French civic exam — guide in English › Official questions › History, geography and culture
History, geography and culture: the official questions of the French civic exam
141 knowledge questions published by the Ministry of the Interior on “History, geography and culture”: CSP47 for the carte de séjour pluriannuelle, CR49 for the carte de résident, NAT76 for naturalisation. On exam day this theme is worth 8 of the 40 questions.
- NATn° 126
Parmi ces textes, lequel a été adopté sous Napoléon Ier ?
- Le Code civil
- La Constitution de 1958
- La loi de 1905
- La Déclaration des droits de l'homme et du citoyen
Good to know: The Code civil was promulgated on 21 March 1804 under Napoléon Bonaparte, then First Consul, hence its name Code Napoléon. Full explanation →
- NATn° 127
Qui a été président de la Ve République ?
- Napoléon III
- Georges Clemenceau
- Léon Blum
- François Mitterrand
Good to know: François Mitterrand was président of the Ve République from 1981 to 1995, the longest term under this regime founded in 1958 by Charles de Gaulle. Full explanation →
- NATn° 128
Que signifie la date du 14 juillet pour les Français ?
- L'abolition de la monarchie en 1848
- La fête nationale, qui commémore la prise de la Bastille en 1789
- La naissance de Napoléon
- La fin de la Seconde Guerre mondiale
Good to know: 14 July has been the national holiday since 1880. Full explanation →
- NATn° 129
Lequel de ces pays est un pays fondateur de l'Union Européenne ?
- L’Espagne
- La France
- La Pologne
- La Grèce
Good to know: France is one of the six founding countries of European integration, together with Germany, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg, signatories of the Treaty of Paris (CECA, 1951) and then the traité de Rome (1957). Full explanation →
- NATn° 130
Dans quelle région est située une partie des plages du débarquement ayant permis d'engager la libération de la France ?
- En Provence
- En Bretagne
- Dans les Hauts-de-France
- En Normandie
Good to know: The D-Day landing beaches of 6 June 1944 (Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno and Sword) are in Normandy, in the Calvados and Manche départements. Full explanation →
- NATn° 131
Dans quelle ville les rois de France étaient-ils couronnés ?
- À Reims
- À Versailles
- À Orléans
- À Paris
Good to know: The kings of France were crowned in the cathedral of Notre-Dame de Reims, from the baptism of Clovis around 496 to the coronation of Charles X in 1825. Full explanation →
- NATn° 132
Quel roi de France a été guillotiné pendant la Révolution française ?
- Henri IV
- Louis XVI
- Charles X
- Louis XIV
Good to know: Louis XVI was guillotined on 21 January 1793, on the place de la Révolution (today the place de la Concorde), after the proclamation of the Ire République in September 1792. Full explanation →
- CSPn° 114 NATn° 133
En quelle année a débuté la Révolution française?
- 1815
- 1799
- 1789
- 1848
Good to know: The French Revolution began in 1789: the meeting of the États généraux in May, the Tennis Court Oath (serment du Jeu de paume) on 20 June, the storming of the Bastille on 14 July and the Déclaration des droits de l'homme et du… Full explanation →
- CRn° 131 NATn° 134
En quelle année Napoléon Ier est-il devenu empereur ?
- 1804
- 1789
- 1815
- 1799
Good to know: Napoleon Bonaparte became Emperor of the French in 1804: he was proclaimed emperor in May and crowned on 2 December 1804 at Notre-Dame de Paris, in the presence of the Pope. Full explanation →
- CRn° 132 NATn° 135
Lequel de ces personnages a un lien avec la République française ?
- Charles de Gaulle
- Napoléon III
- François Ier
- Louis XVI
Good to know: Charles de Gaulle is closely linked to the French Republic: leader of Free France after his appeal of 18 June 1940, he led the Provisional Government at the Liberation, then founded the Fifth Republic in 1958, of which he was the… Full explanation →
- CRn° 133 NATn° 136
De quand date l'appel à la résistance du général de Gaulle ?
- 8 mai 1945
- 18 juin 1940
- 14 juillet 1940
- 11 novembre 1918
Good to know: General de Gaulle's appeal to resist dates from 18 June 1940. Full explanation →
- CSPn° 118 NATn° 137
Qu'est-ce que la Shoah?
- Une révolution politique
- Une bataille de la Première Guerre mondiale
- L’extermination des Juifs par les nazis pendant la Seconde Guerre mondiale
- Un traité de paix européen
Good to know: The Shoah refers to the systematic extermination of around six million European Jews by Nazi Germany and its collaborators during the Second World War (1939-1945). Full explanation →
- NATn° 138
Quel pays a été une colonie française ?
- La Grèce
- La Turquie
- L'Algérie
- Le Brésil
Good to know: Algeria was colonised by France from 1830 and became independent in 1962, after an eight-year war and the accords d'Évian. Full explanation →
- CRn° 136 NATn° 139
Depuis quand les Français élisent-ils le président de la République au suffrage universel direct ?
- 1962
- 1946
- 1981
- 1958
Good to know: The French have elected the President of the Republic by direct universal suffrage since 1962: the constitutional revision sought by General de Gaulle was approved by referendum on 28 October 1962, and the first election under… Full explanation →
- NATn° 140
En quelle année l'Union européenne a-t-elle été fondée?
- En 1992, avec le traité de Maastricht
- En 1945
- En 2002
- En 1957
Good to know: The European Union was officially born with the traité de Maastricht (Maastricht Treaty), signed in 1992 and in force from 1993. Full explanation →
- CSPn° 121 NATn° 141
Quand a eu lieu la Seconde Guerre mondiale?
- De 1929 à 1933
- De 1945 à 1950
- De 1914 à 1918
- De 1939 à 1945
Good to know: The Second World War lasted from 1939 to 1945: it began on 1 September 1939 with Nazi Germany's invasion of Poland and ended in Europe on 8 May 1945, a date that has become a public holiday in France. Full explanation →
- CSPn° 122 NATn° 142
Quand a eu lieu la Première Guerre mondiale?
