Countries bordering France on the map. Geographical location of France

French cuisine is considered one of the best in the world. Its most famous products are croissant buns, chocolate bread, baguette, long loaves, as well as Burgundy snails, cocotte eggs with tarragon, sokka pea flour pancakes, Lyons style sausages, lobster with parsley, onion "pisaladier" and, of course, onion soup. Plus the obligatory use of a variety of sauces (over 3000 recipes) and many spices.
Moreover, each region of the country has its own traditional cuisine, often completely different from its "neighbors".

The cuisine of Provence, Languedoc and Gascony is distinguished by its sharpness and widespread use for the preparation of wines and spices. On the Loire coast, you can taste extraordinary dishes made from dandelion leaves and freshwater fish. Alsatian cuisine is very similar to German.
The cuisine of Burgundy is famous for its cheeses ("chaours", "veselle", "macone", "epuas", "charolais" and "sumantran"), sausages "chablis", chicken in red wine, mustard from Dijon, Burgundy snails, goat cheese from Macon, poultry from Bress, ham and parsley, Burgundy truffles and the famous Charolais beef. The Ot cider and black currant liqueur are very popular.
Brittany is widely known for its "seafood", almost all edible representatives of the marine fauna are used in food here, and fish, oysters, crabs, lobsters, lobsters and shrimps are used in the preparation of every second course. Also popular are "crepes" - a variety of pancakes with a variety of fillings.
Normandy is famous for its dairy products, primarily cheese (Camembert, Pont Leveque, Livaro, Neufchâtel, etc.), sour cream and mushrooms added to almost all dishes, as well as Vir-style sausage and true normand, apple popsicles in Calvados.
Provence cuisine is, first of all, "buyabes" of various types of fish with "rui" sauce, fresh mussels in onion broth with spices, boat-shaped bread - "navette", crab and fish dishes with sauce or fried with anise liqueur on a wire rack , soup with garlic sauce - "burrida", vegetable ragout "ratatouille" and lamb stew, Provencal tomatoes, goat cheese, truffles and more, all richly seasoned with olive oil. And, of course, the famous "nougat" from Montelimar.
Corsica is famous for its brocchiu sheep's milk cheeses, coppa ham, fig jam, mint and cheese omelet, game, corn porridge, seafood, delicious sweets, several types of honey and strawberry jam are also popular. They prepare excellent meat dishes - chestnut soup with onions and garlic in broth, lonzu pork fillet, prizutta ham, bacon with eggs or baked potatoes “panzetta” and smoked liver sausage “figatella”. The most popular "fruits" on the island are sweet chestnut, from which a huge number of dishes are made, as well as the Corsican variety of tangerines - "clementine".

French wines deserve a separate discussion. France produces thousands of varieties of excellent wines "of all colors", vineyards are considered a national treasure of this country, which gave the world cognac (in its modern sense), champagne and the famous Armagnacs. The magnificent red wines of Bordeaux and Burgundy were considered the "liquid currency of Europe" in the Middle Ages. Brittany and Normandy are famous for their cider (an apple-based sparkling drink with an alcohol content of about 3-5%) and calvados (a distillation product of cider aged two or three years using cognac technology, "strength" of more than 40%), which began to be produced here back in XIII century Corsican wines are more astringent and aromatic than the "continental" varieties and are made from several grape varieties. Famous varieties such as Schiacharelli and Nielucci, dry white wines from Vermentino, Cap Corse aperitif, Aquavita Corsican vodka, Ratafia liqueur, numerous liqueurs from myrtle, lemon, strawberries, orange, plum and nut guilt.

Education

How many countries do the Republic of France share? This question is not as idle as it seems. This country is large, approximately equal in area to Ukraine. And who are its neighbors? And where, in fact, is a state like France located? To say that in Western Europe would be true. But this answer is incomplete. After all, France still has the so-called overseas territories, which used to be nothing more than colonies. And if we take into account these countries and islands, then the number of neighbors will increase.

The answer to the question of who France borders on also depends on whether we take into account the maritime cordons of this power or only the land ones. Indeed, in the first case, Great Britain is among the neighbors. Paris and London are connected by an underground road and rail tunnel across the English Channel. And this already allows us to call France and its old rival Great Britain close neighbors. Who else does this country border on? Read about this in our article.

Geographical position

In terms of territory, France is the largest state in Western Europe. Its area is 551.5 thousand square meters. km. France is usually divided into the "central part", the one that is in the Old World, that is, in Western Europe, and "overseas territories". The first includes the large island of Corsica, which lies near the coast of the country in the Mediterranean Sea. But even without taking into account its and overseas territories, mainland "central" (or "old") France still leads in terms of area among Western European states. Its territory on the continent is 545 630 square kilometers. A quick glance at the map gives us an idea that France is bordered by three countries: Germany and Italy to the east, and Spain to the southwest. But this opinion is wrong.

Consider the "dwarfs"!

Along with the giant countries such as Germany and Spain (which are slightly inferior to France in territory), very small states have also taken refuge. This is primarily Switzerland. It, unlike France, is not a member of the European Union, it retains its own currency. But Switzerland is a member of the Schengen Agreement. In the northeast, in close proximity to France is Belgium. This country is a member of the EU, the Schengen Agreement, and the euro area. In the east, France borders on Germany. But between them squeezed one dwarf state - Luxembourg. Not far from the Franco-Italian border, there is another principality of miniature size - Monaco. The principality is an enclave, since it is surrounded on all sides by France. However, Monaco has its own personal outlet to the sea. In the southwest, between France and Spain, another "dwarf" wedged in. This is Andorra. The principality is interesting because its co-rulers are equally (according to the medieval pareage treaty) the Republic of France and the King of Spain. Andorra is not part of the Schengen area. Therefore, in order to come to this Pyrenean principality, which has no airports, in theory, you need a multiple-entry visa.

