# data[].attributes.body
I saw someone ask about whether or not pronouns are changing in French since most things are gendered, and I found this. I hope it helps! - Rachel Garst

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
by Pisana Ferrari - cApStAn Ambassador to the Global Village

In the French language, all pronouns, nouns and adjectives carry the gender of the object or person they refer to. In English, the discussion around "gender neutral" language focuses on pronouns ("they"), in Romance languages such as French it is more complicated. The French " iel" is a contraction of " il" (he) and " elle" (she) but, if " iel" is used, speakers still have to pick, later on, one of the binary gender options for adjectives' or nouns' endings. Also, the masculine form in French is considered dominant in the plural: thus a mixed-gender group of people, for example, will always be masculine as long as there is one man in the room. Attempts to introduce more inclusive language in France have so far met with strong opposition. In 2017 the Académie française, France's (overwhelmingly male) language watchdog, unanimously adopted an official statement to the effect that inclusive writing "is an aberration that poses a mortal threat to the French language and which the nation will need to account for to future generations". More recently, on February 17, 2021, a group of sixty members of the French Parliament, from the ruling LREM party and the opposition Les Républicains, tabled a draft bill calling for a ban on the use of gender-neutral language among government officials and civil servants, and inclusive writing has just been banned by the government in schools. However, some progress has been made in terms of the feminization of job titles.
Inclusive language is now banned in schools
On May 5 a government circular banning the use of inclusive writing in schools was published in the French Official Journal. Defending this measure the French Education Minister, Jean-Michel Blanquer, says that inclusive writing is complex and breaks up words, making the language harder to learn, to read (especially if out loud) and to write. This is particularly penalising for pupils with learning difficulties, the circular further reads. The government's ban is addressed in particular at the use of median points or "middots" - a floating full stop positioned mid-word - as in Français·es, which allows for a more inclusive form of plural, to accomodate both masculine and feminine forms.

Regarding the controversy around the use of "middots" Eliane Viennot, a historian and literature professor at the Jean-Monnet University in Saint-Étienne, points out that similar contractions have long been commonplace in French paperwork, most notably identity cards, which use the form " Né(e)" - for born - to introduce one's date of birth. "Critics obsess over an abbreviation - the median point - which feminists didn't even invent," she says. "The feminist contribution is to have looked for a more appropriate sign, since the use of parentheses conveys a lesser degree of importance."
Progress in the femininization of jobs titles
The French Education Ministry circular that banished the "·e" formula from schools does, however, accept other changes in language that highlight women. It states that "the title of the functions held by a woman must systematically be feminized. This should be done in accordance with the rules set out in the guide to help feminize the names of professions, titles, ranks and functions developed by the National Center for Scientific Research and the National Institute of the French language, entitled " Femme, j'écris ton nom" ("Woman, I write your name"). This is a 119 page document, which says a lot about the level of detail with which the issue is addressed. The circular also encourages the simultaneous use of both masculine and feminine forms to emphasise that roles are filled by both sexes. So a job posting in a school, for example, should say that it will go to " le candidat ou la candidate " - man or woman - who is best qualified to fill it.
A new horizon for inclusive writing?
This is a big step forward if you consider that in the 1980s there was fierce opposition to attempts to feminise certain professions, and that as late as 2014 a Member of Parliament caused an incident by refusing to address a female colleague in the feminine form. The Académie française itself only dropped its insistence on calling female presidents " Madame le président" (instead of Madame la présidente) in 2019. Although French people had feminized professions informally for years, this signified the end of the long official block.

The increasing use of words like " iel" (contraction of "he" and "she") and " toustes " (a contraction of the masculine and feminine terms for "all") may signal a new horizon in inclusive writing, one that goes even beyond the original intent to feminize the French language, says Gwenaëlle Perrier, a researcher at the University of Paris 13 who specialises in politics, language and gender. "Such words serve both a political purpose, opening to transgender and non-binary representations, and a practical one, for instance using neutral terms when a person's identity is not known."
Sources "Écriture inclusive : un premier bilan de la controverse", The Conversation, October 11, 2020 "Une 'écriture excluante' qui "s'impose par la propagande :32 linguistes listent les défauts de l'écriture inclusive", par Tribune collective, Marianne, September 18, 2020
Just how far gender-neutral writing should go to address these concerns, and which innovations should be adopted, are the subject of intense debate. The debate touches on a range of practical aspects, including whether feminine and masculine forms should have a particular order - or be ordered at random.
How to best approach the translation and adaptation of tests and surveys for gendered languages Dilemmas translators face with Romance languages, where every adjective betrays more information than in English Romance languages are rooted in a binary vision of the world: this poses challenges for educators seeking to create a more inclusive environment in the classroom "International Francophonie Day" celebrations include the launch of a revolutionary new French dictionary Should the "Académie française" continue to safeguard the French language's antiquated purity or try to instill new life into it?
See also our other articles on the themes of gendered languages, French language, language protection policies

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
French government bans inclusive writing in schools but accepts other changes that feminize language - cApStAn

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
by Pisana Ferrari - cApStAn Ambassador to the Global Village In the French language, all pronouns, nouns and adjectives carry the gender of the object or person they refer to. In English, the discussion around "gender neutral" language focuses on pronouns ("they"), in Romance languages such as French it is more complicated.

# data[].attributes.body
How is the French language evolving compared to English? Is French developing slang? Are pronouns changing like many countries. Of course it is changing all languages change, but how does it compare to other countries? Mary Guinn

# data[].attributes.body
https://www.gpsmycity.com/articles/58-paris-souvenirs-19-distinctively-french-products-to-bring-home-from-paris.html

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
You can hardly have enough money and luggage space to get all the takes your fancy in Paris. Luckily, with a little bit of tasteful advice and experience, you can save yourself some time and effort and pick up just about the right amount of things worth taking home. Listed here are some of the hints to the ones anxious to take away a chunk of Paris, sometimes at a bargain price.

1. Jewelry, Watches or Perfume from Van Cleef and Arpels

Founded in 1896, the first Van Cleef and Arpel's store in Paris is still around today, at 22 Place Vendôme. Worn by many celebrities and with the easily recognizable four-star clover pendant, the Van Cleef and Arpel perfume makes an unforgettable gift. The company has won many awards and is highly regarded as one of the top in its class for its ability to enhance the beauty of stones and gems. Its perfumes cost around 50 euro. The jewelry starts at around 100 euro and goes up to about 80,000.

Van Cleef and Arpel's store
22 Place Vendôme, 75001 Paris, France

Offline reading and travel directions:

You can carry this article in your mobile device to read offline and create a self-guided walk to visit the venues featured herein with the GPSmyCity App (available on iTunes App Store or Google Play Store).

4. Mustard (Dijon)

Mustard may not be the first thing you thought of as a take home souvenir when you purchased your plane ticket to Paris, but it is not a bad idea if you enjoy Maille mustards or high grade mustards. There are a variety of flavors in gift sets, which makes it feel more like a gift than just handing a bottle of mustard to someone. These sets of five have classic flavors mixed with exotic, each unique with savory flavors. Mustards are great for salad dressings, fried foods, sandwiches and marinades. You can expect to pay about 1/4 of the amount that these mustards go for in the US by buying it in France. The featured gift set costs about 15 euros. A great place to buy it as a set is Galleries Layfayette in the gourmet food section. 40 Boulevard Haussmann, 75009 Paris, France. Metro: Chaussee d'Antin-La Fayette, Opera.

5. Fois Gras

If you like the taste of duck liver, or think that someone you care about does, then be sure to pick up some Fois Gras to take home as a gift. As one of the French gourmet inventions, Fois Gras is not for the faint of heart, but there are many who adore the flavor. Fois gras can be spread on bread, crackers, or eaten as a side to a meal. You can find a set of canned fois gras at Galleries Layfayette in the food section. You can also pick up less decorated cans of fois gras at grocery stores throughout Paris. If you are planning on attending an event with wine and cheese, this would be a great addition to the party. Plan to spend around 10-20 euros.

Galleries Layfayette
40 Boulevard Haussmann, 75009 Paris, France
Metro: Chaussee d'Antin-La Fayette, Opera

6. Cheese

Luckily, a lot of cheese is kept at room temperature and mold can be a good thing for certain types. If you want cheese as your souvenir, try to buy it right before you get on the plane and wrap it well to store in your checked bags. You may want to check with the customs as many cheeses are not pasteurized and may be illegal to bring in to certain countries. Plan to spend anywhere from 2 to 40 euros depending on the type and the amount of cheese bought.

The #1. cheese suggestion is Comté (also called Gruyère de Comté) made from unpasteurized cow milk in eastern France. It has a strong and slightly sweet flavor and is a relatively harder cheese. Comté has the highest production figures of all French cheeses. #2. Brie, generally a cheese made of cow milk, either whole or semi-skimmed. Brie is usually purchased either in a full wheel or as a wheel segment. It is soft with a mild flavor. #3. Camembert is in the same family as Brie although from Normandy instead of the Champagne region. Camembert is fully covered by rind and has less fat than Brie. The flavors are similar but Camembert is a little stronger. And, finally, #4. Chèvre cheese. This cheese is made from goat milk. It has a stronger and more tart flavor to it and a medium-soft texture.

7. Chocolate

Good chocolate is almost a fail-proof gift idea and Paris makes it very easy to find. With world-renowned chocolatiers, like Pierre Herme, Paul Hevin, and Pierre Marcolini, you will easily be able to find high-quality chocolate without even searching for it. Plan to spend from 10-20 Euros on average for a chocolate souvenir or present. Paul Hevin chocolate gift set is definitely well worth the try. There is a store at 231 Rue Saint-Honoré, from which you can walk away with an inexpensive salted caramel chocolate bar that melts in your mouth for just 3.90 euro or buy a whole gift box. One popular box, called the Tri-box No.1, includes assorted chocolates, one jar of jam (240g), and 14 pieces of caramel for around 60 Euros.

Paul Hevin
231 Rue Saint-Honoré, 75001 Paris, France

8. White Cafe-Esque Dishes at La Vaissellerie

Shopping at La Vaissellerie is an economical way to bring home your Parisian cafe experience. Full of knick-knacks and kitchen accessories, this eclectic store has many very reasonably priced white dishes. When you first walk in, you may think it's a bit crowded and random, but upon a closer inspection you will discover not only the dishes but also a small selection of la croquette pots and dishes, kitchen utensils, cup holders, salt and pepper shakers. Expect to spend about 2 Euros per white dish. The people working at the store have good English and are ready to gift-wrap for you. It is in three locations in Paris proper, but here is one address: 85 Rue Rennes, 75006 Paris, France. Metro: Saint Suplice, Rennes.

La Vaissellerie
85 Rue Rennes, 75006 Paris, France
Metro: Saint Suplice, Rennes

9. Wine

France is almost always the largest wine producer in the world (with the exception of one or two years when it came second to Spain). With over 56 varieties of grapes, wines are a cultural pillar for France and a great souvenir to bring home. You can buy a variety of wines from grocery stores, for example, the cost effective Chateau la Vaisinerre's red wine from 2009, winner of the silver medal Paris 2011 awards, for around 15 Euros a bottle. If you want something more special, go to a specialty shop, such as the contemporary Lovin' wine store in Marais at 40 rue Saint-Honoré, 1st arr. Métro: Louvre-Rivoli or Les Halles; closed Sunday and Monday. This knowledgeable cellar holds very classic, as well as fine wines. The Chablis wines by Jean-Marc Brocard, a wine specialist who is a partner of the shop; the Languedoc labels La Tour Boisée and Le Domaine des Schistes; the Loire Valley's La Taille aux Loups; Montirius, grown in the Rhône region; and a selection of awesome Bordeaux wines (Cheval Blanc, Haut-Brion, Cos d'Estournel). If you have a taste for wine, you'll find something that suits you in this store most definitely.

Lovin' wine store
40 rue Saint-Honoré, 1st arr, 75001 Paris, France
Métro: Louvre-Rivoli or Les Halles

10. Stuffed Animals

Built in 1860, the Passage des Princes is very much similar to any other visually interesting and historically rich passage in Paris, except for one thing - all the shops here sell toys. Another remarkable thing about it is that it looks freshly built, creating a sensation that you're in Disneyland or something, and the reason for that being that, indeed, the passage was destroyed and built anew in 1985 in exactly the same form, using many of the original elements, as part of a real estate scheme. Funny enough though, the original arcade - back in the 19th century - was also created the same way, through demolition, as part of another real estate scheme meant to improve pedestrian connectivity with Rue Richelieu, which was then one of the busiest and most elegant streets in Paris. To make it possible, the Hà´tel des Princes et de l'Europe palace had to be brought down. The passage was first named the Passage Mirès after the bank of Jules Mirès which subsidized the construction and, ironically, went bust shortly after the project was finished.

