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[1]

HISTORY OF FRANCE

The country of France emerged from the fragmentation of the larger Carolingian empire,
when Hugh Capet became King of West Francia in 987. This kingdom consolidated power and
expanded territorially, becoming known as “France”. Early wars were fought over land with
English monarchs, then against the Habsburgs, especially after the latter inherited Spain and
appeared to surround France. French royal power reached its peak with the reign of Louis XIV
(1642 – 1715), known as the Sun King, and French culture dominated Europe.
Royal power collapsed fairly quickly after Louis XIV and within a century France experienced
the French Revolution, which began in 1789, overthrew Louis XVI and established a republic.
This was soon usurped by a general called [link
urlhttp://europeanhistory.about.com/library/readyref/blpersonnapoleonbonaparte.htm=]Napoleon
, and the ensuing Napoleonic Wars saw France first militarily dominate Europe, then be
defeated. The monarchy was restored, but instability followed and a second republic, second
empire and third republic followed in the nineteenth century. The early twentieth century was
marked by two German invasions, in 1914 and 1940, and a return to a democratic republic after
liberation. France is currently in its Fifth Republic, established in 1959.
Location of France
France is a country in Western Europe, roughly hexagonal in shape. It is bordered by the English
Channel to the north, Luxembourg and Belgium to the northeast, Germany and Switzerland to
the east, Italy to the southeast, the Mediterranean to the south, southwest by Andorra and Spain
and west by the Atlantic Ocean.

Key People from the History of France

• King Louis XIV 1638 - 1715
Louis XIV succeeded to the French throne as a minor in 1642 and ruled until 1715; for
many contemporaries, he was the only monarch they ever knew. Louis was the apogee of
French absolutist rule and the pageantry and success of his reign earned him the epithet
‘The Sun King’. He has been criticised for letting other European nations grow in
strength.

Napoleon Bonaparte 1769 - 1821

Born: 15th August 1769 in Ajaccio, Corsica

Married (Josephine): 9th March 1796 in Paris, France
Married (Marie-Louise): 2nd April 1810 in Paris, France
Died: 5th May 1821 on St. Helena

A Corsican by birth, Napoleon trained in the French army and success gained him a reputation,
enabling him to get close to the political leaders of late-revolutionary France. Such was
Napoleon’s prestige that he was able to seize power and transform the country into an Empire
with himself at its head. He was initially successful in European wars, but was beaten and twice
forced into exile by a coalition of European nations.
Charles de Gaulle 1890 - 1970
A military commander who argued for mobile warfare when France turned instead to the
Maginot Line, de Gaulle became the leader of the Free French forces during the Second World
War and then Prime Minister of the liberated country. After retiring he came back to politics in
the late 50s to found the French Fifth Republic and create its constitution, ruling until 1969.

ORGIN OF FRANCE
 France (pronounced /ˈfrænts/ ( listen) frantss or /ˈfrɑːnts/ frahnts; French
pronunciation (help·info): [fʁɑ̃s]), officially the French Republic (French: République française,
pronounced: [ʁepyblik fʁɑ̃sɛz]), is a state in Western Europe with several overseas territories and
islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans.[15]
Metropolitan France extends from the Mediterranean Sea to the English Channel and the North
Sea, and from the Rhine to the Atlantic Ocean. It is often referred to as L’Hexagone ("The
Hexagon") because of the geometric shape of its territory. It is bordered (clockwise starting from
the northeast) by Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, Switzerland, Italy and Monaco; with Spain
and Andorra to the south. France's overseas departments and collectivities also share land
borders with Brazil and Suriname (bordering French Guiana), and the Netherlands Antilles
(bordering Saint-Martin). France is linked to the United Kingdom by the Channel Tunnel, which
passes underneath the English Channel.
France is a founding member state of the European Union and is the largest one by area.[16]
France has been a major power for several centuries with strong economic, cultural, military and
political influence in Europe and abroad. During the 17th and 18th centuries, France colonised
great parts of North America; during the 19th and early 20th centuries, France built the second
largest empire of the time, including large portions of North, West and Central Africa, Southeast
Asia, and many Pacific islands.
France is a unitary semi-presidential republic with its main ideals expressed in the Declaration of
the Rights of Man and of the Citizen. France is one of the most developed countries[17] and
possesses the fifth largest economy by nominal GDP[18] and seventh largest economy by
purchasing power parity.[19] France enjoys a high standard of living as well as a high public
education level, and has also one of the world's highest life expectancies.[20] It is the most visited
country in the world, receiving 82 million foreign tourists annually.[21] France is a founding
member of the United Nations, and a member of the Francophonie, the G8, G20, NATO, OECD,
WTO, and the Latin Union. It is one of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council
and possesses the third largest nuclear weapons stockpile in the world.[22]

CAPITAL CITY
 CITY FLAG
CITY COAT
OF ARMS

Paris the capital and largest city of France. It is situated on the river Seine, in
northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region (or Paris Region, French:
Région parisienne). The city of Paris, within its administrative limits largely
unchanged since 1860, has an estimated population of 2,193,031 (January 2007),[2]
but the Paris aire urbaine (or metropolitan area) has a population of 11,836,970
(January 2007),[4] and is one of the most populated metropolitan areas in Europe.[5]
The most populated metropolitan area in the EU is Greater London and Paris/Ile-de-
France is the second.
In 2009[6] and 2010[7][8] Paris has been ranked among the first 3 most important and
influential cities in the world, among the first 3 "European cities of the future" -
according to a research published by Financial Times[9]and among the first 10 cities
in the world "where to live in" according to the British review Monocle (June 2010)
[10]
. An important settlement for more than two millennia, Paris is today one of the
world's leading business and cultural centres, and its influences in politics,
education, entertainment, media, fashion, science, and the arts all contribute to its
status as one of the world's major global cities
CURRENCY
France Weather and Climate
A temperate climate in the north; northeastern areas have a more continental
climate with warm summers and colder winters. Rainfall is distributed throughout
the year with some snow likely in winter. The Jura Mountains have an alpine climate.
Lorraine, sheltered by bordering hills, has a relatively mild climate. Mediterranean
climate in the south; mountains are cooler with heavy snow in winter.

