France

At a Glance

France is one of the world's great cultural destinations, a country where cuisine, wine, art, architecture, and intellectual life are taken as seriously as any national priority. Paris is without equal as a city of museums, food, and street life, but the real France lives in its regions, from the lavender fields of Provence and the vineyards of Burgundy to the fishing villages of Brittany and the peaks of the Alps. Those willing to learn at least a little of the language will find the welcome far warmer.

• Most visited country in the world — yet ranks mid-table for happiness.
• Produces more nuclear energy as a share of its grid than almost any country.
• More public holidays than most EU countries — and still among the most productive.