5 Cool Facts About France Kids Will Love (and Adults Might Not Know)
Published May 21, 2025
Want to know some cool things about France? This European country is famous for more than just the Eiffel Tower! Here are five surprising facts about France that even some adults don’t know!
1. The Eiffel Tower Almost Got Torn Down
When the Eiffel Tower was built in 1889 for the 1889 World’s Fair, it wasn't meant to stay forever. The city actually planned to tear it down after 20 years! Many Parisians hated it and called it an eyesore. Thankfully, because it proved useful for radio communications, they kept it standing. Today, they repaint this massive structure every 7 years, using enough paint to cover 10 football fields!
Jean-Paul: "My grandpa remembers his parents complaining about that 'ridiculous metal monster' ruining the Paris skyline. Now we can’t imagine Paris without it!"
2. School in France Is Very Different
French kids might make you feel lucky about your school schedule. Their school day typically starts around 8:30 AM and doesn't end until 4:30 PM or later! But here's the trade-off: they often get Wednesdays completely off, and their lunch break lasts for two whole hours. Some kids even go home to eat a full meal with their families before returning to classes.
3. There's Actually a Law About Bread
French people take their bread so seriously that they have laws about how to make a proper baguette! A traditional French baguette can only contain four ingredients: flour, water, salt, and yeast. Nothing else! Most families buy fresh bread every single day, and a warm baguette straight from the bakery is an amazing treat.
4. Royal Gardens Are Now Public Parks
The beautiful Tuileries Gardens in Paris wasn't always open to regular people. For centuries, it was the private backyard for French kings and queens in the Louvre palace! Today, this massive garden in the heart of Paris welcomes everyone. Kids splash in fountains, sail toy boats, and ride the Ferris wheel during summer. The royal families of the past would hardly recognize their exclusive garden now! Learn more about the fun things for kids here.
5. The First Hot Air Balloon Passengers Were Farm Animals
In 1783, when the Montgolfier brothers invented the hot air balloon in France, they weren't sure if humans could survive flying through the air. So their first passengers were a sheep, a duck, and a rooster! The flight lasted for 15 minutes and landed safely, proving that breathing high-altitude air wouldn't kill you. King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette watched this weird experiment take place, and soon humans began taking to the skies too.
Next time you learn about France in school, surprise your teacher with these fun facts! Which one did you find most interesting?