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| ⇒ Country Profile: France |
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 Introduction
The world's number one tourist destination, France is a country of contrasts with a multitude of landscapes, offering holidays to suit all tastes and budgets.
Whether you fancy a spot of shopping on the chic boulevards of Paris or a winter sport break on the sparkling ski slopes of the Alps, a relaxing beach weekend on the sun-baked Riviera or a holiday exploring the fairy tale castles of the Loire Valley on a bike, the choice is vast.
Indeed it's the many attractions of this compelling country that draw millions of visitors back year after year, an increasing number of whom (not least Brits) purchase property there.
Undiscovered France
Perenially popular Provence, with its lavender fields and warm climate, and Paris, arguably the most romantic city in the world, top the list in terms of visitor numbers, but other less well-known regions are also well worth exploring.
Delightful Franche-Comte, Gascony or Berry, deep in the green heart of France, are firmly rooted in the land, with sleepy villages typical of provincial France, while unspoilt and rugged Corsica, also known as 'l'ile de beaute' ('the island of beauty'), offers all the charm of the Mediterranean without the crowds.
Gastro France
France is also famous for its culinary traditions, and the French take pride in their food. From freshly baked bread and croissants for breakfast, to a five course dinner in a gourmet restaurant (at a fraction of the price you'd pay back home), this savoir-faire is a way of life. A trip to France is also a trip for the tastebuds.
'How could one describe a country which has 365 kinds of cheese?' once asked De Gaulle. Indeed. Sit back, relax, open a bottle of wine (French of course) and tuck in - you'll no doubt come back for more.
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Contact Information
Keys Facts
Location
Western Europe.
Time
GMT + 1 (GMT + 2 from last Sunday in March to last Sunday in October).
Area
545,630 sq km (339,054 sq miles) (not including overseas territories).
Population
61.8 million (2008 estimate).
Population Density
112 per sq km.
Capital
Paris. Population: 12.7 million (2.2 million in the city; 10.5 million in the suburbs) (2006).
Geography
France, the largest country in Europe, is bordered to the north by the English Channel (La Manche), the northeast by Belgium and Luxembourg, the east by Germany, Switzerland and Italy, the south by the Mediterranean (with Monaco as a coastal enclave between Nice and the Italian frontier), the southwest by Spain and Andorra, and the west by the Atlantic Ocean. The island of Corsica, southeast of Nice, is made up of two departements. The country offers a spectacular variety of scenery, from the mountain ranges of the Alps and Pyrenees to the attractive river valleys of the Loire, Rhone and Dordogne and the flatter countryside in Normandy and on the Atlantic coast. The country has some 2,900km (1,800 miles) of coastline.
EU
Member since 1958.
Government
Republic since 1792.
Head of State
Nicolas Sarkozy since May 2007.
Head of Government
Prime Minister Francois Fillon since May 2007.
History
Jacques Chirac's reign as French president finally came to an end on 16 May 2007 with the ruling party's Nicolas Sarkozy winning a decisive victory in the second round of the presidential election. He won 53% of the vote, finishing six points ahead of his Socialist rival, Segolene Royal. Sarkozy then almost immediately appointed his right-hand man and moderate conservative senator Francois Fillon as prime minister.
Measures taken by his government have tried to boost growth by reducing taxes and passing a 'Modernization of the Economy Law' to facilitate the creation of new businesses. But in September 2008, Sarkozy had to declare an end to 'Laissez faire capitalism' and revert to state interventionism. Meanwhile high unemployment and the problem of pensions still need solving.
Issues related to climate change are also on Sarkozy's agenda, and he has stated his intention to push forward a progressive energy package to reduce CO2 emissions during his tenure as EU president, a position he held from July 2008 to December 2008.
Language
French is the official language. There are many regional dialects, but these are rapidly declining, with the exception of Basque, which is spoken as a first language by some people in the southwest, and Breton,which is spoken by some in Brittany. Many people speak at least some English.
Religion
Approximately 83% Roman Catholic; Protestant 2%; Muslim 5%; Jewish 1%; unaffiliated 9%.
Electricity
220 volts AC, 50Hz. Two-pin plugs are widely used.
