France, officially the French Republic, is a country located in western Europe. It is the third largest country on the European continent and one of the oldest in the world.
It is bathed by the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. It borders Germany, Andorra, Belgium, Spain, Italy, Luxembourg, Principality of Monaco and Switzerland.
General data
- Capital: Paris
- Territorial extension: 549,190 km²
- Population: 64,395,345 inhabitants (2015 data)
- Climate: mostly seasoned
- Language: French
- Religion: Catholicism
- Coin: Euro
- Government system: Semi-Presidential Democratic Republic
- President: Emmanuel Macron
Flag
France flag
The tricolor flag is the national emblem of France. It is composed of three bands in blue, white and red, which are presented vertically in this order, from left to right.
White is the color of royalty, while blue and red are the colors of revolution. Together, they have the sense of union between people and monarchy.
Read more about France flag.
Map
France is divided into 18 regions and 96 municipalities or departments.
Map of France with its borders
Before the change, in 2016, there were 22 metropolitan regions. It became 13:
| Metropolitan Regions | capitals |
|---|---|
| Altos de France | Lille |
| Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Lyon |
| Burgundy-Franco-County | dijon |
| Brittany | Rennes |
| Liger Valley Center | orleans |
| Corsica | Ajaccion |
| Great East | Strasbourg |
| le de france | Paris |
| Normandy | Roan |
| New Aquitaine | Bourdeaux |
| Occitan | Toulouse |
| Liger country | Nantes |
| Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur | Marseille |
Five out of all regions in France are overseas regions:
- Guadeloupe
- French Guiana
- Martinique
- Meeting
- mayotte
The capital Paris is the largest city in France. Lille, Lyon, Marseille and Toulouse are other important cities.
Anthem
The official anthem of France is called Marseillaise. It is originally a revolutionary chant by Claude-Joseph Rouget de Lisle, captain of the French army, which was composed in 1792.
The purpose of the song was to encourage the soldiers to fight for the country on the occasion of the French Revolution, as shown in the opening sentence of the musical composition:
"Onward, children of the Fatherland,
The day of Glory has arrived."
Culture and Tourism
Freedom, Equality and Fraternity (in French, Liberté, Egalite, Fraternité) is the motto of the French Revolution that became the heritage of this country that has a vast cultural wealth.
Therefore, France is highly sought after by tourists all over the world, who number in the millions annually.
Museums, monuments, beaches are just some of its attractions. Paris, the city of light, is also known as the city of shopping.
THE Notre Dame cathedral, in the center of Paris, is the biggest attraction in the country. Gothic in style, its construction began in 1163, taking almost 200 years to complete.
The cathedral is a masterpiece that houses a series of sculptures and paintings. In it, Napoleon Bonaparte was crowned emperor in 1804.
THE Eiffel Tower, also in Paris, is a symbol of France that took two years to build, which happened in 1889.
Designed by Gustave Eiffel, it is 324 meters tall and was made for the Universal Exhibition of 1889. Therefore, it should not be a lasting construction, being supposed to be demolished after 20 years of exposure.
O the Louvre Museum, in Paris, receives millions of visitors a year. It is, without a doubt, one of the most visited museums in the world.
One of the most famous works on display in this art gallery, which houses more than 35,000 works, is the Mona Lisa, by Leonardo da Vinci.
Among the points of interest, the Arch of Triumph offers a privileged view, from where it is possible to see all of Paris. It is a work of architecture dating from 1806. The monument pays homage to the Imperial Army and was built by order of Napoleon Bonaparte.
With regard to gastronomy, cheese is a symbol. It is a real passion of the French.
In the country, there are hundreds of varieties of cheese. To accompany it, there is wine, as France is one of the biggest producers of the drink in the world.
Baguette, the famous French bread, can be found in several places.
Economy
The French economy is among the top five in the world. France is among the three most industrialized countries in Europe.
The country, which is the biggest agricultural producer in the European Union, produces mainly meat, corn, wheat and wine.
The largest producer of nuclear energy in the world is France, which also stands out in the automobile and electronics industry.
Discover the history of France:
- French Republic
- Napoleonic era
- Louis XIV, King Sun
