THE GEOGRAPHY OF FRANCE

France is part of Western Europe. On its north lies Belgium on the northeast lies Luxembourg, while Germany and Switzerland embrace it on its east. Italy is at its southeast, and Spain on its south west. France is connected to England by the English Channel, which is found on the north.

The Atlantic Ocean is on the western side of France, and the Mediterranean Sea on the South.

THE TERRITORIES OF FRANCE

France is composed of 22 regions, though these are grouped into 7 main cultural regions.

• There is the Ile de France, of which Paris is the capital
• the Northern region, which bore the brunt of the damage during the world wars
• the cultural centre of the North east. This includes Alsace, Lorraine, Champagne-Ardenne and Franche-Comte
• the oceanic Great West, which has a strong Celtic influence. This includes Basse-Normandie Brittany (French: Bretagne), and Pays de la Loire.
• the agricultural lands of Central France, and the beaches and vineyards of the Southwest
• the tourist region of the Southeast (Languedoc-Roussillon, Rhône-Alpes, Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, the Loire Valley, and the Mediterranean island of Corsica

France also has foreign territories, like those in the French Republic (like Martinique, French Polynesia, Wallis et Futuna, New Caledonia, and French Guiana, and Guadeloupe); the French Antarctic; and Clipperton Island.

THE BEST KNOWN CITIES OF FRANCE

There is much to see and do in France, but a traveler pressed for time and with limited purses will often have to make the difficult choice of narrowing down an itinerary. Here are some of the most interesting cities of France that are frequently visited because of the wide number of tourist attractions:

• Paris. This is one of the most romantic cities in the world, and (as the capital of the country) is home to its biggest museums and historical monuments. The restaurants and hotels here are world-class, and the galleries display the latest work of up and coming artists.
• Bordeaux. It is the capital of the South west region and is famous for its wines.
• Cannes. Home to the famous film festival.
• Lyon. It has one of the richest histories, having played a large role during the Roman occupation and the Resistance.
• Marseille. This is the heart of the famous Provence region, one of the most picturesque (and oft painted) regions in the country.
• Nice. This is found on the French Riviera and is famous for its resorts.

CLIMATE OF FRANCE

France enjoys a temperate climate. The winters are cool but not freezing, and summers are often quite mild. However, temperatures tend to be higher in the Mediterranean), while the cold can get hasher as you approach the Alps.

France has a very well developed transportation system, and it’s very easy to enter the country and to explore its regions while you’re there.

Traveling by Air

If you are flying in from a country outside of Europe, you will most likely land in the Roissy- Charles de Gaulle (CDG) Airport, which is found in its capital, Paris. You can take Air France, the national airline, or take the many intercontinental flights offered by major airlines.

From this airport you can take a connecting flight to any other part of France. As a general rule, any transfers of flights should have an allowance of one hour, just in case there are any delays of problems. You should have an even bigger allowance if you need to change terminals or foresee issues with security. You can take the complimentary bus shuttle to travel from one terminal to another. The shuttle is also available for those who need t a ride to the hotels, train strations, and bus terminals. Air France also has a free transfer service to Orly. You can take the RER train and the national rail company to travel out of the airport.

You may also use the other airports in Bordeaux, Clement-Ferrand, Lile, Marseille, Nice, Toulose, Nantes, Lyon. This may save you the inconvenience of having to transfer. The Bale-Mulhouse and Geneva airports are shared with Switzerland.

If you are on a budget, you can take Ryanair and Volare, which offer very affordable rates. Howeve, you will enter France through the Beauvais airport, located 80 km northwest of Paris. (You can then arrange to take a bus to the city).

Traveling by Train

You can ride the SNCF (France’s rail company), or take the high-speed railwy of the Eurostar. The latter offers convenient travel between Paris and London, using the Calais-Dover channel tunnel. The Thalys service, on the other hand, links connect Paris to Brussels.

Traveling By Road

The Eurolines enables travelers to reach over 500 places reaching across the country. You can also hire a car, and then take advantage of France’s excellent system of highways. Just keep your ticket (you’ll be charged a fine if you lose it).

One of the best ways to see France is to rent a car. Not only will this allow you to enjoy the scenic countryside, but you can go to more towns and other tourist attractions that lie out of the big cities.

Traveling by car is actually quite convenient in France. The country has an excellent higway system, with nearly all of the freeways linked for cross-country driving. You will pass several toll stations, divided into entrances and exits. Be sure to keep your entrance tickets since you will have to pay the maximum amount. You can use your credit cards at the automatic booths as long as they are equipped with the smart chip.

The Priority System

As a general rule, if you are on a public road, you have to yield to any vehicle that is entering from your right. This system is called “Priorite a droite” and is strictly enforced in unmarked crossroads or small villages. However, main roads, however, tend to have priority over crossroads. This is indicated by yellow lozenge signs. If this yellow lozenge signs has a bar, you do not have priority.

And remember—France drives on the right.

Manual or automatic

You may have a hard time driving in France if you are used to using an automatic transmission. Most cars are equipped with manual stick shifts. If you aren’t comfortable using that type of car, then immediately inform your car rental company about what you prefer.

The types of roads

There are many types of roads. Some are highways, but in the countryside, they are usually single lanes. You may also find that the out of the way towns and cities have roads that aren’t exactly car-friendly. You may end up just parking and walking the distance, or taking the bus.

Fuel

When renting a car, ask if it will need diesel or gasoline. In France, diesel is sometimes sold under the name gasoil or gazole. Gasoline, on the other hand, may be called Super 95 or Super 98. The Super 95 cars can take both kinds of fuel.

If you have a choice, get a car that uses diesel, since it’s less expensive. If you have to use a gasoline-based car, you may save mone by buying it in supermarkets rather than on the fuel stations on the freeways. (all cars accepting 95 accept 98; almost all cars only require 95).