Mixed France Trivia

1. Who, in 1790, is credited with the first reference to France's motto of Liberté, Egalité Fraternité?

From Quiz Vive La Belle France!

Answer: Maximilien Robespierre

Although the idea of 'liberty, equality and fraternity' wasn't new, Robespierre is believed to have used the phrase in a speech of 1790. He proposed that the motto be used on uniforms and the flag. A revised version was used, adding the words 'or death', a threat which was carried out during the French Revolution. Robespierre himself became a victim of the guillotine in 1794.

From Quiz La Douce France

Answer: Coco Chanel

Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel (1883-1971, although she has given other dates of birth) was placed in an orphanage in 1895, where she learned the basic trade of a seamstress. She tried her luck at singing, but her voice apparently was not good enough to pursue a career in music. In 1906 she became the love interest of Etienne Balsan, a wealthy textile heir. To spend her free time usefully, she started designing hats, and in 1910 Chanel opened her first shop in Paris. Her second lover, Arthur Capel, financed a clothing shop in Deauville. In 1926 Chanel published a design of a simple cocktail dress, black and reaching just above the knee. She named it the "little black dress" and unconfirmed rumours state that she uttered the words "Every woman should have a little black dress". The iconic LBD (as the little black dress was soon abbreviated) has since inspired many fashion designers. One of the best known examples was the LBD designed by Givenchy for Audrey Hepburn to wear in the movie "Breakfast at Tiffany's". Chanel did not only design clothing and accessories, but is also known for the perfumes she sold - especially "No. 5". Pierre Cardin (born 1922) started a fashion house in 1950. He prefers geometric motifs. Christian Dior (1905-1957) was another famous French fashion designer. He launched the "New Look" in 1947. Yves Saint-Laurent (1936-2008) was another successful French fashion designer. He introduced the Beatnik style.

From Quiz 'Allo 'Allo? Francophilia; a Clandestine Love

Answer: Édouard Manet

Manet was no stranger to controversy having raised more than a few eyebrows with his "Le déjeuner sur l'herbe", exhibited in 1863 at the Salon des Refusés, alongside an equally shocking painting by James Whistler. The modern viewer is more than likely bemused by the hullabaloo, and wonders what can have been so shocking about the painting, female nudes apparently being de rigueur in art history, but certain motifs have to be looked into to realize what upset the critics and public of the time. Manet more than hinted at Titian's "Venus" (which, by the way was equally controversial), who looks like a subservient woman waiting for her male admirer to woo (or possibly just take pleasure in) her, yet Manet's "Olympia" casts a powerful and self-confident glance at the spectator. She is clearly a prostitute, but a woman in the driving seat of her destiny. Ingres was from a slightly different era, but might have seen "Olympia" as he died a couple of years later. Ingres' nemesis, Delacroix, would have missed it, having died a couple of years previously.

From Quiz The Great Mobylette Voyage of 1980

Answer: Montpellier

Montpellier's university was founded in 1220. The medical school is the oldest medical school still in operation in the world. I was enrolled in the Universite Paul Valery, which is named after poet Paul Valery. During the time of the plague, in order to keep the city safe, the citizens of Montpellier made a candle which was long enough to circle the city walls. I don't know if it was effective or not, nor if it was burned.

From Quiz Vive La Belle France!

Answer: Montreal

Mary was born in 1975, with her father being an American, which is why her name is not immediately recognisable as French. Her mother was a Frenchwoman, though, and Mary can claim to be a citizen of three countries - USA, France and Canada. During her career, Mary won two major championships, the Australian Open in 1995 and the French Open in 2000.

