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France Shopping, Culinary, and Accommodation

Europe

Shopping

Overview

Lace, crystal, cheese, coffee, wine, spirits and liqueurs are particularly recommended. Arques, home of the Cristal d’Arques, lies between St Omer and Calais. Lille, the largest city in French Flanders, is known for its textiles and fine lace. In Paris you can get pretty much everything that France has to offer. Here you can buy everything from unique art objects to fine perfumes and designer shoes to postcards. In some particularly exclusive shops you have to ring a bell to be let in. Le Printemps and Galeries Lafayette are the most prestigious large department stores in Paris. Bargain hunters can find knick-knacks and antiques (brocante) at the numerous flea markets (marché aux puces) on the outskirts of the city. In many cities, Saturday is market day, i. Generally for fruit and vegetables, on the coast also for fish and seafood. Hypermarchés, huge supermarkets where you can buy everything from food, clothing and hi-fi equipment to furniture, are becoming increasingly popular. They are mostly on the outskirts and have their own parking lot. on the coast also for fish and seafood. Hypermarchés, huge supermarkets where you can buy everything from food, clothing and hi-fi equipment to furniture, are becoming increasingly popular. They are mostly on the outskirts and have their own parking lot. on the coast also for fish and seafood. Hypermarchés, huge supermarkets where you can buy everything from food, clothing and hi-fi equipment to furniture, are becoming increasingly popular. They are mostly on the outskirts and have their own parking lot.

  • Searchforpublicschools: Offers schooling information of France in each level – compulsory, technical and higher education programs.

Opening hours

Department stores: Mon-Sat 09.00-18.30, grocery stores: 07.00-18.30/19.30. Some shops, especially bakeries, also open on Sunday mornings, but are usually closed on Mondays. Most shops close between 12pm and 2.30pm. Some shops are closed all day or in the afternoon on Mondays. Hypermarkets are usually open until 9:00 or 10:00 p.m.

Nightlife

Introduction

French people like to sit on the street in the evening and drink a glass of red wine. Especially in Paris, the bistros where café au lait is served in the afternoon are well frequented in the early evening hours and it is sometimes difficult to get a seat. But even outside of Paris, many French like to spend the evenings in restaurants and bars. Night owls can find nightclubs and night bars in all major cities, and discotheques can be found especially in resorts. The presentation and the music played are very different, often a drink (Consommation) is included in the entrance fee. In the metropolises like Paris and Lyon, often no entrance fee is charged in the nightclubs and discotheques, the drinks are expensive for that. There is a statutory curfew, with pubs closing at 1.30am and nightclubs closing at 5am. Theaters and playhouses can be found in all larger cities, the Théâtre national de Strasbourg (Internet: www.tns.fr) and the Opéra National de Paris (Internet: www.operadeparis.fr) being particularly well known. In the countryside, festivals are often held at weekends in the summer. Monthly and annual calendars of events are available free of charge from the tourist offices. Brochures and guides with information on things to do, sightseeing tours, excursions and exhibitions in Paris are also available. Some of the best are Pariscope, 7 à Paris, L’Officiel des Spectacles and the English-language Paris Passion.

 

Culture

Religion

83-88% Roman Catholic; Protestant (2%), Muslim (5-10%), Jewish (1%) and Orthodox minorities.

Social Rules of Conduct

Manners: The usual forms of politeness should be observed, polite phrases are common and important in conversation. As a greeting, people shake hands less frequently than in Germany, and the suggested kiss on both cheeks is more common. When you enter a shop, you greet with a friendly bonjour, monsieur/madame. The salutation is Monsieur or Madame without mentioning the family name. It can take a long time to address each other by their first names. At receptions or dinners, the guest of honor gives the signal to start eating. Meals are taken with pleasure and in peace, they often drag on for a long time. Unannounced visits or phone calls should be avoided during meal times between 12:00 and 2:00 p.m. 30 p.m. and from 7 p.m. refrain. If you are invited to an aperitif, you meet about half an hour before dinner time, drink a glass together and say goodbye in good time. Dress: Casual dress is common, but the French are known for smart sportswear. Formal attire is required for public events and evening parties; many clubs, casinos, and fancy restaurants also insist on suits and ties; Evening dress or tuxedo are shown separately. »Topless« is tolerated on most beaches, nudism is only permitted on the beaches set up for this purpose. Smoking: Smoking is prohibited in public buildings (including train stations, airports, schools and offices), on public transport and in restaurants, bars and discos. Smoking and non-smoking rooms are available in hotels. Smoking in the car is prohibited when minors are in the vehicle. Tipping: Tipping in France is done collectively as a group and not individually by each guest at the table. Usually the total amount is divided by the number of people to calculate how much of the tip is for each individual. Leave the tip on the table before leaving the restaurant. 10% of the invoice amount is sufficient for the tip. Tips can also be higher in better restaurants. 10% of the invoice amount is sufficient for the tip. Tips can also be higher in better restaurants. 10% of the invoice amount is sufficient for the tip. Tips can also be higher in better restaurants.

