c 2009 www.searcheapflights.com by "Gonasip" All rights reserved.
Unauthorized duplication or publication of any materials from this Site is expressly prohibited
Unauthorized duplication or publication of any materials from this Site is expressly prohibited
DIALLING CODE +33
CURRENCY €
CURRENCY €
FRANCE
HIGHLIGHTS
HIGHLIGHTS
French have given to the world the crème brûlée and Camembert, Jean Paul Sartre and Claude Debussy, the Tour de France and Notre Dame. If they have such a refined sense of national pride, who we are to judge? Although jeans diffusion and hamburgers annoy purists, any experience on French soil, from a year spent in Provence to a weekend in Paris will explain why half world dreams of walking along the wide boulevard or to have a picnic in the park and enjoy the flow of daily life from the terraces of cafes. Whether in Paris or in Pyrenees, French Riviera or in an auberge de jeunesse remember above all to keep alive the romantic French "joie de vivre"!
France is a member of the Schengen area. The most obvious consequence of the Schengen provisions for people is no longer required to show identification when crossing the borders of the signatory states.
France is a member of the Schengen area. The most obvious consequence of the Schengen provisions for people is no longer required to show identification when crossing the borders of the signatory states.
 |
 |
 |
 |
FRANCE INFO TRAVEL
WEATHER
From a climatic point of view, France offers the best in spring, while the seaside resorts began to crowd in May. Autumn is also pleasant but days are shorter and temperatures drop in French Riviera. Winter is ideal for snowsports in the Alps, Pyrenees and other mountain areas, even though the Christmas holidays tracks are invaded by a bunch of kids. From mid July to late August most people go on vacation to the sea or mountains and cities are semi-deserted and many shops closed.
EVENTS
French are very fond of festivals and events in various cities wich hosting music, dance, theater, cinema and art. Rural villages held Foires (fairs) and fêtes (festivals) to celebrate everything from local saint to harvest garlic. End of May to Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer in Provence, plays a lively gypsy festival with singing and frenetic dance in honor of Sarah patron saint of gypsies. Main national holiday is on 1 May, when buying muguet (lilies, flowers considered lucky) to give away to friends, and July 14, Bastille day, which is celebrated by pulling crackers to friends. Local shows are the elegant prêt à porter Paris (early February), the glittering Cannes Film Festival (mid May), the International Music Festival in Strasbourg (first 3 weeks of June), the traditional theater alternative Festival d'Avignon (mid-July to mid August) and the Jazz Festival in Nancy (9-24 October).
THE TRIP
Air France ( www.airfrance.com), Alitalia trans, and many other airlines link Paris with every part of the globe. Capital has two major airports: Roissy Charles de Gaulle, Orly, both managed by Aéroports de Paris (01 43 35 70 00; www.adp.fr in French). Other French cities with direct international links include Bordeaux, Marseille, Nice, Strasbourg and Toulouse.
Paris is the main rail and car junction in the country, with services to and from all over Europe. Buses are slower and less comfortable than trains, but are cheaper, especially if you are entitled to discounts (those under 26 years or over 60, teachers and students). From May to October, the Busabout agency (www.busabout.com), In France, buses stop in Bordeaux, Tours, Paris, Avignon and Nice.
Eurotunnel opened in 1994 made links between France and England fast and comfortable and quiet thanks to the ultra-modern Eurostar rail service and high-speed shuttle train carrying cars, motorcycles and buses (UK 0870 5353 535 France 03 21 00 61 00; www.eurotunnel.com).
From a climatic point of view, France offers the best in spring, while the seaside resorts began to crowd in May. Autumn is also pleasant but days are shorter and temperatures drop in French Riviera. Winter is ideal for snowsports in the Alps, Pyrenees and other mountain areas, even though the Christmas holidays tracks are invaded by a bunch of kids. From mid July to late August most people go on vacation to the sea or mountains and cities are semi-deserted and many shops closed.
EVENTS
French are very fond of festivals and events in various cities wich hosting music, dance, theater, cinema and art. Rural villages held Foires (fairs) and fêtes (festivals) to celebrate everything from local saint to harvest garlic. End of May to Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer in Provence, plays a lively gypsy festival with singing and frenetic dance in honor of Sarah patron saint of gypsies. Main national holiday is on 1 May, when buying muguet (lilies, flowers considered lucky) to give away to friends, and July 14, Bastille day, which is celebrated by pulling crackers to friends. Local shows are the elegant prêt à porter Paris (early February), the glittering Cannes Film Festival (mid May), the International Music Festival in Strasbourg (first 3 weeks of June), the traditional theater alternative Festival d'Avignon (mid-July to mid August) and the Jazz Festival in Nancy (9-24 October).
