France, officially the French Republic, is a country located in Western Europe, with several overseas islands and territories located on other continents.Metropolitan France extends from the Mediterranean Sea to the English Channel and the North Sea, and from the Rhine to the Atlantic Ocean. It is often referred to as L’Hexagone ("The Hexagon") because of the geometric shape of its territory. France is a unitary semi-presidential republic with its main ideals expressed in the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen.

Metropolitan France is bordered (clockwise from the north) by Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Monaco, Andorra, and Spain. France's overseas departments and collectivities also share land borders with Brazil and Suriname (bordering French Guiana), and the Netherlands Antilles (bordering Saint-Martin). France is linked to the United Kingdom by the Channel Tunnel, which passes underneath the English Channel.

France is the largest country in the European Union by area and the second largest in Europe behind Ukraine (first if one includes its extra-European territories like Guadeloupe). France has been a major power for many centuries with strong economic, cultural, military and political influence. During the 17th and 18th centuries, France colonized much of North America; during the 19th and early 20th centuries, France built the second largest empire of the time, including large portions of North, West and Central Africa, Southeast Asia, and many Pacific islands. France is a developed country and possesses the fifth largest economy by nominal GDP and eighth largest economy by purchasing power parity. It is the most visited country in the world, receiving 82 million foreign tourists annually.France is one of the founding members of the European Union, and has the largest land area of all members. It is also a founding member of the United Nations, and a member of the Francophonie, the G8, NATO, OECD, WTO and the Latin Union. It is one of the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, possesses the third largest number of nuclear weapons in the world and the largest number of nuclear power plants in the European Union.

Origin of the name France

The name "France" comes from Latin Francia, which literally means "land of the Franks" or "Frankland". There are various theories as to the origin of the name of the Franks. One is that it is derived from the Proto-Germanic word frankon which translates as javelin or lance as the throwing axe of the Franks was known as a francisca.

Another proposed etymology is that in an ancient Germanic language, Frank means free as opposed to slave. This word still exists in French as franc, it is also used as the translation of "Frank" and to name the local money, until the use of the euro in the 2000s.

However, rather than the ethnic name of the Franks coming from the word frank, it is also possible that the word is derived from the ethnic name of the Franks,the connection being that only the Franks, as the conquering class, had the status of freemen. In German, France is still called Frankreich, which literally means "Realm of the Franks". In order to distinguish from the Frankish Empire of Charlemagne, Modern France is called Frankreich, while the Frankish Realm is called Frankenreich.

The word "Frank" had been loosely used from the fall of Rome to the Middle Ages, yet from Hugh Capet's coronation as "King of the Franks" ("Rex Francorum") it became usual to strictly refer to the Kingdom of Francia, which would become France. The Capetian Kings were descended from the Robertines, who had produced two Frankish kings, and previously held the title of "Duke of the Franks" ("dux Francorum"). This Frankish duchy encompassed most of modern northern France but because the royal power was sapped by regional princes the term was then applied to the royal demesne as shorthand. It was finally the name adopted for the entire Kingdom as central power was affirmed over the entire kingdom.

France, as a medical tourism destination, is appealing to UK residents who are unable to afford expensive private healthcare in their own country and prefer not to endure lengthy NHS waiting lists. Ease of access from British soils combined with affordable prices are undoubtedly the greatest appeals for United Kingdom residents seeking medical treatment in France.

Medical tourism in France also holds appeal for those from destinations farther afield wishing to combine the traditional aspects of a holiday in this culturally-rich European country with essential medical treatment or body-shaping surgical procedures. With the cost of treatment between 30 and 50 percent cheaper than in North America, it’s easy to see why anyone looking for affordable medical treatment might choose France as their combined treatment and holiday destination.

Standards of treatment and care in France’s private medical clinics are exceptionally high, with visitors presented with a professional package of skilled specialists and dedicated nursing and administration staff, along with high grade equipment and pharmaceutical products. Those performing surgeries and procedures are invariably from the finest educational backgrounds and have extensive experience in the industry.

Besides excellent private medical care, France offers an abundance of attractions which medical tourists may be able to take advantage of after their treatment. Those undergoing procedures that prohibit more than moderate activity in the recovery period might prefer to sightsee beforehand.

