France is worldwide known for its history, its art, its impact on fashion, and its delicious and sophisticated gastronomy.
The country is frequently associated with a place where every meal is a work of art, wine is part of life, and having a good conversation is as basic as knowing how to walk.
And of course, there are also some stereotypes associated with the French but French culture goes beyond those stereotypes.
Follow us on this guide, which will show you some important history, traditions, customs, and what defines France and its people.
The history of France and its influence on culture
Medieval Era
It was at this time that the main French cathedrals were built and monarchical power was consolidated.
During that time, the French language emerged from Vulgar Latin. That is when “La Chanson de Roland”, one of the first works written in French, appeared.
Now, you know when the French language was created, how old it is and that is a Latin language.
Renaissance
The Renaissance saw an explosion of knowledge and creativity. Personalities such as King Francis I of France or the artist Leonardo da Vinci (who lived his last days in France) are two of the great figures of this period when science and art were promoted.
Also, in this era, new norms of sociability, etiquette, and discourse were developed.
The French Renaissance influenced European culture and spread the use of the French language.
Enlightenment
During the Enlightenment, ideas about human rights and reason influenced politics and society. Voltaire and Rousseau were some of the main philosophers who spread those ideas.
Other thinkers like Montesquieu, Diderot, and the Encyclopedists, also promoted rationalist thinking. Enlightenment ideas criticized the social and religious hierarchies of the Ancien Régime.
French Revolution
In 1789, the French Revolution changed the political structure of France. The causes of this revolution were economic transformations. Events like bad harvests and high food prices contributed to discontent among the lower classes. Also, ideas of liberty, equality, and reason helped inspire it.
You may have seen it in school, this revolution had a fundamental cultural impact by promoting the values of liberty, equality, and fraternity.
These three words are the motto of France today and continue to be a center of artistic and cultural innovation.
Modern Era
Nowadays France is a major economic power and member of the European Union. It has a diverse population and culture, with influences from its colonial past (Africa and America).
France remains a major cultural and artistic center with mixtures and cultural fusions, with a rich heritage in literature, art, cuisine, and fashion.
French traditions and customs
National holidays
In France different festivities are celebrated, the main one is the national holiday which is on July 14th, Bastille Day. If you are in France on that day, you will be able to see fireworks, military parades, and a series of activities.
Victory in Europe Day (Victoire 1945), is another national holiday that every May 8th commemorates the end of World War II in Europe. This day you will also see remembrance ceremonies and parades.
Other important festivities are Easter, the Music Festival, which is celebrated in June, and Christmas.
France has other national holidays that you should not miss.
Regional Celebrations
Depending on whether you are visiting or studying in a specific region of France, you may find celebrations unique to that region. For example, the Avignon Fair is a well-known theater festival in the Provence region that takes place in the summer.
In Brittany, during the summer, you can also find the Fest-Noz, a festival of traditional dance and music.
Carnival is a huge celebration in the city of Nice. It’s one of the largest carnivals in the world, featuring elaborate floats, costumes, and parades. If you are in Nice during February, you will enjoy it.
Lemon Festival (Fête du Citron) in Menton. This is a two-week celebration of citrus fruits in the city of Menton. It is celebrated in February and you will appreciate colorful floats and sculptures made from lemons and oranges.
Armada of Rouen. During June, the port city of Rouen has a gathering of tall ships in the port area, featuring concerts, fireworks, and festivities.
French Gastronomy
Typical dishes
French cuisine is known for being refined and diverse. Some of the emblematic dishes are coq au vin, ratatouille and boeuf bourguignon.
If you like desserts, you will enjoy the crème brûlée and the popular macarons.
French wine
Each of France’s 11 vineyard regions has its own types of grapes and with them, they produce specific varieties of wine.
If you come to France, I hope you toast with Champagne, with Bordeaux wine and if you like it, discover other French wines that will surprise you.
