Hey Isis, France is still standing
while you, you are slowly dying!
w
2600 people visited this site. Merci! Thank you!
Audience from: Columbia, Belgium, Brazil, France, Germany, India, Mexico, Netherlands,
Russia, Spain, UK, the USA, etc.

Please support my work: advertisers & sponsors are welcome!
Contact: frenchinnewyork@aol.com

w

Access to my other blogs (in English)

Trip to France: general info & regions description -- Trip to Paris and its region
Help with the French Language -- French Vocabulary & Expressions
In the USA: French Bakeries, Doctors, Libraries, Restaurants, Stores, etc.
French Wines and French Cuisine -- 850 French Websites -- Maps of France, Regions, Paris, etc.
http://allmyfrenchblogs.blogspot.com/

w

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

French Anthem "La Marseillaise"

Original with English & German translations www.youtube.com/watch?v=yzTLqTnqadA 

Marseillaise Reggae by Gainsbourg www.youtube.com/watch?v=CrAOw5i9UwM 

by Placido Domingo www.youtube.com/watch?v=v3LAtdaNrNE&feature=related 
by Jovan & Thelma (South Africa) Rugby game www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPqslvisLJw

European Union Anthem
www.youtube.com/watch?v=t6Z2hlwWk4w

What did they say about France?
- "There's no nation, no democracy which can write its own History without acknowledging a debt
or a direct influence to France" Theodore Zeldin (English Philosopher, Oxford Teacher) 1999

- "Every man has 2 countries: his own and France" - Thomas Jefferson 1784

- "J'ai 2 amours: mon pays et Paris" - I have 2 loves: my country and Paris - Josephine Baker 1920

- "You like Paris? Then you like the French: they made it the way it is" - Ernest Hemingway 1953

- "Since more than a dozen of centuries France occupies an exclusive place in the world and could not accept nothing less" - Jonathan Fenby (Irish American Writer) 1989

- "Since UK gave back Hong-Kong, France with 14 territories on 5 continents is now the only country where the sun never sets" - National Geographic 2001

- "According to the actual GDP per capita, Germany and France with the same population as the USA
(83 M. / 65 M. - 310 M.) would be the 2 world largest economies, before the USA and China"
I M F Global Commission 2010

- "There have been 53 major wars in Europe. France had been a belligerent in 49 of them.
In 185 battles that France had fought over the past 800 years, their armies had won 135 times, lost 40 times and drawn only 10, giving the French military the best record of any country in the world" 
BBC History Channel 2010
      www.youtube.com/watch?v=ks4w4yPiq9U   
www.youtube.com/watch?v=677Na0RnaWQ 
www.youtube.com/watch?v=vDMnIMolMbc  
(Check at 1:50 >) www.youtube.com/watch?v=gPtVNDvwGMo                         
 

385 AD: The Franks!

Watch the story of the ancestors of the French people

www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-l6u-7I9X0
1453: After this terrible battle,
the English will never ever fight again the French alone!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=dmAhxBHWeTs
1916 Battle of Verdun: "Germans shall not pass!"
www.youtube.com/watch?v=y79-PJt-YzE
Never again the 1940 mistake!

De Gaulle Nuclear Aircraft Carrier www.youtube.com/watch?v=xkvLUBOKdGc&t=907s
Fierce French Rafale Fighter Jet  www.youtube.com/watch?v=2NaC6zREymY
"Felin" Electronic Combat System www.youtube.com/watch?v=75nbWXDmWtc 
Homage by an American soldier www.youtube.com/watch?v=f47lmDu0PEE
French Nuclear Deterrence www.youtube.com/watch?v=dcOT9pLSeUs

Lebanon, Afghanistan, Ivory Coast, Libya, Mali, Syria, etc.,
the French military intervene everywhere again and again
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fm8karNM9Vs
www.youtube.com/watch?v=vYdmzKEqYuE&t=10s
www.youtube.com/watch?v=-QDnB6dMAb0&t=392s
www.youtube.com/watch?v=yDqtst0Ql3E 
Note: the French Foreign Legion now includes 60% of French native

The "Marseillaise" was originally a war song written in 1792 by the soldier Rouget de Lisle. It then became a march for the Regiment of Marseilles moving up to the eastern frontier:  several monarchies united to restore the French king and invaded the north-east of France. French volunteers rushes to stop the 30,000 soldiers from Prussia, supported by Austrian and Hessian troops (English trained mercenaries). The "French citizens Army" won the battle of Valmy and pushed back the Monarchists to the frontier. In 1795, the Convention Assembly made the "Marseillaise" the National Anthem.

2

The French flag "Le Drapeau Tricolor": there are several theories about how the French flag was created. The most logical one is that, during the revolution, the white color, symbol of the French monarchy, was placed between the blue and the red, the 2 colors of Paris. It represented the people of Paris restraining the power of the King. However, it is said that the young Marquis de Lafayette, back from America and nominated Commander of the Paris Guard before the French Revolution, created an insigna that included the red and blue of Paris and the white of the Monarchy.

w

The European Union Flag is a circle 12 golden stars on dark blue background that was actually created in 1948 for the Council of Europe. It symbolises the ideals of unity, solidarity and harmony among the peoples of Europe. The 12 stars are also referring to the 12 most important Greek Gods and Goddesses. The E.U. flag is standing beside any state member national flag for official events and at the front of State buildings or properties.
w 

Made in France

TGV High Speed Train at 365 mph (World record 2007)   www.youtube.com/watch?v=EOdATLzRGHc

Ariane V rocket with 5 ton load (Kourou 2012) 
 www.youtube.com/watch?v=oN1HOsnOYtU
Airbus A380 final tests near Toulouse  
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ImSuZjvkATw

Germans of Hannover love Peugeot Cars 
 www.youtube.com/watch?v=5txPsFD-Bm4
Carrefour Supermarkets: 300 in China  
www.youtube.com/watch?v=1lYVm0hLXFo
England "Queen Mary II" built in France 
www.youtube.com/watch?v=UZ6624OEwP0

Paris Firefighters: check their "alien" helmets at 0:54  www.youtube.com/watch?v=eNUPyv_i234

Dassault "Neuron" Combat Drone  
www.youtube.com/watch?v=oT0yymT6v_w

Another side of Tour de France!   
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABPcSIsNuS8

Another Renault Electric car: "Zoe" 
www.youtube.com/watch?v=VuReM_Q9b7o

Highway Police: Helico, Motorbikes, Renault Turbo 185 mph www.youtube.com/watch?v=nY6AN8LGXBo

TABLE OF CONTENTS

w

Part 1 - Today France: Geography, Population, Economy, etc. 

Part 2 - France from 15 000 BC to 2015 AD, including some of the great French inventions

Part 3 - French History in pictures: right side and bottom

1 - TODAY FRANCE As of 2017 (Data from CIA, IMF, UN, S&P, World Bank)

 w

"Although ultimately a victor in World Wars I and II, France suffered extensive losses in its empire, wealth, manpower, and rank as a dominant nation-state. Nevertheless, France today is one of the most modern countries and a leader among European nations and in the world." (2012 CIA report).

France - population 65 million - is ranked world 5th largest economy. It is the 2nd largest economy in Europe and one of the 2 "engines" of the Eurozone, Germany being first with a 83-million population. France is the 5th world exporter, the 3rd world agriculture power, the 3rd space power, the 3rd world civil & military nuclear power. NOTE: in January 2015, UK claimed it became the 5th World Economy. However, its new calculations now include prostitution, black market, money laundry, etc. Economy specialists wonder how much these figures are accurate and since France doesn't include these "sectors", they are doubtful about the ranking.  

France is founder member of the European Union, founder of the OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development), is member of the G8 (8 most industrialized countries). It is also one of the 5 permanent UN members with veto, co-founder of the SDN (original name of the UN) with the USA. France is home for the UNESCO  Headquarters (UN branch for Education and Health) and for the International Police Organization "INTERPOL" Headquarters. 

- Geography   

Map: click > mapvisitfrance.com/

France is the second largest country of Europe (after Russia), about the size of Texas, and includes 14 territories spread over the 5 continents. The capital Paris (metropolitan area: 11 million inhabitants) is located in the northern center part of France. The country is bordered by the "Manche" (British Channel) on the north west, 110 miles away from Paris, the Atlantic in the west, and the Mediteranneean Sea in the south. The neighboring countries are Belgium and Luxembourg in the north (120 miles from Paris), Germany in the north east (250 miles from Paris), Switzerland in the east (250 miles from Paris), Italy in the south east (420 miles from Paris), Spain in the south west (450 miles from Paris). There are 2 large mountain chains: the Alps in the east and the Pyrénées in the south west. France also includes 3 other smaller mountain chains: the Vosges, the Morvan and the Jura. A group of extinguished volcanoes, the "Massif Central", is located in the south center. There are 7 main rivers (Fleuves): Garonne, Gironde, Loire, Rhin, Rhone, Saone and Seine.  

