France is bounded by the English Channel, Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, the Mediterranean, Spain, Andorra and the Atlantic Ocean.

The spectacular variety of scenery ranges from the mountains of the Alps and Pyrenées, to the attractive wine producing river valleys of the Loire, Rhône and Dordogne.

France's capital, Paris, is one of the world's great cities and is easy to negotiate even on the first visit. There are more than 80 museums and 200 art galleries in Paris including, of course, the Louvre.

For many visitors though, it is the variety of each region with its particular geographical features, architectural tradition and cultural heritage which draws them back again and again. Brittany, with its elaborately carved Celtic crosses and pretty fishing villages; Alsace with its pastel-coloured half-timbered houses and famed wine route; the Loire and the historic chateaux that overhang its banks, or the mysteriously cratered landscape of the Auvergne – each has something different to offer the visitor.

There is almost complete unanimity of opinion that French food is the best in the Western world. Well-known dishes include entrecôte (rib steak) served with béarnaise sauce, pot-au-feu (beef boiled with vegetables and served with coarse salt), quiche lorraine or cassoulet.

Wine is by far the most popular alcoholic drink in France, and the choice will vary according to region.

In the major cities such as Paris, Lyon or Marseille, there are lively and fashionable nightclubs and discos that sometimes charge no entry fee, although drinks are likely to be more expensive. There are many late-night bars and cafes.