France

France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. It also includes overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans, giving it one of the largest discontiguous exclusive economic zones in the world. Metropolitan France shares borders with Belgium and Luxembourg to the north, Germany to the north east, Switzerland to the east, Italy and Monaco to the south east, Andorra and Spain to the south, and a maritime border with the United Kingdom to the north west. Its metropolitan area extends from the Rhine to the Atlantic Ocean and from the Mediterranean Sea to the English Channel and the North Sea. Its overseas territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the North Atlantic, the French West Indies, and many islands in Oceania and the Indian Ocean. Its eighteen integral regions span a combined area of 643,801 km2 (248,573 sq mi) and have a total population of 68.4 million as of January 2024. France is a unitary semi-presidential republic with its capital in Paris, the country's largest city and main cultural and commercial centre; other major urban areas include Marseille, Lyon, Toulouse, Lille, Bordeaux, Strasbourg, Nantes, and Nice.

Some of the key events about France

1337
The Hundred Years' War began, devastating France for over a century
1789
The French Revolution began, marking a pivotal moment in European history and the birth of modern France
1789
The French Revolution erupted, leading to years of violence and political upheaval
1804
The Napoleonic Code was established, providing a unified legal system that influenced many other countries
1804
The Napoleonic Wars commenced, resulting in millions of deaths across Europe
1848
Universal male suffrage was introduced in France, expanding democratic participation
1870
The Franco-Prussian War ended in French defeat and loss of Alsace-Lorraine
1885
The Eiffel Tower was completed, becoming an iconic symbol of France and engineering achievement
1895
The first public film screening took place in Paris, marking the birth of cinema
1900
Paris hosted the Summer Olympics, the first time the games were held outside of Greece
1914
World War I began, causing massive destruction and loss of life in France
1940
Nazi Germany invaded and occupied France during World War II
1944
Paris was liberated from Nazi occupation during World War II
1954
France suffered a major military defeat at Dien Bien Phu, ending its colonial rule in Indochina
1958
The Fifth Republic was established, creating a new constitution and governmental system
1961
The Algerian War escalated, leading to increased violence and eventual French withdrawal
1981
The TGV high-speed rail network began operations, revolutionizing transportation in France
1995
A series of terrorist attacks struck Paris, killing eight and injuring over 200
1998
France won its first FIFA World Cup, hosting and winning the tournament on home soil
2015
Coordinated terrorist attacks in Paris killed 130 people and injured hundreds more

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