Land area: 210,668 sq mi (545,630 sq km); total area: 211,209 sq mi (547,030 sq km)

Population (2006): 60,876,136 (growth rate: 0.4%); birth rate: 12.0/1000; infant mortality rate: 4.2/1000; life expectancy: 79.7; density per sq mi: 289

Capital City: Paris

Monetary unit: Euro (formerly French franc)

Languages: French 100%, rapidly declining regional dialects (Provençal, Breton, Alsatian, Corsican, Catalan, Basque, Flemish)

Ethnicity/race: Celtic and Latin with Teutonic, Slavic, North African, Southeast Asian, and Basque minorities

Religions: Roman Catholic 83%–88%, Protestant 2%, Islam 5%–10%, Jewish 1%

France is bordered by Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Monaco, Andorra, and Spain. In some of its overseas parts, France also shares land borders with Brazil, Suriname, and the Netherlands Antilles. France is also linked to the United Kingdom via the Channel Tunnel, which passes underneath the English Channel.

Two thirds of France is mountains and hills, with the Alps, Pyrenees and Vosges ranges. Mont Blanc in the Alps is the highest mountain in Europe.

Paris is one of the world’s most interesting cities with its broad range of attractions and cuisine experiences. It is a popular tourist area. Paris was founded by, and named after, the Celtic tribe, the Parisii. The cities of Lyon and Marseille also have their own spectacular, and truly unique character.

Outside of the main three cities, the rural areas offer a broad and diverse range of dramatic scenery and village life. Offering everything from rugged Alpine mountains in the South-East and romantic sea cliffs on the Atlantic coast, countless enchanting beaches in the West and South as well as, some of Europe’s wildest areas, such as the wild Camargue in the South. The Mediterranean coast includes the popular tourist area, the French Riviera. Its hot, dry summers and mild winters make it a popular beach area.

The culture of France is diverse, reflecting regional differences as well as the influence of recent immigration. France has played an important role for centuries as a cultural center, with Paris as a world center of high culture.

France is noted for its cosmopolitan, civilized approach to life, combined with great concern for style, fashion and appearances. French people are sometimes perceived as taking a great pride in the national identity and positive achievements of France, although many French people would argue that people of all nations tend to do that.

The Eiffel Tower is one of France's national landmarks. At 1,050 feet tall, it is one of the world's most recognizable structures.

The Cathedral of Notre Dame is also a national landmark. It was built in 1163 and is the largest church in Northern France. It got worldwide recognition in the popular book "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" by Victor Hugo.

The Louvre is one of the world's best known, and finest art galleries. It contains many of the world's most famous art, including the Mona Lisa (see Leonardo da Vinci).

The Arc de Triomphe is also a Paris landmark. It is the entrance way to the Champs Elysees.