The iconic Eiffel Tower, the endless exhibits at the Louvre Museum and vineyards that boast of vintage wines and champagne represent only a small part of the diverse country that is France. Before we begin our discourse on French culture and attractions, let us get down to the basics –where is France located?
We mostly think of France as a single country in the west. However, its overseas polities are scattered around various parts of the world. There are many islands in different continents that belong to the French Republic.
Where is France Situated?
While Metropolitan France is located in Western Europe, this nation has several overseas territories in the Indian Ocean, the Americas, the Pacific Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean. Within continental Europe, France is bordered by Spain and Andorra to its south, Monaco and Italy to its southeast, Switzerland and Germany to its east and Luxembourg and Belgium to its north.
The water bodies that Metropolitan France is surrounded by are the Mediterranean Sea in the southeast, the North Sea in the north, the Atlantic Ocean in the west and the English Channel in the northwest.
Spread between the geographical coordinates of 41 degrees and 51 degrees North (in terms of latitude) and 6 degrees West and 10 degrees East (in terms of longitude), Metropolitan France includes a number of coastal islands.
France’s overseas regions in the Indian Ocean include Réunion, Mayotte, Île Saint-Paul, Crozet Islands, Amsterdam Islands and Kerguelen Islands, among others. In the Antarctic, France owns Adélie Land while in South America, it owns French Guiana.
In the Caribbean, Guadeloupe and Martinique belong to France whereas in the Pacific Ocean, Clipperton Island, French Polynesia, Wallis and Futuna and New Caledonia are French regions. Metropolitan France occupies an area of about 551,695 square kilometers or 213,011 square miles. However, the total area of all French territories across the world is 643,801 square kilometers or 248,573 square miles.
Metropolitan France follows the Central European Time (CET) which is 1 hour ahead of the Coordinated Universal Time (UTC+1). In summers, Metropolitan France observes DST (Daylight Saving Time) and changes its time zone to CEST (Central European Summer Time) which is 2 hours ahead of the Coordinated Universal Time (UTC+2).
France Map from India
France is 7,364 kilometers away from India and is located to its west. The countries that separate France from India are Pakistan, Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Russia, Ukraine, Poland, Czech Republic and Germany.
How to Reach France from India
It is possible to travel from India to France by air only as the sea route and the land routes are very long, expensive and not worth the effort (considering the security situation in many countries on the way).
There are more than 30 international airports in the country. Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris – the capital of France, Paris Orly Airport, Paris Beauvais Airport, Lille Airport, Strasbourg Airport, Lyon-Saint Exupéry Airport, Nice Côte d’Azur Airport, Marseille Airport, Montpellier Airport, Toulouse Blagnac Airport, Biarritz Airport, Nantes Airport, Brest Bretagne Airport, Ajaccio Airport and Bastia – Poretta Airport are just a few.
Non-stop flights are available from New Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore to Paris on Air India – the flag bearer of India and Air France – the national airline of France. The shortest flight time is between New Delhi and Paris at 9 hours and 20 minutes. A one-way ticket in economy class will set you back by INR 30,000 at least.
France vacation packages from India will let you choose from a number of airlines. Some options are SriLankan – the national carrier of Sri Lanka, Vistara, Turkish Airlines – the flag carrier of Turkey, IndiGo, Oman Air – the national airline of Oman, Emirates, Go First, Lufthansa – the flag bearer of Germany, AirAsia, Qatar Airways – the national airline of Qatar, Akasa Air, SWISS – the national carrier of Switzerland, Transavia, Air Moldova – the flag carrier of Moldova, Vueling, Gulf Air – the national carrier of Bahrain, flydubai, Etihad – the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, Air Dolomiti, EgyptAir – the national carrier of Egypt, Finnair – the flag bearer of Finland, Kuwait Airways – the national airline of Kuwait, Ethiopian – the national carrier of Ethiopia, Saudia – the flag carrier of Saudi Arabia, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines – the national airline of the Netherlands, ITA Airways – the national carrier of Italy, British Airways – the flag carrier of the United Kingdom, THAI – the national airline of Thailand. TAP Air Portugal – the flag bearer of Portugal and airBaltic – the national carrier of Latvia.
The Best Time to Visit France from India
April to October is a nice period for activities to do in France. The peak season is June to August which is the European summertime. If you wish to avoid the crowds or the scorching sun, you can visit in the spring months of April and May.
Alternatively, you can travel in the autumn season, which is from September to October. This is a great time to watch the fall colors. If you wish to explore the French Alps and go skiing, you should wait for the winter months of December and January when the snow is thick.
Is France Good for Honeymoon?
France is famous for its Eiffel Tower, which is often considered a symbol of love. Paris is regarded globally as one of the most coveted honeymoon destinations. For quaint old town charms, you can also explore the neighbourhood of Montmartre.
France tour packages dedicated to wine tasting often include locations such as Bordeaux, Burgundy and Champagne. A wine tasting tour coupled with a romantic stay in a chateau completes any weekend trip to the vineyards.
France vacation packages for skiers focus on mountaintop ski resorts with cosy wooden chalets. French holidays are complemented by traditional food such as the French onion soup, croissants, quiches, crepes, ratatouille, macarons, potatoes au gratin and éclairs.
The French lifestyle should be experienced at leisure. It is for this reason that we recommend long holidays in this country that can allow you the time to explore the French countryside and some islands along with the iconic attractions of Paris.