France
France
- Capital
- Paris
- Population
- 67,391,582
- Region
- Europe
- Languages
- French
Due to its numerous overseas territories such as French Guiana, Guadeloupe, and Reunion, France spans more time zones than any other country in the world. It officially utilizes 12 different time zones, surpassing both Russia and the United States. This unique geographical spread means the sun is technically always shining on some part of the French Republic. It also shares its longest land border not with a European neighbor, but with Brazil.
Currency
The official currency is the Euro, identified by the ISO code EUR. Before its adoption in 2002, France used the French Franc, a currency with roots stretching back to the 14th century when it was first minted to pay the ransom of King John II. The Franc remained a symbol of French sovereignty for over six centuries until the transition to the single European currency.
Flag symbolism
The French Tricolour features three vertical bands of blue, white, and red which were popularized during the French Revolution. The white represents the monarchy and the traditional color of the House of Bourbon, while the red and blue represent the municipal colors of Paris. By placing the white between the blue and red, the design symbolized the king being 'held' by the people. Today, these colors are globally associated with the national motto of Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity.
Emblem history
France does not have an official coat of arms, but instead uses a national emblem featuring a wide shield with a lion's head and a monogram of the letters 'RF' for République Française. The central element is a fasces, a bundle of rods tied around an axe, which is an ancient Roman symbol representing collective power and jurisdiction. It is flanked by branches of oak for wisdom and olive for peace. This specific design was adopted in 1953 and appears on French passports and international diplomatic documents.