12 Surprising Facts About France You Probably Didn’t Learn in French Class
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Trivia time! Don’t we all love fun facts that enlighten and surprise us at the same time? If you love France like many other globetrotters, you will love to learn some interesting facts about it. From pioneering historical innovations to unique cultural practices, there’s much more to France than meets the eye. Whether you’re a Francophile or simply curious, these lesser-known and quirky facts about France will let you see the country differently.
The Eiffel Tower Gets Repainted
We bet you already know the Eiffel Tower grows slightly taller in summer. However, did you know that it gets repainted to keep it that sleek? Yes, the iron tower gets repainted once every seven years. In case you are wondering why seven years, it is the frequency recommended by Gustave Eiffel himself, to give it “eternal life.”
The painting job involves stripping, cleaning, and applying rust-proofing before applying the final paint coat. In his book, “The 300 Meter Tower,” Gustave states, “the more meticulous the paint job, the longer the Tower shall endure.” And yes, most of the painting is done by hand. No rollers or spray guns – only brushes.
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The Eiffel Tower Was Supposed To Be Temporary
Don’t we all love the Eiffel Tower… so yeah, we can go on and on about its fun facts. I mean, there are so many, but it is interesting to note that the tower was supposed to be a temporary structure. It was only supposed to stand for 20 years before being disassembled. To convince the French government to leave it standing, Gustave had to find ways of making it more useful. Luckily, the tower became instrumental as an antenna for radio signals, saving it from demolition after the expiration of the 20-year permit Gustave had for the land on which the tower stands.
Also, Gustave Eiffel initially submitted his design to Barcelona, but Barcelona turned it down for aesthetic reasons. Yes, Barcelona has many architectural marvels, but they honestly lost on that one.
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France Is the World’s Most-Visited Country
France is a country of many offerings, and it is pretty apparent why it has consistently been the most visited country in the world.
Architectural marvels, bustling metropolises, world-famous landmarks, rich culinary scenes, beaches, mountains, rich wine culture, charming villages – you name it; France has it all. According to Statista, France welcomed 100 million international tourists in 2023, ranking it as the most visited country in the world.
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France Is the Largest Country in the European Union
With an area of 551,695 km², France is the largest country in the European Union by land area, and it is often called “l’Hexagone” due to its hexagonal shape.
Luckily, France has one of the best rail systems in the world, so exploring even its furthest corners would not be a hustle.
Even more interesting is that France is still smaller than Texas despite being the largest in the EU.
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The Louvre Is the World’s Largest Art Museum
With an area of about 783,000 square feet (73,000 square meters) of exhibition space, the Louvre is the largest art museum in the world. According to the Louvre website, they welcomed 8.9 million visitors in 2023, a 19% rise from 2022. This museum, famous for hosting Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa, is also the most visited art museum in the world. There are arguments that try to pinpoint why the Mona Lisa is so famous. Some argue that it is the first 3D artwork, and others choose to go with how it was dramatically stolen from the Louvre in 1911, only to be recovered two years later. Either way, it is a masterpiece that keeps attracting tourists from all over the world.
Besides the Mona Lisa, the museum hosts over 30,000 more pieces of work, the most famous being The Wedding at Cana, Liberty Leading of The People, The Raft of Medusa, The Coronation of Napoleon, and Venus de Milo.
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The Statue of Liberty Originated From France
The Statue of Liberty was a gift from France to the United States, symbolizing freedom and democracy. Designed by French sculptor Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi, it was presented in 1886 to celebrate the centennial of the American Declaration of Independence and to mark the strong bond between the two nations.
Gustave Eiffel, who designed the Eiffel Tower, also played a crucial role in creating the Statue of Liberty, especially its iron framework. The statue was constructed in France and shipped in pieces to the U.S.
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France Created the Metric System
The metric system, which is the official measurement of every country except the U.S., Liberia, and Myanmar, was created in France.
