The Country
France is the third-largest country in Europe after Russia and Ukraine, covering an area of 551,500km². Stretching 1,000km from north to south, and the same from East to West. Metropolitan France has four coastlines – the North Sea, the English Channel, the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. With the exception of its north-eastern border, the country is bounded either by water or by mountains – namely the Rhine and Jura, the Alps and the Pyrenees.
As one of the world’s oldest countries, France has a rich and fascinating history, including epic events like the Roman conquest of Gallia or Gaul (France), the French Revolution, Napoleonic Wars and the Hundred Years' War, as well as influential figures like Marie Antoinette, Charles de Gaulle, Louis XIV and Napoleon Bonaparte that left their mark on modern-day France.
Starting in the Middle Ages, it evolved through kingdom, empire and eventually, into a republic. So, it comes as no surprise that its history is shaped by revolution, conflict and conquest. Cultural influences as diverse as English, Scandinavian, Roman and Celtic are woven into the country's rich heritage.
Today, the country is considered one of the major powers in the world, with strong political, military, economic and cultural influence in Europe and around the world.