PRACTICALITIES

Currency

euro (EUR)

Official languages

French

Time

GMT+1

Calling code

+33

Area codes

Paris: 1, Lyon: 4, Nicea: 4, Marsylia: 4, Lille: 3, Bordeaux: 5

Internet TLD

.fr

Shopping

Generally shops are open from 9am to 6pm or 7pm (1-hour lunch break between 12:00pm and 2:00pm).

National holidays

New Year’s Day		January 1
Epiphany		January 6
Easter		movable feast
Labour Day		May 1
Corpus Christi		movable feast
Day of Antifascist Resistance		June 22
Statehood Day		June 25
Victory Day		August 5
National Thanksgiving Day		August 5
Feast of Assumption		August 15
Independence Day		October 8
All Saint’s Day		November 1
Christmas		December 25 & 26

National dish

Ragoût – main-dish stew, usually prepared with meat, vegetables and herbs
Tarte – type of pie with fruit or vegetables
Vol-au-vent – type of pastry with meat or mushroom filling
Flamique à porions – leek quiche
Pâté de canard – paté of duck liver
Boeuf bourguignon – beef stew in red wine
Bouillabaisse – traditional fish soup
Ratatouille – stewed vegetable dish
Soupe au pistou – hearty vegetable summer soup

Electricity

France’s electricity runs on 230V/50Hz.

Passport/Visa

Every EU citizen is entitled to travel freely around the EU countries with the National Identirty Card. No special formalities are required to enter France by an EU citizen.

Useful numbers

Ambulance (SAMU): 15
Fire Brigade: 18
Police: 17
SOS Medicins: 11