French folk costume. Folk costume of the French

But since the middle of the 19th century, such colorful costumes have ceased to be worn in France. For men fashion was wearing pants, leggings, shirts without ruffles and embroidery, a vest, a scarf, a cocked hat and a jacket. The peasants had shoes - they were wooden shoes, they were worn by everyone regardless of gender. The city dwellers and the richer wore leather shoes. You can see in the photo from the last article about.

Women's suit is wide pleated skirts, sweaters, aprons, scarves. Peasant women always wore a cap, over which they could wear a scarf or hat. As a woman wore a headscarf, everyone could know at once whether she was married or looking for a husband. The main colors of clothes are white, gray, brown. But with the advent of factory fabrics (silk, broadcloth), textures in suits also appeared.

Naturally, I am writing all this in the most general terms. The French national costume differed both from the place of position in society and from the place of residence. In this video, you will see the 18th and 19th century national costume festival in the city of Agde, Languedoc province, which took place on September 25, 2011. These festivals are often held in the provinces of Languedoc by patriotic regionalists in order to revive old traditions. They also arrange a small one where you can buy traditional clothes, shoes, jewelry, etc.

The French national costume is now worn only on such holidays by dance groups and on big city holidays. But they dress everyone with pleasure, both adults and children who participate in such events. Now a museum has been created in Agde with costumes from past centuries. By the way, you can rent costumes from 40 euros per day. You can also see this holiday in my last article.

Such an unusual holiday can be seen in the Languedoc province.

The main features of the traditional French folk costume, which was ubiquitous in rural France, took shape in the 17th century.

Until the end of the 18th century. peasants sewed clothes from homespun material:
canvas and wool of different workmanship. A thin canvas was used for
festive clothes (shirts, sweaters) and linen, coarse - for everyday
clothes. Outerwear was made of cloth, often with the addition of canvas thread.
or purchased cotton. In the XIX century. gradually came into use
factory-made fabrics. Country tailors sewed clothes for lunch,
shelter and a certain fee.

The main parts of the traditional men's costume that existed in the 19th century: pants, leggings, shirt, vest
and jacket, neckerchief. Until the middle of the XIX century. (until about 30s)
peasants wore knee-length pants; them together with stockings, usually woolen,
or leggings, tied under the knees with woolen garters, blue
or red. Leg warmers were often made of the same material as the pants.

In the 1830s, long skinny pants came into use. The shirt had a turn-down
collar, which was originally tightened with two straps, as well as
cuffs; later the collar and cuffs were fastened with buttons. Gates
shirt was usually covered with a neckerchief. They wore vests, usually light-colored,
closed, with two rows of metal buttons. Worn over the vest
jacket or short, slightly below the waist, or elongated in the back with Basques.

At the end of the 18th century, at first in the north of the country, and later it entered everywhere
in everyday use blouse: wide shirt made of canvas with straight edges, length
to mid-thigh, gathered in gathers at the collar and on the sleeves. It was worn
over the jacket. The blouse was originally a festive dress for peasants, from
village, she moved to the city and after the revolution of 1830 became clothing
artisans and workers as opposed to the bourgeois who wore coats.

The blouse remained the traditional dress of the peasants, it was worn during
folk ceremonies, holidays of "brotherhoods". At the end of the XIX and beginning of the XX century.
the blouse gradually became work clothes. It persisted for the longest time in
shepherds and remote rural areas. Over the blouse in winter and in the cold
weather the shepherd threw a wide cape-cloak made of goatskin over his shoulders
or coarse wool. The blouse was worn, and sometimes is still worn, by artists.

Headdress of a French peasant in the 18th century - cocked hat, which
older people also wore at the beginning of the 19th century; it was replaced by a round hat
with wide fields, felt in winter, straw in summer. Coastal dwellers
(in particular Normandy) wore a woolen hat (cap), the end of which,
decorated with a pompom, descended from behind. In shape, this headdress is similar
on the famous Phrygian cap.

Traditional folk shoes are shoes (sabot) hollowed out of wood.
Clogs were worn by both women and men. In some villages they are still worn.
like work shoes.

