Examen civique naturalisation: all 259 official questions with answers

The first verse of La Marseillaise begins: “Allons enfants de la Patrie, le jour de gloire est arrivé!”. Written by Rouget de Lisle in 1792, it is the national anthem (Article 2 of the Constitution).

An employer may only ask questions related to skills and the job. Asking about religion, political opinions or plans to have children is discrimination prohibited by law (Labour Code, Penal Code).

Every year, anyone who has income and lives in France must declare it to the tax authorities, even if no tax is due. Failing to declare or making a false declaration is penalised.

Article 13 of the 1789 Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen states that the common contribution is shared among all citizens according to their means. Taxes pay for schools, health, security, roads, etc.

The law of 1 July 1901 allows everyone to create or join an association freely, without prior authorisation. The Constitutional Council recognised it as a constitutional principle in 1971.

Freedom of expression also applies online, but anyone who abuses it is answerable under the law (Article 11 of the 1789 Declaration). Insults, defamation, harassment and incitement to hatred are punished, including on social media.

Marianne is the female figure who embodies the French Republic. Her bust is displayed in town halls and her face appears on stamps, coins and the State logo.

The blue, white and red tricolour flag is the national emblem under Article 2 of the Constitution. The fleur-de-lis and the crown recall the monarchy, the eagle the Empire.

The motto "Liberty, Equality, Fraternity" is displayed on public buildings, especially town halls and schools. Since 2013 it must appear on the front of public schools.

Article 2 of the 1958 Constitution sets the official symbols: the blue, white and red emblem, the anthem La Marseillaise, the motto “Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité” and the French language. Marianne and 14 July are also symbols of the Republic.

No. Destroying, damaging or using the tricolour flag in a degrading way in public is forbidden and punished (Criminal Code, art. 433-5-1, and a 2010 decree).

Social Security was created by the ordinances of October 1945, after the Second World War, following the programme of the National Council of the Resistance. It covers illness and old age and supports families.

The national holiday of 14 July, set by an 1880 law, commemorates the storming of the Bastille (14 July 1789) and the Fête de la Fédération (14 July 1790), symbols of the Revolution and national unity.

Marianne wears a Phrygian cap, a red cap that became the symbol of liberty during the Revolution.

Fraternity means solidarity among all members of society. It is reflected, for example, in social security and help for the most vulnerable.

The Gallic rooster appears on the French national football team's shirt. It is a traditional emblem of France, used especially in sport, although it is not listed in the Constitution.

The motto of the Republic is "Liberty, Equality, Fraternity", written in Article 2 of the Constitution.

Since the law of 1 July 1901, everyone is free to create an association, join one or leave it. Foreign nationals can also create or join associations.

According to Article 4 of the 1789 Declaration, “liberty consists in being able to do anything that does not harm others”. Its limits are set by law.

Article 1 of the 1958 Constitution states: “France is an indivisible, secular, democratic and social Republic.” It ensures the equality of all citizens before the law.

Marianne, symbol of the Republic, appears on official documents such as the identity card and the tax return, as well as on stamps and coins.

Equality means that the law is the same for everyone, without distinction of origin, race or religion (Constitution, art. 1; 1789 Declaration, art. 1 and 6). It includes equality between women and men.

Secularism guarantees freedom of conscience: everyone may believe, not believe, practise a religion or change it freely (1905 law, Article 10 of the 1789 Declaration, European Convention on Human Rights).

State neutrality means there is no official religion: the State treats all beliefs in the same way and favours none (1905 law, art. 2).

Neutrality applies to public employees, not to users: a user may wear a religious symbol at the town hall. But they cannot demand that the public service be adapted for religious reasons.

The 1905 law forbids the State from subsidising religions. However, religious buildings built before 1905, such as most cathedrals, belong to the State or to municipalities, which may pay for their upkeep.

The law of 9 December 1905 separates the Churches and the State. It guarantees freedom of conscience, and the State neither recognises nor funds any religion.

The law of 9 December 1905 separates the Churches and the State: the Republic ensures freedom of conscience and guarantees free exercise of worship, but does not recognise, pay or subsidise any religion.

Secularism (laïcité) guarantees freedom of conscience: everyone is free to believe or not to believe, and the State is separate from and neutral towards religions.

National Secularism Day is held on 9 December, the anniversary of the law of 9 December 1905 separating the Churches and the State.

