Changes

|pm-raw         =

|pm-raw         =

|area         =260,558 sq mi

|area         =260,558 sq mi

|pop         =65,312,000

|pop         =66.81 million

|pop-basis =2011

|pop-basis =2015

|gdp         =$2.555 trillion (2010)

|gdp         =$2.42 trillion (2015)

|gdp-year =

|gdp-year =

|gdp-pc         =$40 591 (2010)

|gdp-pc         =$36,248

|currency      =euro

|currency      =euro

}}

}}

'''France''' (Official title: ''République Française'', the ''French Republic'') is a major country in Western [[Europe]]. One of the oldest countries in Europe, France has played a significant role in world events since the era of Cardinal Richelieu in the mid-17th century and beyond.

'''France''' is a major country in Western [[Europe]]. In ancient times, the area that is today France was included in the Roman province of Gaul. The French nation can be traced back to 481, when Clovis I ascended as the country's first king. France has played a significant role in world events since the era of Cardinal Richelieu in the mid-seventeenth century. The monarchy founded by Clovis lasted until the [[French Revolution]] of 1789-1799. France has been a republic since 1870 with the motto "liberty, equality, fraternity." It is a leading member of the [[European Union]], an economic and political union founded in 1952 as the European Coal and Steel Community. France is the world's most popular tourist destination with 80 million visitors in 2011.<ref>[http://geography.about.com/od/economic-geography/a/20-Most-Popular-Countries-As-Tourist-Destinations.htm 20 Most Popular Countries as Tourist Destinations]".</ref>

==Geography==

==Geography==

[[File:Harbour of Marseille France.jpg|thumb|left|120px|The Harbour of Marseille.]]

[[File:Harbour of Marseille France.jpg|thumb|left|The Harbour of Marseille.]]

*Total area: 674,843&nbsp;km². (260,558 sq. mi.); largest Western European country, about the size of [[Texas]].

*Total area: 674,843&nbsp;km². (260,558 sq. mi.); largest Western European country, about the size of [[Texas]].

*Cities: Capital (and largest city)--[[Paris]]. Major cities--[[Marseille]], [[Lyon]], [[Toulouse]], [[Strasbourg]], [[Nice]], [[Rennes]], [[Lille]], [[Bordeaux]].

*Cities: Capital (and largest city)--[[Paris]]. Major cities--[[Marseille]], [[Lyon]], [[Toulouse]], [[Strasbourg]], [[Nice]], [[Rennes]], [[Lille]], [[Bordeaux]].