The culture of France and of the French people has been shaped by geography, by profound historical events, and by foreign and internal forces and groups. France, and in particular Paris, has played an important role as a center of high culture and of decorative arts since the seventeenth century, first in Europe, and from the nineteenth century on, world wide. From the late nineteenth century, France has also played an important role in modern art, cinema, fashion and cuisine. The importance of French culture has waned and waxed over the centuries, depending on its economic, political and military importance. French culture today is marked both by great regional and socioeconomic differences and by strong unifying tendencies.

Languages of France

The French language is considered the most important cultural identity for the people of France. In fact, the culture of France is profoundly allied with the French language. The Académie française is the authority to look after the development of French language around the world, and it sets an official standard of language purity. French can be a deceptively familiar language because of the number of words and structures it shares with English, but in reality it's difficult for beginners to learn in comparison to English. French is the official language of 33 countries around the world, and is the 13th largest spoken language in the world. The French Government has taken several actions for the promotion of French culture and the French language.

Art in France

The Art in France form the second most important aspect of its rich culture. France has produced several world-renowned artists, painters, authors, and musicians and the artistic history of France dates back to thousands of years. The cave paintings of Altamira, Font de Gaume, Lascaux, Les Combarelles, Niaux Cave and Les Trois Frères show the artistic richness of France since time unknown. During medieval period, France emerged as an important center of art and architecture in the world. Among famous artists of France include Edgar Degas, Francis Picabia, Pierre-Auguste Renoir and Claude Monet. The world-renowned Victor Hugo who wrote Le Miserables and the Hunchback of Notre Dame were also from France. The renowned Spanish painter Pablo Picasso settled in France in 1904 and contributed significantly to the progress of art in France. France is home to thousands of museums including the world-famous Louvre Museum, Osray Museum and Picasso Museum with amazing collections of art and artifacts.

Cuisines and Wines of France

France is known worldwide for its rich varieties of cuisines and wines. French Cuisine is regarded as one of world's most elegant and refined cuisines, renowned for both its classical and provincial styles. The style of French cuisine has influenced almost all Western cuisines, and it forms basis for all other forms of Western cooking. France is known for its varieties of wines and cheeses, which form an integral part of French cuisine, both as ingredients and accompaniments. French cuisine and cooking style is part of culture of France, and people take a high pride in the cuisine of their country.

Music and Sports in France

France is also famous for its music, cinemas and sports, especially football. France has long been considered an important center for European art and music. Music in France is characterized by its amazing varieties of indigenous folk music as well as styles brought by immigrants from Africa, Latin America and Asia. France has produced several legendary composers in the field of classical music including famous pianist and composer Maurice Ravel, Claude Debussy and Hector Berlioz. Among popular contemporary composers in France include Olivier Messiaen and Pierre Boulez. Jazz, ballet and opera are other most popular forms of music and dances in France. Sports are also popular in France with soccer being the most loved sport in the country.

France attracted 81.9 million foreign tourists in 2007 (surpassing its population), a 3.8% increase compared to 2006, making it the most popular tourist destination in the world.This 81.9 million figure excludes people staying less than 24 hours in France, such as northern Europeans crossing France on their way to Morocco, Spain or Italy in summer.

France offers mountain ranges, coastlines such as in Brittany or along the Mediterranean Sea, cities with a rich cultural heritage, châteaux (castles) like Versailles, and vineyards. Tourism is accountable for 6% of the country's income (4% from French tourists travelling inside France and 2% from foreign tourists), and contributes significantly to the balance of payments.

Paris, the capital city, attracts tourists with museums such as the Louvre and Musée d'Orsay, and attractions like the Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, the cathedral of Notre-Dame, and Disneyland Paris.

In the eastern parts of France there are skiing resorts in the Alps. Notable French cities are Avignon with the Popes' palace, Arles, Aix-en-Provence, Marseille, Nice, Orléans, Saint-Benoît-du-Sault on the Loire River, Toulouse on the Garonne, Strasbourg on the border with Germany, Nantes and Lyon.

All over France rental accommodations and hotels are available. For example, the English like to spend their summers in the Dordogne valley, the Spanish vacation in Biarritz and St Jean de Luz on the Basque coast, and the Irish often visit Lourdes. Tourists also travel to see the annual cycle race, the Tour de France.

France's Mediterranean beaches on the French Riviera, in Languedoc-Roussillon, or in Corsica, are famous. Away from the mainland tourists are French Polynesia (especially Tahiti), the Caribbean islands Martinique, Guadeloupe and others.