France

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Modèle:Sprotect2 Modèle:Infobox Country Modèle:Portal France (French: Modèle:IPA2) , officially the French Republic (Modèle:Lang-fr, Modèle:IPA2) , is a country whose metropolitan territory is located in Western Europe and that also comprises various overseas islands and territories located in other continents.<ref name="CatTOM">For more information, see Category:French overseas departments, territories and collectivities.</ref> Metropolitan France extends from the Mediterranean Sea to the English Channel and the North Sea, and from the Rhine to the Atlantic Ocean. French people often refer to Metropolitan France as L'Hexagone (The "Hexagon") because of the geometric shape of its territory.

France is bordered by Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Monaco, Andorra, and Spain. Due to its overseas departments, France also shares land borders with Brazil and Suriname (bordering French Guiana) , and the Netherlands Antilles (bordering Saint-Martin). France is also linked to the United Kingdom by the Channel Tunnel, which passes underneath the English Channel.

The French Republic is a democracy organised as a unitary semi-presidential republic. Its main ideals are expressed in the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen. In the 18th and 19th centuries, France built one of the largest colonial empires of the time, stretching across West Africa and Southeast Asia, prominently influencing the cultures and politics of the regions. France is a developed country with the sixth-largest economy in the world.<ref name="Lists">Rank by nominal GDP: 6 (2006) ; Rank by GDP per capita: 17 (2005) ; Rank by GDP at purchasing power parity per capita: 21 (2005).</ref> France is the most visited country in the world, receiving over 79 million foreign tourists annually (including business visitors, but excluding people staying less than 24 hours in France).<ref name="tourism.stat"> Government of France , Directorate of Tourism

.    79 millions d’arrivées de touristes internationaux en 2006

. Retrieved on 2007-07-31.

Modèle:Fr icon</ref> France is one of the founding members of the European Union, and has the largest land area of all members. France is also a founding member of the United Nations, and a member of the Francophonie, the G8, and the Latin Union. It is one of the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council; it is also an acknowledged nuclear power.

The name France originates from the Franks (Francs) , a Germanic tribe that occupied northern Europe after the fall of the Western Roman Empire. More precisely, the region around Paris, called Île-de-France, was the original French royal demesne. The first King of the Franks, Clovis, is regarded as the forefather of the French kings.

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Origin and history of the name

Main article: Name of France

Modèle:See also The name "France" comes from Latin Francia, which literally means "land of the Franks" or "Frankland". There are various theories as to the origin of the name of the Franks. One is that it is derived from the Proto-Germanic word frankon which translates as javelin or lance as the throwing axe of the Franks was known as a francisca.

Another proposed etymology is that in an ancient Germanic language, Frank means free as opposed to slave. This word still exists in French as franc, it is also used as the translation of "Frank" and to name the local money, until the use of the Euro in the 2000s.

However, rather than the ethnic name of the Franks coming from the word frank, it is also probable that the word is derived from the ethnic name of the Franks, the connection being that only the Franks, as the conquering class, had the status of freemen. The Merovingian kings claimed descent of their dynasty from the Sicambri, a Scythian or Cimmerian tribe, asserting that this tribe had changed their name to "Franks" in 11 BC, following their defeat and relocation by Drusus, under the leadership of a certain chieftain called Franko, although they had actually come from present day Netherlands, Lower Saxony, and possibly, ultimately Scandinavia. In German, France is still called Frankreich, which literally means "Realm of the Franks". In order to distinguish from the Frankish Empire of Charlemagne, Modern France is called Frankreich, while the Frankish Realm is called Frankenreich.

The word "Frank" had been loosely used from the fall of Rome to the Middle Ages, yet from Hugh Capet's coronation as "King of the Franks" ("Rex Francorum") it became used to strictly refer to the Kingdom of Francia, which would become France. The Capetian Kings were descended from the Robertines, who had produced two Frankish kings, and previously held the title of "Duke of the Franks" ("dux francorum"). This Frankish duchy encompassed most of modern northern France but because the royal power was sapped by regional princes the term was then applied to the royal demesne as shorthand. It was finally the name adopted for the entire Kingdom as central power was affirmed over the entire kingdom.<ref>Elizabeth M. Hallam & Judith Everard - Capetian France 937-1328, chapter 1 "The origins of Western Francia" page 7: "What did the name Francia mean in the tenth and eleventh centuries? It still retained a wide general use; both Byzantine and western writers at the time of the crusades described the western forces as Franks. But it was also taking on more specific meanings. From 911 onwards the west Frankish king was known as the Rex Francorum -king of the Franks- and the name Francia could be used to describe his kingdom, as it was also used by the east Frankish, or German, kingdom... The Robertines, forerunners of the Capetians, were duces francorum, dukes of the Franks, and their 'duchy' covered in theory most of northern France. Then as royal power contracted further, leaving the early Capetian only a small bloc of lands around Paris and Orleans, the term Francia was used for this region."</ref>

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Geography

Main article: Geography of France

While Metropolitan France is located in Western Europe, France also has a number of territories in North America, the Caribbean, South America, the southern Indian Ocean, the Pacific Ocean, and Antarctica.<ref>Sovereignty claims in Antarctica are governed by the Antarctic Treaty System</ref> These territories have varying forms of government ranging from overseas department to overseas collectivity.

Metropolitan France covers 547,030 square kilometres (211,209 sq mi)<ref name="area"> CIA

       (2007)
     
   
 
.    The World Factbook

. Retrieved on 2007-12-06. </ref> making it the largest country in area in the European Union, being only slightly larger than Spain. France possesses a wide variety of landscapes, from coastal plains in the north and west to mountain ranges of the Alps in the south-east, the Massif Central in the south-central and Pyrenees in the south-west. At 4,807 metres (15,770 ft) above sea-level, the highest point in Western Europe, Mont Blanc, is situated in the Alps on the border between France and Italy.<ref name="elevation"> CIA

       (2006)
     
   
 
.    The World Factbook: Field Listing - Elevation extremes

. Retrieved on 2006-12-14. </ref> Metropolitan France also has extensive river systems such as the Loire, the Garonne, the Seine and the Rhône, which divides the Massif Central from the Alps and flows into the Mediterranean sea at the Camargue, the lowest point in France (2 m / 6.5 ft below sea level).<ref name="elevation"/> Corsica lies off the Mediterranean coast.

Image:Satellite image of France in August 2002.jpg

Satellite picture of metropolitan France, August 2002

France's total land area, with its overseas departments and territories (excluding Adélie Land) , is 674,843 square kilometres (260,558 sq mi) , 0.45% of the total land area on Earth. However, France possesses the second-largest Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) in the world, covering 11,035,000 square kilometres (4,260,000 sq mi) , approximately 8% of the total surface of all the EEZs of the world, just behind the United States (11,351,000 km² / 4,383,000 sq mi) and ahead of Australia (8,232,000 km² / 3,178,000 sq mi).<ref name="Pew">According to a different calculation cited by the Pew Research Center, the EEZ of France would be 10,084,201 square kilometres (3,893,532 sq mi) , still behind the United States (12,174,629 km² / 4,700,651 sq mi) , and still ahead of Australia (8,980,568 km² / 3,467,416 sq mi) and Russia (7,566,673 km² / 2,921,508 sq mi).</ref>

Metropolitan France is situated between 41° and 50° North, on the western edge of Europe and thus lies within the northern temperate zone. The north and northwest have a temperate climate, however, a combination of maritime influences, latitude and altitude produce a varied climate in the rest of Metropolitan France.<ref name="climate"> Ministry of Foreign Affairs

       (2005)
     
   
 
.    Discovering France: Geography

. Retrieved on 2006-12-29. </ref> In the south-east a Mediterranean climate prevails. In the west, the climate is predominantly oceanic with a high level of rainfall, mild winters and cool summers. Inland the climate becomes more continental with hot, stormy summers, colder winters and less rain. The climate of the Alps and other mountainous regions are mainly alpine in nature with the number of days with temperatures below freezing over 150 per year and snowcover lasting for up to six months.

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History

Main article: History of France

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Rome to revolution

The borders of modern France are approximately the same as those of ancient Gaul, which was inhabited by Celtic Gauls. Gaul was conquered for Rome by Julius Caesar in the 1st century BC, and the Gauls eventually adopted Roman speech (Latin, from which the French language evolved) and Roman culture. Christianity took root in the 2nd and 3rd centuries AD, and became so firmly established by the fourth and fifth centuries that St. Jerome wrote that Gaul was the only region "free from heresy".

In the 4th century AD, Gaul's eastern frontier along the Rhine was overrun by Germanic tribes, principally the Franks, from whom the ancient name of "Francie" was derived. The modern name "France" derives from the name of the feudal domain of the Capetian Kings of France around Paris. The Franks were the first tribe among the Germanic conquerors of Europe after the fall of the Roman Empire to convert to Catholic Christianity rather than Arianism (their King Clovis did so in 498) ; thus France obtained the title "Eldest daughter of the Church" (La fille ainée de l'Église) , and the French would adopt this as justification for calling themselves "the Most Christian Kingdom of France".

Existence as a separate entity began with the Treaty of Verdun (843) , with the division of Charlemagne's Carolingian empire into East Francia, Middle Francia and Western Francia. Western Francia approximated the area occupied by modern France and was the precursor to modern France.

The Carolingians ruled France until 987, when Hugh Capet, Duke of France and Count of Paris, was crowned King of France. His descendants, the Direct Capetians, the House of Valois and the House of Bourbon, progressively unified the country through a series of wars and dynastic inheritance. The monarchy reached its height during the 17th century and the reign of Louis XIV. At this time France possessed the largest population in Europe (see Demographics of France) and had tremendous influence over European politics, economy, and culture. French became, and remained for some time, the common language of diplomacy in International affairs. Much of the Enlightenment occurred in French intellectual circles, and major scientific breakthroughs were achieved by French scientists in the 18th century. In addition, France obtained many overseas possessions in the Americas, Africa and Asia.

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Monarchy to republic

Image:Surrender of Lord Cornwallis.jpg

Lord Cornwallis' surrender following the Siege of Yorktown. French participation was decisive in this battle, 1781

The monarchy ruled France until the French Revolution, in 1789. King Louis XVI and his wife, Marie Antoinette, were executed, along with thousands of other French citizens. After a series of short-lived governmental schemes, Napoleon Bonaparte seized control of the Republic in 1799, making himself First Consul, and later Emperor of what is now known as the First French Empire (1804–1814). In the course of several wars, his armies conquered most of continental Europe, with members of the Bonaparte family being appointed as monarchs of newly established kingdoms.

Following Napoleon's final defeat in 1815 at the Battle of Waterloo, the French monarchy was re-established, but with new constitutional limitations. In 1830, a civil uprising established the constitutional July Monarchy, which lasted until 1848. The short-lived Second Republic ended in 1852 when Louis-Napoléon Bonaparte proclaimed the Second French Empire. Louis-Napoléon was unseated following defeat in the Franco-Prussian war of 1870 and his regime was replaced by the Third Republic.

France had colonial possessions, in various forms, since the beginning of the 17th century until the 1960s. In the 19th and 20th centuries, its global overseas colonial empire was the second largest in the world behind the British Empire. At its peak, between 1919 and 1939, the second French colonial empire extended over 12,347,000 square kilometres (4,767,000 sq mi) of land. Including metropolitan France, the total area of land under French sovereignty reached 12,898,000 square kilometres (4,980,000 sq mi) in the 1920s and 1930s, which is 8.6% of the world's land area.

Image:Eugène Delacroix - La liberté guidant le peuple.jpg

Eugène Delacroix - La Liberté guidant le peuple ("Liberty leading the People") , a symbol of the French Revolution of 1830

Though ultimately a victor in World War I, France suffered enormous human and material losses that weakened it for decades to come. The 1930s were marked by a variety of social reforms introduced by the Popular Front government. At the start of World War II, France held a series of unsuccessful rescue campaigns in Norway, Belgium and The Netherlands from 1939 to 1940. Upon the May-June 1940 Nazi German blitzkrieg and its Fascist Italian support, France's political leadership disregarded Churchill's proposal of a Franco-British Union and signed the Second Armistice at Compiègne surrender on June 22 1940. The Germans established a puppet regime under Marshal Philippe Pétain known as Vichy France, which pursued a policy of collaboration with Nazi Germany. The regime's opponents formed the Free French Forces outside of France and the French Resistance inside. France was liberated with the joint effort of the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, the Free French Forces and the French resistance in 1944. Soon the Nouvelle Armée Française ("new French army") was established with the massive help of US-built material and equipment, and pursued the fight along the Allies in various battles including the campaign of Italy.

The French Fourth Republic was established after World War II and struggled to maintain its economic and political status as a dominant nation state. France attempted to hold on to its colonial empire, but soon ran into trouble. The half-hearted 1946 attempt at regaining control of French Indochina resulted in the First Indochina War, which ended in French defeat at the Battle of Dien Bien Phu in 1954. Only months later, France faced a new, even harsher conflict in its oldest major colony, Algeria.

The debate over whether or not to keep control of Algeria, then home to over one million European settlers, wracked the country and nearly led to civil war. In 1958, the weak and unstable Fourth Republic gave way to the Fifth Republic, which contained a strengthened Presidency. In the latter role, Charles de Gaulle managed to keep the country together while taking steps to end the war. The Algerian War and Franco-French civil war that resulted in the capital Algiers, was concluded with peace negotiations in 1962 that led to Algerian independence.

In recent decades, France's reconciliation and cooperation with Germany have proved central to the political and economic integration of the evolving European Union, including the introduction of the euro in January 1999. France has been at the forefront of the European Union member states seeking to exploit the momentum of monetary union to create a more unified and capable European Union political, defence, and security apparatus. However, the French electorate voted against ratification of the European Constitutional Treaty in May 2005.

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Government

Main articles: Government of France, Constitution of France, and Politics of France

Image:Logo de la République française.svg

Logo of the French republic

The French Republic is a unitary semi-presidential republic with strong democratic traditions. The constitution of the Fifth Republic was approved by referendum on 28 September 1958. It greatly strengthened the authority of the executive in relation to parliament. The executive branch itself has two leaders: the President of the Republic, who is elected directly by universal adult suffrage for a 5-year term (formerly 7 years) and is the Head of State, and the Government, led by the president-appointed Prime Minister.

The French parliament is a bicameral legislature comprising a National Assembly (Assemblée Nationale) and a Senate. The National Assembly deputies represent local constituencies and are directly elected for 5-year terms. The Assembly has the power to dismiss the cabinet, and thus the majority in the Assembly determines the choice of government. Senators are chosen by an electoral college for 6-year terms (originally 9-year terms) , and one half of the seats are submitted to election every 3 years starting in September 2008.<ref name="Senat">French Senate |publisher= |year=2006 |url=http://www.senat.fr/role/index.html |title=Rôle et fonctionnement du Sénat |accessdate=2006-04-20</ref> The Senate's legislative powers are limited; in the event of disagreement between the two chambers, the National Assembly has the final say, except for constitutional laws and lois organiques (laws that are directly provided for by the constitution) in some cases. The government has a strong influence in shaping the agenda of Parliament.

French politics are characterised by two politically opposed groupings: one left-wing, centred around the French Socialist Party, and the other right-wing, centred previously around the Rassemblement pour la République (RPR) and now its successor the Union for a Popular Movement. The executive branch is currently composed mostly of the UPM.

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Conventions and notations

France is the home of the International System of Units (the metric system). The Imperial System is almost completely ignored in France. Some pre-metric units are still used, essentially the livre (a unit of weight equal to half a kilogram) and the quintal (a unit of weight equal to 100 kilograms).
In mathematics, France uses the infix notation like most countries. For large numbers the long scale is used. Thus, the French use the word billion for what English speakers call a trillion. However, there exists a French word, milliard, for what the English speakers call a billion. Thus, despite the use of the long scale, one billion is called un milliard ("one milliard") in French, and not mille millions ("one thousand million"). It should also be noted that names of numbers above the milliard are rarely used. Thus, one trillion will most often be called mille milliards ("one thousand milliard") in French, and rarely un billion.
In the French numeral notation, the comma (,) is the Decimal separator, whereas the dot (.) is used between each group of three digits especially for big numbers. A space can also be used to separate each group of three digits especially for small numbers. Thus three thousand five hundred and ten may be written as 3 510 whereas fifteen million five hundred thousand and thirty-two may be written as 15.500.032. In finances the symbol associated to the currency is put after the numbers and not before. For example €25,000.00 is written 25 000,00 € (always with an extra space between the figure and the currency symbol, and often a space between every block of 3 digits).
Cars are driven on right.
In computing, if a bit is still called a bit a byte is called an octet (from the Latin root octo, meaning "8"). SI prefixes are used.
24-hour clock time is used, with h being the separator between hours and minutes (for example 2pm30 is 14h30).
The all-numeric form for dates is in the order day-month-year, using a slash as the separator (example: 31/12/1992 or 31/12/92).

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Law

Main article: Law of France

Image:Declaration of Human Rights.jpg

The basic principles that the French Republic must respect are found in the 1789 Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen

France uses a civil legal system; that is, law arises primarily from written statutes; judges are not to make law, but merely to interpret it (though the amount of judge interpretation in certain areas makes it equivalent to case law). Basic principles of the rule of law were laid in the Napoleonic Code. In agreement with the principles of the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen law should only prohibit actions detrimental to society. As Guy Canivet, first president of the Court of Cassation, wrote about the management of prisons: [1]

Freedom is the rule, and its restriction is the exception; any restriction of Freedom must be provided for by Law and must follow the principles of necessity and proportionality.

That is, law may lay out prohibitions only if they are needed, and if the inconveniences caused by this restriction do not exceed the inconveniences that the prohibition is supposed to remedy.

French law is divided into two principal areas: private law and public law. Private law includes, in particular, civil law and criminal law. Public law includes, in particular, administrative law and constitutional law. However, in practical terms, French law comprises three principal areas of law: civil law; criminal law and administrative law.

France does not recognise religious law, nor does it recognise religious beliefs or morality as a motivation for the enactment of prohibitions. As a consequence, France has long had neither blasphemy laws nor sodomy laws (the latter being abolished in 1791). However "offences against public decency" (contraires aux bonnes mœurs) or breach of the peace (trouble à l'ordre public) have been used to repress public expressions of homosexuality or street prostitution.

Laws can only address the future and not the past (ex post facto laws are prohibited) ; and to be applicable, laws must be officially published in the Journal Officiel de la République Française.

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Foreign relations

Image:Armoiries république française.svg

Main article: Foreign relations of France

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France is a member of the United Nations and serves as one of the permanent members of the U.N. Security Council with veto rights. It is also a member of the WTO, the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) , the Indian Ocean Commission (COI). It is an associate member of the Association of Caribbean States (ACS) and a leading member of the International Francophone Organisation (OIF) of fifty-one fully or partly French-speaking countries. It hosts the headquarters of the OECD, UNESCO, Interpol, Alliance Base and the International Bureau for Weights and Measures. In 1953 France received a request from the United Nations to pick a coat of arms that would represent it internationally. Thus the French emblem was adopted and is currently used on passports.

French foreign policy has been largely shaped by membership of the European Union, of which it was a founding member. In the 1960s, France sought to exclude the British from the organization, seeking to build its own standing in continental Europe. Since the 1990s, France has developed close ties with reunified Germany to become the most influential driving force of the EU, but consequently rivaling the U.K. and limiting the influence of newly-inducted East European nations. France is a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, but under President de Gaulle, it excluded itself from the joint military command to avoid the supposed domination of its foreign and security policies by U.S. political and military influence. In the early 1990s, the country drew considerable criticism from other nations for its underground nuclear tests in Polynesia. France vigorously opposed the 2003 invasion of Iraq, straining bilateral relations with the U.S. and the U.K. France retains strong political and economic influence in its former African colonies and has supplied economic aid and troops for peace-keeping missions in the Ivory Coast and Chad.

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Military

Main article: Military of France

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Image:Gaule96.jpg

Nuclear aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle

The French armed forces are divided into four branches:

Armée de Terre (Army)
Marine Nationale (Navy)
Armée de l'Air (Air Force)
Gendarmerie Nationale (A military force which acts as a National Rural Police and as a Military police for the entire French military)

Since the Algerian War, conscription was steadily reduced and was finally suspended in 2001 by Jacques Chirac. The total number of military personnel is approximately 359,000. France spends 2.6% of its GDP on defence, slightly more than the United Kingdom (2.4%) , and is the highest in the European Union where defence spending is generally less than 1.5% of GDP. Together they account for 40% of EU defence spending. About 10% of France's defence budget goes towards its force de frappe, or nuclear weapons. A significant part of French military equipment is made in France. Examples include the Rafale fighter, the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier, the Exocet missile, and the Leclerc tank. Some weaponry, like the E-2 Hawkeye or the E-3 Sentry was bought from the United States. Despite withdrawing from the Eurofighter project, France is actively investing in European joint projects such as the Eurocopter Tiger, multipurpose frigates, the UCAV demonstrator nEUROn and the Airbus A400M. France is a major arms seller as most of its arsenal's designs are available for the export market with the notable exception of nuclear powered devices. Some of the French designed equipments are specifically designed for exports like the Franco-Spanish Scorpène class submarines. Some French equipments have been largely modified to fit allied countries' requirements like the Formidable class frigates (based on the La Fayette class) or the Hashmat class submarines (based on the Agosta class submarines).

Although it includes very competent anti-terrorist units such as the GIGN or the EPIGN the gendarmerie is a military police force which serves for the most part as a rural and general purpose police force. Since its creation the GIGN has taken part in roughly one thousand operations and freed over five-hundred hostages; the Air France Flight 8969's hijacking brought them to the world's attention.

French intelligence can be divided into two major units: the DGSE (the external agency) and the DST (domestic agency). The latter being part of the police while the former is associated to the army. The DGSE is notorious for the Sinking of the Rainbow Warrior, but it is also known for revealing the most extensive technological spy network uncovered in Europe and the United States to date through the mole Vladimir Vetrov.

The French "Force de frappe" relies on a complete independence. The current French nuclear force consists of four submarines equipped with M45 ballistic missiles. The current Triomphant class is currently under deployment to replace the former Redoutable class. The M51 will replace the M45 in the future and expand the Triomphants firing range. Aside of the submarines the French dissuasion force uses the Mirage 2000N; it is a variant of the Mirage 2000 and thus is designed to deliver nuclear strikes. Other nuclear devices like the Plateau d'Albion's Intercontinental ballistic missiles and the short range Hadès missiles have been disarmed. With 350 nuclear heads stockpiled France is the world's third largest nuclear power.<ref>Comparison of recognised and alleged nuclear powers.</ref>

The Marine Nationale is regarded as one of the world's most powerful. The professional compendium flottes de combats, in its 2006 edition, ranked it world's 6th biggest navy after the American, Russian, Chinese, British and Japanese navies.[2]. It is equipped with the world's only nuclear powered Aircraft Carrier, with the exception of the American navy. Recently Mistral class ships joined the Marine Nationale, the Mistral itself having taken part to operations in Lebanon. For the 2004 centennial of the Entente Cordiale President Chirac announced the Future French aircraft carrier would be jointly designed with Great Britain. The French navy is equipied with the La Fayette class frigates, early examples of stealth ships, and several ships are expected to be retired in the next few years and replaced by more modern ships, examples of future surface ships are the Forbin and the Aquitaine class frigates. The attack submarines are also part of the Force Océanique Stratégique although they do not carry the nuclear dissuasion, the current class is the Rubis Class and will be replaced in the future by the expected Suffren Class.

The Armée de Terre employs 133,500 people, it is very famous for the Légion Etrangère though the French special forces aren't the Legion but the Dragons Parachutistes and the Marines Parachutistes. The French assault rifle is the FAMAS and future infantry combat system is the Félin. France uses both tracked and wheeled vehicles to a significant points, examples of wheeled vehicles would be the Caesar or the AMX 10 RC. Although its main battle tank is the Leclerc many older AMX 30 tanks are still operational. It uses the AMX 30 AuF1 for artillery. Finally it is getting equipied with Eurocopter Tigers helicopters.

The Armée de l'Air is the oldest and first professional air force worldwide. It still today retains a significant capacity. It uses mainly two aircraft fighters: the older Mirage F1 and the more recent Mirage 2000. The later model exists in a ground attack version called the Mirage2000D. The highly modern Rafale is in deployment in both the French air force and navy.

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Transportation

Main article: Transport in France

Image:SNCF TGV-A 359 at Poitiers Futuroscope.JPG

A TGV Atlantique.

The railway network of France, which stretches 31,840 kilometres (19,784 mi) is the most extensive in Western Europe. It is operated by the SNCF, and high-speed trains include the Thalys, the Eurostar and TGV, which travels at 320 km/h (200 mph) in commercial use. The Eurostar, along with the Eurotunnel Shuttle, connects with the United Kingdom through the Channel Tunnel. Rail connections exist to all other neighbouring countries in Europe, except Andorra. Intra-urban connections are also well developed with both underground services and tramway services complementing bus services.

There is approximately 893,300 kilometres (555,070 mi) of serviceable roadway in France. The Paris region is enveloped with the most dense network of roads and highways that connect it with virtually all parts of the country. French roads also handle substantial international traffic, connecting with cities in neighboring Belgium, Spain, Andorra, Monaco, Switzerland, Germany and Italy. There is no annual registration fee or road tax; however, motorway usage is through tolls except in the vicinity of large communes. The new car market is dominated by national brands such as Renault (27% of cars sold in France in 2003) , Peugeot (20.1%) and Citroën (13.5%).<ref>L'automobile magazine, hors-série 2003/2004 page 294</ref> Over 70% of new cars sold in 2004 had diesel engines, far more than contained petrol or LPG engines.<ref>http://www.ademe.fr/particuliers/Fiches/voiture/rub3.htm</ref> France possesses the world's tallest road bridge: the Millau Viaduct, and has built many important bridges such as the Pont de Normandie.

There are approximately 478 airports in France, including landing fields. The Charles de Gaulle International Airport located in the vicinity of Paris is the largest and busiest airport in the country, handling the vast majority of popular and commercial traffic of the country and connecting Paris with virtually all major cities across the world. Air France is the national carrier airline, although numerous private airline companies provide domestic and international travel services. There are ten major ports in France, the largest of which is in Marseille, which also is the largest bordering the Mediterranean Sea. 14,932 kilometres (9,278 mi) of waterways traverse France.

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Administrative divisions

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Image:France departements regions narrow.jpg

The 22 regions and 96 departments of metropolitan France includes Corsica (Corse, lower right). Paris area is expanded (inset at left)

France is divided into 26 administrative regions. 22 are in metropolitan France (21 are on the continental part of metropolitan France; one is the territorial collectivity of Corsica) , and four are overseas regions. The regions are further subdivided into 100 departments which are numbered (mainly alphabetically). This number is used in postal codes and vehicle number plates amongst others. Four of these departments are found in the overseas regions and are simultaneously overseas regions and overseas departments and are an integral part of France (and the European Union) and thus enjoy a status similar to metropolitan departments. The 100 departments are subdivided into 341 arrondissements which are, in turn, subdivided into 4,032 cantons. These cantons are then divided into 36,680 communes, which are municipalities with an elected municipal council. There also exist 2,588 intercommunal entities grouping 33,414 of the 36,680 communes (i.e. 91.1% of all the communes). Three communes, Paris, Lyon and Marseille are also subdivided into 45 municipal arrondissements.

The regions, departments and communes are all known as territorial collectivities, meaning they possess local assemblies as well as an executive. Arrondissements and cantons are merely administrative divisions. However, this was not always the case. Until 1940, the arrondissements were also territorial collectivities with an elected assembly, but these were suspended by the Vichy regime and definitely abolished by the Fourth Republic in 1946. Historically, the cantons were also territorial collectivities with their elected assemblies.

In addition to the 26 regions and 100 departments, the French Republic also has six overseas collectivities, one sui generis collectivity (New Caledonia) , and one overseas territory. Overseas collectivities and territories form part of the French Republic, but do not form part of the European Union or its fiscal area. The Pacific territories continue to use the Pacific franc whose value is linked to that of the euro. In contrast, the four overseas regions used the French franc and now use the euro.

France also maintains control over a number of small non-permanently inhabited islands in the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean: Bassas da India, Clipperton Island, Europa Island, Glorioso Islands, Juan de Nova Island, Tromelin Island.

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Overseas Regions

Overseas departments have the same political status as metropolitan departments.

Guadeloupe (since 1946)
Martinique (since 1946)
French Guiana (since 1946)
Réunion (since 1946)

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Economy

Main article: Economy of France

Modèle:See also

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The first completed Airbus A380 at the "A380 Reveal" event in Toulouse on 18 January 2005. Airbus is a symbol of the globalisation of the French and European economy

France's economy combines extensive private enterprise (nearly 2.5 million companies registered) with substantial (though declining) government intervention (see dirigisme). The government retains considerable influence over key segments of infrastructure sectors, with majority ownership of railway, electricity, aircraft, and telecommunication firms. It has been gradually relaxing its control over these sectors since the early 1990s. The government is slowly selling off holdings in France Télécom, Air France, as well as the insurance, banking, and defence industries.

A member of the G8 group of leading industrialised countries, it is ranked as the sixth largest economy in the world in 2005, behind the United States, Japan, Germany, The People's Republic of China and the United Kingdom. France joined 11 other EU members to launch the Euro on January 1 1999, with euro coins and banknotes completely replacing the French franc (₣) in early 2002. According to the OECD, in 2004 France was the world's fifth-largest exporter and the fourth-largest importer of manufactured goods. In 2003, France was the 2nd-largest recipient of foreign direct investment among OECD countries at $47 billion, ranking behind Luxembourg (where foreign direct investment was essentially monetary transfers to banks located in that country) but above the United States ($39.9 billion) , the United Kingdom ($14.6 billion) , Germany ($12.9 billion) , or Japan ($6.3 billion). In the same year, French companies invested $57.3 billion outside of France, ranking France as the second most important outward direct investor in the OECD, behind the United States ($173.8 billion) , and ahead of the United Kingdom ($55.3 billion) , Japan ($28.8 billion) and Germany ($2.6 billion).

In the 2005 edition of OECD in Figures, the OECD also noted that France leads the G7 countries in terms of productivity (measured as GDP per hour worked).<ref name="Labour2003"> Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development

       (2005)
     
   
 
.    Labour productivity 2003 
 (Microsoft Excel)

. Retrieved on 2006-04-20. </ref> In 2004, the GDP per hour worked in France was $47.7, ranking France above the United States ($46.3) , Germany ($42.1) , the United Kingdom ($39.6) , or Japan ($32.5).<ref name="GDP/hour2004"> Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development

       (2005)
     
   
 
.    Differentials in GDP per capita and their decomposition, 2004 
 (Microsoft Excel)

. Retrieved on 2006-04-20. </ref>

Image:La-Defense-skyline.jpg

La Défense, Paris is the heart of the French economy.

