WELOME TO FRANCE

DESCRIPTION

As early as 1000 BC much of this fertile land now called France was occupied by the Celtic Gauls. The powerful Romans arrived, defeated the Gauls by 52 BC, and subsequently Rome ruled for almost 500 years. As the Roman Empire faded, France was overrun by a series of barbarian invaders and shattered into varied factions. The name France is from the Latin word 'Francia' meaning (country of the Franks), a Germanic people who conquered the area during the 5th century. Political fragmentation, wars and countless self-serving rulers followed, and by the end of the 8th century the population of Gaul diminished as its countryside was in ruins and commerce was almost non-existent. In 987, Hugh Capet was chosen by the remaining nobles as king, and the Capetian Dynasty began its 800 year rule from Paris. This marked the birth of France as a separate kingdom, and a long list of kings would soon assume the throne; some good, some not so good. As the influence of the 'King du Jour' expanded outward from Paris, rural towns grew in population, cultural activities returned, and the prestige of France reached across Europe. This brought the inevitable conflicts with others, and especially with England. The Hundred Years' War (actually 116 years) between England and France was a bloody affair, and at its end the English were finally vanquished from the land, and the heroic feats of Joan of Arc (and others) memorialized in the history of France for all time. Religious conflicts and civil wars continued, and then in 1643, Louis XIV assumed the throne.

Religons-

Roman Catholic- 83%-88%

Exchange rate-

1 euro=1.3607 U.S. dollars

three words in english that comes from france

1) beef

2)toast

3)gentle

transportaion in france-

-buses

-motorcycles

-cars

five common phrases-

bonjeure- hello
aurevnir- good-bye
comprenez-vousanglous- do you speak english?
pouvez-vous- can you help me, please
c'estcombien- how much does it cost

Language spoken in country-

FRENCH!!!

Items to bring-

Wheeled-backpacks
five language translater
comfortable shoes
batteries
camera

map of france
unbrella

Natural Wonders to visit-

Senine river
Alps
The great european plain

MONUMENTS-

Effiel tower-paris
opera-paris
Pere Lachaise-paris
Arc de Triomphe-paris
Notre Dame- paris
Cathedral-paris

WHAT TO WEAR!!!

in france you need to wear-

summer-
pullovers and tee shirts

fall & spring-
raincoat and thick jumpers

Winter-
overcoat and socks/

How do you introuduce yourself?

EASY!!!

my name is - Jem'appelle

Geography-

France is about 80% the size of Texas. In the Alps near the Italian and Swiss borders is western Europe's highest point—Mont Blanc (15,781 ft; 4,810 m). The forest-covered Vosges Mountains are in the northeast, and the Pyrénées are along the Spanish border. Except for extreme northern France, the country may be described as four river basins and a plateau. Three of the streams flow west—the Seine into the English Channel, the Loire into the Atlantic, and the Garonne into the Bay of Biscay. The Rhône flows south into the Mediterranean. For about 100 mi (161 km), the Rhine is France's eastern border. In the Mediterranean, about 115 mi (185 km) east-southeast of Nice, is the island of Corsica (3,367 sq mi; 8,721 sq km).

FLIGHT PLAN

http://msntravel.expedia.com/pub/agent.dll?tovr=-1294677295

TAKING A TOUR


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ITbdql7ixp0

paris

PARIS

paris

Map of France