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MOTORING TIPS
Carry your insurance,
car log book - original not a photocopy, (or a letter from the car hire
company if it is a company car), and your driving license with you at all
times whilst driving. It is an offence to not to do so.
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The Bison futé system has been set up to try to prevent traffic
jams. The map proposes alternative routes indicated by green and yellow
panels and the word "BIS".
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Motoring
Seatbelts are compulsory for all passengers. Children must be properly
protected up to the age of ten (car cots for small babies, and baby or
child seats.) Crash helmets must be worn for all forms of motorbike travel.
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Car Hire
Here are the telephone numbers of some car rental
agencies in France.
In general, you must be 21 years of age and have possessed a driving licence
for at least a year. You must take out the insurance offered when you hire
a car. Avis: + 33 1 46 10 60 60 Budget: + 33 800
10 00 01 (freephone) Citer-Eurodollar: + 33 1 44
38 61 61 Europcar: + 33
1 30 43 82 82 Eurorent:
+ 33 800 33 22 10 (freephone) Hertz: + 33 1 47 88
51 51 Rent a car: + 33 1 46 82 60 60
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Taxis may be
hailed in the streets, ordered by telephone or found at cab ranks indicated
by the letter T. You will be charged for the journey to pick you up as well
as the distance you travel. There are supplementary charges for each piece
of luggage weighing more than 5kg and for bulky objects as well as journeys
to and from stations and airports.
Unless
otherwise indicated the speed limit in urban areas is 50 kph in built up
areas, 90 kph on other roads, (80 in the rain) and 130 kph on autoroutes (110 in the rain).
It is an
offence to drive with more than 0.5 g of alcohol per litre of blood. (About
two glasses of wine).
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TELEPHONES POST OFFICES ETC
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Telephoning Most public call boxes now use
telephone cards which are sold in tobacconists, post offices, SNCF or RATP
ticket offices and other retail outlets. To call abroad the code is 00 +
country code + area code + number you are calling.
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Post offices
Post offices are generally open from 8 am to 7 pm on weekdays and from 8 am
- midday on Saturdays. Traveller's cheques and money can also be changed
here. Stamps can also be purchased at tobacconists.
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Mairie de Varennes sur Fouzon
Place Saint Jean
36210 VARENNES SUR FOUZON
02 54 41 13 26 Télécopie : 02 54 41 13 17
CURRENCY 
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Credit cards
Accepted everywhere. Look for the sign CB in green-blue Visa, MasterCard, Eurocard (Carte Bleue
network) AmEx, JCB (sometimes, and nearly always
where there are tourists)
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Changing
money Currency: France
is part of the Euro zone. There are 8 euro coins denominated in 2 and 1 euros, then 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1 cents. There are 7
euro notes enominated in 500, 200, 100, 50, 20,
10 and 5 euros. Foreign currency can be changed in post offices, stations
or airports as well as banks.
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ATM machines Visa, MasterCard, Eurocard
(any bank with the CB sign) American Express a few in the very large cities
and elsewhere via Le Credit Lyonnais Bank Cirrus
via Le Credit Mutuel and Le Credit Agricole It is very easy to get cash with Visa,
MasterCard and Eurocard possible with American
Express, difficult with Cirrus and impossible with Plus.
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Foreign
exchange Best rates are usually given at banks or at the American Express
offices. It is easier to change a foreign currency into Euros than Euros
into something else since banks have a limited stock of foreign currency.
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Traveller’s
cheques …..Easy to cash at any bank. There are often charges if the
cheques are not in Francs. Can also be changed at post offices.
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SHOPPING
Shops open
from Monday to Saturday between 8 am and 10 am and close at about 7 pm. In
the provinces the shops close between 12 noon and 2 pm for lunch. Some
small shops are closed on Mondays. On Sunday mornings there is often a
market and some food shops are open. Following the withdrawal of duty free
facilities within the European Union, customs authorities in all member
countries have introduced guidance levels for the import of tobacco,
alcohol and other products purchased by visitors for their own use. These
levels should be checked with HM Customs. Travellers
who buy more than the amount specified, must be able to satisfy Customs
Officers at both the point of departure and arrival that the goods are for
their personal use.
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British Embassy in France
The address of
the British Embassy is 35 rue du Faubourg St
Honore, 75383 Paris; tel:
01 44 51 31 00 (0033 1 44 51 31 00 from the UK). British Consulate Generals
are situated at Bordeaux (tel: 05 57 22 21 10), Lille (tel: 03 20
12 82 72), Lyon (tel:
04 72 77 81 70) and Marseille (tel: 04 91 15 72
10).
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Health
Care. 
If you live in an EC country you should obtain an
E111 form before travel to France.
You will then only have to pay a part of the cost of your treatment
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Public
Holidays 
Banks and most
shops will be closed on these days. Fixed Public Holidays 1 January New
Year's Day 1 May Labour Day 8 May Fête de la Victoire
1945 (WWII Victory Day) 14 July Bastille Day 15 August Assumption of the
Blessed Virgin Mary 1 November All Saints Day 11 November Armistice Day 25
December Christmas Day 26 December 2nd Day of Christmas (in Alsace
Lorraine-only) Holidays falling on a weekend are not moved. Moveable Public
Holidays Feast 2002 2003 2004 Good Friday 29 Mar 18 Apr 9 Apr Easter 31 Mar
20 Apr 11 Apr Easter Monday 1 Apr 21 Apr 12 Apr Ascension 9 May 29 May 20
May Whit Sunday (Pentecost) 19 May 8 Jun 30 May Whit Monday 20 May 9 Jun 31
May
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Planes and Trains
France has 80 airports with two
international airports for Paris.
Toissy-Charles-de-Gaulle in the north, and Orly
in the south. Train tickets are sold at ticket counters and from ticket
machines in stations, SNCF retail outlets, and in travel agencies.
Reservations can also be made by telephone using a credit card. Tickets
must be reserved for the TGV trains. Bicycles can be taken free of charge.
The SNCF personnel wear red jackets and are available to help with
directions and information
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