Lost in France Trivia Quiz

Answer: Marseille

The shortest crossing is from Dover to Calais, but ferries also travel from both Poole and Portsmouth to Cherbourg and from Portsmouth to Le Havre. Marseille, being situated down in the south of France on the Mediterranean Sea is not easily accessible from Britain.

Of course, travelling via the Channel Tunnel is a popular way to get to France, but I have an aversion to tunnels and believe a bracing sea voyage is a far better way to start my holiday.

Answer: Rouen

Historians among you will know that Rouen is where Joan of Arc was executed by burning in 1431 and it is amazing that parts of the clock pre-date this event. Le Gros Horloge, which simply means 'the big clock' in English, has a mechanism made in 1389, although the rest of the clock is later.

It is situated in an archway, which was built between 1527 and 1529, in a street which leads to the square where Joan met her end. The clock has survived numerous wars and is well worth a visit.

Answer: René Descartes

Among the other sights of Poitiers are its palace, originally the home of the Dukes of Aquitaine and several old churches, one of which is the oldest in France, dating from the fourth century. The university was founded by Pope Eugene IV and specialised in law, theology, the arts and medicine. Descartes studied law there, at his father's behest, between 1516 and 1616.

The Battle of Poitiers preceded the foundation of the university, taking place in 1356 (the English won). The other philosophers listed are all French, but later than Descartes. Voltaire was the closest in age, as he was born in 1694, while Camus and Sartre were both born in the twentieth century. None of them studied at Poitiers though.

Answer: Limoges

Limoges is located in central France on the western side of the Massif Central. It has been famous for its porcelain since the late eighteenth century, helped by being situated closed to deposits of clay which provided the raw materials. Since Limoges china is produced in a region, there is no one mark that easily identifies it - you need to check for individual manufacturers.

Miessen is also known for porcelain, but is in Germany, not France. Dijon is best known for mustard production and Chantilly is associated with lace.

Answer: Garonne

Located in Haute-Garonne department, of which it is the capital, Toulouse is known for being one of the centres where the supersonic aircraft Concorde was assembled (the British equivalent was in Filton, Bristol). Toulouse is still the main location of France's, and Europe's, aeronautic industry and is the home of the Airbus and the Toulouse Space Centre.

The name of the department gives away the name of the river, which is the only one listed from southern France. The Somme and Meuse were both rivers whose names are associated with World War I, fought in northern France, and the Seine runs through Paris.

Answer: Lausanne

Lausanne is situated in the French speaking part of Switzerland, in the west, and is the fourth largest city by population in the country. It is around 40 miles (60 kilometres) from Geneva and is situated on Lake Geneva, or Lac Léman to give it its French name. It is the city where the International Olympic Committee has its home.

Lourdes is in southern France and is best known for being where Bernadette Soubirous saw the Virgin Mary. Lille is in northern France, very close to the border with Belgium, and Lyon is in eastern France.

Answer: Loire Valley

Amboise is in central France and only a short distance (18 kilometres/11 miles) from Chenonceau, one of the best known chateaux of the Loire Valley. Amboise itself has a claim to fame since it was here that Leonardo da Vinci lived from 1516 until his death in 1519. Among the other chateaux of the Loire Valley are Chambord, Blois and Cheverny, to mention a few, but Chenonceau is among the best known due to its picturesque nature, built across the river Cher.

The Loire valley has other attractions too - I can't leave this question without mentioning that it is renowned for its wine making. Then again, most of France is.

Answer: Pyrenees

I could have mentioned that Pau is in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department, but that would have been rather a giveaway. If you know your French geography, you should know that the Pyrenees form the border between France and Spain and are where Andorra is situated.

Historically, Pau was the seat of the Kings of Navarre in the sixteenth century. It also has a chateau, dating from the Middle Ages, which is where King Henry IV of France was born in 1553.

Answer: Millau Viaduct

The Tarn sounds an unlikely name for a French river as it means a small mountain lake in English. The Tarn is a tributary of the Garonne, and runs through deep gorges creating a barrier to the easy movement of modern traffic. Plans to build a bridge over the river near to the town of Millau were first discussed in the 1990s, with construction beginning in 2001. The bridge was opened only three years later and is an impressive sight.

The other options listed are nowhere near as modern. The famous bridge in Avignon dates from the twelfth century and the Pond du Gard, near Nimes, was built by the Romans. The Garabit Viaduct crosses the river Truyère and was built in the late nineteenth century.

Answer: Saint-Tropez

I've reached the south eastern corner of France, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, where some of the best known (and expensive) resorts of France are situated. These include Antibes and Cannes, famous for its film festival, not to mention the independent Principality of Monaco. Saint-Tropez is one of the places at the western end of the coast. It became a popular haunt for artists before finding favour with the jet set - those people who have enough money to travel the world and lead lives of luxury (and price the rest of us out of the market).

Saint-Lô is in Normandy, in northern France and Saint-Malo is in Brittany, also on the northern coast. Saint-Etienne is a little nearer, but still nowhere near the coast, being situated in the Massif Central.