Here under France, you will find travel information classified by city or region of France, as well as general information.
France is a country whose metropolitan territory is located in western Europe, and which is further made up of a collection of overseas islands and territories located in other continents. Indeed, since 1790, France has been divided into administrative units of about 2380 sq mi called dйpartements. There are 96 dйpartements in France and a further five overseas.
The dйpartements d'outre-mer (overseas departments) are the Caribbean islands of Guadeloupe and Martinique; the Pacific island groups of New Caledonia, Tahiti and French Polynesia; French Guiana, in South America; Rйunion, in the Indian Ocean east of Madagascar; and Saint Pierre and Miquelon, in the Atlantic Ocean just south of Newfoundland.
Slightly larger than California, France is one of the largest countries in Europe. The English Channel lies to the northwest and the Atlantic Ocean to the west. Spain broils across the Pyrenees to the south, the Mediterranean (including Corsica) is to the southeast, and over the eastern Alps and Jura ranges lie Switzerland and Italy. France's relatively flat northeastern borders abut Germany, Luxembourg and Belgium.
France is a democracy organised as a unitary semi-presidential republic. It is a developed nation with the fifth-largest economy in the world in 2004. Its main values are expressed in the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen.
This country has always been synonymous with romance, the French wrote the book on 'la vie en rose' and gave the world champagne and camembert, de Beauvoir and Debussy, the Tour de France and the Tour Eiffel. You will quickly adopt their seductive lifestyle.
Full country name: French Republic Area: 547,030 sq km Population: 60.4 million Capital City: Paris People: 92% French, 3% North African, 2% German, 1% Breton, 2% other (including Provenзal, Catalan and Basque) Language: French, Catalan, Basque, Breton, Corsican Religion: 86% Roman Catholic, 8% Muslim, 2% Protestant 1% Jewish, 3% unaffiliated Government: republic Head of State: President Jacques Chirac Head of Government: Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin
GDP: US$1.6 trillion GDP per capita: US$27,600 Annual Growth: 4% Inflation: 2.1% Major Industries: Oil refining, steel, cement, aluminium, agricultural products and foodstuffs (wheat, barley, maize, cheese), luxury goods, chemicals, motor manufacturing, energy products, tourism. Major Trading Partners: EU (especially Germany, Italy, UK), USA Member of EU: Yes
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Slightly larger than California, France is one of the largest countries in Europe. The English Channel lies to the northwest and the Atlantic Ocean to the west. Spain broils across the Pyrenees to the south, the Mediterranean (including Corsica) is to the southeast, and over the eastern Alps and Jura ranges lie Switzerland and Italy. France's relatively flat northeastern borders abut Germany, Luxembourg and Belgium.
