France has been at the forefront of European goings on for hundreds of years, and the beautiful, diverse landscape of the country is a fitting tribute to the wonderful and friendly French people. Sitting in the West of Europe and sharing borders with Spain and Andorra in the Southwest, Belgium and Luxembourg in the Northeast and Germany, Switzerland and Italy in the East as well as having coastlines on the English Channel, the Mediterranean Sea and the Bay of Biscay. From the rustic charm of Brittany through the romantic idealism of Paris through to the luxurious vacation spots in the South of the country, France has a heck of a lot to offer everyone who visits.

The history of man in France stretches back around 90,000 years with modern history per se kicking in with the arrival of the Celtic Gauls – Asterix, Obelix and co. – around 1500BC. Overrun by the Romans and then the Franks, shockingly enough contributing to the name of the country, France saw a lot of changes over the next couple of millennia – religious persecution and political dispute seemed to take up most of the headlines of the past, and a few wars with good ol’ Blighty were thrown in for good measure – not least of which the Hundred Years War, which gave birth to the legend of Jeanne d’Arc (Joan of Arc, as popular culture has rebranded her). Domestic discontent was soon to be the seed for revolution, and the celebration of Bastille Day on the 14th of July remembers that day in 1789 when the wheels of the French Revolution really began to turn, leaving many headless at the feet of the guillotine.  Napoleon Bonaparte is something of a hero to the French – the man who made France a military force to be reckoned with during his reign and took most of Europe during his campaign in the early 1800s is not favourably remembered because of his fighting credentials, but because whilst in charge he maintained laws and rulings established during the Revolution – the Napoleonic Code still exists today and is the basis of France’s legal system. The end of the 19th Century saw age-old animosity between France and Britain come to an end, but the beginning of the 20th Century saw new wounds created with the First and Second World Wars. France was one of the main battlegrounds for both conflicts and the nation saw heavy losses to both its military and civilian population through the course. Economically crippled the WWI, the country was to see a puppet government in place during WWII after the Germans were surrendered to – this turned out to be a smart move in the end and saw France in a much more favourable position, economically-speaking, at the end of fighting in 1945. Years of social and monetary reform came to pass over the rest of the 20th Century and the government has adopted a very pro-EU stance up until today. The last decade or so has seen some social discontent in the country, with recent rioting in the poor suburbs of Paris by disenfranchised youths hitting the headlines the hardest. Nevertheless, France is a country that has been through a lot and has learned from experience.

The country is an especially popular holiday spot for British tourists with the ease of which France can be reached giving an obvious reason as to why it is so popular. From the booze-cruises to the second homes, France has something for everyone and – even though it’s as popular as it is – the country still has something to offer anyone who may visit, or those wishing to invest in off plan property. The economic power of the country and the fact that France is one of the top of the pile when it comes to first-world countries means that property here is not going to be cheap – as always, there will be bargains for the intrepid hunters out there but all in all prices are comparable to those in Britain.

The standards of healthcare in France are generally excellent and a reciprocal agreement with the UK means British nationals are entitled to free treatment for accidents or illnesses on production of an E111 form – other charges may still apply, however. Health insurance is still recommended in case emergency evacuation is necessary and to cover the cost of treatment, if necessary.

Mobile phone coverage stretches across the whole country, though obviously quality of service cannot be guaranteed in more rural areas. Landlines are widely available and lines are of an excellent standard. Internet cafes are also widespread in urban areas.