France is known the world over for some of its most famous tourist attractions. However, it also boasts more than 170 castles and monuments. From the Eiffel Tower to the Mont St Michel, these French landmarks and monuments have inspired artists and poets for centuries.

Below is a list of 10 important things to know about France before you visit.

10. Paris Gare du Nord is Europe’s busiest railway station

Regarding trains… Gare du Nord in Paris is the busiest railway station in Europe and the world (except Japan). There are more than 214 million passengers who pass through it every year. Built in 1846, the original station became too small for operations, so it was demolished and rebuilt in 1889. Between the 1930s and 1960s, further extensions were carried out. As part of the preparations for the Paris Olympics in 2024, the station is also undergoing further expansion. An additional 200,000 passengers will be accommodated daily as a result of this increase

9. Supermarkets In France Can’t Throw Away Food

In France, supermarkets are not allowed to throw away food that is close to the “best by” date. Instead, they should donate the food to a charity or food bank. In 2016, France passed this law to reduce hunger and prevent food waste. 

8. Louis XIX was the king of France for just 20 minutes, the shortest-ever reign

The French king held the throne for only 20 minutes after his father abdicated in July 1830, leaving him to succeed Charles X. Following this brief period, Louis-Antoine also abdicated in favour of his nephew, the Duke of Bordeaux. In history, he holds the joint record for the shortest reign of a monarch. His remarkable record is shared by Crown Prince Luis Filipe, who succeeded his father as king of Portugal after his death. Twenty minutes later, he also died of a wound.

7. In France, you can marry a dead person!

French law allows you to marry posthumously in exceptional cases, which is rather shocking. You must prove that the deceased intended to marry you while they were alive in order to qualify. It is also necessary to obtain permission from the French president. Most recently, a jihadist gunned down a gay policeman on Paris’ Champs-Elysees in 2017 and his partner was allowed to marry him posthumously.

6. The French Army Invented Camouflage 

Camouflage was invented by the French Army. Camouflage was invented by the French during World War I in 1915. As a means of blending in with the environment around them, they hired artists to paint their vehicles and guns. To do this, they painted lines that distracted from the object’s shape A year after the French began camouflaging their equipment, other countries followed suit. Camouflage styles varied from country to country.

5. The world’s greatest cycle race, the Tour de France, is more than 100 years old

The Tour de France is on every year. Did you know that the famous cycling race has been running since 1903? (Even COVID-19 couldn’t stop it) It’s now the most prestigious cycling race in the world, lasting 23 days and covering 3383 km (2102 miles).

4. The first face and heart transplant in the world took place in France.

Paris’ Georges Pompidou Hospital performed the first face transplant in 2005 and the first heart transplant in 2013. Powered by batteries that weigh three times as much as the heart, the device simulates the contractions of the heart. 

3. France Produces Over 1,500 Types Of Cheese

There are over 1,500 different cheeses made in France, although the exact number is unknown. For cheese lovers, this may sound like a dream come true. As a matter of fact, France ranks among the top ten countries in terms of cheese consumption. Cheese is eaten by more than 95% of the French population. Several characteristics define French cheeses, including how long they age, how they are made, and how mouldy they are.

2. France has more Nobel Prize winners in Literature than any other country

France has produced some of the world’s most influential writers and thinkers, with 15 French individuals winning the prestigious award since 1901. Sully Prudhomme was the first French poet and essayist to win the award. There are a number of well-known poets, novelists, and writers from France, such as René Descartes, Voltaire, Charles Baudelaire, Blaise Pascal, Gustave Flaubert, and Victor Hugo.

1. France Is The Most-Visited Country In The World

There are more visitors to France than any other country in the world! Approximately 89 million people visit France every year to enjoy the culture and food.  Along with being the most visited country in the world, Paris is one of the most visited cities as well. The city of Paris, France, welcomed more than 19 million tourists in 2019. Year after year, it consistently ranks among the top 10 most visited cities.