Passage des Princes
5 boulevard des Italiens/ 97 rue de Richelieu, 75002 Paris, France

12. Chanel No. 5

Often considered the world's most famous perfume, The French government reports that a bottle of Chanel No. 5 is sold every thirty seconds. Coco Chanel had a strong affinity to the number five and felt it was very lucky. This is the first perfume that she ever sold. The perfume has a great smell with a delicate balance between musky, flowery, and fresh. You can find the Chanel No. 5 Perfume at Sephora at 70 Avenue des Champs Elysées, or go directly to a Chanel store at 38 Rue du Faubourg Saint Honore. Expect to pay around 40-70 Euros for a bottle. Metro: George V for Sephora and Concord for the Chanel store.

Sephora
70 Avenue des Champs Elysées, 75008 Paris, France
Metro: George V

Chanel store
38 Rue du Faubourg Saint Honore, 75008 Paris, France
Metro: Concord

13. Asterix Comic Books (Bandes Dessines)

Arguably the most famous cartoon authors and illustrators in French history, René Goscinny and Albert Uderzo's brilliant Adventures of Asterix series of 34 books have been popular since 1959 when they were first published. The Astrix series is one of the most popular Franco-Belgian comics in the world and has been translated into over 100 languages.

Most comic book stores are located in the Saint Germain/Latin Quarter downtown. Check out the Gilbert Jeune Geography, politic, voyages, tourism store first. The second floor has a comic book section. Then, check out one of the two Aaapoum bapoum stores at 14 Rue Serpente, 75006 Paris. This store is solely dedicated to comic books and carries some first editions. Price range: 3-100 Euros. Metro: Saint Michel.

14. Nail Polish at a Pharmacy

Parisian pharmacies carry a lot of high-end beauty products, from Chanel and Lancome to the La Prairie labels. A great gift for a teenage girl would be to ask the clerk what the best colors this season are and buy an Yves Saint Laurent or Chanel nail polish. Pharmacies are on almost every street corner in Paris, so don't go out of your way searching for them, they are unavoidable. Expect to spend around 7-20 Euros.

16. Lancôme Cosmetics

Lancôme Cosmetics: L'Oreal is the world's largest cosmetics company. The company began in 1909 with hair dye and three chemists, and now has over 2,000 chemists on staff producing over 500 brands. One of the most high-end brands in the L'Oreal conglomerate is Lancôme. Founded in 1935 by Armand Petitjean in France, Petitjean's motive was simple: to create a beauty brand that would deliver French elegance around the world. Over 75 years later, the brand is still going strong. Consider stopping by the store at 40 Boulevard Haussmann, Etage : Rez-de-chaussée du magasin principal, 75009 Paris, France. There is a gift box of six eye shadows and 3 lipsticks in a case that can be yours for around 30 Euros.

Lancôme
40 Boulevard Haussmann, Etage: Rez-de-chaussée du magasin principal, 75009 Paris, France

18. Scarves

Scarves are very popular in Paris. Silk scarves, knock off designer ties, and pashminas can be found at good prices. The key is to shop off the street. From 5-12 Euros you can bring home something that looks much more expensive. A tip is to go into a shopping area, like Galleries Lafayette, to get a good feel of what is in style and then buy a similar look from the sidewalk vendors outside. This photo shows the scarves bought from one such vendor right outside the Galleries Layfayette at 40 Boulevard Haussmann, 75009 Paris, France. Metro: Chaussee d'Antin-Layfayette, Opera.

Other Interesting Souvenirs from France

If traveling to France is not on your immediate agenda, or you simply can't afford an extra space in your luggage, fortunately, these days, you can find a wide selection of authentic and truly interesting French souvenirs online. Presented here are some of the French products sought by foreign visitors, now available online for your convenience.

1. French Béret - Once considered the national cap of France, a black wool beret has been an inseparable part of French cultural tradition since the 19th century when its mass production began. Nowadays, no longer worn as widely as it once was, the unisex black beret remains a strong sign of local identity in France and is often seen during celebrations of traditional events. Whenever the French want to appear as "the typical Frenchmen" either at home or abroad, they rely on the "beret" stereotype.

2. Louis Vuitton Handbag - An established attribute of luxury, style, taste and French elegance, Louis Vuitton handbag is a playful and delightful way for a lady to carry her numerous essentials for business or pleasure. A combination of smart, structured exterior with a spacious, well-organized interior, complete with natural cowhide leather, shiny golden brass hardware, and iconic Monogram canvas, the authentic Louis Vuitton thing comes at a price, but it's well worth it.

3. Organic Beauty Products - Centuries-old tradition of French soap making lives on in the 21st century producing invigorating soaps, body washes, lotions, perfumes, oils, and many more beauty products, leaving no place for impurities, and delivering smooth and healthy looking skin. These luxurious products are perfect for bathrooms, kitchens, showers, and are equally wonderful for gifts and personal care.

4. French Perfumes - Of the several things closely associated with France, perfume is definitely the one. A staple element of romantic wear, French perfumes are the breath of life itself captured in scents, be it a flight of flowers with a breeze of freshness, a firm hold of Damascus rose, violet and peony, or a spectacularly feminine blend of amber woods with the notes of orange blossom and vanilla. A perfume made in France can speak volumes to those who have the nose to hear.

5. Provence Herbs and Spices - Originally from Provence where they pioneered adding lavender to aromatic herbs, this blend of herbs, commonly known as Herbs of Provence, is absolutely great for grilling and seasoning meat or fish. Provence specialty and sometimes a closely guarded secret, this blend of aromatic herbs and spices, mixed with olive oil and garlic, is a notable contribution of Provencal chefs to international cuisine.

6. Tea from King's Kitchen Garden - Versailles - Delicate as Marie Antoinette herself, crafted from the fruits handpicked in the King Kitchen Garden of Versailles, the world's oldest kitchen garden, this original Marie-Antoinette tea carries the delicious scent of fresh apples and roses that have been blossoming there since the late 17th century as the symbol of appreciation of nature and reminder of the genesis of French luxury culture envisioned by Queen Marie Antoinette.

7. Madeleine Cakes - A delightful product of France, Madeleine sponge cakes are a great option for breakfast or afternoon snack, especially if dunked in a cup of coffee or washed down with aromatic tea. Resembling mini pound cakes, delicious little Madeleines are made with almond powder and sometimes come sprinkled with chocolate chips. Very decadent, but too good to resist!

8. Fleur de Sel French Sea Salt - Skimmed in summer from the thin surface layer of the saltpans, and then crystallized by joint action of sun and wind, this salt is the fruit of the ocean harvested by hand in a strict accordance with a thousand year-old traditional method, producing a rare, naturally white salt to accompany fine gourmet foods for your someone special.

Get GPSmyCity App for IOS or Android

You can read offline thousands of travel articles like this one in the "GPSmyCity: Walks and Articles with Offline Maps" app on iTunes App Store or Google Play. The apps also offer GPS navigation to guide you to the places featured in the articles.

Walking Tours in Paris, France

Creating your own self-guided walk in Paris is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.

From the Louvre to the Notre-Dame Cathedral to Place de la Bastille, the evolution of Paris and its history is literally visible on the banks of the river Seine, the linking thread winding its way through the city, as if keeping a watchful eye on its architectural marvels.

This walk is centered around Île de la Cité and Le Marais, which together form the historical core of power in Paris.... view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.4 Km or 2.7 Miles

The French Revolution had a huge impact on France's history as it gave rise to a radical democratic republic and resulted in quite a bit of violence during the infamous "Reign of Terror". Even though many of Paris' buildings were damaged in the course of the bloody conflicts, the sites they occupied - which you can find on this self-guided tour - are of a great historical... view more

Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 7.3 Km or 4.5 Miles

Originally named "Mons Martis", meaning the "Mount of Mars", Montmartre is one of the most famous and visited neighborhoods in Paris. Beyond the Sacré-Coeur, the Moulin Rouge and notable landmarks, the district is also about the atmosphere, the narrow streets, and the artsy culture that has made Paris famous. Once home to artists such as Monet, Picasso and Van Gogh, Montmartre continues... view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.8 Km or 1.7 Miles

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Paris Souvenirs: 19 Distinctively French Products to Bring Home from Paris

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
You can hardly have enough money and luggage space to get all the takes your fancy in Paris. Luckily, with a little bit of tasteful advice and experience, you can save yourself some time and effort and pick up just about the right amount of things worth taking home.

# data[].attributes.headline
Valentine's Day in France vs. United States

# data[].attributes.subject
Valentine's Day in France vs. United States

# data[].attributes.body
https://fentoninprint.com/5495/opinion/france-vs-america-the-different-ways-to-celebrate-valentines-day/

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
As Feb. 14 is coming, red and pink become the colors of the month, stores feature heart-shaped articles, and couples begin to plan their date for this special night.

It is Valentine's Day. Many celebrate this holiday, but only a few wonder what the day dedicated to love is like outside of the United States. France, known as the country of love, would be expected to have similar traditions for this holiday. Especially knowing Valentine's Day originated there. Its purpose is to commemorate Saint Valentin who, during middle ages, was secretly unifying couples, but was executed on that day as a punishment for those illegal acts.

However, French people do not see the holiday as really important and do not make it as big of a deal or commercialize the event, like Americans do. In France, only couples celebrate the Saint Valentin, but they don't see it as an important holiday, considering love should be celebrated year around. They don't need a specific day in the year to say "Je t'aime" and to be romantic. However, they still go on a "rendez-vous," usually in a fancy restaurant in town or a nice dinner at home. Similar to American teens, French teenagers exchange gifts with their significant other but not quite the same kind. Americans spend their money on cute teddy bears, candy boxes and flowers, and French couples usually offer jewels or sexy underwear to each other.

Although some people will deny it, the United States make Valentine's Day a big deal in comparison to the rest of the world. It is one of the only places on Earth where people will buy a Valentine's Day present for their pets, organize Valentine's Day balls, daddy-daughter dances and other parties. They also decorate their high school hallways with hearts, send Valentine grams, and give Valentine's Day cards to their friends and family. In fact, a French person would get the wrong idea if they received such a card.

Although French people do not see Valentine's day as important as we do in America, some couples still decide to make this day special. One place in the region of Indre, France, is the famous Saint Valentin village, where couples from all around the country attend the Festival of Love. The whole site is decked out with red roses. Lovers can also get married in the Garden Gazebo, pin their love notes on the Tree of Vows, and plant a tree that will, hopefully, flourish or commemorate their love on the Tree of Eternal Hearts.

Not only are the United States and France separated by the Atlantic ocean, but also by their differences in culture, that are not always well accepted by each other. While a major part of the Americans are too conservative to accept the kind of presents French people offer to their girlfriend or boyfriend, most French people on the other hand will think teddy bears are too childish for high school. Although candy boxes and heart-shaped pizzas contribute to feed American stereotypes, the over-commercialization of any holiday products is definitely shading the real purpose of those celebrations.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
France vs. America: The celebration of Valentine's day

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
As Feb. 14 is coming, red and pink become the colors of the month, stores feature heart-shaped articles, and couples begin to plan their date for this special night. It is Valentine's Day. Many celebrate this holiday, but only a few wonder what the day dedicated to love is like outside of the United States....

# data[].attributes.body
https://www.exclusive-france-tours.com/christmas-traditions-france-north-america/

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Differences Between Christmas Traditions in France and North America

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
What are key similarities and differences between how Christmas is celebrated in France and North America? From desserts to trees and lights, here's how the cultures respectively fete the season.

# data[].attributes.body
https://www.intellectualtakeout.org/article/difference-between-fourth-july-and-bastille-day/

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
To celebrate Fourth of July, Donald Trump added a large military theme to the parade. Many observers, and critics, noted that this looked a lot like the traditional French celebration of Bastille Day, which will be celebrated this Sunday, July 14 th.

Americans tend to conflate Fourth of July and Bastille Day. The fact that they fall only ten days apart, the fact that they both celebrate some form of "liberty", and the fact that France was America's ally in the American Revolution have led many Americans to think of Bastille Day as "France's Fourth of July."

But do these holidays really celebrate the same thing? Hardly.

The Fourth of July celebrates an orderly meeting. On July 4 th, 1776, the Founding Fathers met in Philadelphia to discuss how to address their complaints against the British. They then signed the Declaration of Independence, and by doing so declared their independence from Britain in a peaceful fashion.

Bastille Day, by contrast, celebrates a bloody slaughter by a mob. On July 14 th, 1789, a mob of angry Parisians stormed the Bastille, a royal fortress and prison in the heart of Paris. This event ignited the French Revolution. After they took the fortress, they captured the governor of the fortress and brutally killed him, as described by a Paris newspaper:

"De Launey [the governor] was struck by a thousand blows, his head was cut off and hoisted on the end of a pike with blood streaming down all sides"

This massacre is what the French people commemorate (and celebrate) every year on July 14 th.

These two holidays point to the very different natures of the revolutions. The Fourth of July celebrates a revolution waged out of a desire to defend the historical rights of the colonies, not to invent anything new, as Thomas Jefferson pointed out in 1825:

"This was the object of the Declaration of Independence. Not to find out new principles, or new arguments, never before thought of, not merely to say things which had never been said before...Neither aiming at originality of principle or sentiment, nor yet copied from any particular and previous writing, it was intended to be an expression of the American mind, and to give to that expression the proper tone and spirit called for by the occasion."

