SHARE

French Language and Culture

France is the most visited country in the world. It is well-known for its incredible cuisine, its fashion, its wealth of museums, and its cultural havens.

Here are several sites that focus on French culture, haute cuisine, literature, monuments, fashion, and sports.

French Culture Overviews

• This is a guide to French culture, society, language, etiquette, customs, manners, and protocol.
  http://www.kwintessential.co.uk/resources/global-etiquette/france-country-profile.html
  
• French history is deep and varied, dating back thousands of years to prehistoric man. Find out more here.
  http://www.destination360.com/europe/france/history
• Living in or visiting France requires tact and cultural insight. Here are some important Dos and Don'ts in France.
  http://www.transitionsabroad.com/publications/magazine/0505/working_and_living_do_and_donts_in_france.shtml
  
• Paris-anglo.com is an interesting mix of sites with detailed information about France.
  http://www.paris-anglo.com/
  
• Learn about how France has influenced the Western world in art, literature, and philosophy.
  http://lerc.educ.ubc.ca/LERC/courses/489/worldlang/french/frenchcultandcomm.html
• Explore this website to find a wealth of clearly written information about today's France, the country, its extraordinary diversity, its heritage, and its way of life.
  http://about-france.com/french-way-life.htm

French Literature

• French literature has been one of the most impressive facets of French civilization for centuries.
  http://www.discoverfrance.net/France/Literature/DF_literature.shtml 
• This is a comprehensive list of French literature resources available online, compiled by a librarian.
  http://www.digital-librarian.com/frenchlit.html

French Monuments

• On this site, the French Ministry of Culture and Communication provides information on French chateaus, monasteries, cathedrals, palaces, and other important monuments. (In French and in English)
  http://www.monuments-nationaux.fr/en/

French Fashion

Today, Paris is considered one of the world's fashion capitals, and the city is home to many of the premier
haute couture fashion houses such as:

• Alexandre Vauthier: http://www.alexandrevauthier.com
• Céline: http://www.celine.com
• Chanel:  http://www.chanel.com/
• Christian Lacroix:   http://www.christian-lacroix.fr/
• Dior: http://www.dior.com/
• Hermes: http://www.hermes.com/
• Givenchy: http://www.givenchy.fr/ 
• Jean Paul Gaultier:  http://www.jeanpaulgaultier.com/brand/en#page-brand/ 
• Louis Vuitton:   http://www.vuitton.com/
• Pierre Cardin: http://www.pierrecardin.fr/ 
• Thierry Mugler:  http://www.thierrymugler.com/

Fashion has been an important industry and cultural export of France since the seventeenth century.
Here you can check a few of the French brands that are sold in any shopping mall:

• Cacharel:  http://www.cacharel.fr 
• Comptoir des cotonniers: http://www.comptoirdescotonniers.com/ 
• Kookaï: http://www.kookai.fr/
• Lacoste: http://www.lacoste.fr/ 
• Maje:  http://www.maje-paris.fr
• Morgan: http://www.morgandetoi.com

If you are looking for information on today's, yesterday's and tomorrow's fashion and clothing, museums
and fashion institutes are valuable sources of reference material:

• Musée Christian Dior:   http://www.musee-dior-granville.com/
• Musée de la Mode et du Textile:  http://www.lesartsdecoratifs.fr/francais/mode-et-textile 
• Musée de la Toile de Jouy:  http://www.museedelatoiledejouy.fr 
• Musée des Tissus à Lyon: http://www.musee-des-tissus.com/  
• Musée du Jacquard:  http://www.musee-textile.fr/musee-textile-manufacture-flandre-nord-france.htm
• Soieries C.J. Bonnet à Jujurieux:  http://www.ain.fr/collectionsbonnetjujurieux/index.html

You can learn more about fashion in France either in its history or in the ways writers and
commentators interpret it. Take a look at these sites to find out more:

• http://www.fashion-era.com/what_is_fashion.htm 
• http://www.marquise.de/en/index.html

Several fashion fairs anticipate and extend their sessions with a website, so you can keep your finger
on the pulse of haute couture year-round: 

• http://www.mode-city.com/site/GB
• http://www.lingerie-paris.com/en 
• http://www.whosnext.com

Gastronomy and Wines

• The experts at UNESCO have decided that the French gastronomic meal, with its rituals and presentation, fulfills the conditions to be included on the prestigious list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Read all about it here:
  http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2032377,00.html
• This site is a good start to discover the wines of France, their varieties, history, and regions: Bordeaux, Champagne, Alsace, and more.
  http://www.frenchwinesfood.com/
  
• Each year a haute gastronomie contest takes place in France, and the Bocuse d'Or trophy is the supreme award. The Bocuse d'Or is named after the internationally renowned chef Paul Bocuse. Take a glance at some of the presented dishes, or more precisely: oeuvres d'art.
  http://www.bocusedor.com/
  
• Perhaps one of the best ways to have a glimpse at French cuisine is to take a one-day cooking class while visiting Paris. Found out how: 
  http://www.french-at-a-touch.com/CulinaryWinePrograms/Paris1DayClassesTastings.htm

French Sports

Soccer

• Soccer is the most popular sport in France. Another one is rugby. Each year these group sports attract thousands of fans to France's most outstanding stadiums such as: Parc des Princes or Stade de France. Take a look to find out more:
  http://www.rbs6nations.com/en/france/france_home.php

Le Tour de France

• Le Tour de France is the greatest cycling contest on earth. It is an annual biking race that lasts for three weeks, with a spectacular finish in Paris Champs Elysées.
  http://www.letour.fr/us/index.html
• Here is the official Tour de France's site in English: 
  http://www.letour.fr/us/homepage_horscourseTDF.html
  

La Pelote Basque

• La Pelote Basque is a very popular game in the south of France. The game is often played in the traditional fashion using either the palm of the hand to hit the ball or a racquet. Learn more about this sport here: 
  http://www.touradour.com/Towns/pelote.htm
  
• Check out this video to see how La Pelote Basque is played:
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iEfT-3VuGAw&feature=related
  

Pétanque

• The game of boules, otherwise known as Pétanque, is perhaps the sport that is closest to French hearts. It is played with metallic balls on a dirt surface.
  http://www.petanque.org/
• Check out this video to see how Pétanque is played  
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=noaTMkzQouc