French Comic Books
Comic books are much more mainstream in France than they are in the United States. Stateside, it's considered a hobby. Across the pond, it's just like picking up a book! There are a number of different types of comic books for different age groups, but some have more credibility than others. Here's a look at a few of my favorite French comic book series:
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Star Academy: Star Academy is like American Idol in France, only better. The comic book series chronicles the lives of the finalists each season as the all live in a château together. Of course, the series is fictional, but it's a great way to cash in, combining a popular show with a popular pastime. It's amusing if you watch the show, otherwise, it's quite confusing.
Languedoc-Roussillon's proximity to the Basque country of Spain provides it with some Spanish influence. The 5 departments of the region are Aude, Gard, Hérault, Lozère, and Pyrénées-Orientales. The capital is Montpellier. "Langue d'oc" refers to the French dialect in which "oc" is the word for yes (its counterpart is Langue d'oïl, from which the word "oui" derives). Roussillon is the county which has the most Spanish influence.
The Aquitaine region is in the South of France; in the Basque region bordering Spain. Its 5 departments are Dordogne, Gironde, Landes, Lot-et-Garonne, and Pyrénées-Atlantiques. The capital is Bordeaux. Aquitaine's most famous ruler was Eleanor of Aquitaine, who married Louis VII, and more famously, Henry II. Aquitaine is the perfect region for history enthusiasts. 
Midi-Pyrenées, the largest region in France, has 8 departments: Ariège, Aveyron, Gers, Haute-Garonne, Hautes-Pyrénées, Lot, Tarn, and Tarn-et-Garonne. Its capital is Toulouse, where the eclectic French band Zebda originates. The band loves their hometown so much, they even wrote a song about it! Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, author of the famous French book Le petit prince was also from Toulouse. The region was created specifically for its capital, like several of the other regions in France. The affamed Roquefort cheese comes from the Midi-Pyrénées region. 
Rhône-Alpes is one of the larger regions in France, located in the Southeast. It has 8 departments: Ain, Ardèche, Drôme, Isère, Loire, Rhône, Savoie, Haute-Savoie. Its capital is Lyon. Rhône-Alpes was officially created in 1972. Many tourists come to Rhône-Alpes to enjoy the skiing accomodations. The region has even hosted the Winter Olympics 3 times! In 1924, the Olympics came to Chamonix, in 1968 to Grenoble, and in 1992 to Albertville.
The region of Provence-Alpes-Côte-d'Azur is a place most French lovers wish to visit. There are vast fields of lavender in Provence, exciting ski resorts in the area on the Alps, and gorgeous beaches on the Côte d-Azur; the French Riviera. Its departments are Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, Alpes-Maritimes, Bouches-du-Rhône, Hautes-Alpes, Var, and Vaucluse. Its capital is Marseille, the city for which the French national anthem, "La marseillaise," is named. The famous Pont d'Avignon is located in this region as well. 
Auvergne is located in central France and its 4 departments are Allier, Cantal, Haute-Loire, and Puy-de-Dôme. Its capital is Clermont-Ferrand. Auvergne is home to several cheeses, including le Saint-Nectaire, le Bleu d'Auvergne, and le Cantal. Like its neighbor, Limousin, the region has many forestial areas. Small châteaux can be found throughout Auvergne. 
Limousin's greatest charm is its vast fields of green. Its flag is even a green leaf. The region, which has 3 departments (Corrèze, Creuse, and Haute-Vienne), is the least populated in France, due in part because of its small size, and also because it is mainly rural. The capital of Limousin is Limoges. Impressionist painter Auguste Renoir was from Limousin. 
Poitou-Charentes has 4 regions: Charente, Charente-Maritime, Deux-Sèvres, and Vienne. The region's capital is Poitiers. Its coastal location gives the westen area of the region a nautical atmosphere. It prides itself on being an area to explore mysteries, treasures, and legends. Poitou-Charentes was created in 1972. 
Franche-Comté is comprised of 4 departments: Doubs, Haute-Saône, Jura, and Territoire de Belfort. The region has a large area of forestial land. The capital of Franche-Comté is Besançon. The name "Franche-Comté" means "Free County." There are several stories suggesting how the region got its name, but the true origin is not known for sure. Many believe it comes from its freeing from the county of Burgundy. Famous French playwright Victor Hugo was from Franche-Comté. 
The eastern region Bourgogne, known in English as Burgundy, has 4 departments: Yonne, Côte-d'Or, Nièvre, Saône-et-Loire. It is home to the famous Burgundy wine, as well as Beaujolais, Mâcon, and Chablis. It has a large agricultural area, as well as a large forestial territory. Its capital, Dijon, is home to an arc de triomphe known as Porte Guillaume. 
Ile-de-France is one of the smallest regions in France, however, it is the most populated. Although it is mostly comprised of Paris and its suburbs, there are 8 departments: Essonne, Hauts-de-Seine, Paris, Seine-Saint-Denis, Seine-et-Marne, Val-de-Marne, Val-d'Oise, and Yvelines. Because Paris is such a focal city in France, there is a separate page for it. Aside from the City of Light, Ile-de-France's other main tourist attraction is the Palace of Versailles, about 15 minutes away from Paris. Visitors can tour the gardens, including the mock peasant houses Marie-Antoinette had built to play in, and of course, King Louis XIV's extravagent estate. 
