France

Population: 60.4 million
Size: 551, 100 sq. km
Official Language: French
Capital: Paris
Currency: Euro. 1 Euro (EUR) = 1.44 Canadian Dollar (CAD) as of August, 2006.

France is the largest country in Europe after Russia and Ukraine. The English Channel lies to the north-west and the Atlantic Ocean to the west. Spain broils across the Pyrenees to the south, the Mediterranean (including Corsica) is to the south-east and over the eastern Alps and Jura ranges lie Switzerland and Italy. France’s relatively flat north-eastern borders abut Germany, Luxembourg and Belgium.

France experiences generally cool winters and mild summers, but mild winters and hot summers along the Mediterranean; occasional strong, cold, dry, north-to-northwesterly wind known as mistral mostly flat plains or gently rolling hills in north and west; remainder is mountainous, especially Pyrenees in south, Alps in east.

The climatic and geological diversity contributes to interesting regional variations in language, cuisine, wine, and art. French regional cuisine is as varied as the landscape. In the north you'll find butter and cow cheeses, while in the south food is cooked in olive oil, and cheeses come mostly from sheep and goat milk.

The region of Provence usually refers to the coast and hinterland from the Rhône to the Var rivers, while French Riviera (or Côte d’Azur) is defined by the boundaries of the Alpes-Maritimes département, from the Var Valley to Italy. Visitors can explore ancient Roman ruins, medieval fortresses and charming hilltop provençal villages. The valleys are carpeted with lavender and the fields are filled with the sunflowers and olive trees that Van Gogh loved to paint. France’s oldest city, Marseille, is a bustling port with a lively local atmosphere. St. Tropez is long famous for its glamour and beauty. Aix-en-Provence, a university town filled with students streets and 17th century mansions.

The region of Alsace in the east is like a fairy tale; half-timbered houses adorned with flowers, gabled roofs, and chimneys topped with stork nests. The majestic forests and peaceful lakes of the Upper Vosges are perfect for hiking or biking. The famous Wine Road winds its way through 75 miles of storybook villages. Strasbourg is not only Alsace’s capital, combines modern buildings with canals and pedestrian alleyways and the enchanting medieval section known as “Petite France.” Just across the Channel from London, and not far from Paris, you will find the welcoming region of Normandy with its varied coastline and rich countryside. In June, 1944 the Allied Forces landed on the Normandy coast. Numerous museums, exhibitions, sites, and monuments including the Caen Memorial Museum, commemorate the events that took place between June 6th and August of 1944. Claude Monet’s gardens in Giverny and the world-famous Mont Saint-Michel with its breathtaking views from the ramparts are just a few of the sites of Normandy.

The region of Loire is noted for its Chateaux and manor houses and the Atlantic coastline, with quaint bays and islands. This part of France has always been popular with kings and nobles, who built their elegant châteaux throughout the region. Many châteaux have been restored and are inhabited by their owners who open them to the public. The Loire river flows through lush countryside. Visitors can delight in the hotels and inns on picturesque cobblestone streets and take day tours to the many points of interest just minutes from every major Loire Valley town.

The varied Aquitaine region includes not only the prehistoric caves, villages and rolling river valleys of the Dordogne and the Bordeaux vineyards, but also the rocky Pyrénées mountain chain, the Basque country with its beautiful beaches, excellent surfing and picturesque fishing villages, the flat forest land of the Landes and the medieval castles and villages in Lot-et-Garonne.

Paris// Ile-de -France: Discover Paris, the capital of France and its surrounding region - the Ile-de-France, with its beautiful countryside, magnificent châteaux, river and canal cruises, and fine cuisine Essential Paris monuments include the Eiffel Tower, Notre-Dame cathedral, the Arc de Triomphe or the Grande Arche de la Défense.

Visit this link for more information about France:
www.francetourism.com