Despite figures showing a higher productivity per hour worked than in the US, France's GDP per capita is significantly lower than the US GDP per capita, being in fact comparable to the GDP per capita of the other European countries, which is on average 30% below the US level. The reason for this is that a much smaller percentage of the French population is working compared to the US, which lowers the GDP per capita of France, despite its higher productivity. In fact, France has one of the lowest percentages of its population aged 15-64 years at work among the OECD countries. In 2004, 68.8% of the French population aged 15-64 years was in employment, compared to 80.0% in Japan, 78.9% in the UK, 77.2% in the US, and 71.0% in Germany.<ref name="Employment2004"> Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development

       (2005)
     
   
 
.    OECD Employment Outlook 2005 - Statistical Annex 
 (PDF format)

. Retrieved on 2006-06-29. </ref> This phenomenon is the result of almost thirty years of massive unemployment in France, which has led to three consequences reducing the size of the working population: about 9% of the active population is without a job; students delay as long as possible their entry into labour market; and finally, the French government gives various incentives to workers to retire in their early 50s, though these are now receding.

As many economists have stressed repeatedly over the years, the main issue with the French economy is not an issue of productivity. In their opinion, it is an issue of structural reforms, in order to increase the size of the working population in the overall population. Liberal and Keynesian economists have different answers to that issue. Lower working hours and the reluctance to reform the labour market are mentioned as weak spots of the French economy in the view of the right and lack of government policies fostering social justice by the left. Recent government attempts at adjusting the youth labour market, to combat unemployment, have met with fierce resistance.

With 79.1 million foreign tourists in 2006,<ref name="tourism.stat" /> France is ranked as the first tourist destination in the world, ahead of Spain (55.6 million in 2005) and the United States (49.4 million in 2005). This 79.1 million figure excludes people staying less than 24 hours in France, such as northern Europeans crossing France on their way to Spain or Italy during the Summer. France features cities of high cultural interest (Paris being the foremost) , beaches and seaside resorts, ski resorts, and rural regions that many enjoy for their beauty and tranquillity (green tourism). Aside of casual tourism France attracts a lot of religious pilgrims to Lourdes, a town in the Hautes-Pyrénées département, that hosts a few million tourists a year.

France has an important aerospace industry led by the European consortium Airbus, and is the only European power (excluding Russia) to have its own national spaceport (Centre Spatial Guyanais). France is also the most energy independent Western country due to heavy investment in nuclear power, which also makes France the smallest producer of carbon dioxide among the seven most industrialised countries in the world. As a result of large investments in nuclear technology, most of the electricity produced in the country is generated by nuclear power plants (78.1% in 2006,<ref> DGEMP / Observatoire de l'énergie

       (April 2007)
     
   
 
.    Électricité en France : les principaux résultats en 2006.

. Retrieved on 2007-05-23. </ref> up from only 8% in 1973, 24% in 1980, and 75% in 1990).

Large tracts of fertile land, the application of modern technology, and EU subsidies have combined to make France the leading agricultural producer and exporter in Europe. Wheat, poultry, dairy, beef, and pork, as well as an internationally recognised foodstuff and wine industry are primary French agricultural exports. EU agriculture subsidies to France total almost $14 billion.

Since the end of the Second World War the government made efforts to integrate more and more with Germany, both economically and politically. Today the two countries form what is often referred to as the "core" countries in favour of greater integration of the European Union.

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Demography

Main articles: Demography of France and Languages of France

Image:France cities.png

Metropolitan French cities with over 100,000 inhabitants

With an estimated population of 64 million people, France is the 23rd most populous country in the world. France's largest cities are Paris, Marseille, Lyon, Lille, Toulouse, Nice, and Nantes.

In 2003, France's natural population growth (excluding immigration) was responsible for almost all natural population growth in the European Union. In 2004, population growth was 0.68% and then in 2005 birth and fertility rates continued to increase. The natural increase of births over deaths rose to 299,800 in 2006. The lifetime fertility rate rose to 2.00 in 2007, from 1.92 in 2004.[3]

In 2004, a total of 140,033 people immigrated to France. Of them, 90,250 were from Africa and 13,710 from Europe.<ref>Inflow of third-country nationals by country of nationality</ref> In 2005, immigration level fell slightly to 135,890.<ref>Immigration and the 2007 French Presidential Elections</ref> France is an ethnically diverse nation. According to the French National Institute for Statistics and Economic Studies, it has an estimated 4.9 million foreign-born immigrants, of which 2 million have acquired French citizenship.<ref name="INSEE1"> INSEE

     (2005-01-25)
   
.    Enquêtes annuelles de recensement 2004 et 2005

. Retrieved on 2006-12-14.

Modèle:Fr icon</ref> France is the leading asylum destination in Western Europe with an estimated 50,000 applications in 2005 (a 15% decrease from 2004).<ref name="UNHCR">   UNHCR

       (2006)
     
   
 
.    UNHCR Global Report 2005: Western Europe 
 (PDF)

. Retrieved on 2006-12-14. </ref> The European Union allows free movement between the member states. While the UK (along with Ireland) did not impose restrictions, France put in place controls to curb Eastern European migration.

Image:Map-Francophone World.png

France's legacy: a map of the Francophone world Modèle:Legend Modèle:Legend Modèle:Legend Modèle:Legend

Image:France demographie.png

Demography evolution from 1961 up to 2003 (according to the FAO, 2005). Population in thousands of inhabitants

A perennial political issue concerns rural depopulation. Over the period 1960-1999 fifteen rural départements experienced a decline in population. In the most extreme case, the population of Creuse fell by 24%.

According to Article 2 of the Constitution, French is the sole official language of France since 1992. This makes France the only Western European nation (excluding microstates) to have only one officially recognised language. However, 77 regional languages are also spoken, in metropolitan France as well as in the overseas departments and territories. Until recently, the French government and state school system discouraged the use of any of these languages, but they are now taught to varying degrees at some schools.<ref>Jeanjean, Henri. "Language Diversity in Europe: Can the EU Prevent the Genocide of Frnech Linguistic Minorities?</ref> Other languages, such as Portuguese, Italian, Maghrebi Arabic and several Berber languages are spoken by immigrants.

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Religion

Main article: Religion in France

France is a secular country as freedom of religion is a constitutional right, although some religious doctrines such as Scientology, Children of God, the Unification Church, and the Order of the Solar Temple are considered cults. According to a January 2007 poll by the Catholic World News:<ref name="religion">Franţa nu mai e o ţară catolică, Cotidianul, 2007-01-11 Catholic World News

       (2003)
     
   
 
.    France is no longer Catholic, survey shows

. Retrieved on 2007-01-11. </ref><ref>Modèle:Ro icon</ref> 51% identified as being Catholics, 31% identified as being agnostics or atheists. (Another poll <ref>La Vie, issue 3209, 2007-03-01 Modèle:Fr icon</ref> concluded that 27% identified as being atheists.) , 10% identified as being from other religions or being without opinion, 4% identified as Muslim, 3% identified as Protestant, 1% identified as Jewish.

According to the most recent Eurobarometer Poll 2005,<ref name=EUROBAROMETER> Eurobarometer on Social Values, Science and technology 2005 - page 11

. Retrieved on 2007-05-05. </ref> 34% of French citizens responded that "they believe there is a god", whereas 27% answered that "they believe there is some sort of spirit or life force" and 33% that "they do not believe there is any sort of spirit, god, or life force".

In France, 32% declare themselves to be atheists, with an additional 32% declaring themselves agnostic<ref>http://www.harrisinteractive.com/news/allnewsbydate.asp?NewsID=1131.</ref>. The current Jewish community in France numbers around 600,000 according to the World Jewish Congress and is largest in Europe. Estimates of the number of Muslims in France vary widely. According to the 1999 French census returns, there were only 3.7 million people of "possible Muslim faith" in France (6.3% of the total population). There are an estimated 200,000 to 1 million illegal immigrants in France.

The concept of laïcité exists in France and because of this the French government is legally prohibited from recognising any religion (except for legacy statutes like those of military chaplains and Alsace-Moselle). Instead, it merely recognises religious organisations, according to formal legal criteria that do not address religious doctrine. Conversely, religious organisations should refrain from intervening in policy-making. Tensions occasionally erupt about alleged discrimination against minorities, especially against Muslims (see Islam in France).

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Public health

The French healthcare system was ranked first worldwide by the World Health Organization in 1997.<ref>the ranking, see spreadsheet details for a whole analysis</ref> It is almost entirely free for people affected by chronic diseases (Affections de longues durées) such as cancers, AIDS or Cystic Fibrosis. Average life expectancy at birth is 79.73 years.

As of 2003, there are approximately 120,000 inhabitants of France who are living with AIDS [4]

France, as all EU countries, is under an EU directive to reduce sewage discharge to sensitive areas. As of 2006, France is only 40 per cent in compliance with this directive, placing it as one of the lowest achieving countries within the EU with regard to this wastewater treatment standard [5].

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Culture

Image:Descartes.jpg

Cartesianism is prominent in France^{[citation needed]}

Main article: Culture of France

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Architecture

Main article: French architecture

Image:Sainte chapelle - Upper level.jpg

Saint Louis' Sainte Chapelle represents the French impact on religious architecture.

There is, technically speaking, no architecture named French Architecture, although that has not always been true. Gothic Architecture's old name was French Architecture (or Opus Francigenum). The term "Gothic" appeared later as a stylistic insult and was widely adopted. Northern France is the home of some of the most important Gothic cathedrals and basilicas, the first of these being the Saint Denis Basilica (used as the royal necropolis) ; other majestuous and important French Gothic cathedrals are Notre-Dame de Chartres and Notre-Dame d'Amiens. The kings were crowned in another important Gothic church: Notre-Dame de Reims. Aside from churches, Gothic Architecture had been used for many religious palaces, the most important one being the Palais des Papes in Avignon.

During the Middle Ages, fortified castles were built by feudal nobles to mark their powers against their rivals. When King Philip II took Rouen from King John, for example, he demolished the ducal castle to build a bigger one. Fortified cities were also common, unfortunately most French castles did not survive the passage of time. This is why Richard Lionheart's castle -Château-Gaillard- was demolished as well as the Château de Lusignan. Some important French castles that survived are Chinon Castle, Château d'Angers, the massive Château de Vincennes and the so called Cathar castles.

Before the appearance of this architecture France had been using romanesque architecture like most of Western Europe (with the exception of the Iberian Peninsula, which used Mooresque architecture). Some of the greatest examples of Romanesque Churches in France are the Saint Sernin Basilica in Toulouse and the remains of the Cluniac Abbey (largely destroyed during the Revolution and the Napoleonic Wars).

The end of the Hundred Years' War marked an important stage in the evolution of French architecture. It was the time of the French Renaissance and several artists from Italy and Spain were invited to the French court; many residential palaces, Italian-inspired, were built, mainly in the Loire Valley. Such residential castles were the Château de Chambord, the Château de Chenonceau, or the Château d'Amboise. Following the renaissance and the end of the Middle Ages, Baroque Architecture replaced the gothic one. However, in France, baroque architecture found a greater success in the secular domain than in the religious one.<ref>Claude Lébedel - Les Splendeurs du Baroque en France: Histoire et splendeurs du baroque en France page 9: "Si en allant plus loin, on prononce les mots "art baroque en France", on provoque alors le plus souvent une moue interrogative, parfois seulement étonnée, parfois franchement réprobatrice: Mais voyons, l'art baroque n'existe pas en France!"</ref> In the secular domain the Palace of Versailles has many baroque features. Jules Hardouin Mansart can be said to be the most influential French architect of the baroque style, with his very famous baroque dome of Les Invalides. Some of the most impressive provincial baroque architecture is found in places that were not yet French such as the Place Stanislas in Nancy. On the military architectural side Vauban designed some of the most efficient fortresses of Europe and became a very influential military architect.

After the French revolution the Republicans favoured Neoclassicism although neoclassicism was introduced in France prior to the revolution with such building as the Parisian Pantheon or the Capitole de Toulouse. Built during the French Empire the Arc de Triomphe and Sainte Marie-Madeleine represent this trend the best.

Under Napoleon III a new wave of urbanism and architecture was given birth. If some very extravagant buildings such as the neo-baroque Palais Garnier were built, the urban planing of the time was very organised and rigorous. For example Baron Haussmann rebuilt Paris. These times also saw a strong Gothic-Revival trend across Europe, in France the associated architect was Eugène Viollet-le-Duc. In the late 19th century Gustave Eiffel designed many bridges (like the Garabit viaduct) and remains one of the most influential bridge designer of his time, although he is best remembered for the Eiffel Tower.

In the 20th century the Swiss Architect Le Corbusier designed several buildings in France. More recently French architects have combined both modern and old architectural styles. The Louvre Pyramid is a good example of modern architecture added to an older building. Certainly the most difficult buildings to integrate within French cities are skyscrapers, as they are visible from afar. France's largest financial district is La Defense, where a significant number of skyscrapers are located. Other massive buildings that are a challenge to integrate into their environment are large bridges; a good example of the way this has been done is the Millau Viaduct. Some famous modern French architects include Jean Nouvel or Paul Andreu.

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Literature

Main article: French literature

Image:Molière - Nicolas Mignard (1658).jpg

Molière is the most played author in the Comédie-Française

French literature tracks its origins back to the Middle Ages. French was not yet a uniform language but was divided into several dialects (mainly: northern oïl, southern oc dialects). Each writer used his own spelling and grammar. Several French mediaeval texts are not signed- such is the case with Tristan and Iseult, or with Lancelot and the Holy Grail, among many others. A significant part of mediaeval French poetry and literature was inspired by the Matter of France, such as the The Song of Roland and the various Chansons de geste. The "Roman de Renart" was written in 1175 by Perrout de Saint Cloude, and told the story of the medieval character Reynard ('the Fox') ; it is also a popular example of early French story-telling.

In spite of the anonymous character of many French writings of the Middle-Ages, some medieval writers became quite famous: Chrétien de Troyes, for instance. 'Oc' culture was also quite influent in the Middle Ages. An early example of a vernacular poet writing in Occitan was Duke William IX of Aquitaine.

About the history of the French language, one of the most important writer is unquestionably François Rabelais. Modern French took a great deal from his style. His most famous work is quite probably Gargantua and Pantagruel. Later on, Jean de La Fontaine wrote his famous "Fables", a collection of short stories, written in verse, and usually ending with a "moral teaching".

During the 17th century Pierre Corneille, Jean Racine and Molière's plays, Blaise Pascal and René Descartes 's moral and philosophical books deeply influenced the aristocracy leaving an important heritage for the authors of the following decades.

But it is most certainly in the 18th and 19th centuries which French literature and poetry reach its highest point. The 18th century saw the writings of such huge writers, essayists and moralists as Voltaire, Denis Diderot and Jean-Jacques Rousseau. As concerns French children's literature in those times, Charles Perrault was probably the most prolific writer, with stories such as: "Puss in Boots", "Cinderella", "Sleeping Beauty" and "Bluebeard".

The 19th century saw the birth of many French novels of world renown; Victor Hugo, Alexandre Dumas and Jules Verne are probably among the most famous among these writers, both in and outside of France, with such highly popular novels such as The Three Musketeers, The Count of Monte-Cristo, Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea, or The Hunchback of Notre-Dame. Other 19th century fiction writers include Emile Zola, Guy de Maupassant, Théophile Gautier and Stendhal.

Symbolist poetry of the turn of the 19th century also proved to be a strong movement in French poetry, with artists such as Charles Baudelaire, Paul Verlaine and Stéphane Mallarmé.

Now also famous outside of France (whereas they used to be mostly known inside of France) are Louis-Ferdinand Céline and Albert Camus. One of the most well-known 20th century writers is Antoine de St.-Exupéry, whose "Little Prince" has been translated and become a bestseller in a great many countries, remaining popular both with children and adults.

Nowadays, the Prix Goncourt (first given in 1903) rewards "the best and most imaginative prose work of the year". It has quite probably become France's best-known contemporary literary award.

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Sport

Main article: Sport in France

Image:TourDeFrance 2005 07 09.jpg

Tour de France

Popular sports include football (soccer), both codes of rugby football and in certain regions basketball and handball. France has hosted events such as the 1938 and 1998 FIFA World Cups, and hosted the 2007 Rugby Union World Cup. Stade de France in Paris is the largest stadium in France and was the venue for the 1998 FIFA World Cup final, and hosted the 2007 Rugby World Cup final in October 2007. France also hosts the annual Tour de France, the most famous road bicycle race in the world. France is also famous for its 24 Hours of Le Mans sports car endurance race held in the Sarthe department. Several major tennis tournaments take place in France, including the Paris Masters and the French Open, one of the four Grand Slam tournaments.

France is the country of creation of the Modern Olympic Games, due to a French aristocrat, Baron Pierre de Coubertin, in the end of the 19th century. After Athens in reference to the Greek origin of the ancient Olympic Games, Paris hosted the second Games in 1900. Paris was also the first home of the IOC, before moving to Lausanne for more neutrality. During the Modern era, France has hosted the Olympic Games fives times: two Summer Games (1900 and 1924, both in Paris) and three Winter Games (1924 in Chamonix -the first edition-, 1968 in Grenoble and 1992 in Albertville).

Both the national football team and the national rugby union team are nicknamed "Les Bleus" in reference to the team's shirt color as well as the national French tricolor flag. The football team is regarded as one of the most skillful teams in the world with one FIFA World Cup victory in 1998, one FIFA World Cup second place in 2006, and two European Championships in 1984 and 2000. The top national club competition is the Ligue 1. Rugby is very popular, particularly so in the southwest of France and Paris. The national team have competed at every Rugby World Cup, and take part in the annual Six Nations Championship. The French rugby team has never won a World Cup (despite having reached the semi-finals on all but one occasion, and playing in two finals) , yet it has won sixteen Six Nations Championship, including eight grand slams. They are considered one of the top teams in the world. The top national club competition is the Top 14.

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French comic books

Main article: Franco-Belgian comics

Image:Asterix the gaul.jpg

Asterix the gaulois, a famous French comics character

French comic books and Francophone Belgian ones are often discussed together. These two countries share a long lasting tradition in comics and comic books. In French they are called bandes dessinées, or more simply BD. It is important to note the French term does not indicate the subject matter. In common English usage the term comics is often associated to what is fun, or funnies while the French language comics are often referred as the le neuvième art (the ninth art). In the USA several French comics would be seen as Graphic novels rather than simply comics. The famous irreductible Gaulois Asterix is the subject of the most famous French comics outside France itself. Although intended for children at first, this BD includes many subtleties and word games that require some culture to be understood. The Black Moon Chronicles were also quite important and inspired a generation of Francophone role-players. Olivier Ledroit who drew albums of the Black Moon Chronicles designed characters and backgrounds for the Heroes of Might and Magic V video game. A new artistic movement called La Nouvelle Manga is trying to merge the Franco-Belgian style with the Japanese one, as manga are very popular in France and France had an early manga culture.

French comics are quite present in science-fiction and remain influential in the domain. Jean Giraud, Philippe Druillet and Enki Bilal (Serbian born) are examples of French SF writers. Enki Bilal is famous most notably for the Nikopol Trilogy which as been made a movie named Immortel (Ad Vitam). Druillet has been named the space architect because of his backdrops of gigantic structures inspired by Art Nouveau, Indian temples and Gothic cathedrals. Jean Giraud, also known as Moebius, is famous outside France for his works on movies such as: Tron, The Abyss, Willow and The Fifth Element and his comic The Incal. Jean Giraud and Philippe Druillet worked together several times and founded Métal Hurlant, a magazine specialised in science-fiction published as Heavy Metal in the USA. There are many others important artists in France like Thierry Cailleteau who wrote Aquablue who did not achieve fame outside of their homeland.

Foreign comics are often well received within France. Several Belgian comics met great success in France such as Blake and Mortimer, XIII or The Adventures of Tintin. As a consequence French and Belgian artists often worked together to produce comics. An example would be Blueberry by Jean-Michel Charlier and Jean Giraud. The Italian artist Hugo Pratt found a large audience with the Corto Maltese comics; Corto Maltese's success in France was such that it was made into several animated movies by [[Canal+]]. Manga is also very influential in France.

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Marianne

Main article: Marianne

Image:Marianne maçonnique.jpg

Masonic Marianne bronze

Marianne is a symbol of the French Republic. She is an allegorical figure of liberty and the Republic and first appeared at the time of the French Revolution. The earliest representations of Marianne are of a woman wearing a Phrygian cap. The origins of the name Marianne are unknown, but Marie-Anne was a very common first name in the 18th century. Anti-revolutionaries of the time derisively called her La Gueuse (the Commoner). It is believed that revolutionaries from the South of France adopted the Phrygian cap as it symbolised liberty, having been worn by freed slaves in both Greece and Rome. Mediterranean seamen and convicts manning the galleys also wore a similar type of cap.

Under the Third Republic, statues, and especially busts, of Marianne began to proliferate, particularly in town halls. She was represented in several different manners, depending on whether the aim was to emphasise her revolutionary nature or her "wisdom". Over time, the Phrygian cap was felt to be too seditious, and was replaced by a diadem or a crown. In recent times, famous French women have been used as the model for those busts. Recent ones include Sophie Marceau, and Laetitia Casta. She also features on everyday articles such as postage stamps and coins.

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Images of France (Metropolitan France + Overseas territories of France)

The Mont-Saint-Michel	The Eiffel Tower	Château de Chambord	Moorea (French Polynesia, Overseas territories of France)
L'arc de Triomphe et les Champs-Élysées	La Camargue	Winter in Saint Pierre and Miquelon (Overseas territories of France)	The Château de Versailles
The Basilica of the Sacred-Heart, Paris	Notre-Dame de la Garde à Marseille	Le pont du Gard	Le mont Blanc
Notre Dame de Paris	The Arena of Nîmes	Le puy de Dôme	Bora-Bora in French Polynesia (Overseas territories of France)
Gustavia, Saint Barthélemy (Overseas territories of France)	La Nouvelle-Calédonie (Overseas territories of France)	Carcassonne et ses fortifications	Le viaduc de Millau
The Château de Caen built in 1060	Jardin du Luxembourg in Paris	La Défense major business district for the city of Paris	Image of French Pyrenees

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Miscellaneous topics

Image:Broom icon.svg

Trivia sections are discouraged under Wikipedia guidelines.
The article could be improved by integrating relevant items and removing inappropriate ones.

Image:200506 - Mont Saint-Michel 01.JPG

Mont Saint Michel, a popular tourist site in France

Image:Tour eiffel at sunrise from the trocadero.jpg

Icon of Paris, the Eiffel tower at sunrise

Image:Avignon-palais-des-papes.jpg

Palais des papes (Palace of the Popes) , Avignon

Description of the flag: three vertical bands of blue (hoist side) , white, and red became the flag during the French Revolution and made popular by Marquis de Lafayette; known as the drapeau tricolore (Tricolour Flag). It is traditional to refer to the three colours in the order: blue, white, red. (bleu, blanc, rouge) ; blue and red are the colours of Paris, while white was the colour of the Bourbon monarchy. The white inserted between the blue and the red expresses the idea that the king was under control of the people.
Although commonly associated with the French Revolution and suggested by Robespierre in December, 1790, France's motto, "Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité" was not adopted until the French Revolution of 1848.<ref name="Frenchsymbols"> French Ministry of Foreign Affairs

.    The symbols of the Republic and Bastille Day

. Retrieved on 2006-04-20. </ref>

The national holiday of France since 1880 is the Fête Nationale (National Holiday) , colloquially known as le 14 juillet, officially celebrating the Fête de la Fédération (14 July 1790) and not the storming of the Bastille (14 July 1789) as is often believed, even by a majority of French people, and is the reason why the holiday is referred to as Bastille Day in English. On the occasion of the Fête de la Fédération, celebrated exactly one year after the storming of the Bastille, all the representatives of the provinces of France gathered on the Champ de Mars in Paris in presence of the king Louis XVI and proclaimed the national unity of France. They vowed to remain faithful to "the Nation, the Law, the King".

This day is considered by French Republicans as the real birth of France: France is no more a country made up of provinces conquered by kings, but a country of provinces and men who freely agree to form a common Nation. This concept of a Nation agreed upon is opposed to the German concept of a Nation based on ethnicity and race, and it was responsible for much of the conflicts between France and Germany in the end of the 19th century and beginning of the 20th century. Alsace was a German land that had been annexed by the conquest of the French kings, while France considered that although Alsace had indeed been a conquered province in the first place, it had legitimately and freely become a part of France by the oath of 14 July 1790. It is thus no surprise that the 14th of July was proclaimed the National Holiday of France in 1880, 9 years after Germany had reunited with Alsace-Lorraine.

Despite being associated with the Fête de la Fédération, 14 July irked many French monarchists, to whom it recalled the bloody memory of the storming of the Bastille. French monarchists formerly wore a black armband each 14 July in defiance of the national holiday.

The French city of Avignon replaced Rome as home to the Papacy between 1309-1377. The town remained under papal control until 1791, when it was incorporated into France.

Popular tourist sites include: (according to a 2003 ranking [6] visitors per year) : Eiffel Tower (6.2 million) , Louvre Museum (5.7 million) , Palace of Versailles (2.8 million) , Musée d'Orsay (2.1 million) , Arc de Triomphe (1.2 million) , Centre Pompidou (1.2 million) , Mont-Saint-Michel (1 million) , Château de Chambord (711,000) ,Sainte-Chapelle (683,000) , Château du Haut-Kœnigsbourg (549,000) , Puy de Dôme (500,000) , Musée Picasso (441,000) , Carcassonne (362,000). Other very popular [7] and well-known tourist sites include: Palace of the Popes, Avignon, Disneyland Resort Paris, the châteaux of the Loire Valley, the ski resorts of the French Alps or Pyrenees, Tahiti and the lagoons of French Polynesia, etc.

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International rankings

Total GDP, 2005: 6th (out of 180) (World Bank data)
Total value of foreign trade (imports and exports) , 2002: 4th (out of 185)
Reporters Without Borders world-wide press freedom index 2005: Rank 30 out of 167 countries
Transparency International Corruption Perceptions Index 2006 - 18th of 163 countries

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Notes and references

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External links

Modèle:Sisterlinks French government

Official site of the French Embassy in the United Kingdom
Official site of the French public service - Contains many links to various administrations and institutions
Frenchculturenow.com: French society, culture, politics news

Country profiles

France, from the Encyclopædia Britannica
France, from the CIA World Factbook
Phone numbers from France Télécom]
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Culture

Cocorico! French culture
Contemporary French Civilization, journal, University of Illinois.

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Modèle:Link FA Modèle:Link FA af:Frankryk als:Frankreich am:ፈረንሣይ ang:Francland ar:فرنسا an:Franzia arc:ܦܪܢܣܐ roa-rup:Gallia frp:France ast:Francia az:Fransa bn:ফ্রান্স zh-min-nan:Hoat-kok be:Францыя be-x-old:Францыя bar:Frånkreich bo:ཕ་རན་སི bs:Francuska br:Bro-C'hall bg:Франция ca:França cv:Франци ceb:Pransiya cs:Francie co:Francia cy:Ffrainc da:Frankrig pdc:Frankreich de:Frankreich dv:ފަރަންސޭސިވިލާތް nv:Dáághahii dz:ཕརཱནསི་ et:Prantsusmaa el:Γαλλία eml:Francia es:Francia eo:Francio eu:Frantzia fa:فرانسه fo:Frakland fr:France fy:Frankryk fur:France ga:An Fhrainc gd:An Fhraing gl:Francia - France gu:ફ્રાઁસ got:𐍆𐍂𐌰𐌲𐌺𐌰𐍂𐌴𐌹𐌺𐌹 zh-classical:法國 hak:Fap-koet xal:Пранц ko:프랑스 hy:Ֆրանսիա hi:फ़्राँस hsb:Francoska hr:Francuska io:Francia ilo:Fransia bpy:ফ্রান্স id:Perancis ia:Francia ie:Francia os:Франц is:Frakkland it:Francia he:צרפת jv:Prancis pam:France kn:ಫ್ರಾನ್ಸ್ ka:საფრანგეთი ks:फ्रांस csb:Francëjô kk:Франция kw:Pow Frynk rw:Ubufaransa sw:Ufaransa kv:Франция kg:Falanse ht:Frans ku:Fransa lad:Fransia lo:ຝະລັ່ງ la:Francia lv:Francija lb:Frankräich lij:Fransa lt:Prancūzija li:Frankriek ln:Falansia jbo:fasygu'e lmo:Francja hu:Franciaország mk:Франција mg:Frantsa ml:ഫ്രാന്‍സ് mt:Franza mr:फ्रान्स ms:Perancis cdo:Huák-guók mn:Франц улс nah:Francitlān na:France nl:Frankrijk nds-nl:Frankriek ne:फ्रान्स ja:フランス nap:Franza ce:Франце no:Frankrike nn:Frankrike nrm:France nov:Fransia oc:França ug:فرانسىيە uz:Fransiya ps:فرانسه pms:Fransa nds:Frankriek pl:Francja pt:França ty:Farāni ksh:Frangkrisch ro:Franţa rmy:Franchiya rm:Frantscha qu:Phransya ru:Франция se:Frankriika sa:फ्रांस sc:Frantza sco:Fraunce st:Fora sq:Franca scn:Francia simple:France sk:Francúzsko sl:Francija cu:Франкї so:Faransiiska sr:Француска sh:Francuska fi:Ranska sv:Frankrike tl:Pransya ta:பிரான்ஸ் kab:Fransa tet:Fransa th:ประเทศฝรั่งเศส vi:Pháp tg:Фаронса tpi:Pranis tr:Fransa tk:Fransiýa udm:Франция uk:Франція ur:فرانس vec:Franzsa vo:Fransän fiu-vro:Prantsusmaa wa:France vls:Vrankryk war:Fransya wo:Faraas wuu:法国 yi:פראנקרייך zh-yue:法國 diq:Fransa zea:Frankriek bat-smg:Prancūzėjė zh:法国

