France - Frankrike

France is a country in Europe.

Planning before the trip

No visa is required to travel to France. France is a member of the EU and the Schengen cooperation. You do not need to bring your passport when traveling there. All that is needed is an ID card.

To take with you to France

Swimwear and if you are in Paris, good shoes apply. An umbrella can also be good to take with you.

Facts about France

France is one of the largest countries in Europe both in terms of area and population. France has been the world's most popular tourist destination for over 20 years. The country received 82 million tourists in 2007.

History

France's history is often terrifying given that France has been involved in both world wars. The best way to get to know French history is to go there and see for yourself. There is so much you can not explain in words and it is usually that you miss something when you tell it like this, through text.

The locals

The Gauls, a Celtic people, began to settle in the area that makes up present - day France during the 1000s BC. In the centuries before the birth of Christ, the area came under Roman supremacy. In connection with the disintegration of the Western Roman Empire, the Franks, a Germanic people, took over power in the area. From the Franks we got the name "France". Modern France can be said to have been founded in 987 when Hugo Capet took power. In the years that followed, the country was subjected to Viking attacks. Some of them chose to stay permanently and settled in northern France. At this time, France was still relatively small. The king of Paris only had power over the area around Paris while the rest of the country was ruled by various noble families. However, the empire expanded greatly in the centuries that followed, and towards the end of the 18th century, the country can be said to have gained the borders of today after Alsace and Corsica were incorporated into the empire.

Today's French people are therefore of mixed descent. Not so long ago, only a small minority spoke French as a mother tongue. France is traditionally divided into "north" and "south" where the Loire Valley is the border. In the north, traditional Oïl language (including French) is spoken, while in the south, OC language is spoken. However, several languages ​​that do not belong to these families were also spoken. In Brittany, the Breton (Celtic language tribe) is the traditional language. To the north on the border with Belgium it was Flemish, to the east Alsatian (Germanic language tribe) and on the border with Spain Catalan and Basque. In Corsica, the Corsican still has a strong position. During the French Revolution and the republican regimes that followed, French played an important role. This language, hitherto spoken only by the nobility and the people of the Paris area, would serve as a unifying force. At this point, they succeeded. The whole of France is almost entirely French-speaking and the national identity is strong, which is astonishing given the way France has developed. This is also where the French interest in the French language comes from. In the Republican regimes, good knowledge of French became important. The result was that a competitive mentality emerged which to a large extent still exists today.

Even if the national identity is strong, there are still major differences in terms of mentality and culture. Most obvious is the conflict between Paris, the symbol of the central government, and the southern French. They still have difficulty pulling evenly, which is clear when Paris and Marseille meet in football.

Climate

The climate is very varied. Up in the north, it is a slightly warmer climate compared to Sweden. Down in the south there is a real Mediterranean climate. In the middle of France, the climate is very diverse. to the east there are snow-capped mountains and to the west there are wet and such, much like England. The changing climate naturally makes France an exciting country with different faces whether you are in Paris, Provence or the French Riviera.

Holidays

France has a national day on 14 July.

Regions

• Ile de France is the region surrounding the capital of France, Paris.
• Northern France is a region where world wars have left many wounds. The region includes Nord-Pas de Calais, Picardy and Upper Normandy.
• Northeastern France is a region where a broader European culture (and especially German culture) has mixed with the French, leading to interesting results. The region includes Alsace, Lorraine, Champagne-Ardenne and Franche-Comté.
• Western France is a sea region with a culture that has been heavily influenced by the Celtic people. The region includes Brittany, Lower Normandy and Pays de la Loire.
• Central France is an agricultural and wine-producing region that showcases river valleys, castles and historic towns. The region includes Center-Val de Loire, Poitou-Charentes, Burgundy, Limousin and Auvergne.
• Southwest France is a region with sea and wine, with beautiful beaches on the Atlantic as well as high mountains close by Spain. The region includes Aquitaine and Midi-Pyrenees.
• Southeastern France is primarily a tourist region showing the country outside Paris, with a warm climate, blue sea and mountains in the French Alps. The region includes Rhône-Alpes, Languedoc-Roussillon, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur and the Mediterranean island Corsica.

