France

France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. It also includes overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans, giving it one of the largest discontiguous exclusive economic zones in the world. Metropolitan France shares borders with Belgium and Luxembourg to the north, Germany to the north east, Switzerland to the east, Italy and Monaco to the south east, Andorra and Spain to the south, and a maritime border with the United Kingdom to the north west. Its metropolitan area extends from the Rhine to the Atlantic Ocean and from the Mediterranean Sea to the English Channel and the North Sea. Its overseas territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the North Atlantic, the French West Indies, and many islands in Oceania and the Indian Ocean. Its eighteen integral regions span a combined area of 643,801 km2 (248,573 sq mi) and have a total population of 68.4 million as of January 2024. France is a unitary semi-presidential republic with its capital in Paris, the country's largest city and main cultural and commercial centre; other major urban areas include Marseille, Lyon, Toulouse, Lille, Bordeaux, Strasbourg, Nantes, and Nice.
france

Some of the key events about France

  • 1337
    The Hundred Years' War began, devastating France for over a century
  • 1789
    The French Revolution began, marking a pivotal moment in European history and the birth of modern France
  • 1789
    The French Revolution erupted, leading to years of violence and political upheaval
  • 1804
    The Napoleonic Code was established, providing a unified legal system that influenced many other countries
  • 1804
    The Napoleonic Wars commenced, resulting in millions of deaths across Europe
  • 1848
    Universal male suffrage was introduced in France, expanding democratic participation
  • 1870
    The Franco-Prussian War ended in French defeat and loss of Alsace-Lorraine
  • 1885
    The Eiffel Tower was completed, becoming an iconic symbol of France and engineering achievement
  • 1895
    The first public film screening took place in Paris, marking the birth of cinema
  • 1900
    Paris hosted the Summer Olympics, the first time the games were held outside of Greece
  • 1914
    World War I began, causing massive destruction and loss of life in France
  • 1940
    Nazi Germany invaded and occupied France during World War II
  • 1944
    Paris was liberated from Nazi occupation during World War II
  • 1954
    France suffered a major military defeat at Dien Bien Phu, ending its colonial rule in Indochina
  • 1958
    The Fifth Republic was established, creating a new constitution and governmental system
  • 1961
    The Algerian War escalated, leading to increased violence and eventual French withdrawal
  • 1981
    The TGV high-speed rail network began operations, revolutionizing transportation in France
  • 1995
    A series of terrorist attacks struck Paris, killing eight and injuring over 200
  • 1998
    France won its first FIFA World Cup, hosting and winning the tournament on home soil
  • 2015
    Coordinated terrorist attacks in Paris killed 130 people and injured hundreds more

Disclaimer: This material is written based on information taken from open sources, including Wikipedia, news media, podcasts, and other public sources.

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