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One cannot contest that the French culture has long crossed borders and can nowadays be found in countries that are thousands of miles away from France.

Little Paris, in Hartbeespoort, South Africa, bears witness to this incredible cultural migration. Little Paris has undoubtedly a delectable French atmosphere with its miniature Eiffel Tower overlooking a lovers bridge covered in locks and a charming little lake.

But what would be Paris without its world-famous pastries?

At the French Toast Koffie Kafee, the attention to replicate in detail the quintessence of a French café leaves us in wonder! The delicious French Toast is of course the menu highlight.

Whether it's the Pain Doré à la Mousse de Fromage Frais Avec Compote des Fruits Rouges or the Pain Doré Au fillet de Boeuf et Confit d'Oignons, the menu at the Little Paris can compete without a doubt with any French Café; in the heart of Paris!

You could easily argue that just a French café does not necessarily mean an established presence of French in a country, and you are right! So here is a quick history lesson.

Around the 17th Century, a little group of Huguenots arrived at the Cape of Good Hope from France. It was later followed by a larger scale of emigration in 1687. They settled in Franschhoek which means

French Corner in Dutch.

The settlers named their farm after the areas of France from which they came from; Provence, La Dauphine, Chamonix and so forth. The town to this day still has a very authentic French feel with various restaurants and cafés bearing witness proudly to its French heritage.

Today, there are eight Alliance Française centers in South Africa. The Alliance Française offers a wide variety of cultural programs such as music, theatre, visual arts, and dance, with the support of the French Embassies, the French Institute of South Africa and in partnership with local companies and cultural bodies. You can easily sign up for French classes as well as take the DELF or the DALF exams in one of the many centers of the country.

This blog will take you on a journey around France and around the world. Yes, you've read it correctly! There is around 28 different accents or dialects in France alone. Have you heard about the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie (OIF), an organisation that has 88 member states and governments. Believe it or not, French is present in countries like Greece, Cambodia or even Argentina!

While we will dig deep in the phonological, grammatical and lexical aspects of French we will also take a detour from time to time and explore the historical, geographical and cultural facets of this absolutely beautiful language.

So stick around, "car l'aventure commence ici."

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