Europe · Western Europe
French Republic
France is a country in Western Europe with a rich history, culture, and influence that spans centuries. From the artistic grandeur of Paris to the sun-drenched vineyards of Bordeaux, France is one of the world's most visited countries, renowned for its cuisine, fashion, art, and philosophy.
Île-de-France
Region · Paris
Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
Region · Lyon
Hauts-de-France
Region · Lille
Nouvelle-Aquitaine
Region · Bordeaux
Occitanie
Region · Toulouse
Grand Est
Region · Strasbourg
Normandie
Region · Rouen
Bretagne
Region · Rennes
Pays de la Loire
Region · Nantes
Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
Region · Marseille
Centre-Val de Loire
Region · Orléans
Bourgogne-Franche-Comté
Region · Dijon
Corse
Territorial Collectivity · Ajaccio
Paris
Population: 2,161,000
The capital and global cultural center, home to the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre
Marseille
Population: 870,000
France's oldest and second-largest city, a major Mediterranean port
Lyon
Population: 522,000
Known as France's gastronomic capital
Toulouse
Population: 486,000
Home to the Airbus headquarters and aerospace industry
Nice
Population: 342,000
Major resort city on the French Riviera
Bordeaux
Population: 257,000
World-renowned wine region and UNESCO World Heritage city
Metropolitan France spans from the Rhine River in the northeast to the Pyrenees in the south. The country is bordered by the English Channel to the northwest and the Mediterranean Sea to the southeast. The landscape includes the Alps in the east and the Massif Central plateau in the center.
France has a diverse climate. The northwest has a maritime climate with mild temperatures and regular rainfall. The northeast is more continental with colder winters. The Mediterranean coast in the south has hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters.
Eiffel Tower
Paris
Iconic iron lattice tower on the Champ de Mars in Paris, built in 1889
Palace of Versailles
Versailles
Former royal residence and UNESCO World Heritage Site with magnificent gardens
Louvre Museum
Paris
The world's largest and most visited art museum, home to the Mona Lisa
Mont Blanc
Haute-Savoie
The highest peak in the Alps and Western Europe at 4,808 m
D-Day Beaches
Normandy
Historic beaches in Normandy where Allied forces landed on June 6, 1944
France is the world's most visited country, attracting around 90 million tourists annually.
France is divided into 18 administrative regions: 13 in metropolitan France and 5 overseas regions.
The French language is spoken by approximately 300 million people worldwide.
France produces more than 1,500 different varieties of cheese.
France is the largest country in the European Union by area.
The Tour de France, the world's most prestigious cycling race, has been held almost every year since 1903.
France is the world's most visited country.
France regularly tops global tourism rankings, welcoming approximately 90 million foreign tourists annually. Key attractions include Paris, the French Riviera, the Loire Valley châteaux, the Normandy D-Day beaches, and world-famous cuisine and wine regions.
France's 13 metropolitan regions were established in their current form in 2016, following a major administrative reform. Each region has distinct geography, culture, and economic characteristics that make France one of Europe's most diverse countries.
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Last updated: 2024-01-01