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. |
