France

Travel Guide France

France is famous for its culture, history and gastronomy, but also for its beautiful countryside and many nature reserves. From majestic mountains and crystal clear lakes to picturesque coastlines and idyllic villages and towns, France offers something for every taste. Discover with us the unique destinations, spectacular natural beauty and adventurous conservation projects that make France one of the most fascinating destinations in Europe.

Our trips to France:

Volunteer Abroad: Przewalski Horses Conservation

Highlights in France

The Mercantour National Park is one of France’s most famous national parks and is located in the Alps near the Italian border. The park’s outstanding scenery includes several mountain ranges, high peaks, deep valleys and impressive lakes. Due to the different altitudes, there is a great variety of flora and fauna, including many endemic species. The park is also known for its abundant wildlife, including ibexes, lynxes, marmots and eagles. Visitors can take numerous hikes and mountain tours to explore the distinctive landscape.
Located in the heart of the Burgundy wine region, the Solutré-Pouilly-Vergisson Nature Reserve is renowned for its rich flora and fauna. It includes the Solutré and Vergisson mountains and the surrounding valleys and hills. The famous Solutré massif was once inhabited by Neanderthals. The landscape comprises vineyards, forests and fields and offers a picturesque contrast to the nearby town of Mâcon. The nature reserve is a critical habitat for rare and endangered species such as the curlew and the capercaillie. The lush vegetation features rare orchids and wildflowers. Visitors can explore the outstanding landscape on numerous walks or visit the nearby vineyards and charming villages.
The peerless Camargue Nature Reserve is a 150,000-hectare marshland in Provence in the south of France, which has been designated a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. Camargue horses, a relatively small breed of domestic horse, live here in the wild and are a fascinating sight for animal lovers. Pink flamingos can be found in the Camargue all year round and are an impressive visual spectacle. The region is also known for its diverse landscape of salt marshes, lagoons, swamps and beaches. Visitors can explore the reserve on numerous walking and cycling trails or take a boat trip along the canals. The Camargue marshes are also renowned for their culinary specialities, including the famous Camargue rice and local fishing.
The Calanques are an impressive rock formation on the coast of Provence in southern France. The cliffs rise above the turquoise sea, providing a dramatic backdrop to the beautiful countryside. The Calanques stretch for around 20 kilometres along the coast between Marseille and Cassis and include countless small bays and hidden beaches. The region offers a variety of outdoor activities, including hiking, climbing and scuba diving. Visitors can take one of the many walks and enjoy breathtaking views of the sea and surrounding cliffs. For those who prefer to discover the Calanques from the water, boat trips are available along the coast. The Calanques are a true jewel of the Côte d’Azur and offer visitors an unmatched opportunity to experience the beauty of this natural environment first-hand.
The 1,465-metre-high extinct volcano Puy de Dôme in the Auvergne region is a popular hiking destination. The summit can be reached via a footpath or cogwheel railway, offering an impressive panorama of the surrounding volcanoes and mountains.

The Puy de Dôme is part of the Volcanoes d’Auvergne Regional Nature Park, an impressive collection of around 80 volcanic craters and other volcanic formations. The park is a paradise for nature lovers and offers many opportunities for walking, cycling and bird watching.

The area around the Puy de Dôme is also rich in thermal springs. There are many thermal baths and spas where you can relax and unwind. The Puy de Dôme was an important place of pilgrimage in Roman times and is now an important historical site.

Geography of France

France is located in the west of Europe, southeast of the United Kingdom, between Belgium and the English Channel in the north, the Mediterranean Sea and the Spanish border in the south. France borders Italy, Switzerland, Germany and Luxembourg to the east. The rough waves of the Atlantic Ocean surround the French coast to the west. The overseas territories of this intercontinental state are located in South America, the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans and Antarctica.

The surface area of France and its European islands is 547,030 km². The surface area of water in France is about 1,400 km². This makes France the largest country in Western Europe in terms of surface area. The coastline of France is 3,427 km long.

Sunbeams penetrate through a crevice on the French coast Brittany on a sandy beach

The landscape of France is mainly characterised by flat plains or gentle hills in the north and west. The rest of the country is primarily mountainous. Particularly noteworthy are the Pyrenees in the southwest, the Massif Central and the Alps in the southeast. At 4,810 m, Mont Blanc is the highest mountain in France. Inland there are many rivers, including the Loire, Seine and Rhône, which flow through impressive valleys. The Loire is the longest river in France, with a total length of 1,020 km. The Seine is the main shipping route, and the main tributaries are the Aube, the Marne, the Oise and the Yonne. There are few lakes in France. Near Arcachon is the Dune de Pyla, the highest dune in Europe at 115 m. The fertile plains of Normandy, the Loire Valley and Provence are important agricultural areas and provide much of the country’s food. France’s most famous cities include the capital, Paris, on the Seine River in the north, surrounded by rolling hills, and the port city of Marseille in the south, on one of the deepest bays in the Mediterranean. All in all, France has a wide variety of landscapes that offer an incomparable experience in every season and region.

