The working day in France lasts from 8:30 to 12:30 and from 15:00 to 18:30. The French usually dine at home.
Business negotiations, as a rule, begin at 11:00. At 12:30, negotiators can be offered a traditional breakfast with an aperitif (a drink to awaken the appetite, usually alcohol). Discussions over meals are widely practiced. A business lunch can last one and a half to two hours, a business dinner can take the whole evening.
Raising a glass, they say: "To your health." Long intricate toasts are not accepted. The bill in restaurants, as a rule, is paid by the inviting person. Tipping is customary in the cloakroom.
At the first meeting, gifts are not given to a business partner. Souvenirs are acceptable, such as art albums, classical music cassettes, anything refined and culturally relevant.
When greeting, handshakes are very important. The French handshake has many shades: it can be cold, hot, casual, condescending, friendly. In France people like to flash a word, silence is not appreciated here. The conversation is carried on energetically, the speed of speech in France is one of the highest in the world. The conversation is conducted at close range.
The sign, when the thumbs and forefingers are connected in a ring, does not mean “ok”, as in America, but “zero”.
Do not rush to take the bull by the horns in France: it is customary to talk about business only after coffee is served. The most suitable topics for a table conversation: performances, books, exhibitions, cities. You should beware of touching on slippery issues: religion, personal problems, income, expenses, illness, marital status, political affiliations.
Education is very important in France, so if you graduated from an educational institution with a good reputation, put its name on your business card.
Rejoice if you were invited to the house for a family dinner - this is a great honor.
A subtle detail of French punctuality: you should arrive for dinner a quarter of an hour later than the appointed time. There is also a geographical and administrative dependence of punctuality: the more south the area, the less punctual the French are; the higher the rank of the invitee, the later he comes to the reception.
You should bring gifts with you. Flowers are always appropriate, but not white, not carnations (it is believed that they bring misfortune) and not chrysanthemums, which in France are a symbol of sorrow. The French consider smart packaging to be an important part of the bouquet, so before handing flowers, you should not free them from various ribbons and paper lace, which French flower growers are so generous with. As a gift, it is not superfluous to bring a bottle of champagne or wine of an expensive brand, a box of chocolates.
For the French, cuisine is an art form, a matter of national pride. Any enthusiastic comments about the quality of food and drinks on the table are welcome. Do not leave food on the plate, add salt or use spices.
Alcoholic drinks are indispensable companions of the French feast. The process of thoughtful consumption involves a glass of aperitif (port wine, anise liqueur or whiskey and soda). Salted nuts, special biscuits, small sandwiches with cheese or ham are served with an aperitif. During dinner - three - four - glasses of wine (white is served with fish and seafood, red is suitable for meat and cheeses). After dessert or coffee - a glass of digestif (fruit vodka, strong liquor, cognac).
In France, it is not customary to address interlocutors by name, unless they themselves offer it to you. Usually used the appeal "monsieur" - in relation to men, "madame" and "mademoiselle" - in relation to women. When meeting, you must give your business card. If more than one person is present at the meeting, the business card is given to the higher-ranking person.
A bit about French business
Before starting to establish business relations with French firms, it is necessary to clearly articulate the goals of these relations.
Find out as much as possible about the companies you are interested in, send them a set of advertising literature and catalogs on the products or services of your company, as well as the conditions under which you are ready to supply it. All this must be strictly in French, because. the French react painfully to the preference for English or German in business communication with them, believing that this infringes on their sense of national dignity.
You should remember that connections and acquaintances play an important role in the business life of France. Therefore, usually new contacts are established through intermediaries who are connected by friendly or family relations with the person you need. Whether you like it or not, the fact remains: the elite of the business world is limited here, new unknown people are not allowed into the proven circle.
If you do not have direct access to responsible leaders and you have to negotiate at a lower level, you should be patient and wait until your proposal reaches the appropriate management level. It is there that the solution will be worked out, because. in France, decisions are made by a limited number of people with high social status.
French businessmen try to avoid financial transactions that seem risky to them. They do not immediately allow themselves to be convinced of the expediency of the proposal made. So get ready to reasoned and comprehensively discuss every detail of the upcoming deal.
Sometimes during a conversation, French entrepreneurs interrupt their interlocutor, expressing critical remarks. This should not be taken as a sign of disrespect, as it is accepted everywhere in this country. However, part with the idea of solving the matter quickly, prepare well for negotiations, delve into everything to the smallest detail. So you will not let yourself be confused and prove yourself as a solid partner.