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-{{autre1|le pays européen}}
+{{sprotect2}}
-{{Infobox Pays|
+{{Infobox Country
-nom_local1=République française |langue1=fr|
+| native_name             = ''République française''
-nom_français=France |
+| conventional_long_name  = French Republic
-de=de%20 |
+| common_name             = France
-image_drapeau=Flag of France.svg |
+| Language                = French
-lien_drapeau=Drapeau de la France |
+| national_motto          = ''[[Liberté, égalité, fraternité|Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité]]''<br />"Liberty, Equality, Fraternity"
-image_blason = Armoiries république française.svg |
+| national_anthem         = "''[[La Marseillaise]]''"
-lien_blason=Armoiries officieuses de la République française |
+| image_flag              = Flag of France.svg
-type_indépendance=[[Partage de Verdun]] |
+| image_coat              = Armoiries république française.svg
-pays_indépendance=[[Empire carolingien]] |
+| symbol_type             = Coat of arms
-date_indépendance=[[843]] |
+| image_map               = Location France EU Europe.png
-image_carte=EU location FRA.png |
+|map_caption             = {{map_caption |countryprefix='''Metropolitan'''|region=on the [[Europe|European continent]] |subregion=the [[European Union]] |location_color=dark green |subregion_color=light green |region_color=dark grey |legend=}}
-devise=[[Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité]] |
+| image_map2              = Outre-mer en sans Terre Adelie.png
-langues=[[Français]] |
+|map_caption2            = <p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:-2px;line-height:1em;"><span style="font-size:11px;">Territory of the [[French Republic]] in the world<br />(excl. Antarctica where sovereignty is suspended)</span></p>
-capitale=[[Paris]] |
+| capital                 = [[Paris]]
-coordonnées_capitale=48° 51’ 39’’ N, 2° 20’ 43’’ E |
+|latd=48 |latm=52 |latNS=N |longd=2 |longm=19.59 |longEW=E
-lien_villes=Villes de France |
+| largest_city            = capital
-titre_plus_grande_ville=Plus grande ville |
+| official_languages      = [[French language|French]]
-plus_grande_ville=[[Paris]] |
+| demonym                 = French
-type_gouvernement=[[République]] |
+| government_type         = [[Unitary state|Unitary]] [[Semi-presidential system|semi-presidential]] [[republic]]
-titres_dirigeants=[[Président de la République française|Président de la République]]<br />&nbsp;- [[Premier ministre français|Premier ministre]] |
+| leader_title1           = [[President of France|President]]
-noms_dirigeants=[[Nicolas Sarkozy]]<br />[[François Fillon]] |
+| leader_title2           = [[Prime Minister of France|Prime Minister]]
-superficie_rang=41 |
+| leader_name1            = [[Nicolas Sarkozy]]
-superficie_totale=675&nbsp;417<ref>dont 543&nbsp;965 en France métropolitaine</ref> |
+| leader_name2            = [[François Fillon]]
-pourcentage_eau=0,26% |
+| sovereignty_type        = [[History of France|Formation]]
-population_rang=20 |
+| sovereignty_note        =
-population_totale=64&nbsp;102&nbsp;000<ref>dont 61&nbsp;538&nbsp;000 en France métropolitaine</ref> |
+| established_event1      = [[State|French State]]
-population_année=2007 |
+| established_event2      = [[Constitution of France|Current&nbsp;constitution]]
-densité=93,59<ref>densité métropolitaine 112,2</ref> |
+| established_date1       = 843 ([[Treaty of Verdun]])
-pays frontaliers={{Boîte déroulante|titre=Liste|contenu={{Espagne}}{{-}}{{Allemagne}}{{-}}{{Italie}}{{-}}{{Belgique}}{{-}}{{Suisse}}{{-}}{{Luxembourg}} {{-}}{{Andorre}}{{-}} {{Monaco}}{{-}} Outre-mer:  {{-}}{{BRA}}{{-}} {{SUR}}{{-}} {{AHO}} {{-}}{{AUS-d}} [[Territoire australien de l'Antarctique|T. australien de l'Ant.]]}}
+| established_date2       = 1958 ([[French Fifth Republic|5th Republic]])
-|gentilé=[[Gentilés de France|Français, Françaises]] |
+| accessionEUdate         = [[March 25]] [[1957]]
-IDH_année=2005 |
+| EUseats                 = 78
-IDH={{profit}} 0,952 |
+| FR_metropole            = [[Metropolitan France|Metropolitan&nbsp;France]]
-IDH_catégorie=élevé |
+| FR_IGN_area_km2             = 551695
-IDH_rang=10{{e}} |
+| FR_IGN_area_rank        = 47th
-monnaie=[[Euro]]<ref>Avant 2002, le [[franc français]].</ref><ref>[[Franc CFP]] dans les collectivités du Pacifique :<br />
+| FR_IGN_area_magnitude   = 1 E11
-&nbsp;000&nbsp;<tt>XPF</tt> = 8,38&nbsp;<tt>EUR</tt> exactement, soit 1&nbsp;<tt>EUR</tt> ≈ 119,3317&nbsp;<tt>XPF</tt> environ (source officielle IEOM)</ref> |
+| FR_cadastre_area_magnitude   = 1 E11
-code_monnaie=EUR |
+| FR_IGN_area_sq_mi          = 213010
-fuseau_horaire=+1 ([[heure d'été|été]] +2) |
+| FR_cadastre_area_km2             = 543965
-hymne_national=[[La Marseillaise]] |
+| FR_cadastre_area_rank        = 47th
-domaine_internet=[[.fr]]<ref> [[.gp]], [[.mq]], [[.gf]], [[.re]], [[.pm]], [[.yt]], [[.tf]], [[.wf]], [[.pf]] et [[.nc]] pour les collectivités d’outre-mer</ref>, [[.eu]]<ref>partagé avec les autres États membres de l’UE</ref> |
+| FR_cadastre_area_sq_mi          = 210026
-indicatif_téléphonique=33 |
+| area_km2                    = 674843
-notes=Notes et références
+| area_sq_mi                 = 260558 <!--Do not remove per [[WP:MOSNUM]]-->
-{{reflist}}
+| area_rank               = 40th
-<center>[[Image:Portal.svg|27px]] '''[[Portail:France|Portail France]]'''</center>
+| area_magnitude          = 1 E11
+|FR_foot                 = <ref name=whole_territory>Whole territory of the French Republic, including all the overseas departments and [[territories]], but excluding the French territory of Terre Adélie in Antarctica where sovereignty is suspended since the signing of the [[Antarctic Treaty]] in 1959.</ref>
+|FR_foot2                = <ref name=IGN_figure>French [[Institut Géographique National|National Geographic Institute]] data.</ref>
+|FR_foot3                = <ref name=cadastre_figure>French [[Land Register]] data, which exclude lakes, ponds and [[glacier]]s larger than 1&nbsp;km² (0.386&nbsp;sq&nbsp;mi or 247&nbsp;acres) as well as the estuaries of rivers.</ref>
+|FR_foot4                = <ref name=whole_territory />
+|FR_foot5                = <ref name=metropolitan_France>[[Metropolitan France]] only.</ref>
+|FR_total_population_estimate          = 64,102,140<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.insee.fr/fr/ffc/ipweb/ip1118/ip1118.html|title=Bilan démographique 2006 : un excédent naturel record|first=[[Government of France]]| last=[[INSEE]]|accessdate=2007-04-01}} {{fr icon}}</ref>
+| FR_total_population_estimate_year     = January 1, 2007 estimate
+| FR_total_population_estimate_rank     = 20th
+|FR_metropole_population               = 61,538,322<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.insee.fr/fr/ffc/pop_age3.htm|title=Tableau 2 - Répartition de la population totale par groupe d'âges, France métropolitaine|first=[[Government of France]]| last=[[INSEE]]|accessdate=2007-04-01}} {{fr icon}}</ref>
+| FR_metropole_population_estimate_rank = 20th
+| population_density_km2      = 113
+| population_density_sq_mi   = 293 <!--Do not remove per [[WP:MOSNUM]]-->
+| population_density_rank = 89th
+| GDP_nominal                 = US $2.232 trillion
+| GDP_nominal_rank            = 6th
+| GDP_nominal_year            = 2006
+| GDP_nominal_per_capita      = US $35,404
+| GDP_nominal_per_capita_rank = 18th
+| GDP_PPP_year            = 2006
+| GDP_PPP                 = [[United States dollar|US ]]]1.871 [[1000000000000 (number)|trillion]]
+| GDP_PPP_rank            = 7th
+| GDP_PPP_per_capita      = US $30,100
+| GDP_PPP_per_capita_rank = 20th
+| Gini                    = 26.7
+| Gini_year               = 2002
+|Gini_category           = <font color="#008900">low</font>
+| HDI_year                = 2005
+| HDI                     = {{increase}} 0.952
+| HDI_rank                = 10th
+|HDI_category            = <font color="#008900">high</font>
+| currency                = [[Euro]]<ref>Whole of the French Republic except the overseas territories in the Pacific Ocean.</ref>, [[CFP Franc]]<ref>French overseas territories in the Pacific Ocean only.</ref><br />&nbsp;<br />
+| currency_code           = EUR,{{spaces|4}}XPF
+|time_zone               = CET<ref name=metropolitan_France />
+| utc_offset              = +1
+|time_zone_DST           = CEST<ref name=metropolitan_France />
+| utc_offset_DST          = +2
+| cctld                   = [[.fr]]<ref>In addition to [[.fr]], several other Internet TLDs are used in French overseas ''départements'' and territories: [[.re]], [[.mq]], [[.gp]], [[.tf]], [[.nc]], [[.pf]], [[.wf]], [[.pm]], [[.gf]] and [[.yt]]. France also uses [[.eu]], shared with other members of the [[European Union]].</ref>
+| calling_code            = 33
+| calling_code_note       = <ref>The overseas regions and collectivities form part of the [[French telephone numbering plan]], but have their own country calling codes: [[Guadeloupe]] +590; [[Martinique]] +596; [[French Guiana]] +594, [[Réunion]] and [[Mayotte]] +262; [[Saint Pierre et Miquelon]] +508. The overseas territories are not part of the French telephone numbering plan; their country calling codes are: [[New Caledonia]] +687, [[French Polynesia]] +689; [[Wallis and Futuna]] +681</ref>
+| ISO_3166-1_alpha2       =
+| ISO_3166-1_alpha3       = FRA
+| ISO_3166-1_numeric      =
+| sport_code              = FRA
+| vehicle_code            = F
 }}
-La '''France''', officiellement la '''République française''', est un pays d’[[Europe de l'Ouest]].
+{{portal}}
+'''France''' ([[French language|French]]: {{IPA2|fʁɑ̃s}}) , officially the '''French Republic''' ({{lang-fr|République française}}, {{IPA2|ʁepyˈblik fʁɑ̃ˈsɛz}}) , is a [[country]] whose [[Metropolitan France|metropolitan territory]] is located in [[Western Europe]] and that also comprises various overseas islands and territories located in other continents.<ref name="CatTOM">For more information, see [[:Category:French overseas departments, territories and collectivities]].</ref> Metropolitan France extends from the [[Mediterranean Sea]] to the [[English Channel]] and the [[North Sea]], and from the [[Rhine]] to the [[Atlantic Ocean]]. French people often refer to Metropolitan France as ''L'Hexagone'' (The "[[Hexagon]]") because of the geometric shape of its territory.
-Son [[france métropolitaine|territoire métropolitain]]<ref name="metro">plus exactement territoires français en [[Europe]]</ref> est bordé par l'[[océan Atlantique]] à l'ouest, par la [[Manche (mer)|Manche]] (qui la sépare du [[Royaume-Uni]]) et la [[mer du Nord]] au nord, par la [[Belgique]], le [[Luxembourg (pays)|Luxembourg]], l'[[Allemagne]], la [[Suisse]] et l'[[Italie]] à l'est, et par la [[mer Méditerranée]], l'[[Andorre]], [[Monaco]] et l'[[Espagne]] au sud.
+France is bordered by [[Belgium]], [[Luxembourg]], [[Germany]], [[Switzerland]], [[Italy]], [[Monaco]], [[Andorra]], and [[Spain]]. Due to its [[overseas departments]], France also shares land borders with [[Brazil]] and [[Suriname]] (bordering [[French Guiana]]) , and the [[Netherlands Antilles]] (bordering [[Saint-Martin]]). France is also linked to the [[United Kingdom]] by the [[Channel Tunnel]], which passes underneath the [[English Channel]].
-La [[France d'outre-mer]]<ref name="domtom">plus exactement territoires français sur les 5 autres [[continent]]s</ref> est bordée, par le [[Brésil]] et le [[Suriname]] via la [[Guyane]] ainsi que le [[Royaume des Pays-Bas]] via l'[[Saint-Martin (île)|île de Saint-Martin]], mais aussi par l'[[océan Pacifique]] via la [[Polynésie française]], [[Wallis-et-Futuna]], la [[Nouvelle-Calédonie]] et l'[[Île Clipperton]] ; l'[[océan Indien]] via [[La Réunion]] ,[[Mayotte]] et les [[Îles Éparses]] ; l'[[océan Antarctique]] via les [[Terres australes et antarctiques françaises]] et la [[mer des Caraïbes]] via la [[Guadeloupe]], la [[Martinique]], l'île [[Saint-Martin (Antilles françaises)|Saint-Martin]] et l'île [[Saint-Barthélemy (Antilles françaises)|Saint-Barthélemy]].
+The French Republic is a [[representative democracy|democracy]] organised as a [[unitary state|unitary]] [[semi-presidential system|semi-presidential]] [[republic]]. Its main ideals are expressed in the [[Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen]]. In the 18th and 19th centuries, France built [[French Empire|one of the largest colonial empires]] of the time, stretching across [[West Africa]] and [[Southeast Asia]], prominently influencing the cultures and politics of the regions. France is a [[developed country]] with the sixth-largest economy in the world.<ref name="Lists">[[List of countries by GDP (nominal)|Rank by nominal GDP]]: 6 (2006) ; [[List of countries by GDP (nominal) per capita|Rank by GDP per capita]]: 17 (2005) ; [[List of countries by GDP (PPP) per capita|Rank by GDP at purchasing power parity per capita]]: 21 (2005).</ref> France is the most visited country in the world, receiving over 79 [[million]] foreign tourists annually (including business visitors, but excluding people staying less than 24 hours in France).<ref name="tourism.stat">{{cite web |first=Directorate of Tourism |last=[[Government of France]]|publisher= |url=http://www.tourisme.gouv.fr/fr/z2/stat/tis/att00015987/TIS_2007-2.pdf|title=79 millions d’arrivées de touristes internationaux en 2006|accessdate=2007-07-31}} {{fr icon}}</ref> France is one of the founding members of the [[European Union]], and has the largest land area of all members. France is also a founding member of the [[United Nations]], and a member of the [[Francophonie]], the [[G8]], and the [[Latin Union]]. It is one of the five permanent members of the [[United Nations Security Council]]; it is also an acknowledged [[List of countries with nuclear weapons|nuclear power]].
-La France est de tous les grands [[État]]s européens, le plus anciennement constitué, autour d’un [[domaine royal]] initialement centré sur l’[[Île-de-France]], sa capitale étant [[Paris]]. Le pays a une superficie de 675 417 km² et une population d'environ 64 millions d’habitants. Le [[français]] est la [[langue officielle]] de la [[République française|République]] et, l'on y compte 77 [[Langues régionales de France|langues régionales]]<ref>Rapport d’avril 1999 du professeur Bernard Cerquiglini, préparé en vue d’une ratification éventuelle de la [[Charte européenne des langues régionales ou minoritaires]].</ref>.
+The [[Name of France|name France]] originates from the [[Franks]] (''Francs'') , a [[Germanic peoples|Germanic tribe]] that occupied  northern Europe after the fall of the [[Western Roman Empire]]. More precisely, the region around [[Paris]], called [[Île-de-France (province)|Île-de-France]], was the original French royal [[demesne]]. The first [[King of the Franks]], [[Clovis I|Clovis]], is regarded as the forefather of the [[King of France|French kings]].
-La France est la sixième puissance économique mondiale. Son économie est de type [[Capitalisme|capitaliste]] avec une intervention étatique non négligeable depuis la fin de la [[Seconde Guerre mondiale]]. Néanmoins, depuis une trentaine d’années, des réformes successives ont entraîné un désengagement progressif de l’État de plusieurs entreprises publiques.
-Les valeurs qu’elle défend et auxquelles ses [[citoyen]]s sont très attachés, se fondent sur la [[démocratie]] et, la déclaration des [[Droits de l'Homme|droits de l’homme et du citoyen]] de [[1789]], dont elle est la patrie d'origine.
+== Origin and history of the name ==
+{{Main|Name of France}}
+{{see also|List of country name etymologies}}
+The name "France" comes from [[Latin]] ''Francia'', which literally means "land of the [[Franks]]" or "Frankland". There are various theories as to the origin of the name of the Franks. One is that it is derived from the [[Proto-Germanic language|Proto-Germanic]] word ''frankon'' which translates as ''javelin'' or ''lance'' as the throwing axe of the Franks was known as a [[francisca]].
-Au cours du « [[Histoire de France au XVIIe siècle|Grand Siècle]] », la France a été façonnée par les [[art]]s et la [[philosophie]]. Berceau des « [[Siècle des Lumières|Lumières]] », elle a influencé les révolutions [[révolution américaine|américaine]]s<ref>[[Debré]] dans un article en 90</ref>, puis la [[Révolution française]] a insufflé l'élan et l'exemple démocratique dans le monde entier. Développant des valeurs de [[liberté]], d'[[égalité]] et de [[laïcité]]. Du fait des [[Grandes découvertes|explorations]] de la [[Renaissance (période historique)|Renaissance]], des {{s2|XVIII|e|XIX|e}}, la France a diffusé sa [[culture française|culture]] et sa [[langue française|langue]] à de nombreux peuples, au [[Canada]], en [[Afrique]], mais aussi dans quelques régions du [[Moyen Orient]], d'[[Asie]] et du [[Pacifique]].
+Another proposed etymology is that in an ancient Germanic language, Frank means ''free'' as opposed to [[slave]]. This word still exists in French as ''franc'', it is also used as the translation of "Frank" and to name the local money, until the use of the [[Euro]] in the 2000s.
-Membre du [[Conseil de l'Europe|Conseil de l’Europe]], c’est l’un des pays fondateurs de l’[[Union européenne]], de la [[zone euro]] et, de l’[[Convention de Schengen|espace Schengen]]. Elle est l’un des cinq membres permanents du [[Conseil de sécurité des Nations unies]] et fait partie du [[Groupe des huit]] (G8), de l’[[Organisation de coopération et de développement économiques]] (OCDE), de la [[Francophonie]] et de l’[[Union latine]].
+However, rather than the ethnic name of the Franks coming from the word ''frank'', it is also probable that the word is derived from the ethnic name of the Franks, the connection being that only the Franks, as the conquering class, had the status of freemen. The [[Merovingian]] kings claimed descent of their dynasty from the [[Sicambri]], a Scythian or [[Cimmerian]] [[tribe]], asserting that this tribe had changed their name to "Franks" in 11 BC, following their defeat and relocation by [[Drusus]], under the leadership of a certain chieftain called Franko, although they had actually come from present day  [[Netherlands]], [[Lower Saxony]], and possibly, ultimately [[Scandinavia]]. In [[German language|German]], France is still called ''Frankreich'', which literally means "[[Frankish Realm|Realm of the Franks]]". In order to distinguish from the Frankish Empire of [[Charlemagne]], Modern France is called ''Frankreich'', while the Frankish Realm is called ''Frankenreich''.
-Militairement, la France est membre de l’[[Organisation du traité de l'Atlantique Nord]] ('''OTAN''').  Elle s’était retirée, en [[1966]], de l’organisation militaire intégrée, pour y revenir partiellement en [[2002]]. La France fait partie des nations disposant de la [[Arme nucléaire|dissuasion nucléaire]].
+The word "Frank" had been loosely used from the fall of Rome to the Middle Ages, yet from [[Hugh Capet]]'s coronation as "King of the Franks" ("Rex Francorum") it became used to strictly refer to the [[Kingdom of Francia]], which would become France. The [[House of Capet|Capetian Kings]] were descended from the [[Robertines]], who had produced two Frankish kings, and previously held the title of "[[Duke of the Franks]]" ("dux francorum"). [[Île-de-France (region)|This Frankish duchy]] encompassed most of modern [[Neustria|northern France]] but because the royal power was sapped by regional princes the term was then applied to the royal [[demesne]] as shorthand. It was finally the name adopted for the entire Kingdom as central power was affirmed over the entire kingdom.<ref>Elizabeth M. Hallam & Judith Everard - Capetian France 937-1328, chapter 1 "The origins of Western Francia" page 7: "What did the name Francia mean in the tenth and eleventh centuries? It still retained a wide general use; both Byzantine and western writers at the time of the crusades described the western forces as Franks. But it was also taking on more specific meanings. From 911 onwards the west Frankish king was known as the ''Rex Francorum'' -king of the Franks- and the name Francia could be used to describe his kingdom, as it was also used by the east Frankish, or German, kingdom... The Robertines, forerunners of the Capetians, were ''duces francorum'', dukes of the Franks, and their 'duchy' covered in theory most of northern France. Then as royal power contracted further, leaving the early Capetian only a small bloc of lands around Paris and Orleans, the term Francia was used for this region."</ref>
-== Histoire ==
+== Geography ==
-{{Article détaillé|Histoire de France|Chronologie de la France|Formation territoriale de la France}}
+{{main|Geography of France}}
-La France actuelle, pays de [[langue romane]] mais de superstrat germanique, occupe la plus grande partie des anciennes [[Gaule]]s [[Celtes|celtiques]], conquises par [[Jules César]], mais elle tire son nom des [[Francs]], un [[peuple germanique]], dont le nom signifie « hommes libres », qui se forma tardivement et s’installa sur une partie des terres de l’[[Empire romain]].
+While [[Metropolitan France]] is located in [[Western Europe]], France also has a number of territories in [[North America]], the [[Caribbean]], [[South America]], the southern [[Indian Ocean]], the [[Pacific Ocean]], and [[Antarctica]].<ref>Sovereignty claims in Antarctica are governed by the [[Antarctic Treaty System]]</ref> These territories have varying forms of government ranging from [[overseas department]] to [[overseas collectivity]].
-=== Évolution du nom « France » et du Territoire ===
+Metropolitan France covers 547,030&nbsp;[[square kilometre]]s (211,209&nbsp;[[Square mile|sq&nbsp;mi]])<ref name="area">{{cite web | author = [[CIA]] | year = 2007 | title = The World Factbook | url=https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/fr.html | accessdate = 2007-12-06 }}</ref> making it the largest country in area in the [[European Union]], being only slightly larger than [[Spain]]. France possesses a wide variety of landscapes, from coastal plains in the north and west to mountain ranges of the [[Alps]] in the south-east, the [[Massif Central]] in the south-central and [[Pyrenees]] in the south-west. At 4,807&nbsp;[[metre]]s (15,770&nbsp;[[Foot (unit of length)|ft]]) above sea-level, the highest point in Western Europe, [[Mont Blanc]], is situated in the [[Alps]] on the border between France and [[Italy]].<ref name="elevation">{{cite web |author=[[CIA]] |publisher= |year=2006 |url=https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/fields/2020.html |title=The World Factbook: Field Listing - Elevation extremes |accessdate=2006-12-14}}</ref> Metropolitan France also has extensive [[river]] systems such as the [[Loire River|Loire]], the [[Garonne]], the [[Seine]] and the [[Rhône River|Rhône]], which divides the Massif Central from the Alps and flows into the Mediterranean sea at the [[Camargue]], the lowest point in France (2&nbsp;m&nbsp;/ 6.5&nbsp;ft below sea level).<ref name="elevation"/> Corsica lies off the Mediterranean coast.
-[[Image:Chlodwigs taufe.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Le baptême de [[Clovis]], [[Liste des monarques de France|Roi des Francs]]]]
+[[Image:Satellite image of France in August 2002.jpg|thumb|Satellite picture of metropolitan France, August 2002]]
-''[[Francie|Francia]]'' désigne à l’origine la région du nord de l’[[Europe]], [[Peuple|peuplée]], ou plutôt [[Domination|dominée]], par un peuple de [[guerrier]]s [[germanique]]s qui se nomment eux-mêmes les [[Francs]]. ''Francia'' n’a alors pas une [[connotation]] [[politique]] mais plutôt [[géographie|géographique]] ou [[sociologie|sociologique]], comme [[Maghreb]] ou [[Balkans]] au {{XXIe siècle}}. Le peuple franc est avant tout un peuple de guerriers qui [[Élection|élit]] un [[Seigneur de la guerre|chef de guerre]] nommé ''[[roi des Francs]]'', et se place [[Liberté|librement]] sous son [[autorité]] pour les [[Guerre|affaires militaires]]. La guerre étant considérée comme la valeur par excellence de l’homme libre, ''franc'' finit par devenir [[synonyme]] de ''libre''.
-En [[1204]], le mot ''Francia'' désigne, pour la première fois, le territoire sur lequel s’exerce l’[[autorité]] de ce ''[[Philippe II de France|roi des Francs]]'', qui commence sporadiquement à se nommer ''[[roi de France|rex Francie]]''. Cette autorité se limite encore à celle qu’autorise le lien de [[vassalité]], et ne porte donc que sur les [[Seigneurie|seigneurs]] eux-mêmes, à l’exclusion de leurs [[territoire]]s, de la population de ceux-ci, et même des propres vassaux de ces seigneurs. On peut donc par exemple rapprocher cet événement de l’utilisation à partir de [[1957]] d’[[Union européenne|Europe]] dans un sens politico-économique. Ceci ouvre toutefois la porte au [[concept]] d’une [[autorité]] [[civil]]e du [[roi]] sur un [[territoire]]. Mais il faut attendre le [[Louis XI de France|{{s-|XV|e}}]] pour que ce concept soit reconnu, bon gré mal gré, sinon accepté ([[guerre folle]]), par la plupart des seigneurs.
+France's total land area, with its overseas departments and territories (excluding [[Adélie Land]]) , is 674,843&nbsp;square kilometres (260,558&nbsp;sq&nbsp;mi) , 0.45% of the total land area on Earth. However, France possesses the second-largest [[Exclusive Economic Zone]] (EEZ) in the world, covering 11,035,000 square kilometres (4,260,000&nbsp;[[square mile|sq&nbsp;mi]]) , approximately 8% of the total surface of all the EEZs of the world, just behind the [[United States]] (11,351,000&nbsp;km²&nbsp;/ 4,383,000&nbsp;sq&nbsp;mi) and ahead of [[Australia]] (8,232,000&nbsp;km²&nbsp;/ 3,178,000&nbsp;sq&nbsp;mi).<ref name="Pew">According to a different calculation cited by the [http://pewresearch.org/ Pew Research Center], the EEZ of France would be 10,084,201 square kilometres (3,893,532&nbsp;sq&nbsp;mi) , still behind the [[United States]] (12,174,629&nbsp;km²&nbsp;/ 4,700,651&nbsp;sq&nbsp;mi) , and still ahead of [[Australia]] (8,980,568&nbsp;km²&nbsp;/ 3,467,416&nbsp;sq&nbsp;mi) and [[Russia]] (7,566,673&nbsp;km²&nbsp;/ 2,921,508&nbsp;sq&nbsp;mi).</ref>
-{{Histoire de France}}Au début du {{XVIe siècle}} le concept de « [[chose publique]] » fait une réapparition timide après avoir disparu avec la chute de l’[[empire romain]]. En [[1499]], le [http://wikisource.org/wiki/Contrat_de_mariage_entre_Anne_de_Bretagne_et_Louis_XII contrat de mariage] du [[Louis XII de France|roi de France]], qui dispose de la [[propriété]] de la [[Domaine royal|France]], tente, sans succès, de constituer un engagement non seulement entre les signataires, mais aussi entre leurs [[Descendance|descendants]], et même leurs successeurs. La [[nationalité française]] est définie à cette époque.
+Metropolitan France is situated between 41° and 50° North, on the western edge of Europe and thus lies within the [[northern temperate zone]]. The north and northwest have a temperate climate, however, a combination of maritime influences, [[latitude]] and [[altitude]] produce a varied climate in the rest of Metropolitan France.<ref name="climate">{{cite web |author=[[Minister of Foreign Affairs (France)|Ministry of Foreign Affairs]] |publisher= |year=2005 |url=http://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/en/france_159/discovering-france_2005/france-from-to-z_1978/country_2004/geography_4405/geography_1507.html  |title=Discovering France: Geography |accessdate=2006-12-29}}</ref> In the south-east a [[Mediterranean climate]] prevails. In the west, the climate is predominantly [[oceanic climate|oceanic]] with a high level of rainfall, mild winters and cool summers. Inland the climate becomes more [[Continental climate|continental]] with hot, stormy summers, colder winters and less rain. The [[climate of the Alps]] and other mountainous regions are mainly [[Alpine climate|alpine]] in nature with the number of days with temperatures below freezing over 150 per year and snowcover lasting for up to six months.
-C’est aussi vers cette époque qu’un [[embryon]] d’[[État]] commence progressivement à se mettre en place. Jusqu’au milieu du {{XVIe siècle}}, le roi est un nomade qui se déplace avec toute son [[Cour royale|administration]], ne restant jamais plus de quelques semaines dans la même résidence, ce qui limite singulièrement les possibilités de [[Centralisation (histoire)|centralisation]] des fonctions étatiques.
-Au début du {{XVIIe siècle}}, la [[politique étrangère]] de la France commence à dépasser les seules agressions militaires directes. [[Richelieu]] introduit la [[Histoire de la diplomatie|diplomatie]] comme une façon de faire mener [[Guerre de Trente Ans|ses guerres]] par d’autres pays.
+== History ==
+{{Main|History of France}}
+{{See also|Medieval demography|Economic history of France}}
-La [[révolution française]] constitue l’[[Déclaration des Droits de l'homme et du citoyen de 1789|acte de naissance]] de la [[État-nation|Nation]] française, et du [[peuple]] français en tant qu’acteur politique. Il ne s’agit alors pourtant encore que de [[concept]]s tout théoriques. Ce sont les [[guerres napoléoniennes]], et surtout les grandes guerres de [[Guerre franco-allemande de 1870|1870]], [[Première Guerre mondiale|1914]] et [[Seconde Guerre mondiale|1939]] qui font de la Nation française une [[image mentale]] partagée par les Français. Les difficultés économiques liées à la [[mondialisation]] du début et de la fin du {{XXe siècle}} exacerbent (comme dans le reste de l’[[Europe]]) ce sentiment [[nation]]al en un [[nationalisme]].
+=== Rome to revolution ===
+The borders of modern France are approximately the same as those of ancient [[Gaul]], which was inhabited by [[Celt]]ic ''Gauls''. Gaul was conquered for [[Roman Empire|Rome]] by [[Julius Caesar]] in the 1st century BC, and the Gauls eventually adopted [[Romance languages|Roman]] speech ([[Latin]], from which the [[French language]] evolved) and Roman culture. [[History of Christianity|Christianity]] took root in the 2nd and 3rd centuries AD, and became so firmly established by the fourth and fifth centuries that [[St. Jerome]] wrote that Gaul was the only region "free from heresy".
-=== Préhistoire, Protohistoire et Antiquité ===
+In the 4th century AD, Gaul's eastern frontier along the [[Rhine]] was overrun by [[Germanic peoples|Germanic tribes]], principally the [[Franks]], from whom the ancient name of "Francie" was derived. The modern name "France" derives from the name of the feudal domain of the [[House of Capet|Capetian]] Kings of France around Paris. The Franks were the first tribe among the Germanic conquerors of Europe after the fall of the Roman Empire to convert to [[Catholic]] Christianity rather than [[Arianism]] (their King [[Clovis]] did so in 498) ; thus France obtained the title "Eldest daughter of the Church" (''La fille ainée de l'Église'') , and the French would adopt this as justification for calling themselves "the Most Christian Kingdom of France".
