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Front: Palais des Tuileries, Paris and Voltaire (1694-1778), French writer and philosopher

François-Marie Arouet, better known by his pen name Voltaire, was born in Paris. He was educated at the Collège Louis-le-Grand where he majored in Latin and Greek. Later he studied law and became fluent in Italian, Spanish and English. Voltaire devoted his life in writing, authoring plays, poetry, novels, essays, historical and scientific works, over 20,000 letters and over two thousand books and pamphlets.

Back: Voltaire and Chateau de Cirey

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Front: Port Royal des Champs Abby and Jean Racine (1639-1699), French dramatist

Jean Racine was born in La Ferte-Milon. He received his classical education at Port Royal. Racine was one of the prominent 17th century French dramatist.

Back: Jean Racine and view of La Ferte-Milon

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Front: Sea scene and Claude Debussy (1862-1918), French composer

Claude Debussy was born in St. Germain-en-Laye. He began studying music at the age of 7 and entered the Paris Conservatoire at the age of 10. Debussy was considered among the most prominent European composers at the turn of the 20th century.

Back: Claude Debussy and lake scene

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Front: Antoine de Saint-Exupéry (1900-1944), French writer and aviator

Antoine was trained as a pilot in the military. Later he became one of the pioneers of international postal flight, working on the Aéropostale between Toulouse and Dakar. He published his first story L'Aviateur (The Aviator) in the magazine Le Navire d'Argent, and his first book Courrier Sud (Southern Mail) in 1929. One of his most famous works is Le Petit Prince (The Little Prince). During WWII he flew for Free French. He disappeared on the night of July 31, 1944 while flying on a mission to collect data on German troop movements.

Back: Breguet XIV biplane

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Front: Paul Cézanne (1839-1906), French artist and Post-Impressionist painter

Paul Cézanne was born in Aix-en-Provence, on the southern region of France. He started to study drawing at the age of 10 at the Saint Joseph boarding school, and later at the Collège Bourbon (now Lycée d'Aix). Cézanne's paintings demonstrate a mastery of design, colour, composition and draftsmanship. His work laid the foundations of the transition from the 19th century Impressionism to the early 20th century Cubism.

Back: Painting of fruit

France, the largest nation in Western Europe, abolished monarchy and formed the First Republic 1793-99. Ruled by Napoleon Bonaparte 1799-1814. Restored monarchy 1815-48. Formed the Second Republic 1848-70. Formed the Third Republic 1870-1940. Occupied by Germany 1940-45. Formed the Fourth Republic 1945-58. The current Fifth Republic was formed in 1958. For a more detailed country profile, see CIA World Factbook on France.

Beginning on January 1, 2002 Euro becomes the official currency for France.