5 little-known facts about France
It’s one of the most visited countries in Europe and rightly so. Boasting some of the best cheeses and wines the world has to offer, France has much to offer.
Whether you are looking to move abroad, retire in France or simply visit the country, we have no doubt you won’t leave disappointed.
Here, though, is deVere Group’s list of 5 lesser-known facts about France:
France is the biggest country in the European Union – At almost a fifth of the EU’s total surface area, the country’s 551,000 square kilometres make it the biggest country across the bloc. It is also the largest country with its entirety in Europe. The only other countries larger than France which have parts in Europe are Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan and Turkey.
France has the second highest birth rates in Europe – Second only to Ireland, France has the second highest birth rate across Europe with 2.01 children per woman. Incredibly, the country accounts for more than half of the EU’s natural population increase. The EU average fertility rate is much less at 1.6.
Liberté, égalitié, fraternité – France’s national motto translates to liberty, equality and fraternity. Written into the Constitution, it first came about during the Revolution. Interestingly, during German occupation of parts of France during World War II, the motto was replaced with ‘Travaile, familie, patrie’ which translates to ‘work, family, fatherland’.
The Louvre is one of the most visited museums in the world – This fact might not come across as overly surprising. The Louvre is the home of some of the world’s most famous artwork such as the Mona Lisa, after all. What might come as a surprise, though, is the number of tourists who visit the Louvre each year. In 2014 alone, the Louvre opened its doors to a staggering 9.3 million visitors – almost the same number of people as Sweden’s population!
The metric system was invented by the French – While similar concepts to that of the metric system had already been discussed in the 16th and 17th centuries, the first practical use of the metric system that we are familiar with today was during the French Revolution.
If you would like to find out more about what services deVere Group offers, feel free to get in touch with us for a free, no-obligation consultation today!
It’s one of the most visited countries in Europe and rightly so. Boasting some of the best cheeses and wines the world has to offer, France has much to offer.
Whether you are looking to move abroad, retire in France or simply visit the country, we have no doubt you won’t leave disappointed.
Here, though, is deVere Group’s list of 5 lesser-known facts about France:
France is the biggest country in the European Union – At almost a fifth of the EU’s total surface area, the country’s 551,000 square kilometres make it the biggest country across the bloc. It is also the largest country with its entirety in Europe. The only other countries larger than France which have parts in Europe are Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan and Turkey.
France has the second highest birth rates in Europe – Second only to Ireland, France has the second highest birth rate across Europe with 2.01 children per woman. Incredibly, the country accounts for more than half of the EU’s natural population increase. The EU average fertility rate is much less at 1.6.
Liberté, égalitié, fraternité – France’s national motto translates to liberty, equality and fraternity. Written into the Constitution, it first came about during the Revolution. Interestingly, during German occupation of parts of France during World War II, the motto was replaced with ‘Travaile, familie, patrie’ which translates to ‘work, family, fatherland’.
The Louvre is one of the most visited museums in the world – This fact might not come across as overly surprising. The Louvre is the home of some of the world’s most famous artwork such as the Mona Lisa, after all. What might come as a surprise, though, is the number of tourists who visit the Louvre each year. In 2014 alone, the Louvre opened its doors to a staggering 9.3 million visitors – almost the same number of people as Sweden’s population!
The metric system was invented by the French – While similar concepts to that of the metric system had already been discussed in the 16th and 17th centuries, the first practical use of the metric system that we are familiar with today was during the French Revolution.
If you would like to find out more about what services deVere Group offers, feel free to get in touch with us for a free, no-obligation consultation today!