The law of 15 March 2004 bans conspicuous religious symbols (headscarf, kippah, large cross) for pupils in state schools. Discreet symbols, such as a small cross, a small Star of David or a small Hand of Fatima, are allowed.

Antisemitism means hatred, hostility or prejudice against Jews. Like racism, it is punishable by law in France.

The law of 9 December 1905 on the separation of the Churches and the State is the founding text of French secularism. It ended the 1801 Concordat.

Public services, such as state schools, town halls and public hospitals, must be neutral: they treat everyone the same way, whatever their religion.

Secularism (laïcité) is the separation of Churches and State (1905 law): the State is neutral and guarantees everyone's freedom of conscience.

The Charter of Secularism at School, displayed in state schools since 2013, explains secular rules to pupils, parents and staff: freedom of conscience, equality, rejection of discrimination and neutrality.

Public servants (civil servants and contract staff) have a duty of neutrality: they must not display their religion at work. Users of public services remain free to express their religion, within public order.

An atheist is a person who believes in no god. In France, freedom of conscience protects believers and non-believers alike.

Under Article 8 of the Constitution, the President of the Republic appoints the Prime Minister. In practice, the choice takes account of the majority in the National Assembly, to which the government is accountable.

To stand for president, one must be a French national, at least 18, a registered voter, and collect at least 500 sponsorships from elected officials (mayors, MPs…) from at least 30 departments or overseas authorities.

Article 3 of the Constitution states: “National sovereignty belongs to the people, who exercise it through their representatives and by referendum.”

In municipal elections, voters elect the municipal councillors for 6 years. The municipal council then elects the mayor.

Article L9 of the Electoral Code states that registration on the electoral roll is compulsory, although there is no penalty. 18-year-olds and newly naturalised citizens are registered automatically, and registration is free.

To vote in the presidential election, one must be a French national, at least 18, enjoy civil and political rights, and be registered on the electoral roll.

To stand in municipal elections, one must be 18, a French or EU national, and have a link with the municipality (voter or local taxpayer there). An EU citizen can be a municipal councillor but not mayor or deputy mayor.

The mayor is elected by the municipal council, which is itself elected by residents. The prefect, the rector and the Prime Minister are appointed.

The mayor heads the municipality's executive (budget, municipal services) and is also an agent of the State: a civil registrar (marriages, births) who organises elections.

To stand for president, one must be a French national, at least 18, a registered voter, and collect at least 500 sponsorships from elected officials (mayors, MPs…) from at least 30 departments or overseas authorities.

You can register on the electoral rolls online or directly at the town hall of your municipality (or by post), with an ID and proof of address.

In France, you can vote from age 18, the age of majority, if you are French and registered on the electoral rolls.

In France, voting is not compulsory: it is a right and a civic duty, but nobody is penalised for not voting.

In France, the law applies to everyone. Breaking it can lead to penalties. To change a law, one must use democratic means.

The 577 deputies are elected directly by citizens in the legislative elections, by two-round majority vote.

Laws are passed by Parliament, i.e. the National Assembly and the Senate.

Separation of powers distinguishes legislative power (making laws), executive power (applying them) and judicial power (judging). It is in Article 16 of the 1789 Declaration.

In a state governed by the rule of law, everyone must respect the law, including public authorities. Laws comply with the Constitution and independent judges enforce them.

Municipal councillors are elected for 6 years; the mayor, elected by the council, also serves a 6-year term.

Legislative elections elect the 577 deputies (members) of the National Assembly for 5 years.

Since the 2000 five-year-term reform (applied from 2002), the President is elected for 5 years and cannot serve more than two consecutive terms.

Deputies are elected for 5 years, unless the National Assembly is dissolved by the President.

Senators are elected for 6 years by indirect suffrage (by electoral colleges); half of the Senate is renewed every 3 years.

Under Article 21 of the Constitution, the Prime Minister directs the action of the Government.

The Constitution (Article 4) guarantees that political parties are formed and operate freely. Membership is free and voluntary.

Only the courts can punish a thief, after a trial. Nobody may take the law into their own hands.

The département builds, maintains and equips public collèges (lower secondary schools); the State handles curricula and teachers.

The municipality is responsible for the buildings, maintenance and running of public nursery and primary schools; the State pays the teachers.

Residents elect the municipal council; the councillors then elect the mayor from among themselves.

