Surprising facts about France you probably didn't know

France is a country of extraordinary history, rich culture and refined cuisine that draws millions of tourists from around the world every year. Yet even if you think you know everything about it, France still has a way of surprising you. Here are some intriguing facts about the country that you may not have known.

1. The French rank first in the world for wine consumption per capita, and they rival Italy in the sheer volume they produce. There are roughly 500 named French wines.
2. France spans 12 time zones once all its overseas territories are counted - more than any other country on Earth.
3. France has some decidedly odd laws. It is forbidden to name a pig Napoleon, and forbidden to kiss on railway tracks. In the town of Châteauneuf-du-Pape, a local law even bans flying saucers from landing within the town limits.
4. The guillotine remained in use in France until 1981, when capital punishment was finally abolished by law.
5. The French are a melancholy nation - they lead the world in antidepressant use.
6. Every town in France has a street or avenue named after Victor Hugo.
7. The word "nicotine" was coined in France, one of the most smoking-prone countries in the world. It was named after Jean Nicot, who recommended tobacco as a remedy for headaches.
8. Paris is the final resting place of Jim Morrison, Oscar Wilde, Symon Petliura, Rudolf Nureyev and a great many Russian nobles - Felix Yusupov among them.
9. The most visited attraction in the Paris area is neither the Eiffel Tower (5.5 million visitors a year) nor the Louvre (5 million), but Disneyland - with 13 million visitors annually.
10. The white wedding dress is an exclusively French tradition, born in 1499 with the marriage of Charles VIII and Anne of Brittany.
11. The Statue of Liberty was created in France by the celebrated sculptor Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi, then shipped in pieces across the Atlantic to New York.
12. During the French Revolution, 70% of the population did not speak French.
13. French women have the highest life expectancy in Europe, while French men rank third.
14. France is McDonald's most profitable market after the United States, with around 1,000 restaurants across the country.
15. The croissant isn't actually French at all - it came to France from Austria.

Are you a leader in your field?

The Passeport Talent is a special "talent visa" category for those who have achieved notable results in science, digital technology, the arts or culture and wish to move to France to work in their field.

Applicants need to assemble a case file documenting their talent, along with proof of a place of residence in France and a certain level of income.

Benefits of the French talent visa

• The right to live and work in France for four years
• The option to bring your family
• French residency after five years
• French citizenship after five years
• Visa-free travel across the Schengen area
• Healthcare on the same terms as locals
• Access to the European banking sector

How to move to France in 2026

Exchange rate: $1.12 per euro on 6 October 2026: €39,582 is about $44,400, €300,000 about $336,200.

The talent passport: 2026 figures

• a qualified employee of an innovative company: salary from €39,582 gross a year;
• the EU Blue Card: from €59,373 gross a year (about $66,600);
• company creation: an investment from €30,000 and a master's degree or 5 years of experience;
• an investor: from €300,000 personally or through a company where you hold at least 30%;
• the card is issued for up to 4 years at once, and the first one costs €350 from 1 May 2026;
• the spouse and children get a family card for the same term, and the spouse can work.

The civics exam and proof of French are not required for the talent passport: since 1 January 2026 these apply only to cards under the integration contract.

Language and the path to citizenship

From 1 January 2026 a first multi-year card under the integration contract requires A2 French and the civics exam, and a 10-year resident card requires B1 and the exam. Citizenship can be applied for after 5 years of lawful residence, with B2 French and the exam, and the fee from 1 May 2026 is €255 (about $290). Details on the French citizenship by naturalisation page.

Taxes after the move

You become a French tax resident if your main home, work or centre of economic interests is in France. Income tax is progressive, from 0% to 45%, with social levies on investment income. Company profits are taxed at 25%, and small businesses pay 15% on the first €42,500. More on the Taxes in France page.

How much the application costs

• the consular fee for a long-stay visa: €99 (about $120);
• the first talent or employee card: €350 (about $400), a €300 tax and a €50 stamp duty from 1 May 2026;
• translations into French by a sworn translator;
• health insurance for the first months until you join the state system.

Our support fee is quoted by a manager in the chat.

Why applications are refused

• the contract salary is below the threshold of the talent passport category;
• for a start-up, no ministry opinion on innovation;
• for the visitor card, income below the net minimum wage or no insurance;
• an incomplete file and untranslated documents.

FAQ