When concluding contracts with large enterprises, the main attention should be paid to the technical characteristics and durability of the goods offered.
The French are the oldest and most distinctive nation in Europe, with a rich history and cultural heritage. The French are a restrained, reasonable and prudent people. They are very friendly and polite, but they will never tell the truth to your face.
The French, as a rule, learn and know foreign languages, but are extremely reluctant to speak them with foreigners. Most French people don't like speaking English, so if you don't know French, it's better to say right away that you are Russian. The French are very sensitive to errors in French.
The most common form of greeting is a light handshake. Meetings must be arranged in advance. Being late is considered impolite. However, the general rule is that the higher the status of the guest, the more late is allowed. An invitation to visit for dinner means a special location for you
Only after talking on a neutral topic can you move on to the main thing, otherwise it will be considered bad form, the French do not like to immediately touch on the main issue, this is especially important to consider when conducting business negotiations.
In general, the behavior of the French is very diverse. They gracefully defend their point of view, their position, but are not inclined to bargain. The conversation starts quickly and naturally, besides, the speed of speech of the French is one of the fastest in the world.
For the French, education, the general level of knowledge, and erudition are of great importance. They are rightfully proud of their culture. A good acquaintance with history, philosophy, art is highly valued. Accordingly, gifts that meet intellectual needs or a sense of beauty will be well received (for example, books or art albums). Although a box of chocolates and flowers for the hostess would also be appropriate.
The meal must be accompanied by an interesting conversation. The French at the table prefer to talk about culture, art and French cuisine - the national pride of every Frenchman. It is not customary for the French to pronounce lengthy toasts at the table. It is not customary to clink glasses. Traditionally, the French lunch starts at 18.00-19.00, so if you are invited to dinner, know that you are expected by this time.
Features of French cuisine
Cooking is a special pride of the French. The names of hundreds of dishes came to us from the French language: cutlets, sauce, mayonnaise, scrambled eggs, entrecote - all these are French words. But the notorious love of the French for frog meat is a clear exaggeration. The frog is indeed present in a rich range of French cuisine, but you can’t call it an everyday French dish. Grape snails with herbs and spices are eaten somewhat more often (of which there are sometimes so many that you can’t distinguish the taste of a snail).
All over the world they talk about French cuisine as the most diverse and exquisite. In addition, almost every region of France, every city, every restaurant has its own unique set of dishes. France produces over 300 different types of cheese known throughout the world.
A characteristic feature of the French diet is the abundance of vegetables and root crops on the dining table. Potatoes, various varieties of onions, green beans, spinach, cabbage of various varieties, tomatoes, eggplants, celery, parsley, salads - this is not a complete list of vegetables from which salads, snacks, side dishes are prepared.
The inhabitants of the southern regions of France have their favorite dishes, which are spicy due to the use of large quantities of spices (garlic and onion). The inhabitants of Alsace are lovers of pork and cabbage. Residents of coastal areas cannot imagine their diet without seafood dishes.
Regional differences in nutrition are felt even in different attitudes towards fats: in the north they like butter, in the south - olive oil. Each locality of France has its own specialties: liver pates, Bayonne hams, sausages and beans in a pot (“toulouse”), Provencal tomatoes.
Cold dishes and snacks - stuffed cucumbers, vegetable salads, celery salad and others.
First courses - mashed leek soups with potatoes, onion soup seasoned with cheese, clear soups on beef broth, dressing soups, saltworts, Provencal fish soup, fish soup.
Second courses - steak with deep-fried potatoes and steak with blood with a slightly fried crust and almost raw inside. These two dishes are the epitome of French cuisine. The French love that the meat is not overcooked, it must retain the pink juice. A common white meat stew with white sauce.
The French are very sensitive to all sorts of flavor nuances. Therefore, if there is a treat in the form of a dish of small game, it must be kept for several days in the air, and the meat of wild boar, roe deer must be marinated. In soups and sauces, the French dip small bunches of herbs from parsley, savory, bay leaf. Before serving, the bundle is removed from the food.
Among the second courses - sea and freshwater fish (cod, flounder, halibut, mackerel, pike, carp), seafood - shrimps, lobsters, scallops.
The French are true gourmets in terms of sauces, which are always served not only with meat and fish second courses, but also with salads and various cold appetizers.