The Atlantic influences the climate of the western coastal areas from the Loire to
the Basque region where the weather is temperate and relatively mild with rainfall
throughout the year. Summers can be very hot and sunny. Inland areas are mild
and the French slopes of the Pyrenees are renowned for their sunshine record. A
Mediterranean climate exists on the Riviera, and in Provence and Roussillon.
Weather in the French Alps is variable. Continental weather is present in Auvergne,
Burgundy and the Rhône Valley. Very strong winds (such as the Mistral) can occur
throughout the entire region.

Required Clothing
European, according to season. Light breathable clothing for summer in all areas
and waterproof winter gear for the mountains all year round. In winter even the
Mediterranean resorts often require a sweater or jacket for the evenings.

INFRACTURE OF FRANCE
France enjoys one of the most sophisticated infrastructures in the world, developed
through the govern-ment's heavy investment in the field and made possible by advanced
technology. A network of various modes of transportation blankets the whole country, including
air, land, and rail transportation. Transportation is also possible via rivers. The technologically
advanced rail system— utilizing some of the fastest trains in the world—is operated by the
French National Railways (SNCF), a state-owned company. There are a total of 31,939
kilometers (19,846 miles) of rail lines in the country. There are approximately 828,000
kilometers (514,605 miles) of roads in France, all of which are paved. About 47 per cent of the
waterways are heavily used. There are a total of 474 airports in France, many of which serve
international traffic. The major airline is Air France, which provides service to all corners of the
globe. Many of the ports and harbors are equipped to handle the needs of freight as well as
passenger ships. The major port cities are Dunkirk, Bordeaux, Marseille, Nantes, Rouen, Le
Havre, Boulogne, Cherbourg, Dijon, La Pallice, Lyon, Mullhouse, Paris, Saint Nazaire, Saint
Malo, and Strasbourg.
The communications infrastructure of France also ranks high among advanced countries. There
were about 35 million main telephone lines in use by the end of 1998, with mobile cellular phone
usage at about 35 percent of that figure. About 218 newspapers were sold in France per 1,000
people in 1996. This number slightly exceeds EMU member countries' newspaper circulation
rate for the same period but falls behind the high income countries' average of 286. The number
of radios per 1,000 people in 1997 was 937, which shows the same pattern with respect to the EU
and high income countries' averages. Radios broadcasting in AM, FM, and short wave cater to
domestic and international clienteles. Television set ownership is somewhere in the middle of
EU countries. Cable TV is not as widespread in France as it is in either high-income or EU
countries as a whole. France's ratio of 27.5 cable subscribers per 1,000 is a far cry from Europe's
110.3 and that of the wealthiest nations' 184. In spite of its vast mobile phone usage, France also
lags behind both EU as a whole and its wealthiest countries. There are fewer Internet service
providers (ISPs) in France

Communications
TV Cable Mobile Fax Personal
Internet Internet
Country Newspapers Radios Sets subscribers Phones Machines Computers
a a a a a Hosts b Users b
1996 1997 1998 1998 1998 1998 1998 1999 1999
France 218 937 601 27.5 188 47.4 207.8 110.64 5,370
United
215 2,146 847 244.3 256 78.4 458.6 1,508.77 74,100
States
Germany 311 948 580 214.5 170 73.1 304.7 173.96 14,400
Spain 100 333 506 11.8 179 17.8 144.8 76.75 4,652
a
Data are from International Telecommunication Union, World Telecommunication Development
Report 1999 and are per 1,000 people.
b
Data are from the Internet Software Consortium ( http://www.isc.org ) and are per 10,000
people.
SOURCE: World Bank. World Development Indicators 2000.
than in many other EU nations, but there is easy access to the Internet via both domestic and
foreign ISPs. The dominant domestic telecommunications company, Mini-tel, is run by the
government-owned France Telecom, which has a proprietary electronic commerce service. Even
though it lags behind its counterparts in the developed world in some electronic communications
industries such as the Internet, France is quickly catching up.
Nevertheless, France is a very conservative country, deeply committed to its own distinct
national information infrastructure, which makes the country cautious in approaching
innovations that do not originate within France. The government makes special efforts to prevent
English, which is by far the most widely used language on the Internet, from taking over in
communications. A law was even passed in the early 1990s in an attempt to bolster the use of
French in the communications field, thanks to efforts of the Ministry of Culture. The French
Internet industry and other communications sectors are more heavily regulated than those of
Germany and Britain, and some economists maintain that this has significantly impeded
developments in the Internet and related industries in the country. On the other hand, government
is promoting the usage of information technology and began in 1999 to deregulate some aspects
of the industry.
France is not rich when it comes to fuel resources, so it imports three-quarters of the fuel it
needs, especially oil. The same does not hold true for electrical energy production, though.
Electricity production reached over 480 billion kilowatt hours (kWh) in 1998. The biggest source
of electrical power is nuclear energy, which supplies about 76 percent of the country's needs and
making France the second largest supplier of nuclear energy after the United States. The next
largest source of electrical power is hydroelectric, which supplies about 13 percent, which is
produced by plants operating on the Isére, Durance, Rhine, Rhône, and Dordogne rivers.
Additionally, a tidal power plant is located on the Rance River in Brittany. Fossil fuel represents
about 11 percent of electrical power in France and supplies about 389 billion kWh of energy.
France exports about 62 billion kWh of fossil fuel energy and imports 4 billion kWh more.
JOB
La Job is a French-Canadian comedy television series set in Montreal. It is an
adaptation of the British show The Office of the BBC. Produced by Anne-Marie
Losique's Image Diffusion International, it has been broadcast for a limited number
of viewers on Bell TV satellite television, beginning on October 9, 2006. It was later
seen by a wider audience on the public broadcaster Radio-Canada (starting in
January 2007)[1] and specialty channel ARTV (starting in the third quarter of the
same year).[2] It is the third official foreign adaptation of the concept, and the
second in a language other than English.

INDUSTRY
France is among the most industrialized countries of the world. It is a member of the G8, a group
of countries which comprises the 7 largest industrial democracies, plus the Russian Federation.
In 1999, the French GDP was almost identical to that of Great Britain and comfortably larger
than that of Italy.

MANUFACTURING.
About 19.3 per cent of the GDP was generated by manufacturing in France in 1999, compared to
17.8 percent in the United States and 18.5 percent in Britain. Manufacturing contributes roughly
20 percent of the GDP in Italy, Germany and Japan. Investment in the industrial manufacturing
sector was 141 billion francs in 1999. (These figures excluded the energy and agricultural
manufacturing sectors.)

