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France (French: [fʁɑ̃s] ), officially the French Republic (French: République française), is a transcontinental country spanning Western Europe and overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. Its metropolitan area extends from the Rhine to the Atlantic Ocean and from the Mediterranean Sea to the English Channel and the North Sea; overseas territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the North Atlantic, the French West Indies, and several islands in Oceania and the Indian Ocean. Due to its several coastal territories, France has the largest exclusive economic zone in the world. France borders Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, Switzerland, Monaco, Italy, Andorra and Spain in Europe, as well as the Netherlands, Suriname and Brazil in the Americas. Its eighteen integral regions (five of which are overseas) span a combined area of 643,801 km2 (248,573 sq mi) and over 67 million people (as of May 2021). France is a unitary semi-presidential republic with its capital in Paris, the country's largest city and main cultural and commercial centre; other major urban areas include Lyon, Marseille, Toulouse, Bordeaux, Lille and Nice.
Inhabited since the Palaeolithic era, the territory of Metropolitan France was settled by Celtic tribes known as Gauls during the Iron Age. Rome annexed the area in 51 BC, leading to a distinct Gallo-Roman culture that laid the foundation of the French language. The Germanic 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 becoming the Kingdom of France in 987. In the High Middle Ages, France was a powerful but highly decentralised feudal kingdom. Philip II successfully strengthened royal power and defeated his rivals to double the size of the crown lands; by the end of his reign, France had emerged as the most powerful state in Europe. From the mid-14th to the mid-15th century, France was plunged into a series of dynastic conflicts involving England, collectively known as the Hundred Years' War, and a distinct French identity emerged as a result. The French Renaissance saw art and culture flourish, conflict with the House of Habsburg, and the establishment of a global colonial empire, which by the 20th century would become the second-largest in the world. The second half of the 16th century was dominated by religious civil wars between Catholics and Huguenots that severely weakened the country. France again emerged as Europe's dominant power in the 17th century under Louis XIV following the Thirty Years' War. Inadequate economic policies, inequitable taxes and frequent wars (notably a defeat in the Seven Years' War and costly involvement in the American War of Independence), left the kingdom in a precarious economic situation by the end of the 18th century. This precipitated the French Revolution of 1789, which 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. The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars shaped the course of European and world history. The collapse of the empire initiated a period of relative decline, in which France endured a tumultuous succession of governments until the founding of the French Third Republic during the Franco-Prussian War in 1870. Subsequent decades saw a period of optimism, cultural and scientific flourishing, as well as economic prosperity known as the Belle Époque. France was one of the major participants of World War I, from which it emerged victorious at great human and economic cost. It was among the Allied powers of World War II, but was soon occupied by the Axis in 1940. Following liberation in 1944, the short-lived Fourth Republic was established and later dissolved in the course of the Algerian War. The current Fifth Republic was formed in 1958 by Charles de Gaulle. Algeria and most French colonies became independent in the 1960s, with the majority retaining close economic and military ties with France.
France retains its centuries-long status as a global centre of art, science and philosophy. It hosts the fifth-largest number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites and is the world's leading tourist destination, receiving over 89 million foreign visitors in 2018. France is a developed country with the world's seventh-largest economy by nominal GDP and ninth-largest by PPP; in terms of aggregate household wealth, it ranks fourth in the world. France performs well in international rankings of education, health care, life expectancy and human development. It remains a great power in global affairs, being one of the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council and an official nuclear-weapon state. France is a founding and leading member of the European Union and the Eurozone, as well as a key member of the Group of Seven, North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and La Francophonie.

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  1. P

    France - British CH system help sought!

    Sometimes in life you kick yourself, I bought a house in the Lot area last year, had been owned for 30 years by a british builder. Turns out that all aspects of the C/H system are British, including boiler and pipe sizes. It's unvented with a very basic control (old landis & Gyr unit), there...
  2. L

    Help Please, I need help with my UFH system setup in France!