The women's suit consisted of a wide skirt with ruffles or folds,
up to the middle of the shin, a spacious sweatshirt with long sleeves,
buttoned at the collar, freely falling onto the skirt; sweater on the waist
tied with a string of an apron, which was shorter than the skirt. On shoulders
threw a kerchief or scarf, the ends of which were tied on the chest or
laid an apron under the bib. Mandatory accessory
the festive costume was a corsage. The headdress of a peasant woman is a cap; his
worn both in the house and on the street; put on over the cap if necessary
scarf or hat.

The predominant colors of peasant clothing before the advent of fabrics
factory production were white, gray and brown. Womens clothing
was more varied in color: corsages were worn in brown,
blue, lilac, red, striped; skirts are white, gray, red,
blue, rarely black; aprons are white, gray, red, blue, black.

After the French Revolution in a peasant costume, there were
big changes that were caused by an increase in welfare
peasantry and the appearance on the markets of goods of factory production
(cloth, silk).

Festive costumes appeared, which reflected the influence of the city
fashion, and although the basic elements of the costume were the same throughout France,
headwear shapes, bodice cut, apron shape and colors
fabrics distinguished the costumes of one province from another, and within each
the province could be distinguished by several sets of clothing. So,
for example, regions such as Brittany, Alsace, Provence, and the Basque regions differed in the type of clothing. The clothing of the inhabitants of Normandy, Limousin, Bres, Auvergne and others also stood out as separate elements.

At the end of the XIX century. in almost the entire country, an urban suit has come into use.
Only the most stable item of clothing - hats were preserved
for a long time unchanged and still exist in some
localities: in the valleys of the Alps, in the remote areas of the Massif Central, in
Roussillon, Brittany.

In our time, patriotic regionalists, trying to revive old traditions,
organize festivities where competitions for the best costume are held;
the festivities of the Provençal, Bretons and Savoyards are especially popular.
The difference between the costumes of one province from another is in the decoration
costumes with colorful embroidery, various, sometimes bizarre shapes
caps, different cut and decoration of the bodice and apron, a variety of
fabrics.

Currently, the traditional costume is worn mainly by members
dance groups, members of folklore federations, during
festivals, on special occasions, to demonstrate
the identity of the culture of their people.

In a modern French urban dress of a common European type,
undoubtedly, you can feel the sense of colors, proportions inherent in the French,
shape typical for traditional clothing. Apparently no coincidence
France has been a trendsetter for centuries as it has
a rich source of folk French costume.

In each region, the traditional clothing is very diverse. I will talk about these features in other posts.

Based on the text from the collection "Peoples of Foreign Europe" in 2 volumes, "Science", Moscow, 1965

In the XVI century. France is becoming one of the strongest European powers. Its culture was shaped by the worldview and artistic ideals of the Italian Renaissance. At the court of King Francis I, Leonardo da Vinci, Benvenuto Cellini and other famous artists invited from Italy worked. The Italian influence also affects clothing. Although there was an imitation of Spanish in it, the French Renaissance costume was brighter, lighter and lighter.