Climate

Best travel time

Temperate climate in the north, continental climate in the northeast. Rainfall all year round, snowfall in winter.

In the east and in the center there is a continental climate with foehn winds in the east, which cause the temperatures to rise sharply in summer.

Mediterranean climate in the south-east and south, on the Riviera, in Provence and Roussillon.

In the mountain regions over 600 meters above sea level. there is an alpine climate. Heavy snowfall in winter. The French Pyrenees are known for almost permanent sunshine.

Humid coastal climates on the west coast can be very warm and sunny to fresh, precipitation year-round.

The best time to visit Paris is in spring, autumn and winter. The French Mediterranean coast is at its most attractive between March and October. Winter sports enthusiasts get their money’s worth in the ski areas of the French Alps and the Pyrenees from December to April.

Country data

Phone prefix

+33

Area (sq km)

551500

Population

67.063.703

Population density (per square km)

120

Population statistics year

2019

Member of the EU

yes

Main emergency number

112

French Overseas Territories

Overview

There are several French overseas territories (France d’outre mer) scattered all over the world. They are divided into overseas departments and regions (Départements und Régions d’outre-mer (DOM-ROM or DROM), local authorities (Collectivités d’outre-mer (COM), overseas communities belonging to France with special status (Collectivités sui generis (CSG) and French Southern and Antarctic Territories (Terres australes et antarctiques françaises (TAAF). The following DROM, COM and CSG have their own entries: French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, New Caledonia, Réunion and French Polynesia. Basic information about the remaining areas can be found below. More information about this and all other French overseas territories can be obtained from the French embassies. Overseas Départements and Overseas Regions (Départements und Régions d’outre-mer (DOM-ROM or DROM)): There are five Overseas Departments and Overseas Regions. Each is an integral part of the French Republic and the EU. Guadeloupe and Martinique are in the Caribbean, French Guiana on the northwest coast of South America, Réunion and Mayotte in the Indian Ocean. Despite greater autonomy through the founding of its own regional council in 1974, each overseas territory continues to send elected representatives to the Senate and the National Assembly in Paris and to the European Parliament in Strasbourg. Local authorities (Collectivité d’outre-mer (COM)): There are five Collectivités Territoriales, which have status between an overseas territory and an overseas territory. St-Pierre et Miquelon near Newfoundland (Canada), Saint Barthélemy and St. Martin in the Caribbean, the islands of Wallis and Futuna in the Pacific, and French Polynesia (Tahiti), a former overseas country (pays d’outre-mer ( POM)), in the middle of the South Pacific. They are an integral part of the French Republic and are administered by prefects of the French government. Saint-Martin, the French part of the island of St. Martin, is part of the territory of the EU. Saint Barthélemy is an associated territory of the EU. Overseas community belonging to France with special status (Collectivité sui generis (CSG)): Located east of Australia in the South Pacific, New Caledonia is a former overseas territory. It became a French overseas country in 1999 following the Nouméa Convention in 1998. Since 2003 it has been a French overseas community with special status (collectivité sui generis). French Southern and Antarctic Territories (Terres australes et antarctiques françaises (TAAF)): The TAAF are overseas territories with special status. The French Southern and Antarctic Territories are located in the southern Indian Ocean. They include the islands of Amsterdam and Saint-Paul, the Crozet Islands, the Kerguelen Islands, Adelieland on the Antarctic continent, and the Îles Éparses.

Passport and visa regulations

Entry with children

Since June 27, 2012, children need their own travel document (passport / children’s passport) for trips abroad (also within the EU). Entries of children in the parental passport are no longer possible.

Contact addresses

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The French Départements, Territoires and Collectivités Territoriales are spread all over the world. Most overseas territories are described in separate chapters. Information can be obtained from the French embassies and tourist offices ( Explore France ), which can be found in the contacts for France.

Country data

Population

2,790,000 (Source: homosociety)

Population statistics year

2018

Member of the EU

Yes

France flag vs map