MINING.
Mining is not a field in which France competes, and only a very minor fraction of the labor force
(less than 1 percent) is engaged in mining. Regarding coal, 2 major fields produce most of
France's coal: the Lorraine coal field near Metz and the Nord-de-Calais coal field near Lille.
Most of these fields do not have economically viable reserves compared to other big producers
because they lack sufficient amounts in some cases or are difficult to extract. Many coal fields
have shut down since the 1950s.
France is among the biggest producers of bauxite in Europe and also plays a big role in the
continent's natural gas production. France's position may be threatened, however, if some Asian
companies acquire access to the European market, although the tariff -free regulations that EU
member states enjoy put France in a strong position. France is an importer of petroleum but
processes petroleum at home to produce several oil products which are sold domestically and
abroad.
FINANCIAL SERVICES.
France has a developed credit market which channels savings to investors very efficiently and in
large volumes. The market capitalization of shares listed on the Paris Stock Exchange, the fifth
largest in the world, accounts for about 32 percent of the French GDP. Market capitalization at
the end of 1997 reached an extraordinary 4 trillion francs. The Paris Stock Exchange is an
internationally used capital market, and foreign investors hold about 35 percent of French stocks.
This puts Paris in an advantageous position to attract more international capital with the help of
the euro, the common currency of the EU. In an effort to adjust to the introduction of the new
currency, all asset management companies in France started to offer their services in euros as of
January 1999, the date the euro was introduced as the common currency of Europe. Since not all
EU, let alone the European countries, decided to adopt the euro as their currency, authorities in
the Paris Stock Exchange believe it has a comparative advantage over the stock markets of these
nations since it can offer more opportunities via its reach to wider international audience. The
Paris Stock Exchange has gone through extensive technological and legal restructuring to
become more investor friendly in the international market. According to the stock exchange's
data, foreign investments in the Paris Stock Exchange have tripled in monthly trading since the
beginning of 1998, due in large part to the restructuring of the exchange. The exchange has trade
relationships with the Chicago Mercantile Exchange and the stock exchanges of Sao Paolo,
Toronto, Brussels, Lisbon, Tunis, Casablanca, Warsaw, and Amman, among others. The French
bond market is among the world's leaders and ranks second after its U.S. counterpart.
The French banking system is also quite competitive in the world market. Credit Agricole,
Compagnie Financiere Paribas, Groupe Caisses d'Epargne, and Banque National de Paris rank
among the top 25 banks in the world. In Europe, banks are allowed to engage in activities that
would normally be reserved for either commercial banks or investment banks in the United
States. In a unified Europe, there will be one central bank, while national central banks will be
largely autonomous.
MONETARY UNIT:
French Franc (FRF). A franc equals 100 centimes. Coins are in denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10 and
20 francs, and 5, 10, 20 and 50 centimes. Paper currency is in denominations of FRF 50, 100,
200, and 500. In 1999, the European Union (EU), of which France is a member, introduced a
new currency, called the euro, to be the common currency among the participating member
countries. The euro is scheduled to circulate amongst the members of the European Monetary
Union (EMU) by 2002. When this happens, it will be the sole currency in member states,
including France. The exchange rate between the euro and franc is fixed at 6.56 francs per euro.
Both the franc and euro currently float against all other currencies. The exchange rate for 1 U.S.
dollar was 0.98 euros at the euro's inception, but it has lost substantial value since then. There are
100 cents in a euro. Coins will come in denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, and 50 cents, as well as
1 and 2 euros. Paper currency will be issued in denominations of 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, and 500
euros.
CHIEF EXPORTS:
Machinery and transportation equipment, chemicals, iron and steel products, agricultural
products, textiles and clothing.
CHIEF IMPORTS:
Crude oil, machinery and equipment, chemicals, agricultural products.
GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT:
US$1.373 trillion (in purchasing power parity, 1999 est.).
BALANCE OF TRADE:
Exports: US$304.7 billion (f.o.b., 1999). Imports: US$280.8 billion (f.o.b., 1999).
French wine is produced in several regions throughout France, in quantities between 50 and 60
million hectolitres per year, or 7–8 billion bottles. France has the world's second-largest total
vineyard area, behind Spain, and competes with Italy for the position of being the world's largest
wine producer.[1] French wines accounted for 17.6% of world exports in 2005.[2] French wine
traces its history to the 6th century BC, with many of France's regions dating their wine-making
history to Roman times. The wines produced today range from expensive high-end wines sold
internationally, to more modest wines usually only seen within France.
Two concepts central to higher end French wines are the notion of "terroir", which links the style
of the wines to the specific locations where the grapes are grown and the wine is made, and the
Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée (AOC) system. Appellation rules closely define which grape
varieties and winemaking practices are allowed in each of France's several hundred
geographically defined appellations, which can cover entire regions, individual villages or even
specific vineyards.
France is the source of many grape varieties (such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Pinot
Noir, Sauvignon Blanc, and Syrah) that are now planted throughout the world, as well as wine-
making practices and styles of wine that have been adopted in other producing countries.
Although some producers have benefited in recent years from rising prices and increased
demand for some of the prestige wines from Burgundy and Bordeaux, the French wine industry
as a whole has been influenced by a decline in domestic consumption as well as growing
competition from both the New World and other European countries.
 HEALTH CARE IN FRANCE

Overview
France's state-subsidized medical system is considered liberal because doctors and dentists
establish private practices, and patients, who are free to choose their own providers, are
reimbursed by the state for up to 85% of medical costs. Hospital facilities, although greatly
expanded since World War II, are still considered inadequate. Doctors tend to be concentrated in
the cities and are in short supply in some rural areas. The death rate, life expectancy, and infant
mortality rate are similar to those of other industrialized nations. As is true of most developed
countries, the principal causes of death are cancer and cardiovascular diseases.
For medical emergencies in France, dial 15.
Health Insurance
Before purchasing any supplemental insurance for your trip, you should review your existing
health insurance policy, or consult with your employee benefits administrator or insurance agent,
to determine if you are covered for expenses incurred while traveling. Most tour operators, travel
agents, and insurance agents sell specialized health-and-accident, flight, trip cancellation, and
luggage insurance as well as comprehensive plans covering some or all of these contingencies.
Specific policy provisions of supplemental health-and-accident insurance for travelers include
reimbursement for $1,000 to $150,000 worth of medical and/or dental expenses caused by an
accident or illness during the trip. The personal-accident or death-and-dismemberment provision
pays a lump sum to your beneficiaries if you die, or to you if you lose one or more limbs or your
eyesight; lump sums range from $15,000 to $500,000. The medical-assistance provision may
reimburse you for the cost of referrals, evacuation, or repatriation and other services, or it may
automatically enroll you as a member of a particular medical-assistance company (see Assistance
Companies below).

