France

Mont Saint Michel submitted by Cloggie

Capital Paris
Language French
Currency Euro

A key player on the world stage and a country at the political heart of Europe, France paid a high price in both economic and human terms during the two World Wars.
France has produced some of the continent's most influential writers and thinkers, from Descartes and Pascal in the 17th century, through Rousseau and Voltaire in the 18th, Baudelaire and Flaubert in the 19th to Sartre and Camus in the 20th century.
France was the home to many famous artists: Renoir, Monet, Cezanne, Gauguin, Matisse and Braque, to name but a few.
It is also famous for its strong culinary tradition. France produces more than 250 cheeses and some of the world's best-loved wines.