa, Florence and Venice built trade houses here, and ships with exotic goods from all over Europe and further afield docked at the Minnewater, a small lake to the city’s south. The famous painter Jan van Eck did most of his work in Bruges, including the masterpiece The Madonna with Canon van Der Paele. The center square in Bruges is truly a sight to see. Many of the buildings are original Middle Age buildings, and because Bruges was an epicenter for exotic trade, the buildings were ornate for the time.

https://www.visitflanders.com/en/destinations/bruges/history/

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The Belgian Waffle is one of the most famous foods of the French speaking world. Typically referred to as a gauffre in the French part of Belgium, waffles are a staple item in cities.Waffles were first made in the Middle Ages, and were sold as crispy and rich street-side snacks by vendors outside Churches in Belgium. Agriculture was the main subsistence pattern then, and barley and oats were quite easily available to use as ingredients. King Charles IX of France said that the vending stalls had to be kept at a safe distance from one another, because the eating of waffles had become such a popular phenomenon. There are actually 2
types of waffles, the Brussels waffle and the Leige waffle.The Brussels waffle is what we commonly refer to in the US as a Belgian waffle, and the Leige waffle is a more close textured, sticky texture. In Belgium, waffles are typically eaten with the hands, and syrup is not a common topping, as it is in the United States. Typically, they are covered with powdered sugar or covered with whipped cream and strawberries. In Belgium, waffles are still considered a street food instead of a main breakfast item.

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/belgian-waffles-history_n_6535434

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"Seychelles granted new territorial waters, opening possibility of oil exploration"

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"Seychelles granted new territorial waters, opening possibility of oil exploration"

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A recent UN ruling could be very lucrative for Seychelles, a small French speaking island nation off the coast of Africa. The UN ruling allows Seychelles new territorial waters, spanning about 1500 kilometers. The hope is that the country can explore the area and possibly find oil or other natural resources. The chief executive of PetroSeychelles, Patrick Joseph, told reporters that now Seychelles has “an additional area where we can conduct research for resources under the sea, for example, oil exploration. We don’t know if there is but we have the opportunity now to do the research because the area is now ours.” In addition, Seychelles doesn't plan to use the area for its own benefit. Patrick Joseph added that the country is open to foreign oil companies surveying the area for potential business opportunities. Such an endeavor will greatly stimulate the countries' economy and possibly bring in foreign investment, which many locals are not fond of. Seychelles is naturally very beautiful and many people believe that oil exploration could permanently damage the environment.
http://www.seychellesnewsagency.com/articles/9809/Seychelles+granted+new+territorial+waters%2C+opening+possibility+of+oil+exploration

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The Cannes Film Festival is an International festival held in Cannes, France. The annual festival is one of the biggest events held on the French Riviera. Originally established in 1946, there was talk of holding a film festival in Cannes as early as 1932. Many Europeans were troubled by the Venice Film Festival, which was showing a fascist slant at the time. World War II broke out before anything could be officially organized, but the first festival was finally held in 1946. At the festival, the Palme d'Or (The Golden Palm) is the most prestigious award given to the best film. There are also other awards given for Best Short Film, Best Actor, Best Actress and Best Screenplay, among others. There are also awards given by independent entities that cover more specific areas of interest. The festival has become a very important for film debuts and attracts a lot of media attention. The fashion of Cannes is also emphasized. Actresses and actors are somewhat of a canvas for both established and up and coming designers, and there is always a significant amount of speculation of what people will wear.

https://www.festival-cannes.com/en/festival/

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The Louvre is a national museum and art gallery located in Paris. The Louvre originated as a 12th century fortress of Philip Augustus, and was renovated into a royal residence in 1546 by Francis I. It remained as a royal residence until 1682 when Louis XIV moved his court to the newly erected Versailles palace. In 1793, after being in a sort of "limbo," the revolutionary government opened the Louvre as a national museum and art gallery. To this day, the Louvre is the most visited art museum and is an iconic landmark in France overall. The Louvre has an extensive collection that spans from ancient times to the mid 19th century, including Da Vinci's famous Mona Lisa painting. The Louvre has an extensive Mesopotamian collection and Greek and Roman collection. In 2012, the Louvre renovated Richelieu wing to expand their Islamic art and ancient Assyrian collections. In 2016, Louvre Abu Dhabi opened in the United Arab Emirates. The agreement to license the name was a landmark agreement between the two countries, and the Abu Dhabi location will feature Louvre collections on rotation.

https://www.britannica.com/topic/Louvre-Museum

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The Verdon Gorge, in south-eastern France is a river canyon that is often considered to be one of Europe's most beautiful. The gorge is located in the South of France near the Riviera.  It was formed by the Verdon River, which is named for its bright turquoise color, one of the location's distinguishing characteristics. The most impressive part lies between the towns of Castellene and Moustiers Sainte-Marie, where the river has cut a ravine to a depth of 700 meters through the limestone. At the end of the canyon, the Verdon River flows into the artificial lake of Sainte Croix- de Verdon. At the gorge, tourists can rent kayaks and boats to explore the gorge. The gorge is also a great spot for fly fishing. There are also many ledges where people typically cliff dive. I had the opportunity to visit the gorge two summers ago while I was traveling the French Riviera. It was absolutely stunning and one of my favorite parts of my trip. The water was so bright and clean and it was nothing like I had ever seen before.

https://about-france.com/tourism/verdon-gorge.htm