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France has some of the best Christmas markets in Europe. Wooden huts selling food and drink, wooden toys, scarves, bags and jewellery fill the streets; big wheels and ice rinks attract families and the cafes, bars and restaurants do a roaring trade. It's particularly attractive to the British who flock over the Channel to the north France towns to stock up on Christmas items, wine and spirits and at the same time, take in the party atmosphere.

The French have always been particularly good at producing grand sons-et-lumières shows - sound and light spectacles that at Christmas play over the facades of their great cathedrals. The idea has taken hold everywhere. In 2013 the city of Le-Puy-en-Velay, one of the major starting points of medieval pilgrimages to Santiago da Compostela in Spain, began to light up its strange buildings that crown the pinnacles of volcanic rock, and Le Puy is a small town compared to the great cities of Amiens or Avignon.

One of the greatest sound and light shows takes place each year in Lyon on the weekend nearest December 10th when the Fête des Lumières takes over the city for a 4-day extravaganza. All the major buildings and statues are lit up with swirling colors and dramatic light effects. It's an international attraction; if you want to go you'll have to book your accommodation way in advance, and your restaurant as well as Lyon is the gastronomic capital of France. But the origins of the light festival are serious, dating back to 1852 and it's an homage to the Virgin Mary.

Many cathedrals and even small churches are specially lit up at Christmas time, even if they don't have spectacular sound and light shows; and most of them have towering Christmas trees, either outside or in the nave. Venture inside and you'll always find a crèche depicting the birth of Jesus. Some are life-sized; others are modest; and most are filled with santons, hand-painted terracotta figures, still produced in Provence.

For a true feeling of the holiday, get to Sélestat, between Strasbourg and Colmar in the heart of Alsace. The picturesque town beckons at Christmas with its 10 decorated fir trees suspended from the arches of the nave in St-Georges church.

Walk through the streets, alleyways and squares of any French city and the night air is sweet with the smell of wood smoke as fires burn in the grates. If you could see inside, you'd spot food and drink, left out just in case Mary and the baby Jesus come by during the night.

For eastern and northern France, December 6th, or the Feast of St. Nicholas, marks the beginning of the Christmas season. It's particularly significant in Alsace, Lorraine, Nord-Pas de Calais and Brittany. If a family follows strict tradition, it's the time for storytelling, for the kind of fairy tales that keep small children awake at night. The best known tells of three children who get lost, are enticed by a butcher into his shop and salted away in a large barrel. But happily, of course, St. Nicholas intervenes and rescues them.

The story explains why St. Nicholas is the patron saint of children while the butcher became the wicked Père Fouettard who will either beat children who have been naughty or tell St. Nicholas that they should not get gifts on December 6th, the snitch.

Children put out shoes at night in front of the fireplace for the inevitable chocolates and gingerbread that fill them in the morning.

Like most European countries, the main decoration in houses and in the streets is the fir tree, or sapin de Noël. The inspiration of the tree came originally from Alsace, with the first recorded mention of a Christmas tree appearing in a document dating from 1521 on display in the Bibliotheque Humaniste in Sélestat (being renovated until 2018). The manuscript describes a payment of 4 shillings to the warden of the forest to protect the fir trees from being cut down from St. Thomas Day on December 21st to Christmas Day.

The trees were first decorated with bright red apples, a reminder of the fall from grace of Adam and Eve. From the end of the 16th century, flowers such as roses, made from multi-colored paper decorated the trees, followed by metallic decorations to give the impression of silver and gold.

The Christmas tree traditions spread through France from the Franco-Prussian war of 1870-1871 when people from Alsace moved throughout the country, taking their traditions with them. Today no self-respecting town or family is without one.

In France, as in much of Europe, Christmas Eve or le Réveillon is the important time. While many people have given up going to Midnight Mass in the local church, they still follow the tradition of a huge feast that goes on late into the night, either at home or in a restaurant. If you want to get an idea of what's on offer, go to any supermarket or any food shop in a French town. The displays are extraordinary: whole foie gras, oysters, baskets of fruit, geese, capon and more.

The meal on Christmas Eve has to be tasted to be believed. Course follows course of fish, oysters, meat and in some part of France, 13 different desserts. It's quite an event and rightly so in a country whose gastronomic tradition has been recognised on the UNESCO cultural heritage list.

