France

SAFETY: excellent
The whole country is generally considered safe. No particular risks are reported apart from petty crime (suburbs, large cities, etc.).

TRANSPORT: excellent
A comprehensive, modern transport system covering the whole country (air, rail, bus, metro, tram, taxi, ferries) makes it possible to reach any destination. Corsica is well connected to Italy’s west coast (Genoa, Livorno, Civitavecchia) by several ferry and air routes. Hiring cars, motorbikes, campervans, bicycles and boats is easy and convenient throughout the country. Very well connected to Italy, to neighbouring countries and to all the overseas territories (see below).

Main airports: Paris, Lyon, Strasbourg, La Rochelle, Limoges, Marseille, Nice, Ajaccio, Bastia.
Main ports: Bordeaux, Calais, Dunkirk, Le Havre, Marseille, Toulon, Nantes, Rouen, Brest, Strasbourg, La Rochelle.

ACCOMMODATION: excellent
France offers an enormous choice of accommodation of every kind, category and price. The international hotel classification (one to five stars) applies, and there are also farm stays, B&Bs, guesthouses, hostels and campsites, mountain refuges, characterful accommodation in fortresses and old châteaux, and wellness or spa centres. There are numerous portals and websites useful for bookings. The restaurant scene is equally varied.

COUNTRY FACTS: Full name: French Republic– Location: Western Europe. Borders: the English Channel to the north, Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, Switzerland and Italy to the east, the Mediterranean Sea and Spain to the south, the Atlantic Ocean to the west – Time zone: UTC +1, as in Italy, observes daylight saving time – Area: 547,000 sq km (excluding overseas territories) – Capital: Paris – Population: 60,800,000 (excluding overseas territories) – Religion: 85% Catholic, 2% Protestant, 7% Muslim – Languages: French (official language), English fairly widely understood – Measures: metric system.

CURRENCY: euro – Credit cards: the major credit cards are accepted.

ELECTRICITY: 220 V and 50 Hz (as in Italy) – Sockets: three-pin type; bring an adapter.

DOCUMENTS: identity card valid for travel abroad. There are no customs restrictions on personal luggage (Schengen) – Driving: Italian driving licence – Cars: Italian third-party motor insurance is sufficient for Italian vehicles.

COMMUNICATIONS AND TELEPHONES: International dialling code: 0033 – GSM: extensive network covering the whole country. Standards GSM 900/1800 and 3G 2100 (as in Italy). Local operators: Bouygues Telecom, Orange France, SFR – Internet: very widespread and of good average quality – Web domain: .fr – Emergency numbers: roadside assistance 0800/089222.

RULES, LAWS AND CONDUCT: as regards the laws on the use or trafficking of narcotic substances and offences against minors, criminal penalties entirely comparable to those under Italian law are in force. Since the 1990s civil partnerships (PACS) have been available, including to same-sex couples.

HEALTH: excellent overall standard, with very efficient public and private facilities. Italian citizens travelling temporarily who hold a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) receive the treatment provided by the local public health service. Pharmacies are plentiful and well stocked.

PUBLIC HOLIDAYS: 1 January, New Year’s Day; late March/early April, Easter; late March/early April, Easter Monday; 1 May, Labour Day; 8 May, Victory in Europe Day; Ascension; Whitsun and Whit Monday; 14 July, Bastille Day; 15 August, Assumption; 1 November, All Saints’ Day; 11 November, Armistice Day; 25 December, Christmas Day.

OPENING HOURS: Post offices: plentiful, Mon-Fri 8.00-19.00, Sat 8.00-12.00 – Banks: very widespread, with ATM service; Mon-Fri 8-17 – Shops: Mon-Sat 9.00-19.00 (variable) – Closing day: Sunday.

CLIMATE: generally temperate continental. The Paris Basin and the Loire have hot, muggy summers and cold winters, with frequent rainfall especially in the intermediate seasons and in winter. Provence has a Mediterranean climate with hot summers and mild winters; the temperature rarely drops below zero in winter, and showers during the rest of the year are numerous and violent but brief. In winter and spring the cold, strong, dry Mistral wind blows. Corsica and the Côte d’Azur have a Mediterranean climate, while the mountain areas (Alps, Pyrenees and Massif Central) have very harsh, snowy winters and mild summers.

Monthly max/min temperatures (in °C)

Rainy days (at least 1 mm of rain)/monthly rainfall in mm

USEFUL ADDRESSES IN ITALY

Embassy of France   
Piazza Farnese 67 – 00186 Rome – Tel. 06 686011 – Fax 06 68601460 – Web: www.ambafrance-it.org

Consulates
Via Giulia 251 – 00186 Rome – Tel. 06 68601500 – Fax 06 68601260/1254
Via Mangili 1, corner of Via della Moscova 12 – 20121 Milan – Tel. 02 6559141 – Fax 02 65591444
Via Crispi 86 – 80122 Naples – Tel. 081 5980711 – Fax 081 5980730

French Tourist Office – Maison de la France
Via Tiziano 32 – 20145 Milan – Tel. 899 199072 (charged per minute) – Fax 02 58486221 – Web: http://int.rendezvousenfrance.com– E-mail: info.it@franceguide.com

USEFUL ADDRESSES IN FRANCE

Italian Embassy
51, Rue de Varenne – 75343 Paris – Tel. 0033149540300 – Fax 0033 149540410 – Web: www.ambparigi.esteri.it – E-mail: ambasciata.parigi@esteri.it

Consulates General
5, bd Émile Augier – 75016 Paris – Tel. 01 44304700 – Fax 01 45258750 – e-mail: informazioni.parigi@esteri.it
5, Rue Commandant Faurax – 69452 Lyon – Tel. 04 78930017 – Fax 04 78943343 – e-mail: consolato.lione@esteri.it
56, Rue d’Alger – 13392  Marseille – Tel. 04 91184918 –  Fax 04 91184919 – e-mail: consolato.marsiglia@esteri.it
7, bd Georges Clémenceau – 57000 Metz – Tel. 03 87385870 – Fax 03 87504951 – e-mail: consolato.metz@esteri.it
72, bd Gambetta – 06048 Nice – Tel. 04 92144090 – Fax 04 9881108 – e-mail: connizz.mail@esteri.it

Office du Tourisme de Paris
Web: www.parisinfo.com, www.paris-touristoffice.com