Home › Explained sheets › History, geography and culture
The borders of France
France has land borders and long sea borders. It holds a strategic position in Western Europe.
Key points of the sheet
- In mainland France (France hexagonale), land borders measure 3,000 km. In Europe, France borders 8 countries: Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Spain, Andorra and Monaco.
- Thanks to French Guiana (Guyane), France also borders Brazil and Suriname in South America.
- In metropolitan France, sea borders measure 5,500 km. They run along the North Sea, the English Channel (Manche), the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea.
- Thanks to its overseas territories, France is also present in the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian Oceans. This makes it a global geographical power.
- France has several natural borders. They helped shape its territory and protect its limits through history.
- In the east, the Rhine separates France and Germany along part of the border. The Jura and Vosges mountains also act as a border with Switzerland and Germany.
- In the south, the Pyrenees separate France and Spain. In the south-east, the Alps mark the border with Italy and, in part, Switzerland.
- France has several coastlines: the North Sea and the Channel in the north-west, the Atlantic in the west, the Mediterranean in the south. These natural borders offer a great diversity of landscapes and a strategic opening to the world.
Words to know
- land borders (frontières terrestres)
- These are the borders on land. In mainland France, they measure 3,000 km.
- sea borders (Frontières maritimes)
- In metropolitan France, they measure 5,500 km. They run along the North Sea, the Channel, the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea.
- natural borders (frontières naturelles)
- These are rivers, mountains and seas that helped France protect its limits.
- French Guiana (Guyane)
- Thanks to French Guiana, France has borders with Brazil and Suriname.
- overseas territories (territoires d’outre-mer)
- Thanks to them, France is present in the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian Oceans.
- coastlines (façades maritimes)
- These are the coasts of France on the North Sea, the Channel, the Atlantic and the Mediterranean.
Test yourself: 3 questions
In Europe, how many countries does France share land borders with?
In French, the language of the exam: En Europe, avec combien de pays la France a-t-elle des frontières terrestres ?
In Europe, France shares land borders with 8 countries, including Andorra and Monaco.
Which river separates France and Germany along part of the border?
In French, the language of the exam: Quel fleuve sépare la France et l’Allemagne sur une partie de la frontière ?
In the east, the Rhine separates France and Germany along part of the border.
How long are the land borders of mainland France?
In French, the language of the exam: Quelle est la longueur des frontières terrestres de la France hexagonale ?
The land borders of mainland France measure 3,000 km. The 5,500 km are the sea borders.
You have read the sheet. See where you stand with 40 questions like the real exam.
Take the free mock exam (40 questions)Free mock exam · Exam Pass €19 incl. VAT, paid once, no subscription
Questions on the ministry's list that rest on this sheet
- Which ocean borders the west coast of France?
- Which country has a land border with metropolitan France?
- Which mountain range lies between France and Spain?
- Which sea is in the south of mainland France?
- Which sea or ocean borders mainland France?
- Which French department has a border with Brazil?
More in this topic (Atlas of France)
Source
Sheet “Les frontières de la France” of the French Ministry of the Interior: formation-civique.interieur.gouv.fr. Content published under the Etalab Open Licence 2.0. This page is a plain-language adaptation made by Hexaciv, which is not an official site: if in doubt, the ministry's text is the one that counts.
Ministry sheet read on 23 October 2026, still identical on 25 October 2026.