This left Rome weakened, and the Gauls continued to harass the region until 345 BC when they entered into a peace treaty. Neanderthals occupied the region into the Upper Paleolithic era but were slowly replaced by Homo sapiens around 35,000 BC. It hosts the fourth-largest number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites, with 54 in total, and is the world’s leading tourist destination, having received 102\u00a0million foreign visitors in 2025. This led to the establishment of the French Third Republic, and a period of economic prosperity and cultural and scientific flourishing known as the Belle \u00c9poque.<\/p>\n
Both the national football team and the national rugby union team are nicknamed “Les Bleus”. Several major tennis tournaments take place in France, including the Paris Masters and the French Open, one of the four Grand Slam tournaments. The Stade de France in Saint-Denis is France’s largest stadium and was the venue for the 1998 FIFA World Cup and 2007 Rugby World Cup finals. The country also hosted the 1960 European Nations’ Cup, UEFA Euro 1984, UEFA Euro 2016 and 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup.<\/p>\n
Celtic tribes penetrated parts of eastern and northern France, spreading through the rest of the country between the 5th and 3rd century BC. A developed country, France has a high nominal per capita income globally, and its economy ranks among the largest in the world by both nominal GDP and PPP-adjusted GDP. Algeria and most French colonies became independent in the 1960s, with the majority retaining close economic and military ties with France. France was one of the major participants of World War I, from which it emerged victorious at great human and economic cost. The climate in mainland France is temperate, with quite significant regional differences.<\/p>\n
What type of government does France have? What is the population of France? France is the 2nd largest and also one of the most geographically diverse countries in Europe. The above blank map represents France, a country located in North Western Europe.<\/p>\n
France is a representative democracy organised as a unitary semi-presidential republic. The country was set to impose a carbon tax in 2009; however, the plan was abandoned due to fears of it burdening French businesses. According to the 2020 Environmental Performance Index conducted by Yale and Columbia, France was the fifth most environmentally conscious country in the world. France is ranked 19th by carbon dioxide emissions due to the country’s heavy investment in nuclear power following the 1973 oil crisis, which now accounts for 75 per cent of its electricity production and results in less pollution. The Garonne meets the Dordogne just after Bordeaux, forming the Gironde estuary, the largest estuary in Western Europe which after approximately 100 kilometres (62\u00a0mi) empties into the Atlantic Ocean.<\/p>\n