Social Conventions
Shaking hands and, more familiarly, kissing both cheeks, are the usual forms of greeting. The form of personal address is simply Monsieur or Madame without a surname and it may take time to get on first-name terms. At more formal dinners, it is the most important guest or host who gives the signal to start eating. Mealtimes are often a long, leisurely experience. Casual wear is common. Social functions, some clubs, casinos and exclusive restaurants warrant more formal attire. Evening wear is normally specified where required. Topless sunbathing is tolerated on most beaches but naturism is restricted to certain beaches - local tourist offices will advise where these are. A ban on smoking in workplaces (including airports, railway stations, shops and offices etc) came into force in February 2007, and bars and restaurants joined the list in January 2008.
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Public Holidays
Below are listed Public Holidays for the January 2010-December 2011 period.
Holidays
2010
1 Jan New Year's Day.
5 Apr Easter Monday.
1 May Labour Day.
8 May 1945 Victory Day.
13 May Ascension.
24 May Whit Monday.
14 Jul Bastille Day.
15 Aug Assumption.
1 Nov All Saints' Day.
11 Nov Remembrance Day.
25 Dec Christmas Day.
2011
1 Jan New Year's Day.
25 Apr Easter Monday.
1 May Labour Day.
8 May 1945 Victory Day.
2 Jun Ascension.
13 Jun Whit Monday.
14 Jul Bastille Day.
15 Aug Assumption.
1 Nov All Saints' Day.
11 Nov Remembrance Day.
25 Dec Christmas Day.
Note
In France, the months of July and August are traditionally when the French take their holidays. For this reason, the less touristic parts of France are quiet during these months, while coastal resorts, especially in the south, are very crowded.
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Accommodation
Chateaux Holidays
Chateau & Country, an association of owners of castles interested in preserving French heritage, publishes a list of chateaux offering accommodation suitable for families.
Hotels
Room and all meals, ie full-board or pension terms, are usually offered for a stay of three days or longer. Half-board or demi-pension (room, breakfast and one meal) terms are usually available outside the peak holiday period. Hotels charge around 30% extra for a third bed in a double room. For children under 12, many chains will provide another bed free in the parents' room. Logis de France are small- or medium-sized, inexpensive and often family-run hotels which provide good, clean, basic and comfortable accommodation with a restaurant attached.
Self Catering
Gites de France are holiday homes (often old farmhouses) in the country, all of which conform to standards regulated by the non-profit making National Federation.
Villas and houses can be rented on the spot. Local Syndicats d'Initiative can supply a complete list of addresses of local rental agencies.
Camping/Caravanning
There are thousands of campsites throughout France. A few have tents and caravans for hire. Prices vary according to location, season and facilities. All graded campsites will provide water, toilet and washing facilities. Touring caravans may be imported for stays of up to six consecutive months. Numerous British companies offer camping holidays in France. The French Government Tourist Office has a full list of tour operators who run all types of tours, including camping and special interest holidays.
Youth Hostels
There are hundreds of youth hostels in France, offering very simple accommodation at very low prices. There are hostels in all major towns. Stays are usually limited to three or four nights or a week in Paris. Hostels are open to all members of the National Youth Hostel Association upon presentation of a membership card.
Accommodation Information
Federation Nationale des Gites de France
56 rue St Lazare, 75009 Paris, France
Tel: (01) 4970 7575.
Website: www.gites-de-france.fr
Federation Francaise de Camping et de Caravaning
78 rue de Rivoli, 75004 Paris, France
Tel: (01) 4272 8408.
Website: www.ffcc.fr
French Youth Hostels Federation (FUAJ)
FUAJ Centre National
27 rue Pajol, 75018 Paris, France
Tel: (01) 4489 8727.
Website: www.fuaj.org
Federation Nationale des Logis de France
83 avenue d'Italie, 75013 Paris, France
Tel: (01) 4584 8384.
Website: www.logis-de-france.fr
Chateaux & Country
49 avenue d'Iena, 75116 Paris, France
Tel: (01) 4720 1827.
Website: www.chateauxcountry.com
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Communication
Telephone
Country code: 33. Card-only telephones are common, with pre-paid cards bought from post offices and tabacs; coin boxes are being phased out throughout the country. International calls are cheaper between Mon-Fri 1900-0800 and all day Sat-Sun. Calls can be received at all phone boxes showing the sign of a blue bell.
Mobile Telephone
Roaming agreements exist with most international mobile phone companies. Coverage is excellent.
Internet
Public access is available at Internet cafes in most cities.
Post
Stamps can be purchased at post offices and tabacs. Post normally takes a couple of days to reach its destination within Europe.
