France (or the French Republic) is a sovereign country located in Western Europe and a

member of the European Union. It has a total area, between islands and continental
territory, of 675,417 km2 and its capital is Paris, one of the most touristic cities in the
world, which is crossed by the Seine River.
It is a semi-presidential republic and one of the world's leading economies. France stands
out for its wine production, its landscapes, culture and history, which make this country one
of the most visited in the world.
The mainland of France is bordered to the south by the Mediterranean Sea, Italy, and
Monaco; to the southwest with the Cantabrian Sea, Andorra and Spain; to the west with the
Atlantic Ocean; to the north with the English Channel, the North Sea, Belgium and the
United Kingdom (with which it is linked by an underground tunnel that crosses the English
Channel) and to the east with Luxembourg, Switzerland and Germany.
The official language of France is French, a language that comes from Latin together with
Spanish and Italian.

Population.
More than 67 million people live in France, the majority are distributed on the European
continent and a minority live in French overseas territories. The most populated cities in the
country are Paris, Marseille and Lyon. The population of France comes, for the most part,
from Celtic peoples, although from the 19th century France began to receive a large
number of immigrants.
Economy.
The official currency of France is, since 2002, the euro.
France is one of the largest economies in the world and the second in Europe, behind
Germany. For this country, international trade occupies a place of great importance and
exports primary products from the livestock industry and agriculture. Some of the products
that France exports are: wheat, potatoes, dairy products, pork, poultry, and fruits such as
apples, grapes, pears, peaches, and melons.
Among its economic resources, winemaking stands out, an activity that positions France as
the second world producer of wine, behind Italy.
Much of the French economy is based on the service sector and a large percentage of the
workforce works there. France is one of the most visited countries in the world, so the hotel
and tourism industry are highly developed activities and are the ones that generate the most
income for the country. Among the tertiary activities, items such as commerce and
restaurants also stand out.
France is also one of the most industrialized countries in the world, many of the most
recognized multinationals have their headquarters or offices in this country. Some of the
areas in which it stands out are: the chemical, aeronautical, automotive,
telecommunications, cosmetics, pharmaceutical industries, among others.
This country is ranked 46th in the ranking of the Human Development Index carried out by
the United Nations Organization, which measures life expectancy, level of education and
GDP per capita of a nation.

The Political System.

France has a form of government called a semi-presidential republic. The country is ruled
by a president, who is the head of state and is elected by universal suffrage for a five-year
term. The president is in charge of appointing the prime minister, who is the head of
government, and the ministers and secretaries.
The French legislative power is represented by the Parliament, which is made up of the
National Assembly and the Senate. The French Senate is made up of 348 representatives
and the National Assembly has 577 deputies. Both chambers are based in Paris.
The highest power within the French judiciary is held by the Court of Cassation, and other
important political institutions in France are the Constitutional Council and the Council of
State.

History.
France was previously known as Gaul, populated by the Gauls, a Celtic people of Indo-
European origin. The Gallic Celts led the civilizations of La Téne and Vix. In southern
Gaul, the Greeks (Ionians) settled, who founded Massalia (Marseille), Agde, among others.
France was founded in the year 420 by Duke Pharamond. In the year 451 Attila, the leader
of the Huns invaded Gaul with the help of the Frankish and Visigothic peoples. It adopted
various names until from 877 it was called France.
The seventeenth century is marked by the establishment of the "Absolute Monarchy" or
"Absolutism", which is consolidated through Louis XIV.
The attempt to imitate or copy that the neighboring towns and their rulers insisted on due to
the admiration and influence that France produced led to the advent of the so-called
"enlightened despotism". The pressure produced by the power of France led to wars with
all its neighbors who allied with each other to manage to confront and contain it.
He was succeeded by Louis XV, and Louis XVI. From the end of the century and
throughout the following century, the country was the epicenter of intellectual trends
known under the term of the Enlightenment, a prelude to the French Revolution and the
industrial revolution. This highly influential movement in the sciences and the arts had as
its main intellectual representatives the encyclopedists Denis Diderot and D'Alembert as
well as the philosophers Jean-Jacques Rousseau and Voltaire. The influence of
revolutionary ideals would motivate deep transformations with great consequences
throughout the world.
The French Revolution was a social and political process that took place between 1789 and
1799 whose main consequences were the abolition of the absolute monarchy and the
proclamation of the Republic, eliminating the economic and social bases of the Old
Regime. Although the political organization of France oscillated between republic, empire
and monarchy for 75 years after the First Republic fell after Napoleon's coup, the truth is
that the revolution marked the definitive end of absolutism and gave birth to a new regime
where the citizenry, and sometimes the popular masses, became the dominant political
force in the country.
Napoleon Bonaparte, crowned himself Emperor of France in 1804, and built a vast empire
that led the continent. During the Empire of Napoleon I, the territories of France extended
to the border with Russia.
During the last decades of the 19th century, France, like the other European powers, set out
to colonize Africa and Asia, among others.
France is one of the six founding states of the European communities that gave rise to the
current European Union (EU). During the last decades of the 19th century, France, like the
other European powers, set out to colonize Africa and Asia, among others.
France is one of the six founding states of the European communities that gave rise to the
current European Union (EU). During the last decades of the 19th century, France, like the
other European powers, set out to colonize Africa and Asia, among others.
France is one of the six founding states of the European communities that gave rise to the
current European Union (EU).

Art and Culture.