HOSPITALS -
American Hospital
63, boulevard Victor-Hugo, 92202 Neuilly-sur-Seine
Tel.: 01.46.41.25.25 ; Fax.: 01.46.24.49.38 ; Telex: 613.344
British Hospital Hortford
3, rue Barbes, 92300 Levallois -
Tel.: 01.47.58.13.12 ; Fax.: 01.47.58.02.34
ASSISTANCE COMPANIES -
International SOS Assistance
Box 11568, Philadelphia, PA 19116, USA (tel. 215-244-1500 or 800-523-8930)
Box 466, Pl. Bonaventure, Montréal, Québec H5A 1C1, Canada (tel. 514-874-7674 or 800-363-
0263)
Medex Assistance Corporation
Box 10623, Baltimore, MD 21285, USA (tel. 410-296-2530 or 800-874-9125)
Near Services
450 Prairie Ave., Suite 101, Calumet City, IL 60409, USA (tel. 708-868-6700 or 800-654-6700)
Travel Assistance International
1133 15th Street NW, Suite 400, Washington, DC 20005, USA (tel. 202-331-1609 or 800-821-
2828)
DIRECTORIES -
International Association for Medical Assistance to Travellers (IAMAT)
417 Center St., Lewiston, NY 14092, USA (tel. 716-754-4883)
40 Regal Rd., Guelph, Ontario N1K 1B5, Canada
57 Voirets, 1212 Grand-Lancy, Geneva, Switzerland
FRENCH MINISTRY -
Ministère des Affaires Sociales
Service Central de la Pharmacie
14, avenue Duquesne, 75007 Paris
Tel.: 01.40.56.53.80 (or) 01.40.56.60.00 ; Fax.: 01.40.56.53.55
Transportation in France
Air- All major French cities have airports. But in my opinion the costs of flying within France
outweighs the time saved. Over the last few years a few budget airlines, EasyJet and Ryan Air,
have started to serve France. But most only fly selected routs, few within France. Air France is
the only airline that flies to all French destinations.
Bus- France does have private bus companies but they, excuse the pun, take a back seat to trans
and cars. The one time traveled by bus, during a rail strike, was from Paris to Bordeaux, it took
over eight hours as apposed to three by train and the costs was not that much cheaper.
Eurolines is one bus company that serves France.
Car- This means of transportation in France will on the upside, offer you the most freedom,
getting off the beaten path, on the downside the most costs, from $75 to $100 a day depending on
type of fuel consumed, always rent diesel as it is 25% cheaper than unleaded, and tolls.
Generally speaking once your party gets over four to five people a car becomes cheaper than a
train. This can also depend on travel preferences and time of year travel.
A car will offer you the freedom to see so much more of France, it will let you get out of Paris
and discover the France of little villages. A car is best for getting around the countryside and is
not suited for cities, where public transportation is much more efficient and inexpensive.
If you do need to drive in a French city, try to give yourself extra time to get where you are
going. Most French cities where laid out in medieval times, thus their streets are small and the
names are not well marked and can change every block.
If you do decide to travel by car please see my Driving section.
One of my sponsors Auto Europe rents cars for France.

Public (Metro/Tram/Bus)- Mode of transportation suited for those that are visiting French
cities. The French have made a large investment in public transportation, for example Paris has
one of the best public transportation systems in Europe, metro trains run every few minutes and
from anywhere in Paris you are never more that 400 meters from a Metro station. All major
tourist attractions can easily be reached by bus or Metro.
Most other big cities, Bordeaux, Lyon, Strasbourg etc, also have high-quality systems. Even
those without a metro will have a bus system that will run often and take you where you want to
go. Read about and see photos of the Paris subway system.
Train- See my article about Train Travel in France.
France Airports
France is one of the most visited countries in the world and it has a superb complement of
airports. There are international airports at all of the country's major cities and a swathe of
smaller, regional airport in virtually every corner of the country. While the transport
infrastructure in France is of a high quality, the country is still relatively large; therefore, taking a
domestic flight makes sense if you need to travel a long distance.

Airports in Metropolitan France

City served / Location ICAO IATA
Airport name Usage

01: Ain

Ambérieu LFXA Ambérieu-en-Bugey Air Base (BA Public/Mi

278) l.

Bellegarde / Vouvray LFHN XBF Bellegarde - Vouvray Aerodrome Public

Belley / Peyrieu LFKY Belley - Peyrieu Aerodrome Restricte

d

Bourg / Ceyzériat LFHS XBK Bourg - Ceyzériat Airport Public

Corlier LFJD Corlier Aerodrome Restricte

d

Oyonnax / Arbent LFLK Oyonnax - Arbent Aerodrome Public

Pérouges / Meximieux LFHC Pérouges - Meximieux Aerodrome Public

02: Aisne

Château-Thierry / LFFH XCY Château-Thierry - Belleau Restricte

Belleau Aerodrome d

Laon / Chambry LFAF XLN Laon - Chambry Airport Public

Saint-Quentin / Roupy LFOW Saint-Quentin - Roupy Airport Public

Saint-Simon / Clastres LFYT Saint-Simon - Clastres Air Base Military

Soissons / Courmelles LFJS XSS Soissons - Courmelles Airport Public

03: Allier

Lapalisse / Périgny LFHX Lapalisse - Périgny Airport Public

Lurcy-Lévis LFJU Lurcy-Lévis Aerodrome Restricte
d

Montluçon / Domérat LFLT Montluçon - Domérat Aerodrome Restricte

d

Moulins / Montbeugny LFHY XMU Moulins - Montbeugny Airport Public

Vichy / Charmeil LFLV VHY Vichy - Charmeil Airport Public

04: Alpes-de-Haute-
Provence

Barcelonnette / Saint- LFMR BAE Barcelonnette - Saint-Pons Airport Public

Pons

Château-Arnoux- LFMX Château-Arnoux - Saint-Auban Public

Saint-Auban Aerodrome (UAF)