THE TRIP
Air France ( www.airfrance.com), Alitalia trans, and many other airlines link Paris with every part of the globe. Capital has two major airports: Roissy Charles de Gaulle, Orly, both managed by Aéroports de Paris (01 43 35 70 00; www.adp.fr in French). Other French cities with direct international links include Bordeaux, Marseille, Nice, Strasbourg and Toulouse.
Paris is the main rail and car junction in the country, with services to and from all over Europe. Buses are slower and less comfortable than trains, but are cheaper, especially if you are entitled to discounts (those under 26 years or over 60, teachers and students). From May to October, the Busabout agency (www.busabout.com), In France, buses stop in Bordeaux, Tours, Paris, Avignon and Nice.
Eurotunnel opened in 1994 made links between France and England fast and comfortable and quiet thanks to the ultra-modern Eurostar rail service and high-speed shuttle train carrying cars, motorcycles and buses (UK 0870 5353 535 France 03 21 00 61 00; www.eurotunnel.com).
Ferries and hovercraft by sea connect faster Calais to Dover, England. There are many fst routes between Britain and Normandy to England. Ferries also between France and Ireland (Cherbourg-Cork), the Channel Islands, Sardinia (Marseille-Porto Torres), Italy (Corsica-Genoa) and North Africa (Marseille-Algiers, Marseille-Tunis, Sète -Tangier
LOCAL TRANSPORT
France's domestic airlines connect most of the cities to each other , but flights can be quite expensive. Sometimes you can not find very cheap discount tickets. Most domestic flights are operated by Air France (0 820 820 820, www.airfrance.com), but the British airline easyJet has flights linking Paris with Marseille, Toulouse and Nice.
France has an excellent railway network operated by state-owned SNCF (Société Nationale des Chemins de Fer), which reaches almost every part of the country. Thanks to the TGV service (Train à Grande Vitesse, High Speed Train, www.tgv.com), the distance between large cities (eg Paris and Lyon) is covered more quickly and easily by train from the plane.
Interregional buses are not many, but services within the various regions are very common, especially in areas with few trains (such as Brittany and Normandy). Longer route buses are slower but cheaper than train, in those shorter, buses are slower and more expensive.
Moving in France by car is usually quite expensive and is certainly inconvenient in inner cities, where traffic and parking are a big problem. Renting a car is expensive if you walk into an agency to rent a car, but book in advance is often cheaper.
France is a great country for touring motorcycle, but with many winding roads of good quality and beautiful landscapes. It is also suitable for cyclists.
Another relaxing way to enjoy France is making a cruise on its waterways.
Flights &
Destination Guides to:
Destination Guides to:
Full name of the country:French Republic
Area: 547,030 sq km
Population: 62,700,000 inhabitants
Capital: Paris
Language: French (official), Brittany minorities, races, German, Basque, Catalan, Flemish
Religion: 83-88% Catholic, Protestant 2%, 5-10% Muslim, Jewish 1%, 4% not affiliated
Type of State: Parliamentary republic
Area: 547,030 sq km
Population: 62,700,000 inhabitants
Capital: Paris
Language: French (official), Brittany minorities, races, German, Basque, Catalan, Flemish
Religion: 83-88% Catholic, Protestant 2%, 5-10% Muslim, Jewish 1%, 4% not affiliated
Type of State: Parliamentary republic
Health Risks
Recommended vaccinations: diphtheria, tetanus, hepatitis B.
EU citizens who are temporarily going (for study, tourism, business or work) in France (EU Member State) may found necessary and urgent medical care provided by local public health care, if they have the European Health Insurance Card called the Health Card. Each family member will have their membership card. Advise you to carry a small pharmacy, travel and health insurance which provides, in addition to covering medical expenses, including any air ambulance repatriation or transfer to another country.
Timezone GMT+1
Electricity 220V, 50Hz
Weights and measures metric
Recommended vaccinations: diphtheria, tetanus, hepatitis B.
EU citizens who are temporarily going (for study, tourism, business or work) in France (EU Member State) may found necessary and urgent medical care provided by local public health care, if they have the European Health Insurance Card called the Health Card. Each family member will have their membership card. Advise you to carry a small pharmacy, travel and health insurance which provides, in addition to covering medical expenses, including any air ambulance repatriation or transfer to another country.
Timezone GMT+1
Electricity 220V, 50Hz
Weights and measures metric