The region organises regional transport, especially TER regional trains and intercity coaches.

Under Article 89 of the Constitution, a revision is adopted either by referendum or by Parliament meeting in Congress at Versailles with a three-fifths majority.

Under Article 7 of the Constitution, if the President dies or resigns, the President of the Senate acts as interim until a new election.

The Constitutional Council checks that laws comply with the Constitution; it also oversees the regularity of national elections and referendums.

To run for President you must be French, at least 18, a registered voter, and obtain at least 500 sponsorships from elected officials.

France has 101 départements: 96 in mainland France and 5 overseas.

France is divided into three levels of local authorities: about 35,000 municipalities, 101 départements and 18 regions.

The prefect represents the State in the département. He or she is appointed by the President in the Council of Ministers.

Under Article 5 of the Constitution, the President ensures respect for the Constitution, the proper functioning of institutions and national independence. He is also head of the armed forces.

The Prime Minister is appointed by the President. He directs the Government's action and ensures laws are carried out (Article 21 of the Constitution).

The Défenseur des droits is an independent authority in the Constitution since 2008. Anyone can contact it free of charge about problems with public services, discrimination or children's rights.

EU citizenship was created by the Maastricht Treaty, signed in 1992 (in force in 1993). Every national of a member state is an EU citizen.

Croatia joined the European Union on 1 July 2013; it is the most recent country to join.

The European anthem comes from the "Ode to Joy", the final movement of Beethoven's 9th Symphony (1824).

Europe Day is celebrated on 9 May, commemorating the Schuman Declaration of 9 May 1950, the starting point of European integration.

The European Central Bank, which manages the euro and euro-area monetary policy, is headquartered in Frankfurt am Main, Germany.

The European Commission, which proposes EU laws and ensures they are applied, is based in Brussels (Belgium).

The European Parliament is made up of members elected by direct universal suffrage every 5 years by the citizens of the member states.

Since the Maastricht Treaty (1992), an EU citizen living in another member state can vote and stand there in municipal and European elections.

On 1 January 2025, the European Union has 27 member states. The United Kingdom left it on 31 January 2020.

The Maastricht Treaty was signed on 7 February 1992 and came into force in 1993. It created the European Union and planned the single currency.

The Maastricht Treaty, signed in 1992, created the European Union. The other treaties belong to other periods (1494, 1648, 1919).

The United Kingdom left the European Union on 31 January 2020 at midnight ('Brexit'). The EU has had 27 member states since then.

The motto of the European Union is 'United in diversity', adopted in 2000. 'Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité' is France's motto.

The European anthem is the 'Ode to Joy' from Beethoven's Ninth Symphony. La Marseillaise is France's national anthem.

The European flag shows 12 golden stars in a circle on a blue background. The number 12 symbolises perfection and unity; it does not depend on the number of member states.

Members of the European Parliament are elected directly by the citizens of EU countries every 5 years.

The official seat of the European Parliament is Strasbourg, where the main plenary sessions are held. It also has premises in Brussels and Luxembourg.

The right to strike, recognised by the preamble of the 1946 Constitution, lets employees stop work together to defend professional demands (pay, working conditions).

Freedoms have limits: the State may restrict them to protect public order (safety, peace, public health), the general interest, the rights of others and human dignity.

This is the opening of Article 1 of the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen of 26 August 1789.

Article 4 of the 1789 Declaration means everyone is free, but that freedom is limited by respect for the rights of others; these limits are set by law.

Article 1 of the 1958 Constitution states: "France is an indivisible, secular, democratic and social Republic." It ensures the equality of all citizens before the law.

Press freedom, protected by the law of 29 July 1881, lets journalists inform freely without censorship. It has limits: defamation and incitement to hatred are punishable.

Freedom of movement lets people come and go freely within the country and choose where they live; EU citizens can also move and settle within the Union.

Being a citizen means holding the nationality of a State and taking part in its public life: you have rights (such as voting) and duties (such as obeying the law).

Fundamental rights are the essential rights and freedoms of every person (dignity, liberty, equality, free speech, etc.), protected by the Constitution and European and international texts.

The right to safety (sûreté), recognised by the 1789 Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen (articles 2 and 7), protects against arbitrary arrest and detention. No one may be arrested or detained except in the cases provided for by law.

