Life in France

France’s most salient characteristic is its exceptional diversity. The largest country in Western Europe, France is about 80% the size of Texas and extends from the coastal plains in the north to the beaches of the south; from the wild coastline of Brittany to the top of the Alps, with cliff-lined canyons, dense forest and vineyards in between. The highest point in Western Europe, Mont Blanc, is situated in the Alps on the border between France and Italy. Metropolitan France also has extensive river systems such as the Loire, the Garonne, the Seine and the Rhône, which divides the Massif Central from the Alps and flows into the Mediterranean Sea at Camargue, the lowest point in France. Corsica lies off the Mediterranean coast.

Over the centuries, France has received more immigrants than any other country in Europe. From the ancient Celtic Gauls and Romans to the more recent arrivals from France’s former colonies in Indochina and Africa, these peoples have introduced new elements of culture, cuisine, and art, all of which have contributed to France’s unique and diverse civilization.

On the western edge of Europe, France is situated between England and Italy, Belgium and Spain, North Africa and Scandinavia. This is, of course, how the French have always regarded their country—at the very center of things.

Official France websites: