about France

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lets talkabout France

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France (pronounced /fræns/ or /frɑns/, French: [fʁɑ̃s]), officially the French Republic (French: République française, pronounced [ʁepyˈblik fʁɑ̃ˈsɛz]), is a country whose metropolitan territory is located in Western Europe and that also comprises various overseas islands and territories located in other continents.[11] Metropolitan France extends from the Mediterranean Sea to the English Channel and the North Sea, and from the Rhine to the Atlantic Ocean. French people often refer to Metropolitan France as L'Hexagone (The "Hexagon") because of the geometric shape of its territory.

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France is bordered by Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Monaco, Andorra, and Spain. Due to its overseas departments, France also shares land borders with Brazil and Suriname (bordering French Guiana) , and the Netherlands Antilles (bordering Saint-Martin). France is also linked to the United Kingdom by the Channel Tunnel, which passes underneath the English Channel.

France is a unitary semi-presidential republic. Its main ideals are expressed in the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen. In the 18th and 19th centuries, France built one of the largest colonial empires of the time, stretching across West Africa and Southeast Asia, prominently influencing the cultures and politics of the regions. France is a developed country, with the fifth or sixth largest economy depending on source

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Rome to revolution

The borders of modern France are approximately the same as those of ancient Gaul, which was inhabited by Celtic Gauls. Gaul was conquered for Rome by Julius Caesar in the 1st century BC, and the Gauls eventually adopted Roman speech (Latin, from which the French language evolved) and Roman culture. Christianity took root in the 2nd and 3rd centuries AD, and became so firmly established by the fourth and fifth centuries that St. Jerome wrote that Gaul was the only region "free from heresy".

In the 4th century AD, Gaul's eastern frontier along the Rhine was overrun by Germanic tribes, principally the Franks, from whom the ancient name of "Francie" was derived. The modern name "France" derives from the name of the feudal domain of the Capetian Kings of France around Paris. The Franks were the first tribe among the Germanic conquerors of Europe after the fall of the Roman Empire to convert to Catholic Christianity rather than Arianism (their King Clovis did so in 498) ; thus France obtained the title "Eldest daughter of the Church" (La fille ainée de l'Église) , and the French would adopt this as justification for calling themselves "the Most Christian Kingdom of France".

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Existence as a separate entity began with the Treaty of Verdun (843) , with the division of Charlemagne's Carolingian empire into East Francia, Middle Francia and Western Francia. Western Francia approximated the area occupied by modern France and was the precursor to modern France.

The Carolingians ruled France until 987, when Hugh Capet, Duke of France and Count of Paris, was crowned King of France. His descendants, the Direct Capetians, the House of Valois and the House of Bourbon, progressively unified the country through a series of wars and dynastic inheritance. The monarchy reached its height during the 17th century and the reign of Louis XIV. At this time France possessed the largest population in Europe (see Demographics of France) and had tremendous influence over European politics, economy, and culture. French became, and remained for some time, the common language of diplomacy in International affairs. Much of the Enlightenment occurred in French intellectual circles, and major scientific breakthroughs were achieved by French scientists in the 18th century. In addition, France obtained many overseas possessions in the Americas, Africa and Asia.

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The railway network of France, which stretches 31,840 kilometres (19,784 mi) is the most extensive in Western Europe. It is operated by the SNCF, and high-speed trains include the Thalys, the Eurostar and TGV, which travels at 320 km/h (200 mph) in commercial use. The Eurostar, along with the Eurotunnel Shuttle, connects with the United Kingdom through the Channel Tunnel. Rail connections exist to all other neighbouring countries in Europe, except Andorra. Intra-urban connections are also well developed with both underground services and tramway services complementing bus services.

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Jutting far out into the sea-green waters of the Channel , you could say that the department of Manche is off the beaten track. It is a green and pleasant Norman province that has much in common with the mild climes of the English South-West and is well away from the hustle and bustle of the big cities.

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As you travel the length of our peaceful country roads or walk along one our picturesque hiking trails, you will notice the startlingly varied landscape that has shaped our lives. The famous Norman bocage of deciduous woods, hedges and thickets interspersed with undulating lush green fields juxtaposes with the wide open marshes of the east and the river gorges of the south. Manche is also a maritime province (it takes its name from the French word for the English Channel) and has an extensive seaboard that covers over half its border; the Cotentin district in the north is a wild and rocky granite coast, whereas the western shore comprises the vast sandy beaches of Mont-Saint-Michel Bay.

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What else can you do in such a natural and wholesome environment other than taste the richness of its centuries-old gastronomic tradition and gently absorb the quintessential art de vivre of its inhabitants? Discover our upmarket épicerie fine, bustling town markets and no-nonsense farm shops that purvey all sorts of local delicacies for you to delight in. While you are there, stock up with some of our time-honoured specialities such as creamy Camembert cheeses , bubbling ciders, heady calvados apple brandies and fine charcuterie cooked meats - they make great gifts for family and friends. For those who just want to relax, visit one of our stylish cafés, brasseries or top-quality restaurants. There you can take time out on the terrace overlooking the sea or watch the world go by in the heart of one of our charming market towns.

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Emblem of our department and a truly exceptional monument, the distinctive form of Mont-Saint-Michel and its abbey spire rise out of the bay as a beacon for curious and discerning travellers. Dedicated to the Archangel Michael, the abbey was built in the Middle Ages by a small religious community living on the mount and has since been recognized by UNESCO as a world heritage site. For many years, the natural beauty of the mount has been undermined by the gradual advance of the shore, caused by silt borne into the bay by the River Couesnon. To reverse this process of unintentional land reclamation, a daring feat of engineering is underway to make our “Saint Michael’s Mount” an island once more.