Map of France
France is a country in Europe with its capital at Paris, home to about 68.72 million people across 643,801 km². The interactive map below plots 58 cities and towns, 19 rivers, 1 lakes, 11 mountain summits and 60 ports recorded for France in YearMaps.
- Population
- 68.72 million
- Area
- 643,801 km²
- Capital
- Paris
- Continent
- Europe
Interactive Map of France
Centred on Paris at 48.8686° N, 2.3314° E. Use the layer panel to switch on rivers, dams, ports, peaks and historical borders.
About France
France, officially the French Republic, is a country primarily located in Western Europe. Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the North Atlantic, the French West Indies, and many islands in Oceania and the Indian Ocean. Metropolitan France shares borders with Belgium and Luxembourg to the north; Germany to the northeast; Switzerland to the east; Italy and Monaco to the southeast; Andorra and Spain to the south; and a maritime border with the United Kingdom to the northwest. Its metropolitan area extends from the Rhine to the Atlantic Ocean and from the Mediterranean Sea to the English Channel and the North Sea. Its 18 integral regions—five of which are overseas—span a combined area of 632,702 km2 (244,288 sq mi), with a total population estimated at over 69.1 million in 2026. Its capital, largest city and main cultural and economic centre is Paris, with a metropolitan population of over 13 million.
Metropolitan France was settled during the Iron Age by Celtic tribes known as Gauls before Rome annexed the area in 51 BC, leading to a distinct Gallo-Roman culture. In the Early Middle Ages, the Franks formed the kingdom of Francia, which became the heartland of the Carolingian Empire. The Treaty of Verdun of 843 partitioned the empire, with West Francia evolving into the Kingdom of France. In the High Middle Ages, France was a powerful but decentralised feudal kingdom, but after Philip II defeated the Angevin Empire and won the Battle of Bouvines, it became more centralized and became the most powerful country in Europe. From the mid-14th to the mid-15th centuries, France was plunged into a dynastic conflict with England known as the Hundred Years' War. In the 16th century, French culture flourished during the French Renaissance, and a French colonial empire emerged. Internally, France was dominated by the conflict with the House of Habsburg and the French Wars of Religion between Catholics and Huguenots. France was successful in the Thirty Years' War and further increased its influence during the reign of Louis XIV. Under his rule, the nation built Europe's strongest army, fought a series of wars, and experienced artistic and scientific flourishing.
The French Revolution of 1789 overthrew the ancien régime and produced the Declaration of the Rights of Man, which expresses the nation's ideals to this day. France reached its political and military zenith in the early 19th century under Napoleon Bonaparte, subjugating much of continental Europe and establishing the First French Empire.
Summary adapted from Wikipedia: France (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Geography and Climate of France
France today is one of the most modern countries in the world and is a leader among European nations. It plays an influential global role as a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, NATO, the G-7, the G-20, the EU, and other multilateral organizations. France rejoined NATO's integrated military command structure in 2009, reversing then President Charles DE GAULLE's 1966 decision to withdraw French forces from NATO. Since 1958, it has constructed a hybrid presidential-parliamentary governing system resistant to the instabilities experienced in earlier, more purely parliamentary administrations. In recent decades, its reconciliation and cooperation with Germany have proved central to the economic integration of Europe, including the introduction of a common currency, the euro, in January 1999. In the early 21st century, five French overseas entities -- French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Mayotte, and Reunion -- became French regions and were made part of France proper.
- Location
- Metropolitan France: Western Europe, bordering the Bay of Biscay and English Channel, between Belgium and Spain, southeast of the UK; bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Italy and Spain French Guiana: Northern South America, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Brazil and Suriname Guadeloupe: Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, southeast of Puerto Rico Martinique: Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and North Atlantic Ocean, north of Trinidad and Tobago Mayotte: Southern Indian Ocean, island in the Mozambique Channel, about halfway between northern Madagascar and northern Mozambique Reunion: Southern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar.
- Climate
- Metropolitan France: generally cool winters and mild summers, but mild winters and hot summers along the Mediterranean; occasional strong, cold, dry, north-to-northwesterly wind known as the mistral.