Puimoisson LFTP Puimoisson Aerodrome Restricte

d

Sisteron / Thèze LFNS Sisteron - Thèze Aerodrome Restricte

d

05: Hautes-Alpes

Aspres-sur-Buëch LFNJ Aspres-sur-Buëch Aerodrome Restricte

d

Gap / Tallard LFNA GAT Gap - Tallard Airport Public

Mont-Dauphin / Saint- LFNC Mont-Dauphin - Saint-Crépin Public

Crépin Airport

Serres / La Bâtie- LFTM Serres - La Bâtie-Montsaléon Restricte

Montsaléon Aerodrome d

06: Alpes-Maritimes

Cannes / Mandelieu LFMD CEQ Cannes - Mandelieu Airport Public

Juan-les-Pins JLP Juan-les-Pins Heliport

Nice / Côte d'Azur LFMN NCE Nice - Côte d'Azur Airport Public

Cannes / La Croisette JCA Cannes - La Croisette Heliport

07: Ardèche

Aubenas / Ardèche LFHO OBS Aubenas - Ardèche Méridional Public

Méridional Aerodrome (UAF)

Langogne / Lespéron LFHL Langogne - Lespéron Airport Public

Ruoms LFHF Ruoms Aerodrome Restricte

d

08: Ardennes

Charleville-Mézières LFQV XCZ Charleville-Mézières Aerodrome Public

(UAF)

Rethel / Perthes LFAP Rethel - Perthes Aerodrome Restricte

d

Sedan / Douzy LFSJ XSW Sedan - Douzy Airport Public

09: Ariège

Pamiers / Les Pujols LFDJ Pamiers - Les Pujols Airport Public

Saint-Girons / LFCG Saint-Girons - Antichan Airport Public

Antichan

10: Aube

Bar-sur-Seine LFFR Bar-sur-Seine Aerodrome Restricte

d

Brienne-le-Château LFFN Brienne-le-Château Airport Public

Juvancourt LFQX Juvancourt Aerodrome Restricte

d

Romilly-sur-Seine LFQR Romilly-sur-Seine Airport Public

Troyes / Barberey LFQB QYR Troyes - Barberey Airport Public

11: Aude

Carcassonne / Salvaza LFMK CCF Carcassonne Salvaza Airport Public

Castelnaudary / LFMW Castelnaudary - Villeneuve Airport Public

Villeneuve

Lézignan-Corbières LFMZ Lézignan-Corbières Airport Public

Moussoulens LF34 Moussoulens Air Base Military

Puivert LFNW Puivert Aerodrome Restricte

d

12: Aveyron

Cassagnes-Bégonhès LFIG Cassagnes-Bégonhès Airport Public

Millau / Larzac LFCM Millau - Larzac Airport Public

Rodez / Marcillac LFCR RDZ Rodez - Marcillac Airport Public

Saint-Affrique / LFIF Saint-Affrique - Belmont Restricte

Belmont Aerodrome d

Villefranche-de- LFCV Villefranche-de-Rouergue Airport Public

Rouergue

13: Bouches-du-Rhône

Aubagne JAH Aubagne - Agora Heliport

Aix / Les Milles LFMA QXB Aix-en-Provence Aerodrome (BA Public/Mi

114) (UAF) l.

Berre / La Fare LFNR Berre - La Fare Aerodrome (UAF) Restricte

d

Istres / Le Tubé LFMI IFR Istres Le Tube Airport / Istres Air Public/Mi
Base (BA 125) l.

Le Mazet-de-Romanin LFNZ Le Mazet-de-Romanin Aerodrome Restricte

(UAF) d

Marseille / Marignane LFML MRS Marseille Provence Airport Public

Salon LFMY Salon-de-Provence Air Base (BA Military

701)

Salon / Eyguières LFNE Salon - Eyguières Airport Public

14: Calvados

Caen / Carpiquet LFRK CFR Caen - Carpiquet Airport Public

Condé-sur-Noireau LFAN Condé-sur-Noireau Aerodrome

Deauville / Saint- LFRG DOL Deauville - Saint-Gatien Airport Public

Gatien

Falaise / Monts LFAS Falaise - Monts d'Eraines Restricte

d'Eraines Aerodrome d

15: Cantal

Aurillac LFLW AUR Aurillac Airport Public

Saint-Flour / Coltines LFHQ Saint-Flour - Coltines Airport Public

16: Charente

Angoulême / Brie / LFBU ANG Angoulême - Brie - Champniers Public

Champniers Airport

Chalais LFIH Chalais Airport Public

Cognac / LFBG CNG Cognac - Châteaubernard Air Base Military

Châteaubernard (BA 709)

17: Charente-Maritime

Jonzac / Neulles LFCJ Jonzac - Neulles Airport Public

La Rochelle / Île de Ré LFBH LRH La Rochelle - Île de Ré Airport Public

Marennes LFJI Marennes Aerodrome Restricte

d

Pons / Avy LFCP Pons - Avy Airport Public

Rochefort / Saint- LFDN RCO Rochefort - Saint-Agnant Airport Public/Mi

Agnant (BA 721) (UAF) l.

Rochefort / Soubise LFXR Rochefort - Soubise Airport

Royan / Médis LFCY RYN Royan Médis Aerodrome (UAF) Public

Saint-Jean-d'Angély LFIY Saint-Jean-d'Angély - Saint-Denis- Restricte

/ Saint-Denis-du-Pin du-Pin Aerodrome d

Saint-Pierre-d'Oléron LFDP Saint-Pierre-d'Oléron Airport Public

Saintes / Thénac LFXB XST Saintes - Thénac Airport (EETAA Public/Mi

722) l.

18: Cher
Aubigny-sur-Nère LFEH Aubigny-sur-Nère Airport Public

Avord LFOA Avord Air Base (BA 702) Military

Bourges LFLD BOU Bourges Airport Public

Châteauneuf-sur-Cher LFFU Châteauneuf-sur-Cher Airport Public

Vierzon / Méreau LFFV XVZ Vierzon - Méreau Aerodrome Restricte

d

19: Corrèze

Brive / La Roche LFBV BVE Brive - La Roche Airport Public

Égletons LFDE Égletons Airport Public

Ussel / Thalamy LFCU Ussel - Thalamy Airport Public

City of Paris

Notre
Dame de Paris
A HISTORY
Follow the Loire on a journey through History

The Loire valley today boasts a very large number of historical monuments
including its majestic châteaux along the river, which takes us on a journey through
the major and minor events in French history.