The 1789 Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen is the founding text that reminds everyone of their rights and duties. It is part of today's constitutional framework (bloc de constitutionnalité).

Article 1 of the 1789 Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen states: "Men are born and remain free and equal in rights."

Human dignity forbids treating a person as an object: inhuman or degrading treatment, slavery, human trafficking or imposed undignified living conditions. Expressing an opinion, practising a religion or going on strike are, on the contrary, protected freedoms.

Freedom of expression lets everyone say, write and publish their opinions. It has limits set by law: for example defamation, insults and incitement to hatred are forbidden.

A person held in police custody (garde à vue) has rights: to be assisted by a lawyer, to remain silent, to see a doctor and to have a relative informed. The police must inform them of these rights.

France is a secular Republic: freedom of conscience means you may believe, not believe or change religion. The State recognises no religion and does not ask citizens about their religion.

The law of 7 July 2023 sets the digital age of majority at 15: below that age, signing up to a social network requires a parent's consent.

Smoking is banned in enclosed public places (restaurants, transport, schools, offices) under the Évin law and the 2006 decree. At home, in one's private dwelling, smoking is allowed.

Riding a motorbike without the required licence is an offence (délit) under article L221-2 of the Highway Code, punishable by a fine of up to 15,000 euros and a prison sentence.

The duty of solidarity means helping the most vulnerable and contributing to common expenses, in particular through taxes and social contributions that fund healthcare, pensions and social benefits.

In France, you cannot marry if you are already married (article 147 of the Civil Code). Bigamy is a criminal offence under the Penal Code.

Every year, every tax household resident in France must declare its income to the tax authorities, even if no tax is due. Failing to declare or declaring late leads to penalties.

Failing to help a person in danger, when you could do so without risk to yourself or others, is an offence (article 223-6 of the Penal Code). Helping can simply mean calling the emergency services (15, 17, 18 or 112).

Serving as a juror at the cour d'assises is a civic duty: a citizen drawn by lot must serve unless a serious reason is accepted. Refusing without a valid reason is punishable by a fine of up to 3,750 euros.

Since the 2009 "Hôpital, patients, santé et territoires" law, it is forbidden to sell or offer alcohol to minors, i.e. people under 18.

Breaking the Highway Code (speeding, red lights, drink-driving…) is an offence. Depending on its seriousness, it can lead to a fine, loss of licence points, licence suspension or even prison.

For certain serious crimes and offences, such as electoral fraud or corruption, the judge can impose an additional penalty depriving the person of civic, civil and family rights (article 131-26 of the Penal Code), for example a ban on voting or standing for election. Minor traffic infringements cannot lead to this penalty.

The national identity card is only for French nationals, whatever their age (minors can also have one). It is free for a first application and is requested at a town hall.

Freedom of expression is guaranteed, but the law punishes its abuse: incitement to hatred, violence or discrimination, defamation and insults. Criticising the government or expressing a political opinion is allowed.

Jury service is compulsory: the summoned citizen must appear at the cour d'assises. They can only be excused for a serious recognised reason (health, being over 70…); otherwise they risk a fine of up to 3,750 euros.

Since the law of 5 July 1974, the age of civil majority in France is 18. At that age you can vote, sign contracts and take legal action on your own.

Obeying the law is an essential duty of every citizen, like paying taxes or contributing to national defence. Joining a party or practising a religion are freedoms, not obligations.

A crime is the most serious category of offence (for example murder or rape). It is tried by the cour d'assises or the cour criminelle and can be punished by long imprisonment.

Digital citizenship means behaving as a responsible citizen online: respecting others, privacy and the law, and not spreading hate or false information. The rules of life in society also apply online.

The duty of remembrance means remembering the tragic events of history (world wars, the Holocaust, slavery…) and honouring the victims, in order to pass on these lessons and prevent them from happening again.

Assize jurors are drawn by lot from the electoral rolls. They must be French nationals, at least 23 years old, able to read and write French and in possession of their civic rights.

Deprivation of civic, civil and family rights (article 131-26 of the Penal Code) can last up to 5 years for a délit. During this period, the person loses in particular the right to vote and the right to stand for election.

The Civil Code, also called the Napoleonic Code, was promulgated in 1804 under Napoleon Bonaparte. It still governs family law, contracts and property today.

Charles de Gaulle founded the Fifth Republic in 1958 and was its first president, from 1959 to 1969.