Who does France border on on the European continent?

Let's summarize. So, the land borders make France a neighbor of seven European countries. These are Belgium, Germany, Luxembourg, Italy, Monaco on the east side and Spain with Andorra on the southwest. If we take into account maritime cordons, then Great Britain also falls on this list. It is separated from France by the English Channel, the smallest width of which (between Calais and Dover) is only thirty-two kilometers.

The longest is the border with Spain. It runs through the Pyrenees from the Mediterranean to the Bay of Biscay of the Atlantic Ocean. The length of this border is 623 kilometers. The cordon with Belgium is only 3 km shorter. This is followed by Switzerland (573), Italy (488), Germany (451 kilometers). The length of cordons with dwarf countries is small due to the diminutiveness of the latter. Among the small but independent principalities, Luxembourg has the longest border with France - 73 kilometers. Andorra (60 km) and Monaco (only a little over four kilometers) round out the list.

Sea frontiers

From the west, France is washed by the Bay of Biscay of the Atlantic Ocean. Consequently, the state has no close neighbors on the other side of the world. We have already figured out who France borders on in the north. On the other side of the English Channel lies the United Kingdom of Great Britain. In the Mediterranean Sea, French Corsica is closely adjacent to Sardinia, which is located to the south of it. This island belongs to Italy. However, France also has land borders with this Apennine state. If we add up all the sea cordons of the republic, then we get a pretty solid figure - five and a half thousand kilometers.

Overseas territories

France has long been a metropolis and owned colonies. Now these territories are named differently. But nevertheless, they significantly expand the list of those countries with which France borders. Some of these territories are departments, that is, their inhabitants are considered full French citizens. These are: Guadeloupe, Mayotte, Martinique Reunion and Guiana.

There are also overseas communities. They are usually located on islands. These are French Polynesia, Saint Martin, Saint Barthélemy, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, Wallis and Futuna. Among the territories that the Republic owns is New Caledonia, an administrative-territorial entity with a special status.

Saint Helena is owned by Great Britain. But the place of Napoleon's exile and the valley in which the emperor is buried belongs to France. The Republic also staked out Adelie Land in Antarctica. But this is contrary to UN rules, and claims to this territory are considered unfounded.

States bordering France "overseas"

Based on the foregoing, the list of neighbors of the European state has expanded. Even if we do not take into account the islands and Adelie Land, the length of the land borders increases significantly. The longest is the cordon with Brazil - 730 kilometers. Suriname, which is adjacent to French Guiana in the west, has a common border with it for 510 km. The shortest cordon in the overseas territories is on the island of Saint-Martin. Its length is a little over ten kilometers. But this border divides a tiny piece of land into two halves. The southern part - Sint Maarten - is part of the Netherlands Antilles.

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Capital of France

Photography - the capital of France

Main location: Paris

Paris is the capital of France, the main economic and cultural center of the country.

The city was founded in III. A century before our account. The area occupied by the city is 105.4 km² and the population is 2,233,818 according to the 2010 census.

compared with previous years, the population has increased.

The time difference in Moscow is +1 in summer, and +2 in the winter season, which has little effect on the process of tourist accommodation in changing time zones.

The national language is French and the euro is the national currency unit (EURO). Euro to Russian ruble exchange rate: EUR 1 = 46 rubles.

According to statistics for 2008, more than 300,000 foreigners lived in Paris, which is about 14% of the total population of the French capital. According to the religious composition of the city's population, 80% of Christians are Christians and 75% are Catholics.

Paris is a big city and many large cities are known to suffer from environmental pollution.

But the environment has improved in recent years. The construction of factories outside the city ended in the 1920s. Most of the pollution comes from automobile exhaust gases.

Geography of France

In the sky over the city, the balloon is blue, which changes color depending on the state of the air. The condition of the Seine river has improved, and some experts are convinced that with the convergence of circumstances, it will be possible to swim in the Seine in the near future.

The Eiffel Tower is the most famous and world famous site of the French capital. The tower was created by the architect Eiffel and its great discovery was in 1889. Today it is difficult to imagine a city without the famous tower.

There is an observation deck and revolving restaurant at the top of the tower. In the second stage of the tower, you can visit the reconstructed study of the Eiffel.

The Louvre is once the palace of French kings, each of whom made changes to the palace. Currently, the Louvre is an architectural monument and also the most famous museum in the world.

Here is the original of almost all paintings by world famous artists, Egyptian scrolls, Assyrian palaces and more.

The Latin Quarter is another curious look at the capital. The name of the quarter was derived from the already existing university, where classes were in Latin and even in the open air. Later, the university was built, but only in the 17th century. There are still quite a lot of students here, although the number of tourists here is impressive, therefore, in the Latin Quarter, not surprisingly, there is a “motive” of the public.

Capital of France

Find out where France is located on an interactive map.

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"France is an indivisible, secular, democratic and social Republic."

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The main feature of the 1958 constitution is the concentration of political power in the hands of the executive bodies. The concentration of power in the hands of the head of state and government is one of the manifestations of the constitutionally enshrined authoritarian tendency in the French political regime. The president is at the top of the hierarchy of government bodies. Article 5 of the Constitution stipulates for him the obligation to ensure "by his arbitration the normal functioning of state bodies, as well as the continuity of the state."

The same article proclaims that the President is "the guarantor of national independence, territorial integrity, compliance with Community agreements and treaties."

The President has broad legislative prerogatives. He is endowed with the right to legislative initiative. With regard to parliament, the president has the power to dissolve the lower house of parliament.

The legislative body of the Republic - parliament - plays a relatively small role in the political life of the country. Parliament consists of two chambers - the National Assembly and the Senate.

The main function of parliament - passing laws - is severely limited by the constitution. The constitution clearly defines the range of issues on which parliament has the right to legislate. Issues not included in this list are the responsibility of the government. The rights of parliament are also limited in the financial sphere.

