France

France – The Heart of Europe

France, officially the French Republic, is located in Western Europe and bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the west. For over 500 years, France has stood as a global power with strong cultural, economic, military, and political influence both in Europe and worldwide.

The country shares borders with Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Italy, Monaco, Andorra, and Spain, and is also connected to the United Kingdom via the Channel Tunnel.

France enjoys a generally temperate climate, ranging from oceanic in the west, continental in the north and central-east, to Mediterranean in the south along the Rhône Valley and the Mediterranean basin. Mountain climates dominate the Alps, the Pyrenees, and high-altitude regions such as the Massif Central, Jura, and Vosges.