The Jules Ferry laws made state primary school free (1881), then compulsory and secular (1882), so that all children, girls and boys, would receive an education.

14 July has been the national holiday since 1880. It commemorates the storming of the Bastille on 14 July 1789 and the Fête de la Fédération of 1790, symbols of the Revolution and national unity.

In 1958 a new Constitution was approved by referendum and promulgated on 4 October: this marked the start of the Fifth Republic.

The six founding countries of European integration (ECSC in 1951, EEC in 1957) are France, Germany, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg. Spain (1986), Sweden (1995) and Poland (2004) joined later.

Simone Veil, a Holocaust survivor, as Minister of Health, got the 1975 law passed that decriminalised abortion (IVG). She was also the first president of the directly elected European Parliament (1979).

On 6 June 1944 (D-Day), the Allies landed on the beaches of Normandy, such as Omaha Beach and Utah Beach. This landing launched the liberation of France.

Most French kings were crowned (consecrated) in Reims Cathedral, where Clovis had been baptised around the year 500.

Louis XVI was tried by the Convention and guillotined on 21 January 1793, after the monarchy was abolished in 1792.

The French Revolution began in 1789, with the meeting of the Estates-General in May and the storming of the Bastille on 14 July.

Napoleon Bonaparte became Emperor of the French in 1804 (crowned at Notre-Dame de Paris on 2 December 1804). The Empire ended in 1815.

Marianne is the symbolic figure of the French Republic; her bust stands in town halls and her face appears on stamps and the State logo. Charlemagne, Joan of Arc and Louis XIV lived in the age of kings, long before the Republic.

On 18 June 1940, from London on BBC radio, General de Gaulle called on the French to continue fighting against Nazi Germany: this is the Appeal of 18 June.

The Shoah (Holocaust) is the genocide of Europe's Jews by Nazi Germany and its accomplices during the Second World War. About six million Jews were killed.

Senegal was part of French West Africa (AOF) and became independent in 1960.

The Jules Ferry laws made public primary school free (1881), then compulsory and secular (1882).

Since the 1962 referendum, initiated by General de Gaulle, the president has been elected by direct universal suffrage. The first such election took place in 1965. Before that, the president was elected indirectly.

The European Union was founded by the Maastricht Treaty, signed in 1992 and in force since 1993. It was built on the European Economic Community (EEC), created in 1957 by the Treaty of Rome.

The Second World War began in September 1939 and ended in 1945 (8 May in Europe, 2 September in Asia).

The First World War lasted from 1914 to 1918. It ended with the armistice of 11 November 1918.

The death penalty was abolished by the law of 9 October 1981, under President François Mitterrand, on the initiative of Justice Minister Robert Badinter.

8 May is a public holiday commemorating the Allied victory over Nazi Germany and the end of the Second World War in Europe on 8 May 1945.

In 1951, the Treaty of Paris created the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) between six countries, including France and Germany. It was the first step in building Europe.

Jean Moulin unified the internal Resistance movements on behalf of General de Gaulle. Arrested in 1943, he died after being tortured; his ashes rest in the Panthéon.

11 November commemorates the armistice of 11 November 1918, which ended the fighting of the First World War. Since 2012, the day also honours all those who died for France.

Slavery was definitively abolished in the French colonies by the decree of 27 April 1848. A first abolition in 1794 had been reversed by Napoleon in 1802.

Victor Schœlcher, Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies, drafted the decree of 27 April 1848 that definitively abolished slavery.

The Jules Ferry law of 16 June 1881 made public primary school free. The following year, 1882, it became compulsory and secular.

The ordinance of 21 April 1944 gave women the right to vote and to stand for election. They voted for the first time in the 1945 municipal elections.

The UN was created in 1945 (San Francisco Charter) to maintain world peace. France is a permanent member of its Security Council.

Euro coins and banknotes entered circulation on 1 January 2002, replacing the franc. The euro had already existed as a book-money currency since 1999.

Paris was liberated on 25 August 1944 by the Resistance, General Leclerc's 2nd Armoured Division and Allied troops.

Nantes was France's leading slave-trading port in the 18th century: over 40% of French slave-trade voyages departed from it.

Montesquieu, an Enlightenment philosopher, ironically denounced slavery in The Spirit of the Laws (1748). Voltaire and Condorcet also criticised it.

