France
France - the birthplace of champagne and cognac, fine wines and cheeses, the center of world fashion, the country where they make the best in the world of spirits. One of the largest countries in Europe, France, every year attracts millions of tourists for its numerous historical and cultural monuments, excellent skiing and varied cuisine.
Geography
France is located in Western Europe, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. The country is generally hilly, with extensive lowlands, hills and mountains by medium. But there are two high array - Alps in the south-east and the Pyrenees in the south-west.
The largest river in France - Loire, the Seine, the Garonne, the Rhone and the Rhine. They are mostly flat, shipping.
Nearest neighbor, France - Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Spain and Andorra. According to the English Channel (under it now dug a tunnel) and Pas-de-Calais border with the United Kingdom. In the south of the country is a dwarf Monaco.
France owns several overseas territories and departments of French Guiana in South America, Martinique and Guadeloupe - West Indies, Reunion - in the Indian Ocean, and several archipelagos in the Pacific.
Climate
France peacefully coexist four types of climate - oceanic, temperate marine, Mediterranean and mountain. Maritime climate prevails in most parts of the country and provides a comfortable air temperature throughout the year. On the Mediterranean coast - a subtropical climate with hot and dry summers and rainy winters. In Paris in the winter can be at zero temperature, while in Nice - +12 ° C. Summer heat everywhere, especially in July and August - from +20 ° C to +30 ° C.
Capital
Paris
Language
Official language - French. However, on the outskirts of the country speak Basque, Catalan, German, Breton, Flemish, and Corsican.
Currency
Monetary unit of France - Euro (EUR). ATMs can use credit cards Visa, Master Card, American Express.
Population
French population 58.3 million people, mostly French. About 5 million people - foreigners, mostly Africans and Arabs.
Religion
About 48% - Catholics - 15% Protestant, 1.3% - 4.5% and the Jews - Muslims.
Political Structure
France - independent republic with a presidential form of government. Head of state - the president appoints the prime minister (head of the Council of Ministers). Legislative power is vested in a bicameral parliament, consisting of the Senate and the National Assembly. Administratively, the country is divided into 22 regions. France - a member of the UN, NATO and the EU.
Visa
Entry visa issued by the Embassy of France in France (Kiev).
Days of submission - Tuesday and Thursday at 10:00 am
Turnaround time - 10-14 days.
The cost of registration fee on visa extra charge -? 40. In case of refusal of the visa fee is not refundable!
Required documents for visa:
passport valid for at least 90 days from the date of issue of the visa and photocopies of all pages;
photocopies of all pages of internal passport of citizen of Ukraine;
2 photos, both the passport made no later than six months ago, the size of the head in the photo should be in the length of 3 cm in width - 2.5 cm;
a copy of an identification code with a translation into English or French;
letter from the employer on company letterhead indicating the mailing address and telephone numbers, as well as indicating the position, salary, and information about protecting jobs in the period of the trip, (framed in English or French);
copy of the certificate of registration of the company with a translation into English or French;
income statement in the Ukraine (the balance of bank account for the last year, the availability of real estate, securities, etc.). All documents are translated into English or French;
photocopy of the marriage (divorce), with a translation into English or French;
for children up to 18 years - the original birth certificate, translated into English or French, a letter from school with a translation into English or French, if a child is traveling with one parent, additionally submitted a notarized permission to travel (in English or French ) and a photocopy of the first page of the internal passport of the other parent;
For private companies - the income statement in the form of tax inspection with a translation into English or French;
Details: profile attached, carefully filling
To enter the territory of France and any valid entry visa Schengen countries.
Customs regulations
Number of incoming and outgoing funds are unlimited. Cash and securities in excess of 50,000 francs to be declared. Allowed to import duty-free in France 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 250 grams of pipe tobacco, 2 liters of wine or 1 liter of beverage strength above 22 degrees, perfumes - 50 g, toilet water - 0,25 l, coffee - 500 g tea - 100 g, medicines - as needed. When importing pets need help with a mark of rabies has been translated into French.
Transport
In Paris, three types of public transportation: metro, bus and cable car, which uses the same tickets.
Can be reached by cable car to one of the most beautiful hills of Paris - Montmartre.
