RELIGIOUS AND SECULAR FRANCE BETWEEN NORTHERN AND SOUTHERN EUROPE

France is a Catholic country with a secular culture, a country which b elongs simultaneously to the Northern European area and to the Souther n European area. In the religious field, France indeed occupies the mi ddle ground between Northern Europe and Southern Europe. Nevertheless, as regards religion, there appears to be no striking difference betwe en Northern France and Southern France. In this secular country, Catho licism continues to play a public role, especially in times of nationa l mourning. Finally the author considers whether, with the recent secu larization of laicite itself, we shall shortly see the end of the ''Fr ench exception''.