Post office hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1900, Sat 0900-1200. In smaller towns and villages, post offices may close earlier and at lunch, while in Paris the main office is open 24 hours, but only to send mail in the evenings.
Media
France enjoys a free press and has more than 100 daily newspapers ('quotidiens'), including an increasing number of free newspapers. Most newspapers are in private hands and are not linked to political parties. State-run Radio France runs services for the domestic audience, French overseas territories and foreign audiences. France's international broadcasters have a significant audience abroad. Radio France Internationale is one of the world's leading international stations and its Arabic-language Radio Monte Carlo Moyen Orient service, available on mediumwave (AM) and FM in many Middle East countries, has a large audience.
Press
- Daily newspapers include Le Monde, Liberation, France-Soir, Le Parisien and Le Figaro.
- The main English-language daily is the International Herald Tribune.
- Outside the Ile-de-France, however, these newspapers are not as popular as the provincial press.
- International newspapers and magazines are widely available, particularly in the larger cities.
TV
- France 2, France 3, France 5 are national, public channels.
- TF1 and M6 are national, commercial channels.
- Arte is a cultural channel originally launched by French and German public channels.
- La Chaine Info is a rolling news channel.
- TV5 is an international French-language channel and Canal Plus is a national, subscription channel.
- International cable and satellite channels are available.
Radio
- Radio France Internationale (RFI) is an international broadcaster, available via shortwave and numerous FM relays worldwide.
- Europe 1 is a major commercial, news and entertainment station.
- RTL is a major commercial station, with a mix of speech and music programmes.
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Entertainment
Food and Drink
France is known the world over as a gourmet destination, and with the exception of China, it has a more varied and developed cuisine than any other country. And although the 'steak frites' is a perenially popular choice on menus pretty much everywhere, it's the richness of regional specialities that make French cuisine so fascinating.
Things to know: Almost all restaurants offer two types of meal: a la carte (extensive choice for each course and more expensive) and le menu (a set meal at a fixed price with dishes selected from the full a la carte menu).
National specialities:
- Ratatouille (courgettes, tomatoes and aubergines stew), bouillabaisse (fish stew), tapenade (olive paste), aioli (cod and vegetables served cold with a garlic mayonnaise) and salade nicoise (tuna, anchovies, capers, boiled eggs, green beans, black olives, tomatoes and potatoes) are among the best known specialities from Provence.
- Alsace and Lorraine are the lands of choucroute (sauerkraut) and kugelhof (a special cake), quiche lorraine and tarte flambee (onion tart).
- Lyon is the heartland of French cuisine, though the food is often more rich than elaborate. A speciality of this area is quenelles de brochet (pounded pike formed into sausage shapes and usually served with a rich crayfish sauce).
- Desserts include souffle grand-marnie ile flottante (meringue floating on custard), mille feuilles (layers of flaky pastry and custard cream) and ganache (chocolate cream biscuit).
National drinks:
- Wine is the most popular alcoholic drink in France, and the choice varies according to region.
- Pastis is a popular aperitif (brand name Ricard or Pernod).
- Beer is brewed in Nord Pas de Calais , Picardy and Alsace. The latter is said to brew the best beer in France. Cider is brewed in Upper and Lower Normandie.
- Coffee is always served after meals, and will always be black, in small cups, unless a cafe au lait (or cafe creme) is requested.
- A wide variety of brandies (such as Armagnac and Cognac) and liqueurs (such as Chartreuse and Genepi) are available.
Legal drinking age: 18. Minors are allowed to go into bars if accompanied by an adult but they will not be served alcohol.
Tipping: A 12 to 15% service charge is normally added to the bill in hotels, restaurants and bars, but it is customary to leave small change with the payment.
Nightlife
In major cities such as Paris, Lyon or Marseille, there are lively nightclubs that are sometimes free of charge, although drinks are likely to be more expensive. Alternatively, the entrance price sometimes includes a consommation of one drink. Nightclubs are everywhere and in even the remotest corners of France. Their style and music vary widely from one place to another. Nightclubs have a fixed closing time of 0500.
As an alternative to a nightclub, there are many late-night bars and cafes. In Paris and the regions, theatres offer a wide variety of shows from great classics to light comedy, from one-man shows to cabaret.