Read more about French Christmas Food

Christmas Day is, not surprisingly, rather a muted affair, given the excesses of the night before. Some families go to church in the morning, nip into their favorite bar or café then go home. Most of France shuts that afternoon as the French have another good lunch then snooze the day away.

So if you're in France at Christmas, just remember to wish everybody a ' Joyeux Noël'.

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France has some of the best Christmas markets in Europe. Wooden huts selling food and drink, wooden toys, scarves, bags and jewellery fill the streets; big wheels and ice rinks attract families and the cafes, bars and restaurants do a roaring trade.

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The Louvre Museum in Paris, France - One of the most important museums in the world. Explore this virtual tour in 4k.

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One common trait among people who study French is a desire to live and possibly work in France. Many dream of this, but not many succeed in actually doing it. Just what is it that makes it so difficult to live in France?

First of all, like other countries, France is concerned about too much immigration. Many people come to France from poorer countries to find work-either legally or illegally. With high unemployment in France, the government is not eager to give jobs to immigrants, they want the available jobs to go to French citizens. In addition, France is worried about the impact of immigrants on social services-there is only so much money to go around, and the government wants citizens to receive it. Finally, France is infamous for its extensive red tape, which can make everything from buying a car to renting an apartment an administrative nightmare.

So with these difficulties in mind, let's look at how someone can get permission to live and work in France.

It's easy for citizens of most countries* to visit France-upon arrival, they receive a tourist visa which allows them to stay in France for up to 90 days, but not to work or to receive any social benefits. In theory, when the 90 days are up, these people can travel to a country outside the European Union, have their passports stamped, and then return to France with a new tourist visa. They might be able to do this for a while, but it's not really legal.

*Depending on your home country, you may need a French visa even for a short visit.

Someone who wants to live in France long term without working or going to school should apply for a visa de long séjour. Among other things, a visa de long séjour requires a financial guarantee (to prove that the applicant will not be a drain on the state), medical insurance, and police clearance.

European Union citizens can legally work in France. Foreigners outside of the EU must do the following, in this order

Find a job

Obtain a work permit

Obtain a visa de long séjour

Go to France

Apply for a carte de séjour

For anyone who is not from an EU country, finding a job in France is extremely difficult, for the simple reason that France has a very high unemployment rate and will not give a job to a foreigner if a citizen is qualified. France's membership in the European Union adds another twist to this: France gives first priority for jobs to French citizens, then to EU citizens, and then to the rest of the world. In order for, say, an American to get a job in France, s/he essentially has to prove that s/he is more qualified than anyone in the European Union. Therefore, the people with the best odds of working in France tend to be those in highly specialized fields, as there may not be enough qualified Europeans to fill these types of positions.

Work permit - Receiving permission to work is also difficult. Theoretically, if you are hired by a French company, the company will do the paperwork for your work permit. In reality, it's a Catch-22. I've never been able to find a company that is willing to do this - they all say that you have to have the work permit before they will hire you, but since having a job is a prerequisite for obtaining the work permit, it's impossible. Therefore, there are really only two ways to get a work permit: (a) Prove that you are more qualified than anyone in Europe, or (b) Get hired by an international company that has branches in France and get transferred over, because their sponsorship will allow them to obtain the permit for you. Note that they will still have to demonstrate that a French person could not do the job you are being imported to do.

Other than the above route, there are basically two ways to get permission to live and work in France.

1. Student visa - If you are accepted to a school in France and meet the financial requirements (a monthly financial guarantee of approximately $600), your chosen school will help you to obtain a student visa. In addition to giving you permission to live in France for the duration of your studies, student visas allow you to apply for temporary work permits, which give you the right to work for a limited number of hours per week. One common job for students is an au pair position.

2. Marry a French citizen - To some extent, marriage will facilitate your efforts to obtain French citizenship, but you will still need to apply for a carte de séjour and deal with abundant paperwork. In other words, marriage will not automatically make you a French citizen.

As a last resort, it is possible to find work that pays under the table; however, this is more difficult than it might seem and is, of course, illegal.