Bastille Day celebrates the French Revolution, an attempt to radically reorder society by force. The French Revolutionaries took Jean-Jacques Rosseau as their ideological guru. Rosseau said that society had corrupted man and created unjust inequalities. Therefore, men should form a government that took them back to their utopian "state of nature."

To achieve their goal, the revolutionaries unleashed what became known as "the Reign of Terror" during which they guillotined 17,000 people. In addition, civil war broke out in several regions of France, leading to further death and destruction.

The American Founders clearly perceived that flaws of human nature, and therefore believed that a government run directly by the people would only result in chaos and disorder. Alexander Hamilton argued this in 1777:

"To determine the qualifications proper for the chief executive Magistrate requires the deliberate wisdom of a select assembly, and cannot be safely lodged with the people at large."

The French revolutionaries believed the people could never be wrong. The leading figure of the French Revolution, Maximilian Robespierre, said as much in 1793:

"Any institution which does not suppose the people good, and the magistrate corruptible, is evil."

The Founding Father and the French Revolutionaries had radically differing views on liberty, society, and human nature. As both holidays are commemorated this month, it is helpful to remember this. While they appear to be celebrating the same ideas on the surface, look a little deeper, and you will find that they are very different.

--

[Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons, Public Domain]

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.keywords[]
the difference between fourth of july and bastille day

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
The Difference Between Fourth of July and Bastille Day

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
To celebrate Fourth of July, Donald Trump added a large military theme to the parade. Many observers, and critics, noted that this looked a lot like the traditional French celebration of Bastille Day, which will be celebrated this Sunday, July 14 th. Americans tend to conflate Fourth of July and Bastille Day.

# data[].attributes.body
https://frenchtogether.com/halloween-in-france/

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
The French Halloween celebration is very modest compared to the American one, but this doesn't mean nothing happens.

Today you'll discover what French people do on Halloween and what la Toussaint is all about.

What's the origin of halloween?

The origin of Halloween is unclear. Some scholars believe it comes from the celtic harvest festival that was celebrated in Britain, Ireland and France while others think it's a purely Christian tradition.

Whether it has a pagan or Christian origin, one thing is certain: Halloween is far more popular in the US than inFrance.
In France, Halloween is perceived by many as a commercial event whose only goal is to bring more money to businesses. It's also a controversial day for some Christians, who consider that it overshadows more important celebrations such as la Toussaint or la Fête des morts.

How do the French celebrate Halloween?

For Halloween many French children go trick or treating or simply organize parties at home. The French love to wear costumes and halloween is a great occasion to dress as a zombie, vampire or other scary creature. Some people also watch horror movies with their friends or family to celebrate Halloween. I remember going treat or tricking with my cousins when I was a kid. Since Halloween isn't very popular, many homes didn't have any candy for us. But we still had fun,

What about la Toussaint?

La Toussaint is a Christian celebration happening on November 1st and a bank holiday.

While the day is traditionally the day where you celebrate all saints, for many (including non religious people), it's most of all the occasion to remember the dead and bring chrysanthemum to cemeteries.

That's why you can see chrysanthemum for sale everywhere in France on la Toussaint.

While chrysanthemum are a symbol of happiness and joy in countries like Japan, they're traditionally associated with death in France.

Think about that next time you want to offer flowers to a French person.
Have you ever spent Halloween or la Toussaint in France? How was it?
Image credit: loonara / 123RF Stock Photo

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
How do the French celebrate Halloween and La Toussaint?

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The French Halloween celebration is very modest compared to the American one, but this doesn't mean nothing happens. Today you'll discover what French people do on Halloween and what la Toussaint is all about. The origin of Halloween is unclear.

# data[].attributes.body
I love everything about what what I've learned so far. Are there any nature trails?

# data[].attributes.body
What is their most popular dish?

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Ahhh France. The home of romance, and love. France is a hugely popular tourist location, especially the capital Paris. But how many speak English in France? If you visit the country on holiday, can you get away with just speaking English in France, or should you learn a little bit of French first?

Bad news, English is not spoken widely in France. However, if you visit the more touristy areas, you will probably be able to get away with speaking English in France. Particularly at the well known attractions, and in the bigger cities, you can speak English in the hotels and restaurants.

If you venture further afield though, you'll quickly find your English useless. Knowing a few basic French phrases will make your visit to France much easier - even if you visit the capital Paris.

Statistics estimates recently that less than 2/5's of the French popular, about 39%, speak English to at least some degree. Finding fluent English speakers will be much more difficult however. The majority of that 39% will only be able to speak basic English in France.

Because of that, France is a country that really requires you to speak at least some French. In fact, the French locals will react much nicer to you if you try to speak French, even if they speak English! You simply cannot rely on your English in France, especially outside the capital city.

Speaking English in Paris should be ok

If you're visiting Paris, English speakers generally get by ok. English is much more common in the capital than anywhere else. In particular, visiting tourist attractions like the Eiffel Tower, Champs-Élysées or somewhere similar, you can speak English and they will understand and reply in English.

Paris is ranked among one of the top 3 places to visit, with over 20 million visitors and tourists each year - most of them being English speakers

Paris, and other popular tourist cities in France, are well prepared for English speakers, expats, Brits and Americans. Most places in the capital will have English speak staff members, and tourist offices will usually have leaflets in English. Restaurants and hotels will usually have guides and signs in English also.

Major hotels and restaurants in Paris will speak English, with a lot of staff members (particularly younger staff members) being able to speak English in France.

Outside of the capital, you will find it harder to speak English in France

Once you leave Paris, or any of the other larger cities, you're going to start hitting problems. English is far less common in smaller areas of France, and drops well below the 39% average we quoted area.

Older ones in France tend to know less English than younger ones. Many of the over 50's were not taught English at school, so may not know much English at all. Younger ones however are taught English at schools, and usually will have a basic knowledge of English. However they also tend to be a little more hesitant to use it.

Strangely, despite English speakers being relatively low, English is still the second most common language in France. Spanish and German are also spoken, probably because of the open borders between the countries.

English is not compulsory as a second language in France - it is optional. Younger ones speak English, but their ability is usually somewhat basic, and in comparison to other countries it remains quite low.

French culture is quite different to English also. Most TV shows and movies that are English are dubbed into French by voice actors. So don't be surprised if you turn on Friends and hear completely different voices for your favourite characters!

Because of this, people in France are not engrossed in the English language. This makes them less proficient than countries such as Portugal, where most of their American TV shows and movies are not dubbed.

The facts get a little blurry however because many people in France are able to speak English, but they prefer not to. In fact, it is quite widely considered to be rude if you just start speaking English to them and assume they will speak English back. You should at least try and speak some French with them before resorting to your natural language.

That makes sense. Imagine if a French tourist visited your restaurant, and just started speaking French at you, without even trying to speak some English first. Even if you speak French, you'd consider them to be quite ignorant. The same goes for tourists in France.

French people may pretend they can't speak English if you don't try and speak French - as they think it's rude for you to not even try and speak the local language.

There are some who disagree with this, and say that the reason French people don't speak English straight away is because they are not confident in their ability. They don't want to start speaking in English and not be able to understand, so they simply resort back to French.

In reality, the truth likely sits somewhere between the two. Whatever their reason for not speaking English, it can make things more difficult for people to speak English in France.

It's so important to learn at least some basic French phrases to be able to get by in France. It will make approaching French people much easier, and allows you to speak and converse with them to a basic enough degree to get by.

By speaking basic French to start a conversation, staying polite, you are much more likely to have a French people then start speaking English with you.

How many speak English in French Cities

Each city in France is different, but we've narrowed down the English speaking abilities a little further, but listing out the experiences that have been reported by English speaking visitors to these cities:

English in Paris

Shops, bars, restaurants, hotels and attractions speak English well. Most locations in the capital will have English speakers, and you will be able to get by speaking English. You can speak English in Paris, but you should learn some basic phrases in French.

English in Toulouse

In general, staff in hotels speak some English. Toulouse is home to many international companies, as well as international studies, which means that there are more English speakers in Toulouse than you might think. You can speak English in Toulouse, and Google Translate is your friend here, especially if you can't speak a word of French!

English in Strasbourg

Sitting right on the German border, this city has a lot of international companies and studies here. English is spoken reasonably, however German is also spoken here and is more common because its location. Younger ones normally can speak English, so you can speak English in Strasbourg, but you should learn some basic French to get by.

English in Bordeaux

As above, hotel staff should be able to speak enough English to communicate with you. In the main tourist attractions, English will also be spoken. If you know a few basic French phrases, you should be able to get by here. You will get by speaking English in Bordeaux, but before speaking English, ask them if they speak it (in French).

English in Marseille

Staff members and those who speak with tourists regularly will be able to speak English. Major attractions, hotels and restaurants are among those who speak some English. English in Marseilla is possible. Having some basic French phrases is useful, as places outside of the above are less likely to speak English.

English in Lyon

Larger restaurants and shopping centres in the main tourist locations will speak a good level of English. Elsewhere, English is not particularly common. If you're planning to visit here, get yourself a good French phrase book. English in Lyon is not possible unless you are in the main tourist areas. If you plan to stay long term, you'll need to improve your French language skills to be able to integrate.

English in Loire Valley

This area is quite rural, so English is not spoken much here. If you're staying in a Bed and Breakfast, or camping in the Loire, you'll need to learn some French. You will not be able to get by just speaking English in Loire Valley - it is too remote.

English in Lille

English is not spoken much here. The locals tend to be a little older, and so will mainly speak French. Although a major stop on the Eurostar from London, you'll need to learn some basic French to get by. Speaking English in Lille is not common. Because of its train connections however, there are likely to be more English speakers in restaurants and other public areas.

English in Nice

Located on the Mediterranean coast, English is common in Nice. It is a popular city for tourists. Outside of the hotels, restaurants and bars however, English is not so common. Younger ones tend to be able to speak at least some basic English. If you are in the main areas, you can speak English in Nice. It's reported that you can live in Nice without knowing much French, as long as you stick to the main areas.

Learning some Basic French

Throughout this article, we've made mention of the need to know at least some basic French phrases. This is essential to help you get by. French is often considered quite a romantic language. Lots of letters are dropped off the end of words, and words slur together into each other. So don't try and read the words like you would in English. Rather, try to understand when and where the French drop letters.

The change in pronunciation can be difficult to learn at first, but it can be done with some practice! Be prepared to ask someone to repeat SLOWLY, as the French speak very fast, making it difficult to understand them. This is especially true when they have a strong accent and slur their words together.

Here's a list of some of the more common phrases you should learn:

English: Bonjour - French: Hello - Pronounced: Bon-joor

English: Hello (informal) - French: Salut - Pronounced: Saloo

English: How are you? - French: Comment ca va? - Pronounced: Comm-on sa-va?

English: Good evening - French: Bonsoir - Pronounced: Bon-swaah

English: Sir - French: Monsieur - Pronounced: Mur-si-urh

English: Madam - French: Madame - Pronounced: ma-damm

English: Goodbye - French: Au revoir - Pronounced: Aah rev-wah

English: See you the following day - French: A demain - Pronounced: A der-ma

English: Sorry - French: Pardon - Pronounced: Par-dohn

English: Excuse me - French: Exusez moi - Pronounced: Es-skew zay moi

English: Yes - French: Oui - Pronounced: Wee

English: No - French: Non - Pronounced: Non

English: Please - French: S'il vous plait - Pronounced: Sih-voo-play

English: Thank you - French: Merci - Pronounced: Mer-cee

English: You're welcome - French: De rien - Pronounced: Duh-ree-an

English: Do you talk English? - French: Parlez vous anglais? - Pronounced: Parley voo arn-glay?

English: I don't speak French - French: Je ne parle pas francais - Pronounced: Je nay parley pas frarn-say

English: I don't understand - French: Je ne comprends pas - Pronounced: Je nay compron pah

English: Where is....? - French: Où est......? - Pronounced: Ooh eh......?

English: The bill please? - French: l'addition s'il vous plait - Pronounced: La-dission sih voo play

English: Where is the bathroom? - French: Où sont les toilettes? - Pronounced - Ooh son leh twoylett?

Just like we mentioned in our article about English in Italy, and is the case with many other latin languages, it is much better to know a little bit of French than to not know any. French people, including those who speak English, will appreciate you making at least some effort. Often, they will switch to English once they see you trying in French. (They'll hear your English accent even if you think you're speaking fluently!).

There is a common concern that the French simply brush off tourist who just speak English at them without trying - considering them to be quite rude. This is somewhat true, particularly in the capital cities. Forums online give mixed stories on this however, with some simply saying that they're just not confident to speak English.

There is also an argument that it's simply a different in culture. The French can sometimes come across as "rude" to English speakers, but in reality, they simply have a different culture - and it's actually more considered as rude to not try and speak French!

It seems an almost unanimous view on the internet however, that English speakers need two main things to survive in France: You should learn some basic French phrases, and you need to be polite.

