France Facts

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  • France is officially known as the French Republic.
  • The name France comes from the Latin word Francia, which means 'country of the Franks'.
  • French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Mayotte, and Reunion are also recognized as a part of France.
  • In 2012, the population of mainland France was just under 63 million (62,814,233). Another 2.8 million (2,816,459) are split between French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Mayotte and Reunion.
  • Mainland France belongs to the continent of Europe. Bordering countries are Andorra, Belgium, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Monaco, Spain, and Switzerland.
  • The Alps mountain range on the border of France and Italy is home to France’s highest mountain, Mont Blanc, which stands at 4,807m high (15,771 ft).
  • The official language is French.
  • French is the second most studied language in the world after English.
  • The capital city is Paris. Other major cities include Marseille, Lyon, Lille, and Nice-Cannes.
  • France is the most visited country in the world, with over 80 million visitors every year.
  • The Louvre is the most visited art museum in the world. The famous Mona Lisa painting is on display in this museum.
  • During World War II, Allied forces landed on the beaches of Normandy in northern France. The first day of these landings is called D-Day.
  • The famous Eiffel Tower in Paris was built as the entrance point for the 1889 World Fair. It is one of the most visited monuments in the world.
  • The Millau Bridge in southern France is the world's tallest bridge and France's tallest structure. At its highest point, it stands 343m (1125 ft) above the ground.
  • France was the second country to host the modern Olympic Games in 1900 in Paris. Paris also hosted the games again in 1924. Three winter Olympics have been hosted in France.
  • The most famous road bicycle race in the world, the Tour de France zig zags through the French landscape.
  • One of the four grand slam tennis events, the French Open, is held in Paris every year.
  • Louis Pasteur was a French scientist who made many discoveries in the fields of chemistry and microbiology.
  • For more information, check out maps of France or take a closer look at the French flag.

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