France has a long standing tradition of the one of the world’s foremost powers since the second half of the 17^th century. France was the country that built the largest colonial empires of the 18^th and 19^th centuries. This colonial empire stretched across the world from west Africa to Southeast Asia. French colonists influenced the local cultures and politics, giving new life to some areas of the world.

Today, France is a developed country that has the sixth largest economy in the world. It is also the most visited country in the world, greeting more than 82 million foreign tourists east year. France is also one of the founding members of the European Union and a member of the United Nations, G8, and NATO. And surprisingly, France is also a nuclear power with more than 350 active warheads and 59 nuclear power plants.

When you come to France, Paris, will most likely be the first stop. This is the capital city and the best place to check out all of the French art, architecture, and history that makes France the nation that it is today. Some of the most popular tourist attractions in Paris are the Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame. There are also many French art museums in Paris that house the world’s best collection in European and international art.

And if you are a sports enthusiast, France has rugby, football, and the Tour de France, an annual bicycle race through France. It is also one of the most popular bicycle races in the world. Paris has one of the largest stadiums in France, so the city has played host to a variety of different sporting events including the Rugby Union World Cup and the FIFA World Cups. Major tennis tournaments are also on France’s resume, with the Grand Slam tournaments, the French Open, and the Paris Masters all held annually. France also has a hand in creating the Modern Olympic Games at the end of the 19^th century, revived by the French aristocrat Baron Pierre de Coubertin.

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