Metro has six major French cities: Paris, Lille, Lyon, Marseille, Toulouse and Rouen. The French are very fond of this quick and economical form of transportation. In general, the meter of the city center, but reaches up to the nearest suburbs, where you can continue your way to the bus. The Paris metro is open from 06:00 to 01:00. Subway stations are within 300 - 500 meters of each other, within minutes you can reach anywhere in the city.
Buses are common in populated areas of France and are the ideal mode of transport to enjoy the city. Numerous trails, a large number of stops, the message between the suburbs. Generally, buses run from 6:30 to 20:30, except for the large cities, where the movement ends later. In most cities, thanks to a specially-designated number of buses, their movement is fairly uniform, except for the peak hours. Necessary to provide more time than a trip on the subway. Tickets are sold in tobacco shops, special retail outlets or directly on the bus (only tickets apiece).
Taxis can be found on illuminated signs on the roof of the car. If the pointer is highlighted, the taxi is available. But it's much easier to find the car in the parking lot, or even better - to order by phone.
Shops
France can not be imagined without the glowing windows of many stores, which have a wide range of products: clothing, perfumes, cosmetics, jewelry, and electronics. Stores in France working mostly from 9.00 to 19.00. On Saturday, up to 16 hours. On Sundays and public holidays, stores often do not work.
When you buy most things in France in their price includes the value added tax (VAT - translated into French TVA) in the amount of 20.6%. Tourists have been in France less than six months may be required to refund VAT at 17.1% of the price of goods (applies to tourists from countries outside the EU) when buying goods in a shop on the same day in the amount of not less than? 182.95. This service is called the Tax Free Detax or French. Ask the seller to fill out a receipt. For this you need to have a passport. There are two ways a tax refund: a credit card (if you paid it or not, you have one) or in cash at the airport. This condition is always discussed with you in the store and can not be changed at will in the airport. The seller will give you two receipts pink and green. You must get at purchase "bordereau" with a list of goods purchased and check tax free, stamped. When leaving the country to get the money required customs official check, passport and "bordereau". In some cases, customs officers can ask for the goods.
Not all stores offer the service Tax Free, so before you go shopping, check all the seller.
Link
To call France from abroad, dial 33 + number of 9 digits of your destination (without the 0, which begins with the French telephone numbers). To call from France to France, to enter all 10 digits of the recipient. When connected to a mobile phone service, dial 10 digits also. To call abroad from France: If you use an automated telephone, dial 00 + country code + area code + number of the recipient, if you are using an operator of France Telecom, dial 00 + 33 + area code.
International rates vary depending on the destination country. You can read them with guides, which are issued by agencies France Telecom.
Your correspondent abroad can make a call to your account. In this case, you pay 44.50 francs. for the services of the operator and the cost of the call. Not all countries have access to this service. At certain times you can call at a reduced rate: 50% for domestic calls and at least 20% - on international calls.
Schedule of reduced rates:
Internal calls (in the country).
Monday - Friday:
0h - 8h = grace
8h - 19h = Normal
19h - 24h = grace
Saturday:
0h - 8h = grace
8h - 12h = Normal
12h - 24h = grace.
On Sundays and public holidays, preferential tariff operates around the clock. International calls. Schedule of tariffs is the same, except for the links to the U.S. and Canada, which runs at a reduced rate from 19h to 13h and during weekends and holidays.
Almost always your hotel room is equipped with a telephone. Before you use it, check out the rates for communication, especially internationally, as in hotels can be an extra charge.
In France, there are two types of telephones:
Publiphone the card. On the street, in all public places (railway stations, subway stations, airports, hospitals, trains, TGV, Thalys and Eurostar). Stock up on arrival card at 50 (48.60 francs) or 120 units (96.70 francs). Cards are sold in tobacco shops and post offices. You will be able to call on France or abroad by telephone credit units. Of these machines, you can also call on a credit card (Visa and Mastercard / Eurocard).
Publiphone on coins. These phone booths are in bars and restaurants. Have a supply of small things! From any machine you can free direct dial emergency numbers (15, 17, 18 and 112), Numeros Verts and Referral Service (12).
Electricity
Voltage 220 V.