Metropolitan France is divided into 22 administrative regions (soon to be regrouped to 10) that includes the Corsican Island. Each region is divided in 2 or 3 "Départements" (mini "states" managed by a "Prefet"). There are also 14 overseas territories: 5 Départements d'Outre Mer (DOM), 4 Collectivités d'Outre Mer (COM under juridiction of the DOM) and 5 Territoires d'Outre Mer (TOM) administrated by a local government.

Paris, Marseille, and Lyon, the 3 largest cities of France, are divided in "Arrondissements" or administrative districts; each Arrondissement has a representative at the National Assembly, a City Council (both elected by the people) and a Mayor. The "grand Mayor" of these cities is nominated by vote of the Arrondissement Mayors. Toulouse, Nice, Nantes, and Strasbourg are the other largest cities in France.   

- Population, Education, Health, & Religion

- France has a population of 66,100,000 (US: 320 M. - Germany: 83 M. - UK 65,2 M.) in 2017. Ethnic origins  are mostly Frank and Gaelic, with African, Basque, Celt, Latin, and Slavic minorities. There are around 7 million legal immigrates in France mostly from Africa, Asia and Europe. The number of illegal residents is estimated to 155,000. Majority is at 18 years old. France has the highest birth rate among the industrialized countries since 2005.

- The official language is the French, with declining regional dialects such as Alsatian, Basque, Celt in Brittany and Corsican. 99.5 % of the French are literate (can read and write at the age of 16). Speaking a second language is now mandatory in all French schools (as it is for many jobs). Although the French language is used for teaching in all universities, some classes will be soon also taught in English; several universities already have courses in English for Business, Political Sciences, Technology, etc.

Crèches (Pre-K) are free and available in all cities. School is mandatory for all French until the age of 16; however, 97% of the French school students go to the end of the cycle and pass the final test. Access to public schools such as Ecoles publiques and Lycées (last 4 grades) and to universities and faculties is free; there are also private establishments including all Junior and Senior levels and private universities and faculties. The junior school is called "Primaire", the senior is called "Secondaire". Grades start with Jardin d'Enfant (Kindergarten) then go from 11 to 1 and "Terminale". Kids aged 16 have to select main "orientations" such as biology, economy, literature, maths, sciences, technology, etc.  There are also Lycées Techniques or Professionnels for specific fields. The final school examination "Baccalauréat" is mandatory to access most universities: candidates go in a neighboring Lycée and answer subjects covering up to 10 majors during 5 days, through written and oral tests. There are around 600,000 "Bacheliers" (school graduates) each year. Top Universities includes "Polytechnique" (military MIT), "Centrale" (civil MIT), "Médecine" (any medical fields), "Ponts et Chaussées", "Les Mines" (both top engineering), "Sciences-Politiques" or "Sciences-Po", "Normale Sup" or "ENS" (High level studies, teaching, research, etc), "La Sorbonne" (Languages, Philosophy, Literature), "Dauphine" (Technology), "ENA" (Administration), "ESSEC", "HEC", "FBS" (Business), "Beaux-Arts" (Arts), etc.

- The average life expectancy is 86,5 for women, 83,9 for men. Since 2000, one French female out of 10,000 has a hundred year life expectancy. 98 % of the French citizens and legal residents have free health insurance coverage or access to a free public hospital network. There are private hospitals (cliniques), and most of the doctors, dentists, etc, are private entrepreneurs.

- France is a secular state since 1790; obstentious religious signs are not allowed for administration servants, in public schools and universities. 85 % of the French are Catholic, 8% are Muslims, 0.9% are Jewish, 0.6% are Protestant, 0.3% Orthodox, 0.1% are Buddhist, etc. There are also some Anglican, Calvinist, Hinduist, Mormon, Shintoist congragations. A couple of "sectes" such as the "Scientology" have been forbidden in France due to suspect behaviors, illegal commercial activities or legal complaints from several members.

- Administration and Government

France is a Republic with a constitution established in 1789 and amended several times. The President of France, the National Assembly, and the City Councils are directly elected by the French people every five years. French also directly elect County Chief Councilors every six years (except in Paris). The Senate has no legislative power and acts as a "controller" of  the new national laws voted by the National Assembly; it is renewed by a third every 3 years by a vote of delegates. The Constitutional Council / Conseil Constitutionnel is an independent organism that reinforces the application of the Constitution at any time, for any law; it has power over any institution including the President and can demand the modification or suspension of any law.

The President of France has 5 constitutional "rights": to define the main policy of the nation, to appoint the Prime Minister (suggested by the National Assembly majority), to protect the French Constitution, to represent France abroad, and to decide the use of Nuclear weapons as the Chief of the Military (The National Assembly votes for state of war but not for a French intervention abroad). In case of sudden decease or serious mental disorder of the President of the Republic, the President of the Senate temporarily takes over and immediately organizes elections.

The Prime Minister is suggested by the majority at the National Assembly and appointed by the President. He/she is the Chief of Government, he/she nominates all ministers and is the only decider and manager for all the nation internal affairs. The Council of State / Conseil d'Etat is adviser to the Government.
Liberté, Egalité, Fraternité - Freedom, Equality, Fraternity (Motto of the French Republic)
"La Liberté de chacun est limitée par celle des autres" - "The only limit to anyone freedom is the one of others" 
France is one of the most democratic and free country in the world. The motto of the French Republic is accurately applied, following the French Constitution and the French Human Rights bill of 1790. Not only all important elections are directly made by all citizens ("Scrutin Universel" - No "delegates" except for the Senate) but also everyone is free to express their opinion in public, to follow their religious principles, to create an association, a political party or trade union, to organize rally and to go on strike (although it should not put in danger other people life and a minimum service is mandatory for public transportation). Any French citizen can be candidate to any political position including the Presidency of France (Former President Nicolas Sarkozy is the son of a Hungarian immigrate). France reinforced the "Parité" law that imposes total equality between men and women in any field since 1977. Racism and anti-Semitism actions or public tenses are punished by law. Media are free but a state recognized independent organism reinforces individual freedom of expression while protecting privacy and fairness in all public debates or declarations. Police cannot keep any person in custody more than 24 hours without a judge authorization and must give the "suspect" access to a free defense attorney. Several thousands of social workers (including the "SAMU Social") are in charge of connecting with communities and people, helping the poor and enforcing the right of education and good health for any kid under 18. Any French citizen has the right to a free medical care, a free attorney, and a minimum "survival" income paid by the state if necessary. 
- The French State itself: Roads, Transportation, Energy, Telecom.

Few years ago, an American student asked me: "Do you have cars in France?" I smiled: it's a Frenchman, Nicolas Cugnot, who invented the "auto-mobile" in 1662. There are cars in France, even too many: there are about 36,5 million private vehicles (2015), 1 1/4 vehicle per 2 person, half of them made by French carmakers. Peugeot-Citroen (PSA) and Renault are ranked 5th and 6th largest world carmakers (2016). Renault owns 45% of Nissan since 1995 and its President is head of Nissan in Japan. Since 2000, Citroen won 8 times the Road Race World Championship and Renault engines won 6 times the Formula 1 World Championship. But the French administration strongly encourages French people in using public transportation: heavy taxes are applied on gas (1 gallon = $7) and on sport cars & SUV. As of 2016, the number of electric cars available to the public is increasing, making around 19% of market.

The French road network is one of the most developed in the world, as dense as ones of UK and Spain combined. It includes 3 categories of roads / highways: "Départementales" (numbered D1, D22, D780, etc) inside each department or district of France, "Nationales" (N1, N15, N170, etc) connecting districts over the whole territory and "Autoroutes" or Expressways all over the territory (A1, A70, A110, etc). Autoroutes include "Aire de repos" every 50 miles, a relaxation space with park, mini museums, and kid spaces. Speed limits are strictly reinforced by police, with the help of hidden or mobile radars, including aboard helicopters, while the authorized level of alcohol for drivers is limited to 0.3 gr. / liter, equal to 2 beers or 1 glass of wine consumed with a meal. 
City networks are extended and modern with buses, subway, tramways, and suburban trains. The 10 largest cities are served by a combination of all these networks. In most large cities, buses are satellite guided. In Paris, new automated (no driver) high-speed tire operating subway trains are progressively replacing classic trains. In several large cities, tramways are equipped with a "Traffic Escape System", a tire mechanism allowing to get off the track to detour from traffic jams.   
The railway networks include regional express trains "TER", national express trains "Corail", and "TGV" (Trains Grande Vitesse / High-speed trains) serving cities as well as the neighboring European countries. Despite some strikes, French public transportation systems are probably the most efficient and reliable in the world with one of Japan. 

14 international airports (including in oversea territories) and 190 domestic airports serve the country.

France is almost independent in domestic energy: 77 % of the electricity is provided by 57 nuclear plants and 12 gaz plants, while marine, solar and wind energies are quickly developing (600 giant Alstom wind mills should be installed by 2020). Coal and oil are almost not used anymore in industry and public heating systems. 

