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Standard Time:

France's local Time Zone: GMT+0200. It is currently observing Daylight Saving Time which began at Sun Mar 25 03:00:00 2001. This will end at Sun Mar 31 03:00:00 2002.

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Climate

France has four broad climatic zones: the humid seaboard zone west of the line Bayonne-Lille with cool summers; a semi-continental zone with cold winters and hot summers in Alsace-Lorraine, along the rhodanian corridor and in the mountainous massifs (Alps, Pyrénées, Massif Central); an intermediate zone with cold winters and hot summers in the North, the Paris region and the central region; and a Mediterranean zone with mild winters and very hot summers in the south of France.

Climate in Paris is variable. There is a chance of a downpour in spring or a cloudburst in summer. However, Paris has a far more temperate climate than many other European cities. Temperature ranges between 50° and 75° F from May through October. Springtime in Paris is unusually long lasting well into June; and the autumn is equally extended. July and August are the warmest months, when most Parisians leave the city to go on their own vacations. Brittany in the far west is the wettest French locale, especially between October and November. May is the driest month for the Bretons.

In the South, the Mediterranean coast has the driest climate with any noticeable rain coming in spring and autumn. Provence (in the southeast) occasionally plays reluctant host to le mistral, a strong, hot and dry wind that blows in over the winter for periods of only a few days up to a couple of weeks.

On the Atlantic Coast and in Bordeaux, (the region known as the Aquitane), the climate is generally mild with temperatures averaging 45 degrees Fahrenheit in winter and 65 degrees Fahrenheit in summer. There's no lack of sun; this region revels in warm, dry weather and receives an average of 170 days of sunshine a year. In fact, Parisians are known to say that Bordeaux has "the best climate in France". With the days fresh and possibly damp in the spring and often sunny in the autumn, the climate is one of the most important factors behind Bordeaux's high quality wine it produces.

Pyrenees The weather in the French Alps varies from north to south. The northern Alps (the Savoy) are subject to oceanic influences resulting in abundant precipitation year round with low temperatures. During the warm season, winds blow along this region's wide valleys and by midday, warm air rises from the valleys, causing clouds to form around most mountain summits, indicating fine and steady weather. The heights can attract storms that are both violent and spectacular.

The southern Alps (Provence and the Cote D'Azur) enjoy a typical Mediterranean climate, with lots of sunshine, dry weather, clear skies and no mist or fog. Autumn is the best time of year in this region. Occasionally, violent storms may occur, but they are always followed by sunny spells with the air pure, light and invigorating.

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Food & Dining

The Frenchare used to choosing from an amazing array of drinks made to be drunk at just such times.Before dinner drinks are called apéritifs and are meant to “open,” or prepare, the palate for the meal. In fact, the word apéritif comes from the Latin aperire, “to open.”

Food & Wine Pairings

There are no rules when choosing a wine but to please your palate. Don’t let rigid ideas about what you can and can’t drink stop you from enjoying what you like.

That said, there are two general guidelines that can help increase your enjoyment of your favorite wines, and the food you pair with them:

Serve red wines with meat
The tannins in red wine (tannins are what’s responsible for the astringent feeling in your mouth when you drink young red wine or strong black tea) react with the protein in the meat, letting the softer, often fruitier characteristics of the wine show through.

Serve white wines with mild, white-fleshed fish and shellfish
The milder, more delicate flavors of white wine complement, rather than overwhelm, mildly-flavored fish.

Samples of foods that go equally well with white or red wines:

• Lightly-sauced pasta (like a fresh tomato sauce) with white Bordeaux (Sauvignon Blanc/Semillon), or with Beaujolais (Gamay) or red Burgundy (Pinot Noir).
• Grilled chicken with a dry white wine, such as white Burgundy (Chardonnay), or with a medium-bodied red like Côtes du Rhône.
• Salmon or pork with white Burgundy (Chardonnay) or with red.