Cities

ParisBordeauxLyonToulouseMarseilleNantesDijonRennes

Getting to France

Those who travel to Paris usually travel by air. From Sweden you can get to France from, Arlanda and Landvetter. Airlines that have destinations to France are SAS, Air France, Swiss air, Lufthansa and others.

You can get to France by train from neighboring countries, ie, Belgium, Great Britain, Germany, Spain and Switzerland.

You can get to France by boat from the British Isles.

You can get to France by car from neighboring countries.

Relocation in France

Despite the growth of high-speed trains, domestic aviation remains a popular and often affordable alternative. Air France is the dominant player and flies to and from most major cities and a large number of smaller ones. The British low-cost company EasyJet has established itself on the market in recent years (click here for a map of their lines). In addition to these, there are also a large number of smaller companies. Some of these are:

1. Airlinair [1] (Aurillac, Bastia, Béziers, Bordeaux, Brest, Brive-La-Gaillarde, La Rochelle, Lyon, Mulhouse / Basel, Nantes, Paris, Poitiers, Rennes, Saint-Nazaire, Toulouse)
2. CCM [2] (Ajaccio, Bastia, Calvi, Figari, Lyon, Marseille, Nice)
3. Twin Jet [3] (Cherbourg, Marseille, Metz / Nancy, Paris, Saint-Étienne), Toulouse)
4. Hex'Air [4] (Le Puy, Lyon, Paris, Rodez)
5. Air Austral [5] (Lyon, Marseille)

Note that many cities have several airports. In e.g. Paris departs most domestic flights from Orly Airport instead of the international Charles de Gaulle Airport, although there are exceptions to that rule.

The French railway SNCF (French equivalent of SJ) is of a very high class. The TGV high-speed trains travel quickly to and from Paris and other major cities. As a discount card, they have "12-25" (douze vingtcinq) which gives discounts of up to 50% and applies to young people between 12-25.

The French road network is of a very high standard. Roads are categorized as A (motorways), N (national roads) and D (ministry roads). The maintenance on these roads is excellent, even smaller D-roads get new pavement when needed. The motorways are top class in Europe, one of the reasons being the high tolls, which has the effect that the traffic intensity is not close to that in Germany.

Fees

The majority of highways are toll roads. A ticket is picked up at the entrance and then the fee is paid at special places, "Péage" in French and they are available at exits and at the entrance to major cities. The fees are high. As an example, a simple car journey from Mulhouse in the northeast to Montpellier in the south costs around € 50. The average cost is € 0.07 per kilometer. At the toll stations you can pay in cash with manual service, by card or with a payment box. As the French seem to avoid card payments, the queues are usually shorter there. The fastest way through the stations is with the toll box, for those who regularly visit France by car it is a recommended solution, there are subscriptions that cost less than € 3 per month the months they are used, then of course there are tolls. A subscription requires an account with a French bank. Some motorways are toll-free, such as the A75 in the south of France.

Intensity

There are days when you should avoid getting in the car in France. The first Saturday in August is one of them. It's the first big holiday in France. There are regional differences, for example, the first day of the sports holiday weeks in the Alps is extremely traffic-intensive. On http://www.bison-fute.gouv.fr There is information about the most traffic-intensive days of the year.

Refuel

There are plenty of gas stations along the highways. However, it is considerably cheaper to refuel in cities and villages. The largest food chains tend to be the cheapest. Adjacent to larger shopping centers, there is always the opportunity to refuel, as well as at supermarkets. Ethanol (E85) is virtually impossible to find. On the other hand, E10 is becoming more and more common, ie ten percent ethanol, a fuel that many modern cars' petrol engines can handle. E10 is slightly cheaper than 95 octane.

Special laws

You must have a warning vest in the car, which must be used when changing tires or similar. Warning triangle is also mandatory. € 90 is the fine in both cases. Since 1 July 2012, the car must also have equipment for alcohol testing. They are available for purchase at gas stations and large grocery stores. They must be approved, carry an NF stamp. They can be disposable or digital. If they are missing in the car at check-in, there will be a fine, a rather modest € 11. The limit for drunk driving is 0.5 per mille (Sweden 0.2). Since 5 January 2012, it has been forbidden to have radar alarms in the car, this also applies to those found in GPSs. The fine is € 1,500.

Payment

Euro

Accommodation

A large selection from five-star luxury hotels to simple "gites".