France is a country with a rich and prolific history, with intellectuals and artists who stood
out in fields such as philosophy, painting and letters. Some of the main representatives of
French culture are:
In art:
o Eugene Delacroix (1798-1863): He was a French painter and one of the main
representatives of Romanticism. Delacroix innovated in the use of color and his art
influenced the later Impressionist movement. Some of his most representative
works are Liberty guiding the people, The death of Sardanapalo and Dante's boat.
o Henri Matisse (1869-1954): He was a French painter considered a benchmark for
modern art and 20th century painting. It belonged to Fauvism, a movement that was
characterized by the use of color. Some of the emblematic works of this artist are
The Dance, Blue Nude and Woman with a Hat.
o Marcel Duchamp (1887-1968): He was a French painter and chess player
considered one of the most influential artists of the 20th century. He was an
exponent of Dadaism and ready-mades (giving everyday objects rank as works of
art) with works that focused on the innovative and fleeting. Some of his most
 outstanding works are Bicycle wheel, Nude descending a staircase and The
fountain.
In the literature:
o Moliere (1622-1673): He was a French playwright and poet and one of the greatest
literary exponents of France. He was the author of comedies and farces that
included social and political criticism of the time. Some of his most recognized
works are The Miser, Don Juan and Tartufo.
o Henri Beyle (Stendhal) (1783-1842): He was a French writer and one of the
founders of the modern novel, among his most outstanding works are Red and
Black, La Cartuja de Parma and Armancia.
o Marcel Proust (1871-1922): He was a world-renowned French novelist for his
autobiographical work In Search of Lost Time, a novel that is collected in seven
volumes.
In philosophy:
o Montesquieu (1689-1755): He was a French philosopher belonging to the
Enlightenment movement of the 18th century. One of his main contributions was
the notion of the division of powers within the State (developed in his work The
Spirit of the Laws) and he is considered one of the precursors of modern liberalism.
o Voltaire (1694-1778): He was a French philosopher and lawyer and one of the
leading exponents of the Enlightenment. He defended ideas and principles such as
secularism, equality and human rights.
o Jacques Derrida (1930-2004): He was a French philosopher who developed the idea
of deconstruction, understood as the tool to dismantle concepts and analyze
prevailing structures. Some of his most relevant works are Writing and difference,
Dissemination and Grammatology.

Traditions and Customs.

Gastronomy.
France is a country known worldwide for its gastronomy. Among the most outstanding
dishes and foods are: raclette (type of cheese), ratatouille (dish with vegetables), croissant
(pastry product), foie gras (duck or goose liver), coq au vin (rooster or chicken stew) ,
crêpes (disc-shaped dough), aligot (garnish), soupe à l'oignon (onion soup), quiche lorraine
(savoury tart), cassoulet (stew), macarons (sweets), escargots (snails), moules- frites
(mussels with French fries), baguette (type of bread), among many others. Due to its great
wine culture and development, wine is one of the most popular drinks in the country.
National Holidays.
One of the festivities that extends throughout the entire French territory is the one
celebrated on July 14 in commemoration of the storming of the Bastille (1789). In addition,
they are holidays in France: New Year, Christmas, Labor Day, Easter Monday, Victory
Day 1945, among others.
Festivities.
The most popular parties and festivals in France are the Candelaria festival (in which crepes
are prepared), the Nimes fairs (a city in the south of the country), the Nice carnival, the
Music festival, the April fish , among many others.
Fashion.
French fashion is highly recognized throughout the world and the city of Paris is one of the
great capitals of textile design. Among the most prominent designers in France are Coco
Chanel, Yves Saint Laurent, Jean Paul Gaultier, Hubert de Givenchy, Pierre Cardin,
Christian Dior, Nina Ricci, among others.

Tourism.
France is a country with a varied tourist offer for all tastes. From the most exotic
landscapes to the most emblematic monuments, passing through cities full of charm and
rural areas with a unique charm. One of the most popular types of tourism in France is
urban tourism, in which tourists visit large cities such as Paris, Lyon, Marseille, and
Toulouse, where they can enjoy their architecture and nightlife. Other famous cities that
attract tourists are Nice, Bordeaux and Lille.
France is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world, offering a variety of
vacation options to suit all tastes. From beaches to mountains to cities, France offers some
of the most breathtaking views and most diverse culture. Some of the main tourist
attractions in France are:
o Paris, the capital of France and the most visited city in the country, offers a wide
variety of tourist attractions, such as the Louvre Museum, the Eiffel Tower and the
Champs Elysees. There are also many restaurants, cafes and bars to enjoy the city's
nightlife.
o The Côte d'Azur, located in the southwest of France, is one of the main tourist
destinations in the region. It is full of beautiful beaches, picturesque Mediterranean
towns and numerous water activities. The Côte d'Azur is also famous for its many
festivals and cultural events.
o The Alpine Mountains, or the Alps, are one of the main tourist attractions in eastern
France. This mountainous area offers a wide variety of outdoor activities, such as
hiking, climbing and downhill skiing. There is also a wide selection of mountain
villages with enchanting views and the opportunity to try the local gastronomy.
o The Bordeaux region, located in the south-west of France, is famous for its wines,
as well as its many medieval towns. This region also offers some of the best Roman
ruins in France, as well as a warm and sunny climate all year round.
Webgrafia.
o https://www.felicesvacaciones.es/blog/cuales-son-los-turismos-de-francia?
expand_article=1
o https://humanidades.com/francia/
o https://www.superprof.es/blog/cronologia-historica-francia/
o https://elordenmundial.com/que-modelo-politico-tiene-francia/