French comes in handy all around the world not just in its original corner of Europe!
Though my love of French comes from my origins in France, there are in fact many other countries which speak French. So, if you are interested in seeing the world and expanding your cultural views, seeing new continents and generally getting out for some adventures, French is useful in a lot more countries than just France.
Francophone Africa
There are 50 French speaking African countries, with 25 of them having French as an official language, the list below contains some of the best of those for holidays and adventures in terms of safety and interest.
Each of these countries is of course unique, but they are famous for their uniquely African feel, the buzzing markets, tranquil beaches, fierce deserts, Mediterranean coastal towns, huge nature reserves, wild array of animals, ancient buildings and much more. Just click on the countries above to learn more about what they each have to offer.
French Canada
We can’t talk about French speaking countries and not mention the wonderful Canada. It is the only French speaking country in North America and it contains a host of beautiful places to visit. Here are just some suggestions:
Banff and Jasper national parks are full of beautiful snowy mountains, glaciers, forests and other beautiful natural places. If you want to get out of the city and see some of nature’s finest pieces of work, you couldn’t go wrong with these splendour-filled national parks.
We can’t talk about French Canada without mentioning Quebec! It is one of the oldest European cities in Northern America and actually still has intact its city wall. Within Quebec you can’t go wrong taking a wander around the old streets, soaking in the feel and enjoying the many restaurants and cafes. It is also home to over 100 parks, so just like in Paris, though you may be in a city you can get your fill of nature, with beautiful walks and even bird watching.
There are many other French speaking nations around the world, here in Europe as well as islands in the Caribbean and Pacific, so we will take those up in our next blog.
I hope you spruce up your French and head on out into the world for some adventures!