Pass The Passport

Places / Europe

France

Visited

At a glance

Region
Western Europe
Capital
Paris
Population
68.7 million (2025)
Area
551,695 km²
Languages
French
Currency
Euro (EUR)
Drives on the
right
Calling code
+33
Visited: France

Country visited City visited Still to go Click a pin or country to read more. Zoom with + and −, a double-click or a pinch.

Before you go

Overview

The French Republic is a country whose region comprises of metropolitan France in Western Europe and with several overseas territories. The metropolitan France region stretches from the Mediterranean Sea connecting to the English Channel and the North Sea, the from the Rhine connecting to the North Sea.

France recorded a population of 66.99 million in 2019 and covers an area of 643,801 km2.

The country’s capital, a cultural hub and largest city is Paris. Paris is the second most visited city in the world after Bangkok. It is known as the city of love because many lovers all over the world visit there to spend their romantic time.

Other major cities are Lyon, Marseille, Toulouse, Bordeaux, Lille and Nice. Marseille is the largest port city in France on the Mediterranean Sea.

Paris skyline at dusk.

History

The former monarchial government was ended by the French revolt which led to the establishment of its first republic in 1789. This was followed by a series of military rule in the French empire. The Fourth Republic was formed in 1946 where the country’s economy was reformed. This was followed by granting most of the French colonies their independence.

Food & culture

The country’s culture was influenced by the cultures of Celtic, Gallo-Roman and the Franks.

The main crops grown here are cereals, sugar beets, flax and potatoes. The popular dishes are French Onion Soup, Coq au VIN, Cassoulet and Crepes.

Wildlife

Common wildlife animals include lynx, chamois, wolves, wild boar, marmots, foxes and badgers.

Festivals & events

The major festivals are Nice Carnival, Les Choregies, Festival of Avignon, Tour De France and Mardi gras.

Things to see

Eiffel Tower is the most visited site in Paris named after its designer Gustave Eiffel.

The Louvre Museum in Paris is the largest art museum in the world and a historical memorial for the country.

There is the Cathedral of Notre Dame, which is a primitive historic Catholic Cathedral.

Other major visited sites are the Latin Quarter, Palace of Versailles, Centre Pompidou, Montmartre and the Georges Pompidou Centre.

Interesting facts

France and its overseas territories have the highest number of time zones in the world totalling to 12.

The country’s companies such as Peugeot, Renault, Citroen, Dior, Chanel and Givenchy are recognized all over the world.

The main religion is Catholicism.

The country is the second-largest producer of sugar beets after Russia and cheese and wine in the world.

City guides

Cities & towns I’ve visited

Famous hikes in France

Tour du Mont Blanc

Distance
About 170 km
Time
10 to 11 days
Best time
Late June to mid-September

How to do it: A loop around Mont Blanc through France, Italy and Switzerland, staying in mountain huts. Book the huts early, as they fill up for July and August. You can also do shorter sections.

Run a marathon in France

Paris Marathon

Paris · usually April

Starts on the Champs-Élysées and passes the Louvre, Notre-Dame and the Eiffel Tower. For something different, the Marathon du Médoc in September has fancy dress and wine stops in the Bordeaux vineyards.

I've run the Marathon du Médoc twice

Dates move from year to year, so check the race website before you book.

Races I've run in France

  • Sep 2016 Marathon Du Medoc · Médoc, France 6:11:56
  • Sep 2017 Disney 10k · Paris, France 1:50:00
  • Sep 2017 Disney Half Marathon · Paris, France 3:06:00
  • Sep 2026 Marathon Du Medoc · Médoc, France 6:09:18

All my races

UNESCO World Heritage Sites in France

5 of 56 visited. See every site I've been to.

My photos from France

From 4 trips, newest first, so you can see which places each set of photos came from.

September 2026 Marathon du Medoc

Pauillac, Bordeaux, Arcachon, La Teste-de-Buch, Médoc, Saint-Julien-Beychevelle

Whole trip gallery
  • Fancy-dress runners posing with giant bottles of wine on a barrel at a château stop on the Marathon du Médoc.
  • Two runners posing in front of a giant inflatable wine bottle.
  • Tall column topped by a statue rising above a fountain of bronze horses under a blue sky.
  • An ornate monument and fountain in central Bordeaux.
  • A wide sandy beach in Arcachon with seafront buildings and trees under a blue sky.
  • A huge sand dune sloping down to a beach and the sea under a clear blue sky.
  • Bare twisted tree branches in front of a steep golden sand dune and blue sky.
  • View through pine trees to a sandy beach and a bay dotted with boats.
  • An enormous inflatable wine bottle with a Marathon du Médoc label against a blue sky.
  • Orange, green and blue balloons floating above green rows of vines under a blue sky.

June 2025 France: Blagnac and Prades

Blagnac, Prades, Toulouse

Whole trip gallery
  • Lush green mountain slopes and trees under a blue sky with small clouds.
  • France
  • Large red letters spelling Toulouse on a wooden deck with trees and buildings behind.
  • Large Airbus cargo aircraft and smaller planes displayed inside a huge hangar.
  • Nose of an oversized cargo plane in a hangar with a silver fighter jet beneath it.
  • Airliners on display inside the Aeroscopia aviation museum in Toulouse.

February 2017 France Skiing

Morzine

Whole trip gallery
  • A snow-covered road winding through a white Alpine valley under a deep blue sky, near Morzine.
  • A man in green ski trousers standing on skis with poles on a sunny snowy slope.

September 2016 France Medoc Marathon

Bordeaux, Marathon Du Medoc

Whole trip gallery
  • Place de la Bourse reflected in the shallow Miroir d'Eau in Bordeaux
  • A smiling man in a running top holding a large bottle of red wine.

Plan your trip to France

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Neighbours

Also part of France

Bucket List goals in France

None on the list yet. Got a suggestion? Email Dan.