| France is the most economically productive of the G7 countries, has a smaller proportion of its population in the workforce, and its people work fewer hours annually.
No wonder they're the fashion, culinary, and, arguably, cultural capital of the world: it's all that free time! For descriptive purposes the country can be divided into seven general regions,
not to be confused with the 22 metropolitan or administrative regions of continental France.
The western region of France includes Brittany, Normandy, the Loire Valley, and Poitou-Charentes. Brittany is coastal beauty, castles, and fishing villages. Normandy is historic beaches, the Loire
Valley has its royal châteaux, and Le Mans in Poitou-Charentes hosts the famous 24-hour car race. The first capital of the Franks was established in Picardie in northern France; Gothic architecture
originated there. Central France is known for porcelain, enamel, and Romanesque art. Eastern France is made up of Champagne, Lorraine, Alsace, Burgundy, and Franche-Comté. There is wine, of course,
and much more. Lorraine is home to a great deal of European history. Nancy, the birthplace of art nouveau, is in Lorraine as is Verdun. There are no hobbits living in Alsace, but the many quaint dwellings
give credence to the fantasy. Strasbourg is where the European Parliament meets: truly a "town of crossroads. " Franche-Comté is the Saône Valley and Jura Mountains. Visitors enjoy cross-country skiing in
the winter and biking, hiking, and fishing in the summer. Southeastern France has the Alps and Pyrenees; the Riviera, its casinos and beaches; Corsica; and a rich Gallo-Roman history extending back over
2,000 years. The southwestern region of France is where early man left cave paintings and, more recently, in the 12th Century, Eléonore of Aquitaine ushered in centuries of turbulence between France and
England. In modern times, Bordeaux, Aquitaine's capital, has anchored the surrounding wine country. Basque country, the Pyrénées, plunging gorges and rolling hills, suggest the beauty of southwestern
France.
The Ile-de-France region surrounding Paris displays many monuments to kings, including Versailles, Fontainebleau, and Saint-Germain. Paris itself is a combination of new and ancient power.
La Défense, the modern commercial area, epitomizes the global French business presence with its Grande Arche. The Right Bank and its Arc de Triomphe recalls past glories. And the Louvre and
a host of other museums and galleries preserve the nation's and the world's culture. Every visitor to France should begin their journey in Paris as it is the rich heart of the nation. With time,
travelers will find day and weekend excursions outside Paris to the other regions of France enriching as well.
Interesting geographical note: France is sometimes referred to as l'hexagone due to its appearance on a map of Europe where its borders resemble a hexagon.
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