The constitution sets a deadline for the adoption of financial bills by parliament. Parliament has the right to control the activities of the government.

The French government is the Council of Ministers, according to Art. 20 of the Constitution, “determines and conducts the policy of the nation”. The government consists of the Prime Minister - the head of government, ministers in charge of ministries, and secretaries of state in charge of the units of individual ministries.

How many countries does France border on?

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FRANCE. The official name of the country is the French Republic

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The official name of the country is the French Republic

(La Republique Francaise)

Area (with offshore islands and Corsica)

551.6 thousand sq. km

Population - 62.9 million chol. (2006)

Capital - Paris

Geographical position. The largest country in Western Europe. In the northeast it borders with Belgium, Luxembourg and Germany, in the east - with Germany and Switzerland, in the southeast - with Monaco and Italy, in the southwest - with Spain and Andorra. On the Mediterranean coast, the territory of France spans from three sides the dwarf coastal state of Monaco.

In addition to the continental part, the state also includes: the island of Corsica and several other smaller islands in the Mediterranean Sea and the Bay of Biscay. France is a metropolis that has "overseas departments" - Guadeloupe, Martinique, Guiana, Reunion, Saint-Pierre and Miquelon, New Caledonia, French Polynesia and several small archipelagos in the Pacific Ocean. The total area of dependent territories is 127 thousand sq.

km. sq., where 1.9 million people live.

France has a wide access to the seas. Its sea border is longer than the land one. The country's seashores are washed by the North and Mediterranean Seas, the Pas de Calais, the English Channel and the Bay of Biscay. After the opening of the tunnel under the English Channel, which separates France from Great Britain, a dry border with this country arose, with French border guards stationed at a checkpoint near the entrance to the tunnel on the British coast.

The area of France is 551 thousand square meters. km (including Corsica). The length of its sea borders is 3120 km.

Interesting:The longest tunnel under the seabed is the railway tunnel under the English Channel, 49.94 km long. Despite the fact that it is inferior in length to the Seikan tunnel (Japan), its underwater section is 24.7 km longer than the Seikan. The tunnel was officially opened in 1994.

The length of the land borders of France is 2070 km. Almost a quarter of the dry state border runs along the difficult-to-pass ridge of the Pyrenees.

In the east, the border runs along the Alps, where there are many convenient passes. A peculiarity of the geographical position of the state is also the proximity in the north and east with the most developed part of Western Europe, which stretches from Central England to Northern Italy.

The main thing for France's external relations has always been its eastern land border, where the most important trans-European routes pass.

Thus, within the framework of trans-European airlines, transit airports in Paris are actively developing, which carry out transit to the countries of North America.

One of the axes of European development passes through France - the most important land transport corridor of the world - London - Paris - Geneva - Milan - Rome.

Compactness coefficient = 4 * 3.14 * 551600 / (3120 + 2070) 2 = 0.26 - meridional elongation of the country's territory

Territory. France is divided into 26 regions (régions), of which 21 are located on the European continent, one ("Corsica") - on the island of Corsica, and four more - in overseas territories.

Regions do not have legal autonomy, but can set their own taxes and budget.

The 26 regions are divided into 100 departments (départements), consisting of 342 arrondissements (arrondissements) and 4039 cantons (cantons). The basis of France is 36 682 communes (communes).

The division into departments and communes is comparable to the division of Ukraine into regions and districts.

The Paris Department consists of a single commune.

The four overseas regions (Guadeloupe, Martinique, French Guiana, Reunion) each consist of a single department. The region of Corsica (which includes 2 departments) has a special status of an administrative-territorial entity, different from other regions of the metropolis (mainland France).

All of these regions are part of the European Union.

Currently, the use of the names of the historical provinces (Brittany Burgundy, Gascony, Alsace, Languedoc, Lorraine, Normandy, Provence, Flanders, Champagne), into which the country was divided before the bourgeois revolution, is preserved. (slide)

The natural environment in France is relatively little polluted, a lot of land is protected.

Coat of arms (slide)

The modern coat of arms of France is a bunch of lictors with an ax, laurel and oak branches.

The old royal coat of arms was a crown-topped shield with three lilies. Since some kings sometimes combined two crowns, French and Navarre, and Henry IV did this finally, the coat of arms had two shields. The second was the symbol of Navarre - crossed chains.

A complicated image could have supporters - laurel branches.

Flag (slide)

The French tricolor of three vertical stripes - blue, white and red - conveys the three main ideas of the French Revolution (and later revolutionary movements) - freedom, equality and fraternity.

What states does France border on?

This color combination owes its origin to the Marquis de Lafayette, who asked revolutionary-minded citizens to wear a three-color, red-white-blue cockade. Red and blue have long been considered the colors of Paris (and the revolutionaries took advantage of this on the day of the storming of the Bastille), and white was the color of the French monarchy.

First appearing in 1790, the French tricolor was then slightly modified (originally red was at the pole, that is, on the left) and redesigned in 1794. Although the tricolor fell out of use after the defeat of Napoleon at Waterloo, it reappeared in 1830 - with the assistance of the same Marquis de Lafayette - and remains the flag of France to this day.

The old royal flag was gold lilies on a white background (oriflamma).

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France- a country in Western Europe.

Official name of France:
French Republic.

Territory of France:
The national territory of the French Republic is 547,030 km².

Population of France:
The population of France is over 60 million people.

Who is with France? Geographical position of France

inhabitants (60 180 529 people).

Ethnic groups in France:
More than 90% are French. France belongs to many countries that do not maintain official statistics on ethnic groups. Any database on the “true or perceived racial or ethnic origin of citizens” is a criminal offense in France.

At the same time, it is known that in France one of the largest Jewish communities in Europe has 600,000 Jews. Large number of African immigrants. The Armenian diaspora is important.