- Terrain
- Metropolitan France: mostly flat plains or gently rolling hills in north and west; remainder is mountainous, especially Pyrenees in south, Alps in east French Guiana: low-lying coastal plains rising to hills and small mountains Guadeloupe: Basse-Terre is volcanic in origin with interior mountains; Grande-Terre is low limestone formation; most of the seven other islands are volcanic in origin Martinique: mountainous with indented coastline; dormant volcano Mayotte: generally undulating, with deep ravines and ancient volcanic peaks Reunion: mostly rugged and mountainous; fertile lowlands along coast.
- Highest point
- Mont Blanc 4,810.
- Lowest point
- Rhone River delta -2 m.
- Coastline
- 4,853 km.
- Land borders
- Total: 3,956 km; border countries: Andorra 55 km; Belgium 556 km; Germany 418 km; Italy 476 km; Luxembourg 69 km; Monaco 6 km; Spain 646 km; Switzerland 525 km; metropolitan France - total: 2751 km; French Guiana - total: 1205 km.
- Major rivers
- Rhin (Rhine) (shared with Switzerland [s], Germany, and Netherlands [m]) - 1,233 km; Loire - 1,012 km note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth.
- Major lakes
- Fresh water lake(s): Lake Geneva (shared with Switzerland) - 580 sq km.
- Natural resources
- Metropolitan France: coal, iron ore, bauxite, zinc, uranium, antimony, arsenic, potash, feldspar, fluorspar, gypsum, timber, arable land, fish; French Guiana: gold deposits, petroleum, kaolin, niobium, tantalum, clay.
- Land use
- Agricultural land: 52.5% (2023 est.); arable land: 31.4% (2023 est.); permanent crops: 1.9% (2023 est.); permanent pasture: 19.2% (2023 est.); forest: 32.7% (2023 est.); other: 15% (2023 est.)
- Natural hazards
- Metropolitan France: flooding; avalanches; midwinter windstorms; drought; forest fires in south overseas departments: hurricanes (cyclones); flooding volcanism: Montagne Pelée (1,394 m) on the island of Martinique in the Caribbean is the most active volcano of the Lesser Antilles arc, although it last erupted in 1932; a catastrophic eruption in 1902 destroyed the city of St. Pierre, killing an estimated 30,000 people; La Soufrière (1,467 m) on the island of Guadeloupe has also had explosive eruptions in recent years.
- Geographic note
- Largest Western European nation; most major French rivers -- the Meuse, Seine, Loire, Charente, Dordogne, and Garonne -- flow northward or westward into the Atlantic Ocean, only the Rhone flows southward into the Mediterranean Sea.
- Languages
- French (official) 100%, declining regional dialects and languages (Provençal, Breton, Alsatian, Corsican, Catalan, Basque, Flemish, Occitan, Picard)
- Religions
- Roman Catholic 47%, Muslim 4%, Protestant 2%, Buddhist 2%, Orthodox 1%, Jewish 1%, other 1%, none 33%, unspecified 9% (2021 est.)
- Ethnic groups
- Celtic and Latin with Teutonic, Slavic, North African (Algerian, Moroccan, Tunisian), Indochinese, Basque minorities.
- Economy
- High-income, advanced EU economy and eurozone member; strong tourism, aircraft manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, and industrial sectors; high public debt; ongoing pension reform efforts; transitioning to a green economy via "France 2030" strategy.
From the CIA World Factbook (public domain), archived edition of 2026-01-22. The Factbook is no longer updated, so figures reflect that edition.
France in Numbers
- Population
- 68.72 million
- GDP
- US$3.37 trillion
- GDP per person
- US$48,986
- Life expectancy
- 83.0 years
- Population growth
- 0.25% a year
- Population density
- 127 per km²
- Urban population
- 78.8%
- Surface area
- 606,410 km²
- Forest cover
- 32.9%
- Arable land
- 31.3%
- Access to electricity
- 100.0%
- Internet users
- 88.7%
Indicators from World Bank Open Data (CC BY 4.0). The year under each figure is its reference year.
France in Depth
History
The oldest traces of archaic humans in what is now France date from approximately 1.8 million years ago. Neanderthals occupied the region into the Upper Paleolithic era but were slowly replaced by Homo sapiens around 35,000 BC. This period witnessed the emergence of cave painting in the Dordogne and Pyrenees, including at Lascaux, dated to c. 18,000 BC. At the end of the Last Glacial Period (10,000 BC), the climate became milder. From approximately 7,000 BC, this part of Western Europe entered the Neolithic era, and its inhabitants became sedentary.
