Facts about France

Quick Facts

What is France‘s official name?

Republic of France (République française in French)

What is the origin of France‘s name?

“France” comes from the Latin word Francia, meaning “country of the Franks.” The “Franks” might refer to Germanic words for “javelin” or “free.”

What is the capital of France?

Paris

What is the official language of France?

French

What type of government does France have?

Semi-Presidential Republic – it has both a President and a Bernard Cazeneuve

Who is the president of France?

François Hollande

Who is the Prime Minister of France?

Bernard Cazeneuve

Where is France located?

Western Europe

What is France‘s motto?

Liberty, Equality, Fraternity

What is the population of France?

Approximately 62,814,233 (Metropolitan France)

Approximately 65,312,249 (Metropolitan + 5 overseas regions)

How big is France?

551,500 square kilometers (Metropolitan France) –
the largest country in western Europe.

Here is France Physical Map showing all physical feature of the country.

How many administrative regions does France have?

France has 27 administrative regions in all – 22 in Metropolitan France and 5 overseas

What are the administrative regions and their capitals?

Metropolitan France:

• Alsace – Strasbourg
• Aquitaine – Bordeaux
• Auvergne – Clermont-Ferrand
• Brittany (Bretagne) – Rennes
• Burgundy (Bourgogne) – Dijon
• Centre – Orléans
• Champagne-Ardenne – Châlons-en-Champagne
• Corsica (Corse) – Ajaccio
• Franche-Comté – Besançon
• Île-de-France – Paris
• Languedoc-Roussillon – Montpellier
• Limosin – Limoges
• Lorraine – Metz
• Lower Normandy (Basse-Normandie) – Caen
• Midi-Pyrénées – Toulouse
• Nord-Pas-de-Calais – Lille
• Pays de la Loire – Nantes
• Picardy (Picardie) – Amiens
• Poitou-Charentes – Poiters
• Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur – Marseille
• Rhône-Alpes – Lyon
• Upper Normandy (Haute-Normandie) – Rouen

Overseas regions:

• French Guiana – Cayenne
• Guadeloupe – Basse-Terre
• Martinique – Fort-de-France
• Mayotte – Mamoudzou
• Réunion – Saint-Denis

What countries border (Metropolitan) France?

• Belgium
• Luxembourg
• Germany
• Switzerland
• Italy
• Monaco
• Spain
• Andorra
• United Kingdom (across the Channel Tunnel)

What is the Chunnel?

The Chunnel, or Channel Tunnel, (called Le tunnel sous la Manche, meaning “the tunnel under the sleeve/sea” in French), is an undersea tunnel that crosses the English Channel, linking England and France by the rail system. Eurostar high-speed passenger trains and international freight trains use the Chunnel to travel between France and England.

The Channel Tunnel is a feat of engineering, with the longest undersea tunnel in the world. The Channel Tunnel was first proposed in 1802, but building did not begin until 1988, and the Chunnel finally opened in 1994.

What is France’s national holiday?

Bastille Day, celebrated on July 14, commemorates the storming of the Bastille in 1789. The Bastille, a fortress in Paris, represented the royal authority in France. The storming of the Bastille was an important part of the French Revolution, and represented overthrowing the monarchy and creating the First Republic.

Why was the Eiffel Tower built?

The Eiffel Tower was built as an entrance arch for the 1889 World’s Fair by Gustave Eiffel. Though today the Eiffel Tower is a major icon of Paris and France, it initially drew criticism from the public. The city of Paris had only planned to keep the tower for 20 years after the World’s Fair, but it was used for communication purposes as a radio transmitter.

What are the major rivers in France?

• Seine
• Loire
• Garonne
• Rhone

What are the major mountain ranges in France?

• Alps
• Massif Central
• Pyrenees

What currency does France use?

Euro

What is the national anthem of France?

La Marseillaise