After the second course, cheese is served on the table, and several varieties at once. You can drink cheese only with white or red wine, and in no case with juice or Coca-Cola.
Dessert - fresh fruits and berries, fruit salads, confectionery, especially with nut fillings such as pralines, ice cream with fruits and biscuits, bowl, dessert cocktails.
The French diet includes two breakfasts. First breakfast - fruit and vegetable juices, eggs, cheese, butter, omelettes (with jam, ham, cheese, mushrooms, herbs, stuffed tomatoes and other side dishes). Second breakfast (at 12 o'clock) - cold snacks from seafood and fish, poultry meat, stuffed or stewed vegetables, hot dishes of simple preparation.
Lunch (from 18:00 to 19:00) - any snacks of European cuisine, soups, main courses.
France is the world's leading wine producer and the French are very proud of their brands of this wonderful drink. There are about 300 different grape varieties used in the production of wines.
Champagne was brought out by the abbe Don Perignon as a result of numerous experiments in selection and blending. Champagne is produced in two main areas of the Champagne province - Montagne de Reims, where they grow excellent grapes Pilot Noir and Côte de Blay, where the Chardonnay variety dominates. Champagne companies still make up the elite of the wine industry.
Cognac is a strong alcoholic drink that belongs to one of the types of grape brandy. It is prepared from cognac spirit, obtained by distillation from unalcoholized young and healthy white grape wines, followed by distillation in oak barrels. Armagnac, similar in name, is already a different type, with a thicker consistency than that of cognac. Its taste is less refined, besides it is drier. Cognac is produced in a defined and legally restricted area of the city of Cognac, located in the south-west of France, 500 km from Paris.
France has long been famous as a country of refined and refined manners, elegance and a special skill, or rather, the art of living.
The rules of French etiquette have many nuances that are sometimes difficult for an uninitiated person to grasp. After all, the traditions of another country can, at times, cause misunderstanding and inability to quickly adapt to the situation.
We offer you a short guide on how it is done in France, where the feast is part of the culture. It will tell you how to behave in order to avoid possible oddities visiting the French.
Rule #1: Be on time
The French are very sensitive to the issue of being late, despite the fact that they themselves often sin with them. Remember - if you are invited to visit France, the paradoxical rule that it is indecent to come to the feast on time does not apply here. The hostess of the house will never allow herself, at the hour appointed for the arrival of guests, to run around the apartment in a dressing gown and curlers, finishing the Russian olive. If the time is indicated to you, it means that by this time the champagne is chilled, and the oysters are open, and by this time they are waiting for you! A delay of 10-15 minutes is considered decent, nothing more.
Rule #2: Greetings
When greeting, do not forget to add Madame, Monsieur or, if the status of your relationship allows it, the name of the person you are addressing. A typical mistake that our compatriots make, sincerely wanting to do something nice, is adding the name of the interlocutor to the address. Just as we do not say: "Madam Natalia", so the phrase: "Madame Natalie" for the French ear will sound at least strange.
Be prepared for the fact that in France it is customary to kiss with close acquaintances, but this is not a kiss in our understanding, but just a light touch of the cheek on the cheek. This tradition has been around for many years, and you should not try to change it. A sign of whether the guests will exchange kisses with each other or confine themselves to a handshake is usually given by the hosts by personal example.
Rule #3: About ladies and dresses
The dress code plays a big role in French etiquette. In France, they will never wear a business suit for a formal meal or an evening long dress for a business dinner. The French are convinced that it is better to refrain from overly sexy, open or extravagant dressing if you are not sure about the status of the event, because only a woman dressed “out of place” can be worse than a poorly dressed woman. Another unspoken, but very important rule: you should not dress more luxuriously than the mistress of the house.
The hosts will inform you in advance about the nature of the feast, as well as what kind of audience will attend it, and the invitation usually indicates what dress code is expected. Therefore, it will be easy for you to navigate.
Rule number 4: About gentlemen and gallantry
There is no place for feminism in "table" matters, especially among the French! Men in such situations should remain men: fill your glass, move your chair, give you a hand - their knightly duty, but you are a true lady who graciously allows you to take care of yourself and smiles sweetly. Believe me, this is not a conservative "naphthalene", but an etiquette that is followed all over the world.
Rule number 5: About shoes: to be or not to be, to take off your shoes or not?