Food and drinks

To see

Eiffel Tower, heart of Paris. The tower is 324 m high, including the 24 meter high TV mast. The Eiffel Tower was inaugurated in 1889. Only one person died during construction

The Arc de Triomphe, was built in 1806 in the order of Napoleon Bonaparte to celebrate the victory at Austerliz. But became clear in 1836. Under the Arc de Triomphe is "the tomb of the unknown soldier". The triumphal arch is about 50 meters high. The Arc de Triomphe can be found on the Place de l'Étoile.

If you like modern architecture, La Defense is preferable, where you also have the second triumphal arch.

• Alps
• Mont Saint Michel
• French Riviera, Provence and Monaco

To do

Bathing holidays in the summer either on the Mediterranean or Atlantic coast. In winter you can ski in the Alps. French food culture is world famous and there are a large number of local specialties. The skiing in France is extraordinary and everyone will appreciate world class skiing.

Work

Communication

In school, it is compulsory to read at least one foreign language. About 90% choose English but it varies between different regions. For example. There are many people in the eastern parts of the country who speak German. However, the quality of teaching is often poor. "Refusal to speak any language other than French" is usually not a refusal. You suffer from poor language teaching at school and are afraid of getting lost if you speak English. Of course, you can meet a person who speaks a foreign language but is unwilling to do so for reasons of principle. However, this is primarily a Parisian phenomenon that is not aimed at you as a foreigner. A person who comes from another part of France and who speaks a dialect would probably be treated in the same cool way. Just ignore such people and do not make them representatives of the French people.

If you want to speak English with a Frenchman, it is best to first ask if he or she speaks English. If the answer is no, then just walk on to the next person. In general, it is then best to try to turn to a younger person. And even if you do not speak French, it is a good idea to learn a few simple words and polite phrases. This makes people open up a bit even if the rest of the conversation is in English.

Security

France is an overall safe country as long as you think about it and do not act carelessly. Avoid dark and shady places especially at night. There can be pickpockets in places where there are a lot of people, especially where there are large numbers of tourists. Try not to look like a tourist, blended in.

The riots that have taken place in recent years in the suburbs of the big cities are not something to worry about too much, an ordinary tourist should still have no reason to visit these areas. However, there may also be bad areas inside the city centers. As a rule, it can be said that the rougher the buildings, the rougher the area. Women should not visit such areas themselves, and both men and women should keep an eye on the environment.

Respect

French people generally attach great importance to common sense and etiquette. As a visitor, it is a good idea to learn a few simple words and courtesy phrases. In addition to being polite, it also makes people open up more. If you speak French with strangers, you should call those you meet and call them Monsieur (gentleman) and Madame (wife). Now different people have different attitudes to this, in some circles they dove each other to the fullest. However, you should be formal with people you meet for the first time until it is clearly signaled that you can start to be more informal. Women have a special role in society, and even if the woman you meet e.g. is a high-ranking manager, a man should show extra great consideration. This includes i.a. to hold the door open for her and get up when she enters the room. Furthermore, it is important to dress reasonably neatly as most French people look down on too "casual" attire. However, this does not mean that you always have to wear the fine suit, but that e.g. as an adult walking around in central Paris wearing shorts and sandals is not very successful.

Many religious buildings are popular tourist destinations. When visiting a church, you should keep in mind a few details:

• If a service or mass is taking place, access may be restricted. Do not try to get in then.
• It is common for people to go to church to pray, even if no service is going on, something that can feel unusual for a Swede.
• Attire is important. Anyone who comes barefoot in sandals, shorts and a Hawaiian shirt does not bother to enter a church. Arranged attire is a must - long trousers, regular shoes and a discreet sweater. Of course, you take off any headgear before entering. Women should not wear a skirt that ends above the knees and the shoulders should be covered.
• Do not take pictures during the trade fair. If possible, turn off the flash.

Finally, there is one important thing that many visitors forget. Although France is one of the world's largest tourist destinations, the vast majority of the people you see around you, on the streets and in metro trains, are people who are in the middle of everyday life and who are most likely on their way to or from work. As a native, you can easily get frustrated when a tourist shows up for a hundred thousand times and asks for directions along the way in English or crunchy French. Therefore, one should also try to be discreet and not e.g. speak loudly on cell phone.

Problem solver

Other