In Paris, the long-established Opera Garnier and the Comedie Francaise, and the more modern Opera Bastille are the most renowned venues for dance, drama and musical performances. World-famous rock and pop artists often perform at the city's many large halls and stadiums, and there are also frequent open-air concerts around the city.

France has around 7,000 museums and art galleries, including the world-renowned Le Louvre, Le Musee d'Orsay, and Le Centre George Pompidou in Paris.

French cuisine is internationally famous, and there are numerous restaurants and cafes in which to enjoy this, or to sample food from all parts of the world. CafïEURˆeïEURˆs, which serve light snacks and alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, are open all day long and an important part of everyday French social life.

The French are keen on sports and a wide range of spectator and participant sports are popular, with some regional variations. Towns offer many sports facilities including gymnasiums, swimming pools and tennis courts. Major annual French sporting events include the Tour de France cycling race, Les 24 heures du Mans motorcycle race, the Roland Garros tennis tournament and the Paris Marathon.

Football is a highly popular spectator and participant sport throughout the country, while rugby is more popular in the southwest region. Cycling, tennis, walking and hiking are all very popular among the general population, while action sports such as mountain-biking, surfing and hang gliding have a rapidly increasing following. Throughout the country but especially in the south, the traditional game of boules, sometimes called petanque, is played in public squares in many towns and villages.

There is excellent skiing in the French Alps and the Pyrenees, while the French coastline offers opportunities for all forms of water sports including diving, snorkelling, sailing and surfing.

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