Europe · neighbouring countries
Neighboring Countries of France
France shares land borders with 8 countries: Spain (646 km), Belgium (556 km), Switzerland (525 km), Italy (476 km), Germany (418 km), Luxembourg (69 km), Andorra (55 km) and Monaco (6 km).
- France
- Neighbouring countries
- Neighbours of neighbours
Countries bordering France
| Neighbour | Border length | Capital | Visa for France citizens |
|---|---|---|---|
 Spain |
Madrid | Freedom of movement | |
 Belgium |
Brussels | Freedom of movement | |
 Switzerland |
Bern | Freedom of movement | |
 Italy |
Rome | Freedom of movement | |
 Germany |
Berlin | Freedom of movement | |
 Luxembourg |
Luxembourg | Freedom of movement | |
 Andorra |
Andorra la Vella | Visa-free | |
 Monaco |
Monaco | Visa-free |
Spain accounts for 16% of France's 3,956 km of land borders. Lengths: CIA World Factbook (public domain).
Geography of France
Location
Metropolitan France: Western Europe, bordering the Bay of Biscay and English Channel, between Belgium and Spain, southeast of the UK; bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Italy and Spain French Guiana: Northern South America, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Brazil and Suriname Guadeloupe: Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, southeast of Puerto Rico Martinique: Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and North Atlantic Ocean, north of Tri
Area
643,801 km² — slightly more than four times the size of Georgia; slightly less than the size of Texas
Terrain
Metropolitan France: mostly flat plains or gently rolling hills in north and west; remainder is mountainous, especially Pyrenees in south, Alps in east French Guiana: low-lying coastal plains rising to hills and small mountains Guadeloupe: Basse-Terre is volcanic in origin with interior mountains; Grande-Terre is low limestone formation; most of the seven other islands are volcanic in origin Martinique: mountainous with indented coastline; dormant volcano Mayotte: generally undulating, with deep ravines and ancient volcanic peaks Reunion: mostly rugged and mountainous; fertile lowlands along coast
Climate
Metropolitan France: generally cool winters and mild summers, but mild winters and hot summers along the Mediterranean; occasional strong, cold, dry, north-to-northwesterly wind known as the mistral
Highest and lowest points
Highest: Mont Blanc 4,810. Lowest: Rhone River delta -2 m. Mean elevation: 375 m.
Natural resources
Metropolitan France: coal, iron ore, bauxite, zinc, uranium, antimony, arsenic, potash, feldspar, fluorspar, gypsum, timber, arable land, fish; French Guiana: gold deposits, petroleum, kaolin, niobium, tantalum, clay
Natural hazards
Metropolitan France: flooding; avalanches; midwinter windstorms; drought; forest fires in south overseas departments: hurricanes (cyclones); flooding volcanism: Montagne Pelée (1,394 m) on the island of Martinique in the Caribbean is the most active volcano of the Lesser Antilles arc, although it last erupted in 1932; a catastrophic eruption in 1902 destroyed the city of St. Pierre, killing an estimated 30,000 people; La Soufrière (1,467 m) on the island of Guadeloupe has also had explosive eruptions in recent years
Good to know
Largest Western European nation; most major French rivers -- the Meuse, Seine, Loire, Charente, Dordogne, and Garonne -- flow northward or westward into the Atlantic Ocean, only the Rhone flows southward into the Mediterranean Sea
Neighbours of France's neighbours
Countries one border further away — reachable overland through a neighbouring country.
Austria
Czechia
Denmark
Gibraltar
Liechtenstein
Netherlands
Poland
Portugal
San Marino
Slovenia
Vatican City
Neighboring countries of SerbiaFrequently asked questions about the borders of France
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Borders and geography: CIA World Factbook (public domain). Visa rules: TravelRequirements.info — Entry Requirements Dataset, AXG Sp. z o.o. (CC BY 4.0).