Men's suit

In France, XVI century. every secular person had to have at least thirty suits (for each day of the month) and change them daily. No wonder the proverb arose: "The nobility carries their income on their shoulders."
The costumes of the rich French were sewn from expensive fabrics - velvet, brocade, silk, cloth - and were decorated with pearls, gold and silver embroidery. Many names of clothes of the 15th century. survived, but their purpose has changed. Purpuen turned into outerwear. In the first decades of the XVI century. it is sewn with a deep cut, from under which the collar of a shirt made of thin linen, decorated with a ruffle, is visible. On purple, decorative cuts are made, which are fastened with rosettes with precious stones.
The purple has a removable peplum - long, knee-length, similar to a skirt with a large pleat. It could be of a different color, which diversified the costume. This element was borrowed from knightly armor.
Embroidered white men's shirts are becoming fashionable; long chausses (pants-stockings) are replaced by upper short wide pants ("eau de chausse"), gathering at the bottom on a cord, and long stockings ("ba de chausse"). In the second half of the XVI century. knitted stockings appeared.
From the middle of this century, Spanish motifs became noticeable in French costume. Short raincoats, often with a turn-down collar, came into fashion, as well as short, fur-lined raincoats with a standing collar. Long clothes are still worn only by older citizens and officials. The French king Henry II wore black Spanish costumes, which set an example to follow. The neckline disappears and a high standing collar appears, the cuffs and "cutter" - a round white starchy flat collar, borrowed from the Spaniards, expand. They begin to make purpuen on a frame, and by the end of the century it acquired such a pretentious form, which was not even in Spain.
The colors of French clothing are gradually becoming darker.
But already from the third quarter of the 16th century. the influence of Spanish fashion is waning, and although the skeleton shape of the costume remains, the French create their own, often quite extravagant cuts.
During the reign of Henry III, men began to wear clothes in light colors: pink, blue. The costume becomes more feminine. The purpuena bodice is made on a rigid padding with a low deflated, full of horsehair bulge in front, the so-called "pans" ("belly"). "Tunic" - a narrow men's jacket - almost loses its hem and acquires a cape in front, which makes it look like the bodice of a woman's dress. The upper short pants are luxuriantly lined with cotton wool or horsehair and acquire a wide, swollen shape that imitates women's hips. Quilted stockings also give men's legs the shape of women's legs. The crimped collars become huge, like a millstone, they are called so. At the same time, half masks, which are worn when going out, are becoming popular in France.
Religious wars, poverty and the ruin of the entire country during the reign of Henry III did not affect the royal court, and the courtiers flaunted luxurious costumes in front of each other.
The division of the French into two warring camps - Catholics and Huguenots - was reflected in clothing. While Catholics sought to imitate courtiers in luxury, the Huguenots dressed simply and modestly. Their clothes were of dull colors, and they considered the Spanish flat collar a "devilish" invention.
With the coming to power of Henry IV, the men's suit became stricter. The king issues a decree limiting the luxury and diversity of costumes. The nobles were required to wear expensive clothes, but dark colors. The cloaks become long and are thrown over only one shoulder. There are no more bolsters on the pants, they extend to the knees, acquiring a soft, gathered shape.
Peasant costume of the late 16th century consisted of a short jacket, flip-flops, a cape and a felt hat.

left: doublet with loose lacing

right: short sleeve outerwear

Musketeer costume

In the XVI century. the musketeers begin to play a major role in the French army. During this period, there was no uniform uniform, but it was believed that the musketeer suit was most consistent with the idea of ​​the military.
The Musketeers wore a bright red purple with crimson sleeves, and over it they wore brown armor. There were cuts on the purple, under which the white cloth was lined. The costume was complemented by stockings, a sling and a blue powder flask, as well as a black felt hat decorated with a ribbon and bright feathers.

Woman suit

At the beginning of the XVI century. Italian fashion influenced the French costume of noble ladies, and it became more magnificent and voluminous. The sleeves of the top dress are trimmed with a vertical strip of fur.
Already in the 20s of the XVI century. the cone-shaped silhouette of the Spanish women's suit became fashionable. The French ladies of the court began to use a "vertiugade" - a lower funnel-shaped skirt made of dense rigid fabric into which metal hoops were sewn. The top was covered with taffeta. A tight bodice with a frame was worn with a twigade - a "baskin", which pulled together the chest and waist. A shirt with long sleeves was worn under the bodice, and a dress (cotta), usually of patterned fabric, with sleeves, and another outer dress (rob) made of smooth fabric, with a swing skirt, was worn on top of the swirl and bodice. Sleeves narrow at the shoulder widened strongly downward and could have fur cuffs. From under the sleeves of the top dress, the narrow sleeves of the cotta were visible. Such a costume has existed as a formal dress for almost half a century.
Dresses until the middle of the 16th century. the neckline was characteristic. Then the top dress had a bob cut, covered with an insert. The sleeves of the upper dress took on the shape of a puff, from under which the slitted sleeves of the lower dress were visible. The "freza" collar, brought by Catherine Medici from Italy, has become fashionable. She also introduced women's pantaloons, which were sewn from expensive fabric and covered with silk, gold or silver embroidery, with stripes of brocade.
In the 80s of the XVI century. women's costume has undergone significant changes. First of all, this refers to the shape of the skirt: it has acquired a round shape, reminiscent of a lampshade, thanks to its rigid frame. On top of the skirt, a flat, flat frill shaped like a wheel was put on at the waist. The bodice of the dress became even narrower, and its cape went strongly over the skirt, which visually shortened the legs. A very deep, rounded neckline appeared, and the cutter was replaced by a standing collar on the frame, sometimes rising above the head. In the women's costume of this period, the perversity of the fashion of the court of Henry III affected: the heap of large details and large volumes distorted the female figure.
Masks were in vogue, considered a condition of decency.

