How the French government works
With many different layers, French government and administration is complicated. Here’s an explanation of how it works and who is responsible for what.
French culture and society
Your guide to French traditions, arts and eventsRecommended reading
La France : un état laïque
The separation of church and state has an impact on school and public administration. France is a secular state, but what are the implications of “laïcité” in everyday life?
French national anthem: La Marseillaise
The french national anthem “La Marseillaise” got its name during the French revolution because it was sung by troops from Marseille upon arriving in Paris. Here are the words in French and English.
EU Citizen Voting Rights in France
If you are a EU citizen residing in France (primary residents only), you have the right to vote in both European elections and local communal elections. You will need to register before December 31.
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Christmas Markets in France
Traditionally, housewives in France would spend the weeks leading up to Christmas preparing a festive feast and Christmas markets developed to supply them with the ingredients and products they needed.
Medieval masterpieces: cathedrals of Picardy
Out of this world The astronomical clock (horloge astronomique) at Cathédrale Saint Pierre in Beauvais attracts a paying audience five times per day, once an hour between 10.40am and 4.40pm. The clock’s 53 dials display the time, tides and positions of the stars in…
New map of France reduces regions to 13
France has adopted a new map reducing the number of regions from 22 down to 13. The move is aimed to simplify bureaucracy and save costs and is not without controversy.
France launches new classes on ‘moral and civic’ education
At the start of the 2015 school year France introduced new ‘civics lessons’ in primary and secondary classrooms aimed at defending the values of la Republique.
National monuments: Arc de Triomphe, Paris
One of France’s most famous national monuments is the Arc de Triomphe, a neoclassical arch that stands in the centre of the Place Charles de Gaulle.
Franco-British relations at Château d’Hardelot
Situated on the Opal Coast in the Pas-de-Calais, this neo-Gothic castle is a pioneering centre of Franco-British cultural relations