France fr : Explore France and its wonders

The vast majority of France’s territory and population is situated in Western Europe and is called Metropolitan France. During the 1970s France faced an economic crisis and allowed new immigrants (mostly from the Maghreb, in northwest Africa) to permanently settle in France with their families and acquire citizenship. During the Cold War, de Gaulle pursued a policy of “national independence” towards the Western and Eastern blocs.

Where is France?

France is the third-biggest manufacturing country in Europe, behind Germany and Italy, and ranks eighth in the world by manufacturing output, at 1.9 per cent. Considered a great power with considerable economic strength, it is a member of the Group of Seven leading industrialised countries, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), and the G20. For two centuries, it has consistently ranked among the ten largest globally; as of 2025update it is the world’s ninth largest by purchasing power parity and second largest in the EU, after Germany. France has a social market economy characterised by sizeable government involvement and diversified sectors. Some consider hate speech laws in France to be too broad or severe, undermining freedom of speech.France has laws against racism and antisemitism, while the 1990 Gayssot Act prohibits Holocaust denial.

The rise of Protestantism led France to a civil war known as the French Wars of Religion. French explorers claimed lands in the Americas, paving expansion of the French colonial empire. France was struck by the Black Death, from which half of the 17 million population died. Edward contested Philip’s throne in 1337, beginning the intermittent Hundred Years’ War between England and France.

• French artists developed the rococo style in the early 18th century, as a more intimate evolution of the Baroque style, the works of the court-endorsed artists Antoine Watteau, François Boucher and Jean-Honoré Fragonard being the most representative in the country.
• Towards its southern parts, the landscape becomes hilly, transitioning into the foothills of the Pyrenees.
• It is estimated that 40% of the French population is descended at least partially from the different waves of immigration since the early 20th century; between 1921 and 1935 alone, about 1.1 million net immigrants came to France.
• Together they are among the largest armed forces in the world and the largest in the EU.

A romantic cycling adventure for foodies along the Canal du Midi

The presence of the Maritime Alps to the north provides a protective barrier, creating a microclimate conducive to vegetation, such as the iconic maritime pines. The region’s geography has played a role in making it a significant maritime area. Towards its southern parts, the landscape becomes hilly, transitioning into the foothills of the Pyrenees. The region is characterized by alluvial plains and terraces, with fertile soils conducive to agriculture. The region benefits from a semi-continental climate and is recognized for its agricultural activities, particularly in viticulture.

There are ten major ports, the largest of which is in Marseille, which also is the largest bordering the Mediterranean Sea. France features cities of high cultural interest, beaches and seaside resorts, ski resorts, as well as rural regions that many enjoy for their beauty and tranquillity (green tourism). France has major military industries and one of the largest aerospace sectors in the world. As a significant hub for international relations, France has the third-largest assembly of diplomatic missions, behind China and the United States. In 2015 it was described as “the best networked state in the world” due to its membership in more international institutions than any other country; these include the G7, World Trade Organization, the Pacific Community and the Indian Ocean Commission.

In the early 20th century and in particular during the interwar period, a loose collection of foreign artists of whom many were Jewish formed the School of Paris. French artists developed the rococo style in the early 18th century, as a more intimate evolution of the Baroque style, the works of the court-endorsed artists Antoine Watteau, François Boucher and Jean-Honoré Fragonard being the most representative in the country. France also supports a network of schools internationally through the Agency for French Education Abroad.

France has historically been one of the world’s major agricultural centres and remains a “global agricultural powerhouse”; France is the world’s sixth-biggest exporter of agricultural products, generating a trade surplus of over €7.4 billion. The Paris Region has the highest concentration of multinational firms in mainland Europe. In 2018 France was the fifth-largest trading nation and second-largest in Europe, with the value of exports representing over a fifth of GDP. Less than 2 per cent of GDP is generated by the primary sector, namely agriculture; the agricultural sector is among the largest in value and leads the EU in overall production.

Metropolitan France covers 551,500 square kilometres (212,935 sq mi), the largest among European Union members. Its continental part covers about 1000 km from north to south and from east to west. Metropolitan France includes various coastal islands, of which the largest is Corsica.

France had colonial possessions since the beginning of 1xbet malaysia the 17th century, but in the 19th and 20th centuries its empire extended greatly and became the second-largest behind the British Empire. This forced Huguenots to flee to Protestant regions such as the British Isles and Switzerland. Teutonic tribes invaded the region, the Visigoths settling in the southwest, the Burgundians along the Rhine Valley, and the Franks in the north.