France

France, in Western Europe, encompasses medieval cities, alpine villages and Mediterranean beaches. Paris, its capital, is famed for its fashion houses, classical art museums including the Louvre and monuments like the Eiffel Tower. The country is also renowned for its wines and sophisticated cuisine. Lascaux’s ancient cave drawings, Lyon’s Roman theater and the vast Palace of Versailles attest to its rich history.

On the other hand, the U.S. republic is known for cowboys, hamburgers and battles in the Civil War. Much of the nation’s natural beauty, wilderness and history are in the West. Florida’s Everglades and New Orleans’ French Quarter offer natural wonders, while Alaska’s wild winter landscape, Yellowstone and Yosemite are must-sees for wildlife lovers. New York City offers Broadway and the Statue of Liberty, Washington’s tony landmarks and Philadelphia’s iconic Independence Hall.

France is a country which manages to combine one of the highest standards of living and welfare, with strong traditional values and family solidarity. We want to play our part, as well as enjoying the great European adventures that our partners are bringing to us.”

France, whose economy is comparable to America’s, is the world’s sixth largest economy and is recognized for its quality of life. It is also one of the few European nations to win both the Eurovision song contest and the FIFA World Cup.

Most French people live in urban areas, but many are eager to move to more remote areas, where property is cheaper.

France has a reputation as a place to retire to, with generous pensions and salaries, especially for the services sector. But many of those in their fifties and sixties today are facing years of a tough labor market, with unemployment running at around 10 percent. The impact of economic austerity measures is evident in public protests that have roiled the country.