The French Republic: 22 mainland regions, four overseas regions (Guadeloupe, Martinique, French Guiana and Réunion Island) plus French Polynesia, New Caledonia, Wallis & Futuna, Mayotte, St-Pierre & Miquelon, and the French Southern and Antarctic Territory

Population: 65 million (2013 estimate)

Foreign visitors in 2013: Estimated 83 million – the world's number 1 tourism destination for over 20 years

American visitors in 2013: Approximately 3.2 million (a 3% increase from 2012 based on preliminary estimates)

Museum facts:

• Oldest museum in France: The Fine Arts and Archeological Museum of Besançon, Franche-Comté established in 1694

• Louvre: most visited museum in the world with a record 9.7 million visitors in 2012.

Michelin-starred restaurants: 596 (2013)

Martinique is France’s largest importer of Champagne.