Tourist offices publish an annual and monthly diary of events available free of charge. Several guides are also available with information about entertainment and sightseeing in the capital. Guides for events in Paris (Pariscope, L'official des Spectacles and Zurban) are sold at newspaper kiosks. They list all cinema programmes, museums, exhibitions and all other types of shows.
Kiosks on the forecourt of the Montparnasse railway station and at Place de la Madeleine offer same day theatre tickets at reduced rates. Travellers can also buy tickets for concerts from FNAC and Virgin sales outlets or from the venue themselves.
In the provinces, the French generally spend the night eating and drinking, although in the more popular tourist areas, there will be discos and dances. Weekend festivals in summer in the rural areas are a good form of evening entertainment. There are over 100 public casinos in the country.
Shopping
Special purchases include lace, crystal glass, cheeses, coffee and, of course, wines, spirits and liqueurs. Arques, the home of Crystal D'Arques, is situated between St Omer and Calais. Lille, the main town of French Flanders, is known for its textiles, particularly fine lace.
Most towns have fruit and vegetable markets on Saturday. Hypermarkets, enormous supermarkets that sell everything from foodstuffs and clothes to electrical equipment and furniture, are widespread in France. They tend to be situated just outside of town and all have parking facilities.
For bargain hunters, bric-a-brac or brocante is found in a number of flea markets (marche aux puces) on the outskirts of town, most notably at the Porte de Clignancourt, in Paris. There are several antique centres (Louvre des Antiquaires, Village Suisse, etc) where genuine antique furniture and other objects are on sale.
Amongst the larger department stores in Paris are the Printemps and the Galeries Lafayette near the Opera; the Bazar Hotel de Ville (BHV) and the Samaritaine on the Right Bank; and the Bon Marche on the Left Bank.
Paris has many varied markets including the flower market on the Ile de la Cite and bird, organic and food markets in every quarter. Another Parisian speciality is book markets. Travellers will find booksellers' stalls along the banks of the Seine around the Saint Michel quarter, crammed with all kinds of books plus comics and postcards.
In the regions, the town centre often has a number of clothes shops which are just as good as those in Paris. Some have good second-hand shops.
Shopping hours: Department stores are open Mon-Sat 0900-1830. Some shops close 1200-1430. Food shops open 0700-1830/1930. Some food shops (particularly bakers) open Sunday mornings, in which case they will probably close Monday. Many shops close all day Monday or Monday afternoon. Hypermarkets are normally open until 2100 or 2200.
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Getting There
Getting There by Air
The national airline is Air France (AF) (www.airfrance.com).
Approximate Flight Times
From London to Paris is 1 hour, and from New York is 7 hours.
Main Airports
Paris-Charles de Gaulle (CDG) (www.adp.fr) is 23km (14 miles) northeast of the city. To/from the airport: Coaches to the city run at least every 20 minutes. Taxis are readily available. Roissybus services operate from the airport to Place de l'Opera. Air France coaches run to Etoile via Porte Maillot, to Montparnasse via Gare de Lyon and to Orly Airport. Services run every 12 to 20 minutes and take 40 to 50 minutes. The airport is also easily accessible by train on the RER B line or SNCF with connecting ADP shuttle bus. Facilities: Banks/bureaux de change, duty-free shops, restaurants, bars and car hire.
Paris-Orly (ORY) (www.adp.fr) is 14km (9 miles) south of the city. To/from the airport: Coaches and buses run to the city every 12 minutes (journey time - 25 minutes) from outside Orly Ouest. Air France coaches run to Etoile and Invalides via Montparnasse and to Charles de Gaulle Airport. The Orlyval service also links Orly Airport (sud) and the RER station 'Anthony'. Taxis are available. RER B and C line trains run every 15 minutes via Saint-Michel (journey time - 30 minutes). Facilities: Banks/bureaux de change, duty-free shops, restaurants, bars and car hire.
Lyon (LYS) (Lyon-Saint-Exupery) (www.lyon.aeroport.fr) is 25km (15 miles) east of the city. To/from the airport: Coaches or taxis are available to the city. Facilities: Banks/bureaux de change, duty-free shops, restaurants, bars and car hire.
Marseille (MRS) (Marseille-Marignane) (www.marseille-provence.aeroport.fr) is 30km (19 miles) northwest of the city. To/from the airport: A coach service departs to the city and taxis are available. Facilities: Banks/bureaux de change, duty-free shops, restaurants, bars and car hire.
Departure Tax
None.
