France, officially the French Republic (French: République française), is a sovereign country in Western Europe that includes overseas regions and territories. Metropolitan France extends from the Mediterranean Sea to the English Channel and the North Sea, and from the Rhine to the Atlantic Ocean. It is one of only three countries (besides Morocco and Spain) to have both Atlantic and Mediterranean coastlines. Due to its shape, it is often referred to in French as l’Hexagone ("The Hexagon").
Matthew and William appear several times in France. In episode 2.01 Matthew is engaged in the Battle of the Somme. In episode 2.04 Matthew and William go missing in France somewhere behind German lines but manage to find an allied field hospital. Lastly in episode 2.05 Matthew and William are both injured at Amiens, William fatally.
Thomas Barrow is also at The Somme in episode 2.01 but gets invalided out by drawing fire to get shot in the hand.
France appears in the second Downton Abbey movie: Lady Violet has inherited a villa in the south of France (Côte d'Azur) and part of the family goes there to visit it.