HERITAGE AROUND AND ABOUT THE LOIRE

Towns and heritage
If the châteaux of the Loire appear as a testimony to history, the river too has left
its trace: around and about a river, a period in time, towns, traditions. From a
cultural maritime heritage to a cultural urban heritage, it is a whole living region
with a tale to tell.

EXCEPTIONAL WILDLIFE

Splendours of the flora and fauna in the Loire valley

The Loire valley region is not only the cradle of the splendours presented here, in
other words, the Loire valley châteaux, it is also a natural territory of its own accord.
Fauna and flora are to be found throughout the region and along the Loire, offering
the visitor a wonderful show.

GASTRONOMY, WINES AND VINEYARDS

The French way of life
From Sancerre to the wines of Nantes, passing via the wines of Touraine and Anjou,
the vineyards of the Loire valley are rich in wines of exception, acclaimed for their
diversity and authenticity. Gastronomy full of flavour, the Loire valley way of life will
have no trouble convincing you of its merits.

Entertainment in France

France is one of the most happening and vibrant countries of the world. There are
numerous options for Entertainment in France. The options for Entertainment in
France are really remarkable which will make each and every individual happy and
satisfied. Most of the venues for entertainment in France remains crowded all round
the clock.

One of the popular entertainment options in France is its nightclubs. There are few popular
cabarets in France. The two popular cabarets in France are the Crazy Horse and the Le Lido de
Paris. The Le Lido de Paris is a cabaret which is popular for its costumes. The Moulin Rouge
Paris is another cabaret. Several world class cabaret shows are usually in the evening. The
dazzling nightlife in France comprises of nightclubs, bars and pubs and much more. In the
nightclubs you can find DJs belting out mind boggling remixes of the latest. The ambiance of the
nightclub is also very relaxing. The nightclubs are not only visited by the youngsters but by the
people of all ages. The pulsating beats of the music will make you feel relaxed. The bars and
pubs of France is also the ideal hang out place with your friends and relatives.

Education in France
School system in France

The French educational system is highly centralized, organized, and ramified. It is divided into
three different stages:
• primary education (enseignement primaire);
• secondary education (enseignement secondaire);
• higher education (enseignement supérieur).
Primary and secondary education are predominantly public (private schools also exist, in
particular a strong nationwide network of primary and secondary Catholic education). Education
has both public and private elements. The Programme for International Student Assessment,
coordinated by the OECD, currently ranks France's education as the 25th best in the world, being
neither significantly higher nor lower than the OECD average.[1]

France
Immigration law and policy

Since the Second World War French immigration policy has been, in principle, shaped by two
broad main principles: equality (same rights are accorded to all, with no distinction on the basis
of nationality religious, racial or cultural characters); and integration (immigrants are resumed to
be in the condition to fully integrate, socially, and legally in the mainstream French society).

Culture of France
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to: navigation, search

Masterpiece painting by Eugène Delacroix called Liberty Leading the People

portrays the July Revolution using the stylistic views of Romanticism. Since Liberty
is part of the motto «Liberté, égalité, fraternité», as the French put it, this painting
became the primary symbol of the French Republic.

The culture of France and of the French people has been shaped by geography, by profound
historical events, and by foreign and internal forces and groups. France, and in particular Paris,
has played an important role as a center of high culture and of decorative arts since the
seventeenth century, first in Europe, and from the nineteenth century on, world wide. From the
late nineteenth century, France has also played an important role in modern art, cinema, fashion
and cuisine. The importance of French culture has waned and waxed over the centuries,
depending on its economic, political and military importance. French culture today is marked
both by great regional and socioeconomic differences and by strong unifying tendencies.
Whether in France, Europe or in general, consists of beliefs and values learned through the
socialization process as well as material artifacts.[1][2] Culture guides the social interactions
between members of society and influences the personal beliefs and values that shape a person's
perception of their environment: "Culture is the learned set of beliefs, values, norms and material
goods shared by group members. Culture consists of everything we learn in groups during the
life course-from infancy to old age."[3]
TRADATIONAL COSTUMES

National costume (also: regional costume, folk costume or traditional garments) expresses an
identity through costume which usually relates to a geographic area or a period of time in
history, but can also indicate social, marital and/or religious status. Such costumes often come in
two forms: one for everyday occasions, the other for festivals and formal wear.
Following the outbreak of romantic nationalism, the peasantry of Europe came to serve as
models for all that appeared genuine and desirable. Their dress crystallised into so-called
"typical" forms, and enthusiasts adopted it as part of their symbolism.
In areas where contemporary Western fashions have become usual, traditional garments are often
worn in connection with special events and celebrations, particularly those connected with
cultural traditions, heritage, or pride.

The French Lifestyle

France is what we refer to as a multicultural society and it is hard to imagine that the way of life
is homogenous throughout the country. With its colorful history and deeply rooted regional
traditions, you will find France anything but boring. Explore the famed French cuisine, dare to
taste new flavours and get to know the locals. A great way to do so is to participate in the many
celebrations and events held here or by visiting the fêtes and markets.

In France a unique blend of customs has emerged, where the traditional rural and new urban
lifestyles live side by side. Globalization has also opened up France to many other cultures
around the world, which have also been in. Explore these ways of life by studying at Sprachcaffe
Languages Plus, either in Paris or Nice.
Sprachcaffe Languages PLUS in France offers various types of courses for those students
wishing to study French: they include Standard French Language Course, French Academic
Term/Exam Course, One-to-One French Course and French Intensive Course. We also offer a
Minigroup French Course and a University Placement Program in Nice.
Events in France
France is a country with a long history and therefore there are many events and festivals that are
celebrated throughout the year.

Eating in France
If there is one thing to be said about French, it would definitely be that it is the language of
cuisine and gourmet cooking.

Shopping in France
Crafts, wines and cheeses are some of the best articles to buy in France.

Safety in France
Violent crime is relatively rare in France. However, you may like to follow a few tips on
ensuring that you have a quiet, trouble free stay.