Getting There by Water
Atlantic: La Rochelle (www.portlarochelle.com): leisure boating.
North Sea: Boulogne (www.portboulogne.com): leisure boating and cross channel services; Calais (www.calais-port.com): cross-channel services; Le Havre (www.havre-port.net): scheduled services and cruise lines to national and international destinations.
Mediterranean: Marseille (www.marseille-port.fr): leisure boating, cruises and scheduled services to Corsica, Sardinia, Algeria and Tunisia; Nice: leisure boating and ferries to Corsica (www.riviera-ports.com).
The popular Channel passenger services connect the English port of Dover with Calais. Major operators include P&O Ferries (tel: 0870 598 0333, in the UK; www.poferries.com) and SeaFrance (tel: 0871 423 7119, in the UK; www.seafrance.com). In the Mediterranean Corsica Ferries/Sardinia Ferries (tel: (04) 9532 9595; www.corsicaferries.com) service Sardinia from the French mainland.
Cruise ships regularly stop at various French ports, including Villefranche (for Nice and Cannes) and Marseille.
Getting There by Rail
International trains run from the channel ports and Paris to destinations throughout Europe. For up-to-date routes and timetables, contact French Railways (SNCF) (tel: (0) 825 888 088 or 3635 from within France; www.sncf.com) or Rail Europe (tel: 0844 848 4064, in the UK; www.raileurope.co.uk). Eurostar (tel: 0870 518 6186, in the UK; www.eurostar.com) is a service provided by the railways of Belgium, the UK and France, operating direct high-speed trains from London (St Pancras International) to Paris (Gare du Nord) and to Brussels (Midi/Zuid). It takes 2 hours 15 minutes from London to Paris (via Lille) and 1 hour 51 minutes to Brussels.
Rail Passes
InterRail: offers unlimited first or second-class travel in up to 30 European countries for European residents. There are several pass options. The Global Pass allows travel for 22 days, one month, five days in 10 days or 10 days in 22 days across all countries. The One-Country Pass offers travel for three, four, six or eight days in one month in any of the countries except Bosnia-Herzegovina and Montenegro. Travel is not allowed in the passenger's country of residence. Travellers under 26 years receive a reduction. Children's tickets are reduced by about 50%. Supplements are required for some high-speed services, seat reservations and couchettes. Discounts are offered on Eurostar and some ferry routes. Available from Rail Europe (tel: 0844 848 4064, in the UK; www.raileurope.co.uk/inter-rail).
Eurailpass: offers unlimited first-class train travel in 25 European countries. Tickets are valid for 15 days, 21 days, one month, two months or three months. The Eurailpass Saver ticket offers discounts for two or more people travelling together. The Eurailpass Youth ticket is available to those aged under 26 and offers unlimited second-class train travel. The Eurailpass Global Pass allows travel in 20 countries for a period of 10 days to three-month period. The Eurail Selectpass is valid in three, four or five bordering countries and allows five to 10 travel days (15 for five countries) in a two-month period. The Eurail Regional Pass allows three to 10 travel days in a two-month period in one of 21 'regions' (usually two or more countries). The Eurail One Country Pass is valid in one of 18 countries and allows three to 10 travel days in a two-month period. The passes cannot be sold to residents of Europe, Turkey or the Russian Federation. Available from The Eurail Group (www.eurail.com).
Getting There by Road
There are numerous and excellent road links with all neighbouring countries.
Coach: Eurolines (tel: 0871 781 8177; www.eurolines.com) runs regular coach services from the UK to France. Passes: Travellers can buy a 15- or 30-day pass, offering unlimited travel between 40 cities.
The Channel Tunnel: Eurotunnel runs shuttle trains for cars, bicycles, motorcycles, coaches, minibuses, caravans and campervans between Folkestone in Kent, UK, with direct road access from the M20, and Calais, with links to the A16/A26 motorway (Exit 13). All road vehicles are carried through the tunnel in shuttle trains running between the two terminals. The journey takes about 35 minutes from platform to platform and around 1 hour from motorway to motorway. Fares are charged according to length of stay and time of year and whether or not you have a reservation. For further information, contact Eurotunnel (tel: 0870 535 3535, in the UK; www.eurotunnel.com).
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Sightseeing
Paris
France's romantic capital is full of famous sights, including the Eiffel Tower, the Notre Dame Cathedral on Ile de la Cite, the Arc de Triomphe leading to Champs Elysees, the Sacre Coeur in the heart of Montmartre and the Louvre's Pyramid (www.parisinfo.com).