- De 1914 à 1918
- De 1920 à 1925
- De 1939 à 1945
- De 1905 à 1910
Good to know: The First World War lasted from 1914 to 1918: it began in July 1914 and ended with the armistice of 11 November 1918, still commemorated by a public holiday. Full explanation →
- NATn° 143
Sous quel président a été abolie la peine de mort en France ?
- Jacques Chirac
- François Mitterrand
- Valéry Giscard d'Estaing
- Charles de Gaulle
Good to know: The death penalty was abolished by the loi du 9 octobre 1981, under the presidency of François Mitterrand and at the initiative of his Minister of Justice (garde des Sceaux) Robert Badinter. Full explanation →
- NATn° 144
Que célèbre-t-on le 8 mai ?
- La victoire des Alliés et la fin de la Seconde Guerre mondiale en Europe, en 1945
- La fête du Travail
- L'armistice de 1918
- La prise de la Bastille
Good to know: 8 May commemorates the surrender of Nazi Germany on 8 May 1945, marking the victory of the Allies and the end of the Second World War in Europe. Full explanation →
- CRn° 137 NATn° 145
Quelle est la première étape de la construction européenne en 1951 ?
- La création de l’euro
- La création de la CECA
- Le traité de Maastricht
- Le traité de Rome
Good to know: The first step in European integration was the creation of the European Coal and Steel Community (CECA/ECSC) by the Treaty of Paris, signed on 18 April 1951 by six countries: France, West Germany, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands… Full explanation →
- CRn° 140 NATn° 146
Qui était une figure de la Résistance française pendant la Seconde Guerre mondiale ?
- Napoléon Bonaparte
- Philippe Pétain
- Louis XIV
- Jean Moulin
Good to know: Jean Moulin is a great figure of the Resistance: sent by General de Gaulle, he unified the movements of the internal resistance by founding the Conseil national de la Résistance in May 1943. Full explanation →
- CSPn° 124 NATn° 147
Le 11 novembre est un jour férié. À quoi correspond cette date?
- À l’armistice de la Première Guerre mondiale en 1918
- À la création de la République
- À la fin de la Seconde Guerre mondiale
- À la prise de la Bastille
Good to know: 11 November commemorates the armistice signed in 1918 at Rethondes, which ended the fighting of the First World War. Full explanation →
- NATn° 148
Depuis quand l'esclavage a-t-il été aboli en France ?
- Depuis 1789
- Depuis 1905
- Depuis 1945
- Depuis 1848
Good to know: Slavery has been definitively abolished in France since the decree of 27 April 1848, adopted by the IIe République at the initiative of Victor Schœlcher. Full explanation →
- NATn° 149
Qui a aboli l'esclavage en France ?
- Napoléon Ier
- Victor Schœlcher, par le décret du 27 avril 1848
- Charles de Gaulle
- Jules Ferry
Good to know: It was Victor Schœlcher, Under-Secretary of State for the Navy and the Colonies, who secured the adoption of the decree of 27 April 1848 abolishing slavery in all the French colonies. Full explanation →
- CSPn° 127 NATn° 150
Depuis quelle année l'école publique est-elle gratuite?
- 1905
- 1930
- 1881
- 1792
Good to know: State schools have been free since the loi du 16 juin 1881, the first of Jules Ferry's great school laws under the Third Republic. Full explanation →
- CRn° 141 NATn° 151
En 1944, qu'est-ce qui a changé pour les femmes ?
- Elles ont obtenu l’égalité salariale
- Elles ont obtenu le droit de vote
- Elles ont obtenu le droit de travailler
- Elles ont accédé à la présidence
Good to know: In 1944, women obtained the right to vote and to stand for election: the ordinance of 21 April 1944, signed by General de Gaulle in Algiers, made them voters and eligible for office on the same terms as men. Full explanation →
- NATn° 152
Quelle organisation a été créée en 1945 après la Seconde Guerre mondiale ?
- L’OTAN
- L’Union européenne
- L’Organisation des Nations unies (ONU)
- Le Conseil de l’Europe
Good to know: The United Nations Organisation (ONU) was created on 24 October 1945 by the Charter of San Francisco to maintain peace after the Second World War. Full explanation →
- NATn° 153
En quelle année l'euro est-il devenu la monnaie officielle de la France ?
- En 2007
- En 2002
- En 1992
- En 1999
Good to know: Euro coins and banknotes entered circulation on 1 January 2002, in 12 countries including France, replacing the franc in daily life. Full explanation →
- NATn° 154
Lors de la seconde guerre mondiale, à quelle date la ville de Paris a-t-elle été libérée ?
- Le 6 juin 1944
- Le 8 mai 1945
- Le 11 novembre 1918
- Le 25 août 1944
Good to know: Paris was liberated on 25 August 1944, after several days of uprising and the arrival of General Leclerc's 2e division blindée (2nd Armoured Division). Full explanation →
- NATn° 155
Quel était le principal port français impliqué dans la traite négrière au XVIIIe siècle ?
- Toulon
- Marseille
- Nantes
- Le Havre
Good to know: Nantes was the leading French slave-trading port in the 18th century: nearly half of all slave-trading expeditions set out from its quays for Africa and then the West Indies. Full explanation →
- NATn° 156
Quel célèbre philosophe des Lumières a dénoncé l'esclavage ?
- Montesquieu
- Napoléon Bonaparte
- Louis XIV
- Richelieu
Good to know: Montesquieu, an Enlightenment philosopher and author of "De l'esprit des lois" (1748), denounced slavery with a famous piece of irony that dismantled the arguments of its supporters. Full explanation →
- CRn° 169 NATn° 157
Quel peintre est français ?
- Claude Monet
- Salvador Dalí
- Frida Kahlo
- Pablo Picasso
Good to know: Claude Monet is a French painter, the leading figure of Impressionism: his painting Impression, soleil levant (Impression, Sunrise), painted in 1872, gave the movement its name, and his Nymphéas (Water Lilies), created in his… Full explanation →
- NATn° 158
Quel plat est une spécialité de la cuisine française ?
- Le sushi
- La paella
- Le bœuf bourguignon
- La pizza
Good to know: Bœuf bourguignon, beef slow-cooked in red Burgundy wine, is an emblematic dish of French cuisine, like cassoulet, ratatouille or quiche lorraine. Full explanation →
- NATn° 159
Qui était Marie Curie ?