-[[Image:Siege-alesia-vercingetorix-jules-cesar.jpg|thumb|left|[[Vercingétorix]] se livre à [[Jules César]] à l'issue du [[siège d'Alésia]].]]
-{{Article détaillé|Gaule|Gaule romaine}}
-La présence humaine sur le territoire de la France actuelle remonte au [[Paléolithique inférieur]]. L'un des sites les plus anciens (- {{formatnum:1800000}} ans), contesté par certains auteurs, est le site de [[Chilhac]] ([[Haute-Loire]]). Plusieurs sites français ont donné leur nom à des faciès culturels, tels que l'[[Acheuléen]], le [[Moustérien]], le [[Solutréen]] ou le [[Magdalénien]]. Le territoire national compte un nombre important de [[grotte ornée|grottes ornées]] du [[Paléolithique supérieur]] dont la plus connue est sans doute [[Grotte de Lascaux|Lascaux]] ([[Dordogne (département)|Dordogne]], -{{formatnum:15000}}). À partir de [[LXXe siècle av. J.-C.|-7000]] environ, la région entre dans le [[Néolithique]], le plus ancien village connu étant le site de [[Courthézon]] ([[Vaucluse]]), daté de [[XLVIe siècle av. J.-C.|4560 av. J.-C.]] environ.
+Existence as a separate entity began with the [[Treaty of Verdun]] (843) , with the division of [[Charlemagne]]'s [[Carolingian]] empire into [[East Francia]], [[Middle Francia]] and [[Western Francia]]. Western Francia approximated the area occupied by modern France and was the precursor to modern France.
-Arrivés vers [[-900]] sur le territoire de la France actuelle, les [[Celtes]] en occupent l’ensemble au {{-s|III|e}}. Vers [[-680|680 av. J.-C.]], le littoral méditerranéen voit l’arrivée des premiers [[colonisation grecque|colons grecs]], avec la fondation du comptoir d’[[Antibes]].
+The [[Carolingian]]s ruled France until 987, when [[Hugh Capet of France|Hugh Capet]], Duke of France and Count of Paris, was crowned King of France. His descendants, the [[House of Capet|Direct Capetians]], the [[House of Valois]] and the [[House of Bourbon]], progressively unified the country through a series of wars and dynastic inheritance. The monarchy reached its height during the 17th century and the reign of [[Louis XIV of France|Louis XIV]]. At this time France possessed the largest population in Europe (see [[Demographics of France]]) and had tremendous influence over European politics, economy, and culture. [[French]] became, and remained for some time, the common language of diplomacy in International affairs. Much of the [[Enlightenment]] occurred in French intellectual circles, and major scientific breakthroughs were achieved by French scientists in the 18th century. In addition, France obtained many overseas possessions in the Americas, Africa and Asia.
-La [[Gaule]] passe sous la domination romaine vers [[-125|125 av. J.-C.]] pour la [[Gaule narbonnaise]], et en [[-51|51 av. J.-C.]], après la [[guerre des Gaules]], pour le reste du territoire. Sous l’[[Empire romain|Empire]], une civilisation gallo-romaine prospère se développe, apportant à la France une base de culture latine et conduisant indirectement à la christianisation, qui s’opère lentement du {{sp|II|e|au|VI|e}}.
+=== Monarchy to republic ===
+[[Image:Surrender of Lord Cornwallis.jpg|thumb|Lord Cornwallis' surrender following the [[Siege of Yorktown]]. French participation was decisive in this battle, 1781]]
-=== Haut Moyen Âge ===
+The monarchy ruled France until the [[French Revolution]], in 1789. [[King Louis XVI]] and his wife, [[Marie Antoinette]], were executed, along with thousands of other French citizens. After a series of short-lived governmental schemes, [[Napoleon I of France|Napoleon Bonaparte]] seized control of the Republic in 1799, making himself [[First Consul]], and later [[Emperor]] of what is now known as the [[First French Empire]] (1804–1814). In the course of [[Napoleonic Wars|several wars]], his armies conquered most of continental Europe, with members of the [[Bonaparte]] family being appointed as monarchs of newly established kingdoms.
-{{Article détaillé|Grandes invasions|Mérovingiens|Carolingiens}}
-La Gaule connaît à partir du {{s|V|e}} l’époque des [[grandes migrations|migrations barbares]], avec la présence de plusieurs peuples, notamment les [[Burgondes]], les [[Wisigoths]] et les [[Francs]].
-Une grande partie des régions constituant la France actuelle sont réunies sous [[Clovis Ier|Clovis]] en [[507]] (réunion sous la domination franque, ou ''regnum francorum'', des [[Alamans]], des [[Burgondes]] et des [[Wisigoths]] au nord des [[Pyrénées]]). Ce « royaume des Francs » qui s’exerce sur ce que l’on appelait encore la Gaule tire sa légitimité et son unité de sa romanité culturelle. Mais il est partagé puis réuni à de multiples reprises au gré des héritages des héritiers de Clovis (dynastie des [[Mérovingiens]]). Ces royaumes ultérieurs s’appellent [[Neustrie]] (Paris), [[Austrasie]] (Metz), [[Bourgogne]] (Chalon), [[Aquitaine]] (Bordeaux).
+Following Napoleon's final defeat in 1815 at the [[Battle of Waterloo]], the French monarchy was re-established, but with new constitutional limitations. In 1830, a [[July Revolution|civil uprising]] established the [[constitutional monarchy|constitutional]] [[July Monarchy]], which lasted until 1848. The short-lived [[French Second Republic|Second Republic]] ended in 1852 when [[Napoleon III of France|Louis-Napoléon Bonaparte]] proclaimed the [[Second French Empire]]. Louis-Napoléon was unseated following defeat in the [[Franco-Prussian War|Franco-Prussian war]] of 1870 and his regime was replaced by the [[French Third Republic|Third Republic]].
-À partir du milieu du {{VIIIe siècle}} [[Pépin le Bref]], roi des Francs non [[Mérovingiens|mérovingien]], étend considérablement le royaume des Francs, bientôt érigé en [[Empire d'Occident carolingien|Empire]] par son fils [[Charlemagne]] et son petit-fils [[Louis le Pieux]]. Après la mort de Louis, son domaine est partagé en trois parties où l’autorité centrale s’effondre rapidement, ramenant l’organisation de la région à la situation antérieure : la ''[[Francia orientalis]]'' (à l’[[est (point cardinal)|est]]), la ''[[Francia occidentalis]]'' (à l’[[ouest (point cardinal)|ouest]]) et entre les deux l’éphémère [[Lotharingie]], domaine d’un empereur très théorique. La partie orientale correspond à ce qui devint plus tard l’[[Allemagne]] et la partie occidentale, à la France. C’est de [[842]], avec les [[serments de Strasbourg]] passés entre les petits-fils de Charlemagne, que date la source la plus  ancienne attestant l’usage de deux langues différentes de part et d’autre du [[Rhin]] (le [[tudesque]] et le [[roman (langue)|roman]]). Ce texte a donc souvent été présenté comme l’acte fondateur de la France (et de l’Allemagne). Des descendants de Charlemagne — les [[Carolingiens]] — conservent une influence symbolique sur des territoires correspondant très grossièrement à la France jusqu’en [[987]], date à laquelle le duc [[Hugues Capet]] est élu [[Roi de France|roi des Francs]].
+France had [[Colony|colonial]] possessions, in various forms, since the beginning of the 17th century until the 1960s. In the 19th and 20th centuries, its [[Global Empire|global]] overseas colonial empire was the second largest in the world behind the [[British Empire]]. At its peak, between 1919 and 1939, the second French colonial empire extended over 12,347,000 square kilometres (4,767,000&nbsp;sq&nbsp;mi) of land. Including [[metropolitan France]], the total area of land under French [[sovereignty]] reached 12,898,000 square kilometres (4,980,000 sq mi) in the 1920s and 1930s, which is 8.6% of the world's land area.
+[[Image:Eugène Delacroix - La liberté guidant le peuple.jpg|thumb|[[Eugène Delacroix]] - ''[[Liberty Leading the People|La Liberté guidant le peuple]]'' ("Liberty leading the People") , a symbol of the [[July Revolution|French Revolution of 1830]]]]
-=== Temps féodaux ===
+Though ultimately a victor in [[World War I]], France suffered enormous human and material losses that weakened it for decades to come. The 1930s were marked by a variety of social reforms introduced by the Popular Front government. At the start of [[World War II]], France held a series of unsuccessful rescue campaigns in [[Norway]], [[Belgium]] and [[The Netherlands]] from 1939 to 1940. Upon the May-June 1940 [[Nazi Germany|Nazi German]] [[blitzkrieg]] and its [[Italian fascism|Fascist Italian]] support, France's political leadership disregarded [[Winston Churchill|Churchill]]'s proposal of a [[Franco-British Union]] and signed the [[Armistice with France (Second Compiègne)|''Second Armistice at Compiègne'' surrender]] on [[June 22]] [[1940]]. The Germans established a puppet regime under Marshal [[Philippe Pétain]] known as [[Vichy France]], which pursued a policy of collaboration with Nazi Germany. The regime's opponents formed the [[Free French Forces]] outside of France and the [[French Resistance]] inside. France was liberated with the joint effort of the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, the Free French Forces and the French resistance in 1944. Soon the Nouvelle Armée Française ("new French army") was established with the massive help of US-built material and equipment, and pursued the fight along the Allies in various battles including the campaign of Italy.
-[[Image:Lenepveu, Jeanne d'Arc au siège d'Orléans.jpg|thumb|180px|[[Jeanne d'Arc]] au [[Guerre de Cent Ans|siège d'Orléans]]]]
-{{Article détaillé|Capétiens|Maison capétienne de Valois}}
-Hugues Capet, en modifiant les règles de succession, crée les conditions qui permettront, au long des siècles suivants, la constitution de la France. Ses descendants, les [[Capétiens]] règnent alors sur la France, en trois dynasties successives (Capétiens directs, [[Maison capétienne de Valois|Valois]] et [[Maison capétienne de Bourbon|Bourbons]]), jusqu’en 1792 lorsque [[Louis XVI]] est déposé lors de la [[Révolution française]], puis durant un intermède de trente ans, de [[1814]] à [[1848]].
-Les premiers rois de la dynastie étendent progressivement le [[domaine royal]], consolident la royauté franque malgré l’opposition des [[Plantagenêt]]s, qui se matérialise par la [[guerre de Cent Ans]]. Mais ce n’est qu’à la fin du {{s-|XII|e}} que [[Philippe II de France|Philippe Auguste]] étend pour la troisième fois en un millénaire l’autorité du roi des Francs des Pyrénées à la Manche. C’est à cette époque qu’on commence à employer l’expression ''royaume de France'', et que celui-ci acquiert un poids comparable à celui de l’[[Angleterre]] ou du [[Saint Empire romain germanique]]. Les derniers siècles du [[Moyen Âge]], marqués par les crises de la Guerre de Cent Ans et de la [[peste noire]], renforcent finalement l’autorité royale, qui ne devient incontestable qu’au {{s-|XV|e}}, avec [[Louis XI]].
+The [[French Fourth Republic]] was established after World War II and struggled to maintain its economic and political status as a dominant [[Nation-state|nation state]]. France attempted to hold on to its [[colonial empires|colonial empire]], but soon ran into trouble. The half-hearted 1946 attempt at regaining control of [[French Indochina]] resulted in the [[First Indochina War]], which ended in French defeat at the [[Battle of Dien Bien Phu]] in 1954. Only months later, France faced a new, even harsher [[Algerian War|conflict]] in its oldest major colony, [[Algeria]].
-=== Renaissance et absolutisme ===
+The debate over whether or not to keep control of Algeria, then home to over one million European settlers, wracked the country and nearly led to civil war. In 1958, the weak and unstable Fourth Republic gave way to the [[Fifth French Republic|Fifth Republic]], which contained a strengthened Presidency. In the latter role, [[Charles de Gaulle]] managed to keep the country together while taking steps to end the war. The Algerian War and Franco-French civil war that resulted in the capital [[Algiers]], was concluded with peace negotiations in 1962 that led to Algerian independence.
-[[Image:Louis XIV of France.jpg|thumb|left|180px|[[Louis XIV]] en costume de sacre]]
-{{Article détaillé|Renaissance (période historique){{!}}Renaissance|Ancien Régime}}
-À la fin du [[Moyen Âge]] l’Espagne des rois catholiques et les possessions des [[Habsbourg]] s’unissent, ce qui donne naissance à l’empire de [[Charles Quint]]. [[François Ier de France|François I{{er}}]] et son fils [[Henri II de France|Henri II]] luttent contre cette nouvelle puissance avec des succès et des revers. Mais les [[Guerres de religion (France)|guerres de religion]] qui marquent la seconde moitié du {{s|XVI|e}} et le règne des derniers Valois ([[François II de France|François II]], [[Charles IX de France|Charles IX]], [[Henri III de France|Henri III]]) éloignent la France du théâtre européen.
+In recent decades, France's reconciliation and cooperation with [[Germany]] have proved central to the political and economic integration of the evolving [[European Union]], including the introduction of the [[euro]] in January 1999. France has been at the forefront of the European Union member states seeking to exploit the momentum of monetary union to create a more unified and capable European Union political, defence, and security apparatus. However, the French electorate voted against ratification of the [[Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe|European Constitutional Treaty]] in May 2005.
-Il faut attendre [[Henri IV de France|Henri IV]], puis [[Louis XIII de France|Louis XIII]] et son ministre [[Richelieu]], pour que la prépondérance espagnole soit remise en cause au profit de la France. Malgré la disparition prématurée de ces acteurs, l’équilibre des forces est rétabli puis renversé, par de grands politiques comme [[Mazarin]], notamment en [[1648]] (traité de [[Westphalie]]) et [[1659]] ([[traité des Pyrénées]]).
+== Government ==
+{{main|Government of France|Constitution of France|Politics of France}}<!--Please add new information to relevant articles of the series-->
+[[Image:Logo de la République française.svg|thumb|Logo of the French republic]]
-Dans le domaine colonial, le bilan est en revanche mitigé&nbsp;: malgré un bon départ en Amérique avec l’expédition de [[Jacques Cartier]] sous [[François Ier de France|François  I{{er}}]], une implantation réussie aux [[Antilles]], en [[Louisiane]], et au [[Sénégal]] sous [[Louis XIV]], le manque de détermination de [[Louis XV]] a conduit à de graves échecs devant les Anglais en [[Inde]] et au [[Canada]], et, ainsi, à rompre la dynamique créée par ses prédécesseurs.
+The French Republic is a [[unitary state|unitary]] [[semi-presidential system|semi-presidential]] [[republic]] with strong democratic traditions. The [[Constitution of France|constitution]] of the Fifth Republic was approved by [[referendum]] on [[28 September]] [[1958]]. It greatly strengthened the authority of the executive in relation to [[Government of France#The legislative branch|parliament]]. The executive branch itself has two leaders: the [[President of the French Republic|President of the Republic]], who is elected directly by universal adult suffrage for a 5-year term (formerly 7 years) and is the Head of State, and the Government, led by the president-appointed [[Prime Minister of France|Prime Minister]].
-=== La Révolution et l’Empire ===
+The French [[Parliament of France|parliament]] is a bicameral legislature comprising a [[French National Assembly|National Assembly]] (''Assemblée Nationale'') and a [[French Senate|Senate]]. The National Assembly deputies represent local constituencies and are directly elected for 5-year terms. The Assembly has the power to dismiss the cabinet, and thus the majority in the Assembly determines the choice of government. Senators are chosen by an electoral college for 6-year terms (originally 9-year terms) , and one half of the seats are submitted to election every 3 years starting in September 2008.<ref name="Senat">[[French Senate]] |publisher= |year=2006 |url=http://www.senat.fr/role/index.html |title=Rôle et fonctionnement du Sénat |accessdate=2006-04-20</ref>  The [[French Senate|Senate]]'s legislative powers are limited; in the event of disagreement between the two chambers, the National Assembly has the final say, except for constitutional laws and ''lois organiques'' (laws that are directly provided for by the constitution) in some cases. The government has a strong influence in shaping the agenda of Parliament.
-{{Article détaillé|Révolution française|Consulat (histoire de France)|Premier Empire|Cent-Jours}}
-Les difficultés financières, le refus des réformes et l’impatience du peuple conduisent à la [[Révolution française]], de [[1789]] à [[1799]]. Cet épisode marquant dans la construction de l’histoire nationale voit naître notamment la [[Déclaration des droits de l'homme et du citoyen de 1789|Déclaration des droits de l’homme et du citoyen de 1789]] et de la promotion des idéaux de [[liberté, égalité, fraternité]].
+French politics are characterised by two politically opposed groupings: one [[Left-wing politics|left-wing]], centred around the [[Socialist Party (France)|French Socialist Party]], and the other [[Right-wing politics|right-wing]], centred previously around the [[Rally for the Republic|Rassemblement pour la République (RPR)]] and now its successor the [[Union pour un Mouvement Populaire|Union for a Popular Movement]]. The executive branch is currently composed mostly of the UPM.
-La Révolution se déroule en plusieurs phases et commence par un essai de [[monarchie constitutionnelle]], avec la réunion des [[États généraux de 1789|États généraux]], puis la [[prise de la Bastille]] le [[14 juillet]] [[1789]], les troubles politiques et sociaux (opposition du [[tiers état]] face à la [[noblesse]]) aboutissent à la chute de la monarchie, le 10 août [[1792]]. L’ébullition révolutionnaire conduit à une succession de régimes ([[République]] de la [[Convention]], [[Directoire]], [[Consulat (histoire de France)|Consulat]]), tous en conflit quasi permanent avec les autres pays européens restés monarchistes, inquiets d’une propagation des idées républicaines.
+== Conventions and notations ==
-À partir de [[1799]], [[Napoléon Ier|Napoléon Bonaparte]] prend le pouvoir, d’abord comme Premier consul, puis comme [[empereur]]. Cette période voit l’instauration de nouvelles [[institution]]s, tandis que la France s’étend militairement à travers l’Europe, avant une période de sérieux revers. Cette période s’achève par la restauration des Bourbons en [[1815]].
+* France is the home of the [[International System of Units]] (the metric system). The [[Imperial System]] is almost completely ignored in France. Some pre-metric units are still used, essentially the ''[[Pound (mass) #French livre or pound|livre]]'' (a unit of weight equal to half a [[kilogram]]) and the ''[[quintal]]'' (a unit of weight equal to 100 kilograms).
+* In mathematics, France uses the [[infix notation]] like most countries. For large numbers the [[Long and short scales|long scale]] is used. Thus, the French use the word ''billion'' for what English speakers call a [[trillion]]. However, there exists a French word, ''milliard'', for what the English speakers call a [[billion]]. Thus, despite the use of the long scale, one billion is called ''un milliard'' ("one milliard") in French, and not ''mille millions'' ("one thousand million"). It should also be noted that names of numbers above the ''milliard'' are rarely used. Thus, one trillion will most often be called ''mille milliards'' ("one thousand milliard") in French, and rarely ''un billion''.
+* In the French numeral notation, the comma (,) is the [[Decimal separator]], whereas the dot (.) is used between each group of three digits especially for big numbers. A space can also be used to separate each group of three digits especially for small numbers. Thus three thousand five hundred and ten may be written as 3 510 whereas fifteen million five hundred thousand and thirty-two may be written as 15.500.032. In finances the symbol associated to the currency is put after the numbers and not before. For example €25,000.00 is written 25 000,00 € (always with an extra space between the figure and the currency symbol, and often a space between every block of 3 digits).
+* Cars are [[Driving on the left or right|driven on right]].
+* In computing, if a [[bit]] is still called a bit a [[byte]] is called an [[octet (computing)|octet]] (from the Latin root ''octo'', meaning "8"). [[SI prefix]]es are used.
+* [[24-hour clock]] time is used, with h being the separator between hours and minutes (for example 2pm30 is 14h30).
+* The all-numeric form for dates is in the order day-month-year, using a slash as the separator (example: 31/12/1992 or 31/12/92).
-=== Le {{s-|XIX|e}} ===
+== Law ==
-{{Article détaillé|Restauration française|Monarchie de Juillet|Deuxième République (France){{!}}Deuxième République|Second Empire}}
+{{main|Law of France}}
-[[Image:Eugène Delacroix - La liberté guidant le peuple.jpg|thumb|181px|left|La [[Trois Glorieuses|Révolution de 1830]] illustrée par [[Eugène Delacroix]] dans ''[[La Liberté guidant le peuple]]'']]
+[[Image:Declaration of Human Rights.jpg|thumb|upright|The basic principles that the French Republic must respect are found in the 1789 [[Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen]]]]
-La Restauration de 1815 marque le début d’une nouvelle tentative de monarchie constitutionnelle, mais les tensions des règnes de [[Louis XVIII]] puis surtout de [[Charles X de France|Charles X]] conduisent à la [[Trois Glorieuses|Révolution de 1830]] qui porte [[Louis-Philippe Ier|Louis-Philippe I{{er}}]] au pouvoir. De [[1830]] à [[1848]], la [[Monarchie de Juillet]] est un régime soutenu par la bourgeoisie, mais qui suscite une opposition [[légitimisme|légitimiste]], [[bonapartisme|bonarpartiste]] et surtout [[République|républicaine]].
+France uses a [[civil law (legal system)|civil legal]] system; that is, law arises primarily from written statutes; judges are not to make law, but merely to interpret it (though the amount of judge interpretation in certain areas makes it equivalent to [[case law]]). Basic principles of the [[rule of law]] were laid in the [[Napoleonic Code]]. In agreement with the principles of the [[Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen]] law should only prohibit actions detrimental to society. As [[Guy Canivet]], first president of the [[Court of Cassation (France)|Court of Cassation]], wrote about the management of prisons: [http://www.reseauvoltaire.net/article7985.html]
+:''Freedom is the rule, and its restriction is the exception; any restriction of Freedom must be provided for by Law and must follow the principles of necessity and proportionality.''
+That is, law may lay out prohibitions only if they are needed, and if the inconveniences caused by this restriction do not exceed the inconveniences that the prohibition is supposed to remedy.
-Cette dernière entraîne la [[révolution française de 1848|révolution de février 1848]] qui voit une tentative de régime présidentiel, la Seconde République.
+French law is divided into two principal areas: [[private law]] and [[public law]]. Private law includes, in particular, [[Civil law (legal system)|civil law]] and [[criminal law]]. Public law includes, in particular, [[administrative law]] and [[constitutional law]]. However, in practical terms, French law comprises three principal areas of law: civil law; criminal law and administrative law.
-Le [[2 décembre]] [[1851]], le président de la République, [[Louis-Napoléon Bonaparte]], neveu de {{Napoléon Ier}}, organise un coup d’État. Le [[14 janvier]] [[1852]], il est nommé empereur sous le nom de [[Napoléon III]]. Sous le [[Second Empire]], le pays connaît les débuts de la [[Portail:Industrie|deuxième industrialisation]], impulsée par des orientations économiques libérales, fondées sur des constructions capitalistiques fortement structurantes (banques d’affaires, compagnies de chemin de fer et maritimes, industries lourdes et textiles, grands magasins, etc.). Sur le plan de la politique extérieure, [[Napoléon III]] s’assure la confiance du [[Royaume-Uni]] ([[guerre de Crimée]]) qui permet d’assoir l’influence de la France au [[Proche-Orient]] tandis que son action en [[Italie]], contre l’[[Autriche]], est couronnée de succès et conduit à la réunion à la France de régions du [[Piémont]] ([[Savoie]], [[Nice]]). Néanmoins, de graves revers ternissent considérablement l’image du régime, et renforcent une opposition extérieure ([[Victor Hugo]]) et intérieure. Le pari de la lutte contre la [[Prusse]] pour redonner un certain lustre à l’Empire, précipite en fait sa chute. Il se termine ainsi en [[1870]] après la défaite de [[Bataille de Sedan|Sedan]]. La perte de l’[[Alsace-Lorraine]] et les considérables indemnités dues à l’[[Empire allemand]] créé à la faveur de l’avantage pris par la [[Prusse]], conduisent à un ressentiment national fort (la [[Revanchisme|Revanche]]).Un fait significatif pour les évènements suivants sera que la croissance de la population italienne et surtout allemande dépasse de loin celle des français,la France qui était le pays le plus peuplé d'Europe pendant la révolution.
+France does not recognise [[religious law]], nor does it recognise religious beliefs or morality as a motivation for the enactment of prohibitions. As a consequence, France has long had neither [[blasphemy]] laws nor [[sodomy law]]s (the latter being abolished in 1791). However "offences against [[public decency]]" (''contraires aux bonnes mœurs'') or [[breach of the peace]] (''trouble à l'ordre public'') have been used to repress public expressions of [[homosexuality]] or street [[prostitution]].
-=== De la Troisième République à la Libération ===
+Laws can only address the future and not the past ([[ex post facto]] laws are prohibited) ; and to be applicable, laws must be officially published in the ''[[Journal Officiel de la République Française]]''.
-[[Image:Degradation alfred dreyfus.jpg|thumb|200px|L'emblématique [[Affaire Dreyfus]]]]
-{{Article détaillé|Troisième République|Première Guerre mondiale|Entre-deux-guerres|Régime de Vichy}}
-La [[guerre franco-allemande de 1870|guerre de 1870]] entraîne la chute du Second Empire et le retour à la [[république]], après l’insurrection de la [[Commune de Paris (1871)|Commune de Paris]]. Le Second Empire avait évolué vers un [[régime parlementaire]], et son héritage est en partie repris par la [[Troisième République (France)|{{IIIe}} République]]. Après quelques années d’hésitation, la Troisième République est finalement confirmée en [[1875]], la pratique des institutions en faisant un [[régime d'assemblée|régime d’assemblée]].
+== Foreign relations ==
+[[Image:Armoiries république française.svg|right]]
+{{main|Foreign relations of France}}
+{{see also|European Union|Latin Union|Francophonie|United Nations Security Council}}
-Sous la Troisième République, la France étend son [[Second espace colonial français|empire colonial]], dont la conquête avait commencé sous les monarchies du {{s-|XIX|e}} ([[Afrique]] occidentale et équatoriale, [[Maroc]], [[Tunisie]], [[Madagascar]], [[Indochine française|Indochine]]).
+France is a member of the [[United Nations]] and serves as one of the permanent members of the [[U.N. Security Council]] with [[veto]] rights. It is also a member of the [[WTO]], the [[Secretariat of the Pacific Community]] (SPC) , the [[Indian Ocean Commission]] (COI). It is an associate member of the [[Association of Caribbean States]] (ACS) and a leading member of the [[La Francophonie|International Francophone Organisation]] (OIF) of fifty-one fully or partly French-speaking countries. It hosts the headquarters of the [[Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development|OECD]], [[UNESCO]], [[Interpol]], [[Alliance Base]] and the [[International Bureau of Weights and Measures|International Bureau for Weights and Measures]]. In 1953 France received a request from the [[United Nations]] to pick a coat of arms that would represent it internationally. Thus the French emblem was adopted and is currently used on passports.
-Sortie victorieuse, mais au prix de souffrances démographiques et économiques immenses de la [[Première Guerre mondiale]], la France connaît une période de crise économique et politique dans les [[années 1930]]. La défaite de 1940 conduit à l’attribution par vote des pleins pouvoirs au maréchal [[Philippe Pétain|Pétain]] pendant la [[Seconde Guerre mondiale]]. Celui-ci remplace la république par un [[Régime de Vichy|État français]] contesté par la [[France libre]] du [[Charles de Gaulle|général de Gaulle]] jusqu’en [[1944]].
+French foreign policy has been largely shaped by membership of the [[European Union]], of which it was a founding member. In the 1960s, France sought to exclude the British from the organization, seeking to build its own standing in continental Europe. Since the 1990s, France has developed close ties with reunified Germany to become the most influential driving force of the EU, but consequently rivaling the U.K. and limiting the influence of newly-inducted East European nations. France is a member of the [[North Atlantic Treaty Organization]], but under President de Gaulle, it excluded itself from the joint military command to avoid the supposed domination of its foreign and security policies by U.S. political and military influence. In the early 1990s, the country drew considerable criticism from other nations for its underground nuclear tests in [[Polynesia]]. France vigorously opposed the [[2003 invasion of Iraq]], straining bilateral relations with the U.S. and the U.K. France retains strong political and economic influence in its former African colonies and has supplied economic aid and troops for peace-keeping missions in the [[Ivory Coast]] and [[Chad]].
-=== La France contemporaine ===
+== Military ==
-{{Article détaillé|France depuis 1945|Quatrième République|Cinquième République}}
+{{main|Military of France}}
-[[Image:De Gaulle-OWI.jpg|thumb|left|180px|Le [[Général]] [[Charles de Gaulle]]]]
+{{see also|Military history of France}}
+[[Image:Gaule96.jpg|thumb|[[Charles de Gaulle (R 91)|Nuclear aircraft carrier ''Charles de Gaulle'']]]]