Telecommunications are highly developed with 56,5 million cell phones, 44 million Internet users (the Minitel "French Internet" started in 1978),  150 TV stations and 1200 radio stations broadcast through the cable, satellites and the free access Numeric Terrestrial Network ("TNT" since 1998). 9 communication satellites are covering the whole nation and its territories worldwide.

- Economy, Labor facts and Benefits 

Since 1990, France has privatized 80% of the national companies and reduced the public sector and public servants by 50%. Since 2001, as a member founder of the Eurozone, France uses the Euro as currency (The French Franc was created in 1364). However, the Franc CFA is still used by 12 African countries as a monetary reference.

France's leaders remain committed to a capitalism in which they maintain social equity by means of laws, tax policies, and social spending that reduce income disparity and the impact of free markets on public health and welfare.

France is the world 5th largest and wealthiest economy, with a GDP of $2.650 trillion, a GDP per capita of $46.200, and a 1.9 % growth (March 2017). It is the 2nd largest economy in Europe and one of the 2 "engines" of the Eurozone. UK claimed in 2015 that it passed before France but it included Prostitution, Money Laundry, and Black Market in its budget, making world economist organizations very doubtful about its claim. France has weathered the 2009 global economic crisis better than most other big economies because of the resilience of domestic consumer spending. But France's public debt is now around 90% of its GDP which is considered as much too high - although still proportionally close to one of the USA. This debt, added to the involvement of France into the Greek crisis with a 35-billion euros loan through the IMF in 2011, caused a downgrade of its credit rating to AA+ and of 3 of the largest French banks, BNP Paribas, Societe Generale, and Credit Agricole. As of 2017, France main problems reside in a lower exportation rate (several of its important "clients" such as Italy, Greece, Spain, etc, deal with serious crisis), a dangerous low number of its medium-size corporate's (as of 2014, the new Prime Minister lowered the Corporate taxes), a too heavy spending in public services. The unemployment rate is high, around 11% (March 2015). For this part, it is important to note that the French unemployment agency keep people on the national listing for 16 months (or until they found a job) and includes workers with short term contracts.; in the USA, unemployed people are kept listed in the limit of 9 months. Therefore, considering this criteria, unemployment rate in France over 8 months is around 7%, close to the one of the USA; Figures say what each country makes them to say. About 4% of the French population lives under the limit of poverty (less than 700 Euros / $800 per month).  

Because of strict regulations on allocation of personal loans / credits, the rate of individual debts among the French population is low, around 4%, and there is no personal bankruptcy. 42% of the French households own an habitation, 30% have a second residence. The total amount of individual savings for the overall French population is equal to 10 times the French GDP. Saving accounts such as "Livret A" and "PEL" are tax exempted and have an interest rate of 2,55% year (2013). They are guaranteed by the State. 40 million French have one of these saving accounts. The PEL (Lodging Saving Account) is a saving account for people who want to become homeowner; it is state guaranteed and allows to borrow up to 40% of the saving assets after 15 years, with a low interest rate around 2,55%.

Individual income tax rate is almost the same than in other western countries while the highest incomes (1 Million euros and up / year) pay up to 50% maximum to the French IRS called Trésor Public (The "75% Individual Super Taxe" of President F. Hollande could not be applied according to the Constitution). The VAT is high at 20% (as Germany), except on food (8%). There are several "special" taxes: a 1,4% "solidarity tax" (ISF) on high incomes to help long term unemployed and poor people; a 3% tax on capital over 1,3 M. Euro (Not submitted to this tax: main residence, family businesses, commerces, and companies). Besides, around 10% is taken out of salaries and wages for the social security founds (universal health care, retirement, unemployment) managed by independent organizations under state supervision. Incomes below 5000 Euros per year do not pay any income taxes. Most families receive a monthly child support per kid aged 5 to 16.  
French Economic sectors are divided as follow: Services 77% (including tourism), Industry 19%, agriculture 4%. Taxes on corporate and companies are almost the same than in the US but allocation of benefits to employees and taxes for the Social Security are much higher. 

According to Forbes magazine, 35 French companies were ranked in the 500 word top in 2017 (Germany 36, UK 30, Italy 20): Among them, Airbus (Plane maker), AXA (Insurance), Areva (Nuclear), Air France KLM (Airline), BNP Paribas (Bank, Investment), Bouygues-Colas (Construction), Carrefour (Distribution & Supermarkets), Credit Agricole (Bank), Dannon BSN (Food), Dassault (Air Space & Defense), EDF-Suez (Electricity), France Telecom (Telecommunications), Lactalis (Any milk related products), LVMH (Luxurious Goods), Peugeot PSA (Car maker), Saint Gobain Pontamousson (Aluminum & Glass), Sanofi (Pharmaceutical), Total-Elf (Oil), Venci (Building & Factories Construction), Vivendi (Utilities), etc.
6 French fashion designer houses are ranked among the world top 10. Cartier in jewelery and LVMH in luxurious goods are both rank world number 1 in their sectors.

French employees benefits include complete health insurance and 30-day paid vacation per year (almost same as in Germany, UK, Italy). Any working women have the right of 1-year paid maternity leave as soon as she becomes pregnant. A company cannot  fire an employee under long term contract without economic or serious motives, and must inform the Labor Commission of the region. Any employee has the right to be represented by a union. Any company with 100 employees or more must have at least 1 Union representative among its task force. Unions have the right to strike. Special regional tribunals or "Prudhomme" composed of representatives of the economic sectors and of the state act a referee in case of conflict between an employee and employer. Members of these tribunals are elected by the work force every 7 years. Retirement age is 62 but benefit payments are progressive until reaching the age of 67 or after 42 years of work / paying monthly retirement taxes.
- Crime & Delinquency
"Crime" in French law means to violently assault, to rape, kidnap or kill another person; it doesn't include stealing a car, breaking in, etc. (which is called "Delinquence"). Crime rate is extremely low in France compared to other countries: 650 deaths by firearms in 2015, including terrorist attacks. Carrying a gun is NOT forbidden in France despite what many think, however authorization for buying / carrying a gun is very hard to get. On the other hand, delinquency such as pickpocket, car smuggling, apartment breaking in, etc., is quite high. Racist and anti-Semitism are punished by law.
- Culture & Language 

Paris is still considered as the culture and fashion capital around the world. There are around 9,000 national and private museums in France. So far, the country has received 15 Nobel Prizes in Literature, more than any other country. During the last 150 years, French writers have been among the most prolific in the world: let's just mention Balzac, Hugo, Dumas, Celine, Vernes, Appolinaire, Proust, Gide, Sartre, Camus, de Beauvoir, Henri-Levy, etc. Many are known worldwide for their novels and even inspired movies or plays such as De Beaumont (Beauty and the Beast), Perault (Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Little Red Riding Hood, etc), Hugo (les Misérables, Notre Dame de Paris), Dumas (3 Musketeers, Man with Iron Mask, etc), Vernes (20 000 Leagues under the Sea), Boulle (Planet of the Apes; Bridge of River Kwai), Leroux (Phantom of the Opéra), Saint Exupery (Le Petit Prince), etc.  

French painters and sculptors are still among the most celebrated in the world: Cezanne, Corot, Courbet, Degas, Delacroix, Morisot, Pissaro, Toulouse Lautrec, Rodin, Claudel, Renoir, etc. The Impressionists Manet, Boudin, Monet, etc, showed the way to new currents. Creations by French contemporain artists such as Maillol, Braque, Dubuffet, Cesar, Rousseau, Spitz, Pellegrin, Bresson, etc, attract many art amateurs and animate auctions around the world. No need to mention that French composers are also important contributors to the French cultural reputation: Rameau, Chopin, Berlioz, Bizet, Saint Saens, Offenbach, Debussy, Satie, Boulez, Poulenc, Legrand, etc. 

The French Movie Industry is ranked 4th in the world (when including China and India) and produces around 180 feature films per year. About 45 French movies had a US remake in the last 50 years. The Cannes Film Festival is the largest and most important film festival and market in the world.

220 million people around the world use French as a daily language and almost 500 millions speak basic French. According to several financial institutions, the NY Times and the World Bank, the French language is still, as of 2015, the 2nd most important language for business after English, equal to Chinese Mandarin! From a projection by Laval University of Canada, it is estimated that the French language will be spoken daily by 450 million people in 2040. Countries such as Belgium, Canada, Cameroun, Haiti, Luxembourg, Morocco, Senegal, Switzerland, etc, have the French as official or mandatory language.  65 countries are members of the "Francophonie", an organization created in 1958 and nicknamed by some as the "French Commonwealth". 500,000 people living in non French-speaking countries worldwide take French classes each year. There are over 1000 Alliances Françaises (schools), 1010 Lycées Français (schools), 100 French Institutes (Cultural Centers), 170 Maisons Francaises (Cultural Centers at the embassies or local universities), most of them in non French speaking countries worldwide.

French is official language for diplomacy, the Olympic games, the E U, the U N, the OECD, the UNESCO, the International Communications Union, the World Trade Organization, the G8, the G20, and the African Union.