From Quiz La Douce France

Answer: Loire

France has a surface area of 643,801 km², of which the European part covers about 551,500 km². Indeed, we should not forget that France still has five overseas departments, of which French Guyana is the largest. The Loire is about 1,013 km long and runs fully in the European territory of France. Alongside the Loire and its tributaries, we find many beautiful castles, as well as many famous vineyards. The Loire ends in the Atlantic Ocean near Saint-Nazaire. The most important cities on the Loire are Orleans, Tours and Nantes. Between Tours and Nantes there is a quite large national park ("Parc Naturel Régional Loire-Anjou-Touraine"). Noteworthy castles on the Loire are Chäteau d'Amboise, Château de Chambord, Chenonceau. The Seine is about 777 km long and flows through Paris, the French capital. The Rhine has its origin in Switzerland. It passes through Germany, forms part of the German-French border, and continues through the Netherlands to the North Sea. The total length of the Rhine is circa 1,230 km. The Maroni River forms the border between Suriname and French Guyana and mouths in the Caribbean Sea. Different sources give different lengths, form 520 km up to 725 km (according to which headwater is to be included).

From Quiz Lost in Paris

Answer: Shakespeare and Company

Shakespeare and Company is one of Paris' best known English language bookshops. It was here that James Joyce's "Ulysses" was published in the 1920s.

From Quiz The Great Mobylette Voyage of 1980

Answer: Carcassonne

From Montpellier, I travelled west along the Canal du Midi to Carcassonne, where I spent the night. Carcassonne is effectively divided into two towns. The medieval city sits atop a hill overlooking the Aude, while the newer city is below, on both sides of the river. The walls surrounding the ancient city of Carcassonne were restored by the French architect, Viollet-le-Duc, who also worked on restorations of Paris' Notre Dame cathedral and the Sainte-Chapelle, among others.

From Quiz Vive La Belle France!

Answer: Fire

The tunnel links France and Italy and runs for around seven miles (eleven kilometres). In March 1999, a lorry laden with margarine caught fire in the tunnel, with the driver being unable to extinguish the flames. Many vehicles and their drivers were trapped, with the death toll eventually reaching around forty (reports of numbers vary) including a fireman.

From Quiz La Douce France

Answer: Louis the Young

Louis VII the Young (1120-1180) ascended to the throne when his father, Louis VI the Fat (born 1081) died. Louis VII is best known for his marriage with Eleanor of Aquitaine (1122-1204), whom he married just a few days before his father died and he was crowned king. In 1147 Louis VII went on crusade, but did not reach Jerusalem, his set goal. Louis and Eleanor quarrelled quite a lot about this crusade, its goal and its cost, and Louis decided to have his marriage to Eleanor annulled - also because she had not given him a male heir. Eleanor remarried to the future King Henry II of England, and this caused quite a controversy about the Aquitaine region: did it belong to France (as a result of Eleanor's first marriage) or to England (resulting from Eleanor's second marriage)? The conflict would in later generations expand to the Hundred Years War. Louis IX (1214-1270, reigned since 1226) is known in history as Louis the Saint. Indeed, he was canonized by the Roman Catholic Church in 1297. Louis X (1289-1316) became French King in 1314. He had many feuds with the regional nobility, hence his nickname Louis the Quarreler. Louis X died in July 1316 when he drank cold wine after a game of tennis. Historians claim his successor was his posthumous born son Jean I, but as Jean died after only five days, this claim is disputable. Louis XIV (1638-1715) became King in 1643. His nickname Louis the Sun King is probably due to his role as the Sun in one of the ballets performed at court: Louis XIV loved ballet, and in his young years danced several roles in several productions.

From Quiz 'Allo 'Allo? Francophilia; a Clandestine Love

Answer: Zinedine Zidane

The match was Zinedine Zidane's last ever match. He was allegedly insulted by Italian defender Marco Materazzi, and decided to ram him like a goat. It livened up a dull game that Italy won on penalties despite the goalkeepers not saving a single shot. In fact it was French striker David Trezeguet's fluffing of his shot that won the game. Trezeguet played for Italian team Juventus at the time, as did Italy's keeper, Buffon. The Italians are incredibly proud of winning the 2006 World Cup, but truth be told, it was one of the most lacklustre tournaments in recent history. The Italians were going through a period of football scandals involving referees being bribed, and see the victory as having cleared their name to some extent. However, the fact that they progressed to the later stages of the tournament thanks to a penalty given for a dive by Fabio Grosso in the closing moments of a game against Australia undermines the claim somewhat. Eric Cantona played back in the day when if you were abused in a way that you felt was over the line, you dealt with it, and he certainly did when a Crystal Palace fan allegedly abused him verbally. Cantona launched into a kung-fu kick that smacked said fan in the face as the French star was leaving the pitch after being sent off. Despite playing for one of the most hated clubs in England at the time (Manchester United), he won the overwhelming respect of fans nationwide.

