Property frontiers

France:
Country Guide

france - general country guide

Sample

Map

^{Source: CIA World Factbook}

Summary Data

summary data
Total Area (km²)	643,427
Land (km²)	640,053
Water (km²)	3,374
Population	64,057,790
Population (/km²)	100
Capital	Paris
Religion (%)	Roman Catholic 83% - 88% Protestant 2% Jewish 1% Muslim 5% - 10% Unaffiliated 4%
Time	GMT +1
Climate	Cool winter and mild summer, but along the Mediterranean mild winter and hot summer. Occassional strong, cold, dry north to north-westerly wind known as the Mistral.

^{Source: CIA World Factbook}

Geography

France is in Western Europe bordering the Atlantic ,ocean, the Mediterranean sea, Spain, Germany, Italy, Switzerland and Belgium. France has a jagged hexagonal shape to it which is why the country has been nicknamed l'hexagone. Two thirds of the country is covered by mountains and hills, including the famous Alps, Pyrenees and Vosgne ranges. Mont Blanc is situated in the Alps and is the highest mountain in Europe making it popular with hikers and climbers. There are three main rivers in France, the Seine, the Loire and the Rhone. There are several national Landmarks in France which attract tourists to each year, including the Eiffel tower, one of the world's most recognized structural design and the Cathedral of Notre Dame, both situated in Paris.

Government

A republic since 1792, the government is led by the Prime Minister who is appointed by the president. The president is elected every seven years. Francois Fillion is the Prime Minister and Nicholas Sarkozy the President, both elected in May 2007. There are four leading French parties: the Socialist party, the Conservative Ressemblement pour la Republique (RPR), the Union pour la Democratie Française (UDF) and the French Communist Party. Local administration of France is organized around 22 administrative regions and 96 metropolitan departments.

Language

French is the official language in France but in different regions within the country different dialects are spoken such as Basque and Breton. In several tourist places, such as Paris, English is widely spoken by a lot of the nationals.

Electricity

220 volts AC, 50Hz. Two-pin plugs are widely used.

Passports/Visa

Passport valid for at least three months beyond length of stay required by all nationals except nationals belonging to the EU who hold a valid national ID card.

Visas

Visas are not required by any national wising to enter the countrynly a return ticket is necessary from Canadian, USA and Australian nationals

Passport/Visa Information

French Embassy in the United Kingdom

58 Knightsbridge

London SW1X 7JT

Tel. (44) 207 073 1000

Website: www.ambafrance-uk.org

Airports and Airlines

ParisRoissy Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG)

Location: The airport is located 23km (14 miles) northeast of Paris
Time: GMT + 1 (GMT + 2 from last Sunday in March to last Sunday in October).
Contacts: Tel: (0)5 5634 5050
Transfer between terminals: The two terminals (A and B) are connected by a covered walkway.
Transfer to the city: A number of rail options are available, with TGV connections running to the rest of the country. Bus services are available with lbuses leaving from all terminals. Coach services run to Paris and also connect to Paris Orly Airport. Taxis available.
Car rental: Avis, Budget, Europcar, Hertz, National and Sixt are all represented.
Facilities: There are shops in all three terminals. There are several places to eat and drink within both terminals and a lost property service is available as well as money and communication services.
Parking: Each terminal has its own covered car park with direct access to the terminal by lift. Parking for all terminals linked by a free airport shuttle bus.
Website: http://www.paris-cdg.com/

Other main airports: Bordeaux, Toulouse, Nice, Lyon

Standard of Living

France has a high standard of living compared to several other countries. The country has a low unemployment rate and a low number of people below the average poverty line. The French economy is strong and the country as a whole is very wealthy. The cost of living in France is reasonable and the price of consumer goods such as food is cheaper in France than in other European countries such as Britain.

Principal commercial centres and towns

Paris, the capital of France, is the country's industrial centre. It has a wide variety of attractions making it one of the country's most popular tourist destinations.