- Une chanteuse
- Une femme politique
- Une peintre
- Une physicienne et chimiste, deux fois lauréate du prix Nobel
Good to know: Marie Curie, born in Poland and naturalised French, was a physicist and chemist who discovered polonium and radium. Full explanation →
- NATn° 160
Qui a peint "La liberté guidant le peuple" ?
- Pablo Picasso
- Eugène Delacroix
- Jacques-Louis David
- Claude Monet
Good to know: "La Liberté guidant le peuple" was painted by Eugène Delacroix in 1830 to celebrate the Trois Glorieuses, the July Revolution of 1830. Full explanation →
- NATn° 161
Dans quel grand musée parisien est exposée la Joconde ?
- Au château de Versailles
- Au Centre Pompidou
- Au musée d'Orsay
- Au musée du Louvre
Good to know: Leonardo da Vinci's Joconde (Mona Lisa) is on display at the musée du Louvre in Paris, the most visited museum in the world. Full explanation →
- NATn° 162
Quel château célèbre se trouve près de Paris et symbolise le pouvoir royal de Louis XIV ?
- Le château de Vincennes
- Le château de Fontainebleau
- Le château de Versailles
- Le château de Chambord
Good to know: The château de Versailles, about twenty kilometres from Paris, was transformed by Louis XIV, the Sun King, who moved the court and the government there in 1682. Full explanation →
- NATn° 163
Où peut-on voir des peintures préhistoriques en France ?
- Dans la grotte de Lascaux
- Au Mont-Saint-Michel
- Au musée du Louvre
- Au château de Versailles
Good to know: The grotte de Lascaux (Lascaux cave), in the Dordogne (Nouvelle-Aquitaine region), is the most famous prehistoric cave in France: its cave paintings date from between 18,000 and 15,000 years before Christ. Full explanation →
- NATn° 164
Quel peintre célèbre a peint les Nymphéas ?
- Claude Monet
- Paul Cézanne
- Auguste Renoir
- Pablo Picasso
Good to know: The Nymphéas (Water Lilies) are a series of nearly 250 canvases painted by Claude Monet, the leading figure of Impressionism, in his garden at Giverny in Normandy. Full explanation →
- NATn° 165
Pendant quelles journées peut-on visiter gratuitement des lieux culturels en France ?
- Pendant les Journées européennes du patrimoine, en septembre
- Le 14 juillet
- Le 1er mai
- Pendant les vacances de Noël
Good to know: The Journées européennes du patrimoine (European Heritage Days) take place every year in September: museums, monuments, ministries and places normally closed to the public open their doors exceptionally and free of charge. Full explanation →
- NATn° 166
Que symbolise le 1er mai ?
- L'armistice de 1918
- La fête nationale
- La fête du Travail
- La victoire de 1945
Good to know: 1 May is the fête du Travail (Labour Day), or Workers' Day, a public holiday since 1947. Full explanation →
- NATn° 167
Qui était Monsieur Rouget de Lisle ?
- Un peintre impressionniste
- Un général de la Seconde Guerre mondiale
- L'auteur de la Marseillaise
- Un président de la République
Good to know: Claude Joseph Rouget de Lisle, an engineering officer, composed the "Chant de guerre pour l'armée du Rhin" in Strasbourg in 1792; it became La Marseillaise after being sung by the volunteers from Marseille. Full explanation →
- NATn° 168
À quelle occasion a été construite la Tour Eiffel ?
- La Libération de Paris
- L'Exposition universelle de 1889
- Le sacre de Napoléon
- Les Jeux olympiques de 1924
Good to know: The tour Eiffel (Eiffel Tower) was built by the engineer Gustave Eiffel for the Exposition universelle de 1889 (World's Fair), which celebrated the centenary of the French Revolution. Full explanation →
- CSPn° 146 NATn° 169
Quelle chaîne de montagnes est située entre la France et l'Italie?
- Les Vosges
- Les Pyrénées
- Le Massif central
- Les Alpes
Good to know: The Alps separate France from Italy and are home to Mont-Blanc, the highest mountain in France and in Europe at 4,810 metres; they are also renowned for their ski resorts. Full explanation →
- CSPn° 147 NATn° 170
Qui était Molière?
- Un roi de France
- Un peintre impressionniste
- Un philosophe antique
- Un dramaturge et écrivain français
Good to know: Molière (1622-1673) is the most famous French playwright, author of comedies such as Le Malade imaginaire, L'Avare, Tartuffe and Les Femmes savantes, performed during the reign of Louis XIV. Full explanation →
- CSPn° 148 NATn° 171
Qui était Charles Baudelaire?
- Un compositeur classique
- Un poète français
- Un scientifique
- Un homme politique
Good to know: Charles Baudelaire (1821-1867) was a French poet, author of Les Fleurs du mal (1857), a collection that earned him a trial for offending public morals and that profoundly shaped modern poetry. Full explanation →
- CSPn° 149 NATn° 172
Qui était George Sand?
- Une scientifique
- Un sculpteur moderne
- Un peintre de France
- Une écrivaine française
Good to know: George Sand (1804-1876), whose real name was Aurore Dupin, was a French novelist of the 19th century, known for her feminist commitments and for novels such as Indiana, Lélia and La Mare au diable. Full explanation →
- CSPn° 150 NATn° 173
Qui était Simone de Beauvoir?
- Une peintre
- Une résistante militaire
- Une philosophe et écrivaine française
- Une chanteuse lyrique
Good to know: Simone de Beauvoir (1908-1986) was a French philosopher and writer, a major figure of feminism with her essay Le Deuxième Sexe (1949), in which she wrote that "on ne naît pas femme, on le devient" (one is not born, but rather… Full explanation →
- CSPn° 151 NATn° 174
Qui était Albert Camus?
- Un homme politique
- Un explorateur
- Un écrivain et philosophe français
- Un musicien classique
Good to know: Albert Camus (1913-1960) was a French writer and philosopher born in Algeria, author of L'Étranger, La Peste and Le Mythe de Sisyphe. Full explanation →
- CRn° 168 NATn° 175
Qui était Marguerite Yourcenar ?
