France is a magnificent country that has been through many ups and downs. France has been a significant player on the world stage for hundreds of years and has been through some tough times, but it has never stopped.
Plus, the French have always had a reputation for being classy and hospitable.
France is a beautiful travel destination for someone who wants to find a new and exciting experience; it provides both old and unique experiences.
The old is about ancient history that you will be able to explore in most of the country’s traditional historical and heritage places such as the Notre-Dame cathedral, the Louvre museum, the Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triomphe, and probably many others.
France also boasts excellent high-fashion shopping centers, theatres, wines, and eateries offering sophisticated cuisines in terms of new experiences.
It is a safe country to visit and ranks 66 out of 163 countries in the Global Peace Index of 2020. As a traveler, you won’t face any violent crime.
However, petty crimes like pickpocketing and scam are prevalent, so be cautious while exploring the tourist attractions.
The country is among the world’s oldest nations and is one of the most historically and culturally important Western world countries.
Geography
France is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean, the Mediterranean Sea, the Pyrenees, and the Alps.
Belgium and Luxembourg border the country to the northeast, whereas Germany, Italy, and Switzerland bound France to the east, Spain, Andorra, and the Mediterranean sea to the south, the Bay of Biscay to the west, and the English Channel to the northwest.
The country mainly comprises low-lying plains, older mountain blocks, massifs, and plateaus. There are relatively fewer younger, high ranges.
The soils of France are of excellent agricultural value as it lies on the zone of brown forest soils.
High rainfall, however, affects the soil conditions in northwestern France as the rain leeches carbonates and other minerals to the soil and degrades it.
Climate
France mainly lies in the southern part of the temperate zone and is under oceanic influences.
It has three major climatic zones: oceanic, Mediterranean, and continental.
The country gets annual precipitation of more than 1,2700 mm in the western Pyrenees, the Massif Central, the Jura, and the Alps.
The best time to travel to the country is during the spring or autumn season.
April to May or September to October are the best months to visit France as the weather is pleasant and has a mild temperature. Summer (June to August) is also a great time to explore the country.
Nature and Wildlife
France’s vegetation is related to its climate. The Holarctic province and the Mediterranean province are the two major divisions in France.
You can find oak, chestnut, beech, and pine trees in the Holarctic province. As you move south of Charente, you will find a combination of heath and gorse on the plateaus alongside oak, poplar, cypress, and willow trees.
The Mediterranean province has xerophytic plants such as evergreen oak, cork oak, cistuses, and lavenders.
You can find coniferous forests with fir and pine trees as you move at the elevation of 4,500 feet.
In terms of animals, you can find red deer, wild boar, fox, the genet, wildcats, and roe deer. If you’re lucky, you might even see the rare fallow deer. Rare Chamonix and ibex are found in the high Alps.
The country has also preserved endangered species like the badger, the beaver, the otter, the marmot, and the tortoise.
The country has similar birdlife as its neighboring countries. For example, you can find flamingos, the black-winged stilt, the Egyptian vulture, and the bee-eater in southern France.