- Ecology & Environment

France is one the lowest emitters of carbon dioxide among all the industrialized countries, with Germany and after Finland. This position comes from 3 decades of advanced policy regarding the green house effects: wide use of nuclear energy, development of marine, solar, and wind energies, strong development of all public transportation systems, increase of the number of electric vehicles for public services, laws limiting CO2 emissions and noises from the industry and all vehicles, high taxes on gas and large private vehicles, increase of the number of forests, natural parks and pedestrian streets, development of bikes sharing systems "Velib" since 2008 and the "Autolib" automated electric car rental in main cities, support to organic food production, limitation of chemical use in agriculture, etc.

- Diplomacy and Military

France is founder member of the European Union and is accurately following all its treaties.  Its close cooperation with Germany have proved central to the economic integration of Europe, including the introduction of a common exchange currency in January 1999. The European Parliament is located in Strasbourg, France. France was participating into the IMF rescue plan of Greece with a loan of up to 35 billions euros in 2011.

France has strong ties with many European countries, as well as with most of its former colonies in Africa and Asia. The nation spends up to 1,5 billion euros each year in aid and cooperation with developing countries.

France has always been one of the closest allies to the USA (since 1776 for the American Revolution), despite its strong opposition to the Iraq war in 2005. French President Jacques Chirac was the first world leader to come to NYC, the day after the 9/11 attack. Even during the "Iraq war different", France and USA kept close relations, coordinating their foreign policies and still operating a bi-lateral anti-terrorist agency created in 2003 with headquarters in Paris.

France is deeply attached to the existence and security of the State of Israel, while strongly supporting the creation of an independent Palestinian state.

France, as one of the founders, has always been loyal to the Atlantic Alliance since its creation, but only rejoined NATO "Integrated Military Command" in 2010 after 44 years of self exile. Since the 70's, France has been one of the most active members, supplying troops under allied command in Bosnia, Ivory Coast, Kosovo, Lebanon, Rwanda, Afghanistan where it has suffered significant losses, and more recently in Mali. As of June 2013, it maintains 4000 troops in Afghanistan, 2000 in Mali, 400 in Ivory Coast, 800 in Djibouti, 1000 in Central Africa, 600 in Lebanon, and 250 in Montenegro and Croatia (Military police). France was first to send fighter jets then a Naval Air Force against Kadhafi's troops in April 2011. In 2013, France sent 4000 troops to Mali to fight Jihadists "occupants". As of in 2015, 3000 soldiers are still fighting Jihadists in northern Africa. 

Today, the French Nuclear Dissuasion Force (Made to dissuade any country in attacking France) includes 5 state-of-the-art nuclear SSBN submarines, each one carrying 16 long-range missiles with multi nuclear wareheads, 40 "Rafale" and "Mirage 2000" aircrafts with air ground tactical nuclear missiles, half of them aboard a nuclear aircraft carrier, and several mobile ground unites with short range nuclear and neutron missiles. All long-range SSBN missiles, originally implanted in the southern and south-western parts of the territory, have been dismantled in 2000. France keeps a total independence in the decision of using its nuclear weapons, even as a member of the NATO commandement.

The military conscription for all men, created under the revolution, was abrogated in 2000 and replaced by professional forces, including 300,000 men and women. France can put up to 500.000 soldiers in line under 1 month and near 1 million after 3 months. Also, along with Germany, as well as Belgium, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Spain, France created in 1990 a common force of 45,000 troops, the Eurocorp; it is a quick reaction force as first response to any menace toward a Union member or in case of a European crisis such as in Bosnia in the 90's. The Eurocorp headquarters are in a Strasbourg suburb. 

2 - FROM 15 000 BC TO 2015 AD   Pictures on the right side & at the bottom of the blog 

Mural paintings dated from 15 000 BC were found in the Lascaux Caves near Bordeaux. Around 6000 BC, Neolithic tribes appeared on central plains in what encompasses France today. Starting in 1200 BC, Celtic & Gaelic tribes settled in villages there and began farming. Six centuries later, the Greeks founded Nikki on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea; it became the city of Nice on the Riviera (Côte d'Azur); then the Phoceans established a port: Massilia - Marseille 50 miles away, today 2nd city of France and capital of Provence region. Around 140 BC, Romans invaded Western Europe, including a large territory they called Gallia Transalpina (or Gaul / France today). After Julius Caesar’s hard victory against the Arvern Gaelic chief Vercingetorix in 40 AD, Romans started building roads and cities (Arles, Nimes, etc.) in the annexed Gaul. Under the “Pax Romana”, Lugdunum (Lyon today) became the capital of Gaul while the city of Autun (in Burgundy today) was its cultural center. The occupants also gave the name "Lutetia" or Muddy to a camp established 300 years earlier one of the natural islands of the Seine River  (today Ile de la Cité) by the Celt tribe "Parisii". The Roman built houses, public baths and even an arena on the left bank, already transforming the camp into a small town. Tourists can still see them today.

At the beginning of the 4th century, the Franks, a blend of Germanic & Scandinavian tribes, progressively took over several Germanic western territories near the Rhine River, then northern Helvetia (Switzerland), Belgea (Belgium) and the northern part of Gaul. In 400 AD, the flourishing town of Lutetia received the name of Paris. Around 451, Attila and the Huns who occupied the eastern part of Europe, entered Gaul and established a siege of Paris; a 28-year old nun "Genevieve" called the Parisians to resist, showing the Huns that it was not worth the trouble. The Huns finally left, then had to face united Romans and Wisigoths who pushed them back to the east.  

In 481, a Frank chief, Clovis Ist, succeeded in uniting several northern Frank territories with other areas such as Aquitaine, Provence and the land of the Burgundians cousins, Burgundy. He kicked out the last Roman occupants, converted to Christianity and became the first King of France; he also made Paris capital of his kingdom. 250 years later, Charles Martel, another Frank chief, stopped the Moors who occupied Iberia (Spain) and were moving north into Francia through Aquitaine. He consolidated the Franc kingdom but was never considered as a real King. His grandson Charles Ist or Charlemagne, born Karl der Große in Frank Germania (Germany today), created the Holly Roman Empire expanding all over Western Europe and became Emperor in 790. He initiated the first dynasty of Frank / French kings: the Carolingians. At his death, one of his 3 sons, Charles le Chauve, kept Francia occidentalis, Burgundy, and Aquitaine as parts of the French kingdom and ordered the building of the Châtelet fortress on the left bank of Paris to protect the entrance of Ile de la Cité.

In 987, Hugues Capet added new territories to the French kingdom and founded the Capetian dynasty that remained in power for 812 years (until Louis XVI). His follower, King Philippe Ist, gave support to one of his vassals, Guillaume le Conquérant - William the Conqueror, Duke of Normandy, to invade England. William became the first Norman King of a united England in 1066. Then a French originated dynasty of Kings, the Plantagenet, took over later, explaining why English sovereigns and UK mottos are still in French today: "Dieu et Mon Droit" - “Honi soit qui mal y pense”. During this period, French “companions” started the building of Notre Dame Cathedral on Paris, Ile de la Cité, and the French pope Urbain II called for a crusade in Palestine, against the Ottomans. In 1129, French monks created the Templar Order (Ordre des Templiers) in the city of Troyes, Champagne; these knights were made to be the ultimate defenders of a pure Catholic religion worldwide. King Philippe Auguste was crowned in 1180. After having defeated the English troops in Flanders, he organized his beloved city, Paris, as it is today: the Left Bank for studies and entertainment, the Right Bank for commerce and residence, while the Ile de la Cité became a religious and administrative center: aside the cathedral and several chapels, the Palais (Palace) de la Cité was built as the 1st residence of the French kings; only the Conciergerie remains today. He also ordered the construction of the Louvre fortress (not yet a palace) and the pavement of Paris main streets.

King Louis IX, called Saint Louis as a crusader, ordered the building of Sainte Chapelle on Ile de la Cité in 1242, then another chapel in the Vincennes castle. He left for the 7th crusade in Egypt then later died in Tunis of illness in 1270. Philippe III aka Philippe le Hardi succeeded in 1271. Then his son Philippe le Bel was crowned at 17 in 1285. He enlarged the kingdom of France with Champagne and Navarre (in Spain), becoming the most powerful King in the world. Paris was then a small city surrounded by ramparts, with Ile de la Cité still the religious and administrative center, a rich residential area around the Louvre fortress, a poor “quartier” of wooden houses established on a swamp or the Marais, and several residential areas, schools, and parks on the Left bank around the Roman ruins. In 1305, French pope Clement V moved to the County of Avignon, refusing to reside in Rome. On the request of Philippe le Bel, he signed the order for eliminating the Knights Templar Order (born in France in 1129), on Friday the 13th of March, 1307; since then Friday the 13th stays as a bad luck day in Western countries! 

The 3 next French popes also resided in the city / county of Avignon. The Hundred-year war with England began in 1337 with Philippe de Valois. At that time, the Dukedom of Burgundy was growing as an independent entity, with 3 territories expanding from the Rhône Valley to Netherlands. Two decades later, King Philippe le Bon created the French Franc currency that will be used until 2001.