High above the clouds, a single bird flies along the summit of Mont Blanc at sunset

A reclining ibex with powerful, long, curved horns in a leafy mountain landscape in the Vanoise National Park

Geomorphology and Geology of France

France is geologically and geomorphologically diverse. In the west, the Armorican massif dominates, with granite and schist formations and numerous rivers carving deep into the landscape. To the north and northeast, the landscape is dominated by the chalk cliffs of Normandy and the Ardennes. To the east are the foothills of the Rhine Rift Valley and the Vosges, considered the oldest mountain formation in France. The Massif Central is mainly made up of volcanic rock, including the famous Puy de Dôme. In the south and southwest, the Pyrenees extend along the border with Spain, while the Alps form the border with Italy in the east. France’s geomorphology and geology offer various landscapes and natural spaces, ideal for outdoor activities such as hiking, climbing and skiing.

Rocks of Mont Blanc from the French Alps with some snow against a blue sky

Travel Tips and Trivia for France

There is only one time zone in mainland France. This time zone is called Central European Time CET (UTC+1). There is no time difference between France and Germany. In France, there is a nationwide changeover between summer and winter time, with the clocks being put forward one hour in summer.

There are eleven time zones in the French overseas territories. This makes France the country with the most time zones.
The standard plugs and sockets used in France are type C and E. The mains voltage is 230 volts, and the frequency is 50 Hz. Travellers from Germany typically do not need a travel adapter and can use electrical appliances as usual.

France generates around 70 percent of its electricity from nuclear power plants (as of 2022). Atomic power is repeatedly criticised and is the subject of much debate.
In addition to a national air network, there is a well-developed rail and bus network. A highlight of the infrastructure is the TGV (Train à grande vitesse). In the cities, there is an excellent public transport system. Up-to-date information, including on disruptions (e.g. strikes), is sometimes available in English, e.g. from the RATP.

France has been the target of several severe terrorist attacks since the beginning of 2015, including cities such as Paris, Nice, Strasbourg and Lyon. Since then, luggage and passenger checks have been performed more frequently at stations, airports, trains and metros. Many stations no longer offer luggage storage. It is advisable to mark your luggage with your name and address, even if you travel by train.

Tolls are charged on almost all motorways in France. From 1 July 2018, the speed limit on rural roads was reduced from 90 km/h to 80 km/h. Low-emission zones have been introduced in many major French cities (e.g. in the centre of Paris).

Yellow solid lines at the side of the road mean absolutely no stopping or parking. Blue lines at the edge of the road indicate restricted parking with a parking disc, which may be subject to a charge (Zones Bleues).

In Paris, driving and parking e-scooters on pavements is prohibited and punishable by a fine.
The following 11 national holidays are established by law in France (please note that there may be other regional holidays):
- New Year (Jour de l’An): 1 January
- Easter Monday (Lundi de Pâques): Easter Sunday + 1 day
- Labour Day (Fête du travail): 1 May
- Victory Day Victoire 1945 (Fête de la Victoire): 8 May
- Ascension Day (Ascension): Easter Sunday + 39 days
- Whit Monday (Lundi de Pentecôte): Easter Sunday + 50 days
- French National Day (Fête Nationale de la France): 14 July
- Assumption Day (Assomption): 15 August
- All Saints’ Day (Toussaint): 1 November
- Armistice of Compiègne (Armistice 1918): 11 November
- Christmas Day (Noël): 25 December
Dos:

Speak French - no matter how!
No matter how bad your French is, the French appreciate it when a foreigner sincerely tries to speak their language.

Be flexible with your time
Time flexibility is also essential. While Germans value punctuality highly, the French focus more on adapting to change.

Become a gourmet
French cuisine offers a variety of culinary delights of the highest quality. Fixed menus of at least three courses are part of everyday dining culture.

The meal begins with an apéritif, followed by a starter, main course, cheese and dessert. Soups are usually served in restaurants only in the evening, not at lunchtime. If you ask for it, a carafe of tap water (carafe d’eau) is included with your meal.