The question is by no means idle, but truly akin to Hamlet's. Very often, Russian guests sin with the "Soviet rules of etiquette." Do not ask the owners of the house for slippers, assuring them that you have an absolute absence of fungal diseases. You will not be understood. Imagine how ridiculous you will look in a beautiful dress and slippers borrowed from the hostess, and your spouse in a suit, tie and socks because there were no slippers of his size 46. Leave the care of the cleanliness of the floor to the mistress of the house: in France it is customary to wear shoes at home - this is not Japan.
Rule #6: At the table
In France, you will not see a table set like in Russia: all kinds of salads, cuts of meat, fish, cheese, and then the first, second and compote. You will not be put on the table all types of alcohol at the same time.
Before you are invited to the table, you will be offered an aperitif of your choice: Champagne, whiskey, wine or soft drink. The hostess of the house will also take an interest in your taste preferences in advance in order to avoid embarrassment (religion, allergies, etc.).
Seating guests
Another important point that often confuses our compatriots is that you will be invited to the table and the hosts will tell you where and with whom you will sit. Often couples are seated so that newcomers to the campaign also have the opportunity to communicate, and gentlemen should alternate with ladies. The gentleman takes care of the lady throughout the evening. Don't be scared, this is not a swingers club and adultery will not follow.
Cutlery
In fact, there is nothing intimidating about the amount of cutlery that will be waiting for you on the table. Dishes will be served to you in the order provided by the hostess. Therefore, a hint: the first dish that you are offered to taste, you can safely eat with appliances lying on the farthest edge from the plate (knife on the right, fork on the left). A knife and fork will also be taken along with the used plate. To taste a new dish, you take the next fork and knife according to the same principle.
- hot plate
- snack plate
- Bread plate
- snack fork
- fish fork
- Table fork
- Table-knife
- fish knife
- snack knife
- Tablespoon
- butter knife
- Dessert spoon
- dessert fork
- Water glass
- White wine glass
- Red wine glass
Glasses and drinks
You may also be frightened by the number of wine glasses, but do not worry - this is the concern of the owners of the house. For dinner, they can choose one drink, then everything is simple: the host will pour it into the right glasses for you, depending on whether it will be Burgundy wine, Bordeaux or just water. If the wines change during the course of the dinner depending on the dishes served, you will be offered either to finish the rest in your glass before filling it with wine of a different variety, or they will give you a new clean one. Please, do not resist that they say it will do, they say, I'm not pretentious. This can offend the hosts: the French carefully choose wine for each dish, there are no accidents here, and you, as a true connoisseur, should feel the bouquet of wine. And even if you are still a “beginner oenologist”, anyway, please your hosts and admire the excellent selection of drinks.
Rule #7: Table Talk
The hardest thing, you say? Yes and no. There is one very simple rule: to talk only about what is pleasant to the neighbors on the table. Weather and sports are a win-win option for good etiquette, which has helped more than one celebration. You should not talk about illness, death, physiology, tell the hostess how you prepare treats, and especially talk about people who are not present at the table. And do not forget - if you were asked a question, even a personal one, they do not expect a forty-minute confession from you!
Rule #8: Time doesn't wait
Dessert in France is served on its own, without tea and coffee. Before dessert, you may be offered a cheese plate. Hot drinks are offered a little later, and then a digestif is served: Calvados, cognac, armagnac, they offer to drink a glass, so that everything eaten subsides as it should. And this is the first bell to the fact that it would be time and honor to know.
That, in fact, is all. Enjoy your tasting - French rules of etiquette do not recommend wishing you a pleasant appetite, considering it not subtle enough - and no less pleasant communication!
There is an opinion that the most free nation in communication is the French. It is in France that people absolutely do not care what the people think about them, they nurture themselves as individuals and have a rule - not to be pedantic.
The rules of etiquette remain the main ones for the French. Just the beginning of the word "etiquette" takes it from France. It all started with the French king Louis the Great, who distributed to his subjects the so-called "labels" with step-by-step instructions for addressing the prince in any situation.
Lesson 1
It is in France that people are met “by clothes”. Your appearance should always be neat: clean, ironed clothes, shoes that fit the clothes, hair. And the type of meeting absolutely does not matter: a business meeting, a romantic date or a party. Get ready for tomorrow's meetings today so that the morning rush or unforeseen circumstances cannot destroy the good opinion of your interlocutor or business partner. For example, in such cities as Paris, Toulouse, Marseille, for a business meeting, you must be dressed in accordance with all the rules, while new casual clothes are approved.
