1/ The geography and emblems of France.France consists of Metropolitan France which covers 555.695 square kilometres and a number of territories called "DOM TOM " = Les d�partements d'Outre Mer, les territoires d'Outre Mer. They are composed of : La Martinique, La Guadeloupe, La R�union, La Guyane and for territories La nouvelle Cal�donie, la Polyn�sie Fran�aise, St Pierre et Miquelon, Wallis et Futuna and Mayotte, some friends of mine in Charente Maritime lived 4 years in Mayotte I'll ask them to share their experience in Mayotte with us in a future article.
France's highest peak is "Mont Blanc" ( 4,807m) in the Alps on the border between France and Italy. The lowest point ( -2m) below sea-level is the Camargue and Corsica lies off the Mediterranean coast.France is divided into administrative regions. The regions are subdivided into 100 departments which are numbered alphabetically ( 17 is for Charente Maritime for example). This number is used in postal codes and vehicle number plates but I've heard that this feature won't appear anymore in the future number plates.France is not a large country (seventeen times smaller than Brazil) which means that an hour by plane or 8 hours by car is enough to cross the whole country from one extremity to the other.But despite its size France's landscapes are extremely varied ranging from Paris and its suburds to the Alps to ocean resort towns like Royan ect...
France is a highly developed country with an extensive highway network and the French healthcare system has been ranked number one in the world by the World Health Organization although French people are always complaining about it, this particular French feature will be dealt in another topic called the French personality and way of life.
The symbol of France is " Marianne". She symbolises the French Republic. she is an emblematical figure of Liberty and the Republic and first appeared at the time of the French Revolution.The earliest representations of Marianne are of a woman wearing a " Phrygian cap" ( le bonnet phrygien )( photo )The origins of the name are unknown but Marie-Anne was a common first name in the 18th century. Anti-revolutionaries called her " La Gueuse" meaning a person who is not good enough to deserve your respect. It is believed that revolutionaries from the South of France wore the Phrygian cap to symbolize liberty because it has been worn by freed slaves in Rome.
Under the Third Republic, statues and especially busts of Marianne began to increase rapidly, particularly in town halls. She was represented in several different manners. Some busts emphasize her revolutionary nature others her wisdom. Over time the phrygian cap was replaced by a diadem or a crown. Brigitte Bardot was chosen as the model of Marianne and then Catherine Deneuve. In recent time a TV presenter was in the list of potential "Marianne" which aroused controversy. Some people argued that TV presenters could not symbolize the French emblem! Recent Marianne include Sophie Marceau and Laetitia Casta.
The French flag.
The French flag consists of three vertical bands of blue, white and red it is called " Le drapeau tricolore" and was made popular by " Le Marquis de Lafayette" during the French Revolution the three colours are in the following order : blue, white red. ( Bleu, blanc rouge)Blue and red are the colours of Paris and white was the colour of the Bourbon Monarchy.France's motto is : Libert�, Egalit�, Fraternit�.
2/ A country of mixed cultures.Like Britain France is a multi-racial society. 56% of the French population claim to have foreign background which makes France one of the most diverse countries in Europe. More recent immigrants came to France from 5 continents ( Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe and the Americas). Some people have been coming to settle to France to avoid political or religious persecution others to find a better way of life or escape poverty. China and the UK contributed most of its immigrants in 2005.
France's highest peak is "Mont Blanc" ( 4,807m) in the Alps on the border between France and Italy. The lowest point ( -2m) below sea-level is the Camargue and Corsica lies off the Mediterranean coast.France is divided into administrative regions. The regions are subdivided into 100 departments which are numbered alphabetically ( 17 is for Charente Maritime for example). This number is used in postal codes and vehicle number plates but I've heard that this feature won't appear anymore in the future number plates.France is not a large country (seventeen times smaller than Brazil) which means that an hour by plane or 8 hours by car is enough to cross the whole country from one extremity to the other.But despite its size France's landscapes are extremely varied ranging from Paris and its suburds to the Alps to ocean resort towns like Royan ect...
France is a highly developed country with an extensive highway network and the French healthcare system has been ranked number one in the world by the World Health Organization although French people are always complaining about it, this particular French feature will be dealt in another topic called the French personality and way of life.
The symbol of France is " Marianne". She symbolises the French Republic. she is an emblematical figure of Liberty and the Republic and first appeared at the time of the French Revolution.The earliest representations of Marianne are of a woman wearing a " Phrygian cap" ( le bonnet phrygien )( photo )The origins of the name are unknown but Marie-Anne was a common first name in the 18th century. Anti-revolutionaries called her " La Gueuse" meaning a person who is not good enough to deserve your respect. It is believed that revolutionaries from the South of France wore the Phrygian cap to symbolize liberty because it has been worn by freed slaves in Rome.
Under the Third Republic, statues and especially busts of Marianne began to increase rapidly, particularly in town halls. She was represented in several different manners. Some busts emphasize her revolutionary nature others her wisdom. Over time the phrygian cap was replaced by a diadem or a crown. Brigitte Bardot was chosen as the model of Marianne and then Catherine Deneuve. In recent time a TV presenter was in the list of potential "Marianne" which aroused controversy. Some people argued that TV presenters could not symbolize the French emblem! Recent Marianne include Sophie Marceau and Laetitia Casta.
The French flag.
The French flag consists of three vertical bands of blue, white and red it is called " Le drapeau tricolore" and was made popular by " Le Marquis de Lafayette" during the French Revolution the three colours are in the following order : blue, white red. ( Bleu, blanc rouge)Blue and red are the colours of Paris and white was the colour of the Bourbon Monarchy.France's motto is : Libert�, Egalit�, Fraternit�.
2/ A country of mixed cultures.Like Britain France is a multi-racial society. 56% of the French population claim to have foreign background which makes France one of the most diverse countries in Europe. More recent immigrants came to France from 5 continents ( Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe and the Americas). Some people have been coming to settle to France to avoid political or religious persecution others to find a better way of life or escape poverty. China and the UK contributed most of its immigrants in 2005.
ASPECTS OF FRANCE
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Reviewed by shao ying
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