-À la suite de la Seconde Guerre mondiale, la [[Quatrième République]] est promulguée le [[27 octobre]] [[1946]], mais elle fait face à de graves difficultés dans l’Empire colonial, d’abord en [[Guerre d'Indochine|Indochine]], puis en [[Guerre d'Algérie|Algérie]], tandis qu’ailleurs la [[décolonisation]] se fait par négociation. L’instabilité gouvernementale qui en résulte, génère finalement une crise qui conduit à un changement de constitution. Pourtant, malgré les changements fréquents de ministères, une certaine constance de la politique de construction européenne a permis de participer activement tout d’abord à la [[Communauté européenne du charbon et de l'acier|Communauté européenne du charbon et de l’acier]] en [[1950]], puis à la signature du [[traité de Rome]] en [[1957]] fondateur du [[marché commun européen|Marché commun]]. Par ailleurs, la politique de développement de l’industrie nucléaire tant civile que militaire, a permis d’assoir une politique indépendante dans les années [[1960]].
+The French [[armed forces]] are divided into four branches:
+* [[French Army|Armée de Terre]] (Army)
+* [[French Navy|Marine Nationale]] (Navy)
+* [[French Air Force|Armée de l'Air]] (Air Force)
+* [[French Gendarmerie|Gendarmerie Nationale]] (A military force which acts as a National Rural Police and as a [[Military police]] for the entire French military)
-La Constitution de la [[Cinquième République|V{{e}} République]], rédigée sous l’influence du [[Charles de Gaulle|général de Gaulle]] et de [[Michel Debré]], est adoptée le [[4 octobre]] [[1958]]. Elle met en place une [[République]] à [[régime parlementaire]] qui s’avère mieux résister aux instabilités que les républiques parlementaires précédentes. En [[1962]], la conjonction de l’élection du président de la République au suffrage universel direct et du fait majoritaire au Parlement favorable au président vont modifier la Constitution pour en avoir une lecture favorable au président. On parle alors de régime parlementaire présidentialisé. Ce cas est unique à la France ; dans tous les autres régimes parlementaires, le chef de l’État s’est systématiquement effacé au profit du chef de gouvernement, qui est soutenu par la majorité parlementaire. [[Maurice Duverger]], lui, a souhaité définir la V{{e}} comme relevant d’une nouvelle catégorie, celle du [[régime semi-présidentiel]]. Cette typologie n’est cependant pas acceptée par tous.
+Since the [[Algerian War]], [[conscription]] was steadily reduced and was finally suspended in 2001 by [[Jacques Chirac]]. The total number of military personnel is approximately 359,000. France spends 2.6% of its [[GDP]] on defence, slightly more than the United Kingdom (2.4%) , and is the highest in the European Union where defence spending is generally less than 1.5% of GDP. Together they account for 40% of EU defence spending. About 10% of France's defence budget goes towards its ''[[force de frappe]]'', or [[France and weapons of mass destruction|nuclear weapons]]. A significant part of French military equipment is made in France. Examples include the [[Rafale]] fighter, the  [[Charles de Gaulle (R 91)|Charles de Gaulle]] aircraft carrier, the [[Exocet]] missile, and the [[Leclerc]] tank. Some weaponry, like the [[E-2 Hawkeye]] or the [[E-3 Sentry]] was bought from the United States. Despite withdrawing from the [[Eurofighter]] project, France is actively investing in European joint projects such as the [[Eurocopter Tiger]], [[FREMM multipurpose frigate|multipurpose frigates]], the [[UCAV]] demonstrator [[nEUROn]] and the [[Airbus A400M]]. France is a major arms seller as most of its arsenal's designs are available for the export market with the notable exception of nuclear powered devices. Some of the French designed equipments are specifically designed for exports like the Franco-Spanish [[Scorpène class submarine]]s. Some French equipments have been largely modified to fit allied countries' requirements like the [[Formidable class frigate]]s (based on the La Fayette class) or the [[Agosta 90B class submarine|Hashmat class submarine]]s (based on the Agosta class submarines).
-À partir de [[1973]], l’économie française connaît une succession de [[crise économique|crises économiques]] et de périodes de faible croissance, qui entraînent une alternance fréquente au sein du pouvoir. De [[1986]] à [[1988]], puis de [[1993]] à [[1995]] et enfin de [[1997]] à [[2002]], le phénomène de la [[cohabitation]] (annulation du fait majoritaire favorable au Président, ce qui fait que le Premier ministre est d’un différent bord politique que celui du Président) modifie encore la lecture de la Constitution, pour revenir à une lecture plus proche de sa conception en 1958, c’est-à-dire un régime parlementaire.
+* Although it includes very competent anti-terrorist units such as the [[GIGN]] or the [[Escadron Parachutiste d'Intervention de la Gendarmerie Nationale|EPIGN]] the gendarmerie is a military police force which serves for the most part as a rural and general purpose police force. Since its creation the GIGN has taken part in roughly one thousand operations and freed over five-hundred hostages; the [[Air France Flight 8969]]'s hijacking brought them to the world's attention.
-Depuis les [[années 1950]], la réconciliation, puis la coopération avec l’[[Allemagne]] ont permis à la France de jouer un rôle de moteur dans la construction européenne, notamment avec la [[Communauté économique européenne]]. Elle est devenue l’un des principaux pays de l’[[Union européenne]], partisan d’une Europe politique forte, bien qu'elle ait rejetée la [[Traité de Rome de 2004|Constitution européenne]] par 55% des suffrages le [[29 mai 2005]].
+* French intelligence can be divided into two major units: the [[Direction générale de la sécurité extérieure|DGSE]] (the external agency) and the [[Direction de la surveillance du territoire|DST]] (domestic agency). The latter being part of the police while the former is associated to the army. The DGSE is notorious for the [[Sinking of the Rainbow Warrior]], but it is also known for revealing the most extensive technological spy network uncovered in Europe and the United States to date through the mole [[Vladimir Vetrov]].
-== Politique ==
+* The French "''[[Force de frappe]]''" relies on a complete independence. The current French nuclear force consists of four submarines equipped with [[M45 SLBM|M45]] ballistic missiles. The current [[Le Triomphant class submarine|''Triomphant'']] class is currently under deployment to replace the former [[Le Redoutable class submarine|''Redoutable'']] class. The [[M51 SLBM|M51]] will replace the M45 in the future and expand the ''Triomphant''s firing range. Aside of the submarines the French dissuasion force uses the [[Dassault Mirage 2000N/2000D|Mirage 2000N]]; it is a variant of the Mirage 2000 and thus is designed to deliver nuclear strikes. Other nuclear devices like the [[Plateau d'Albion]]'s [[Intercontinental ballistic missiles]] and the short range [[Hadès (missile)|Hadès]] missiles have been disarmed. With 350 nuclear heads stockpiled France is the world's third largest nuclear power.<ref>[http://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/world/summary.htm Comparison of recognised and alleged nuclear powers].</ref>
-[[Image:Declaration of Human Rights.jpg|thumb|200px|La République française est fondée sur la [[Déclaration des Droits de l'homme et du citoyen de 1789]].]]
-{{Article détaillé|Politique de la France}}
-La France est une République  [[constitution]]nelle, « indivisible, [[laïcité|laïque]], démocratique et sociale » (article {{Ier}} de la [[Constitution de 1958]]) à [[régime parlementaire]] présidentialisé (dont la lecture se fait en faveur du Président de la République, parfois appelé à tort ou à raison [[régime semi-présidentiel]]). La réforme constitutionnelle du 28 mars 2003 (acte II de la décentralisation) a rajouté dans ce même article que l’organisation de la République était ''[[décentralisation|décentralisée]]''.
+* The [[Marine Nationale]] is regarded as one of the world's most powerful. The professional compendium ''flottes de combats'', in its 2006 edition, ranked it world's 6th biggest navy after the American, Russian, Chinese, British and Japanese navies.[http://www.meretmarine.com/article.cfm?id=958]. It is equipped with the world's only nuclear powered Aircraft Carrier, with the exception of the American navy. Recently [[Mistral class landing platform dock|Mistral]] class ships joined the Marine Nationale, the Mistral itself having taken part to operations in Lebanon. For the 2004 centennial of the [[Entente Cordiale]] President Chirac announced the [[Future French aircraft carrier]] would be jointly designed with Great Britain. The French navy is equipied with the [[La Fayette class frigate]]s, early examples of stealth ships, and several ships are expected to be retired in the next few years and replaced by more modern ships, examples of future surface ships are the [[Horizon class frigate|Forbin]] and the [[FREMM multipurpose frigate|Aquitaine]] class frigates. The attack submarines are also part of the [[Force Océanique Stratégique]] although they do not carry the nuclear dissuasion, the current class is the [[Rubis class submarine|Rubis Class]] and will be replaced in the future by the expected [[French Barracuda class submarine|Suffren Class]].
-Avant [[1962]], le président de la République française était élu au suffrage universel indirect par un collège électoral élargi. Celui-ci était élargi pour éviter la prépondérance du pouvoir législatif sur le pouvoir exécutif qui s’était produit sous la IV{{e}} République et qui avait provoqué le blocage des institutions. En [[novembre]] [[1962]], le président de la République a demandé par référendum qu’il soit élu au suffrage universel direct, en utilisant l’article 11 de la Constitution et non l’article 89 de celle-ci. L’article 11 permet de soumettre au référendum des lois sur les pouvoirs publics, sur l’organisation des institutions ou encore sur les traités internationaux tandis que l’article 89 permet de soumettre une révision constitutionnelle au peuple mais après l’accord du Parlement réuni en Congrès. Ce choix a entraîné le renversement du gouvernement Pompidou par une [[motion de censure]]. Cette motion de censure est la seule de la V{{e}} République à avoir réussi.
+* The [[French Army|Armée de Terre]] employs 133,500 people, it is very famous for the [[French Foreign Legion|Légion Etrangère]] though the French special forces aren't the Legion but the [[13th Parachute Dragoon Regiment|Dragons Parachutistes]] and the [[1st Marine Infantry Parachute Regiment|Marines Parachutistes]]. The French assault rifle is the [[FAMAS (rifle)|FAMAS]] and future infantry combat system is the [[Félin]]. France uses both tracked and wheeled vehicles to a significant points, examples of wheeled vehicles would be the [[Camion équipé d'un système d'artillerie|Caesar]] or the [[AMX 10 RC]]. Although its main battle tank is the [[Leclerc]] many older [[AMX 30]] tanks are still operational. It uses the [[AMX 30 AuF1]] for artillery. Finally it is getting equipied with [[Eurocopter Tiger]]s helicopters.
-Dans la Constitution de la V{{e}} République, le pouvoir exécutif est renforcé au détriment du pouvoir législatif.
+* The [[French Air Force|Armée de l'Air]] is the oldest and first professional air force worldwide. It still today retains a significant capacity. It uses mainly two aircraft fighters: the older [[Dassault Mirage F1|Mirage F1]] and the more recent [[Dassault Mirage 2000|Mirage 2000]]. The later model exists in a ground attack version called the [[Dassault Mirage 2000N/2000D|Mirage2000D]]. The highly modern [[Dassault Rafale|Rafale]] is in deployment in both the French air force and navy.
-Le président a acquis des pouvoirs propres tels que le droit de dissolution de l’Assemblée nationale (article 12 de la Constitution), le droit de soumettre au peuple un référendum (article 11 de la Constitution), le pouvoir de nommer le Premier ministre (article 8 de la Constitution) ou encore le droit de message au Parlement (article 18 de la Constitution).
-En ce qui concerne le gouvernement, celui-ci détermine et mène la politique de la nation. Il dispose également du pouvoir réglementaire lui permettant de faire adopter des lois. Il fixe également les 3/4 des ordres du jour à l’Assemblée nationale.
-Depuis la réforme constitutionnelle de [[2001]], le [[président de la République]] est élu pour cinq ans au [[Suffrage universel#Suffrage universel direct et indirect|suffrage universel direct]] (contre 7 ans auparavant). Il nomme le [[Premier ministre]].
+== Transportation ==
+{{main|Transport in France}}
+[[Image:SNCF TGV-A 359 at Poitiers Futuroscope.JPG|thumb|left|A [[SNCF TGV Atlantique|TGV Atlantique]].]]
+The [[railway]] network of France, which stretches 31,840 [[kilometres]] (19,784 [[Mile|mi]]) is the most extensive in Western Europe. It is operated by the [[SNCF]], and high-speed trains include the [[Thalys]], the [[Eurostar]] and [[TGV]], which travels at 320 km/h (200 mph) in commercial use. The [[Eurostar]], along with the [[Eurotunnel Shuttle]], connects with the United Kingdom through the [[Channel Tunnel]]. Rail connections exist to all other neighbouring countries in Europe, except [[Andorra]]. Intra-urban connections are also well developed with both [[Rapid transit|underground services]] and [[tram]]way services complementing [[bus]] services.
-Le Parlement est constitué de l’[[Assemblée nationale (France)|Assemblée nationale]], réunissant 577 députés, et du [[Sénat (France)|Sénat]], comprenant actuellement 331 sénateurs (il y en aura 346 en [[2010]]) élus pour six ans au [[Suffrage universel#Suffrage universel direct et indirect|suffrage indirect]] et renouvelé de moitié tous les trois ans (à partir de 2010). Les Français de l’étranger voient leurs intérêts défendus auprès du Parlement par l’[[Assemblée des Français de l'Étranger|Assemblée des Français de l’Étranger]].
+There is approximately 893,300 kilometres (555,070 mi) of serviceable roadway in France. The Paris region is enveloped with the most dense network of roads and highways that connect it with virtually all parts of the country. French roads also handle substantial international traffic, connecting with cities in neighboring Belgium, Spain, Andorra, Monaco, Switzerland, Germany and Italy. There is no annual registration fee or road tax; however, motorway usage is through tolls except in the vicinity of large communes. The new car market is dominated by national brands such as [[Renault]] (27% of cars sold in France in 2003) , [[Peugeot]] (20.1%) and [[Citroën]] (13.5%).<ref>L'automobile magazine, hors-série 2003/2004 page 294</ref> Over 70% of new cars sold in 2004 had [[diesel]] engines, far more than contained [[petrol]] or [[Liquified petroleum gas|LPG]] engines.<ref>http://www.ademe.fr/particuliers/Fiches/voiture/rub3.htm</ref> France possesses the world's tallest road bridge: the [[Millau Viaduct]], and has built many important bridges such as the [[Pont de Normandie]].
-{| border="0" width="100%"
+There are approximately 478 [[List of airports in France|airports]] in France, including landing fields. The [[Charles de Gaulle International Airport]] located in the vicinity of [[Paris]] is the largest and busiest airport in the country, handling the vast majority of popular and commercial traffic of the country and connecting Paris with virtually all major cities across the world. [[Air France]] is the national carrier airline, although numerous private airline companies provide domestic and international travel services. There are ten major ports in France, the largest of which is in [[Marseille]], which also is the largest bordering the Mediterranean Sea. 14,932 kilometres (9,278&nbsp;mi) of waterways traverse France.
-|[[Image:Pano-lux1.jpg|thumb|left|250px|<center>'''Le siège du [[Sénat (France)|Sénat]]''' au [[palais du Luxembourg]]</center>]]<center>
-<br>[[Image:Logo de la République française.svg|160px]]
-</center>
-|[[Image:Paris Assemblee Nationale DSC00074.jpg|thumb|250px|<center>'''L'[[Assemblée nationale (France)|Assemblée Nationale]]''' au [[palais Bourbon]]</center>]]
-|}
-=== Géopolitique et puissance militaire ===
+== Administrative divisions ==
-{{Article détaillé|Armée française|Histoire militaire de la France}}
+{{Main article|Administrative divisions of France}}
-[[Image:Gaule96.jpg|thumb|Porte-avions nucléaire [[Charles de Gaulle (porte-avions)|Charles de Gaulle]]]]
+{{See also|Regions of France}}
+[[Image:France departements regions narrow.jpg|thumb|The 22 [[regions of France|regions]] and 96 [[departments of France|departments]] of [[metropolitan France]] includes [[Corsica]] (''Corse'', lower right). Paris area is expanded (inset at left)]]
-La France fait partie des cinq pays qui sont juridiquement reconnus comme « États dotés de l’arme nucléaire » par le [[traité de non-prolifération nucléaire]]. L’armée française est, avec celle du [[Royaume-Uni]], l’une des plus dotées financièrement en [[Europe]]. En effet, à elles deux, elles représentent plus de 40 % des dépenses militaires de l’[[Union européenne]].
+France is divided into 26 administrative [[Regions of France|regions]]. 22 are in metropolitan France (21 are on the continental part of metropolitan France; one is the territorial collectivity of [[Corsica]]) , and four are [[overseas region]]s. The regions are further subdivided into 100 [[Departments of France|departments]] which are numbered (mainly alphabetically). This number is used in postal codes and vehicle number plates amongst others. Four of these departments are found in the overseas regions and are simultaneously overseas regions and [[overseas department]]s and are an integral part of France (and the [[European Union]]) and thus enjoy a status similar to metropolitan departments. The 100 departments are subdivided into 341 [[Arrondissements of France|arrondissements]] which are, in turn, subdivided into 4,032 [[Cantons of France|cantons]]. These cantons are then divided into 36,680 [[Communes of France|communes]], which are municipalities with an elected municipal council. There also exist 2,588 [[Communes in France#Intercommunality|intercommunal]] entities grouping 33,414 of the 36,680 communes (i.e. 91.1% of all the communes). Three communes, Paris, Lyon and Marseille are also subdivided into 45 [[Municipal arrondissements of France|municipal arrondissements]].
-La France lui consacre 2,5 % de son [[PIB]] (pour un budget de 38 milliards d’euros en 2006), là où ses homologues européens (hors Royaume-Uni et Grèce) y consacrent 1,5 % de leur [[PIB]], d’après l’OTAN<ref>[http://www.nato.int/docu/pr/2005/p05-161f.htm Compendium Dépenses de défense des pays du COR (1985-2005)] (OTAN-Russie sur les données économiques et financières concernant la défense), OTAN Communiqués de presse du 9 décembre 2005.</ref>.
-Les forces militaires sont divisées en quatre armées principales :
+The regions, departments and communes are all known as [[territorial collectivity|territorial collectivities]], meaning they possess local assemblies as well as an executive. Arrondissements and cantons are merely administrative divisions. However, this was not always the case. Until 1940, the arrondissements were also territorial collectivities with an elected assembly, but these were suspended by the [[Vichy France|Vichy regime]] and definitely abolished by the [[French Fourth Republic|Fourth Republic]] in 1946. Historically, the cantons were also territorial collectivities with their elected assemblies.
-* l’[[Armée de terre française|Armée de terre]],
-* la [[Marine nationale]],
-* l’[[Armée de l'air (France)|Armée de l’air]],
-* la [[Gendarmerie nationale (France)|Gendarmerie nationale]].
-Depuis [[1996]], l’armée est devenue professionnelle et le service militaire réduit à une journée d’appel (mixte).
+In addition to the 26 regions and 100 departments, the French Republic also has six [[overseas collectivity|overseas collectivities]], one ''[[sui generis]]'' collectivity ([[New Caledonia]]) , and one [[overseas territory (France)|overseas territory]]. Overseas collectivities and territories form part of the French Republic, but do not form part of the European Union or its fiscal area. The Pacific territories continue to use the [[CFP franc|Pacific franc]] whose value is linked to that of the [[euro]]. In contrast, the four overseas regions used the French franc and now use the euro.
-D’une capacité de plus de {{formatnum:350000}} hommes, elle est déployée à travers le monde notamment au [[Kosovo]], en [[Côte d'Ivoire|Côte d’Ivoire]], dans ses [[territoires d'outre-mer|territoires d’outre-mer]], mais également au [[Moyen-Orient]] où elle assure un maintien de la paix, ou une sécurisation de ses moyens d’approvisionnement en pétrole notamment.
-Elle mobilise également plus de 1000 hommes dans le cadre du [[plan Vigipirate]].
-== Géographie ==
+France also maintains control over a number of small non-permanently inhabited islands in the [[Indian Ocean]] and the [[Pacific Ocean]]: [[Scattered Islands in the Indian Ocean#Bassas da India|Bassas da India]], [[Clipperton Island]], [[Scattered Islands in the Indian Ocean#Europa|Europa Island]], [[Scattered Islands in the Indian Ocean#Glorioso|Glorioso Islands]], [[Scattered Islands in the Indian Ocean#Juan de Nova|Juan de Nova Island]], [[Scattered Islands in the Indian Ocean#Tromelin|Tromelin Island]].
-{{Article détaillé|Géographie de la France|Relief de la France|Géologie de la France}}
-{{Images
-|largeur=300
-|titre=Géographie française
-|Image:Satellite image of France in August 2002.jpg|Photo satellite du territoire continental européen de la France   <small>[[août 2002]]</small>
-|Image:France Relief.gif|Carte du relief de France   <small>© [[Institut géographique national (France)|ING]]</small>
-|Image:France map FR.png|Principales villes françaises   <small>Source : CIA ''World Factbook''</small>
-|Image:Europe location FRA.png|Localisation de la France en [[Europe]]
-|Image:France blank.svg|Fleuves et rivières de France
-|Image:Altitudes maximales.PNG|Altitude maximale des départements français
-}}
-La France est le 47{{e}} État par sa surface terrestre et le 2{{e}} par la surface de sa [[zone économique exclusive]]<ref>[http://www.lefigaro.fr/international/20060821.FIG000000180_la_france_veut_accrotre_son_domaine_maritime.html « La France veut accroître son domaine maritime »], ''[[Le Figaro]]'', publié le 21 août 2006.</ref>.
+{{seealso|French metropolitan areas|List of towns in France|List of cities in France over 20,000 population (1999 census) }}
-La [[France métropolitaine]] est localisée en Europe occidentale (voir la [[liste de points extrêmes de la France]]). La France possède aussi des [[France d'outre-mer|territoires]], sous différents statuts administratifs, en dehors du territoire européen : en [[Amérique du Nord]], dans les [[Antilles]], en [[Amérique du Sud]], dans l’[[océan Indien]], dans le nord et le sud de l’[[océan Pacifique]] et en [[Antarctique]]. Elle partage en métropole 2970 km de frontières terrestres avec huit pays limitrophes : [[Espagne]] (650 km), [[Belgique]] (620 km), [[Suisse]] (572 km), [[Italie]] (515 km), [[Allemagne]] (450 km), [[Luxembourg (pays)|Luxembourg]] (73 km), [[Andorre]] (57 km), [[Monaco]] (4,5 km). En [[Guyane]], les frontières sont de 700 km<ref>[http://www.senat.fr/rap/l06-100/l06-1000.html Projet de loi entre la France et le Brésil], sur la site du [[Sénat (France)|sénat]] (Senat.fr).</ref> avec le [[Brésil]] et 520 km avec le [[Suriname]]. Une frontière longue de 10,2 km (mais non matérialisée) sur l’île de [[Saint-Martin (île)|Saint-Martin]] aux Antilles, sépare la partie française de celle sous souveraineté des [[Pays-Bas]]. Enfin la [[Terre Adélie]] ([[Terres australes et antarctiques françaises|TAAF]]) revendiquée par la France est enclavée dans une partie de l’[[Antarctique]] revendiquée par l’[[Australie]].
+== Overseas Regions ==
-Les côtes françaises présentent quatre façades maritimes tournées vers la [[mer du Nord]], la [[Manche (mer)|Manche]], l’[[océan Atlantique]] et la [[mer Méditerranée]], ce qui fait de la France un carrefour de cultures et de communications unique en Europe.
+Overseas departments have the same political status as metropolitan departments.
+* [[Guadeloupe]] (since 1946)
+* [[Martinique]] (since 1946)
+* [[French Guiana]] (since 1946)
+* [[Réunion]] (since 1946)
-D'une superficie métropolitaine de 551&nbsp;500&nbsp;km² (675 417 km² avec l'outre-mer), la France s'étend sur 1000&nbsp;km du nord au sud et d'est en ouest (plus grande distance nord-sud : [[Bray-Dunes]] - [[Cerbère (Pyrénées-Orientales)|Cerbère]]). C'est le troisième plus grand pays d'[[Europe]], après la [[Russie]] et l'[[Ukraine]] (2{{e}} si on compte l'outre-mer) et le plus grand de l'[[Union Européenne]]. La France métropolitaine a quatre façades maritimes sur (du nord au sud) : la [[Mer du Nord]], la [[Manche (mer)|Manche]], l'[[océan Atlantique]] et  la [[mer Méditerranée]]. La longueur totale de ses côtes atteint 3427&nbsp;km (en dehors des côtes corses qui mesurent environ 1000km). La France est un [[isthme]].
+== Economy ==
+{{main|Economy of France}}
+{{see also|List of French companies|Economic history of France}}
-À l'exception de sa frontière nord-est, le pays est délimité principalement par des mers et l'Océan et des frontières naturelles : [[Rhin]], [[Massif du Jura|Jura]], [[Alpes]], [[Pyrénées]].
+[[Image:A380 Reveal 2.jpg|thumb|The first completed [[Airbus A380]] at the "A380 Reveal" event in [[Toulouse]] on [[18 January]] [[2005]]. Airbus is a symbol of the globalisation of the French and European economy]]
-La France métropolitaine a une grande variété de paysages, entre les plaines côtières situées dans le nord et l’ouest et les chaînes de montagnes dans le sud-est (les [[Alpes]]) et dans le sud-ouest (les [[Pyrénées]]). Les Alpes françaises possèdent le point le plus haut d’[[Europe de l'Ouest|Europe de l’Ouest]], le [[mont Blanc]], qui culmine à 4 810&nbsp;m. Il existe aussi d’autres régions montagneuses plus anciennes, telles [[Corse|la Corse]], le [[Massif central]], le [[Massif du Jura|Jura]], les [[Massif des Vosges|Vosges]], le [[massif armoricain]] et les [[Massif ardennais|Ardennes]] qui sont assez rocheuses et boisées. La France bénéficie également d’un réseau [[Fleuve|fluvial]] étendu qui est composé principalement par la [[Loire (fleuve)|Loire]], le [[Rhône]] (source en [[Suisse]]), la [[Garonne]] (source en [[Espagne]]), la [[Seine]] et une partie des cours du [[Rhin]], de la [[Meuse (fleuve)|Meuse]], et de la [[Moselle (rivière)|Moselle]] ainsi que la [[Somme (fleuve)|Somme]], et la [[Vilaine]] qui constituent leurs propres bassins fluviaux.
+France's economy combines extensive private enterprise (nearly 2.5 million companies registered) with substantial (though declining) government intervention (see [[dirigisme]]). The government retains considerable influence over key segments of infrastructure sectors, with majority ownership of railway, electricity, aircraft, and telecommunication firms. It has been gradually relaxing its control over these sectors since the early [[1990s#Economics|1990s]]. The government is slowly selling off holdings in [[France Télécom]], [[Air France]], as well as the insurance, banking, and defence industries.
-== Divisions administratives ==
+A member of the [[G8]] group of leading industrialised countries, it is ranked as the [[List of countries by GDP (nominal)|sixth largest]] economy in the world in 2005, behind the [[United States]], [[Japan]], [[Germany]], [[The People's Republic of China]] and the [[United Kingdom]]. France joined 11 other [[European Union|EU]] members to launch the [[Euro]] on [[January 1]] [[1999]], with [[euro coins]] and [[euro banknotes|banknotes]] completely replacing the French [[French franc|franc]] (₣) in early 2002.
-{{Carte annotée régions françaises|align=right}}
+According to the [[Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development|OECD]], in 2004 France was the world's fifth-largest exporter and the fourth-largest importer of manufactured goods. In 2003, France was the 2nd-largest recipient of [[foreign direct investment]] among OECD countries at $47 [[1000000000 (number)|billion]], ranking behind Luxembourg (where foreign direct investment was essentially monetary transfers to banks located in that country) but above the United States ($39.9 billion) , the United Kingdom ($14.6 billion) , Germany ($12.9 billion) , or Japan ($6.3 billion). In the same year, French companies invested $57.3 billion outside of France, ranking France as the second most important outward direct investor in the OECD, behind the United States ($173.8 billion) , and ahead of the United Kingdom ($55.3 billion) , Japan ($28.8 billion) and Germany ($2.6 billion).
-[[Image:Administration territoriale française.svg|thumb|right|Modèle de la division administrative du territoire français]]
-Les principales divisions administratives françaises sont les [[Région française|régions]] qui sont au nombre de 26 dont 22 métropolitaines, les [[départements français|départements]] (100 dont 4 outre-mer) et les arrondissements.
-Ces derniers arrondissements sont découpés soit en cantons (pour les collèges électoraux), soit en [[Commune française|communes]] (environ [[Listes des communes de France|36 800]]) pour l’administration territoriale locale. Les cantons regroupent le plus souvent des communes complètes, toutefois certaines communes importantes sont découpées sur plusieurs cantons qui peuvent aussi comprendre d’autres communes voisines moins peuplées.
+In the 2005 edition of ''OECD in Figures'', the OECD also noted that France leads the [[G8|G7]] countries in terms of productivity [[List of countries by GDP (PPP) per capita per hour|(measured as GDP per hour worked)]].<ref name="Labour2003">{{cite web |author=[[Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development]] |publisher= |year=2005 |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1787/102008121078 |title=Labour productivity 2003 |format=[[Microsoft Excel]] |accessdate=2006-04-20}}</ref> In 2004, the GDP per hour worked in France was $47.7, ranking France above the United States ($46.3) , Germany ($42.1) , the United Kingdom ($39.6) , or Japan ($32.5).<ref name="GDP/hour2004">{{cite web |author=[[Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development]] |publisher= |year=2005 |url=http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/30/40/29867116.xls |title=Differentials in GDP per capita and their decomposition, 2004 |format=[[Microsoft Excel]] |accessdate=2006-04-20}}</ref>
-Enfin quelques communes très importantes ([[Paris]], [[Lyon]], [[Marseille]]) sont elles-mêmes divisées en arrondissements de commune pour l’administration territoriale avec des mairies locales disposant d’une certaine autonomie financière et administrative au sein du même conseil municipal.
