France lies in Western Europe, bordered by Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, Italy and Spain together with Andorra and Monaco. With an area of 547 square kilometres and a population of some 60 million, much of rural France is sparsely populated.

France today is one of the most modern countries in the world and is a leader among European nations.It's presidential democracy, similar to that of the USA, has become resistant to the instabilities experienced in earlier parliamentary democracies. In recent years, France has been central to the economic integration of Europe, including the introduction in January 1999 of a common currency, the euro.

Southern France, bordering the Mediterranean, enjoys warm summers and, on low ground, temperate winters. However, northern France, bordering the English Channel and in the west, the Bay of Biscay, shares similar cool temperatures to the UK and much of northern Europe, dropping to below freezing point at the harshest times of year. Central France, while beautiful, lush and green, has a fairly wet climate, particularly in winter.

France is a beautiful country with some fabulous architecture and countryside as well as much to entertain the artistic and the sporty.