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French heritage: iconic sites and food of Île-de-France
This sheet presents cultural landmarks of French society. It focuses on Île-de-France.
Key points of the sheet
- The Eiffel Tower is in Paris. The engineer Gustave Eiffel built it in 2 years for the 1889 World's Fair (Exposition universelle).
- This fair celebrated 100 years of the French Revolution. The tower represented France's industrial genius there.
- The tower is 312 metres high, or 330 with the antennas. It was first criticised; today it is a symbol of France.
- Brie de Meaux is a mild soft cheese. It has been made in Île-de-France since the Middle Ages.
- It can be eaten with bread at the end of a meal or used in cooking. It was crowned "King of Cheeses" in 1815.
Words to know
- World's Fair (Exposition universelle)
- The 1889 World's Fair celebrated 100 years of the French Revolution.
- Eiffel Tower (Tour Eiffel)
- It is a tower in Paris built by Gustave Eiffel, today a symbol of France.
- Brie de Meaux (cheese)
- It is a mild cheese from Île-de-France, with a thin white rind and a melting centre.
- soft cheese (pâte molle)
- Brie de Meaux is a soft cheese.
- Congress of Vienna (Congrès de Vienne)
- At the Congress of Vienna in 1815, Brie de Meaux was crowned "King of Cheeses".
Test yourself: 3 questions
How high is the Eiffel Tower, without the antennas?
In French, the language of the exam: Quelle est la hauteur de la Tour Eiffel, sans les antennes ?
The Eiffel Tower is 312 metres high, and 330 metres with the antennas.
Which cheese is called "King of Cheeses"?
In French, the language of the exam: Quel fromage est appelé « Roi des Fromages » ?
Brie de Meaux was crowned "King of Cheeses" at the Congress of Vienna in 1815.
How long did it take to build the Eiffel Tower?
In French, the language of the exam: En combien de temps la Tour Eiffel est-elle construite ?
The engineer Gustave Eiffel built the tower in 2 years.
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- French heritage: iconic sites and food of Bourgogne-Franche-Comté
Source
Sheet “Patrimoine français : sites emblématiques et gastronomie d’Île-de-France” of the French Ministry of the Interior: formation-civique.interieur.gouv.fr. Content published under the Etalab Open Licence 2.0. This page is a plain-language adaptation made by Hexaciv, which is not an official site: if in doubt, the ministry's text is the one that counts.
Ministry sheet read on 23 October 2026, still identical on 25 October 2026.