France is the biggest country of Europe after Russia. There are 60 million inhabitants who usually live in our towns, and our big cities like the capital of France: Paris. We have seven neighbouring countries: England, Belgium, Luxemburg, Germany, Switzerland, Italy and Spain.

France

The biggest French cities are Paris, Marseille (in the south), Lyon (in the east), Bordeaux (In the west) and Lille (in the north).

Paris

Since 2002 our currency has been the Euro. France is one of the most powerful places in the world, it is a member of the G8 with the USA, Germany, Japan, etc. France is one of the founders of the EEC in 1957, nowadays called the European Union with 27 states and maybe more in the years to come.

The French flag

Now, the French President is Mr Nicolas SARKOZY and our prime minister is Mr François FILLON. In France, both the president and the prime minister have a very important role.

France is like a little world, there is everything, sea and beaches, mountains and skiing resorts, plains, forests.

A Beach

The "Mont Blanc": one of the highest summits in Europe.

There are a lot of typical French dishes in every region... Choucroute, Tartiflette, Bouillabaisse, Cassoulet, Quiche Loraine...

A typical French dish : "Tartiflette"

OUR REGION (Provence)

Provence is composed of six "départements": Alpes Maritimes, Var, Bouches du Rhône, Alpes de Haute Provence, Hautes Alpes and Vaucluse. Even in this part of our country you can be on the beach and, two hours later, be in the mountain. The capital of Provence is Marseille. This city was created by the Greeks in the 5th century BC.

Provence

Before Christ Provence used to be a part of a region which belonged to Rome: Al Narbonnaise. Nowadays Provence is one on the most active regions in France because of its harbours: Toulon naval base which is the second military harbour in France and Marseille which is the first merchant one. Tourism is the biggest activity, indeed The French Riviera is known as one of a highest place for tourism in the world.

Toulon naval base

Provence is also famous for a particular environment with Cicadas in summer. Its lavender fields also attract many tourists. And the olive trees, vineyards and yews shape a very special landscape.

Lavender

In Provence there are a lot of particular dishes like ratatouille, bouillabaisse, soup with pesto ("soupe au pistou") ...

Soupe au pistou

OUR SCHOOL (Lycée Paul Langevin)

We come from La Seyne sur mer a town between Toulon and Marseille. Our school was first built in the 70s, and is called Paul Langevin, after the philosopher and physicist who was an important protagonist during the French Third Republic.

The new buildings date from 1996.
There are 1.500 students in our high school.
There are four sections:
- a General section
- a Technological section
- a Vocational section
- a Training section

Our headmaster is Mr Alain RIPART and our two deputy headmasters are Mr Christian GUEGUEN and Mr Philippe CAVALIER. The chief accountant is Mr Jean-Marie TOURNIERE. There are 150 teachers for all the sections as well as 6 councillors, numerous secretaries, and other members of the staff working in the canteen, and maintaining the school's facilities.

On Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays classes take place from 8am to 6pm and on Wednesdays from 8am to 12am. Our lessons are 55 minutes long and we have two 15-minute breaks and a longer one for lunch.

Sports facilities, a school library and a cafeteria are available on the premises.

Our school

Our school by night