Life expectancy in France:
The average life expectancy in France is 79.28 years (see the world rankings for average life expectancy).

Capital of France:
Paris.

Great cities of France:
Paris, Lyon, Bordeaux, Marseille.

Official language of France:
French.

Religion in France:
Believers in France are mainly Catholics (over 76%), and about 15% of the French population are Muslims.

Geographical position of France:
France is washed by the Atlantic Ocean in the west and north (Bay of Biscay and English Channel), and in the south by the Mediterranean Sea (Gulf of Lyon and Ligurian Sea).

France borders on the south with Spain, in the northeast with Belgium, Luxembourg and Germany, in the east with Italy and Switzerland.

Western and northern regions of France - plains (Parisian basins, etc.) and lowlands; in the center and in the east - medieval mountains (central French massif, Vosges, Jura). In the southwest - the Pyrenees, in the southeast - the Alps (the highest point in France and Western Europe is Mont Blanc, 4807 m).

River France:
Saint, Rhone, Loire, Garonne, to the east - part of the Rhine River.

Administrative divisions of France:
France is divided into 26 regions (regions), of which 21 are on the European continent, one (Corsica) on the island of Corsica and four on the overseas territories.

Regions do not have legal autonomy, but they can determine their own taxes and manage budgets.

In 26 regions, 100 departments (divisions) are allocated, which are then divided into 342 districts (districts).

Overseas property in France.
Many territories (mainly islands) belonging to France, but far from the main European territory.

Foreign departments (Regions) of France:

Guadeloupe (la Guadeloupe)

Martinique

Reunion (la Reunion)

French Guyana (la Guyane)

Foreign communities (communities) of France:

Saint Barthelemy

Saint-Martin (Saint-Martin)

Saint Pierre and Miquelon (Saint Pierre and Miquelon)

Wallis and Futuna (Wallis and Futuna)

French Polynesia (la Polynésie française)

Overseas special (associated) territory of France:

New Caledonia (la Nouvelle-Calédonie)

Overseas territory of France without permanent residents:

French Southern and Antarctic Territories (Terres australes et antarctiques françaises)
In the Indian Ocean:

on the islands of Amsterdam and St. Paul (l'île Amsterdam, l'ile Saint-Paul)

Crozet (Archbishop Crozet)

Kerguelen Islands (les îles Kerguelen or les iles de la Désolation)
In Antarctica (proclaimed allegiance contradicts UN decisions):

Country of Adela (la terre adélie)

Small ("scattered") islands (lam Éparses).
In the Indian Ocean (subordinate to the French Southern and Antarctic Territories):

Bassas da India (Bassas da India)

Europe (island) (Europe)

Famous Islands (Glorias)

Tromelin (island) (Tromelin)

Juan de Nova

In the Pacific:

Clipperton (l'ile Clipperton)

State structure of France:
The head of state is the president.

The government is headed by the prime minister.

The legislature is a bicameral parliament.

National Assembly - 577 members elected for 5 years;
Senate of the Republic - 321 members, elected for 9 years.

France

The French Republic is the largest state in Western Europe, with an area of 551.5 thousand square kilometers.

The continental territory of the country occupies the extreme western part of the European continent. France also includes the island of Corsica and several other smaller islands in the Mediterranean and the Bay of Biscay. France has possessions in America, Africa and Oceania. Their total area is 127 thousand square meters. km, and the population is about 2 million.

human. The most important of them are "overseas territories": Guiana (French), the islands of Guadeloupe, Martinique, Reunion, New Caledonia, French Polynesia.

Sea borders are longer than land borders. The coastline is 3427 km long, and the land borders are 2892 km long.

In the north, France is separated from England by narrow English Channel and Pas-de-Calais. In the west, it is washed by the waters of the Bay of Biscay of the Atlantic Ocean, and in the south by the Mediterranean Sea.

The state has land borders with Belgium in the northeast, with Luxembourg, Germany, Switzerland in the east. France borders Italy in the southeast, and Andorra and Spain in the southwest.

Most of the land borders run along high mountains or other natural barriers: in the south-west, France is separated from Spain by the Pyrenees, in the southeast, the border with Italy and Switzerland runs along the Alps and Jura, the Rhine serves as a Franco-German border over a large area and only on in the north, the lowlands of France merge imperceptibly with the plains of Belgium.

Relief

In the northwestern and northern regions of the country, flat or hilly plains (Lowland of Garons, Paris Basin) and low mountains prevail, in the center and in the east - medium-altitude mountains (Central French Massif, Vosges, part of the Jura mountains).

Lowlands or plains are usually large river basins. On the southwestern and southeastern outskirts, i.e. along the borders with Spain and Italy, respectively, there are high ridges and massifs of the Pyrenees and Alps. The highest point in France and Western Europe is Mont Blanc, located in the French Alps and having a height of 4807 meters. Most often, all mountain formations in France are divided into 2 groups: new (Alps, Pyrenees, Jura) and old (Vosges, Massif Central).

Natural areas
Hardly any other country offers such a variegated palette of landscapes: Alps, midlands, numerous plateaus, vast plains, vast forests.

Who does France border on: land and sea borders

The French coastline stretches for 3120 km and is also very picturesque: granite cliffs in Brittany, long dune ridges on the Atlantic coast, sandy beaches and coves on the Mediterranean.

The southern slopes of the mountains and hills of the Massif Central are completely covered with vineyards. The territory of France is dominated by brown forest soils, in places leached and podzolized; in the south - brown soils of dry forests and shrubs, red soil.

The largest woodlands prevail in the western regions of Aquitaine, in the east of the Paris Basin, in the Alps and in the Pyrenees. Forests cover 24% of the territory of France - mainly oak, beech, chestnut, pine, in the mountains - also spruce and fir. In the south, there are evergreen forests and Mediterranean-type shrubs.