After demographic and agricultural development between the 4th and 3rd millennia BC, metallurgy appeared, initially working gold, copper and bronze, then later iron.
Geography
The vast majority of France's territory and population is situated in Western Europe and is called Metropolitan France. It is bordered by the North Sea to the north, the English Channel to the northwest, the Atlantic Ocean to the west, and the Mediterranean Sea to the southeast. Its land borders consist of Belgium and Luxembourg in the northeast, Germany and Switzerland in the east, Italy and Monaco in the southeast, and Andorra and Spain in the south and southwest. Except for the northeast, most of France's land borders are roughly delineated by natural boundaries and geographic features: to the south, the Pyrenees and the Alps; to the southeast, the Jura Mountains; and to the east, the Rhine river.
Economy
France has a social market economy characterised by sizeable government involvement and diversified sectors. For two centuries, it has consistently ranked among the ten largest globally; as of 2025 it is the world's ninth largest by purchasing power parity and second largest in the EU, after Germany. Considered a great power with considerable economic strength, it is a member of the Group of Seven leading industrialised countries, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), and the G20.
The economy is highly diversified; services represent two-thirds of both the workforce and GDP, while the industrial sector accounts for a fifth of GDP and a similar proportion of employment.
Demographics
With an estimated population of 69,081,996 people, France is the 20th most populous country in the world, the third-most populous in Europe, and the second most populous in the European Union. For much of the 21st century, France has been an outlier among developed countries, particularly in Europe, for its relatively high rate of natural population growth; by birth rates alone, it was responsible for almost all natural population growth in the EU in 2006. Between 2006 and 2016, France saw the second-highest overall increase in population in the EU and was one of four EU countries where natural births accounted for the most population growth.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: France (CC BY-SA 4.0).
France: Key Facts
| Currency | CFP Franc |
|---|---|
| Official language | French |
| Head of government | Sébastien Lecornu |
| Form of government | semi-presidential system |
| Calling code | +33 |
| Internet domain | .fr |
| Highest point | Mont Blanc |
| Lowest point | Étang de Lavalduc |
| Established | August 843 CE |
Facts from Wikidata Q142 (CC0).
History of France: Empires and States
The atlas records 69 polities whose mapped territory included part of France, from Greek City-States in 550 BCE to 2024 CE. They are listed in the order they first appear.
| Polity | Period here | Extent |
|---|---|---|
| Greek City-States | 550–111 BCE | A small part |
| Greek Colonies | 271–226 BCE | A small part |
| Roman Republic | 230–32 BCE | Most |
| The Roman Empire | 31 BCE – 475 CE | Most |
| Gallic Empire | 261–282 CE | Most |
| Western Roman Empire | 395–475 CE | Most |
| Visigoths | 414–425 CE | A small part |
| Visigothic Kingdom | 426–723 CE | A large part |
| Salian Franks | 439–509 CE | A large part |
| Brythonic Kingdoms | 439–586 CE | A small part |
| Brythons | 439–586 CE | A small part |
| Burgundian Kingdom | 443–660 CE | Most |
| Kingdom of Alamannia | 462–499 CE | A small part |
| Kingdom of Soissons | 476–489 CE | A large part |
| Merovingian Empire | 490–717 CE | Most |
| Kingdom of the Franks | 510–849 CE | Most |
| Breton Kingdoms | 587–824 CE | A small part |
| Aquitaine | 629–895 CE | Most |
| Carolingian Empire | 718–989 CE | Most |
| Kingdom of Neustria | 724–731 CE | A large part |
| The Umayyad Caliphate | 724–754 CE | A small part |
| Kingdom of Italy | 732–1943 CE | A small part |
| Duchy of Gascony | 768–1065 CE | A small part |
