Not only is France the country with the largest land area within the Europe, but it still remains the No.1 holiday destination in the world, attracting nearly 80 million tourists on an annual basis. Referred to as "L'Hexagone" (The Hexagon) by French people, due to its geometric shape, France shares land borders with Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Italy, Monaco, Andorra, and Spain.

In the past France was one of the largest colonial empires and remnants of this vast empire can still be seen in French territories located in other continents. Now a developed country, France represents the world's fourth largest economic power in terms of GDP.

Serving as the central hub to Western Europe and with a direct rail link to the United Kingdom, it is not surprising this country attracts so many visitors each year. From the sun baked beaches of Biarritz to the snow covered mountains in the French Alps, this country truly has something to offer everyone.

France has a land area covering over 550,000 square km making it the largest country in the European Union, closely followed by Spain. France is also home to the highest mountain peak in Western Europe, that of Mont Blanc which stands at 4,807 meters. Thanks to the Alps which run through the south eastern part of the country as well as the Pyrenees in the south, France has an established and very popular winter ski industry.

To the south, the land meets the Mediterranean sea and the landscape can appear almost tropical at times. To the west, the Atlantic creates some excellent conditions for surfing enthusiasts whilst the centre of France is possibly one of the quieter spots but equally as picturesque. The north of France is typified by its flatlands and in many ways will remind visitors of Belgium or the Netherlands.

All in all, France possibly offers the greatest geographic diversity you can find in any country within Europe.

Compared to the United Kingdom, France has a very continental climate. You can virtually be guaranteed of hot sunny weather when traveling anywhere in southern France during the summer months. The north has a more temperate climate and the west an oceanic climate, with sea winds and more rainfall keeping the temperatures in summer a little lower than elsewhere. The mountainous regions in the south east offer a cooler climate in summer and sub-zero temperatures in winter.

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