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Thinking About Living and Working in France? Read This First

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One common trait among people who study French is a desire to live and possibly work in France. Many dream of this, but not many succeed in actually doing it. Just what is it that makes it so difficult to live in France? First of all, like other countries, France is concerned about too much immigration.

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Answer these random questions about the country of France.

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The great French baguette - a symbol of France, has gone through many steps to become the long stick of bread we love and know today says baguette fan Katie Saint...
History of the baguette

Bread has something of a special status in France. Few quotes are as well-known as Marie Antoinette's "let them eat cake" when told that the peasants had no bread (actually she probably didn't say it but as none of us were there we can't say for sure). Victor Hugo in Les Misérables gives bread an important moral status when Jean Valjean is arrested and thrown in jail for stealing a loaf of bread. For many people in France the baguette is something of a staple food, and it is a veritable symbol of France.

For most people, a trip to France is not complete without tucking into a warm crusty baguette or a buttery croissant, and bakeries are as common in France as a corner shop in England. There are various local types of bread specific to different parts of France, and no two bakers are the same. The French bread you are used to, however, has not been eaten in France since time immemorial as you might think.

Up until about 1800 French peasants ate bread made from wheat, rye or buckwheat. Bakers often added all sorts of materials as fillers to make the flour go further: sawdust, hay, dirt and even dung were all used. The vast majority of a peasant's diet came from bread, and an adult male could eat as much as two or three pounds of it a day.

Grain and bread riots were extremely common up until the French revolution, and sometimes spilled out across entire regions. In fact, the riots that resulted in the fall of the Bastille on 14th July 1789 and helped start the French Revolution began as a search for arms and grains. Parisian peasants - rightly - suspected that there had been grain hoarding in anticipation of higher prices, and took to the streets in protest. In the early stages of the Revolution rising bread prices were a major concern, with the new government quick to respond to complaints about prices or accusations of hoarding. They were right to be worried about what the people might do if they could not get access to bread. These bread riots helped to make the revolution increasingly radical.

Long wide loaves have been around since the time of Louis XIV, and long thin ones since the mid-18 th century. Some of them were much longer than we see today: "...loaves of bread six feet long that look like crowbars!" (1862). It was the increasing availability and cheapness of wheat from the 19 th century that meant white bread was no longer the exclusive preserve of the rich.

The development of steam ovens around the same time made it possible to bake loaves with a crisp crust and a white, airy centre, like today's baguettes. In 1920 a law was passed preventing workers from starting work before 4am, which made it impossible to get the bread cooked in time for breakfast - this was solved by making the bread into long, thin baguettes that cooked faster!

Although there had been long, thin breads in France for around a century before this, they had not been referred to as baguettes until 1920. The word baguette comes from the Latin baculum which became baccheto (Italian) meaning staff or stick.
More than four hundred years of practice, a revolution and much more have gone into making the baguette the bread we all know and love today!
Katie Saint blogs at www.wanderingshutterbug.net

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The great French baguette - a symbol of France, has gone through many steps to become the long stick of bread we love and know today says baguette fan Katie Saint... Bread has something of a special status in France.

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From the historical to the fantastic, France has amazing festivals on offer throughout the year - here are our top 10 picks.

If you're living in France, take the time to explore the small towns and the big cities alike as they celebrate French history and myth with spectacular festivals. There's no better time to learn the smaller idiosyncrasies of local French culture than during the burst of a colourful festival. France's top festivals celebrate everything from kites to citrus fruit to opera to lights. Immerse yourself in French culture with this pick of top 10 French festivals.

1. Berck Sur Mer Kite Festival

Giant pigs (and crabs, whales, lizards and assorted cartoon figures) really might fly in the skies high above the vast expanses of sand at the Berck-Sur-Mer International Kite Festival. Wrap up warm and get yourself a good place on the sand dunes to watch experts from all over the world compete against the wind and each other.
www.cerf-volant-berck.com

2. Menton Lemon Festival

For two weeks every spring, oranges and lemons take over the city of Menton, the Cité des Citrons (City of Lemons). There are parades of fruit-covered floats by day and by night, with 10-metre high statues and models made from citrus in the Biovès Gardens. You can buy locally made drinks, jams, soaps, perfumes - all made from lemons, of course.
www.fete-du-citron.com