Loud, 'lads-holiday' tourists in France do not go down well. Those who go to France expecting everyone to speak English at them will not get welcomed with open arms. It's important to be aware of differences in culture and to stay respectful and polite when asking for help (which is the same everywhere!).

How to speak English in France

Many who live in France long-term confirm that some of the French stereotypes are true. Some people like things done a particular way, and can come across a little bit 'cold' if you try and do something different to their French culture.

Because of this, the French can come across a little more sensitive than places like Spain and Portugal. When asking for help. It's very important to d out in a way that is polite and not brash.

Need some tips? Here's a few simple suggestions to speaking English in France:

Try and speak some French first, even if it's very basic. The locals will be far more receptive if you're making the effort to speak their language, rather than assuming they will speak yours.

Always remain polite when asking questions

Even if you get frustrated, don't be arrogant, blunt or rude.

If they don't understand, the natural tendency is to speak louder... They won't understand any clearer because your volume rises!

Simply repeat clearly, and slowly if they don't fully understand.

Don't make a scene, or speak loudly when you approach them.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
How many speak English in France? - How Many Speak

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Ahhh France. The home of romance, and love. France is a hugely popular tourist location, especially the capital Paris. But how many speak English in France? If you visit the country on holiday, can you get away with just speaking English in France, or should you learn a little bit of French first?

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
The true City of Lights (regardless of what Las Vegas or Johannesburg have to say on the matter), Paris is one of the most visited cities in the world, and commonly regarded as one of the most beautiful. From the patisseries and cafés, to the staggering architecture and super-chic fashion sense, the richness of Parisian culture and history is evident everywhere.

So if you're ready to pack your bags and head to the French capital, check out these 10 top universities in Paris, based on the QS World University Rankings® 2021.

10. Université Panthéon-Assas (Paris 2)

Tenth in the table for top universities in Paris is Université Panthéon-Assas (Paris 2), which is ranked 17 th in France and 541-550 globally. It achieves its highest score in the rankings for the faculty-student ratio indicator.

The university is considered to be France's first law university, and ranks 51-100 in the QS World University Rankings by Subject for law and legal studies. It has produced an impressive range of alumni, including two French prime ministers, 13 French government ministers and the first female president of the Central African Republic, Catherine Samba-Panza.

9. Paris-Saclay University

Paris-Saclay University, part of the Paris-Saclay project, is ranked joint 305 th in the world and 11 th in France. The university is focused on science, medicine, economics and law. It's highly rated for natural sciences, placing 90 th in the world for the broad subject area in the world university rankings by subject.

Located 25km south-west from Paris, the campus is accessible by train from the city center in 45 minutes, meaning that student life is significantly less expensive than its more central counterparts. Paris-Saclay University has a truly international outlook, with the Paris-Saclay system having over 400 agreements with higher education institutions globally.

8. ENS-Paris Saclay

Formerly known as ENS Cachan, École normale supérieure Paris-Saclay (ENS-Paris Saclay), is ranked joint 291 st in the QS World University Rankings this year. Previously located in the Parisian suburb of Cachan, the school has recently moved to the commune of Gif-sur-Yvette, France's 'Silicon Valley', where it will be near other members of the Paris-Saclay research-intensive and business cluster, retaining student accommodation and administrative offices at the original campus.

7. Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne

Currently ranked joint 287 th in the world, the Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne was a successor of the historic University of Paris' law school, and is considered particularly prestigious for arts and humanities subjects, for example coming 13 th in the world for classics and ancient history. One of the largest French universities, Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne enrolls roughly 33,850 students, 7,213 of whom are from outside France.

Located in the vibrant Latin Quarter, the university operates across several famous historic buildings, including part of the Sorbonne itself, making it a prestigious and heritage-rich place to study in Paris.

6. University of Paris

Not to be confused with the historical institution of the same name (which existed on and off between 1150 until its division into 13 separate universities in 1970), the new University of Paris( Université de Paris), ranked joint 275 th in this year's QS World University Rankings, has been established from the merger of Université Paris Descartes, Université Paris Diderot (Paris 7) and the Institut de Physique du Globe de Paris (The Paris Institute of Earth Physics, IPGP). It's already a large university, hosting around 61,000 students, with a large span of campuses and sites across the city.

=4. École des Ponts ParisTech

One of the founding members of the ParisTech group, the École des Ponts ParisTech is now ranked joint 242 nd in the world, up eight places this year. Known for its culture of invention and innovation, the École des Ponts ParisTech offers programs in the fields of engineering, management, economics, transportation, urban planning and environment.

The university's main campus is a 20-minute train ride north of central Paris, although many students choose to live in the city center to be close to the liveliest areas. The school offers housing in the student-centered Latin Quarter and in other areas of the city.

A relatively small community, the École des Ponts ParisTech enrolls just under 2,000 students, of which a quarter are female.

=4. Sciences Po Paris

The Institute d'Etudes Politiques de Paris, commonly known as Sciences Po Paris, specializes in the humanities and social sciences. Currently ranked joint 242 nd in the world, Sciences Po Paris has seven campuses across France, which are home to around 14,000 students overall, of whom 46 percent are international (meaning it also ranks highly for the international students indicator).

Sciences Po Paris's main campus is located in the Saint-Germain-des-Prés area of the capital, which was once the center of the existentialist movement associated with author Simone de Beauvoir and philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre. Today, the area continues to be a hub of creative culture and is also home to many famous Parisian cafés.

Another of the top universities in Paris to be formed by a merger of former institutions, Sorbonne University is ranked 83 rd in the world in 2020 and continues to be the third highest-ranked university in the city. Founded in 2018 by the merging of Paris-Sorbonne University and Pierre and Marie Curie University, Sorbonne University has the largest arts and humanities faculty in France and a student community of 55,600, including 10,200 international students.

Sorbonne University has an innovative and global outlook and is committed to long-term partnerships with international universities to further scientific research. It also runs a campus in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, where students can study literature, languages, the humanities and the sciences.

2. École Polytechnique (ParisTech)

Down eight places to rank 68 th in the world, École Polytechnique (ParisTech) is a founding member of ParisTech (an affiliated group of colleges focusing on science and business subjects) and receives its highest rank in the QS World University Rankings by Subject for the broad subject area of natural sciences, ranked joint 26 th in the world.

Although having once been situated in the Latin Quarter, ParisTech relocated to just south of the city in 1976. Now located approximately 30 kilometers outside of central Paris and with a community of over 4,600 students and teachers, ParisTech's main campus offers over 160 hectares of open space and a range of outside sporting facilities which many campuses within the city center can only dream of.

1. Paris Sciences et Lettres Research University (PSL)

Number one among the top universities in Paris and France as a whole, Paris Sciences et Lettres Research University (PSL) is ranked 52 nd in the QS World University Rankings this year and is a collegiate university, formed in 2010 and made up of nine members, including École Normale Supérieure (ENS Paris), one of the most selective and prestigious grandes écoles (great schools and establishments) in the country.

PSL gets scores in the global top 20 for its reputation with graduate employers and its ratio of faculty members to students (two of the six indicators used to compile the rankings), with 19,450 students and 4,729 teachers and researchers.

The university has excellent links with employers and maintains strategic partnerships with other elite universities around the world, such as Australian National University (ANU) and the UK's University of Cambridge.

--

Find out more about studying in France with our complete guide, which includes advice on applications, student visas, tuition fees, funding and more.
This article was originally published in November 2013. It was last updated in June 2020 to incorporate the latest QS World University Rankings results.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The true City of Lights (regardless of what Las Vegas or Johannesburg have to say on the matter), Paris is one of the most visited cities in the world, and commonly regarded as one of the most beautiful. From the patisseries and cafés, to the staggering architecture and super-chic fashion sense, the richness of Parisian culture and history is evident everywhere.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Pierre, E / Le Monde Francophone: Countries that speak French

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The Santa Ana Unified School District is committed to providing a working and learning environment free from discrimination, harassment, intimidation and bullying.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
We have been seeing a lot of posts offering dogs/puppies for rehoming/rescuing for a fee and for requests and offers of transport where fees apply amongst others lately.

France has very strict laws on these types of transactions for animal welfare purposes. Not only can you as an individual be prosecuted and fined if pursued but as Admins we are also liable for content on this page.

Therefore we need to make some rules about what and what is not permissible to post from today and also to make you aware of the laws in France should you not be aware of them yourselves so that you do not fall foul of them. (Disclaimer: this is not a full disclosure of ALL laws, merely a synopsis and you should seek further legal advice or make further research should you wish to. No liability will be taken for any information given herein).

Please do not debate the fairness (or not) of these laws. These are the laws and therefore we should abide by them. Whether so and so gets away with whatever is NOT the point of this post nor is how likely are you to get caught.

Basic Animal Welfare Laws (we shall refer mainly to dogs)

1. Nobody may have more than 9 dogs over 4 months of age in one household on one premises. The premises should be securely fenced and the dogs should have access to water, shelter and food.

2. If you have or wish to have more than 9 dogs over four months of age then you must make a declaration to your prefecture via the DDCSPP for permission, this applies to both PRIVATE and PROFESSIONAL people including those with a pack of chasse (hunting) dogs.

3. Dogs should not be left to roam and category dogs must be muzzled outside the perimeter of your home in public places. Guard dogs must be clearly denoted and must be behind a fence of at least 2m in height. Dogs should be kept on leads in public areas and absolutely in town perimeters and should be under control. If you allow your dog off lead in suitable areas they must be under control (ie a good recall) and within 100 mtrs and in sight.

4. Those who do not pick up poo can be fined, the law is there, it is just not often applied!

5. No vaccinations are required in law in France whatsoever except rabies if you wish to cross EU borders. This does NOT apply to category 1 & 2 dogs who must have a valid rabies (and specific insurance).

6. You should have an ATTENTION CHIENS sign clearly visible on your gate AND/OR door. If anybody chooses to enter without permission and gets bitten then your insurance should protect you, if there is no sign showing clearly then you will be personally held responsible.

7. All dogs over 4 months of age MUST be identified by a microchip or tattoo and registered with ICAD the French ID database. Foreign dogs imported to France should be attached to that register via your vet within a month of importation.

The selling of dogs/rehoming rescues etc

1. To sell a litter of puppies that are LOF (French register of pedigree dogs) registered, you must either be a registered breeder (éleveur/se) with a SIRET number issued by the Chambre d'agriculture or if you do not have more than ONE litter a calendar year and the puppies are registered LOF you MAY sell them. You are obligated to microchip the puppies before they leave your premises or any over 4 months of age. You are NOT obligated to vaccinate and you CANNOT advertise online in ANY FORM.

If the puppies are NOT LOF registered then you MUST have a SIRET in ALL cases to take any money whatsoever, whether you call this a donation or a fee or a purchase price whether or not they have been either intentionally bred or is an accidental litter. Again you are obligated just to microchip each puppy prior to leaving the premises or any over 4 months of age. Donations given to a charity or direct to the vet to pay his or her fees are usually excepted. No money can change hands between the breeder or rehomer unless the above applies. To advertise you must publish the mother's microchip details and clearly state your status.

LOF explicitly means dogs entered into the FRENCH KENNEL CLUB RECORDS. As an example I know of a lady who intentionally bred a litter from UK KC registered dogs, very well bred dogs and she assumed this meant she could have ONE litter. She advertised, a fellow breeder of the same breed complained as the lady was completely unregulated, and she was forced to give the puppies away or face a severe fine. PEDIGREE does not mean LOF.

In both these cases the 'breeder' MUST have completed their qualification which is to have obtained the Attestation de Connaissances (the old CCAD) and have applied to the DDCSPP for permission/authorisation to carry out their activities.

2. A registered breeder CAN advertise (online) so long as their SIRET is clearly on the advertisement along with the mother's microchip amongst other things.

3. Free to a good home - absolutely means free. NO donations, fees or charges can be sought for any purpose whatsoever (eg to cover costs). This usually (but not always) applies to rescued dogs where the bitch has dropped a surprise litter. It's unfortunate but that is the law and should you wish to charge then the above applies. Our suggestion would be to place the pups up for adoption via a local animal charity which will ensure you will not fall foul of any law.

4. Those that do get permission/authority from the DDCSPP will be subject to controls and visits by veterinary professionals and must adhere to further rules of which are not relevant here.

5. To work with animals in France on a regular basis unpaid or paid even once, you MUST have the Attestation de Connaissances AND authorisation from the DDCSPP. This applies to ANYBODY including but not restricted to; trainers, breeders, refuge workers, house sitters, dog walkers).

Transport

1. To transport a dog/cat or ferret over 65 kms in TOTAL (so could be a round trip of 33 kms each way for example) for what the French call a lucrative target which includes going to shows (your dog is showcased and therefore so is the saleability of any puppies), for fuel costs or a few euros for doing it you MUST have your Transport Animal Vivant licence AND your Attestation de Connaissances. There are two types of licence both of which involve a vehicle check. The driver does not have to have these but there MUST be a person within the car who has both and who is the ONLY ONE licenced to handle the animal(s) concerned.

