Throughout the centuries, France has always been one of the important figures in European history.

The official name of the country is the French Republic. Its vast territory stretches across 220,668 square miles and has earned the title of being the largest country in Western Europe. To give you an idea of its size it is the equivalent of , 80 percent the size of Texas.

The capital of France is Paris. Other major cities are the port city of Marseille, Strasbourg, Nice, Rennes Lyon, Toulouse, Lille and Bordeaux in the famous wine region of the same name. If you have ever been a fan of the Tour de France, you know the lands of France shifts from beautiful coast line along the southern and western borders of the country to majestic mountain peaks to flat plains to This gives the country various climatic conditions ranging from very cool in the mountain areas to downright hot in the southern beach locations such as Nice.

Citizens of the French Republic are called”the French”. There are over 62.4 million citizens . The country is enjoying prosperity with a strong annual growth rate of over 2 percent. Ethnicity is broken down as Celtic and Latin for strong influences of Teutonic, North African, Sub-Saharan African, Indochinese, Basque minorities and Slavic. This is due to the open immigration policy and the migration of peoples from former colonies of France during its more imperial periods.

Despite the large number of influences nevertheless France has not lost its culture. Religion is predominantly Christian with over 90 percent of all French claim the Roman Catholic faith as their religion of choice. Strong Muslim population sectors, however, exist and are growing rapidly through immigration. The official language of the country is French and it is also the dominant language used in daily life. The literacy rate for France is over 99 percent, which makes sense given the free, compulsory education system.

As this overview of France demonstrates, it has played a major role in European history. This makes it a great travel destination since much of the country has historical value, which you can experience by just walking down the street.

France holidays are a true treat to the family. There is something for everyone. Whether you love skiing on beautiful snow capped mountains If you enjoy the adventures of visiting a new and different places and just lazing around or, France is your perfect destination.

There is already so much to see in Paris alone. It is one of the most romantic cities in the world. Many of the unique sites you can see as you walk around Paris include the Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triomphe, the Sacre Coeur, Notre Dame, the Louvre,

You may find so much to do in this magnificent city that you will spend your entire holiday just exploring the town. A trip around the metro area will give you a sense of how great the shopping is and you will discover many unique shops in all of France. But before you shop do visit the museums will give you a glimpse into the culture of France and how it became the beautiful city it is today.

You can also ask your travel agent to prepare a trip to Rhone-Alpes. The French Alps are a skier’s paradise, so a France holiday to Rhone-Alpes will give you more excitement than you could wish for. You can enjoying skiing and visiingt the snow capped mountains of Savoie and Haute Savoie along the Italian border. Here you’ll find six natural parks, 28 nature reserves and take in the lakeside scenery that is offered all around Rhone-Alpes. All wine lovers are sure to enjoy a trip along the Beaujolais route not only to partake of some of the best French wines grown in the area, but also to enjoy the magnificent beauty of the vineyards.

These are a just a couple of exciting France holidays where you can drift away in the romance and ambience of what France has to offer to her visitors and guests. Take your time and find the perfect area of France to enjoy.