The official language is French, there are many regional dialects. In Brittany z. T. Breton spoken, Corsican in Corsica, Basque is widely spoken in the southwest. The schools teach English, German or Spanish as a foreign language. However, most French people respect any language and would rather not speak than mispronounce it. French people are very proud of their language. Tourists should therefore acquire at least a basic vocabulary. The mere effort to speak French is usually highly appreciated.
Idioms
= Ça va bien Wednesday = Mercredi Monday = Lundi Tomorrow = Demain No = Non Nine = Neuf Ninety = Quatre-vingt dix Open = Ouvert Restaurant = Restaurant Saturday = Samedi Six = Six Sixty = Soixante Seven = Sept Seventy = Soixante-dix Sunday = Dimanche menu = Menu Do you speak German/English? = Est-ce que vous parlez allemand/anglais? Toilets = Toilets Four = Quatre Forty = Quarante Wine = Vin How are you? = Comment ça va? How much is it? = Combien est-ce que ça coûte? Where is …? = Où est …? Ten = Dix Twenty = Vingt Two = Deux Saturday = Samedi Six = Six Sixty = Soixante Seven = Sept Seventy = Soixante-dix Sunday = Dimanche Menu = Menu Do you speak German/English? = Est-ce que vous parlez allemand/anglais? Toilets = Toilets Four = Quatre Forty = Quarante Wine = Vin How are you? = Comment ça va? How much is it? = Combien est-ce que ça coûte? Where is …? = Où est …? Ten = Dix Twenty = Vingt Two = Deux Saturday = Samedi Six = Six Sixty = Soixante Seven = Sept Seventy = Soixante-dix Sunday = Dimanche Menu = Menu Do you speak German/English? = Est-ce que vous parlez allemand/anglais? Toilets = Toilets Four = Quatre Forty = Quarante Wine = Vin How are you? = Comment ça va? How much is it? = Combien est-ce que ça coûte? Where is …? = Où est …? Ten = Dix Twenty = Vingt Two = Deux Wine = Vin How are you? = Comment ça va? How much is it? = Combien est-ce que ça coûte? Where is …? = Où est …? Ten = Dix Twenty = Vingt Two = Deux Wine = Vin How are you? = Comment ça va? How much is it? = Combien est-ce que ça coûte? Where is …? = Où est …? Ten = Dix Twenty = Vingt Two = Deux
Public Holidays
01/01/2022 New Year
04/18/2022 easter monday
05/01/2022 Labor Day
05/08/2022 End of war 1945
05/26/2022 Ascension of Christ
06/06/2022 Whit Monday
07/14/2022 anniversary of the storming of the Bastille
July and August are the holiday and travel months in France. During this period, resorts are crowded with local vacationers. Outside the holiday areas and in many cities, however, it is quiet.
Duty free shopping
Overview
The following items may be imported duty-free into France (when traveling from non-EU countries): 200 cigarettes and 50 cigars and 100 cigarillos and 250 g of tobacco; 1 l spirits (alcohol content over 22%) or 2 l alcoholic beverages and spirits (alcohol content up to 22%); 4 liters of wine; 16 liters of beer; 250 grams of caviar; 2 kg of fish; 1 kg of animal products; medicines for travellers’ personal needs; Gifts/other goods up to a total value of €430 (air and sea travel) or €300 (travel by train/car); Children under 15 generally €150. Tobacco products and spirits may only be imported by persons aged 17 and over.
Import Restrictions
Food (fish, milk, etc.), medicine, plants, pets, weapons and cultural assets. More information is available from Countryaah.com.
Import regulations
Travelers who bring meat and milk products, among other things, into the EU from outside the European Union must declare them. The regulation does not apply to the import of animal products from EU countries, Andorra, Liechtenstein, Norway, San Marino and Switzerland. Anyone who does not register these products must expect fines or criminal prosecution.
Prohibited Imports
Drugs, narcotics, counterfeit money and endangered animals and plants. There is a general ban on imports of live poultry, meat and meat products from third countries (with the exception of the Faroe Islands, Greenland, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Switzerland).