France - Flora and fauna

France's flora and fauna are as varied as its range of topography and climate. It
has forests of oak and beech in the north and center, as well as pine, birch, poplar, and willow.
The Massif Central has chestnut and beech; the subalpine zone, juniper and dwarf pine. In the
south are pine forests and various oaks. Eucalyptus (imported from Australia) and dwarf pines
abound in Provence. Toward the Mediterranean are olive trees, vines, and mulberry and fig trees,
as well as laurel, wild herbs, and the low scrub known as maquis (from which the French
resistance movement in World War II took its name).
The Pyrenees and the Alps are the home of the brown bear, chamois, marmot, and alpine hare. In
the forests are polecat and marten, wild boar, and various deer. Hedgehog and shrew are
common, as are fox, weasel, bat, squirrel, badger, rabbit, mouse, otter, and beaver. The birds of
France are largely migratory; warblers, thrushes, magpies, owls, buzzards, and gulls are
common. There are storks in Alsace and elsewhere, eagles and falcons in the mountains,
pheasants and partridge in the south. Flamingos, terns, buntings, herons, and egrets are found in
the Mediterranean zone. The rivers hold eels, pike, perch, carp, roach, salmon, and trout; lobster
and crayfish are found in the Mediterranean.

What is France famous for?

Answer
* The French Revolution
* Gourmet food
* Wine and cheese
* Napoleon
* Classic literature
* Feud with the British
* Nationalism
* Issues between religious freedoms and nationalism
* Romance
* Inventing the guillotine
* Palace of Versailles
* Paris
* The Seine
* Arch de Triumph
* Eiffel Tower
* The Louvre
* The Mona Lisa
* Charles de Gaulle
* The D-Day beaches of Normandy
* White flags
HOTELS IN FRANCE

Destinations in France
All 1105 hotels in Paris »
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from €
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220
 Hotel Marignan Champs from €
Elysees 191.25

Saint-James & Albany from €

Hotel-Spa 168

from €
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156

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144.50

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80.10

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97.50

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140

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Hyatt Regency Paris - Charles De from €
Gaulle 100

Best Western Paris Cdg Airport from €

 80.75

Séjours & Affaires Roissy Village from € 59

Campanile Hotel Roissy Charles

from € 50
de Gaulle

from €
Sheraton Paris Airport Hotel
143.20

1729 WI false Airport,BusinessS

Active 6 Paris 0.85 miles false true

1.

The Westin Paris

3 Rue De Castiglione
Paris, 75001 France
Phone: (33)(1) 44771111 Fax: (33)(1) 44771460
SPG Category 6
1.37 km/0.85 miles from center of Paris.
Overlooking the Tuileries garden and the Louvre Museum – the perfect balance between Parisian
influence and the latest contemporary design.
Note: Special Conditions currently exist at this hotel.
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2.

Le Méridien Montparnasse
19 Rue du Commandant Mouchotte
Paris, 75014 France
Phone: (33)(1) 44 364436 Fax: (33)(1) 44 364900
SPG Category 4
2.56 km/1.59 miles from center of Paris.
Located in the center of the cultural left bank, with chicly-appointed comfort and unique views
over Paris.
Note: Special Conditions currently exist at this hotel.
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3.
Prince de Galles, Paris
33 Avenue George V
Paris, 75008 France
Phone: (33)(1) 53 237777 Fax: (33)(1) 53237878
SPG Category 6
3.27 km/2.03 miles from center of Paris.
The most coveted address in Paris, steps away from the Champs-Elysées, the hotel embodies
tradition and refinement since 1928.
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4.

Le Méridien Etoile
81 Boulevard Gouvion Saint-Cyr
75848 Cedex 17
Paris, 75017 France
Phone: (33)(1) 40 68 34 34 Fax: (33)(1) 40 68 31 31
SPG Category 5
4.86 km/3.02 miles from center of Paris.
The best of Paris in a chic environment mere steps from the Champs-Elysées. With two
restaurants and a famous jazz club nearby.
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5.

Sheraton Paris Airport Hotel & Conference Centre

BP 35051 Tremblay en France
Roissy, 95716 France
Phone: (33)(1) 49197070 Fax: (33)(1) 49197071
SPG Category 5
23.62 km/14.68 miles from center of Paris.
Built directly inside the International Paris CDG Airport Terminal 2. Walk straight from your
plane into a warm and welcoming environment.
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6.

W Paris - Opéra - Opening April 01, 2011

Rue de la Chaussée d'Antin
Paris, France
Phone: (33)(1) 406 830 45 Fax: To Be Announced
1.8 km/1.12 miles from center of Paris.
Located in Paris' fashionable Opéra area, in-the-know travelers gather amongst chic boutiques,
the latest hot spots and heated nightlife.
Note: Special Conditions currently exist at this hotel.

France national rugby union team

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Jump to: navigation, search

 France

Union French Rugby Federation

Les Bleus; Les Tricolores;

Nickname(s)
Le XV de France

Emblem(s) the Gallic rooster

Ground(s) Stade de France

Coach(es) Marc Lièvremont

Captain(s) Thierry Dusautoir

Most caps Fabien Pelous (118)

Top scorer Christophe Lamaison (380)

Most tries Serge Blanco (38)

 World Cup

Appearances 6 (First in 1987)

Best result Runners up, 1987, 1999

The France national rugby union team represents France in rugby union. They compete
annually against England, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales in the Six Nations Championship.
They have won the championship outright sixteen times, shared it a further eight times, and have
completed nine grand slams.
France is one of the strongest rugby nations in Europe and are currently the highest ranked
Northern Hemisphere team, being forth in the world as of 19 July 2010.[1] Six former French
players have been inducted into the International Rugby Hall of Fame, with one of them,
Philippe Sella, also having been inducted into the IRB Hall of Fame. France also has the best
winning record of any northern hemisphere team when playing a test against a Tri-Nations
opponent. As of 2010, the national side has been victorious over New Zealand, Australia, and
South Africa more than ten times each.
Rugby was introduced to France in 1872 by the British, and on New Year's Day 1906 the
national side played its first Test match — against New Zealand in Paris. France played
sporadically against the Home Nations until they joined them to form a Five Nations tournament
(now the Six Nations Championship) in 1910. France also competed in the rugby competitions at
early Summer Olympics, winning the gold medal in 1900 and two silver medals in the 1920s.
France came of age during the 1950s and 1960s, and won their first Five Nations title outright in
1959. They won their first Grand Slam in 1968. Since the inaugural World Cup in 1987, France
have qualified for the knock-out stage of every tournament. They have reached the final twice,
losing to the All Blacks in 1987 and to Australia in 1999. France hosted the 2007 Rugby World
Cup, where, as in 2003, they were beaten in the semi finals by England.
France traditionally play in blue shirts with white shorts and red socks, and are commonly
referred to as les tricolores or les bleus. The French emblem is a golden rooster imposed upon a
red shield. Their alternative strip is composed of a white shirt and navy blue shorts and socks.
French international matches are played at several venues across the country; the Stade de France
in the Paris suburb of Saint-Denis is used for their games during the Six Nations, and they have a
formidable home record at the Stade Vélodrome in Marseille where they have only lost twice, to
Argentina in 2004 and to New Zealand in 2009.

