France Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

France - Essay Example I also carried out research from a number of other relevant sources on print and the Internet. The research was a novel idea since I was able to have a buildup of basic information before deciding on the sites, places, and any festival to visit based on research from the materials. For a country with a population estimate of sixty-six million and 643,801 square kilometers in size, France is slightly less than Texas in size. The local people call it a hexagon with the hexagon being the country's symbol, due to its shape (Whittaker 6). However, the country boasts of mixed geographical features. In this case, part of the country’s terrain is mountainous or mountainous terrain with a coastline with other parts having gently rolling hills or flat plains as terrain (CIA). As a result, the terrain makes for a picturesque scene to anybody who loves adventure. Nonetheless, the scenery would not be pleasing in case of unaccommodating climatic conditions. In effect, the country’s climatic conditions vary from one region to the other. However, climatic conditions in France are a blend of cool winters and mild summers. Some parts experience tropical and humid conditions, tropical and marine climatic conditions, and other parts in the country experience hot and rainy conditions (CIA). These climatic conditions are in different periods of the year and in different locations. In effect, this makes the country offer tourists the best climatic conditions during their visits. Politically, France is a blend of the parliamentary and presidential systems of governance and Paris is the country's administrative capital. During the middle ages, the French and the English were rivals with the latter occupying France during the infamous hundred years’ war. However, the rivalry eased over time with the two nations engaging each other to play an influential role in the modern society. In this regard, France is a member of NATO and a permanent member to the UN Security Council (CIA). Economically, the country is in the middle of the euro zone crisis although the country’s GDP in 2011 was $2.246 trillion, which made it the tenth biggest in terms of GDP (CIA). With a blend of all religions of the world, a majority of the people in France are predominantly Christians. Conversely, French is the official language although there are various dialects of the language. The language is the dictate upon which the French culture is built (Whittaker 5). On the othe r hand, each region in the country embodies its own cultural path based on its history. For example, the north and northeastern regions of the country are widely known for their ancient and medieval architecture. These regions encompass Nord-Pas-de-Calais and Picardy regions. Among the cultural icons from these regions are Charles de Gaulle, Christian Dior, and Claude Monet (Whittaker 10). For Paris, the city is a depiction of iconic landmarks and grand designs that have an attachment to the culture of the French people. These designs and landmarks are internationally renowned with each providing visitors with a lasting impression of the city. One such landmark is the famous Eiffel Tower (see Fig. 1), which is one of the wonders of the contemporary world