+[[Image:La-Defense-skyline.jpg|thumb|[[La Défense]], [[Paris]] is the heart of the French economy.]]
+Despite figures showing a higher productivity per hour worked than in the US, France's GDP per capita is significantly lower than the US GDP per capita, being in fact comparable to the GDP per capita of the other European countries, which is on average 30% below the US level. The reason for this is that a much smaller percentage of the French population is working compared to the US, which lowers the GDP per capita of France, despite its higher productivity. In fact, France has one of the lowest percentages of its population aged 15-64 years at work among the OECD countries. In 2004, 68.8% of the French population aged 15-64 years was in employment, compared to 80.0% in Japan, 78.9% in the UK, 77.2% in the US, and 71.0% in Germany.<ref name="Employment2004">{{cite web |author=[[Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development]] |publisher= |year=2005 |url=http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/36/30/35024561.pdf |title=OECD Employment Outlook 2005 - Statistical Annex |format=[[PDF|PDF format]] |accessdate=2006-06-29}}</ref> This phenomenon is the result of almost thirty years of massive unemployment in France, which has led to three consequences reducing the size of the working population: about 9% of the active population is without a job; students delay as long as possible their entry into labour market; and finally, the French government gives various incentives to workers to retire in their early 50s, though these are now receding.
-Le département de Paris ne comprend qu’une seule commune, et que les 4 régions en outre-mer ([[Guadeloupe]], [[Martinique]], [[Guyane]], [[Réunion]]) ne comptent chacune qu’un seul département. La région de la [[Corse]] (qui comprend deux départements) a un statut spécial de collectivité territoriale légèrement différent des autres régions métropolitaines. Ces régions sont toutefois partie intégrante de l’[[Union européenne]].
+As many economists have stressed repeatedly over the years, the main issue with the French economy is not an issue of productivity. In their opinion, it is an issue of structural reforms, in order to increase the size of the working population in the overall population. [[Liberal theory of economics|Liberal]] and [[Keynesian economics|Keynesian]] economists have different answers to that issue. Lower working hours and the reluctance to reform the labour market are mentioned as weak spots of the French economy in the view of the [[right wing politics|right]] and lack of government policies fostering social justice by the [[left wing politics|left]]. Recent government attempts at adjusting the youth labour market, to combat unemployment, have met with fierce resistance.
-Depuis les lois [[Defferre]] de 1982-1983 et [[Jean-Pierre Raffarin|Raffarin]] de 2003-2004, la France est un État décentralisé. La réforme constitutionnelle de février 2003 précise que l’organisation de la République est décentralisée. La [[décentralisation]], qui s’est dans un premier temps accompagnée de la [[déconcentration]], favorise aujourd’hui pleinement l’émergence de véritables [[pouvoirs locaux]] dont l’équilibre fait cependant encore débat.
+With 79.1 million foreign tourists in 2006,<ref name="tourism.stat" /> France is [[World Tourism Rankings|ranked]] as the first tourist destination in the world, ahead of [[Spain]] (55.6 million in 2005) and the [[United States]] (49.4 million in 2005). This 79.1 million figure excludes people staying less than 24 hours in France, such as northern Europeans crossing France on their way to Spain or Italy during the Summer. France features cities of high cultural interest ([[Paris]] being the foremost) , beaches and seaside resorts, [[ski]] resorts, and rural regions that many enjoy for their beauty and tranquillity (green tourism). Aside of casual tourism France attracts a lot of religious pilgrims to [[Lourdes]], a town in the Hautes-Pyrénées département, that hosts a few million tourists a year.
-Aux côté des [[collectivités territoriales]] de plein exercice que sont la commune, le département et la région, il existe aussi un échelon intercommunal qui est amené à exercer de plus en plus de compétences (développement économique, aménagement de l’espace, habitat, transports publics, assainissement). En effet, les communes sont toutes invitées à se regrouper sous le régime de l’[[intercommunalité]] qui dispose désormais d’une autonomie financière et fiscale, et de l’autorité de personne morale et juridique reconnue (l’[[établissement public de coopération intercommunale]] ou EPCI). En 2006, 2573 communautés ([[communautés de communes]], [[communautés d'agglomération|communautés d’agglomération]] et [[communautés urbaines]]) recomposent le territoire national (soit 90% des communes et 85% de la population françaises. Certaines intercommunalités regroupent des communes de départements ou même de régions différentes. Dans les régions frontalières, des intercommunalités existent aussi avec des collectivités locales des pays voisins, ce qui facilite la gestion d’équipements communs, notamment en matière de transport.
+France has an important aerospace industry led by the European consortium [[Airbus]], and is the only European power (excluding Russia) to have its own national [[spaceport]] (''[[Centre Spatial Guyanais]]''). France is also the most energy independent Western country due to heavy investment in nuclear power, which also makes France the smallest producer of [[Greenhouse gas|carbon dioxide]] among the seven most industrialised countries in the world. As a result of large investments in nuclear technology, most of the electricity produced in the country is generated by nuclear power plants (78.1% in 2006,<ref>{{cite web |author=DGEMP / Observatoire de l'énergie|year=April 2007|url=http://www.industrie.gouv.fr/energie/statisti/se_elec.htm|title=Électricité en France : les principaux résultats en 2006.|accessdate=2007-05-23}}</ref> up from only 8% in 1973, 24% in 1980, and 75% in 1990).
-Un nouvel échelon a été créé avec l’élaboration des [[Pays (aménagement du territoire)|pays]], qui regroupe des communes et des intercommunalités dans des ensembles plus grands que ne le sont les intercommunalités, afin de rassembler l’ensemble des communes d’un territoire, même celles exclues des intercommunalités existantes.
+Large tracts of fertile land, the application of modern technology, and EU subsidies have combined to make France the leading agricultural producer and exporter in Europe. Wheat, poultry, dairy, beef, and pork, as well as an internationally recognised [[Food industry|foodstuff]] and wine industry are primary French agricultural exports. EU agriculture subsidies to France total almost $14 billion.
-La France est "une et indivisible", mais cette formule crée certaines tensions, surtout en raison du fait que le territoire français est composé de plusieurs "pays" ou "régions" qui ne sont que rarement reconnus, et dont certains ont leur propre langue ([[Alsace]], [[Bretagne]], [[Catalogne Nord| Catalogne]], [[Corse]], [[Flandre française| Flandre]], [[Pays basque]], [[Occitanie|Pays Occitan]], etc.), mais aussi beaucoup d'autres, qui n'en ont pas.
+Since the end of the Second World War the government made efforts to integrate more and more with [[Germany]], both economically and politically. Today the two countries form what is often referred to as the "core" countries in favour of greater integration of the European Union.
-=== France d'outre-mer ===
+== Demography ==
-{{Article détaillé|France d'outre-mer}}
+{{main|Demography of France|Languages of France}}
-[[Image:Overseasfrancemap.png|thumb|left|France métropolitaine et d'outre-mer (bleu)|270px]]
+[[Image:France cities.png|thumb|Metropolitan French cities with over 100,000 inhabitants]]
-Des collectivités françaises en outre-mer ont des statuts particuliers liés à leur plus forte autonomie : les collectivités de [[Mayotte]] et de [[Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon]] ont une administration locale unique combinant les fonctions généralement conférées aux régions et départements métropolitains. Toutefois, Mayotte évolue depuis 2001 vers le statut de département d’outre-mer, pour une plus forte intégration. Ces deux collectivités, bien que situées hors de l’[[Union européenne]], utilisent l’[[euro]] comme monnaie.
-Les autres collectivités d’outre-mer du Pacifique ont des statuts d’autonomie plus étendue où cohabitent l’administration territoriale régalienne et l’administration coutumière ([[Polynésie française]], [[Nouvelle-Calédonie]], [[Wallis-et-Futuna]]). Bien que possédant toujours une division et une administration communale (sauf à Wallis-et-Futuna où ce sont les villages coutumiers qui jouent ce rôle au sein des trois royaumes coutumiers), ces collectivités ne sont pas découpées en départements, mais en provinces (ou royaumes) et en villages (sur[[Image:Ouvéa Plage de Mouli.JPG|thumb|Atoll d'[[Ouvéa]] en [[Nouvelle-Calédonie]]]] les bases coutumières) ayant des fonctions normalement affectées aux départements et communes en métropole et dans les régions d’outre-mer, notamment en matière de justice, d’éducation ou de citoyenneté. De plus, la fonction de région y est transférée à un gouvernement local où sont représentés les autorités coutumières et régaliennes, ainsi qu’un administrateur de la République. Ces collectivités, hors de l’Union européenne, utilisent le [[franc pacifique]] comme monnaie commune (liée à l’euro depuis 1999, au lieu du franc français). Il faut noter que la [[Nouvelle-Calédonie]] dispose d’un statut particulier transitoire spécifique avant un futur référendum devant déterminer si le territoire demeurera dans la République française avec une large autonomie, ou deviendra indépendant (avec une éventuelle association).
+With an estimated population of 64 million people, France is the 23rd most populous country in the world. France's [[List of cities in France over 20,000 population (1999 census)|largest cities]] are [[Paris]], [[Marseille]], [[Lyon]], [[Lille]], [[Toulouse]], [[Nice]], and [[Nantes]].
-D’autres terres françaises en outre-mer peu ou pas habitées sont gérées à distance depuis un autre territoire habité, par un administrateur désigné par l’État au nom de la république : les [[îles Éparses]] (dans l’océan Indien, dispersées autour de [[Madagascar]], ou près de [[Mayotte]] ou [[Maurice (pays)|Maurice]]) et les [[Terres australes et antarctiques françaises]] (au Sud de l’océan Indien) sont administrées depuis la Réunion, et [[Clipperton]] (à l’Est de l’océan Pacifique, au large du Mexique) est gérée depuis la Polynésie française. Ces terres n’ont pas d’administration locale propre.
+In 2003, France's natural population growth (excluding [[immigration]]) was responsible for almost all natural population growth in the [[European Union]]. In 2004, population growth was 0.68% and then in 2005 birth and fertility rates continued to increase. The natural increase of births over deaths rose to 299,800 in 2006. The lifetime fertility rate rose to 2.00 in 2007, from 1.92 in 2004.[http://www.insee.fr/en/ffc/pop_age4.htm]
-{{FranceReg}}
-{{France outre-mer}}
-==Environnement==
+In 2004, a total of 140,033 people immigrated to France. Of them, 90,250 were from [[Africa]] and 13,710 from [[Europe]].<ref>[http://www.migrationinformation.org/datahub/countrydata/data.cfm Inflow of third-country nationals by country of nationality]</ref> In 2005, immigration level fell slightly to 135,890.<ref>[http://www.migrationpolicy.org/pubs/France_Elections050307.pdf Immigration and the 2007 French Presidential Elections]</ref> France is an ethnically diverse nation. According to the [[INSEE|French National Institute for Statistics and Economic Studies]], it has an estimated 4.9 million foreign-born immigrants, of which 2 million have acquired French citizenship.<ref name="INSEE1">{{cite web |author=INSEE |publisher= |url=http://www.insee.fr/fr/ffc/ipweb/ip1098/ip1098.html#encadre1 |title=Enquêtes annuelles de recensement 2004 et 2005 |date=[[2005-01-25]]|accessdate=2006-12-14}} {{fr icon}}</ref> France is the leading [[refugee|asylum]] destination in Western Europe with an estimated 50,000 applications in 2005 (a 15% decrease from 2004).<ref name="UNHCR">{{cite web |author=[[UNHCR]] |publisher= |year=2006 |url=http://www.unhcr.org/publ/PUBL/4492677f0.pdf |title=UNHCR Global Report 2005: Western Europe |accessdate=2006-12-14 |format=PDF}}</ref> The [[European Union]] allows free movement between the member states. While the [[UK]] (along with [[Ireland]]) did not impose restrictions, France put in place controls to curb [[Eastern European]] migration.
-La France, si l'on inclut l'Outre-mer abrite des ressources naturelles et une [[biodiversité]] exceptionnelle, avec la [[Guyane]] notamment (une des zones de forêts tropicales les moins fragmentées et les mieux conservées) et avec la [[Nouvelle-Calédonie]] qui abrite la seconde plus grande barrière de corail. Dans l'hexagone la biodiversité a connu une dégradation constante depuis deux siècles, à cause de la [[fragmentation écologique]] des milieux par le dense réseau [[route|routier]] notamment, et ce malgré le travail des parcs nationaux et des [[Parc naturel régional|parcs naturels régionaux]]. De discrètes mais importantes [[séquelles de guerres]] marquent encore le Nord et l'Est du pays, ainsi que le [[littoral]] ouest, avec notamment le problème des [[munitions immergées]]. Depuis les années 1980, la France a régulièrement été mal ou très mal classée pour l'application des Directives européennes concernant l'[[Environnement]]. Plusieurs de ses régions sont parmi les plus touchées en Europe par l'[[eutrophisation]] par les [[engrais]] agricoles et par les [[pesticide]]s. Le pays est comme d'autres confronté à des problèmes croissant d'[[espèces invasives]], et une controverse persiste sur le risque de [[pollution génétique]] posé par les [[Organisme génétiquement modifié|OGM]] testés ou cultivés en plein champs. Ce pays est aussi l'un de ceux où le poids de la chasse est traditionnellement important.
-== Démographie ==
+[[Image:Map-Francophone World.png|thumb|left|France's legacy: a map of the [[French language|Francophone]] world
-{{Article détaillé|Démographie de la France}}
+{{legend|#0c5eb1|native language}}
+{{legend|#0080ff|administrative language}}
+{{legend|#9fceff|secondary or non-official language}}
+{{legend|#00ff00|francophone minorities}}]]
+[[Image:France demographie.png|thumb|Demography evolution from 1961 up to 2003 (according to the [[Food and Agriculture Organization|FAO]], 2005). Population in thousands of inhabitants]]
-=== Population ===
+A perennial political issue concerns [[rural depopulation]]. Over the period 1960-1999 fifteen rural ''départements'' experienced a decline in population. In the most extreme case, the population of [[Creuse]] fell by 24%.
-[[Image:Densité départements-France.jpg|thumb|left|Densité de la population française métropolitaine     <small>(par département)</small>]]
-[[Image:France demographie.png|thumb|right|Évolution de la démographie entre [[1961]] et [[2003]] (chiffres de la [[Organisation des Nations unies pour l'alimentation et l'agriculture|FAO]], [[2005]]). Population en milliers d’habitants.]]
-La République française comptait {{formatnum:64102140}} habitants au 1{{er}} janvier 2007, dont {{formatnum:61538322}} en métropole<ref>[http://www.insee.fr/fr/ffc/pop_age4.htm INSEE - Bilan démographique 2006]</ref>, soit environ 1% de la [[population mondiale]]. Un [[recensement]] national général était organisé à intervalles réguliers depuis [[1801]], en 2004 le recensement devient permanent.
-La croissance démographique française est l’une des plus dynamiques d’Europe, combinant un taux de natalité supérieur à la moyenne européenne (830 900 naissances contre 531 200 [[décès]]) et un [[solde migratoire]] positif (environ 100 000 individus) : la [[population]] de la France a donc évolué de 0,61&nbsp;%<!-- (Solde migratoire + Solde naturel)/ Population moyenne = Accroissement ; Dans notre cas : (299700 + 100000)/65998773 = 0,61 % {{Référence nécessaire}}-->. En ce qui concerne le taux de fécondité, il est de 2,01 bébés par femme ; seules l'[[Albanie]] et l'[[Islande]] ont des indices de fécondité plus élevés en [[Europe]].
+According to Article 2 of the Constitution, [[French language|French]] is the sole official language of France since 1992. This makes France the only Western European nation (excluding [[European microstates|microstates]]) to have only one officially recognised language. However, 77 [[Languages of France|regional languages]] are also spoken, in metropolitan France as well as in the overseas departments and territories. Until recently, the French government and state school system discouraged the use of any of these languages, but they are now taught to varying degrees at some schools.<ref>[http://www.anu.edu.au/NEC/Archive/Jeanjean_paper.pdf Jeanjean, Henri. "Language Diversity in Europe: Can the EU Prevent the Genocide of Frnech Linguistic Minorities?]</ref> Other languages, such as [[Portuguese language|Portuguese]], [[Italian language|Italian]], [[Maghrebi Arabic]] and several [[Berber languages]] are spoken by immigrants.
-En outre, la [[pyramide des âges]] voit depuis le début du {{s-|XXI|e}} sa structure évoluer avec une augmentation progressive de la population la plus âgée, en raison à la fois de la progression de l’espérance de vie (la France jouit d'une des plus longues espérances de vie au monde) et de l’arrivée vers le troisième âge de la génération du [[baby boom]] (ce phénomène est appelé communément le ''[[papy boom]]'').
+== Religion ==
+{{main|Religion in France}}
-=== Immigration ===
+France is a [[secular]] country as freedom of religion is a constitutional right, although some religious doctrines such as [[Scientology]], [[Children of God]], the [[Unification Church]], and the [[Order of the Solar Temple]] are considered cults.
-[[Image:Carte des routes d'immigration africaine vers l'Europe.svg|thumb|300px|Carte des routes empruntées par les migrants africains vers l'Europe]]
+According to a January 2007 poll by the Catholic World News:<ref name="religion">[http://www.cotidianul.ro/index.php?id=8749&art=22782&cHash=597202ac5o Franţa nu mai e o ţară catolică], ''[[Cotidianul]]'', 2007-01-11 {{cite web |author=Catholic World News |publisher= |year=2003 |url=http://www.cwnews.com/news/viewstory.cfm?recnum=48547 |title=France is no longer Catholic, survey shows |accessdate=2007-01-11}}</ref><ref>{{ro icon}}</ref>
-{{Article détaillé|Immigration en France}}
+% identified as being [[Catholicism|Catholics]], 31% identified as being [[Agnosticism|agnostics]] or [[Atheism|atheists]]. ''(Another poll <ref>La Vie, issue 3209, 2007-03-01 {{fr icon}}</ref> concluded that 27% identified as being atheists.) '', 10% identified as being from other religions or being without opinion, 4% identified as [[Islam|Muslim]], 3% identified as [[Protestantism|Protestant]], 1% identified as [[Judaism|Jewish]].
-En 2006, l'[[Institut national de la statistique et des études économiques]] (INSEE) estimait que 4,9 millions d'immigrés (comprendre nés étrangers hors du territoire) vivaient en France (8% de la population). Il faut aussi noter que sont considérés comme ''français'' les enfants de parents immigrés ([[droit du sol]]) et non comme étrangers. Par conséquent, le nombre de citoyens français d'origine étrangère est considéré autour de 6,7 millions d'après le recensement de 1999 de l'INSEE - ce qui représente environ 1/10 de la population française.
-De nombreuses [[ethnie]]s sont présentes dans les [[DOM-TOM]].
-La plupart des immigrés viennent d'[[Europe]] ([[Grèce]], [[Portugal]], [[Espagne]], [[Italie]], mais aussi [[Pologne]], [[Roumanie]] et les pays formant l'ancienne [[Yougoslavie]]), du [[Maghreb]] et d'[[Afrique noire]], notamment ses anciennes colonies.
+According to the most recent [[Eurobarometer|Eurobarometer Poll]] 2005,<ref name=EUROBAROMETER>{{cite web|url=http://ec.europa.eu/public_opinion/archives/ebs/ebs_225_report_en.pdf|title=Eurobarometer on Social Values, Science and technology 2005 - page 11|accessdate=2007-05-05}}</ref> 34% of French citizens responded that "they believe there is a god", whereas 27% answered that "they believe there is some sort of spirit or life force" and 33% that "they do not believe there is any sort of spirit, god, or life force".
-Au premier janvier 2005, le nombre d'étrangers (personnes de nationalité étrangère) en France métropolitaine était de 3&nbsp;501&nbsp;000 personnes, c'est-à-dire 5,8% de la population. La proportion de ceux-ci est comparable à la moyenne des pays de l'Europe de l’Ouest <ref>[http://www.migrationinformation.org/Resources/ Migration Information Source - Country Ressource] {{en}} </ref>comme le [[Royaume-Uni]] (4,8% <ref>[http://www.migrationinformation.org/GlobalData/countrydata/country.cfm?Country_1=UK Migration Information Source - Pourcentage de la population étrangère au Royaume-Uni] {{en}} </ref> ), l'[[Allemagne]] (8,9%), l'[[Espagne]] (10%), les [[Pays-Bas]] (4,3%), la [[Suède]] (5,3%), la [[Belgique]] (8,6%) et la [[Suisse]] (20,7%) <ref>[http://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/portal/fr/index/news/publikationen.Document.89689.pdf OFS (Office fédéral suisse de la statistique) : Population résidente permanente au 31-12-2006 (page 9)]</ref>.
-Selon Michèle Tribalat, chercheuse à l'[[Institut national d'études démographiques|INED]], le nombre d'immigrés est très difficile à estimer à cause de l'absence de statistiques officielles. Seules trois études ont été menées : en 1927, 1942 et 1986. D'après une étude de 2004, près de 14 millions de personnes avaient au moins un parent ou un grand-parent étranger<ref>''Une estimation des populations d’origine étrangère en France en 1999'', M. Tribalat, dans ''Population 2004 n° 1'', INED, ([http://www.ined.fr/fr/ressources_documentation/publications/population/bdd/publication/259/ résumé])</ref>.
+In France, 32% declare themselves to be [[atheists]], with an additional 32% declaring themselves agnostic<ref>[http://www.harrisinteractive.com/news/allnewsbydate.asp?NewsID=1131 http://www.harrisinteractive.com/news/allnewsbydate.asp?NewsID=1131].</ref>. The current [[Jews in France|Jewish community in France]] numbers around 600,000 according to the [[World Jewish Congress]] and is largest in Europe. Estimates of the number of [[Islam in France|Muslims in France]] vary widely. According to the 1999 French census returns, there were only 3.7 million people of "possible Muslim faith" in France (6.3% of the total population). There are an estimated 200,000 to 1 million illegal immigrants in France.
-=== Principales agglomérations ===
+The concept of ''[[laïcité]]'' exists in France and because of this the French government is legally prohibited from recognising any ''religion'' (except for legacy statutes like those of military [[chaplain]]s and [[Alsace-Moselle]]). Instead, it merely recognises ''religious organisations'', according to formal legal criteria that do not address religious doctrine. Conversely, religious organisations should refrain from intervening in policy-making. Tensions occasionally erupt about alleged discrimination against minorities, especially against Muslims (see [[Islam in France]]).
-{{Article détaillé|Principales aires urbaines de France|Grandes villes de France}}
-{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:right; font-size:95%;"
-|+ style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 1.1em; margin-bottom: 0.5em"|
-!width="30px"| # !! Ville !! Région !! Agglomération !!  (Ville même)
-|-----
-|align="center"| '''1'''
-|align="center"| '''[[Paris]]'''
-| style="text-align:left;"| [[Image:Île-de-France flag.svg|30px]] [[Île-de-France]]
-| '''11 174 743'''
-| ''2 153 600''
-|-{{ligne grise}}
-|align="center"| '''2'''
-|align="center"|  '''[[Lyon]]'''
-| style="text-align:left;"| [[Image:Blason rhonalpe.png|30px]] [[Rhône-Alpes]]
-| '''1 648 216'''
-| ''466 400''
-|-----
-|align="center"| '''3'''
-|align="center"| '''[[Marseille]]'''
-| style="text-align:left;"| [[Image:Provence-Alpes-Côte-d'Azur flag.svg|30px]] [[Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur]]
-| '''1 516 340'''
-| ''820 900''
-|-{{ligne grise}}
-|align="center"| '''4'''
-|align="center"| '''[[Lille]]'''
-| style="text-align:left;"| [[Image:Nord-Pas-de-Calais flag.svg|30px]] [[Nord-Pas-de-Calais]]
-| '''1 143 125'''
-| ''225 100''
-|-----
-|align="center"| '''5'''
-|align="center"| '''[[Toulouse]]'''
-| style="text-align:left;"| [[Image:Midi-Pyrénées flag.svg|30px]] [[Midi-Pyrénées]]
-| '''964 797'''
-| ''443 103''
-|-{{ligne grise}}
-|align="center"| '''6'''
-|align="center"| '''[[Nice]]'''
-| style="text-align:left;"| [[Image:Provence-Alpes-Côte-d'Azur flag.svg|30px]] [[Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur]]
-| '''933 080'''
-| ''347 900''
-|-----
-|align="center"| '''7'''
-|align="center"| '''[[Bordeaux]]'''
-| style="text-align:left;"| [[Image:Aquitaine flag.svg|30px]] [[Aquitaine]]
-| '''925 253'''
-| ''230 600''
-|-{{ligne grise}}
-|align="center"| '''8'''
-|align="center"| '''[[Nantes]]'''
-| style="text-align:left;"| [[Image:Pays-de-la-Loire flag.svg|30px]] [[Pays de la Loire]]
-| '''711 120'''
-| ''281 800''
-|-----
-|align="center"| '''9'''
-|align="center"| '''[[Strasbourg]]'''
-| style="text-align:left;"| [[Image:Flag of Alsace (historical).svg|30px]] [[Alsace]]
-| '''612 104'''
-| ''272 700''
-|-{{ligne grise}}
-|align="center"| '''10'''
-|align="center"| '''[[Toulon]]'''
-| style="text-align:left;"| [[Image:Provence-Alpes-Côte-d'Azur flag.svg|30px]] [[Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur]]
-| '''564 823'''
-| ''166 800''
-|-----
-|colspan="14" style="text-align:right;font-size:90%;"|'''*''' <small>Il ne s'agit '''pas''' ici du [[Grandes villes de France|classement des villes par leur population intra-muros]] mais seulement des chiffres donnés à titre indicatif</small>
-|}
-== Économie et développement ==
+== Public health ==
-{{ÉconomieFrance}}
+The French healthcare system was ranked first worldwide by the [[World Health Organization]] in 1997.<ref>[http://www.photius.com/rankings/healthranks.html the ranking, see spreadsheet details for a whole analysis]</ref> It is almost entirely free for people affected by [[chronic disease]]s (Affections de longues durées) such as [[cancers]], [[AIDS]] or [[Cystic Fibrosis]]. Average life expectancy at birth is 79.73 years.
-{{Article détaillé|Économie de la France|Liste d'entreprises françaises}}
-La France est la 6{{e}} puissance économique mondiale, derrière les [[États-Unis]], le [[Japon]], l’[[Allemagne]], la [[République populaire de Chine|Chine]] et le [[Royaume-Uni]] avec un [[PIB]] nominal de {{formatnum:2230}} milliards de dollars (Total GDP 2006, Banque mondiale).
+As of 2003, there are approximately 120,000 inhabitants of France who are living with AIDS [http://www.indexmundi.com/france/hiv_aids_people_living_with_hiv_aids.html]
-Avec ses {{formatnum:551602}} km² en métropole et ses 64 millions d'habitants DOM-TOM compris, la France ne pourrait être considerée comme un « grand » pays à l'échelle mondiale. Cependant, son poids économique a su en faire un rôle majeur de la scène internationale. La France a très tôt tiré profit d'atouts naturels indéniables, à commencer par sa situation géographique, du centre de l'[[Europe]] aux débouchés sur les principaux flux commerciaux d'Europe occidentale : [[Mer Méditerranée|Méditerranée]], [[Manche (mer)|Manche]], [[Océan Atlantique|Atlantique]]...
-À cet égard, le [[Marché commun européen]] mis en place en [[1957]], a constitué pour les entreprises françaises une véritable aubaine, tandis qu'[[Empire colonial français|anciennes colonies]] et [[France d'outre-mer|DOM-TOM]] continuent de représenter d'importants partenaires commerciaux.
-=== Agriculture ===
+France, as all EU countries, is under an [[EU]] directive to reduce sewage discharge to sensitive areas.  As of 2006, France is only 40 per cent in compliance with this directive, placing it as one of the lowest achieving countries within the EU with regard to this [[wastewater treatment]] standard [http://epaedia.eea.europa.eu/page.php?pid=502].
-{{Article détaillé|Agriculture en France}}
-La France est un grand pays agricole et avec 23 % de la production agricole européenne en [[1999]], elle est largement en tête des pays de l'[[Union Européenne|Union]], devant l'[[Italie]] (15,4 %) et l'[[Allemagne]] (15,2 %) notamment du à une modernisation considérable. La population active agricole continue de diminuer suivant le mouvement qui avait fortement repris après la fin de la [[Seconde Guerre Mondiale]], pour autant, il semblerait que cette population connaisse un relatif rajeunissement lié surtout aux départs massifs en retraite et préretraite : 53 % de chefs d'exploitation avaient moins de 50 ans en 2000, contre 42,6 % en 1988.
-L'activité agricole occupe 60 % du territoire métropolitain à travers ses 28 millions d'hectares, cependant seulement la moitié sont mis en culture et le reste profite notamment à l'urbanisme mais aussi aux forêts.
-En [[2000]], d'après l'[[INSEE]], la part en valeur de chaque groupe de produits agricoles dans l'ensemble de la production agricole s'établissait ainsi
+== Culture ==
-[[Image:0509 Myans vignoble.JPG|thumb|left|La France est le '''deuxième producteur mondial de [[raisin]]''' <small>avec une production de {{formatnum:7800000}} tonnes selon la [[Organisation des Nations unies pour l'alimentation et l'agriculture|FAO]]; Ici, un vignoble près de [[Myans]] en [[Rhône-Alpes]]</small>]]
+[[Image:Descartes.jpg|thumb|upright|[[René Descartes|Cartesianism]] is prominent in France{{Fact|date=November 2007}}]]
-{| class="toccolours" border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="10" align="center" style="margin:0.5em;"
+{{main|Culture of France}}
-|valign="top" style="font-size: 90%" |
-* Produits végétaux divers (plantes fourragères, plantes et fleurs) : '''10,8 %'''
-* [[Fruits]] et [[légumes]] : '''10,4 %'''
-* Autres produits animaux (lait et produits laitiers, lapins, etc.) : '''13,3 %'''
-* [[Aviculture|Produits avicoles]] : '''6,4 %'''
-* [[Bétail]] : '''18,4 %'''
-* Plantes industrielles : '''6,8 %'''
-* [[Céréale]]s : '''15,5 %'''
-* [[Vins]] : '''14,2 %'''
-* Services (agri-tourisme, etc.) :''' 4,2 %'''
-|}