Reserves Pelvo (in the Alps), Camargue (in the Rhone delta) and others.

Palm trees and citrus are grown on the Mediterranean coast.

Deer and fox stand out among the fauna. Roe deer live in alpine regions, wild boar has survived in remote forests. A large number of different species of birds, including migratory ones, reptiles are rare, and among the snakes there is only one poisonous viper.

A large number of fish species live in coastal sea waters: herring, cod, tuna, sardine, mackerel, flounder, silver hake.

France is the largest country in Europe (it borders on Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, Switzerland, Italy and Spain and Andorra), an area of 555 thousand km2, the length of borders is 5.5 thousand km, of which sea - 2.7 thousand km. The territory of the country is almost a regular hexagon. Even ancient historians and geographers noted the unusually convenient geographical position of France. Strabo wrote that "Providence itself raised mountains, brought the seas closer, laid riverbeds to create here the most flourishing place on earth."

France is the third largest country in Europe (after Russia and Ukraine), if you count the overseas regions, then the second. The lowest point in France is the Rhone delta (2 m below sea level), the highest is Mont Blanc (4,810 m above sea level). France shares borders with 11 countries. The metropolis borders on 8 countries, and the overseas regions on three. The total length of the land borders is 4,082.2 km. With the exception of the northeastern part of the country, France mainly has natural borders: Rhine, Jura, Alps, Pyrenees.

Climate of France

Normandy and Brittany are characterized by a maritime climate that extends its influence over the entire western part of the country. Brittany is characterized by a particularly mild and humid climate, which is characterized by a small difference between summer and winter temperatures, as well as cloudy days with strong winds.

It is warm here in winter (average January temperature is + 7 ° С), but summers are cool and cloudy (in July + 17 ° С). In the eastern regions of the country, the continental climate dominates: here the annual range of average monthly temperatures reaches 20 ° C. Paris is characterized by mild winters, with an average January temperature of + 3.5 ° C. Sheltered from northern winds by the Alps and Massif Central, the Mediterranean coast has a Mediterranean climate with hot dry summers and humid warm winters. In low-lying areas remote from the sea, the average January temperature is also positive, and the summer is much warmer. In the southern part of France on the coast, the climate is Mediterranean subtropical: summers are dry and hot, winters are warm, but rains begin in autumn.

In Nice, the average temperature in July is + 23 ° С, in January + 8 ° С. In the mountains - the Alps, Pyrenees, Massif Central - there are low winter temperatures, strong winds, an abundance of precipitation, and a long snow cover. The average annual rainfall in most of the country is 600-1000 mm, while precipitation is distributed relatively evenly throughout the country, with the exception of the Mediterranean coast.

Geographic areas of France

There are several mountain ranges in the country. The Alps are the highest mountains, stretching from north to south (actually to the Mediterranean Sea) for 370 km, the highest point in Europe is Mont Blanc (4807m) - There are many ski resorts in the Alps, which are considered among the best in location and equipment in the world. The Jura Mountains are a kind of outskirts of the Alps. It has cold winters and many forests. The Pyrenees stretch for 430 km from west to east (altitude up to 3000 m), the natural border between France and Spain.

The central massif is a high-mountain massif in the center of the country, the highest point is the Puy de Sancy mountain (1886 m). The massif contains the sources of many rivers, in Auvergne there are extinct volcanoes. (The screen mountains of the Massif Central - the Cévennes, stretch from north to south, their height is up to 1700 m. This is a kind of climate dividing line: wet in the west; dry in the east. The forested Vosges (approx. 1400 m) separate the Alsacettes of Lorraine. The Ardennes (no higher than 700 m) are located in the north-west of France.Their name comes from the Celtic word for "oak".

The north of the country is almost at sea level. The center of the country, the Loire Valley, is higher. The relief of the coastal areas of Aquitaine and the regions overlooking the Mediterranean coast is also mostly flat. The Loire, which is more than a thousand kilometers long, gave its name to the wine-growing region - the Loire Valley, which is divided into five large regions: Muscode-Ley-Nantes, Anjou-Saumur, Touraine. Central Loire and Haute Loire. The region stretches from west to east, so its climate varies from mild maritime in Muscadet to continental - with a sharp difference in temperature: Sancerre and Pouilly-Fume.

The central French massif, located between the basins of the Loire, Garonne and Rhone rivers, is the largest massif resulting from the destruction of the ancient Hercynian mountains. Like other ancient mountain areas in France, it rose during the Alpine era, with the softer rocks in the Alps crumpled into folds, and the dense rocks of the Central French Massif broken by cracks and faults. Deep molten rocks rose through such disturbed zones, which was accompanied by volcanic eruptions. In the modern era, these volcanoes have lost their activity. Nevertheless, many extinct volcanoes and other volcanic landforms have survived on the surface of the massif.

The Armorican massif, which occupies the territory of the Brittany and Cotentin peninsulas, is less uplifted and less fractured by cracks in comparison with the Central French massif. However, despite the low heights, the Armorican massif is deeply dissected by river valleys and there are few leveled areas. Steep slopes prevail, which, in combination with marginal soils, limits the possibilities for the development of agriculture.

The Vosges Mountains, which separate the fertile Rhine Valley in Alsace from the rest of France, are only 40 km wide. The flattened and forested surfaces of these mountains rise above deep valleys. A similar landscape prevails in the north of the country in the Ardennes (their main mass is located in Belgium). The Paris Basin is located in the north of central France, surrounded by the Armorican Massif, the Central French Massif, the Vosges and the Ardennes. Around Paris there is a system of concentric ridges, separated by narrow strips of plains.

The Garonne Lowland, located in southwestern France at the foot of the Pyrenees, is a flat region with fertile soils. The Landes, a triangular wedge-shaped area southwest of the lower course of the Garonne, has less fertile soils and is planted with coniferous forests. The Rhone and Saone Graben in southeastern France forms a narrow passage between the Alps to the east and the Massif Central to the west. It consists of a series of small depressions separated by highly dissected uplifted areas.