3. Festival(s) of Avignon

Watch a French or world premiere of a new musical or theatrical production in the historic courtyard of the Pope's Palace and elsewhere in the city of Avignon. The Festival of Avignon is known as the 'IN' because another Festival of Avignon, known as the 'OFF', which is an alternative festival of independent theatre companies runs alongside it.
www.festival-avignon.com | www.avignonleoff.com

4. Bastille Day in Paris - July 14

July 14 ( le quatorze Juillet) is the biggest and most important festival in France. It celebrates the storming of the Bastille ( la Prise de la Bastille) and the beginning of the French Revolution ( la Révolution Française) with a massive parade ( le défilé), fireman's balls, free concerts and, at the Eiffel Tower, some of the best fireworks ( le feu d'artifice) you'll ever see. For the best view of the fireworks (and atmosphere) go early to the Trocadéro gardens, the Parc de Belleville, the Champ de Mars or for a bird's eye view, the Sacré Cœur or Montparnasse Tower. You can also adopt a few French vocabulary for the day, such as Vive la France (long live France) and Bonne fête! (happy holiday).
www.parisinfo.com

5. Cannes Film Festival

Film buffs will want to head down to the world's most famous film festival where actors and directors show their newest films and compete for the prestigious award the Palme d'Or. Most screenings are invitation only but don't be too despondent as there are plenty of opportunities for red carpet star-spotting - and there's the Cinéma de la Plage, a huge open-air cinema on the beach showing Out of Competition films and Cannes classics. Buy tickets from Cannes Tourist office.
www.festival-cannes.com

6. Nice carnival

The Carnival King will show fans 'he has more than one string to his bow' promises the event campaign, as this year's theme of the spectacular French mardi gras is 'King of Media'. Join 600,000 other revellers and party in the streets of Nice.
www.nicecarnaval.com

7. Chorégies d'Orange

This Roman theatre in the city of Orange, with its semi-circular tired stone seating and acoustic stone stage wall, must be one of the world's best settings in which to enjoy al fresco opera. Every summer the festival puts on a programme of well and lesser-known productions starring international opera stars. Even if you're not an opera fan, it's an experience not to be missed.
www.choregies.fr

8. Festival Medieval de Sedan

The castle is known as the giant of Sedan for good reason - it's the largest medieval castle in Europe, at 35,000sqm set over seven floors (expect lots of stairs) - and where the Sedan Medieval Festival takes place every May. Find out what life was like back in medieval times: think knights, archery, jousting, swords, banquets, wrestling and more.
www.chateau-fort-sedan.fr

9. La Fête de la Musique

There's music in the air throughout France on the day of the summer solstice June 21. La Fête de la Musique is a celebration of all genres of music, performed on the streets, in bars and restaurants, museums, concert halls and parks by professionals and amateurs alike - and it's completely free. Take part if you play an instrument or sing, or just watch and enjoy.
www.fetedelamusique.culture.fr

10. Festival of Lights

For four days at the beginning of December, the city of Lyon becomes the city of lights - a truly magical sight. There are thousands of flickering candles in windows and on balconies, the city's buildings and bridges are lit up with multi-coloured lights and there are light installations by artists from all over the world. Come prepared for crowds; it's said that the festival draws up to four million over the four days.
www.fetedeslumieres.lyon.fr

For more information

Read more on these festivals and other festivals and public holidays in France in Expatica's guides to top French festivals and French regional and national public holidays.
Photo credit: , © (, www.feteducitron.com via Office de Tourisme Menton Fete du Citron) Vince11111 (Bastille Day), Mark Fischer (Nice Carnival, Bataille des Fleurs), Clelie Mascaret (Festival Medieval de Sedan).

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Top 10 festivals in France - Expat Guide to France | Expatica

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From the historical to the fantastic, France has amazing festivals on offer throughout the year - here are our top 10 picks. If you're living in France, take the time to explore the small towns and the big cities alike as they celebrate French history and myth with spectacular festivals.

