Test your knowledge: fun French facts

1. Size matters

Castelmoron-d’Albret in Gironde (whose tiny mairie is pictured) is the smallest village in France, measuring the equivalent of five football pitches in size (3.54 hectares). It has only six roads: Rue de la République, Castelmoron, Grande Rue, Rue de la Tranchée, Rue de l’Amitié and Rue  de l’Église.

Q: What is the largest town in France in terms of surface area?

A. Marseille  B. Paris  C. Lyon  D. Arles  E. Lille

2. Tight squeeze

The narrowest street in the world can be found in France. Rue de l’Enfer (Hell Street) in Les Sables d’Olonne, Vendée was registered as the narrowest street in the world (40cm wide on the ground and 46.5cm one metre from the ground) in May 1986.

Q: Which avenue, measuring 120m wide, is France’s widest?

3. Go with the fl-eau

In French a fleuve is the name for a river which flows into the sea – examples include the Seine, Loire (Blois pictured, top), Garonne, Rhône and Dordogne. All others are called rivières. 

Q: What is the longest river in France?