Don't forget about accessories to complete your look. For women, it can be: an elegant clutch, a sophisticated scarf, a brooch, a necklace, a hat, and for men - a watch, a briefcase, an umbrella.
Taste, elegance and simplicity in clothes, as well as the intellect of a person, are valued here more than anywhere else.
Lesson 2
In France, you should not limit yourself to the word "Hello", that is, "Bonjour". To make the greeting more specific, you need to add “Madame” if this is a woman and “Monsieur” if your interlocutor is a man. This rule applies not only to greetings, but to any appeal to a foreigner.
When greeting, men shake hands, but do not squeeze it with all your might. Don't forget who was shaking hands today, because shaking hands again is not acceptable in French.
In provincial cafes and bakeries, guests are greeted with words of welcome and be sure to say goodbye.
Lesson 3
The French do not tolerate being called by name and “poked” without their consent. Therefore, bypassing sharp corners, call the interlocutor “Monsieur” or “Madame”, until he himself allows you otherwise.
The French are completely free to interrupt the interlocutor, while listening carefully to him.
Questions concerning the material side of the Frenchman, for example, wages, what is the cost of household items, are taboo. You have every chance to ruin your relationship with a Frenchman by trying to find out about his personal life: is he single or not, does he have children. So, when visiting a French family, first think a couple of times before asking anything.
Lesson 4
The French are very fond of their language, they treat it like a treasure. If a foreigner in France speaks their native language, he will win over and earn respect. To ensure success in business negotiations, give preference to an interpreter if you do not know the language thoroughly. They don't really like it when they speak French with mistakes. It is better to say what you are sure of, and later learn the language and feel more confident.
You, as a future tourist or, moreover, a businessman who wants to have long-term business relations with French partners, should still respect their opinion about their native language and take the trouble to learn at least the most elementary words and their correct pronunciation required when meeting: kind day, sorry, thank you, please, goodbye. Don't forget to practice your pronunciation and knowledge with native speakers and take criticism well. Don't miss out on this great opportunity for improvement.
When dialing a number, it is better not to make mistakes, because you risk getting a portion of rudeness for breakfast. Because they consider it necessary in this situation. If you want to ask a Frenchman for a favor, you must wait for the right time. Otherwise, he will simply ignore your request.
Summing up, we can say that for easy and successful work, as well as for a pleasant pastime, you just need to know the rules of etiquette in France so as not to get into awkward situations.
France is a country of free religion. The most popular religions here are Catholic Christianity, Islam, Judaism. According to a survey conducted in 2010, 27% of French people believe that there is a God, 33% answered that they admit the existence of some kind of energy or higher intelligence, and 40% answered that they do not believe in either God or the presence of human soul, nor energy. In this regard, France can be considered one of the most non-religious states. But culture and faith in this country are closely linked. So what is the predominant religion in France and why are there others? We will talk about this in this article.
Historical overview
In the last millennium, France remained one of those European countries where the religion of Catholicism was considered fundamental. From the time of Charlemagne until the rise of Protestantism in the 16th century, this state was one of the most powerful on the continent, where Catholicism, with the exception of traditional forms, was the only direction of Christianity. In France, the Catholic faith was firmly established, while other parts of Europe, including England, Switzerland, the historical Netherlands, most of Germany and Scandinavia, were dominated by various forms of Protestantism.
After the revolution of 1798, the religion of France was brought under state control in order to contain revolutionary sentiments. The monastic communities ceased to exist. But in 1801, Napoleon signed an agreement with the Vatican, thanks to which the position of the church was restored.
Religion in France in the 19th century
For almost all of this century, the country in question was officially considered a Catholic state. But in 1905, a large-scale event happened, thanks to which religion in France underwent significant changes at the beginning of the 19th century - there was a separation of the state from the church. Since then, even though Catholicism has not ceased to be the predominant religion in this country, the Catholic Church, according to the Constitution, has become just one of many others. The newly formed gave its citizens the right to choose their religion. And today in this country, Catholicism coexists freely with Protestantism, Islam, Buddhism, Judaism and third-party cults.
Religion today
The main religion in France is Catholicism. But today, despite the fact that this religion still has more adherents in the territory of a secular state than any other, the time when most French people considered themselves Catholics has passed. Less than half of the population today calls themselves such. The results of a survey conducted in 2011 show that 45% of the French identify themselves as Christians, the majority of whom are Catholic. At the same time, 35% do not identify themselves with any religion, and 3% are Muslims.