| Kingdom of Brittany | 825–921 CE | A small part |
| Middle Franks | 850–899 CE | A small part |
| West Franks | 850–989 CE | Most |
| Lower Burgundy | 860–925 CE | A small part |
| East Franks | 870–910 CE | A small part |
| Kingdom of Lower Burgundy | 900–935 CE | A small part |
| Viking settlements | 911–946 CE | A small part |
| Duchy of Normandy | 922–1071 CE | A small part |
| Kingdom of Germany | 926–961 CE | A small part |
| The Holy Roman Empire | 926–1551 CE | A small part |
| Upper Burgundy | 936–959 CE | A small part |
| Kingdom of Arles | 936–1033 CE | A small part |
| Duchy of Brittany | 947–1491 CE | A small part |
| County of Rouergue | 990–1065 CE | A small part |
| Duchy of Aquitaine | 990–1138 CE | A small part |
| County of Flanders | 990–1384 CE | A small part |
| Kingdom of France | 990–1791 CE | Most |
| Duchy of Burgundy | 1003–1481 CE | A small part |
| County of Blôis | 1028–1151 CE | A small part |
| County of Anjou | 1046–1332 CE | A small part |
| County of Toulouse | 1066–1249 CE | A small part |
| Kingdom of England | 1066–1458 CE | A large part |
Also recorded: Norman England, Angevins, Angevin Empire, Vassalage of Kingdom of Bohemia to Holy Roman Empire, Capetian House of Anjou, Holy Roman Empire Minor States, Free County of Burgundy, House of Bourbon, House of Valois-Anjou, Crown of Aragon, Vassalage of Electorate of Brandenburg to Holy Roman Empire, House of Habsburg, Habsburg Monarchy, Kingdom of Spain, The Spanish Empire, The French Colonial Empire, Iberian Union, First French Empire, Bourbon Kingdom of France, Second French Empire, German Empire, French Third Republic, French Fourth Republic, French Fifth Republic.
Historical Maps of France
France on the world map in each year one of these states held it:
Derived by testing mapped cities against dated territorial polygons. Dates are when the polygons cover this place, not the polity's whole lifespan, and polities absent from the source dataset are not listed.
Visiting France
France is a country with which almost every traveller has a relationship. Many dream of its joie de vivre shown by the countless cafés, picturesque villages, and world-famous gastronomy. Some come to follow the trail of France's great philosophers, writers and artists, or to immerse in the beautiful language it gave to the world. Others still are drawn to the country's geographical diversity, with its long coastlines, massive mountain ranges and breathtaking farmland vistas. France is famously home to Paris, the enchanting City of Love, where romance dances in the air and every corner whispers sweet nothings.
France has been the world's most-visited country for many years. It received 100 million visitors in 2024. All these people come to France for many a reason: its cities contain some of the greatest treasures on the continent, its countryside is prosperous and well-tended, and it boasts dozens of major tourist attractions, including Europe's most popular, Disneyland Paris.
Travel notes adapted from Wikivoyage: France (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Largest Cities in France
58 cities recorded. Ranked by metropolitan population. A port city's harbour is written up on the page of its sea.
| # | Name | Population | Region | Role |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Paris | 9.90 million | Île-de-France | National capital |
| 2 | Lyon | 1.42 million | Rhône-Alpes | Admin-1 region capital |
| 3 | Marseille | 1.40 million | Provence-Alpes-Côte-d'Azur | Admin-1 region capital |
| 4 | Lille | 1.04 million | Nord-Pas-de-Calais | Admin-1 region capital |
| 5 | Nice | 927,000 | Provence-Alpes-Côte-d'Azur | Populated place |
| 6 | Toulouse | 847,000 | Midi-Pyrénées | Admin-1 region capital |
| 7 | Bordeaux | 803,000 | Aquitaine | Admin-1 region capital |
| 8 | Rouen | 532,559 | Haute-Normandie | Admin-1 region capital |
| 9 | Strasbourg | 439,972 | Alsace | Admin-1 region capital |
| 10 | Nantes | 438,537 | Pays de la Loire | Admin-1 region capital |