- Une reine de France
- Une peintre impressionniste
- Une écrivaine française et la première femme élue à l’Académie française
- Une scientifique contemporaine
Good to know: Marguerite Yourcenar (1903-1987) was a French writer of Belgian origin, born in Brussels and naturalised French, famous for her novel Mémoires d'Hadrien. Full explanation →
- CSPn° 152 NATn° 176
Qui était Paul Cézanne?
- Un peintre français
- Un écrivain réaliste
- Un architecte
- Un sculpteur
Good to know: Paul Cézanne (1839-1906) was a French painter from Aix-en-Provence, famous for his still lifes with apples and his many views of the montagne Sainte-Victoire. Full explanation →
- CRn° 171 NATn° 177
Qui était Auguste Rodin ?
- Un compositeur classique
- Un sculpteur français
- Un homme politique
- Un écrivain romantique
Good to know: Auguste Rodin was a French sculptor of the late 19th century, considered the father of modern sculpture. Full explanation →
- NATn° 178
Qui était un célèbre compositeur français ?
- Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
- Ludwig van Beethoven
- Claude Debussy
- Johann Sebastian Bach
Good to know: Claude Debussy (1862-1918) is one of the most famous French composers, author of "Clair de lune" and "La Mer". Full explanation →
- CRn° 176 NATn° 179
Qui était Auguste Renoir ?
- Un architecte
- Un écrivain réaliste
- Un sculpteur moderne
- Un peintre impressionniste français
Good to know: Auguste Renoir was a French Impressionist painter, famous for his scenes of Parisian life and his luminous portraits, such as the Bal du moulin de la Galette and Le Déjeuner des canotiers (Luncheon of the Boating Party)… Full explanation →
- CRn° 170 NATn° 180
Quel musée est situé à Paris ?
- Le musée du Louvre
- Le musée de l’Ermitage
- Le musée du Prado
- Le British Museum
Good to know: The Musée du Louvre is in Paris, in the former palace of the kings of France, on the banks of the Seine. Full explanation →
- NATn° 181
Quel monument historique se trouve sur une île en Normandie ?
- La cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris
- Le château de Chambord
- Le pont du Gard
- Le Mont-Saint-Michel
Good to know: The Mont-Saint-Michel is a medieval abbey built on a rocky islet in Normandy, in the bay of the same name, famous for its great tides. Full explanation →
- CRn° 164 NATn° 182
Quelle ville française fait partie des 10 plus grandes métropoles du pays ?
- Perpignan
- Marseille
- Reims
- Tours
Good to know: Marseille is one of the largest French cities: the Livret du citoyen lists, as of 1 January 2025, Paris, Lyon, Lille, Marseille, Toulouse, Bordeaux, Nantes, Nice and Strasbourg, cities of international standing. Full explanation →
- NATn° 183
Quelle île fait partie des Antilles françaises ?
- La Réunion
- Mayotte
- La Corse
- La Guadeloupe
Good to know: Guadeloupe is part of the French West Indies (Antilles françaises), in the Caribbean Sea, together with Martinique, Saint-Martin and Saint-Barthélemy. Full explanation →
- NATn° 184
Quelle île est française ?
- La Sardaigne
- Malte
- La Sicile
- La Corse
Good to know: Corsica has been French since 1768, when Genoa ceded it to France; Napoléon was born there, in Ajaccio, in 1769. Full explanation →
- NATn° 185
Quelle est la plus haute montagne de France ?
- Le pic du Midi
- Le puy de Dôme
- Le mont Ventoux
- Le mont Blanc
Good to know: Mont Blanc, in the Alps, in Haute-Savoie, rises to 4,810 metres: it is the highest mountain in France and in Europe. Full explanation →
- NATn° 186
Quelle île française est située dans l'océan indien ?
- La Guadeloupe
- La Réunion
- La Martinique
- La Corse
Good to know: La Réunion is a French island in the Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar, an overseas département and région whose chef-lieu (administrative capital) is Saint-Denis. Full explanation →
- NATn° 187
Quel département français a une frontière avec le Brésil ?
- La Réunion
- La Guadeloupe
- La Martinique
- La Guyane
Good to know: French Guiana (la Guyane), in South America, shares with Brazil France's longest land border, about 730 kilometres long, as well as a border with Suriname. Full explanation →
- NATn° 188
De quelle ville française décolle la fusée Ariane ?
- Brest
- Marseille
- Kourou, en Guyane
- Toulouse
Good to know: The Ariane rocket lifts off from the Centre spatial guyanais at Kourou, in French Guiana, Europe's launch base since 1968. Full explanation →
- CRn° 149 NATn° 189
Quelle mer ou océan borde la France métropolitaine ?
- L’océan Atlantique
- L’océan Indien
- L’océan Arctique
- L’océan Pacifique
Good to know: The Atlantic Ocean borders mainland France to the west, from Brittany to the Basque Country. Full explanation →
- CSPn° 140 NATn° 190
Quelle île est un département d'outre-mer français?
- La Sicile
- La Martinique
- La Corse
- La Sardaigne
Good to know: Martinique, in the Antilles, is one of the five overseas départements and regions, along with Guadeloupe, Guyane, La Réunion and Mayotte. Full explanation →
- NATn° 191
Qu'est-ce que la France d'outre-mer ?
- Les anciennes colonies françaises
- Les régions frontalières
- Les États membres de l’UE
- Les territoires français situés hors de l’Europe
Good to know: La France d'outre-mer (overseas France) refers to the 12 French territories located outside mainland France. Full explanation →
- CRn° 156 NATn° 192
Quelle est la population approximative de la France en 2025 ?
- Environ 120 millions
- Environ 68 millions d’habitants
- Environ 90 millions
- Environ 45 millions
Good to know: France has 68.6 million inhabitants in 2025, overseas territories included, on a territory of 675,000 km²; it is the second most populous country in the European Union after Germany. Full explanation →
- NATn° 193
Quel est le principal port maritime de France ?
- Marseille
- Bordeaux
- Nantes
- Strasbourg
Good to know: Marseille, founded by Greeks around 600 BC, is France's leading port by total volume of goods: its port stretches as far as Fos-sur-Mer, hence the name Marseille-Fos. Full explanation →
- CSPn° 141 NATn° 194
Combien y a-t-il de régions en France métropolitaine?
