Day 3250 (Saturday) 2nd May 2026

This is Tourettes sur Loup, north of Saint-Paul de-Vence

and this is Villefranche-sur-Mer.

It was a lovely sunny day again today but that pesky cool wind is still blowing. We went to Le Phare where had a giggle with some of the locals and then went to Bobbie’s for lunch. The square was quite busy with lots of tourists.

We are back to some more fun facts about France…

More Amazing Inventions

French hairstylist Alexandre-Ferdinand Godefroy invented the first mechanised hair dryer in 1888.

Eugène Poubelle invented the trash can (a bin) in 1884, promoting better waste management and public sanitation.

Antoine Redier’s adjustable alarm clock (1847) helped people start their days on time, becoming a bedside essential.

Georges Claude invented neon lighting in 1910, illuminating cities and signs with vibrant colours.

Dr François Merry Delabost introduced the shower in 1872, promoting better hygiene and becoming a daily essential.

The septic tank, invented by Jean-Louis Mouras and Abbé Moigno in 1881, improved sanitation and waste management, particularly in rural areas.

Claude-Louis Berthollet, a French chemist, invented “Eau de Javel,” a type of bleach, in 1775. He discovered chlorine gas could dissolve in a potassium hydroxide solution to create a powerful bleaching agent.

Jeanne Villepreux-Power introduced the aquarium in 1832, enabling close observation of aquatic life.

A Legacy of Innovation and Technology

French mathematician and inventor Blaise Pascal is credited with inventing one of the first modern mechanical calculators in the 17th century.

François Gernelle invented the microcomputer in 1972, bringing computing power to homes and businesses and marking the beginning of the personal computer revolution.

Roland Moreno’s smart card (1974) enabled secure, convenient transactions and became essential to banking and other industries.

Minitel was an online service that predated the Internet. Launched in 1982, it allowed users to access directories, banking services, shopping, chat rooms, and news long before the World Wide Web existed.

Philippe Kahn is recognised for developing the first camera phone solution. In 1997, this entrepreneur created a system that connected a digital camera to a mobile phone.

Culinary and Viticultural Excellence

A Taste of Frances’ Culinary Excellence

French cuisine was added to UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity list in 2010, highlighting its traditions, techniques and customs.

Truffles were banned in monasteries during the Middle Ages as they were considered too sensual.

The most popular dishes among French people (2025) are poulet-frites (chicken and fries), raclette, and pizza, followed by couscous and beef bourguignon. We love them all.

France produces more than 1,600 types of cheese, making it one of the most diverse cheese-producing countries in the world. They are categorised into soft, hard, blue, fresh and goat varieties.

The French consume approximately 50 million croissants weekly and around 30,000 tons of snails each year.

The world record for the longest baguette is 140.53 metres, achieved by the Confédération Nationale de la Boulangerie Française in May 2024.

French fries originate from Belgium. Their name likely comes from American soldiers who encountered them in Belgium during World War I.

Jean-Louis and Jean-Claude Hecht created the automatic hot baguette dispenser in 2014, offering freshly baked bread anytime.

Influence on Wine and Spirits

France offers an impressive selection of over 200 native grape varieties, ranging from popular ones like Merlot and Chardonnay to lesser-known varieties such as Tannat and Mondeuse.

Some old French vineyards, such as Château de Goulaine in the Loire Valley, have been producing wine for over 1,000 years, long before the USA even existed.

Champagne was discovered by monks in the 17th century, who accidentally bottled wine before it was fully fermented. Dom Pérignon, a Benedictine monk, helped refine the process.

In the 19th century, doctors prescribed Champagne for health benefits, believing it helped digestion and nerves. Some called it “the best tonic”!

A 1945 bottle of Romanée-Conti (Burgundy) holds the record for the most expensive wine ever sold at auction, reaching $812,000 in March 2026, smashing the previous record of $558,000. (source Forbes)

French Coffee Facts

Paris has one of the highest concentrations of cafés per capita in the world, with over 40,000 within its city limits.

A coffee plant at the Jardin des Plantes played a pivotal role in the global cultivation of coffee. Today, nearly all Arabica coffee in Latin America can be traced back to this historic Parisian coffee plant.

The first patent for a coffee press with a plunger and screen (or cheesecloth) was filed by Henri Otto-Mayer and Jacques-Victor Delforge, two Frenchmen, in 1852.

Le Procope, established in 1686, is the oldest café in Paris still in operation. At four centuries old, this iconic establishment has witnessed the history of the capital.

Le Café de Foy is considered the precursor to the Paris stock exchange, La Bourse, and was a key hub for French merchants in global trade.

Engineering and Architecture

Contributions to Transportation and Engineering

The Pont de Millau is the world’s tallest bridge, soaring 343 meters above the Tarn Valley. Opened in 2004, this architectural masterpiece, designed by Norman Foster, spans 2.5 kilometres (1.5 miles).

The chain-driven bicycle, invented by Eugène Meyer and André Guilmet in 1869, offered efficient and enjoyable transportation, boosting cycling’s popularity.

Gare du Nord, in the heart of Paris, is one of Europe’s busiest railway stations. It is a major hub for regional and international train services, connecting Paris to various destinations within France and other European countries.

In 2007, a specially modified TGV (train à grande vitesse) train set a world speed record of 574.8 kilometres per hour (357.2 mph) on the LGV Est line in France.

The story of Mont-Saint-Michel, nicknamed the “Wonder of the West, starts in 708 AD. Its striking historical Gothic spires attract nearly 3 million visitors each year.

Remarkable Engineering and Architecture

Versailles Palace contains over 2,300 rooms, including 1,250 fireplaces, 67 staircases, and more than 6,000 paintings.

France has over 40,000 castles, from medieval forts to Renaissance châteaux, showcasing a remarkable architectural legacy that tells stories of power, artistry, and history.

The Louvre in Paris is the world’s largest museum, with nearly 73,000 sq. metres of exhibition space.

Born in the 1920s in Paris, Art Deco flourished, transforming architecture, fashion, jewellery, and design with bold geometry, sleek lines and luxury.

Félix Léon Edoux invented the hydraulic elevator in 1867, enabling the construction of tall buildings and shaping modern city skylines.

France is home to approximately 42,258 churches, including Catholic, parish, and chapels, as well as cathedrals. The country has nearly 100,000 religious buildings, averaging almost three per commune.

The smallest Mairie in France is in the Eure (Normandy), and measures just 7.98 square metres.

Notre-Dame de Paris was founded in 1163 during the reign of King Louis VII. The main construction of the cathedral was essentially completed around 1345, meaning it took about 182 years from start to finish.

The Tour First is a 242-metre-high skyscraper, one of the most recognisable structures in Paris La Défense, Europe’s largest business district.