Map of France

Where is France? • French Travel and Tourism

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 > Relief Map of France • France Travel Destinations

To print this map of France, click on the map. After map loads, press Ctrl+P.

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

Air crash survivor back in France
The 12-year-old survivor of the Yemenia air crash returns to Paris as the search for debris goes on.
BBC News. Thu, 02 Jul 2009 20:45:21 GMT.
Air France Plane Did Not Break Up in Air, Investigators Say
French investigator says airplane may have hit the water with strong vertical acceleration, suggests possible air traffic control failure.
Voice of America. Thu, 02 Jul 2009 17:14:06 +0200.
Air France plane not destroyed in flight, say investigators
The Air France plane that crashed into the Atlantic last month was not destroyed in mid-air but hit the water intact, French investigators say.
Mail & Guardian. Thu, 02 Jul 2009 16:36:00 +0200.
Air France jet plunged at high speed into Atlantic
The pilot of a doomed Air France flight was flying with neither the help of the autopilot nor information about the plane's speed and direction when it slammed into the Atlantic Ocean a month ago, French officials said Thursday.
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Thu, 02 Jul 2009 13:20:11 EDT.
Report to shed some light
PARIS - FRENCH investigators on Thursday were to release a first report shedding some light on the mysterious crash of Air France Flight 447, even though the plane's black boxes have not been found.
Straits Times. 2 Jul 2009 12:07 GMT.

Related European Map Sites

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.