Facts about France - 30 things you (might) not have known

Writer: Peter Bergström

Updated: September 2026 | France is a country we love to return to. Over the years, we have traveled around here for several months, mainly by camper van, and discovered everything from the Atlantic coast and the Mediterranean to mountains, vineyards, historic cities and the odd French phenomenon. Here we have collected 30 fun, surprising and interesting facts about France.

Facts about France

France is one of our favorite countries when it comes to travel. And it's no wonder – the country offers everything from amazing food to spectacular nature, and some interesting facts.

1. The French Revolution contributed to the breakthrough of restaurants

France was famous for its food long before the French Revolution, and restaurants were already in existence in Paris in the 18th century. But the Revolution changed society and food culture. As aristocratic households disappeared or changed, chefs and other kitchen staff sought new paths, while a new bourgeoisie began to eat out.

In the years following the revolution, the restaurant culture in Paris grew rapidly. In other words, the revolution contributed to the exclusive French cooking moved out of the private dining rooms of the aristocracy and became available to more people. Bon appétit!

2. France is one of the world's great Michelin countries

The Michelin star is French in origin. The Michelin Guide was launched in 1900 by tire manufacturers André and Édouard Michelin, who wanted to get motorists to travel more and thus wear out more tires. Eventually, the guide began to rate restaurants and today the Michelin stars are some of the most prestigious awards in the restaurant world.

France is still one of the world's top Michelin countries. The number of stars changes every year, so we're not going to lock ourselves into a number that will soon become outdated. But one thing is for sure: if you want to spend a holiday enjoying really good food, France is not a stupid destination.

3. One of the world's first mobile photos was shared by a Frenchman in 1997

In 1997, French engineer and entrepreneur Philippe Kahn wanted to quickly share a picture of his daughter's birth. He connected a digital camera with a mobile phone and a server solution and sent the picture instantly to around 2,000 people.

This was long before we took for granted that you could photograph your lunch and show it to half the world before it got cold. The birth photo is often described as the first to be shared directly via a combination of digital camera, mobile phone and public network.

4. French dining culture is on the UNESCO World Heritage List

Since 2010, the gastronomic meal of the French has been on the UNESCO list of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

It's as much about the ritual itself as it is about the food: gathering around a festive meal, choosing good ingredients, combining food and drink, setting a nice table and eating several courses together. A classic structure might include an aperitif, starter, fish or meat with side dishes, cheese and dessert. We can still feel that the French have understood something important.

5. The name Côte d'Azur was invented by a writer

We Swedes often say French Riviera, while the French use the name French Riviera. But the name is actually not very old.

It was the author and politician Stéphen Liégeard who launched the expression in his book The Côte d'Azur in 1887. He borrowed the idea from the Côte-d'Or, the "gold coast", in his home county of Burgundy and replaced the gold with the azure Mediterranean.

Exactly where the Côte d'Azur begins in the west is still not entirely clear. However, there is little doubt as to why the name stuck.

6. France has given the world many famous cultural figures

Victor Hugo, Claude Monet, Édith Piaf, Coco Chanel, Auguste Rodin, Gustave Eiffel, Joan of Arc, Louis Pasteur and Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. The list of French people who left their mark on art, literature, fashion, science and history is almost endless.

France has also attracted artists and writers from other countries for centuries. Paris became a center for art and culture, while Provence and the Côte d'Azur, among others, attracted artists with their special light.

7. The Eiffel Tower wasn't meant to stand forever

The Eiffel Tower was built for the 1889 Paris World's Fair and Gustave Eiffel originally had the right to operate the tower under a 20-year concession. After that, the future was highly uncertain and the tower could have been dismantled.

Gustave Eiffel therefore ensured that the structure also had scientific uses. Above all, the tower became valuable for experiments with wireless telegraphy and later radio communication. Its strategic utility contributed greatly to its continued existence.

Paris without the Eiffel Tower? It feels almost impossible to imagine today.