There are specific requirements when transporting animals and documentation is to be carried in the car at all times. If you are stopped and the authorities even SUSPECT you are an unlicenced carrier you risk a severe fine and your vehicle could be seized.

This does not apply to volunteer covoiturage for rehoming with a fosterer or an adopter who gives an apdoption donation and not a fee.
Laura Meyer - https://www.facebook.com/groups/dogsinfrance/

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Laws in France Pertaining to Animal Welfare - Les Amis des Animaux

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Gratefully copied with permission credit @LauraMeyer We have been seeing a lot of posts offering dogs/puppies for rehoming/rescuing for a fee and for requests and offers of transport where fees apply amongst others lately. France has very strict laws on these types of transactions for animal welfare purposes.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
The French Education system - schools and secondary education. About-France.com

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Schools, colleges and higher education in France, from kindergarten to lycees and colleges.

# data[].attributes.headline
how many animals are you allowed to have in France?

# data[].attributes.subject
how many animals are you allowed to have in France?

# data[].attributes.body
Are there any places in the United States where some people speak French?

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Compared to London, Madrid, and other European capitals, Paris isn't an especially "green" city. Only 9.5% of the capital is currently consecrated to parks and other green spaces- against 33% for London and an astounding 45% for Vienna. Luckily, the Parisian government has been working hard to change all that, with ambitious plans in the works to add more ecologically friendly "corridors" and green spaces in the coming decade. And there are, of course, already several stunning, historic Paris parks that offer plenty of refuge from the urban bustle. Here are a few of the most beautiful gardens and parks to beeline to on your next trip- and a bit of history for each.

1. Jardin du Luxembourg

Nestled between the Latin Quarter and the Saint-Germain-des-Prés district on the left bank, the Jardin du Luxembourg reminds one less of the cold, tiny Northern European city with which it shares a name, and far more of a sun-drenched garden somewhere in Florence.

There's a very good reason for this, too. The lush, Renaissance-style gardens and palace looming over them at the north end were both the brainchild of Italy-born Queen Marie de Medici, who commissioned their creation in 1612 following the death of her husband, French King Henri IV.

Today, the Palace is owned by the French Senate, while the vast gardens and wooded paths surrounding it are coveted by residents and tourists. The grounds of the Jardin de Luxembourg feature a central, low-lying area near the palace, studded with lawns, fountain, elaborate parterres and flowerbeds, and ponds on which children sail miniature boats.

"Jardin du Luxembourg Paris France" by KLMircea is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0

This central area-a popular spot to pull up a green metal chair to read a book or devour a sandwich- offers interesting views over the Eiffel Tower. On the upper terrace overlooking the beds, pond, lawns and palace, statues of notable French women- including Queens, writers, and other famous figures- are punctuated by large earthenware pots filled with flowers.

Further beyond, you'll find wooded lanes and pathways ideal for a stroll, large-scale sculptures, lawns designated for picnics (primarily at the southern end of the gardens), greenhouses, and more.
{Related: The Best places for Picnics in Paris}
Beautiful in all seasons (in my humble opinion), the poetic lanes and meandering paths of the Luxembourg gardens are arresting in fall and winter, when autumnal colors give way to bare trees and sharp late winter light.

The Palais de Luxembourg, closest to the Odeon metro stop, now houses the Musee de Luxembourg, staging several popular modern-art exhibits each year.

A Bit of History

The newly widowed Queen (and Regent of France) Marie de Medici conceived the palace and garden in 1611, hoping for a final result that would resemble Pitti Palace in Florence. She hired an architect and landscape designer named Solomon de Brosse to construct the palace and the large fountain at the center of the garden to come.

A troupe of gardeners added greenery-lined terraces, balustrades, and parterres around the Palace, as well as a fountain named after the queen just east of it, complete with an artificial grotto surrounded by trees and shrubs.

This initial garden was tiny compared to what the Luxembourg would become in the later part of the 17th century. It was extended with more traditional French neoclassical elements, including rectangular parterres and basins. Later, an orangery and several greenhouses were added.

After the French Revolution, the gardens were again extended when the city acquired lands once belonging to a Carthusian monastery in the area. The gardens were soon opened to the general public.

In the 20th century, the Luxembourg gardens were a favorite stomping ground of noteworthy artists and writers, including the so-called "Lost Generation" of Americans (Gertrude Stein James Baldwin, and many others). Stein's apartment and famous literary salon lay in close reach of the gardens, on Rue de Fleurus.
{Related: 8 American Women Who Moved to Paris, Then Made History}
Getting There

The main gates to the gardens face the Place du Panthéon on Boulevard Saint-Michel. For the Musée du Luxembourg, access is through the gates at 19 Rue de Vaugirard (Metro Saint-Sulpice) (buy priority entrance tickets via Tiqets).

Address: Jardin du Luxembourg, 75006 Paris (6th arrondissement)

Metro/RER: Luxembourg (RER B), Odéon (Metro Line 4), or Saint-Sulpice (Metro Line 4)

2. Parc des Buttes-Chaumont

Possibly the city's most-overlooked park (at least by tourists), the vast, Romantic-style Buttes-Chaumont takes up a huge swathe of the northeastern area connecting the 19th and 20th arrondissements (districts). With its dramatic green slopes, artificial lakes and grottoes, thousands of trees (themselv es harboring numerous species of wild birds, including invasive colonies of green parrots!), and some 1.5 miles of meandering paths, this is simply one of the loveliest spots in the city for a relaxed stroll or picnic.

Especially if you (like me) tend to prefer the more relaxed, sprawling, naturalistic landscaping of Romantic style parks, this is a green space to explore in the capital.

You can stumble on quiet little green corners, climb to high points (such as the famous "Temple of Sybille"), which is perched high on a cliffside above the artificial lake, and wander across a 12-meter footbridge, suspended 22 meters (over 70 ft) above the water. Not-so-incidentally, it was built by a certain Gustave Eiffel, who is also responsible for designing "some tower" elsewhere in the city- what was it called again?

After a stroll and exploration I recommend grabbing drink out on the terrace at the hip-yet-traditional "guinguette" (musical cafe), Rosa Bonheur (at the Botzaris metro entrance)- or at the Butte's two other watering holes, spotlighted in our related piece on Parisian cafés haunted by a new generation of writers.

A word of warning about visiting in the summer: If you're at all crowd-averse, or are simply after a contemplative nature walk, the Buttes-Chaumont isn't ideal in the warmer months, when nearly every available nanometer of grass is snagged by picnic-goers and sunbathers.

The ambience is great, though, if you want to get a slice of authentic local life (again, few tourists bother to make the trek to this far edge of northeastern Paris.)

A Bit of History

The history of this particular park is a fascinating (and rather grim) one, wrapped up in the 19th-century project to create large green spaces in working-class areas that were all but deprived of them.

Prior to the mid-nineteenth century, the area now comprising the 19th arrondissement (and the park's grounds) lay outside the Paris city limits. The hilly area where the park now stands was an austere, barren place referred to as Chauve-Mont, or 'bald hill'.

It was nearby that a place of execution for hanging and displaying the bodies of criminals, called the Gibbet of Montfaucon, stood. It had been dedicated to these gruseome acts for centuries, between roughly the 13th and mid-18th centuries.
{Related: Paris City Hall's Square Was Once a Gruesome Execution Site}
Following the French Revolution, the area was used to dump refuses and animal carcasses, as well as for sewage disposal. As you can imagine, the area did not (from all reports) emit pleasant odors. Jean-Charles Adolphe Alphand, the public works director charged with building the later park, once said that the wind spread the "infectious emanations" over the whole city.

Another end of the hilly site was a limestone quarry, used to extract the raw materials that would be used to build much of Paris. But by the mid-19th century, its limestone had been badly depleted. Archaeologists found giant prehistoric mammal fossils in the site during a period of exploration.

Despite (or perhaps because of) the area's reputation as one of both misery and waste, the city planner Baron Haussmann chose Chauve-Mont as the site for an enormous new public park. This followed the annexation of the area into Paris, and the creation of the 19th and 20th arrondissements- new working-class areas in Paris.

Construction on the park began in 1864 under the direction of Alphand, who had also designed the (Romantic-style) Bois de Boulogne and Bois de Vincennes (see below). A thousand workers were hired to complete the monumental project.

Explosives were employed to sculpt the park and quarry into a landscape that resembled a mountainous area complete with cliffsides and grotto complete with interior areas. Hydraulic pumps were brought in to fashion an artificial waterfall, transporting the waters from the Ourcq canal to the highest point in the park.

"Buttes Chaumont waterfall inside grotto" by austinevan is licensed under CC BY 2.0

You might say this is the sort of park that preceded the modern-day amusement park; the simulation of natural forms are nothing short of uncanny. For me, it's an intriguing testament to the history of park-building in the nineteenth century, which was conceived as one for the public good.

Getting There

There are several entrances to the park, the most popular being the one at the Buttes-Chaumont metro station (line 7bis). You can also get off at Botzaris (also line 7bis), the best entrance to access the popular Rosa Bonheur bar and restaurant.

3. Jardin des Tuileries

The Tuileries- a vast green space adjoining the Louvre, is practically synonymous with Parisian grandeur and prestige. Pronounced twee-luh-rEEh, its name refers to the tile factories that once stood here, prior to the creation of the gardens by Queen Catherine de Medici in the 16th century.

The style of the gardens is resolutely formal and classical, like those at the Jardin de Luxembourg, they were inspired by Italian and Florentine design principles.

The impeccably maintained lawns, parterres, tree-lined paths, shrubs, ponds, ornate statues, and elaborate floral beds at the Tuileries are preferred stomping grounds for Parisians and visitors alike, and a welcome reprieve from the pollution and noise of the city center.

Around 35 species of trees and dozens of varieties of blooms can be admired at the garden, making it ideal for a spring stroll.
{Related: How to Make Paris in the Springtime Live Up to the Legends}
Perch on a bench to enjoy a picnic, sail boats on the ponds, and, in the summer, enjoy the old-school fair that springs up on the northern edge, adjacent to the Rue de Rivoli. Complete with rides, treats and games, it's an ideal way to enjoy the space with younger visitors.

The sculptures scattered throughout the garden are also impressive, and include moving, sensuous figures from the likes of Rodin, Maillol, and Giacometti. Finally, the Musée de l'Orangerie, at the western edge, is a fantastic small museum housing Monet's stunning mural series Nymphéas ( Waterlilies), as well as a basement collection of impressionist and expressionist masterpieces.
{Related: The Best Small Museums in Paris}
A Bit of History

Between the 14th and 16th centuries, the area was mostly occupied by tile-making artisans, before Catherine de Medici built the Palais de Tuileries there, and commissioned gardens in the style typical to ones in her native Florence.

To achieve this, she entrusted the famous landscape architect André le Nôtre with the design of lavish green grounds. Henri IV added hunting grounds and equestrian paths. Under the reign of Louis XV, in the early 18th century, the gardens were given even more opulent details, including statues.

During the pre-revolutionary period, the gardens remained closed to the general public, and were strictly reserved for royal strolls and affairs. But following the French Revolution of 1789, the Tuileries were made into public gardens.

Then, in the revolt of 1871 of known as the Paris Commune, a fire broke out at the Tuileries, destroying the Palais de Tuileries where Catherine de Medici and other royals had taken up residence.

Getting There

4. Bois de Boulogne

One of two enormous forested parks situated just outside the city limits (and forming "the lungs of Paris " as a local saying goes), the Bois de Boulogne lies at the western edge of the city, adjoining some of its most affluent neighborhoods.

Boasting hundreds of thousands of trees, four artificial lakes connected by footbridges, islands occupied by thematic kiosks, as well as grottos and waterfalls, old-fashioned pavilions, enormous lawns perfect for picnics, and ambling footpaths bordered by woodlands, it's a true green haven. Occupying over 2,000 acres, it's some two-and-a-half times bigger than New York's Central Park.

Parisians come in droves for boating on the lakes, lazy picnics in the sun, bike rides, or to bet on horses at the races taking place at the Hippodrome de Longchamp.

A quiet moment at the Upper Lake, Bois de Boulogne. By Celette/CC BY-SA 4.0

The site is also, more recently, home to the Fondation Louis Vuitton, a new contemporary art museum with an avant-garde design from architect Frank Gehry.
{Related: The Best Contemporary Art Museums in Paris}
A Bit of History

The history of the enormous, English Romantic-style Bois de Boulogne goes back hundreds of years. A forest called the Forêt de Rouvray, mentioned in medieval texts as early as the 8th century, formed the far western, wooded border of what were then farmlands outside of the Parisian city walls.

First occupied by monks at long-since-defunct monasteries in the area, most of the forest grounds were later appropriated by the French monarchy and made into hunting terrain. In 1256, a new Abbey, the Abbaye de Longchamp, was established here by Isabel of France, daughter of King Louis VIII.

In the early 14th century, a church was erected in the wood on the order of Philippe le Bel. It's nnamed Notre-Dame-des-Menus de Boulogne-Billancourt. It became an important site during the high medieval period.

