Day 2904 (Wednesday) 21st May 2025

This is Fort Alban in between Villefranche and Nice

and this is Nice.

All is well again because we got our blue sky back and it was sunny.

Huw did some more work on Tamsin’s house this morning and when he finished around lunchtime he picked me up in town and we went into Nice to thoroughly enjoy lunch in the park. It was so good to sit in the park without a jacket, it’s lovely and warm, not hot yet, but that’ll soon be here and I’m really looking forward to it.

I found this article online about interesting information about France, it’s quite long so I’ll post it over a few days.

Over 100 Interesting and Unusual French Facts

Originally posted on 11th March, 2025 & updated on 23rd April, 2025

France is filled with charm and intrigue, from the bustling streets of Paris to the scenic Bordeaux vineyards and the bee-filled lavender fields in Provence. In this blog article, we invite you to explore over a hundred fascinating facts about France, digging into its storied past, cultural treasures, and innovative spirit that has shaped the world as we know it.
Whether you’re a history buff, a foodie, an art lover or simply curious about the wonders of France, this collection of facts will take you on a journey through time and space. Discover the origins of iconic landmarks, the stories behind inventions, and the quirky traditions that make France so unique. From the grand Eiffel Tower to the simple baguette, each fact offers a glimpse into the soul of this nation. So, grab a fresh croissant and a café au lait, and let’s embark on a voyage through the land of love, food, wine, coffee, art, and where joie de vivre is priceless.

France: The World’s Leading Tourist Destination

France is the world’s most visited country in the world, with over 100 million visitors in 2024

Tourism plays a significant role in the French economy, contributing €250 billion annually and accounting for 160 billion overnight stays annually.

France, often called the “Hexagon,” is the largest country in the European Union, extending about a thousand kilometres from north to south and east to west.

France’s thirteen regions share their borders with eight countries: Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Spain, Andorra, and Monaco.

France boasts 45 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including iconic landmarks like the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre Museum and Pont du Gard.

This is the Pont du Gard

France attracts over 55 million skiers annually, making it one of the top three ski destinations in the world, competing with Austria and the USA.

Historical and Cultural Influence

France’s Role in World History

After the Norman Conquest of 1066, French became England’s official language and was used in courts, laws, and aristocracy until the late 1300s.

Construction of the Notre Dame de Paris Cathedral began in 1163 and was completed in 1345, nearly two centuries later.

The Pope lived in France during the Avignon Papacy (1309–1377), when the papal court was moved from Rome to Avignon.

Napoleon Bonaparte was born on August 15, 1769, in Corsica. His family was of Italian heritage, and his birth name was Napoleone di Buonaparte.

The youngest king of France was Louis XIV, who ascended to the throne in 1643 at just five. He passed away on September 1715, after 72 years of reign.

The shortest reign of a French King lasted only 20 minutes; Louis XIX ruled for that brief period in 1830.

The French Revolution inspired democratic ideals globally; the Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen (1789) shaped contemporary democratic principles.

French Fashion and Culture

The first fashion show is thought to have originated in France during the early 20th century, laying the foundation for the modern fashion industry.

Herminie Cadolle was a French fashion designer credited with creating the first modern bra-like garment in the late 19th century.

The town of Oloron-Sainte-Marie, in the Pyrenees, is home to Laulhère, France’s oldest beret manufacturer, still making millions of traditional handcrafted bérets.

Nîmes, the birthplace of denim in the 17th century, is home to Atelier Tuffery, one of France’s oldest jean manufacturers, still making handcrafted jeans today.

Louis Cartier introduced the wristwatch in 1904, providing a stylish and convenient way to tell time.

Maurice Levy invented the retractable lipstick tube in 1915, making lipstick more portable and convenient.

The town of Grasse in southern France is considered the world’s perfume capital. It produces over two-thirds of France’s natural aromas.

France’s Literary and Artistic Contributions

France holds the record for the most Nobel Prize winners in Literature. Since the award was first given in 1901, France has won 16 Nobel Prizes, more than any other country.

Leonardo da Vinci spent his final years in France, invited by King Francis I in 1516. The king gave him a residence in the Loire Valley, where he pursued his artistic and scientific pursuits.

The Statue of Liberty, designed by Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi and engineered by Gustave Eiffel, was gifted by France to the USA in 1886.

The first public cinema screening took place in Paris on December 28, 1895, by the Lumière brothers.

The Montgolfier brothers launched the first manned flight with a hot-air balloon in Paris on November 21, 1783. The flight lasted 25 minutes and covered a distance of approximately 9 kilometres.

Scientific and Technological Advancements

French Contributions to Science and Medicine

Marie Curie was the first woman to win a Nobel Prize. In 1903, she received the Nobel Prize in Physics, which she shared with her husband and Henri Becquerel.

French physician Jean-Baptiste Denis performed the first recorded human blood transfusion in 1667.

The stethoscope, invented by René-Théophile-Hyacinthe Laennec in 1819, revolutionised medical examinations by amplifying heart and lung sounds.

Louis Pasteur’s pasteurisation process (1865) made food safer by eliminating harmful bacteria, significantly improving public health.

The BCG vaccine, developed by Albert Calmette and Camille Guérin in 1921, has saved countless lives by preventing tuberculosis.

Charles Frédéric Gerhardt discovered aspirin in 1853, providing widespread relief from pain and inflammation.

French Inventions that Changed the World

Marcel Bich (Bic Company) created the Bic Cristal ballpoint pen in 1950, offering an affordable and reliable writing tool.

Maurice Lauré introduced the Value Added Tax (VAT) in 1954, providing a more efficient taxation system adopted by many countries.

Le Fardier de Cugnot 1771 model is a steam-powered vehicle designed by French engineer Nicolas-Joseph Cugnot, regarded as one of the earliest self-propelled mechanical vehicles, often referred to as the world’s first automobile.

France introduced the Metric System in the 1790s, creating a universal measurement system still used worldwide today.

Barthélemy Thimonnier’s sewing machine (1830) transformed textile production, making clothing manufacture faster and more efficient.

Charles-Joseph Dusaulx’s internal combustion engine (1870) powered the first automobile, laying the groundwork for the modern car industry.

Édouard Delamare-Deboutteville is credited with designing one of the first gasoline-powered cars in 1884, which predates Karl Benz’s patent. His steam-engine-inspired vehicle ran on a two-cylinder gasoline engine.

Louis-Guillaume Perreaux created the motorcycle in 1871, offering a thrilling and convenient travel method.

Gustave Trouvé‘s electric car (1881) pioneered eco-friendly transportation, paving the way for today’s electric vehicles.

Fernand Forest’s automatic transmission (1907) made driving more accessible, contributing to the widespread adoption of automobiles.

Louis-Sébastien Lenormand conducted the first practical parachute jump using a rigid-framed design of his own, making his historic descent from the tower of the Montpellier Observatory.

Louis Braille, blinded during his childhood, invented the raised-dot reading system for the visually impaired, the Braille System, in 1824 when he was just 15 years old.

More interesting facts tomorrow…