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Social customs in France

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Traditions and habits: All countries have peculiar social customs and France is no exception. As a foreigner you will probably be excused if you accidentally insult your hosts, but it's better to be

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Top 29 attractions in France

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Famous for its wines and cheeses, France is the world's most popular tourist destination receiving 82 million foreign tourists annual. Visitors are attracted by historic cities, a beautiful countryside, the castles of the Loire Valley, and Brittany and Normandy. In addition, France offers an agreeable climate, some excellent beaches on the French Riviera, the Atlantic coast and the island of Corsica, wide possibilities for winter sports, most notably in the Alps and the Pyrenees, and a rich culture with food and wines that are among the most celebrated in the world.

The top tourist attractions in France:

See also: 6 Best Day Trips in France

The Chenonceau Chateau is perhaps the most well-known chateau in the Loire Valley. The chateau, built in the 16th century, spans the River Cher, with passageways for boats at the bottom. After Versailles, it is the most visited chateau in France, and is noted for lovely gardens. It was restored after being bombed in World War II.

Le Puy-en-Velay, in southern France, is famous for three things: its cathedral, lentils and making lace. A shrine to the Virgin Mary atop Mons Anicius has attracted pilgrims from before the Middle Ages. Notre Dame Cathedral is the most popular tourist attraction. Visitors also might want to try Verveine, green liquor flavored with verbena.

Travelers who like to sip the bubbly will enjoy a visit to Epernay, a small town south of Reims that is famous for its champagne. Indeed, it calls itself the capital of champagne, since many of the top champagnes are produced here. The Avenue du Champagne is the place to taste as it's flanked by champagne makers.

Every May, the elite of the world's movie-making industry descends upon this French Riviera city for the Cannes International Film Festival. While screenings are not open to the public, fans can look for their favorite stars as they enter and leave film venues, dine out in restaurants, shop or visit one of the pretty beaches.

Val d'Isère is a popular ski resort in southeastern France close to the border with Italy. It hosted men's ski racing, including downhill and slalom, in the 1992 Winter Olympics and regularly hosts World Cup races. The charming village finds its 1,800 residents outnumbered 15 to one by guests in winter.

Nîmes is a city in southern France, that was once one of the most important cities of Roman Gaul. -A fact that's made clear by the city's collection of Roman buildings, including a marvelous amphitheater and a well preserved Roman temple. Because of this, Nîmes is often referred to as the French Rome.

Located between the Mediterranean Sea and the Rhone River delta, the Camargue is the largest river delta in Western Europe. The wetland area is famous for its teeming birdlife - about 500 species including the pink flamingo. Equally famous are the Camargue's small white horses which roam the extensive marshlands.

Vieux Lyon, or Lyon Old Town, is the largest Renaissance district in Lyon, if not in Europe, and the first in France to be covered under French laws protecting cultural sites. Old Town is filled with narrow streets lined with picturesque buildings that now house museums and shops instead of people.

Bonifacio is a city in the southwest region of the island of Corsica. The nearby coast features chalk white limestone cliffs the ocean has carved into unusual shapes. Erosion has whittled away at the cliffs so that buildings appear to be almost hanging over the edge. A former fortress once housed the French Foreign Legion but is now a museum.

The Millau Bridge or Viaduct is a cable bridge that happens to be the tallest bridge in the world at 343 meters (1,125 feet). The four-lane bridge spans the valley of the River Tarn in southern France. Opening in 2004, the bridge is considered one of France greatest engineering feats.

Étretat Cliffs is France's answer to England's White Cliffs of Dover. It has tall white cliffs with arches that jut out into the English Channel in Upper Normandy. In years past, this farming village was a draw for artists, including painter Claude Monet and author Guy de Maupassant.

The Reims Cathedral is important to the French monarchy since that is where the country's kings were crowned. The imposing structure was built in the French Gothic style from 1211 to 1275. It replaced a cathedral built around 400. The cathedral draws about 1 million visitors annually.

Strasbourg is a medieval city that serves as the capital of Alsace. The Old Town is marked by narrow cobblestone streets flanked with timbered buildings. Visitors say the best way to explore Strasbourg Old Town is on foot or bicycle, with walking along the canals rated a popular activity.

The Promenade des Anglais in Nice is probably the most famous walkway along the Mediterranean. It's named for the English visitors who wintered here beginning in the 18th century. Today, Le Prom as it's known, is popular not only with summer sunbathers, but also skateboarders and in-line skaters.