From Quiz A Bit About France

Answer: Édith Piaf

Édith Piaf (1915-63) was widely seen as the greatest French singer, mainly known for her ballads. She was portrayed by Marion Cotillard in "La Vie En Rose". Francis Cabrel is known for singing songs such as "Je t'aimais, Je t'aime et Je t'aimerai", Charles Trenet is known for "La Mer", and Carla Bruni is married to French president Nicolas Sarkozy.

From Quiz Vive La Belle France!

Answer: Marseille

Marseille is France's oldest city, with its history dating from 600 BC, or thereabouts, when it was settled by Greeks from Asia Minor, now part of Turkey. Being on France's south coast, on the Mediterranean Sea, Marseille was within easy reach of other cities located on the Med. In modern times, Marseille remains one of France's most important trading ports.

From Quiz La Douce France

Answer: Camembert

De Gaulle would once have sighed "How can anyone govern a country with 246 different kinds of cheese?". In another quote the number was altered to 265, and recent lists may show France has even more varieties of cheese. The original Camembert was made with raw (unpasteurized) milk, but gradually this was replaced with pasteurized cow's milk - at least for the cheaper versions, for the AOC Camembert (Appelation d'Origine Contrôlée - the most important quality label for French cheese) must still be made using raw milk. The production of Camembert takes several steps: first the milk is heated and injected with some bacteria, then rennet is added to dry the cheese. After ripening 48 hours, the cheese is then again moisturized with a fungus from the Penicillum family, and further matured for three weeks. It is then packed in round wooden boxes. Roquefort is made from sheep's milk and comes from the region Midi- Pyrenées. Chevrotin is made from goat's milk in the regions Savoie and Haute-Savoie (near the Alps). Munster is made from cow's milk in the regions Alsace, Lorraine and Franche-Comté (border with Germany and Switzerland).

From Quiz The Great Mobylette Voyage of 1980

Answer: brick

Like the cathedral of Toulouse, Albi's cathedral is built of brick. It looks more like a fortress than a church from the outside. Inside, though, it's sumptuously decorated. Near the cathedral is the palace of the Bishop of Albi, which has been converted into a museum honoring Toulouse-Lautrec. Among his artworks and other memorabilia, you will find his cane, which conceals a flask and a small goblet for his absinthe.

From Quiz Vive La Belle France!

Answer: Tallest ever built

The bridge still qualifies as the world's tallest at the time of writing this quiz in 2020. This should not be confused with it being the highest - the tallest refers to the overall height of the viaduct from the ground to its highest point, although it is quite a long way above the ground. The design was a joint effort between Norman Foster, an English architect, and a French civil engineer named Michel Virlogeux. Far from taking an age to build, construction took only a little over three years, with the viaduct opening ahead of schedule.

