FRANCE

FLAG

National Day July 14th

CURRENCY

Currency Euro

VISA

Most travelers don't need a visa. Check with the nearest French Embassy or Immigration office. Don't forget to check what the immigration officer stamps in your passport.

DID-INTERNET-GMT

DID 00/40/50/70/90

(depending on operator)

Country Code (33)

Internet (fr)

GMT + 1

ELECTRICITY

240 V 50 HZ

HOTELS

Evian at Lake Geneva

More on FRANCE

by (Encyclopedia.com)

FACTS & DATA

State: Republique Francaise

Head of State: President

Prime Minister: Prime Minister

Currency: EURO

Location: western Europe at the Atlantic coast

Area: 547.030 sq. km ( sq.m.)

Temperature: C

Capital: Paris
Population: 59.9 mio

People: Latin and Celtic
Language: French and a range of regional dialects

Religion: Roman Catholic 90%

GDP: 1.500 US$ billion

GNP per capita: 24.500 US$

Annual growth: 1.2%

Inflation: 1.5 %
Major industries: aircraft, automobiles, chemicals, electronics, fashion, food,

machinery, tourism

Major trading partners: EU, USA

Health risks: very low
Time: GMT +

Electricity: 220-240V
Weights & measures: Metric

Road traffic: right side

Public transport: excellent

PUBLICATIONS

NEWSPAPERS & MAGAZINES

French

Figaro

Le Monde

Nice Matin

Paris-Match

NEWS

Paris news

EDUCATION

UNIVERSITIES

Université Sorbonne

Université Louis Pasteur (Strasbourg I)

American University of Paris

DIPLOMAS

Ecole de Ski Français de la Plagne

Ecole pour les Etudes et la Recherche en Informatique et Electronique

BUBINESS DIPLOMAS

Ecole Européen des Affaires

Ecole des Hautes Etudes Commerciales

HOTEL

Ecole d'Hôtellerie et de Tourisme Alexandre Dumas

AIR, the main airport is Paris with connections to most major cities worldwide. Nice offers connections to many European and some long haul destinations. RAIL the French high-speed train takes to most major cities throughout France and Europe as well. ROAD France has a good road infrastructure. Please note that all roads inclusive highways do have speed limits and cameras to enforce it.

Information	Currency Converter Language Population Facts Religion
Official	Foreign Ministry IMMIGRATION Your Embassy in France French Missions abroad The Prime ministers Office
Reference	Tourism Weather Currency Converter
Transport	Train (SNCF)

Travel

Advise Car Rental Hotels Tours & Sightseeing Travel Travel Warning

SAMU (medical emergencies) 15 | Police emergencies 17 | Fire Service 18

France history begins with the Gaul's which were of Celtic origin in the 1st century BC. 2nd and 3rd century AD the Romans came to France and introduced Christianity. With the treaty of Verdun today's France was founded. During the 17th century France was the leading nation in Europe. 1792 The French revolution ended the monarchy but only until Napoleon Bonaparte came to power. He proclaimed himself to Emperor and the first French Empire from 1804-40 With a short interruption of the Second Republic. 1852 Louis-Napoleon Bonaparte proclaimed the 2nd French Empire until he lost the war against Prussia in 1870. Since that year France has been a Republic. After the 2nd world war France together with Germany created a union today called EU. This union has created a Europe where world wars should be a thing of the past.

France is truely blessed by the gods. It has montains, lovely beaches at the mediteranean sea, beautiful castles along the Loire valley, .... and last but not least Paris. And don't forget the far away Departments of Martinique, Guadeloupe.

Marseille was first inhabitat 25.000 years ago according to hand painted cave pictures 10 km outside Marseille city. Today it is a thriving port city. The famous Provence region with it's famous herbs and colorful landscape has inspired many painters and writers. The famous fish soup Bouillabaisse has it's origin in Marseille.

Nice the pearl and centre of the French Riviera located on the lovely beaches of the Mediterranean Sea. Not far away you have the principality of Monaco and the famous film city Cannes.

Paris one of the worlds greatest city by day and by night. Fashion, perfume, grand avenues, museums, buildings and monuments have made this city a great tourist attraction.

Strasbourg located at the border to Germany is the heart of the Alsace region famous for great food and outstanding wine. Not far away is the champagne capital Reims in the Cognac region. Moulhouse is a tru must for car enthusiasts with it's Bugatti museum.

The French Alps offer fantastic summer and winter sports activities. Chamonix, Val d'Isere are skiers paradise and Lyon is known to be the centre of French cooking.

Bordeaux! A simple murmur will immediately conjure up images of enchanting landscapes, romance, historical sites and of course sumptuous wines. Meander along charming vineyard roads visiting two wine estates, with a guided tour of the wine cellars and a tasting at each chateau. >>>more

French cuisine is not only famous chefs, new cuisine and very expensive. their daily food is very much down to earth, simple home cooked style but with the freshest ingredients. French cooking involves a large number of techniques, some are rather complicated. Shortcuts in regard to these techniques are a no no.. They are master in preparing sauces and pastry dough's which can be filled with anything. Many recipes are classic and constant and often basics for new recipes which are sold as unique but in reality only changed a little. A country blessed by God with sun, herbs, seafood, wine and whatever you can imagine to make a good cuisine. The food varies tremendously depending which region you are in. We leave it here as thousands of books have been written about it and new tales are created every day,

Wine, Champagne, Cognac, Armagniac endless flavored liqueurs are an essential part of French cuisine and life style. There are so many other wine countries in the old as new world, but none can surpass the French in their refinement and passion. Wine is a food drink and they have a different one for each dish you eat. They seldom drink wine without food rather an aperitif or a beer. The most famous beer is brewed by Kronenbourg. Their main labels are Kronenbourg and 1664, this is the founding year of the brewery.

Even though the French are not really Latinos, there lifestyle has a lot in common with it. Late dining and clubbing until the early morning hours is not unusual.