Annecy lies in the Rhone Alps at the northern end of Lake Annecy. This picturesque capital of Haute-Savoie was once part of Switzerland and Sardinia, but joined France in 1860. The medieval town is divided by small canals and streams running out of Lac Annecy, which is clean, fresh and has a wonderful azure color. A top attraction is the Palais de l'Isle that sits in the middle of a canal.

Bordeaux is a must-see for wine lovers, producing some of the world's greatest red wines. The Bordeaux area is divided into regions and sub-regions. The Left Bank is devoted to growing cabernet sauvignon grapes while merlot grapes are grown on the Right Bank. White wines and dessert wines also are made from grapes grown here.

Located less than 40 miles (65 km) from central Paris, the Palace of Fontainebleau is one of the largest French royal chateaux. The former hunting lodge, in use since the 12th century, is the place where Napoleon abdicated his emperorship before being exiled to Elba. The complex is filled with ornate buildings that have even more ornate interiors.

The Pont du Gard is an old Roman aqueduct/bridge that crosses the River Gardon in southern France. Built around 40, it was part of a long watercourse to bring water from a spring in Uzes to the Roman colony of Nimes. At 49 meters (160 feet) tall, it is the highest of all the Roman aqueduct bridges.

Cite de Carcassonne is an historic fortified city in the Languedoc-Roussillon region. The city dates back about 2,500 years and became part of France in the mid-13th century. At one time it was the center of the French woolen textile industry. A 19th-century restoration project of the Cité turned Carcassonne into the popular tourist destination it is today.

The Chartres Cathedral is located in a small city near Paris that seems too small to fit the Cathedral. The vast nave, the porches adorned with fine sculptures and the magnificent 12th- and 13th-century stained-glass windows, all in remarkable condition, make it one of the finest examples of the French High Gothic style.

Located in the Arcachon Bay area, the Dune of Pyla is the tallest sand dune in Europe. Its growing eastwards at about 4.5 meter a year - it has swallowed trees, a road junction and even a hotel. At the summit of the dune the view is spectacular with the Atlantic coast and the inlet of the bay on one side and a large pine forest on another.

The star attraction of Avignon, the Palais des Papes is one of the largest and most important medieval Gothic buildings in Europe. This is the palace where the Popes of Avignon ruled, during a period when the Papacy was divided, with a Pope in Rome and another in Avignon. The 3 meter (10 feet) thick walls, portcullises and watchtowers emphasize the castle-like look of the palace.

The château to end all châteaux, the Chateau de Chambord is a masterpiece of the French Renaissance. Construction of the Chateau de Chambord started in 1519 by King François I so he could hunt in the nearby forests. The cold and massive 440 rooms of the Château made it unpopular as an actual residence and François I himself stayed here for less than 40 days in total.

The Gorge du Verdon, located in southeastern France, is considered one of Europe's most beautiful river canyons. It's at its deepest (almost 2,300 feet or 700 meters deep) between Castellane and Moustiers-Sainte-Marie, an area that offers the best views as the green emerald Verdon River winds its way through the canyon.

Mont Saint Michel is a small tidal island located just off the coast of Normandy. A spectacular and well-preserved Norman Benedictine Abbey of St Michel stands at the peak of the rocky island, surrounded by the winding streets and convoluted architecture of the medieval town. A causeway connects the mainland with the island.

The Palace of Versailles is frequently associated with Marie Antoinette, the French queen who was beheaded during the French Revolution. The royal palace started out as a hunting lodge in 1624 and became more ornate over the years. Located outside of Paris, Versailles is known for the Hall of Mirrors and beautiful gardens.

Chamonix Valley is one of the oldest ski resorts in France. The first Winter Olympics was held here in 1924. It is located near Mont Blanc in the French Alps. In winter world-class skiers and boarders push themselves to extremes on Europe's most challenging slopes while in the summer months Chamonix is a mecca for alpine mountaineers and mountain bikers. Riding a cable car through the mountains is popular in the summer as well.

