Introducing France
This article aims to be a tour of France from 10,000 feet in the sky. An overview that provides a skeleton of knowledge to guide you to the parts of the site (and of France) that are of most interest to you. France is one of the largest countries in Europe. It is bordered by six countries – Belgium, Luxembourg and Germany to the north-east, Switzerland and Italy across the Alps to the south-east and Spain across the Pyrenees to the south-west. The UK is across the English Channel (La Manche). France is regarded by many people as the geographical gateway to Europe. It has several large international airports, two of which are in the capital, Paris and many of which are served by budget airlines. Ferry terminals are located along the north, west and Mediterranean coasts. Visitors from the UK also have the option of taking the Channel Tunnel rail link. Once in France, the motorway network and French rail service are known to be extremely efficient with the high-speed, long distance TGV train service the envy of other nations.

Geographical diversity and cultural plenty
France is the world’s most popular tourist destination and it doesn’t take long to work out why. The country has an extremely diverse physical landscape and an equally diverse climate to match. This makes it the ideal venue for a huge range of sporting and other outdoor activities. For example, France has a huge range of golf courses. However, France also caters on a grand scale for those who prefer a more sedate pace of life. There are numerous museums and art galleries in France reflecting the fact that the French are fiercely and deservedly proud of their country’s rich cultural, educational and political heritage. France has had a turbulent history characteristed by successive revolutions but at every stage it has been at the forefront of European development. The notion of France as a leader finds its legacy in the country’s pivotal role in the construction of the European Union as we know it today. The French people – and particularly the older generations - tend to be extremely courteous and formal, a national trait that is often ungenerously dismissed as arrogance by other nations. The French are also renowned for being ‘chic’, that is, for taking great pride in their personal appearance and in particular, their clothes. This is symptomatic of the importance placed on presentation in general in France. The French simply don’t do scruffy. Shops, homes and public gardens are all immaculately kept and display immense attention to detail.

A food lover’s paradise
France is known throughout the world for its cuisine and wine. The French love their food. Whenever possible meals are long, sociable family occasions which sometimes span several hours in the middle of the day. French meals usually involve three or four courses including cheese before the dessert and are accompanied by wine and freshly baked breads. A typical main dish might be Coq au vin (chicken in a red wine sauce), Coquilles Saint-Jacques (sea scallops cooked in butter) or Noisettes d’Agneau (sautéed lamb cutlets with mushrooms). However, French food varies enormously between regions with regional specialities and distinctive regional variations on classic French dishes.

Distinctive regions
France is divided into 22 official ‘régions’ each of which is subdivided into several administrative ‘départements’. Many of the regions have very clearly defined and distinct regional identities. This is in part due to the enormous geographical and climatic differences between the regions which force the inhabitants of the various regions to lead very different ways of life. As a general rule, the closer you get to the southern French coast, the hotter and the more expensive it becomes. The south of France is generally extremely busy, particularly during the summer months. Many Parisians have second homes in Languedoc-Roussillon and Provence-Alpes-C?te d'Azur and spend much of August here. They are joined by tourists from France’s neighbouring countries who come to take advantage of the sunshine and dazzling scenery. In the height of summer, yachts line the marinas of the C?te d’Azur whilst inland, lavender fields shimmer in the luminous sunlight that inspired such well-known artists as Van Gogh.

The heart of France: peace and quiet
Auvergne is one of the least densely populated of France’s regions. Limousin, Burgundy (Bourgogne), The Central Loire Valley (Centre Val de Loire) and Auvergne are all located in central France and do not have any coastal or national borders. These largely agricultural regions have suffered from rural depopulation recently. Fortunately, they are growing in popularity with foreign buyers who are attracted by the tranquil setting, slower pace of life and very reasonable property prices! The large number of lakes in Limousin and Auvergne is also attracting fishermen to these regions. Burgundy is a food and wine-lover’s paradise. The wholesome, earthy flavours of the regional cuisine are irresistible.

The King of capitals
No guide to France could possibly be complete without reference to the French capital. Paris is arguably one of the world’s most majestic capital cities. It counts The Louvre and the Eiffel Tower amongst its many sites, the majority of which are within walking distance of the river Seine. Paris and the surrounding ?le-de-France region are expensive but the wealth of architectural and cultural attractions it has to offer goes some way to justifying the high prices.