Rivers of France

Most of the rivers in France, starting in the Massif Central, flow into the Atlantic Ocean or the Mediterranean Sea. The Seine (775 km, from lat. "Calm") is a flat river. It forms a widely ramified system with large right tributaries of the Marne and Oise and the left tributary of the Ionne. The Seine is navigable and provides the movement of goods between Paris and Rouen.

The Garonne (650 km) originates in the Spanish Pyrenees, flows through Toulouse and Bordeaux, where it flows into the ocean, forming a vast estuary - the Gironde. The main tributaries are Tarn, Lo and Dordogne. Used in agriculture for irrigation.

The Rhone (812 km, the nickname of the river - "the angry bull") is the deepest river in France, begins in the Swiss Alps from the Rhone glacier, flows through Lake Geneva. The Saone River flows into it near Lyon. Other major tributaries are Durance and Isere. It has an important hydropower and transport significance. Provides water supply to the cities located on the Cote d'Azur. Navigable downstream of the tributary, the En River. Also plays a large role in agriculture (used for irrigation).

Loire (1020 km) - the longest river in France begins in the Massif Central. The river receives many tributaries, the main of which are the Allier, Cher, Indre and Vienne. The river is navigable only in the lower reaches, where Nantes and Saint-Nazaire are located. In December and January, the Loire is especially full-flowing (it increases by about eight times) and only by summer does the water subside. In former times, important trade routes passed along the Loire and it was called the queen river. The banks of the Loire are composed of white limestone, which was used for the construction of temples and palaces. The Loire is navigable to the city of Rouen. Has an important tourist value.

Minerals of France

Coal deposits are located in the foothill and intermontane depressions of the Hercynian mountains in northern France, in Lorraine and in the Massif Central. The total reserves of bituminous coal are estimated at 2-3 billion tons, and the prevailing coal is of low quality, little coking coal and anthracite. In the Massif Central and in other Hercynian uplands, the largest reserves of uranium ore in Europe have been discovered; here antimony, gold and other non-ferrous metals are mined in small quantities.

The largest iron ore deposits in Europe have been found in the layers of Jurassic limestones in the west of the Lorraine plateau. Lorraine ores are not rich: they contain only 30-33% iron and a lot of phosphorus, but their layers are thick, they are shallow and the ores contain natural fluxes. Nearby, east of Nancy, rock salt deposits are known. The western part of the French Alps (Prealps) is composed of sedimentary rocks, mainly limestones, the eastern, higher - crystalline rocks. The centuries-old activity of ice, snow and melt water has led to a strong dismemberment of the Alps.

The Pyrenees (France owns only their northern slopes) is much lower than the Alps (~ 2500m). Especially majestic is the huge glacial circus Gavarnie with almost sheer walls 400-500 m in height, from where waterfalls rush down, giving rise to the river. By. In our time, there are almost no glaciers in the Pyrenees.

The powerful mountain systems of the Alps and Pyrenees have large reserves of water, their vast subalpine and alpine meadows are used for pastures, forests provide raw materials for the woodworking industry. Here are the centers of international tourism and mountaineering.

The bowels of France as a whole contain significant reserves of minerals, especially iron ore, bauxite, potash and rock salts, but fuel resources are very limited. Mineral reserves as of 2001:

Barite - 1300 thousand tons (total), 800 thousand tons (confirmed)
Bauxite - 100 million tons (identified), 53 million tons (total), 13 million tons (confirmed)
Tungsten - 40 thousand tons (revealed), 20 thousand tons (total), 20 thousand tons (confirmed)
Gas - 9.7 billion cubic meters
Iron ore - 2,200 Mt (total, confirmed)
Tin - 65 thousand tons (total, confirmed)
Fluorspar - 14 million tons (total), 10 million tons (confirmed)
Silver - 4000 tons (total), 2000 tons (confirmed)
Lead - 700 thousand tons (total), 320 thousand tons (confirmed)
Brown coal - 161 million tons (total), 14 million tons (confirmed)
Bituminous coal - 441 million tons (total), 15 million tons (confirmed)
Data are given as of 01.01.2007.

Flora and fauna of France

Forests cover 27% of the country's territory. Walnut, birch, oak, spruce, and cork grow in the northern and western regions of the country. On the Mediterranean coast there are palms and citrus fruits. Deer and fox stand out among the fauna. Roe deer live in alpine regions, wild boar has survived in remote forests. It is also home to a large number of different species of birds, including migratory ones. Reptiles are rare, and among the snakes there is only one poisonous - the common viper. The coastal waters are home to many types of fish: herring, cod, tuna, sardine, mackerel, flounder, silver hake.

Source - http://ru.wikipedia.org/

If you were lucky and you lived in Paris in your youth, then wherever you are later, he will stay with you until the end of your days, because Paris is a holiday that is always with you.
Ernest Hemingway

France is a spicy, sophisticated and romantic country of lovers, a country that never ceases to attract and delight us. Whoever has visited this country at least once, came into contact with its culture, felt the breath of time and history, plunged into French carelessness and “savoir vivre”, will return here again and again, discovering something new every time.

France- a country where you can enjoy amazing natural landscapes, fruits of the historical past and rich cultural heritage, the best wines and cuisine in numerous restaurants, bars and cafes.

Geographical position of France

France (French Republic, République Française) is located in the western part of Europe, belongs to the Western European states and ranks first in terms of area among Western European countries. The total area of the country is 551,500 km 2 (land area - 545 630 km 2). France owns an island Corsica v Mediterranean sea.

The territory of the country is almost a regular hexagon. Even ancient historians and geographers noted an unusually convenient geographical location France. Strabo wrote that "Providence itself raised mountains, brought the seas closer, laid riverbeds in order to create here the most flourishing place on earth."

