France, the largest country in Europe, is bordered to the north by the English Channel (La Manche), the northeast by Belgium and Luxembourg, the east by Germany, Switzerland and Italy, the south by the Mediterranean (with Monaco as a coastal enclave between Nice and the Italian frontier), the southwest by Spain and Andorra, and the west by the Atlantic Ocean. The island of Corsica, southeast of Nice, is made up of two départements. The country offers a spectacular variety of scenery, from the mountain ranges of the Alps and Pyrénées to the attractive river valleys of the Loire, Rhône and Dordogne and the flatter countryside in Normandy and on the Atlantic coast. The country has some 2900km (1800 miles) of coastline.
The capital city of Paris attacts tourists with museums such as the Louvre and Musée d'Orsay, the Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe and cathedral of Notre-Dame and dozens of other attractions for example, Disney Land Paris.
France attracted over 75 million tourists in 2004 (surpassing its population), making it the most popular tourist destination in the world. Recently however, its popularity has been diminishing with the increased convenience of cheaper countries in Eastern Europe. France is one of the classics among tourist countries. It offers mountain ranges, coastlines like in Brittany or along the Mediterranean Sea, cities with a rich cultural heritage, châteaux (castles) like Versailles, countryside, vineyards in Burgundy, Tourism is the biggest industry in France as it is accountable for 66% of the country's income, if tourism was to take a decline in France or halt altogether then it would certainly lead to an economic collapse as it contributes significantly to the balance of payments.
With its culture, France has been able to influence the entire Western world, particularly in the areas of art and literature. French literary and artistic contributions during the Renaissance and the Age of Enlightenment deeply influenced the path of Western cultural development.
It was during the Middle Ages that France attained cultural prominence in Europe. The 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries saw many of Europe's most talented artists and artisans being attracted to Paris. The 20th century was considered to be the 'cinema era,' with French cinema assuming a leading world position, particularly in the 1960s. World-renowned French
French is the official language, but there are many regional dialects. Basque is spoken as a first language by some people in the southwest, and Breton by some in Brittany. Many people, particularly those connected with tourism in the major areas, speak at least some English.
Approximately 83 per cent Roman Catholic; Protestant two per cent; Muslim five per cent; Jewish one per cent; unafilliated nine per cent .
The people of France are among the healthiest, wealthiest, and best-educated people in the world. The country is highly urbanized with more than 75 per cent of the people living in cities. The French are known for their sophistication, their culture, the beauty of their spoken language, and their diverse accomplishments in literature, arts, and sciences. Even French cuisine and apparels have long been a source of national pride.
A temperate climate in the north; northeastern areas have a more continental climate with warm summers and colder winters. Rainfall is distributed throughout the year with some snow likely in winter. The Jura Mountains have an alpine climate. Lorraine, sheltered by bordering hills, has a relatively mild climate. Mediterranean climate in the south; mountains are cooler with heavy snow in winter.
The Atlantic influences the climate of the western coastal areas from the Loire to the Basque region where the weather is temperate and relatively mild with rainfall throughout the year. Summers can be very hot and sunny. Inland areas are mild and the French slopes of the Pyrénées are renowned for their sunshine record. A Mediterranean climate exists on the Riviera, and in Provence and Roussillon. Weather in the French Alps is variable. Continental weather is present in Auvergne, Burgundy and the Rhône Valley. Very strong winds (Mistral) can occur throughout the entire region.
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