France is the largest country in Western Europe and one of the most beautiful countries in

the world. It is the third most-populous European country. Due to its shape, it is often referred to
in French as lHexagone or The Hexagon.
Population: 57.5 million
Capital: Paris

Two thirds of France is mountains and hills, with the Alps, Pyrenees and Vosges ranges.

Mont Blanc in the Alps is the highest mountain in Europe.

France generally has cool winters and mild summers. However, along the Mediterranean

they have hot summers.

The north has cool weather. In the south it gets very hot in summer. Fruits such as
oranges and lemons grow in the south.

The Mediterranean coast includes the popular tourist area, the French Riviera. Its hot, dry

summers and mild winters make it a popular beach area.

The Eiffel Tower is one of France's national landmarks. At 1,050 feet tall, it is one of the
world's most recognizable structures.

Points of Interest:

Paris is one of the world's most beautiful cities, and a popular tourist area.
Paris was founded by, and named after, the Celtic tribe, the Parisii.
Paris is a major culture center for Europe and the world.

The Louvre is one of the world's

best known, and finest art galleries. It contains many of the world's most famous art, including
the Mona Lisa.

The Arc de Triomphe is a Paris

landmark. It is the entrance way to the Champs Elysees.
The French population has very diverse origins. Many people have settled in France
including the Celts, Romans, Germans, Russians, Asians, Africans and North Americans. The
populations tend to vary by region.
Historically, France was primarily a rural community. Today about 75% of people live in
cities or towns.
Art and culture are an important part of France. Many famous artists, such as Renoir and
Monet, are from France. Several famous writers, including Victor Hugo who wrote Le
Miserables and the Hunchback of Notre Dame, are from France.
Other intersting places to visit:

Paris: Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, Louvre (which you can see in the image to the right),

Montmartre, Arc de Triomphe, river Seine and many other great attractions
Versailles : castle of French kings
Lasceaux Caves for 17,000year old rock paintings
Cote dAzur for turquoise blue sea and great beaches
Corsica: in the Mediterranean sea
French Alps: great skiing and snowboarding
Mont St. Michel: Island with high tide
La Provence for lavender fields and old historic towns like Avignon

French is the second most studied language in the world after English.

The capital city is Paris. Other major cities include Marseille, Lyon, Lille, and Nice-Cannes.
France is the most visited country in the world, with over 80 million visitors every year.
The Louvre is the most visited art museum in the world. The famous Mona Lisa painting is on
display in this museum.
The famous Eiffel Tower in Paris was built as the entrance point for the 1889 World Fair. It is
one of the most visited monuments in the world.
Climate: generally cool winters and mild summers, but mild winters and hot summers along the
Mediterranean; occasional strong, cold, dry, north-to-northwesterly wind known as mistral
Major Cities: PARIS (capital) 10.41 million; Marseille-Aix-en-Provence 1.457 million;
Lyon 1.456 million; Lille 1.028 million; Nice-Cannes 977,000 (2009)
Major Landforms: French Alps, Jura Mountains, Pyrenees, Massif Central plateau,
Gorges du Verdon canyon, Loire Valley, Corsica Island
Major Bodies of Water: Seine River, Loire River, Meuse River, Rhone River, Gulf of
Lion, Bay of Biscay, English Channel, Strait of Dover, Etang de Berre lagoon, Lac du Bourget,
Mediterranean Sea, Atlantic Ocean
Famous Places: Eiffel Tower, The Louvre Museum, Notre Dame Cathedral, Arc de
Triomphe, French Riviera, Champs Elysees, Palace of Versailles, Les Invalides, Mont Blanc,
Gorge du Verdon, Mont Saint-Michel, St. Tropez, Chateau de Chambord, Dune of Pyla