on man: doublet with lace-up sleeves, barrette with slits

on woman: brocade dress with drill sleeves

Shoes

In the first half of the XVI century. the French wear shoes with wide blunt toes ("bear paw"), decorated with slits and embroidery. In the 40s of this century, lightweight shoes with slits appeared. The French nobility wore smart shoes made of silk and velvet. Boots in the 16th century were without heels and on soft soles.
By the end of the century, heels appeared in men's shoes, and rosettes began to decorate the toes.
Women's shoes also have a small heel. The women wore soft closed shoes. Later, in the 80s, Italian mules with high wooden soles came into fashion.

Hairstyles and hats

In the XVI century. the men wore short haircuts, complemented by a beard and mustache. The headdress of the noble French was a "barrette" - a large circle of fabric that was sewn onto a hard side and connected to small margins. Along the fields, barrets were decorated with pearls, buckles with precious stones, and white ostrich feathers. Spanish hats with a high crown and narrow brim were also fashionable.
By the third quarter of the century, the beard and antennae had decreased, men dyed and curled their hair, blushed, used various aromatic agents and, following the example of King Henry III, wore an earring in their ear. The female current becomes a man's headdress.
But at the end of the 16th - beginning of the 17th centuries, under Henry IV, men's hairstyle changed a lot. Long hair is slicked back smoothly, the mustache curls upward and the “a la Henri IV” goatee is spiked. In imitation of the graying king, the French powdered whiskey. The fashionable headdress was a brimmed hat decorated with white ostrich feathers.
French women until the end of the 16th century. hair was laid over the forehead in the form of rollers, decorated with beads or a cap with a veil curved in the shape of a hairstyle. The barret was a fashionable headdress.
By the end of the XVI century. there were two types of ladies' hairstyles. The hair was curled in waves and slicked back. Or they were lifted up and secured to a wire frame. Sometimes ladies wore wigs.
Married townspeople and peasant women covered their heads with caps made of linen.

Jewelry and cosmetics

French ladies used whitewash, blush, perfume.
Pearl beads and long decorative belts, fans decorated with embroidery and gloves with precious stones were fashionable adornments. Wallets, framed mirrors, watches in the shape of an onion and a flea-catcher - graceful precious boxes with a small hole - were worn on the belt.

Source - "History in Costumes. From Pharaoh to Dandy". Author - Anna Blaise, artist - Daria Chaltykyan

The elements of the traditional French costume were more clearly formed in the 17th century. Long shirts, skirts with gathers, stockings, pantaloons, neckline, etc. came to the wardrobe. Clothes were made from materials such as wool and canvas in a variety of ways. This continued until the end of the 18th century.

In the 19th century, factory-made fabrics are already beginning to be used. Rural tailors usually did sewing, mostly for lunch, lodging, or a small fee.

After the Great Revolution in France, changes began to take place in the national costume. This was due, first of all, to the growth of prosperity, as well as to the appearance on the sale of new factory fabrics - broadcloth and silk. This is how festive outfits appeared, of course they were influenced by urban fashion. The shape of the apron, skirt, headdress, and the cut of the bodice differed among the provinces. This was especially noticeable in the color elements. Even within the province, the elements of the costume were often different.