-En termes de production, le [[bétail]], avec 11,9 milliards d'euros en valeur en [[2000]], arrive nettement en tête, devant les [[céréales]] (10 milliards pour 66 millions de tonnes) et les [[vins]] (8,9 milliards d'euros). Avec 22,6 milliards de litres en [[2000]], la production laitière de vache en France, toutefois qu'en recul par rapport à [[1990]], représente un cinquième du total européen. Si la pêche a aujourd'hui un poids dérisoire tant au niveau européen que mondial ({{formatnum:341000}} tonnes en [[1999]], essentiellement de thon tropical) et ne concernent plus que 6 000 navires pour environ {{formatnum:20500}} marins embarqués, les élevages marins, principalement d'[[huîtres]] et de [[moules]], sont en constante croissance puisque leur production a doublé depuis le début des années 1980. Enfin, la récolte de [[bois]] qui s'élevait à 36,2 millions de m³ en [[1999]], alimente toute une filière (sciage, travail du bois, fabrication d'objets, production de papier et de carton) qui emploie environ {{formatnum:100000}} personnes. La production agricole est également à l'origine d'un important secteur d'industries agroalimentaires qui à la fin [[1999]] avec quelque 3 000 entreprises, employaient {{formatnum:370000}} salariés dont l'industrie des viandes en englobait {{formatnum:122000}} à elle seule.
+* [[Académie française]]
+* [[French art]]
+* [[Cuisine of France]]
+* [[Cinema of France]]
+* [[Music of France]]
+* [[Social structure of France]]
+* [[Education in France]]
+* [[Holidays in France]]
+* [[List of French people]]
-=== Industrie ===
+=== Architecture ===
-[[Image:TOTAL Coupole Fev 2006.JPG|thumb|right|200px|La [[Tour Total]] dans le [[quartier d'affaires]] de [[La Défense]].]]
+{{Main|French architecture}}
-{{Article détaillé|Industrie en France}}
+[[Image:Sainte chapelle - Upper level.jpg|thumb|[[Louis IX of France|Saint Louis]]' [[Sainte Chapelle]] represents the French impact on religious architecture.]]
+There is, technically speaking, no architecture named ''French Architecture'', although that has not always been true.  [[Gothic Architecture]]'s old name was ''French Architecture'' (or Opus Francigenum). The term "Gothic" appeared later as a stylistic insult and was widely adopted. Northern France is the home of some of the most important Gothic [[cathedrals]] and [[basilicas]], the first of these being the [[Saint Denis Basilica]] (used as the royal necropolis) ; other majestuous and important French Gothic cathedrals are [[Cathedral of Chartres|Notre-Dame de Chartres]] and [[Amiens Cathedral|Notre-Dame d'Amiens]]. The kings were crowned in another important Gothic church: [[Notre-Dame de Reims]]. Aside from churches, Gothic Architecture had been used for many religious palaces, the most important one being the [[Palais des Papes]] in Avignon.
-La France est une des plus grandes puissances industrielles du monde. Dans leur secteur d'activité, plusieurs groupes français occupent même la première place face à leurs concurrents étrangers : c'est le cas notamment de [[L'Oréal]], [[Michelin]] ou [[Alcatel]].
+During the Middle Ages, fortified castles were built by feudal nobles to mark their powers against their rivals. When [[Philip II of France|King Philip II]] took [[Rouen]] from [[John of England|King John]], for example, he demolished the ducal castle to build a bigger one. Fortified cities were also common, unfortunately most French castles did not survive the passage of time. This is why [[Richard I of England|Richard Lionheart]]'s castle -[[Château-Gaillard]]- was demolished as well as the [[Château de Lusignan]]. Some important French castles that survived are [[Chinon|Chinon Castle]], [[Château d'Angers]], the massive [[Château de Vincennes]] and the so called [[Cathar castles]].
-Malgré une domination du secteur des services, les bureaux d'études, les sociétés d'ingénierie et le « tertiaire technologique », les nouvelles formes d'industries sont très diversifiées et sont performantes dans les domaines où les structures se sont adaptées aux contraintes du marché ([[aérospatiale]], [[télécommunications]], [[micro-informatique]]), et se retrouvent souvent en association avec des partenaires européens.
-Les branches aspirant le plus grands nombres d'employés sont les industries de la [[mécanique]], de l'[[électrique]] et de l'[[électronique]] (25 % en [[1998]]), le travail des métaux (11,7 %) et le bois-papier-imprimerie-édition (10,2 %). Aussi, l'automobile occupe une place particulière dont la production annuelle, de l'ordre de 5 millions de véhicules, est assurée par quelque {{formatnum:300000}} salariés de grands groupes ([[PSA Peugeot Citroën|Peugeot-Citroën]], [[Renault]]).
+Before the appearance of this architecture France had been using [[romanesque architecture]] like most of Western Europe (with the exception of the Iberian Peninsula, which used Mooresque architecture). Some of the greatest examples of Romanesque Churches in France are the [[Basilique de Saint-Sernin, Toulouse|Saint Sernin Basilica]] in Toulouse and the remains of the [[Cluny Abbey|Cluniac Abbey]] (largely destroyed during the Revolution and the Napoleonic Wars).
-Avec 88 % de ses entreprises ayant moins de 200 salariés en [[1998]], l'[[Industrie en France|industrie française]] est peu concentrée. Il faut considérer qu'à côté de grands et très grands groupes, coexistent et prospèrent de très nombreuses [[petites et moyennes entreprises]] (PME) qui souvent exercent des activités de sous-traitance.
+The end of the Hundred Years' War marked an important stage in the evolution of French architecture. It was the time of the [[French Renaissance]] and several artists from Italy and Spain were invited to the French court; many residential palaces, Italian-inspired, were built, mainly in the Loire Valley. Such residential castles were the [[Château de Chambord]], the [[Château de Chenonceau]], or the [[Château d'Amboise]]. Following the renaissance and the end of the Middle Ages, [[Baroque Architecture]] replaced the gothic one.  However, in France, baroque architecture found a greater success in the secular domain than in the religious one.<ref>Claude Lébedel - Les Splendeurs du Baroque en France: ''Histoire et splendeurs du baroque en France'' page 9: "Si en allant plus loin, on prononce les mots "art baroque en France", on provoque alors le plus souvent une moue interrogative, parfois seulement étonnée, parfois franchement réprobatrice: Mais voyons, l'art baroque n'existe pas en France!"</ref> In the secular domain the [[Palace of Versailles]] has many baroque features. [[Jules Hardouin Mansart]] can be said to be the most influential French architect of the baroque style, with his very famous baroque dome of [[Les Invalides]]. Some of the most impressive provincial baroque architecture is found in places that were not yet French such as the [[Place Stanislas]] in [[Nancy]]. On the military architectural side [[Vauban]] designed some of the most efficient fortresses of Europe and became a very influential military architect.
-=== Secteur tertiaire ===
+After the French revolution the Republicans favoured [[Neoclassicism]] although neoclassicism was introduced in France prior to the revolution with such building as the [[Panthéon, Paris|Parisian Pantheon]] or the [[Capitole de Toulouse]]. Built during the French Empire the [[Arc de Triomphe]] and [[Église de la Madeleine|Sainte Marie-Madeleine]] represent this trend the best.
-{{Article détaillé|Secteur tertiaire en France}}
-Très représenté à l'exportation, le secteur agro-alimentaire avec 9,4 milliards d'euros d'excédent en [[2000]]. On retrouve en tête des produits les boissons et alcools ([[Vin de Champagne|champagne]], [[vins]], [[cognac]]), puis viennent les [[céréales]] et les animaux et viandes.  Ces derniers sont suivis de très près par l'industrie automobile (9,3 milliards d'euros) et les biens d'équipement qui se trouvent dans une situation contrastée : on trouve un solde très positif pour l'industrie des transports notamment due aux succès aéronautiques ([[Airbus]]) et navals de l'industrie française. Par contre le solde est négatif pour les équipements mécaniques et électriques-électroniques.
-[[Image:Dunkerque (3).JPG|left|thumb|'''Le [[Port autonome de Dunkerque]]'''; <small>3{{e}} [[port de commerce]] français en terme de tonnage</small>]]
-Les principaux partenaires commerciaux de la France sont évidemment les pays de l'[[Union européenne]], avec lesquels son commerce est excédentaire et qui concentraient 62 % de ses exportations et 60 % de ses importations en 2000, ils sont suivis de loin par l'[[Amérique]] et l'[[Asie]]. L'[[Allemagne]] se détache en tête du marché européen puisque partenaire traditionnel. Elle est suivie du [[Royaume-Uni]], de l'[[Italie]] et de l'[[Espagne]] qui constituent un fort débouché pour les entreprises exportatrices du pays.
-Concernant les importations, les plus grandes importations françaises sont d'ordre énergétique. Les principaux fournisseurs d'[[hydrocarbure]]s de la France sont la [[Norvège]], puis l'[[Arabie Saoudite]], la [[Russie]] et enfin sa [[Royaume-Uni|voisine britannique]]. On peut citer d'autres branches importatrices telles les biens d'équipement domestique et l'habillement-cuir.
+Under Napoleon III a new wave of urbanism and architecture was given birth. If some very extravagant buildings such as the [[neo-baroque]] [[Palais Garnier]] were built, the urban planing of the time was very organised and rigorous. For example [[Baron Haussmann]] [[Haussmann's renovation of Paris|rebuilt Paris]]. These times also saw a strong Gothic-Revival trend across Europe, in France the associated architect was [[Eugène Viollet-le-Duc]]. In the late 19th century [[Gustave Eiffel]] designed many bridges (like the [[Garabit viaduct]]) and remains one of the most influential bridge designer of his time, although he is best remembered for the [[Eiffel Tower]].
-Le [[secteur tertiaire]] a une place prépondérante dans l'économie française à l'image de l'évolution faite dans les principaux autres pays industrialisés. En 2000, il employait près des trois-quarts de la population active française.
+In the 20th century the Swiss Architect [[Le Corbusier]] designed several buildings in France. More recently French architects have combined both modern and old architectural styles.  The [[Louvre Pyramid]] is a good example of modern architecture added to an older building. Certainly the most difficult buildings to integrate within French cities are skyscrapers, as they are visible from afar. France's largest financial district is [[La Defense]], where a significant number of skyscrapers are located. Other massive buildings that are a challenge to integrate into their environment are large bridges; a good example of the way this has been done is the [[Millau Viaduct]]. Some famous modern French architects include [[Jean Nouvel]] or [[Paul Andreu]].
-Le commerce a été marqué depuis quelques années par un bouleversement donnant profit à la grande distribution, dont certains noms constituent des groupes de taille mondiale, souvent à la faveur de fusions-acquisitions de grande ampleur ([[Carrefour]], [[Auchan]], [[Groupe Casino|Casino]], [[Leclerc]], [[Intermarché]]…)<ref name=europla>[http://www.europa-planet.com/france/economie.htm L'économie française], ''Europa-planet.com''.</ref>.
-===Difficultés économiques===
+=== Literature ===
-[[Image:A380 Reveal 2.jpg|thumb|250px|right|Les remous de l'[[affaire EADS]] ont pour origine les retards pris par les livraisons du dernier fleuron d'[[Airbus]]: '''l'[[A380]]''']]
+{{main|French literature}}
-Le déficit commercial pour [[avril 2005]] était de 3,2 milliards d’euros. Entre [[avril 2004]] et [[avril 2005]], il représente 17,4 milliards d’euros<ref>''Le Monde'', édition du [[10 juin]] [[2005]].</ref>.
+[[Image:Molière - Nicolas Mignard (1658).jpg|thumb|[[Molière]] is the most played author in the [[Comédie-Française]]]]
+French literature tracks its origins back to the Middle Ages. French was not yet a uniform language but was divided into several dialects (mainly: northern '''''oïl''''', southern '''''oc''''' dialects). Each writer used his own spelling and grammar. Several French mediaeval texts are not signed- such is the case with [[Tristan and Iseult]], or with [[Lancelot and the Holy Grail]], among many others. A significant part of mediaeval French poetry and literature was inspired by the [[Matter of France]], such as the [[The Song of Roland]] and the various [[Chansons de geste]]. The "Roman de Renart" was written in 1175 by [[Perrout de Saint Cloude]], and told the story of the medieval character [[Reynard]] ('the Fox') ; it is also a popular example of early French story-telling.
-Le [[déficit public]], comme le [[déficit budgétaire]], sont très élevés : pour 2007, les dépenses de l’État nettes s’établissent à {{NaU|271|milliards d’euros}} ; alors que les recettes totales nettes sélèvent à {{NaU|228|milliards d’euros}}. D’après le [[ministère des finances français]], le déficit s’établira à environ {{NaU|42|milliards d’euros}} en [[2007]]<ref>[[MINEFE]], [http://www.minefi.gouv.fr/directions_services/sircom/finances_etat/LF/2007/depliant_budget_etat2007.pdf dépliant budget de l'État 2007]</ref>.
+In spite of the anonymous character of many French writings of the Middle-Ages, some medieval writers became quite famous: [[Chrétien de Troyes]], for instance. [[Occitan|''''''Oc'''''' culture]] was also quite influent in the Middle Ages. An early example of a [[vernacular]] poet writing in [[Occitan Language|Occitan]] was [[William IX of Aquitaine|Duke William IX of Aquitaine]].
-La [[dette publique de la France|dette publique des administrations publiques]] ([[budget de l'État français|État]], [[collectivités territoriales]], [[Sécurité sociale]], [[Organisme divers d'administration centrale|ODAC]]) se montait à 1150 milliards d'euros fin [[2006]], soit {{NaU|64,2|%}} du [[Produit intérieur brut|PIB]] (les [[critères de convergence|critères]] du [[Pacte de stabilité et de croissance]] du [[Traité sur l'Union européenne]] limitant le déficit à {{NaU|3,0|%}} du PIB et la dette à {{NaU|60|%}} du PIB)<ref>[http://www.lemonde.fr/web/article/0,1-0@2-3404,36-852867@51-666777,0.html]</ref>.
+About the history of the French language, one of the most important writer is unquestionably [[François Rabelais]]. Modern French took a great deal from his style. His most famous work is quite probably [[Gargantua and Pantagruel]]. Later on, [[Jean de La Fontaine]] wrote his famous "Fables", a collection of short stories, written in verse, and usually ending with a "moral teaching".
-Le taux de chômage a diminué de 1,3&nbsp;% en [[mars 2007]] pour s’établir à officiellement 2,281 millions de demandeurs d’emploi (8,3&nbsp;% de la population active). Cependant les chiffres officiels gouvernementaux ont fait l'objet de contestations au sein même de l'[[INSEE]], des administrateurs les estimant volontairement sous-évalués car ne reprenant que certaines catégories de plus en plus restrictives d'inscrits à l'[[agence nationale pour l'emploi]] (ANPE) et non toutes personnes se déclarant à la recherche d'un emploi<ref>[http://tempsreel.nouvelobs.com/actualites/economie/20070306.OBS5577/les_chiffres_du_chomage_contestesau_sein_meme_de_linsee.html?idfx=RSS_notr « Les chiffres du chômage contestés au sein même de l'Insee »], ''[[Le Nouvel Observateur]]'', publié le 6 mars 2007.</ref>. Ce [[chômage]] est l’un des plus élevés d’Europe, alors que depuis 30 ans ce problème est officiellement la priorité gouvernementale quel que soit le parti au pouvoir. Le chômage touche particulièrement les femmes, les plus de 50 ans et les jeunes (quoique les estimations soient légèrement faussées pour ces derniers, puisque leur surreprésentation résulte en partie du fait qu'ils sont une minorité à rechercher un emploi avant 22 ans). Selon l’[[Institut national de la statistique et des études économiques|Insee]], la France comptait 7,14 millions de [[pauvreté en France|pauvres]] en [[2005]], c’est-à-dire de personnes vivant avec moins de 788 euros par mois<ref>[http://www.insee.fr/fr/ffc/chifcle_fiche.asp?ref_id=NATSOS04403 La France en faits et chiffres : Nombre de personnes pauvres], [[INSEE]], juillet 2007.</ref>. Les 15&nbsp;% des ménages les plus riches possèdent 55,8&nbsp;% de l’ensemble du patrimoine national<ref>[http://www.inegalites.fr/spip.php?article38 Patrimoine : qui possède combien ?], [[Observatoire des inégalités]], 7 juin 2007.</ref>.
+During the 17th century [[Pierre Corneille]], [[Jean Racine]] and [[Molière]]'s plays, [[Blaise Pascal]] and [[René Descartes                        ]]'s moral and philosophical books deeply influenced the aristocracy leaving an important heritage for the authors of the following decades.
-===Particularités du système économique===
+But it is most certainly in the 18th and 19th centuries which French literature and poetry reach its highest point. The 18th century saw the writings of such huge writers, essayists and moralists as [[Voltaire]], [[Denis Diderot]] and [[Jean-Jacques Rousseau]].
-[[Image:TGV POS Nuremberg Ingolstadt.jpg|thumb|left|Le [[TGV POS]], desservant l'[[Allemagne]] et la [[Suisse]]]]
+As concerns French children's literature in those times, [[Charles Perrault]] was probably the most prolific writer, with stories such as: "[[Puss in Boots]]", "[[Cinderella]]", "[[Sleeping Beauty]]" and "[[Bluebeard]]".
-Son organisation est de type [[Capitalisme|capitaliste]] avec une intervention étatique non négligeable depuis la fin de la [[Seconde Guerre mondiale]], à tel point que l'on parle souvent de ''capitalisme à la française'' :
-* En ce qui concerne le ''système productif'', la France est le quatrième exportateur mondial (tous produits confondus), malgré une faiblesse inhérente, puisqu'elle ne contrôle pas le système productif, dominé en amont par ceux qui produisent les machines-outils
+The 19th century saw the birth of many French novels of world renown; [[Victor Hugo]], [[Alexandre Dumas]] and [[Jules Verne]] are probably among the most famous among these writers, both in and outside of France, with such highly popular novels such as [[The Three Musketeers]], [[The Count of Monte-Cristo]], [[Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea]], or [[The Hunchback of Notre-Dame]]. Other 19th century fiction writers include [[Emile Zola]], [[Guy de Maupassant]], [[Théophile Gautier]] and [[Stendhal]].
-* L’[[Économie de la France|économie française]] est principalement une [[Secteurs économiques|économie]] de services, pour laquelle elle est le deuxième exportateur mondial (elle est la première destination [[Tourisme|touristique]] mondiale avec plus de 60 millions de visiteurs par an[http://www.chine-informations.com/mods/news/tourisme-suprematie-francaise-espagnole-menacee-par-chine_5875.html]).
-Le [[secteur tertiaire]] occupe 72% de la population active.
-* Mais c'est surtout au niveau du ''système de distribution'' que la France se démarque : la grande distribution en France a un poids très fort dans le circuit économique, puisque l'on voit les grands distributeurs dominer en partie, par l'aval, le système de production (particularité de la France, les grands distributeurs peuvent, dans une certaine mesure, fixer les prix des producteurs).
-* Elle est le deuxième exportateur mondial pour les produits [[agro-alimentaire]]s, derrière les [[États-Unis]]. Le [[secteur primaire]] ([[agriculture]], [[pêche (halieutique)|pêche]]) ne représente plus que 4 % de la population active.
-* La France a également pu constituer des champions industriels internationaux, assez éparpillés. La France fabrique ainsi les [[Record du monde de vitesse du TGV|trains les plus rapides du monde]], dispose d’une industrie automobile puissante ([[Peugeot-Citroën]], [[Renault (Groupe)|Renault]], [[Michelin]]), a constitué le premier groupe mondial de construction de [[Centrale nucléaire|centrales nucléaires]], coopère aux groupes aéronautiques et aérospatiaux [[Airbus]], [[Eurocopter]], [[Fusée Ariane|Ariane]], [[Safran (société)|Safran]], abrite le groupe indépendant d’aéronautique militaire [[Dassault]], des groupes pharmaceutiques mondialement réputés ([[Sanofi Aventis]], [[Institut Pasteur]]), quelques uns des premiers groupes mondiaux de l’industrie [[agroalimentaire]], assis sur la puissance de son [[agriculture]] et l’excellence de sa [[gastronomie]], et de l’industrie du [[luxe]], développe une industrie du [[bâtiment et travaux publics]] puissante ([[Bouygues]], [[Eiffage]], [[Vinci]]), une industrie [[cinéma]]tographique de qualité. Le [[secteur secondaire]] représente 24% de la population active.
-=== Production d'énergie ===
+Symbolist poetry of the turn of the 19th century also proved to be a strong movement in French poetry, with artists such as [[Charles Baudelaire]], [[Paul Verlaine]] and [[Stéphane Mallarmé]].
-{{Article détaillé|énergie en France}}
-[[Image:Nuclear Power Plant Cattenom.jpg|thumb|La [[centrale nucléaire de Cattenom]] en [[Moselle (département)|Moselle]]]]
-La [[Énergie nucléaire|filière nucléaire]] française constitue aujourd'hui un secteur de pointe de l'économie du pays et l'un des piliers de sa politique énergétique. La France est le second producteur d’énergie nucléaire du monde derrière les [[États-Unis]]. Avec 58 réacteurs nucléaires, tous exploités par [[Électricité de France|EDF]], la France possède le second parc au monde après les États-Unis ; quant à la part de l’énergie nucléaire dans l’ensemble de la production d’électricité, avec près de 79%, la France est en tête au niveau mondial.
-{| class="toccolours" border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="10" align="center" style="margin:0.5em;"
+Now also famous outside of France (whereas they used to be mostly known inside of France) are [[Louis-Ferdinand Céline]] and [[Albert Camus]]. One of the most well-known 20th century writers is Antoine de St.-Exupéry, whose "[[Little Prince]]" has been translated and become a bestseller in a great many countries, remaining popular both with children and adults.
-|valign="top" style="font-size: 90%" |
-'''Répartition de la production d’électricité totale en 2005<ref>[http://www.energies-renouvelables.org/observ-er/html/inventaire/PDF/Chapitre03FR-02.pdf La production d'électricité à partir des énergies renouvelables, 8ème inventaire - édition 2006], sur le site d'[http://www.edf.com/21800i/Accueilfr/Developpementdurable.html EDF].</ref>'''
-* [[Energie nucléaire]] : '''79%'''
-* [[Energie renouvelable]] : '''11%'''
-* [[Energie fossile]] :  '''10%'''
-|valign="top" style="font-size: 90%" |
+Nowadays, the [[Prix Goncourt]] (first given in 1903) rewards "the best and most imaginative prose work of the year". It has quite probably become France's best-known contemporary literary award.
-'''Caractéristiques du nucléaire français<ref name=indugouv>[http://www.industrie.gouv.fr/energie/nucleair/f1e_nuc.htm L'énergie nuclaire], documents de référence et analyses, par le Ministère de l'écologie, du développement et de l'aménagement durables et du Ministère de l’économie, des finances et de l’emploi. Industrie.gouv.fr, 2006.</ref>'''
-* '''78 %''' des kWh électriques produits en France sont d'origine nucléaire
-* '''59''' réacteurs nucléaires sont en service dans tous le pays
-* La puissance installée du parc s'élève jusqu'à '''63''' [[Watt|GWe]]
-* Le coût d'investissement du parc nucléaire a été de l'ordre de '''77 milliards d'€''' en 2003
-* Ce même parc a permis une économie de '''10''' milliards d'€ en 2005 par rapport à un parc thermique au gaz;
-* L'[[énergie nucléaire]] évite '''31''' millions de tonnes de [[carbone]] dans l'atmosphère.
-* 1100 à 1200 tonnes de déchets irradiés sont produits chaque année par les centrales nucléaires EDF françaises.
-|}
-Le choix stratégique du nucléaire a permis d'abaisser régulièrement la facture énergétique de la France. Pour autant, le taux d'indépendance énergétique du pays s'accroît fortement : de 26 % en [[1973]], il est de l'ordre de 50 % depuis la fin des [[Années 1980|années 80]]. Le nucléaire a aussi permis à la France de réduire le niveau des émissions contribuant à l'[[effet de serre]]. La France a ainsi l'un des plus bas taux de rejet de [[Dioxyde de carbone|CO2]] des pays de l'[[Organisation de coopération et de développement économiques|OCDE]]. Ses émissions de carbone dues à l'utilisation de l'énergie s'élevaient à '''1,68 t'''. par habitant en [[2002]], contre '''2,30 t'''. pour l'[[Union européenne]] à 15 (dont '''2,80 t'''. pour l'[[Allemagne]] et '''2,44''' t. pour le [[Royaume-Uni]]) et '''5,36 t'''. pour les [[États-Unis]]<ref name=indugouv/>.
-En 1960, cependant, la part des énergies renouvelables (en l'occurence énergie hydraulique) dans la production d'électricité était de {{refnec|51 %}}, proportion qui n'a plus été égalée depuis.
+=== Sport ===
+{{main|Sport in France}}
+[[Image:TourDeFrance 2005 07 09.jpg|thumb|[[Tour de France]]]]
-=== Développement, pauvreté et liberté de la presse ===
+Popular sports include [[football (soccer)]], both codes of [[rugby football]] and in certain regions [[basketball]] and [[handball]]. France has hosted events such as the [[1938 FIFA World Cup|1938]] and [[1998 FIFA World Cup]]s, and hosted the [[2007 Rugby Union World Cup]].  [[Stade de France]] in Paris is the largest stadium in France and was the venue for the 1998 FIFA World Cup final, and hosted the 2007 Rugby World Cup final in October 2007.  France also hosts the annual [[Tour de France]], the most famous [[road bicycle race]] in the world.  France is also famous for its [[24 Hours of Le Mans]] [[sports car racing|sports car]] [[endurance racing|endurance race]] held in the [[Sarthe]] department.  Several major [[tennis]] tournaments take place in France, including the [[Paris Masters]] and the [[French Open]], one of the four [[Grand Slam (tennis)|Grand Slam]] tournaments.
-* '''[[Indice de développement humain|Indice de Developpement Humain]]''' (IDH) : La France se place '''12{{e}}''' sur 173 en [[Classement IDH des pays, 2000|2000]] et '''16{{e}}''' sur 177 en [[Classement IDH des pays, 2003|2003]] et [[Classement IDH des pays, 2004|2004]], derrière les [[États-Unis]] mais devant l'[[Allemagne]].
+France is the country of creation of the [[Olympic Games|Modern Olympic Games]], due to a French aristocrat, Baron [[Pierre de Coubertin]], in the end of the 19th century. After [[Athens]] in reference to the Greek origin of the ancient Olympic Games, [[Paris]] hosted the second Games in 1900.  [[Paris]] was also the first home of the [[IOC]], before moving to [[Lausanne]] for more neutrality. During the Modern era, France has hosted the [[Olympic Games]] fives times: two [[Summer Olympic Games|Summer Games]] ([[1900 Summer Olympics|1900]] and [[1924 Summer Olympics|1924]], both in [[Paris]]) and three [[Winter Olympic Games|Winter Games]] ([[1924 Winter Olympics|1924]] in [[Chamonix]] -the first edition-, [[1968 Winter Olympics|1968]] in [[Grenoble]] and [[1992 Winter Olympics|1992]] in [[Albertville]]).
-{| align="center" rules="all" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="4" style="border: 1px solid #999; border-right: 2px solid #999; border-bottom:2px solid #999; background: #FFFFFF"
+Both the [[France national football team|national football team]] and the [[France national rugby union team|national rugby union team]] are nicknamed "''Les Bleus''" in reference to the team's shirt color as well as the national French tricolor flag. The football team is regarded as one of the most skillful teams in the world with one [[FIFA World Cup]] victory in 1998, one FIFA World Cup second place in 2006, and two [[UEFA European Football Championship|European Championships]] in [[1984 UEFA European Football Championship|1984]] and [[2000 UEFA European Football Championship|2000]].  The top national club competition is the [[Ligue 1]]. Rugby is  very popular, particularly so in the southwest of France and Paris.  The national team have competed at every [[Rugby World Cup]], and take part in the annual [[Six Nations Championship]].  The French rugby team has never won a World Cup (despite having reached the semi-finals on all but one occasion, and playing in two finals) , yet it has won sixteen Six Nations Championship, including eight grand slams.  They are considered one of the top teams in the world. The top national club competition is the [[Top 14]].
-|+ style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 1.1em; margin-bottom: 0.5em"| Évolution de l’IDH français sur 25 ans
-|-style="background: #D1E8FF"
-! '''Année''' !!  [[1975]] !!  [[1980]] !! [[1985]] !! [[1990]] !! [[1995]] !! [[2000]] !! [[2002]] !! [[2003]] !! [[2004]]
-|-style="background: #0094e0"
-| '''IDH''' || align=center| '''0,852'''  || align=center| '''0,867'''  || align=center| '''0,880'''  || align=center| '''0,902'''  || align=center|  '''0,919''' || align=center| '''0,929'''  || align=center|  '''0,932''' || align=center| '''0,938'''  || align=center| '''0,942'''
-|-
-| colspan=13 align=center| <small> Sources: United Nations Development Programme 2002<ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20031117162959/www.undp.org/hdr2002/hdi.pdf Classement IDH des pays], 2000.</ref> et  2005<ref>[http://hdr.undp.org/reports/global/2005/francais/pdf/HDR05_fr_HDI.pdf Rapport mondial sur le développement humain (ONU)], 2005, p.221-340.</ref>
-|}
-* '''[[Indicateur de pauvreté humaine]]''' (IPH-2) : '''8{{e}}''' sur 17 [[pays développés]] ''(11,1&nbsp;%)'' en 2000, '''10{{e}}''' sur 18 en 2004 ''(11,4&nbsp;%)''.
+=== French comic books ===
-Certains pays voient leur [[Indicateur de pauvreté humaine|IPH]] augmenter entre [[2000]] et [[2004]] et donc leur exposition à la pauvreté s'aggraver pour des pays tels [[Norvège]], [[Luxembourg (pays)|Luxembourg]], [[Japon]], [[Espagne]], [[Italie]], [[Irlande]] et la France. Pour cette dernière, le maintien à un niveau élevé de l'indicateur mesurant le taux de chômage de longue durée, empêche l'indice IPH de s'améliorer.
+{{main|Franco-Belgian comics}}
+[[Image:Asterix the gaul.jpg|thumb|upright|Asterix the ''gaulois'', a famous French comics character]]
