France, Europe's oldest nation, is also its largest country, almost equal in size to the state of Texas. Spain and Andorra border it in the south; Italy, Switzerland and Germany in the east; Luxembourg and Belgium in the northeast. The Mediterranean Sea borders on the south, the Atlantic Ocean is on the west, and the English Channel on the north separates the country from England. In 1994 an underwater railway line (the "Eurotunnel") opened that connects northern France to southern England. That ride takes only thirty-five minutes while the regular ferry takes several hours.

It is the world's fourth richest country and it is Europe's leading agricultural producer. The country has all three of the major kinds of landforms that are found in Europe. First are the flat lowland basins that make up the river valleys. These basins provide rich farmlands, including the Alsace and Aquitaine regions, known for growing grapes that produce exceptional wine. The Paris Basin, which includes the city of Paris, contains most of the country's economic activity and is the most densely populated. The southern part of the coast known as the Côte d'Azur (Sky Blue Coast) is a world famous vacation spot. People are drawn by the beautiful beaches and an almost perfect climate. Saint-Tropez, Cannes, and Nice are some of the most popular resort towns.

The highland plateaus are France's second major landform. These regions are wild, difficult to travel in, and therefore sparsely populated. The largest highland plateau is called the Massif Central. Here, small, sheltered valleys nestle between huge boulders and cliffs. There are small villages where people grow crops of corn and vegetables or else they raise sheep and goats

Two mountain ranges in France make up the third type of landform. The Pyrénées run east to west, forming the border between France and Spain, and the French Alps rise up between France, Italy and Switzerland. Both ranges are young, so nature hasn't had time to wear down their spectacular peaks. The tallest peak in all of Europe, in the French Alps, is Mont Blanc, with a height of 15,771 feet.

France has an efficient transportation system that includes clean, modern trains that are punctual and a pleasure to ride on. The country is especially known for its high-speed train, the TGV (Train à Grande Vitesse), the fastest train in the world.