Don’ts:

Don’t shake hands and drop the salutation
Good friends or relatives in France greet each other with a kiss on the cheek. Another common form of greeting is to give hands (without shaking): take the other person’s hand loosely and maintain eye contact. Unlike in Germany, where a greeting such as “Guten Tag” without a salutation is perfectly normal, it is considered cool to omit the salutation in France. Greeting someone with “Bonjour Madame” (female) or “Bonjour Monsieur” (male) scores points.

Don’t just sit down in a restaurant
In France, you should avoid choosing a table yourself and just sitting down. Instead, wait at the entrance of the restaurant for the waiter to greet you and show you to an available seat.

Don’t carelessly step on a zebra crossing
In Germany, we are used to drivers stopping in front of zebra crossings when you want to cross. Although the traffic rules in France are similar, you need to be careful. As a pedestrian, you may have to wait long for a car to stop.

Climate in France

France’s climate ranges from Atlantic maritime to continental in the centre and east, Mediterranean on the Mediterranean coast and Alpine in the mountains. For the most part, however, France has a temperate climate. Most of the French overseas territories have tropical to subtropical climates.

This valley in the Pyrenees is crossed by a winding road over serpentines and many trees green the area, which is only partially illuminated by sunlight on this cloudy day.

In general, winters in France are mild but with high rainfall. Summers are also moderately warm. The warmest month is July (20 °C), while January is the coldest, with an average temperature of 5.5 °C. Hot, sunny summers and mild winters are typical of Provence in southern France.

The destination Espelette in France (Europe) offers many green spaces such as fields and woodlands

Heavy autumn storms can occur in the Mediterranean region from August to November. In winter, there is a risk of avalanches in the Alps.

Flora and Fauna of France

Vegetation of France

French flora ranges from olive and orange trees to alpine mosses and lichens. In the Mediterranean climate zone, Aleppo pines, holm oaks, cork oaks, cypresses and plane trees are the most common. Hard-leaved plants adapted to the dry conditions thrive in some of the now woodless areas of the Mediterranean coast. Olives, almonds and vines are grown mainly in France, especially in the south. Pine trees are most common on the French Atlantic coast. At higher altitudes in France, spruce and fir are more common. Deciduous forests are typical in the Ardennes and the Vosges, with beech, oak, ash, maple and birch being the most common species.

This lavender field shines in a charming lilac hue. The single tree in the field is an eye-catcher.

Sunbeams fall into the densely overgrown pine forest of the French flora

Wildlife of France

Because of the many cultivated landscapes, the diversity of wildlife in France is very limited. Eagles, vultures, marmots and chamois live in the mountains. In the Pyrenees, there are isolated brown bears and lynxes. The rivers and streams are home to beavers and otters, which have been reintroduced in some areas. In addition to the Egyptian vulture, five species of eagles (golden eagle, white-tailed eagle, Bonelli’s eagle, booted eagle and short-toed eagle) are a unique feature of the French avifauna. France’s many coppice forests are home to species such as the hare, pheasant and partridge. The high forests are home to red deer, roe deer, wild boar and red fox. Reptiles such as geckos, lizards, snakes, and marsh and sea turtles are abundant in the southern parts of the country. Fish species such as cod, herring, mackerel, flatfish, sardines and tuna live in the coastal waters of the Atlantic and Mediterranean.

Flamingos in shallow water in the Camargue area

A single, wild Camargue horse (small domestic horse breed) with white coat (grey).

Social Geography of France

The Roman Catholic Church (Église catholique romaine), which has played a significant cultural and political role in the history of France, is the country’s largest denomination in terms of numbers. However, a trend can be observed: More and more French people are non-denominational. In a survey by Le Monde des religions, 51 % of French people described themselves as Catholics. 31 % said they did not belong to any religion, and around 9 % described themselves as Muslims. 3 % described themselves as Protestants, and 1 % as Jews.
France is one of the most important industrialised countries in Europe.

A state minimum wage, the SMIC (Salaire minimum interprofessionnel de croissance), secures workers’ income and was increased to 1,353 euros net per month for 35 hours per week on 1 January 2023.

Thanks to the many wine-growing regions, wine is fifth on the list of French exports, after cars, aeroplanes, pharmaceuticals and electronics. Tourism also plays an important role. Car manufacturers such as PSA Peugeot Citroën and Renault are among the largest companies in France. The world’s fourth-largest oil company, Total S.A., has its headquarters in the French town of Courbevoie.