France

 A nation of tradition, history and sheer beauty.

France is one of the most popular countries in the world, which is associated with romanticism, a great cultural heritage and very beautiful nature. France provides the most amazing experience to travelers: diverse and interesting places, chic streets of Paris, sun drenched beaches of Cote dAzur. Despite the examples of everyone wandering through the castles of the Middle Ages, drinking wine in Bordeaux or hiking through the Alps, France is the world of history, beauty, and invention, which attracts the attention of the whole world.

To obtain all information about France, look at its Wikipedia site to see its detailed history as well as general information. To get the official resource and news visit the official site of France

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Geographical Location

Geographically, France is a western European country, which is surrounded by Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, Switzerland, Italy and Monaco in the east, and by Atlantic in the west. It has borders with Spain on the south. Germany is the largest country in European Union and the third largest in the whole of Europe with a size of about 551,695 square kilometers.

France has geographic diversity that is distributed in areas including snow capped mountains to Mediterranean coast. It is famous with its rivers Seine, Rhone, Loire, which have contributed to its past and evolution.

Natural Feature and Landforms

France has an unbelievable number of natural landscapes. Towards the east, it has breathtaking mountain ranges and skiing by the Alps and the Pyrenees. The Alps with its crowned summit, Mont Blanc of the Western Europe are one of the greatest attractions to the tourists either having an eye to winter sports or mountaineering.

Loire Valley has got the beautiful chateau and vineyards whereas the landscape of Provence region has the lavender fields and pretty villages. The Cote d Azur or French Riviera has renowned Mediterranean beaches and luxury resorts along with making it a popular vacation destination among sun-worshipers and celebrities.

Climate

This is because of the diverse geography of France whose climate is varied. Southern France has a pleasing Mediterranean climate with hot and dry summer and mild winters. Temperate, maritime climate is shown in the north and west of the country and features warm summers and cold-wet winters. The Alpine and Pyrenees are of the mountainous type of landmasses and have continental alpine climatic conditions; the winters are cold and summers are warm.

When to visit France depends on where you want to go: the cities and regions such as Provence and Bordeaux are best visited in spring (April to June) and autumn (September to November), French Riviera and mountains in summer (June to August).

The History: Roman Empire to the Modern France

Ante and Roman History and Rule

French history dates back to more than thousands of years and some signs of the early settlements of the humans can be discovered as far as to the prehistoric times. Later the Romans colonised the area in the 1st century BC and France (which was known as Gaul by this time) joined the Roman Empire. Their vital towns and cities that the Romans founded include Lyon and Paris and had a network of roads some of which are used today.

Middle Ages and Emergence of the French Kingdom

Following the fall of the Roman Republic, France was held as region of the Frankish Empire and during the Middle Ages, the Capetians dynasty made an establishment of the Kingdom of France. The medieval was characterized by the hundred years war against England and the Kings rule, like, Louis IX and Philip IV who greatly grew the kingdom.

During the Gothic period there were the building of such legendary cathedrals as Notre-Dame de Paris. The French revolution of the 1789 marked a milestone in world history where the monarchy was overthrown and the First Republic was created.

The French Revolution and the Modern France

French Revolution is a major incident which led to world history as the monarchy was abolished and replaced by the Republic. Because of the Revolution, some major political and social shifts took place such as elevation of leaders such as Napoleon Bonaparte who proclaimed himself the Emperor of France, and extended the French Empire throughout Europe.

Following the defeat of Napoleon in 1815, France experienced a wave of political instability but it was back to being a powerful nation in Europe at the end of the 19th century. France was instrumental in the first and second World War, and following World War II, France remained a western major player in the world and is a founding member of the European Union and major player in the world in matters of diplomacy, art and culture.

Religious and ethnic diversity

France is more like a pot of assorted cultures and traditions. Most of the people are ethnically French but there are large communities of North African, Italian, Spanish and Portuguese extraction which makes the country one of the most ethnically mixed countries in Europe.

France has had Catholicism as the major religion of the country and secularization is inbuilt deeply in the French society. A good number of the population also practice other religions such as Islam, protestants and Judaism especially in Paris and other urban cities.

Literature and Language

French is the official language of France and it is also one of the most commonly spoken languages of the world. The French literature has also yielded the greatest writers in the world with the likes of Victor Hugo, Marcel Proust, Gustave Flaubert, Albert Camus. Other contributors to the Western thinking include French philosophers such as Jean-Paul Sartre and rene Descartes.

Cultural and Traditions and Practices

France boasts of art, architecture and fashion. It is the motherland of some of the most well-known artistic movements of all time, including Impressionism and Surrealism, and such painters as Claude Monet, Edgar Degas, and Salvador Dal I have made quite an indelible impression.

