Country guide

France

Capital, flag, borders and quick geography facts for France.

Outline map shape of France
Country shape used in the Geographly daily challenge for France.
Flag of France

Key facts

Capital
Paris
Region
Europe
Area
543,908 km²
Population
66,351,959

Neighboring countries

France has 8 land neighbors in the country data.

Learn France

Paris is the capital of France. France is the largest member state of the European Union by land area.

France covers 543,908 square kilometers and borders eight countries, with Spain as its largest neighbor. Mont Blanc, on the French-Italian border, is the highest mountain in the Alps and in Western Europe.

The Eiffel Tower went up as a temporary structure for the 1889 World's Fair. Officials had scheduled it for demolition after 20 years, but engineers saved it by turning it into a radio antenna.

Trivia

  • Mont Blanc, on the French-Italian border, is the highest mountain in the Alps and in Western Europe.
  • France is the largest member state of the European Union by land area.
  • The Millau Viaduct in southern France held the record for the world's tallest bridge for over two decades after opening in 2004.
  • The Eiffel Tower was built as a temporary structure for the 1889 World's Fair and was scheduled for demolition after 20 years before being saved for use as a radio antenna.

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