Chateau de Versailles
The Chateau de Versailles (www.chateauversailles.fr) is the former residence of Louis XIV, 'le Roi Soleil' (or 'Sun King'), one of French history's most colourful characters. There are magnificent fireworks in the summer months.
Loire valley chateaux
There are numerous chateaux (castles) in the Loire valley, including Blois, Chambord, Chenonceaux, Azay le Rideau and Chinon (www.loirevalleytourism.com).
Mont St Michel
A rocky tidal island in Brittany, Mont St Michel (www.monum.fr) is one of over 30 UNESCO World Heritage sites in France.
Corsica
A French island in the Mediterranean, Corsica (www.visit-corsica.com) has a rugged and unspoilt atmosphere, and picturesque towns - especially Bastia and Ajaccio, famous for its Napoleonic memorabilia.
Millau Viaduct
The recently built Millau Viaduct (www.viaducdemillau.com), spanning the Tarn Gorges, was designed by British Architect Norman Foster.
Pont du Gard
The 2,000-year-old Pont du Gard (www.pontdugard.fr) is a stunning Roman aqueduct.
Roman ruins
There are magnificent Roman ruins in Nimes, 'the Rome of the Gauls', and Arles, famed, among other things, for its Roman theatre and arena.
Palace of the Popes
See what Christianity brought to Provence in the form of the Palace of the Popes in Avignon. Near Avignon is Orange with its stunning Roman ampitheatre and Roman ruins.
Marseille
With its distinct accent and relaxed pace of life, Marseille is France's most important commercial port on the Mediterranean, and one of its most vibrant cities. There are many sites of interest - the old port, the hilltop church of Notre-Dame-de-la-Garde, several museums, Le Corbusier's Unite d'Habitation, the Hospice de la Vieille Charite and the Chateau d'If (www.marseille-tourisme.com).
Cathedrals
France has several cathedrals, including Reims, where Clovis (the first French king) was baptised, Chartres and Tours.
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Things To Do
Paris Museums
Paris has 80 museums and 200 art galleries. Visit the Musee d'Orsay (www.musee-orsay.fr), located in a beautifully restored railway station, the Palais du Louvre (www.louvre.fr), the Georges Pompidou Centre of Modern Art (www.centrepompidou.fr) or the new Quai Branly Museum (www.quaibranly.fr).
More museums
The City of Science and Technology (www.cite-sciences.fr) in la Villette or at Futuroscope (www.futuroscope.com) in Poitiers offer a glimpse of the future.
Disneyland Resort Paris
See Mickey Mouse at the Disneyland Resort Paris theme park in Marne la Vallee (www.disneylandparis.com). Or for a more Gallic experience, try the Parc Asterix, 30km (19 miles) north of Paris (www.parcasterix.fr).
Coast
A wide range of watersports are offered along France's 3,000km (1,860 miles) of coastline. Famous resorts include St Enogat and St Jacut on the Emerald coast in Brittany, and Cannes, Nice, St Tropez, Antibes and Menton on the south coast.
Cote d'Azur
The Cote d'Azur has events throughout the year - stroll on the Promenade des Anglais in Nice, famous for its Carnival in January, or mingle with celebrities at the Cannes Film Festival held in May.
La Rochelle
A popular sailing port in the Charente Maritime region, the best way to arrive in La Rochelle is by boat. Close by, the islands of Oleron and Re are connected to the mainland by bridges.
Winter sports
Pack your skis and snowboard and enjoy a wide range of winter sports in the French Alps or the Pyrenees.
Spas
There are spas in Biarritz, Contrexeville and Vittel.
Lourdes
Join a pilgrimage to Lourdes, in the southwest, famous since the visions of Bernadette Soubirous in the mid 19th century.
Camargue
Beautiful Camargue is famed for its wild horses, bull fights, rice fields and salt pans. This is also western Europe's largest river delta, a bird-watchers' paradise, home to 400 species of birds, including the pink flamingo. Beware of mosquitoes in summer.
Casinos
There are casinos in Monaco, Nice and Deauvilled, also famous for its golf course and race track.
Boules
The traditional game of boules (also called petanque) is played in public squares, especially in the south of France. The game requires as much social skill as manual dexterity.
