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15 Interesting and fun facts about France
France is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world and the focal point for some pretty interesting and quirky facts.
With UNESCO World Heritage status and iconic landmarks such as the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre Museum, and the French Alps, France is the most visited country in the world. Over 100 million tourists visited France in 2024 alone, a new record.
But that’s not the only unique thing about the Hexagone.
Here are 15 fun facts about one of Europe’s most popular destinations in the world.
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1. France was the first country to ban food waste
In February 2016, France became one of the first countries to ban supermarkets from throwing away or intentionally spoiling edible items. Instead, they were required to establish partnerships with food aid charities and donate the food rather than destroy it.
Fast-forward to today, the French government is committed to reducing food waste by 50% by the end of 2025.
2. Any cheese lovers? France has over 1,000 types of cheese
With over 1,000 types of cheese, you can try a different kind of French cheese every day for over two years! The three most-consumed cheeses are Emmental, Camembert, and Raclette.
“How can you govern a country where there are 258 varieties of cheese?” Charles de Gaulle’s quote may make people cheese, but it also emphasizes how crucial this dairy delicacy is to French culture. The average French person consumes more than 27 kilograms of cheese annually, and more than 860,000 tonnes are sold.
3. You can marry a dead person in France
While it sounds pretty morbid, you can marry a deceased individual in France, but it must be for justified reasons. This is a posthumous marriage established by French law in 1803.
Only the President can authorize this type of union, which is allowed as long as there is evidence that the deceased individual had intentions (while alive) to marry their partner.
4. The French invented the hot air balloon
The famous hot-air balloon rides would not exist without the French Montgolfier brothers. They first showcased their invention to hot-air balloon enthusiast King Louis XVI at Versailles.
The first demonstration was held on September 19, 1783, before the King and the royal family.
5. Don’t place your baguettes upside down in France — it’s bad luck
In France, placing bread upside down is considered unlucky — a superstitious belief that dates back to medieval times. How did this come about? Bakers tended to set bread aside and upside down for executioners to collect later. This simple act quickly became a symbol of death that persists today.
People actively avoid touching overturned loaves of bread to avoid any potential misfortune or hunger curses that may come their way.
6. The French army still includes carrier pigeons in its ranks
The French army is the only one in Europe to still include carrier pigeons in its ranks. Cared for at Mont Valérien near Paris, these pigeons can be used for communications in the event of a major disaster.
7. The Eiffel Tower was meant to be a temporary structure.
Built to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the French Revolution, the Eiffel Tower was set to be destroyed only 20 years after its construction due to a permit that only lasted two decades. Gustave Eiffel, the tower’s designer, came to the rescue and credited the Eiffel Tower with a scientific purpose: meteorological and astronomical observations.
8. The Louvre is the most visited museum in the world
France is home to the Louvre, one of the most visited art museums in the world and also a must-see attraction when in Paris. The Louvre Museum has the largest collection of impressionist and post-impressionist work in the world, including artworks that have influenced global cultures and other iconic masterpieces.
It is also where the Mona Lisa resides, hung behind bulletproof glass in a gallery in the Louvre.
9. The oldest person who ever lived was a French woman
Among fun facts about France, Jeanne Calment — a French woman — has the honor of being the world’s oldest person living to age 122.
Longevity expert Jean-Marie Robine (who also knew Calment personally) claims three main reasons she lived to the ripe age of 122:
- Jeanne was wealthy.
- She didn’t smoke cigarettes until later in life.
- She had a great social life.
10. You can’t kiss on a train platform in France
Although this law is rarely followed, kissing is still banned on train platforms in France. The law was enacted in 1910, just before the First World War, as soldiers prepared to leave their loved ones.
Families and couples would spend hours on the packed French railway network, saying teary-eyed goodbyes. The law was introduced in an attempt to reduce the delayed departures.
11. A certain percentage of all music played on radio stations must be French
A law introduced in 1994 required all French radio stations to ensure that at least 40% of the songs they play are in the French language.
This was passed to help nurture French talent and maintain local culture. However, radio stations opposed the law after French authorities accused them of playing more popular French songs (removing the spotlight from lesser-known ones) to fill the quota.
After it was decided that this was turning more into a suppression of liberty, a compromise was made; the required percentage was lowered to 35%.
12. One of the most expensive weapons ever sold belonged to a famous French man
Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte’s gold-encrusted saber wielded a gold-plated saber during the Battle of Marengo against Austria in 1800. The historical weapon was declared a national treasure in 1978 and fetched a hefty price tag of $6.6 million USD at an auction in France.
13. The first true department store in the world was French
If you’re planning a trip to Paris, you’ll definitely find this next fun fact fascinating! In pursuit of a department store that would “thrill all the senses,” Aristide Boucicaut and his wife Marguerite opened Le Bon Marche Rive Guache in 1852 in Paris.
The entrepreneurial couple tested commercial methods based on an understanding of customer behavior and sought to improve the working conditions of their employees. The iconic department store is still open today.
14. France was the first country to mass-produce ballpoint pens
The French company Bic (owners of the Bic pen) helped change the pen market from fountain pens to ballpoint and sold its 100 billionth ballpoint pen in 2005.
Marcel Bich believed in the potential of the ballpoint pen and launched his own in France under the BIC® brand, a shortened and more memorable version of his name. Thanks to good quality and an affordable price, mass production began quickly.
15. You can find around 40,000 chateaus in the whole of France
Last on our listing of fun France facts, the country is home to over 40,000 ancient castles and fortresses built between the 9th and 21st centuries. When visiting France, you’re likely to come across several, and some are popular tourist destinations, such as the Loire Valley and the Palace of Versailles.
Stay connected as you excavate France’s most interesting facts
From being able to marry a deceased person to not touching an upside-down baguette, France has its fair share of strange and interesting fun facts. If you’re traveling to France soon, be sure to get some local insights into each of these facts! You never know what you might find.
Additionally, staying connected will help make your traveling experience even better. With Holafly’s eSIM for France, you can look up local curiosities on the go and share your discoveries instantly — without the hassle of swapping SIM cards, registering for local ones, and complicated sign-up processes.
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Buy your eSIM for France ahead of time to get connected as soon as you arrive.
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Born and raised in Queens, New York, I'm a Psychology graduate with a passion for writing that I've been nurturing since 2019. Over the years, I've enjoyed creating meaningful content across various niches, including sports, hospitality, and career development. At Holafly, I focus on crafting useful and inspiring pieces to make your adventures more effortless. One of the best perks of this role? Creating travel content always seems to inspire my next vacation destination!