St Tropez is a resort community on the French Riviera. Once a military stronghold, fishing village and artist colony, it is now a playground for the jetset, fashion models, and millionaires. The beaches are popular with scantily clad sunbathers, while others come for windsurfing, sailing, motorized water sports and yachting. Outside peak summer there are less celebrities to spot but you'll also instantly appreciate what lured artists, writers and film makers to this picturesque village.

The Eiffel Tower is the symbol of Paris and one of the top tourist attractions in France. The tower was built by Gustave Eiffel as the entrance arch for the International Exhibition of Paris of 1889. At 324 meters (1,063 feet) tall, it is still the highest building in Paris, offering stunning vistas of the city below. Since its construction more than 200,000,000 people have visited the Eiffel Tower making it the most visited paid tourist attraction in the world.

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Famous for its wines and cheeses, France is the world's most popular tourist destination receiving 82 million foreign tourists annual. Visitors are attracted by historic cities, a beautiful countryside, the castles of the Loire Valley, and Brittany and Normandy.

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Eiffel Tower

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The flag of France

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Top 10 French food

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French food is known globally for its finesse and flavour. Guide your palete through this list of top 10 French foods, with do-it-yourself recipes of delicious French cuisine.

Traditional French food relies on simple combinations that enhance the rich, natural flavours of basic ingredients. Many French chefs have earned international acclaim for turning French food into haute cuisine and influencing the gastronomic scene worldwide. Food in France has become such an integral part of French culture that it was added to UNESCO's world list of intangible cultural heritage in 2010.

Anyone's first step into the world of French cuisine should start with experimenting with diverse French cheese and wine. France is renowned for some of the world's best wines and cheeses, and wine and food pairing is taken seriously in France, even at informal dinner parties. In many French restaurants you can order a platter of soft, semi-cured, pressed and blue cheeses, although in France it is typically served after the main course and before dessert.

Beyond French wine and cheese is a mixture of traditionally peasant and bourgeois French dishes, many of which come with detailed history, regional variations and modern adaptations. From simple, traditional recipes to complex dishes, it's not difficult to find a top French food to suit your taste. Many French recipes are surprisingly simple as well, and it's not as hard as you would think to introduce French food specialties into your weekly menu. Here is a list of top 10 French foods you simply must try.
Bon Appetit!
Top French foods you have to try

1. Soupe à l'oignon

This is a traditional French soup made of onions and beef stock, usually served with croutons and melted cheese on top. The soup's origin can be traced as far back as the Romans - it was typically a poor dish - although the current version dates from the 18th century. The remarkable taste in French onion soup is from the caramelisation of the onions, to which sometimes brandy or sherry is added at the end of the slow-cooking process. The liquid is typically meat stock, although variations include using just water, adding milk or thickening it with eggs or flour.

For another popular French soup, try the traditional fishermen's soupe de poisson à la rouille from Marseille, characterised by a dollop of garlic and saffron mayonnaise ( rouille) on top.

Make your own:

2. Coq au vin

This quintessential French food was popularised by Julia Child through her television show and book and seen as one of her signature dishes. It is a dish of chicken braised with wine, mushrooms, salty pork or bacon (lardons), mushrooms, onions, often garlic and sometimes with a drop of brandy. Although the name translates as 'rooster or cock in wine' - and braising is ideal for tougher birds - the recipe usually uses chicken or capon. A red Burgundy wine is typically used, although French regional variations exist using local wines, for example coq au vin jaune (Jura), coq au Riesling (Alsace), coq au pourpre or coq au violet (Beaujolais nouveau) and coq au Champagne (Champagne).

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3. Cassoulet

Cassoulet is a comfort dish of white beans stewed slowly with meat, typically pork or duck but also sausages, goose, mutton or whatever else the chef has around. This peasant dish originates from southern France and is popular in Toulouse, Carcassonne and Castelnaudary. The name of the dish comes from the pot ( cassole) it's traditionally baked in, which is typically shaped like an inverted cone to give a crust shape. This is a rich, hearty meal perfect for colder months.