Tip
In French tip - "purbuar" (literally, "to drink"). In restaurants, cafes, hotels, tips are typically 12-15% of the cost of services and is generally included in the bill. If they are not in the bill, add a tip on their own discretion. Usually the first to pay the bills, and then leave a tip on the table. "Purbuar" leave on a round platter on which the waiter brings the bill.
Weekends and holidays
January 1 - New Year
Easter
May 1 - Labor Day
8 May - Liberation Day
Ascension
Trinity
July 14 - Bastille Day
Assumption
November 1 - All Saints Day
November 11 - Armistice Day in World War I.
December 25 - Christmas Day
Main Attractions
Group of resorts along the coast of the English Channel and the Pas-de-Calais - a small resort town in greenery and flowers, with large sandy beaches that attract tourists waters of the Gulf Stream. Water temperature is even higher than in the southern Atlantic resorts. Nature is very similar to the nature of the cold Baltic Sea coast. Le Touquet, Deauville - resorts with good sports facilities, Thalgo and thalassotherapy, based on the use of sea water and algae.
Atlantic Coast - is, above all, Biarritz, France and the rest of the world's leading lights, world-renowned resort with many hotels. Here is the only one in the Atlantic Coast of the high-end hotel, as "Dyupale." It is located in a palace built by Napoleon III for his wife Eugenia. "Villa Eugenie" is famous for the fact that there is a rest of the royal family, including Russian. High ocean waves turned into a center for Biarritz surfing.
Island D - at least known place Atlantic coast resort area, which is connected by bridge to the mainland in the town of La Rochelle. Cote d'Azur. On the French Riviera, composed many myths and legends. As soon as it comes to rest on the French coast, before the mind's eye as soon as there are warm sea unforgettable colors, boulevards with amazing palm trees, luxury hotels with a "royal" atmosphere, luxurious yachts and fabulous villas. Cannes, Nice, Juan-les-Pins - the most prestigious and exclusive resorts. There are also less expensive resorts such as Antibes and Saint-Tropez. But no matter where you were on the French Riviera, do not look for silence and solitude: here even the tiniest villages live hectic and noisy spa environment.
French Alps - the highest mountain in Western Europe. It is the largest center in the world of winter sports. The popular resorts of the French Alps - Chamonix, Megeve, Avoriaz, Three Valleys, Val d'Isere, Tignes. In France, more than 4,000 of slopes and lifts in 2500.
Initially, Paris was the main city of France, but in the Middle Ages became its capital. The decision was made in one day, it meets the interests of both the King and the Church, which at that time was of paramount importance for the development of the city. Today, Paris is the bearer of a centuries-old culture, the dominant city, political, administrative and financial center.
Normandy and Brittany - the favorite holiday destination for the French regions - "the country of the sea." A world center of oysters and seafood, here are research centers devoted to the sea and the sea Balneology (oceanographic, spa, therapy, etc.). Of the cities deserve special attention Rouen, Mont-Saint-Michel, Saint Malo, Fougeres.
Orleans, Blois, Tours, Angers, Amboise - is the heart of French history. Here go to roost kings of France. That is why it concentrated the most famous royal medieval castles, where peace reigns and enlightened tolerance.
Very different from other parts of France, and by nature, and the kitchen, and on the architecture of the region of Alsace and Lorraine. Local people madly in love with their land, and so there is a very strong commitment to the local traditions. To date, Alsace - a prototype of the continent without borders. The largest city district of Strasbourg became the capital of a united Europe. It is a city, the seat of the European Parliament. Lorraine - a recognized center of high-quality glass and crystal. Products made especially valuable grade crystal (BAC), which are produced in the factory town of Baccarat, acquired a deserved reputation throughout the world.
Southern regions of France - is mountainous, the Pyrenees (Carcassonne, Biarritz) in the south-west and the Alps in the south-east (Marseille, Monte Carlo, the Riviera city). The magnificent mountain scenery, diverse nature of coastal cliffs to sandy beaches. All of this can be found in the south of France.
Lyon and its surroundings is the largest industrial, commercial and financial center of the country, was built the first Christian church. Limoges - the city of the world-famous porcelain and enamels, with exceptionally rich in historical monuments. The region around the cities, can be arbitrarily combined into one - central.
Dear customers! Remember that a well-prepared documents - are also key to a successful trip! In connection with this offer you to review the requirements to the documents provided to the tourist visa to France.