8. France has a long and strong naturist tradition

France has long been one of Europe's major countries for organized naturism. There are naturist campsites, holiday villages and beaches in many parts of the country, not least along the Mediterranean and Atlantic coasts.

We have visited several such places ourselves. The most famous is perhaps the naturist area in Cap d'Agde, where there is accommodation, camping, restaurants, shops and a long naturist beach. We have also stayed at Levant Island off the Côte d'Azur, where the naturist area Héliopolis was founded back in 1931.

9. A French divorce case could involve proving impotence

Now it gets really weird. During the 16th and 17th centuries, impotence could be used as a basis for annulling a marriage in France. In some high-profile cases, very intimate medical and legal examinations were required to decide the matter.

The most extreme procedure was called congress and could involve a married couple attempting to consummate the marriage in front of witnesses or appointed experts. The system was heavily criticized and banned by the Parliament of Paris in the 17th century.

10. The stethoscope was invented in France

The French physician René Laënnec invented the stethoscope in Paris in 1816. According to his own description, he wanted to examine a young woman but felt it was not appropriate to place his ear directly against her chest, which was a method used at the time.

He therefore rolled up paper into a cylinder and discovered that heart sounds could be heard clearly through the tube. The simple idea soon developed into an instrument made of wood. Today's stethoscope looks different, but the principle was born in Paris more than 200 years ago.

11. The French eat about 26 kilos of cheese per person per year

The fact that France is an Eastern country is hardly news. But the scale is impressive. According to statistics from the French Ministry of Agriculture, consumption is around 26 kilos of cheese per person per year.

How many different French cheeses there are depends on how you count varieties, varieties, and local produce. The Department of Agriculture lists around 1,200 varieties. Brie, camembert, comté, roquefort, reblochon, chèvre… We understand those 26 kilos.

12. The kiss on the cheek the kiss follows different rules in different parts of France

Greeting with kisses on the cheek is a well-known French tradition, but anyone expecting a simple national set of rules will be disappointed. The number of kisses and which cheek to start with varies depending on region, family, situation, and generation.

The most common is two kisses on the cheek, but in some places one, three or four are found. Also, you don't always kiss on the cheek, but rather put your cheeks together and make a little kissing sound. The safest system for us foreigners is probably to let the Frenchman start and then try to follow suit.

13. A bottle of Romanée-Conti became the world's most expensive wine at auction

In October 2018, one bottle was sold Romanée-Conti 1945 at Sotheby's in New York for a staggering $558,000. That was well above the estimated price and set a record for a regular 75-centiliter bottle of wine at auction.

The wine came from the legendary Domaine de la Romanée-Conti vineyard in Burgundy and the 1945 vintage is extremely rare. This is where we feel a bottle of the house wine might be just fine anyway.

14. The croissant has Austrian roots

Few pastries feel more French than a croissant. But its history goes back to the Austrian pastry tradition and the crescent-shaped kipferl.

In the 19th century, so-called viennoiseries became popular in Paris, not least after the Austrian August Zang opened a Viennese bakery in the city. The French then developed the pastry further, and the buttery, crispy croissant made of laminated dough that we know today became a French specialty.

So we're not going to take the croissant from France. We're just noting that Austria was in on a corner.

15. The Louvre is the world's most visited museum

The Louvre in Paris is enormous in both content and popularity. The museum describes itself as the world's most visited museum, receiving around nine million visitors in a typical year. In 2025, the figure was nine million.

The collections include nearly half a million works and objects, although only a portion of them are on display at any one time. This includes, of course, Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa, but also everything from Egyptian antiquities to sculptures, paintings and handicrafts. In other words, ”just taking a quick look at the Louvre” is a rather optimistic project.

16. The ban on kissing on French train platforms is a myth

Here we have to kill one of our own old favorite facts. It is often said that France introduced a law in 1910 that banned kissing on train platforms because long goodbyes caused trains to be delayed. The only problem is that no such law can be found.