Vineyards
There are 10 principal wine regions including Alsace, Burgundy, Champagne, Rhone Valley, each with its own identity based on grape varieties and terroir (soil). Many vineyards offer free tours.
Sporting events
Top events throughout the year include the Tour de France cycling race (www.letour.fr), the French Open at Roland Garros (www.fft.fr/rolandgarros) near Paris, the 24-hour motor race at Le Mans (www.lemans.org) and the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (www.prixarcdetriomphe.com).
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Transport
Getting Around by Air
The main airline connecting towns and cities within France is Air France (www.airfrance.com).
Getting Around by Water
State-run car ferries known as 'BACs' connect the larger islands on the Atlantic coast with the mainland; they also sail regularly across the mouth of the Gironde. The island of Corsica is served by ferries operated by the Societe Nationale Maritime Corse-Mediterranee (SNCM) (tel: (0) 825 888 088; www.sncm.fr). Services run from Marseille and Nice to Ajaccio, Propriano, Porto Vecchio, Calvi, Ile Rousse and Bastia on the island.
There are almost 9,000km (5,600 miles) of navigable waterways in France, and all of these present excellent opportunities for holidays. The main canal areas are the north (north and northeast of Paris) where most of the navigable rivers are connected with canals; the Seine (from Auxerre to Le Havre, but sharing space with commercial traffic); the east, where the Rhine and Moselle and their tributaries are connected by canals; in Burgundy, where the Saone and many old and picturesque canals crisscross the region; the Rhone (a pilot is recommended below Avignon); the Midi (including the Canal du Midi, connecting the Atlantic with the Mediterranean); and Brittany and the Loire on the rivers Vilaine, Loire, Mayenne and Sarthe, and the connecting canals. Each of these waterways offers a magnificent variety of scenery, a means of visiting many historic towns, villages and sites and an opportunity to learn much about rural France, at a very leisurely pace.
Cruising boats may be chartered with or without crews, ranging in size from the smallest cabin cruiser up to converted commercial barges (peniches), which can accommodate up to 24 people and require a crew of eight. Hotel boats, large converted barges with accommodation and restaurant, are also available in some areas, with a wide choice of price and comfort. For further information, contact the national or regional tourist board.
Getting Around by Rail
French Railways (SNCF) (tel: (0) 825 888 088 or 3635 from within France; www.sncf.com) operates a nationwide network with 34,200km (21,250 miles) of line, over 12,000km (7,500 miles) of which has been electrified. The TGV (train a grande vitesse) runs from Paris to Brittany and southwest France at 300kph (186mph), to Lyon and the southeast at 270kph (168mph) and to Strasbourg and the east at 320kph (199mph). Transport in and around Paris is operated by the Regie Autonome des Transports Parisiens (RATP) (tel: (0) 892 687 714 or 3246 from within France; www.ratp.fr). This organisation provides a fully integrated bus, rail and underground metro network for the capital. Motorail car sleeper services are operated from Boulogne, Calais, Dieppe and Paris to all main holiday areas in both summer and winter. Motorail information and booking is available from Rail Europe (tel: 0844 848 4064, in the UK; www.raileurope.co.uk).
Rail Passes
InterRail One-Country Pass: offers travel for three, four, six or eight days in one month within France. Travel is not allowed in the passenger's country of residence. Travellers under 26 years receive a reduction. Children's tickets (for children up to the age of 11) are reduced by about 50%. Supplements are required for some high-speed services, seat reservations and couchettes. Discounts are offered on Eurostar and some ferry routes. Available from Rail Europe (tel: 0844 848 4064, in the UK; www.raileurope.co.uk/inter-rail). Note: This has replaced the France Railpass.
Cheap Fares: It is possible to buy various kinds of tickets in France (including Family and Young Person's Tickets) offering reductions. In general, the fares charged will depend on what day of the week and what time of the day one is travelling; timetables giving further details are available from SNCF offices.
Note: It is essential to validate (composter) tickets bought in France by using the orange automatic date-stamping machine at the platform entrance.
Getting Around by Road
Traffic drives on the right. Motorways (autoroutes) bear the prefix 'A'; some are free whilst others are toll roads (autoroutes a peage). National roads (routes nationales) are marked 'N'. Minor roads are maintained by the departements (departments) rather than by the government and are classed as 'D' roads.
Coach: Domestic long distances are very limited given the excellent SNCF rail network. In some areas SNCF buses cover unprofitable routes.
