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Which sea or ocean borders mainland France?
Model-written, not yet read by a native reader.
Correct answer: The Atlantic Ocean. The Atlantic Ocean borders France in the west. France is also bordered by the Channel, the North Sea and the Mediterranean. It has more than 5,500 km of coast. Source: the Ministry of the Interior sheet “Les frontières de la France” (in French).
Sources: Sheet “Les frontières de la France” (French), read on 21 October 2026. Answer written by Hexaciv from this source. Hexaciv is an independent preparation tool. It is not an official website, is not linked to any government body and does not give legal advice. The authoritative source is the Ministry of the Interior's, cited on this page.
The four choices and why
- ✗ The Black SeaLa mer NoireThe fact sheet names the North Sea, the Channel, the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean, not the Black Sea.
- ✗ The Red SeaLa mer RougeThe fact sheet names the North Sea, the Channel, the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean, not the Red Sea.
- ✗ The Baltic Sea, in the northLa mer Baltique, au nordThe fact sheet names the North Sea, the Channel, the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean, not the Baltic Sea.
- ✓ The Atlantic OceanL’océan AtlantiqueCorrect answer. The Atlantic Ocean borders France in the west. France is also bordered by the Channel, the North Sea and the Mediterranean. It has more than 5,500 km of coast.
What the source says
« À l’ouest : l’océan Atlantique. »
Sentence copied word for word from the source, in French, read on 21 October 2026.
How it reads on exam day
The exam is in French, so this is the question you will see: « Quelle mer ou quel océan borde la France métropolitaine ? ». Learn the English idea above and the French words in the options.
This question is on the official list for the resident card (CR) and on the naturalisation list (PDF read on 14 October 2026). The Ministry's wording: “Quelle mer ou océan borde la France métropolitaine ?”.
Where the Ministry explains it
Sheet “Les frontières de la France” (French).
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