| 11 | Metz | 409,186 | Lorraine | Populated place |
| 12 | Grenoble | 388,574 | Rhône-Alpes | Populated place |
| 13 | Toulon | 357,693 | Provence-Alpes-Côte-d'Azur | Populated place |
| 14 | Montpellier | 327,254 | Languedoc-Roussillon | Admin-1 region capital |
| 15 | Nancy | 268,976 | Lorraine | Admin-1 region capital |
| 16 | Saint-Étienne | 265,684 | Rhône-Alpes | Populated place |
| 17 | Melun | 249,432 | Île-de-France | Populated place |
| 18 | Le Havre | 242,124 | Haute-Normandie | Populated place |
| 19 | Tours | 236,096 | Centre | Populated place |
| 20 | Clermont-Ferrand | 233,050 | Auvergne | Admin-1 region capital |
| 21 | Orléans | 217,301 | Centre | Admin-1 region capital |
| 22 | Mulhouse | 215,454 | Alsace | Populated place |
| 23 | Rennes | 209,375 | Bretagne | Admin-1 region capital |
| 24 | Reims | 196,565 | Champagne-Ardenne | Admin-1 region capital |
| 25 | Caen | 190,099 | Basse-Normandie | Admin-1 region capital |
The other 33 (population, region, role)
- Angers · 188,380 · Pays de la Loire · Populated place
- Dijon · 169,946 · Bourgogne · Admin-1 region capital
- Nîmes · 169,547 · Languedoc-Roussillon · Populated place
- Limoges · 152,199 · Limousin · Admin-1 region capital
- Aix-en-Provence · 146,821 · Provence-Alpes-Côte-d'Azur · Populated place
- Perpignan · 146,620 · Languedoc-Roussillon · Populated place
- Biarritz · 145,348 · Aquitaine · Populated place
- Brest · 144,899 · Bretagne · Populated place
- Le Mans · 144,515 · Pays de la Loire · Populated place
- Amiens · 143,086 · Picardie · Admin-1 region capital
- Besançon · 128,426 · Franche-Comté · Admin-1 region capital
- Annecy · 105,749 · Rhône-Alpes · Populated place
- Calais · 92,201 · Nord-Pas-de-Calais · Populated place
- Poitier · 85,960 · Poitou-Charentes · Admin-1 region capital
- Versailles · 85,416 · Île-de-France · Populated place
- Lorient · 84,952 · Bretagne · Populated place
- Béziers · 81,438 · Languedoc-Roussillon · Populated place
- La Rochelle · 76,997 · Poitou-Charentes · Populated place
- Roanne · 73,315 · Rhône-Alpes · Populated place
- Bourges · 72,340 · Centre · Populated place
- Arras · 64,165 · Nord-Pas-de-Calais · Populated place
- Troyes · 61,703 · Champagne-Ardenne · Populated place
- Cherbourg · 60,991 · Basse-Normandie · Populated place
- Agen · 58,223 · Aquitaine · Populated place
- Brive · 55,448 · Limousin · Populated place
- Tarbes · 54,854 · Midi-Pyrénées · Populated place
- Ajaccio · 54,364 · Corse · Admin-1 region capital
- St.-Brieuc · 53,223 · Bretagne · Populated place
- Nevers · 45,929 · Bourgogne · Populated place
- Vichy · 43,158 · Auvergne · Populated place
- Dieppe · 42,461 · Haute-Normandie · Populated place
- Auxerre · 41,516 · Bourgogne · Populated place
- Bastia · 41,001 · Corse · Populated place
Highest Mountains in France
11 mountains recorded. Ranked by summit elevation above sea level. A summit on a border is listed under both countries.
| # | Name | Elevation | Feet | Region |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mount Blanc | 4,807 m | 15,771 ft | Europe |
| 2 | Piton des Neiges | 3,069 m | 10,069 ft | Seven seas (open ocean) |
| 3 | Monte Cinto | 2,706 m | 8,878 ft | Europe |
| 4 | Mont Orohena | 2,241 m | 7,352 ft | Oceania |
| 5 | Puy de Sancy | 1,885 m | 6,184 ft | Europe |
| 6 | Crêt de la Neige | 1,718 m | 5,636 ft | Europe |
| 7 | Mont Panié | 1,628 m | 5,341 ft | Oceania |
| 8 | Mont Humboldt | 1,618 m | 5,308 ft | Oceania |
| 9 | Montagne Pelée | 1,397 m | 4,583 ft | North America |
| 10 | Benara | 660 m | 2,165 ft | Africa |
Largest Lakes in France
1 lake recorded. Ranked by mapped surface area. A lake on a border is listed under each country it lies in, with the area of the whole lake.
| # | Name | Surface Area | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lake Geneva | 532 km² | Lake |
Lake Geneva
Lake · 532 km²
Lake Geneva is a lake in Switzerland and France, with a mapped surface area of about 532 km². About 21% of its surface lies in France, and the rest in Switzerland.