Charles V ascended power in 1364; as with other European sovereigns, he had to deal with the terrible Plague that killed half of the European population. He ordered the building of a large fortress to defend the east side of Paris: the Bastille.

His son Charles VI succeeded as a King in 1380. Because of his madness (he was nicknamed Le Fol - The crazy one) and of an alliance between England and Burgundy, he had to give half of the French territories including Paris to the English and to the Burgundy Dukes. His son, the young Dauphin Charles VII inherited the remains of the French kingdom mostly composed of the center regions. Not yet consacrated as a king, he was forced to reside in Bourges as his legitimity was also contested by several French lords. But Joan of Arc, a 17 year-old girl from the Lorraine region living near Orleans heard "Divine voices" and asked an audience to the Dauphin. She convinced him in giving her the lead of a "religious" army. After she united some former vassals of France, the troops of "La Pucelle" (maid girl) expelled the English from Orleans and the Burgundians from Paris in 1428 and 1429. Few days after Joan attended the royal consacration of Charles VII in Reims cathedral, Burgundy officers tricked and arrested her. She was judged by a religious council in Burgundy, then was "offered" to the English who put her at stake in Rouen in 1431. After England and Burgundy were pushed further out from France by Charles's troops, the Hundred-year war was declared over in 1453.

Several French kings followed, some of them dying from illness or accident after only few years or even few days; they were called Les Rois Maudits or “Damned Kings”. Louis XI, a bit luckier, received Burgundy in 1472 because the last Valois Duke didn’t have an heir before dying on a battlefield in Lorraine. But Louis XI was ignorant about finances and he brought the country near bankruptcy.

Francois the Ist reached the throne in 1515 and brought the kingdom back to a powerful position. He was considered as a great warrior and also an art lover: he conquered northern Italy fighting the “Saint League” European alliance, encouraged arts and the Renaissance in France, and gave Leonardo Da Vinci shelter in the Loire Valley. He ordered the building of Fontainebleau and Chambord castles, and made use of the fork compulsory in France (inspired from the Medici family). At that time, Jacques Cartier settled near the Saint Laurent in today Canada; several years later other French explorers moved into the northern then southern parts of the future USA giving the name of Vermont and Maine to 2 northern regions (future states) and creating the cities of Boise, Montpelier, Detroit (by Antoine de Cadillac), Des Moines, New Orleans, etc. The “Nouvelle France” was born, covering 1/3 of the USA and the whole Canada today. In 1560, the Catholic Catherine de Medicis, regent of France, ordered the massacre of all Protestants during the Saint Bartholomew night; many Protestants “Huguenots” escaped to Belgium, Switzerland, and Germany. 2 years later, a French doctor, Amboise Paré, succeeded in ligaturing blood vessels. The Huguenot Henry IV of Bourbon converted to Catholicism to attain the throne in 1589. He becomes the “bon roi” - good king of France: he reduced taxes and made sure that every Frenchman got at least a large meal every Sunday. He also published the “Edit of Nantes” that allowed freedom of religion in France. Ravaillac, a Catholic fanatic, assassinated him. That year, the French mathematician François Viète introduced Algebra to the world.

The 17th century was called “Le grand siècle” - grand century; French mathematicians, writers, philosophers were numerous: Blaise Pascal suggested the logic reasoning in Mathematics and invented the calculator, while Corneille, Jean de la Fontaine, Molière, Racine, published philosophic essays and plays. The Parisian doctor Jean-Baptiste Denis proceeded with the first blood transfusion. The French population was then estimated to be 23 million.

The very young King Louis XIII chose the Cardinal de Richelieu as “Prime councilor”. The ambitious Cardinal put all affairs in his hands: he created his own regiment rival to the famous King’s Musketeers, won several wars making France the world superpower; he established the Sorbonne University in a quarter of the Paris Left Bank in 1642. This quarter including several universities and schools was later nicknamed "Latin Quarter" because Latin was still used for teaching in the universities. After few years, several French Lords revolted against the too heavy tax rate but the Cardinal succeeded in "eliminating" the opposition. The following years the King court began playing a new game called “Jeu de Paume” which became later the Tennis game. The first mailboxes appeared in the street inspired by a project of Jean Jacques Renouard de Villayer. A couple of years later, the engineer Denis Papin invented the first steam-working machine and the monk Dom Pierre Perignon found a way to produce the Champagne wine in series from a simple sparkling wine. 

The son of Louis XIII, Louis Dieudonné Capet, was 7 years old when he reached the throne in 1643 as Louis XIV. His tutor councilor, Cardinal Mazarin, immediately cancelled Henry IV “Edit de Nantes”, making France a 100 % catholic nation, nicknamed “the Eldest Daughter of the Vatican”. Louis XIV began managing the kingdom on his own at age 17. He spent the kingdom’s finances without restrain: he went to war with several European nations, ordered the construction of castles including the Versailles palace, invited hundreds of aristocrats to attend sumptuous parties in the gigantic palace served by 9,000 employees residents, etc. Despite his new councilor Colbert established a market economy, poverty was expanding and several riots burst in the streets of Paris; then later several vassals of France lead by the Duke of Condé began a non-violent revolt - La Fronde - refusing to pay the crushing taxes growing bigger each year. His father, Louis XIII, had to deal with the same situation and as for his father, the “Sun King” quickly annihilated the revolts. Despite his desire to create an empire, Louis XIV gave up sending troops to Nouvelle France, the huge French territory in North America, “only few acres of snow” as it was described in France. English troops quickly growing in number, finally gained control of most of the Canada and of eastern lands of the future USA. France kept the Louisiana territory, which was then expanding from Canada to the south along the Mississippi River. 2 good points though in the 73-year reign of Louis XIV: he ordered the building of the world first free public hospital and the establishement of the Metric System. Despite France bad economy and weakening geo-politic situation, the 18th century was called “Siècle des Lumières” - Century of the Lights (lights stands for spirits) - and Paris was nicknamed “The City of Lights” (Lights = Grand Spirits). Numerous French writers and philosophers were recognized worldwide: Montesquieu, Voltaire, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, as well as Diderot who worked on the first  Large Illustrated "Dictionary" with several volumes, years before the British published the Encyclopedia. Painters such as David, Fragonard were celebrated while a mathematician rationalist and philosopher, Descartes, initiated the “Cartesian reasoning” with thesis, antithesis and synthesis. Claude Jouffroy d'Abbans presented his revolutionary Steamboat to the public and the Montgolfier brothers were first in the air with dogs and goats aboard their hot air balloon “la Montgolfière”. 

Louis XV, great grandson of Louis XIV inherited the throne of France in 1715. Originally, Louis XIV had 3 sons: his eldest son, Duke of Burgundy and legitimate heir, had 2 sons at his turn. But the Duke of Burgundy and his eldest son passed away, therefore his great grand-son Louis-Auguste became the "Dauphin". Louis XV was considered as a good and effective sovereign at the beginning of his reign. His “premier” councilor, Cardinal Fleury, progressively brought back France to recover and again as the most powerful nation in the world. National highways and bridges were built all over the country, and researchers were encouraged: Charles de la Condamine discovered rubber, Nicolas Cugnot drove his steam propelled Fardier, the first “auto-mobile”, and Parisians rode the first bicycles or “Draisiennes”. But the love affair of Louis XV with "Madame Du Barry”, a former prostitute, destroyed his reputation. Also, the European economy was again degrading fast and France couldn’t avoid the crisis. Louis died of smallpox, alone in Versailles.  

Because the son of Louis XV died at age 36, it is his grandson who became king. Already married to the Austrian Princess Maria Antonia Von Habsbourg Lothringen or Marie Antoinette, the young Louis XVI was crowned in 1774, the same year as the French company Javel invented the Bleach or "Eau de Javel".  Louis XVI did not like too much politics and preferred locks and hunting. The European economy was then in agony and the French people were starving again. At that time, the King’s National Assembly, composed of 3 groups, was supposed to represent all the French but only the aristocracy and the clergy had power of vote; the “Tiers Etat”, the people representatives group, repeatedly asked for reforms but Louis XVI made only few minor concessions. Outraged, the Tiers Etat finally decided to create his own assembly, during a meeting at the Jeu de Paume building, near the Louvre. In spite of this hectic situation and under the advice of the Minister Comte de Vergennes, Louis XVI sent money and guns to the American revolutionary troops of Georges Washington whose best friend was the Marquis de Lafayette, already on his side. Few months later, Rochambaut troops and De Grasse fleet participated into the decisive battle of Yorktown, opening the way to the creation of independent United States of America. At that time also, the city of Limoges launched the first public carriage, the “Limousine”. Revolted bourgeois including members (not famous yet) such as Danton, Robespierre, Saint Just, etc, started planning the creation an independent popular assembly, the Constituante. They were supported by the “Petite noblesse”, provincial aristocrats who didn’t have access to the King’s court. The goal was to promulgate a Constitution, the first Republic, and to reform the country. The Départements - kind of mini states of France were created. The Parisians feeling very few effects from the reforms stormed the Bastille, July 14, 1789. One year later, the Constituante assembly published the “Déclaration des Droits de l’Homme” - Bill of rights, inspired from Jean-Jacques Rousseau's "Social Contract" and "Discourse on inequality". The king was then deposed. All European monarchies that wanted to reestablish Louis XVI power, supported Prussia to invade France. Following the creation of the National Conscription (that lasted until the year 2000), an army was raised to defend the young French Republic; one of the soldiers walking from Marseille to the battle fields wrote a war song that became later the French national anthem under the name of “Marseillaise”. Few months after the united European armies were defeated in Valmy by the French troops, Louis XVI was called in front of a popular tribunal under his simple name of Louis Capet and was quickly judged. He was beheaded - guillotiné - on January 21, 1793. The same year, the tricolor French flag replaced the King’s white flag for the first time; it was inspired from an idea by Lafayette when he was Commander of a Paris Guard regiment before the Revolution: he wore an insignia with the King’s white color surrounded by the blue and red colors of the city of Paris.

