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An Overview of French Culture - Politics, customs, history, and of course, famous French art and architecture all get top billing at this site. Read about Charlemagne, Joan of Arc, the Notre Dame cathedral, and the influence of World War II on France. Discover a variety of facts on France--this is a great place to learn about the country or to use as a starting place for a school project on France.
Chateau de Versailles - What started out as a hunting lodge built by Louis XIII in 1623 has since been rebuilt many times over by various kings. Today the Chateau is both a royal residence and Museum of French History. The structure itself is a grand example of French architecture and landscape art. Within its walls is a diverse collection of French interior design, paintings, and drawings. This site describes the Chateau's history and the contents of the grounds and buildings along with pictures of some of the art and architecture.
Chris Davis' French Polynesia - Tahiti, Bora Bora, scuba diving, sunken treasure, black pearls. Interested? You can check it all out here and also learn the history, holidays, customs, and lots of other interesting information about these tropical islands. There are also links to other pages about French Polynesia.
K-tour - New Caledonia - It's a good news/bad news thing for New Caledonia. This group of islands east of Australia in the South Pacific boasts more than 20 percent of the world's nickel resources. That's good. It's too bad that in recent years the world demand for nickel has been slowing down. Crank up your Web browser and head to the site with all the facts on this French territory, which contrasts high mountains and dense forests with sparkling lagoons and coral reefs.
Lonely Planet - Destination Comoros & Mayotte - Mayotte is a small tropical island off of southern Africa, in the Mozambique Channel. It is a territory of France, and the almost 100,000 Mahoran people (the name for people from Mayotte) are Muslim. Mayotte flies the flag of France, exports something called ylang-ylang (a sweetly scented flower used in making perfume), and has no television stations! But there is much more to know about this island, and this fact-based site is a good place to get started.
Lonely Planet - Destination French Guiana - This South American country is about the size of the state of Indiana. It is an overseas department of France. French Guiana once supported sugar plantations and timber production in the early 1800s, and then became a French penal colony in the 1850s after slavery was abolished. It remained a penal colony until after World War II when it became a department of France.
Monaco Guide - Monaco is one of the most fascinating places in the world. It has a long and captivating history of kings, lords, and princes. Today's Monaco is a favorite destination for tourists around the world. The climate is neither too hot nor too cold. Swim with the fishes, or travel a short distance to ski. Visit the glamorous city of Monte Carlo, with its exciting Casino Square flashing at night. There is a tremendous cultural side to Monaco, too, with much theater, music, and art. This page is very thorough, containing information on everything from history to entertainment. The sights are beautiful. See for yourself!
Monaco, Monte Carlo - The Principality of Monaco is a tiny country on the southern border of France. Monaco's beautiful coastline is on the Mediterranean Sea. How small is Monaco? The land area is about one square mile! If it's facts about Monaco's geography, people, government, and climate you're after, then you've come to the right little Web page.
Saint-Pierre and Miquelon - Saint-Pierre and Miquelon are the last remaining North American possessions of France, located just off Newfoundland. This site has a detailed history of the islands, including a list of those who died in World War II. There are links to Basque and Breton sites, language and politics, and locally produced Web pages. Much of this material is in French, but about 20 percent has been translated into English. Portions of the site are also available in Portuguese, Euskara, Galego, and Spanish. Have you heard of all of those languages before? If not, learn more here!
Tahiti Explorer - Maybe you've heard of Tahiti. It's the largest of the 115 islands that make up French Polynesia, an overseas territory of France. If you were going to imagine a perfect South Pacific island, this would be it: volcanoes in the background, lush plants and huts in the foreground. Ocean life all around includes sharks, dolphins, and coral reefs. This page has information about many of the French Polynesian islands, including the Marquesas, Moorea, Bora Bora, and more.
The 700 Years of Grimaldi - Monaco's Grimaldi dynasty has ruled this small principality for the past seven hundred years! Your grandparents may remember how exciting it was in 1956, when the dashing Prince Rainier III married the American film star Grace Kelly. You can read about the stirring history of the Grimaldis, including biographies of Rainier and Prince Albert, his son. Surprisingly, Monaco did not join the United Nations until 1993.
The Elysee Palace - Walk right up the virtual red carpet and take a tour of the President of France's official residence. At this site you can also learn about the national symbols of France, including "Marianne," a sculpted figure representing liberty and wisdom. She is pictured on stamps, coins, and this Web page. The origin of the name is unclear. Another famous symbol is the Gallic rooster. It is a play on words: gallus means "rooster" in Latin as well as Gaul, the ancient name of the region of which current-day France was once a part. The rooster appears on the seal of state.
The French Embassy - Friendship between France and the United States goes back a long, long way! At the French Embassy page you'll learn the history of that relationship. You can also spend time touring the countryside and even learn a verse or two of the French national anthem. This site has a special section just for kids and might be the place to head for help with a school project. Viv la France !
The French Prime Minister's Website - Learn about the various duties of the president and the prime minister of France, how they are chosen, and how their jobs are similar, yet different. In the Quick Facts section, you know what you'll find! In the National Symbols area, you can find out about the history of the tricolor flag, read about Bastille Day, and hear the national anthem.
The Louvre Museum - This museum was originally designed as a palace. In medieval times, it was a fortress. Now you can walk in what used to be the moats, but your feet will stay dry! The collections include not just French art but also paintings, sculpture, and works of art from many countries and times. To jump right to the paintings on this site, go to The Collections and click on Paintings. Whose eyes are those peering out at you? Click on them to find out.
The Paris Pages - Here's a more serious look at Paris. It's bilingual, with both French and English versions. The city, its culture, its tourist sites, train stations, museums, monuments--it's all here. In the Culture section are special expositions featuring historic postcards, including a photo history of the August 1944 liberation of Paris during World War II.
Wallis and Futuna - This small South Pacific island group is an overseas territory of France. At this page, you'll find out that one of the big problems there is that the forests are being cut down for fuel. With no trees, the rocky ground is subject to erosion. The good soil washes into the sea, which affects how many crops they can grow. The islanders have to import a lot of food from other countries. How do they pay for it? They get money from selling off fishing rights to Japan and other countries. They also sell handicrafts.
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