The Real Story Behind How France Got Its Name
The country we now call France got its name all because of a successful uprising against the Romans and some seriously successful ruling by a King called Clovis.
The Romans called the country Gaul
France was originally called Gaul by the Romans who gave the name to the entire area where the Celtics lived. This was at the time of Julius Caesar’s conquest of the area in 51-58 BC. This actually covered a huge land area including France but also Belgium, Luxembourg and parts of the Netherlands, Switzerland and Germany. The area Gaul stretched from the River Rhine and the Alps, the Mediterranean Sea (which the Romans called Mare Nostrum), the Pyrenees to the south and the Atlantic Ocean in the north and west. They weren’t a homogenous group of people but lots of different groups with different beliefs and religions who rose up under the rule of Chief Vercingetorix, to revolt against the Roman forces.
After the fall of the Roman Empire, different tribes fought for power
The Gauls were not a homogenous group, and even in France, there were many different groups of people all vying to rule their local areas. Many tribes invaded the area, most notably the Vandals (a large tribe from present-day Poland), the Visigoths (a tribe from southwestern France and Spain) and the Franks (a Germanic tribe).
The Franks tribe won
The Franks were a warrior tribe, intent on establishing a large united kingdom across Europe. During the 5th century, they invaded the area now known as northern France and Belgium (as well as Germany) and King Clovis managed to defeat everyone to bring the entire area under his rule in 494. He effectively became the first king of a unified country that became known as the ‘land of the Franks’ thereby receiving its Latin name, Francia or France.
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meet our Local Insider
Hanna
HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN A GUIDE?
2 years.
WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT YOUR JOB?
It's the personal contact, the personal experiences. I love meeting people from all over the world... I really like getting to know everyone and feeling like I'm traveling with a group of friends.
WHAT DESTINATION IS ON YOUR TRAVEL BUCKET-LIST?
I have so many places on my list, but I would really lobe to go to Africa. I consider myself an “adventure girl” and Africa feels like the ULTIMATE adventure!
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Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.
Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.
Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.
Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.
We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.
