France

France is the State in Western Europe. In northeast borders on Belgium, Luxembourg and Germany, in the east — on Germany, Switzerland and Italy, in a southeast — on Monaco, in the south — on Spain and Andorra. In the north it is washed by Northern sea, passages Pas de Calaiss and La Manche, in a southeast -by Mediterranean sea, in the west — by bay of Biscay. France posesses some overseas territories and departments: the French Guiana in South America; Martinique and Guadeloupe — in West Indies; Reunion — in Indian ocean, and some archipelagoes in Pacific ocean.

The main geographical features of France are its natural borders in the east and the south, uplands in a southern part of the central region and extensive plains. The Alpes and Jura are natural border with Italy and Switzerland. Many tops of the French Alpes rise on height more than 4000 m. Mountain Mont Blanc (4807) the second is on height in Europe. On northeast from Belfort hollow the Franch-German border passes across Rhine. In this region there is also the mountain circuit Vosges rising up to 1424 m. Pyrenees, forming natural border between France and Spain, reach 3298 m (Pic de Vignemale) on the French part.

France has rather rich history. In 58–51 years B. C. Gallia (modern France) has been won by Juliem Caesar, and the board of Romans proceeded about 500 years. In last quarter of V century when Roman empire has practically broken up, Gallia was won with the francs which have created the kingdom. It has reached the greatest blossoming at Charles Velikom who has expanded borders of the state practically to all Western and Central Europe. After Charles’s death the empire has broken up to some states, one of which was France.

In 1337 the Centenary war proceeded for 1453 has begun and accompanied by epidemic of a plague in the beginning. France had relative success only during the final period of war, the beginning to which Jeanne d’Arc has put. In XVI century in France the religious wars caused by occurrence of Calvinism have flashed.

The monarchy was destroyed as a result of Great French revolution of 1789, accompanied by the period of severe terror. In 1792 France has been proclaimed by republic. However the republic has existed not for long, and it was replaced with empire of Napoleon Bonaparte. After defeat of Napoleon in France the constitutional monarchy (1815), existed till 1848 when the country again has been proclaimed by republic has been established. The second Republic has existed till 1852 when Napoleon III has proclaimed empire. In 1871 in France the republican board has been finally restored.

In 1958 the Fifth Republic (according to the new, fifth constitution of the country) was managed by general Charles Andre Mari Zhozef De Gaulle during which board the country has left in leaders of the European policy. In May, 1995 after almost two decades of board of socialists the president became the representative moderately right Jacque Chirac. France is a member of the United Nations and the majority of specialized agencies of this organization, the OATS, EU, NATO, the Organizations of economic cooperation and development.

A state system:

the Head of the state — the President.
The legislature — two-chamber Parliament.
The executive — the government led by the Prime Minister.