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on France Introduction France is the largest country in Western Europe, bordering the Bay of Biscay and English Channel, between Belgium and Spain, southeast of the UK; bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Italy and Spain. Its total surface area is 551,500 square kilometres, divided into 95 departments, to which are added 8 overseas departments and territories. Each is administered by a general council with a Préfet who works from a Préfecture. The population is the second-largest in the European Union, behind Germany, and approximately the same size as those of the United Kingdom and Italy. However, France's surface area is in no way comparable with those of the giants of the other continents, e.g. the United States, Russia, India and China. Paris Paris, the capital and largest city of France is located in the north central area, about 370 km (about 230 mi) from its Atlantic Ocean outlet at Le Havre. Roughly circular in shape, Paris is divided by the Seine, which enters in the southeast and loops to the north before leaving the city in the southwest. The river contains two islands: éle de la Cité and the smaller éle Saint Louis. Paris is situated in a low-lying basin; the city is mostly flat, although the elevation gradually increases from the river to the low hills that ring the city's edge. The highest natural feature within the city proper is the Butte de Montmartre, at 129 m (423 ft) above sea level. The Paris metropolitan area contains nearly 20 percent of the nation's inhabitants and dominates the economic, cultural, and political life of France to an extraordinary degree. The original site of Paris was on the éle de la Cité and the adjacent left (south) bank of the river. The Romans established a regional capital here in the 1st century AD, naming it Lutetia. With few topographic constraints on its growth, Paris expanded through the years in a generally circular form and was enclosed by a successive series of walls for defense. On becoming obsolete, the walls were demolished, and their sites were transformed into wide streets and handsome boulevards, creating vital access routes within the city. Until recent years, building heights within Paris were limited to 20 m (66 ft) or about six stories; thus, the city, although densely inhabited, has a low skyline except for outlying new developments, such as La Défense, an area of high-rise buildings that house the offices of many international companies. Politics and Government The chief of state is the president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term. The head of government is the prime minister is nominated by the National Assembly majority and appointed by the president. The cabinet consists of the Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the suggestion of the prime minister. Legislative branch is bicameral Parliament or Parlement which consists of the Senate or Senat (321 seats - 296 for metropolitan France, 13 for overseas departments and territories, and 12 for French nationals abroad; members are indirectly elected by an electoral college to serve nine-year terms; elected by thirds every three years) and the National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (577 seats; members are elected by popular vote under a single-member majoritarian system to serve five-year terms). The judicial branch consist of the Supreme Court of Appeals or Cour de Cassation where judges are appointed by the president from nominations of the High Council of the Judiciary; Constitutional Council or Conseil Constitutionnel, three members appointed by the president, three members appointed by the president of the National Assembly, and three appointed by the president of the Senate; and the Council of State or Conseil d'Etat. The French Republic comprises metropolitan France, divided into 22 regions and subdivided into 96 departments, along with four overseas departments (DOM) - Guadeloupe, Martinique, Guyane (French Guiana) and Réunion. It also includes four overseas territories (TOM) - French Polynesia, New Caledonia, Wallis and Futuna and the French Southern and Antarctic Territories - and two "territorial collectivities" with a special status, Mayotte and St Pierre and Miquelon. Currency & Economy France will be using the French Franc until July 2002, then the Euro. French coins come in denominations of 20 francs, 10 francs, 5 francs, 2 francs, 1 franc and then 50 centimes, 20 centimes, 10 centimes and 5 centimes. Coins are very useful for tips, parking meters, parking, launderettes, phone sometimes, tolls, etc. Banknotes are issued in denominations of 500 francs (Pierre et Marie Curie), 200 francs (Montesquieu for the old one, Gustave Eiffel for the new one) 100 francs (Eugéne Delacroix for the old one and Paul Cezanne for the new one), 50 francs (The little Prince and Antoine de Saint-Exupéry), 20 francs (Claude Debussy). Traveler's checks Most banks cash traveler's checks in French francs commission-free. Be sure to ask before you give them your checks. Traveler's checks issued in US$ and French Francs by American Express and Visa can be changed at many French post offices. New-Zealanders and Australians may have difficulty exchanging their traveler's checks. To avoid expensive multiple transactions (i.e. AUS$ in US$ then US$ in French francs), buy only US$ or French francs traveler's checks. Banque de France offers the best exchange rates in the country (98% of the interbank rate and no commission, except 1% for traveler's checks). Credit Cards In any case, we suggest you to pay as often you can with you Visa, Mastercard, Access, Eurocard, JCB card to save the change and commission costs. Credit cards companies do not earn money by shaving percentage points off their exchange rates. American Express and Diners are not widely accepted. The exchange rate may change at your advantage or disadvantage between the day you use your credit card and the day of billing. If you credit card is stolen or lost, please call the following numbers : Visa : 01 42 77 11 90 in