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World
> Europe
> France
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General
Area: 543,965 sq km (210,025 sq miles).
Population: 58,416,).
Population Density: 107.4 per sq km.
Capital: Paris. Population: 2,115,).
Geography: France, the largest country in Europe, is bounded to the north by the English Channel (La Manche), the northeast by Belgium and Luxembourg, the east by Germany, Switzerland and Italy, the south by the Mediterranean (with Monaco as a coastal enclave between Nice and the Italian frontier), the southwest by Spain and Andorra, and the west by the Atlantic Ocean. The island of Corsica, southeast of Nice, is made up of two départements. The country offers a spectacular variety of scenery, from the mountain ranges of the Alps and Pyrenees to the attractive river valleys of the Loire, Rhône and Dordogne and the flatter countryside in Normandy and on the Atlantic coast. The country has some 2900km (1800 miles) of coastline.
Government: Republic since 1792. Head of State: President Jacques Chirac since 1995. Head of Government: Prime Minister Lionel Jospin since 1997.
Language: French is the official language, but there are many regional dialects. Basque is spoken as a first language by some people in the southwest, and Breton by some in Brittany. Many people, particularly those connected with tourism in the major areas, will speak at least some English.
Religion: Approximately 81% Roman Catholic with a Protestant minority. Almost every religion has at least some adherents.
Time: GMT + 1 (GMT + 2 from last Sunday in March to Saturday before last Sunday in October).
Electricity: 220 volts AC, 50Hz. 2-pin plugs are widely used; adaptors recommended.
Telephone: Full IDD is available. Country code: 33. Outgoing international code: 00. Card-only telephones are common, with pre-paid cards bought from post offices and tabacs. International calls are cheaper between Monday to Friday, and from 1400 Saturday to 0800 Monday. Calls can be received from all phone boxes showing the sign of a blue bell.
Mobile telephones: Dual band in most areas. Roaming agreements exist. The use of mobile telephones is prohibited at petrol stations.
Fax: Services are widely available; many hotels have facilities.
Internet/E-mail: Public access is available at cybercafés. Roaming agreements exist. Local ISPs include wanadoo (web site: http://www.wanadoo.fr).
Post: Stamps can be purchased at post offices and tabacs. Post normally takes a couple of days to reach its destination within Europe. Post office opening hours: Monday to Friday; Saturday.
Press: There are many daily newspapers, the most prominent being Le Monde, Libération, France-Soir and Le Figaro. Outside the Ile-de-France, however, these newspapers are not as popular as the provincial press. International newspapers and magazines are widely available, particularly in the larger cities.
BBC World Service and Voice of America frequencies: From time to time these change.
BBC:
Voice of America:
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Ecole France Langue
Use and improve your French in a dynamic and convivial school specialized
in French for foreigners in Nice and Paris.
Course focus on communication, grammar and civilization. Free extra
activities every week.
Several programs : intensive, short and long term au pair all year round,
enrolment every Monday.
Various accommodation possibilities.
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