|
| France Guides |
 |
| France History |
France is an independent nation in Western Europe and the center of a large overseas administration. It is the third-largest European nation (after Russia and Ukraine).
In ancient times France was part of the Celtic territory known as Gaul or Gallia. Its present name is derived from the Latin Francia, meaning "country of the Franks," a Germanic......... |
|
|
|
 |
| Getting there |
Getting there from Britain
The quickest way of reaching France from most parts of Britain is by air, though in the southeast this is now rivalled closely by the Channel Tunnel London-Paris rail link, which makes the 340-kilometre journey in just three hours. The standard rail-or road-and - sea routes are significantly more affordable, but can beuncomfortable and tiring - and ........ |
|
|
|
 |
| Best of France |
La Rochelle
Superbly intact as a medieval port, thanks to the efforts of a past communist mayor whose legacy includes the free bicycles you can ride around town, La Rochelle offers beautiful beaches, delicious seafood, and boat trips to surrounding islands. .............. |
|
|
|
 |
| Where to go & when |
| France is easy to travel around. Restaurants and hotels proliferate, the lower-budget ones being much cheaper than is most other developed western European countries. Train services are admirably efficient, as is the road network - especially the (toll-paying) autoroutes - and cyclists are much admired and encouraged. Information is highly organized and available from tourist offices across the country, as well as from specialist organizations for walkers........ |
|
|
|
 |
| Disabled visitors |
| France has no special reputation for providing facilities for disabled travellers. For people in wheelchairs, the haphazard parking habits and stepped village streets are serious obstacles, and public toilets with disabled access are rare. In the major cities and coastal resorts, however, ramps or other forms of access are gradually being added to hotels, museums and some theatres and concert halls. APF, the French paraplegic organization , which ....... |
|
|
|
 |
| The people of France |
| T he modern French population is largely native-born and represents a fusion of many peoples of Celtic, Germanic, Latin, and Slavic origins. Contrary to what has happened in many other countries, the immigrants have blended so well into existing French society that today it is difficult to determine the ethnic origins of most French citizens. More ethnically prominent are the 20th-century immigrants, including an estimated 4 million foreigners--mainly ....... |
|
|
|
 |
| Red Tape & Visas |
| Citizens of EU (European Union) countries can travel freely in France; and citizens of Australia, Canada, the United States and New Zealand, among other countries, do not need any sort of visa to enter France, and can stay for up to ninety days. However, the situation can change and it is advisable to check with your embassy or consulate before departure. Note that the British Visitor's Passport is no longer available........... |
|
|
|
|
