Bienvenue! Welcome to France! Everything is special about France. From its heart - Paris - to the Alps, the Pyranees, the elegant chateaus of the Loire Valley and the quaint fishing villages of Atlantic Brittany - everything about France is magnifique! Come to France and explore the country of poets, writers, artists and romantics.

Capital: Paris

Population: 57, 668,466

Area: 210, 023 square miles

Language: French. Many speak English who are involved in tourism

Time: + 6 hours from New York

Electricity: 220 volts AC, 50 Hz. Continental 2 pin plugs

Geography: France is bordered by the English Channel on the north with Belgium and Germany, Switzerland and Italy to the east. To the south it is bordered by the Mediterranean, Andorra and Spain and to the west is the Atlantic. France is the largest country in Europe. The countryside has very pretty scenery and in many areas it could be said that it is spectacular. The eastern area southeast of Lyon is mountainous and great skiing area. The western area of the country is flat and good farmland.

International Airports

Paris - Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG): This airport is about 15 miles to the northof the city. It can be reached by train (RER), by bus and by taxi. Trains and busses operate about every 20-30 minutes and take about 30-40 minutes in transit time.

Paris - Orly Airport (ORY): 9 miles south of the city. Busses and trains (RER and SNCF) service the airport. The train is not on the airport grounds. You must use a transit bus to get to the train stop. Taxis are also available. Transit time usually about 40 minutes.

Nice - (NCE): 4 miles from the city. Coaches to/from the city operate every 15-30 minutes until 11:15 pm. Taxis are also available.

Tipping: A service charge of 10-15% is usually included in the bill in restaurants, bars and hotels. It is customary to leave small change. Taxi drivers expect a 10-15% tip of whatever in on the meter.

Shopping: Shopping areas are open 9:00 am to 6:30 -7:30 pm weekdays and Saturday. On Mondays many stores will often not open until 1:00 pm or even not at all. Food stores usually open by 7:00 and remain open until 7:30 pm.

Food and drink: There is no doubt that France has the best food in the western world. Restaurants have two types of menus - "a la carte" which is more expensive but with a wide choice of options and "le menu" which is a fixed menu with a set price. Wine is the drink of choice in France. Try the house wines as they are usually not expensive and the pride of the owner. Be sure to ask for the bill from the waiter. You will not get it until you request it.

Social: It takes time to get to address someone on a first name basis. Do not be forward about doing it as are most Americans. Until it becomes less formal the Monsieur or Madame is appropriate. Handshaking is the best form of greeting. You may see many French kissing on both cheeks. Unless you know the individual and they actually expect it of you, best not to try it. The French dress casually but always with a slight flair. They are well known for their sportswear and dress well in it.

Business: Conservative clothing is expected. Flamboyance is not appreciated. Business is taken seriously and an air of complete professionalism is the rule. Appointments are very important and punctuality is best. A good knowledge of French is a good advantage but do not begin a conversation in French, and then for lack of knowing it well, drop off into English. It is considered bad taste. Business hours are 9:00 - 12:00 and 2:00 - 6:00 pm Monday to Friday. Also of note, many French will take off the day before or the day after a major holiday or both. If the holiday in midweek anything may happen. Be sure that you are aware of this potential for it can seriously effect your schedule - particularly if you without an appointment.

Climate

France has a range of weather but is relatively free from extremes. The north is temperate and is somewhat that of its neighbors inland in Europe. The west is strongly influenced by conditions which come off the Atlantic. The southern end of France is on the Mediterranean and so has a very mild climate in the winter at lower elevations and is quite warm to even hot in the summers. The eastern area of the country southeast of Lyon have very cold winters due to the mountains.

In 1999, 70 million visitors descended on France, making it the most popular tourist destination in the world. For a country which, though the largest in western Europe, is small by international standards, this is an impressive achievement. To the French, it is natural that the world should wish to pay homage to their beloved patrie. While reminders of the past abound everywhere in countless châteaux, Roman monuments, and medieval villages, France is also relentlessly modern. Most French people do their shopping in one of the 1100 hypermarkets and travel the country by TGV, the world’s fastest train.

