France is famous for its food, art, fashion, and history, but there is much more to the country than croissants and the Eiffel Tower. From a king who reigned for 20 minutes to a tower that grows in summer, here are 20 fun facts about France to read before your trip.
Fun Facts About French Landmarks
1. The Eiffel Tower grows in summer
When temperatures rise, the tower's iron expands, and its height can increase by up to about 15 centimeters (6 inches). In winter, it shrinks back again.
2. The Statue of Liberty is French
The Statue of Liberty was a gift from France to the United States, dedicated in 1886. It was designed by the sculptor Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi, and its internal iron framework was engineered by Gustave Eiffel, of Eiffel Tower fame.
3. France has tens of thousands of châteaux
France is estimated to have more than 40,000 châteaux, from medieval fortresses to Renaissance palaces and grand country houses. The Loire Valley alone has hundreds.
4. The Louvre is the world's most visited museum
The Louvre welcomes millions of visitors a year, more than any other museum on Earth. Its collection spans thousands of years, from ancient Egypt to the 19th century, including the Mona Lisa and the Venus de Milo.
5. Paris is called the City of Light
Paris earned the nickname partly because of its role in the Age of Enlightenment and partly because it was one of the first European cities to light its streets on a large scale.
Fun Facts About French Food
6. The baguette is protected by law and by UNESCO
A 1993 French decree says a "traditional" baguette may contain only flour, water, salt, and yeast or leaven. In 2022, UNESCO added the craft and culture of the baguette to its list of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
7. Turning a baguette upside down is unlucky
According to an old French superstition, placing bread upside down brings bad luck. One popular story says bakers once set aside an upside-down loaf for the executioner.
8. France makes around 1,000 different cheeses
Estimates range from about 1,000 to more than 1,600 varieties, depending on how you count them. You could try a different French cheese every day for years without repeating one. Charles de Gaulle famously asked how anyone could govern a country with 246 varieties of cheese.
9. Only Champagne is Champagne
Only sparkling wine made in the Champagne region, following strict rules, can legally be called Champagne. Sparkling wine made elsewhere in France is often called crémant.
10. The croissant has Austrian roots
The croissant is descended from the Austrian kipferl, a crescent-shaped bread roll. It is said to have arrived in Paris with Viennese bakers in the 19th century, and French bakers later turned it into the flaky, buttery pastry we know today.
11. The French gastronomic meal is UNESCO-listed
In 2010, the "gastronomic meal of the French" was added to UNESCO's list of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. It recognizes not just the food but the ritual of sharing a long, carefully planned meal, with wine pairings and good conversation.
Fun Facts About French History and Culture
12. Louis XIX was king for about 20 minutes
During the July Revolution of 1830, King Charles X abdicated. His son, Louis Antoine, Duke of Angoulême, was technically king for about 20 minutes before he too signed the abdication in favor of his nephew, Henri. Neither reigned in practice, and the crown went to Louis Philippe I instead.
13. Paris had public transport in 1662
The mathematician Blaise Pascal launched the carrosses à cinq sols in Paris in 1662, horse-drawn coaches running on fixed routes for a fixed fare. It is often described as one of the world's first public transportation systems.
14. The first public movie screening took place in Paris
On 28 December 1895, Auguste and Louis Lumière showed a series of short films to a paying audience at the Grand Café on Boulevard des Capucines, often considered the birth of cinema.
15. France has the most Nobel Prizes in Literature
French writers have won the Nobel Prize in Literature more than those of any other country, starting with Sully Prudhomme, the first ever winner, in 1901. Other French laureates include Albert Camus, Jean-Paul Sartre (who declined it), and Annie Ernaux.
16. The French invented many everyday things
French inventors gave the world the hot air balloon, the stethoscope, food canning, pasteurization, Braille, the pencil sharpener, and photography, among many others.
17. The Tour de France began in 1903
The race was created to boost sales of the sports newspaper L'Auto. More than a century later, it is the world's most famous cycling race, watched by millions along the roadside.
18. The national motto comes from the Revolution
"Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité" (Liberty, Equality, Fraternity) dates back to the French Revolution and appears on coins, stamps, and public buildings.
Fun Facts About Travel in France
19. France is the world's most visited country
France welcomes more international tourists than any other country, around 100 million a year. Spain and the United States follow behind.
20. France has the most time zones of any country
Thanks to its overseas territories, from French Polynesia to Réunion, France spans 12 time zones, more than any other country.
Plan Your Trip to France
Ready to see it all for yourself? Start with our France travel guide, the most beautiful places in France, and the best things to do in Paris.
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FAQs: Fun Facts About France
What is France famous for?
France is famous for Paris and the Eiffel Tower, its food, wine, and cheese, fashion, art museums like the Louvre, and beautiful regions such as Provence and the French Riviera.
Is France the most visited country in the world?
Yes. France welcomes around 100 million international visitors a year, more than any other country.
How many cheeses does France have?
Estimates range from about 1,000 to more than 1,600 varieties, depending on how they are counted.
Was the croissant invented in France?
Not exactly. It descends from the Austrian kipferl, but French bakers developed the flaky, buttery croissant we know today.