France can rightly be considered one of the most touristic countries in the world. There are many cultural and historical monuments that have been perfectly preserved to this day. Sometimes entire villages turn out to be real open-air museums. However, France, in addition to having a huge historical wealth on its territory, also has a comfortable nature for vacationers. First-class resorts on the slopes of the Alps attract thousands of tourists every year. On the coast of the Atlantic Ocean there are hundreds of beaches and the world-famous Côte d’Azur. All this makes visiting France an interesting event in the lives of many people.

Geography of France

According to Smber, France is located in Western Europe. The East of France borders with such European states: Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Luxembourg and Monaco, and in the West with Andorra and Spain. The north and part of the west are washed by the Atlantic Ocean, and the south of the country has access to the Mediterranean Sea, where the island of Corsica is located, which also belongs to the territory of France. Also part of the country are several dozen dependent territories and overseas departments.

Capital

Paris

Area

The area of France is 674.843 km. sq., occupies the 41st place in the world by area.

Population

65,821,885 people.

Currency

The national currency is the euro (EUR).

Language

The official language is French.

Visa to France

Since France is a member of the Schengen Agreement, representatives of Russia and the CIS countries who are going to visit the country must have a visa. Those who want to visit France for tourism purposes must obtain a category C visa. It will also be necessary to confirm the availability of funds at the rate of 50 euros per person per day. Supporting documents can be statements from a bank card, a certificate of employment, an extract from a personal account of a credit card. You can apply for a visa not only at the embassy, but also at the Consulates General located in some cities of the Russian Federation. At the moment, the consular fee is 35 euros, but if the documents were submitted three days before the trip, then this amount is doubled. A tourist visa has a validity period of two to six months, stay in the country should not exceed 30 days. Most often, a visa is issued in 3-5 days, but during the travel season, the processing time can increase up to 10 days. When submitting documents to the Consulate General, the period for obtaining a visa can be 5-10 business days.

Weather in France

Throughout France, there is a temperate maritime climate, only approaching closer to the east it becomes more continental, and on the Mediterranean coast it becomes subtropical. The center of France is characterized by hot summers (+20 +25 C) and rather mild and humid winters (0 +3 C). It rarely snows here. The amount of annual precipitation is 600-1000 mm, and on the mountain slopes it can be more than 2000 mm per year. The northern part of the country has a maritime climate with high rainfall. The summer temperature is the same as in the central part of the country, and the winter is warmer than +10 +16C. Since the climate of the south of France is influenced by the Mediterranean Sea, the average annual temperature is higher here, and the amount of precipitation is less. You also need to know that the actual temperature is quite subjective, since in winter at a temperature of + 3C it will be cold due to high humidity, and in summer high humidity will lead to a feeling of stuffiness at a relatively low temperature. A comfortable time to visit the central parts of France and Paris is September-October, as well as May. The resorts of the Alps can be visited at almost any time of the year. In winter, you can ski here, and in summer, amazingly beautiful landscapes open up to magnificent nature.

Electricity

220V/50Hz (European sockets).

Religion

Since France is a secular state, the church is separated from the state. About 80% of the country’s citizens consider themselves Catholics, but only 14% of them attend church. Due to the fact that for many years the Catholic Church had a great influence on the state, it still has quite a lot of power over the people. However, every year the number of churches and temples decreases, they turn into numerous cultural and educational institutions.

Security

In general, France is characterized by the fact that the crime rate here is low, but the number of thefts committed is quite high. Particular attention should be paid to crowded places (train stations, airports, museums), since most often it is here that most pickpockets operate. In Paris, most pickpocketing occurs on the metro and suburban trains. If you decide to go for a walk around the city, then it is better not to take bags that are put on over the shoulder with you, as the number of thieves who snatch personal belongings on motorcycles is very high. It is safe to visit the old and rich areas at almost any time of the day. But, like any big city, there are places in Paris that are not recommended for foreign tourists. You can find out what these areas are from guides or at tourist offices.

Health

Residents of Russia who are going to visit France are advised to have an international honey. insurance. Medicine in the country is developed quite strongly, this also applies to the qualification level of doctors and their technical equipment. Citizens of the Russian Federation when visiting France are strongly recommended to have international health insurance. First honey. help can be provided to people of any country completely free of charge, but subsequent treatment will have to be paid. For tourists, the provision of medical services is quite expensive. Only a consultation with a doctor can cost 20 euros. The doctor accepts only by appointment.