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CITY LIGHTSPARIS • Paris is the capital of France and the Isle of France. Founded in unidepartamental the only community in the country, is located on both banks of a long bend in the river Seine in central Paris Basin, between the confluence of the Marne and the Seine river upstream, and the Oise and the Seine downstream . • The city of Paris within its administrative limits has an estimated population of 2 181 371 inhabitants (2006). However, during the twentieth century, the Paris metropolitan area has expanded beyond the limits of the commune. Its urban area, the second largest in Europe, has a population of 11,174,740 inhabitants (1999) .
population • The population of France in 2003 was estimated by the United Nations at 60,144,000, which placed it as number 20 in population among the 193 nations of the world. In that year approximately 16% of the population was over 65 years of age, with another 19% of the population under 15 years of age. There were 95 males for every 100 females in the country in 2003. According to the UN, the annual population growth rate for 2000–2005 is 0.47%, with the projected population for the year 2015 at 62,841,000. The population density in 2002 was 108 per sq km (279 per sq mi). Much of the population is concentrated in the north and southeast areas of the country. • The capital city, Paris, had a population of 9,608,000 in that year. The next largest cities include Marseilles, 1,243,000; Lyon, 1,381,000; and Lille, 1,003,000
TOURISM • France attracted 81.9 million foreign tourists in 2007 (surpassing its population), a 3.8% increase compared to 2006, making it the most popular tourist destination in the world.This 81.9 million figure excludes people staying less than 24 hours in France, such as northern Europeans crossing France on their way to Morocco , Spain or Italy in summer. • France offers mountain ranges, coastlines such as in Brittany or along the Mediterranean Sea, cities with a rich cultural heritage, châteaux (castles) like Versailles, and vineyards. Tourism is accountable for 6% of the country's income (4% from French tourists travelling inside France and 2% from foreign tourists), and contributes significantly to the balance of payments.
MOSTVISITED CITIES IN FRANCE • Eiffeltower,The Arc de Triomphe, El Museo Nacional del Louvre, Notre Damechurch
COIN OF FRANCE • The euro (€ or EUR) is the common currency for the European nations that belong to the Eurozone in the European Union, including Spain. The euro coins have two different sides, a common side (front) across Europe indicates that the value of the currency and a national side with the design chosen by each country. French euro coins show three different designs for the three sets of names. The number of lower value was designed by Fabienne Courtiade, the intermediary by Laurent Jorio and two high-value coins by Joaquim Jimenez. All designs are common in the 12 stars of the European Union, the year of minting, and the letters "RF" for République Française (French Republic).
LANGUAGE • The French language is by far the most widely spoken and the only official language of France. • Other languages are spoken by a substantial percentage of the population due to immigration. The map to the right includes the French-speaking Belgium or Wallonia in the north-east
FOOD • The hearty meals cooked at home for a family are known as cuisine bourgeoise, which overlaps with cuisine regional ("ray-zhuh-NAHL,"). or regional cooking dishes made from locally available ingredients served in the provinces. In certain restaurants, the chef offers a set menu with many courses of fairly small portions, giving a sampler of the chef's specialties and the best foods of the season and the region.
ACTIVITIES AT NIGHT • You can make great many activities in France for example: • You can have a romantic dinner. • You can also take a stroll by the river Sena. • You can go to a nightclub with your friends. • You can stay in the Eiffel tower. • You can go to the shopping mall.
France Culture • The modern social structure in France started in the late 1950s and is based on three distinct classes. • The first and highest class is made up of the high level politicians, the wealthy families and the also powerful business owners. Such examples are the former President Jacques Chirac, and the CEO of Airbus Noël Forgeard.
Following the higher class people, the middle class group comprises two different types of white-collar jobs. Senior executives of companies and the groups in which the professional jobs are included which include high income and are more or less stable. • The lower class comprises blue-collar jobs where many people are in food-service jobs or work in retail. The unemployment level and the low living standards are very common in this group. Due to the shift to industry, the number of blue-collar jobs has decreased and the workforce in the civil service section has steadily increased.