general information

Republic
capital: Paris
area: 675 000 km2
currency: euro

population: 66 millions
population density/km2: 98
EU member since 1952
National holiday: 14 July
national anthem: La Mareseilaise

language: french

• 9 is the number of tons of metal eaten by famous French omnivore Michel Lotito, aka Monsieur Mangetout.

• At 1568 working hours per annum in 2003, the French are the least industrious people in Europe.

• France is the largest country in the EU in terms of surface area but not the most densely populated, partly because of the Napoleonic wars.

• French men are on average 1.72 cm tall. The average height for French women is 1.65 cm. Compared with one century ago, men are 7 cm taller and women 5 cm.

• France has 4 overseas departments (which are part of the EU), 4 overseas territories and 2 autonomous regions.

Vive la France! Discover this beautiful country by walking around the streets of Paris, Lyon, Marseille, Avignon, St Tropez, Strasbourg, Rennes and Bordeaux. Versailles, Mont St Michel and Aix en Provence are rich in history while the adventurous can go skiing and hiking in the Alps. Relax afterwards on a Mediterranean beach or sipping a glass of vino in the many wishes wineries. Sailing around the islands of Brittany is also not to be missed.