Victor Hugo wrote Les Misérables (1862) and The Hunchback of Notre-Dame. The Little Prince is by Saint-Exupéry, Madame Bovary by Flaubert and The Stranger by Camus.

Claude Monet (1840-1926) was a French painter and one of the founders of Impressionism ('Impression, Sunrise', 'Water Lilies'). Rembrandt was Dutch, Goya Spanish and Frida Kahlo Mexican.

Bœuf bourguignon is a traditional dish from Burgundy, cooked in red wine. Paella is Spanish, sushi Japanese and pizza Italian.

Marie Curie, a Polish-born physicist and chemist who became French through her marriage to Pierre Curie in 1895, received the Nobel Prize in Physics (1903) and in Chemistry (1911). She is buried in the Panthéon.

Eugène Delacroix painted Liberty Leading the People in 1830 to celebrate the July Revolution (Trois Glorieuses). The painting is in the Louvre.

The Mona Lisa, painted by Leonardo da Vinci, is displayed in the Louvre in Paris, the most visited museum in the world.

Louis XIV enlarged the Palace of Versailles and moved the court there in 1682; it became the symbol of absolute monarchy.

The Lascaux cave in the Dordogne contains animal paintings made about 18,000 years ago. A replica (Lascaux IV) is open to visitors.

Claude Monet, master of Impressionism, painted the Water Lilies series in his garden at Giverny. Part of it is shown at the Musée de l'Orangerie in Paris.

Every September, the European Heritage Days open monuments and places usually closed to the public, often free of charge.

1 May is Labour Day, a paid public holiday celebrating workers' struggles for their rights.

Claude Joseph Rouget de Lisle, an army officer, composed in Strasbourg in 1792 the 'War Song for the Army of the Rhine', which became La Marseillaise, the national anthem.

The Eiffel Tower was built by Gustave Eiffel for the 1889 World's Fair in Paris, which marked the centenary of the Revolution.

The Alps separate France from Italy (and Switzerland); Mont Blanc is their highest peak. The Pyrenees lie between France and Spain.

Molière (1622-1673) was a famous French playwright and actor, known for comedies such as "The Imaginary Invalid". French is often called "the language of Molière".

Charles Baudelaire (1821-1867) was a major 19th-century French poet, author of "Les Fleurs du mal" (The Flowers of Evil).

George Sand (1804-1876), real name Aurore Dupin, was a 19th-century French woman writer. She used a man's name to publish her novels.

Simone de Beauvoir (1908-1986) was a French writer and philosopher. Her book "The Second Sex" (1949) was a landmark in the fight for women's rights.

Albert Camus (1913-1960) was a French writer born in Algeria, author of "The Stranger" and "The Plague". He won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1957.

Marguerite Yourcenar (1903-1987) was a French-language writer, author of 'Memoirs of Hadrian'. In 1980 she became the first woman elected to the Académie française.

Paul Cézanne (1839-1906) was a French painter born in Aix-en-Provence. He often painted the Mont Sainte-Victoire and inspired modern painting.

Auguste Rodin (1840-1917) was a great French sculptor. His best-known works are 'The Thinker' and 'The Kiss'; a museum in Paris is dedicated to him.

Claude Debussy (1862-1918) is a major French composer, known for Clair de lune and La Mer. Mozart was Austrian, Beethoven German and Verdi Italian.

Pierre-Auguste Renoir (1841-1919) was a French painter and one of the great names of Impressionism. His painting 'Bal du moulin de la Galette' is in the Musée d'Orsay in Paris.

The Louvre is in Paris; it is the most visited museum in the world and houses the 'Mona Lisa'. The Prado is in Madrid, the British Museum in London and the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam.

Mont-Saint-Michel is an abbey built on a rocky islet in the bay of Mont-Saint-Michel, in Normandy. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Lyon is one of the largest metropolitan areas in France, alongside Paris, Marseille, Toulouse, Lille, Bordeaux and Nantes. Ajaccio, Vannes and Chartres are much smaller towns.

Guadeloupe and Martinique are the two overseas departments and regions of the French Antilles, in the Caribbean Sea.

Corsica, in the Mediterranean, has been French since 1768. Sardinia and Sicily are Italian, Majorca is Spanish.

Mont Blanc, in the Alps, rises to about 4,805 metres: it is the highest peak in France and Western Europe.