Samples of classic food and wine pairings:

• Light and spicy Asian food with Alsace Pinot Gris.
• Beef stew or roast with red Burgundy (Pinot Noir).
• Lamb with red Bordeaux (Cabernet /Merlot).
• Smoked salmon with Champagne.
• Grilled fish with Loire Valley whites (Sancerre, Vouvray) or a Vin de Pays Viognier.
• Roast turkey and gravy with red or white Burgundy (Pinot Noir or Chardonnay), or red Côtes du Rhône.
• Ribeye steak with a Vin de Pays Merlot.

Did you know?

France has 35,000 boulangeries (bakeries). Buy a baguette, a ficelle, a flûte, a boule, an épi, or a longuet, and enjoy! There are also 365 different sorts of cheese, one for every day of the year, and about 450 AOC wines to choose from!

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Visa & Customs Procedure

A valid passport is required of all U.S. citizens and foreign nationals entering France. No visa is needed for American visitors staying less than 90 days, unless you are a student planning to study in France. For longer stays, you must apply for a temporary-stay visa, long-term visa or residence card.

If you are a non US citizen and would like to travel to France, Monaco, or to an Overseas Department or Territory, according to your citizenship, the duration and purpose of your stay, a visa may be required before departure. To find out whether or not you need to apply for a visa, visit the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs website. Then, contact the Consulate near you to verify the requirements and obtain the amount of the visa fee before sending or bringing in your application.

CUSTOMS REGULATIONS

French customs authorities may enforce strict regulations concerning temporary importation into or export from France of items such as firearms, antiquities, medications, business equipment, sales samples, and other items. It is advisable to contact the Embassy of France or one of its consulates in your country for specific information regarding customs requirements.

French customs authorities encourage the use of an ATA (Admission Temporaire/Temporary Admission) Carnet for the temporary admission of professional equipment, commercial samples, and/or goods for exhibitions and fair purposes. ATA Carnet Headquarters, located at the U.S. Council for International Business, 1212 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10036, issues and guarantees the ATA Carnet in the United States. For additional information, please telephone (212) 354-4480, or send an e-mail to atacarnet@uscib.org, or visit http://www.uscib.org for details.

U.S. Customs
Returning U.S. citizens who have been in France more than two days can bring back $400 worth of merchandise duty-free. For those who wish to bring more of France back home with them, a flat rate of 10% duty is levied on the next $1000 worth of purchases (the duty-free limit in gifts is $100). It's a good idea to retain the receipts from your purchases should they be requested by a Customs Inspector upon your return to the United States.

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France Health & Vaccinations

The preventive measures you need to take while traveling in Western Europe depend on the areas you visit and the length of time you stay. For most areas of this region, you should observe health precautions similar to those that would apply while traveling in the United States.

Travelers' diarrhea, the number one illness in travelers, can be caused by viruses, bacteria, or parasites, which can contaminate food or water. Infections may cause diarrhea and vomiting (E. coli, Salmonella, cholera, and parasites), fever (typhoid fever and toxoplasmosis), or liver damage (hepatitis). Make sure your food and drinking water are safe. (See below.)

A certificate of yellow fever vaccination may be required for entry into certain of these countries if you are coming from countries in tropical South America or sub-Saharan Africa. (There is no risk for yellow fever in Western Europe.)

Tickborne encephalitis, a viral infection of the central nervous system, occurs chiefly in Central and Western Europe. Travelers are at risk who visit or work in forested areas during the summer months and who consume unpasteurized dairy products. The vaccine for this disease is not available in the United States at this time. To prevent tickborne encephalitis, as well as Lyme disease, travelers should take precautions to prevent tick bites (see below).

CDC Recommends the Following Vaccines (as Appropriate for Age):

See your doctor at least 4-6 weeks before your trip to allow time for shots to take effect.

