Map of France
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Map of France > France Locator Map • France Travel Guide • Relief Map of France
The nation of France, officially known as the French Republic, is located in western Europe. It is bordered on the west by the Bay of Biscay, on the north by the English Channel and Great Britain, on the northeast by Belgium and Luxembourg, on the east by Germany, Switzerland, and Italy, and on the south by the Mediterranean Sea, Spain, and the small nation of Andorra. France, including the island of Corsica, occupies an area of 211,209 square miles and has 2,130 miles of coastline. Paris, the capital city of France and Europe's largest city, is situated in north central France.
France Map, Showing Major Cities and Regions
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Geography of France
One of France's claims to fame is that it is the largest country in
Western Europe, and of all the European countries it boasts some of the
most varied scenery. While the northeast has the Vosge Mountains
overlooking the Rhine Valley, the southeast is home to the Jura Mountains
and the Alps, which separate France from Switzerland. On the other
side, the Pyrenees separate France from Spain. The Massif Central
between the Rhone-Saone Valley and the basin of Aquitaine is France's
only large highland area. This area actually covers one-sixth of
the entire country, and boasts dramatic peaks in excess of 5,900
feet. France's scenic hills region comprises Brittany and Normandy,
while northern France is made up of lowlands, including the Paris
Basin. The Aquitaine Basin is a lowlands area in the southwest,
while the Rhone-Saone Valley and the Mediterranean lowlands are located
in the southeast.
France's Climate
France has a rather variable climate. Mild weather is prevalent in the west, due to the Atlantic Ocean's moderating influences. In the east, winters are generally colder and summers warmer. In general, the climate becomes more temperate as one travels from north to south. The Mediterranean Sea Coast enjoys dry, hot summers and moist, mild winters, while the Alps, Jura, and Pyrenees Mountains are known for their snowy winters which make them great locations for winter sports activities.
Leading French Cities
The romantic city of Paris, with its famous art galleries, museums, and cafes, is situated on the Seine River. Bordeaux, with its elegant chateaus, is home to southwestern France's major wine region. Marseille, France's oldest city, is located along the Riviera in southeastern France.
France Travel Information
French cuisine and the latest fashions draw many tourists to France,
where visitors can visit numerous wineries and French cafes or shop along
the Champs Elysee. The country's food processing industry is very
well-known, especially for its soft Brie and Camembert cheeses.
Tourists also visit the regions of Alsace, Bordeaux, Burgundy, Champagne,
and the Loire Valley, where many of the world's best wines are made.
Many visitors also enjoy seeing the famous
Eiffel Tower, the
Arc de Triomphe and Louis XIV's
Versailles Palace.
France is blessed with beautiful Mediterranean beaches and majestic
mountain resorts as well. Mont Blanc, a popular skiing and
mountaineering destination, rises on the French-Italian border
to 15,771 feet (4,807 meters), and is France's highest point.
French Tourism
- French Government Tourist Office - Complete guide for traveling in France, discovering the French gastronomy and finding travel information and maps for tourism in France.
France Resources
- CIA - The World Factbook - France - U.S. government almanac of France provides maps, geography and statistics.
- France in the Yahoo! Directory - Discover the history, art, culture and travel resources for France and Paris.
- Wikipedia - France - This free online encyclopedia includes information about French regions, history and geography.
France News
- France names first South Korean-born minister
President Francois Hollande has named 38-year-old technocrat Fleur Pellerin as France's ...
Hurriyet. Fri, 18 May 2012 13:11:00 +0200. - Murray beaten by Gasquet in Rome
Britain's Andy Murray is beaten 6-7 (2-7) 6-3 6-2 by 16th seed Richard Gasquet of France in the Italian Open third round.
BBC News. Thu, 17 May 2012 21:49:53 GMT. - Africa: France Will Have New Denomination With Protestant Merger
[ENI] Paris - After years of preparation, a new Christian denomination will be formed this week in France when two synods meet in the eastern town of Belfort, a location historically important in the growth of Protestantism.
All Africa. Thu, 17 May 2012 15:32:16 GMT. - France says won't ratify unchanged euro pact
PARIS (Reuters) - France will not ratify the European pact on fiscal discipline unless it is amended to include ambitious commitments to promote economic growth, the country's new finance minister, Pierre Moscovici, said on Thursday. ...
Yahoo. 2012-05-17T10:15:39Z. - Observatory: Oldest Cave Art Includes Drawings of Female Anatomy
Researchers have discovered illustrations of female anatomy in a rock shelter in France that date back 37,000 years.
By Sindya N. Bhanoo. International Herald Tribune. Wed, 16 May 2012 17:40:03 GMT.
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Related European Map Websites
These maps of Europe provide geographical context, showing where France is located in Europe. Three populous neighboring countries, Germany, Italy, and the UK, are shown on the Germany map, Italy map, and UK map websites, respectively.
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