La Réunion is an overseas department and region in the Indian Ocean, like Mayotte. Madagascar and Mauritius are independent states.

French Guiana, in South America, shares a land border of about 730 km with Brazil, France's longest land border.

The Ariane rocket is launched from the Guiana Space Centre in Kourou, French Guiana. Its location near the equator makes it well suited for launches.

Metropolitan France is bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the south, the Atlantic Ocean to the west, and the English Channel and North Sea to the north. The Baltic, Black Sea and Red Sea do not touch it.

The English Channel (la Manche) separates France from England. The Channel Tunnel has linked the two countries since 1994.

Réunion, in the Indian Ocean, is a French overseas department and region. Madagascar and Mauritius are independent countries; Sicily is Italian.

Overseas France covers the French territories located outside Europe, such as Guadeloupe, Martinique, French Guiana, Réunion, Mayotte or French Polynesia. Their inhabitants are French citizens.

According to INSEE, France had about 68.6 million inhabitants on 1 January 2025 (mainland and overseas).

Marseille (Marseille-Fos), on the Mediterranean Sea, is France's largest seaport by volume of goods handled.

Since the 2016 reform, metropolitan France has 13 regions (including Corsica). With the 5 overseas regions, there are 18 regions in total.

The Pyrenees form the natural border between France and Spain. The Alps are on the border with Italy and Switzerland, the Jura with Switzerland, and the Vosges are in eastern France.

Réunion is a French island in the Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar, to the south-east of Africa. It is an overseas department and region.

Lyon is the capital of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, created in 2016 by merging the Auvergne and Rhône-Alpes regions.

Rennes is the capital of the Brittany region. Nantes, often linked to historical Brittany, is the capital of the Pays de la Loire region.

Marseille is the capital of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region. It is also France's second-largest city by population.

Mayotte, an island in the Indian Ocean, became France's 101st department on 31 March 2011. Réunion, French Guiana, Martinique and Guadeloupe have been departments since 1946.

The Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region includes a large part of the French Alps (Savoie, Haute-Savoie, Isère), with famous ski resorts such as Chamonix, Courchevel and Val d'Isère.

The Seine flows through Paris before reaching the English Channel at Le Havre. The Loire passes through Orléans and Nantes, the Rhône through Lyon and the Garonne through Bordeaux and Toulouse.

A birth must be declared at the town hall of the place of birth within 5 days of delivery. The registrar then draws up the birth certificate.

A tenant may make simple changes, such as repainting or changing wallpaper, without permission. Alterations (removing a wall, building work) and subletting require the landlord's written consent (law of 6 July 1989).

In France, only a civil marriage, performed by the mayor or a deputy at the town hall, is legally valid. A religious ceremony may only take place after the civil marriage; polygamy and forced marriage are prohibited.

Reserved spaces are only for vehicles displaying a disability parking card (carte mobilité inclusion "stationnement" or the older European parking card). Other drivers risk a €135 fine and having the car towed.

A broken appliance can be repaired (2-year legal guarantee of conformity, repair bonus) or, if it is beyond repair, taken to a recycling centre (déchetterie) or returned to the seller when buying a new one, so it can be recycled. Dumping it in the street or in nature is illegal and fined.

Every birth in France must be declared to the civil registrar at the town hall of the place of birth, whatever the nationality or situation of the parents.

The birth must be declared at the town hall of the place of birth within 5 days after delivery (article 55 of the Civil Code).

17 is the number for the police or gendarmerie. 15 is the SAMU (medical emergencies), 18 the fire brigade and 119 the line for children in danger; 112 is the European emergency number.

15 is the number for the SAMU (emergency medical service) for serious medical emergencies. 17 is the police, 18 the fire brigade; 112 is the European emergency number.

For public nursery and primary school, parents register their child at the town hall of their municipality; the admission is then completed with the school head.

Divorce does not change parental authority: in principle, the father and the mother continue to exercise it jointly, in the child's interest. Only a judge can decide otherwise.

Legal aid (aide juridictionnelle) allows people with low income to have a lawyer and have their legal costs paid fully or partly by the State.

In France, either the husband or the wife may file for divorce, alone or by mutual agreement with the other spouse. Both spouses have equal rights.

Reimbursement of health costs is requested from the local health insurance fund (CPAM). With the carte Vitale, the claim form is sent automatically.