From Quiz La Douce France

Answer: Auguste Rodin

The Directory for the Fine Arts wanted to build a new museum in 1880, and have the entrance decorated by a huge sculpture. The deadline for the entrance and for the museum was 1885, but the museum was never built and the entrance was only partially completed at the death of the sculptor. It was Auguste Rodin (1840-1917) who received the commission for this entrance. He entitled it "The Gates of Hell" ("La porte de l'enfer") and was inspired by Ghiberti's "Gates of Paradise" (in Florence) and by Dante's "Divina Commedia". Rodin had already designed "The Thinker" ("Le penseur") as a separate statue: a nude man sitting with his head resting on one hand, and staring into nothingness. From the placement of this statue on the top frieze of the "Gates of Hell", next to the famous quote "Lasciate ogni speranza, voi ch'entrate", we deduce that Rodin probably has intended to depict Dante as "Le penseur". "The Gates of Hell" is about 6 by 4 m, and at least 180 figures are depicted. But as it was not completed, we'll never know how many more figures Rodin wanted to include. Auguste Rodin was one of the outstanding French sculptors, who worked mostly in cast bronze. Besides "The Gates of Hell" and several statues included in this gate, he also created "The Burghers of Calais" - depicting a dramatic episode, when the six most important citizens had to render the city's keys to the English, and were condemned to be executed in order to spare the rest of the population. De Court (active 1555-1585) was a French decorator who painted on enamel. Louis Garnier (1639-1728) and Pierre-Philippe Thomire (1751-1843) were French sculptors. Garnier worked primarily with cast bronze, while Thomire enhanced bronze decorations with a layer of gilding.

From Quiz Lost in Paris

Answer: Police Nationale

Paris and big French cities are treated differently to smaller towns in France. The Gendarmerie are the force around the country but not as much in the big cities.

From Quiz 'Allo 'Allo? Francophilia; a Clandestine Love

Answer: Charles de Gaulle

Charles de Gaulle led the Free French Forces during World War II and broadcast invigorating speeches from London, urging the French to rise up against the occupying German forces. He was highly-influential in the defeat of Nazi Germany, but has historically been given a back-seat by middlebrow war historians due to his caustic relations with both the UK and the USA following the war, possibly due to his fierce patriotism, displayed in his support of Quebec separatism and communist China.

From Quiz The Great Mobylette Voyage of 1980

Answer: Bergerac

Though Cyrano was a historic person, and was known for his duels and other accomplishments, Rostand's play is very heavily fictionalized. Bergerac, in the Dordogne, is famous for its wines as well as for Cyrano, and was a lovely place to stop for lunch.

From Quiz Vive La Belle France!

Answer: Provence

Provence is located in south-eastern France, bordering Italy and the River Rhone, and with a coastline on the Mediterranean Sea. Mention of the name conjures up the image of swathes of lavender fields to many people, with the period from mid June to mid July being the time to see them in flower. Lavender is used in perfumes, essential oils and cookery, to name just a few of the reasons it is grown.

From Quiz La Douce France

Answer: Jean-Luc Godard

"A bout de souffle" (1960) is a movie about a petty thief (named Poiccard, played by Jean-Paul Belmondo) who accidentally kills a policeman while stealing a car. Together with his American girlfriend (played by Jean Seberg) Poiccard tries to flee France in the stolen car. Jean-Luc Godard (born 1930) started his career as a movie critic correspondent for "Les cahiers du cinema" and a few short movies. "A bout de souffle" was his first full-feature film, and an iconic example of the French Nouvelle Vague: avant-gardist movies with techniques that at that time were still unused, expressing the personal point of view of the director... Godard would continue his career with remarkable movies such as "Le mépris" (1963), "Weekend" (1967), "Je vous salue, Marie" (1985) and "Adieu au Langage" (2014). Truffaut (1932-1984), Chabrol (1930-2010) and Resnais (1922-2014) were other French directors connected to the Nouvelle Vague. I'll mention some movies of each of them: "Les 400 coups" (1959) and "Le dernier métro" (1980) by Truffaut; "Le beau Serge" (1958) and "L'ivresse du pouvoir" (2006) by Chabrol; "Hiroshima mon amour" (1959) and "Mon oncle d'Amérique" (1980) by Resnais.

From Quiz Lost in Paris

Answer: Le Procope

Founded in 1686, this restaurant goes back to the era of Louis XIV, the Sun King. Voltaire, Balzac and Victor Hugo all dined here in what was the main literary cafe of its era.