To the French, though, the future is not so obviously rosy. Canute-like, the government tries with diminishing success to stem the rising tide of American-style mass culture, and its insistence on French being an international language on a par with English and Spanish is increasingly untenable. The people themselves are preoccupied by the North-African immigrants who are taking their post-colonial revenge on France, undermining (in the eyes of the far right) the cultural integrity of the country by their refusal to assimilate French culture. While to outside observers their banlieues (suburbs) are the source of the most exciting and vibrant music, art, and cinema in France today, to the increasingly popular National Front they are an affront to the imaginary purity of the French people.

In reality, much of what is commonly considered “French” has been imposed on France’s diverse regions by Kings and governments in Paris anxious to weld their diverse nation together. At the time of the revolution, in 1789, only half of the population spoke French, and at the extremities of the country you can still hear people speaking Basque, Breton, German, and Provençal. Every region has its own unique cultural traditions, which are too often ignored by the hordes of tourists who see no more of French culture than that which is already processed for mass consumption. You’ll do far better, and get a far truer picture of France, if you take time out to visit smaller, less touristed towns, to enjoy the countryside, and to simply slow down, look around you, and take a breath of French air.

FRANCE FACTS AND FIGURES

Official Name République Française
Population 59 million
Capital Paris
President Jacques Chirac
Major Religions 76% Catholic, 5.5% Muslim
Area 543,965sqkm
Highest Peak Mont Blanc (4807m)
Longest River Loire (1024km)

LET THEM EAT CAKE

The vast majority of the millions who visit France every year are interested only in those sights and towns which fortune has propelled to worldwide fame. Though it would be a crime to neglect places such as Paris, the Loire châteaux, or the Côte d’Azur, France is so steeped in history and culture that there are hundreds of places equally deserving of attention, but happily so far “undiscovered.”

Though Paris struts the world stage as one of its great cities, you'll find plenty to do in France's major regional centers, from 2600 year-old, earthy Marseille to bourgeois (but oh-so-tasty) Lyon. Scattered across the country, French châteaux range from imposing feudal ruins to the well-preserved country homes of 19th-century industrialists. You'll find both types in number in the Loire Valley, but be sure to look further afield — the Cathar fortresses in southwestern France range from the stunningly picturesque to awe-inspiringly huge. The "eldest daughter of the Church", France is also blessed with innumerable churches, cathedrals, and monasteries. Paris, of course, has Nôtre Dame, but you'll find structures of equal beauty in a thousand towns across France, from the Romanesque chapels of Provence to Le Corbusier’s modernist masterpiece at Ronchamp and Henri Matisse’s swansong at Vence.

You won't be disappointed by France's natural architecture, either. Europe's highest peak, Mont Blanc, soars over the Alps, while you'll also find mountain magic in the Pyrenees, the Jura, and the Massif Central's string of long-dead volcanoes. If snow-capped peaks aren’t your thing, more lowland pleasures can be found in the flamingo-filled plains of the Camargue, the hills of the Lubéron, and the fantastic Gorges du Tarn. For advanced hikers, it’s possible to walk the length of rugged Corsica’s unspoiled interior. More sedentary outdoor pursuits are the attract the moneyed few and hopeful many to the Côte d’Azur's beach towns, though Corsica and Brittany offer the better beaches.

WHEN TO VISIT

You should plan your visit to France carefully depending on when you want to go. In July and August, everywhere is crowded and there seems to be more English and German spoken on the streets than French. This is the time that the beach resorts buzz, with the Mediterranean coast becoming one long party strip. Foreigners concentrate on the famous towns of the Côte d’Azur, while the French flock to resorts further west and to Corsica. In August, Paris heads south for the month and the city goes dead but for the click of camera shutters and the rumbling of tourist buses. Parisians and tourists crowd the city in the spring, while winters are cold and grey. All in all, early summer and autumn are the best times to visit the city. The north and west of France are prone to wet, though mild, winters and springs, while summers are warm but often unsettled. The center and east of the country have a more continental climate, with often harsh winters and long, dry summers; they are also generally the least crowded and most unspoiled regions—with some exceptions. December to February, the Alps provide some of the best skiing in the world, while the Pyrenees offer a less frenetic, if less climactically dependable, alternative.