France

                                                     

France officially the French Republic is the unitary sovereign state comprising territory in western Europe and several overseas regions and territories. Metropolitan France extends from the Mediterranean Sea to the English Channel and the North Sea, and from the Rhine to the Atlantic Ocean; due to its shape, it is often referred to in French as l’Hexagone ("TheHexagon"). France is one of only three countries with Morocco and Spain to have both Atlantic and Mediterranean coastlines.
France is the semi-presidential republic with its capital in Paris, the nation's largest city and the main cultural and commercial center. The Constitution of France establishes the country as secular and democratic with its sovereignty derived from the people.

France has been a major power in Europe since the Late Middle Ages, reaching the height of global prominence during the 19th and early 20th centuries, when it possessed the second-largest colonial empire in the world.

 France remains the great power with significant cultural, economic, military, and political influence in Europe and around the world. France has the world's fifth-largest military budget, third-largest stockpile of nuclear weapons and second-largest diplomatic corps.

Geography:

Metropolitan France is situated mostly between the latitudes 41°and 51° N, and longitudes of 6° W and 10° E on the western edge of  the Europe and thus lies within the northern temperate zone.

Climate:

The north and northwest have a temperate climate while the combination of maritime influences latitude and altitude produce the varied climate in the rest of Metropolitan France.

Other Cities:

1. Paris:

Paris is the capital and most populous city of the France. It is situated on the Seine River in the north of the country; it is at the heart of the Île-de-France region, also known as the région parisienne (Paris Region in English). Its metropolitan area is one of the largest population centres in Europe.

2. Toulouse

Toulouse is the capital city of the southwestern French department of Haute-Garonne, as well as of the Midi-Pyrénées region. It lies on the banks of the River Garonne, 150 kilometers from the Mediterranean Sea, 230 km from the Atlantic Ocean, and 580 km from Paris. the Toulouse metropolitan area is the fourth-largest in France, after Paris (12.3 million), Lyon (2.2 million), and Marseille (1.7 million).
Toulouse is the centre of the European aerospace industry with the headquarters of Airbus, the Galileo positioning system, the SPOT satellite system, the Airbus Group (former the EADS), ATR and Aerospace Valley, considered as the global cluster.

Places to stay

1. Le Cloître

Unbeatable value, The Cloister – 12th-century neighbor to the Cloître Ste-Trophime – is the perfect fusion of historic charm and contemporary design. Its 19 rooms across two floors tout high ceilings, bold colors and a funky mix or patterns and textures. Breakfast (€13), served in the wonderfully airy and 1950s-styled breakfast room, is a particularly stylish affair. No elevator. Free bike rental.

2. Hotel Le Six

From the funky red-leather reception bar to rotating art exhibitions, glass-topped courtyard salon and ultra cool spa, this four-star hotel defines contemporary design. Beds are queen or king size and kids are warmly welcomed. But the biggest asset is the outstanding service on every level.