def example_basemap(ax=None, **options):
    """
    draw a map of France

    @param      ax          axis
    @param      options     look at the code
    @return                 ax
    """
    import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
    if ax is None:
        _, ax = plt.subplots(nrows=1, ncols=1, figsize=options.get(
            'figsize', (5, 5)))
    from mpl_toolkits.basemap import Basemap
    import numpy
    m = Basemap(llcrnrlon=-5, llcrnrlat=40, urcrnrlon=20, urcrnrlat=56,
        resolution='i', projection='cass', lon_0=2.34, lat_0=48, ax=ax)
    m.drawcoastlines()
    m.drawcountries()
    m.fillcontinents(color='lightgrey', lake_color='#AAAAFF')
    m.drawparallels(numpy.arange(-40, 61.0, 2.0))
    m.drawmeridians(numpy.arange(-20.0, 21.0, 2.0))
    m.drawmapboundary(fill_color='#BBBBFF')
    return ax