The revolutionary leader Robespierre, considering that there was a risk of counter revolution, “decreed” the Terror Period that lasted 3 years. His former allies including his friend Danton, and a thousand of people were beheaded without real trial; most of them were not aristocrats. Despite the turmoil, in 1795, Claude Chappe tested the first Telegraph system and Nicolas Conté invented the first “crayon” - pencil, few months later. Finally, the excess of the Terror Period played against Robespierre: nicknamed the “Enragé”, he was “guillotiné”. This is the time were the first painting exhibit “Salon” was open to public inside the Louvre Palace. In 1797, Jacques Guernerin invented something we didn't need yet at that time: the Parachute.

Several unstable so-called “Directoires”, governments made of several "Directors", followed without real success in reforming the country. On his return from a military campaign outside France, a young and successful general, Napoléon Bonaparte born in Corsica (recently bought by France to Genoa), got involved in politics. The French people discovered the “little general” and fell in love with him. With the help of Barras then of his brother, both politically involved and using political strategies and alliances, Napoléon succeeded in becoming Director, then named himself Consul of France in 1799. He modified the French political system and married the rich widow Josephine de Beauharnais. With his “Grand Armée” of volunteers, Napoléon won several more battles such as Austerlitz against Austria, Russia, Prussia, and English batallions, and started to reorganize France. In 1804, Napoléon named himself Emperor of France, “Napoleon I le Grand”. The same year, an engineer of Lyon, Joseph Jaquard, invented a revolutionary mechanical loom for textile that is still used today. Under the First Empire, the French population reached 30 millions while Jacques Seguin and Armand Courtois invented the Morphin. Napoléon divorced from Josephine in 1809 and married the niece of Marie Antoinette, Marie Louise d’Autriche. They had one son, “l’Aiglon” - little eagle. Besides his military strategy skills, Napoleon was good in developing the country: he created a Civil code of laws (still in use in France, several countries and in the State of Louisiana), the Bank of France, the French Stock Market "La Bourse", the Legion of Honor state reward, and expanded France power over the world. However, the Emperor made 2 very serious mistakes: he didn't refrain his war spendings and had to sell the Louisiana territory to the United States: a huge piece of France was lost. Also Napoléon dreamt of a united Europe with one currency from France to Russia: after several more victories against world powers, he decided to invade Russia, its former ally. Because of the hard winter and the lack of food, half of his army disappeared after reaching Moscow suburbs; his campaign was a total fiasco. The allied powers arrested Napoleon on his way back in 1814 and deported him on the Island of Elba. The younger brother of Louis XVI, Louis XVIII became King of France. That same year, the French doctor René Laenec invented the Stethoscope. One year later, Napoléon escaped from Elba and came back to power, acclaimed by the French people. Nicephor Niepce was also celebrated for inventing the Photography. 100 days after Napoleon's return, he was again defeated by an alliance of 4 monarchies in Waterloo; it is said that Napoléon was sick with an ulcer (also explaining why he was often seen putting his left hand in his uniform) and showed up late on the battlefield. Prisoner on the British Island of Saint Helena, Napoleon died of a stomach cancer in May 1821 (Was it really a cancer or poison?). His corps was later brought back to France and buried at the Invalides church during national funerals. Louis XVIII came back to power while victorious nations redistributed the world geography. 2 more kings followed until the Second Republic is established in. At that time, Victor Hugo published “Notre Dame de Paris” (Hunchback of N D) and began to work on “Les Misérables”, Antoine Bequerel discovered the Photovoltaic Effect (Solar energy on plants), Louis Braille created his blind reading system, Bathélémy Thimonnier invented the Sewing machine, Léon Foucault presented its Gyroscope, and Gwenael Hennebique invented the Iron reinforced Concrete.

In 1848, Louis Napoléon, grandnephew of Napoléon Bonaparte, is elected President of the Republic. In 1849, after having proclaimed himself Emperor Napoléon III, he created the Second Empire. That year, Jules Vernes was writing his “20 000 leagues under the Sea” in Nantes, the Baron Haussmann was enlarging the streets of Paris, and Désiré Martin presented his Compressed Air Brake.  Napoleon III began sending more and more French troops in African and Asian countries to establish colonies while the Kaiser of Prussia, Bismarck, who always considered Alsace & Lorraine regions as German, prepared his troops for war in Europe. Eventually, the Prussian leader took the opportunity to provoke Napoléon III: Germany claimed that a German will be successor to the late King of Spain. Impetuously, Napoléon III declared war to Prussia: it was a mistake considering the unprepared and too small number of French troops available; the Emperor was captured in Sedan in 1870 while visiting his troops. As Edouart Robert just invented the Baby bottle, the German-Prussian troops occupied the north east part of France until the temporary French government of the Third republic signed a treaty giving Alsace & Lorraine to Germany. Outraged by such a mess and starving to death, the people of Paris revolted, menacing to create an independent Republic of Paris; the “Commune of Paris” movement was violently repressed by French police and troops. After that drama, the German-Prussian troops began to leave France; the price? Alsace Lorraine were now German. Despite all that mess, during the 1878 International Fair of Paris, people can enjoy the first Electric public lighting in some of Paris streets and Doctor Jean-Martin Charcot was developping the new Neurology method, the Hypnosis curative process and demonstrating that Hysteria is a neurological desorder. 

During the next 30 years, a succession of efficient governments progressively brought the nation back on track. Starting around 1880, discoveries and inventions were prolific in a reborn France: Louis Pasteur discovered the Rabies vaccine and the Pasteurization, the Lumière brothers presented the first Cinematographer or moving projector, Clément Ader was first in flight on his Eole plane (the Wright Brothers flew 9 years later), Gustave Eiffel built the Eiffel Tower, Édouard Michelin invented the first Dismountable Tire with air chamber, Jean-Baptiste Jolly discovered the Dry Cleaning process, and the Statue of Liberty of Bartholdi and Eiffel was offered to the USA. French painters were universally recognized and a new current appeared: the Impressionism by Boudin, Monet, and Manet. Few years later, Louis Blériot flew over the Channel aboard his plane, Maurice Léger invented the first flying helicopter and René Lorin experimented the first Jet Propulsion Engine in his workshop. The Baron Pierre de Coubertin suggested the modern Olympic Games in 1896. In 1896, Louis Renault designed the first Jointed Driveshaft, a Three-speed Gearbox in Direct drive the first, then in 1902  the first "moteur a sur-alimentation compressée" or compressed air sent by fan into an engine; although it was never called Turbo and never patented, it can be considered as the first Turbo compressor. That year also, Georges Méliès made the first Sci-fi movie with special effects "Voyage sur la Lune" or Travel on the Moon.

Montparnasse quarter in Paris was a world cultural center for young creators, writers, and artists such as Breton, Chagall, Cocteau, Laurencin, Satie, Douanier Rousseau, etc. Gaston Leroux published his Fantôme of the Opéra at that time. another French inventor had a luminous idea: the Néon light. Unfortunately, the crime rate increased so much in the capital that the Parisian police brigads got the world first police cars with radio and their Police department used the wolrd first Mug Shots.

The assassination of the Archduke of Austria caused World War 1 to erupt in 1914. This time France was ready and all French were anger to fight: "Germans will not keep Alsace Lorraine!". French Marshal Foch gave the word: "Rather die than give up!" Out of a population of 39 million, 6 million French soldiers were put in line against 8 million Germans, from a population of 59 million. UK sent 2,3 million men within the next 12 months and USA started sending troops in 1916, reaching 1 million in 1918. The “Great War” was actually a butchery: only for the soldiers, 1.5 million French, 1 million British, and 200,000 Americans died on the battle fields, as well as 2 million Germans, 1 million Austrians, Bulgarians, and Turkish for the other side. Only during the 6-month Battle of Verdun, more than 400 000 men died, 300 000 were seriously injured, and 5-million tons of shells were shot.  Finally, after a bloody counter attack led by French troops, Germany capitulated to allied supreme commander French Marshal Foch in 1918. Alsace and Lorraine returned to France, a heavy war financial "penalty" was imposed to Germany, and French troops would occupy the German regions of Ruhr and Saarland for the next 15 years. The toll was heavy: 2 French generations had been eradicated: beside 1.5 million dead, 3 million men between age of 18 and 40 were seriously handicapped and the French economy was destroyed. France never found the bodies of 100,000 of its soldiers: buried in small pieces or evaporated with explosions!