Both the French railway company SNCF and the official law database Légifrance have searched without finding any support for the story. It is therefore considered a long-lived wandering legend. So kiss on the platform if you want. But get on before the train leaves.

17. The Tour de France started with a 467-kilometer first stage

On July 1, 1903, 60 cyclists gathered outside the Le Réveil-Matin café in Montgeron outside Paris for the start of the first Tour de France in history. And it wasn't a soft start right away. The first stage to Lyon was 467 kilometers long and the winner, Maurice Garin, cycled for almost 18 hours. The entire race consisted of six very long stages.

Today's Tour de France is still an extreme test of strength, but the pioneers in 1903 were clearly not very wise.

18. Cap d'Agde has an entire resort area for naturists

On the Mediterranean coast lies Naturist Village in Cap d'Agde, a large fenced holiday area where naturism is a central part of life. There are apartments, hotels, camping, shops, restaurants, bars and a beach.

We first visited the area during the off-season in 2015 and returned in the summer of 2025, when the experience was completely different. On the beach and campsite, nudity was the norm, while dress code varied considerably more around restaurants and shops.

Cap d'Agde is also known for a more adult swinger scene, but it's important to distinguish it from naturism. There are people who come here for the naturist life, others for the nightlife and many who simply want sun and a holiday.

19. France used tens of thousands of carrier pigeons during World War I

The French military used carrier pigeons on a large scale during World War I. The French Ministry of Defense states that around 40,000–60,000 pigeons were mobilized.

One of the most famous was called Vaillant. During the Battle of Verdun in 1916, it flew through gas and shelling with a last desperate message from the besieged Fort Vaux. Vaillant survived the mission and was honored for his efforts.

France also still has a military carrier pigeon colony at Mont-Valérien. You never know when the wifi will go down.

20. The Paris Catacombs Hold the Remains of Millions of People

Underneath Paris lies a vast network of old quarries. By the late 18th century, the city's overcrowded cemeteries had become a serious hygiene problem, and authorities began moving human remains into the old tunnels.

The first major transfers were carried out in 1785–1787 and continued in stages over a long period of time. Today, the ossuary is estimated to contain the remains of several million people.

The part that can be visited is about 20 meters below ground. The visitor route is only a small part of the tunnel system. A little different from the Louvre.

21. The Cannes Film Festival was originally supposed to start in 1939

The first film festival in Cannes was scheduled to open on September 1, 1939. The background was partly political: France wanted to create an international film festival as a counterbalance to the Venice Film Festival, which had become increasingly influenced by fascist Italy and Nazi Germany.

But on the same day the festival was to open, Germany invaded Poland. The festival was canceled and World War II began. It was not until September 20, 1946, that the first real festival in Cannes could open.

We happened to end up there ourselves in the middle of the film festival 2015 without having planned it. At that time, Cannes was graced by Ingrid Bergman, who was the official poster name of the year, and the city was full of photographers, film people and celebrities. A much more pleasant surprise than a world war.

22. France has more than 50 World Heritage Sites

France is one of the world's great cultural heritage countries. The UNESCO World Heritage List currently includes 56 French World Heritage Sites, both cultural and natural. These include Mont-Saint-Michel, Versailles, historic parts of Lyon, Roman and Romanesque monuments in Arles, Canal du Midi and the wine landscape of Champagne.

The number can of course continue to grow, so the surest fact is actually this: France has a lot of old things that humanity thinks are worth preserving. We can sign off on that.

23. Grapes for champagne must be picked by hand

In Champagne, hand-harvesting is not a romantic tourist attraction but part of the rules of production. The grapes must be harvested whole and transported carefully to the pressing, which is important when making white wine from blue grapes.

The three dominant grape varieties are Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Meunier, but there are also a small number of other permitted varieties.

And no, the monk Dom Pérignon did not ”invent” champagne. He played an important role in the development of wine production, but sparkling wine has a much more complicated history than that.

