Tour de France

France are the World and European football champions, so it’s no surprise that French children love football. However, cycling is also a very popular sport in France, and many people dream of competing in the Tour de France, the most famous and difficult cycling race in the world.


Ever since 1903, the Tour de France has wound its way through France for three weeks each July. Each day the riders cover hundreds of kilometres, through towns, villages and cities, over hills and high mountains, and into neighbouring countries such as Spain, Italy and Belgium. The toughest stages of the race are when it passes through France’s two biggest mountain ranges – the Alps and the Pyrenees. French people love the Tour de France, and they stand by the sides of the road in their hundreds to watch and support the riders as they speed past. Some supporters even paint the names of their favourite cyclists on the road!

The first race in 1903 saw 60 riders travelling 2,500km on fairly basic bicycles. There were only six stages and no convenient breaks for sleep - competitors were expected to ride through the night! Today, about 150 riders take part in the race. They have the very latest bikes, and complete 20 stages – a total of nearly 3,500km. The leader of the race wears a yellow jersey, while the person who rides fastest in the mountains is called King of the Mountains, and wears a polka dot jersey.


Food

French food is regarded as the finest in the world. The French are world famous for their haute cuisine – the type of cooking done in restaurants and hotels. It is rarely practised in daily life, mainly because of the cost of the fine ingredients and the time it takes to prepare the dishes properly. For this reason, French home cooking tends to be simpler, but can be just as delicious.



Different regions of France have their own specialities, made using local produce. The region of Burgundy is famous for Boeuf Bourguignon, a rich beef and vegetable stew that is loved all over the world. Quiche Lorraine is another French recipe that is popular outside France too. You’ve probably tried it, but did you know that it is named after the Lorraine region in eastern France? Coastal areas like Brittany and Normandy specialise in seafood dishes made from freshly caught shellfish like prawns and mussels. These dishes are so popular that people go on holiday there just to enjoy the food!


Other areas of France produce some more unusual recipes. The Calvados region in the north of France has been making famous dishes using tripe since the 16th century. Tripe is the stomach lining of an Ox! Provence in the south of France goes one step further with a recipe called Pieds Paquet de Moutons – sheep’s feet! And what about frogs’ legs and snails?!

The French don’t only like eating ‘fancy food’ – bread is a real favourite too, and is eaten with most meals. Most French bread comes as a long crusty loaf called a baguette. Baguettes are bought fresh every morning from the boulangerie – French for bakery – and eaten that day before they go stale.

A lot of people from North Africa and Asia have moved to live in France, and their recipes are also very popular, adding to the huge variety and high quality of food available. It’s not surprising that the French eat less ‘fast food’ than other European countries!

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