For the next 20 years, the French rebuilt their nation, claiming Never that again! “Les Années folles” or Crazy years went on until 1930, with a blending of arts such as dance, painting, singing, etc. Marie & Pierre Curie invented the X rays in 1933, while the first TV emission was transmitted from the Eiffel Tower and the French company Zodiac launched its revolutionary inflatable boat.

In 1936, the Front Populaire, an alliance of left political parties, won the elections and gave Saturdays off and 1 week paid vacation to French workers for the first time ever. Gilbert Trigano saw an opportunity for a new way to spend vacation in a club: the Club Med was born. French troops were removed from the Ruhr; instead, the Maginot defense line was built along the French German frontier (it was more an "Imaginary" defense line). In 1937, the Nazi party won German elections; Hitler boosted the economy and rearmed Germany then he declared the “Anschluss”, the union of Germany and Austria. Following a visit by both British and French Primes in Munich, UK Sir Chamberlain described Hitler as “a gentleman”; few months later the Nazis invaded Poland. UK and France declared war to Germany. After 6 months of "observation" between French and Germans troops along the Rhine River, the modern German armies passed through Belgium (as usual) in just 40 hours, thanks to the King of Belgium who suddenly decreed neutrality. The bulk of the French troops was too far away on the east and the French commandment mostly included old WW1 high-ranked officers didn't believe in tanks and planes: the Nazis invaded the north part of France in few days, kicking back to the sea 2 Canadian-English divisions near Dunkerque. The members of the French Government had to move to Bordeaux, then later, as Hitler was "visiting" Paris, they  left for England. Among them was the general Charles De Gaulle, one of the rare top officers asking for larger real tanks divisions since 1934 and who succeeded in stopping a Panzer Division with his small regiment of 25 Renault tanks few months earlier. Nominated General and Vice Minister of War in June 1940 (too late), De Gaulle broadcasted a radio message from London, calling French to resist (FFI) or to join his Free French Force (FFF) in England. The F F F later took part in several battles in Afrika. Then came the worst most shameful period in the whole history of France: the so-called Government of Vichy lead by the old and  senile Marshall Petain (one of the victorious officers of 1918) collaborated with the Nazi occupants and helped to deport several thousands of French, mostly Jews.

On June 6, 1944, American, English, and Canadian troops invaded Normandy. 75 000 young men and women of his Free French Force were part of the invasion. Among them, the French commandos "Kieffer" were in the first wave and in only 7 hours could free the coastal city of Ouistream heavily defended by German troops, on June 7, 1944.  De Gaulle landed 2 days later; he was told that Hitler, furious about the invasion, gave order to raze  the "Gross Paris". De Gaulle immediately sent the young and valliant General Leclerc (the "French Patton") and his all French 2nd Blinded Division to liberate Paris "as fast as possible". The general freed the capital on August 25, 1944, only 2 months after the invasion began. The fact that Paris was still standing is partly due to the German Commander of Paris, Von Choltitz, who didn't obey Hitler's order to destroy the city. (Note from TBI: Von Choltitz should have a statue in Paris!).   

As the liberation was celebrated in Paris, Louis Breart had the audacity to launch the revolutionary Bikini. General De Gaulle took power and started rebuilding a destroyed and ashamed country, but he dismissed 16 months later to oppose an attempt by the left parties to regain power through the National Assembly. At that time, a conflit is expanding in the French colonies of Indochina: General Ho Chi Minh supported by Communist China and Soviet Union declared the independence of the state of Viet Nam. France sent troops and temporarely got back the territory into the French Republic. In Europe, in 1951, just after George Bidault's government created the "SMIG" (national mininum wage per hour), France and Germany signed the “Coal and Iron Agreement”, the foundation of the Common Market. 7 years later, the European Economic Community including 6 European states is created.

In 1954, after several weeks of valliant combats, 8000 French soldiers surrounded by 20 000 Chinese & Viet Minh troops shot their very last bullet: Dien Bien Phu battle was the end of French Indochina and the beginning of the bloody Vietnam war for the Americans. During this hectic period, Professeur Pierre Lépine discovered the Vaccine against Poliomyelitis, Georges Charpark created the first Particule Detector, and Pierre Boulle went on writing 2 of his novels: "The Bridge of River Kwai" and "The Planet of the Apes".

As the War of Algeria was at its worst, De Gaulle is called back to power in 1958 and Pierre Biche launched his famous BIC Company. The "General" decreeted the 5th Republic with a new Constitution including, among other changes, the Universal Election of both the President and the National Assembly. In 1962, he decided to give independence to Algeria, an act that convinced several French top military officers to "eliminate" De Gaulle; several bullets missed the President by an inch at the Petit Clamart plaza near Paris.  In 1963, worried of being forced into a war between USSR and the US, De Gaulle decided to withdraw France from NATO Integrated Military Command, staying however full member of the Atlantic Alliance. He wanted his nation, now equipped with atomic weapons, to stay neutral during the Cold War. Despite a fast economic growth, several groups of students organized protests and seating in French universities and the Communist and left parties called for national strikes in public and private sectors. In May 1968, violent riots burst in Paris: some said that this mini revolution was partly supported by the Soviet Union, in a plan to disorganize Western Europe. Because of non-stop riots in several large cities of France, the “General” went in Germany beginning of June 1968 and met with his loyal friend General Massu, Commander in chief of the French professional troops. He reappeared on the French TV few days later and announced his attention to reestablish order - was he ready to use military force? - as well as to reform the French institutions. 16 months later, a certain political instability was persisting but the polls showed a large support to the President. Confident, De Gaulle organized a referendum but surprisingly the ”non” won and he resigned one week later.

His Prime Minister, George Pompidou, won the presidential elections few months later. The discreet President did a great job: he calmed the opposition, boosted the economy, initiated Airbus, the TGV bullet trains, supported artists, etc., but he died of cancer at the end of his mandate. His wife Claude later largely participated in creating artistic and cultural associations and events. In 1970, French engineer Robert Carriere with his invention the "Digicode" or Digital Code, gave access to a new generation of transmission worldwide.

Valerie Giscard d’Estaing, a young centrist born in Germany (Koblenz), won the 1974 Presidential elections and brought the French economy close to the German one. He lowered the age for voting from 21 to 18 years, made abortion legal and free for all women and launched several important reforms of the Constitution. He also sent French troops to freed Kolwezi region  of Congo invaded by Katangese mercenaries supported by Soviet officers. Giscard strongly supported the Common Market or European Economic Community that was growing fast, thanks to the French German “locomotive”; more countries became members during the next 4 years. But the 1st “Oil chock” slowed down the world economy.

In 1979, a French engineer, Roland Moreno invented the memory microchip for credit cards or "Smart Card" today widely used in Europe. That year also, France Telecom launched its high-speed connection mini terminals “Minitel" that ware used for reservations, phone numbers search and chats (in "salons"): the ancestor of the Internet. Unfortunately, the state owned company never made any effort to export its revolutionnary system! The Internet was launched 5 years later in California. Also that year, a group of French doctors and reporters created "Medecins sans Frontiere" or Doctors without Borders.

Despite the economic successes of V G E (as the French nicknamed him), Giscard d'Estaing didn't seem really present in the 2-candidate debate for the 1981 Presidential election; actually, a self biography revealed later that VGE didn't really want a second mandate. The socialist François Mitterrand, allied to the Communist party, won the 1981 Presidential election. Some journalists didn't miss to mention that he served under the Vichy government in 1941; he was a mid-level functionary. He was also Justice Minister in 1956, expanding the Martial Law in Algeria and sending troops in the revolted colony. His 1981 presidential program promised real changes for the nation but did not bring the expected results: unemployment rose quickly and poverty increased. At that time, the European Economic Community with 15 members became “European Union”.

In 1985, a stunning discover gave hope to millions people affected by a terrible illness, originally called Immunodeficiency: French Professor Luc Montagnier of Pasteur Institute isolated the AIDS Virus. Despite a (false) claim from one of his American colleagues, Montagnier was finally awarded the discover and received the Nobel Prize in Medecine. Curiously, there was no Nobel Prize for Etienne-Emile Beaulieu who invented the Abortive Pill in 1988.

Mitterrand was reelected in 1988 with only a margin of 85 000 votes out of 29 million over the other candidate Jacques Chirac. In 1990, as the Gulf War was declared, the French President gave order to 12,000 French soldiers to participate to the invasion. The French troops had to halt their advance after only 5 days of war because they were going too fast and didn't know what to do with 4700 Iraq prisonners.  In 1995, Francois Mitterrand officially announced he had a natural child (Mazarine) with his mistress in 1973. French media largely covered the announcement but his wife Danielle and the French people didn't seem really shocked.

