Day 3389 (Saturday) 19th September 2026

Both of these photos were taken in Ile Saint Honorat, off the coast of Cannes.

Huw had to work on Ken’s house again this morning and when he came home we went down to Bobbie’s for lunch.

The regatta started today and we watched a lot of boats from the balcony - it was lovely.

I found this article with facts about France, it’s a bit long so I’ll post it over two days…

Top Facts about France by Luka Payras

Did you know that the French invented the metric system? That more than half of the world’s roundabouts are in France? What about how France got its name from a Germanic tribe?

France at a Glance

Before the deep dive, here are the headline numbers and the essential ID card of the country — everything you need to know about France in one look.

300k+ Roundabouts — more than half of the world’s total

1,200+ Types of cheese made in France

40,000 Châteaux across the country

15 Nobel Prizes in Literature — a world record

France — the essentials

Capital Paris

Population ≈ 68.6 million

Area 551,695 km² (largest in the EU)

Currency Euro (€)

Official language French

Government Republic (Fifth Republic)

Regions 18 (13 in mainland France)

Nickname L’Hexagone

French History

France got its name from a Germanic tribe who settled in the Western Roman Empire in the 2nd century. The word France is derived from “Frank.” It means “free” in Frankish.

The government is under a republic system (République Française) which was put into place after the French Revolution (1789 to 1799) when the monarchy was overthrown.

That was the same time the motto 'Liberté, Egalité, Fraternité' was coined. It means Liberty, Equality, Fraternity.

The French flag is composed of three colours: blue, white and red. It is commonly referred to as the Tricolore (tricolour). There are slightly different versions of the flag depending on the occasion, such as in public buildings or for television appearances.

French Resistance fighters in World War II also had their own version. They added the Cross of Lorraine (a cross with two bars instead of one) in the middle of the flag.

The French national anthem is called La Marseillaise.

French Demographics

There are approximately 68.6 million people living in France and counting (INSEE, 2025).

The current President, Emmanuel Macron, was only 39 years old when he took office, becoming the youngest person to do so in French history.

France is the largest country in the European Union by land area (551,695 square kilometres).

French Geography

France is comprised of 18 regions. Several regions, such as Nouvelle-Aquitaine and Provence-Alpes Côte d'Azur, are known for their wine.

Champagne is only produced in the Champagne region of France and is priced and labeled as such. If you’re drinking something bubbly but it doesn’t say champagne on the bottle, it’s not the real thing.

The north-eastern region of Normandy is where many Allied forces landed to help liberate France and her neighbouring countries in both World Wars. You can find war memorials and cemeteries among the clusters of pretty coastal towns.

France is nicknamed l'hexagone because it is roughly in the shape of a hexagon.

France is a combination of farmlands, coastlines and mountain ranges. The French Alps are a great place for winter sports such as skiing and snowboarding, whereas the coasts are full of beautiful beaches, including but not limited to Côte d’Azur, St. Tropez, Dieppe, Saint Malo, and more.

French Laws

The guillotine was last used in 1977 as capital punishment. The death penalty was later abolished in 1981, but the guillotine was still the official execution method up until that time.

Did you know?

You can legally marry a dead person in France

Posthumous marriage is legal, as long as you can prove that you were intending to marry them while they were alive. To do so you would need to send a written request to the President. The deceased’s family needs to approve of the marriage as well.

France was the first country to use vehicle licence plates in 1893. Germany followed shortly afterwards in 1896.

Any domesticated animal under 6 kilogrammes must pay €7 for a train ticket in France, whereas for animals over 6kg the price is 50% of a usual train ticket. Guide dogs can travel for free and without a ticket.

France, International (DOM TOMs)

Because of France’s history of colonialism, many countries and territories around the world are still under variations of French law or are considered part of France outright. These include Guyana, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, and French Polynesia, among others.

They are considered DOM TOMS, or Départements et Territoires d’Outre-Mer.

French Daily Life

France is mainly powered by nuclear energy, with 57 nuclear reactors in operation (RTE, 2025). This makes France the country that generates the highest share of its electricity from nuclear power in the world — around 65% of the national mix.