From UK France separated by a narrow strait Pas-de-Calais. France in the south it borders with Spain (border length 623 km) and Andorra (60 km), in the southeast with Monaco(4.4 km), in the northeast with Belgium (620 km) and Luxembourg(73 km), in the east with Switzerland (573 km) and Italy (488 km), with Germany (451 km) - in the east and northeast.

Western and northern areas France- plains ( The paris pool and others) and low mountains; in the center and in the east - medium-altitude mountains ( Central French massif, Vosges, Yura). In the South-West - Pyrenees, in the southeast - Alps(highest point France and Western Europe- mountain Mont Blanc, 4807 m).

Climate

Climate France temperate maritime, in the east transitional to continental, in the Mediterranean - subtropical. Summers are quite hot (in July-August from + 20 ° C to + 25 ° C), winters are mild (in January from 0 to + 3 ° C) and rather damp, although it rarely snows. The most favorable time to visit Paris- May and September-October, Riviera- September. Mountainous regions have their own microclimate inherent in high-altitude regions.

On Corsica long and hot summer - from May to October + 21-27 ° С. Winters are quite cold (from +6 to 14 ° С in the valleys and up to -6 ° С in the mountains), on the mountain slopes the snow lies until June. The influence of the winds is very great, each of which has its own name - "libekchio", "mistral" (north and west), "sirocco" (south-west), "levante" (east), "grekale" (north-east) and "Tramontane" (northern) and in its own way affects the weather. Best months to relax on Corsica- May-June and September-October.

Population of France

France inhabited mainly by the French. However, due to the powerful flow of migration, the ethnic composition of the country has changed significantly. The country is home to many Portuguese, Italians, Spaniards, Moroccans, Turks, Algerians, immigrants from other African countries. The overwhelming majority of the population (over 80%) professes Catholicism. The official language is French, which is spoken by most of the population. The population of many countries uses French African, Haiti, French Guiana... English is also used (widely only in Paris), if you speak English in the suburbs or in the outback, you may not be understood.

Features of France

Major tourism centers: - this is the capital of the country - Paris, with its many museums and monuments; valley Loire where magnificent medieval castles and palaces have been preserved ( Blois, Cheverny, Chambord, Chaumont-sur-Loire, Amboise, Chenonceau, Langeais, Azay-le-Rideau, Villandry, Usse, Valence, Chinon and Angers); Cote d'azur with its world famous resorts ( Cannes, Nice and etc.); alpine and pyrenean mountain and ski resorts; Island Corsica with its warm sea and almost untouched landscapes; Basque country with its distinctive culture and Atlantic resorts ( Biarritz and etc.); regions Normandy, Brittany, Burgundy, Languedoc, Provence and a picturesque valley Rhone... Of particular interest for tourism and recreation are also balneological resorts based on healing mineral waters, which are especially abundant in the southern and central parts of the country.

Paris- the capital of France, starting from the X century. ad. Together with the suburbs ( Versailles, Saint Denis, Ivry and others) forms the "Greater Paris". There is hardly a person in the world who would not like to visit Louvre and Versailles; climb onto Eiffel Tower, wander through the halls of the station d'Orsay and center Pompidou... Nothing beats the French capital! A special spirit reigns here, here you are surrounded by history itself, associations with once read novels Dumas, with Latin Quarter described Hemingway and other writers. Paris- this is a "holiday that is always with you"!

The main sights of Paris stretch towards the city center, towards Seine... Off the island Site, which is often called the "heart of Paris", is located Louvre- one of the greatest museums in the world. If you go from the Louvre to Champs Elysees then in the garden Tuileries you can see the small buildings of the Museum of Impressionism and the Orangery. Large museums are located on the left bank Seine- this is the Gare d'Orsay Impressionism Museum, the Museum of Medieval Art Cluny, Museum Rodin and Atelier Bourdelle... The architecture of Paris is diverse in terms of centuries and styles. Main architectural ensembles: notre dame cathedral, Eiffel tower, Champs Elysees, Triumphal Arch, Sorbonne, Louvre.

For decades France- the most popular tourist attraction. Every year, the country is visited by the same number of tourists as there are French people. According to the French themselves, there are the finest wines, the best cuisine in the world, beautiful architecture - Notre Dame Cathedral, the Eiffel Tower, royal castles, Versailles and Disneyland, great history, the Louvre and Musée d'Orsay, the famous Cannes Festival and the splendor of high society .. France is a trendsetter, the birthplace of champagne and cognac, the world's best perfumes and the most delicious cheeses are made here.

National cuisine of France

French national cuisine is distinguished by its variety, which is due to the wide range of products used and the different ways of preparing them. It should be borne in mind that in different regions of France there are their own favorite dishes with original technology. Thus, in the southern regions of the country, food is distinguished by its pungency, the use of wines and spices for its preparation, especially garlic and onions. Inhabitants Alsace more pork and cabbage, coastal residents - more seafood, etc. These differences can be seen in the consumption of one or another type of fat used for cooking. For example, in the northern and central regions, butter is used more, in the south, olive oil.

Despite regional differences, the French national cuisine has distinctive characteristics. This is, first of all, the widespread use of vegetables and root crops. Potatoes, various varieties of onions (including shallots, which give food a specific taste), green beans, spinach, cabbage of various varieties, tomatoes, eggplants, celery, parsley, salads are used for making appetizers, first and second courses, as well as side dishes ... Vitamin-rich vegetables such as asparagus, artichokes, leeks, and lettuce are especially popular. A prominent place is given to salads from vegetables, both fresh and canned. The second meat dishes, as a rule, are served with green salad, cabbage salad.