    Hi everyone, I am looking for help please on the final set-up/ programming part of my UFH system in France! My husband and I moved over to Normandy 3 years ago and we have renovated an old stone barn into our dream home (physically done all the work ourselves, not like on Grand Designs where...
  3. KingDoey

    Speeding fine In France

    Quick question. Does anyone know if a speeding ticket picked up in France means your UK licence gets endorsed with points?! Cheers
  4. B

    The Plumber lost my bolt in France

    Hi , Plumber friend of mine was stripping down my RDB2.2 VORT 21 and he lost the return connection with by-pass screw ... I live in France and he has left the country. Is there a possibility that I can get these parts without having to buy a complete Riello RDB pump? any help appreciated.
  5. H

    Hi from France

    Hi, I retired at 50 from a job in the finance industry and took on some property development jobs. Whilst doing my previous career I worked with a friend in my spare time. He was a general builder but specifically a plumber and a carpenter and taught me a lot. His untimely death left me without...
  6. A

    Hello from France

    Allo Allo!! I joined the forum a short while ago but I've only just got round to the first post/introduction. My names Andy, I am an English plumber living in France and due to the dire situation over here, (and other reasons), I'm wanting to come back to the UK in the very near future! I've...
  7. P

    French manifold system

    Hi Anybody got any experience of the 'manifold' system as used in France? Mainly wondering if you can buy them with a mixture of different fittings ie for 12mm for toilet, 14mm for sink, 18mm bath, etc Looks much easier to add and maintain than the 'spaghetti pipes' we end up with over here...
  8. N

    Hello from France

    Hi, I'm not actually in the UK anymore I used to primarily do electrics in the UK with some plumbing and heating maintenance work with it as well, but most of that was a few years ago as ended up so busy with electrics. I am now in France and also doing a mix again primarily electrics with...
  9. E

    Multi-Skilled Plumber Required in France

    Multi-Skilled Plumber Required in France starting 05/01/2015 Urgently required, a fully skilled Plumber with Bathroom fitting experience to join our team in France. Labour only! Contract negotiable. For more details email [email protected]
  10. E

    Opportunity in France

    Plumber / heating engineer wanted for ongoing projects in France starting 05/01/2015 would suit hard working recent time served individual PM for more details. Look us up on enershop facebook for recent projects.
  11. E

    Opportunity in France

    Plumber / heating engineer wanted for ongoing projects in France starting 05/01/2015 would suit hard working recent time served individual PM for more details. Look us up on enershop facebook for recent projects.
  12. E

    Job vacancy in France

    Plumber / Heating Engineer wanted in South West France. Experienced or part qualified plumber or Heating Engineer wanted for 6 weeks + ( possibility of permanent position based in France). The position would suit a young enthusiastic person wanting to relocate. A good team player is...
  13. K

    Fittings OR Suggested Configurationn Cistern in France

    Looking to connect a T piece to a Cistern feed in France The feed to cistern is (nut size) 18mm to 21mm water valve and with a 23 mm mains in supply I need a configuration I assume with a T to connect 23mm out As an example 18mm to 18mm Cistern to valve Tap with 23mm out is what I was thinking...
  14. E

    Position available for Plumber / Heating Engineer in South West France.

    Looking for a change in scenery or lifestyle ? We have a position for a young , enthusiastic person to join our install team. A good team player is essential. Please reply in the first instance with CV and a covering letter.
  15. Reg Man

    Tour De France

    I don't know why everyone is giving Lance Armstrong such a hard time for taking drugs, and winning all those titles. When I was on drugs I couldn't even find my Bike.
  16. J

    Tour de France this weekend in Yorkshire

    Me and the missus off to watch it in Otley and spend the day there with her spending my money. Anyone going.
  17. E

    Bio mass engineer - France

    Hello Bio mass Heating engineer required to work in South West France. Initially temporary position. For more details please forward c.v Thanks in advance. Michael
  18. E

    Heating engineer required in France

    Hello Bio mass Heating engineer required to work in South West France. Initially temporary position. For more details please forward c.v Thanks in advance. Michael
  19. L

    cmon France :)

    there's a first time for everything, including cheering on France :)
  20. M

    New scrap laws.

    Anyone know exactly what the new laws are regarding scrap. Im hearing that we wont be able to weigh in at all after next week.
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