But in subsequent centuries the wood became a place of disrepute, notorious for its bandits, prostitutions, and even murders. It was re-planted many times after falling into ruin.

It was only under the Emperor Napoleon III, in the mid-19th century, that the grand wood so beloved today by Parisians gained its current shape and look. The Romantic-style English park complete with artificial natural features- waterfalls, lakes, grottos, etc, was very much en vogue at the time, and Napoleon III approved the construction of vast new green space in the old wood in 1852.

Adolphe Alphand, who also created the Bois de Vincennes and the aforementioned Buttes-Chaumont, was commissioned to help design the space.

Some 200,000 trees were planted, the grounds and contours were shaped to resemble a natural, semi-hilly landscape punctuated with lakes, waterfalls, and small rivers, and two artificial islands were formed, joined by footbridges.

Painted by impressionists and other artists during the nineteenth ce, the Bois de Boulogne soon became a fashionable place for the upper-classes to stroll, attend horse races at the new Hippodrome, and dine at expensive restaurants (it's still notably home to Michelin-starred tables such as Le Pré-Catelan.)

Nevertheless, the Bois' seedy legacy remains visible after dark to this day (it's a well-known spot for prostitution and drug deals after the sun sets).

Getting There

The easiest way to reach the Bois de Boulogne is via Metro Line 1 (direction La Defense). Get off at Porte Maillot and follow the directions to the par entrance. You can also access from the Porte Dauphine station (Metro Line 2) or Porte d'Auteuil (line 10).

5. Jardin des Plantes

This classic Parisian green space at the edge of the Latin Quarter is also an immense scientific and educational resource. Established in the 17th century as a royal botanical garden, it's in reality a collection of eleven different gardens and open-air botanical laboratories, where specialists continue to cultivate and study rare, eye-catching flowers, trees, and other plants. The grounds are home to roughly 8,500 different species and varieties of plants and flowers, including rare hybrid varieties.

Roaming the main gardens, spread across some 69 acres, is free for all- and a wonderful way to both get some fresh air and potentially learn something about plant biology and botany.

There's an Alpine garden, rose and rock garden featuring numerous, breathtaking varieties of roses in the late spring months, botanical school, ecological garden, large hothouses where you can see rare tropical plant species, peony and iris gardens, bees and birds garden, maze/labyrinth (a fun activity for younger visitors, and a "Perspective Squares" garden whose fine geometric beds lead you on a path to the buildings of the Museum of Natural History.

Entry to the gardens is free, with the exception of certain greenhouses and temporary exhibits. See more below for information on tickets.

This is also an excellent park for a family outing, not least because the Jardin des Plantes is also home to a zoo (Ménagerie), where zoologists tend to species from monkeys to leopards and kangaroos, and which is managed as a refuge for engangered species. Overall, visitors of all ages can view and interact with some 1,200 animals at the zoo, which is manageable in a couple of hours.

Unlike the main gardens at the Jardin, entrance to the Ménagerie is ticketed; you can find more info here.

Meanwhile, The onsite National Museum of Natural History i s also fascinating and educational, with its iconic "Grande Galerie de l'Evolution" (Grand Evolutionary Gallery) making jaws regularly drop with enormous models and/or genuine skeletons of wooly mammoths, giraffes and elephants, and dinosaurs.
{Related: The 5 Best Museums for Kids in Paris}
The permanent exhibit at the museum is fun, interactive, and educational, combining old-world "curiosity cabinet" charm with newer, high-tech displays that encourage visitors to interact.

A Bit of History

First opened in around 1635 as a medicinal and royal garden, the Jardin des Plantes was taken over by the state (and fully opened to the public) in 1793, a few years after the French Revolution of 1789.

It was in 1793 that the gardens, natural history museum, and Ménagerie opened to the public. Later, from the 19th century, botanists and other scientists working at the Jardin established new gardens, collections and research areas. It was during this "golden period" in state-run museums that the Grande Galerie de l'Evolution opened, alongside the zoology and paleontology galleries.

New interest in and knowledge around tropical plants led to the opening of the hothouses, while discoveries around the medicinal properties of Alpine botanical ingredients in part spurred the creation of an Alpine garden.

The 20th and 21st centuries have seen growing concerns for sustainability and conservation, leading the Jardin and the Ménagerie to adopt practices aiming to protect and safeguard rare species of plants and animals. These days, it's less about "displays", and more about ecological responsibility and protection.
{Related: Paris Re-Imagines Itself as Green for the 21st Century}
Approaches to research and curation at the Jardin, zoo and Natural History Museum have evolved quite a bit from their early days, when the notion of "Man" dominating and controlling "Nature" was the reigning philosophy of the period.

Getting There

Jardin des Plantes/Carré des Perspectives/© MNHN - Patrick Lafaite © MNHN - Patrick Lafaite

6. Bois de Vincennes

"Bois de Vincennes / Paris" by photosylvia / silabox is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

Less frequented by tourists than the Bois de Boulogne, its counterpart to the east is arguably just as beautiful- and even more sprawling.

The Bois de Vincennes stretches for some 995 hectares (almost 2,500 acres), forming the eastern "lungs" of Paris and adjoining the charming suburb of Vincennes (side note: it's worth a look). This makes it the largest public park in the greater Paris area.

Boasting enormous grassy spaces, four lakes connected in places by small streams and ideal for boating, verdant walking trails, grottoes, gazebos, snack bars and restaurants, and a "floral garden" where jazz concerts are staged on the lawns every summer, it's an idyllic space that's popular with locals.
{Related: The Best Annual Jazz Festivals in Paris}
This is especially the case since, like the Bois de Boulogne to the west, the Bois de Vincennes is so easily accessible by metro or bus from the city center.

The park also houses a zoo ideal for family visits, a recently opened nature trail ( espace naturaliste), Buddhist-style pagoda (on the Lac Daumesnil), and tropical garden (located in the area of the park closest to the Nogent-sur-Marne RER station).

A Bit of History

Miniature from the 13th-century illuminated manuscript Les Très Riches Heures du duc de Berry, showing the Bois de Vincennes (then royal hunting grounds) and Château de Vincennes/Public domain

The public park grounds that you see today were created on the order of Emperor Napoléon III in the mid 19th-century, and completed around 1866.

But, true to its name which suggests an older "Wood", the Bois de Vincennes has been in use as woodlands since the Gallo-Roman period, when Paris was a humble settlement called Lutetia. Interestingly, the Romans referred to the woodlands as Vilcena- from which its name evolved to Vincennes in French.

During the Middle Ages, French monarchs established formidable military defenses by building the Chateau de Vincennes (the mighty premises of which are still well-preserved today). Wide lanes were cut through the old forests to create royal hunting grounds in the Bois in around 1150, by King Louis VII. By the 13th century, a fortified wall was built around its grounds.

The Chateau de Vincennes, a 14th-16th century castle and fortress, is well worth a look in its own right. Curiously overlooked by most visitors, it's the most impressive intact castle (aside from the Palais du Louvre, of course) in close reach of the city limits.
{Related: The Best Day Trips from Paris by Train}
Especially remarkable is its donjon (keep) which rises to 52 meters/170 feet, and its well-preserved fortifications.

In sum, if time allows, consider paying a visit to the Chateau and learning about its remarkable history as part of a day out to Vincennes. You can book priority entrance tickets here (via Tiqets).

Getting There:

The easiest way to get to the Bois de Vincennes is to take Metro Line 1 (Direction Chateau de Vincennes) and exit at the Chateau de Vincennes station. The entrance to the park (and the Chateau, if desired) is easily accessible on foot.

You can also take Metro Line 8 to the Porte Dorée or Porte de Charenton stations, then walk to the nearest entrances (around 10 minutes). Porte Dorée is the best stop for access to the zoo (Parc Zoologique de Paris).

7. Parc de la Villette

The most recent (and postmodern) of Paris' main parks and gardens, the P arc de la Villette is less a traditional park and more a complex network of green spaces and thematic gardens, elaborate playgrounds, architectural "follies" from the 20th century- think awe-inspiring geodesic domes and brightly colored towers connected by bridges- museums and cultural venues.

I'd be tempted to call it an "amusement park", but that somehow doesn't quite capture the arty, open spirit of the place. Nor would it accurately describe how its (mostly free) grounds have successfully "grafted on" to surrounding neighborhoods, becoming as much a part of public space in Paris' 19th arrondissement as ordinary streets and squares.

Like the Centre Georges Pompidou, La Villette is (in my sense, anyway) wildly successful as a democratic cultural space, open and accessible to all. It stages summer concerts and open-air cinema on its wide lawns. Its numerous thematic gardens, each created with an artistic and sometimes whimsical spirit, offer both havens of greenery and architectural interest.

Kids will scramble to take advantage of the bright, engaging playgrounds and fairground-style rides. And the onsite Science and Industry Museum (Cité des Sciences et de l'Industrie) is one of the best spots in the city for a family outing.

And music lovers (whether classical, rock or jazz is your preferred genre) have plenty to do here, from exhibits to philharmonic concerts.

A Bit of History

The Parc de la Villette opened to the public in 1987, as part of a bid to revamp, green, and inject more cultural vibrancy into northeastern Paris and the 19th arrondissement, traditionally a bit neglected and underprivileged.

It was built on a site that formerly housed numerous slaughterhouses, moved to northeast Paris from the city center as part of 19th-century renovation and modernization plans from the Baron Haussmann. The cattle markets held here only closed in 1974, and it would take over a decade for an enormous park and cultural complex to replace them- and revitalize the whole area.

Prior to the park fully opening, the enormous geodesic dome known as "La Géode" was inaugurated in 1985, generating considerable excitement around the futuristic new space.

The Museum of Science and Industry opened in 1986 with the larger complex inaugurated the following year.

From the 1990s to the present day, La Villette has continued adding new features and attractions, from the Cité de la Musique (comprising a music museum and exhibition space) in 1995 to the Philharmonie de Paris opening its doors in 2015.

Getting There

Another thematic garden at the modern Parc de la Villette in northeastern Paris/Courtney Traub

Best Metro Stops and Entrances: The easiest way to reach the park from Paris' city center is to take Metro Line 7 from the Châtelet-les-Halles station to the Porte de la Villette stop. Follow directions to the park entrance from the Metro.

There's another popular entrance point not far from the Porte de Pantin metro stop (line 5), which may be more practical if you plan to first visit the Cité de la Musique or the Paris Philharmonic.
See more practical info in our full guide to La Villette
8. Parc Monceau

Last but not least, this green oasis in west Paris is a welcome source of fresh air, birdsong, shade and poetic perspectives in a neighborhood that can often feel a bit staid and grey.

Boasting lawns ideal for a picnic or break from sightseeing, walking and jogging paths lined with flowers and trees, ornate architectural details (handsome gates and rotunda around the main entrance, dainty footbridges, statuary and sculptures), Parc Monceau is an ideal stop after exploring areas such as the Champs-Elysées and "Madeleine".

The park, stretching over 20 acres, blends romantic and classical elements to charming effect. Meandering, English-style paths, flowerbeds and bridges overlooking water features, and faux "ruins" or "follies" (including a mini Egyptian pyramid and Dutch-style windmill) share space with statues and stately mansions in and surrounding the park.

Countless species of trees, flowers, and wild birds can be spotted on a stroll or picnic in this smaller, but enchanting, green space. And literary types will enjoy spotting busts and statues of French luminaries including author Guy de Maupaussant, composer Frédéric Chopin, poet Alfred de Musset, and many others.

A Bit of History

Parc Monceau was conceived in the late 18th century by Philippe d'Orléans, the Duke of Chartres and cousin to King Louis XVI. In 1778, the Duke decided to open a public park (rare at the time), and hired the writer and artists Louis Carrogis Carmontelle to design gardens on the premises, hoping for a hybrid space that would blend English and Asian elements.

Architectural "follies" were popular at the time, so Carmontelle planned to fill the garden with several of these. Completed in 1779′, Carmontelle's design featured a Roman-style colonnade, water lily ponds, a Dutch windmill, mini Egyptian pyramid, temple of Mars, an Italin "vineyard" an an "enchanted grotto". More amusement park than public space, this initial space was staffed by servants donning "exotic" costumes, as well as harboring a small zoo with non-native animals like camels.

By 1781, the garden was redesigned to reflect changing aesthetic preferences, and traditional English-style elements were added. A classical rotunda, modelled on a Doric temple from Greece, was added in 1787. It housed a small apartment reserved for the Duke.

Following the French Revolution of 1789- an event that saw the Duke perish at the guillotine- the park was taken over by the state. In the 19th century, the Baron Haussmann renovated its grounds almost entirely, adding more typical elements from the period, including wide walking paths and alleyways, new trees and beds, statues and busts. The park we see today far more closely resembled Haussmann's version.

Getting There

More on Parks, Gardens & Green Spaces in Paris

For more ideas on green spaces and gardens to visit in Paris (including ones ideal for kids and families), browse these features at Paris Unlocked, and see this page (at the Paris Tourist Office).