- 13
- 15
- 12
- 18
Good to know: Metropolitan France has had 13 regions since the territorial reform that took effect on 1 January 2016, which merged several former regions, for example into Occitanie or Grand Est. Full explanation →
- NATn° 195
Quelle île française se trouve au sud-est du continent africain ?
- La Corse
- La Réunion
- La Guadeloupe
- Tahiti
Good to know: La Réunion lies in the Indian Ocean, south-east of the African continent, near Madagascar and Mauritius. Full explanation →
- NATn° 196
Quel est le chef-lieu de la région Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes ?
- Clermont-Ferrand
- Grenoble
- Lyon
- Saint-Étienne
Good to know: Lyon is the chef-lieu (administrative capital) of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes région, created in 2016 from the merger of Auvergne and Rhône-Alpes. Full explanation →
- NATn° 197
Quel est le chef-lieu de la région Bretagne ?
- Brest
- Rennes
- Nantes
- Quimper
Good to know: Rennes is the chef-lieu (administrative capital) of the Bretagne région, seat of the conseil régional and of the préfecture de région. Full explanation →
- NATn° 198
Quel est le chef-lieu de la région Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur ?
- Marseille
- Toulon
- Nice
- Avignon
Good to know: Marseille is the chef-lieu (administrative capital) of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region, the second city of France by population and one of the country's largest seaports (Marseille-Fos). Full explanation →
- NATn° 199
Quel est le 101ème département français depuis 2011 ?
- La Réunion
- Mayotte
- La Guyane
- La Corse
Good to know: Mayotte, an island in the Indian Ocean in the Comoros archipelago, became France's 101st département on 31 March 2011, after a local referendum in 2009. Full explanation →
- NATn° 200
Quelle région française est réputée pour ses stations de ski ?
- Île-de-France
- Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
- Normandie
- Bretagne
Good to know: The Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes région is home to the great ski resorts of the Alps: Chamonix, Val d'Isère, Courchevel, Les Arcs and Tignes, around the mont Blanc and Savoie. Full explanation →
- CRn° 157 NATn° 201
Quel fleuve traverse Paris ?
- La Garonne
- La Loire
- Le Rhône
- La Seine
Good to know: The Seine flows through Paris from east to west; its banks, bridges and islands, the Île de la Cité and the Île Saint-Louis, are listed as Unesco World Heritage. Full explanation →
- CRn° 129
Quel était le surnom de Louis XIV ?
- Le Roi-Paysan
- Le Roi-Chevalier
- Le Roi-Citoyen
- Le Roi-Soleil
Good to know: Louis XIV was nicknamed the Roi-Soleil (Sun King). Full explanation →
- CRn° 130
Quel roi de France a été exécuté pendant la Révolution française ?
- Henri IV
- Charles X
- Louis XVI
- Louis XIV
Good to know: Louis XVI is the king executed during the French Revolution: condemned by the Convention, he was guillotined on 21 January 1793 in Paris, on what is now the Place de la Concorde, a few months after the proclamation of the First… Full explanation →
- CRn° 134
Pourquoi la Shoah est-elle étudiée à l'école ?
- Pour transmettre la mémoire et lutter contre le racisme et l’antisémitisme
- Pour glorifier une guerre
- Pour enseigner une religion
- Pour justifier une politique
Good to know: The Shoah, the genocide of six million European Jews by Nazi Germany and its accomplices, including the Vichy regime, is studied at school to pass on the memory of the victims and to fight racism, antisemitism and all forms of… Full explanation →
- CRn° 135
Quel pays a été colonisé par la France ?
- L’Algérie
- La Norvège
- La Pologne
- Le Japon
Good to know: Algeria was colonised by France from 1830 and was considered French territory, divided into départements, until its independence in 1962 after eight years of war, recognised by the Évian Accords. Full explanation →
- CRn° 138
Durant le mandat de quel président la peine de mort a-t-elle été abolie ?
- Jacques Chirac
- Charles de Gaulle
- François Mitterrand
- Georges Pompidou
Good to know: The death penalty was abolished under the presidency of François Mitterrand, elected in May 1981: the law of 9 October 1981, defended before Parliament by the Minister of Justice Robert Badinter, abolished this punishment. Full explanation →
- CRn° 139
Quel régime politique a été mis en place pendant la Révolution française en 1792 ?
- La Ve République
- La Première République
- La monarchie constitutionnelle
- L’Empire
Good to know: The First Republic was proclaimed on 22 September 1792 by the Convention nationale, the day after the abolition of the monarchy, following the fall of Louis XVI on 10 August 1792. Full explanation →
- CRn° 142
Quelle organisation internationale a été créée en 1945 après la Seconde Guerre mondiale ?
- L’Organisation des Nations unies (ONU)
- Le Conseil de l’Europe
- L’OTAN
- L’Union européenne
Good to know: The United Nations (ONU/UN) was created on 24 October 1945, at the end of the Second World War, to maintain international peace and security. Full explanation →
- CRn° 143
Quelle peine a été supprimée en 1981 ?
- Les travaux forcés
- La peine de mort
- L’exil
- La prison à perpétuité
Good to know: The death penalty was abolished in 1981 by the law of 9 October, championed by Robert Badinter under the presidency of François Mitterrand. Full explanation →
- CRn° 144
En quelle année l'euro est-elle devenue la monnaie utilisée en France ?
- 1999
- 2002
- 2005
- 2010
Good to know: The euro became the currency used in France on 1 January 2002, the date on which coins and banknotes were put into circulation in 12 countries of the Union and replaced the franc in daily life. Full explanation →
- CRn° 145
En quelle année a commencé la Première Guerre mondiale ?
- 1918
- 1939
- 1945
- 1914
Good to know: The First World War began in 1914, following the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand in Sarajevo on 28 June; France entered the war on 3 August 1914. Full explanation →
- CRn° 146
Où a eu lieu le débarquement en 1944 ?
