|
|
|
France is ranked as the first tourist destination in the world and is located in Western Europe. With attractions like Paris, the Castles of Loire Valley, Côte d'Azur, the Atlantic beaches, the winter sport resorts of the Alps, France is very well known for its gastronomy, history, culture and fashion.
While Metropolitan France is located in Western Europe, France also has a number of territories in North America, the Caribbean, South America, the southern Indian Ocean, the Pacific Ocean, and Antarctica. These territories have varying forms of government ranging from overseas department to overseas collectivity.
A country of historical diversity, elegance, and fine wines, France is one of the world’s most visited countries! Embrace a sunshine paradise on the French Riviera, enjoy high-brand Parisian fashion and try the highly delicious wines of the vineyards. Relax on Brittany’s beaches, wander lovely lavender fields in Provence, and enjoy a relaxing cruise through picturesque countryside. France has a lot of things to see and to do!
The Loire Valley and Cote d'Azur.
The Champagne, the wines and the cheeses.
Paris, the eternally romantic city.
BEST TIME TO GO
The French climate is temperate, although it gets nippy in mountainous areas and in Alsace and Lorraine. The northwest suffers from high humidity, rain and biting westerly winds, while the Mediterranean south enjoys hot summers and mild winters.
French pleasures can be indulged in any time, although many think spring is best. In the hot south sun-worshippers bake in the summer while winter-sports enthusiasts soar down snow-covered mountains mid-December to late March.
School holidays are in Christmas and New Year, mid-February to mid-March, Easter, July and August see millions of French families descend on the coasts, mountains and other touristy areas. Traffic-clogged roads, sky-high accommodation prices and sardine-packed beaches and ski slopes are downside factors of these high-season periods. Many shops take their annual closure in August; Sundays and public holidays are dead everywhere.
GETTING AROUND
The railway network of France, which stretches 19,784 miles is the most extensive in Western Europe and links France with every country in Europe, except Andorra. It is operated by the SNCF, and high-speed trains include the Thalys, the Eurostar and TGV, which travels at 320 km/h (199 mph) in commercial use. The Eurostar, along with the Eurotunnel Shuttle, connects with the United Kingdom through the Channel Tunnel. Intra-urban connections are also well developed with both underground services and tramway services complementing bus services.
There are approximately 893,300 kilometres (555,071 mi) of serviceable roadway in France. The Paris region is enveloped with the most dense network of roads and highways that connect it with virtually all parts of the country. French roads also handle substantial international traffic, connecting with cities in neighboring Belgium, Spain, Andorra, Monaco, Switzerland, Germany and Italy. There is no annual registration fee or road tax; however, motorway usage is through tolls except in the vicinity of large communes.
Arriving in France by car is easy to do. At some border points you may be asked for passport or identity card (your driver´s licence will not be sufficient ID). Police searches are not uncommon for vehicles entering France, particularly from Spain and Belgium (via which drugs from Morocco or the Netherlands can enter France).
There are approximately 478 airports in France, including landing fields. Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport located in the vicinity of Paris is the largest and busiest airport in the country, handling the vast majority of popular and commercial traffic of the country and connecting Paris with virtually all major cities across the world. Air France is the national carrier airline, although numerous private airline companies provide domestic and international travel services.
There are ten major ports in France, the largest of which is in Marseille, which also is the largest bordering the Mediterranean Sea. 14,932 kilometres (9,278 mi) of waterways traverse France including the Canal du Midi which connects the Mediterranean Sea to the Atlantic Ocean through the Garonne river.
From England by ferrie fares vary widely according to seasonal demand (July and August are especially busy) and the time of day (a Friday night ferry can cost much more than a Sunday morning journey); the most expensive tickets can cost almost three times as much as the cheapest ones. Three- or five-day excursion (return) fares generally cost about the same as regular one-way tickets; special promotional return fares, often requiring advance booking, are sometimes cheaper than a standard one-way fare.
GOOD TO KNOW
Capital: Paris
Language: French
Currency: euro (EUR)
Area: 547.030 km2
Population: 61.538.322
Calling Code: +33
Time Zone: UTC +1
Electricity: 230V, 50 Hz
PUBLIC HOLIDAYS
January 1 (New Year's Day)
May 1 (Labor Day)
May 8 (celebration of the end of WWII in Europe)
May 21 (Ascension)
July 14 (French Independence Day- "Bastille Day")
August 15 (Assumption)
November 1 (All Saints' Day)
November 11 (Armistice)
December 25 (Christmas)
OTHER HOLIDAYS: Easter Monday
INFO
