France

843 (Monday, June 28) – Treaty of Verdun divides the Carolingian Empire into three parts, marking the beginning of France’s formation

987 (Monday, July 3) – Hugh Capet crowned King of France, founding the Capetian Dynasty

1066 (Wednesday, October 14) – Norman Conquest of England: William the Conqueror, Duke of Normandy, defeats King Harold II at the Battle of Hastings

1214 (Tuesday, July 27) – Battle of Bouvines: French victory over the Holy Roman Empire, leading to the consolidation of French royal power

1302 (Monday, November 11) – Estates-General of France convened to address political and financial crises

1337–1453 (Hundred Years’ War) – A series of wars between England and France for control of French territory

1789 (Wednesday, July 14) – French Revolution begins with the storming of the Bastille, leading to the end of the monarchy

1799 (Thursday, November 9) – Napoleon Bonaparte seizes power in the coup of 18 Brumaire, beginning the Napoleonic era

1815 (Friday, June 18) – Battle of Waterloo: Napoleon is defeated, marking the end of the Napoleonic Wars

1871 (Thursday, January 18) – Franco-Prussian War ends; France cedes Alsace-Lorraine to Germany

1914–1918 (World War I) – French losses and recovery, with major battles such as the Battle of Verdun

1940 (Thursday, June 14) – Nazi occupation of France begins during World War II, leading to the Vichy regime

1944 (Monday, June 6) – D-Day landings (Normandy Invasion): Allied forces liberate France from Nazi occupation

1954 (Thursday, May 7) – Battle of Dien Bien Phu: France withdraws from Indochina, leading to the end of the First Indochina War

1968 (Monday, May 6) – May 1968 student protests lead to political upheaval and significant social changes

1989 (Saturday, November 9) – Fall of the Berlin Wall: France becomes more integrated with Eastern Europe as the Soviet bloc collapses

1992 (Monday, December 14) – Maastricht Treaty is signed, forming the European Union, of which France is a founding member

2015 (Friday, November 13) – Paris attacks: Terrorist attacks in Paris result in significant loss of life and national security changes

2017 (Monday, May 7) – Emmanuel Macron elected President in a run-off against Marine Le Pen

2020 (Thursday, March 17) – COVID-19 lockdowns: France imposes one of the strictest lockdowns in Europe to control the spread of the virus

2021 (Thursday, July 15) – Flooding in Western France: Heavy rainfall and subsequent floods cause widespread damage

2023 (Saturday, March 4) – Cyclone season brings significant rainfall and floods to southern France

July 2024 (Wednesday, July 10) – Extreme heatwave hits southern France, with record temperatures in Provence and Corsica, causing wildfires

Continent: Europe (Western Europe)
Location: Located in Western Europe, bordered by Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Monaco, Spain, and Andorra; the Atlantic Ocean to the west, and the Mediterranean Sea to the south.
Capital: Paris
Language: French (official)
Currency: Euro (€)
Population: ~67 million (last updated: April 2025)
Time Zone: Central European Time (CET, UTC+1), Central European Summer Time (CEST, UTC+2 during daylight saving time)

Borders: Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Monaco, Spain, Andorra
Landscape: Varied topography with mountains (Alps, Pyrenees), plains, rolling hills, rivers, and Mediterranean coast
Major Rivers: Seine, Loire, Rhône, Garonne, Meuse, Danube (flows through France)
Major Mountains: Mont Blanc (highest point), Pyrenees, Massif Central, Alps
Deserts: None
Lakes: Lake Geneva (on the border with Switzerland), Lake Annecy, Lake Bourget
Volcanoes: Puy de Dôme, Mount Etna (although it’s in Italy, it’s close to the border)
Highest Point: Mont Blanc – 4,808 m (15,774 ft)
Lowest Point: Rhine River – 0 m (sea level)
Climate: Varied climate: oceanic climate in the west, continental in the east, Mediterranean climate along the southern coast, Alpine climate in the mountains
Geological Features: Part of the Alpine mountain belt, Massif Central (volcanic), Rhine Rift Valley, Mediterranean basin, Atlantic coastline

Ethnic Groups: Primarily French (~85%), other European ethnicities, and North African (Algerian, Moroccan, Tunisian)
Religion: Predominantly Roman Catholic (~50%), followed by Islam (~8%), Protestantism (~2%), and secular/atheist (~40%)
Urban Population: ~80% (last updated: 2023)
Population Notes: France is known for its high quality of life, strong social welfare system, and significant cultural diversity due to immigration

Famous For: French cuisine, wine, art, fashion, cinema, and philosophy
Cuisine: Baguette, Croissant, Cheese, Wine, Escargot, Coq au Vin, Ratatouille
Arts: Renaissance and Enlightenment-era art, Impressionism, Cinematography (e.g., Cannes Film Festival), literature (e.g., Victor Hugo, Albert Camus, Marcel Proust)
Sports: Football (soccer), rugby, cycling (Tour de France), tennis (French Open), handball, basketball

Economy Type: Advanced mixed economy
GDP: Approx. $3.0 trillion USD (last updated: 2024)
Major Industries: Aerospace, automotive, luxury goods, agriculture, fashion, pharmaceuticals, electronics, tourism
Key Exports: Machinery, aircraft, wine, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, food products
Unemployment Rate: ~8.0% (last updated: 2024)
Economic Regions: Highly industrialized north and east; agricultural and tourism sectors in the south and rural areas

Government Type: Semi-presidential republic
Head of State: President Emmanuel Macron (as of April 2025)
Head of Government: Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne (as of April 2025)
Legislature: Bicameral Parliament (National Assembly and Senate)
Constitution: The Fifth Republic Constitution, in effect since 1958

Paris: Eiffel Tower, Louvre Museum, Notre-Dame Cathedral, Montmartre
Provence: Lavender fields, Roman ruins, and Mediterranean coastline
Nice & Côte d’Azur: Glamorous resorts, beaches, and the Mediterranean
Versailles: Palace of Versailles, gardens, Hall of Mirrors
Loire Valley: Castles, vineyards, and UNESCO heritage sites
French Alps: Ski resorts, hiking, and Mont Blanc