An overview of France and the main things to know
Six-sided and endlessly varied, France stretches from Channel cliffs to Mediterranean coves. Lavender fields ripple across Provence. Limestone gorges cut deep into the Verdon. Snow-capped peaks watch over it all from the east.
You could spend a lifetime here and still find corners you’ve missed. Wild horses roam the Camargue’s salt marshes. Hilltop villages cling to the Luberon like they’ve grown there. Further south, the Riviera curves from the Calanques’ turquoise inlets all the way to the Italian border.
France holds significant history alongside its natural beauty. Paris alone carries centuries – in the Louvre’s corridors, along the Seine, under city architect Haussmann’s rooftops. Head south and you’ll find Roman amphitheatres still standing in Provence, offering entertainment like it’s still 2,000 years ago (though without the bloodshed).
Then there’s the food. Croissants, cheese, wine, market vegetables piled high and glowing in the sun. Lunch here isn’t rushed – it’s an event, even at a roadside café in the middle of nowhere. Order the plat du jour and savour it.
Every region has parts that look like a postcard made real. Provence gives you ochre villages and lavender plateaus. The Camargue gives you flamingos and cowboys. The Riviera gives you glamour, but also quiet coves the crowds haven’t found yet.
There’s a lot of France to get through. We’re here to help you navigate it in style.
- Dive in with our selection of France tours
Here’s a few quick facts about France:
Capital: Paris
Population: 68.4 million
Currency: Euro
Language: French
Total area: 551,695 km2
Time zone: Central European Time (CET) in winter and Central European Summer Time (CEST) in summer
Country code: +33
Emergency services: 112
Location: France sits in Western Europe, bordered by Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Monaco, Andorra and Spain. It has coastlines touching the English Channel, Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea.
Form of government: Semi-presidential republic.