From Quiz The Great Mobylette Voyage of 1980

Answer: truffle

Cahors has been inhabited since the Bronze Age. It houses the remains of a Roman amphitheater, as well as many medieval buildings. One of the most famous buildings is the fortified bridge, le Pont Valentre, which was built during the Hundred Years War. The Cahors region produces a very dark red wine, mostly made from the malbec grape, which is called the black wine of Cahors.

From Quiz Vive La Belle France!

Answer: Leonardo da Vinci

Leonardo da Vinci spent the last few years of his life in France, under the patronage of King Francis I. Among the king's residences was the Château d'Amboise, in the valley of the River Loire, and da Vinci was given use of a large manor house nearby. He died in 1519 at the age of sixty-seven. Picasso died in Mougins, near Cannes, Monet died in Giverny and van Gogh in Auvers-sur-Oise, near Paris.

From Quiz La Douce France

Answer: Sully Prudhomme

Prudhomme (1839-1907) was a poet and essayist, best known for the poem "La vase brisé" ("The broken vase"). After winning the Nobel Prize in 1901, Prudhomme founded the "Société des poètes français" (society of French poets) to stimulate poetry in the French language. This organization publishes a quarterly newsletter and collections of (mostly contemporary) poetry. It also has its own bookshop. Rolland (1866-1944) won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1915. He was a novelist, best known for the Decalogue "Jean Christophe". Anatole France (1844-1924) won the Nobel Prize in 1921. He wrote poetry, prose fiction, theatre plays, critic works... I'll just name one of his novels: "Thaïs" (1890). Bergson (1859-1941) was a philosopher. He won the Nobel Prize in 1927. One of the highlights in his oeuvre is the treatise "Matière et mémoire" published in 1896. Other French Nobel Prize winners in the category Literature include André Gide (1869-1951), Albert Camus (1913-1960), Jean-Paul Sartre (1905-1980) and Patrick Modiano (born 1945). During the Twentieth Century, French authors won the Nobel Prize for literature fourteen times, more than any other country.

From Quiz Vive La Belle France!

Answer: South America

With Brazil and Suriname as its neighbours, French Guiana has a coastline on the Atlantic Ocean. It is officially part of the French Republic, with its capital at Cayenne. French Guiana is home to France's spaceport, the European Space Agency. The infamous Devil's Island, used for holding prisoners in a place from which they were unlikely to escape, is located off the coast of French Guiana. It now has rather happier visitors as a popular tourist destination.

From Quiz La Douce France

Answer: Gilbert Bécaud

Bécaud (1927-2001) was born under the name François Gilbert Léopold Silly. His best known numbers in French are "Nathalie" (1964) and "Et maintenant" (1961). His swinging style was quite catchy: one source mentions that the audience at one of his concerts started to move with him, and thus broke the seats of the theatre. The source does not mention who paid the bill for the damages. Besides singing and song writing, Bécaud took up some acting as well. He appeared in at least eight movies, including "Girl on the Road" (1962). Gainsbourg (1928-1991) is best known for his duet with Jane Birkin: "Je t'aime - moi non plus". Brassens (1921-1981) was a French folk singer. One of his songs is "Brave Margot", about a young girl breastfeeding a kitten. Dutronc (born 1943) took up singing in 1960. One of his recognisable songs is "Il est cinq heures - Paris s'éveille".

From Quiz Lost in Paris

Answer: Velib

The name is a mixture of the word for bike Velo and the word for freedom Liberte. It is a lovely way to see Paris if you take care.

From Quiz 'Allo 'Allo? Francophilia; a Clandestine Love

Answer: Cider

Brittany is in the northwest of France, and is considered as one of the six Celtic nations. It has managed to retain some of the traditions, such as producing cider, traditional music, and to a certain extent the Breton and the Gallo languages. Cider is local fare, and is served in weird little cups. Beer is traditional. Whisky-making has also taken off, becoming a flourishing industry, with some well-respected brews coming from the area. Escargot is a French dish, which involves snails, usually cooked in a tasty garlic and butter sauce.

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Last Updated Nov 01 2025 5:51 AM

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