- En Normandie
- En Provence
- En Italie
- En Belgique
Good to know: The landings of 6 June 1944 took place in Normandy: the Allied troops, American, British, Canadian and French, landed on five beaches, including Omaha Beach and Utah Beach, to liberate Europe from Nazi occupation. Full explanation →
- CRn° 147
Quel continent a été le plus concerné par la décolonisation française après la Seconde Guerre mondiale ?
- L’Asie
- L’Amérique
- L’Afrique
- L’Europe
Good to know: Africa is the continent most affected by French decolonisation: in 1960, fourteen countries of sub-Saharan Africa gained independence, after Morocco and Tunisia in 1956, and Algeria became independent in 1962 after an eight-year… Full explanation →
- CRn° 148
Que fête-t-on le 8 mai ?
- La création de la République
- La fin de la Première Guerre mondiale
- La prise de la Bastille
- La victoire des Alliés sur l’Allemagne nazie en 1945
Good to know: 8 May commemorates the Allied victory over Nazi Germany: on 8 May 1945, the German surrender ended the Second World War in Europe. Full explanation →
- CRn° 150
Quel pays a une frontière terrestre avec la France métropolitaine ?
- Le Royaume-Uni
- La Suède
- Le Portugal
- La Belgique
Good to know: Belgium shares a land border with mainland France, to the north. Full explanation →
- CRn° 151
Quelle ville française est un port maritime ?
- Dijon
- Clermont-Ferrand
- Lyon
- Marseille
Good to know: Marseille is a seaport: Marseille-Fos ranks, with Le Havre, Dunkerque and Nantes-Saint-Nazaire, among the largest French commercial ports, and it is one of the most important in the Mediterranean. Full explanation →
- CRn° 152
Quelle mer se situe entre la France et l'Angleterre ?
- La mer Méditerranée
- La mer du Nord
- La mer Baltique
- La Manche
Good to know: The Channel (la Manche) is the sea that separates France from England; at its narrowest, between Calais and Dover, it is only about 33 kilometres wide, and the Channel Tunnel has crossed it since 1994. Full explanation →
- CRn° 153
Qu'est ce que la France d'outre-mer ?
- Les anciennes colonies françaises
- Les États membres de l’UE
- Les régions frontalières
- Les territoires français situés hors de l’Europe
Good to know: La France d'outre-mer (overseas France) refers to the 12 French territories located outside Europe: five are both départements and régions, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Guyane, La Réunion and Mayotte, and seven are collectivities with… Full explanation →
- CRn° 154
Quelle chaîne de montagnes est située entre la France et l’Espagne ?
- Les Pyrénées
- Le Massif central
- Les Alpes
- Les Vosges
Good to know: The Pyrenees form the natural border between France and Spain, from the Atlantic to the Mediterranean, over about 430 kilometres; the principality of Andorra is enclosed within them. Full explanation →
- CRn° 155
Quelle île française se trouve dans l'océan Indien ?
- La Martinique
- La Réunion
- La Corse
- La Guadeloupe
Good to know: La Réunion is a French island in the Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar; it is an overseas department and region, like Mayotte, also located in the Indian Ocean and which became the 101st département in 2011. Full explanation →
- CRn° 158
Lequel de ces pays partage des frontières terrestres avec la France ?
- Le Danemark
- L’Irlande
- La Norvège
- L’Espagne
Good to know: Spain shares a land border with France, to the south-west, along the Pyrenees. Full explanation →
- CRn° 159
Quel pays a une frontière avec la France métropolitaine au nord-est ?
- L’Italie
- La Belgique
- L’Espagne
- Le Portugal
Good to know: Belgium is France's neighbour to the north-east, together with Luxembourg and Germany, which also lie on the country's north-eastern border, continuing on from Belgium. Full explanation →
- CRn° 160
Où se trouvent les principales activités économiques en France ?
- Principalement en montagne
- Dans les zones rurales isolées
- Dans les grandes villes et les zones urbaines
- Exclusivement outre-mer
Good to know: France's main economic activities are concentrated in the big cities and urban areas, first and foremost the Île-de-France, which alone produces nearly a third of the national wealth, then metropolitan areas such as Lyon… Full explanation →
- CRn° 161
Parmi ces pays, lequel attire le plus de visiteurs chaque année ?
- L’Espagne
- La France
- Les États-Unis
- L’Italie
Good to know: France is the country that attracts the most foreign visitors each year in the world, with around 100 million international tourists in 2024, ahead of Spain and the United States. Full explanation →
- CRn° 162
Où habite la majorité des Français ?
- À l’étranger
- Dans les villes et les zones urbaines
- Dans les territoires d’outre-mer
- Dans les zones rurales
Good to know: The majority of French people live in cities and urban areas: around eight in ten inhabitants live in an urban area, and the Île-de-France alone is home to more than 12 million people. Full explanation →
- CRn° 163
Quelle région est la plus peuplée ?
- L’Île-de-France
- La Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur
- La Nouvelle-Aquitaine
- Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
Good to know: The Île-de-France is the most populous region of France, with more than 12 million inhabitants, nearly one French person in five, around Paris and its suburbs. Full explanation →
- CRn° 165
Lequel de ces départements de France est le plus touristique ?
- La Meuse
- La Haute-Marne
- Paris (75)
- La Creuse
Good to know: Paris is by far the most touristic département in France: the capital and its museums, the Louvre, the Eiffel Tower and Notre-Dame, welcome several tens of millions of visitors a year and make France the world's leading tourist… Full explanation →
- CRn° 166
Quand peut-on visiter gratuitement des lieux culturels en France ?
- Le premier dimanche du mois
- Le 14 juillet
- Le 1er mai
- Tous les week-ends
Good to know: National museums and monuments, such as the Louvre, the Musée d'Orsay and the Arc de Triomphe, are free on the first Sunday of the month, often outside the high season for some sites. Full explanation →
- CRn° 167
Combien de personnes parlent français dans le monde ?
- Environ 300 millions
- Environ 50 millions
- Environ 800 millions
- Environ 1 milliard
Good to know: More than 300 million people speak French around the world, according to the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie (OIF), making it the fourth most spoken language on the planet, present on all five continents. Full explanation →
- CRn° 172
Quel est le classement de la langue française parmi les langues les plus parlées dans le monde ?