Lake Geneva is a deep lake on the north side of the Alps, shared between Switzerland and France. It is one of the largest lakes in Western Europe and the largest on the course of the Rhône. Sixty percent (345.31 km2 or 133.32 sq mi) of the lake belongs to Switzerland (the cantons of Vaud, Geneva and Valais) and forty percent (234.71 km2 or 90.62 sq mi) to France (the department of Haute-Savoie).
Adapted from Wikipedia: Lake Geneva (CC BY-SA 4.0).
- Surface area
- 532 km²
- Area rank
- #298 of 756 indexed
- Type
- Lake
- Countries
- Switzerland, France
- Coordinates
- 46.4681°, 6.5788°
Among the 756 water bodies with a mapped extent in YearMaps, Lake Geneva ranks #298 by surface area, after Lokan Tekojarvi (538 km²) and ahead of Ngangla Ringeo (522 km²). Areas are computed from the mapped outline and are approximate.
More about Lake Geneva
Geography
According to the Swiss Federal Office of Topography, Swisstopo, Lac de Genève designates that part of the Petit Lac which lies within the cantonal borders of Geneva (excluding the cantonal exclave Céligny), so about from Versoix–Hermance to the Rhône outflow in Geneva.
The Chablais Alps border is its southern shore, and the western Bernese Alps lie over its eastern side. The high summits of Grand Combin and Mont Blanc are visible from some places.
The lake lies on the course of the Rhône. The river has its source at the Rhône Glacier near the Grimsel Pass to the east of the lake and flows down through the canton of Valais, entering the lake between Villeneuve and Le Bouveret, before flowing slowly towards its egress at Geneva.
Climate
Due to climate change, the average temperature of deep water (more than 300 metres or 980 feet deep) increased from 4.4 °C (39.9 °F) in 1963 to 5.5 °C (41.9 °F) in 2016, while the average temperature of surface water (five metres or 16 feet deep) increased from 10.9 °C (51.6 °F) in 1970 to 12.9 °C (55.2 °F) in 2016 (up 2 °C or 3.6 °F in 46 years).
Lake Geneva (and particularly the lakeside parts of the city of Geneva) can be affected by the cold bise, a northeasterly wind. This can lead to severe icing in winter. The strength of the bise wind can be determined by the difference in air pressure between Geneva and Güttingen in canton of Thurgau. The bise arises when the air pressure in Güttingen is higher than in Geneva.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Lake Geneva (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Lake Geneva: Key Facts
| Surface area | 581 km² |
|---|---|
| Maximum depth | 309 m |
| Volume | 89 km³ |
| Surface elevation | 372 m |
| Inflows | Rhône, Dranse, Veveyse River, Morges, Aubonne, Versoix |
| Outflows | Rhône |
| Drainage system | Léman basin |
Facts from Wikidata Q6403 (CC0).
Rivers in France
19 rivers recorded. Listed alphabetically. A river is listed where its mapped reach lies, so long rivers appear under more than one country.
Ports in France
60 ports recorded. Ranked by approach channel depth, the figure that limits which ships can call. Harbours link to their write-up on the page of the sea or coast they lie on.