+French comic books and Francophone Belgian ones are often discussed together.  These two countries share a long lasting tradition in comics and comic books.  In French they are called ''bandes dessinées'', or more simply ''BD''.  It is important to note the French term does not indicate the subject matter.  In common English usage the term comics is often associated to what is fun, or ''funnies'' while the French language comics are often referred as the ''le neuvième art'' (the ninth art).  In the USA several French comics would be seen as [[Graphic novel]]s rather than simply comics. The famous ''irreductible Gaulois'' [[Asterix]] is the subject of the most famous French comics outside France itself.  Although intended for children at first, this BD includes many subtleties and word games that require some culture to be understood. The [[Black Moon Chronicles]] were also quite important and inspired a generation of Francophone role-players. [[Olivier Ledroit]] who drew albums of the Black Moon Chronicles designed characters and backgrounds for the [[Heroes of Might and Magic V]] video game. A new artistic movement called [[La nouvelle manga|La Nouvelle Manga]] is trying to merge the Franco-Belgian style with the Japanese one, as manga are very popular in France and France had an early manga culture.
-* '''[[Liberté de la presse]]''' : '''35{{e}}''', le pays était '''19{{e}}''' en [[2004]], la France a donc perdu 16 places en 5 ans seulement<ref>[http://www.rsf.org/rubrique.php3?id_rubrique=638 Classement liberté de la presse reporters sans frontières], ''[[RadioSansFrontière.org]]'', 2006.</ref>. En France, c'est la {{Légifrance|base=consolidé|numéro=PCEAA.htm|texte=loi sur la liberté de la presse du 29 juillet 1881}} qui a institué cette liberté. Auparavant, il fallait une autorisation préalable, avant de devenir [[Édition (document)|éditeur]] de [[presse écrite|presse]], de [[Livre (document)|livres]] ou pour devenir imprimeur. L'association [[Reporters sans frontières]] établit une liste des « prédateurs de liberté de la presse », qu'elle actualise chaque année.
+French comics are quite present in science-fiction and remain influential in the domain. [[Jean Giraud]], [[Philippe Druillet]] and [[Enki Bilal]] (Serbian born) are examples of French SF writers. Enki Bilal is famous most notably for the Nikopol Trilogy which as been made a movie named [[Immortel (Ad Vitam)]]. Druillet has been named the ''space architect'' because of his backdrops of gigantic structures inspired by Art Nouveau, Indian temples and Gothic cathedrals. Jean Giraud, also known as Moebius, is famous outside France for his works on movies such as: [[Tron (film)|Tron]], [[The Abyss]], [[Willow (film)|Willow]] and [[The Fifth Element]] and his comic [[The Incal]]. Jean Giraud and Philippe Druillet worked together several times and founded [[Métal Hurlant]], a magazine specialised in science-fiction published as [[Heavy Metal (magazine)|Heavy Metal]] in the USA. There are many others important artists in France like [[Thierry Cailleteau]] who wrote [[Aquablue]] who did not achieve fame outside of their homeland.
-== Culture ==
+Foreign comics are often well received within France. Several Belgian comics met great success in France such as [[Blake and Mortimer]], [[XIII (comic book)|XIII]] or [[The Adventures of Tintin]]. As a consequence French and Belgian artists often worked together to produce comics.  An example would be [[Blueberry (comics)|Blueberry]] by [[Jean-Michel Charlier]] and Jean Giraud. The Italian artist [[Hugo Pratt]] found a large audience with the [[Corto Maltese]] comics; Corto Maltese's success in France was such that it was made into several animated movies by [[Canal+]]. [[Manga]] is also very influential in France.
-[[Image:Victor Hugo.jpg|right|thumb|200px|'''[[Victor Hugo]]''' <small>né en [[1802]] à [[Besançon]] et mort en [[1885]] à [[Paris]], est un [[écrivain]], [[dramaturge]], [[poète]], [[homme politique]], [[Académie|académicien]] et [[intellectuel]] engagé [[France|français]] considéré comme le plus important des [[écrivain]]s [[Romantisme|romantiques]] de [[langue française]]</small>]]
-{{Article détaillé|amorce=Consulter également|culture de la France|langues régionales de France}}
-=== Culture française ===
+=== Marianne ===
-{{Article détaillé|Culture française}}
+<!-- Image with questionable fair-use claim removed: [[Image:Martimbp.gif|right|thumbnail|upright|French postage stamp depicting Marianne]] -->
-La '''[[culture française]]''' est riche, diversifiée et ancienne, et reflète ses [[:catégorie:Culture régionale française|cultures régionales]] et l’influence des vagues d’immigration de toutes époques. Sa capitale, [[Paris]] - la Ville lumière -  est depuis longtemps un foyer culturel important (la [[Sorbonne]]...), accueillant les artistes de toutes origines, et abrite aujourd'hui le plus grand nombre de sites à caractère culturel au monde ([[musée]]s, places, bâtiments et autres). Certains de ces sites sont consacrés à une grande variété de thèmes (notamment au sein du [[musée du Louvre]]) ainsi, cette richesse de la culture a fait de la France, ainsi que de Paris, les premiers sites touristiques mondiaux.
+{{main|Marianne}}
+[[Image:Marianne maçonnique.jpg|thumb|upright|Masonic Marianne bronze]]
-Patrie de nombreux [[philosophie|philosophes]] (le {{XVIIe siècle}} ou [[Histoire de France au XVIIe siècle|Grand siècle]], et le {{XVIIIe siècle}} ou [[Siècle des Lumières]] étant les siècles d'or de la France), la [[culture française]] a légué au monde la langue des [[diplomate]]s, une certaine conception universelle de l’homme (parfois jugée un peu franco-centrée), de nombreuses réalisations [[technique]]s et médicales et un art de vivre ancestral.
+[[Marianne]] is a symbol of the French Republic. She is an allegorical figure of liberty and the Republic and first appeared at the time of the [[French Revolution]]. The earliest representations of Marianne are of a woman wearing a [[Phrygian cap]]. The origins of the name Marianne are unknown, but Marie-Anne was a very common first name in the 18th century. Anti-revolutionaries of the time derisively called her La Gueuse (the Commoner). It is believed that revolutionaries from the South of France adopted the Phrygian cap as it symbolised liberty, having been worn by freed slaves in both Greece and Rome. Mediterranean seamen and convicts manning the galleys also wore a similar type of cap.
-Après avoir [[frères Lumière|inventé le cinéma]] à [[Lyon]] et défendant avec ardeur l'[[exception culturelle]], la France développe une [[Portail:Cinéma|industrie cinématographique]] qui reste en Europe l'une des rares à résister à la machine [[hollywood]]ienne<ref>[http://www.lefigaro.fr/economie/20070522.WWW000000421_le_cinema_francais_fait_plus_dentrees_que_les_films_hollywoodiens.html  Le cinéma français détrône Hollywood], ''[[Le Figaro]]'', publié le 22 mai 2007 (consulté le 30 juillet 2007).</ref>.
+Under the Third Republic, statues, and especially busts, of Marianne began to proliferate, particularly in town halls. She was represented in several different manners, depending on whether the aim was to emphasise her revolutionary nature or her "wisdom". Over time, the Phrygian cap was felt to be too seditious, and was replaced by a diadem or a crown. In recent times, famous French women have been used as the model for those busts.  Recent ones include [[Sophie Marceau]], and [[Laetitia Casta]]. She also features on everyday articles such as postage stamps and coins.
-La [[musique française]] a également su se démarquer par de grands noms à toutes les époques, et ce, à travers le monde.
-* '''sculpture :''' ''voir l’article dédié [[Sculpture française]]'',
-* '''peinture :''' ''voir [[:Catégorie:Peintre français|les peintres français]]'',
-* '''architecture :''' ''voir [[:Catégorie:Architecte français|les architectes français]]'',
-* '''musique :''' ''voir l’article dédié [[Musique française]]'',
-* '''littérature :''' ''voir l’article dédié [[Littérature française]],
-* '''cinéma :''' ''voir l’article dédié [[Cinéma français]],
-* '''cuisine :''' ''voir l’article dédié [[Cuisine française]]''
-La [[culture française]] continue de [[rayonnement culturel|rayonner]] au sein de la [[Francophonie]] qui lui fournit également des [[Léopold Sédar Senghor|contributeurs francophiles]] d’exception.
+== Images of France (Metropolitan France + Overseas territories of France) ==
+<gallery>
+Image:Mont Saint Michel.jpg|The [[Mont-Saint-Michel]]
+Image:845-Paris.jpg|The [[Eiffel Tower]]
+Image:Chambord1.jpg|[[Château de Chambord]]
+Image:Moorea baie cook.JPG|[[Moorea]] ([[French Polynesia]], [[Overseas departments and territories of France|Overseas territories of France]])
+Image:Paris-Triumph-Bogenh.jpg|L'arc de Triomphe et les [[Avenue des Champs-Élysées|Champs-Élysées]]
+Image:France rice field in camargue.jpg|La [[Camargue]]
+Image:Winter in saint-pierre, road.JPG|Winter in [[Saint Pierre and Miquelon]] ([[Overseas departments and territories of France|Overseas territories of France]])
+Image:Bassin Apollon.jpg|The [[Château de Versailles]]
+Image:Paris-montmartre-basilique-du-sacrecoeur.jpg|The [[Basilique du Sacré-Cœur, Paris|Basilica of the Sacred-Heart, Paris]]
+Image:Notre-dame-de-la-garde (vue extérieure).jpg|[[Notre-Dame de la Garde]] à [[Marseille]]
+Image:Pont du gard.jpg|Le [[pont du Gard]]
+Image:MountBlanc03.jpg|Le [[mont Blanc]]
+Image:Notre-Dame de Paris 2792x2911.jpg|[[Notre Dame de Paris]]
+Image:Nimes amphi.jpg|The [[Arena of Nîmes]]
+Image:Puy_de_dome_2001-12-15.jpg|Le [[puy de Dôme]]
+Image:Bora-Bora.png|[[Bora-Bora]] in [[French Polynesia]] ([[Overseas departments and territories of France|Overseas territories of France]])
+Image:Stb.jpg|[[Gustavia]], [[Saint Barthélemy]] ([[Overseas departments and territories of France|Overseas territories of France]])
+Image:Hienghene_La_Poule.JPG|La [[Nouvelle-Calédonie]] ([[Overseas departments and territories of France|Overseas territories of France]])
+Image:Carcassonne-vignes.jpg|[[Carcassonne]] et ses fortifications
+Image:ViaducdeMillau.jpg|Le [[viaduc de Millau]]
+Image:Chateau Caen.jpg|The [[Château de Caen]] built in 1060
+Image:French Senate seen from Luxembourg Gardens dsc00746.jpg|[[Jardin du Luxembourg]] in [[Paris]]
+Image:Esplanade-de-la-defense.jpg|[[La Défense]] major [[business district]] for the city of [[Paris]]
+Image:1831420.jpg|Image of [[Pyrenees|French Pyrenees]]
+</gallery>
-=== Croyances et laïcité ===
+== Miscellaneous topics ==
-{{Article détaillé|Religion en France}}
+{{trivia|date=August 2007}}
+[[Image:200506 - Mont Saint-Michel 01.JPG|thumb|[[Mont Saint Michel]], a popular tourist site in France]]
+[[Image:Tour eiffel at sunrise from the trocadero.jpg|thumb|upright|Icon of Paris, the [[Eiffel tower]] at [[sunrise]]]]
+[[Image:Avignon-palais-des-papes.jpg|thumb|upright|Palais des papes (Palace of the Popes) , [[Avignon]]]]
-Constitutionnellement, la France est un État [[laïcité|laïque]]. La laïcité à la française entraîne une séparation réciproque entre les Églises et l’État, sur la base du postulat que pour que l’État puisse respecter toutes les religions, il ne doit en reconnaître aucune.
+* ''Description of the flag:'' three vertical bands of blue (hoist side) , white, and red became the flag during the French Revolution and made popular by Marquis de Lafayette; known as the ''[[Flag of France|drapeau tricolore]]'' (Tricolour Flag). It is traditional to refer to the three colours in the order: blue, white, red.  (''bleu, blanc, rouge'') ; blue and red are the colours of Paris, while white was the colour of the [[House of Bourbon|Bourbon]] monarchy. The white inserted between the blue and the red expresses the idea that the king was under control of the people.
+* Although commonly associated with the [[French Revolution]] and suggested by [[Maximilien Robespierre|Robespierre]] in December, 1790, France's motto, "[[Liberté, égalité, fraternité|Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité]]" was not adopted until the [[French Revolution of 1848]].<ref name="Frenchsymbols">{{cite web |author=[[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (France)|French Ministry of Foreign Affairs]] |publisher= |year= |url=http://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/en/france_159/discovering-france_2005/france-from-to-z_1978/the-symbols-of-the-republic-and-bastille-day_2002/index.html |title=The symbols of the Republic and Bastille Day |accessdate=2006-04-20}}</ref>
-Par principe donc, l’État français s’interdit les recensements à caractère religieux. Cependant, un certain nombre d'[[étude]]s ont été menées et nombre d'[[hypothèse]]s ont été posées, les résultats se voulant plus ou moins proches, parmi elles:
+* The national holiday of France since 1880 is the ''Fête Nationale'' (National Holiday) , colloquially known as ''le 14 juillet'', officially celebrating the ''[[Fête de la Fédération]]'' ([[14 July]] [[1790]]) and ''not'' the storming of the [[Bastille]] ([[14 July]] [[1789]]) as is often believed, even by a majority of French people, and is the reason why the holiday is referred to as [[Bastille Day]] in [[English language|English]]. On the occasion of the ''Fête de la Fédération'', celebrated exactly one year after the storming of the Bastille, all the representatives of the provinces of France gathered on the [[Champ de Mars]] in [[Paris]] in presence of the king [[Louis XVI of France|Louis XVI]] and proclaimed the national unity of France. They vowed to remain faithful to "the Nation, the Law, the King".
-{| class="toccolours" border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="10" align="center" style="margin:2em;"
+:This day is considered by French Republicans as the real birth of France: France is no more a country made up of provinces conquered by kings, but a country of provinces and men who freely agree to form a common Nation. This concept of a Nation agreed upon is opposed to the German concept of a Nation based on ethnicity and race, and it was responsible for much of the conflicts between France and Germany in the end of the 19th century and beginning of the 20th century. Alsace was a German land that had been annexed by the conquest of the French kings, while France considered that although Alsace had indeed been a conquered province in the first place, it had legitimately and freely become a part of France by the oath of [[14 July]] [[1790]]. It is thus no surprise that the 14th of July was proclaimed the National Holiday of France in 1880, 9 years after Germany had reunited with [[Alsace-Lorraine]].
-|valign="top" style="font-size: 90%" |
-'''Sondage [[CSA (sondage)|CSA]] 2006-2007<ref>Sondage publié en janvier 2007 dans Le Monde des religions</ref>'''
+:Despite being associated with the ''Fête de la Fédération'', [[Bastille Day|14 July]] irked many French monarchists, to whom it recalled the bloody memory of the storming of the Bastille. French monarchists formerly wore a black armband each [[14 July]] in defiance of the national holiday.
-* [[Catholiques]]: '''51 %''' <small>(contre 67 % en 1994) mais seulement la moitié croient fermement en [[Dieu]]</small>
-* [[Athéisme]]: '''31 %''' <small>contre 23 % en 1994</small>
-* [[Islam|Musulman]]: '''4 %''' <small>contre 2 % en 1994</small>
-* [[Protestantisme|Protestant]]: '''3 %'''
-* [[Juif]] '''1 %'''
-* Autres / Sans Opinion '''10 %'''
-|valign="top" style="font-size: 90%" |
+* The French city of [[Avignon]] replaced [[Rome]] as home to the [[Papacy]] between 1309-1377.  The town remained under papal control until 1791, when it was incorporated into France.
-'''Étude Portail-Religion.com'''<ref>[http://www.portail-religion.com/FR/dossier/Pays/France/index.php France et Religions], Portail-religion.com.</ref>
-* [[Catholiques]]: '''67 %''' <small>env. 40.000.000</small>
-* [[Islam|Musulman]]: '''7.5 %''' <small>4 à 5.000.000</small>
-* [[Juif]] '''1,3 %'''  <small>800.000</small>
-* [[Protestantisme|Protestant]]: '''1.2 %'''  <small>700.000</small>
-* [[Bouddhisme]]: '''1.2 %'''  <small>700.000</small>
-|valign="top" style="font-size: 90%" |
+* Popular tourist sites include: (according to a 2003 ranking [http://www.culture.gouv.fr/dep/mini_chiff_03/fr/musee.htm] visitors per year) : [[Eiffel Tower]] (6.2 million) , [[Louvre|Louvre Museum]] (5.7 million) , [[Palace of Versailles]] (2.8 million) , [[Musée d'Orsay]] (2.1 million) , [[Arc de Triomphe]] (1.2 million) , [[Centre Georges Pompidou|Centre Pompidou]] (1.2 million) , [[Mont-Saint-Michel]] (1 million) , [[Château de Chambord]] (711,000) ,[[Sainte-Chapelle]] (683,000) , [[Château du Haut-Kœnigsbourg]] (549,000) , [[Puy-de-Dôme (mountain)|Puy de Dôme]] (500,000) , [[Musée Picasso]] (441,000) , [[Carcassonne]] (362,000). Other very popular [http://www.culture.gouv.fr/dep/mini_chiff_2006/fr/minichiffres_cles_2006.pdf] and well-known tourist sites include: [[Palais des Papes|Palace of the Popes, Avignon]], [[Disneyland Resort Paris]], the [[Chateau|châteaux]] of the [[Loire Valley]], the ski resorts of the French [[Alps]] or [[Pyrenees]], [[Tahiti]] and the [[lagoon]]s of [[French Polynesia]], etc.
-'''Sondage L'Internaute 2004'''<ref>[http://www.linternaute.com/savoir/religion/presentation.shtml « La nouvelle donne des religions »], ''L'Internaute Magazine'', juin 2004.</ref>
-* [[Catholiques]]: '''62 %'''
-* [[Athéisme]]: '''26 %'''
-* [[Islam|Musulman]]: '''6 %'''
-* [[Protestantisme|Protestant]]: '''2 %'''
-* [[Juif]] '''1 %'''
-|valign="top" style="font-size: 90%" |
+== International rankings ==
-'''Sondage par l'[[Institut français d'opinion publique|IFOP]] en [[2007]] pour ''[[La Vie]]'''''<ref>''[[La Vie]]'', n°3209, du 1{{e}} mars 2007</ref>
+* Total [[Gross domestic product|GDP]], 2005: [[List of countries by GDP (nominal)|6th (out of 180)]] ([[World Bank Group|World Bank]] data)
-* [[Catholiques]]: '''64 %'''
+* Total value of [[foreign trade]] ([[International trade|import]]s and [[exports]]) , 2002: 4th (out of 185)
-* [[Athéisme]]: '''27 %'''
+* [[Reporters Without Borders]] world-wide press freedom index 2005: Rank 30 out of 167 countries
-* [[Islam|Musulman]]: '''3 %'''
+* [http://www.transparency.org/content/download/10825/92857/version/1/file/CPI_2006_presskit_eng.pdf Transparency International Corruption Perceptions Index 2006] - 18th of 163 countries
-* [[Protestantisme|Protestant]]: '''2,1 %'''
-* [[Juif]] '''0.6 %'''
-|}
-Malgré cette nette diminution des croyances, notamment du [[catholicisme]], la religion catholique demeure dominante en France ; elle a grandement influencé la culture du pays et lui a valu le surnom de « Fille aînée de l’Église ». Même aujourd’hui, alors que l’État est laïc, le catholicisme reste particulièrement présent : On peut citer ainsi les [[jour férié|jours fériés]] qui sont, pour la plupart, des [[fêtes religieuses]] chrétiennes, ou encore les [[école privée|écoles privées]], dont neuf sur dix sont catholiques.
+== Notes and references ==
+<!-- Please DO NOT use a scroll template or form/table for the reflink, please read warning on the scroll template page. Thank you -->
+{{reflist|2}}
-<center>
+== External links ==
-<gallery>
+{{sisterlinks|France}}
-Image:France Eure-et-Loir Chartres Cathedrale 01.jpg|<center>'''La [[Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Chartres]]'''</center>
+'''French government'''
-Image:Synagogue Besançon.jpg|<center>'''La [[Synagogue de Besançon]]'''</center>
+* [http://www.ambafrance-uk.org/ Official site of the French Embassy in the United Kingdom]
-Image:Mosque Paris Aug 2006 002.jpg|<center>'''La [[Mosquée de Paris|Grande Mosquée de Paris]]'''</center>
+* [http://www.service-public.fr/etranger/english.html Official site of the French public service] - Contains many links to various administrations and institutions
+* [http://www.frenchculturenow.com/ Frenchculturenow.com: French society, culture, politics news]
-</gallery>
+'''Country profiles'''
-</center>
+* [http://www.britannica.com/nations/France France], from the ''[[Encyclopædia Britannica]]''
+* [https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/fr.html France], from the [[CIA World Factbook]]
+* [http://www.pagesjaunes.fr/pb.cgi?lang=en Phone numbers] from [[France Télécom]]]
+* {{wikitravel}}
-==Tourisme==
+'''Culture'''
-{{Article détaillé|Tourisme en France}}
+* [http://www.cocorico.com Cocorico! French culture]
-{{Images
+* [http://www.french.uiuc.edu/cfc/ ''Contemporary French Civilization''], journal, University of Illinois.
-|largeur=300
-|align=right
-|titre=Sites & monuments de France
-|Image:Mont Saint Michel.jpg|[[Le Mont-Saint-Michel]]
-|Image:845-Paris.jpg|La [[tour Eiffel]]
-|Image:Chambord1.jpg|[[Château de Chambord]]
-|Image:Citadelle Besançon.jpg|La [[citadelle de Besançon]]
-|Image:Paris-Triumph-Bogenh.jpg|L'arc de Triomphe et les [[Avenue des Champs-Élysées|Champs-Élysées]]
-|Image:France rice field in camargue.jpg|La [[Camargue]]
-|Image:Lyon vue depuis fourviere.jpg|Le site historique de [[Lyon]]
-|Image:Bassin Apollon.jpg|Le [[Château de Versailles]]
-|Image:Paris-montmartre-basilique-du-sacrecoeur.jpg|La [[Basilique du Sacré-Cœur de Montmartre|basilique du Sacré-Cœur]]
-|Image:Notre-dame-de-la-garde (vue extérieure).jpg|[[Notre-Dame de la Garde]] à [[Marseille]]
-|Image:Pont du gard.jpg|Le [[pont du Gard]]
-|Image:MountBlanc03.jpg|Le [[mont Blanc]]
-|Image:Notre-Dame de Paris 2792x2911.jpg|La [[cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris]]
-|Image:Nimes amphi.jpg|Les [[arènes de Nîmes]]
-|Image:Puy_de_dome_2001-12-15.jpg|Le [[puy de Dôme]]
-|Image:Bora-Bora.png|La [[Polynésie française]], le mont Otemanu à [[Bora-Bora]]
-|Image:Martinique_jardin_balata.jpg|La [[Martinique]] et ses jardins de Balata
-|Image:Hienghene_La_Poule.JPG|La [[Nouvelle-Calédonie]]
-|Image:Carcassonne-vignes.jpg|[[Carcassonne]] et ses fortifications
-|Image:ViaducdeMillau.jpg|Le [[viaduc de Millau]]
-}}
-Le pays le plus visité au monde est la France ; il en va de même pour [[Paris]], première ville touristique en termes de fréquentation ; enfin la [[Tour Eiffel]] est le monument le plus visité au monde : La France est indiscutablement championne dans ce domaine et il faut dire qu'elle possède des monuments et des sites remarquables, très prisés par les [[tourisme|touristes]] et très souvent uniques. Pour autant, la recette du tourisme international est plus élevée aux États-Unis (''81,7 milliards de $'') qu'en France (4''2,3 milliards de $'') ; cela s'explique par le fait que les séjours en France sont généralement de courte durée, les touristes se déplaçant souvent dans les pays voisins d'[[Europe]], eux-mêmes très attractifs. De plus, il ne s'agit pas des mêmes touristes (tourisme familial au lieu de tourisme d'affaires), ce qui fait que les dépenses sont bien moins grandes en France.
-En [[2000]], près de '''75,5''' millions d'entre eux, record absolu<ref name=europla/>, se seraient rendus en France. La balance extérieure du tourisme français est très largement excédentaire : en [[2000]], le tourisme a généré 32,78 milliards d'euros de recettes, alors que les touristes français qui voyagent à l'étranger n'ont dépensé que 17,53 milliards d'euros. Il se dégage donc un excédent d'environ 15,24 milliards d'euros.
-La grande variété des paysages, la longueur des côtes, le nombre et la diversité des monuments, sans oublier le prestige de la culture française ([[cuisine]], mode de vie, etc...) expliquent sans doute l'engouement des visiteurs. Mais la donne risque de se voir inversée avec le développement du tourisme en [[République populaire de Chine|Chine]] qui pourrait ravir à la France le trône des pays les plus visités selon des sources chinoises, donc partiales. <ref>[http://www.chine-nouvelle.com/presse/article/1227/La_Chine_deviendrait_la_premiere_destination_touristique_mondiale_cinq_ans_plus_tot_que_prevu.html La Chine deviendrait la première destination touristique mondiale en 2014]</ref>
-== Codes ==
+{{Template group
-La France a pour codes :
+| title = [[Image:Nuvola apps package network.png|25lpx]]&nbsp;Geographic locale
-* [[LF]], selon la [[liste des préfixes des codes OACI des aéroports]],
+| list  =
+{{Countries of Europe}}
-== Voir aussi ==
+{{Countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea}}
-=== Références ===
-{{Références|colonnes = 2}}
-=== Sources ===
-* Les informations des sous-parties: ''Agriculture'', ''Industrie'' et ''Commerce'' proviennent en parties du site [http://www.europa-planet.com/france/economie.htm Europa-planet.com]<ref name=europla/></small>
-=== Liens externes ===
-{{Article audio
-|fichier=France (6 à fin).ogg
-|date=8 juin 2007
-|oldid=17720365
-|article=France
 }}
-{{Autres projets|commons=Category:France|n=Page:France|q=France|wikt=France}}
+{{Template group
-* {{fr}} [http://www.elysee.fr/ Site officiel de la présidence de la République française]
+| title = International organizations
-* {{fr}} [http://www.premier-ministre.gouv.fr Site officiel du gouvernement français]
+| list  =
-{{ODP|/World/Français/Régional/Europe/France/}}
+{{EU members}}
-* {{fr}} [http://www.faunedefrance.org/BibliothequeVirtuelleNumerique Documents téléchargeables sur la faune de France] (Fédération française des sociétés de sciences naturelles).
+{{G8}}
-* {{fr}} [http://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/fr/ Site du ministère des affaires étrangères]
+{{UN Security Council}}
-* {{fr}} [http://www.radiofrance.fr/ Site de Radio France]
+{{Council of Europe members}}
-* {{fr}} [http://www.conseil-constitutionnel.fr/ Site du conseil constitutionnel]
+{{OECD}}
-* {{fr}} [http://www.senat.fr/ Site du Sénat français]
+{{NATO}}
-* {{fr}} [http://www.securite-sociale.fr/ Portail de la Sécurité Sociale]
+{{Latinunion}}
-* {{en}} [http://www.justfrance.org/ Guide touristique de France]
-{{Pays d'Europe (UE)}}
-{{boîte déroulante|titre=Principales organisations dont la France est membre|margeBas=0.5em|contenu=
-{{OCDE}}
-{{OMC}}
-{{OTAN}}
-{{Conseil de sécurité}}
 {{La Francophonie}}
-{{G8}}
+{{WTO}}
+}}
+{{Template group
+| title = Other associations
+| list  =
+{{Latin Europe}}
 }}
-{{Multi bandeau|Portail France|Portail Union européenne|Portail Europe}}
+{{coor title d|47|N|2|E|type:country_region:FR}}
-{{Lien AdQ|eo}}
+{{Link FA|eo}}
-{{Lien AdQ|ceb}}
+{{Link FA|ceb}}
-{{Lien BA|is}}
-[[Catégorie:France|*]]
+[[Category:France| ]]
+[[Category:French-speaking countries]]
+[[Category:G8 nations]]
+[[Category:Liberal democracies]]
+[[Category:Titular Sees of the Coptic Orthodox Church]]
 [[af:Frankryk]]
 [[als:Frankreich]]
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-[[an:Franzia]]
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 [[ar:فرنسا]]
+[[an:Franzia]]
 [[arc:ܦܪܢܣܐ]]
+[[roa-rup:Gallia]]
+[[frp:France]]
 [[ast:Francia]]
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-[[bar:Frånkreich]]
+[[bn:ফ্রান্স]]
-[[bat-smg:Prancūzėjė]]
+[[zh-min-nan:Hoat-kok]]
 [[be:Францыя]]
 [[be-x-old:Францыя]]
-[[bg:Франция]]
+[[bar:Frånkreich]]
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 [[bo:ཕ་རན་སི]]
-[[bpy:ফ্রান্স]]
+[[bs:Francuska]]
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-[[bs:Francuska]]
+[[bg:Франция]]
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-[[cdo:Huák-guók]]
+[[cv:Франци]]
-[[ce:Франце]]
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+[[cs:Francie]]
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-[[cs:Francie]]
-[[csb:Francëjô]]
-[[cu:Франкї]]
-[[cv:Франци]]
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+[[pdc:Frankreich]]
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-[[diq:Fransa]]
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+[[nv:Dáághahii]]
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+[[et:Prantsusmaa]]
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-[[en:France]]
+[[es:Francia]]
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-[[es:Francia]]
-[[et:Prantsusmaa]]
 [[eu:Frantzia]]
 [[fa:فرانسه]]
-[[fi:Ranska]]
-[[fiu-vro:Prantsusmaa]]
 [[fo:Frakland]]
-[[frp:France]]
+[[fr:France]]
+[[fy:Frankryk]]
 [[fur:France]]
-[[fy:Frankryk]]
 [[ga:An Fhrainc]]
+[[gv:Yn Rank]]
 [[gd:An Fhraing]]
 [[gl:Francia - France]]
-[[got:𐍆𐍂𐌰𐌲𐌺𐌰𐍂𐌴𐌹𐌺𐌹]]
 [[gu:ફ્રાઁસ]]
-[[gv:Yn Rank]]
+[[got:𐍆𐍂𐌰𐌲𐌺𐌰𐍂𐌴𐌹𐌺𐌹]]
+[[zh-classical:法國]]
 [[hak:Fap-koet]]
-[[he:צרפת]]
+[[xal:Пранц]]
+[[ko:프랑스]]
+[[hy:Ֆրանսիա]]
 [[hi:फ़्राँस]]
-[[hr:Francuska]]
 [[hsb:Francoska]]
-[[ht:Frans]]
+[[hr:Francuska]]
-[[hu:Franciaország]]
+[[io:Francia]]
-[[hy:Ֆրանսիա]]
+[[ilo:Fransia]]
-[[ia:Francia]]
+[[bpy:ফ্রান্স]]
 [[id:Perancis]]
+[[ia:Francia]]
 [[ie:Francia]]
-[[ilo:Fransia]]
+[[os:Франц]]
-[[io:Francia]]
 [[is:Frakkland]]
 [[it:Francia]]
-[[ja:フランス]]
+[[he:צרפת]]
-[[jbo:fasygu'e]]
 [[jv:Prancis]]
+[[pam:France]]
+[[kn:ಫ್ರಾನ್ಸ್]]
 [[ka:საფრანგეთი]]
-[[kab:Fransa]]
+[[ks:फ्रांस]]
+[[csb:Francëjô]]
+[[kk:Франция]]
+[[kw:Pow Frynk]]
+[[rw:Ubufaransa]]
+[[sw:Ufaransa]]
+[[kv:Франция]]
 [[kg:Falanse]]
-[[kk:Франция]]
+[[ht:Frans]]
-[[kn:ಫ್ರಾನ್ಸ್]]
-[[ko:프랑스]]
-[[ks:फ्रांस]]
-[[ksh:Frangkrisch]]
 [[ku:Fransa]]
-[[kv:Франция]]
+[[lad:Fransia]]
-[[kw:Pow Frynk]]
+[[lo:ຝະລັ່ງ]]
 [[la:Francia]]
-[[lad:Fransia]]
+[[lv:Francija]]
 [[lb:Frankräich]]
+[[lij:Fransa]]
+[[lt:Prancūzija]]
 [[li:Frankriek]]
-[[lij:Fransa]]
+[[ln:Falansia]]
+[[jbo:fasygu'e]]
 [[lmo:Francja]]
-[[ln:Falansia]]
+[[hu:Franciaország]]
-[[lo:ຝະລັ່ງ]]
+[[mk:Франција]]
-[[lt:Prancūzija]]
-[[lv:Francija]]
 [[mg:Frantsa]]
-[[mk:Франција]]
 [[ml:ഫ്രാന്‍സ്]]
-[[mn:Франц улс]]
+[[mt:Franza]]
 [[mr:फ्रान्स]]
 [[ms:Perancis]]
-[[mt:Franza]]
+[[cdo:Huák-guók]]
+[[mn:Франц улс]]
+[[nah:Francitlān]]
 [[na:France]]
-[[nah:Francitlān]]
+[[nl:Frankrijk]]
-[[nap:Franza]]
-[[nds:Frankriek]]
 [[nds-nl:Frankriek]]
 [[ne:फ्रान्स]]
-[[nl:Frankrijk]]
+[[ja:フランス]]
-[[nn:Frankrike]]
+[[nap:Franza]]
+[[ce:Франце]]
 [[no:Frankrike]]
-[[nov:Fransia]]
+[[nn:Frankrike]]
 [[nrm:France]]
-[[nv:Dáághahii]]
+[[nov:Fransia]]
 [[oc:França]]
-[[os:Франц]]
+[[ug:فرانسىيە]]
-[[pam:France]]
+[[uz:Fransiya]]
-[[pdc:Frankreich]]
-[[pl:Francja]]
-[[pms:Fransa]]
 [[ps:فرانسه]]
+[[pms:Fransa]]
+[[nds:Frankriek]]
+[[pl:Francja]]
 [[pt:França]]
-[[qu:Phransya]]
+[[ty:Farāni]]
-[[rm:Frantscha]]
+[[ksh:Frangkrisch]]
-[[rmy:Franchiya]]
 [[ro:Franţa]]
-[[roa-rup:Gallia]]
+[[rmy:Franchiya]]
+[[rm:Frantscha]]
+[[qu:Phransya]]
 [[ru:Франция]]
+[[se:Frankriika]]
 [[sa:फ्रांस]]
 [[sc:Frantza]]
-[[scn:Francia]]
 [[sco:Fraunce]]
-[[se:Frankriika]]
+[[st:Fora]]
-[[sh:Francuska]]
+[[sq:Franca]]
+[[scn:Francia]]
 [[simple:France]]
 [[sk:Francúzsko]]
 [[sl:Francija]]
+[[cu:Франкї]]
 [[so:Faransiiska]]
-[[sq:Franca]]
 [[sr:Француска]]
-[[st:Fora]]
+[[sh:Francuska]]
+[[fi:Ranska]]
 [[sv:Frankrike]]
-[[sw:Ufaransa]]
+[[tl:Pransya]]
 [[ta:பிரான்ஸ்]]
+[[kab:Fransa]]
 [[tet:Fransa]]
+[[th:ประเทศฝรั่งเศส]]
+[[vi:Pháp]]
 [[tg:Фаронса]]
-[[th:ประเทศฝรั่งเศส]]
-[[tk:Fransiýa]]
-[[tl:Pransya]]
 [[tpi:Pranis]]
 [[tr:Fransa]]
-[[ty:Farāni]]
+[[tk:Fransiýa]]
 [[udm:Франция]]
-[[ug:فرانسىيە]]
 [[uk:Франція]]
 [[ur:فرانس]]
-[[uz:Fransiya]]
 [[vec:Franzsa]]
-[[vi:Pháp]]
-[[vls:Vrankryk]]
 [[vo:Fransän]]
+[[fiu-vro:Prantsusmaa]]
 [[wa:France]]
+[[vls:Vrankryk]]
 [[war:Fransya]]
 [[wo:Faraas]]
 [[wuu:法国]]
-[[xal:Пранц]]
 [[yi:פראנקרייך]]
+[[zh-yue:法國]]
+[[diq:Fransa]]
 [[zea:Frankriek]]
+[[bat-smg:Prancūzėjė]]
 [[zh:法国]]
-[[zh-classical:法國]]
-[[zh-min-nan:Hoat-kok]]
-[[zh-yue:法國]]