Paris or 02 54 42 12 12 outside of Paris. Eurocard, Mastercard, Access : 01 45 67 84 84 American Express : 01 47 77 72 00 or 01 47 77 70 00 ATMs ATMs are everywhere in Paris. Depending on the system that your bank at home use, you will probably be able to access your own personal account when you are in need of funds. The ATMs get the wholesale rate exchange rate which is about 5 % better than the exchange rates of the banks and the bureaux de change. Take care that they are often a limit on the amount you can withdraw daily or weekly. Crédit Agricole and Crédit Mutuel ATMs are on CIRRUS. CCF (Crédit Commercial de France), Banque Populaire, UBP (Union des Banques é Paris), BNP (Banque Nationale de Paris), Crédit du Nord are on PLUS system and Visa. Crédit Lyonnais is on American Express. V.A.T. Refunds for non E.C. Travellers Only V.A.T. The French V.A.T. (T.V.A. in French), is 20.60 % on most goods. For some articles (basic food, but not restaurants, books, and medicine...), the V.A.T. is 5.50 %. According to the fact that these rates are calculated on price before V.A.T., the real amounts of the V.A.T. are about 17% and 5 % on the global price after V.A.T.. The refund value in around 14% or 15%, after commissions. Economy France is in the middle of transition, from an economy that featured extensive government ownership and intervention to one that relies more on market mechanisms. The government remains dominant in some sectors, particularly power, public transport, and defense industries, but it has been relaxing its control since the mid-1980s. The Socialist-led government has sold off part of its holdings in France Telecom, Air France, Thales, Thomson Multimedia, and the European Aerospace and Defense Company (EADS). The telecommunications sector is gradually being opened to competition. France's leaders remain committed to a capitalism in which they maintain social equity by means of laws, tax policies, and social spending that reduce income disparity and the impact of free markets on public health and welfare. Agriculture - products: wheat, cereals, sugar beets, potatoes, wine grapes; beef, dairy products; fish. Export commodities include machinery and transportation equipment, aircraft, plastics, chemicals, pharmaceutical products, iron and steel, beverages mainly to EU and the US. Import commodities include machinery and equipment, vehicles, crude oil, aircraft, plastics, chemicals also mostly from the EU and the US. Standard Time France's local Time Zone: GMT+0200. It is currently observing Daylight Saving Time which began at Sun Mar 25 03:00:00 2001. This will end at Sun Mar 31 03:00:00 2002. Climate France has four broad climatic zones: the humid seaboard zone west of the line Bayonne-Lille with cool summers; a semi-continental zone with cold winters and hot summers in Alsace-Lorraine, along the rhodanian corridor and in the mountainous massifs (Alps, Pyr?n?es, Massif Central); an intermediate zone with cold winters and hot summers in the North, the Paris region and the central region; and a Mediterranean zone with mild winters and very hot summers in the south of France. Climate in Paris is variable. There is a chance of a downpour in spring or a cloudburst in summer. However, Paris has a far more temperate climate than many other European cities. Temperature ranges between 50? and 75? F from May through October. Springtime in Paris is unusually long lasting well into June; and the autumn is equally extended. July and August are the warmest months, when most Parisians leave the city to go on their own vacations. Brittany in the far west is the wettest French locale, especially between October and November. May is the driest month for the Bretons. In the South, the Mediterranean coast has the driest climate with any noticeable rain coming in spring and autumn. Provence (in the southeast) occasionally plays reluctant host to le mistral, a strong, hot and dry wind that blows in over the winter for periods of only a few days up to a couple of weeks. On the Atlantic Coast and in Bordeaux, (the region known as the Aquitane), the climate is generally mild with temperatures averaging 45 degrees Fahrenheit in winter and 65 degrees Fahrenheit in summer. There's no lack of sun; this region revels in warm, dry weather and receives an average of 170 days of sunshine a year. In fact, Parisians are known to say that Bordeaux has "the best climate in France". With the days fresh and possibly damp in the spring and often sunny in the autumn, the climate is one of the most important factors behind Bordeaux's high quality wine it produces. The weather in the French Alps varies from north to south. The northern Alps (the Savoy) are subject to oceanic influences resulting in abundant precipitation year round with low temperatures. During the warm season, winds blow along this region's wide valleys and by midday, warm air rises from the valleys, causing clouds to form around most mountain summits, indicating fine and steady weather. The heights can attract storms that are both violent and spectacular. The southern Alps (Provence and the Cote D'Azur) enjoy a typical Mediterranean climate, with lots of sunshine, dry weather, clear skies and no mist or fog. Autumn is the best time of year in this region. Occasionally, violent storms may occur, but they are always followed by sunny spells with the air pure, light and invigorating. Languages 100% of the people speak French; and there are the rapidly declining regional dialects and languages (Provencal, Breton, Alsatian, Corsican, Catalan, Basque, Flemish). Religion 63% of French people consider themselves Catholic, 30% declare themselves without religion. Places of worship are widespread and all denominations exist side by side. Roman Catholicism is the dominant religion in France, although church life is practically moribund and attendance is extremely low. Beliefs have generally been secularized ever since the Church and state were separated in 1905. Muslims are the second largest religious group followed by Protestants (Huguenots) and a substantial Jewish population. |