Yachts in Spain

France is a country in Western Europe, with dominions that include regions, islands and archipelagos in many parts of the eastern and western worlds. Continental France borders in the southwest with Spain (623km) and Andorra (56,6km); to the north with the English Channel, and the North Sea; to the north east with Belgium (620 km), Luxemburg (73 km), Germany (451km) and Switzerland (573km); to the east with Monaco (4,4km) and Italy (488km); and to the south east with the Mediterranean Sea..

European France has coastlines on the North Sea, the English Channel, the Gulf of Biscay (the Atlantic Ocean), the Gulf of Leon and the Côte d’Azure ( Mediterranean Sea). France has 5,500km of coastline. In total the French coasts are washed by the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. The coastal waters of France extend to 12 sea miles from the coast, and the Exclusive Economic Zone to 200 sea miles from the coast (11 million square kilometres) The most famous beach is Saint Tropez.

As to the climate, although France is in the temperate zone, with mean annual temperatures between 9ºC and 16ºC, it offers a varied climate, the result of a combination of diverse influences. The proximity of the ocean helps to soften the temperatures in winter, almost without frost, and freshen up the summer days, whereas away from the sea the winters are longer and harder, and the summers hotter. The influence of the Mediterranean results in mild winters and stifling summers