At the end of the 19th century, urban costume began to appear everywhere. However, for a long time, such an element as a headdress remained in use, especially in remote areas or in the Alps.

Colors and shades

Among the colors for clothes, mostly calm restrained shades prevailed. Among them are gray, brown, white. These colors were typical for both men's and women's suits.

Of course, women's wardrobe items were sometimes brighter shades. In addition to standard colors, the skirt could be blue, red, less often black. The aprons also came in shades of red or blue, as well as yellow. Corsage - purple, burgundy, brown or striped.

Fabrics and fit

In peasant clothing, the thinner canvas was used mainly for party wear, such as skirts or shirts, and linen. The rough canvas was meant for everyday wear.

If we talk about outerwear, then it was sewn from denser and warmer materials, for example, cloth, adding cotton or canvas threads to it.

After the revolution, the usual materials were replaced by factory fabrics, among which there was silk.

Varieties

Female

The national women's costume consisted of a skirt with numerous gathers, a wide sweater with long sleeves and a fastener at the collar, and a scarf or kerchief thrown over the shoulders. The skirt, as a rule, was long, approximately to the middle of the shin, a jacket was worn with it, falling off the top of the skirt. The jacket was pulled together at the waist with a ribbon of an apron, which was slightly shorter than the skirt. The scarf was tied at the chest or laid under the bib of the apron.

A bodice was a must for a suit. The woman's headdress is a cap, over which they also put on a scarf or hat. The cap was worn at home and on the street.

Male

The traditional men's costume of the 19th century consisted of the following clothes: pants, shirt, leggings, scarf, vest or jacket.

Until about the 30s of the 19th century, peasants wore short pants to the knees, while together with leggings or woolen stockings, which were tied under the knee with a garter made of wool, usually blue or red. Often the gaiters were of the same material as the pants.

Long, tight pants appeared after the 1930s. The shirt already had a turn-down collar. The cuffs and collar were initially tightened with two straps, and later they began to be fastened with buttons. Additionally, they also wore a scarf. Together with the shirt, they also wore a light-colored vest with two rows of metal buttons. A jacket was worn over it; it could be short or elongated.

The shirt came into everyday use at the end of the 18th century. She was a straight silhouette, about mid-thigh, with ruffles on the sleeves and collar. It was sewn from canvas.

Initially, the shirt was a festive garment for peasants, but after the revolution of 1830 it was worn in the city by artisans and workers. For peasants, it still remained a traditional dress for holidays and festivities.

In the 19th century and early 20th century, the shirt had already become a workwear, but it still retained its position in the countryside. In winter, the shepherds wore a wide cloak made of goatskin or coarse wool on top of it.

You can still occasionally see the classic shirt worn by artists.

If we talk about a headdress, then in the 18th century it was a cocked hat for a peasant, it was worn until the beginning of the 19th century. She was replaced by a round wide-brimmed hat, a straw hat for summer, a felt hat for cold weather.

Men - inhabitants of the coasts wore a cap made of wool, similar to a Phrygian cap. Such a cap-cap was decorated with a pom-pom hanging from the back.

France is a country associated with frog legs, the Eiffel Tower, delicious wine, and breakfast croissants. Countries bordering France: Belgium, Switzerland, Italy, Luxembourg, Germany, Andorra, Monaco, Spain. In France, you can relax on the sandy coast and in ski resorts, taste real gourmet cuisine, visit the fashion capital - Paris. There is a special flavor that tourists will appreciate.

Transport

France is a large country, and the transport interchange is well developed here. But it is worth looking at transport from the point of view of a tourist, because we are going to have a rest, and it is necessary to choose such a mode of transport so that it is convenient to see the sights and the city as a whole.

Buses should be immediately excluded from sight. The fact is that most of the buses adapt to the work schedule of various institutions, schools, shops, which means that they start routes very early, then appear in the late afternoon. Buses run slowly, so if you are in a hurry or are late, the bus will not save you.