The conservative Jacques Chirac was elected in 1995, while the French company Fagor invented the first multi sensitive screen for cell phones. One year later, Frenchmen David Belle et Sébastien Foucan created a new "art sport": the "Parkour"; Inspired from the military training obstacle race invented in 1902 by the Officer Georges Hébert, it is an acrobatic running among any kind of obstacles. Foucan did a demonstation of Parkour in the James Bond movie Casino Royale.

After the Euro Zone was created with 14 member states, the Euro currency was introduced in 2001 while the European Union welcomed 10 new members states, becoming an entity of 495 millions inhabitants and 27 states; the dream of Charlemagne, Napoléon and De Gaulle became reality and the world first economy.

The President Chirac was the first world leader to be on the site of 9/11, the day after the terrorist attack.

Jacques Chirac was reelected in 2002. He strongly opposed G. W. Bush on the Iraq War in 2005, arguying it was not a UN legitimate action, that most data and information were false, and that the invasion would destabilize the region and give a free ride to Iran and Hezbollah. The world now knows who was right! In 2006, Chirac called the "Parlement"  (National Assembly & Senate) for modifying the Constitution to reduce the mandat of the President from 7 to 5 years. Jacques Chirac was summoned by a judge for a serious "financial affair" dating from the time he was Mayor of Paris; but he could not be officially incriminated as the President of the Republic.

In 2007, Nicolas Sarkozy, born Sarközy de Nagy-Bocsa, aged 51, whose mother had Greek Jewish origins and father was Hungarian, was elected President. He was the first French President born after World War II and son of an immigrant. There are few information about his University degrees, a MA in French Laws and MAS in Business. His campaign announced deep reforms in many fields. After he divorced his first wife Cecilia, he married Carla Bruni, Italian actress, model and singer who always lived in France. "Sarko", as the French called him, a determined and energetic leader, acted promptly on his own, supervizing everything. Some considered him as too "Mediatic", too "unilateralist" and he was also seriously criticized for his cordial meeting with the G. W. Bush, probably the most hated US President by the French. In 2008, President Sarkozy increased the number of French troops in Afghanistan to 4000, then invited Muammar Kadafi in Paris for Bastille Day ("le 14 juillet"). During the 2008 economic crisis, he called the USA and for increasing financial laws that would prevent another disaster in the future. At that time, France weathered the global economic crisis better than the USA because of the resilience of domestic consumer spending (Source: IMF). In 2010, the French President brought France back into NATO Integrated Military Command. The same year, as mentioned during his campaign in 2007, N. S. raised the retirement age to 62 with 100% of benefits only payable at 67, risking a hard confrontation with French Trade Unions. In 2011, President Sarkozy gave orders to French troops to "isolate" Ivory Coast President Gbagbo who ignored the results of democratic elections in his country. Sarkozy was also the first leader to send fighter jets over Libya to bomb Kadafi's military vehicles and was the first  to meet with Libyan representatives of the opposition force. The same year, the financial involvement of France into the Greek economic crisis with a 35-billion euro loan through the IMF resulted in a lowering of its credit rating from AAA to AA+. This bad rating of France came only few months after the US faced the same "punishment". While keeping its rank of 5th wealthiest country, France had to deal with a world economic slowdown and important deficit. Still, the French-German tandem was more than ever a reality with the "Merkozy" (Merkel - Sarkozy) politicies. But the necessary reforms and efforts to reduce the budget deficit, along other "policy excesses" worked against the French President. In September 2012, the Prime Minister François Fillon announced that France has to cut its yearly public spending for a total of 40 billion Euros (45 billion Dollars), near the amount of Sarkozy loan to Greece in 2011. Besides, the fact that 5 of the most important "clients" of France (Italy, Spain, Portugal, Greece, Ireland) were all in an economic distress didn't help the French exportation sector, creating a serious deficit. 

In May 2012, the Socialist candidate François Hollande was elected President of the French Republic with 51.5 % of the votes.  Aged 57, with a degree from ENA (Ecole Nationale d'Administration) the new President said of himself as "a normal President" (opposed to the mediatic Sarkozy). Former companion of Segolene Royal (moderate Socialist candidate to the Presidency in 2007), F H is a Socialist positionned to the center left of his party. His program, presented only 2 months before the elections, was scaring financial institutions but satisfied a certain number of French who probably didn't realize that obligation in reducing the deficit was coming with harsh austerity measures! Actually, the President of France doesn't have too much margin for decision regarding the deficit because of the European Union and the Eurozone... Here are F H most important propositions of his program:  

- Return to a deficit of 0% of GDP in 2017.

- Reduction of the unemployment to 8 %

- Aims to conclude a new contract of Franco-German partnership. Proposes closer Franco-German partnership: "an acceleration of the establishment of a Franco-German civic service, the creation of a Franco-German research office, the creation of a Franco-German industrial fund to finance common competitiveness clusters (transport, energy or environment) and the establishment of a larger common military headquarters (created in 2010).

- Financial System: backs the creation of a European rating agency and the separation of lending and investment in banks.

- Energy: endorses reducing the share of nuclear power in electricity generation from 75 to 50% in favor of renewable energy sources such as solar and wind ones.

- Taxation: supports the merger of income tax and the General Social Contribution (CSG), the creation of an additional 45% for additional income of 150,000 euros, capping tax loopholes at a maximum of €10,000 per year, and questioning the relief solidarity tax on wealth (ISF, Impôt de Solidarité sur la Fortune) measure that should bring €29 billion in additional revenue.

- Foreign policy: supports the withdrawal of French troops present in Afghanistan by the end of 2012.

- Education: supports the recruitment of 60,000 new teachers, the creation of a study allowance and means-tested training, setting up a mutually beneficial contract that would allow a generation of experienced employees and craftsmen to be the guardians and teachers of younger newly-hired employees, thereby creating a total of 150,000 subsidized jobs.

- Aid to SME's (small and medium size corporate's), with the creation of a public bank investment-oriented SME's and reducing the corporate tax rate to 30% for medium corporations and 15% for small.

- Recruitment of 5,000 judges, police officers and gendarmes.

- Construction of 500,000 homes per year, including 150,000 social, funded by a doubling of the ceiling of the A passbook, the State making available its local government land within five years.

- Restoration of retirement at age 60 for those who have tax contributed more than 41 years (which means that very few French will actually get any retirement benefits before age 65, as under Sarkozy's law)

- Hollande supported same-sex marriage and adoption for LGBT couples, and has plans to pursue the issue in early 2013.

- The provision of development funds for deprived suburbs.

- Wants to "combine the positions of presidents of the European Commission and of the European Council (currently held by José Manuel Barroso and Herman van Rompuy respectively) into a single office and that it should be directly chosen" by the Members of the European Parliament.

In January 2013, surprising everyone, F H decided to send 4000 troops in Mali answering the request of the Malian government, to fight away Islamist militants / terrorists who occupied the whole northern part of the country. In few weeks, the French troops regained most of the territory. Despite this act of "courage", F H is considered by a majority of French as a too "soft" President.

As of March 2013, President Holland is dealing with a serious economic crisis including a high unemployment and a big budget deficit. He had one of the lowest popularity rate for a French President after only 1 year at the Elysee Palace. His incoherant 75% tax law for the highest incomes was not accepted by the Constitutional Council, but still made some famous French people to run away: Actor Gerard Depardieu took the Russian citizenship while the French richest man (world 4th fortune) was expected to move to Belgium (But he didn't do it). Taxes are necessary but they should not be "punishments"... Was it really smart to scare foreign investors and to make French  & foreign money being invested elsewhere? Rich people in a rich country gives more job to workers!

Finally, as of April 2014, President Hollande switched to more "Liberal" policies: his new Prime Minister Manuel Walls (Born in Barcelona) announced a decrease of Corporate Taxes, a lowering of the number of Public workers, and a reduction of $50 billions Euro in the Public Deficit of France... On the right track?

On Wednesday January 7th, 2015, 2 terrorists attacked the headquarters of the satiric magazine Charlie Hebdo killing 12 people, including 3 famous journalists and 2 policemen (one of them Muslim). The day after, as French police was cornering the terrorists, another man attacked a Kosher supermarket, assassinated 4 Jewish people and took several hostages. In both cases, the French Swat teams killed the terrorists in the next hours. This has been a shock for people around the world and for French people who reacted by uniting and claiming "Je suis Charlie", as for defending the right of expression and refusing Terrorism. There are now 2 main questions: How humanity will deal with these dangerous fanatics that are active in several regions of the world? Will the Front National, a French far right party who gained recognition in late elections, take profit of this dramatic situation by winning the French Presidential election? And there is  an other serious issue: how to efficiently protect Jewish and Muslim people of Western Europe who are too often the innocent targets of fanatic ideas?

3 - PICTURES    BELOW & ON THE RIGHT SIDE