France flag

France

History

The Treaty of Verdun divided the Carolingian Empire and shaped West Francia.
Hugh Capet became king, beginning the Capetian dynasty.
The storming of the Bastille began the French Revolution.
De Gaulle's Fifth Republic replaced the parliamentary Fourth.
France became part of the European Union through the Maastricht Treaty.
Europe thumbnailPart ofEuropeMore countries, cities and routes.
CapitalParis
Population66.4M
Area551,695 km2
Currencyeuro

Short facts

RegionWestern Europe
LanguageFrench
Time zoneCET (UTC+1)
Drives onRight

Worth seeing

  • Paris: The Eiffel Tower, Louvre and Notre-Dame draw more visitors than anywhere on Earth.
  • Gastronomy: French cuisine is UNESCO-listed heritage with Michelin-starred restaurants in every region.
  • Cote d Azur: The French Riviera combines glamour, beaches and hilltop villages.

Find a city in France

Showing all cities

Cannes thumbnailCannesCityParis thumbnailParisCity

Planning questions

What is France known for?Paris, Gastronomy, Cote d Azur.
What is the capital?Paris.
Which language is useful?French.
When is the national day?14 July.
How should I browse it here?Start with the facts, jump to linked cities, then check events and topics.

Upcoming events

Showing all 17 events

Paris Games Week thumbnailParis Games Week22 October 2026 – 25 October 2026 — Paris — FranceSalon du Chocolat Paris thumbnailSalon du Chocolat Paris28 October 2026 – 1 November 2026 — Paris — FranceNice Carnival thumbnailNice Carnival9 February 2027 – 28 February 2027 — Nice — FranceCesar Awards thumbnailCesar Awards25 February 2027 — Paris — FranceParis Marathon thumbnailParis Marathon13 April 2027 — Paris — FranceParis–Roubaix thumbnailParis–Roubaix13 April 2027 — Roubaix — FranceCannes Film Festival thumbnailCannes Film Festival11–22 May 2027 — Cannes — FranceFrench Open / Roland Garros thumbnailFrench Open / Roland Garros23 May–06 June 2027 — Paris — FranceVivatech Paris thumbnailVivatech Paris1 June 2027 – 30 June 2027 — Paris — FranceLe Mans 24 Hours thumbnailLe Mans 24 Hours12 June–13 June 2027 — Le Mans — FranceHellfest thumbnailHellfest17 June 2027 – 20 June 2027 — Clisson — FranceJapan Expo Paris thumbnailJapan Expo Paris9 July 2027–12 July 2027 — Villepinte — FranceThe Amundi Evian Championship thumbnailThe Amundi Evian Championship9 July 2027–12 July 2027 — Evian-les-Bains — FranceBastille Day thumbnailBastille Day14 July 2027 — Across France — FranceJazz in Marciac thumbnailJazz in Marciac20 July 2027–6 August 2027 — Marciac — FranceFrench MotoGP thumbnailFrench MotoGP8 May 2028 – 11 May 2028 — Le Mans — FranceWinter Olympics thumbnailWinter Olympics1 February 2030 - 17 February 2030 — French Alps — France

Use Paris as the first planning anchor for France, then compare the city, food and worth-seeing notes on this page.

Food & drink

Baguette thumbnailBaguetteSignature dishWine thumbnailWineLocal drink

Known for

ParisThe Eiffel TowerLouvreGastronomyCote d Azurbeacheshilltop villages.
Eurovision Song Contest thumbnailMusic & CultureFestivals, concerts and cultural calendars.Categories Topics thumbnailNature & placesLandscapes, routes, coastlines and outdoor context.