- 10e
- 20e
- 1re
- 4e
Good to know: According to the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie, French is the fourth most spoken language in the world, with more than 300 million speakers spread across the five continents. Full explanation →
- CRn° 173
Quelle cathédrale célèbre a été en partie détruite par un incendie en 2019 ?
- La basilique du Sacré-Cœur
- Notre-Dame de Paris
- La cathédrale de Reims
- La cathédrale de Chartres
Good to know: Notre-Dame de Paris, a Gothic cathedral built from 1163 on the Île de la Cité, was partly destroyed by a fire on 15 April 2019: its spire and roof timbers collapsed. Full explanation →
- CRn° 174
Qui était une écrivaine française célèbre ?
- Virginia Woolf
- Agatha Christie
- Jane Austen
- George Sand
Good to know: George Sand, whose real name was Aurore Dupin, was a French novelist of the 19th century, known for her feminist commitments and for works such as Indiana, Lélia and La Mare au diable; she chose a male pen name so that she could… Full explanation →
- CRn° 175
Qui était un célèbre musicien français ?
- Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
- Claude Debussy
- Ludwig van Beethoven
- Johann Sebastian Bach
Good to know: Claude Debussy was a French composer, a major figure in music of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, author of Clair de lune, La Mer and the Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune. Full explanation →
- CRn° 177
Quelle fête est française ?
- Thanksgiving
- Halloween
- Le 14 juillet
- Le jour de l’indépendance
Good to know: 14 July has been the French national holiday since 1880: it commemorates the storming of the Bastille on 14 July 1789, the start of the Revolution, and the Fête de la Fédération of 14 July 1790. Full explanation →
- CSPn° 115
Qui était Napoléon Ier?
- Un général étranger
- Un empereur français
- Un roi de France
- Un président de la République
Good to know: Napoléon Ier (Napoleon Bonaparte) was Emperor of the French, from 1804 to 1814 and then briefly in 1815. Full explanation →
- CSPn° 116
Lequel de ces personnages historiques est français?
- Winston Churchill
- George Washington
- Victor Hugo
- Giuseppe Garibaldi
Good to know: Victor Hugo (1802-1885) was a French writer and politician, author of Les Misérables and Notre-Dame de Paris, and a great defender of the Republic and of the abolition of the death penalty. Full explanation →
- CSPn° 117
Dans quelle République est-on aujourd'hui?
- La IIIe République
- La IIe République
- La Ve République
- La IVe République
Good to know: France today lives under the Fifth Republic, founded in 1958 by General de Gaulle with the Constitution of 4 October 1958. Full explanation →
- CSPn° 119
Quel pays ou région du monde a été colonisé par la France?
- L’Algérie
- La Suède
- Le Japon
- Le Canada après 1900
Good to know: Algeria was colonised by France from 1830 and remained French until its independence in 1962, after the Algerian War (1954-1962) and the accords d'Évian. Full explanation →
- CSPn° 120
Qui a rendu l’école gratuite, laïque et obligatoire?
- Charles de Gaulle
- Napoléon Bonaparte
- Jules Ferry
- Jean Jaurès
Good to know: Jules Ferry, minister of public education under the Third Republic, had the laws passed that made primary school free (1881), then compulsory and secular (1882). Full explanation →
- CSPn° 123
En quelle année a été créée la Communauté Économique Européenne (CEE)?
- 1945
- 1968
- 1957
- 1992
Good to know: The European Economic Community (CEE in French, EEC) was created by the Treaty of Rome, signed on 25 March 1957 by six countries: France, West Germany, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg. Full explanation →
- CSPn° 125
Qui a été le premier Président élu sous la Ve République?
- Charles de Gaulle
- Valéry Giscard d'Estaing
- Georges Pompidou
- François Mitterrand
Good to know: Charles de Gaulle was the first President of the Fifth Republic, elected in December 1958 by a college of grands électeurs, then re-elected in 1965 in the first presidential election by direct universal suffrage. Full explanation →
- CSPn° 126
En quelle année l'esclavage a-t-il été aboli définitivement en France?
- 1789
- 1848
- 1791
- 1905
Good to know: Slavery was definitively abolished in France on 27 April 1848, by a decree of the Second Republic prepared by Victor Schœlcher. Full explanation →
- CSPn° 128
Combien y a-t-il eu de républiques en France?
- Trois
- Huit
- Cinq
- Sept
Good to know: France has had five republics: the First (1792-1804), proclaimed during the Revolution; the Second (1848-1852); the Third (1870-1940), the longest; the Fourth (1946-1958); and the Fifth, founded in 1958 by General de Gaulle and… Full explanation →
- CSPn° 129
Qui était le roi de France au moment de la Révolution française?
- Louis XVI
- Charles X
- François Ier
- Louis XIII
Good to know: Louis XVI was King of France when the Revolution broke out in 1789. Full explanation →
- CSPn° 130
Qui a fondé la Ve République?
- Jacques Chirac
- François Mitterrand
- Charles de Gaulle
- Georges Pompidou
Good to know: General Charles de Gaulle founded the Fifth Republic in 1958: recalled to power during the Algerian crisis, he had a new Constitution drafted, approved by referendum on 28 September 1958, which strengthened the executive. Full explanation →
- CSPn° 131
Que célèbre-t-on le 14 juillet?
- La prise de la Bastille
- La fin de la Première Guerre mondiale
- La victoire de Napoléon
- Le discours de Gaulle
Good to know: 14 July, the national holiday, commemorates the storming of the Bastille on 14 July 1789, a symbol of the end of royal absolutism, and also the Fête de la Fédération of 14 July 1790, celebrating national unity. Full explanation →
- CSPn° 132
Quelle guerre a eu lieu entre 1914 et 1918?
- La Seconde Guerre mondiale
- La Guerre d'Algérie
- La Guerre de Crimée
- La Première Guerre mondiale
Good to know: The war fought from 1914 to 1918 is the First World War, also called the Great War (la Grande Guerre). Full explanation →
- CSPn° 133
Pourquoi l’année 1958 est importante pour la France?
- Création de la Ve République
- Libération de Paris
- Fin de la Guerre d'Indochine
- Introduction de l'Euro
Good to know: The year 1958 marks the birth of the Fifth Republic: faced with the crisis caused by the Algerian War, General de Gaulle returned to power and had the Constitution of 4 October 1958, still in force, adopted by referendum. Full explanation →
- CSPn° 134
Quel fleuve coule en France?
