Map of France

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

traditional French village near Bourdeaux

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 to Speed Troops’ Withdrawal from Afghanistan
President Nicolas Sarkozy on Friday said French troops would leave a year early, by the end of 2013.
By Steven Erlanger. International Herald Tribune. Fri, 27 Jan 2012 19:58:18 GMT.
France to resume Afghan training
French troops will resume training Afghan soldiers on Saturday but Paris will pull out most of its troops by the end of 2013, President Nicolas Sarkozy says.
BBC News. Fri, 27 Jan 2012 17:49:51 GMT.
France, Ivory Coast Move to Warm Relations
Champs Elysees awash with Ivorian, French flags, Sarkozy hosted Ivorian President Ouattara at state dinner Thursday.
Lisa Bryant. Voice of America. Fri, 27 Jan 2012 17:09:26 GMT.
Delta, Air France, Alitalia face EU anti-trust probe
p BRUSSELS (AFP) - European regulators opened on Friday an anti-trust probe into a joint venture between Delta, Air France-KLM and Alitalia on flights between the United States and Europe. ...
Straits Times. Fri, 27 Jan 2012 11:30:00 GMT.
France mulls Afghan move as Karzai visits
France's president is expected to announce whether he will order an accelerated pullout of French troops from the NATO-led mission in Afghanistan after a meeting with the Afghan leader.
Miami Herald. Fri, 27 Jan 2012 07:54 EST.

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.