Like This? Pin & Share it!
Editor's Note: This post contains some affiliate links. While booking tours and experiences through them comes at no additional cost to you, they do help fund more free and in-depth features here at Paris Unlocked. Thank you.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
8 Most Beautiful Paris Parks & Gardens (and a Bit of History)

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Compared to London, Madrid, and other European capitals, Paris isn't an especially "green" city. Only 9.5% of the capital is currently consecrated to parks and other green spaces- against 33% for London and an astounding 45% for Vienna.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Current height

1083 feet

Original height without the antennas

1024 feet

Total width

410 feet (on the ground)

Width of a pillar

82 feet (on the ground)

First floor

187 feet, 14,485 square feet

Second floor

377 feet, 4,692 square feet

Third floor

906 feet, 820 square feet

Lifts

5 lifts from the esplanade to second floor, 2 x 2 duolifts from second floor to the top

Weight of the metal frame

7,300 tons

Total weight

10,100 tons

Number of rivets used

2,500,000

Number of iron parts

18,038

Pillars

The 4 pillars form a 410 square feet sideways square

The number

1 889

Date of construction of the Eiffel Tower

Built for the Exposition Universelle

The Eiffel Tower was built by Gustave Eiffel for the 1889 Exposition Universelle, which was to celebrate the 100th year anniversary of the French Revolution.

Two years, two months and five days

Its construction in 2 years, 2 months and 5 days was a veritable technical and architectural achievement. "Utopia achieved", a symbol of technological prowess, at the end of the 19th Century it was a demonstration of French engineering personified by Gustave Eiffel, and a defining moment of the industrial era. It was met immediately with tremendous success.

Only intended to last 20 years, it was saved by the scientific experiments that Eiffel encouraged, and in particular by the first radio transmissions, followed by telecommunications. For example, the radio signals from the Pantheon Tower in 1898; it served as a military radio post in 1903; it transmitted the first public radio programme in 1925, and then broadcast television up to TNT more recently.

The Tower at the centre of events

Since the 1980s, the monument has regularly been renovated, restored and adapted for an ever-growing public.
Over the decades, the Eiffel Tower has seen remarkable achievements, extraordinary light shows, and prestigious visitors. A mythical and audacious site, it has always inspired artists and challenges.

It is the stage for numerous events of international significance (light shows, the Tower's centenary, the Year 2000 pyrotechnic show, repainting campaigns, sparkling lights, the blue Tower to mark France's Presidency of the European Union or the multicoloured Tower for its 120th birthday, unusual fixtures, such as an ice rink, a garden etc.).

The magic of light

Like all towers, it allows us to see and to be seen, with a spectacular ascent, a unique panoramic view of Paris, and a glittering beacon in the skies of the Capital.

The Tower also represents the magic of light. Its lighting, its sparkling lights, and its beacon shine and inspire dreams every evening.

The number

7 000 000

Visitors a year

The most visited monument in the world

As France's symbol in the world, and the showcase of Paris, today it welcomes almost 7 million visitors a year (around 75% of whom are foreigners), making it the most visited monument that you have to pay for in the world.

A universal Tower of Babel, almost 300 million visitors regardless of age or origin have come from all over the planet to see it since its opening in 1889.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Eiffel Tower key stats : the Tower in numbers

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
All the key figures about the construction of the Eiffel Tower. Object of discord, desire and fascination, the Eiffel Tower never fails to impress

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Admired every where, the French fashion and the french style is known in the whole world as a classy and elegant style, that like the french say, it has that " je ne sais quoi", something we can't really describe what it is. An it is so effortless chic.

Well, that was in the past, with this Guide of the French Fashion & French Style you're going to know all about it! The french style clothing, the french style for decor, all the tips and secrets of the French fashion will be revealed for you in partnership with Paris.shopping, a website full of the French style in any way: french fashion, beauty, decor and gourmet all in that amazing elegant and effortless style that only the French know how to do it. And now you you can get inspired, know the secrets and choose your favorite pieces to call yours.
The French style is a way of living, so we have to go a bit further than just talking about the french fashion, the French style includes the beauty, the way the french woman dress, the french hairstyle, the french design, the food and even the french interiors.

Skirt, Sundaylife: 145€
* The French Fashion & Style: All about french fashion, style and effortless chic

There is no other nationality known as so effortless chic like the french and for sure we can get some style tips from the french woman to when we want to achieve this kind of look. That look when you're elegant but it seems like you've just got the first things in your closet, matched them together and you looked perfect!
Striped T-shirts, beret hat, red lipstick and the no-makeup makeup look are some of the most famous style "items" from the french fashion and beauty style, but the french style goes further. So be ready to take notes and rock the french style whenever you want it.

* French Fashion:

Known so well for its style, the french fashion is known as a classy, elegant and effortless fashion that also is all about quality and not quantity (something I really like and believe in). It's always worth investing in those timeless pieces that a french woman loves, a piece that you will be able to wear and enjoy a lot.

Shirt: Paris.Shopping

Like Coco Chanel said: "A girl should be two things: classy and fabulous" and we can think of the French style like this, it's classy and it's fabulous, even when you're in a more casual and dress down kind of look. You can be fabulous from morning to night.

No wonder why the Paris Fashion Week is one of the most important fashion weeks around the world, it just show how strong is the french fashion, even after so many years, and how important and loved is the french style.

Shirtdress: Paris.Shopping

With so many new brands and designers every year, the french fashion has its classics, but it also has a fresh and modern take on it, created by new designers you should keep an eye on. And something really cool is that you can find many of them available at the Paris.Shopping e-commerce, with lots of the coolest parisian boutiques that can deliver your shopping straight to your house.

Bomber jacket, Alexandro, 170€.

1. The Parisian Bag, 250€.

2. Shirt dress, Bleu Tango, 200€.

3. Reversible jacket, Bleu Tango, 200€.

* TOP 5 French Fashion Items:

The french fashion is great, but as any style, it also have a few garments and accessories that are so present on the french style that if you want to achieve the look, you'd better have some of them hanging in your wardrobe.
So, take notes on the TOP 5 french fashion items that the parisian and french women love:
* A Blazer:

No french woman or girl would have a closet or wardrobe without this amazing piece: a blazer. A black blazer is definitely a must have piece for any french and so should it be for you too, a dark blue is also a great piece! It's that very classic item that no woman should go without having at least one in her closet.
After you're ok with that amazing black blazer, you can have fun and go to create your blazer collection with other colors and maybe even with some prints. The french woman advise: do get some neutral and basic colors that will help you create a very effortless chic outfit, colors as beige, white and navvy are perfect for that.

* Denim trousers:
A French woman loves a good pair of jeans and she knows how to wear it. For a very parisian style, try your denim trousers with a shirt in a very effortless chic outfit, it's so typically french.

Denim trousers, Soi Paris, 150€.

PS: Soi Paris is a parisian brand you should keep an eye on! The brand is made and designed by hand in Paris.

Choose your favorite pair of jeans or pairs, the french girl loves a good pair of denim to bring that casual touch to her look. Match it with a shirt, t-shirt and pair it with a blazer or a leather jacket for a very french style look.

foto: Stella Asteria

* Waisted cocktail dress:
Another item that the french love is a good waited cocktail dress, because you're always ready to any occasion. It's is so feminine due to the waisted line and you can pair it with a good pair of high heels or maybe some ballerina flats for an even more effortless look.

Cocktail dress, Margot, 195€.

* Ballerina flats / Flat sandals:

Classic, comfortable and so elegant! A pair of ballerina flats is a key-shoe on the french fashion and it goes from winter to spring, it's a favorite for many occasions.

For the summer, flat sandals are so french, beautiful and comfortable!
The french style and fashion are so much about comfort and being confidence, that being said, the flat sandals are summer-perfect.

Leather sandals, Ishola, 130€.

1. Green, Leather Flat sandals, Ishola, 130€.

2. Blue, Leather Flat Sandals, Ishola, 130€.

3. Colorful, Leather flat sandals, Ishola Paris, 95€.

* Leather jacket:

Like a good blazer, a good leather jacket is also a favorite between the french woman. It helps creating that effortless look, because it's a more casual piece that can be paired even with a pretty dress to create a beautiful contrast.

* French Style Icons:

The first french style icon for any french woman is always her mom! And that's so cute! And you know, moms always know better. 😉
But let's talk about a few names so you can get inspired and rock that french style from the classics to the modern gals:

* French Beauty:

The effortless chic of the french doesn't stop at the french fashion, but the beauty also has the very same feeling. With that No-Makeup makeup look, that looks so effortless and which has that "I've just woke up like this" feeling, but we all know that's not the true. Even a no-makeup look takes some makeup to do it.
And the French Beauty is all about your own uniqueness and not looking super perfect, you should enhance yourself with your makeup, and never hide it. So skincare is also a big part of the french beauty style, for the face and for the body.

foto: Simply Sona

Therefore, skincare cosmetics are big in France and the french woman love to take good care of her skin and invest in good quality products for it. You can do an amazing no-makeup makeup look, but you will still need to have a great skin under it, so that's why it's also so important.
A french brand to keep your eye on?
Source De Provence, it creates a variety of skincare products with 99% natural ingredients, no parabens and no silicones.

French skincare for dry skin by the brand Source de Provence, find it all at Paris.Shopping.

A must have item for the fall/winter season? A good lip balm is always important to keep your lips smooth and hydrated even on the coldest days, even best if you fall in love with this packaging:

Nourishing Lip Balm - Orange Blossom, €10.

To keep your skin soft and smooth even on the coldest days, an amazing balm is also a great item to have and to apply whenever your skin needs it! But what if you can have a multi purpose balm? That you can apply from on your skin to your hair? The french are swearing by this balm by Les Petits Prödiges:

Find yours here: The Lemon Balm, Les Petits Prödiges, €34,90.

And when talking about the french fashion and the french beauty, it is impossible to not talk about fragrances, right? The french fragrances are one of the most famous of the world and I had to include something!
From Paris, to you, the Bleu de Chine Eau de Parfum by Marc de la Morandière is an exotic fragrance to bring a french touch into your life:

Blue de Chine Eau de Parfum, Marc de la Morandière Paris, 125€.

* French Decor:

Now that we talked about the french fashion and the french beauty, we have to talk a bit of the french decor style! It all depends if you want to go more modern or more old school french style, or even some french country style.

Modern and elegant, with a cosy touch.
Or are you more into the french country style?

Round tray in coral, Mini Labo, 31,90€.

Canal St-Martin cushion, Atelier Pilo, 40€. You had me at Bonjour Poster, 16€.
* French food:

Finally, something else famous from the french style? It's definitely the french food!
The french cuisine is also know as being a refined and elegant cuisine. And, of course, we always have the famous croissant, baguette, pain au chocolat and the macarons.

Are you ready for the most perfect tea bags that are Instagram and Pinterest perfect? It's probably the cutest thing you're gonna see today:

You can find them here: Cloud tea bags, Tea Heritage, 17€.

The Paris.Shopping gourmet selection has so many cool things, here are some of my favorites:

Le Chocolat des Français, 25€-50€.

Flavored French popcorn, Maison Gramm's, 18€.

So now you know much more about the french fashion and its style. Are you feeling inspired to get more frenchy in your life?

* About Paris.Shopping:

Do you love shopping in Paris? Now you can do it even from your home.
With Paris.Shopping website you can shop at the best Parisian boutiques all at the same place and have everything from french fashion, french style, beauty, decor and gourmet items delivered just at your door.
* This is a sponsored content.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
French Fashion & Style: All you need to know* | Manu Luize

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Admired every where, the French fashion and the french style is known in the whole world as a classy and elegant style, that like the french say, it has that " je ne sais quoi", something we can't really describe what it is. An it is so effortless chic.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
France, and in particular Paris, is a massively popular tourist destination, but how widely spoken in English there? Is it possible to get by with English or is it preferable to learn some French before visiting?
English is not very widely spoken overall in France, but is quite widely spoken in the tourist areas of Paris specifically, at the well known attractions and at restaurants and hotels in the capital. Elsewhere in the country the prevalence of English is far lower and having some basic French phrases will make conversing with French people a lot easier.
Recent stats estimate that around 39% or just under two-fifths of the French population report being able to speak English to some degree. Not many of these can speak it fluently though - much like other European countries, many of this 39% will only be able to converse in very basic English at best.

Therefore France really is one of the countries where it pays to learn some basic French before you go, since you cannot count on it being widely spoken and even where it is, French people much prefer it when tourists at least make an effort to converse in French when asking for help. Let's look at the issue in more detail.

In Paris You Should Be Fine

English speakers who have visited Paris tend to report the prevalence of English is much higher there and you will have no problems using it in the main tourist destinations like the Eiffel Tower. This is hardly surprising since Paris ranks consistently among the top 3 most visited cities in the world, with around 20 million tourists visiting there every year, a large number of them English speakers.

Therefore these destinations are prepared for English speaking Americans and Brits and will have staff who can speak it as well as leaflets, guide and signs in English as well as other languages.

In major hotels and restaurants in Paris you should also be fine, as there will be plenty of staff who can speak English to handle the huge number of American and British tourists who visit the city each year.