24. Champagne doesn't have to be drunk from narrow flute glasses

The classic tall and narrow champagne glass is elegant and helps the bubbles linger for a long time. But that doesn't automatically mean it's the best glass for experiencing the wine's aromas and flavors.

That's why many wine experts today prefer a wider champagne glass or a regular smaller wine glass, especially for more complex champagne. The wider bowl gives the wine more room to develop its aromas. But if you want to drink champagne from a flute, of course you do. It should be a party, not a glass police.

25. French food culture includes much more than baguettes and croissants

France is known for things like baguettes, croissants and cheese, but regional cuisine is hugely varied. In Burgundy you'll find snails, along the Atlantic coast oysters and mussels, in Provence bouillabaisse and in the southwest of France duck and goose dishes.

We have had time to try a lot during our travels. oyster? Crazy good. Mussels? Crazy good. Rabbit? Good. Snails? So-so. And frog legs are still waiting for their turn. France is simply a country where food is a big part of the travel itself, which suits us perfectly.

26. Mont-Saint-Michel is still sometimes a real island

Mont-Saint-Michel is located on a cliff in a bay with very large tidal differences. As early as 1879, a raised road embankment was built out to Mont-Saint-Michel. The problem was rather that it contributed to the accumulation of sand and sediment around the island. A major project was therefore carried out to restore the maritime character of the site.

In 2014, the current bridge was opened, allowing the water to circulate much more freely. At really high tides, Mont-Saint-Michel can once again be completely surrounded by water. And that is undeniably when the place is at its most magical.

27. Several inventions with French roots have changed the world

France has nurtured an impressive collection of inventors and scientists. Blaise Pascal constructed an early mechanical calculating machine in the 17th century. Louis Braille developed Braille in the 19th century and the brothers Joseph and Étienne Montgolfier was behind the first successful manned hot air balloon flights in 1783.

The brothers Auguste and Louis Lumière later played an important role in the infancy of film, arranging a famous public film screening in Paris in 1895.

However, Joseph-Ignace Guillotin did not invent the guillotine, despite its name. He advocated a more uniform and less painful method of execution, while the machine itself was developed by others. It might seem a bit unfair to have his name associated with it forever, one might say.

28. Dune du Pilat is Europe's highest sand dune

At the Arcachon Bay near Bordeaux rises Dune du Pilat, Europe's highest sand dune. It is several kilometers long and about half a kilometer wide, but the exact height changes because the dune is constantly being shaped by wind and weather. It is therefore less wise to write that it will be exactly so or so many meters high forever.

We visited Dune du Pilat in 2025 and can at least contribute a completely scientific observation: it's hard work to climb up. The view of the Atlantic Ocean, the sandbanks and the vast pine forest makes the effort worthwhile.

29. The flag of Corsica is adorned with a peacock's head

The flag of Corsica is easy to recognize. Against the white background, a black head in profile with a white band around the forehead is visible. The symbol is called Test Mora, the mother head.

Its exact origins are debated and several different stories have been told over the centuries, so it is wise to be cautious of the popular explanation that the blindfold was once worn over the eyes and was moved up to symbolize the liberation of Corsica.

What we do know, however, is that Testa Mora became a strong Corsican symbol in the 18th century, associated with the Corsican Republic and Pasquale Paoli. Today, it is a clear symbol of the island and Corsican identity.

30. The Gorges du Verdon has cliff walls that rise almost 700 meters

Gorges du Verdon in Provence is sometimes called the ”Grand Canyon of Europe.” It’s a nickname rather than an official title, of course, but the landscape is truly dramatic. In places, the nearly vertical cliff walls rise nearly 700 meters above the Verdon River.

We spent several days in the area, visiting Moustiers-Sainte-Marie, Castellane and Aiguines, among others. Here you can hike, drive the spectacular roads along the gorge and venture out into the turquoise waters.

France is perhaps best known for Paris, wine and food, but sometimes it's nature that beats everything.

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