Car hire: Available from international and domestic companies.
Regulations: The minimum age to drive a car in France is 18 and 15 for a motorcycle under 125cc. The minimum age for hiring a car in France ranges from 21 to 25. Speed limits are 50kph (31mph) in built-up areas, 90kph (56mph) outside built-up areas, 110kph (68mph) on dual carriageways separated by a central reservation, and 130kph (81mph) on motorways. Visitors who have held a driving licence for less than two years may not travel faster than 80kph (56mph) on normal roads, 100kph (62mph) on dual carriageways and 110kph (68mph) on motorways. Random breath tests for drinking and driving are common. The maximum legal alcohol to blood ratio is 0.5g (against 0.8g in the UK). All passengers must wear seat belts. Under-10s may not travel in the front seat. Drivers must carry a red warning triangle for use in the event of a breakdown. UK drivers must adjust all headlamp beams for rightside driving by use of beam deflectors or (on some cars) by tilting the headlamp bulbholder.
Emergency breakdown service: Tel: 17 (from roadside boxes).
Documentation: A national driving licence is acceptable. An international sign, distinguishing your country of origin (eg GB sticker or plate), should be positioned clearly on the vehicle. EU nationals taking their own cars to France are strongly advised to obtain a Green Card. The car's registration document must also be carried. UK registered vehicles displaying Euro plates (circle of 12 stars above the national identifier on a blue background) no longer need a GB sticker when driving in EU countries.
Getting Around Towns and Cities
Urban public transport is excellent. There are comprehensive public transport systems in all the larger towns and cities.
Paris: RATP (Regie Autonome des Transports Parisiens) controls the underground (metro), rail (RER) and bus services in and around Paris. The public transport network is split into several different fare zones and a single ticket will allow travel on any of the systems within that zone (although interchange is only permitted on the metro and RER, and not on buses). Other useful transport links provided by the RATP include Orlybus and Roissybus (special airport buses), Orlyval (rail service linking RER stations of Antony and Orly airport) and Montmartre funicular (special railway connecting the foot of Montmartre to the top, near the Sacre-Coeur church). For the Orlybus and Roissybus travellers need a special ticket which is on sale on buses and airport terminals. The Metro was built during the Paris Exhibition in 1900. Its dense network of 14 lines in the central area makes the metro the ideal way to get about in Paris. The RER (fast suburban services) operate five main lines connecting most areas of the capital. There is also an extensive network of conventional suburban services run by French Railways (SNCF), with fare structure and ticketing integrated with the other modes of public transport. A comprehensive bus network operates within the city and taxis are reliable if expensive.
Other cities: There are tramways, trolleybuses and an underground in Marseille; trolleybuses, an underground and a funicular in Lyon; and a tramway and automated driverless trains in Lille. There are tramway services in St Etienne, Nantes and Grenoble and trolleybuses in Limoges and Nancy. The systems are easy to use, with pre-purchase tickets and passes. Good publicity material and maps are usually available.
Journey Times
The following chart gives approximate journey times (in hours and minutes) from Paris to other major cities and towns in France.
| Air | Road | Rail |
| Lyon | 1.10 | 5.30 | 2.00 |
| Marseille | 1.15 | 9.30 | 3.10 |
| Bordeaux | 1.10 | 6.30 | 3.25 |
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Weather
A temperate climate in the north; northeastern areas have a more continental climate with warm summers and colder winters. Rainfall is distributed throughout the year with some snow likely in winter. The Jura Mountains have an alpine climate. Lorraine, sheltered by bordering hills, has a relatively mild climate. Mediterranean climate in the south; mountains are cooler with heavy snow in winter.
The Atlantic influences the climate of the western coastal areas from the Loire to the Basque region where the weather is temperate and relatively mild with rainfall throughout the year. Summers can be very hot and sunny. Inland areas are mild and the French slopes of the Pyrenees are renowned for their sunshine record. A Mediterranean climate exists on the Riviera, and in Provence and Roussillon. Weather in the French Alps is variable. Continental weather is present in Auvergne, Burgundy and the Rhone Valley. Very strong winds (such as the Mistral) can occur throughout the entire region.
Required Clothing
European, according to season. Light breathable clothing for summer in all areas and waterproof winter gear for the mountains all year round. In winter even the Mediterranean resorts often require a sweater or jacket for the evenings.
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