Before the metric system, France, like many other countries, had a chaotic and inconsistent system of measurements. Each region had its length, weight, and volume units, which created confusion and inefficiency in business, science, and daily life.
The National Assembly tasked the Academy of Sciences with developing a consistent unit of measurement. A committee that included prominent scientists like Jean-Charles de Borda, Pierre-Simon Laplace, Joseph Louis Lagrange, and Antoine Lavoisier began work on what would become the metric system.
The committee came up with a universal system that included meter (length), which is one ten-millionth of the distance from the equator to the North Pole along a meridian passing through Paris; kilogram (mass), which is the mass of one liter of water at the temperature of its maximum density; and liter (volume), which is the volume of one kilogram of water at maximum density.
In 1795, the metric system was officially adopted in France and gradually across the world.
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France’s Louis XIX Is the King With the Shortest Reign Ever
King Louis XIX reigned for just 20 minutes, making it the shortest reign in history. The Restoration of 1815 saw Louis XIX’s uncle, Louis XVIII, ascend to the throne, followed by Louis XIX’s father, King Charles X, who abdicated the throne after the 1830 revolution.
After his father’s abdication, Louis XIX ascended to the throne but also decided that it would be prudent for him to abdicate just 20 minutes later in favor of his nephew, the nine-year-old Henri.
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France Has the Most Nobel Prize Winners in Literature
Literature enthusiasts, this is one you will love. France has the highest number of Literature Nobel Prize winners, with 16 out of 262, closely followed by the U.S., 13, and the U.K., 11.
Some notable winners include Sully Prudhomme, who was the first Nobel Laureate in Literature, Frédéric Mistral, Romain Roland, Anatole France, Henri Bergsin, Roger Martin du Gard, André Gide and Jean-Paul Sartre, who declined the prize.
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The French Cuisine Is a UNESCO Cultural Heritage
We all know that French cuisine is one of the best in the world. But did you know that It was designated a UNESCO Cultural Heritage in 2010?
UNESCO does not only recognize French cuisine as an intangible heritage but also the traditions and processes that go into preparing the meals, setting the tables, and eating the meals. Whether sampling specialties from the Alsace region, wines from Bordeaux, or herb-infused Provence meals, you will be fascinated by the diversity and innovation that goes into making local delicacies.
Talking of an impressive culinary scene, it is also interesting to know that France has the highest number of Michelin-starred restaurants, with 632 restaurants having at least one Michelin star. It is distantly followed by Japan, which has 414 Michelin-starred restaurants.
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The Popes Once Lived in France
Interestingly, the popes did not always live in Rome. In the 14th century, when things got turbulent in Rome, the papacy was transferred to Avignon. The Palais des Papes (Popes’ Palaces) in Avignon hosted nine popes (seven popes and two schismatic popes).
This period, called the Avignon Papacy, lasted from 1309 to 1377. During this period, Avignon also hosted six papal conclaves.
Today, Palais des Papes, one of Europe’s largest and most significant medieval gothic buildings, welcomes millions of tourists every year.
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Croissants Are Not From France
You probably already know that French fries are actually from Belgium and not France. But did you know that croissants are actually from Austria, not France? Yes, croissants are a delicacy associated with France, but accounts show that they originate from Austria as kipferl.
The kipferl, dating back to the 13th century, is believed to have originated from Vienna. It is said that an Austrian baker introduced the kipferl in Paris. The Parisians then adopted the recipe and modified it to what it is today.
Yes, you definitely want to have as many croissants as possible when in Paris, but while at it, just know that it is not originally Parisian.
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France Was the First Country To Introduce Number Plates
The Paris Police Ordinance of 14th August 1893 saw France become the first country in the world to introduce and use the registration plate, followed by Germany in 1896.
Initially, there was no tangible system of identifying motor vehicles because, after all, there weren’t many of them on the roads. However, as automobiles became popular, the need to identify and regulate vehicles on the road arose.
The current French number plate system is two letters—three numbers—two letters, and once assigned to a car, it cannot be changed.
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