Compared to other countries Western Europe French cooking uses less milk and dairy products. The exception is cheeses. They are used to prepare various dishes, including the first. Cheese must be served before dessert. Cheese and bread and wine are a typical French worker's breakfast. Dozens of varieties of cheese are produced in France. Among them are such well-known ones as Roquefort, Gruyere, Camembert, etc.

Another feature of French cuisine is the wide variety of sauces. There are over three thousand of them. Sauces are widely used in the preparation of meat dishes, salads, various cold snacks; they greatly diversify food.

The French national cuisine is also characterized by the use of wine, cognac and liquor in the preparation of many dishes. In this case, the wine, as a rule, undergoes significant digestion, as a result of which the wine alcohol evaporates, and the remaining composition gives the food a specific taste and pleasant aroma. Only natural red and white dry and semi-dry wines are used. In order to reduce acidity, highly acidic wines are boiled before use.

French customs

The French are proud of their democratic traditions, so they react painfully to the emphasis, as they see it, of social and racial inequality. The contempt of a Frenchman can be evoked by a hint of skin color or by calling the waiter "garcon". The French are traditionally friendly towards Russians.

The usual tip is 5-10% (of course, at your discretion). Tipping is usually given to waiters, maids, porters in the hotel, taxi drivers. Sometimes a restaurant bill says “service comprised”, which means “tip included”.

Transport system of France

France has an extensive rail network and the fastest in Europe high-speed train system TGV... The fare depends on the distance, train class, travel time and the age of the passenger. At the entrance to the platform, you need to punch train tickets; there are also controllers on the trains themselves. Public transport in France is the metro (in Paris, Lille, Lyon, Marseille, Toulouse and Rouen), buses and trams in some cities. The Paris metro consists of 16 lines and operates from 5:30 to 00:30. Travel tickets can be purchased at all stations, as well as at some tobacco kiosks. Buses generally run from 06:30 to 00:30 in major cities and until 20:30 in the provinces. Tickets can be purchased at tobacco kiosks, special points of sale of tickets, as well as on the bus itself. Taxis can usually be found at special taxi stands or ordered by phone. Catching a taxi on the street is almost impossible. Outside, by the front glass of each taxi, there is a counter with a flag: raised - taxi is free, lowered - busy. There are two payment rates: weekdays and weekends, holidays and nights. Taxi boarding and luggage are paid additionally. To rent a car, you need to have an international driving license, passport and credit card. The driver must be at least 21 years old and have a driving experience of at least a year. Car rental offices are located in hotels, airports, train stations and city centers.

Time in France

The entire territory of the country is located in a single time zone - GMT + 1. France practices the transition to "summer time", so the time difference with Moscow is minus 3 hours, and from the last Sunday in March to the last Sunday in October - minus 2 hours.

French customs regulations

The number of imported and exported means of payment is not limited. Cash and securities in excess of 7.5 thousand euros (or other currency in equivalent) are subject to declaration. A foreign currency converted into euros can only be re-converted into a foreign currency up to the equivalent of 800 euros.

In addition to personal items, you can import duty-free up to 1 liter of spirits, drinks with a strength of less than 22 ° - up to 2 liters, 2 liters of wine, 200 pcs. cigarettes, 500 g of coffee (or 200 g of coffee extracts), up to 50 g of perfume (eau de toilette - up to 250 g), tea - 100 g (or 40 g of tea extracts), as well as food products (fish - up to 2 kg, caviar - 250 g, products of animal origin - up to 1 kg) and other goods (for persons over 15 years old) in the amount of 15 euros (for children - 10 euros).

Attention! The labeling of the shelf life of food is required.

The import and export of drugs, items of historical value, weapons and ammunition, as well as animals and plants included in the list of endangered species are prohibited. When importing medicines for personal use, no permission is required, but you must have a prescription issued by a doctor or lawyer with you.

Plants, animals and plant products must be presented to the quarantine officials. Animals must have a vaccination certificate, as well as a medical certificate in French, issued no earlier than five days before departure.

Export discount in France

You will be able to take advantage of the French VAT exemption - "TVA", provided that: 1) the value of your purchases in the same store is 300 € (in some stores starting from 250 €); 2) upon purchase, you will issue a "bordero" - an inventory for export; 3) you leave European Community within 3 months. On the day of departure, you need to present the Bordero received in the store to the customs service (together with the purchased goods - for possible inspection). You will receive your refund upon your return to your home country by check by mail or by transfer to a credit card, either at the airport at a designated bank or at a Tax Free for Tourists kiosk. This system does not apply to food, alcoholic beverages and tobacco.

Telephone codes, internet, electricity in France

France - 33, city codes: Paris - 1, Bordeaux - 56, Cannes - 93, Strasbourg - 88, Marseille - 91, Lyon - 78, Nice - 93. post offices or tobacco kiosks. There are discounts on calls: from 22.30 to 08.00 on weekdays and from 14.00 on weekends.
Police - Tel: 17
Ambulance - tel .: 15, in Paris - 48-87-27-50
Fire brigade - 18
Reference in Russian: 01-40-07-01-65

International roaming is provided by all major cellular operators.

The Internet is available everywhere - at airports, train stations, hotels, shopping centers, regular cafes and Internet cafes.

Mains voltage 220 V, 50 Hz, sockets of the European type.

Sights of France

Russian Embassy and Consulate in France

Address: Paris, Boulevard Lannes, Metro Avenue Foch, tel .: 01-45-04-05-50.

Photo galleries

Ski resort Club Med Arcs Altitude (now the Club mmv Altitude hotel)
Town of Club Med Cargese, Corsica
Township Club Med Opio en Provence, France
Ski resort Club Med Valmorel (France)
Plaza Athénée Hotel Paris
Ski Village Club Med Chamonix Mont-Blanc
Township Club Med Valmorel
Renovation of the town Club Med Opio en Provence
Club Med Grand Massif Samoëns Morillon
Club Med Les Arcs Panorama