Import/Export to the EU
The movement of goods within the EU is unrestricted for travelers as long as the goods are for personal use and not for resale. In addition, the goods must not have been purchased in duty-free shops. Travelers may be asked to provide proof of their own personal needs. Member States have the right to levy excise duty on spirit drinks or tobacco products if these products are not intended for personal use. The following maximum quantities apply as personal requirements: 200 cigarettes (persons aged 17 and over); 100 cigarillos (over 17s); 50 cigars (over 17s); 250 g tobacco (persons aged 17 and over); 10 liters of high-proof alcoholic beverages (persons aged 17 and over); 20 liters of fortified wine (such as port or sherry) (over 17s); 90 liters of wine (of which a maximum of 60 liters of sparkling wine) (persons aged 17 and over); 110 liters of beer (over 17s); Perfumes and eau de toilette: No restrictions if it can be shown that the amount is for personal consumption. Medicines: Amount corresponding to personal needs during the trip. Other goods: The movement of goods within the EU is unrestricted for travelers. However, this does not apply to gold alloys and gold plating in the unprocessed state or as a semi-finished product and fuel. Fuel may only be imported from an EC member state exempt from mineral oil tax if it is in the vehicle’s tank or in a spare container that is carried along. A fuel quantity of up to 10 liters in the reserve tank is not objected to. If additional quantities of these goods are carried, e.g. For example, a wedding is an event that could justify a bulk purchase. Note: However, there are certain exceptions to the free movement of goods regime. They relate in particular to the purchase of new vehicles and purchases for commercial purposes. (More information on car taxes can be found in the European Commission’s Guide to Buying Goods and Services in the Internal Market.)
EU
Duty-free sales at airports and seaports have been abolished for travel within the EU. Only travelers leaving the EU can shop cheaply in duty-free shops. When importing goods into an EU country that were bought in duty-free shops in another EU country, the same travel allowances and allowances apply as when entering from non-EU countries. More information is available from French Customs.
Contact addresses
Embassy of the FrenchRepublic
Consulates General in Zurich and Geneva.
Consular agencies in Basel, Eich, Vicques, Sion, Lugano.
Embassy of the FrenchRepublic
Technikerstrasse 2
Vienna
Austria
+43 (1) 50 27 50.
https://at.ambafrance.org/
https://at.ambafrance.org/ Consulate General of the FrenchRepublic
Note: For visa applications, the Consulate General in Frankfurt/M. responsible.
Consulates General in Düsseldorf, Frankfurt/M., Hamburg, Munich, Saarbrücken and Stuttgart.
Honorary consulates in Aachen, Bremen, Erfurt, Freiburg i. Br., Hanover, Cologne, Leipzig, Mannheim, Munster, Nuremberg and Saarlouis.
Pariser Platz 5
Berlin
Germany
+49 (30) 590 03 91 00.
https://de.ambafrance.org/
https://de.ambafrance.org/
Mon-Fri 08.30-18.00.
Consular section: Mon-Fri 09.00-12.00, Wed also 14.00-17.00.
Business
Business etiquette
Proper attire is expected. Prior appointments and business cards are common. Knowledge of French is an advantage, it is considered impolite to start a conversation in French and then continue it in your mother tongue. Most business meetings are formal. Dealing decisions are made after long and careful consideration, accurate data should be presented. Business lunches are usually held in restaurants. Mid-July to mid-September are not suitable for business trips.
Opening hours
Business hours: Mon-Fri 09.00-12.00 and 14.00-18.00.
Business contacts
Communication
Phone
According to Abbreviationfinder.org, the country code is 0033. The area code for Paris is »01«. There are no longer public phone booths in France.
Mobile phone
5G network, GSM 900/1800 networks are widely used. The main network operators are Bouygues Telecom, Orange France and SFR. There are roaming contracts with various international providers. Roaming abroad can be used within the EU at the regular home tariff of the respective provider. Roaming charges were abolished within the EU in mid-2017. However, if you are staying in France for a longer period of time, it may be worth purchasing a French prepaid card, which is available from French mobile phone service providers, supermarkets and FNAC branches.
Internet
Public Internet access is available, for example, in Internet cafes in almost all cities and in numerous tourist information offices. Many fast food restaurants and cafes offer free wireless Internet access via Wi-Fi. There is a dense network of public hotspots in France. Main provider is Orange. There are more and more “WiFi pillars” in public places such as streets, train stations, etc. that offer wireless access to the Internet. Mobile surfing on the Internet is also made possible, among other things, by the Goodspeed Wi-Fi hotspots, which are subject to a charge. Alternatively, you can purchase a prepaid surf stick for your laptop, available without a contract in FNAC branches, and a French prepaid card.
Post office
Stamps can be bought in post offices, tobacconists and newsagents. Yellow mailboxes are in front of post offices and on roadsides. Post within Europe usually takes 1-5 days. Post office hours: Mon-Fri 08:00-19:00, Sat 08:00-12:00.
Radio
Numerous German-speaking radio stations can be received via Astra satellites or via the Internet in France, among other things.