The best means of transport for traveling in France are trains. The railway is very well developed here, so the best way to travel is by train, quickly and not so expensive. For travel on the train, special cards have been created, for which they are valid for certain age groups. So, for example, you can purchase a travel card that will provide a 50% discount on travel throughout the year.

A taxi in France is expensive, but if you need it, you can order it from the hotel, from a restaurant, shop, or hail it on the street.

Electricity in the country

The electrical voltage in France is 220 V, with a current frequency of 50 Hz. This type of stress is familiar to tourists from Russia. But the whole difficulty lies in the form of sockets and plugs of household appliances. A household appliance plug has two rounded prongs and one small indentation. And the socket has two recesses - the entrance and one protruding rounded pin. When you plug the plug into the outlet, the two pins of the plug fit into the two recesses of the outlet, and the pin of the outlet fits into the recess of the plug.

Thus, if a tourist takes his own household appliances, an electric shaver, a hair dryer or an iron with him on a trip, then he must buy a special adapter for the trip in advance, or buy it upon arrival in France at any home appliance store. As a rule, in hotels it is not always possible to find an adapter at the reception.

Holidays in France

4 February - Festival of Violets in Toulouse. The French city of Toulouse is called the city of violets, because a huge number of these flowers grow here. It is no wonder that spending the Day of Violets where there are most of them is an expected phenomenon. On this day, all flower lovers come to Toulouse, from professionals to connoisseurs of the beauty of these delicate flowers. Various conferences for gardeners are held here. The violets are used to create real works of art - flower figures of various sizes. Contests, theatrical performances, and other entertainment events are also held on the theme of flowers.

February 11 - Nice Carnival. This carnival is considered one of the largest and most famous in the whole world. It is believed that the date of the "birth" of the carnival is 1294, when the Duke of Anjou came to this region to spend a couple of good weekends, and in order not to get bored, he arranged a ball. On this day, Nice turns into a bright spot on the map of France. Here everywhere Frenchmen in bright clothes scurry about, painted and bright cars drive through the streets, the squares are covered with plywood, which is painted by masters of painting and graphics. In the evening, the queen of the carnival is elected by popular vote.

March 4 - Grandmothers Day in France. One of the most touching and sweet holidays in France. For example, in Russia the traditional March 8 is dedicated to all women without exception, while in France you can congratulate your beloved grandmother on a special day. French grandmothers rarely look like grandmothers, they dress up, visit cafes, drink liqueurs, enjoy sweets in the form of almond cakes and ice cream, and receive gifts from friends and relatives. What is typical on this day, restaurants offer a special menu, shops arrange sales exclusively for grandmothers, and travel agencies offer special offers for grandmothers and grandchildren.

National dress in France

The capital of fashion is Paris, it is here that the citadel of everything fashionable, beautiful and stylish is located. But turning to history, the national costume of France was formed only in the 17th century. As a rule, each district of the country had its own style and clothing, which differed in color or style. For example, there was almost never any embroidery on clothes. The majority of the population were peasants, and it was in the peasant society that the basis of the traditional costume was formed.

Clothes were sewn from a material that was independently woven at home, it was canvas or wool of various production. This material was used until the end of the 18th century. Festive clothes were sewn from thin canvas, and everyday clothes from coarse, more durable ones. As a rule, the clothes were made by tailors, who were paid to sew them with food, ready meals, and sometimes they were offered shelter and lodging for the night.

In the 19th century, factory-made fabrics came into use, and then clothes began to acquire new shades and colors. In the 19th century, men wore shirts, knee-length pants and leggings, or stockings, which were tied with a red or blue woolen thread under the knee, and a pant leg was lowered over the top. A vest and a jacket were worn over the shirt. Women traditionally wore bonnets, floor-length skirts or long dresses with aprons. Women threw headscarves on their shoulders, girls and girls were dressed exactly like grown women.

