France

Capital of France: Paris
Population of France: 65,312,249
Total area of France: 643,427 km2

France is also called the French Republic. Its flag consists of blue, white and red vertical stripes. Its emblem is yellow and orange. It consists of a vertical axe and multiple rows of leaves with two small unidentifiable animals imbedded within the leaves. It is located in West Central Europe.

France population

France is a large country consisting of almost 66 million individuals as of 2011. There is a large amount of immigration to the country and births exceed deaths. The fertility rate is 2.01 per woman. The largest cities include Paris, Lyon, Marseille, Lille and Toulouse. Almost 12 million people alone live in Paris. Immigrants come primarily from Algeria, Morocco and Turkey. The population is increasingly urbanized. The official language of France is, of course, French but French is not required to be used on official documents throughout the country. The country is also a proponent of religious freedom and the predominant religion throughout the country is Roman Catholic. Protestants make up only three percent of the population. Twenty eight percent claim no religion.  

History of France

France was occupied since prehistory, from at least 1.8 million years ago. They were nomadic people and were hunter gatherers. It was part of the Roman Empire in 400 BCE. It was taken over by the Gauls in the 300s, although it was won back and forth through wars. This was called the Gallo-Roman period. The pagan group, the Franks, made up the name, Francie, from which the country was subsequently named. France took part in the Hundred Years War. France’s occupants continually had to fight off Viking invasions during the 800s. In the Renaissance era, France was a kingdom occupied by many Kings. It also was the victim of many wars against Italy. The monarchy was at its highest in the 16th century but declined after that. The monarchy was demolished in 1789 following the storming of the Bastille. France was a constitutional monarchy after that and all French citizens (who were men) had rights. Louis XVI and his wife, Marie Antoinette, were beheaded and the country became a republic. There was a period of unrest that followed with wars and the trials of Napoleon, who was defeated in 1815. After a brief monarchy again, the country once again became a republic. It is a major player in the European Union.

France Tourism

The country of France is famous for many things. France is the home of the Eiffel Tower, the Mona Lisa, the Palace of Versailles, Le Tour de France and countless others. This country situated in Western Europe is undeniable a top tourist destination because it holds some of the most historical, influential and one of a kind landmarks known in the world. The places in France are not the only attraction; the history of the country, the people, the culture and the fashion are also tourist magnets. For more than twenty years, France has bagged the most popular tourist destination in Europe. It is undeniable given that it is has the famous city of Paris, the beautiful Atlantic beaches, the renowned French Riviera, the majestic French Alps and many more. There are so many places to go, things to do and people to meet!

Among the many things that France is known for, its cuisine makes the top list. The French love food and they have such passion for it. Cooking involves meticulous preparation, detail and technique. When you meet the French, you can simple give them a handshake. Friends normally kiss each other on the cheeks. The first names are usually used only by family and by close friends. Use the first names only if they tell you to do so. When you enter or leave a room, shop, café, etc, they expect you to greet “bonjour” or “bonsoir” (good morning, good evening). Always acknowledge the people you meet as a sign of courtesy.