Enlarge image (© Chad Fleschner / German Embassy, Washington) The embassies of the 27 member states of the European Union and the Delegation of the European Union in Washington are once again opening their doors to area residents and visitors for a day of family fun during the seventh annual EU Open House.

Hop from the Seine to the Rhine, across the Alps to the Pyrenees, up the Danube, over the Carpathians, from the Mediterranean to the Baltic, all without leaving the District.

This year France and Germany will present themselves together at the Embassy of France. Visitors can discover the food, culture and diplomatic life of these two nations at the heart of Europe in just a single stop at the Embassy of France on Saturday, May 11, 2013.

Help us celebrate 50 years of Franco-German partnership

Both countries are celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Elysée Treaty on Franco-German Partnership. Discover more about the friendship that helped establish the peaceful and vibrant Europe we know today.

Savor specialties, listen to music and get your face painted

Enjoy some of the best food and drink from each country off a carefully selected Franco-German menu or from the food stations. Listen to French and German music as you enjoy the many offerings. Facepainters, balloon twisting and other activities will entertain the entire family.

Learn to speak French and German

Have a go at learning French or German! All day long quick lessons in German and French will be offered. Take a few minutes and you'll be on your way to learning a new language.

Pick up some fun stuff, find out more about France and Germany

Visit the German Information Center USA booth to pick up some fun stuff for kids including coloring books, puzzles and "magic" pencils. Find out more about both France and Germany via free publications, maps and more.

Take a quiz, play Plinko and get your picture taken

The Press Departments of both embassies will also challenge you with a flash quiz and Plinko event. Test your knowledge in our four categories: sports, arts, geography and politics. Answer one question right and then play Plinko to see what you win. We have a number of great prizes to give away, so be on the look out for this press booth. Along with that, we invite our guests to get their picture taken in front of two world-renowned monuments … we will let you guess what they are!

Win prizes like film passes and restaurant gift certificates!
The booth of the Cultural Affairs Department will feature a raffle where you can win fantastic prizes, including tickets to local theaters showing German films and gift certificates to restaurants and bakeries serving German foods. By entering the raffle, you will also receive our German Cultural Events newsletter with updates on events in the greater Washington area related to German culture. In addition, you can take part in a quiz to identify famous sites in Germany and France, and win more prizes this way!

We look forward to seeing you at the French Embassy on May 11th!