Study, work and live in France

France today is a modern country with a colourful history and a rich cultural heritage. It is a major player in international affairs, and is a founding member of the European Economic Community (now European Union). It is a member of NATO, and has a permanent seat on the UN’s Security Council. It has the world’s sixth largest economy, and is a member of the G8 group of nations, and is an acknowledged nuclear power.

France’s colonial past is a major factor in its multicultural population today, and the country is home to the largest Muslim population in Europe. French contribution to world literature has been immense with writers such as Victor Hugo, Alexandre Dumas (both pére and fils) and Honoré de Balzac, to name a few. French thinkers such as Descartes, Voltaire and Sartre, and French artists such as Renoir, Monet and Cezanne are universally known.

Quick facts:

• Population- 60,875,000 (est 2006)
• Principal Language(s)- French
• Capital- Paris
• Other major cities- Lyon, Marseille
• Monetary unit- 1 Euro = 100 cents
• Internet domain- .fr
• International dialling code- +33