After the Great Peasant Revolution, sharp changes appeared in the national costume, this was associated with an increase in the welfare of the peasantry. Quite festive outfits began to appear, everyday clothes began to acquire notes of a modern urban style, a special accent appeared in headdresses, they became more modern, and often where a Frenchman or a Frenchwoman came from could be identified by the headdress.

National cuisine in France

The national cuisine of France is considered one of the finest in the world. Here the chefs create not just an edible dish, but a real work of gastronomic art. Through this country, we learned about fresh croissants, crispy sandwich baguettes, boiled lobster with parsley, and frog legs.

Of course, the cooks don't sit by the rivers and catch all the frogs in a row. A special breed of fleshy frogs is bred for food.

It is worth noting that each province has its own unique cuisine, beef is excellently cooked in Burgundy, in Provence, the first thing on the table is cheese and fish, in Bordeaux the best French wine.

In the province of Brittany, cuisine is famous for its "sea" theme. Here you can find dishes from lobster, fish, lobster, shrimp. Every second dish on the menu will have exactly this set of ingredients.

Burgundy is famous for its meat, beef and chicken dishes in wine. By the way, wine is an ingredient in many French dishes. Along with olive oil, wine is added when frying meat, vegetables, minced meat, etc.

In France, there is a whole science about which dish to serve which drink. What wine should be served with meat, what kind of fish, what kind of snacks and vegetables. A drink that is suitable for a dish can enhance the taste of food, thereby making your dinner or lunch unforgettable.

In France, wine is drunk like water, and that's okay. Drinking a glass of wine during the day, or at 5-6 pm is common, as each meal is accompanied by a drink, water or wine. It is worth noting that here they know the measure of what they have drunk, and, as a rule, they do not drink more than one glass.

Religion and customs of the country

France cannot be characterized in a few words, since this country has absorbed the culture of most European countries that neighboring it. But there is something in this country that may seem unusual and even strange to a tourist.

Family relationships and bonds of marriage in France can be described as a simplified version, for example, in Spain, family and family values ​​come first. In France, however, a man and a woman are in no hurry to get married, here they are quite content with a "civil marriage". French women are very emancipated, and they go on a par with men, therefore, they do not tolerate obedience and obedience to a man, which is why most marriages end up in divorce.

When addressing someone, the French always use the respectful "madame", "monsieur", "mademoiselle". The French try to be punctual, so they always come on time for a meeting, work, or even a party with friends.

Although France, especially Paris, is recognized as the capital of fashion, the French do not dress chic and festive when going out. Everyone here wears simple and comfortable clothes, jeans, sweaters, shirts, classic dresses. Here women hardly wear heels. This also applies to walking and going to work. Of course, if the company requires a special suit, then the French meekly follow the order. The French only dress up if there is a good reason. For example, going to a restaurant requires an evening dress and suit - this rule is prescribed by many restaurants. You can hardly dine in a fancy restaurant in simple casual clothes.

Eating in France is a special tradition. It is worth following all the rules of the meal here. In general, the French are very fanatical about food, and no wonder, because French cuisine is considered one of the most exquisite. The meal begins with a light aperitif, followed by a hot meal. No dinner goes by without soup. And soups in France are distinguished by their puree-like consistency. Traditionally, there is wine on the table, regardless of the time of day, which helps to add spice to the prepared dish. At the end of the meal, dessert and coffee are served. It is worth noting that lunch in France can start only at 20 pm. The French have breakfast early in the morning, and then, mainly in a cafe, eating a portion of croutons with jam or croissants with coffee. At home, the French do not like to have breakfast, and why, when fresh baked goods, aromatic coffee are already waiting in the cafe, and the morning coolness invigorates. In addition, there is time to read the latest press, bought at a nearby stall.

Code of Conduct in France

The French are extremely "correct" people, they, first of all, respect etiquette, correct and polite treatment of each other, observance of the rules of decency in society. We can say that the French are even more prim than the British.

For example, the French chuckle at the untied and rustic behavior of American tourists, the British chuckle for the fact that their style of dress is usually casual.