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4. Beef bourguignon

Boeuf bourguignon is a traditional French meal that has become internationally well-known. Coming from the same region as coq au vin - Burgundy (or in French, Bourgogne) in eastern France - beef bourguignon has several similarities. The dish is a stew made of beef braised in red wine, beef broth and seasoned with garlic, pearl onions, fresh herbs and mushrooms. This recipe is just one example of how traditional peasant dishes have been adopted into haute cuisine; the method of slowly simmering beef in wine was likely developed to tenderise tough (or cheap) cuts of meat. Traditional preparation time is two days to tenderise the meat and intensify the flavours. In Burgundy in late August, the Fête du Charolais (in French) celebrates the prized Charolais beef with music, meat and bœuf bourguignon.

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5. Chocolate soufflé

The word soufflé derives from the French verb to 'blow out' and is an airy, egg-baked dish with origins dating back to early 18th-century France. Soufflé is eaten savoury or sweet in France, and you've likely found chocolate soufflé on dessert menus worldwide. The crispy chocolate crust with an oozing, creamy chocolate centre gives this dessert a sweet surprise.

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6. Flamiche

Flamiche means 'cake' in Flemish and this dish originates from northern France, near the border with Belgium. It has a puff-pastry crust filled with cheese and vegetables and resembles a quiche. The traditional French filling is with leeks and cream. There is also a pizza-like version of flamiche, which is without the top crust of the pie. For a southern French twist, try the thin crusty pissaladière which is topped with anchovies, onions and olives.

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7. Confit de canard

Confit de canard is a tasty French dish of duck - although goose and pork can also be used - and is considered one of the finest French dishes. The meat is specially prepared using a centuries-old preserve and slow-cooking process ( confit), where the duck meat is marinated in salt, garlic and thyme for up to 36 hours and then slow-cooked in its own fat at low temperatures (an alternative to deep-frying). It is typically served with confit roasted potatoes and garlic on the side. Today this French dish is served all over France, although it is considered a specialty of the Gascony region.

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8. Nicoise salad

Salade niçoise is a typical French salad from the Provence region, which can be served as a side dish or a light meal on its own. It's typically a combination of lettuce, fresh tomatoes, boiled eggs, (canned or fresh) tuna, green beans, Nicoise Cailletier olives and anchovies, although many variations exist.

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9. Ratatouille

Ratatouille is another internationally recognised French dish, hailing from the southeastern French region of Provence. It is a stewed vegetable recipe that can be served as a side dish, meal or stuffing for other dishes, such as crepes and omelettes. The vegetables are generally first cooked in a shallow pan on a high heat with a small amount of fat, and then oven-baked in a dish. French chefs continually debate the correct way to cook ratatouille: some do not agree with sauteing all the vegetables together, such as Julia Child, and argue that the vegetables should be cooked separately and layered into a baking dish. The ingredients consist of tomatoes, garlic, onions, zucchini, eggplant, carrots, bell peppers, basil, marjoram, thyme and other green herbs. A similar dish popular in the French Basque country is piperade, which typically adds ham and sometimes eggs to the stewed vegetable mix.

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10. Tarte tatin

They say this French apple tarte was made by mistake in 1898 by Stephanie Tartin when trying to make a traditional apple pie. When she accidentally left the apples in sugar and butter too for long in the pan, in a hurry to rescue the dessert she put the pastry base on top of the burning fruit and placed the pan in the oven. She supposedly served the upside-down tart to her guests at Hôtel Tatin and the result turned into the hotel's signature dish. Although the tarte's origin is disputed, the delicious result is not.

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A guide to French wine and cheese

Absinthe, 'The green fairy'

You'll find wine bars all over France, with a wide selection in Paris. Even the smallest villages have bars, sometimes as part of a private house, where you can have glass of wine, a bottle of beer or a coffee. Find a traditional bar à vins with a zinc top counter and ask for a glass of absinthe. This bright green, aniseed flavoured liqueur was popular amongst Parisian writers and artists in the early 20th century. It was banned for 100 years, up until 2011, for its alleged hallucinatory effects.

Eat and prepare traditional foods from around the world

Photo credit: Jacques Lameloise (thumbnail), Ludovic Peron (Soupe à l'oignon), jules (Coq au vin), Ewan Munro (Cassoulet), Noodles and Beef (Boeuf bourguignon), Klearchos Kapoutsis (Chocolate souffle), Eric Chan (Flamiche), Roboppy (Duck confit), Canterel (Salade nicoise), manuela barattini (Tarte tatin).

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