| Throughout history, France has always played a | | | | and Latin for strong influences of Teutonic, Slavic, |
| pivotal role in Europe. From Art to Politics to | | | | North African, Sub-Saharan African, Indochinese and |
| Architecture, it is a fascinating place. Here is some | | | | Basque minorities. The strong minority base is due to |
| background information to consider before your | | | | two facts, a lax immigration policy and the migration of |
| trip.The official name of the country is the French | | | | peoples from former colonies of France during its |
| Republic. The French Republic covers an area of | | | | more imperial periods.Despite the massive immigrant |
| 220,668 square miles. This makes it the largest country | | | | influx over time, France is a largely uniform religious |
| in Western Europe, which is about 80 percent the size | | | | society. Over 90 percent of all French claim the |
| of Texas for comparison purposes. The capital of | | | | Roman Catholic faith as their religion of choice. Strong |
| France is Paris. Other major cities of note include the | | | | Muslim population sectors, however, exist and are |
| port city of Marseille, Lyon, Toulouse, Strasbourg, Nice, | | | | growing rapidly through immigration. The official |
| Rennes, Lille and Bordeaux in the famous wine region | | | | language of the country is French and it is also the |
| of the same name. If you have ever watched the | | | | dominant language used in daily life. The literacy rate |
| Tour de France, you know the terrain in France varies | | | | for France is over 99 percent, which makes sense |
| from majestic mountain peaks to flat plains to beautiful | | | | given the free, compulsory education system.As this |
| coast line along the southern and western borders of | | | | overview of France demonstrates, it has played a |
| the country. This gives the country various climatic | | | | major role in European history. This makes it a great |
| conditions ranging from very cool in the mountain | | | | travel destination since much of the country has |
| areas to downright hot in the southern beach locations | | | | historical value, which you can experience by just |
| such as Nice.Citizens of the French Republic are | | | | walking down the street.Richard Monk is with - a site |
| designated with the name French. The total population | | | | with facts about everything. Visit us to read more |
| exceeds 62.4 million with a strong annual growth rate | | | | about country facts and facts about France. |
| of over 2 percent. Ethnicity is broken down as Celtic | | | | |