There are nearly 10,000 wine cellars open to the public in France that attract over 10 million wine tourists each year. Maybe you are one of those. You could explore vineyards, participate in tastings, and learn about the wine-making process.
Wine could be part of your French experience and may help you to enhance your vocabulary and comprehension.
Having 2,600 years of wine-making experience, France has a long tradition and history of refining its wine-making techniques and developing a diverse array of wines.
There are five main styles of French wine:
- Red wine: it is made from grapes of dark red variety. These are the wines of the Burgundy or Merlot regions.
- White wine: green or yellow grapes are used. You can find this wine as dry, semi-dry, semi-sweet, or sweet. An example of this wine is Chardonnay.
- Rosé wine: red grapes but with little contact with the skin, which gives a light pink color. This type of wine can be dry or sweet and is usually drunk more during the summer.
- Sparkling wine: It is a wine with bubbles. Champagne is the best known of this type.
- Fortified wine: These wines have a higher alcohol content. Vermouth is one of these wines that you can enjoy in France.
The importance of cheese in France
Let’s talk about French cheeses. They are almost a religion in France.
François Rabelais, a French humanist, famously referred to cheese, wine, and bread as the “Holy Trinity” of the French table. This trio is often enjoyed together, especially during picnics and gatherings. You may want to try this trinity and will never regret it.
Approximately 96% of French people eat cheese regularly, with many consuming it daily. This deep-rooted cultural habit highlights the significance of cheese in French cuisine and daily life.
Cheese Competitions:
France hosts different cheese competitions each year, including the Concours National des Fromages, where cheese makers showcase their best products. You can find and attend some of those competitions during your experience in France.
You can find cheeses for all tastes, from the softest and softest to the strongest, full of personality. The best-known French cheeses are Camembert and Roquefort, but there are more than 1000 types of cheeses that you can taste.
For example, Cantal cheese is one of the oldest in France and was known to the Romans and mentioned by Pliny the Elder. This cow’s milk cheese and its history reflects the long-standing tradition of cheese-making in the country.
A classification of French cheeses
According to their flavors, textures, and the way they are produced, you will find the following types of cheeses:
- Soft cheeses with a soft rind: Brie and Camembert are two of them.
- Washed rind cheeses: They have strong flavors and odors. For example, Munster and Époisses.
- Blue cheeses: You will find that they have blue or green streaks of mold, and offer pungent and spicy flavors. Try a Roquefort or Bleu d’Auvergne
- Hard cheeses: These are cured cheeses with deep flavors, such as Comté and Beaufort.
- Fresh cheeses: Chèvre (goat cheese) and fromage blanc are cheeses that are not cured and can have mild yet sharp flavors.
French bread: La baguette
With its oldest bread-making tradition of bread-making that goes over 2,000 years, France has a diverse array of breads.
The most popular French bread is Baguette. It is made from four basic ingredients: flour, water, yeast, and salt. It’s distinguishable by its length and crisp crust. About six billion baguettes are produced each year.
Just France consumes about 30 million baguettes per day and over 12 million people visit a bakery every day in France.
Baguette is used for breakfast slices of baguette, known as tartines, are spread with butter and jam, and sandwiches with pâté or cheese and are present at the table during main meals.
You should try some baguettes during your days in France.
There are approximately 35,000 artisanal bakeries in France, and these bakeries are vital parts of communities in many areas, often being the only local shop.
In 2018, the “craftsmanship and culture” of making baguettes was added to the French Ministry of Culture’s National Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage. In 2022, the artisanal know-how and culture of baguette bread was inscribed on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List.
The prestigious “Concours de la Meilleure baguette de Paris” is held each year to choose the best baguette in Paris. The winner receives a medal, a prize of 4,000 euros, and the honor of becoming a baguette supplier to the Élysée Palace for a year.
These are some of the facts that showcase the cultural significance and enduring popularity of French bread.
Do you want to experience French culture firsthand?
Take a French course in Paris.