Hepatitis A or immune globulin (IG). You are not at increased risk in Northern and Western Europe, but there is some risk in Southern Europe and the countries bordering the Mediterranean, as well as Portugal.

Hepatitis B, if you might be exposed to blood (for example, health-care workers), have sexual contact with the local population, stay longer than 6 months in Southern Europe, or be exposed through medical treatment.

As needed, booster doses for tetanus-diphtheria. Hepatitis B vaccine is now recommended for all infants and for children ages 11-12 years who did not complete the series as infants.

All travelers should take the following precautions, no matter the destination:

Wash hands often with soap and water.

Because motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of injury among travelers, walk and drive defensively. Avoid travel at night if possible and always use seat belts.

Always use latex condoms to reduce the risk of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases.

Don't eat or drink dairy products unless you know they have been pasteurized.

Don't share needles with anyone.

Never eat undercooked ground beef and poultry, raw eggs, and unpasteurized dairy products. Raw shellfish is particularly dangerous to persons who have liver disease or compromised immune systems.
Travelers to rural or undeveloped areas should take the following precautions:

To Stay Healthy, Do:

Drink only bottled or boiled water, or carbonated (bubbly) drinks in cans or bottles. Avoid tap water, fountain drinks, and ice cubes. If this is not possible, make water safer by BOTH filtering through an "absolute 1-micron or less" filter AND adding iodine tablets to the filtered water. "Absolute 1-micron filters" are found in camping/outdoor supply stores.

Eat only thoroughly cooked food or fruits and vegetables you have peeled yourself. Remember: boil it, cook it, peel it, or forget it.

Protect yourself from insects by remaining in well-screened areas, using repellents (applied sparingly at 4-hour intervals), and wearing long-sleeved shirts and long pants tucked into boots or socks as a deterrent to ticks.

To prevent fungal and parasitic infections, keep feet clean and dry, and do not go barefoot.

To Avoid Getting Sick:

Don't eat food purchased from street vendors. Do not drink beverages with ice.

Don't handle animals (especially monkeys, dogs, and cats), to avoid bites and serious diseases (including rabies and plague).
What You Need To Bring with You:

Insect repellent containing DEET (diethylmethyltoluamide), in 30 percent-35 percent strength for adults and 6percent-10percent for children. The insecticide permethrin applied to clothing is an effective deterrent to ticks.

Over-the-counter antidiarrheal medicine to take if you have diarrhea.

Iodine tablets and water filters to purify water if bottled water is not available.

Sunblock, sunglasses, hat.

Prescription medications: make sure you have enough to last during your trip, as well as a copy of the prescription(s).

After You Return Home:
If you become ill after your trip--even as long as a year after you return--tell your doctor where you have traveled.

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Transportation in France

Getting There
Air France, France's national carrier, and scores of other airlines link Paris with every part of the globe. Other French cities with direct international air links include Bordeaux, Lyon, Marseille, Nice, Strasbourg and Toulouse.

Paris is the country's main bus and rail hub, with services to/from every part of Europe. Buses are slower and less comfortable than trains, but they are cheaper, especially if you qualify for the 10% discount available to people under 26 or over 60 or hunt around for discount fares. The completion of the Channel Tunnel in 1994 has meant travel between England and France - on the silent, ultra-modern Eurostar rail service - is now quick and hassle-free. The Chunnel also has high-speed shuttle trains that whisk cars, motorbikes and coaches from England to France.

By sea, the quickest passenger ferries and hovercrafts to England run between Calais and Dover, and Boulogne and Folkestone. There are numerous routes linking Brittany and Normandy with England; Saint Malo is linked by car ferry and hydrofoil with Weymouth, Poole and Portsmouth, while Roscoff has ferry links to Plymouth. Ferries also ply the waters between France and Ireland (Cherbourg-Cork), the Channel Islands, Sardinia (Marseille-Porto Torres), Italy (Corsica-Genoa) and North Africa (Marseille-Algiers, Marseille-Tunis, Sète-Tangier).