Centre is one of the largest regions in France, and, as its name suggests, it is located somewhat centrally. Centre contains the breathtaking Châteaux of the Loire Valley, which includes the beautiful Touraine area surrounding the city of Tours. Some of the more notable châteaux in Centre are: Chenonceau, Chambord, Azay-le-Rideau, Issé, and Amboise. Further north is the historic Chartres Cathedral. Visiting Centre will certainly involve a history lesson at some point! Centre has 6 departments: Cher, Eure-et-Loir, Indre, Indre-et-Loire, Loir-et-Cher, and Loiret. 
Pays de la Loire is a coastal region of France, with many farms. Its 5 departments are Loire-Atlantique, Mayenne, Maine-et-Loire, Sarthe, and Vendée. In English the name of the region is "Lands of the Loire," Loire referring to the Loire River. It was created artifically for its capital, Nantes. The current Pays de la Loire (as opposed to the historic, which had more land) is one of the newest regions to be formed in France.
Alsace, on the border of Germany, is comprised of 2 departments: Haut-Rhin and Bas-Rhin. Its capital is the well-known city of Strasbourg. Like Lorraine, the region just west, Alsace was under German possession between the Franco-Prussian War and World War I. The 2 regions are sometimes refered to as Alsace-Lorraine when refering to the issues surrounding this possession.
Lorraine and the region just west of it, Alsace (often refered to together as Alsace-Lorraine), were almost lost to Germany after the Franco-Prussian war. They were won back after World War I. Lorraine's 4 regions are Meurthe-et-Moselle, Moselle, Meuse, and Vosges. Epicures worldwide enjoy Quiche-Lorraine, the quiche from this region.
The region of Champagne-Ardenne is the birthplace of champagne. Champagne is the region's gastronomical specialty. Champagne-Ardenne is divided into 4 districts: Aube, Ardennes, Haute-Marne, and Marne. It is one of the more agricultural regions of France, leading in production of many crops. Its 3 biggest cities are Reims, Epernay and Châlons-en-Champagne.
Bretagne (Brittany in English) is a picturesque coastal region in the North of France. It is full of charming little villages with great opportunities to pick up small souvenirs. French singer Laurent Voulzy mentions the town of Saint-Malo as a choice vacation spot in his song "Rockollection." Religious art can be found in abundance in this region. Brittany has 4 departments: Côtes-d'Armor, Ille-et-Vilaine, Morbihan, and Finistère. Brittany is very reminiscent of New England with its nautical feel, beautiful beaches, and many lighthouses.
Basse-Normandie (Lower Normandy) is the home of some of the most beautiful and richly historical landmarks of France. For Americans, one of the highlights is the American Cemetery and the D-Day Beaches in Colleville-sur-Mer. This portion of American soil on the coast of Omaha Beach provides a moving memorial for those who died in combat. Click 
Haute-Normandie (Upper Normandy) is historically known in many parts of the world. Joan of Arc was burned at the stake in Rouen in 1431. During World War II, Normandy was the site of many battles. Many do not differentiate the region from Basse-Normandie (Southern Normandy). Haute-Normandie is divided into two departments: the Seine Maritime and the Eure. Haute-Normandie has many beautiful cities, which include Rouen and Le Havre (which means "Harbor").
Picardie, or Picardy in English, has a great location: right on the English Channel on the North, and just a quick car ride south is Paris. It prides itself on being one of the oldest and most historical regions of France. Its capital, Amiens, is the most well-known city. The 3 departments in Picardy are Aisne, Oise, and Somme. The Chantilly castle can be found in Picardie as well. The Picard dialect is spoken in Northern France and most of Belgium. Writer Jules Verne spent time in Picardy and even wrote a book there.
This region, the northernmost in France, is comprised of the districts of Nord and Pas de Calais. Aside from being the birthplace of a number of important historical figures, its main claim to fame is the famous 1895 statue, "Les bourgeois de Calais," by Rodin. This bronze sculpture of 6 men, in front of the Hôtel de Ville in the town of Calais, is considered Rodin's chef d'oeuvre. Maximilien de Robespierre, notorious for the Reign of Terror prior to the French Revolution, hailed from Nord-Pas-de-Calais, as did famous artist Henri Matisse and former French president Charles de Gaulle.
Paris is the most famous city in France. There is so much to discover in the City of Light, it could take years to explore it all! There is the famous Avenue des Champs-Elysées, a great place to shop and eat. At the end of the avenue lies the Arc de Triomphe, a true marvel to look at. A few subway stops away stands the glorious Eiffel Tower, which tourists can go up inside for more shopping, eating, and a memorable view of Paris. The Louvre museum is so vast it is impossible to see all its artwork in one visit. The city's charm, beauty, and rich history draws tourists from every edge of the globe. 
My name is Samantha, and I am the blogger. I am a college student and I speak French fluently and have had some experience teaching and tutoring it to various ages. I am not certified, but I am studying to become a high school French and/or Spanish teacher (2 more semesters left). I have never lived in France but I have had the opportunity to visit this wonderful country twice and I plan to go back many more times. Yes, the girl in the picture up above is me, it is a caricature I designed of myself for one of my other blogs, 