| # | Name | Channel Depth | Class | Sea | Max Vessel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rochefort | 56.7 m | Minor | Bay of Biscay & Atlantic Iberia | medium vessels |
| 2 | Pontrieux | 56.7 m | Very Small | English Channel | medium vessels |
| 3 | Honfleur | 53 m | Very Small | English Channel | medium vessels |
| 4 | Saint-Malo | 53 m | Small | English Channel | medium vessels |
| 5 | Treguier | 53 m | Very Small | English Channel | medium vessels |
| 6 | Boulogne-Sur-Mer | 49.4 m | Minor | English Channel | medium vessels |
| 7 | Port-la-Nouvelle | 49.4 m | Small | Western Mediterranean | medium vessels |
| 8 | Port de Roscoff-Bloscon | 49.4 m | Very Small | English Channel | medium vessels |
| 9 | Concarneau | 49.4 m | Very Small | Bay of Biscay & Atlantic Iberia | medium vessels |
| 10 | Tonnay Charente | 49.4 m | Small | Bay of Biscay & Atlantic Iberia | medium vessels |
The other 50 (channel depth, class, sea, max vessel)
- Saint-Tropez · 49.4 m · Very Small · Western Mediterranean · point_of_interest
- Porto Vecchio · 49.4 m · Very Small · Western Mediterranean · point_of_interest
- Villefranche · 49.4 m · Very Small · Western Mediterranean · medium vessels
- Bayonne · 49.4 m · Minor · Bay of Biscay & Atlantic Iberia · large vessels
- Dieppe · 49.4 m · Small · English Channel · medium vessels
- Ambes · 45.7 m · Small · Bay of Biscay & Atlantic Iberia · large vessels
- Port Saint Louis du Rhone · 45.7 m · Small · Western Mediterranean · large vessels
- Baie du Marigot · 45.7 m · Very Small · Caribbean Sea · medium vessels
- Ouistreham · 45.7 m · Very Small · English Channel · medium vessels
- Les Sables D' Olonne · 45.7 m · Minor · Bay of Biscay & Atlantic Iberia · point_of_interest
- Antibes · 45.7 m · Very Small · Western Mediterranean · medium vessels
- L'Ile Rousse · 45.7 m · Very Small · Western Mediterranean · medium vessels
- Port de Caen · 45.7 m · Small · English Channel · medium vessels
- Blaye · 42.1 m · Small · Bay of Biscay & Atlantic Iberia · large vessels
- Port-Vendres · 42.1 m · Small · Western Mediterranean · medium vessels
- Cannes · 42.1 m · Small · Western Mediterranean · medium vessels
- Calais · 42.1 m · Small · English Channel · medium vessels
- Lorient · 42.1 m · Minor · Bay of Biscay & Atlantic Iberia · medium vessels
- Pauillac · 38.4 m · Small · Bay of Biscay & Atlantic Iberia · large vessels
- Port de Propriano · 38.4 m · Very Small · Western Mediterranean · medium vessels
- Calvi · 38.4 m · Very Small · Western Mediterranean · medium vessels
- Rade de Cherbourg · 38.4 m · Major · English Channel · medium vessels
- Bonifacio · 34.7 m · Very Small · Western Mediterranean · point_of_interest
- Port-de-Bouc · 34.7 m · Small · Western Mediterranean · large vessels
- Pointe A Pitre · 34.7 m · Minor · Caribbean Sea · large vessels
- la Pallice · 34.7 m · Minor · Bay of Biscay & Atlantic Iberia · large vessels
- le Verdon · 31.1 m · Small · Bay of Biscay & Atlantic Iberia · large vessels
- Montoir · 31.1 m · Minor · Bay of Biscay & Atlantic Iberia · point_of_interest
- St Nazaire · 31.1 m · Minor · Bay of Biscay & Atlantic Iberia · large vessels
- Bordeaux · 31.1 m · Major · Bay of Biscay & Atlantic Iberia · large vessels
- Rade de Brest · 31.1 m · Major · Irish Sea & Celtic Sea · medium vessels
- Donges · 27.4 m · Small · Bay of Biscay & Atlantic Iberia · large vessels
- Sete · 27.4 m · Small · Western Mediterranean · medium vessels
- Dunkerque Port Est · 27.4 m · Minor · North Sea · large vessels
- Dunkerque Port Ouest · 12.8 m · Minor · North Sea · large vessels
- Fos · 9.1 m · Very Small · Western Mediterranean · large vessels
- Port du Havre-Antifer · 5.5 m · Small · English Channel · large vessels
- Saint-Denis · 5.5 m · Very Small · East & Southern Africa · large vessels
- Port D' Ajaccio · 5.5 m · Small · Western Mediterranean · large vessels
- Gravelines · Very Small · North Sea · medium vessels
- Saint-Valery-Sur-Somme · Very Small · English Channel · medium vessels
- le Treport · Very Small · English Channel · medium vessels
- Fecamp · Small · English Channel · medium vessels
- Deauville · Very Small · English Channel · medium vessels
- Granville · Very Small · English Channel · medium vessels
- Paimpol · Very Small · English Channel · medium vessels
- Morlaix · Small · English Channel · medium vessels
- Saint-Raphael · Very Small · Western Mediterranean · point_of_interest
- le Legue · Very Small · English Channel · medium vessels
- Basse Terre · Very Small · Caribbean Sea · large vessels
UNESCO World Heritage Sites in France
51 World Heritage Sites recorded. Listed by year of inscription, earliest first. Sites shared with another country appear under each.
