France is located in Western Europe, bordering the Bay of Biscay and English Channel, between Belgium and Spain, southeast of the UK; and bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Italy and Spain. With total land area about 545,630 sq km, France is slightly less than twice the size of Colorado of the United States.

France has 60,424,213 (July 2004 estimate) population. Ethnic groups include Celtic and Latin with Teutonic, Slavic, North African, Indochinese, and Basque minorities. French is the official language.

France's economy combines modern capitalistic methods with extensive, but declining, government intervention. The government retains considerable influence over key segments of each sector, with majority ownership of railway, electricity, aircraft, and telecommunication firms. It has been gradually relaxing its control over these sectors since the early 1990s. Meanwhile, large tracts of fertile land and the application of modern technology have combined to make France the leading agricultural producer in Western Europe. France joined 10 other EU members to launch the euro on 1 January 1999.

Paris, the capital of the French Republic, is probably the world's most elegant city and one of the world's most favorite travel destinations. It presents to visitors with its world-class museums, historical attractions, art and culture, world-famous dining, great shopping and fashion.

The Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, Notre Dame Cathedral, the Louvre and the Champs Elysees are some of the most famous tourist attractions in Paris. In the evening, the splendid illuminations turn Paris into the City of Light.

The magnificent chateau in Fontainebleau, the beaujolais vineyards near Lyon, the seaside resort of Nice, the Film Festival Centre in Cannes, and the famous Monte Carlo casinos are some of the exciting highlights to explore this great nation.