France

France, one of the largest nations in Western Europe is quite famous for its rich tradition and cultural heritage. This nation has been dominating and supporting the traditional world of Western Europe especially in the field of art and literature right from antique to modern times.

 

Location

 

France is located at a very unique position in between the Mediterranean Sea, the English Channel and the North Sea. It shares the borders of Spain, Italy, Belgium and Luxembourg. Belgium and Luxembourg cover its north eastern side, Germany, Switzerland and Italy along the east, and Spain and Andorra towards the southwest. France is surrounded by the English Channel.

 

People

 

France is considered as a highly urbanized country with over 75% of the population living in cities. The French are known for their exclusive taste in culture and fashion. Throughout the 17^th, 18th and 19^th centuries France has emerged as one of the very attractive and vibrant destinations for the European artists. This can be made out from the popularity of French cinema which secured a prominent position for itself in the 20^th century.

 

Events

 

The calendar year in France is full of events throughout the year, which includes events like Tour de France, a part of national culture. This world famous cycle race is a three-week competition, which stages across the country. It is held in July and is one of the only two events in France that forces the closure of Champs-Elysees. Watching the completion of this race from a vantage point of Paris’s most charming venue is an unmatchable experience.

 

Weather

 

The climate in France is generally cool during the winters and gentle during summers. In Mediterranean, winters are mild and summers are hot, accompanied by strong, cold and dry north to north westerly wind known as ‘Mistral’.

General
Language	French
Time Zone	CET(UTC+1) summer CEST(UTC+2)
Dialing Code	+33
Electricity	230V, 50Hz
Major Cities	Paris, Cannes, Marseille, Nice, Strasbourg
Currency	Euro
Clothing	Summers are warm and sunny, where as winters have heavy snowfall.
Health Related
Mortality Rate	8.65 deaths/ 1000 population
Life Expectancy	81 yrs
Patient: Physician Ratio	300:1
Hospitals JCI accredited	0
Recommended Vaccinations	Influenza, Diphtheria-tetanus, Measles, Varicella
Other Infections	Toxoplasmosis, Leptospirosis, Cutaneous leishmaniasis, tick-borne encephalitis, Mediterranean spotted fever, Lyme disease, West Nile Virus, Malaria, Hepatitis E, HIV
Tourism Related*
Population[1]	65,447,374
Global Competitiveness[2]	5.13
Tourism Competitiveness[3]	5.3/7
GDP/Capita	42,747
Health and Hygiene	6.7/7
Safety and Security	5.3/7
Air Transport Infrastructure	6.6/7
Tourism Infrastructure	6.2/7
Cultural Infrastructure	6.0/7
Visa Requirements	40/133
Reliability of Police Services	19/133
Physician Density	23/133
Hospital Beds	15/133
Quality of Air Transport Infrastructure	5/133
International Air Transport Network	6/133
Quality of Roads	1/133
Hotel Rooms	27/133
Tourism Openness	91/133
Attitude of Population Towards Foreign Visitors	71/133