Getting Around
France's domestic airlines link most urban centers, but flights can be quite expensive. Occasionally discount tickets will work out cheaper than overland travel so it can be worth scouting around if you've got a big hop in mind.

Train service in France is efficient, punctual, and comfortable. It is one of the most popular ways to get around, allowing travelers to view the countryside in a swift, but leisurely manner. Operated by the state-owned SCNF (Société Nationale des Chemins de Fer), it reaches almost every part of the country. The high-speed TGV (train à grande vitesse) makes possbile travel between some cities (eg Paris and Lyon) faster and easier by rail than by air. For added convenience, the Paris Charles-de-Gaulle and Lyon Saint-Exupery Airports have high-speed train stations.

The price of train travel in France depends on whether you choose first or second class, as well as on the time and date of travel. If you are buying a ticket in France, there are a large number of reduced fares or passes for seniors, families and youth. If you are planning your rail travel before you go, there are a variety of affordable and flexible passes and packages available for the U.S. traveler through your travel agent or Rail Europe, including the France Railpass, the France Rail 'n Drive, Eurail and other good-value offers. (links = yes - but you have to see with Bernard Crouset)

As a guide, the minimum prices for the following journeys by TGV are:

Itinerary	Full Fare	People under 26
Paris-Lille (1hr): 160 miles	208 F	139 F
Paris-Lyon (2hr): 317.5 miles	318 F	239 F
Paris-Marseilles (4hr): 536 miles	379 F	284 F
Paris-Bordeaux (3hr): 360 miles	352 F	260 F

linked by 964 356 km (599,240 miles) of roads and 31 940 km (19,847 miles) of railway. Inter-regional bus services are limited but buses are used extensively for short-distance travel within regions, especially in rural areas with relatively few train lines (eg Brittany and Normandy).Smaller towns without train stations are generally linked by bus service to the nearest station.

Guidelines
Tickets In France. Every passenger must validate his own ticket before boarding the train -- failure to do so can result in a fine. A large number of orange machines are located at the entrances to the platforms as well as in other train station locations. Once validated, the ticket is only good for that day. On board a conductor will check your ticket.

SNCF services:

Collection and delivery of luggage to your hotel.
Baggage registration
Station porters
Tickets delivered to your hotel
Buses. All SNCF stations have nearby bus stations. A train/bus combination is a trouble-free way to travel in France. Whether for nearby excursions or regularly scheduled connections, contact the SNCF or the local tourist office. Finally, the Eurolines bus company operates services between France and major European cities. Tel: 011 33 (0) 1 49 72 51 51.

Reservations and Information in France - SNCF direct line Tel. 33 (0) 8 36 35 35 35 (2.23F/min) from 7a.m. to 10p.m., 7 days a week. - Ticket offices and automatic ticket machines in railway stations SNCF offices or travel agencies.

Having your own vehicle can be expensive, and is sure to be inconvenient in city centers where parking and traffic are problematic. Be warned that most driving in France is done with the horn, or 'French Brake Pedal', as it is often called. As a rule of thumb, don't be timid or overly respectful once on the road as this technique will often confuse the natives. Renting a car is expensive if you walk into an office and hire a car on the spot, but prebooked and prepaid promotional rates are reasonable.

France is a superb country for motorcycle touring, with winding roads of good quality and lots of stunning scenery. It's also an eminently cyclable country, due largely to its extensive network of secondary and tertiary roads that are relatively lightly trafficked.

Another relaxing way of seeing France is to cruise its canals and navigable rivers by houseboat. These usually accommodate four to 12 passengers and can be rented for a weekend or several weeks.

Local transport includes the cheap and efficient Metro and RER underground networks in Paris (there are also metro lines in other cities), trams, buses, téléphériques in the French Alps, expensive taxis (especially outside the major cities) and river shuttles.

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