FrAnCe

FRANCE France is a country located in Western Europe . Clockwise from the north, France borders Belgium and Luxembourg to the northeast, Germany and Switzerland to the east, Italy to the south-east and Spain to the south-west, across the Pyrenees mountain range (the small country of Andorra lies in between the two countries). The Mediterranean Sea lies to the south of France, with the Principality of Monacco forming a small enclave. To the west, France has a long Atlantic Ocean coastline, while to the north lies the English Channel, across which lies the last of France's neighbors, England (part of the United Kingdom). France is the world's most popular tourist destination (78 million in 2006) boasting dozens of major tourist attractions, like Paris , Cote de'Azur (the French Riviera ), the Atlantic beaches, the winter sport resorts of the Alps, the Castles of Loire Valley , Brittany , Normandy : Mont Saint Michael . The country is renowned for its gastronomy (particularly wines and cheeses), history, culture and fashion. A lot of variety, but temperate winters and mild summers on most of the territory, and especially in Paris . Mild winters and hot summers along the Mediterranean and in the south west (the latter has lots of rain in winter). Mild winters (with lots of rain) and cool summers in the north west (Brittany). Cool to cold winters and hot summer along the German border (Alsace). Along the Rhone Valley , occasional strong, cold, dry, north-to-northwesterly wind known as the mistral. Cold winters with lots of the snow in the Mountainous regions: Alps, Pyrenees, Auvergne.