France shares borders with six neighbours: Belgium and Luxembourg to the north; Germany and Switzerland to the east, Italy to the south-east and Spain to the south-west. France has the shape of a hexagon, each axis measuring about 1,000 km.

Because of its extensive network of modern communications, France is the main axis in Europe, and the tourist industry benefits from this situation. The majority of holidaymakers travelling from northern Europe to the south of France or Spain drive through France, and on the way can experience France’s natural beauty and rich cultural heritage.

Four main rivers cross France: the Loire (1010 km long); the Seine, (770 km); the Garonne (650 km) and the Rhone (522 km). In addition, the Rhine forms the border between France and Germany for 190 km.

The highlands (1200 to 1800 metres) – the Vosges, the Massif Central and the Jura – contrast with the high-reaching, snow-covered peaks of the tallest mountains; the Pyrenees (over 3000 metres) and the Alps (reaching over 4000 m. Mont Blanc, rising to 4807 metres, is the highest summit in western Europe.

facts and figures about France

National Name	France; Frankreich
Size	543,965 km2
Population	58,7 million
Capital	Paris (pop. 2,152,300; metropolitan area 9,319,400)
Main Religion	Roman Catholics (81.4%) and Muslim (6.9%)
Language	French
Monetary Unit	Euro
Unemployment	11.5%
Inflation	0.7%
Climate	Cool summers and mild winters in the north; continental in the south.

Economy

France is in the midst of transition, from a well-to-do modern economy that has featured extensive government ownership and intervention to one that relies more on market mechanisms. The Socialist-led government partially or fully privatized many large companies, banks, and insurers, but the government retains controlling stakes in several leading firms, including Air France, France Telecom, Renault, and Thales, and is dominant in some sectors, particularly power, public transport, and defense industries. The telecommunications sector is gradually being opened to competition. France's leaders remain committed to a capitalism in which they maintain social equity by means of laws, tax policies, and social spending that reduce income disparity and the impact of free markets on public health and welfare. The current government has lowered income taxes and introduced measures to boost employment. The government is focusing on the problems of the high cost of labor and labor market inflexibility resulting from the 35-hour workweek and restrictions on lay-offs. The government is also pushing for pension reforms and simplification of administrative procedures. The tax burden remains one of the highest in Europe (43.8% of GDP in 2003). The current economic slowdown and inflexible budget items have pushed the 2003 deficit to 4% of GDP, above the EU's 3% debt limit. Business investment remains listless because of low rates of capital utilization, sluggish demand, high debt, and the steep cost of capital.

Telecommunications Infrastructure

The French Telephone system is very highly developed and based on extensive cable and microwave radio relay. France Telecom and others, like Equant, (today a subsidiary of France Telecom) have heavily invested in the extensive implementation of fiber-optic cable and a domestic satellite system. The international interconnection is done by satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (with total of 5 antennas - 2 for Indian Ocean and 3 for Atlantic Ocean), NA Eutelsat, 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic Ocean region); HF radiotelephone communications with more than 20 countries.

paris

Paris, like all the world’s great cities, moves at a fast pace, by day and night. It is the world capital of art and culture and has some of the most famous museums and monuments. Paris is divided into 20 arrondissements that spiral out like a snail shell from the first, centred around the Louvre, of which certain quarters (Montmartre, Montparnasse, le Marais) are real villages within the city. The arrondissement of any Paris address is indicated at the end of its postal code: 75001 is the first; 75002 the second, and so on.

The traditional separation of Paris into the Left and Right Banks, between the world of business and the world of culture is no longer valid. Admittedly, the Left Bank still includes most of the universities and the famous arts cafes at Saint-Germain-des-Près, but today the Right Bank has many addresses linked to the arts, as shown by the many events and productions at Bastille, Belleville and Clichy. Not to be missed are the Louvre and the Musée d’Orsay. Others worth visiting are the Musée Picasso and the Musée Rodin. Don’t leave Paris without visiting the Eiffel tower, the cathedral of Notre Dame, the Arc de Triomphe or the Grande Arche de la Defense.

There are over 8000 restaurants and cafes in Paris, offering a variety of international and local delights. Fine cuisine and wine is a very important part of the Parisian lifestyle. For shopping, the Galéries Lafayette is a must.