Paris and its landmarks
Paris, the capital of France, grew up along the river Seine. The riverbanks in the center of the city are a UNESCO World Heritage site because so many famous buildings line them.[2]
Along the river stand the Louvre, a palace that is now one of the world’s best-known museums; Notre-Dame Cathedral and the Sainte-Chapelle, masterpieces of medieval Gothic building; and the Pont Neuf, a Renaissance bridge.[2] The Eiffel Tower, made of iron, was built for one of the great world’s fairs held in Paris in the 1800s.[2] The Grand Palais and the Petit Palais also come from those fairs.[2]
The site also includes the Île de la Cité and the Île Saint-Louis, two islands in the Seine, along with the riverside quays.[2] UNESCO explains that they show how Paris developed along its river over many centuries.[2] Students who look at a map of Paris can follow the Seine and find each landmark in order.
Kings and the Palace of Versailles
For centuries France was ruled by kings. The Palace of Versailles, southwest of Paris, was the main home of the French monarchy from Louis XIV to Louis XVI.[3] Its rooms, art and gardens were copied by royal families across Europe for more than a hundred years.[3]
The gardens of Versailles were designed by André Le Nôtre. They created the style called the French formal garden, with long straight paths, trimmed hedges, pools and fountains.[3]
After the French Revolution, which ended the monarchy, the state kept Versailles and turned it into a museum in the early 1800s.[3] Today France is a republic. Students often learn the French motto, "Liberté, égalité, fraternité," which means liberty, equality and brotherhood.
French food: bread, cheese and the family meal
French cooking is known around the world. The "gastronomic meal of the French" is on UNESCO’s list of intangible cultural heritage.[5] It follows a set order: it starts with an aperitif, then has at least four courses, a starter, fish or meat with vegetables, cheese and dessert, and it ends with a final drink.[5] Families share this kind of meal to celebrate births, weddings, birthdays and reunions.[5]
The baguette is France’s best-known bread. It uses only four ingredients: flour, water, salt and leaven or yeast.[6] Because the recipe is so simple, each baker’s baguette tastes a little different.[6] Many people visit a bakery every day to buy fresh loaves, and baguettes are eaten at home, in restaurants and in school cafeterias.[6] The baguette’s know-how and culture joined UNESCO’s list in 2022.[6]
For students, food is a fun way to practice French words: le pain (bread), le fromage (cheese) and le dessert.
Famous places in France
France has many UNESCO World Heritage sites.[9] Mont-Saint-Michel is one of the most famous. It is a rocky island in a bay on the coast of Normandy, topped by a medieval abbey.[4] At high tide the water surrounds it, and at low tide wide sands appear around the rock.
Versailles and the banks of the Seine in Paris are World Heritage sites too.[2][3] France also has the French Alps, long beaches on the Atlantic and the Mediterranean, castles in the Loire Valley and vineyards in many regions.
Because France is so varied, each region has its own foods, festivals and accents. Students can compare France with its neighbors, such as Spain, Italy and the United Kingdom, on our Europe page.
The French language and links to the Americas
French is the language of France, and it is also spoken in many other places around the world. In North America, French explorers founded Québec City in the early 1600s, and French is still the main language there today.[8] French is also an official language of Haiti, together with Haitian Creole.
France and the United States share a famous gift. The Statue of Liberty was given by France to the United States for the 100th anniversary of American independence.[7] It was designed by the French sculptor Frédéric Bartholdi, and its iron frame was built by Gustave Eiffel, the engineer of the Eiffel Tower.[7]
With about 69 million people, France is one of the most populated countries in Europe.[1] Learning a few French words, like bonjour (hello) and merci (thank you), is a great first step for students who want to explore French culture.
Free printable: map of Europe (PDF)
Questions people ask
What is France famous for?
France is famous for Paris and the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, the Palace of Versailles, Mont-Saint-Michel, baguettes and French meals.[2][3][4][5][6]
What is the capital of France?
The capital of France is Paris, built along the river Seine.[2]
What do people eat in France?
Bread such as the baguette, cheese and family meals with several courses: a starter, fish or meat with vegetables, cheese and dessert.[5][6]
Who built the Eiffel Tower?
It was built by the engineer Gustave Eiffel’s company for a world’s fair in Paris in the 1800s. Eiffel also built the inner frame of the Statue of Liberty.[2][7]
What is the Palace of Versailles?
It was the main home of French kings from Louis XIV to Louis XVI, famous for its rooms and formal gardens.[3]
Sources
- World Bank Open Data: France · data.worldbank.org/country/france (accessed 2026-10-30)
- UNESCO World Heritage Centre: Paris, Banks of the Seine · whc.unesco.org/en/list/600 (accessed 2026-10-30)
- UNESCO World Heritage Centre: Palace and Park of Versailles · whc.unesco.org/en/list/83 (accessed 2026-10-30)
- UNESCO World Heritage Centre: Mont-Saint-Michel and its Bay · whc.unesco.org/en/list/80 (accessed 2026-10-30)
- UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage: Gastronomic meal of the French · ich.unesco.org/en/RL/gastronomic-meal-of-the-french-00437 (accessed 2026-10-30)
- UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage: Artisanal know-how and culture of baguette bread · ich.unesco.org/en/RL/artisanal-know-how-and-culture-of-baguette-bread-01883 (accessed 2026-10-30)
- UNESCO World Heritage Centre: Statue of Liberty · whc.unesco.org/en/list/307 (accessed 2026-10-30)
- UNESCO World Heritage Centre: Historic District of Old Québec · whc.unesco.org/en/list/300 (accessed 2026-10-30)
- UNESCO World Heritage Centre: France (State Party page) · whc.unesco.org/en/statesparties/fr (accessed 2026-10-30)
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