Elsewhere in France You May Struggle

As soon as you move outside Paris and the other large cities and tourist destinations, you will find the prevalence of English drops much below the 39% quoted average for the entire country. In more rural and remote areas you may find hotel staff can speak a little but the general population will be far less proficient.

Similarly, older French people will also struggle to converse in English, since many of them over the age of 50 will not have been taught in schools. The younger generation have been more exposed to English, with some learning it as a second language in school, so you will have more luck conversing with people under 40 especially.

Despite the fairly low prevalence, English is actually the most common second language in France, closely followed by German and Spanish. English is only optional though and is not compulsory in France as it is in other European countries so the level of proficiency has improved over the generations but still remains behind other countries.

English is not very prevalent in the French culture as well. For example, most TV shows and movies on TV there are dubbed into French rather than played in English with French subtitles, so people do not get so much chance to absorb English in contrast to other countries like Portugal which take in a lot of undubbed American TV shows.

The picture is also somewhat muddled by the fact that many French people may be able to speak English, but will consider it rude if a tourist just expects them to be able to speak English without even trying to converse in French at first. They may pretend they can't speak English when they actually can if they feel a foreigner is approaching them in a rude or entitled way that takes the prevalence of English for granted.

Some people disagree with this and argue that French people can be reticent to engage in English not so much because of snobbishness but because they are self conscious about their English skills and do not like to engage in something they don't believe they have proficiency in.

The truth is probably somewhere in the middle. Whatever the motivation for this reluctance, it can make it difficult for tourists to get by in France if the natives don't understand English and you don't understand French.

This is why it is very important for English speaking tourists to approach French people in a very specific and tactful way to make sure you are using basic French to initiate conversations and always remaining polite, respectful and non intrusive. See our section below on this.

The Prevalence of English in Major French Cities

However, lets be more specific and narrow down the reported prevalence of French from tourists and expats in some of the more commonly visited cities. We have summarized the most common general experience by people who visit or live in each city on various forums.

Paris - English very widely spoken anywhere in the tourism industry - shops, hotels, restaurants, attractions. Have some basic phrases if venturing outside the main tourist areas.

Toulouse - Hotel staff are usually reported to speak some English. Also plenty of international software and aerospace companies around these days as well as students which has improved the levels of English in the area. Whenever the locals don't speak English, Google Translate and sign language always gets people through.

Strasbourg - Plenty of international students and companies here, so English prevalence reasonable. German also quite widely spoken. Having some French phrases to open conversations should help, and from there can often use English with younger people especially.

Marseille - People who deal with tourists will speak English - hotels, restaurants, attractions and places like the Vieux Port, Cours Julien and La Canebière. Elsewhere English proficiency tends to be more basic so having some French phrases will really help here.

Bordeaux - Hotel staff usually speak English, as do people in the main tourist areas. Not massively common elsewhere. Having a few key French phrases seems to get people by fine. Always useful to ask in French if English is spoken first - "parlez vouz Anglais?"

Loire Valley - More rural so English less common here. Will need some French if camping or staying in remote B&Bs.

Lyon - A decent level of English in big restaurants and shopping centers in tourist areas. Very low level of English elsewhere. Younger people under 45 is your best bet for English speakers. Tourists will ideally need some basic French phrases for holidays; longer term visitors will need more in depth French skills to integrate there effectively.

Lille - English not widely reported to be spoken here, French is dominant among the locals, especially among older people. Will really help to have some basic French when visiting. Lille is a major stop on the Eurostar from London and other high speed railway lines, so close to the stations you may find a little more English spoken in bars, restaurants, etc.

Nice - Quite a popular tourist city so English widely spoken in the main bars, hotels and restaurants. Elsewhere, English coverage is patchy, though younger people may speak a few words. Expats can live there without learning any French though. Opening conversations in French with "bonjour monsieur/madame" always helps however.

Learning Some Basic French

We have listed some of the more basic French phrases below to help tourists get by, as well as a short video for people who prefer learning this way. You will notice from the list and the video that French is one of the softer Romance languages in terms of pronunciation, with a lot of letters simply dropped at the end of words especially.

This can make it harder to learn initially as the words will seem to blend into one. It can be relatively easy to speak but very hard to understand at first, but this improves over time.

As we stated with our Italian article and many other languages, it is far better to know at least a little bit of basic French than none at all. The French people perhaps more than anyone appreciate foreigners making an effort and are often more willing to switch to English once you make an effort to use some basic French phrases, however imperfectly.

There is the stereotype of the French native who brushes off tourists as they are sick of them all arrogantly expecting them to speak English. There are mixed stories across the various forums as to how much this holds true in real life. Some people have encountered an aloofness and unhelpfulness in French people; others have found them willing to help.
However, a pretty much unanimous view across all the boards and forums we looked on was that two things are essential for English speakers to get by more easily in France - having some basic French phrases and being polite and discreet when asking for help.
Loud, boisterous and entitled tourists who expect everyone they meet to speak English will not get a very welcome reception in France so it is important to be aware of cultural differences and be tactful and respectful when asking for help.

Tips For Conversing With French People

Many people who have lived in France longer term confirm that some of the stereotypes of French people do hold true. They can be a very particular kind of people who like things done in a certain way and can be "off" with people who do things which are different to the French customs they are used to.

In this way they can be more sensitive than some other nationalities like the Spanish or Portuguese and if you do need to ask for help, it becomes important to do it in a certain way that does not come across to them as rude or overbearing. Here are some general pointers for conversing with French people:

Always try to open with some French, however basic eg. parlez vous anglais? - Do you speak English? Never just assume they will speak English.

Be patient in asking questions.

Always be polite and smile.

Never be rude or arrogant or blunt.

Don't talk louder if they don't understand you the first time. Repeat clearly and slowly, but quietly.

Be discreet about the way you approach them and do not be loud or make a scene.

Language & Travel Essentials For Visiting France
NB. Some links are affiliate links

See here and here on Amazon for some popular travel guides for visiting France.

See here for a pocket French phrases book to take round with you.

Learning some French before you go there is a very good idea. For highly rated online language learning, check out Babbel's online course in French. Very popular and effective learning model to get people quickly conversational in their chosen language, stress free and usually within 5 lessons.

If you prefer verb based learning, check out our Michel Thomas course page - there are beginner, intermediate and advanced courses in French using the Michel Thomas method.

If you are looking for cheaper accommodation, click here to check out the excellent Hostelworld booking tool, with thousands of budget accommodation options (hostels, B&Bs, budget hotels, guesthouses) in over 170 countries, with loads of options all over France.

Travel Insurance - Click here to view travel insurance policies for visiting France and get a quote online.

If your credit or debit cards carry hefty foreign transaction and ATM charges for foreign use, consider a Pre-paid Visa or Mastercard as a cheaper option:

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
How Widely Spoken is English in France? | How Widely Spoken

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
France, and in particular Paris, is a massively popular tourist destination, but how widely spoken in English there? Is it possible to get by with English or is it preferable to learn some French before visiting?

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Recently I've had the immense pleasure of studying abroad in Tours, France (2 hours outside of Paris). I have noticed many differences (bread is a staple in the diet, men are very forward), but of course being the sports fan that I am, I have mainly taken notice to the difference in sports. And I began to wonder why exactly this is, and came up with three distinct things.

In the United States it is a known fact that football (in France known as American football) is the most popular sport. The Superbowl is one of the most watched television broadcasts in the entirety of the United States. But in France the most popular sport is definitely soccer (known as football in France). Why is this? Why are certain sports more popular in certain places than others? Well, I have narrowed it down to three things in particular: the location of the place (for example the United States and France), the history of the place and geographical zone of the place.

Depending on the location of a place, people may like a sport or not like it. The popularity of a sport is mainly based on location. For example, hockey is more popular in the north because it is a sport that is played on the ice, in the cold. The north is colder than the south and the north obviously has more ice to practice on. Therefore it is no surprise that hockey is more popular in Canada and the Northern United States than it is in France and the Southern United States. I'm from metropolitan Detroit (the Northern United States) and my favorite sport is hockey. Thus, this proves part of my theory correct.

In the southern United States hockey is less popular. Sports like football, baseball and basketball are much more popular. Because of the location, they are more popular. These sports are essentially played outside (and not on ice) so warmer temperatures are the perfect places for these sports. Maybe if I lived in the south, I would like a different sport than hockey! I doubt it, but who knows!

In France (and in Europe in general) soccer has been the premier sport for a long period of time. This is probably because of the location. France does not have ice, and it is not cold enough for hockey. And soccer has become somewhat of a tradition now. Baseball and football were invented in the United States, so they are not as popular in France as they are in the U.S.

This brings me to my next point: the history of a sport has a big influence on what country it is played in. Football was invented in the United States, and therefore it is very popular here. The Ohio league was the first professional football league. It was established in 1905. 20 years later it was replaced with the National Football League (NFL) of today. I know that a lot of my friends think football is the best sport, because it is American. A typical scene in an American household is a family gathered around the television to watch football on a Sunday afternoon (or Monday night.) Every Sunday my grandma and grandpa watch football; they never miss a day. Why? Well, because it's American of course! It is the same thing with baseball. Baseball is considered the "American pastime." And even though the real origin of baseball in unknown, it was for certain started in the United States. And baseball has developed into the sport it is today in America.

Just like the United States, the history of France has a huge influence on the popular sports of France. Soccer has been around since the ancient times (388-311 BC). It was played by the Greeks and the Romans in these ancient times, and eventually soccer moved to France. With France's long history with football, it is no wonder that football is the most popular sport in France. Also, Rugby is the second most popular sport in France. Rugby is a variation of soccer, so of course it would be the second most popular sport.

The last thing that affects what sport is played where is the geographical zone. The United States is larger than France (in both population and size), therefore there are more people to have varying opinions on which sport is better. This is probably the reason why the U.S. has a more diversified group of popular sports (football, baseball, basketball, hockey) versus France which has just two very popular sports (soccer and rugby.) I think this is a very interesting discovery, and it took me a while to figure out exactly why the United States had more popular sports than France, but upon thinking about it, it now makes so much sense!

So, what exactly is the difference between sports in the United States and France? The number one thing is the intensity for soccer. In France everyone has been going crazy lately over the 2012 Eurocup. France was in the quarter finals of the competition, and when France lost I sure was glad I wasn't in any of the French bars or in a room with anyone who was French. They take their passion a little bit too far. Of course, I say I don't understand why they are so obsessed over soccer, when I am the same way with my favorite sports. For example, people probably didn't want to be around me when the United States lost to Canada in the Olympics when they were going for the gold medal. Let's just say I was not too happy. But, I think that even so, the French beat me out when it comes to intensity.

All I ever hear about over here is everyone's intensity for football, so I decided to do a little digging to see if the French like any other sports. And what I found made me very happy. Ice hockey is a fairly popular sport in France, especially in the Rhône-Alpes region and in the cities of Rouen, Amiens and Tours. Tours is where I'm studying abroad! So I am making it a personal mission of mine to find people to talk to about hockey in Tours.

The sports in the United States and France are very different, and I've pinned down three reasons why: the location, the history and the geographical zone. When it comes down to it, there not very complicated reasons, but they are very interesting. While you take time to ponder this, I am off to find people who like hockey in Tours. Au revoir!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.keywords[]
the difference between sports in the united states and france

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
The Difference Between Sports in the United States and France

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Recently I've had the immense pleasure of studying abroad in Tours, France (2 hours outside of Paris). I have noticed many differences (bread is a staple in the diet, men are very forward), but of course being the sports fan that I am, I have mainly taken notice to the difference in sports.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Tips For Doing Paris Like a Local: the Do's and Don'ts of Paris

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Here's my guide to must know tips for visiting Paris and navigating the city like a local. Want to (attempt to) blend in like a local in Paris? Or at least behave correctly so the glamorous locals don't hate you? If you're planning a trip, here's a high priority list of tips for seeing and enjoying Paris like a local.

# data[].attributes.body
What are some sports in Paris that are played at schools? Like football and cheerleading.

# data[].attributes.body
Why are objects classified as masculine or feminine? For example, a window is feminine.

# data[].attributes.body
What is the highest academic rated college in France?

# data[].attributes.body
What are some major aspects of French culture?

# data[].attributes.body
Are French students required to learn English?

# data[].attributes.body
How large is Paris?

# data[].attributes.body
What are some of the most sought-after careers in France?

# data[].attributes.body
I'm going to France after the pandemic - where should I visit that most tourists don't know about?

# data[].attributes.body
How tall is the Eiffel Tower?

# data[].attributes.body
What are some pretty gardens to go to in France?

# data[].attributes.body
Is every French-speaking country traditionally Catholic?

# data[].attributes.body
What are the most popular fashion styles in France?

# data[].attributes.headline
Bonjour! Please use this padlet to add any questions you have so far about French culture, language, other French speaking countries. Excited to learn together!

# data[].attributes.subject
Bonjour! Please use this padlet to add any questions you have so far about French culture, language, other French speaking countries. Excited to learn together!