Culinary traditions are also important to the French the food is rich, the culinary spectrum combines heavy soups and stews with light pastry and cheese. Baguettes, croissants and cheese: Brie, Camembert and Roquefort is absolutely French, and wine is inherent to French culture, especially when it comes to such places as Bordeaux, Champagne, and Burgundy.

The main Festivals and Celebrations

Religious Festivals

Christmas and Easter are very common in France and people commemorate with church Masses, families, and Christmas dinners. The Catholic areas observe good Friday and Easter Monday is a national holiday in most parts of the country.

National Holays and Special Days

The most significant national holiday in France is Bastille day (July 14 th) which commemorates the storming of the Bastille during the French revolution. Celebrating the day is marked with military parade, fireworks and partying around the country.

Armistice Day (November 11th) marks the culmination of the World War I and it is the day of remembrance to the fallen solider.

Cultural Festivals

The most regal of events in the film industry is the Cannes Film Festival that is held annually in Cannes where the filmmakers and the celebrities of the world end up in the venue. Among the other events which attract the attention in Paris are the Paris Fashion Week and the Tour de France (the most well-known bike race in the world).

The Economy: Innovation, Farming and Industry

Economic Development

France is among the leading and diversified economies in the globe. The economy of the country is greatly represented by manufacturing, agriculture, as well as tourism. France is also considered a world powerhouse in car manufacturing, aerospace and luxury product with its brands like Louis Vuitton, Chanel, LOrL gaining universal popularity.

Agriculture

France accounts as one of the top agricultural producers in Europe producing wine, cheese, grain and livestock. Wine by itself is a large economic driver and France is the largest producer of wine in terms of volume in the world.

Tourism

The industry of tourism is an important part of the French economy as there are millions of tourists coming to visit France every year. Boasting such sights as Eiffel Tower, Louvre Museum, and Notre-Dame Cathedral, Paris has remained one of the most popular cities to travel to in the world.

Trade and Industry

France has a well-diversified industry base that has the major industrial categories in the aerospace industry, nuclear energy, chemicals as well as high-tech industries. France also leads in the exportation of the high-end products, automobiles and farm products.

The Most Interesting Sights in France

These are the six attractions that should not be missed in France:

1. Paris

The capital city has unique attractive structures including Eiffel tower, Louvre Museum, Notre-Dame Cathedral and Champs-Elysee.

2. Versailles Palace

Located just a short way away outside Paris the Palace of Versailles is recognized by UNESCO as world heritage and is a breathtaking sight to view in the landscape in terms of French Baroque architecture.

3. Mont Saint-Michel

Overlooked on an emergent island in Normandy, this is among the most impounded landmarks in France and it is a medieval abbey.

4. Provence

Provence is home to lavender fields, vineyards and beautiful villages, which make the province a classical French experience.

5. French Riviera

Cote d Azur is known to be filled with glamorous beach resorts of Nice, Cannes, and Saint Tropez.

6. Loire Valley

Chateau de Chambord and Chateau de Chenonceau are some of the most beautiful chateaux in Loire Valley in France.

Healthcare System

France is known to have the best universal healthcare regime in the world, therefore, having a high quality of medical services to the locals and tourists.

Education System

France boasts of well established economy in education as; it provides free governmental education at all levels up to the tertiary level of education. Some of the finest universities in the world, like, Sorbonne University and the Ecole Normale Superieure are located there in the country.

Projects and Transportation

Transport Network

France has a very well-developed transport system- the TGV (high-speed trains) and abundant buses and metros as well as large international airports like that of Charles de Gaulle in Paris.

Urban Development

French cities and especially Paris, Lyon, and Marseille are built with a mix of old architecture and new credits, the best amenities in the world, cultural facilities, and well placed public transport.

Visit Timing: Traveler Best Times

Ideal Seasons

The ideal period to visit France will be in spring (April to June) or autumn (September to November), as the weather is delightful, and the tourists aren t too many.

Special activities and carnivals

Large-scale attractions such as the Cannes Film Festival, Paris Fashion Week, and Tour de France are big enough opportunities that one should time to visit them.

Conclusion: Land of Eternal Fashion and Creativity

France is an ideal combination of nature, history, culture and modernity. When enjoying the art and history of Paris, strolling along the sunny beaches of the Cote d Azur or tasting the culinary delights of the country, France is bound to give you the experience of a lifetime.

FAQ and A common questions

When should you visit France?

To avoid the crowds, pleasant weather also comes during spring (April to June) or autumn (September to November).

Which places of interest are in France?

The best places are Paris, the Versailles Palace, Mont Saint-Michel, Provence and the French Riviera.

Which languages are attained in France?

French is the official language, but English is also used in the big cities as well as tourist regions.

Is France tourist friendly?

France is pretty safe to visit, yes. Of course, you still have to be cautious in the places with a lot of people with major tourist destinations.

Which are the French cultural festivals that I should attend?

The major French cultural events are the Cannes Film Festival, Paris Fashion Week and the Tour de France.