The French are devoted to their country and culture, and cannot tolerate the fact that English is accepted as the world's language of communication. They love their native language, so if a tourist wants to make a good impression, he should learn a couple of common phrases in French.

A tourist should remember that lunch in France starts at 20-00 in the evening, so it is extremely difficult to come to a cafe, bar or restaurant at this time and find an empty seat. In order to sit in a cozy cafe in the evening, you should book a table in advance. It is known that the French are in no hurry to eat, so lunch can easily drag on for a couple of hours, flowing into dinner.

Although the French are benevolent, they do not speak to strangers, do not look directly in the eyes when talking to a stranger. In public places in France, it is not customary to smile at the person you see for the first time. If a tourist needs help, there are always many police officers on the streets of the city who can help. When starting a conversation, or addressing a policeman, seller, or other stranger, you should definitely say hello, and only then voice your request.

Tipping in France is special. It is not customary to allocate tip to a separate account. As a rule, 10-15% of the bill is a tip, which must be added to the total check. For example, drinking a cup of coffee at the bar will be much cheaper than at the table. And sitting at a table on the street will be 20% more expensive. If the waiter brought you change in the form of coins, then according to the rules of etiquette, you should not take the coins for yourself.

Things to do in France

The phrase "see Paris and die" actually limits the tourist's options. In addition to Paris and the Eiffel Tower, France has plenty of scenic and fascinating places to visit. Here you can find entertainment to your liking, from dining in a gourmet restaurant to mineral springs in a wellness boarding house.

In France, beach holidays on the seaside are well developed. It will be comfortable for young people, families with children, including small ones. It should be noted that beaches and resorts differ from each other, sometimes quite noticeably. On one beach you will be calm and comfortable, there will not be a large crowd of tourists, the other beach will delight you with a long and gentle entrance to the sea, which is very convenient for those who come with small children or cannot swim, other beaches will be specialized exclusively for young people with noisy night parties. And those who love outdoor activities will definitely find a beach for themselves.

Ski resorts in France are considered the best in the world, and the atmosphere of sophistication is preserved here. For example, the most fashionable and expensive ski resort in the country is Courchevel. Many celebrities rest here. Alpe d'Huez is a ski resort with a high European level. Here you can relax and go skiing and snowboarding even in summer. Chamonix is ​​one of the oldest ski resorts in France. The longest trail is located here, which is called the "White Valley".

In France, you can enjoy not only ski resorts and beach "lazy" rest, but also spend time with benefits for your own health. There are several health resorts and boarding houses in France, where you can not only relax, but also improve the overall tone of the body, and prevent various diseases. The most famous and popular health resorts among tourists are Evian-les-Bains, Brittany, Vichy.

As entertainment in France, you can go on numerous excursions: sightseeing tours around the city, in several cities by bus. Out-of-town picnics, excursions to French villages, etc. Drive through the tourist sites of Normandy, the Côte d'Azur, Brittany, taste French cheeses and wines in Burgundy.

Difference in time

What's the time difference with France? It all depends on what time zone the tourist is in at a given time. The most convenient thing is to look at the map of time zones, find your city and city in France, where you are going to go. Thanks to the Internet, it became easier than ever to find out about the time difference between countries and cities. An important factor in a trip is the time difference, since many tourists, due to the individual reaction of the body, find it difficult to adapt to a sharp change in the time zone.

The time difference between Moscow and Paris is -2 hours
Time difference between Novosibirsk and Paris -5 hours

Flight time to France

Sometimes the question "how long to fly to France" interests tourists more than the question of what to take with them on a trip. Many of us react sharply to a change of environment, change of time zone, climate. And everyone has a very individual reaction to the duration of the flight. Most often, due to a long flight, fatigue, general weakness, drowsiness occurs, but at the same time, a complete lack of sleep, irritability. This is very clearly observed in children. The flight time to France from Moscow is not so long, so for three hours it is worth stocking up on books, newspapers, taking a music player with you, or a laptop with films.

The flight time to Paris from Moscow will be about 3 hours 50 minutes
The flight time to Paris from St. Petersburg will be about 3 hours 40 minutes