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France

France is the largest country of Western Europe in area. Paris, the capital of France and largest city in the country, ranks as one of the world's great cities. For hundreds of years, Paris has been a world capital of art and learning.

Its university is over 800 years old, and is one of the largest in the world. Paris attracts artists and writers of all nationalities. Many great artists have produced their finest masterpieces there...more Information on France.

Also read: Our Special Feature Background of France

Full country name: Republic of France
Area: 547,030 sq km
Population: 63,044,000
Capital City: Paris
People: Celtic and Latin with Teutonic, Slavic, African and North African, Indochinese, Basque minorities
Language: French 100%, some regional dialects
Religion: Roman Catholic 83%-88%, Protestant 2%, Jewish 1%, Muslim 5%-10%, unaffiliated 4%
Government: federal republic
Head of State: President Jacques Chirac
Head of Government: Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin

History of France

Archeological remains indicate that humans have lived in what is now France for at least 100,000 years. From about 50,000 to 8000 BC, Paleolithic cultures lived in the area, leaving extraordinary paintings on cave walls...More on France History.

Overview of France Economy

GDP: US$227.7 billion
GDP per capita: US$27,900
Annual Growth: 2.9%
Inflation: 1.7%
Major Industries: Machinery, textiles, iron & steel, timber and tourism
Major Trading Partners: EU (esp. Germany, Italy & Hungary), US & Switzerland
Member of EU: Yes

Also Read: Our Special feature on Economy of France

Political System of France

- Government Of France
- Politics In France
- Defense and Military

Climate, Vegetation and Fauna

France's generally mild climate, ample rainfall, mixture of elevations, and long growing season, offer habitat for many species of plants and animals. Centuries of human settlement have profoundly altered the land and greatly reduced the number and variety of indigenous species. Conservation efforts in recent decades have helped protect valuable undeveloped areas that remain.The natural vegetation of France is closely related to climatic conditions. In the mountains, the highest elevations near the snow line consist of expanses of bare rock with only a few mosses and lichens growing in sheltered areas.


Education: There are also private schools and colleges in France, most...more on education in France

Language: French is the official language of France and is spoken by the large...more on languages spoken in France

Lifestyle in France: French have taken pride in the sophistication of their culture, the beauty of their spoken language...read more on the lifestyle of French People

Environment: The French Alps include Mont Blanc, which at 4800m (15,750ft) is Europe's highest peak...More


Facts for the Traveler

Visas: Nationals of the EU, the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Israel do not need visas to visit France as tourists for up to three months. Except for the citizens of a handful of other European countries, everyone else must have a visa. To apply, you'll need a passport (valid for a period of three months beyond your departure date from France), a ticket in and out of France, proof of money and possibly of accommodations, two passport-sized photos and the visa fee in cash. Tourist visas cannot be extended except in emergencies (eg medical problems). You might try calling the Préfecture de Police (tel 01 53 71 51 68; www.prefecture-police-paris.interieur.gouv.fr) for guidance. If you don't need a visa to visit France, you'll almost certainly qualify for another automatic three-month stay if you take the train to Geneva or Brussels and then re-enter France.
Time Zone: GMT/UTC +1 (Central European Time)
Dialling Code: 33
Electricity: 230V ,50Hz
Weights & measures: Metric

Also Read:Money and Cost Required | List of Holidays in France

When to Go to France

Spring offers the best weather to visitors, with beach tourism picking up in May. Temperatures aren't too bad in autumn, although the short days mean limited sunlight and the cold starts to make itself felt towards the end of the season, even along the Côte d'Azur. Winter means playing in the snow in France's Alps and Pyrenees, though the Christmas school holidays send hordes of tadpoles in uniform scurrying for the slopes. Mid-July through to the end of August is when most city dwellers take their annual five weeks' vacation to the coasts and mountains, and the half-desolate cities tend to shut down a bit accordingly. The same happens during February and March.

Also Read: Getting Around France | France: Getting There and Away | Transportation System in France

What to See in France

Major Tourist Attractions in France
- Cannes: During the Film Festival in May, Cannes is crammed with more money...
- Biarritz: The high-toned coastal town of Biarritz, 8km (5mi) west of Bayonne, started as a resort...
- Arles: On summer days, watch the waves of heat rise from the plains, just as Van Gogh...
- Paris: Paris stimulates the senses, demanding to be seen, heard, touched, tasted and...

Other Tourist Attractions in France
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