Travel Facts

Official name: Republic of France
Total land area: 210,026 square miles (543,965 square kilometers)
Languages: French is the official language, but English is widely spoken as a second language.
Currency: French frac (FRF)
Capital city: Paris
Time: Paris is +1 GMT (+6 EST)
Population: 56,358,331
Major cities: Paris (2.2 million)
Principal airlines: Air France (AF)
Gateways: The Paris area (PAR) is served by two major airports: Charles de Gaulle airport (CDG) and Orly airport (ORY). A small airport, Le Bourget (LBG), and a heliport (JDP) are also located near the city. Nice (NCE) is the gateway to the French Riviera, Luxembourg, and the northwest part of Italy. Other regional airports are located at Marseille (MRS) and Strasbourg (SXB). Several carriers operate direct flights from North America, including Air France, American, Continental, Delta, TWA, and United. The Paris-London route was the first major air traffic corridor and is still the world's busiest.
Transportation: Bus service, rapid rail service, and taxicabs are available in major cities. The Paris subway system, the Metropolitan, links the entire city. A Paris Visite pass can be purchased for one, three, or five days of unlimited intracity rail travel. Most cab drivers speak English. One of the most interesting ways to view the French countryside is by train. French trains are noted for promptness and reliability. The Eurailpass is accepted on all French trains. The high-speed Train á Grande Vitesse (TGV) operates between Paris and Lyon, the Riviera, and Switzerland. The Etoile du Nord operates between Paris and Amsterdam. Other rail services connect Paris to the rest of France.
Accommodations: A wide range of accommodations are available, including hotels, old village inns, and chateaux. Room rates usually include taxes, service, and, often, breakfast. The quality of rooms in older establishments varies. Hotel taxes range as high as 20 percent in some areas of Paris. The Pariz Ritz is one of the world's finest luxury hotels.
Climate: France has a variable climate, ranging from cold in the north to warm in the south. Paris is generally mild, with average temperatures of 76 degrees F in summer, and 43 degrees in winter.

France is a country of rich geographic contrast, ranging from sun-drenched beaches to snow-covered peaks. It is also an important center for world trade, finance, tourism, culture, and the arts.

The coasts of Brittany and the Riviera are lined with warm, sunny beaches and rugged limestone cliffs. Verdant forests cover the land from the Ardennes region near Belgium to the South of France, known as Midi. The peaks of the Alps and Pyrenees mountain ranges are blanketed with snow and ice. Mont Blanc, in the French Alps, is the highest peak in Europe, with an elevation of 15,771 feet. The central plains are dotted with neatly divided farmlands, and lush valleys follow the major rivers, the Seine and the Loire. The French Riviera region on the Mediterranean coast is the site of substantial tourism development.

Paris, known as the City of Lights, is one of the world's greatest cities and most popular destinations. Its many architectural gems, monuments, and landmarks are rivaled only by its vibrant nightlife, rich museums, and fine cuisine. The city is divided into 20 districts, called arrondissements, each with its own mayor, city hall, police station, and post office. The First, Second, and Eighth arrondissements are the center of the French fashion and perfume industries, the stock exchange, and the city's most elegant hotels. The Fifth Arrondissement, known as the Latin Quarter, is the site of the University of Paris and the Sorbonne.

Paris is divided by the river Seine, which flows through the city in a wide arc. The northern part of the city is called the Right Bank, and the southern part the Left Bank. The Right Bank is the site of luxurious hotels, elegant restaurants, and fashionable shops, while the Left Bank is the main artistic and cultural area, with numerous sidewalk cafes, art galleries, and book shops. The place de la Concorde is a huge city square, with a total area of 85,000 square feet. In this square, King Louis XVI, Marie Antoinette, and 1,342 other victims were beheaded during the French Revolution. The Champs-Elysee, which leads from the square to the Arc de Triomphe, is crowded with people and lined by theaters and restaurants.

The Eiffel Tower, designed by Gustav Eiffel and erected for the Universal Exposition of 1899, houses two restaurants, a snack bar, and a cocktail lounge. On a clear day, the tower offers spectacular views of Paris and the surrounding countryside. The Cathedral of Notre Dame took 150 years to complete. Inside, Napoleon crowned himself emperor. The Arc de Triomphe is the centerpiece of the Right Bank, where 12 avenues on the Place Charles DeGaulle converge. Beneath the arch, the Flame of Remembrance marks the tomb of France's Unknown Soldier. The Palais du Louvre is one of the world's most important art museums, with a vast collection of paintings, drawings, sculptures, and art objects from every historical period. Many of the world's great works, including the Venus de Milo, Rembrandt's self-portrait, Leonardo Da Vinci's Mona Lisa, and the Winged victory of Samothrace, are part of the permanent exhibition.

Versailles, 15 miles southwest of Paris, is a glittering jewelbox of royal French architecture and landscaping. Built as a private retreat for royal families, the exterior grounds are covered by lavish gardens with soaring fountains and grandiose statues. Fontainebleu Palace, south of Paris, is surrounded by a 50,000-acre forest which served as the private hunting ground of French rulers.

Lyon has been an important trading center since the Renaissance, when early trade fairs were held. The Musee des Beaux-Arts housed in the Palais St- Pierre is a restored twelfth-century convent, with the second largest collection of fine arts in France. In Rouen, the capital of Normandy, travelers can visit the place du Vieux-Marche, where Joan of Arc was burned at the stake.

The Loire Valley, known as the "green heart of France," is blanketed by vineyards and dotted with historic castles, palaces, and walled cities clustered around medieval churches. Mont-St-Michel, a majestic citadel on a small high island at the border between Normandy and Brittany, is one of the greatest sightseeing attractions in Europe. The massive fortress walls are more than one-half mile in circumference.

The provinces of Bordeaux and Burgundy were once small independent countries, each governed by a single family. Burgundy has produced fine wines since the first century. Over the generations, the regions have been divided up into numerous estates owned by the descendants of the original landowners. Most of the grapes used in French red wines are grown by the estates in these two regions.

The French Alps stretch from Lake Geneva almost to the Mediterranean coast. Chamonix, located near the juncture of France, Italy, and Switzerland, is the French capital of alpine skiing. Strasbourg, the capital of Alsace, is one of France's greatest cities and an important inland port, two miles west of the Rhine.

The Cote d'Azur, known as the French Riviera, first became popular among wealthy travelers and royalty, who traveled by rail from the capitals of Europe. The coastal highway passes through charming towns with red tile roofs and faded stucco walls, overlooking the Mediterreanean Sea. Cannes and Nice are popular resort areas that attract travelers from throughout Europe. The Cannes Film Festival is the largest and most famous cinema event in Europe. The Nice area is the site of fashionable resorts, restaurants, and shops.