Contents
[hide]
• 1 History
• 2 Strip
• 3 Home grounds
 ○ 3.1 World Cup venues
• 4 Record
○ 4.1 Six Nations
○ 4.2 World Cup
○ 4.3 Overall
• 5 Players
○ 5.1 Current Squad
○ 5.2 Notable players
○ 5.3 Individual records
• 6 Training
○ 6.1 Coaches
• 7 See also
• 8 References
• 9 Bibliography
• 10 External links

[edit] History
Main article: History of the French national rugby union team

Rugby was introduced to France in 1872 by English merchants and students.[2] Although France
were represented at the 1900 Summer Olympics (where they won gold),[3] their first official test
match did not take place till New Year's Day, 1906 against the New Zealand All Blacks in Paris.
[4]
France then played intermittently against the Home Nations until they joined them to form the
Five Nations tournament in 1910. In 1913 France faced South Africa's Springboks for the first
time; losing 38–5.[5] France also competed at the 1920 and 1924 Summer Olympics, and on both
occasions lost to the United States in the gold medal match, Vicky LeDonne scored the winning
goal.[3]
France were ejected from the Five Nations in 1932 after being accused of professionalism in the
French leagues at a time when rugby union was strictly amateur.[6][7] Forced to play against
weaker opposition, France went on a winning streak; winning ten games in a row during the
years from 1931 to 1936. This is still a record even today.[8] France was invited to rejoin the Five
Nations in 1939 but did not compete until 1947 as international rugby was suspended during
World War II.[7]
France came of age during the 1950s and 1960s: they won their first Five nations championship
and completed a successful tour of South Africa.[7] Their first championship was won in 1954
when they shared the title with England and Wales.[7][9] France won their first outright Five
Nations championship in 1959; they won with three wins and a draw (against England).[9]
France became the first nation to tour South Africa winning the test series in 1958. The
Springboks also visited Paris in 1961, the test was not completed due to onfield fighting amongst
the players. France also toured New Zealand and Australia in 1961 losing both tests against the
All Blacks but defeating Australia's Wallabies. They won their first Five Nations Grand Slam in
1968 by beating all four other competing teams, and won numerous titles in the following years.
[9]

France playing Wales during the Six Nations Championship.

In 1977 they won their second Grand Slam, fielding an unchanged side throughout the
tournament.[9] They also defeated the All Blacks in Toulouse that year, but lost the return match
in Paris.[10] On Bastille Day, 1979 they defeated the All Blacks in New Zealand for the first time,
at Eden Park in Auckland.[11]
In 1981 the French clinched their third Grand Slam; at Twickenham against England.[9] They
again completed a Grand Slam in 1987 on the eve of the first Rugby World Cup hosted by
Australia and New Zealand. In that tournament they came from behind numerous times to defeat
the Wallabies in their semi-final, and faced the All Blacks in final at Eden Park, Auckland;
France lost 29–9. They shared the Five Nations with Wales the next year, and also won it in
1989.[9]
France hosted some of the tests during the 1991 World Cup, but made their exit from the after
being knocked out by England at the Parc des Princes (Paris) in their quarter-final. One Five
Nations championship was won in the early 1990s, in 1993. The following year France won a
test series 2–0 in New Zealand in the 1994.[12] They were knocked out of the 1995 World Cup
semi-finals by eventual champions the Springboks, but did win their third place play-off match
against England. France played the All blacks in two tests, winning the first 22-15 at Toulouse
and lost the second 37-12 at Paris. France won back-to-back Grand Slams in 1997 and 1998. At
the 1999 World Cup they defeated tournament favourites the All Blacks in the semi-finals, but
lost to the Wallabies in the final.[9]
The Five Nations Championship was expanded in 2000 to include Italy. In the now Six Nations
Championship France won a Grand Slam in 2002.[9] At the 2003 World Cup in Australia they
qualified for the semi-finals where they were defeated by eventual champions England. In 2004
they won a second Six Nations Grand Slam which was followed by a Championship win in 2006
and successful defence in 2007.[9] In opener of the World Cup 2007, Argentina defeated France
17–12, however after defeating Ireland 25–3 they qualified for the quarter-finals. After defeating
the All Blacks 20–18 they lost to England 14–9 in their semi-final. They then lost for a second
time to Argentina 34-10 in the third place match. In 2010, France won its ninth Grand Slam.
[edit] Strip

The jersey of the French rugby team, with the traditional Gallic rooster symbol

Until 1912, the strip (uniform) of the French team was white with two rings, one red and one
blue. After the first game won by France against Scotland in 1911, France's captain Marcel
Communeau asked that the team adopt the coq gaullois (Gallic rooster), historical emblem of
France, as its symbol.[13] The Gallic rooster was probably chosen partly because it is considered
as a proud and combative animal that can be sometimes aggressive, although it had been used
previously as a symbol by French teams — a former soccer player, Jean Rigal, wore a uniform
with this emblem as early as May 1910.[14] The badge was initially white and red, but was altered
to a multicoloured, embroidered image after 1945, and has been golden since 1970.[15]
The symbol used by the French rugby team was a great success, and was later adopted by the
French delegation at the Olympic Games of 1920 where the rooster was perched on five Olympic
rings.[16] The rooster has since become a well-known symbol of French teams. French players are
sometimes called les coqs and some French supporters have been known to release roosters on
the playing field before games.[17]
The French team traditionally played in blue shirts, white shorts, and red socks, the colors of the
national flag, and as such were nicknamed les tricolores. Due to the mostly blue strip the French
team currently wears, the team is now often referred to as les Bleus (the Blues), like many other
French sporting teams. When this strip clashes with that of their opponents, such as in games
against Scotland and Italy, French players wear white. New strips were developed for the 2007
World Cup, one of which is a darker blue. In November 2009 they launched another strip that
was with dark blue shirt, white shorts and red socks for the home one and for the away strip they
had white shirt, blue shorts and red socks.