Francia

Francia, known internationally as France, is a country in Western Europe with several overseas territories. It borders Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Monaco, Spain and Andorra, and has coastlines on the Atlantic, English Channel, North Sea and Mediterranean. The capital and largest city is Paris. The landscape ranges from the Alps and Pyrenees to plains in the north and west, with major river valleys such as the Loire, Seine and Rhône.

Government: France is a unitary semi-presidential republic—the Fifth Republic since 1958. The President is head of state and the Prime Minister head of government. The Parliament consists of the National Assembly and the Senate. It is a member of the European Union and uses the euro.

History: The area was inhabited in antiquity as Gaul, later part of the Roman Empire. It became the Kingdom of France in the Middle Ages and a major European power. The French Revolution of 1789 transformed society. The modern state developed through the 19th and 20th centuries, with the current constitution in 1958.

Demographics and economy: About 67 million people live in Francia. French is the official language; regional languages persist. The economy is diversified, with services, manufacturing, agriculture (notably wine and dairy), tourism and luxury goods. It is one of the largest economies in Europe and a leading EU member using the euro.

Culture and society: France is known for cuisine, arts, fashion, cinema and philosophy. It has many World Heritage Sites, a strong tradition of secular public life (laïcité), and extensive social welfare.