- Le Pô
- La Loire
- Le Danube
- Le Tage
Good to know: The Loire is the longest river in France, at around 1,000 kilometres: it rises in the Massif central and flows into the Atlantic Ocean near Nantes, after passing through Orléans and Tours. Full explanation →
- CSPn° 135
Quelle ville est française?
- Barcelone
- Lyon
- Munich
- Milan
Good to know: Lyon is a French city, the country's third-largest commune by population and the capital of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, at the confluence of the Rhône and the Saône. Full explanation →
- CSPn° 136
Quel océan borde la côte ouest française?
- L’océan Atlantique
- L’océan Indien
- L’océan Pacifique
- L’océan Arctique
Good to know: The west coast of France is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean, from Brittany to the Basque Country, with cities such as Brest, Nantes, La Rochelle and Bordeaux nearby. Full explanation →
- CSPn° 137
Qu'est-ce que Paris?
- Un État fédéré
- La capitale et une commune française
- Une région française
- Un département d’outre-mer
Good to know: Paris is the capital of France and a commune, run by a mayor and a municipal council; it also has the status of a département. Full explanation →
- CSPn° 138
Quelle est la capitale de la France?
- Paris
- Toulouse
- Marseille
- Lyon
Good to know: Paris has been the capital of France for centuries: it is the seat of the President of the Republic, the Government and Parliament, and the country's economic and cultural centre. Full explanation →
- CSPn° 139
Sur quel continent se situe la France métropolitaine?
- L’Amérique
- L’Asie
- L’Europe
- L’Afrique
Good to know: Metropolitan France is located in Western Europe, between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea, and shares borders with Spain, Andorra, Monaco, Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Luxembourg and Belgium. Full explanation →
- CSPn° 142
Quelle ville est un grand port maritime?
- Marseille
- Lille
- Dijon
- Clermont-Ferrand
Good to know: Marseille, on the Mediterranean Sea, is one of the largest French commercial ports, with Le Havre, Dunkerque and Nantes-Saint-Nazaire; it is also the oldest city in France, founded by the Greeks around 600 BC. Full explanation →
- CSPn° 143
Quelle est la mer au sud de la France métropolitaine?
- La mer Baltique
- La mer Noire
- La mer du Nord
- La mer Méditerranée
Good to know: The Mediterranean Sea borders the south of metropolitan France, from the Spanish border to the Italian border, with cities such as Marseille, Toulon, Nice and Montpellier, and Corsica within it. Full explanation →
- CSPn° 144
Quelle ville est située au bord de la mer Méditerranée?
- Paris
- Strasbourg
- Nice
- Nantes
Good to know: Nice is located on the Côte d'Azur, on the shore of the Mediterranean Sea, near the Italian border; its Promenade des Anglais is famous worldwide. Full explanation →
- CSPn° 145
Où se situe la Corse?
- Dans l’océan Atlantique
- En mer Méditerranée, au sud-est de la France
- Au large de l’océan Indien
- En mer du Nord
Good to know: Corsica is a French island in the Mediterranean Sea, to the south-east of mainland France, off the coast from Nice and north of Italian Sardinia. Full explanation →
- CSPn° 153
Qui était Marc Chagall?
- Un peintre
- Un écrivain dramatique
- Un compositeur
- Un architecte
Good to know: Marc Chagall (1887-1985) was a painter born in present-day Belarus, then part of the Russian Empire, who spent most of his career in France and obtained French nationality in 1937. Full explanation →
- CSPn° 154
Qui était Joséphine Baker?
- Une reine de France
- Une scientifique
- Une philosophe
- Une artiste et résistante française
Good to know: Joséphine Baker (1906-1975), born in the United States and naturalised French in 1937, was a music-hall artist famous from the 1920s onwards, then a member of the Résistance engaged in counter-intelligence during the Second World… Full explanation →
- CSPn° 155
Qui était une chanteuse française célèbre?
- Maria Callas
- Whitney Houston
- Édith Piaf
- Madonna
Good to know: Édith Piaf (1915-1963) is the most famous French singer in the world, nicknamed 'la Môme', who sang La Vie en rose, Non, je ne regrette rien and L'Hymne à l'amour. Full explanation →
- CSPn° 156
Qu'est-ce que le Louvre?
- Une université
- Un théâtre
- Un musée national français
- Un palais présidentiel
Good to know: The Louvre is a French national museum in Paris, on the banks of the Seine: a former palace of the kings of France, it became a museum in 1793, during the Revolution. Full explanation →
- CSPn° 157
Qui était Jean de la Fontaine?
- Un peintre impressionniste
- Un poète et fabuliste français
- Un compositeur
- Un roi de France
Good to know: Jean de La Fontaine (1621-1695) was a French poet of the 17th century, famous for his Fables, such as Le Corbeau et le Renard, La Cigale et la Fourmi and Le Lièvre et la Tortue, which children still learn at school. Full explanation →
- CSPn° 158
Quel écrivain est français?
- Victor Hugo
- Mark Twain
- Fiodor Dostoïevski
- William Shakespeare
Good to know: Victor Hugo (1802-1885) is the most emblematic French writer of the 19th century: poet, novelist and playwright, author of Les Misérables and Notre-Dame de Paris, he was also a député and senator, a defender of the Republic and… Full explanation →
- CSPn° 159
Dans quelle ville se trouve la tour Eiffel?
- Marseille
- Lyon
- Paris
- Bordeaux
Good to know: The Eiffel Tower stands in Paris, on the Champ-de-Mars, on the banks of the Seine. Full explanation →
- CSPn° 160
Quand célèbre-t-on Noël?
- Le 14 juillet
- Le 11 novembre
- Le 1er janvier
- Le 25 décembre
Good to know: Christmas is celebrated on 25 December: the Christian feast of the birth of Jesus, it is also a family celebration widely shared in France, with the tree, presents and the réveillon dinner on the evening of the 24th. Full explanation →
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Other themes: Principles and values of the Republic · Rights and duties · Institutional and political system · Living in French society