Contraception has been legal in France since the Neuwirth law of 1967. Everyone, adult or minor, can access it freely without their partner's consent; it is free of charge for people under 26.

The confidentiality principle, or medical secrecy, requires doctors and health professionals to keep the patient's health and private information secret. Breaching medical secrecy is punishable by law.

The carte Vitale proves that you are covered by the national health insurance. Health professionals use it to send the claim and speed up reimbursement; it is not a payment card.

A mutuelle (complementary health insurance) reimburses all or part of the health costs not covered by the Assurance maladie. It is not required in order to receive care, but it is recommended; private employers must offer one to their employees.

With the tiers payant system, the patient does not pay upfront: the health insurance (and the complementary insurer) pay the doctor, pharmacist or hospital directly.

Anyone who works or lives in France on a stable and regular basis is affiliated to the national health insurance (protection universelle maladie, PUMa). Registration is done with the CPAM.

Abortion (IVG) has been legal since the Veil law of 1975 and is possible up to 14 weeks of pregnancy. Since 8 March 2024, the Constitution guarantees women the freedom to have one.

Undeclared work (travail dissimulé) is forbidden by law. The employer risks up to 3 years in prison and a €45,000 fine, and the worker loses rights such as unemployment benefits, pension and social security.

The SMIC is the legal minimum wage in France. No employee may be paid less than the SMIC.

A legally resident person looking for work should register with France Travail (formerly Pôle emploi). This public body helps them find a job or training.

The legal full-time working week is 35 hours. Hours beyond that are overtime, paid or compensated with time off. (48 h is a maximum, not the legal duration.)

Parental education leave can be requested by the father or the mother after a birth or adoption, provided they have at least one year's service with the employer. It allows them to stop or reduce work to care for the child.

A foreign national who is lawfully resident can set up a business in France. EU citizens may do so freely; others need a residence permit that allows the chosen activity (for example a resident card or an "entrepreneur/profession libérale" permit).

Yes. Equality between women and men is a principle of the Republic: a woman can freely set up and run a business, without her husband's permission.

Workplace rules are set by the Labour Code, supplemented by the collective agreements of each sector, then by the employment contract and the company's internal rules.

The conseil de prud'hommes (employment tribunal) judges individual disputes between an employee and an employer relating to the employment contract, such as a dismissal or unpaid wages.

Freedom to join a union is guaranteed by the Preamble to the 1946 Constitution: every employee, whatever their nationality, may join the union of their choice or none at all.

The Labour Code prohibits dismissing an employee because of her pregnancy: it is discrimination. During maternity leave, the employee is protected against any dismissal.

Since the law of 26 July 2019 (school year 2019), education is compulsory for all children aged 3 to 16. Before, it started at 6.

Education is compulsory from 3 to 16. Parents who do not respect this risk a fine and a prison sentence: for example, failing to enrol a child despite a formal notice is punishable by 6 months in prison and a €7,500 fine.

Under article 371-1 of the Civil Code, parental authority is a set of rights and duties aimed at the child's best interests. It belongs to both parents and must be exercised without physical or psychological violence.

The law (Education Code) only accepts certain reasons for absence, such as the child's illness or an important family event. Parents must inform the school and justify the absence.

In France, education is compulsory for all children aged 3 to 16, French or foreign. After 16, school is no longer compulsory (though there is a training obligation until 18).

Since the 2019 'school of trust' law, education is compulsory for all children living in France from age 3 to 16.

After primary school (CP to CM2), pupils go to collège (lower secondary school), starting in 6e at about age 11. Collège lasts 4 years and is followed by lycée.

Every parent of a pupil, whatever their nationality, can vote and stand in the elections of parents' representatives, who sit on the school council or the board of the collège or lycée.

Newly arrived pupils who do not speak French are enrolled in a regular class and also receive extra French lessons, often in a UPE2A (teaching unit for newly arrived non-French-speaking pupils).

Since the law of 11 February 2005, every child with a disability has the right to be enrolled at the school nearest to home, with adjustments or a support assistant (AESH) if needed.

Since 1 July 2021, paternity leave lasts 25 calendar days (32 for multiple births). With the 3 days of birth leave, the father or second parent gets 28 days in total.

Since the law of 10 July 2019, the Civil Code states that parental authority must be exercised without physical or psychological violence. Spanking, slapping and other corporal punishment are therefore prohibited.