About France

I know, I am suppose to be the first to introduce my country, so I give you this internet site:
En France

For the 4 seasons, and the variety of landscape and kind of life, everybody is able to have a spot where his going to be confortable. For myself I live in the North East, which use to be industrialized province. Even if the weather is not less than nasty, there is history in this part of the country because the several wars happened. So there are castles and fortifications. There also is big reliefs, hills, and mountain whose the famous is "Les Vosges":


My town, Belfort, and our Lion (Bartholdy creation, 1880):


If you have some question I will enjoy to answer it!

Waaaaah the lion!
I come from Belfort too...
Good description Jérome!!
For the events we can find in Belfort (especially music events), the "Eurockéennes" is very famous (first week-end of July) and in those days he has a better reputation than 10 years ago, international groups come like Placebo, Muse and others
I will add the FIMU in which small groups of whole world come...all the week end is free, the musicians plays outside (in the city)

Eurockéennes of Belfort, the biggest music festival in Europe:

- 3 days of festival
- 90 shows
- 4 to 5 stages
- local performers
- International guests
+ a lot more...

EUROCKEENNES


FIMU, Festival International de la Musique Universitaire/International University Music Festival

- Free Festival
- In the ancient town
- international artists from more than 50 coutries
- more than one hundred bands
+ a lot more

FIMU

thanks Aurelien!

In 1870, Belfort was in a warrior. Belfort was attacked by the Prusse. But, the colonel Denfer Rochereau and the Belfort's Army are resisted. That's why Bartoldi has maked the Lion of Belfort, to show the resistance of these heroes.

Maybe someone to talk about Alsace (and its exellent food!)?

Did we talk about "The Cathedral of our Lady of Strasbourg":



This Roman Catholic Cathedral is one of the best piece of the Gothic architecture.


After it burns, it has been rebuild from 1176 to 1439.
Erwin von Steinbach is one of those who build it, beetween 1277, to his death in 1318. Today the fourth-tallest church in the world, the 142 metres building was the tallest construction in the world from 1625 to 1847.

Inside is the "Astronomical clock" which gives leap years, equinoxes, and astronomical data. The marvel is that at a time when computer did not exist, the clock was able to determine the computus (date of Easter in the Christian calendar).


Many legends are with the Cathedral. One thing true is once a year (during equinoxes), during a few days, at a precise time, the sun shine through the stained glass, and become an very special green color right on the figure of the Christ statue:


When you come to visit, I advice you to assist the Sunday service!

Nice comments !!!

Today's 14th on July,

For France is the National Day.

Comeback a little in History:

This day, in 1789 happened the French Revolution. Started since May, the Revolution change the old French Monarchy in a Republic a few years later. In January 1793, the 21st, the last French king is beheaded by the guillotine on the "Revolutionary Place" in Paris, today called "Place de la Concorde"

The "Federation Celebration" in July 14th 1970 is the fisrt anniversary of the destruction of the "Bastille" which was the headquarter of the king, and a prison. This day, Louis XVI agree to the Constitution of Human Rights:



This first version of the document (somekind of similar to the Constitution of Indepedance in the U.S.A, signed the 4th of July 1776) has for purpose to suppress the absolute power of the king and create a constitutional government, which one gives to the French people the power to decide, to create a balance between what wants the King and what want the people.

In 1880 is instituated the first National Celebration by a law edited by the Senat. This day is adopted our actual Flag:



The blue represent Clovis (First Catholic King in France in 481) and is reminding of the Saint Martin's cape.

The white is the color of the royal flag. It symbolized the country, the divine, and God.
The Red stands for the Saint Denis abbey.


NOWADAYS:

Every year happen parade on the Champs Elysée (famous place in Paris).

This year was special. Our New President wanted to make it European. Because we are celebrating the construction of the Europe, a delegation of each of the 26 European coutries (800 people) joined on the Parade. Also it is to celebrate the 50 years of the Rome traitee (about the European Union).

63 Airplanes
4224 walkin employees
329 vehicles and 83 motocycles
241 horses
38 helicopters

It lasted 4 hours! Also every 13th of July every towns make a huge firework! Tonight will be hold on the Champs Elysée a huge concert with European stars.