| # | Name | Inscribed | Type | Criteria |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mont-Saint-Michel and its Bay | 1979 | Cultural | (i) (iii) (vi) |
| 2 | Notre-Dame de Chartres | 1979 | Cultural | (i) (ii) (iv) |
| 3 | Palace of Versailles | 1979 | Cultural | (i) (ii) (vi) |
| 4 | Prehistoric Sites and Decorated Caves of the Vézère Valley | 1979 | Cultural | (i) (iii) |
| 5 | Vézelay, Church and Hill | 1979 | Cultural | (i) (iv) (vi) |
| 6 | Abbey of Fontenay | 1981 | Cultural | (iv) |
| 7 | Arles, Roman and Romanesque Monuments | 1981 | Cultural | (ii) (iv) |
| 8 | Notre-Dame d'Amiens | 1981 | Cultural | (i) (ii) |
| 9 | Palace of Fontainebleau | 1981 | Cultural | (ii) (vi) |
| 10 | Roman Theatre and its Surroundings and the "Triumphal Arch" of Orange | 1981 | Cultural | (iii) (vi) |
Largest Islands of France
22 islands recorded. Ranked by mapped area. An island divided between countries is listed under each, with the area of the whole island.
| # | Name | Area | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Corse | 16,391 km² | Island |
| 2 | Îles Kerguelen | 13,264 km² | Island group |
| 3 | Îles Crozet | 2,979 km² | Island group |
| 4 | Reunion | 2,589 km² | Island |
| 5 | Tahiti | 1,038 km² | Island group |
| 6 | Mayotte | 383 km² | Island |
| 7 | Hiva Oa | 342 km² | Island group |
| 8 | Nuku Hiva | 337 km² | Island group |
| 9 | îles Wallis | 301 km² | Island group |
| 10 | Raiatea | 175 km² | Island group |
Mountain Ranges, Deserts and Landforms of France
14 mountain ranges, deserts and other landforms recorded. Ranked by mapped area. Covers mountain ranges, deserts, plateaus, named glaciers, plains, basins, peninsulas and capes. One that crosses a border is listed under every country it lies in, with the area of the whole feature.
| # | Name | Area | Type | Region |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | South America | 17.91M km² | Continent | South America |
| 2 | Europe | 11.24M km² | Continent | Europe |
| 3 | Northern European Plain | 774,604 km² | Plain | Europe |
| 4 | Guiana Shield | 348,461 km² | Plateau | South America |
| 5 | Alps | 176,042 km² | Range/mtn | Europe |
| 6 | Massif Central | 55,181 km² | Plateau | Europe |
| 7 | Pyrenees | 20,678 km² | Range/mtn | Europe |
| 8 | Tumuc-Humac Mountains | 16,058 km² | Range/mtn | South America |
| 9 | Vosges | 12,547 km² | Range/mtn | Europe |
| 10 | Ardennes | 11,497 km² | Range/mtn | Europe |
States and Provinces of France
4 first-level divisions with their own map.
Countries Bordering France
Land and maritime neighbours.
More Maps in Europe
France: Quick Answers
- What is the capital of France?
- The capital of France is Paris.
- What is the population of France?
- France has a population of about 68.72 million, the #23 largest of 225 countries in YearMaps. Source: World Bank, 2025.
- How big is France?
- France covers 643,801 km², ranking #44 by area, with about 107 people per square kilometre.
- Which continent is France in?
- France is in Europe.
- Which countries border France?
- France shares a land or maritime border with Spain, Belgium, Luxembourg, Italy, Switzerland, Brazil, Germany, Andorra, Monaco, Suriname, Netherlands.
- What is the largest city in France?
- Paris is the largest city in France, with a metropolitan population of about 9.90 million.
- What is the highest mountain in France?
- The highest summit recorded for France in YearMaps is Mount Blanc at 4,807 m (15,771 ft). Summits on a border are counted for both countries.
- What is the largest lake in France?
- The largest lake recorded in or bordering France is Lake Geneva, at roughly 532 km².