The number of church parishioners, according to a public survey, is one of the lowest in the world. In fact, this is only 5% of the population, and only 10% of those who consider themselves Catholics attend church services today. But, despite this, it still remains largely Catholic, which was emphasized in his speeches by the previous head of state Sarkozy.
Secularism - the "cornerstone" of the state?
Secularism is today considered the "cornerstone" of France's state self-determination. Compared with Great Britain or the USA, the importance of religion in the life of the society of the state in question is very insignificant. In the UK and the US, politicians often arrange meetings with religious leaders, take pictures with them at official receptions, and many important national events and events are preceded by religious ceremonies. But in France things are different. The public figures of this secular state, even if they call themselves Christians (which is becoming less popular with members of the government at the present time), try for various reasons to hide their religious life from prying eyes.
Special Territory - Province of Alsace
In the provinces of Alsace and Moselle, the relationship between different than in the whole territory of France, despite the approved unity of the republics. Here priests receive state salaries, and religious instruction in public schools and colleges is compulsory. The University of Strasbourg has a theological faculty, the only one in a public university in France.
Protestantism
Protestantism, another religion in France, has its own history. In the Middle Ages, before the term was coined, many people in southwestern France abandoned Catholicism and converted to a heretical type of Christianity known as Catharism. The Protestant faith was adopted in many regions of the country during the Reformation. Although this religion was not encouraged, it was not forbidden either. In 1598, King Henry IV, himself a former Protestant who was forced to convert to Catholicism in order to become the monarch of France, signed the Edict of Nantes. According to this document, the Calvinists, known as Huguenots, were guaranteed freedom of religion and conscience. Many areas of France, especially in the southeast, then converted to Protestantism, and cities such as La Rochelle became the main strongholds of this religion in the country, officially considered Catholic.
Decline and Resurgence of Protestantism
But in 1685, the edict was abolished by Louis XIV, which led to mass emigration of Protestants from France. Religion in France in the 17th century was in some turmoil. According to existing data, about half a million followers of this teaching left the country at that time and settled in Great Britain, North America, Switzerland and the historical Netherlands. Protestantism as a religion in France in the 18th century, after the death of King Louis XIV, began to slowly revive in some territories. And at the end of the French Revolution, it was officially recognized as one of the many existing forms of worship. Today, Protestantism exists in places throughout the country, but most of the followers of this religious movement can be found in the province of Alsace and Northern Franche-Comte in eastern France, as well as in the Cevennes in the south of the country.
Islam
Another religion in France is Islam. There are no exact figures, but, according to a rough estimate, from 6 to 7 million people, that is, about 8% of the population, are Muslims. A third of them, a little more than two million, observe. For comparison: 10 million practicing Catholics live in the country. Most Muslims in France come from North Africa, that is, the descendants of those who once lived in its former colonies - Tunisia, Algeria and Morocco.
According to a study by sociologist Sameer El-Amgar, there are between 12,000 and 15,000 Salafists, or radical Muslims, living in France, but only a small part of them share the views of the so-called Islamists. Since 2000, mosques have been intensively built in the country, and now there are more than 2,000 of them. They are mostly made in a very restrained style. In terms of education, there are 30 Muslim, 282 Jewish and 8485 Catholic schools in France.
Relationship between culture and religion
The culture and religion of France have always been closely intertwined. The art of this country was strongly influenced by Christian and Catholic traditions. In medieval France, the greatest architectural structures were not castles and palaces, but great cathedrals, and sometimes small churches. The best artists and craftsmen worked on the creation of frescoes, nadaltar decorations, stained-glass windows, carved exquisite sculptures intended for interior and exterior decoration of churches. In the literature one can often find references to Christianity. The most famous work in French, the Song of Roland, is the story of the great confrontation between Christians and Saracens, led by Roland, nephew of Emperor Charlemagne. Most of it was sustained in religious traditions, for example, Celtic legends popular in the Middle Ages. The work of famous composers was also strongly influenced by the religion of France, which can be seen in the works of Fauré, César Franck, Widor and Berlioz.
In conclusion, I would like to say that only the main religions were considered in this article. It must be remembered that there are many more. Each form of religion significantly influences the cultural life of France and finds its admirers in this country.
